Shadows of the Dark Crystal #1 (Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal)

Product Description

Shadows of the Dark Crystal is the first book in a series of young adult novels set in the world of Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal and ties into the Netflix
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance series. The story takes place years before the events of the classic film and follows the journey of a young Gelfling woman who leaves her secluded home to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her brother who has been accused of treason by the sinister Skeksis Lords.

Praise for
Shadows of the Dark Crystal: “With deft nods to the original Dark Crystal movie and a passionate attention to detail, the author has fashioned an impressive prequel. Fans (who will instantly recognize certain elements) and newcomers alike will find themselves immersed in a new narrative, with new protagonists and dangers to face. Readers who crave otherworld fantasy such as Jaleigh Johnson’s
The Mark of the Dragonfly and Paul Durham’s
The Luck Uglies will enjoy discovering this new series.”
—
School Library Journal
 
“While young readers probably won’t have seen the film, the books might lead them to it; even if they don’t have that point of reference, Henson’s world is richly imagined here, and it will be well worth the projected four books to explore the landscape, characters, and storylines.”
—
The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
 
“Characters and situations are compelling, and this first of a planned four-volume series aptly sets the stage and the conflict and tugs strongly on the heartstrings, setting readers up for more great adventures”
—
Booklist  
Before you watch the upcoming Netflix series, read the original novels from J. M. Lee (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) that intertwine with the events of the series.

Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal: Shadows of the Dark Crystal is set years before the events of the classic film and follows the journey of a young Gelfling woman who leaves her secluded home to uncover the truth surrounding the disappearance of her brother who has been accused of treason by the sinister Skeksis Lords.

About the Author

J. M. (Joseph) Lee is a staff writer and creative consultant on
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a 10-episode Netflix prequel series scheduled for 2019. He is a novelist, writing mentor, illustrator, and graphic designer with a background in linguistics and film. As a writer, he finds the most rewarding stories in fusion genre, from nostalgic historical fantasies to gritty sci-fi westerns. On the side, he enjoys dabbling in experimental short fiction and drinking a lot of coffee.

Cory Godbey creates fanciful illustrations for picture books, covers, comics, editorial, advertising, animated shorts, and films.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter 1
 

The visitor appeared in the early morning, before the Great Sun had reached its summit in the pale blue sky.  
Naia watched from the cooler canopy of the great tangled apeknot trees. At first, she put her hand to her rock-and-rope
bola, but paused when the visitor hesitated to shed her cloak, which was heavy with mud and algae. Beneath the hood, Naia saw a stern-faced Gelfling woman with long silver hair. What was a Vapra doing so deep in the Swamp of Sog? It was peculiar—maybe even suspicious—yet Naia felt no fearful quickening of her heart, and her hand dropped away from her
bola. All around, the Swamp of Sog stretched and yawned for morning, the droning of buzzers and chirruping of climbers
crik-criking in harmony with the great song of the world. Watching the visitor, Naia took a sour alfen fruit from her waist-pouch and munched on it in thought.
 
“She must have come a long way,” Naia murmured. Her companion, Neech, coiled in her vine-like hair, gave only a quiet burble in response, burying his head further in her dreadlocks. As the visitor resumed her journey, Naia balanced the alfen fruit’s smooth knuckle-size pit between two ridges of apeknot bark. A quick flick