Gift of Shadow

by Matt Heppe

A girl walks out of the forest with a dead puppy in her arms. Pale and emaciated, she seems like easy prey. But those who try to take advantage soon Gift is a survivor of the realm of Shadow, and the darkness she escaped has marked her forever.

Gift has only one goal—to return to the safety of her master’s tower. But the world she’s returned to is not the one she left. Demon lords rule humanity. Ghouls stalk the night. Souls are bartered like coins. In a land where mercy is weakness, if you’re not willing to be a killer, you’re asking to be a victim.

This is grimdark fantasy. You will find cruelty, profanity, graphic violence, and threatened and attempted sexual assault. There are no gallant knights, no cozy taverns, and no safe harbors—only a girl, her unlikely companion, and the terrible choices they must make to survive.

For readers who crave the darkest of journeys, welcome to the shadows.

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 5, 2025

About the author

Matt Heppe and his wife live in suburban Philadelphia. They are the parents of a wonderful daughter who has flown the coop. Matt is a former US Army officer and Economics teacher who now works full-time as an author.

In his free time, Matt is addicted to cycling, Dungeons & Dragons, and spending time with his wife. He dabbles as an amateur bowyer and potato farmer.

Reviews

[Caymus Ruffner · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a brand new book in a brand new realm, Matt Heppe once again shows the strength of his world-building. Only this time, we're learning right alongside the main character, Gift, who begins the story as lost as we are. The world-building is not only strong, but creative and convincing as well, with all the information presented in a natural way. The reader sees new realms first hand, with the titular realm novel and particularly well-thought out in its construction.

For this book, Heppe has created a new system of magic, unseen in his other works. The system is potent, yet simplistic and intuitive, and lends itself complementary to the story at hand.

Lastly, Heppe's descriptions are note-worthy. He does a beautiful job capturing the mystery and esoterism of other realms; the psyche of Gift and her magic; and all the ensuing effects of her will, way, and heart.

For anyone who loves to be on the edge of their seat, I must recommend Gift of Shadow, set in a place so foreign to both the reader and the characters that anything could go wrong at any second.

[James Latimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A dark and compelling take of an innocent and her puppy in a vicious world - but neither is quite what they seem!