HEART OF SHADOWS

by Philip G. Williamson

Two teenagers set out to decipher the mystery of the eldritch stone found in the desert by their merchant father. Made of an unknown substance, the stone leads to death and destruction, either by means of its evil emanations or at the hands of the inhuman Skalatin who seeks for it unrelentingly.

Genres: Fantasy

312 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 27, 1994

About the author

Philip G. Williamson has worked in a wide variety of jobs in the UK and abroad, from A&R for major and independent music companies to shepherding in Greece. He now lives in North London with his wife and daughter.
Also writes as Philip First and Martin Ash.

Reviews

[Steven Poore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very much a product of the 1990s, this one. The fifth (standalone) book in a series, Heart Of Shadows tells more than shows, falling somewhere between Feist and Gemmell for sketchy trope-bound characterization and standard fantasy peril. There's a bizarre rush to the finish in the final chapter too, as if Williamson is in a hurry to clear things up so he can deliver the punchline.
And that punchline is either the biggest editing fail ever, or the foreshadowing of a fantastically grim coup de grace - and for the life of me I can't decide which.

[Chloe Goros · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this as a child and found it terrifying - I am keen to revisit it as an adult and see how it goes.