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Shader #3
The Unweaving
Shader has failed and Sektis Gandaw now holds all the pieces of the Statue of Eingana. Despair hangs like a pall over the battered armies of Sahul and Aeterna. It’s now just a matter of time …
A sliver of hope comes in the form of Shadrak the Unseen, who has the means to travel to the source of the coming cataclysm, the black mountain at the heart of the Dead Lands on Aethir.
But Shader, Shadrak, and Rhiannon discover that Aethir brings a new set of challenges: the Sour Marsh—an oozing malignancy from the nightmare realm of Qlippoth; an arrogant senate that seeks to appease rather than fight; and a volatile secret at the heart of the ravine city of Arx Gravis, a dwarf with no name who could prove the most stalwart of allies… or the deadliest of foes.
Old love has turned sour and regrets run deep. Shader is sick of killing, but can see no other way. Rhiannon’s last defense against all she has lost is a self-destructive rage; and Shadrak’s niggling conscience is causing him more trouble than he needs. Loyalties are called into question, yet all three must bury their differences if they are to find a way into Sektis Gandaw’s impregnable base and prevent the Unweaving of all things.
A sliver of hope comes in the form of Shadrak the Unseen, who has the means to travel to the source of the coming cataclysm, the black mountain at the heart of the Dead Lands on Aethir.
But Shader, Shadrak, and Rhiannon discover that Aethir brings a new set of challenges: the Sour Marsh—an oozing malignancy from the nightmare realm of Qlippoth; an arrogant senate that seeks to appease rather than fight; and a volatile secret at the heart of the ravine city of Arx Gravis, a dwarf with no name who could prove the most stalwart of allies… or the deadliest of foes.
Old love has turned sour and regrets run deep. Shader is sick of killing, but can see no other way. Rhiannon’s last defense against all she has lost is a self-destructive rage; and Shadrak’s niggling conscience is causing him more trouble than he needs. Loyalties are called into question, yet all three must bury their differences if they are to find a way into Sektis Gandaw’s impregnable base and prevent the Unweaving of all things.
- GenresFantasySword and Sorcery
ebook
First published March 18, 2014
2 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
About the author
Derek Prior
79 books211 followersInternationally bestselling and award winning author Derek Prior excels in fast-paced, high stakes epic fantasy adventure stories in which good ultimately triumphs, but always at a cost.
Taking familiar fantasy tropes as a point of departure, Prior expands upon them to explore friendship, betrayal, loyalty and heroism in worlds where evil is an ever-present reality, magic is both a curse and a blessing, and characters are tempered in battle.
Winner of best fantasy novel 2012 (The Nameless Dwarf: The Complete Chronicles)
Fantasy Faction semifinalist for the SPFBO 2018 (Ravine of Blood and Shadow)
Website: www.derekprior.us
Twitter: @NamelessDwarf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dpprior
Taking familiar fantasy tropes as a point of departure, Prior expands upon them to explore friendship, betrayal, loyalty and heroism in worlds where evil is an ever-present reality, magic is both a curse and a blessing, and characters are tempered in battle.
Winner of best fantasy novel 2012 (The Nameless Dwarf: The Complete Chronicles)
Fantasy Faction semifinalist for the SPFBO 2018 (Ravine of Blood and Shadow)
Website: www.derekprior.us
Twitter: @NamelessDwarf
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dpprior
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 16, 2015
Originally reviewed at Bookwraiths Reviews
The epic conclusion of the Shader series! So many questions still demanding answers. Can anyone forgive Deacon Shader for failing to stop Sektis Gandaw when he had the chance? Is there a way to reach Aether, the world of the dreaming, to even try to stop the unweaving? What are the real plans and purposes of the mysterious Aristodeus? Is the Technocrat his own man, or is he being manipulated by older and more powerful beings than himself? Questions that Mr. Prior dives right into answering with The Unweaving.
After the stunning defeat at the hands of the undead armies of Sektis Gandaw, despair hangs over the survivors of the armies of Sahul and Aeterna. With the Technocrat retreating to the alien world of Aether with his prize, the heroes of this post apocalyptic Earth cannot reach their enemy and even attempt to stop the unweaving he intends to let loose upon the entire universe. And so, they care for their wounded and dead, each waiting patiently for the end of everything!
But hope is not entirely lost. For the strange thief Shadrak the Unseen has uncovered what he believes is a means to travel to Aether. And if he, Shader, and Rhiannon can cross the innumerable distance to the world of the dreaming, they know that Sektis has taken the Statue of Eingana to a conical-shaped, black mountain at the heart of a dead plain upon Aethir. All they need to do is reach the Technocrat, and Shader promises himself this time he will not fail to strike when fate presents him with a chance.
But once on Aethir, these three unlikely companions find themselves on a strange world with dangers and questions all its own. How can they gain entrance to Sektis’ mountain stronghold when it is ringed round about with flying death machines? How do they escape the Sour Marsh with its living, oozing malignancy that has slowly spread from the nightmare realm of Qlippoth? If they do escape, where would they go to obtain help? And does Shader still have the internal fortitude to kill Sektis if given another chance, or must someone else rise to the challenge?
For this amazing setup, the author delivers a pulse-pounding, fantasy finale!
In The Unweaving, Mr. Prior chooses not to rest on his laurels and set this story in the post apocalyptic Earth he had already lovingly created but instead introduces yet another amazing place. This time it is Aether, world of the dreaming; a land full of fantastical creatures, science run amok, and innate magic, dreamed into existence by a sleeping god whose wistful and nightmarish thoughts instantly spring to life. Here, a reader is introduced to new civilizations and races, slowly acclimated to its myriad environments, and shown its deep history. Truly, it is an amazing experience for any world building fanatic.
Upon this new canvas, bold, new characters also strut their stuff. And these new “stars” are not just throw away “red shirts,” but rather people who come to life and even steal the spotlight from our returning heroes: Deacon, Shadrak, and Rhiannon. The most amazing of these new characters being the Nameless Dwarf, who leaps from the pages like some sword and sorcery god, making you rout for him even though he is covered with the innocent blood of his own race. But there are many more. Each one growing into a real person before your eyes – whether you like them or hate them.
But never fear, the intriguing and spiritually torn Deacon Shader is still the pivotal character in this tale. His devotion to his faith and fear that it might all be a lie tearing him apart. His former love for Rhiannon a splinter of confusion within his soul; its ending something that he is learning to accept and deal with. His mistrust of his mentor Aristodeus the catalyst for a raging vortex of doubt that infects his entire being, making him wonder if he can indeed end Sektis Gandaw. And his unexpected confrontation with an Aether man of faith a pivotal moment in Shader’s life and his quest to stop the unweaving!
I have to say I really think Mr. Prior nailed this conclusion. It had everything I was looking for: answers to questions, intense combat, intriguing world, dark humor, and interesting characters in Deacon Shader, Shadrak the Unseen, and the Nameless Dwarf. In my review of the first book in the series ( Sword of the Archon) I said that this was one of the best indie fantasy I’d ever read, and The Unweaving cemented that status for me. Sure, there were a few things in the narrative that I could complain about, or a character here and there I believe was one dimensional, but overall, the Shader series absolutely delivered on its promise to be a fun, inventive, fantasy ride. One that I would encourage you to jump on and enjoy as well.
The epic conclusion of the Shader series! So many questions still demanding answers. Can anyone forgive Deacon Shader for failing to stop Sektis Gandaw when he had the chance? Is there a way to reach Aether, the world of the dreaming, to even try to stop the unweaving? What are the real plans and purposes of the mysterious Aristodeus? Is the Technocrat his own man, or is he being manipulated by older and more powerful beings than himself? Questions that Mr. Prior dives right into answering with The Unweaving.
After the stunning defeat at the hands of the undead armies of Sektis Gandaw, despair hangs over the survivors of the armies of Sahul and Aeterna. With the Technocrat retreating to the alien world of Aether with his prize, the heroes of this post apocalyptic Earth cannot reach their enemy and even attempt to stop the unweaving he intends to let loose upon the entire universe. And so, they care for their wounded and dead, each waiting patiently for the end of everything!
But hope is not entirely lost. For the strange thief Shadrak the Unseen has uncovered what he believes is a means to travel to Aether. And if he, Shader, and Rhiannon can cross the innumerable distance to the world of the dreaming, they know that Sektis has taken the Statue of Eingana to a conical-shaped, black mountain at the heart of a dead plain upon Aethir. All they need to do is reach the Technocrat, and Shader promises himself this time he will not fail to strike when fate presents him with a chance.
But once on Aethir, these three unlikely companions find themselves on a strange world with dangers and questions all its own. How can they gain entrance to Sektis’ mountain stronghold when it is ringed round about with flying death machines? How do they escape the Sour Marsh with its living, oozing malignancy that has slowly spread from the nightmare realm of Qlippoth? If they do escape, where would they go to obtain help? And does Shader still have the internal fortitude to kill Sektis if given another chance, or must someone else rise to the challenge?
For this amazing setup, the author delivers a pulse-pounding, fantasy finale!
In The Unweaving, Mr. Prior chooses not to rest on his laurels and set this story in the post apocalyptic Earth he had already lovingly created but instead introduces yet another amazing place. This time it is Aether, world of the dreaming; a land full of fantastical creatures, science run amok, and innate magic, dreamed into existence by a sleeping god whose wistful and nightmarish thoughts instantly spring to life. Here, a reader is introduced to new civilizations and races, slowly acclimated to its myriad environments, and shown its deep history. Truly, it is an amazing experience for any world building fanatic.
Upon this new canvas, bold, new characters also strut their stuff. And these new “stars” are not just throw away “red shirts,” but rather people who come to life and even steal the spotlight from our returning heroes: Deacon, Shadrak, and Rhiannon. The most amazing of these new characters being the Nameless Dwarf, who leaps from the pages like some sword and sorcery god, making you rout for him even though he is covered with the innocent blood of his own race. But there are many more. Each one growing into a real person before your eyes – whether you like them or hate them.
But never fear, the intriguing and spiritually torn Deacon Shader is still the pivotal character in this tale. His devotion to his faith and fear that it might all be a lie tearing him apart. His former love for Rhiannon a splinter of confusion within his soul; its ending something that he is learning to accept and deal with. His mistrust of his mentor Aristodeus the catalyst for a raging vortex of doubt that infects his entire being, making him wonder if he can indeed end Sektis Gandaw. And his unexpected confrontation with an Aether man of faith a pivotal moment in Shader’s life and his quest to stop the unweaving!
I have to say I really think Mr. Prior nailed this conclusion. It had everything I was looking for: answers to questions, intense combat, intriguing world, dark humor, and interesting characters in Deacon Shader, Shadrak the Unseen, and the Nameless Dwarf. In my review of the first book in the series ( Sword of the Archon) I said that this was one of the best indie fantasy I’d ever read, and The Unweaving cemented that status for me. Sure, there were a few things in the narrative that I could complain about, or a character here and there I believe was one dimensional, but overall, the Shader series absolutely delivered on its promise to be a fun, inventive, fantasy ride. One that I would encourage you to jump on and enjoy as well.
February 26, 2015
I really love DP Prior`s work for fantasy, adventure & really cool characterization. If I have one criticism of this book & this trilogy in general, it`s that everything always seemed so desolate & depressing. None of the characters seem to like one another & Shader just doesn`t seem to be able to "get it". This is just my opinion though. The quality of the writing & everything else is wonderful. I just want something GOOD to happen for the main characters every once in awhile!!But I did enjoy all three of the books in this series.
June 9, 2019
Review for Shader: Against the Unweaving Trilogy (1-3)
1- four stars
2-four stars
3-three stars
I have almost all of D.P Prior's books and a while back I dropped him a message and asked for his suggested reading order for his works. He suggested starting with Shader, so that's what I did. Now, I wish I had started with the Nameless Dwarf series. I'll tackle that one next then come back and read Shader #4.
This was a difficult rating to apply because Prior is an excellent Epic Fantasy writer and I love the intermingling of science, references to modern day tech and implications across multiple worlds. The series is really solid with the exception of some character flaws and failure of the author to make them endearing enough to have their flaws just be part of their character development toward the end of the trilogy.
**Mild Spoilers**
The writing is wonderful. The storyline robust and intriguing, though I found myself struggling with world-building elements that weren't explained. Perhaps they are covered in the previous works, perhaps that's his style. The characters are also complex and endearing, with the exception that they are very, very flawed. I feel Prior could do a better job making them unlikable, and yet likable by giving a little more attention to their complexity. So, you're kinda left with bad feelings toward Rhiannon and Shader. He's so confused that he just stands slack-jawed at crucial moments. And Rhiannon is just mean and whiney. The constant bickering between Rhiannon and Shadrak really got on my nerves and Shader was wussy for a hero. Would have loved to have more of Elias, too.
I will read the rest of his works to see how they play out. I find the storyline fascinating and look forward to learning more of Nameless' past.
1- four stars
2-four stars
3-three stars
I have almost all of D.P Prior's books and a while back I dropped him a message and asked for his suggested reading order for his works. He suggested starting with Shader, so that's what I did. Now, I wish I had started with the Nameless Dwarf series. I'll tackle that one next then come back and read Shader #4.
This was a difficult rating to apply because Prior is an excellent Epic Fantasy writer and I love the intermingling of science, references to modern day tech and implications across multiple worlds. The series is really solid with the exception of some character flaws and failure of the author to make them endearing enough to have their flaws just be part of their character development toward the end of the trilogy.
**Mild Spoilers**
The writing is wonderful. The storyline robust and intriguing, though I found myself struggling with world-building elements that weren't explained. Perhaps they are covered in the previous works, perhaps that's his style. The characters are also complex and endearing, with the exception that they are very, very flawed. I feel Prior could do a better job making them unlikable, and yet likable by giving a little more attention to their complexity. So, you're kinda left with bad feelings toward Rhiannon and Shader. He's so confused that he just stands slack-jawed at crucial moments. And Rhiannon is just mean and whiney. The constant bickering between Rhiannon and Shadrak really got on my nerves and Shader was wussy for a hero. Would have loved to have more of Elias, too.
I will read the rest of his works to see how they play out. I find the storyline fascinating and look forward to learning more of Nameless' past.
June 4, 2017
The conclusion of the first trilogy of Deacon Shader.
This was mostly definitely an epic adventure I'll not soon forget.
The many characters are all well made, with clear personalities
Worldbuilding is top notch, there is pos apocalypse, dwarfs and elfs, religious theocraciy, technocrats, a big dark Abyss, and some pint of time travel, all weaved up together in a way that nothing will feel out of place
This is fantasy at its best.
This was mostly definitely an epic adventure I'll not soon forget.
The many characters are all well made, with clear personalities
Worldbuilding is top notch, there is pos apocalypse, dwarfs and elfs, religious theocraciy, technocrats, a big dark Abyss, and some pint of time travel, all weaved up together in a way that nothing will feel out of place
This is fantasy at its best.
February 4, 2017
If you've read the first two books, this one doesn't disappoint. Shader and his compatriots must take the fight to the Technocrat and his evil experiments on his home ground, along the way meeting and making strange alliances with dwarves, Elves and arrogant politicians as likely to kill them as help. Most impressive are the loose threads that demand to be played out in other books. I've got quite a bit of reading to do.
October 21, 2015
This is the one that ties it all together. It seems that our heroes gave failed and that is the premise of this book. It has more action, thrills, deception, and questions to go along with the initial plot line. You have to read this one to tie the other two together, but then again you might have more questions when you finish reading it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews