What do you think?
Rate this book
The Shadows of Light #3
Son of the Prophet
Torn between his ancestry,
Desperate to change the world,
The son of the prophet embraces destiny.
Raised in a loving but sheltered Duvarharian home, Thaddeus' tranquil world is upheaved by a dark cloaked figure-one who wants him and his brother dead. To appease the man, the brothers are enrolled in an academy dedicated to training arena fighters. While being ostracized by his brother and the other violent students, Thaddeus strives to unravel the academy's dark secrets. What he discovers drives him to uncover the truth buried in himself and Rasa.
Haunted by impending danger and empowered by whispers saying he may be the Savior of the Dragon Prophecy, Thaddeus and his dragon seek to destroy the cult controlling the academy and Duvarharia's government. But when Thaddeus' trust in a forgotten deity fails to stop the torment of those he loves, he's left with no choice but to pursue a darker power to succeed.
Will Thaddeus free Duvarharia from the evil entrapping the Dragon Riders? Or will his actions shape him into the traitor Duvarharia fears most?
Read after Heir of Two Kingdoms, or as a prequel to the series. For fans of Shadow and Bone, Lord of the Rings, and The Inheritance Cycle.
Desperate to change the world,
The son of the prophet embraces destiny.
Raised in a loving but sheltered Duvarharian home, Thaddeus' tranquil world is upheaved by a dark cloaked figure-one who wants him and his brother dead. To appease the man, the brothers are enrolled in an academy dedicated to training arena fighters. While being ostracized by his brother and the other violent students, Thaddeus strives to unravel the academy's dark secrets. What he discovers drives him to uncover the truth buried in himself and Rasa.
Haunted by impending danger and empowered by whispers saying he may be the Savior of the Dragon Prophecy, Thaddeus and his dragon seek to destroy the cult controlling the academy and Duvarharia's government. But when Thaddeus' trust in a forgotten deity fails to stop the torment of those he loves, he's left with no choice but to pursue a darker power to succeed.
Will Thaddeus free Duvarharia from the evil entrapping the Dragon Riders? Or will his actions shape him into the traitor Duvarharia fears most?
Read after Heir of Two Kingdoms, or as a prequel to the series. For fans of Shadow and Bone, Lord of the Rings, and The Inheritance Cycle.
524 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 12, 2024
1 person is currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Effie Joe Stock
22 books91 followersEffie Joe Stock is the author of The Shadows of Light series, creator of the world Rasa, and head of Dragon Bone Publishing. When she’s not slaving away in front of her computer, you can find her playing music, studying psychology, theology, or philosophy, playing fantasy RPG video games, riding motorcycles, or hanging out with her farm animals. Her publishing journey only just beginning, Stock looks forward to the release of her third fantasy book along with other Dragon Bone titles.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 12, 2024
Edit: it's release day and this book is AVAILABLE. BUY IT, DEVOUR IT, GIVE IT A HOME IN YOUR HEART.
I've drifted away from traditional fantasy because that made up so much of my reading in high school and I began to grow tired of it. This fantastic novel made me miss it. Effie Joe Stock proves her skill with this stunning prequel to her epic fantasy series.
This is, at its core, the story of a soft, caring boy who is hardened and ruined by an unforgiving world. I would pitch it as a villain backstory with a touch of dark academia. It's grand, it's well written, and it's just the beginning of a series that's shaping up to be so excellent.
I was expecting big things, having loved Heir of Two Kingdoms, but this blew all my expectations out of the water.
I've drifted away from traditional fantasy because that made up so much of my reading in high school and I began to grow tired of it. This fantastic novel made me miss it. Effie Joe Stock proves her skill with this stunning prequel to her epic fantasy series.
This is, at its core, the story of a soft, caring boy who is hardened and ruined by an unforgiving world. I would pitch it as a villain backstory with a touch of dark academia. It's grand, it's well written, and it's just the beginning of a series that's shaping up to be so excellent.
I was expecting big things, having loved Heir of Two Kingdoms, but this blew all my expectations out of the water.
October 4, 2024
This is book 3 of a previous series but bever mind, I read it before the first two (I'll get to them later)
I'm heart broken, because this book brought me back from my reading slump but the price was a broken, sad heart.
I watched/read the author developp Thad's character, from that small boy to the man I left at the end of this book.
For once, I would've changed some things, but alas, I couldn't. After so much pain, struggle, heartbreak, faith, and loss, what's become of my lovely Thaddeus? And Kyrell? Why?
I'll get back to the book now..
The writing is excellent, the story did flow smoothly and to be honest, I didn't get to rest as events unfolded, even if slowly, page after page, the plot is solid and kept me focused on the story. There was a good range of characters, the main ones were very well developed, the moment I find myself loving or hating a character, I'm 100 % sure the author did an awesome job.
This book is really remarkable, it was both entertaining as in fantasy novel but more importantly, it made me ask myself some very serious questi about love, faith, religion and the importance and impact of the decisions we make on us and also on what's surrounding us..
Waiting for the next one, I need to be reassured about Thaddeus and Kyrell, God, that ending... I'm so pissed off with the author 😒
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I'm heart broken, because this book brought me back from my reading slump but the price was a broken, sad heart.
I watched/read the author developp Thad's character, from that small boy to the man I left at the end of this book.
For once, I would've changed some things, but alas, I couldn't. After so much pain, struggle, heartbreak, faith, and loss, what's become of my lovely Thaddeus? And Kyrell? Why?
I'll get back to the book now..
The writing is excellent, the story did flow smoothly and to be honest, I didn't get to rest as events unfolded, even if slowly, page after page, the plot is solid and kept me focused on the story. There was a good range of characters, the main ones were very well developed, the moment I find myself loving or hating a character, I'm 100 % sure the author did an awesome job.
This book is really remarkable, it was both entertaining as in fantasy novel but more importantly, it made me ask myself some very serious questi about love, faith, religion and the importance and impact of the decisions we make on us and also on what's surrounding us..
Waiting for the next one, I need to be reassured about Thaddeus and Kyrell, God, that ending... I'm so pissed off with the author 😒
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 4, 2024
I'm going to begin this with saying that the 3 star rating is PURELY based on personal taste, and not on the quality of the book itself. With that said, let's get into it!
I love epic fantasy, I love the chonky fantasy books, and the idea of a villain backstory that's the Chosen One trope but twisted? Heck yeah! Not to mention, the worldbuilding was fun and creative, with original races/creatures as well as familiar ones—like dragons!
My main 'gripe', if you will, is how long it took the MC, Thaddeus, to grow up at all. I have nothing against young MCs, and I don't mind at all that he started out only 13, but I would have liked him to grow up a little more through the book than he did. Especially since this book is slower paced, so a couple more short time skips would have helped make sure it didn't feel like it dragged. There was also a smaller main cast than I generally prefer, but again, these are just personal preferences!
Overall, I did enjoy Son of the Prophet! It's easy to sympathise with Thaddeus and see how he becomes the villain he eventually turns into, and I really liked his bond with Kyrell. The ending absolutely paid off everything that was being built up, and I definitely want to check out the rest of the series!
I love epic fantasy, I love the chonky fantasy books, and the idea of a villain backstory that's the Chosen One trope but twisted? Heck yeah! Not to mention, the worldbuilding was fun and creative, with original races/creatures as well as familiar ones—like dragons!
My main 'gripe', if you will, is how long it took the MC, Thaddeus, to grow up at all. I have nothing against young MCs, and I don't mind at all that he started out only 13, but I would have liked him to grow up a little more through the book than he did. Especially since this book is slower paced, so a couple more short time skips would have helped make sure it didn't feel like it dragged. There was also a smaller main cast than I generally prefer, but again, these are just personal preferences!
Overall, I did enjoy Son of the Prophet! It's easy to sympathise with Thaddeus and see how he becomes the villain he eventually turns into, and I really liked his bond with Kyrell. The ending absolutely paid off everything that was being built up, and I definitely want to check out the rest of the series!
September 8, 2024
Son of the Prophet is book 3 in The Shadows of Light by Effie Joe Stock. This epic fantasy is written in 6 Parts. It is a big story with Thaddeus the main character. I love stories with dragons and liked the Thaddeus has a dragon, Kyrell, but, Thaddeus is labeled a traitor. The book is interesting with lots of action. If you enjoy reading big fantasy books, I think you will enjoy Son of a Prophet. I received an arc for free and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
August 9, 2025
TW: physical, verbal, mental, emotional, and s*xual abuse, substance abuse, torture, self- h*rm, mental health issues, and religious trauma.
I finished this book in three days because it is absolutely amazing!!! 😍😍😍 Effie blew me away with her characters, world building, magic, and love. This story is heartbreakingly tragic as it shows the rise and fall of Thaddeus and Kyrell. I was honestly rooting for them and wanted them to change their fate but Oh. My. Gosh.
Nothing will prepare you for the beauty, hope, grief, and yearning poured into these pages. I can't stop thinking about this story and the implications it has for the rest of this series. (I'm also going to have to reread the first two and see what connections I have now.)
Effie is an amazing author who knows how to weave love and hope from tragedy, show true love even amidst the deepest sorrow, and how our own choices can either make or break us in the most horrible ways.
This story asks deep gutting questions about religion, life, love, and if we really are able to choose our own fate or if we are bound to live out another's desires.
I finished this book in three days because it is absolutely amazing!!! 😍😍😍 Effie blew me away with her characters, world building, magic, and love. This story is heartbreakingly tragic as it shows the rise and fall of Thaddeus and Kyrell. I was honestly rooting for them and wanted them to change their fate but Oh. My. Gosh.
Nothing will prepare you for the beauty, hope, grief, and yearning poured into these pages. I can't stop thinking about this story and the implications it has for the rest of this series. (I'm also going to have to reread the first two and see what connections I have now.)
Effie is an amazing author who knows how to weave love and hope from tragedy, show true love even amidst the deepest sorrow, and how our own choices can either make or break us in the most horrible ways.
This story asks deep gutting questions about religion, life, love, and if we really are able to choose our own fate or if we are bound to live out another's desires.
November 11, 2024
First things first: Yes, this is a huge book, but trust me, it is so worth it.
Believe me when I say I devoured those ~500 pages as fast as one slow reader can feast on them! (Okay, it took me 2 weeks. Don't look at me like that!) I was so invested. The first impression that had me hooked from the start was the dynamic between Thaddeus and his brother. I actually read a bit too fast in the beginning, which made it a bit difficult for me to catch up with all the names (Which already is a common problem of mine and won't be considered for my rating).
The most outstanding point for me while reading was how elegant Effie managed to drop the world building on me. I personally didn't feel any kind of info dump, which can be a problem in Epic Fantasy and which she, in my opinion, mastered to avoid.
This was the first novel I finished in her 'Shadows of Light' series (apart from her short story collection 'The Legends of Rasa'), and I plan to catch up with the rest of it once her revamped version of 'COTDP' is out.
I received a free ebook copy of this novel and wrote this review voluntarily and in all honesty.
Believe me when I say I devoured those ~500 pages as fast as one slow reader can feast on them! (Okay, it took me 2 weeks. Don't look at me like that!) I was so invested. The first impression that had me hooked from the start was the dynamic between Thaddeus and his brother. I actually read a bit too fast in the beginning, which made it a bit difficult for me to catch up with all the names (Which already is a common problem of mine and won't be considered for my rating).
The most outstanding point for me while reading was how elegant Effie managed to drop the world building on me. I personally didn't feel any kind of info dump, which can be a problem in Epic Fantasy and which she, in my opinion, mastered to avoid.
This was the first novel I finished in her 'Shadows of Light' series (apart from her short story collection 'The Legends of Rasa'), and I plan to catch up with the rest of it once her revamped version of 'COTDP' is out.
I received a free ebook copy of this novel and wrote this review voluntarily and in all honesty.
November 20, 2024
I was gifted an ARC of this book and this is my honest review. I was genuinely blown away by the authors adept world building skills, weaving the story and the characters together without dumping too much info despite the size and complexity of this heartbreaking, haunting, yet beautiful tale. The author touched on some deeply difficult topics, inviting the readers to pry open their own heart and mind to question and discover secrets and truths. Plus there are dragons! Although there is plenty of heartwarming moments, I would encourage anyone interested to go in knowing there are darker themes that may require stopping to consider your mental health.
March 7, 2025
So well written! I will say it was a bit dark and heavy for me, but I knew that going in, so it took me a while to get through it. But wow. I hadn't read 1 and 2 before this, but it stands on its own. The world building and creation of who Thaddeus is is really well done. I love the relationship he has with his mother.
It was so frustrating seeing the main character go through his challenges, and Effie Joe Stock does a great job getting those emotions across. Truly a villain origin story and I relished in that!
It was so frustrating seeing the main character go through his challenges, and Effie Joe Stock does a great job getting those emotions across. Truly a villain origin story and I relished in that!
July 17, 2025
An exciting epic fantasy story about a boy whose efforts to make his world a better place turn him into a traitor and a villain.
It was fascinating to see Thaddeus grow from a timid boy to a confident dragon rider, and even more fascinating to see the kindness in his heart poisoned by pride and resentment. It's easy to empathize with Thaddeus' decisions, even when he's trying to burn down the world.
Great story. Though this prequel is the third book in the series, it serves as a great introduction to the Stock's world. I am excited to read the rest of the series.
It was fascinating to see Thaddeus grow from a timid boy to a confident dragon rider, and even more fascinating to see the kindness in his heart poisoned by pride and resentment. It's easy to empathize with Thaddeus' decisions, even when he's trying to burn down the world.
Great story. Though this prequel is the third book in the series, it serves as a great introduction to the Stock's world. I am excited to read the rest of the series.
August 19, 2024
Absolutely phenomenal! I'm still attempting to pick my jaw up off the floor after reading this beautifully haunting masterpiece. Effie Joe Stock has crafted a rich world filled with dynamic (and tragic) characters with whom you simply cannot help but fall in love. Highly recommend!
November 10, 2024
Didn't realize this was a villain's backstory
July 17, 2025
Enjoyed this book. It's hard to put my finger on exactly why I didn't love it.
I have nothing against long books, but this one felt a bit needlessly long at times. It takes a long time for the story to go anywhere, and I felt like the first half dragged a bit. At the same time I found myself feeling a bit of whiplash in the second half. A lot happens, and some of it felt a little rushed.
I knew this was a villain origin story, and I was really intrigued to see how such a sweet, soft-hearted boy like Thaddeus could end up as a villain. I feel like the author pulled this off really well, and I found it easy to sympathize with Thaddeus and understand his point of view and how he justifies his actions. I read this book before the others in the series, and it really made me want to pick up the rest.
I have nothing against long books, but this one felt a bit needlessly long at times. It takes a long time for the story to go anywhere, and I felt like the first half dragged a bit. At the same time I found myself feeling a bit of whiplash in the second half. A lot happens, and some of it felt a little rushed.
I knew this was a villain origin story, and I was really intrigued to see how such a sweet, soft-hearted boy like Thaddeus could end up as a villain. I feel like the author pulled this off really well, and I found it easy to sympathize with Thaddeus and understand his point of view and how he justifies his actions. I read this book before the others in the series, and it really made me want to pick up the rest.
March 26, 2025
Genre: Epic fantasy, high fantasy, villain origin story
Audience: Adult (graphic content , adult subject matter)
My summary: This is Thaddeus’ story. It tells how he went from a child to the traitor of Duvarharia. The story follows him from about 13 to 17 years old, and so much happens to transform Thaddeus.
This book can be read as the third book in the series or first as a prequel.
If you’ve read any of the books in the Shadows of Light Series, you know how this one ends; however, Effie wrote it in a way that you’ll feel the gravity of every step, every event, every emotion Thaddeus endures along the way. You know Thaddeus becomes the villain, but his transformation is so, so tragic and painful. The story wrenches your heart and gut so much because Effie has masterfully crafted the world of Rasa to be real. She introduces Thaddeus and his life as this flawless, shining glass orb of childlike innocence and beauty. You believe it is exactly as perfect as it seems, and you believe every truth Thaddeus believes. It all feels so real. And so as Thaddeus’ life begins to crack, as his conception of truth begins to give way to the real truth, as everything shatters so horribly slowly, you feel that loss. You experience the drops of burning reality dissolving everything, and you understand why Thaddeus chooses what he chooses. You hate it, fight it, and love it just as he does. You never questioned him; you just cry with him. Then, when the last words sweep under your eyes, you realize that’s how it all happened, and you hate that it had to be that way, but you know you’ve discovered truth and that it had to be that way.
Everyone will love Thaddeus like a wayward son.
Overall: An epic, magical, subtle yet dangerously powerful story of losing the lies of innocence and tasting the bitterness of truth.
Audience: Adult (graphic content , adult subject matter)
My summary: This is Thaddeus’ story. It tells how he went from a child to the traitor of Duvarharia. The story follows him from about 13 to 17 years old, and so much happens to transform Thaddeus.
This book can be read as the third book in the series or first as a prequel.
If you’ve read any of the books in the Shadows of Light Series, you know how this one ends; however, Effie wrote it in a way that you’ll feel the gravity of every step, every event, every emotion Thaddeus endures along the way. You know Thaddeus becomes the villain, but his transformation is so, so tragic and painful. The story wrenches your heart and gut so much because Effie has masterfully crafted the world of Rasa to be real. She introduces Thaddeus and his life as this flawless, shining glass orb of childlike innocence and beauty. You believe it is exactly as perfect as it seems, and you believe every truth Thaddeus believes. It all feels so real. And so as Thaddeus’ life begins to crack, as his conception of truth begins to give way to the real truth, as everything shatters so horribly slowly, you feel that loss. You experience the drops of burning reality dissolving everything, and you understand why Thaddeus chooses what he chooses. You hate it, fight it, and love it just as he does. You never questioned him; you just cry with him. Then, when the last words sweep under your eyes, you realize that’s how it all happened, and you hate that it had to be that way, but you know you’ve discovered truth and that it had to be that way.
Everyone will love Thaddeus like a wayward son.
Overall: An epic, magical, subtle yet dangerously powerful story of losing the lies of innocence and tasting the bitterness of truth.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews