Shadowshaper

Sierra Santiago , a young artist in Brooklyn, notices something strange: the murals in her neighborhood are fading and even weeping. Her grandfather, Lázaro , who has been incoherent since a stroke, mutters about shadowshapers and warns her of impending danger. Sierra learns that her family is part of a secret tradition of shadowshapers , who can infuse art with spirits. As she grapples with this revelation, she realizes that an evil anthropologist, Jonathan Wick , is targeting her family and their legacy. With the help of Robbie , a fellow artist and shadowshaper , Sierra delves deeper into h

Theme 1: Murals Weep and Fade

This thread running through Shadowshaper gives the story its emotional weight. Daniel José Older weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 2: Secrets of Shadowshaping

This thread running through Shadowshaper gives the story its emotional weight. Daniel José Older weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

Theme 3: The Domino King's Warning

This thread running through Shadowshaper gives the story its emotional weight. Daniel José Older weaves it into the narrative with skill, ensuring that the reader feels the stakes as deeply as the characters do.

What Readers Say About Shadowshaper

Shadowshaper has resonated with readers for its emotional honesty and vivid storytelling. Many describe finishing it in a single sitting — drawn forward by Daniel José Older's prose and an almost desperate need to know how it ends.

A Passage Worth Sitting With

"Murals Weep and Fade" — Daniel José Older, Shadowshaper

About the Author

Daniel José Older is the author of Shadowshaper. Known for emotionally resonant storytelling, their work has found devoted readers across the globe.