The Starbridge Academy series continues with Shadow World. A deeply depressed student, Mark Kenner, is assigned to work with an Elspind. This is a challenge for him as they have very short lives and no fear of death, while he has dealt with too much death in recent times.

But in an attempt to keep him at the school, the administrators assign him to partner the Elspind. He finds it hard to understand how they can be so accepting of their short lives, and especially how they can dance a dance dedicated to live and death each and every day.

Mark, his partner and a young reporter are onboard a ship when it is hijacked by Elspind (Wospind) who are violently opposed to research being done to extend their lifespan. He is forced to deal with a life and death situation, which he feels vastly underqualified for.

I did enjoy this book pretty well. Not top of the list, but not at the bottom either.