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Dragonrealm #4
Shadow Steed
Betrothed to the mysterious, disfigured monarch of the mountain kingdom of Talak, Princess Erini's greatest fears revolve around her own burgeoning ---and undesired --- megical powers. However, she soon discovers that King Melicard's obsession with revenge against the Dragon Kings has led him to initiate a sinister spell, one with which Melicard hopes to summon a demon to do his bidding. Unfortunately for both, Erini and the rest of the Dragonrealm, Melicard summons back not a demon, but rather the shadow creature Darkhorse...and worse, the mad sorcerer Shade.
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
2 people are currently reading
235 people want to read
About the author
Richard A. Knaak
283 books1,484 followersRichard A. Knaak is the bestselling author of Dragonlance novels, the Dragonrealm and Black City Saint series (his own creations), six novels for Blizzard Entertainment's Diablo series, and six works in the Warcraft universe. He has also written several non-series fantasy books.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 24, 2024
Shadow Steed was definitely better than the previous book. Darkhorse was like a pinball machine, bouncing around constantly but getting not too far, though it didn't bother me too much. Darkhorse is such a fun character anyway, "Since he enters rooms with a proud and NOBLE air that surely tells all just how joyous and magnificent all things are! Silly mortals! Now is the time for jubilation! Every line is punctuated with a flair! Exclamation marks for all!!" It's hard to not enjoy his personality.
Darkhorse aside, I very much enjoyed the time Erini got and her character. She felt a lot like an improved Cabe for several things (even her romance with the King-it was wayyyy less insta-love) and she's left with a lot of potential if she appears in later volumes. Still thoroughly enjoying seeing characters set up from previous books getting to shine here, and events rolling forward naturally.
Also, the fact that 'villains' from prior books like Toma or any of the Wolf Raiders who we know are still at large, who do not appear in this book, are somewhere out there doing their thing for now is both fun and interesting. Seriously, where the heck is Toma?
The only reason this book did not make it to 5/5 was the ending. I found the ending a little lacklustre and confusing. A lot of abstract things were described and I was lost a few times trying to figure out what was happening.
Still a good read though, would recommend.
Darkhorse aside, I very much enjoyed the time Erini got and her character. She felt a lot like an improved Cabe for several things (even her romance with the King-it was wayyyy less insta-love) and she's left with a lot of potential if she appears in later volumes. Still thoroughly enjoying seeing characters set up from previous books getting to shine here, and events rolling forward naturally.
Also, the fact that 'villains' from prior books like Toma or any of the Wolf Raiders who we know are still at large, who do not appear in this book, are somewhere out there doing their thing for now is both fun and interesting. Seriously, where the heck is Toma?
The only reason this book did not make it to 5/5 was the ending. I found the ending a little lacklustre and confusing. A lot of abstract things were described and I was lost a few times trying to figure out what was happening.
Still a good read though, would recommend.
May 26, 2018
This was a nice outing.
Things advance in the Dragon Realm.
Building on events from before, previous books.
Things come to resolution some areas.
Castle intrigues. A disfigured king, meeting his betrothed.
Her arrival, growth and struggles. Amid everything.
A nice strong female character. That can still be lady and princess.
Spies and secret agents, close to the throne.
A dragon armies attack.
As one of the dragon kings looks to take it all.
A good read. You want to keep working at, to see the finish.
Keeps your interest.
Things advance in the Dragon Realm.
Building on events from before, previous books.
Things come to resolution some areas.
Castle intrigues. A disfigured king, meeting his betrothed.
Her arrival, growth and struggles. Amid everything.
A nice strong female character. That can still be lady and princess.
Spies and secret agents, close to the throne.
A dragon armies attack.
As one of the dragon kings looks to take it all.
A good read. You want to keep working at, to see the finish.
Keeps your interest.
September 25, 2017
I've had this book on my shelf for many years and I've finally finished it. I found the first half of the book to be a dreadful slog. It wasn't until about halfway through the book, when we see the Bedlams again, that the story really started to pick up for me. Once things started moving I struggled to put the book down.
April 28, 2019
Fourth book in the Dragonrealm series. Must say that I enjoyed reading it, but found the first three books better. Lots of magic and sorcery in this one. With a big battle coming up, I had expected to read more about it. It is only briefly mentioned in the end, and a lot of time is spent with Shadowsteed and Shade (or whoever he is).
December 4, 2023
Kniha je dobře čtivá a autor vytahuje z vedlejší role temného koně a dává mu více prostoru. Žel se zde ukazují jeho rezervy a úplně se na hlavní charakter nehodí. Měl by být extrémně mocný ale i tak bývá polapen do pastí. Dobře napsaná postava princezny Erini zde hodně příběh podrží což v kombinaci s proměnlivým čarodějem Shadem zlepšuje čtivost.
January 11, 2021
La primera obra de fantasía épica que leí en mi vida, con 8 años fue una gran revelación. Y con los años y otras obras Richard A. Knaak me ha demostrado ser un maestro dentro del mundo de la fantasía. Recordar que esta obra se escribió antes de que internet fuera lo que es hoy día.
February 7, 2017
Genial libro y muy buena historia.
Para aquellos fanáticos de historias de magia y hechicería, dragones, reinos y guerras, es un libro más que recomendado.
Para aquellos fanáticos de historias de magia y hechicería, dragones, reinos y guerras, es un libro más que recomendado.
January 31, 2018
Amazing book! I couldn't put it down! My copy was missing about 25 pages and it was still one of the best book I ever read
June 6, 2023
Disappointing. Just so little real action here.
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May 8, 2013Richard A. Knaak comes back with the fourth installment of his "Legends of the Dragonrealm" series "Shadow Steed". From the good people at Gallery books this one is well worth it's price of roughly $15 dollars.
An old an rich storyteller of the fantasy genre, Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times and US Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, including his celebrated Dragonrealm series (of wich this book is a part of). He has also written books for the Dragonlance series, as well as numerous novels for the Warcraft and Diablo series. Knaak has also scripted many mangas based on World of Warcraft.
In this invigorating title the character Darkhorse gets his own book but has to share with a new character, Princess Erini of Gordag-Ai. Shade has come back with apparently all his memories and nearly all his power. He will discover his true origins and will resume his ever long quest, but this time he might succeed. Also, Princess Erini fights to get rid of something that could destroy all she has worked for.
This book is a new and interesting branch off the main storyline. Darkhorse and Princess Erini present a new and interesting viewpoint. Although the hero, Cabe Bedlam, isn't the hero anymore he is still in the background. The book is a captivating title that will encourage longtime readers to keep going with the series.
This is a very good book that will excite readers everywhere cover to cover. Although I encourage readers to start with the first book in the Dragonrealm series "Firedrake" this book does not really relate to any of the previous books.
An old an rich storyteller of the fantasy genre, Richard A. Knaak is the New York Times and US Times bestselling author of more than forty novels, including his celebrated Dragonrealm series (of wich this book is a part of). He has also written books for the Dragonlance series, as well as numerous novels for the Warcraft and Diablo series. Knaak has also scripted many mangas based on World of Warcraft.
In this invigorating title the character Darkhorse gets his own book but has to share with a new character, Princess Erini of Gordag-Ai. Shade has come back with apparently all his memories and nearly all his power. He will discover his true origins and will resume his ever long quest, but this time he might succeed. Also, Princess Erini fights to get rid of something that could destroy all she has worked for.
This book is a new and interesting branch off the main storyline. Darkhorse and Princess Erini present a new and interesting viewpoint. Although the hero, Cabe Bedlam, isn't the hero anymore he is still in the background. The book is a captivating title that will encourage longtime readers to keep going with the series.
This is a very good book that will excite readers everywhere cover to cover. Although I encourage readers to start with the first book in the Dragonrealm series "Firedrake" this book does not really relate to any of the previous books.
October 13, 2020
Temný kůň je jako vedlejší postava super, ale jakmile má táhnout celý román coby hlavní charakter, naplno se ukazují jeho rezervy. Je dětinský (a to se za celou dobu, co jeho příběh sledujeme, ani náznakem nezmění) a má být extrémně mocný, takže vlastně funguje jako neustálý živoucí deus ex machina prvek - a tak ho Knaak neustále musí přechodně odstraňovat z děje pomocí magických pastí, čímž zase podkopává tu jeho údajnou extrémní moc. A to je vlastně vše, nic jiného tato mezi čtenáři kdovíproč tolik oblíbená postava nenabízí. Naštěstí má kniha Stínový hřebec i své silné momenty v podobě dobře napsané postavy princezny Erini, která svým příběhem drží knihu nad vodou jak samostatně, tak ve spojení se znetvořeným králem Melicardem; kořením je rovněž nepředvídatelný element čaroděje Shadea a nenudí ani poměrně okoukaná, ale zábavně prezentovaná zápletka se zrádcem na královském dvoře. Tenhle díl je spíš rytířská, středověk evokující fantasy...její magické koření tentokrát chuť spíše kazí.
June 9, 2024
New rating: 3.5 ⭐
It isn't 4 only because of a lack of Cabe.
Darkhorse is delightful, I enjoy him in these books so much. Erini was also very good as a protagonist, even if I'm salty that she got the kind of plot Cabe should have had in book 1.
The way Gwen and Cabe arw kept out of the plot is a tad annoying tho, and once again there is a massive wizads vs dragons battle that we just. Don't see.
It isn't 4 only because of a lack of Cabe.
Darkhorse is delightful, I enjoy him in these books so much. Erini was also very good as a protagonist, even if I'm salty that she got the kind of plot Cabe should have had in book 1.
The way Gwen and Cabe arw kept out of the plot is a tad annoying tho, and once again there is a massive wizads vs dragons battle that we just. Don't see.
June 18, 2008
this was a intersting book. it was captivating but was a little hard to understand. with a demon, i mean a demon, horse, the Void, whiches and wizards, unknown land and weird creathers, it is a little unsettling.
September 4, 2013
This book makes me miss Encore bookstores. Unlike the author’s story of Huma for the Dragon lance series, the characters here are too stock and one dimensional. It feels far more formulaic then the Huma books, which you think would be the formulaic ones. It’s not bad, just not remember able.
May 13, 2016
Great book and like all good sequels to fantasy novels it adds new lore while also expanding the lore that already exists however the final battle did get kind of hard to follow but still most of the book was a enjoyable fantasy mystery.
July 11, 2010
Rather confusing at times, it wasn't easy to follow the interesting turns in the plot.
August 31, 2012
Been some time since i read the series but i thought all four were great.
December 4, 2013
No bad... needed more true horsiness...
February 19, 2016
Really good book but all books from series Dragonrealm could be a little bit longer. :)
September 7, 2015
It was a slow start but when it picked up speed it never slowed again.
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March 27, 2019Království Talak přežilo válku s Ledovým drakem bez následků – až na mladého, na těle i na duši zmrzačeného krále Melicarda. Rádce Mal Quorin v něm neustále rozdmychává nenávist vůči drakům a král těmto jedovatým myšlenkám naslouchá. Ve své zvrácené touze po pomstě nechá Melicard polapit démonického Temného koně. Netuší, že tím osvobodil i Shadea. Tvora bez tváře i bez svědomí, který tuto nečekanou šanci nehodlá promarnit. Touží zopakovat kouzlo nesmrtelnosti. A nesmrtelná bytost s nekonečnou mocí může pokořit i bohy! Jen Temný kůň může Shadea zastavit. Jenže – stačí na to jeho magie? Překoná všechny léčky a intriky? Zánik Dračích říší se zdá neodvratný…
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews