The Shadow Warrior

By Pat Zettner

When underlords burn her home, a young Solgant embarks on a dangerous mission to find her brother, aided by two enemies of her people, a Danturin goblin and an Eodan giant. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0689314868
• ISBN13: 9780689314865
• Release Date: January 1990
• Publisher: Atheneum Books
• Length: 220 Pages
• Weight: 0.98 lbs.
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

A book that deserves reviving! Memorable, original, compelling!

For years Solgants have called an enemy race "goblins" -- a people who come by night and raid Solgant settlements and villages. But the word "goblin" turns out to be a myth. There are no "goblins." There are only Solgants and Danturi (and Eodans). That is one of the points of the book. Another: Bridging the barrier of a hatred so old that no one ever has done so. Until now. Fleeing her castle's downfall, searching for her brother and his army, befriended by Angborn the Eodan (whom her people call "giant"), a young Solgant girl named Llyndreth sees for the first time one of her people's age-old foes. He is a wounded, unconscious, half-dead "goblin" whom, strangely, she cannot find it in her heart to hate -- though, by race, he looks as different to her and she does to him. Things haven't been what they seemed to this point: There were no giants, only Angborn who has magical abilities. So she convinces Angborn to aid her in helping the wounded "goblin." They dress his hurt which brings him to consciousness, and though he shows hostility Llyndreth asks if he wants water. He looks at her blankly. Then, at Angborn's suggestion, she tries the Common Speech, a language used by peasants but no longer by Solgant Lords, a language so old it belongs to no one...or perhaps everyone. Recalling words from her childhood Llyndreth bridges the first barrier between them. His reply is proud, scornful, though he is near dying of thirst: "I, Zorn, am Captain among Shadow Warriors. I have asked no help of the Sun-spawned. Let you keep your water." But he, in turn, has seen the hurt in her eyes and has no doubt that she means kindly toward him, and, almost, he could accept kindness at her hands. As Angborn with his own reason for hating "goblins" goads Zorn, Llyndreth learns that the "goblin" is Danturin and that the Danturi are the Shadow People, forced because of long-ago treachery to live in the dark halls of the mountain, living during night, sleeping during day. But they once roamed free and proud before the Solgants came and the light did not hurt their eyes. They had been ruled by the mighty prince Dantur (whose self-wrought armband was such a great thing of power that it was coveted by one of the powerful "Old Ones" who lived first in the land). Llyndreth hears Zorn's bitter, hopeless defense of his people, sees him conquer his need for food and water, and knows that her own brother Rothwyn would praise such honor. "And honor was the last thing she had been led to except of a goblin." Zorn makes a valiant attempt to escape, leaving the sleeping girl and Eodan in peace. They find him almost immediately, in worse shape than before, and he is forced to lie quiet while Llyndreth tends to his needs and Angborn sees to his wound. He is too weak and too ill to care where his duty as a Danturin warrior lay, and by the time he is well enough, his fellow-warriors or "spear brothers" are near, and he knows only one thing: that he cannot

Wonderful, under-appreciated book. Read it!

A highly under-rated novel from Pat Zettner that should not be missed. Zettner tells a beautiful and at times very moving story of a created world in which three characters of different races form a friendship that holds great importance for not only themselves but also their world. The three enemy races are the Solgants (humans), Eodans (giants) and the Danturi (goblins), and the story focuses mainly on one girl. Llyndreth is an orphaned Solgant girl whose brother is away fighting goblins while she guards the home castle. When the situation changes Llyndreth goes off to find her brother (the inevitable quest/ journey) and along the way meets a giant called Angborn, and the wounded goblin Zorn, Captain of the Shadow Warriors.The uneasy relationship that develops between the three is one of the strengths of the book: the trio must confront and re-evaluate their prejudices, while their loyalties to their own races and to each other are tested. While not particularly large in scope, Zettner's created world is nevertheless an interesting one and the sense of history, prophecies and tri-racial conflict works nicely. Zettner tells the story well and keeps it moving, with the only (minor) flaw in style coming towards the end where the narrative tone (ie, of King Myrgg) becomes a little jokey, almost as though trivialising the events. Overall, however, the tone is consistently good. I have read this book many times over the years, but have only ever seen one copy (in my local library where often the only thing I could remember about it was its position - right down in the bottom shelf with the Zs). I hope other people don't miss out on it, because the characters are all wonderful and it's a well told story of friendship, loyalty and choices. The book was published over ten years ago, but I've never stopped hoping that Zettner might write a sequel, because these are great characters and I always wondered what happened to them. Not only a book that can be enjoyed by children and teens, it's a great story that readers of all ages can appreciate. I can't recommend this one enough.

A very good adventure book!

The Shadow Warrior is a very exciting adventure book. Pat Zettner was very clear on setting the scene,and describing the actions and characters.The book was very descriptive and well detailed. The book is about a girl named Llyndreth who is in her early teens, and is searching for her brother Rothwyn. Rothwyn is a warrior who is out fighting and slaying goblins and other enemies. Llyndreth is out searching for him to bring him home, and while on her journey she encounters many different adventures and problems and also meets interesting friends along the way such as a giant named Angborn. The book reminds me of medieval times with warriors, and battles. The plot is very easy to understand and can apply to people who enjoy a good adventure. I personally liked the book and thought it was very good, though it wasn't one of my favorites because I don't really like books that reflect to much on goblins and warriors. Even though I didn't love the book, I still liked it and enjoyed it. I do reccomend the book to people who are into warriors and goblins On a scale of one to ten I give the book an eight. What my opinion is may differ from others, so I suggest people should give this book a chance, because it will give you quite an adventure.

Fantastical story with modern undercurrents

This book is an excellent story that I have enjoyed again and again since I discovered it three years ago. It deals with modern prejudices and racial conflicts through the guise of Goblins, Giants, and Humans. When these three persons join forces against their own races, they ultimately come together conflicts, sacrifices, and disgrace to join their peoples in a peace a long time coming.