The fable "Curse of the Shadow" tells the story of a small village that is plagued by a mysterious curse. The curse brings forth a shadowy figure that terrorizes and haunts the villagers, causing great fear and despair among them. The shadowy figure appears only at night, lurking in the darkness and striking fear into the hearts of the villagers. The curse is said to have been brought upon the village by their own actions. Long ago, the villagers were known for their greed and selfishness. They would hoard wealth and resources, never sharing with those in need.
It’s subtle, but I think the Dekkers are referencing Jesus’s meeting with the Samaritan woman in John 4. In this conversation, Jesus reveals himself as Messiah and tears down the societal and ethnic constructs that separated Jews and Samaritans. The message from Jesus: You can be a Samaritan and follow Jesus too.
The whole plotline of the first four Lost Books is about how at least three original Books of History are needed to physically transport beings from one reality to another. The Dream Traveler s Quest is a four-book series written by Kara and Ted Dekker that pairs with Ted Dekker s Beyond the Circle duology that released around the same time.
They would hoard wealth and resources, never sharing with those in need. This angered the spirits that watched over the village, and they decided to teach the villagers a lesson. The curse was cast upon the village, creating the shadowy figure that would haunt them.
The Curse of Shadowman (Dream Traveler’s Quest #2) | Kara & Ted Dekker
What if you could find a way to enter another reality full of wild and life changing adventure? And what if every time you fell asleep you woke up in that other reality? Welcome to the world of Theo Dunnery, a twelve year-old boy who feels alone and full of fear when he stumbles on an ancient book that draws him into another world.
In that world, he learns he must complete a quest to find the Five Seals of Truth if he is to conquer his fears. Facing great odds and many enemies, Theo sets off on the adventure of a lifetime to discover who he really is as the son of Elyon, and overcome the darkness that has haunted him for so long.
Join Theo on The Dream Traveler’s Quest, one story told in four chapter books. Read all four and discover the truth for yourself.
(ed. note: These reviews are written from the perspective of an adult comparing this series to the Circle. Someone coming at the story with no previous knowledge may have a different perspective.)
The Dream Traveler’s Quest is a four-book series written by Kara and Ted Dekker that pairs with Ted Dekker’s Beyond the Circle duology that released around the same time. Written for ages 7-12, The Dream Traveler’s Quest follows Theo Dunnery, who stumbles upon an ancient Book of History that sucks him into another world. Here, Theo learns to overcome his loneliness and fear through the Five Seals: five statements of truth that Ted Dekker developed in his non-fiction work, The Way of Love. But the journey won’t be easy, evil bats and school bullies will conspire to stop Theo from discovering his identity as the son of Elyon.
The Curse of Shadowman takes place a couple weeks after book one and we see Theo desperate to go back to Other Earth. We’re also introduced to Annelee, who ends up being the butt of school bully Asher’s jokes this time around. (Easter Egg: Ted’s wife is named LeeAnn. You fill in the blanks from there.) While Theo is still in school, the young Roush named Stokes appears and tells Theo that he needs to come back to Other Earth and bring Annelee with him.
Pause for a moment. The whole plotline of the first four Lost Books is about how at least three original Books of History are needed to physically transport beings from one reality to another. But here, Roush (and later, Shataiki) move between the worlds at will. Stokes says it’s because he ate a certain fruit—playing off the established mechanic that certain fruits in OE have different effects—but this is a subversion of the established canon. It’s a plot hole. A big one. One that would have been fixed with good editing. Anyway, onward…
Theo finds Annelee and convinces her to go with him to the special room in the library. Which, you know, under normal circumstances, several red flags are now waving. Against Annelee’s will, Theo jabs her finger with a thumbtack and makes her bleed on the page.
“I’m sorry. I needed your blood, and I knew you wouldn’t give it if I asked.”
I know this isn’t what Kara or Ted Dekker intended, but the lack of consent really bothers me here. The implicit message becomes that it’s okay to violate someone’s body or harm them if you know/believe that it will result in their (or your) greater good. There needed a better way to write this to avoid them implication. Most kids are going to read right over it or not think critically about it, but still.
Theo and Annelee appear in Other Earth and go with Michal, Gabil, and Stokes to Mount Veritas. In book one, the journey to Veritas goes through a Roush village. In The Curse of Shadowman, they take a different route and end up meeting a Horde girl named Maya who loves Elyon.
It’s subtle, but I think the Dekkers are referencing Jesus’s meeting with the Samaritan woman in John 4. In this conversation, Jesus reveals himself as Messiah and tears down the societal and ethnic constructs that separated Jews and Samaritans. The message from Jesus: You can be a Samaritan and follow Jesus too.
The Dream Traveler’s Quest plays off of this by introducing us to Maya, who is both Horde and a follower of Elyon. The Horde are afflicted with a scabbing disease, one that can be healed by drowning in Elyon’s Red Lakes. In the Circle Trilogy, the disease is symbolic of the effects of sin and drowning is a spiritual symbol of repentance and a physical symbol of baptism. But here, the point is that even though Maya is ugly and smelly on the outside, it is what is inside that matters. A very good point—except that Other Earth is explicitly a place where the inside is made manifest on the outside.
It’s a good theme that is poorly executed given the world’s established mechanics. If you’re reading this with no previous knowledge of the Horde, if you’re reading this as a standalone lesson about inner beauty, then great! But if you’re reading this within the context of the Circle, then it simply doesn’t hold up.
All of this is foreshadowing to Theo and Annelee being captured and turned into Horde themselves. Ba’al, the high priest, has concocted a potion that makes Albinos (those with smooth skin who have drowned into Horde). Normally, I’d say that the idea that evil can undo the work wrought by Elyon is heresy, but in this new context, it appears that the symbolism of the scabbing disease is only skin deep. So, whatever.
The theme—that Elyon looks past our struggles and temptation and sins to really see us as his creation, and that evil often promises us outward beauty through popularity, wealth, success, and so on—that’s a really good theme. I absolutely love it. The trio—Theo, Annelee, and Maya—defeat Shadowman by realizing and proclaiming that they are the light of the world, that Elyon’s power flows through them. It’s a stunning climax only made clunky because the symbolism doesn’t fit Other Earth.
Overall, The Curse of Shadowman suffers from some of the same flaws as The Book of Light and The Dream Traveler’s Quest as a whole. The writing is mediocre, the attention to the established world is minimal, the mechanics seem forced. And yet, the theme is solid—as long as you take it as-is and not as part of the larger Circle mythos. If this story was divorced from the world of the Circle, I’d be able to give it a much higher rating.
About Ted Dekker
Ted Dekker is a New York Times best-selling author of more than forty novels. He is best known for stories which could be broadly described as suspense thrillers with major twists and unforgettable characters, though he has also made a name for himself among fantasy fans. Dekker’s novels have sold over 5 million copies worldwide. Two of his novels, Thr3e and House, have been made into movies with more in production. Dekker resides in Austin, Texas with his wife Lee Ann and two of their daughters.
(ed. note: These reviews are written from the perspective of an adult comparing this series to the Circle. Someone coming at the story with no previous knowledge may have a different perspective.)
The figure was meant to reflect the darkness within the villagers' hearts, a constant reminder of their past actions. The curse could only be lifted by a selfless act of kindness and generosity from every villager. As the years went by, the villagers lived in fear of the shadowy figure. They became closed off and mistrustful of one another, each fearing that the other would betray them to save themselves. The once vibrant and harmonious village became a place of isolation and despair. But one day, a young girl named Lily arrived in the village. She had heard legends of the curse and was determined to break it. Despite the warnings and fear from the villagers, Lily began to show acts of selflessness and kindness. She helped those in need, shared what she had, and genuinely cared for the villagers. Slowly but surely, the villagers began to follow Lily's example. They saw the light in her actions and realized that the only way to break the curse was to change their own ways. They started to embrace kindness, generosity, and love for one another. And one night, as the shadowy figure approached the village, it found itself unable to enter. The darkness that once consumed the village was replaced by the light of compassion and unity. The villagers had finally broken the curse. The fable "Curse of the Shadow" teaches us that our actions and choices have consequences. It reminds us of the power of empathy and kindness, and how these virtues can overcome even the darkest of curses. By embracing love and selflessness, we can transform ourselves and our communities, breaking free from the shadows and finding the light..
Reviews for "The Curse of the Shadow: Exploring the Dark Side of Fable's Magic System"
1. John - 2 stars:
I was disappointed with "Fable: Curse of the Shadow". The storyline felt unoriginal and predictable, and the characters lacked depth. The action scenes were mediocre, and the special effects were underwhelming. Overall, the movie failed to engage me or leave a lasting impression. I would recommend skipping this one.
2. Emily - 3 stars:
While "Fable: Curse of the Shadow" had some entertaining elements, it fell short in several areas. The dialogue was often clichéd and the acting felt forced. I also found the pacing to be uneven, with long stretches of exposition that didn't add much to the overall plot. While it may appeal to die-hard fans of the fantasy genre, I don't think it lived up to its potential.
3. Mark - 2.5 stars:
"Fable: Curse of the Shadow" had potential, but it ultimately failed to deliver. The script was weak, with poorly developed characters and an unoriginal storyline. The fight scenes were poorly choreographed, and the special effects were lackluster at best. I felt like I had seen this type of movie done much better before, and I was left disappointed by the end. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.
4. Sarah - 2 stars:
I was excited to watch "Fable: Curse of the Shadow" but was ultimately let down. The plot was convoluted and hard to follow, and the pacing was off. The dialogue was cheesy, and the acting didn't do much to elevate the material. The action scenes lacked intensity, and the overall production value was subpar. It's a forgettable movie that I wouldn't watch again.