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Ascendant #2
Shadowcast
No one who knew him would accuse Christian Richardson of being the sort of person who took the easy road.
Stranded in the Moorlands in fifteenth century England, Christian must come to terms with the aftermath of his quest for vengeance. Embracing the gifts passed on by his father has put everyone he cares for in danger, and any hesitation to face the road before him could cost someone he loves their life. In no position to be choosy, he finds himself working with a secretive new ally who is more than what they seem. First, they must locate Christian’s brother, Jeffrey, and from there everyone’s safety will depend on getting the scroll his father had left them as far away as possible.
Between them and their goal is a sect of magicians with a vast network of spies bent on claiming ownership of the scroll. Some are vicious creatures that make even Christian’s assassin blood run cold, and leave him with no doubt that the Luminaries are both patient and deadly when it comes to dealing with their enemies.
Learning the reality of his father’s past shatters the idolized memories Christian kept tucked in his heart, and forces him to contemplate a soul-deep sense of betrayal. His desire for vengeance is replaced with a urgent need to protect the things that had mattered to him, even if that means confronting the shattered remnants of the life he left behind. Feeling as though there is always some secret waiting around the corner, he struggles to offer words of comfort while wishing he could receive some of his own. In the wake of such life-changing revelations, only two things ring true.
He loves Paolo with everything he has.
Life would never be the same.
Stranded in the Moorlands in fifteenth century England, Christian must come to terms with the aftermath of his quest for vengeance. Embracing the gifts passed on by his father has put everyone he cares for in danger, and any hesitation to face the road before him could cost someone he loves their life. In no position to be choosy, he finds himself working with a secretive new ally who is more than what they seem. First, they must locate Christian’s brother, Jeffrey, and from there everyone’s safety will depend on getting the scroll his father had left them as far away as possible.
Between them and their goal is a sect of magicians with a vast network of spies bent on claiming ownership of the scroll. Some are vicious creatures that make even Christian’s assassin blood run cold, and leave him with no doubt that the Luminaries are both patient and deadly when it comes to dealing with their enemies.
Learning the reality of his father’s past shatters the idolized memories Christian kept tucked in his heart, and forces him to contemplate a soul-deep sense of betrayal. His desire for vengeance is replaced with a urgent need to protect the things that had mattered to him, even if that means confronting the shattered remnants of the life he left behind. Feeling as though there is always some secret waiting around the corner, he struggles to offer words of comfort while wishing he could receive some of his own. In the wake of such life-changing revelations, only two things ring true.
He loves Paolo with everything he has.
Life would never be the same.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 26, 2016
20 people want to read
About the author
Connor Peterson
25 books26 followersConnor Peterson is a USA Today bestselling author of LGBTQ+ urban fantasy and dark, paranormal romance, local to the Philadelphia, PA area. The madman behind Deathspell and Temptation in Neon, Connor has also contributed to the story cycle Red Phone Box - published by Ghostwoods Books - and the anthology Nocturnal Embers - published by Crimson Melodies Publishing. He is also an active participant in the Philadelphia writing community, and volunteers as a municipal liaison for National Novel Writing Month.
You can follow him on Twitter (@AuthorConnorP) and Facebook (@AuthorConnorP), where he actively avoids being on time for any of his deadlines.
You can follow him on Twitter (@AuthorConnorP) and Facebook (@AuthorConnorP), where he actively avoids being on time for any of his deadlines.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
June 11, 2016
A sequel as good as if not better than the original
Once again, Mr. Dawes has written a dazzling story that grabbed me and never let go. I adore these characters and the unique world they live in. Richly detailed, you will not soon forget Christian, Paolo or Lucie. I would never want to. Those who love history, magic, romance, witty dialogue or just solid storytelling will find that and more in these pages. At one point I was reminded of Antigone and the difficult choice between moral rights and legal rights. It made me love the book even more.
Once again, Mr. Dawes has written a dazzling story that grabbed me and never let go. I adore these characters and the unique world they live in. Richly detailed, you will not soon forget Christian, Paolo or Lucie. I would never want to. Those who love history, magic, romance, witty dialogue or just solid storytelling will find that and more in these pages. At one point I was reminded of Antigone and the difficult choice between moral rights and legal rights. It made me love the book even more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review