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Shadow Rider
The world of the Five Nations is ruled by Elementals, those chosen few capable of controlling earth, air, fire, and water, but it is the Paths of the Shadow Realm that link the nations, navigated by the mysterious Shadow Riders.
Courier Shay Kendrith carries precious goods and crucial documents for the Crown, a solitary and dangerous life that takes her from one end of the world to the other. The last thing she ever expected to discover while traveling the Realm is an Elemental fighting for her life against the deadly wraiths inhabiting the Shadows.
As an Undine, Marshal Keagan Riley wields water, using her abilities to protect and serve the Crown. Being drawn into the Shadow Realm with Shay begins a harrowing journey that will lead them to the Elemental Stones, previously lost to history, but uncovered by unknown forces that may destroy everything they’ve sworn to protect.
In the Shadows, one can easily find death, but can Shay and Keagan find love as they fight to save the Five Nations?
Courier Shay Kendrith carries precious goods and crucial documents for the Crown, a solitary and dangerous life that takes her from one end of the world to the other. The last thing she ever expected to discover while traveling the Realm is an Elemental fighting for her life against the deadly wraiths inhabiting the Shadows.
As an Undine, Marshal Keagan Riley wields water, using her abilities to protect and serve the Crown. Being drawn into the Shadow Realm with Shay begins a harrowing journey that will lead them to the Elemental Stones, previously lost to history, but uncovered by unknown forces that may destroy everything they’ve sworn to protect.
In the Shadows, one can easily find death, but can Shay and Keagan find love as they fight to save the Five Nations?
- GenresFantasy
338 pages, Paperback
Published September 10, 2024
3 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Gina L. Dartt
5 books23 followersGina L. Dartt was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada. She grew up with a love of science fiction, particularly Star Trek (though that faded with the end of Voyager and the beginning of Enterprise). (from the publisher's website)
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 23, 2024
Amazing world building! Every aspect was so intricately built and very involved, it would be difficult to understand if one missed a part in a chapter. I just don’t understand how this book with so much to say and so much world to build only ended up being 325 pages while a previous book had 400+ pages but didn’t really offer much?
Shadow Rider is one of those books you need to pay attention to with sustained concentration because as mentioned above, it is involved. However, the story was so interesting to me that I didn’t mind it. Despite it being a complicated, it was easy to follow and since it is understandable, it was enjoyable for me (unlike Gideon the Ninth where everything just went over my head).
The characters were all interesting, they had distinct personalities and following their adventures was quite enjoyable.
Shadow Rider is one of those books you need to pay attention to with sustained concentration because as mentioned above, it is involved. However, the story was so interesting to me that I didn’t mind it. Despite it being a complicated, it was easy to follow and since it is understandable, it was enjoyable for me (unlike Gideon the Ninth where everything just went over my head).
The characters were all interesting, they had distinct personalities and following their adventures was quite enjoyable.
February 20, 2025
At its heart it’s a girl and her horse. Nice fantasy world building centered around Elementals, Riders and a world grown up from a cataclysmic internal war. Warm and playful love story evolves around the breakdown of long held beliefs. Exploration of the creation of friendships and growth of leadership. Plan to read the next in the series. Author comes from fan-fiction world. Yah!
October 11, 2024
Shadow Rider is a stunning, thrilling book. I was hooked from the start! I loved each character, the tension of the plot, the fight scenes…and the world-building was incredible. I found myself wondering how the author came up with such fascination. I cannot wait until the next couple books in the trilogy!!
August 22, 2024
I decided to start this book knowing it was going to be the first chapter of a series, which was risky in itself, because if I liked it I'd want to know the continuation as soon as possible, and if not, I'd feel really bad because this author was one of the first I ever read and I loved her book "Unexpected Ties" almost 20 years ago! To be honest, it was a departure from her earlier books, but that didn't make it a letdown. What I'm saying is, it was a pretty fun and interesting read.
Maybe it was hard at first, to wrap your head around the world she's created, its hidden connections, where one territory begins and another ends, and how they're all related. The correlations between the protagonists' gifts and the basic elements is simple, except for the Shadow Rider, Shay, the main character of this chapter, along with Keagan, who's put a bit of a spin on the usual for those with her gift. Kegan is gifted with the power of water, while Shay rides the shadow paths. Joining them in this and upcoming chapters are Ashley, the haughty wielder of fire, Cassius, the eldest and gifted of earth, and Lyria, the youngest and most novice, gifted with air.
So this is the start of an adventure. Every imaginary world has its ups and downs. But creativity is priceless, it should always be celebrated. And if it's entertaining and features strong, brave women who aren't afraid to feel, even better.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review
Maybe it was hard at first, to wrap your head around the world she's created, its hidden connections, where one territory begins and another ends, and how they're all related. The correlations between the protagonists' gifts and the basic elements is simple, except for the Shadow Rider, Shay, the main character of this chapter, along with Keagan, who's put a bit of a spin on the usual for those with her gift. Kegan is gifted with the power of water, while Shay rides the shadow paths. Joining them in this and upcoming chapters are Ashley, the haughty wielder of fire, Cassius, the eldest and gifted of earth, and Lyria, the youngest and most novice, gifted with air.
So this is the start of an adventure. Every imaginary world has its ups and downs. But creativity is priceless, it should always be celebrated. And if it's entertaining and features strong, brave women who aren't afraid to feel, even better.
Publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for an honest review
September 4, 2024
⭐⭐ It wasn't my cup of tea but it may be yours
🌶️ Intimate scenes but mild language - just a step past closed door
Shadow Rider is a fantasy adventure that excels in world-building, offering a rich and immersive setting. The premise of a courier from the Shadow Land joining forces with various Elementals to thwart a sinister plot is both creative and intriguing. The author clearly put a lot of effort into crafting a detailed and vivid world, which was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
However, despite the strong foundation, I found it difficult to connect with the main characters. Their relationships felt somewhat shallow, and I struggled to feel the depth of their connections. Unfortunately, the dialogue often felt flat, which made it challenging for me to fully engage with their journey.
That being said, there were side characters who resonated more with me, and I truly appreciated the author’s imaginative storytelling. I believe that readers who enjoy intricate world-building and a unique fantasy adventure might find Shadow Rider worth exploring, even if it didn’t fully capture my interest.
I’m confident that many readers will enjoy this book, especially those who love diving into a well-crafted fantasy world. I look forward to seeing more from this author, as their creativity and passion for storytelling shines through.
🌶️ Intimate scenes but mild language - just a step past closed door
Shadow Rider is a fantasy adventure that excels in world-building, offering a rich and immersive setting. The premise of a courier from the Shadow Land joining forces with various Elementals to thwart a sinister plot is both creative and intriguing. The author clearly put a lot of effort into crafting a detailed and vivid world, which was one of my favorite aspects of the book.
However, despite the strong foundation, I found it difficult to connect with the main characters. Their relationships felt somewhat shallow, and I struggled to feel the depth of their connections. Unfortunately, the dialogue often felt flat, which made it challenging for me to fully engage with their journey.
That being said, there were side characters who resonated more with me, and I truly appreciated the author’s imaginative storytelling. I believe that readers who enjoy intricate world-building and a unique fantasy adventure might find Shadow Rider worth exploring, even if it didn’t fully capture my interest.
I’m confident that many readers will enjoy this book, especially those who love diving into a well-crafted fantasy world. I look forward to seeing more from this author, as their creativity and passion for storytelling shines through.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews