Tyra’s ghostly quest.
Filled with eerie occurrences and an omnipresent sense of the supernatural, ‘Tyra of the Shadows’ by Martha Wickham is a chilling and deeply atmospheric novel that follows the life of a teenage girl, Tyra Smythe.
Thirteen-year-old Tyra resides in an old, haunted house with her adoptive parents. The novel begins with Tyra’s fascination with the shadows in her room, setting the tone for the mysterious events that follow. Her life takes a darker turn when her parents leave for London, and nanny, Hattie comes to take care of her. Tyra soon discovers her adoption papers, revealing that her biological mother was a woman named Terra Green. This discovery triggers Tyra’s quest to uncover her past and her connection to the ghostly happenings around her, particularly with a ghost named Abby. The use of a Ouija board intensifies the hauntings, especially during pivotal moments like her birthday party. Tyra’s curiosity escalates when she suspects that her mother may have been brought back to life as the Bride of Frankenstein, adding a layer of horror and gothic intrigue to the story. The tension further heightens when the house is transformed into a public haunted attraction, leading to more frequent and frightening ghostly encounters, while the house’s supernatural forces become increasingly malevolent.
In ‘Tyra of the Shadows’, Martha Wickham masterfully blends elements of ghost stories, gothic horror, and coming-of-age drama to create a novel that is both eerie and emotionally resonant. The story skillfully intertwines the everyday struggles of adolescence with the chilling presence of the supernatural. Tyra’s connection with the ghostly inhabitants, particularly Abby, a spirit from the 1800s, adds depth and complexity to the narrative. Author Martha Wickham has truly outdone herself, crafting a story that is brief yet incredibly captivating.
With its immersive narrative and finely developed characters, this novel lingers in the reader’s mind well beyond the last page. ‘Tyra of the Shadows’ is a mesmerizing, 5-star experience for fans of ghost stories and coming-of-age fiction.
