American Hex: Song of the Shadows

by LD Mackenzie

The road is not always safe, but the show must go on.

Tennessee, Winter, 1838. Melody was a young girl raised by the circus—an orphan of the Great War. Her people traveled the trails of the Great American Shield, entertaining the men of the Union with the seasons, for as long as she could remember. She loved the open road despite the dangers—living free on the edge of the frontier.

But the night the shadows of the Mississippi visited the circus, Melody's world began to unravel, forcing her to seek answers to protect her people or lead them to certain peril.

American Song of the Shadows is a journey through shattered cities, forgotten fortresses, and lost ports—exploring a land changed by arcane war and clockwork revolution. A hymn for the hopeful, a lament for the forgotten, and a warning to those who would boldly seek answers along those dangerous and winding roads.

Where some songs are never forgotten.

326 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2025

Reviews

[Lea]

The escapism I experienced while reading this book was so complete and so comforting that I find that it doesn’t matter that I’ve already finished reading it, I’m reading it again and again and again.

It’s absolutely on the list of my top 3 most favourite stories. The characters are interesting and engaging. The story catches attention and refuses to let it go. The writing flows perfectly, neither too verbose nor too thin.
Scuttle is my favourite character. 🤣
Thank you for writing this.

[jessica hanna]

This book is lovely, a vivid world in which the characters grow and develop honestly. The imagery is reminiscent of Dahl, while the story is woven into an intricate, alternate, steampunk style America. It’s easy to get lost in it, as it clips along, pulling you into the adventures right along with the characters. I hope there’s more books to come.

[BoneButch]

I was actually supposed to get paid to review this book. Since that’s my job, I read a LOT of books. American Hex: Song of the Shadows is one of the best books I’ve read this year, and instead of being paid, I purchased a physical copy. I never do that with books from my job- this is the FIRST time I have. The only reason I have yet to finish it is because I don’t want it to be over.
LD Mackenzie is one of my new favorite authors, joining the ranks of Brandon Sanderson and Tamsyn Muir. You won’t be disappointed by this book or author- they’re incredible. I can not wait to see what LD Mackenzie puts out next!