Shadows Within

by Timo Burnham

Book 2 of this martial arts progression fantasy continues with even more action, intrigue and kung fu magic.

Ryushu has survived the brutal climb up the mountain and passed the entrance test. But this is only the first small step on his journey. As training begins, he will have to deal with his own weakness while traversing rivalries and potential romance on his way to becoming an adept.

Across the continent, Zashou is out of his element, dealing with courtiers and politicians as he tries to convince the Emperor to send aid to Oroto. What begins as a simple task quickly becomes complicated as he uncovers assassination attempts, secret cults and a develops a closer-than-proper relationship with the mother of the Emperor.

As darkness spreads through the outer provinces, Both Ryushu and Zashou discover that evil isn’t only on the outside. There are also Shadows Within.

Genres: Fantasy

282 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2024

About the author

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Reviews

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to beta read this second book of the series and I know how much work Timo put into it.
It's a fun and engaging story, and in this new chapter we get to know the characters a bit better while Ryu starts his training and Zash finds new ways to get himself in trouble.
I recommend this story to anyone that likes martial arts, progression fantasy, shonen manga, or is just looking for an action-packed adventure in an exotic and magic world. (Plus fluffy animals!)
And the beautiful illustrations by Neutronboar make the story even more magical!

[Leslee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows Within is filled with new and intriguing revelations about the origin and mechanics of this world's magic system, as Ryu trains in the difficult task of meeting with his spirit self. It's a great blend of progression fantasy and character development, giving both Ryu and Zash their own challenges to navigate while the threat of the Black Sun continues to grow in this second book of the series.

[Alyssa Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall, the book was a great expansion of the first entry in the series while maintaining the quick action of the first. We got to see the MCs of the first book develop further and encounter new challenges. I enjoyed also getting to know the other trainees alongside Ryu. While there wasn't anything super new to the side characters, they never came across as caricatures. Also there was a twist that (while not completely unexpected) got me.

Looking forward to the next one.

[Glen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This second book in the series divides our two protagonists. Zash is sent to warn the emperor, who is about 13 years old of the threat of the Black Sun. Turns out martial arts doesn't fare so well in court, but there is the sort of awkward romance that used to figure in kung fu movies.

Meanwhile, Ryu trains to become a master. To be honest, there should be more extreme training sequences of the type Gordon Liu used to do. And another awkward romance.

Kept my interest.