What do you think?
Rate this book
2176 Series #3
The Shadow Runners
Newgate, Australia: Down Under, anything goes. In the 22nd century, history repeats itself. Part penal colony, part dumping ground for toxic waste, the land is controlled by "the Parliament," a gang of dissipated self-styled aristocrats who rule in a mockery of the English Regency. To survive here, you have to know the tricks. Like Jenny Red. She knows the score. She's been Down and made it out to tell the tale.
But D'ekkar Han Valoren -- the bastard son of the Emperor whom Jenny's family was accused of destroying -- knows Jenny escaped, and he wants her to take him back in. Okay, maybe she'll help Deck's team of rebels, his Shadow Runners, like he asks. But not because he's holding anything over her -- if he tried anything that stupid, she'd give him a taste of steel. No, she'll do it because of what was once between them. Because of the revolution of her heart.
But D'ekkar Han Valoren -- the bastard son of the Emperor whom Jenny's family was accused of destroying -- knows Jenny escaped, and he wants her to take him back in. Okay, maybe she'll help Deck's team of rebels, his Shadow Runners, like he asks. But not because he's holding anything over her -- if he tried anything that stupid, she'd give him a taste of steel. No, she'll do it because of what was once between them. Because of the revolution of her heart.
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2004
2 people are currently reading
164 people want to read
About the author
Liz Maverick
34 books475 followersBestselling, award-winning author Liz Maverick is a novelist, adventurer and odd jobs specialist whose contract assignments have taken her from driving trucks in Antarctica to working behind the scenes on reality TV shows in Hollywood.
Liz is known for writing out-of-the-box romance novels with fast-paced, unique plots and lots of kick-butt action. Her previous works include Cosmopolitan Magazine Book Club Pick What a Girl Wants, PRISM/Daphne finalist The Shadow Runners, Golden Leaf winner Crimson Rogue, and Waldenbooks/B&N bestseller Crimson City, the first book in the multi-author continuity series she created.
Liz and her books have been featured on Fox's Geraldo at Large and in USA Today, Cosmopolitan Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Toronto Star, and more.
https://www.facebook.com/LizMaverickC...
Liz is known for writing out-of-the-box romance novels with fast-paced, unique plots and lots of kick-butt action. Her previous works include Cosmopolitan Magazine Book Club Pick What a Girl Wants, PRISM/Daphne finalist The Shadow Runners, Golden Leaf winner Crimson Rogue, and Waldenbooks/B&N bestseller Crimson City, the first book in the multi-author continuity series she created.
Liz and her books have been featured on Fox's Geraldo at Large and in USA Today, Cosmopolitan Magazine, San Francisco Magazine, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Toronto Star, and more.
https://www.facebook.com/LizMaverickC...
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
February 6, 2009
#3 in the 2176 series, futuristic sci fi/action/romance
Four different authors in this five book series
This time the setting is Australia in the year 2176.
Lots of sci fi / high tech "stuff" & gadgets featured in this plot. I'm not real comfortable reading this genre, especially the tech-y stuff, so the book was only OK for me. But that's just me.
I never got involved in the plot or cared much about or for the characters.
Four different authors in this five book series
This time the setting is Australia in the year 2176.
Lots of sci fi / high tech "stuff" & gadgets featured in this plot. I'm not real comfortable reading this genre, especially the tech-y stuff, so the book was only OK for me. But that's just me.
I never got involved in the plot or cared much about or for the characters.
January 16, 2023
For the heroine, who has always been poor, life has been a constant struggle but now, living with her entire world in a backpack and scrounging for odd jobs just to eat, life has become harder than ever. And it's about to turn worse. An old 'friend' has resurfaced, one to which the heroine holds a bitter and festering anger towards. Once she could have called him friend. Despite him being a Prince and she only the daughter of a servant she foolishly thought she meant something to him. He certainly meant something to her. A friend, a confident and a forbidden lover. Now, he is the enemy as far as she is concerned. When her father died and she was fired from her job and sent off planet, he did nothing at all to help her even though his money and title could have saved her. Now, he's asking for her help. Turns out he's no longer a prince. He was charged with the murder of his father and imprisoned before being pardoned and banished. Now, he's a rebel. He's using his designs and intelligence to help in the rebellion that will see the Monarchy overthrown and equality sent to all people. She thinks this passion for justice is all just a ruse to get revenge on his half brother that framed him for murder. Still, he needs her to guide him to a secure outpost so he can connect the Voice to give the people a message. She wants to deny him out of principle but she knows she needs the money. But when she finds out he's taking her back to a place she absolutely refused to return to she freaks out. The hero knows his devotion to the rebellion has destroy whatever trust she had in him. He knows he's used people for the greater good and intends to use her again but he can't help how he feels towards her. Bitterness and justified anger sits within her heart and he knows he has no business trying to change it. Everything in this life is standing between them, his once title, his devotion to the rebellion and her hurt. He can't deny that if the choice came down to him or her, he doesn't know exactly who he would chose and that's what hurts her the most. She's always looked for a place to belong and a sense of loyalty but it seems she's always the outcast- the disposable one. She's just looking for a reason to trust the hero and he makes it so easy for her to forget all her anger if he would just love her again. But finally the hero is put to the test and given the choice to save himself or her and for a moment he hesitates. That's enough for the heroine's heart to be broken once again. She knows he has to lead these people and that he is torn up inside over the incident but the heroine doesn't think clearly when she's angry. When they arrive at base, she is tricked by the enemy into sabotaging the hero's connection and it's at that moment that she realizes how peaty and useless she's been when it comes to the hero. She loves him and now that she's hurt him deeply, she knows that she must do everything she can to make it right.
I found this book to be a delightful read with a deeper sense of characterization and insecurities than a typical romance novel. The heroine was a complex character with a lot of built of anger at the way her life has turned out. She blames at lost of her problems on one man because at heart she's very hurt by his betrayal. She wants to stay angry at him and hate him but all of this is just a front for the fact that she's eagerly looking for a reason to trust him again. She's justified in her anger but she is always selfish at times and lost in the swirl of self pity which she eventually snaps out of near the end. She grows as a character and that's what I loved about her. She didn't want to be bitter she just wanted to be loved. The hero was also a deep character. She believes his involvement with the rebellion is all for revenge and at times during the beginning that certainly makes sense. He was a reserved character at the start, one that I couldn't really understand. He seemed to be callus in the way he was willing to use the heroine for his plans. But as time went one, he started to open up and show his love for her and his wrenching guilt over how things have become between them. He is also devoted to the cause it's the right thing to do and he's not thinking in terms of revenge or the fact that he's above them, he's trying to help. Together they had a strained relationship for most of the book and I don't think things were entirely solved between them by the end but they did manage to come together and try to make things work which I found pleasantly realistic. This author is truly gifted when it comes to her characters and it's always a pleasure to read Liz Maverick.
I found this book to be a delightful read with a deeper sense of characterization and insecurities than a typical romance novel. The heroine was a complex character with a lot of built of anger at the way her life has turned out. She blames at lost of her problems on one man because at heart she's very hurt by his betrayal. She wants to stay angry at him and hate him but all of this is just a front for the fact that she's eagerly looking for a reason to trust him again. She's justified in her anger but she is always selfish at times and lost in the swirl of self pity which she eventually snaps out of near the end. She grows as a character and that's what I loved about her. She didn't want to be bitter she just wanted to be loved. The hero was also a deep character. She believes his involvement with the rebellion is all for revenge and at times during the beginning that certainly makes sense. He was a reserved character at the start, one that I couldn't really understand. He seemed to be callus in the way he was willing to use the heroine for his plans. But as time went one, he started to open up and show his love for her and his wrenching guilt over how things have become between them. He is also devoted to the cause it's the right thing to do and he's not thinking in terms of revenge or the fact that he's above them, he's trying to help. Together they had a strained relationship for most of the book and I don't think things were entirely solved between them by the end but they did manage to come together and try to make things work which I found pleasantly realistic. This author is truly gifted when it comes to her characters and it's always a pleasure to read Liz Maverick.
January 29, 2011
Welcome to futuristic Australia, part-penal colony and part-dumping ground. This concept had a big impact when I encountered it a few years ago. I knew the execution could never live up to the premise I idealised, but I still looked forward to this.
The world-building definitely meets my expectations, particularly the mysterious Parliament which consists of folk who claim to have been aristocrats in their former countries. The group definitely has an historical feel to them, which is rather strange in a futuristic, but nonetheless welcome. I'm not a fan of historicals, but the ones I like tend to involve opium and/or madness. Why? They make for more interesting plots than the same-old class battles. And The Shadow Runners does indeed feature opiate use, though I wasn't expecting it. Yay for surprise!opium :-)
The novel's rather enjoyable, until the characters set off for the outback. Action and psychological issues are aplenty there, but I just didn't connect with it.
The Shadow Runners may not be as good as The Legend of Banzai Maguire, but it sure beats Day of Fire. (One would've thought I'd love futuristic Canada, but the characters just didn't work for me.)
The world-building definitely meets my expectations, particularly the mysterious Parliament which consists of folk who claim to have been aristocrats in their former countries. The group definitely has an historical feel to them, which is rather strange in a futuristic, but nonetheless welcome. I'm not a fan of historicals, but the ones I like tend to involve opium and/or madness. Why? They make for more interesting plots than the same-old class battles. And The Shadow Runners does indeed feature opiate use, though I wasn't expecting it. Yay for surprise!opium :-)
The novel's rather enjoyable, until the characters set off for the outback. Action and psychological issues are aplenty there, but I just didn't connect with it.
The Shadow Runners may not be as good as The Legend of Banzai Maguire, but it sure beats Day of Fire. (One would've thought I'd love futuristic Canada, but the characters just didn't work for me.)
September 10, 2012
This is the third of the 2176 books and my least favourite, which I didn’t expect because it’s the first book I’ve ever read by a foreign author set in Australia. I thought this would really endear me to the book, but in the end it just made me mad. Maverick’s future version of Australia was bizarre and seemed to me to mock our heritage as a British penal colony (don’t, whatever you do, call an Aussie a convict – you’re liable to start a fight one way or another). I’m still to work out where the hell Newgate is within modern day Australia, and contrary to popular belief, the Outback is not just down the road, unless you’re talking 1000+ kilometres down the road. I get the fact that this book is set some 100+ years in the future, but when a country is as rich in minerals as Australia is, it would take a much bigger lapse in time for my beautiful country to end up a wasteland (which it never was before, it was a convict settlement – this book seems to blur the lines). The story itself wasn’t too bad, and to a non-Australian, it would probably prove to be an enjoyable read, with an interesting romance aspect, but for me, the marring of my beloved country really overshadowed anything the story had to offer. A shame, because it could have had a lot more to offer.
November 13, 2013
Awesome book!!! I loved it to pieces!
Deck has a purpose. To get the Voice of Freedom up and running in Australia and rally the people to fight behind Banzai MacGuire when the time comes.
The only problem is that Deck is former Royalty and doesn't have the know-how to get around the prison Australia has become, but he knows someone who does.
Jenny Red met Deck before he was accused of killing his father, the King. And despite all the rules they became friends, until Jenny's father killed the King and Deck did nothing as she was sent to Australia as a convict.
Now he's back and needs her help.
Deck might be happy to see her but his dedication to the Shadow Voice is terrifying in it's intensity and Jenny fell for him once already and he let her down.
Is history going to repeat itself or will Deck let the fight go to be with the one woman he's always dreamed of?
Deck has a purpose. To get the Voice of Freedom up and running in Australia and rally the people to fight behind Banzai MacGuire when the time comes.
The only problem is that Deck is former Royalty and doesn't have the know-how to get around the prison Australia has become, but he knows someone who does.
Jenny Red met Deck before he was accused of killing his father, the King. And despite all the rules they became friends, until Jenny's father killed the King and Deck did nothing as she was sent to Australia as a convict.
Now he's back and needs her help.
Deck might be happy to see her but his dedication to the Shadow Voice is terrifying in it's intensity and Jenny fell for him once already and he let her down.
Is history going to repeat itself or will Deck let the fight go to be with the one woman he's always dreamed of?
August 4, 2009
In a future world where things are quite different and there are different people in charge. Jenny Red lives in a city where she barely survives. The ruling aristocrats are bored and will kill you as soon as talk to you so Jenny is not impress when D'ekkar Han Valoren comes from her past he also brings unwanted attention, and feelings she hoped she had escaped.
It would probably have read better for me if I had read the previous books but I was in a hospital and needed a read and this was in the bag. It's trying too hard to be a romance and really I didn't get much of a romance but the SF elements were interesting.
It would probably have read better for me if I had read the previous books but I was in a hospital and needed a read and this was in the bag. It's trying too hard to be a romance and really I didn't get much of a romance but the SF elements were interesting.
June 21, 2008
Kind of a steampunk romance... meaning it's set in a sort of steampunkfuture earth, but the main characters don't quite fit in to that world.
I suppose that's the idea.
Jenny's so smart at times that the bits where she does dumb things to further the plot are just painful. But somehow it sort of works.
It's fun and there's some killing and there's some kissing, whatmore can you really ask for from a book that'll only take you four hours to read?
I suppose that's the idea.
Jenny's so smart at times that the bits where she does dumb things to further the plot are just painful. But somehow it sort of works.
It's fun and there's some killing and there's some kissing, whatmore can you really ask for from a book that'll only take you four hours to read?
Read
April 20, 2013I sort of enjoyed it but all I kept thinking was and the point is? I lved Jenny Red she was like a mercenary in a way. Dek got on my nerves, but at the same time He was exactly the brooding hero. Action, adventure, betrayal, revolution, dystopia, alot of themes covered. I dont know zip about Australia but what I have seen in pictures and in other books make it much more appealing. The romance was like an after thought, and Jennys feeling toward Dek were all over the place.
February 16, 2014
The Shadow Runners - 2176, Bk 3 Liz Maverick
Jenny Red spent years in Newgate, Australia penal colony for a crime committed by her father, she had a crush on D'ekkar Han Valoren son of the Emperor ass a teen. The attraction continues even though she feels betrade.
D'ekkar Han Valoren spent time in prison being beaten by his half brothers guards. Now he is part of the "Shadow Runners" a group bent on Revolution.
Jenny Red spent years in Newgate, Australia penal colony for a crime committed by her father, she had a crush on D'ekkar Han Valoren son of the Emperor ass a teen. The attraction continues even though she feels betrade.
D'ekkar Han Valoren spent time in prison being beaten by his half brothers guards. Now he is part of the "Shadow Runners" a group bent on Revolution.
March 23, 2015
Fast paced, fun read. I haven't read the first two, but didn't feel as though I had to in order to follow the story. I enjoyed the world-building and liked the main character. Tough without being over-the-top.
January 1, 2008
Book #3 in the 2176 Series. Most are written by different authors. All were good. I felt for Jenny Red here and didn't care for the interaction much.
November 16, 2009
This was my first Liz Maverick book. Loved it!
June 6, 2013
This book actually kind of bored me a bit.
August 23, 2015
Couldn't get into it
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews