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Shadow Heir
An intriguing young adult fantasy about impossible friendships and the family you choose.
In the shadowy divide between the gilded castle and the desperate streets, two lives collide, shattering the walls between their worlds.
Addi, a sharp-witted thief, fights to keep her makeshift family alive in a city that would rather see them disappear. Her only inheritance is a legacy of loss and the constant threat of the gallows. Markus, the disillusioned son of a powerful lord, is suffocated by the weight of his family name and the cold, political machinations of the court. He yearns for a life of meaning, not manipulation.
When chance causes their paths to cross, they are thrown into an unlikely alliance. To save one of their own from the clutches of a ruthless crime lord, they must assemble their ragtag crew for an impossible steal the king's own signet ring from the heart of the fortified castle.
But the deeper they plunge into this dangerous game, the more they are pulled into conspiracy that implicates the highest levels of power. Forced to confront the brutal truth about the world he comes from and the fragile family he has found, Markus must make an impossible uphold the cold duty of his bloodline, or risk everything for a found family worth fighting for.
A thrilling tale of class, conspiracy, and heists, where the greatest need is not of gold, but of belonging, and the most dangerous secrets are those buried in your own home.
Perfect for Fans
Young Adult or Young at Heart
Teen adventure
Fast paced adventures
Stories of hidden identity and found families
Intrigue
Conspiracies and intrigue
Class divide
In the shadowy divide between the gilded castle and the desperate streets, two lives collide, shattering the walls between their worlds.
Addi, a sharp-witted thief, fights to keep her makeshift family alive in a city that would rather see them disappear. Her only inheritance is a legacy of loss and the constant threat of the gallows. Markus, the disillusioned son of a powerful lord, is suffocated by the weight of his family name and the cold, political machinations of the court. He yearns for a life of meaning, not manipulation.
When chance causes their paths to cross, they are thrown into an unlikely alliance. To save one of their own from the clutches of a ruthless crime lord, they must assemble their ragtag crew for an impossible steal the king's own signet ring from the heart of the fortified castle.
But the deeper they plunge into this dangerous game, the more they are pulled into conspiracy that implicates the highest levels of power. Forced to confront the brutal truth about the world he comes from and the fragile family he has found, Markus must make an impossible uphold the cold duty of his bloodline, or risk everything for a found family worth fighting for.
A thrilling tale of class, conspiracy, and heists, where the greatest need is not of gold, but of belonging, and the most dangerous secrets are those buried in your own home.
Perfect for Fans
Young Adult or Young at Heart
Teen adventure
Fast paced adventures
Stories of hidden identity and found families
Intrigue
Conspiracies and intrigue
Class divide
287 pages, Hardcover
Published August 23, 2025
2 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
Eric Wanner
1 book1 followerEric Wanner spent his formative years exploring the ancient cities and festivals of Central Europe, developing a deep love for the gritty reality of the medieval period. Now a hobby writer and parent to a teenage boy in Stuttgart, he channels that passion into YA dark fantasy novels where the intrigue of noble courts is just as dangerous as the city's thief-ridden underbelly. When not writing, he's traveling with his family or arguing with his son over the best doner kebab in town.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 6, 2025
From the very first page, I was pulled into a vivid world of kingdoms, secrets, and shadowy power struggles, where danger lurks behind every castle wall—and no one is exactly who they seem.
The main character was easy to root for: strong, and flawed. Their growth throughout the story felt natural and earned, especially as they faced increasingly high stakes. The supporting cast added richness to the journey—each with their own motivations, alliances, and betrayals that kept me guessing until the very end.
This book shines with sharp dialogue and world-building. The pacing was tight, with a perfect balance of action, intrigue, and character development. It’s clear a lot of thought went into crafting the political dynamics and lore, but it never felt overwhelming or confusing—just believable and compelling.
What I loved most was the emotional core of the story. Themes of legacy, identity, and sacrifice are explored in ways that resonate long after the last chapter.
The main character was easy to root for: strong, and flawed. Their growth throughout the story felt natural and earned, especially as they faced increasingly high stakes. The supporting cast added richness to the journey—each with their own motivations, alliances, and betrayals that kept me guessing until the very end.
This book shines with sharp dialogue and world-building. The pacing was tight, with a perfect balance of action, intrigue, and character development. It’s clear a lot of thought went into crafting the political dynamics and lore, but it never felt overwhelming or confusing—just believable and compelling.
What I loved most was the emotional core of the story. Themes of legacy, identity, and sacrifice are explored in ways that resonate long after the last chapter.
October 7, 2025
Shaddow Heir pulled me in right from the start and didn’t let go. It's well placed in young adult with age appropriate storytelling. The characters feel real and relatable, and I found myself genuinely caring what happened to them. The pacing is great — every chapter keeps you wanting to read just one more. The world feels rich and alive without ever being confusing or heavy. I was completely drawn into the story and the emotional moments hit hard in all the right ways. A fantastic read for anyone who loves immersive fantasy with heart and adventure.
October 30, 2025
I enjoyed this story of intrigue, honesty, friendship and learning valuable lessons of finding your true worth and staying true. True to friendships and doing what is right. Learning who you want to become . It is fast paced, heart pounding action and intrigue . I would love to learn more of their story ! I received this as part of an advanced copy from
voracious readers only and this is my honest review.
voracious readers only and this is my honest review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews