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Shadow of the Crimson Lily: Chronicles of the Bard King: Tales of the Sutori
In the heart of Eodarrin, where the rugged mountains kiss the Endless Sea, lies Breyonne—a city of contrasts. By day, a vibrant metropolis boasting grand markets and majestic architecture; by night, a labyrinth of shadows whispered with secrets. It is here, amidst the bustling docks and shadowed alleyways, that the Crimson Lily emerges.
Lysa, known to the underworld as the Crimson Lily, navigates the dualities of her life with unmatched skill. By day, she's a mere specter among the people, but by night, she becomes a herald of vengeance, her crimson cloak a silent testament to her missions. Yet, even as she weaves through the complexities of Breyonne, her heart harbors its own secrets—secrets that threaten to unravel when she meets Jacob, a nobleman whose gaze holds a promise of a life she never dared to dream.
But dreams are dangerous in a city that feasts on whispered plots and where every shadow could be an enemy. The Crimson Lily finds herself caught in a web of intrigue that stretches to the echelons of power, where a Baron's sinister plans threaten the very fabric of Breyonne. With her sister Aria by her side, and the unexpected warmth of a new bond with Jacob, Lysa must confront the darkness of her city and the shadows within herself.
As alliances are forged and betrayals come to light, the Crimson Lily must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice. Will she cling to the shadows that have been her sanctuary, or dare to embrace the light that comes with love and hope? In the end, the fate of Breyonne and the Crimson Lily herself rests on the edge of a knife.
Dive into "Shadows of the Crimson Lily," where every whisper carries the weight of secrets, and every heart harbors the strength for change. Discover a story of resilience, betrayal, and the transformative power of love amidst the backdrop of a city as beautiful as it is brutal.
Lysa, known to the underworld as the Crimson Lily, navigates the dualities of her life with unmatched skill. By day, she's a mere specter among the people, but by night, she becomes a herald of vengeance, her crimson cloak a silent testament to her missions. Yet, even as she weaves through the complexities of Breyonne, her heart harbors its own secrets—secrets that threaten to unravel when she meets Jacob, a nobleman whose gaze holds a promise of a life she never dared to dream.
But dreams are dangerous in a city that feasts on whispered plots and where every shadow could be an enemy. The Crimson Lily finds herself caught in a web of intrigue that stretches to the echelons of power, where a Baron's sinister plans threaten the very fabric of Breyonne. With her sister Aria by her side, and the unexpected warmth of a new bond with Jacob, Lysa must confront the darkness of her city and the shadows within herself.
As alliances are forged and betrayals come to light, the Crimson Lily must decide how much she's willing to sacrifice. Will she cling to the shadows that have been her sanctuary, or dare to embrace the light that comes with love and hope? In the end, the fate of Breyonne and the Crimson Lily herself rests on the edge of a knife.
Dive into "Shadows of the Crimson Lily," where every whisper carries the weight of secrets, and every heart harbors the strength for change. Discover a story of resilience, betrayal, and the transformative power of love amidst the backdrop of a city as beautiful as it is brutal.
- GenresFantasy
149 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 30, 2024
32 people are currently reading
106 people want to read
About the author
J.S. Herod
14 books9 followersJ.S. Herod is a Literary Titan Award-winning author of immersive epic fantasy and romantasy, celebrated for his deep character work, layered storytelling, and evocative, lived-in worlds. His writing style blends emotionally charged prose with a touch of grit and humor, grounding high fantasy in very human experiences.
Though he currently lives in the quiet rural town of Myrtle, Mississippi, Herod’s roots stretch across the country. Born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in southeastern Oklahoma on the Choctaw Nation Reservation, his early years were shaped by tribal storytellers and long hours wandering libraries at Ole Miss while his mother pursued a degree in Linguistics. As a teenager with a thirst for knowledge and a love of words, he was fortunate enough to sit in on college-level literature and linguistics classes—experiences that lit a lifelong fire for language and story.
Later, he spent two decades moving from state to state—from Texas to North Carolina to Pennsylvania—collecting memories, mistakes, and a kind of wisdom that only comes from living a few lifetimes in one. Those years, and the people in them, gave him an enduring belief in the power of found family, a theme that echoes through all his work.
Herod’s characters are flawed, fierce, and heartbreakingly real—struggling with trauma, mental health, love, and loyalty. And while his stories span vast kingdoms and mythical lands, they are always, at their core, about connection. “I don’t have friends,” he often says. “I have extended family.”
When he isn’t writing, you’ll likely find him designing book covers, editing trailers, or brushing up on marketing—doing everything himself as an independent author. But when he manages to steal a quiet moment? Picture a leather chair, a glass of 15-year-old Macallan, a fine Macanudo, and a well-worn classic in hand.
His goal? To make you feel something. To make you remember.
Though he currently lives in the quiet rural town of Myrtle, Mississippi, Herod’s roots stretch across the country. Born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in southeastern Oklahoma on the Choctaw Nation Reservation, his early years were shaped by tribal storytellers and long hours wandering libraries at Ole Miss while his mother pursued a degree in Linguistics. As a teenager with a thirst for knowledge and a love of words, he was fortunate enough to sit in on college-level literature and linguistics classes—experiences that lit a lifelong fire for language and story.
Later, he spent two decades moving from state to state—from Texas to North Carolina to Pennsylvania—collecting memories, mistakes, and a kind of wisdom that only comes from living a few lifetimes in one. Those years, and the people in them, gave him an enduring belief in the power of found family, a theme that echoes through all his work.
Herod’s characters are flawed, fierce, and heartbreakingly real—struggling with trauma, mental health, love, and loyalty. And while his stories span vast kingdoms and mythical lands, they are always, at their core, about connection. “I don’t have friends,” he often says. “I have extended family.”
When he isn’t writing, you’ll likely find him designing book covers, editing trailers, or brushing up on marketing—doing everything himself as an independent author. But when he manages to steal a quiet moment? Picture a leather chair, a glass of 15-year-old Macallan, a fine Macanudo, and a well-worn classic in hand.
His goal? To make you feel something. To make you remember.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
May 9, 2024
Crimson Lily
This story is intriguing, grabbing you from the start and holding your interest throughout. For me, the story represents women and their inherent strength finding within the potential to become anything they desire. The main character, a strong, adventurous, independent woman, through her story exhibits the duality of women both as both a heroin and a worthy adversary in the seedy underworld.
I would recommend this book as it feels inspiring to women in general and perhaps a momentary escape in our everyday lives.
This story is intriguing, grabbing you from the start and holding your interest throughout. For me, the story represents women and their inherent strength finding within the potential to become anything they desire. The main character, a strong, adventurous, independent woman, through her story exhibits the duality of women both as both a heroin and a worthy adversary in the seedy underworld.
I would recommend this book as it feels inspiring to women in general and perhaps a momentary escape in our everyday lives.
July 11, 2024
10/10 recommend this amazing book had my attention from cover to cover . Great author
March 24, 2025
I fell victim to the first two books in the series this prompt-typer released. It's now my solemn duty to warn others so they do not suffer a similar fate.
We need to talk about these A.I. generated books flooding the self-pub market. You know the ones. The "authors" don't bother mentioning that a chatbot wrote every damn word. They think we can't tell.
We can tell.
Anyone who's read an actual book can spot these things a mile away. Maybe the people cranking them out don't realize how obvious it is. Hell, maybe they don't read enough real books to know the difference. Or maybe they just don't care.
Either way, they need to label this garbage properly. And don't give me that "but I came up with the story idea" nonsense. You didn't write anything. You just fed prompts into a machine and called yourself an author.
That's not writing. That's not even close.
We need to talk about these A.I. generated books flooding the self-pub market. You know the ones. The "authors" don't bother mentioning that a chatbot wrote every damn word. They think we can't tell.
We can tell.
Anyone who's read an actual book can spot these things a mile away. Maybe the people cranking them out don't realize how obvious it is. Hell, maybe they don't read enough real books to know the difference. Or maybe they just don't care.
Either way, they need to label this garbage properly. And don't give me that "but I came up with the story idea" nonsense. You didn't write anything. You just fed prompts into a machine and called yourself an author.
That's not writing. That's not even close.
January 22, 2025
I’m not a huge reader of romantasy, but every now and then I’ll dive in and this is one I’m glad I took a chance on! Lysa really had me rooting for her throughout the whole book! Just a perfect example of how strong women can really be!
March 5, 2025
This was a slow read. I easily lost focus as the prose came across as repetitive and the plot was bland.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews