Shadowmancer is a young adult fictional novel written by Anglican vicar G.P. Taylor, in opposition to the "atheist propaganda" found in books such as Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials series.
The story concerns Obadiah Demurral, Shadowmancer of the title, who seeks an artifact called the Keruvim, which he believes will bring him supreme power. Opposing him is local ruffian Thomas Barrick, his Tomboy friend Kate, and the mysterious stranger Raphah, an African boy who has been seeking the stolen Keruvim, and who teaches the others the ways of Riathamus (God). Accompanying them is highwayman Jacob Crane, whose selfish outlook on life begins to change upon becoming as he begins to better understand God.
In 2006, a sequel, The Curse of Salamander Street was released.
The books provide examples of the following tropes.
- Cool Sword: The Sword of Mayence.
- Demonic Possession: The Dunamez must possess human bodies in order to remain corporeal on Earth.
- Elite Mooks: The Varrigal, bodyguards to the Devil himself.
- Evil Cripple: Beadle initially starts out as a rather pathetic version of this, before undergoing a Heel–Face Turn.
- Heel–Faith Turn: While Beadle is practically a Minion with an F in Evil and Jacob Crane is more of a selfish rogue, they both undergo one of these through the course of the book.
- Holy Burns Evil: Averted, Pyratheon states that while he dislikes being in a Church, he has spent time in the presence of God Himself and is thus able to bear the experience.
- I Have Many Names: Pyratheon describes himself as such:Pyratheon: I am Pyratheon, that is my true name, I am the one behind every deity that is not Him. I am Pan, Baal, the Earth Goddess and whatever form or distraction I could think of to get your kind to worship me.
- Light Is Not Good: The Glashan (fallen angels) are blonde and beautiful men, but are thoroughly terrifying and evil.
- Line-of-Sight Name: Raphael chooses his Earthly pseudonym after seeing a sign above the tavern where he is staying.
- Living MacGuffin: It eventually turns out that the second half of the Keruvim is actually Raphah.
- Mistreatment-Induced Betrayal: Beadle eventually turns on Demurral after many years of verbal and physical abuse.
- Sequel Hook: As Jacob Crane's ship sails off at the close of the book, the Seloth are noted to be slowly following behind. In the updated versions of the book, the Seloth attack the ship and Raphah has been taken by the sea.
- Shout-Out: Crane threatens Captain Farrell by telling him there'll be no more whiskey for him, a reference to the figure of Captain Farrell in the folk song "Whiskey in the Jar."
- Voice Changeling: A Glashan is able to trick Farrell by taking on the voice of his wife.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Averted, Demurral claims this in order to try and receive mercy from Thomas, but Thomas is unconvinced.
- Man on Fire: At the close of the book, Thomas immolates Demurral by putting a burning coal in his pocket leading to:
- Mercy Kill: Beadle shoots his former Master following his immolation.
