The Lady of Shadows by Johan Rundberg

Mika sets out to find her mother, only to become embroiled in a plot of witchcraft and black magic.

Scandi-noir for kids!.

Abandoned at an orphanage as a baby, thirteen-year-old Mika dreams of having a family of her own. So, when she uncovers a clue to her mother’s whereabouts, she makes short work of the journey. But does her mother want to be found?

And worse: when Mika arrives at the countryside estate of Roseboon, she discovers a house terrified by black magic and the possibility of witchcraft. Mika’s mission is no longer to simply find her mother, but to get to the bottom of a curse.

Mika is one of my favourite middle-grade heroines. She is sneaky, brave, and quick-witted. She’s vulnerable and quick to lash out; she makes daring choices. When she hears blood-curdling screams in the middle of the night, her instinct is to crack open the door and investigate.

“Just because I look young on the outside doesn’t mean I’m a child,” Mika says slowly. “I grew up in an orphanage and work with the police; I’ve seen things you could never imagine.” (p58)

The Lady of Shadows, fourth in the Moonwind Mysteries, picks up the story immediately after Detective Hoff is stabbed at the end of The Lost Ones. I recommend reading the series in order, starting with The Night Raven.

The Lady of Shadows is not nearly as dark as the previous three books and I missed the gore and horror which enthralled me before. That said, I loved the silent cormorants, the idea of a church grim, the staring keyholes, and the rapport between Mika and Hoff. They’re a great duo.

I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

WHAT TO READ NEXT

The Night Raven by Johan Rundberg

The Queen of Thieves by Johan Rundberg

Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror by Chris Priestley