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Mist, Shadow, and Deep: An Epic Dragon Fantasy Saga
A shadow rises to meet the light and, with it, an evil sorcerer. Dusk must choose between what is right and what is easy.
In his hour of need, a new face emerges. But is he friend or foe? Only time will tell.
Barely escaping with their lives, Dusk and his companions head south, following the mountains as they search for another way through. That is until they're lost within a misty bog that threatens to consume them.
Out of the mist appears a figure who saves Dusk before the monster of the bog can consume him. Grateful and indebted, they head south together toward the port town of Emerald Deep. There's a pass through the mountains there that will lead the party to their freedom at last.
But Emerald Deep is filled with mysteries, thieves, and temptation. The moment they arrive, the group begins to crumble, and Dusk is left wondering if his companions ever cared about him at all.
And that's the moment the shadow attacks.
Mist, Shadow, and Deep contains a diverse cast of characters and queer themes. It was previously published under the title "The Crystal Archivist" by Blake R. Wolfe. Although the title and cover are different, the content remains the same.
In his hour of need, a new face emerges. But is he friend or foe? Only time will tell.
Barely escaping with their lives, Dusk and his companions head south, following the mountains as they search for another way through. That is until they're lost within a misty bog that threatens to consume them.
Out of the mist appears a figure who saves Dusk before the monster of the bog can consume him. Grateful and indebted, they head south together toward the port town of Emerald Deep. There's a pass through the mountains there that will lead the party to their freedom at last.
But Emerald Deep is filled with mysteries, thieves, and temptation. The moment they arrive, the group begins to crumble, and Dusk is left wondering if his companions ever cared about him at all.
And that's the moment the shadow attacks.
Mist, Shadow, and Deep contains a diverse cast of characters and queer themes. It was previously published under the title "The Crystal Archivist" by Blake R. Wolfe. Although the title and cover are different, the content remains the same.
210 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2024
34 people are currently reading
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 13, 2024
Mist, Shadow and Deep: Crystalline Dragons Saga book 2
by Eoghan R. Cunningham
UwU Publishing, 2024
Four stars
This continues to be a fascinating series. Our heroes are: Dusk, ex-salt-mine slave on the lam; Lex, a probably-noble young man on the lam; and Tara, a former royal army officer, muscle for hire, possibly on the lam.
Along with a gentle mare, Maribel, this mismatched trio is trying to get out of one country and into another one, the ultimate goal being freedom and safety for Dusk.
If the first book in the Crystalline Dragon saga taught us anything, it’s that this is not going to be an easy trip. Indeed it is not, and while not presented as an epic on the Lord of the Rings Scale, it is an intimate sort of epic, in which Dusk is figuring out what it is to be a real human being (after most of his life in underground enslavement). Dusk never stops marvelling at the wonders of the world, sometimes forgetting the dangers he faces. Lex and Tara are such unlikely traveling companions, Dusk can’t quite believe his good fortune—and this, at the center of this chapter in the story, becomes his point of real vulnerability.
Dusk has the crystal eye of a dragon embedded in his chest, and that has given him unsought powers. A seamless metal collar placed on his neck by a sorcerer has, however, curtailed that power.
When a wandering monk named Yarick appears out of the fog of a truly dismal swamp, Dusk seems to have found the answer to his prayers. The band of four begins to make its way south to Emerald Deep, and closer to the freedom Dusk seeks.
I love Dusk’s name, because it is not only a symbol of his unknown origins, but emblematic of his own dimness. I don’t mean lack of intelligence, but the lack of knowledge that keeps him from seeing clearly. That dimness will take him places he doesn’t want to go.
Poor Dusk. My personal theory is that Lex is his destined love, but nobody seems to know that yet. We do find out in this book that Dusk definitely is drawn to men, so at least I have that to hold onto.
The ending of this episode is a bit of a jaw-dropper, in which a sudden, unexpected light cast on his history (see what I did there?) goes with a crushing loss that is the stunning set up for book 3.
by Eoghan R. Cunningham
UwU Publishing, 2024
Four stars
This continues to be a fascinating series. Our heroes are: Dusk, ex-salt-mine slave on the lam; Lex, a probably-noble young man on the lam; and Tara, a former royal army officer, muscle for hire, possibly on the lam.
Along with a gentle mare, Maribel, this mismatched trio is trying to get out of one country and into another one, the ultimate goal being freedom and safety for Dusk.
If the first book in the Crystalline Dragon saga taught us anything, it’s that this is not going to be an easy trip. Indeed it is not, and while not presented as an epic on the Lord of the Rings Scale, it is an intimate sort of epic, in which Dusk is figuring out what it is to be a real human being (after most of his life in underground enslavement). Dusk never stops marvelling at the wonders of the world, sometimes forgetting the dangers he faces. Lex and Tara are such unlikely traveling companions, Dusk can’t quite believe his good fortune—and this, at the center of this chapter in the story, becomes his point of real vulnerability.
Dusk has the crystal eye of a dragon embedded in his chest, and that has given him unsought powers. A seamless metal collar placed on his neck by a sorcerer has, however, curtailed that power.
When a wandering monk named Yarick appears out of the fog of a truly dismal swamp, Dusk seems to have found the answer to his prayers. The band of four begins to make its way south to Emerald Deep, and closer to the freedom Dusk seeks.
I love Dusk’s name, because it is not only a symbol of his unknown origins, but emblematic of his own dimness. I don’t mean lack of intelligence, but the lack of knowledge that keeps him from seeing clearly. That dimness will take him places he doesn’t want to go.
Poor Dusk. My personal theory is that Lex is his destined love, but nobody seems to know that yet. We do find out in this book that Dusk definitely is drawn to men, so at least I have that to hold onto.
The ending of this episode is a bit of a jaw-dropper, in which a sudden, unexpected light cast on his history (see what I did there?) goes with a crushing loss that is the stunning set up for book 3.
March 22, 2024
After being a slave for so long, all the feelings and experiences Dusk goes through are new and exciting, but in the process, he loses sight of the things that are important to him. He also forgets about Juniper’s warning and the promise he’d made to the little girl.
I can’t help but feel a little disappointed at him for being too naive (and mean), but I can also understand why he got carried away. Some of it. He needs to grovel a little before being forgiven, though.
I love the fishing ‘adventure’ and the little bonding they had, but I’m not sure what to feel about the big revelation at the end. Hopefully, all of it will be explained in the next book!
4.5 stars
I can’t help but feel a little disappointed at him for being too naive (and mean), but I can also understand why he got carried away. Some of it. He needs to grovel a little before being forgiven, though.
I love the fishing ‘adventure’ and the little bonding they had, but I’m not sure what to feel about the big revelation at the end. Hopefully, all of it will be explained in the next book!
4.5 stars
November 27, 2025
A lot of words for a whole lot of nothing to happen. Book 1 was more exciting than this. All the characters are so dull and flat, and anyone can see who the villain is. Only part I didn't see was the "plot twist" on the final pages, but by that point I didn't care anymore. The only character I cared about was the horse, but she was only mentioned in passing 2 or 3 times this book.
I had been looking forward to a gay fantasy with dragons series based off the instagram reel, but I will not be continuing after this boring flop.
I had been looking forward to a gay fantasy with dragons series based off the instagram reel, but I will not be continuing after this boring flop.
September 2, 2024
First book was Gay Saga - not a single hint of "gay"
This book is Epic Dragon Saga - I am not sure what happened to "gay" from the first book. I was hoping for some sort of a relationship (finally) emerging. But - no. Nothing in this book either. There are dragons tho, at least (or what's left of them).
This book in particular gives out strong Lord of the Rings vibes. I wonder if it were a fanfic at one point and was rewritten into an original work later.
This book is Epic Dragon Saga - I am not sure what happened to "gay" from the first book. I was hoping for some sort of a relationship (finally) emerging. But - no. Nothing in this book either. There are dragons tho, at least (or what's left of them).
This book in particular gives out strong Lord of the Rings vibes. I wonder if it were a fanfic at one point and was rewritten into an original work later.
May 4, 2025
Not quite as good as the first volume. While there is a narrative arc, it is nowhere near as satisfying, and the ending feel very rushed.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews