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Shadowstep
As the third son, Khale Whitlock dreads being married off for his father's political gain. When the city of Lidend's mysterious organization of shadow assassins forces him into their ranks, Khale must learn to live a dual life in order to survive.
Playing his father's game by day and learning to control shadows at night, his unfamiliarity with the assassins' mechanized training contraptions leaves him exhausted, battered and bruised. Improvisation and lies become Khale's only tools with which to navigate his two realities and assuage suspicion from his family.
Coral Llewellyn is the daughter of a chancellor and foreign to a world that has forgotten the magicks of old. When her logical and orderly but boring life is thrown into chaos with a revelation about her heritage, she must wield the light of her magick, grow her mastery of its glow, and learn how to maintain the balance.
The combined powers of Khale's darkness and Coral's light may prove to be the only weapon capable of withstanding an ancient evil just below the city's surface.
An evil that has its sights set firmly on them.
Shadowstep, the first of a duology, is set in a Victorian-inspired world, and will appeal to fans of historic fantasy and steampunk themes.
Playing his father's game by day and learning to control shadows at night, his unfamiliarity with the assassins' mechanized training contraptions leaves him exhausted, battered and bruised. Improvisation and lies become Khale's only tools with which to navigate his two realities and assuage suspicion from his family.
Coral Llewellyn is the daughter of a chancellor and foreign to a world that has forgotten the magicks of old. When her logical and orderly but boring life is thrown into chaos with a revelation about her heritage, she must wield the light of her magick, grow her mastery of its glow, and learn how to maintain the balance.
The combined powers of Khale's darkness and Coral's light may prove to be the only weapon capable of withstanding an ancient evil just below the city's surface.
An evil that has its sights set firmly on them.
Shadowstep, the first of a duology, is set in a Victorian-inspired world, and will appeal to fans of historic fantasy and steampunk themes.
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Published April 1, 2022
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9 people want to read
About the author
Drew Walker
1 book2 followersI grew up in the middle of Iowa and began my adult life as a pianist. A decade later, life took me to the East Coast where I currently enjoy a career in wholesaler enablement and pursue writing, woodworking, and blacksmithing in my free time. Many stories live in my head and so far it's been nothing but joy putting them to paper.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
March 24, 2022
There are two things that stop me from giving this a five star. The first is that the opening chapters didn't pull me into them right away. It starts out well enough, with the main character going to a party, and we get some flavor of the world. Nothing that really popped to pull me into it. The second is the ending. No spoilers but it felt rushed, like a lecturer realizing that they have five minutes left and have to cover twenty minutes worth of their speech.
Having said that, once I got pulled into the story, this was a page turner for me. I really enjoyed the world building that was set up. We get enough details that the main characters can have good discussions and arguments about the (Victorian) classes. Then just as we figure out the main society and what is happening, we get a secret society! Then later another secret society!
The book focuses on the two main characters and I really came to care for them. I liked their relationship, both to each other, their families, and the societies. I enjoyed reading about their journey and the choices they had to make. I also liked many of the secondary characters as well. I didn't find anyone boring or a waste.
Other than a bit rushed, the ending of the book worked for me. I had enough questions answered that it felt like a satisfying ending. I also have enough unanswered questions that I look forward to diving back into this world again with more books!
Having said that, once I got pulled into the story, this was a page turner for me. I really enjoyed the world building that was set up. We get enough details that the main characters can have good discussions and arguments about the (Victorian) classes. Then just as we figure out the main society and what is happening, we get a secret society! Then later another secret society!
The book focuses on the two main characters and I really came to care for them. I liked their relationship, both to each other, their families, and the societies. I enjoyed reading about their journey and the choices they had to make. I also liked many of the secondary characters as well. I didn't find anyone boring or a waste.
Other than a bit rushed, the ending of the book worked for me. I had enough questions answered that it felt like a satisfying ending. I also have enough unanswered questions that I look forward to diving back into this world again with more books!
March 19, 2022
A very good read!
What I liked the most was the way the story seamlessly reads. Every chapter flowed very nicely into the next. The story itself was exciting at times and catching little details here and there was pretty fun. However I have to say that for one of the characters, I won't say who, feels like the reason they are "chosen" so to speak, isn't really convincing enough. Though I do recognize this is book one so maybe that will be cleared up in a later book. In any case this was a good read and I would recommend this to anyone interested in some good fantasy. Specifically this felt very YA to me. So if that's a genre you are into then this is the book for you!
What I liked the most was the way the story seamlessly reads. Every chapter flowed very nicely into the next. The story itself was exciting at times and catching little details here and there was pretty fun. However I have to say that for one of the characters, I won't say who, feels like the reason they are "chosen" so to speak, isn't really convincing enough. Though I do recognize this is book one so maybe that will be cleared up in a later book. In any case this was a good read and I would recommend this to anyone interested in some good fantasy. Specifically this felt very YA to me. So if that's a genre you are into then this is the book for you!
February 8, 2023
I enjoyed this book a lot! It was an easy read and I can’t wait for the next book to come out. One of my favorites aspects of this book is, as the reader, we get to see two points of views in the story; Khale Whitlock and Coral Llewellyn. I also love the use of “magick” in this world. Speaking of this world, I really enjoy Drew’s world-building in this story. Tennyn is also my favorite character in this book. I want this to be a movie now!!
March 23, 2022
A fantastic story involving magic, culture, secret societies, and family obligations all in a Victorian era world. It's a fascinating take on opposites, balance, and motivations in a story that bridges social classes while simultaneously how forgotten history can have an effect on modern day.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews