Ahead of the official release of the first book of the Phaedrus saga, The Dead Shadow, we feel it may be a good idea to introduce our main characters officially.
After all, we’ve been living with them for a few years now. But I guess they are still strangers to everyone else!
So who can you expect to meet when the book gets published later this year?
Except for two giddy with excitement and socially awkward writers, I mean.
The Shadow
The Shadow has no name. He is a magician who died a long time ago and became a magical Shadow. He kept his personality but has long lost all memories of his life. All he knows for sure is that he died young. As a Shadow, his essence is magical, which is why every Shadow is assigned to a magician.
Shadows act as a magical instrument that helps magicians channel the magical light. In many ways, they are not dissimilar to a wand, assuming you’d find a wand that talks back at you.
Our particular Shadow is from the Dynamis Lands, whose magic is purple. He’s been around for enough years to have learned a few tricks along the way. On the one hand, this makes him someone you could count on when faced with sudden and unexpected situations. On the other hand, his first reaction isn’t necessarily the best choice,
He is quick to take action… sometimes a little too quick but we can’t blame him for trying.
“We’d been busy pulverising our way through a wall and running like a bunch of demented goats.”
Rhode
Rhode is an Earthling, which means that she doesn’t come from a magical Land. As such, she doesn’t have a magical Shadow and she isn’t expected to know anything about magic.
She’s our favourite female character in YA fantasy at the moment.
Rhode is around 13~14 year-old and harbours vengeful thoughts against the magician who killed her brother many years ago. She is set on avenging his death, even if it costs her life.
She, however, has one trump card up her far-too short sleeve: she can do Nekros magic. Without a Shadow, her magic is not as strong as the one of magicians, but she seems to be betting on the element of surprise here.
The colour of her magic is black, which is also the colour of the magical burn she accidentally gave herself on the wrist.
Strategic planning isn’t her forte. She’s more of an intuitive character, which is why she tends to jump into situations without seeing the full picture, or any picture at all:
“She wasn’t going to let a little thing like not knowing what she was up against put her off either.”
Other Important Characters You Should Meet
Pamphilos: We’ll talk more about Pamphilos in another article. He’s also an Earthling like Rhode. He’s dedicated his life learning about the magic of his world and helping Shadow, which has earned him the title of Shaman.
He’s highly respected in the magical world, but less in the Earth Lands. He’s determined to find the cause for all the magical troubles.
Helena: Helena is the daughter of Alexis. She is from the Lands of Dynamis and should have become a magician. However, she never could as a result of magical troubles and instead has spent most of her adult life sheltered in a village, away from curious and judgey eyes, She can hear Shadows, both in the magical world and in the spirit world.
She’s nicknamed the Clairvoyant, and she’s the first living person who befriends Rhode. She is messy chaos personified but she’s a good sort.
“I think we should all die quietly, now.”
Alexis: He is Helena’s father and the Shadow’s current magician. Alexis is probably the only person you will meet in this world who can draw a map of any region he visits, which is more useful than expected if you want to find your way around.
He is a caring father to Helena and is happy to become a fatherly figure to Rhode too, as she embarks with them on a journey in enemy territory.