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The Way Shadows Live: A Sacred Tale
An imprisoned dancer. A cunning rogue. One daring rescue mission.
In the bustling canyon city of Varaar, Tab's world has been turned upside down. Her beloved partner, Fawn, is held captive by one of the city's most notorious and dangerous gangs. But as an Olphin, a race shunned and accused of treachery, Tab's path to rescue her lover is fraught with peril.
With a fierce determination, Tab sets out to save her partner. However, the gang's ruthless goons and paid thugs block her every move, and it seems as if she might never succeed.
With dangers and new enemies at every turn, can Tab free her lover from the clutches of the gangs and still remain free herself?
This fast-paced fantasy adventure story set in the Sacred universe can be read as a prequel to the Sacred series or as a stand-alone for fans of Tab's journey eager to learn more about the events that turned her into the hero they've come to know and love.
In the bustling canyon city of Varaar, Tab's world has been turned upside down. Her beloved partner, Fawn, is held captive by one of the city's most notorious and dangerous gangs. But as an Olphin, a race shunned and accused of treachery, Tab's path to rescue her lover is fraught with peril.
With a fierce determination, Tab sets out to save her partner. However, the gang's ruthless goons and paid thugs block her every move, and it seems as if she might never succeed.
With dangers and new enemies at every turn, can Tab free her lover from the clutches of the gangs and still remain free herself?
This fast-paced fantasy adventure story set in the Sacred universe can be read as a prequel to the Sacred series or as a stand-alone for fans of Tab's journey eager to learn more about the events that turned her into the hero they've come to know and love.
49 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2023
4 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 4, 2023
THE WAY SHADOWS LIVE by MAGGIE BEELER
The depth to this novella is splendid! Once again, Ms Maggie Beeler astonished me with her writing prowess. Having read Sacred 2 years ago, I was excited to get back into this very unusual, very different world. Yeah yeah yeah, you've heard people say "different world" many times but THIS is different! Here the inhabitants are all sorts of....creatures?animals! Yes, lizards, bears, you name it, it's there! And it's a brutal world, run by gangs who are shadier than the darkest recesses.
In this world we meet Tab, an outcast, shunned and accused of all sorts of wrongdoing, who is one of the fiercest characters I've read. She will do anything, and I mean anything, to get her partner Fern out the clutches of the most vile and dangerous gang member of them all. The attention to detail, the very engaging storytelling and wonderfully fast paced novella set my tastebuds alight, or is it my "reading buds?" Whichever buds it awakened, they were blazing by the end. So much so that I once again say, astonishing! Astonishing that a young author, with an imagination to rival the best of them, could pen such poignant prose, such an engaging world, to give us a new fresh read where everything stands out, from characters to plot, in the most delightfully unique way.
The depth to this novella is splendid! Once again, Ms Maggie Beeler astonished me with her writing prowess. Having read Sacred 2 years ago, I was excited to get back into this very unusual, very different world. Yeah yeah yeah, you've heard people say "different world" many times but THIS is different! Here the inhabitants are all sorts of....creatures?animals! Yes, lizards, bears, you name it, it's there! And it's a brutal world, run by gangs who are shadier than the darkest recesses.
In this world we meet Tab, an outcast, shunned and accused of all sorts of wrongdoing, who is one of the fiercest characters I've read. She will do anything, and I mean anything, to get her partner Fern out the clutches of the most vile and dangerous gang member of them all. The attention to detail, the very engaging storytelling and wonderfully fast paced novella set my tastebuds alight, or is it my "reading buds?" Whichever buds it awakened, they were blazing by the end. So much so that I once again say, astonishing! Astonishing that a young author, with an imagination to rival the best of them, could pen such poignant prose, such an engaging world, to give us a new fresh read where everything stands out, from characters to plot, in the most delightfully unique way.
August 8, 2023
I've been so excited for this short story ever since it was announced. Tab is one of my favorite characters in the Eslura world and I loved seeing more of what made her the jaded, grumpy person she is in Sacred. This was a super action packed tale that shows the desperate lengths Tab would go to in order to save the one she loves. I was hoping to see a little more interaction between Tab and Fawn but I'll be looking forward to more of them in the future of the series (hopefully).
June 9, 2023
An action-packed novella from start to finish! I haven’t read more of this authors work, but it did have me thrown into the world of Tab and her willingness to do anything for Fawn. It also definitely kept me engaged from beginning to end.
The writing itself was good, and I felt like I was getting a lot of description in such a short read.
That being said, this was more of a 4.5 for me but I rounded up. I had so many more questions for what would happen to them in the future and it didn’t feel like I got a full story resolution. While I know it’s a novella, it felt like a chapter in a much larger story!
At least I can look forward to her other books 🤞
The writing itself was good, and I felt like I was getting a lot of description in such a short read.
That being said, this was more of a 4.5 for me but I rounded up. I had so many more questions for what would happen to them in the future and it didn’t feel like I got a full story resolution. While I know it’s a novella, it felt like a chapter in a much larger story!
At least I can look forward to her other books 🤞
June 6, 2023
Another amazing novella in the A Sacred Tale series
This book was about Tab and she was my favorite character in the main book and it was a lovely touch to see what happened to her to mold her into who she is in the main book
My heart is breaking for Tab and I need more about her story and if she finds them
This book was about Tab and she was my favorite character in the main book and it was a lovely touch to see what happened to her to mold her into who she is in the main book
My heart is breaking for Tab and I need more about her story and if she finds them
June 7, 2023
Although this story is just shy of 40 pages long, it's a highly enjoyable introduction to Tab and Fawn, unlikely lovers who are in a deadly position with limited means of escape.
It offers a world and characters that are intriguing enough to make you want to find out more – where have they come from? what are their individual stories that made them who they are now? how will their love manage to survive beyond the final page?
As a novella, it does what you hope it will – sets the stage for characters that you begin to care about, and ongoing conflicts that you want to see the ramifications of.
Tab's devotion to Fawn is beautiful and fierce, and it's a pleasure to find out why she cares so deeply for her.
There's a truly horrible villain, who seems to hold all the cards and appears set to destroy their dreams.
There's just enough worldbuilding to make it all recognisable, without overloading the reader; giving you detail but space to inhabit the setting yourself.
Although it may only take half and hour or so of your time to read, you may very well find yourself wanting to invest in finding out more about Tab and Fawn, and what their futures hold.
I received an advance copy, this is my honest review.
It offers a world and characters that are intriguing enough to make you want to find out more – where have they come from? what are their individual stories that made them who they are now? how will their love manage to survive beyond the final page?
As a novella, it does what you hope it will – sets the stage for characters that you begin to care about, and ongoing conflicts that you want to see the ramifications of.
Tab's devotion to Fawn is beautiful and fierce, and it's a pleasure to find out why she cares so deeply for her.
There's a truly horrible villain, who seems to hold all the cards and appears set to destroy their dreams.
There's just enough worldbuilding to make it all recognisable, without overloading the reader; giving you detail but space to inhabit the setting yourself.
Although it may only take half and hour or so of your time to read, you may very well find yourself wanting to invest in finding out more about Tab and Fawn, and what their futures hold.
I received an advance copy, this is my honest review.
June 11, 2023
This was a fast-paced, detailed intro into what is clearly a well thought out and detailed world. I love this glimpse into the characters, and seeing a bit of what drives them. That said, I feel like it was almost not enough...which I suppose is part of the point. :) I will definitely be interested in reading more from this author.
June 12, 2023
I was excited to see Tab, my favorite character from Sacred: Eslura’s Calling, get her own stand-alone novella using her badass fighting skills to liberate the woman she loves. Keeping my fingers crossed that Tab gets the HEA she so richly deserves with her lover in the subsequent Sacred novels.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.
July 9, 2023
Such an amazing Novella that kept me engaged and hooked! I couldn’t put it down for even a second!! Tab is literally a bad ass and I love her attitude and heroic attitude! I can’t wait to continue reading more and highly recommend if you love quick paced short fantasy reads it was truly amazing and an amazing journey throughout the book!
January 1, 2024
The Way Shadows Live is the second novella tie-in to MC Beeler's debut novel, Sacred: Eslura's Calling. Both novellas are fun looks into the wider world of Eslura where we get to delve deeper into certain characters' (including new ones) stories. The Way Shadows Live is exciting from start to finish - almost nonstop action, which I love. It's short enough to read in one or two sittings - Despite being a short novella, it has awesome worldbuilding and wonderful, loveable heroes and despicable villains. The full novel is MG/YA, but the Way Shadows Live takes on a darker tone with more intense language and gore (which I definitely like, but might be a surprise for some younger MG readers who enjoyed the first book.) I'm looking forward to getting to know the characters of Tab and Fawn better in the future as Beeler explores their relationship (LGBT rep). I love the world Beeler has created - it's immersive and magical with a certain dark side teased for future instalments. As I don't often read novellas, I would have preferred a full novel, but it serves its purpose perfectly - setting up characters we know in the full series. I'm definitely hyped for the future of this series! I'm so excited to see how book two turns out!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews