Shadow of Legends

The Dragonforged Saga #1

by J.D.L. Rosell

"A must-read for fans of Cahill and Paolini.” - FanFiAddict

FORGED IN DRAGONFIRE, A NEW LEGEND IS BORN

The tyrant gods have fallen. Dragons have returned. Monarchs scrabble for power while greater threats seethe in the shadows.

Leras Venaliel rises to meet these challenges. A half-elf prince, his mixed heritage and stunted sorcery has earned him scorn from his subjects.

Yet within him smolders a dormant power. A magic only dragons should wield.

Upon receiving a summons he cannot refuse, Leras embarks on a quest to save his people with allies both loyal and deceitful. Every step shapes him into the champion he must be.

Only forged in dragonfire can he withstand the trials to come…

Return to the world of Aolas in its second age for a saga full of sorcery, adventure, treachery, and heroism. Perfect for fans of Eragon (The Inheritance Cycle), The Bound & The Broken, and Songs of Chaos.

Genres: Fantasy, Epic Fantasy

Unknown Binding

Published December 2, 2025

About the author

***ANNOUNCEMENT*** The Titan Revenant, the fifth and final book in Ranger of the Titan Wilds, is out now on Amazon! Sweep up the complete series today >> geni.us/RangerOfTheTitanWilds

J.D.L. Rosell was swept away on a journey when he stepped foot outside his door and into The Hobbit. He hasn't stopped wandering since.

In his writing, he tries to recapture the wonder, adventure, and poignancy that captivated him as a child. His explorations have taken him to worlds set in over twenty novels and six series, which include Dragonforged, Ranger of the Titan Wilds, Legend of Tal, The Runewar Saga, and The Famine Cycle.

When he's not off on a quest, Rosell enjoys his newfound hobby of archery and older pastimes of hiking and landscape photography. But every hobbit returns home, and if you step softly and mind the potatoes, you may glimpse him curled up with his wife and two cats, Zelda and Abenthy, reading a good book or replaying his favorite video games.

* * * * *

Books by J.D.L. Rosell:

DRAGONFORGED
1. Shadow of Legends (Late 2026 release)

RANGER OF THE TITAN WILDS
1. The Last Ranger
2. The First Ancestor
3. The Hidden Guardian
4. The Wilds Exile
5. The Titan Revenant (Out Now!)

LEGEND OF TAL
1. A King's Bargain
2. A Queen's Command
3. An Emperor's Gamble
4. A God's Plea
A Battle Between Blood (Novella)

THE RUNEWAR SAGA
1. The Throne of Ice & Ash
2. The Crown of Fire & Fury
3. The Stone of Iron & Omen
Book 4 TBA

THE FAMINE CYCLE - Available as a complete box set
1. Whispers of Ruin
2. Echoes of Chaos
3. Requiem of Silence
Secret Seller (Prequel)
The Phantom Heist (Novella)

GODSLAYER RISING - Available as a complete box set
1. Catalyst
2. Champion
3. Heretic

Reviews

[LordTBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow of Legends hits that classic fantasy sweet spot in the fashion of Tolkien; a sensational, emotionally-charged work from the mind of Rosell. A must-read for fans of Cahill and Paolini.

[V. Kay Perks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly a very refreshing read. Having multiple story threads at play weaving together to make the complex plot and varied allegiances among the party made for a compelling read and as the mystery of the coming threat unraveled the ending epilogue was satisfying yet still frustrating as I stared at the cliff it left me on! I can't wait to see what happens in book 2!!

[Melissa Mancuso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as someone who has not yet read Legend of Tal. I have read the Ranger of the Titans Wilds series, so I knew I liked Josiah's writing. This story is more connected to Tal than I would have thought. It was still highly enjoyable and everything that we needed to know from the previous series was explained, so I never felt lost. However, I do feel like I now know major spoilers from Tal, so be aware of that. It's still going to move up my TBR list.

Shadow of Legends is the start of an epic fantasy series with multiple moving parts that focuses around two main characters, Leras and Niom. Leras is a half-elf prince who is accused of stealing the soul of a dragon, which initiates a trek to the dragons' tower. He is joined by Niom, his dwarf friend, and several others on this quest. A lot happens along the way - enough to fill up an entire book in itself - but it doesn't stop there - and, to be honest, I didn't want it to. The friends eventually find themselves on their own journeys, testing the limits and building character for both.

We are introduced to so many interesting races and monsters. Josiah describes everything enough for me to imagine what I am seeing, and some of it is absolutely frightening! I felt totally immersed in the world and engaged with the characters. This first book sets the series up for some really epic adventures. I am looking forward to seeing where we go next and how the characters further grow and, hopefully, survive.

If I could do it again, I would read Legend of Tal first because this book in itself would be worth the full journey. This is my first read as part of JDL Rosell's ARC team, so I better catch up! These are 100% my honest thoughts and I am glad the book resonated with me.

[MGB · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author brings us an EPIC, epic fantasy. This is not a story that you will finish in a weekend at the beach. Leras is key to this story as it weaves it’s way across Aolas. In this adventure they discover unknown perils “their opponents proved more fearsome, monsters huge and horrific, their varied forms defying common knowledge”.
Along the way they need to know who to trust. What they do “might make her an ally. Or another enemy”.
Niom is the other key character among the main characters. “Niom didn’t traffic in denial if he could help it. If this journey had taught him anything, it was always to expect the worst.” It he would not be disappointed – the worst seemed to always be just around the corner, if not the current battle.
This travel was discovery. What they discovered “seemed a prophecy of doom”. Should they spend their efforts on a single individual they all know well “Or to focus on the greater threat to our World and home?”
The resulting tale contains sorcery, a Lattice of magic, fights against evil in unknown forms, and all too human evil.

[LambchoP]

I really want to give this one a try. Everything about it sounds right up my alley!

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love epic fantasy, and this is one of the best books I have read in this genre, it kept me totally engrossed till the very end and wanting to read book 2 immediately. It is a book about elves, dwarves, sorcerers, and dragons, a book of dark against light, and good against evil, and many striving for power. In this first book we get to see the defeat of the three gods, the return of the dragons, and a young prince, who has been the brunt of jokes at his expense, because he is a halfling. Prince Leras though is not just any halfling, he has half the soul of a dragon, and when he was called to return the part he is supposed to have stolen, he fearlessly goes to the dragon tower to see what is needed from him. I love the character of Leras and the bond he built with his tiny dragonling. This book is chock full of adventure, battles with hateful dragon hunters, as well as a group of loyal friends who followed Leras through thick and thin. There are some great battle scenes, and a great dwarf who does not know why he ever left his home to go on this damned quest, but who is such a loyal friend, and who ends up on his on journey of discovery. I am dying to go on reading and though this is the first book I have read by this author I know it won't be my last as he has me hooked.