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The Reminiscent Exile #5
Elder Shadow
“Now who’s letting people die in the streets?” I sighed. “Support me, publically. A show of united strength, a true alliance—the Knights Infernal against the Everlasting. Not Declan Hale against Jon Faraday.” I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. “Jon, brother, I am looking for a reason not to kill you. Please give me one.” Declan Hale has been possessed by his greatest enemy – Lord Oblivion of the Everlasting. He has lost control of his power, his body, and the Everlasting’s dark intent will tear him from True Earth, to star-strewn citadels, and into open war against his own people in Ascension City. The Knights Infernal and their king, Jon Faraday, Declan’s half-brother, have never seen eye to eye. Now with Oblivion in control, the Shadowless Arbiter is unleashed against the Story Thread. Something else moves in the shadows, something born of god and man, and it does not have Declan’s best interests at heart. The stakes are raised, the deck is stacked, and war, or something like it, is inevitable. *~*~*~* Praise for the Reminiscent "Broken Quill, the second volume of 'The Reminiscent Exile', is considered Outstanding in Genre (Urban Fantasy)." ~ Red Adept Select "Another excellent outing from Joe. Reminiscent Exile is one of my favorite fantasy series." ~ Verified Amazon Review "I really look forward to seeing where this talented author takes these stories in the future. I cannot recommend this series more." ~ Verified Amazon Reivew
- GenresUrban Fantasy
207 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 13, 2017
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Joe Ducie
19 books106 followersJoe Ducie (1987-) is a writer from Perth, Western Australia. By day, he charges a toll to cross a bridge he doesn’t own. Yet by night, in a haze of scotch-fuelled insanity, he works tirelessly on an array of stories both short and long. Joe possesses a fierce love of a smooth finish. Under no circumstances should you ask him just what that means.
Joe was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in November 1987, and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia. He is primarily an author of urban fantasy and science fiction aimed at young adults. His current stories include Distant Star, Upon Crystal Shores, Red vs. Blue, and The Forgetful Library.
Joe attended Edith Cowan University and graduated in 2010 with a Degree of Counterterrorism, Security and Intelligence. He went back, the idiot, and completed post-graduate studies in Security Science in 2011. Joe has also studied Creative and Professional Writing at Curtin University.
When not talking about himself in the third person, Joe enjoys devouring books at an absurdly disgusting rate and sampling fine scotch.
Website: joeducie.net
Twitter: @joeducie
Facebook: /jducie
Joe was born in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria in November 1987, and currently resides in Perth, Western Australia. He is primarily an author of urban fantasy and science fiction aimed at young adults. His current stories include Distant Star, Upon Crystal Shores, Red vs. Blue, and The Forgetful Library.
Joe attended Edith Cowan University and graduated in 2010 with a Degree of Counterterrorism, Security and Intelligence. He went back, the idiot, and completed post-graduate studies in Security Science in 2011. Joe has also studied Creative and Professional Writing at Curtin University.
When not talking about himself in the third person, Joe enjoys devouring books at an absurdly disgusting rate and sampling fine scotch.
Website: joeducie.net
Twitter: @joeducie
Facebook: /jducie
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
September 17, 2017
The fifth entry in the urban fantasy Reminiscent Exile series, Elder Shadow, is another break from the traditional plotline. Joe Ducie raises the stakes here as Declan squares off with his cruelest adversary and deadliest enemy. The game is afoot. And while the confrontation at the end of the story does not feel as rewarding as Lost Grace’s climactic and epic confluence, the overall story itself is an intricate puzzle, one Declan Hale, our plucky protagonist, cannot simply punch his way out of.
As a writer, his craft has improved noticeably from his opening salvo, a fledgling but honest-to-goodness great effort, Distant Star. Here, Ducie gradually finds and shapes the nuances of a story, allowing the subtext to flourish, and a precariously balanced tone of resigned despair and willful fatalism to develop. His use of metaphors, anecdotes, and Declan’s alcoholism serve to add layers to his character, but also to further aspects of the plot down the road. This novel expands the mythology of Declan’s universe and takes us further than anything thus far.
It is a gripping exploration of Declan’s inner mind, and the contrast between him and his demons, both within himself and in the world, instill in the reader a startling recognition of story’s shades of gray. More than ever, Declan is emphasized as an antihero, and even the protagonist, at one point, realizes his capacity for capriciousness, for blinding moral absolutism, might very well equal that of his enemies. Declan even reflects that “they weren’t evil so much as at odds with how I… thought they should behave”. The entire novel is threaded with these little revelations, inviting the reader to accept that Declan’s errant quest for victory might be -if not necessarily folly- than at least somewhat misguided.
As a writer, his craft has improved noticeably from his opening salvo, a fledgling but honest-to-goodness great effort, Distant Star. Here, Ducie gradually finds and shapes the nuances of a story, allowing the subtext to flourish, and a precariously balanced tone of resigned despair and willful fatalism to develop. His use of metaphors, anecdotes, and Declan’s alcoholism serve to add layers to his character, but also to further aspects of the plot down the road. This novel expands the mythology of Declan’s universe and takes us further than anything thus far.
It is a gripping exploration of Declan’s inner mind, and the contrast between him and his demons, both within himself and in the world, instill in the reader a startling recognition of story’s shades of gray. More than ever, Declan is emphasized as an antihero, and even the protagonist, at one point, realizes his capacity for capriciousness, for blinding moral absolutism, might very well equal that of his enemies. Declan even reflects that “they weren’t evil so much as at odds with how I… thought they should behave”. The entire novel is threaded with these little revelations, inviting the reader to accept that Declan’s errant quest for victory might be -if not necessarily folly- than at least somewhat misguided.
September 17, 2017
After reading the fourth book in the series (Lost Grace), I was a little hesitant about book 5 (Elder Shadow). The fourth book so far was my least favorite but book 5 brought me back. I loved this series from the first time I read the first book. Elder Shadow was very much like books 1-3, it was full of action, the unexpected, and that Declan Hale charm that we all love. I will be eagerly awaiting the next book.
October 8, 2017
Hit diggity
Great read that went way to fast. I figured I would have to wait for a year for Joe to come out with book 5, but received a pleasant surprise on my birthday. Fast paced, plenty of action with likable characters, well Declan can be a bit of a dick, but I guess I am too, so that is ok. Looking forward to book 6. Thanks Joe!
Great read that went way to fast. I figured I would have to wait for a year for Joe to come out with book 5, but received a pleasant surprise on my birthday. Fast paced, plenty of action with likable characters, well Declan can be a bit of a dick, but I guess I am too, so that is ok. Looking forward to book 6. Thanks Joe!
July 30, 2024
Wow.
Do not read the end of the book first - don't cheat. Read it from front to back, you won't regret it. Best story to date. No idea where the next adventure Declan will get into, but I'm betting it will be epic.
Do not read the end of the book first - don't cheat. Read it from front to back, you won't regret it. Best story to date. No idea where the next adventure Declan will get into, but I'm betting it will be epic.
October 31, 2017
Short. Very very short.
Other than that, a lively mouthful of a novelette.
Other than that, a lively mouthful of a novelette.
December 19, 2025
Wow
What a continuation to the series. I cannot wait to read how this story ends! Strong characters and a fun new way to harness what we thought were weaknesses
What a continuation to the series. I cannot wait to read how this story ends! Strong characters and a fun new way to harness what we thought were weaknesses
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews