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Legends of the Shadow #1
The Assassin's Shadow
A thrilling epic fantasy adventure
They say Locan A’Shadow is the greatest assassin who ever lived.
They say he faced down dragons and the armies of an undead king.
And every word of it is true.
Locan was once the deadliest man in the Dominion. Now he’s a nobody—a stranger living quietly at the edge of the world. And that’s just how he likes it.
But when bandits raid his home in the night, killing and burning, Locan is forced to reveal his skill with a blade.
A vicious enemy ordered the attack—someone Locan thought he killed years ago. But the vampire Solis Deadhand is alive. And far to the north he is building an empire of blood and magic.
Locan is no hero. He always laughed at the stories people told about his adventures. But there are evils he cannot ignore. And grudges that can never be forgotten.
He marches into the wilderness, through haunted forests and snow-capped mountains, with an idealistic young noble and a beautiful elf sorcerer by his side.
As they draw ever closer to the vampire’s realm, Locan must step out of the shadows. He might not be a hero. But to save his world from centuries of darkness, he must become a legend.
An absolutely thrilling epic fantasy adventure that will leave you breathless. For fans of Joe Abercrombie, Jay Kristoff, and John Gwynne.
They say Locan A’Shadow is the greatest assassin who ever lived.
They say he faced down dragons and the armies of an undead king.
And every word of it is true.
Locan was once the deadliest man in the Dominion. Now he’s a nobody—a stranger living quietly at the edge of the world. And that’s just how he likes it.
But when bandits raid his home in the night, killing and burning, Locan is forced to reveal his skill with a blade.
A vicious enemy ordered the attack—someone Locan thought he killed years ago. But the vampire Solis Deadhand is alive. And far to the north he is building an empire of blood and magic.
Locan is no hero. He always laughed at the stories people told about his adventures. But there are evils he cannot ignore. And grudges that can never be forgotten.
He marches into the wilderness, through haunted forests and snow-capped mountains, with an idealistic young noble and a beautiful elf sorcerer by his side.
As they draw ever closer to the vampire’s realm, Locan must step out of the shadows. He might not be a hero. But to save his world from centuries of darkness, he must become a legend.
An absolutely thrilling epic fantasy adventure that will leave you breathless. For fans of Joe Abercrombie, Jay Kristoff, and John Gwynne.
- GenresFantasyHigh Fantasy
Audible Audio
Published March 14, 2025
550 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
R.S. Moule
8 books44 followersR.S. Moule is the author of the Erland Saga. He has a passion for writing epic fantasy grounded by human flaws and desires, set in worlds inspired by a childhood divided between his home in the rolling hills of the Cotswolds and summers spent exploring the rugged coastline and deep glens of the Isle of Man. He now lives in South London with his wife, Eloise, and their cat, Tinks. When not reading or writing, he can often be found playing guitar, watching football, or looking for his keys.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
March 10, 2025
This is a pretty classic but compelling fantasy tale of unlikely companions joining forces to defeat the Big Bad.
The world building is interesting and the story itself is fast paced and full of action.
I liked it but I felt the characters missed something and I never really cared for them, which is really important to me.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is good, but the heavily accented voices chosen for some of the characters didn't work for me, and it somehow put me off.
In short I think this is a solid story, but it didn't really stand out.
Thank you Bookouture Audio for this ARC!
The world building is interesting and the story itself is fast paced and full of action.
I liked it but I felt the characters missed something and I never really cared for them, which is really important to me.
I listened to the audiobook version and the narrator is good, but the heavily accented voices chosen for some of the characters didn't work for me, and it somehow put me off.
In short I think this is a solid story, but it didn't really stand out.
Thank you Bookouture Audio for this ARC!
March 15, 2025
I was very excited to read this since Moule’s previous serious was absolutely outstanding. This book was definitely good but not exactly good enough to want to read again. It gives me a D&D vibe with familiar characters with a slight twist to them. Vampires, elves, trolls, etc.
Some of the scenes had a little horror sprinkled in it which I liked. I think the big kicker for me was the character work was pretty bland. I absolutely think his previous series is a must read and I think you should start there before reading this book.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Some of the scenes had a little horror sprinkled in it which I liked. I think the big kicker for me was the character work was pretty bland. I absolutely think his previous series is a must read and I think you should start there before reading this book.
Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
February 18, 2025
This was an absolute pleasure to read and a really strong start to a new fantasy series.
I immediately liked the prose, characters and setting, and the world-building was very well done. There are plenty of familiar epic fantasy themes to be found in this novel and I definitely felt influences from the LOTR and Wheel of Time series'. That was no bad thing though, as the adventure our main group go on was exciting, tense and action-packed, with some very cool scenes.
I loved the various creatures (both encountered and hinted at) and feel there is so much potential here, especially given the strength of the character development, which I felt was really nicely weaved throughout the story.
I was expecting a much longer and in-depth quest though, and that is what holds me back from giving 5 stars, as the last quarter felt a little rushed.
Overall, a brilliant read and a series I'll continue reading. An easy 4 stars with very little to fault.
A very big thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the ARC.
I immediately liked the prose, characters and setting, and the world-building was very well done. There are plenty of familiar epic fantasy themes to be found in this novel and I definitely felt influences from the LOTR and Wheel of Time series'. That was no bad thing though, as the adventure our main group go on was exciting, tense and action-packed, with some very cool scenes.
I loved the various creatures (both encountered and hinted at) and feel there is so much potential here, especially given the strength of the character development, which I felt was really nicely weaved throughout the story.
I was expecting a much longer and in-depth quest though, and that is what holds me back from giving 5 stars, as the last quarter felt a little rushed.
Overall, a brilliant read and a series I'll continue reading. An easy 4 stars with very little to fault.
A very big thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for the ARC.
March 10, 2025
I absolutely loved this book! Epic fantasy with fantastic world building, interesting magic, great characters and lots of humour. A joy to read and even made me cry at one point.
The way this story is told keeps you fully interested. It's paced well and the fight scenes were well written.
I loved Cetrik and the journey we get swept up into. Locan is absolutely hilarious, morally grey and a badass.
The dynamics of Cetrik and his family were really well written. He can't seem to do right for doing wrong and despite him not particularly wanting to be part of the royal family, the treatment he receives made me so angry!
It had a lot of elements of what I love about Grimdark so I definitely recommend this if that's your bag, like me!
There's a small romantic sub plot in the book that made my heart ache for Cetrik. It's packed with emotion in this book and you find yourself desperately rooting for the underdog. Watching him become a man and stand up for himself is such a great journey to be a part of.
I can't wait to read about the next adventure. This was so enjoyable. I can tell that this series is going to be immense!
Thank you to Second Sky, NetGalley and the author for the arc. This is my honest review of the book!
The way this story is told keeps you fully interested. It's paced well and the fight scenes were well written.
I loved Cetrik and the journey we get swept up into. Locan is absolutely hilarious, morally grey and a badass.
The dynamics of Cetrik and his family were really well written. He can't seem to do right for doing wrong and despite him not particularly wanting to be part of the royal family, the treatment he receives made me so angry!
It had a lot of elements of what I love about Grimdark so I definitely recommend this if that's your bag, like me!
There's a small romantic sub plot in the book that made my heart ache for Cetrik. It's packed with emotion in this book and you find yourself desperately rooting for the underdog. Watching him become a man and stand up for himself is such a great journey to be a part of.
I can't wait to read about the next adventure. This was so enjoyable. I can tell that this series is going to be immense!
Thank you to Second Sky, NetGalley and the author for the arc. This is my honest review of the book!
March 14, 2025
3.5. (Rounded up) This was a fun epic coming-of-age fantasy about Cetrik and the famed assassin, Locan A’Shadow. The world building was extensive with creatures such as vampires and elves and all the political intrigue one could want. It was refreshing to read about a young man who could actually feel his feelings- who could cry and grieve and love and have his heart broken. I enjoyed the side characters, especially Morvolt, the horse with an attitude. While the pace erred on slow, the plot was compelling.
I did not like the extensive politics that occurred around the 80% mark. I know it was necessary for the plot, but I feel like it could have been woven throughout the story instead of bundled near the end out of necessity. Cetrik’s brother deserved more character development.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I will be reading the next book in the series. Thank you Second Sky for the advanced egalley.
I did not like the extensive politics that occurred around the 80% mark. I know it was necessary for the plot, but I feel like it could have been woven throughout the story instead of bundled near the end out of necessity. Cetrik’s brother deserved more character development.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. I will be reading the next book in the series. Thank you Second Sky for the advanced egalley.
February 26, 2025
Huge thank you to Second Sky for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I will admit, I was coming off two DNFs with some incredibly dense writing/political schemes when I cracked this open. The first page was like a breath of fresh air. The conversational tone as our narrator, Cetrik, begins to tell the life of the most deadliest man alive had me hook, line, and sinker.
You get an inkling of what might be about to happen, but it doesn’t feel like a disappointment. The pace is so fast and the action is back to back. There isn’t much downtime or idleness for the characters even in the first quarter of the book. I love the begrudging ally relationship that develops with Cetrik and Locan (very Falcon and Winter Soldier-esque).
Make no mistake this is straight fantasy, we have orc-like characters, clerics, elves, and everything else between. If you love D&D or the old DragonLance Chronicles this novel is going to hit the sweet spot of nostalgia for you. But the best part is the fight scenes. These are so well-crafted and detailed, you are holding your breath while you sweep through them. The vivid imagery is grisly, no doubt. But there is beauty to it, too. Really well done! (And I say this as someone who tends to skim fights because they tend to drag on and get boring/repetitive.)
Overall fantastic read, perfect for anyone that wants to get lost in an adventure! I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
I will admit, I was coming off two DNFs with some incredibly dense writing/political schemes when I cracked this open. The first page was like a breath of fresh air. The conversational tone as our narrator, Cetrik, begins to tell the life of the most deadliest man alive had me hook, line, and sinker.
You get an inkling of what might be about to happen, but it doesn’t feel like a disappointment. The pace is so fast and the action is back to back. There isn’t much downtime or idleness for the characters even in the first quarter of the book. I love the begrudging ally relationship that develops with Cetrik and Locan (very Falcon and Winter Soldier-esque).
Make no mistake this is straight fantasy, we have orc-like characters, clerics, elves, and everything else between. If you love D&D or the old DragonLance Chronicles this novel is going to hit the sweet spot of nostalgia for you. But the best part is the fight scenes. These are so well-crafted and detailed, you are holding your breath while you sweep through them. The vivid imagery is grisly, no doubt. But there is beauty to it, too. Really well done! (And I say this as someone who tends to skim fights because they tend to drag on and get boring/repetitive.)
Overall fantastic read, perfect for anyone that wants to get lost in an adventure! I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series!
March 13, 2025
Great book! Action packed, silliness, humour, great character development and i love the fact the main protagonist were men!
Lorcan was my favourite character the whole way through this book.
The magic system in them is book was very unique!
Would 100%recommend this book to anyone.
Happy release day for the 14th March R.S. Moule ❤️
Thank you so much Net Galley and Second Sky books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
Lorcan was my favourite character the whole way through this book.
The magic system in them is book was very unique!
Would 100%recommend this book to anyone.
Happy release day for the 14th March R.S. Moule ❤️
Thank you so much Net Galley and Second Sky books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.
March 10, 2025
3.75 rounded up
This book is VERY high fantasy and readers who love a chaotic “mentor” and a mentee who doesn’t know what he’s getting into I think will really enjoy this.
Cetriks upbringing makes him very posh and haughty at the beginning of the book but by the end he’s a new person. This book does start off as a story telling/journal entry then evolves into the story itself. If you enjoy high fantasy, vampyres, a sassy horse, and a group of misfits then you’ll definitely enjoy this book!
Thank you Second Sky for the arc!
This book is VERY high fantasy and readers who love a chaotic “mentor” and a mentee who doesn’t know what he’s getting into I think will really enjoy this.
Cetriks upbringing makes him very posh and haughty at the beginning of the book but by the end he’s a new person. This book does start off as a story telling/journal entry then evolves into the story itself. If you enjoy high fantasy, vampyres, a sassy horse, and a group of misfits then you’ll definitely enjoy this book!
Thank you Second Sky for the arc!
March 11, 2025
What an epic start to a new Fantasy series!
I was given this ARC by @netgalley and @bookouture.
The story reminded me of playing Diablo with my son, with orcs and vampires and magical Elvin. The detail going into these creatures was amazing, and the world building phenomenal. @rs_moule had my full attention from the start.
It starts with Cetrik, who is seeking the deadliest man alive, Locan A'Shadow, and what transpires when he finds him. There are battles from the word go, politics that will blow your mind, and of course, some family drama! I was tense the whole time, just waiting for the next thing to happen.
The narrator did such a good job with the different voices of the characters. It really felt like I was right there with the little band of misfits as they trudged through the land on their quest.
If you are looking for high fantasy with epic battles, intriguing political viewpoints, then this is for you! I can't wait to see what else these two will get up to.
I was given this ARC by @netgalley and @bookouture.
The story reminded me of playing Diablo with my son, with orcs and vampires and magical Elvin. The detail going into these creatures was amazing, and the world building phenomenal. @rs_moule had my full attention from the start.
It starts with Cetrik, who is seeking the deadliest man alive, Locan A'Shadow, and what transpires when he finds him. There are battles from the word go, politics that will blow your mind, and of course, some family drama! I was tense the whole time, just waiting for the next thing to happen.
The narrator did such a good job with the different voices of the characters. It really felt like I was right there with the little band of misfits as they trudged through the land on their quest.
If you are looking for high fantasy with epic battles, intriguing political viewpoints, then this is for you! I can't wait to see what else these two will get up to.
did-not-finish
March 25, 2025Thanks to Netgalley, RS Moule, and Bookouture Audio for sending me an eARC of this book.
I thoroughly enjoy DnD-inspired, action/adventure stories pretty much above all else. I loved the concept of The Assassin's Shadow recounting the journey of a famous assassin told from the perspective of a "sidekick" a la Dandelion for Geralt the Witcher. What this book excels in is the fun aspects of worldbuilding, monsters, missions, and action. You want to see a main character who does great things do those things well and we get that from Locan A'Shadow. The character narrating it all, Cetric, is also interesting in his own right. I appreciated his narration as a separation from Locan A'Shadow's mind and his perspective worked despite not being a standout feature. Characterization was pretty prevalent, while character work wasn't.
The main problem that I had while reading this book was how fleshed out and realized the series of events were. I got a sense that certain beats were wanting to take place but the cohesivity of it all didn't work for me since there wasn't enough to make the overall plot make sense. If each mission was its own thing, I think I could accept it. But instead it just moves from place to place, thing to thing, without a whole lot of narrative clarity and tension because I don't feel like I heard any exposition that made sense of it all. And if there was, the names and places didn't bare enough distinguishing to really differentiate between them.
All this to say the elements used were great, the ideas were solid and interesting, the RPG aspects were exactly what I wanted and expected, it was just the characters, story, and plot that wrapped it all together didn't really work. The descriptive writing itself was effective at setting a scene, and providing atmosphere, it just lacked a bit for me in the character work, dialogue, and plot execution.
I thoroughly enjoy DnD-inspired, action/adventure stories pretty much above all else. I loved the concept of The Assassin's Shadow recounting the journey of a famous assassin told from the perspective of a "sidekick" a la Dandelion for Geralt the Witcher. What this book excels in is the fun aspects of worldbuilding, monsters, missions, and action. You want to see a main character who does great things do those things well and we get that from Locan A'Shadow. The character narrating it all, Cetric, is also interesting in his own right. I appreciated his narration as a separation from Locan A'Shadow's mind and his perspective worked despite not being a standout feature. Characterization was pretty prevalent, while character work wasn't.
The main problem that I had while reading this book was how fleshed out and realized the series of events were. I got a sense that certain beats were wanting to take place but the cohesivity of it all didn't work for me since there wasn't enough to make the overall plot make sense. If each mission was its own thing, I think I could accept it. But instead it just moves from place to place, thing to thing, without a whole lot of narrative clarity and tension because I don't feel like I heard any exposition that made sense of it all. And if there was, the names and places didn't bare enough distinguishing to really differentiate between them.
All this to say the elements used were great, the ideas were solid and interesting, the RPG aspects were exactly what I wanted and expected, it was just the characters, story, and plot that wrapped it all together didn't really work. The descriptive writing itself was effective at setting a scene, and providing atmosphere, it just lacked a bit for me in the character work, dialogue, and plot execution.
March 8, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for a review!
Wow, what a start to a series! This was my introduction to Moule's writing and I really loved it! I have not read a book told in first POV with the main character retelling their adventures, and I found that I really enjoyed it. Reading from the perspective of a naive youth going through these trials and tribulations was really fun, and I especially loved his interactions with Locan. Locan as a character was also very enjoyable to read. I loved reading how a great legend ends up being after their prime days are over. I also liked the magic system, with Locan's abilities being unique.
The beginning of the book was a bit slow and I wasn't sure how this book was going to go, but as I got to around 1/3 of the book, I was hooked! The latter half of the book ended up being very fast paced and I enjoyed every second of it. I do wish there was a bit more world building to give more information about the great battle before this story's events as well as more on the magic system, and I do hope we get more details with the later books in the series.
I will be checking out the author's other works, as well as continuing this series!
Wow, what a start to a series! This was my introduction to Moule's writing and I really loved it! I have not read a book told in first POV with the main character retelling their adventures, and I found that I really enjoyed it. Reading from the perspective of a naive youth going through these trials and tribulations was really fun, and I especially loved his interactions with Locan. Locan as a character was also very enjoyable to read. I loved reading how a great legend ends up being after their prime days are over. I also liked the magic system, with Locan's abilities being unique.
The beginning of the book was a bit slow and I wasn't sure how this book was going to go, but as I got to around 1/3 of the book, I was hooked! The latter half of the book ended up being very fast paced and I enjoyed every second of it. I do wish there was a bit more world building to give more information about the great battle before this story's events as well as more on the magic system, and I do hope we get more details with the later books in the series.
I will be checking out the author's other works, as well as continuing this series!
March 15, 2025
This is a brand new fantasy series, and I just had to read it. I have read previous books by this author and know they write immersive tales. I just hoped that this new series would be as good.
The Assassin's Shadow is a thrilling and solid start to the Legends of the Shadow series. The world building snatched me away from real life, and I was sucked right into Locan's world. This is exactly what reading is for, in my opinion. To escape the stresses and strains of my everyday life. R.S. Moule has the ability to do exactly this.
The characters grabbed my attention, and their journey is packed full of tension, excitement, and moments of holding my breath! The character development is so clear, and the foundations are firmly in place for the next book to build upon.
I didn't want this book to end. In one breath, I was turning the pages so quick, and in the other, I prayed I didn't reach the conclusion too quickly. As always with R.S Moule, I can't wait to see what is in store for the characters next. Thanks to Second Sky for my gifted ebook from NetGalley.
The Assassin's Shadow is a thrilling and solid start to the Legends of the Shadow series. The world building snatched me away from real life, and I was sucked right into Locan's world. This is exactly what reading is for, in my opinion. To escape the stresses and strains of my everyday life. R.S. Moule has the ability to do exactly this.
The characters grabbed my attention, and their journey is packed full of tension, excitement, and moments of holding my breath! The character development is so clear, and the foundations are firmly in place for the next book to build upon.
I didn't want this book to end. In one breath, I was turning the pages so quick, and in the other, I prayed I didn't reach the conclusion too quickly. As always with R.S Moule, I can't wait to see what is in store for the characters next. Thanks to Second Sky for my gifted ebook from NetGalley.
April 7, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the audiobook ARC!
3.5 stars!
The Assassin's Shadow is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with mysterious and secretive characters. The story follows a young noble on a quest to find an infamous assassin and get his life story to set the legends straight. What results is a story for fans of Lord of the Rings and many other epic quests.
The audiobook narrator, David Thorpe, did a fabulous job with a variety of accents and voices. It wasn't distracting, and I really felt like it added to the depth of the story.
Would definitely recommend for someone familiar with the fantasy genre who is looking for a fun read.
3.5 stars!
The Assassin's Shadow is a fast-paced fantasy adventure with mysterious and secretive characters. The story follows a young noble on a quest to find an infamous assassin and get his life story to set the legends straight. What results is a story for fans of Lord of the Rings and many other epic quests.
The audiobook narrator, David Thorpe, did a fabulous job with a variety of accents and voices. It wasn't distracting, and I really felt like it added to the depth of the story.
Would definitely recommend for someone familiar with the fantasy genre who is looking for a fun read.
March 6, 2025
Thank you to the publishers and netgalley for approving me to read this book. I’m rating it 3.5 stars rounded to 4 on here.
This was an interesting story following a mythological assassin and it’s quite the adventure for our MMC. There are twists and turns along the way, the story was darker than I expected. I found it a little slow in parts, but the core of the story had the intended impact.
I would happily continue series to see how the story further expands.
This was an interesting story following a mythological assassin and it’s quite the adventure for our MMC. There are twists and turns along the way, the story was darker than I expected. I found it a little slow in parts, but the core of the story had the intended impact.
I would happily continue series to see how the story further expands.
March 29, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Assassins? Dragons? Fantasy? Yeah sign me up. The Assassin’s Shadow follows Locan as he hunts down his enemy who forced his hand to reveal his secret - he is the greatest assassin who ever lived.
This book was good, some scenes did drag a little, but overall the D&D vibe won me over. I did wish there was more to the quest, but the character development and humour does make up for it. I will definitely be continuing this series as the next book is released.
Thank you to NetGalley and SecondSky books for the eARC of this book. I leave this review honestly and freely.
Assassins? Dragons? Fantasy? Yeah sign me up. The Assassin’s Shadow follows Locan as he hunts down his enemy who forced his hand to reveal his secret - he is the greatest assassin who ever lived.
This book was good, some scenes did drag a little, but overall the D&D vibe won me over. I did wish there was more to the quest, but the character development and humour does make up for it. I will definitely be continuing this series as the next book is released.
Thank you to NetGalley and SecondSky books for the eARC of this book. I leave this review honestly and freely.
April 28, 2025
Logan A'Shadow is the greatest assassin ever lived. He has faced dragons and an undead king when bandits raid his home under the orders of a vampire Logan thought to be dead he is pulled back into a world he can no longer ignore.
This book pulled me in right from the start. I did find it a little slow in parts but overall I enjoyed the story. This book had great world building and some loveable characters I look forward to continuing this series.
I listened to this book on audio and it was exciting and well read and kept me engaged throughout.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and R.S Moule for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book pulled me in right from the start. I did find it a little slow in parts but overall I enjoyed the story. This book had great world building and some loveable characters I look forward to continuing this series.
I listened to this book on audio and it was exciting and well read and kept me engaged throughout.
Thank you to Netgalley, Bookouture Audio and R.S Moule for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 6, 2025
Rating: 4⭐️/5
An epic fantasy with a coming of age story, a unique band of heroes, a magic assassin, and mythical creatures. I thought this was a super engaging new fantasy and the narrator did a fantastic job adapting to the different characters, I could definitely picture them in my mind with these voices.
The only thing that could be improved was a bit improved character development and some better transitioning between scenes. I really did enjoy the last chapter coming full circle. In my opinion I don’t really think it needs another, it could definitely be a standalone fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley for an aARC in exchange for an honest review
An epic fantasy with a coming of age story, a unique band of heroes, a magic assassin, and mythical creatures. I thought this was a super engaging new fantasy and the narrator did a fantastic job adapting to the different characters, I could definitely picture them in my mind with these voices.
The only thing that could be improved was a bit improved character development and some better transitioning between scenes. I really did enjoy the last chapter coming full circle. In my opinion I don’t really think it needs another, it could definitely be a standalone fantasy.
Thank you NetGalley for an aARC in exchange for an honest review
March 7, 2025
The Assassin’s Shadow is a solid high fantasy novel filled with deception, intrigue, and adventure.
However, as an audiobook, it didn’t quite hit the mark. Whether due to the narration or the pacing, it didn’t fully capture the depth of the story as well as it might in print. That said, it’s still a good fantasy read and worth checking out, especially for fans of the genre.
However, as an audiobook, it didn’t quite hit the mark. Whether due to the narration or the pacing, it didn’t fully capture the depth of the story as well as it might in print. That said, it’s still a good fantasy read and worth checking out, especially for fans of the genre.
March 18, 2025
Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: high fantasy
📖 Read if you like: LOTR, Wheel of Time, The Witcher
This has all the makings of an epic high fantasy: a motley crew on a quest, tyranny, warring nations, elements of the supernatural and good versus evil theme. There are elements of this novel that will remind you of the classics like LOTR, The Witcher or Wheel of Time, though those are not bad comparisons. Yet, there is enough to differentiate this story to make it something new, primarily through the characters. Each was a little quirky and reluctant. There was also an interesting collection of creatures from vampires to elves, bog creatures to giants.
The hero of this story is the once legendary assassin Locan A’Shadow. Not your typical man, his is a myth of whispered tales that are outlandish and partly true. While possessing an unheard of skill with blades and shadows, he is a very flawed man. A drunk with a potty mouth, the horrors of his past colour his personality. Yet he cannot ignore the plight of the helpless, nor his deadly enemy Solis Deadhand - a vampire he once attempted to kill who is now back for vengeance.
This legendary story of the anti-hero Locan A’Shadow is told by the young noble Cetrik. Having run away from home and seeking the famed assassin, he comes across as a petulant braggart at times, while at others he is rather haughty and judgemental. He reminded me a bit of Jaskier in The Witcher. Someone obsessed with the legend and recording new and old adventures alike, but being rather idiotic and unskilled in practical purposes. His perspective is very naive and he seems more obsessed with writing his own legend than reality. Self-absorbed, but unaware of it. I didn’t particularly liked him as a character so that altered my overall perception of this novel, though I did love Locan A’Shadow and rather enjoyed the other imperfect characters on this journey.
The world building was well done and it is an action-packed fantasy in a boiling political landscape. I liked that Morvolt was more than just a horse and that Locan was very real in his attitude and feelings. There was a nice edge of humour to this dark and chaotic story, which made for ease of reading.
I did think the integration of Cetrik’s family into the storyline at the end was a little rushed, but I suppose it was necessary for his character arc. Overall, a fast paced plot with some compelling characters in a series I will likely continue.
🎧 The quality of this audiobook is excellent, but there are a number of accents so readers should be ready for that variation. This was the first time I really felt like I needed a physical book as a compendium, because the story and world are rather complex and I found I needed to go back and fact check , look at a map or time to absorb events. That being said, I can’t really criticize the performance, which matched the epic quality of the text. This is also a long book so an audiobook certainly made it more appealing to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this book. Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: high fantasy
📖 Read if you like: LOTR, Wheel of Time, The Witcher
This has all the makings of an epic high fantasy: a motley crew on a quest, tyranny, warring nations, elements of the supernatural and good versus evil theme. There are elements of this novel that will remind you of the classics like LOTR, The Witcher or Wheel of Time, though those are not bad comparisons. Yet, there is enough to differentiate this story to make it something new, primarily through the characters. Each was a little quirky and reluctant. There was also an interesting collection of creatures from vampires to elves, bog creatures to giants.
The hero of this story is the once legendary assassin Locan A’Shadow. Not your typical man, his is a myth of whispered tales that are outlandish and partly true. While possessing an unheard of skill with blades and shadows, he is a very flawed man. A drunk with a potty mouth, the horrors of his past colour his personality. Yet he cannot ignore the plight of the helpless, nor his deadly enemy Solis Deadhand - a vampire he once attempted to kill who is now back for vengeance.
This legendary story of the anti-hero Locan A’Shadow is told by the young noble Cetrik. Having run away from home and seeking the famed assassin, he comes across as a petulant braggart at times, while at others he is rather haughty and judgemental. He reminded me a bit of Jaskier in The Witcher. Someone obsessed with the legend and recording new and old adventures alike, but being rather idiotic and unskilled in practical purposes. His perspective is very naive and he seems more obsessed with writing his own legend than reality. Self-absorbed, but unaware of it. I didn’t particularly liked him as a character so that altered my overall perception of this novel, though I did love Locan A’Shadow and rather enjoyed the other imperfect characters on this journey.
The world building was well done and it is an action-packed fantasy in a boiling political landscape. I liked that Morvolt was more than just a horse and that Locan was very real in his attitude and feelings. There was a nice edge of humour to this dark and chaotic story, which made for ease of reading.
I did think the integration of Cetrik’s family into the storyline at the end was a little rushed, but I suppose it was necessary for his character arc. Overall, a fast paced plot with some compelling characters in a series I will likely continue.
🎧 The quality of this audiobook is excellent, but there are a number of accents so readers should be ready for that variation. This was the first time I really felt like I needed a physical book as a compendium, because the story and world are rather complex and I found I needed to go back and fact check , look at a map or time to absorb events. That being said, I can’t really criticize the performance, which matched the epic quality of the text. This is also a long book so an audiobook certainly made it more appealing to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this book.
Genre: high fantasy
📖 Read if you like: LOTR, Wheel of Time, The Witcher
This has all the makings of an epic high fantasy: a motley crew on a quest, tyranny, warring nations, elements of the supernatural and good versus evil theme. There are elements of this novel that will remind you of the classics like LOTR, The Witcher or Wheel of Time, though those are not bad comparisons. Yet, there is enough to differentiate this story to make it something new, primarily through the characters. Each was a little quirky and reluctant. There was also an interesting collection of creatures from vampires to elves, bog creatures to giants.
The hero of this story is the once legendary assassin Locan A’Shadow. Not your typical man, his is a myth of whispered tales that are outlandish and partly true. While possessing an unheard of skill with blades and shadows, he is a very flawed man. A drunk with a potty mouth, the horrors of his past colour his personality. Yet he cannot ignore the plight of the helpless, nor his deadly enemy Solis Deadhand - a vampire he once attempted to kill who is now back for vengeance.
This legendary story of the anti-hero Locan A’Shadow is told by the young noble Cetrik. Having run away from home and seeking the famed assassin, he comes across as a petulant braggart at times, while at others he is rather haughty and judgemental. He reminded me a bit of Jaskier in The Witcher. Someone obsessed with the legend and recording new and old adventures alike, but being rather idiotic and unskilled in practical purposes. His perspective is very naive and he seems more obsessed with writing his own legend than reality. Self-absorbed, but unaware of it. I didn’t particularly liked him as a character so that altered my overall perception of this novel, though I did love Locan A’Shadow and rather enjoyed the other imperfect characters on this journey.
The world building was well done and it is an action-packed fantasy in a boiling political landscape. I liked that Morvolt was more than just a horse and that Locan was very real in his attitude and feelings. There was a nice edge of humour to this dark and chaotic story, which made for ease of reading.
I did think the integration of Cetrik’s family into the storyline at the end was a little rushed, but I suppose it was necessary for his character arc. Overall, a fast paced plot with some compelling characters in a series I will likely continue.
🎧 The quality of this audiobook is excellent, but there are a number of accents so readers should be ready for that variation. This was the first time I really felt like I needed a physical book as a compendium, because the story and world are rather complex and I found I needed to go back and fact check , look at a map or time to absorb events. That being said, I can’t really criticize the performance, which matched the epic quality of the text. This is also a long book so an audiobook certainly made it more appealing to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this book. Book review: 3.75/5 ⭐️
Genre: high fantasy
📖 Read if you like: LOTR, Wheel of Time, The Witcher
This has all the makings of an epic high fantasy: a motley crew on a quest, tyranny, warring nations, elements of the supernatural and good versus evil theme. There are elements of this novel that will remind you of the classics like LOTR, The Witcher or Wheel of Time, though those are not bad comparisons. Yet, there is enough to differentiate this story to make it something new, primarily through the characters. Each was a little quirky and reluctant. There was also an interesting collection of creatures from vampires to elves, bog creatures to giants.
The hero of this story is the once legendary assassin Locan A’Shadow. Not your typical man, his is a myth of whispered tales that are outlandish and partly true. While possessing an unheard of skill with blades and shadows, he is a very flawed man. A drunk with a potty mouth, the horrors of his past colour his personality. Yet he cannot ignore the plight of the helpless, nor his deadly enemy Solis Deadhand - a vampire he once attempted to kill who is now back for vengeance.
This legendary story of the anti-hero Locan A’Shadow is told by the young noble Cetrik. Having run away from home and seeking the famed assassin, he comes across as a petulant braggart at times, while at others he is rather haughty and judgemental. He reminded me a bit of Jaskier in The Witcher. Someone obsessed with the legend and recording new and old adventures alike, but being rather idiotic and unskilled in practical purposes. His perspective is very naive and he seems more obsessed with writing his own legend than reality. Self-absorbed, but unaware of it. I didn’t particularly liked him as a character so that altered my overall perception of this novel, though I did love Locan A’Shadow and rather enjoyed the other imperfect characters on this journey.
The world building was well done and it is an action-packed fantasy in a boiling political landscape. I liked that Morvolt was more than just a horse and that Locan was very real in his attitude and feelings. There was a nice edge of humour to this dark and chaotic story, which made for ease of reading.
I did think the integration of Cetrik’s family into the storyline at the end was a little rushed, but I suppose it was necessary for his character arc. Overall, a fast paced plot with some compelling characters in a series I will likely continue.
🎧 The quality of this audiobook is excellent, but there are a number of accents so readers should be ready for that variation. This was the first time I really felt like I needed a physical book as a compendium, because the story and world are rather complex and I found I needed to go back and fact check , look at a map or time to absorb events. That being said, I can’t really criticize the performance, which matched the epic quality of the text. This is also a long book so an audiobook certainly made it more appealing to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for a copy of this book.
June 2, 2025
Cetrik is on a mission, just not the one he thinks he is. His only plan is to find the legendary assassin Locan A’shadow. Through mishaps and dumb look he finds exactly who he’s looking for, but Locan didn’t want to be found, he’s left the life behind him and planned to live the rest of his life on a farm doing simple work and drinking anything he can get his hands on. Dragged from his retirement, Locan and Cetrik trek across the land in search of the children stolen by the bandits that attacked the farm, the mastermind behind the attacks and kidnappings is not only a vicious enemy of Locans but he was supposed to have been killed, but now he’s back with more power and crueler intentions. Locan is a killing machine, a legendary tale, but even he can’t beat blood magic alone. Cetrik, young and naive, adds an ethnical and hopeful balance to Locans brutality and skill. We all have secrets, even Cetrik, and these secrets will both hinder and empower their journey to save themselves and the lands around them.
February 15, 2025
This book was a bit of a letdown. A story told as a chronicle of past events - similar to The Lord of the Rings - it follows Cetrik, a boy who ran away from his family to search for the famed assassin Locan O’Shadow. This style of storytelling tends not to be my favourite, and in this book especially it felt like it removed a lot of the stakes in the early part of the story. From the beginning, you know that neither Cetrik nor Locan are going to end up dying, which leaves you with the risk of a few minor characters who you don’t really care about dying as the only stakes in the book. On top of this, every character in this book felt incredibly one-dimensional and inconsistent, with characters frequently oscillating between opposing traits and emotions. Cetrik feels like a pretty standard fantasy protagonist - physically weak, but mentally brilliant - and his struggles with his family feel like something I’ve read a dozen times.
The prose in the book also wasn’t for me. For much of the earlier parts of the book, the writing felt detached and didn’t draw me in. While it did improve later on in the book, it was too late and I already had lost much of the potential emotional investment in the characters. The plot was generally quite predictable until the very end as well, when it became incredibly bloody and violent. As a whole, this book is reminiscent of a lesser version of The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, which has many of the same themes and is written in the same style.
There are themes of discovering the harsh realities of the world explored in the book, but they aren’t executed particularly well and leave you feeling disappointed. This had the potential to be a really interesting coming of age story, but Cetrik doesn’t really seem like he’s changed from the beginning to the end of the book in most meaningful ways.
I do think the premise of the book itself is really interesting, and some of the plot points were enjoyable, particularly the action scenes, which are very well written and are definitely the highlights of the book. Overall, I wish the author the best of luck, but I likely won’t be reading any further in the series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
The prose in the book also wasn’t for me. For much of the earlier parts of the book, the writing felt detached and didn’t draw me in. While it did improve later on in the book, it was too late and I already had lost much of the potential emotional investment in the characters. The plot was generally quite predictable until the very end as well, when it became incredibly bloody and violent. As a whole, this book is reminiscent of a lesser version of The Rage of Dragons by Evan Winter, which has many of the same themes and is written in the same style.
There are themes of discovering the harsh realities of the world explored in the book, but they aren’t executed particularly well and leave you feeling disappointed. This had the potential to be a really interesting coming of age story, but Cetrik doesn’t really seem like he’s changed from the beginning to the end of the book in most meaningful ways.
I do think the premise of the book itself is really interesting, and some of the plot points were enjoyable, particularly the action scenes, which are very well written and are definitely the highlights of the book. Overall, I wish the author the best of luck, but I likely won’t be reading any further in the series.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
March 16, 2025
Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for this ALC in exchange of my honest review!
I truly do not know how to review this book... What worked REALLY worked and what didn't almost made me DNF this book. It is a pretty classic high fantasy story
What worked:
- I love unlikely allies, our group of travellers has a lot of potential. The chaotic dynamic between Locan and Cetrik was funny to read
- At first I was put off by the different accents done by the narrator, but honestly without them it would not have kept me engaged with the story, so props to the narrator; I felt like I was told a story by the campfire (it felt camp in the best way possible)
- The story was told through the eyes of Cetrik and his voice/tone had this storyteller vibe which I like. The prose in general made me feel like I was told a tale of old
- The bad guy was so cool. The powers he has is truly horrific, and the depiction of the battles were grisly and I really loved that.
What didn't work:
- The pacing felt absolutely off. I didn't know where we were going with this story until halfway through the book, when we meet our big bad and then the ending felt so rushed I almost missed some pretty important details, in a "blink and you'll miss it type of way"
- It felt somewhat unoriginal, save for the bad guy, which really had potential. I wish the magic system was more complex or better developed because it really felt like just any other fantasy world (and this tie to my next point)
- If it wasn't for Locan and his magic the first half of the book felt like historical fiction set in medieval England.
- I did not care for any characters, except for the horse. Some of them come into the story and disappear and we just end up not caring about them.
- My biggest gripe with this book is the portrayal of women. Even the strongest of them are reduced to their attractiveness. There's talk of sexual assault and men "having their way" with women. It was disheartening to read, considering Urlissa really could have been a strong female side character. It really felt like every time women were mentioned, it was alongside violence (sexual or physical)
I might give the next book a chance, to see how Cetrik evolves after the events of this book.
I truly do not know how to review this book... What worked REALLY worked and what didn't almost made me DNF this book. It is a pretty classic high fantasy story
What worked:
- I love unlikely allies, our group of travellers has a lot of potential. The chaotic dynamic between Locan and Cetrik was funny to read
- At first I was put off by the different accents done by the narrator, but honestly without them it would not have kept me engaged with the story, so props to the narrator; I felt like I was told a story by the campfire (it felt camp in the best way possible)
- The story was told through the eyes of Cetrik and his voice/tone had this storyteller vibe which I like. The prose in general made me feel like I was told a tale of old
- The bad guy was so cool. The powers he has is truly horrific, and the depiction of the battles were grisly and I really loved that.
What didn't work:
- The pacing felt absolutely off. I didn't know where we were going with this story until halfway through the book, when we meet our big bad and then the ending felt so rushed I almost missed some pretty important details, in a "blink and you'll miss it type of way"
- It felt somewhat unoriginal, save for the bad guy, which really had potential. I wish the magic system was more complex or better developed because it really felt like just any other fantasy world (and this tie to my next point)
- If it wasn't for Locan and his magic the first half of the book felt like historical fiction set in medieval England.
- I did not care for any characters, except for the horse. Some of them come into the story and disappear and we just end up not caring about them.
- My biggest gripe with this book is the portrayal of women. Even the strongest of them are reduced to their attractiveness. There's talk of sexual assault and men "having their way" with women. It was disheartening to read, considering Urlissa really could have been a strong female side character. It really felt like every time women were mentioned, it was alongside violence (sexual or physical)
I might give the next book a chance, to see how Cetrik evolves after the events of this book.
April 1, 2025
A Shadow Worth Waiting For: A Review of R.S. Moule's "The Assassin's Shadow"
R.S. Moule has crafted a truly captivating work of fantasy with "The Assassin's Shadow," a novel that plunges readers into a world teeming with adventure and pulse-pounding action. From the very first page, I was swept away by a narrative that felt both intricate and relentlessly paced. Moule masterfully weaves a tale where danger lurks around every corner, and the protagonist's journey is a constant barrage of thrilling encounters and daring escapades.
The author deserves high praise for creating such a compelling fantasy world. The lore feels rich and well-developed, providing a solid foundation for the high-stakes adventure that unfolds. Whether it was navigating treacherous landscapes, engaging in expertly choreographed fight sequences, or uncovering ancient secrets, "The Assassin's Shadow" consistently delivered on its promise of excitement. The action is visceral and impactful, keeping you on the edge of your seat, while the sense of adventure propels you forward, eager to discover what lies beyond the next horizon.
While "The Assassin's Shadow" was published some time ago, life and work unfortunately conspired to delay my completion of this fantastic title. However, I can unequivocally say that finally reaching the end was well worth the wait. The immersive world, the compelling characters, and the expertly crafted plot all culminated in a satisfying and memorable reading experience.
If you're a fan of fantasy novels that deliver on both thrilling adventure and high-octane action, then I wholeheartedly recommend picking up "The Assassin's Shadow" by R.S. Moule. It's a testament to the author's skill in the genre and a book that will undoubtedly leave you eager for more. Don't let life's interruptions deter you; this is one shadow you'll be glad you chased to the very end.
Rating: 4.5/5 - but can't do anything less than full marks for each star.
R.S. Moule has crafted a truly captivating work of fantasy with "The Assassin's Shadow," a novel that plunges readers into a world teeming with adventure and pulse-pounding action. From the very first page, I was swept away by a narrative that felt both intricate and relentlessly paced. Moule masterfully weaves a tale where danger lurks around every corner, and the protagonist's journey is a constant barrage of thrilling encounters and daring escapades.
The author deserves high praise for creating such a compelling fantasy world. The lore feels rich and well-developed, providing a solid foundation for the high-stakes adventure that unfolds. Whether it was navigating treacherous landscapes, engaging in expertly choreographed fight sequences, or uncovering ancient secrets, "The Assassin's Shadow" consistently delivered on its promise of excitement. The action is visceral and impactful, keeping you on the edge of your seat, while the sense of adventure propels you forward, eager to discover what lies beyond the next horizon.
While "The Assassin's Shadow" was published some time ago, life and work unfortunately conspired to delay my completion of this fantastic title. However, I can unequivocally say that finally reaching the end was well worth the wait. The immersive world, the compelling characters, and the expertly crafted plot all culminated in a satisfying and memorable reading experience.
If you're a fan of fantasy novels that deliver on both thrilling adventure and high-octane action, then I wholeheartedly recommend picking up "The Assassin's Shadow" by R.S. Moule. It's a testament to the author's skill in the genre and a book that will undoubtedly leave you eager for more. Don't let life's interruptions deter you; this is one shadow you'll be glad you chased to the very end.
Rating: 4.5/5 - but can't do anything less than full marks for each star.
February 5, 2025
Solid debut by an emerging author, slower beginning, but compelling ending.
I've read Mr. Moule's other series a while back, and enjoyed that plenty. (Seriously, check out the "Erland Saga", this is Game of Thrones on a smaller scale, but wrapped up and completed after 2000 combined pages of skilled storytelling). I was pleased to see that he is now creating a new series with comparisons to Jay Kristoff's work, so I was easily confused to give this a read too. I liked this well. It wasn't perfect, not at all, but it is a decent first book that has me interested in the forthcoming sequels (the ending hints at some interesting stuff too). My main nitpick was that the book took a while to get going, and it took some time for the main characters to really grow on me. But all eventually worked out well, and the last 20% of this book shined.
"The Assassin's Shadow" follows a young nobleman Cetrik (who is more than your usual dandy) who teams up with seemingly nihilistic assassin Locan A'Shadow to combat an old enemy of the latter- this being a cruel vampyre hell-bent on ravaging the tribes and villages of Narlond. Their relationship is tense, in more ways than one, but their goals remain the same to slay the vampyre. Other notable characters show up- such as Urlissa the elf healer, and Elbows the religiously devout tribesman. These side characters (including some notable spoiler ones that show up more than halfway through) were developed well too. In regards to the story, there wasn't much that I haven't seen before, but Moule enhances much of this, crafting unexpected plot twists (his specialty in his previous series) and writing quality action.
Once again, a solid debut. Hopefully more exciting adventures to come!
(I received an ARC through Second Sky and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
I've read Mr. Moule's other series a while back, and enjoyed that plenty. (Seriously, check out the "Erland Saga", this is Game of Thrones on a smaller scale, but wrapped up and completed after 2000 combined pages of skilled storytelling). I was pleased to see that he is now creating a new series with comparisons to Jay Kristoff's work, so I was easily confused to give this a read too. I liked this well. It wasn't perfect, not at all, but it is a decent first book that has me interested in the forthcoming sequels (the ending hints at some interesting stuff too). My main nitpick was that the book took a while to get going, and it took some time for the main characters to really grow on me. But all eventually worked out well, and the last 20% of this book shined.
"The Assassin's Shadow" follows a young nobleman Cetrik (who is more than your usual dandy) who teams up with seemingly nihilistic assassin Locan A'Shadow to combat an old enemy of the latter- this being a cruel vampyre hell-bent on ravaging the tribes and villages of Narlond. Their relationship is tense, in more ways than one, but their goals remain the same to slay the vampyre. Other notable characters show up- such as Urlissa the elf healer, and Elbows the religiously devout tribesman. These side characters (including some notable spoiler ones that show up more than halfway through) were developed well too. In regards to the story, there wasn't much that I haven't seen before, but Moule enhances much of this, crafting unexpected plot twists (his specialty in his previous series) and writing quality action.
Once again, a solid debut. Hopefully more exciting adventures to come!
(I received an ARC through Second Sky and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)
April 6, 2025
3.5
Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutore audio for the alc in exchange for a honest review.
An Epic fantasy with humans who can walk inside the shadows, Elves, Vampires, and and a bogman that just won't leave us alone!
The narrator was fun to listen to though I have to admit his voice for Locan made me not like the guy, but I'm not sure he was supposed to be likeable anyways. He is an assassin who really only does anything if it benefits him (or so you are made to believe). I especially loved his voice for th bog man!
The plot was interesting enough, but there were moments that lagged.
The many battles that occured (big and small) were very well written. The whole time I could see myself right alongside our heroes.
The main character is a prince who left his kingdom to find freedom and is on the lookout for the shadow assassin he has heard stories about and wants to write his own. He comes by him in the last place he would look.
Turns out, the infamous shadow assassin is kind of a dead beat who only does things for himself (but underneath it all does good things too)
We meet other characters who join our prince and shadow assassin on a journey to save children, who have gone missing, from the villages, from an old vampire who eats their hearts in exchange for immense powers.
I'm never a fan of child death so I had a hard time with those parts. The vampire eating their hearts adds to the gore in this book along with the many battle scenes that happen. If the gore described in this book was in a movie I would be covering my eyes so I don't have to see it happening.
I liked the male character as he was coming was finding himself and you are right along with him on his journey.
We have a fun bog man who stalks our rag tag band to get what was owed him.
The team goes through much as they try to find a way to destroy the vampire, but to no avail. We lose some along the way, but this is a battle of good vs evil. Of course loss is to be expected.
It was a fun adventure, but I had my criticism in some parts.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookoutore audio for the alc in exchange for a honest review.
An Epic fantasy with humans who can walk inside the shadows, Elves, Vampires, and and a bogman that just won't leave us alone!
The narrator was fun to listen to though I have to admit his voice for Locan made me not like the guy, but I'm not sure he was supposed to be likeable anyways. He is an assassin who really only does anything if it benefits him (or so you are made to believe). I especially loved his voice for th bog man!
The plot was interesting enough, but there were moments that lagged.
The many battles that occured (big and small) were very well written. The whole time I could see myself right alongside our heroes.
The main character is a prince who left his kingdom to find freedom and is on the lookout for the shadow assassin he has heard stories about and wants to write his own. He comes by him in the last place he would look.
Turns out, the infamous shadow assassin is kind of a dead beat who only does things for himself (but underneath it all does good things too)
We meet other characters who join our prince and shadow assassin on a journey to save children, who have gone missing, from the villages, from an old vampire who eats their hearts in exchange for immense powers.
I'm never a fan of child death so I had a hard time with those parts. The vampire eating their hearts adds to the gore in this book along with the many battle scenes that happen. If the gore described in this book was in a movie I would be covering my eyes so I don't have to see it happening.
I liked the male character as he was coming was finding himself and you are right along with him on his journey.
We have a fun bog man who stalks our rag tag band to get what was owed him.
The team goes through much as they try to find a way to destroy the vampire, but to no avail. We lose some along the way, but this is a battle of good vs evil. Of course loss is to be expected.
It was a fun adventure, but I had my criticism in some parts.
February 14, 2025
This book gives the same vibes as JRR Tolkien's Lord of the Ring series as the narrator recalls his epic tale of battles against an evil villain and various magical creatures. Cetrik is a young, foolish boy who sets off on a hunt for a mysterious assassin he has read about named Locan A'Shadow. Cetrik finds Locan, and they travel on grand adventures through the North lands, chasing after an ancient Vampyre who utilizes elven magic and blood magic to strengthen himself. Locan and Cetrik must work together to stop the Vampyre from conquering the world.
The story moves quickly and has interesting twists that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, eager for more. With tropes such as found family, epic quest, ragtag heroes, good vs. evil, and misguided mentor, this is a fantastic novel for adult readers beginning to enter into fantasy reading. While many themes are young adult, there are gory battles, blood magic scenes, and graphic child murders that are intended for an older audience. The epic tale, magic, and creatures drew me into this story. Though it is a slow starter, the story pace increases steadily, leading to the final battle.
I read this book as an ARC through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own
The story moves quickly and has interesting twists that keep the reader on the edge of their seat, eager for more. With tropes such as found family, epic quest, ragtag heroes, good vs. evil, and misguided mentor, this is a fantastic novel for adult readers beginning to enter into fantasy reading. While many themes are young adult, there are gory battles, blood magic scenes, and graphic child murders that are intended for an older audience. The epic tale, magic, and creatures drew me into this story. Though it is a slow starter, the story pace increases steadily, leading to the final battle.
I read this book as an ARC through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own
March 19, 2025
This book was a wonderful start to an epic fantasy adventure. We follow the main protagonist a young man (whom comes from a well off family) as he journeys throughout this fantasy world in search of tools in order to defeat the enemy that has invaded his homeland. As we progress throughout the story the main character encounters more people who will either become his friends and help him in his quest or hinder him. The story had a great plot and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I listened to the audiobook so it was quite an enjoyable experience hearing the different narrator’s narrating the story, the voices used definitely fit the characters portrayed, the story had great pacing but was sometimes slow in certain parts I.e when the protagonist was travelling with some of his companions. Personally, I found it quite difficult to connect with the main protagonist and as a character driven reader this slightly pushed back my ability to fully enjoy the story. I found the main protagonist to be quite cowardly, vain, entitled and overall a character that is hard to like. Perhaps, if he reached a moment of epiphany and realised how far removed his mindset and mannerisms were from his fellow companions I may have taken a liking to him.
March 20, 2025
I was so excited when I was invited to read The Assassin's Shadow, especially when it was for lovers of Joe Abercrombie and Jay Kristoff; and it did not disappoint, and I ams so glad it is the first in a series.
I loved the world-building, the characters, the descriptions of the settings and fantasy creatures which sent my mind into imagination overdrive, and there was so much action and adventure I flew through the pages. I also loved the sense of humour
Locan A'Shadow, who has a reputation as a deadly assassin, and posh Cetrik, join hands (after Cetrik runs away from his family), and embark on a quest to save the people and villages of Narlond from a vampyre enemy of Locan. The beginning is written from Cetrik's POV giving a sort of back story in a storytelling way and progresses showing how he has changed over time throughout the story since meeting Locan. I loved the dynamics between Locan and Cetrik which was really humorous at times. I also really loved some of the side characters (Elbows, Urlissa) which really added more depth to the story and gave it more character.
I definitely got Lord of the Rings vibes from this book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
I loved the world-building, the characters, the descriptions of the settings and fantasy creatures which sent my mind into imagination overdrive, and there was so much action and adventure I flew through the pages. I also loved the sense of humour
Locan A'Shadow, who has a reputation as a deadly assassin, and posh Cetrik, join hands (after Cetrik runs away from his family), and embark on a quest to save the people and villages of Narlond from a vampyre enemy of Locan. The beginning is written from Cetrik's POV giving a sort of back story in a storytelling way and progresses showing how he has changed over time throughout the story since meeting Locan. I loved the dynamics between Locan and Cetrik which was really humorous at times. I also really loved some of the side characters (Elbows, Urlissa) which really added more depth to the story and gave it more character.
I definitely got Lord of the Rings vibes from this book and I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series!
April 6, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for an audiobook of An Assasins Shadow. This was overall a solid fantasy story with compelling main characters and a rich world, which made for an exciting listen. I rate this 3.8 out of 5 - The beginning felt a bit overwhelming with the number of names, places, and languages introduced early on. But once I got into the rhythm of listening to it, I was hooked.
I really enjoyed experiencing the story from Cedrick’s point of view. At the start, I found his character quite humorous and juvenile but as the story progressed, he developed in ways I didn’t expect. By the end, he had grown into someone much braver and more loyal than I anticipated.
Cetrik is a runaway prince on a mission to find Locan A’Shadow, who’s rumored to be the deadliest assassin alive. When Cetrik finally does track him down, I had no idea what kind of ride I was in for. Their journey is packed with twists and turns, full of betrayal, morally grey characters, and complicated family dynamics. These layers added a lot of depth to the story and kept me guessing about people’s true intentions. I don’t want to give away too much but I enjoyed it enough that I will be reading/listening to the next book
I really enjoyed experiencing the story from Cedrick’s point of view. At the start, I found his character quite humorous and juvenile but as the story progressed, he developed in ways I didn’t expect. By the end, he had grown into someone much braver and more loyal than I anticipated.
Cetrik is a runaway prince on a mission to find Locan A’Shadow, who’s rumored to be the deadliest assassin alive. When Cetrik finally does track him down, I had no idea what kind of ride I was in for. Their journey is packed with twists and turns, full of betrayal, morally grey characters, and complicated family dynamics. These layers added a lot of depth to the story and kept me guessing about people’s true intentions. I don’t want to give away too much but I enjoyed it enough that I will be reading/listening to the next book
February 23, 2025
This is the start of a new fantasy series full of great worldbuilding and characters you
can invest in ..........where a kingdom being built in the North will bring terror to the South ,
full of magical creatures , battles and betrayals ..... what more is needed for a new epic series .
The story is told from the viewpoint of Cedrik , who is writing his memoirs about the
his adventures alongside the legendary assassin , Locan .
Locan had thought his fighting days were over , he could finally live a quiet life ......... but
an attack on his home brings a previous foe he long thought dead back into his life .
A life he will have to give up if he is to stop what is to come - the adventure starts here !
This is a strong start to what appears to be an epic series and although I am not a fan
of a third party writing his memoirs it does seem to work here .
I cannot wait for the next book in the series to see how the journey proceeds for our
assassin and his friends against a formidable foe
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
can invest in ..........where a kingdom being built in the North will bring terror to the South ,
full of magical creatures , battles and betrayals ..... what more is needed for a new epic series .
The story is told from the viewpoint of Cedrik , who is writing his memoirs about the
his adventures alongside the legendary assassin , Locan .
Locan had thought his fighting days were over , he could finally live a quiet life ......... but
an attack on his home brings a previous foe he long thought dead back into his life .
A life he will have to give up if he is to stop what is to come - the adventure starts here !
This is a strong start to what appears to be an epic series and although I am not a fan
of a third party writing his memoirs it does seem to work here .
I cannot wait for the next book in the series to see how the journey proceeds for our
assassin and his friends against a formidable foe
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews