Shadowalkers

by Donna Sundblad

In the quiet village of Man's Bow, Udoaver Greensleeves and his bride Treena inherit the mysterious Cup of Epochs. With no living family to guide them, they question its origin. Opening it leads to more questions as they step into a new life and a web of ancient secrets.

The cup’s cryptic glyphs reveal unfolding prophecies, connecting them to dragons and a destiny that could change everything. As Drakeborn, Udo and Treena forge an alliance with the dragons in the fight against the Darkmore Evil—a sinister force born of corrupted dragon blood and binding fire. But to succeed, they must pay a price they never anticipated.

The second book in Donna Sundblad's Dragon’s Oath series, SHADOWALKERS is a tale of prophecy, magic, and adventure, where traveling through time brings sacrifices they never expected.

312 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 21, 2025

About the author

Donna Sundblad is a gifted author of young adult fantasy, celebrated for weaving captivating tales filled with prophecies, quests, and the timeless struggle between good and evil. With a rich background as a freelance writer, editor, and ghostwriter, Donna now devotes her energy to crafting imaginative novels that highlight themes of friendship, adventure, and meaningful life lessons.

Her recent works, published through Next Chapter Publishing, include The Inheritance (a Christian fantasy allegory), Beyond the Fifth Gate, and Windwalker.
Donna is also immersed in her Dragon's Oath series—an epic saga currently comprising Drake Ascendant, Shadowalkers, and Sages of Tachnir, with more book 4 in the works.

Faith remains a cornerstone of Donna’s life and storytelling. She resides with her husband, their adored shelter rescue cat, and a hand-raised cockatiel. When she isn’t writing, Donna enjoys the outdoors, spending time with family, and blogging about her literary passions.

Reviews

[Roy Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s something satisfying about fantasy that feels like it has roots—like it could’ve been whispered about in old texts. ‘Shadowalkers’ gave me that impression. The way the characters interact with their world, especially with time travel in the mix, made me think about cause and effect in a deeper way. I also appreciated that there was a strong moral compass at the story’s core, which reminded me of reading ancient epics as a kid.

[Criminal Venture Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this for our fantasy pick this quarter, and it sparked some thoughtful discussion. The concept of changing time and how actions ripple through history brought out different views in our group. Some of us saw it as pure adventure, while others saw deeper metaphors. I love a book that lets everyone walk away with something unique.

[CHenry Roi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this together with my niece, and it was a great shared experience. The plot kept us both interested, and we had fun discussing what might happen next. I appreciated that it was age-appropriate but not childish—it treats young readers with intelligence and never feels watered down. A strong female lead and important themes made it a win in my book.

[Tyler Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yo, this book was sooo lit!! The dragins and the stuff with time travel was crazy cool. Treena is a total baddie and the fight scenes got me like whoaa. I read it in 2 days and my mom had to tell me 2 times to go to sleep LOL. Ima def get book 3 if theres more.

[Coffee Book Couch by Ava · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who read Dragonborn when it first came out, long before it was reimagined as Oath, reading Shadowalkers felt like returning to a world I’ve watched grow from its first spark. What began as a humble story about legacy and ancient bonds has matured into a full-fledged fantasy saga, and Shadowalkers is proof of how far Donna Sundblad’s vision has come.

We’re once again following Udo and Treena—now stepping more fully into their identity as Drakeborn. From the moment the Cup of Epochs comes into their lives, there’s a sense that everything is accelerating. The world feels larger this time, and the past and future are pressing in more closely. The magic, the dragons, the prophecy—all of it has weight. Not just in the fantasy sense, but in an emotional and even moral way.

What I’ve always admired about Donna Sundblad’s work, even back in the Dragonborn days, is her attention to character. Udo and Treena aren’t fantasy archetypes—they’re people, with fears and doubts and hopes. And in Shadowalkers, those aspects of them are more important than ever. As they uncover the meaning of the glyphs, face the consequences of time travel, and prepare for the rising threat of the Darkmore Evil, it’s their relationship that gives the story its emotional center.

And the dragons—still one of my favorite elements in this world—are just as nuanced. They’re not just awe-inspiring creatures; they’re part of the story’s history, its heart, and its danger. There’s something particularly haunting about the idea of corrupted dragon blood—how it doesn’t just represent power gone wrong, but history that’s been twisted.

The pacing here is tighter and more confident than Dragonborn, and the writing has grown sharper too. The stakes are higher, but the quiet moments still breathe. There’s also a philosophical thread running through the story—about legacy, sacrifice, and what we owe to those who come after us—that adds real substance to the adventure.

One of the strongest elements, for me, is how time travel is treated. It’s not a convenience. It’s not flashy. It’s serious, almost sacred. And that approach changes how we, as readers, experience the ripple effects of the characters’ choices. There’s real suspense—not just in the sense of danger, but in wondering how every decision will echo through what’s to come.

If you’ve been with this world since Dragonborn, you’ll appreciate just how far things have come in Shadowalkers. Donna Sundblad’s storytelling has deepened, her characters have grown, and the story has blossomed into something much bigger—without losing the quiet heart that made it special in the first place. This isn’t just a sequel. It’s a meaningful continuation of a journey that began long ago—and I, for one, am glad to still be along for the ride. I really enjoyed the first edition of the debut book, but it’s clear now how much Donna Sundblad has grown as a writer—her storytelling has only gotten stronger.

[pastiesandpages - Gavin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shadowalkers by Donna Sundblad

Following on from Drake Ascendant (a four star read for me), Shadowalkers is the second novel in the Dragon's Oath fantasy series.

A series with different races of Dragons, the Labyrinths of Time, magic, prophecy and the battle against the Darkmore Evil.

We're introduced to new characters in this volume with a young couple, Udo and Treena, taking centre stage. As the story progresses they both find themselves to be Dragonborn, tasked to look after the cup of Epochs, and prepare for the battle to come.

Anyone that possesses the natural ability of being Dragon born must swear the Dragon's Oath which holds dire consequences if broken. What is frustrating here is that Udo and Treena are secretly sworn in at different times and even though they marry they aren't allowed to tell the other about their abilities or what is prophesied.
Thankfully the dragons do allow them to know once a certain point in time has been reached but until then it's frustrating for both them and the reader and doesn't make a lot of sense that they can't tell each other.

This volume has a lot more world building and time travel and prophecies as everything is building to a battle with the evil forces. Unfortunately that battle isn't in this book. Apart from a dramatic chase and escape scene near the beginning, there is no real action in this book. While the characters and world are well written and the plot remains interesting it has the problem of many a second book in a series by having the plot slow down to set everything up for the rest of the series to come. For me it slowed down too much and I'm really hoping that the series picks up the pace in book 3, Sages of Tachnir.

There's still plenty to enjoy in this volume but you do need to read Drake Ascendant first.
I'm giving the second volume ✨✨✨3 stars.

[Kristy Kloster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Donna Sundblad's Shadowalkers is everything you want from a second book in a fantasy series. It picks up after Dragonborn with a stronger sense of purpose and confidence in the worldbuilding. Udoaver and Treena, newlyweds and now guardians of the mysterious Cup of Epochs, are thrust into a much larger destiny, and Donna Sundblad doesn’t hesitate to explore the weight of that responsibility.

And the lore? Oh the lore! I love that. The cup's glyphs, the dragon-blood prophecy, the connection between Drakeborn and Darkmore Evil... The author added these elements in carefully, so they don’t overwhelm the human story underneath it all. Udo and Treena are also easy to care about.

There’s a nice balance of introspection, dialogue, and action. And the dragons... always a highlight—feel majestic and powerful, not just in presence but in meaning.

Shadowalkers is a thoughtful continuation that moves the story forward while expanding the scope in all the right ways. I'm very much looking forward to read the next book in the series.

[Holly Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was much easier to read than the first but this was because all the terminology had been thrown in at the first book. The idea was still quite confusing- what are they sacrificing things for? What is the mission? Why are the characters being told to separate or stay in a location for then to have absolutely nothing happen? This was the part that was rather frustrating but alas I’m committed to reading the whole series.

I did however enjoy the characters in this- there was a lot of development there with them and we pretty much grow up with this little family. I loved Treena’s character as hers felt so much more realistic- she had all the anxieties and concerns about what was happening to them and this made the book slightly better.

I do honestly have mixed feelings about this series. I can see it took a lot of effort and there’s definitely a lot of good things about it- but I’m unsure about the concept. Especially since it’s the end of book 2 and we STILL haven’t got to the action part or being given answers to the many questions it creates.

[Boyko Ovcharov · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic fantasy tale, featuring prophecy, magic, and adventure, as well as traveling through time.

The story revolves around the mysterious Cup of Epochs, which is found and inherited by Udoaver and Treena, a newlywed couple from a quiet village. Opening the Cup leads to more questions as they step into a new life and a web of ancient secrets.

Allegedly, it actually reminds readers of Pandora's box.
Drakeborn, Udo and Treena forge an alliance with the dragons in the fight against the Darkmore Evil. However, they must pay a price they never anticipated.

The book has a character-driven plot, despite being full of action, adventure and suspense.

Well-written, thought-provoking, immersive and unpredictable, but perfectly structured and paced too.

Recommended to adventure lovers.

[Carola Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly enjoyed the first book in the Dragon's Oath series, but Shadowalkers made me fall even deeper into this world. Donna Sundblad doesn’t just expand the story—she enriches it. Udo and Treena’s journey after inheriting the Cup of Epochs is filled quiet moments of discovery and big, magical shifts that pull you right in.

I love how she balances magic and mystery. There’s a real sense of legacy in the way the prophecy happens, and the connection with the dragons felt meaningful. The pacing is just right—enough action to keep the story moving, but still time to sit with the characters and feel their growth.

This is a book about choices, sacrifice and love—not only for each other but for what’s right. I’m so glad to be on this journey with these characters and can’t wait to see where it leads next.