Legends of the Dragonrealm: Shade

Dragonrealm #8

by Richard A. Knaak

An exciting new novel set in the fantasy world of New York Times bestselling author Richard A. Knaak’s Dragonrealm series.

New York Times bestselling author Richard A. Knaak’s unforgettable Legends of the Dragonrealm series continues with this spellbinding tale of a powerful sorcerer trapped in a purgatory of his own making.

Survivor of a once-mighty race of sorcerers, the spellcaster known to those of the Dragonrealm simply as Shade struggles to find an end to the curse he brought upon himself millennia ago in his hope to escape death . . . and worse. Instead of immortality, he was condemned to an endless series of lives alternating between darkness and light, with “death” only resurrecting him over and over. His blurred features and unstable but terrible powers a threat to friend and foe alike, the hooded sorcerer must defy not only those who would manipulate him, but also his very self. Worse, he must do so always aware that even the land itself may have sinister designs upon him. . . .

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Science Fiction Fantasy, Dragons

321 pages, Paperback

First published August 14, 2012

About the author

Richard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.

Reviews

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reveals answers to many mysteries from earlier in the series; and presents new mysteries as well. Nothing is simple and much is at stake for the mighty as well as the average person. By the end, there are discovery, triumph, and great loss --- as well as hints of future possibilities.

Long-time readers should enjoy the tale. Mr. Knaak provides sufficient back-story information for new readers to follow the story.
I personally recommend the entire series.

[Barbara Huskey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won a copy from the Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

My son is very excited that I won this book. He loves Richard A. Knaak's books.

5/3/13 - I finally managed to dig this out of my son's room and read it myself. I enjoyed this book a lot. It was good and well written. I do wish that I had read the series prior to this book. I feel like the story was complete enough and interesting enough, but it definitely felt like I was missing some background story. It made me want more, that's for sure.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book before I read any of the other's, it made me alittle upset because I should of read the series before Shade (so if you read this my suggestion is to do so) it was an amazing book and I went and bought all four of the other books thank you Richard Knaak you have open my world to reading. Thumbs Up.

[Vojtěch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Návrat k Dragonrealmu. Vzpomínky na první knihy z této série, které jsem četl. A nyní držím v rukou příběh snad o nejzáhadnější postavě ságy. Bylo to překrásné dobrodružství a jeden z nejlepších dílů série, jsem spokojen.

[Mária Španová · Rating 5 out of 5]

Konečne! Dočkala som sa. Kniha č12 z tejto série a krásny autorov progres. Som nadšená. Shade ma úplne pohltil – temné, napínavé, emocionálne a strašne dobre napísané.

[Timothy McNeil · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is somewhat petty to let one paragraph of lazy writing and one instance (p. 279) where the wrong character's name is used (Cabe substitutes for Shade) keep this from getting a five star rating. So I'll say that I'm keeping it at four stars for the simple reason that the 'real death' of Gerrod Tezerenee feels so out of character with how the entire Dragonrealm stories had been structured to that point.
Still, I'm a huge GT fan and I think that Knaak has done a much better job developing Valea than he did with Aurim. It is a good book, but one that cannot be truly appreciated unless one has read all of the other Dragonrealm novels (as well as most the novellas/short stories that span the time between The Horse King and this one.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very welcome return to the Dragonrealm! This book goes deep into the history of the Realm's most engmatic character as well as some surprising revelations about some of the Dragon Kings. I cannot recommend this book if you have never read anything from the Dragonrealm series previously. There are the Legends of the Dragonrealm omnibusses out there that I highly recommend for any fantasy sword and sorcery fans. Well written and avoids a lot of the cliches prevelant in the genre. Knaak delievers extremely well thought out and imaginative stories that will keep you interested and guessing at the outcomes.

[Donna (Jaevenstar) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Knaak's writing style is so rich and vibrant. Every single word is carefully selected and builds the action so well! This is not a book you can rush through or you will get lost. The beautiful language sucked me into the story right away.

PS. Can I just tell you I think it is so cool that this author is involved in the World of Warcraft franchise!

[Jack Leone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story, linked all the other characters and their pasts together, what I didnt like was the plot twords the end, everyone had there own evil plot so I was getting confused on what was really happening. Shade is the man..

[Israha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Je poznat, že Knaak už zde byl "vypsaný" a oproti více než dvacet let starším začátkům Dragonrealmu s jistotou ví, jaké příběhy chce vyprávět. Shade je ucelená kniha s dějem o dobrém tempu i jisté nelineárnosti, ve které stejnou měrou zaujme osobní vrstva příběhu z pohledu Gerroda, Valey i Křišťálového draka, jakož i ta globální, ve které jde o osud celého Dragonrealmu. Opětovné zapojení Zakladatelů a jejich kapesních světů chválím, to mi na Dračí říší vždy přišlo jako ten nejzajímavější element, díky nim ten svět není jen jeden z dalších "magic and dragons" světů. Stejně tak jsem rád, že Knaak pro něj typicky opět některé věci vysvětlil, ale roušku tajemna a prostoru pro vlastní imaginaci ponechal. Co mi však přišlo už nad rámec, byly postranní příběhy ostatních postav (Gryf, Melicard a Erini, Aurim s Yssou, ostatní dračí králové, nakonec i bez těch sice cool, ale mírně okoukaných Vládců mrtvých by se to obešlo...o Temném koni ani nemluvím, toho fakt nemám rád), u kterých to působilo, jakoby je pro ně autor vymyslel jen proto, aby se v (tehdy) posledním díle této ságy vůbec mohly objevit a aby kniha obsahovala více akce.

[Stuart Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just another terrific novel from Knaak once again. I would have thought that all of the insight brought to Shade from all his near death and death experiences in this novel would have given him if not the insight to cure himself, then at the very least the knowledge as to at least how and where and what to find in order to find a cure. Hell he should be at least able to commune with the land, since he at least has his brothers essence in there, not to mention having an ally like the evolved Phoenix. I just did not like the end where we still find him looking for ancient places where there might be answers to his affliction.

[Britney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the book I have been waiting for! Out of all the characters Shade and Darkhorse are the most intriguing and exciting to me. So happy Shade finally got his own book! Amazing, just amazing :)

[James Berglund · Rating 5 out of 5]

The character ideas in this book are so fresh. I deeply enjoyed the world building in the entire series but this is the best entry.

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was kind of a standalone, but it takes place in a larger universe after much has happened. While I was able to read it as a standalone, I couldn't help but feel that I was missing out on a lot of background lore. This book isn't in a numbered series, but I feel it should be read as though it were. Knaak has a habit of using strange sentence structure in wording that sometimes left me reading the same sentence multiple times before understanding it. Apart from that its a great book. I'm going to go back and read the rest of his Dragonrealm series.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just could not get into this novel. I finished it, but only because I made myself. I have a lot of love for the original books in this series, but since I have grown as a reader, I guess I want more. Everyone we meet in this book as some kind of epicly powerful wizard, always pushing themselves to the limit of their power, yet they always have more and without the real need to rest, they are always ready for more.

[Ruth Kyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as good as his previous books, Or perhaps it was not as good due to the fact that he tried to end the series in the last 5 chapters. =( =(

[Corey Grozelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

boy its wow wee that is interested story. i didn't know theres a lot of dragons to stand order. and that was really good moment that she kissed someone forgot hes name. but o well.

[Michal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is one of the best books of dragonrealm series. Finally, the story of Shade is show and is quite unexpected and still the end brings new questions and new possible stories! :)

[Rob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great world

Probably the best book in an already excellent series. Well crafted and well written. I can't wait to see what the next books will bring.