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Spellmonger: Legacy and Secrets #3
Shadowblade
A heroic young thief and her family fight against the darkness that threatens the entire land in the riveting final volume of this fantasy adventure saga.
An increasingly talented and skilled shadowthief, Gatina of House Furtius—known in more rebellious circles as the Kitten of Night—continues her covert work in the ongoing struggle against the vile usurper Count Vichetral. Vichetral’s dominion over the duchy of Alshar has grown ever darker, with slavery now legal and vicious gangs brutally enforcing his will.
Their enemies infiltrating even the Shadow Council in the hunt for Gatina and her family, Gatina’s father decides to meet with the mighty Sea Lords and discover if any are willing to join the effort to take down Vichetral. The voyage also offers Gatina a chance to learn about her distant relatives, who wield their power amidst the waves, and to enhance her facility with her very own, newly forged shadowblade.
But danger can follow across water as well as land. And Gatina soon finds herself in a desperate battle from which the winner will sail away as the vanquished sinks into the briny deep . . . forever.
The Legacy and Secrets trilogy introduces a younger Gatina, the Kitten of Night, as she comes into her own as a shadowmage.
An increasingly talented and skilled shadowthief, Gatina of House Furtius—known in more rebellious circles as the Kitten of Night—continues her covert work in the ongoing struggle against the vile usurper Count Vichetral. Vichetral’s dominion over the duchy of Alshar has grown ever darker, with slavery now legal and vicious gangs brutally enforcing his will.
Their enemies infiltrating even the Shadow Council in the hunt for Gatina and her family, Gatina’s father decides to meet with the mighty Sea Lords and discover if any are willing to join the effort to take down Vichetral. The voyage also offers Gatina a chance to learn about her distant relatives, who wield their power amidst the waves, and to enhance her facility with her very own, newly forged shadowblade.
But danger can follow across water as well as land. And Gatina soon finds herself in a desperate battle from which the winner will sail away as the vanquished sinks into the briny deep . . . forever.
The Legacy and Secrets trilogy introduces a younger Gatina, the Kitten of Night, as she comes into her own as a shadowmage.
485 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2024
115 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Terry Mancour
45 books1,153 followersTerry Mancour is a New York Times Best-Selling Author who has written more than 30 books, under his own name and pseudonyms, including Star Trek: The Next Generation #20, Spartacus, the Spellmonger Series (more than 11 books and growing), among other works.
He was born in Flint, Michigan in 1968 (according to his mother) and wisely relocated to North Carolina in 1978 where he embraced Southern culture and its dedication to compelling narratives and intriguing characterizations. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Religious Studies.
Terry, his beautiful wife and three children live just outside of Durham, N.C. atop Red Mountain. He was nominated for the 2018 Audie Award for Best Fantasy for the audiobook for Spellmonger (narrated by John Lee), the first book in his Spellmonger Series.
He has plotted the Spellmonger Series for at least thirty books, in addition to his Spellmonger Cadet (young adult) series, stand-alone novels, short stories and novellas set within the Spellmonger Universe, all of which will be published by Podium as audiobooks. He is also the author of a series of sequels to Golden Age sci-fi master H. Beam Piper's novel, Space Viking, as well as original sci-fi novels.
He was born in Flint, Michigan in 1968 (according to his mother) and wisely relocated to North Carolina in 1978 where he embraced Southern culture and its dedication to compelling narratives and intriguing characterizations. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in Religious Studies.
Terry, his beautiful wife and three children live just outside of Durham, N.C. atop Red Mountain. He was nominated for the 2018 Audie Award for Best Fantasy for the audiobook for Spellmonger (narrated by John Lee), the first book in his Spellmonger Series.
He has plotted the Spellmonger Series for at least thirty books, in addition to his Spellmonger Cadet (young adult) series, stand-alone novels, short stories and novellas set within the Spellmonger Universe, all of which will be published by Podium as audiobooks. He is also the author of a series of sequels to Golden Age sci-fi master H. Beam Piper's novel, Space Viking, as well as original sci-fi novels.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 14, 2025
Somehow, the more books that come out in this world, the deeper and deeper I continue to be invested. This is the third and final book in a Spellmonger series spin off and it is actually a sort of prequel series. We have gone back in time several years as we follow the Shadowmage family - the Cats of Enultramar - specifically Gatina, the Kitten of Night. This storyline starts when Gatina is an apprentice and working hard towards learning her trade as a shadowthief and this last book takes us up to about a month or two before she meets Rondal at the Shrine of the Eight Bells in the Spellmonger book Shadowmage (that is Book 9 in that series).
I really, really enjoyed this book. Gatina is a delightful character - she is young but already so very competitive with her brother and determined to master her trade. She has a good balance of confidence with the knowledge that she still needs to continue to keep working to get to her to where she needs to be. And, she somehow has a way of finding herself smack dab in the middle of trouble time and time again.
This book had quite a bit of action and continued the storyline of her family's efforts to stop the new lawlessness and power grabs occurring due to the usurper Count Vichetral's effort of consolidation of his authority. Things such as slavery and extortion are becoming more and more common as the effort to bend the Sea Lords to the Count's side ramp up. The family (House Furtius), through the leadership of the Shadow Council, is trying to make sure that Anguin can come back and take his rightful place in Alshar.
I loved the bits of foreshadowing in this book as Gatina is given snippets of information of future things that she is not sure whether to believe or not. I really loved the scene where the group goes to see the Witch of Manahar at the fair and the woman gives them very SPECIFIC fortunes. It was fun seeing Atopal and Gatina both shaking their heads at the things they were told. CRAZY things that could never ever happen such as Atopal learning that, "I'm to meet a powerful wizard, perform the greatest heists in history, go on grand, dangerous adventures, become a nobleman of high esteem and eventually marry a beautiful princess and rule over a distant exotic land...."
Yeah, that could NEVER happen.......
And the fortune that Gatina receives from this Witch actually helps make her later behavior make total sense ("He will match you as a glove matches the hand it is fitted for. You will love him from the moment your eyes are set upon him"). I remember while reading Shadowmage and reading the initial meeting of Gatina and Rondal, her behavior was a little odd to me. NOW, it makes total sense......
I will also admit to going back after finishing this book and trying to find the scene in the Spellmonger series where Gatina first meets Rondal. I couldn't even remember at the time which book it was in (Shadowmage, Book 9) and I searched for it because I wanted to read it now, knowing what I learned from this book. Then, that led me to continuing on to see about Atopal and before I knew it, it started as skimming, then became outright rereading over several books from Thaumaturge, Arcanist, Foot Wizard, Hedgewitch, Marshall Arcane...all the way to Preceptor because I was sucked in again *sigh*
Man I really love this world......
I really, really enjoyed this book. Gatina is a delightful character - she is young but already so very competitive with her brother and determined to master her trade. She has a good balance of confidence with the knowledge that she still needs to continue to keep working to get to her to where she needs to be. And, she somehow has a way of finding herself smack dab in the middle of trouble time and time again.
This book had quite a bit of action and continued the storyline of her family's efforts to stop the new lawlessness and power grabs occurring due to the usurper Count Vichetral's effort of consolidation of his authority. Things such as slavery and extortion are becoming more and more common as the effort to bend the Sea Lords to the Count's side ramp up. The family (House Furtius), through the leadership of the Shadow Council, is trying to make sure that Anguin can come back and take his rightful place in Alshar.
I loved the bits of foreshadowing in this book as Gatina is given snippets of information of future things that she is not sure whether to believe or not. I really loved the scene where the group goes to see the Witch of Manahar at the fair and the woman gives them very SPECIFIC fortunes. It was fun seeing Atopal and Gatina both shaking their heads at the things they were told. CRAZY things that could never ever happen such as Atopal learning that, "I'm to meet a powerful wizard, perform the greatest heists in history, go on grand, dangerous adventures, become a nobleman of high esteem and eventually marry a beautiful princess and rule over a distant exotic land...."
Yeah, that could NEVER happen.......
And the fortune that Gatina receives from this Witch actually helps make her later behavior make total sense ("He will match you as a glove matches the hand it is fitted for. You will love him from the moment your eyes are set upon him"). I remember while reading Shadowmage and reading the initial meeting of Gatina and Rondal, her behavior was a little odd to me. NOW, it makes total sense......
I will also admit to going back after finishing this book and trying to find the scene in the Spellmonger series where Gatina first meets Rondal. I couldn't even remember at the time which book it was in (Shadowmage, Book 9) and I searched for it because I wanted to read it now, knowing what I learned from this book. Then, that led me to continuing on to see about Atopal and before I knew it, it started as skimming, then became outright rereading over several books from Thaumaturge, Arcanist, Foot Wizard, Hedgewitch, Marshall Arcane...all the way to Preceptor because I was sucked in again *sigh*
Man I really love this world......
December 29, 2024
This entire sub-series screams of YA. An enjoyable story but a massive downgrade from most of the Spellmonger series. This is also the first protagonist in the series that is "instantly good at everything without fail ever ever ever" Though I tend to wonder if that is not the influence from the co-author? Though rarely is a male author suited to write from the female perspective ime. Lackluster - would be a great way to describe it. Kittens incessant lack of restraint at not interfering in things she disapproves of. Seems to be a complete failing on her parents upbringing of her being a shadow mage. Which I find completely unbelievable. Which seems to play more to a current political climate in the real world than this story. The mariner mother conceding to the adolescents wishes to save the merchants being beset by pirates was not believable at all. Followed by them promptly not listening and casting back off. Feeling pompous, justified, and righteous in their actions. Not believable at all given the other girl states, she has never won an argument with her mother before.
Not terrible, Generic is how I would rate this. Unfortunate, missed opportunity
Not terrible, Generic is how I would rate this. Unfortunate, missed opportunity
June 12, 2024
I think Terry Mancour and Emily Burch Harris collaborated on a good story. I thought characters developed a bit more in this installment than the last. Fiona Hardingham did a splendid job as the narrator. Again, I really appreciated her ability to give each character their own voice--especially when the character attempts to become someone else (which the book describes as an "alias"). This is quality young adult fantasy. It has a likeable and strong female lead. While the story benefits from knowledge of the Spellmonger series with Minalan, the Spellmonger, it does not require it. Based on the ending, I could see a book four--or, not. The ending definitely leads into and leaves you hanging about what happens in book nine of the Spellmonger series. So, I could see them doing a different perspective book four in the Legacy and Secrets based on the Spellmonger book nine story or just leaving it up to the reader to read the Spellmonger series. I would love a book four in this series!
March 30, 2024
Very good, again, but...
Excellent entertainment, writing is as good as David Weber's, but everything is SO clean... For example, in a life or death fight, the MC doesn't stab the opponent in the back because it's not.. sporting? Come on, make it a little bit more realistic! What, are you writing for the pre-12-eens?
That being said, please be quick with the next book? Please?
Excellent entertainment, writing is as good as David Weber's, but everything is SO clean... For example, in a life or death fight, the MC doesn't stab the opponent in the back because it's not.. sporting? Come on, make it a little bit more realistic! What, are you writing for the pre-12-eens?
That being said, please be quick with the next book? Please?
April 16, 2024
Fun story about kitte
I love this series, and the side novels are a lot of fun. While they don't add anything plot wise to the main series, they give a lot of depth to the characters, and a lot of world building.
Seeing the culture of the Sea Lords was a lot of fun, and I quite enjoyed the story (though there were no big heists!)
I love this series, and the side novels are a lot of fun. While they don't add anything plot wise to the main series, they give a lot of depth to the characters, and a lot of world building.
Seeing the culture of the Sea Lords was a lot of fun, and I quite enjoyed the story (though there were no big heists!)
May 9, 2024
boring!
Nothing happens! Lots of exposition, lots of talking about sailing. And that’s about it. Spoilers: The few actual moments of action, the ship wreck, the ‘heist’ and the riot were basically nothing. It was page after page leading to nothing. First book in the spell monger series that was a disappointment, and it was a huge disappointment.
Nothing happens! Lots of exposition, lots of talking about sailing. And that’s about it. Spoilers: The few actual moments of action, the ship wreck, the ‘heist’ and the riot were basically nothing. It was page after page leading to nothing. First book in the spell monger series that was a disappointment, and it was a huge disappointment.
June 22, 2024
Another fantastic spellmonger extension
The spellmonger series is one of my favorites. This book follows the kitten and is set before the time of the latest spellmonger books. I've enjoyed the developing backstory for house furtius with tie ins to plots revealed in the core spellmonger and I look forward to the foreshadowing of events to come.
The spellmonger series is one of my favorites. This book follows the kitten and is set before the time of the latest spellmonger books. I've enjoyed the developing backstory for house furtius with tie ins to plots revealed in the core spellmonger and I look forward to the foreshadowing of events to come.
April 7, 2024
Shadowblade ( Spellmonger: Legacy and Secrets Book 3 )
Again Terry Mancour presents an outstanding story. Suspence, intrigue, and lore. Sword fighting makes me want to take up fencing! Now I just have to wait for the next book.
Again Terry Mancour presents an outstanding story. Suspence, intrigue, and lore. Sword fighting makes me want to take up fencing! Now I just have to wait for the next book.
March 28, 2024
Great
Ok I confess I prefer the other story line. Terry's skill has greatly improved over the years. It is my hope that I will live long enough to read the whole story line
Ok I confess I prefer the other story line. Terry's skill has greatly improved over the years. It is my hope that I will live long enough to read the whole story line
March 30, 2024
It was way too long. Unnecessary long. Didn't their mom die when they were young and raised by their dad alone
August 14, 2024
Spellmonger is a great series, but this one is not. Gatina is a brat who never listens in the first book and is still the same two books later, with no character growth whatsoever.
February 27, 2025
Words can’t describe how good this book was. This was such a fun read!!!
June 7, 2025
I have no idea what the point of this book series was. There was some character building, but this was phoned in. It added nothing to the overall series.
May 11, 2024
Excellent read. The best of this series, I think. I enjoyed reading it and look forward to more of Gatina.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews