The Adventures of Izzy Adams Series
“The Adventures of Izzy Adams” by award winning author, Jessica Lee Sheppard contains two, and soon to be three books in a series of five. “Descending into Darkness,” and “Bound by Darkness,” pull us into the life of Isabelle ‘Izzy’ Adams, a college student on the brink of waking up to a supernatural existence layered with folklore and a compelling cast of dangerous characters.
Izzy’s story begins in the pits of normalcy, she is torn between the obligation of carrying on a family business that her heart is not in, or, pursuing higher education against her domineering mother’s wishes. There is also the death of her father that haunts her and has left her vulnerable and obedient. Izzy’s life is thrown into a whirlwind of the supernatural when she astral projects one night into supernatural realms. She is stalked and attacked thereafter by these supernatural forces. With the state of her mental faculties in self-doubt, Sheppard carves out a character arc of a strong-spirited young woman coming into her own power and understanding of a world that was never as it appeared to be.
Threaded through these trajectories of multi-dimensional existences and boundaries set in her mortal life, Sheppard also encapsulates romance and the type of love we crave, a soul-mate love that extends beyond time and the limitations of space.
“Descending into Darkness” and “Bound by Darkness” exemplify a prowess in world-building and rich characterization that will appeal to readers who fell in love with Harry Potter. Amongst the shock and intrigue of mystical plot-elements, readers will fall in love with Izzy, her untamed hair and quirky idiosyncricities, and above all, they will root for her as she takes on more than what other college students go through.
Published on November 26, 2023, “Descending into Darkness” was the Feathered Quill Book Awards finalist for 2024 for both Fantasy and Debut Author categories. “Descending into Darkness” also was a finalist for the American Fiction Awards for the Coming of Age Category. Lastly, the novel was a finalist for The Independent Author Network Book of the Year Awards in Fiction: New Adult Category. Readers will become invested in this Fantasy series with a rich protagonist and the promise of the potential of an up and coming Canadian author.
Jessica Lee Sheppard is a multi-award-winning Canadian author, social worker and mother of four. Sheppard earned her Masters in social work and has worked in child protection and mental health. This career trajectory has shaped her and inspired her writing. Pulling in themes centred around trauma and societal issues, Sheppard’s narratives push readers through real-world challenges underlying Fantasy plot elements. Admirably, Sheppard is self-published and has created her own publishing platform, Sheplen Press. Stamping her thumbprint through marketing and her involvement in festivals, Sheppard is forging her place in the Canadian industry.
Izzy took on a presence in my mind of a believable and relatable lead protagonist. I enjoyed witnessing her growth and rising to occasions in the midst of horror and suspense. Character pieces like twisting her blond curls around her finger and the dialogue with her family gave depth to Izzy and the supernatural world she would find herself immersed in.
The plotline of “Descending into Darkness” is described by other reviewers as “a slow-burning ember, gradually intensifying into a magnificent inferno over time.” It is evident that much thought and planning has gone into the span of a five-book series, Sheppard has left Easter eggs throughout that ties the overarching plot together. A supernatural landscape embedded with the human world was pulled off seamlessly enriching the setting and character orientation within it. The blend of mystical and human was believable, while some scenes have stayed in my mind.
Sheppard gives context to the creative and personal development of the spiritual on her website. The author explains that her “fascination with the afterlife began at our kitchen table, watching the women in my family get their tea leaves read. I was enthralled by the possibility that a spirit could be right there, whispering secrets from beyond.” She continues, “as I grew older, I found myself seeking out psychics, eagerly writing down the reading. Regardless of whether their predictions materialized, I persisted in exploring the world of spiritualism, desperately seeking some form of connection with “the other side.”” These encounters inspired Sheppard’s writing. “All of this gave me an idea for a novel about how a soul transforms. It would explore how a person’s choices across multiple lives could corrupt their soul, turning it from something pure into an irredeemable darkness.” Thus, “The Adventures of Izzy Adams” was born. “It was at this moment that my oldest daughter, Isabelle, otherwise known as “Izzy,” came to mind—a vibrant little prankster with blonde hair, sparkling blue eyes and a strong-willed spirit. Drawing from my daughter’s personality, as well as some of my own traits, the main character of my story came to life.” Blending real life and Fantasy, Sheppard has succeeded in creating a fictional world of intrigue.
I didn’t always see what was coming, and the curve balls in the plotline deepened Izzy’s story. This series will appeal to YA and Fantasy readers alike. I look forward to Book Three, “Shattered by Darkness” and the remainder of “The Adventures of Izzy Adams.”
