Afterlight

Shades of Black #2

by Jonathan Shuerger, Louie Roybal (illustrator)

The World Eater has fallen. Now for Death. Now for Ruin.There is no rest for the aspiring hero Gideon, not when the dark sorcerer Ashkelon presides over his training. A sinister force spreads across the North, raising the dead from their graves and marching them toward the last forts in the region. Whispers spread of a necromancer, far more powerful than any of the Sheolin before him, named the Bonescribe, able even to raise the bones of the dead without flesh. The world darkens at his approach as even light itself fails at the Bonescribe’s touch.

Furthermore, the forces of Ruin move in parallel with the Lord of Death, and the thirst of the Blooded for the ruination of Men cannot be quenched. Led by their dread mistress Sevara the Desolate, this coven of immortal witches ravages its way across Samothrace, leaving the burned husks of cathedrals, churches and parishes in its wake.

Even with these threats without, Gideon must confront a far more insidious challenge from within, for the phantom who advises him, Gemelte Asirius, is not who he seems, and his true identity unlocks a new world of suffering for the young hero.

All the while, Ashkelon, the last Lord of the Everlasting Dark, hurls him into the worst that Death, Hell and Ruin can summon. As Light dies around him and enemies rise from every quarter, will Gideon triumph over the horrors of the risen dead and immortal demonesses, or will he be forever lost to the Afterlight?

Read the exhilarating sequel to In Darkness Cast today!

400 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2024

Reviews

[Peter Last · Rating 3 out of 5]

"In Darkness Cast" is a great book with a solid story and upward trajectory, so I had massive expectations for the sequel. Does "Afterlight" deliver on those expectations? It seems like the answer should be a simple yes or no, but the truth is a bit more complicated. This book does not improve on the formula of its predecessor like I had hoped it would. Writing quality dips, the world feels more caricatured, and consistency issues crop up from time to time. The plot also feels unfinished, more like the first half of a book than a self-contained novel. Most concerning is that the main characters, Ashkelon and Gideon, have drastically different trajectories than those at the conclusion of the first book. While this is not inherently bad, all the requisite development for these new paths takes place between books, creating a jarring lack of continuity from story to story. What’s interesting is that Shuerger clearly still has a lot of talent as a writer as evidenced by character backstories included exclusively in the Kickstarter version of the novel. These short stories are great, perhaps even better than "In Darkness Cast," which implies that something else is at play in the negative aspects of the main story. Perhaps Shuerger simply lost interest in the main storyline, or perhaps something else is going on. Despite its problems, the book certainly has positive aspects. The world feels larger than before, even if such expansion is more superficial than I like. The strongest aspect of the story is – and I never thought I would say this – the supporting cast. This crowd of soldiers and military officers is nuanced, relatable, and altogether enjoyable to reside amongst. Captain Cayne is my hands-down favorite. While Afterlight is certainly not as good as its predecessor, it’s not a bad book and is worth putting on your reading list, especially if you enjoyed the first volume of the series.

[Jennifer Goodwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a nonstop action adventure. If you like a good battle sequence, this book is for you. One of Shuerger's greatest strengths is his ability to create unique and dynamic characters. In this installment, we meet Captain Silas Cayne, who has quickly become my favorite. Shuerger also introduces us to several new and powerful women. Speaking of characters, you have to check out the following origin stories for 3 of the Shades of Black villains: Desolate, Blood of Anak, The Raising of Ermog Grei
I feel like his writing style has improved since the first book, making for a smooth and effortless read. We continue to plumb the depths of darkness and depravity, love and light. All in all, Shuerger keeps the momentum going through this second book, leaving me eager for the next.
Parental Guide: Lots of violence, clean language, no intimate scenes

[Mike Bogue · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like your fantasy with a dollop (no, make that an avalanche) of gore, a cast of multiple characters, and a plot of dense complexity, this heroic fantasy is for you.

The book teems with strong characters such as Gideon, Ashkelon, and Anya, though my favorite is Skald. However, the cast is a bit large, and some dramatis personae almost get lost in the tumult.

Descriptions are rich, with many nice turns of phrase and vivid imagery. The sweeping battle scenes are a standout. But I also think they can at times be unnecessarily wordy and overlong.

As alluded to in the headline, though this book is fantasy, it is as graphically violent as any horror fiction I’ve ever read, and that includes both Stephen King and Clive Barker.

Fantasy fans game to Shuerger’s approach should enjoy this Book 2 in his “Shades of Black” series.

[Paul Leverell · Rating 4 out of 5]

great adventure

I haven’t read the first book and although I didn’t find that to be too much of a problem, I wish I had. I will now go back and read book 1. I really enjoyed the action and adventure in this book, but read book 1 first.