Shadow Skill takes place in a well-constructed fantasy world. It is complete with appropriate politics, social systems, and everything else it could possibly need. The show itself is in a bad spot though. I suspect the fantasy purists drop it because at first glance it appears to be a martial arts anime. Well, okay, it is a martial arts anime. It has some of the classic elements of that genre. At the same time, though, it is appropriate to say that the Shadow Skill is just part of their world: like magic in D&D. Fans of martial artsanime are also likely to be disappointed with Shadow Skill because the martial arts are simply part of the warfare. There are some training scenes and whatnot, but the show is also very concerned with political maneuvering and other larger issues.

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Shadow Skill follows a handful of characters that are basically individual, independently acting soldiers. They find themselves increasingly embroiled in the machinations of some unknown power that seeks to destroy their nation, and plunge their entire continent into war.

Probably the most vexing thing about this show is that it is incomplete. The first season is finished and it makes a complete story, but that story is basically the first arc of some grand, multi-season epic that was never told. It's still good though.