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The Bladeborn Saga #6

The Shadow of Dread: The Bladeborn Saga, Book Six

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The shadow of dread has fallen. Beneath it, all men quail.

The Great Calamity has returned, destroying all in his wake. Reeling from the destruction of King’s Point and the death of his uncle, Elyon Daecar makes at once for Varinar to discern the state of the city. What he finds gives him small cause for hope. Through the spreading darkness, thin shards of light remain. They must act quickly lest they close forever.

Saska’s time in Aram has run out. With the city safe from the coalition of Lords Krator and Kastor, she sets her sights on her journey north, bidding her dying grandmother farewell. She has no choice now but to embrace her fate and harden her heart to her purpose. In a world falling to ruin, she will need all the help she can get. And friends old and new will be there to give it, not always in ways she wants.

Freed from the grip of the Nightblade at last, Jonik sets out in the service of a new master. His fate as foreseen by the Far-Seeing Queen has been met, yet a new destiny awaits him. One that will take him to places he never knew existed.

The weather of the world is changing. To both north and south, cataclysmic events are unfolding across land and sea. In this dying world kings are made and princes tested, exiles fight to restore their honour. Ancients rise, creatures swarm, men whisper of the waking of titans…

And in the heart of Agarath, a demigod broods. Spreading forth the dark will of his master.

1172 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2024

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253 people want to read

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T.C. Edge

61 books356 followers

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5 stars
745 (70%)
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235 (22%)
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60 (5%)
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7 (<1%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
Profile Image for Debra W Pingel.
88 reviews
March 27, 2024
I am sorry but I will read the cliffnotes for the next book. I feel the author is padding his pages with absolutely useless information that I found myself skimming through. Which is sad because I did enjoy his first 3 books. For example a character is going to meet some men who have a message for her. It took 7 pages of useless description of the group of men, giving her the letter to get to the message. 7 pages describing characters that will never be seen again in this saga. Their house, their clothing, their ancestry ect. I became very frustrated and there is no end in sight. I liked this story but this is ridiculous. I refuse to read another 1800 page book where half the words do not contribute to the story.
176 reviews3 followers
April 21, 2024
Another marvelous world from the author! I loved this book so much that there was a point where I had to stop reading it for fear of finishing it too soon. I loved the different perspectives in this book, each person adding to the wonderful of the story! Every page kept me locked, reading more and more. I loved all of the characters in this book so much. This book is truly the epitome of epic fantasy, and I loved reading every page. The magic system is unique and keeps getting more interesting as the series continues. The plot, as mentioned, was amazing, and each story thread added to the picture in cool ways. The characters are all super interesting and well-developed, adding to an amazing book. I eagerly await the next book! I highly recommend this series. I would like to thank the author for such an amazing book!
27 reviews10 followers
March 14, 2024
I was waiting for the final book so I could review the series. I’m not sure I’ll be reading the final book.
I loved all the previous books but this one felt wooden, stilted. When lost for plot we just got endless lists of characters and their genealogy. Now background is fine, but not when it overwhelms. There were flashes of the brilliance of the previous books but honestly, I struggled right up to the end when it finally came together and gave me a glimpse of why I’d loved the previous books.
I guess I’m just left saddened for what might have been.
Profile Image for Lara R..
364 reviews9 followers
March 24, 2025
I can't get enough of the characters and the story.

In this installment, there are finally more answers to questions I had for quite some time. The reader also gets more information on the blades and the history of the world itself.

Most characters have grown and changed, which makes them even more real and better understandable in their actions. Some I disliked in the beginning, like Jonik, but following his journey, I'm now looking forward to reading his chapters.

There are still a lot of battles and fights - lots of blood, twists and turns, etc that made me turn the pages as fast as I could to see who will win and hope that none of my favorite characters or dude characters are going to die.

Easily one of the best books I've read so far this year.
Profile Image for Arnis.
2,125 reviews175 followers
June 8, 2025
Atdzimušais senatnes pārstāvis Eldars un tā milzu pūķis Dread, no sajūtas, kāda rodas vien par to iedomājoties, un simtos tūkstošos mērāmā dienvidu kontinenta armijas turpina savu karagājienu pret ziemeļu kontinentā esošo Tukoru, Rasalanu un galvenokārt Vandaras karalistēm. Daudzi Eldara karagājienam seko aiz patriotiska lepnuma un vienkāršas vēlmes atriebt kādu senčiem nodarītu sāpi, bet tikpat liela daļa to dara aiz bailēm pret Eldaru un Dredu, ja tie pat ieminētos par vēlmi palikt mājās.

https://poseidons99.com/2025/06/08/t-...
Profile Image for Abnew ShagNasty.
48 reviews2 followers
March 7, 2024
So good! The story picks up right where it left off from the Fetters of Fate. Just like the book summary said, the Great Calamity has returned! The book is 765 pages long and it sure does not disappoint. As with the five previous books, this style of writing from Edge is very reminiscent of Sanderson, Gwynne, Martin, Jordan, and Williams. There are so many POVs that it will make your head spin (in a good way). I cannot recommend this book enough. But there was one thing about this book that really stood out for me…

..Battles. BIG EPIC MEDIEVAL FANTASY BATTLES. Battles all day long. It’s my weakness (🤷‍♂️). It always has been and always will be. And the more detailed and epic they are…the better. In this book, two of the most heart pounding and dragon slaying battles will rise up, grab you by your very bookworm soul, and never look back. Both the battle at Rustbridge and the battle at Blackfrost will keep you at the edge of your seat.

So all in all, the book ends in epic fashion with Elyon saving the day and reuniting with Saska. The epilogue ends with some foreshadowing about an imminent clash between Saska and co. and the evil forces of Agarath. It was so good that all 765 pages zipped by before I knew it and it left me wanting more. Such a great fun read!

Cannot wait for book 7!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
14 reviews
February 4, 2024
Wow this was another wild ride in what is fast becoming one of my favourite series. I binged it in like 2 days, that's how great it was.

This entry features some crazy and epic battles and shines a light on some of the side characters beautifully. I particularly loved the development of Emeric Manfreys story.

I have been waiting for like 4 books now for Elyon and Saska to reunite and you do it in the last few pages!? C'mon man, you're killing me. It was a super badass scene though and I'm so excited to finally see these two interact again in book 7. I think they are so great together and I kept hoping that they would finally reunite after all the teasing.

Was not a big fan of the Robbert/Saska dynamic. The last thing this series needs is a tired ass love triangle. Hoping that plotpoint gets dropped real quick.

All in all this was a thoroughly enjoyable read and book 7 cannot come fast enoigh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Chris.
189 reviews7 followers
November 9, 2024
I am absolutely loving this series and I love every character and their progression and growth. The world and the history is well flashed out. The only issue I have and it has only been within the last three books is that I feel like some chapters could be shortened or taken out altogether because it doesn’t feel like they move the story forward or if it does move the story forward, it is such a small amount that it doesn’t feel needed in the overall narrative. But I would say overall a great series and I cannot wait to see how it is completed.
50 reviews1 follower
February 10, 2024
This book/series is very difficult to review, simply because the scope of this story is so huge, complex, and detailed. There are nearly a dozen main characters, dozens of 2nd level support characters that are consistently part of the story throughout all 6 books (so far), and countless 3rd level characters that contribute to the storyline as well. It is an intricately woven tapestry that reaches across time, where the past influences events in the current time frame of the story, to create a storyline unlike any other! This plethora of characters are so incredibly well done! They become friends that sit at your table, tell stories that keep you captivated, share their heartbreak, struggle through relatable family dynamics, and grow as individuals. Evolving as each goes through their trials, they have strengths and weaknesses and personalities that are unique to each, are human (with both good traits and bad) and relatable to the point that they come to life in a very real way throughout this story.

But how to condense this sweeping, epic tale into a couple of paragraphs?

Thousands of years ago, the gods created a battleground to stage their war games. Each god had a champion, a demigod to carry their will and strength. When the gods died (or did they?), the demigods lost their immortality and came together, choosing to create a world of peace and prosperity instead of continuing the god’s never-ending war. They created kingdoms of their own, and bloodlines that carry echoes of their power and abilities. But one demigod far-seeing queen saw a future that could potentially be the end of humankind…unless steps were taken through time to give them a chance. Because the gods may be gone, but their propensity for war did not go with them.
Now, nearly 3500 years later, humanity is once again at war. The 25th Renewal since the gods died, and it’s the prophesied final war that even the far-seeing queen could not see past. The Ever War, The Last Renewal. Monsters and titans of myth, unseen since the time of the gods, are coming to life to take sides in the great war. Krakens and dragons of mind-boggling size, gholums and fellwolves the size of elephants, and many other beasts the gods created for one purpose, to kill their enemies, are once again roaming the lands and seas. Great storms, volcanoes, earthquakes that tear great rifts into the land, freak snows with killing cold, and raging seas are portents of the coming of the end.
Can all the pieces of the puzzle tweaked through time by the far-seeing queen, the tapestry that set the stage to fight this final conflict, come together in time to save humanity? Will the powerful artifacts left by the demigods be enough to tip the scales? Or will all the continents and their inhabitants burn under the great Dread.

The next book is due out this fall, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next!! Absolutely one of the BEST series I have ever read with rich and diverse characters, incredible world-building, and an in-depth history that brings this world to life in a way I have never seen before. An absolute MUST READ for anyone who loves epic fantasy, royal intrigue, magical artifacts, dragons, and rooting for the underdog!
Profile Image for Jeremy Schwab.
52 reviews12 followers
April 24, 2024
The sixth book of this sprawling Epic is simply put, another amazingly detailed, action packed, mystery shrouded Saga that will have you once again, burning through pages like the fire god himself! TC Edge leaves us readers in awe of his storytelling (as usual) and for Varinar's sake I need book 7!!! 🤯📚

Picking up right where we leave off in book 5, "The Shadow of Dread" has us placed in just that...the shadow of The Great Calamity! The Titan is just one of many that are now rising again, along with the demigods of legend for the "War Eternal" gripping the world. Our MC's are all back and fighting with every ounce of bladeborn magic and God steel they can muster...but with powers not seen in ages resurfacing, is the combined strength of these heroic souls going to be enough?

The very weather and landscape of this world changes with every cataclysmic event taking place, testing valor, loyalty, bonds and friendships across this monumental Saga. At roughly a dozen PoV's now, this story and it's approaching apex becomes more complex, but unbelievably engaging with a flow that reminds me of a mix of Sanderson, Quaintrell and Cahill. No lack of detail or unique magic structure here, it truly is fascinating to read and get lost in. TC describes massive battles with such vividly detailed description that you constantly feel IN these very events!

Heart racing action, tragic loss, heroic bravery and a prophecy that will take the very will of the gods to forge, is what awaits you in this chonker! With the blades of power scattered, demigods and Titans resurfacing and mankind standing between it all...will our chosen Bladeborn be able to set aside personal glory and fulfill the need of the gods?!

From the heights of the heavens, to the depths of hell...prepare your emotions for a perilous journey that can crack even the hardest of God steel! 🔥

A riveting 4.5⭐ that has me dreading the wait for book 7 as if I was staring down the Dread himself! 😈
4 reviews1 follower
May 7, 2024
One of the best in the series thus far!

Another amazing journey with twists and turns abound at every corner. I really enjoyed this one! Every book in this series is phenomenal, but this one was truly rivoting. I was enthralled from start to finish. I feel this one really had a spark to it that made it stand out to me from amongst the others. There were a few jump out of your seat and pump a fist in the air while yelling out "hell yeah!" moments, some nail biting moments, a few "aw" moments, all mixed in with a bit of heartache and loss, and some harsh, real and raw realities of war. Some events played out as I suspected, and others, well, didn't haha--I really love a writer who can keep me on my toes at every turn of the page like that though. This book was a true journey and perfect for a wayfairing heart like mine that seeks out epic adventures and appreciates well-developed lore and world building. I really laughed out loud towards the end with Mooton haha loved that dark/morbid sense of humor and sort of Brian Blessed from Flash type of persona. So many great characters packed in to this series, all with natural, creative, and smooth flowing dialogue--a million different moving pieces in this book, and I absolutely loved it. The stage is being set in this one and I can't wait for the next. So hurry the F up T.C. haha

The only itty bitty minor issue with this book was all the typos/misspellings I caught. Like a person drinking from a "steam" and not a stream, and several others I caught. Happy to send the corrections your way Mr. Edge if you'd ever like, no need to thank me, just thank my OCD ;)
Profile Image for Nelson Candelario jr..
37 reviews
December 4, 2024
This is one of the biggest disappointments I’ve had with a book series. I thoroughly enjoyed the previous books. The last book was starting to feel a bit slow, but it was still very good. This book, except for the last three chapters, was a real struggle to get through. It read like tedious, mundane journal entries. For the majority of the book, nothing much happened to advance the story. The ending was fantastic and will probably be enough to make readers forget about how difficult it was to get there. However, despite being a great ending, it was not enough to overcome how monotonous the rest of the book was. I’m going to read the next book because I’m too far in and invested in the series. But I won’t be excited about it.

5 reviews
February 26, 2024
The best

Incredible storytelling. All the characters come off the page, fully fleshed. They are heroic and broken at once. Our heroes battling impossible odds to help each other survive. And the swords are beautifully wrought in detail. I wasn’t particularly a sword enthusiast, but I am now!
I have been reading this epic world-story for a solid week, neglecting all my other activities. Lol. TC Edge draws you in as though you were one of the characters. Or, actually…each character in each of their individual struggles. I love them all.
Looking forward to the 7th book with delight!
31 reviews
February 25, 2024
A great tale of gods and mortals and a conflict that could end the world

The story is truly a magnificent piece of work. T.C. Edge offers us an amazing glimpse of a world wracked by horror and bloodshed, but in which extraordinary individuals seek to find a way to survive. The story is as amazingly well told by a master craftsman. You can almost feel each icy wind, feel the storms on the ocean and the wonder of creatures from an earlier time coming together for a conflict like no other.
Profile Image for Dan Barbera.
3 reviews
June 11, 2024
Another strong entry to the series but a bit of a tough read

Love the overall story and the skilled writing behind it. Like the other entries in the book series I felt myself transported into the story. My only criticism was there were very long runs of page after page of standing around and talking, lots of walking and horse riding descriptions that seemed to go on and on. These scenes, while interesting broke up the excitement of the story for me. But overall still a fantastic entry in the series and can’t wait for the last two books!
7 reviews
March 6, 2024
drags on & on & on

I have rated all the previous 5 books with 5 stars. Not this one. The plots are slow to develop and simply drag on and on into perpetuity. Edge claims it was hard to write at times and I might further the attitude as lazy and stale. After my previous 5 star reviews I may or may not come back for the finale and that’s difficult for me to fathom. Hoping for much more and he should seriously consider ending the saga at #7 or risk losing followers.
39 reviews
April 1, 2024
Another thriller by T.C.Edge can,t wait for book7

The detailed description of all the efforts of the soldiers and leaders makes for a super great read. I await the next book to see how the evil forces and the more convential forces come out with a lasting peace. The carnage is very significant for both sides of the forces involved in the great renewal! The series is simply a great read!
3 reviews
June 6, 2024
I love this series. As the series progresses the author gets bogged down a bit as he is juggling a lot of characters and since it is written in POV style the need to describe and build the various parts of the world around gets cumbersome. Additionally, the story lost a little bit of credibility when parts of the Southern alliance, that have little affinity to the demigod, stay connected and strong. I am hopeful that book 7 will bring back the pace and excitement of the first books.
81 reviews3 followers
December 18, 2024
Great plots! Too many people detailed

Couldn't put the book down! However I started skipping the detailed descriptions of characters who not part of the main plot and details of everything in sight it seemed. The battle descriptions were also detailed and focused to make the great battles come to life.
There are plenty of threads left for a projected conclusion in the next book I hoped.
1 review
March 5, 2024
Among the best epic fantasy series

Not your standard epic fantasy where you already can guess the outcome. New twists always keep you guessing and longing for more. I have read the series and listened to them all multiple times. I am already anxious for book seven and for books five and six to hit audible.
321 reviews
April 3, 2024
Another amazing tale

I had hoped and dreaded that this would be the conclusion. But there are too many pieces that need assembled yet to draw it closed. Incredible individual story lines perched on the edge of disaster. Turns I never saw coming. Can't wait for the next installment.
1 review
November 6, 2024
Probably my favorite epic fantasy series of all time and if you like audiobooks the narrator is Steven Brand and he's fantastic to listen to. T. C. Edge is a genius at developing a complex and richly woven narrative. His characters almost feel alive to me by this point. I can recommend this series enough!
Profile Image for OpinionatedObserver.
96 reviews1 follower
November 16, 2024
I thought this was the last book. I really don't have another read left in me for this series 😭😭
I thoroughly enjoyed the first books in the series but this one. It was so hard to get through. I've witnessed 5000 pointless battles and we're no closer to the end. It's enough now. Additionally and most unforgivably, the heir of Varin continues to be the books biggest loser.
Profile Image for Adam Clements.
188 reviews
November 24, 2024
A good addition to the series. It got a little tedious in one or two places. It overall it fits the rest of the story and sets the series up to a good conclusion.

I didn't like the new plot device the author uses, he likes to jump to a character in a future part of the plot and has the character retrospectively remember what happened since last time you saw them
47 reviews
September 24, 2025
A really Great Saga

Having read all six books I really believe that this Saga is the equal of or surpassing Game Of Thrones! I don't say this lightly. Having read both Sagas and enjoyed both I think that the depth and breath of the writing is outstanding. Once you start it you can't put it down! Looking forward to book Six!
1 review
February 18, 2024
Hooked.

Im an avid reader who loves a good fantasy novel/series. To me this series is starting to become something bigger in the lines of Erickson/Esslemont and Jordan/Sanderson. The story just continues to build into what i hope someday will be an epic finish.
3 reviews
February 29, 2024
TC edge is one of my favorite authors and I recommend all his books but this series is amazing. It needs to be made into a film series, it's so good. He takes so much time bringing his characters to life. This is 1,000 times better than Game of Thrones and the best part? I believe he'll finish it.
5 reviews
March 9, 2024
non stop pace!

Never a dull moment in this book. The main characters really show their struggles and it helps make them more relatable. Love this series and this was probably my favorite book of the series (that could also possibly be recency bias).
30 reviews
March 12, 2024
Epic

What an incredible series this is, going from one character, and one situation to the next. You get totally absorbed into the storyline and the main characters, so many of them🤪 I'm amazed how he keeps it all together, but he does and it works, brilliant👍😊
1 review
March 13, 2024
Wonderful series. Each book better than the last.

Wonderful series! I have loved every second of these books. The redemption of formally foolish characters, the nobility and rising of the nameless ones to places of honor. There is nothing about these books I haven't loved.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews

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