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Shadows of a Distant Shore
Not yet published
Expected 16 Aug 26Peace is a brittle dream, constantly battered by the guns of war that seek to shatter it.
Forty years ago, explorers discovered Astria, a vast and mysterious continent across the ocean. Rich in strange and powerful ores and untapped resources, settlers and soldiers alike rushed to claim its wealth, carrying their rivalries and ambitions with them. But Astria is no ordinary land. By day, its wilderness was beautiful and untamed. By night, its forests became something sinister, twisting and corrupting any living thing caught beneath their shadowed canopies.
Now, an uneasy peace hangs over the island colonies along Astria’s shores. But after the murder of a renowned scientist and the theft of vital research, old tensions threaten to ignite once again.
The impending chaos leaves former revolutionary Rachel scrambling to maintain balance for as long as she can while Ben, a veteran spy, races to find the killer—and to prove himself still an asset to the government—all while Shaunna, a young scientist, fights to unravel the secrets behind the stolen research—and the dark mysteries within Astria itself.
As enemies gather in the shadows and war looms on the horizon, the fate of the entire continent may rest in their hands.
Step into a thrilling, suspenseful flintlock fantasy adventure full of action, espionage, political intrigue, and magical science.
Forty years ago, explorers discovered Astria, a vast and mysterious continent across the ocean. Rich in strange and powerful ores and untapped resources, settlers and soldiers alike rushed to claim its wealth, carrying their rivalries and ambitions with them. But Astria is no ordinary land. By day, its wilderness was beautiful and untamed. By night, its forests became something sinister, twisting and corrupting any living thing caught beneath their shadowed canopies.
Now, an uneasy peace hangs over the island colonies along Astria’s shores. But after the murder of a renowned scientist and the theft of vital research, old tensions threaten to ignite once again.
The impending chaos leaves former revolutionary Rachel scrambling to maintain balance for as long as she can while Ben, a veteran spy, races to find the killer—and to prove himself still an asset to the government—all while Shaunna, a young scientist, fights to unravel the secrets behind the stolen research—and the dark mysteries within Astria itself.
As enemies gather in the shadows and war looms on the horizon, the fate of the entire continent may rest in their hands.
Step into a thrilling, suspenseful flintlock fantasy adventure full of action, espionage, political intrigue, and magical science.
- GenresFantasy
751 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 16, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Autorin bzw. Autor
What a great book!
The world feels vast and full of history. It's properly lived in. I enjoyed how the author slowly introduced the worldbuilding in a way that didn't feel forced.
The magic system is interesting. It slowly builds up. It's nice thst it's properly explained. Would I like to learn more about the magic and the science behind it? Yes! I cannot wait to see how it's used in the rest of the series.
I did enjoy the characters and their relationships. They all have their past, that shape their choices today. I like when that happens.
If you like a hard magic system, flintlock fantasy or good worldbuilding, this is a book for you.
I recived an ARC of the book by the author.
The world feels vast and full of history. It's properly lived in. I enjoyed how the author slowly introduced the worldbuilding in a way that didn't feel forced.
The magic system is interesting. It slowly builds up. It's nice thst it's properly explained. Would I like to learn more about the magic and the science behind it? Yes! I cannot wait to see how it's used in the rest of the series.
I did enjoy the characters and their relationships. They all have their past, that shape their choices today. I like when that happens.
If you like a hard magic system, flintlock fantasy or good worldbuilding, this is a book for you.
I recived an ARC of the book by the author.
Want to Read
July 8, 2026Sounds interesting, would love to check this out:)
July 20, 2026
This book balanced approachability with complexity and added in some really fantastic world building. It’s a long book that builds somewhat slowly but for the story that works particularly well, we spend a pretty significant time getting to know the characters so that by the time some of the bigger dramatic moments happen, they feel like they have nuance and like the decisions, they make are accurate to who they are and not just forced by things that that needed to happen to serve the story.
Well, by the end, the book comes to a resting point. There are definitely some questions that are left unanswered both about how parts of the world function and about what sort of political upsets might still occur.
In many ways, this has some of the structural elements of a classic epic speculative fiction and I loved seeing that with women characters who were not centered as romantic, but as political and action leads without being stripped of romantic feeling.
Well, by the end, the book comes to a resting point. There are definitely some questions that are left unanswered both about how parts of the world function and about what sort of political upsets might still occur.
In many ways, this has some of the structural elements of a classic epic speculative fiction and I loved seeing that with women characters who were not centered as romantic, but as political and action leads without being stripped of romantic feeling.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I had an ARC of this book, and really enjoyed it! I don’t read a lot of fantasy, and liked that the world was relatable and intriguing. The basics about the time, place, and history are presented early on in a clear and natural way, and then further developed as the story continues.
In colonies bordering a mountainous region, ores have been discovered that have widespread benefits for technology and everyday life, making them extremely valuable. The relationships between the colonies where the ores are mined are strained by the fierce competition between them for a bigger piece of the action. A revolutionary war has already taken place, and the resulting “peace” remains tense and precarious.
At the same time, life within the colonies is difficult. While the region is filled with possibility, the ores exert an impact that is often frightening, and only partially understood (such as the forest that cannot be entered at night). This is a world that has a definite “frontier” feel, and the characters seem to be very much the sorts of people you’d expect to find in such an environment. Bound together in many cases by their experiences in the revolution, they’re strong, quirky, and resourceful.
I loved the characters and the relationships between them. Crusty Desmond (a ship’s captain) was one of my favorites, and I especially appreciated the women. These aren’t just notable women, they’re whole people – with all the strengths and vulnerabilities that you hope for, but don’t see often enough.
Shaunna, one of these women, brings another element into the story that I found important. She’s a scientist who has been studying the different ores in Alderia, across the ocean. When she arrives in Asteria (I confess that I keep getting the two place names confused) to work with a renowned expert, she’s initially daunted by the realities of colonial life. But she’s driven by her need to understand more about the ores, and it’s through her that we learn more as well. The use of science to investigate and explain the unknown elements made the world more substantial for me. If the unknown can potentially become known, it feels like it can be managed in ways that lead to an even more interesting future reality.
The political maneuvering among the colonies, which we see quite early, is presented in a way that is all too familiar. Tendencies we might expect in similar situations in our world come through in the interactions between the major players - loyalty, courage, greed, pettiness – it’s all there. It makes it easy to relate to and care about the characters, and what happens to them.
All of this slowly builds a foundation for the intense action when it comes. We know who is who, and are clearly on the side of the people at the center of the book, cheering them on.
I’d definitely recommend this book! It’s a whopping good story with strong, compelling characters, taking place in a believable world. I didn’t want it to end, and am hoping there will be more in the future.
In colonies bordering a mountainous region, ores have been discovered that have widespread benefits for technology and everyday life, making them extremely valuable. The relationships between the colonies where the ores are mined are strained by the fierce competition between them for a bigger piece of the action. A revolutionary war has already taken place, and the resulting “peace” remains tense and precarious.
At the same time, life within the colonies is difficult. While the region is filled with possibility, the ores exert an impact that is often frightening, and only partially understood (such as the forest that cannot be entered at night). This is a world that has a definite “frontier” feel, and the characters seem to be very much the sorts of people you’d expect to find in such an environment. Bound together in many cases by their experiences in the revolution, they’re strong, quirky, and resourceful.
I loved the characters and the relationships between them. Crusty Desmond (a ship’s captain) was one of my favorites, and I especially appreciated the women. These aren’t just notable women, they’re whole people – with all the strengths and vulnerabilities that you hope for, but don’t see often enough.
Shaunna, one of these women, brings another element into the story that I found important. She’s a scientist who has been studying the different ores in Alderia, across the ocean. When she arrives in Asteria (I confess that I keep getting the two place names confused) to work with a renowned expert, she’s initially daunted by the realities of colonial life. But she’s driven by her need to understand more about the ores, and it’s through her that we learn more as well. The use of science to investigate and explain the unknown elements made the world more substantial for me. If the unknown can potentially become known, it feels like it can be managed in ways that lead to an even more interesting future reality.
The political maneuvering among the colonies, which we see quite early, is presented in a way that is all too familiar. Tendencies we might expect in similar situations in our world come through in the interactions between the major players - loyalty, courage, greed, pettiness – it’s all there. It makes it easy to relate to and care about the characters, and what happens to them.
All of this slowly builds a foundation for the intense action when it comes. We know who is who, and are clearly on the side of the people at the center of the book, cheering them on.
I’d definitely recommend this book! It’s a whopping good story with strong, compelling characters, taking place in a believable world. I didn’t want it to end, and am hoping there will be more in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
I saw the cover for this book on Threads and immediately wanted to get my hands on it!
From the first chapter, I loved the balance of exposition of current events vs dialogue vs history. We learn about the history of the world slowly, it's not all thrown at us at once. The characters retell their previous off-screen adventures, but it doesn't feel forced down our throats, instead, it's told through memories and meaningful dialogue.
The science of the different ores also felt right. Right from the first chapter we are introduced to the different "powers" each ore has. They're convenient, yes, but they're explained, and throughout the book more possibilities are discovered. Personally, I prefer this fantasy science approach to an author not bothering to explain any of the science and just going "trust me bro".
Yes, the book is quite long, but I felt interested in the storyline from basically the first chapter. The characters are not flat, they have previous life experiences that influence their decisions, they give their reasoning for their choices, and we see development, both in their personalities and in their relationships. Switching between POV's gives the reader three different aspects of the book: politics/war, espionage, and scientific research, and we get to enjoy three separate main characters. Shaunna is a quirky, inexperienced scientist thrust into the deep end, but she learns to swim really quickly. Rachel is a mastermind in the shadows, she's a girlboss. And Ben has my whole heart and he can do no wrong.
All in all, a great first book, and I would definitely like to read more by this author.
I saw the cover for this book on Threads and immediately wanted to get my hands on it!
From the first chapter, I loved the balance of exposition of current events vs dialogue vs history. We learn about the history of the world slowly, it's not all thrown at us at once. The characters retell their previous off-screen adventures, but it doesn't feel forced down our throats, instead, it's told through memories and meaningful dialogue.
The science of the different ores also felt right. Right from the first chapter we are introduced to the different "powers" each ore has. They're convenient, yes, but they're explained, and throughout the book more possibilities are discovered. Personally, I prefer this fantasy science approach to an author not bothering to explain any of the science and just going "trust me bro".
Yes, the book is quite long, but I felt interested in the storyline from basically the first chapter. The characters are not flat, they have previous life experiences that influence their decisions, they give their reasoning for their choices, and we see development, both in their personalities and in their relationships. Switching between POV's gives the reader three different aspects of the book: politics/war, espionage, and scientific research, and we get to enjoy three separate main characters. Shaunna is a quirky, inexperienced scientist thrust into the deep end, but she learns to swim really quickly. Rachel is a mastermind in the shadows, she's a girlboss. And Ben has my whole heart and he can do no wrong.
All in all, a great first book, and I would definitely like to read more by this author.
August 3, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from the author
When I first heard about this book, I was rather excited because I was looking for a break from my standard romantasy series into more modern and higher-fantasy standalones. Shadows of a Distant Shore is a long story broken up into four main parts, and almost all of part 1 is pure world-building and character introductions. This, along with the length can be a make-or-break for some people when you have to spend a long time understanding the world, the fantasy aspects, the characters, and the beginning of the plot.
Friends, do not let yourselves be put off by this. The action comes slamming into you full-force in a way that makes this book practically impossible to put down!!
I was on the edge of my seat every chapter, never quite knowing what to expect. There are heart-stopping moments, epic battle descriptions, and a surprise romance I genuinely didn’t see coming but made the rest of the story so much better and more meaningful. It was fun and fresh, and I couldn’t help but draw some light parallels to current events; thought I didn’t view it as a cautionary tale of any sorts, I can’t help but have so many quotes like this highlighted in my e-book:
“In this moment, the people might still have the energy and will to resist. Wait too long, and they’ll grow used to the new order, convince themselves. Their lives aren’t bad enough to take the risk of raising their voices. And that’s when we’ll be lost.”
If you’re looking for an understandable, immersive, highly imaginative, action-packed story, Shadows of a Distant Shore is for you!
Thank you to Eric Sean Turner for the advanced copy!
When I first heard about this book, I was rather excited because I was looking for a break from my standard romantasy series into more modern and higher-fantasy standalones. Shadows of a Distant Shore is a long story broken up into four main parts, and almost all of part 1 is pure world-building and character introductions. This, along with the length can be a make-or-break for some people when you have to spend a long time understanding the world, the fantasy aspects, the characters, and the beginning of the plot.
Friends, do not let yourselves be put off by this. The action comes slamming into you full-force in a way that makes this book practically impossible to put down!!
I was on the edge of my seat every chapter, never quite knowing what to expect. There are heart-stopping moments, epic battle descriptions, and a surprise romance I genuinely didn’t see coming but made the rest of the story so much better and more meaningful. It was fun and fresh, and I couldn’t help but draw some light parallels to current events; thought I didn’t view it as a cautionary tale of any sorts, I can’t help but have so many quotes like this highlighted in my e-book:
“In this moment, the people might still have the energy and will to resist. Wait too long, and they’ll grow used to the new order, convince themselves. Their lives aren’t bad enough to take the risk of raising their voices. And that’s when we’ll be lost.”
If you’re looking for an understandable, immersive, highly imaginative, action-packed story, Shadows of a Distant Shore is for you!
Thank you to Eric Sean Turner for the advanced copy!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Eric Sean Turner for the review copy!! I found this book on Threads. First off I will say: This book is a sloooooooooow burn. If you are looking for something adrenaline / fast paced, this is not for you. That being said, I enjoyed it. The author takes his time building the world, and building up relationships, and the result is characters that are fully realized with interesting history and backstory, and a really unique, lived in world. The book as a whole reminded me a lot of Mistborn (both series) and the worldbuilding of First Law, though not anything as grim as that.
I love a slow burn, though I do think admittedly this could have been a biiit shorter xD Though, it was evident to me that part of the reason that this is so long is that the author spent a lot of time and care crafting the world and probably didn't want to cut anything out. I appreciate the fact that things are well explained - the science behind the different metals, the forest, etc. I also would have also loved a glossary or some sort of reference chart, because I have the memory of a goldfish and I forgetting what the metals did xD
Also a complete aside, I thought it was an interesting choice that all the characters had normal names. Particularly Rachel, I thought that was sooo funny that the most middle class white girl name was a secret government agent in a flintock fantasy and every time she did something cool I had to giggle a little bit because RACHEL?? (This isn't a negative btw, if anything I enjoyed this)
I love a slow burn, though I do think admittedly this could have been a biiit shorter xD Though, it was evident to me that part of the reason that this is so long is that the author spent a lot of time and care crafting the world and probably didn't want to cut anything out. I appreciate the fact that things are well explained - the science behind the different metals, the forest, etc. I also would have also loved a glossary or some sort of reference chart, because I have the memory of a goldfish and I forgetting what the metals did xD
Also a complete aside, I thought it was an interesting choice that all the characters had normal names. Particularly Rachel, I thought that was sooo funny that the most middle class white girl name was a secret government agent in a flintock fantasy and every time she did something cool I had to giggle a little bit because RACHEL?? (This isn't a negative btw, if anything I enjoyed this)
August 1, 2026
Wow wow WOW you guys, I actually really loved this one. What an epic tale!! From start to finish I was really drawn in and didn’t want to put this down.
So many positives to talk about here. Firstly, the AGE of these characters!!!!! Ugh how refreshing was it to have characters that were in their late 30s and up. Characters who had liiiiived life and had both the accomplishments and trauma of what they’ve survived. Honestly when I read a book I normally just imagine the characters are my age (probs a bad habit I know) but it was SO nice to know that these characters were actually similar age as me. I think it brought a certain about of depth to them that sometimes you don’t get with a generally younger age.
I thought the multiple POVs worked so well for this story. It was beautiful how everything was intertwined with each other and I love how so many of the chapters ended because you really kept wanting to know what was going to happen but then nope you gotta know what’s going on over here first!! So insanely well done.
The “magic” system here was super unique and very interesting. I love that it really was more science than magic and it was cool to see how these elements affected the whole story.
I really could go on and on but truly this was an epic story and I would 1000% recommend it to anyone if you enjoy an epic tale of battle, science, and politics.
ARC received by the author!✨
So many positives to talk about here. Firstly, the AGE of these characters!!!!! Ugh how refreshing was it to have characters that were in their late 30s and up. Characters who had liiiiived life and had both the accomplishments and trauma of what they’ve survived. Honestly when I read a book I normally just imagine the characters are my age (probs a bad habit I know) but it was SO nice to know that these characters were actually similar age as me. I think it brought a certain about of depth to them that sometimes you don’t get with a generally younger age.
I thought the multiple POVs worked so well for this story. It was beautiful how everything was intertwined with each other and I love how so many of the chapters ended because you really kept wanting to know what was going to happen but then nope you gotta know what’s going on over here first!! So insanely well done.
The “magic” system here was super unique and very interesting. I love that it really was more science than magic and it was cool to see how these elements affected the whole story.
I really could go on and on but truly this was an epic story and I would 1000% recommend it to anyone if you enjoy an epic tale of battle, science, and politics.
ARC received by the author!✨
Review of advance copy received from Author
Vive la revolution! *Fires Cannon*
This was my first experience of Flintlock Fantasy, and I have to say, I had a blast! (Pun intended??)
The overall story was well constructed, as was the worldbuilding, which was deep, but not overly complicated. The three POV characters were likeable, but also very different, and the author did a great job of giving them their own distinct voices and personalities.
The book has a really interesting blend of historic themes throughout, from the gold rush of the Americas, to the French revolution. At one point, I was certain they were going to break out into a hearty rendition of, ‘Do you hear the people sing?!’, but alas, they refrained.
There were a few times where the characters made really frustrating decisions (completely in-character), and I’ve honestly not rolled my eyes so hard since reading from the POV of the Powerpuff Girls in The Wheel of Time (IYKYK), which honestly, is high praise indeed!
There were also a few isolated instances of them being objectively not very smart (), but I think it’s all very forgivable, and overall, didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, I thought it was an excellent debut, and I very much look forward to returning to Astria soon!
This was my first experience of Flintlock Fantasy, and I have to say, I had a blast! (Pun intended??)
The overall story was well constructed, as was the worldbuilding, which was deep, but not overly complicated. The three POV characters were likeable, but also very different, and the author did a great job of giving them their own distinct voices and personalities.
The book has a really interesting blend of historic themes throughout, from the gold rush of the Americas, to the French revolution. At one point, I was certain they were going to break out into a hearty rendition of, ‘Do you hear the people sing?!’, but alas, they refrained.
There were a few times where the characters made really frustrating decisions (completely in-character), and I’ve honestly not rolled my eyes so hard since reading from the POV of the Powerpuff Girls in The Wheel of Time (IYKYK), which honestly, is high praise indeed!
There were also a few isolated instances of them being objectively not very smart (), but I think it’s all very forgivable, and overall, didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book.
All in all, I thought it was an excellent debut, and I very much look forward to returning to Astria soon!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was sent an ARC of this book after seeing the cover online and signing up for a copy. I admit that I had zero idea of what the book was about but I love reading new books!! Going into it you’re immediately into the action. This book takes off running and doesn’t really let up the whole way through! I really enjoyed all the different interconnected storylines and how the author gradually brought them all together as the story progressed. I enjoyed the character development and arcs for several of the main characters as well. The magic in this book is quite different from any other book I have read and it was interesting to see how our understanding of it evolved through the story. I’d love to read more about this world and its magic in future books as I think this book lays a really good groundwork for some very interesting things in the future. The book has a good pace, I was a bit worried at the start that it might drag a bit but it really didn’t and there were lots of twists and turns along the way to keep your attention. Overall really great book. Excellent first book in what hopefully will become a series further exploring this world!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy from the author and can I just say...holy wow!
This is a fantastic debut and I'm excited to see more from this author.
As someone who's read, and continues to read, fantasy, this was a breath of fresh air. My first flintlock fantasy, but it gave me vibes of the older fantasies that I grew up with (Curse of the Mistwraith, Terry Brooks, Name of the Wind, etc).
The characters feel real and each has their own wants, desires, fears, and quirks. I didn’t see a couple of the twists coming.
Highly recommend.
This is a fantastic debut and I'm excited to see more from this author.
As someone who's read, and continues to read, fantasy, this was a breath of fresh air. My first flintlock fantasy, but it gave me vibes of the older fantasies that I grew up with (Curse of the Mistwraith, Terry Brooks, Name of the Wind, etc).
The characters feel real and each has their own wants, desires, fears, and quirks. I didn’t see a couple of the twists coming.
Highly recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book does such a great job with world building and slowly introducing you to the main characters, so that by the time the action unpacks you know what's actually happening. I think the magic aspect od the book is different and refreshing compared to a lot of what's out there now, and I am curious to see where it goes in future installments.
If you're expecting romantasy or a plot thick with romance, this is probably not the book for you. But if you've come for fantasy with exceptional world building then I'd highly recommend it!
If you're expecting romantasy or a plot thick with romance, this is probably not the book for you. But if you've come for fantasy with exceptional world building then I'd highly recommend it!
Did Not Finish
July 21, 2026I will not rate since I’m DNFing.
My decision is not a reflection on the story or the author’s writing. Both are quite good.
My decision is a personal one based on my own moral compass. Nothing less. Nothing more.
I wish Eric all the best in his debut!
My decision is not a reflection on the story or the author’s writing. Both are quite good.
My decision is a personal one based on my own moral compass. Nothing less. Nothing more.
I wish Eric all the best in his debut!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews