Shadow by Robert Barner is the story of a young boy faced with the devastating task of saving the world—when he himself doesn’t even have a body. Psychic and jumping between hosts, Bobby is essentially a ‘shadow’, but with an terrible regime and environmental apocalypse plaguing the world, he may be the only hope humanity has.

I was pleasantly surprised with the level of worldbuilding in this novel, being what I believe is a debut from the author. I read many old sci-fi books from the 40-60s, and Shadow really seemed like a modernized homage to those stories. I wouldn’t be shocked if this were an old episode of The Twilight Zone instead. Without spoiling much, I can say it matched those vibes with its deep themes of environmentalism and what it means to be human, as well as updated elements like artificial intelligence. I’d describe it as The Twilight Zone meets 1984 meets Star Trek (in its commentary on world issues). If it wasn’t clear, I mean that as a huge compliment to the novel.

Human nature is so tricky to philosophize about without sounding preachy or fluffy, yet I think Barner does an amazing job avoiding those clichés even through the perspective of an, albeit smart, young boy. I would say you should read it for yourself.

Page-turning at every chapter, Shadow continues to be on my mind even after finishing.

This was such an exciting and interesting read!
Our main character Bobby Hayes is a psychic trapped in the form of a shadow who can switch from one host to another. He's trying to save the world in this epic and gripping story that I couldn't put down! Packed with a lot of action, plot twists and profound characters - there's no way you wouldn't enjoy this! Hope I can read more from this author in the future.

Set in a dystopian future plagued by environmental catastrophe, Shadow delivers a gripping tale of survival and redemption. Bobby Hayes, a young psychic trapped in the form of a shadow, embarks on a journey to save humanity from itself. What captivated me most about this book is its exploration of complex themes like identity, morality, and the power of the human spirit. As Bobby navigates through a world teetering on the edge of collapse, his struggle to reconcile his extraordinary abilities with his humanity makes for a compelling read. Shadow kept me hooked until the very end, leaving me pondering the nature of existence long after I turned the final page

Get ready to dive headfirst into the mind-bending world of Shadow! Picture this: a psychic kid trapped in the form of a shadow, hopping from one host to another in a bid to save the world from going down the drain. Yeah, you heard me right! This ain't your typical hero's journey. Bobby Hayes is anything but ordinary, and his quest to stop the world from going up in flames is nothing short of epic. With its pulse-pounding action, mind-bending plot twists, and a dash of existential pondering, Shadow is the kind of book that'll keep you up all night, turning pages faster than you can say 'psychic shadow.' So, buckle up and get ready for a wild ride into the unknown!