The Shadows We Cast Book Review

07 February 2022

The Shadows We Cast looks at the relationship between a victim and a perpetrator. This story deals with sexual assault and readers should be aware that there is some sexual content in this story. If you are sensitive to this subject be warned.

Sarah Tinsley explores a sensitive subject with this debut novel in a creative way that is guaranteed to leave readers with a lot to talk about when they reach the end of this book. This one will be a good choice for a book club.

The story is told from Nina and Eric’s perspective, changing from one to the other from chapter to chapter. This allows you to see events from the victim and the perpetrators view which at times leaves you unsettled. This is a difficult book to read and initially, I battled to become invested. However, the more I read the angrier I become as events started clarifying. This book will stir emotions in you as you flick the pages.

After attending a party where she drank way too much, Nina wakes up in a strange bed and realises that something terrible has happened to her. As the days pass, memories of that night return and Nina slowly starts putting the pieces together. She was raped, and she is convinced that Will, the guy she rejected that night is responsible. Nina is not able to confide in anyone, but she is determined to make Will’s life a living misery for what he did to her.

When she meets Eric, a peculiar, nice guy and he offers to help her, she feels justified in her revenge plan. However, her need for revenge consumes her, leaving her isolated with only Eric to depend on. A man she has only just met.

I struggled through the first couple of chapters of this book, I felt a little confused, not quite sure where the story was going. The more I read, the more invested I become and soon felt consumed with anger. This book deals with sexual assault, and questions if it is rape if there is no violence involved. Nina fears that she will be blamed for what happened to her because she did not fight. The woman doubted herself for everything, from what she wearing to how much she had to drink. While the rapist felt he didn’t do anything wrong.

This is not an easy read, but it manages to stir all the required emotions to make sure the reader will have a lot to say by the time they read the last page.

The author created characters that are guaranteed to evoke a reaction from the reader. Nina is an intelligent, successful woman. Yet when she is raped, she questions herself, her strength and the choices she made that led to the event. She is consumed by guilt and the need for revenge is so huge it leads her just about destroying her own life.

Eric on the other hand is a serious piece of work, how the author imagined this character into existence is beyond me. This man’s thoughts will leave you amazed.

This book will haunt you as you turn the pages, it is crafty and tells a dark story that will leave you eager to share your thoughts. The author wants readers to talk about rape when they finish reading this book. She shows the importance of support and the need for victims to feel that they will be believed – not judged for what happened to them.

If you are looking for a dark read with a clear message that will leave you wanting to share your thoughts when you finish the book, then this is the book for you. Just be prepared to have your emotions seriously stirred.