Karen Hancock is a truely talented writer. Her characters remain true to their nature throughout her tales, stories are unveiled at a smooth, steady pace and the environment is described in a manner that enables the reader to envision it without having to wade through unnecessary prose. The Shadow Within is a perfect example of the above. Characters are richly developed and I find myself caring about them to the extent that I eagerly await the next installment of the Guardian King series so I can know what becomes of them. I believe any fan of Fantasy will enjoy Karen Hancock's books, including this one. For those who are Christian, it can be enjoyed and appreciated on different levels.