A Walking Shadow

Haruspex Trilogy #3

by E.M. Swift-Hook

"There is a man who knows the planet and the people, speaks the language - and has the reputation you need. He delivers. He's never not delivered."

One man stands between Kahina Sarava and her lifelong ambition. So she is hiring the best professional killer in the business to deal with him. It should be no contest.

367 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 16, 2017

About the author

E.M. Swift-Hook is the author of the Fortune's Fools dark space opera series and co-author of the alternate history whodunits the Dai and Julia Mysteries.
In the words that Robert Heinlein put into the mouth of Lazarus Long: 'Writing is not necessarily something to be ashamed of, but do it in private and wash your hands afterwards.'
Having tried a number of different careers, before settling in the North-East of England with family, three dogs, cats and a small flock of rescued chickens, she now spends a lot of time in private and has very clean hands.

Reviews

[L.N. Denison · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great finish to a trilogy!

I know I have said this before, but.... E.M. Swift-Hook has done it again! What a great end to this trilogy of books... and the ending? Text book, for E.M. Swift-Hook, that is! A Walking Shadow is one of those books that pulls you in from the very first page... and our resident blondie, Durban Chola has got himself into another rather sticky situation. I shan't spoil it. There are some familiar faces, which I have grown to love, Jaz, Charis, Avalon...and some great new additions to the story so far. My favourite being a dog called Ritter...love the little critter. There are some great little twists dotted around the story, and one of them involves my furry new friend. If you haven't read these books yet, you really must...roll on the next trilogy, that's what I say!

[S.K. Wee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very satisfying conclusion to the Epic Haruspex Trilogy. Battle-scarred and weary the story continues on the planet Temsevar. Having read the first trilogy by E M Swift-Hook, Temsevar felt like returning home. Back to where everything seemed basic and simple, back to the beginning. But things are far from simple and seeing this world anew through Jaz’s eyes, brings a whole new perspective to the region. I enjoyed how the story comes full circle and loved seeing how the relationships between the main characters continue to evolve. Each one becoming ever more complex. Charis and Jaz finally find common ground and soon Durban and Charis lose theirs. I especially loved how Jaz seemed to come to grips with everything and, in fact, as unbalanced and volatile as he always seemed - he now needs to become the rock for everyone to lean on. His is now the voice of reason.
One of Jaz’s insights while perusing some classic literature “It might be good writing but was sure as hell not good reading.” Well, that certainly was not true here where the reading was every bit as good as the writing! Wonderful story and superb storytelling. I really can’t wait to see the next trilogy set amid the Universe Swift-Hook. Highly Recommended!

[Bryan Pentelow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of A walking Shadow: Haruspex Trilogy: part 3 By E.M. Swift-Hook
This is the sixth book in this series and the main characters from the first trilogy are brought back together, if not united, back on Temsevar the savage, backward world where the story began. The trio of Jaz, Charity, and Durban Chola have one objective; to bring Avilon back from the very edge of death.
Though united on the surface undercurrents of differences run deep and the savagery of this uncivilised society will combine to thwart their purpose. Trust is in short supply and as the tension builds tempers and loyalties are pulled to breaking point.
Can the protagonists overcome the mountain of problems set against them from the personal to the Galactic level or will it prove too much for even superhuman dedication?
Will Avilon regain his health, strength and above all the memories of his previous life?
This is a fast-paced adventure with more twists than a mountain road and a group of well-drawn characters to deal with them. The author’s style and fluency can leave the reader breathless for answers and keep them turning pages as rapidly as possible. A fabulous, edge of seat story which rewards the reader with ample opportunity to share the tension with the characters.
You will get the best from this book if you have read the preceding five. If you haven’t, Then start with book one of the Fortunes Fools trilogy and enjoy the treat you have in store.

[Leland Lydecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third and final book in the Haruspex Trilogy takes place on Temsevar, an extremely low-tech world and the original homeworld of both Durban and Charis. The little band of allies has been shattered by the events at the end of Edge of Doom. Avilon is frozen in the suspended animation of cryosleep, on the brink of death, and Charis suspects that Durban and Jaz conspired in the events that put him there.

With Avilon in cryosleep and Charis shut out of most of the machinations to resurrect him, A Walking Shadow spends the majority of its time following Jaz and Durban. The story provides plenty of Swift-Hook’s trademark interpersonal conflict and suspense, and here’s enough drama and distrust to fill out a whole scifi-themed soap opera. While the Charis who calmly and cleverly bumped off an intergalactic hitman in the previous books never quite resurfaces, she still manages to react quite competently to a range of catastrophes. And for anyone getting tired of the grim-and-gritty industrial spaceport feel of the City, prepare for mud huts, drafty castles, and horseback transportation– complete with a dash of slavery and outdated gender roles.

A Walking Shadow offers an intriguing finale to the events of the previous two books, with all the loose threads tied up neatly in the epilogue. I highly recommend it to Swift-Hook fans and anyone on the edge of their seat after of the events of the previous books!

[Jacqueline Simonds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the series starts up as quickly as the other books. Kahina Sareva needs to end the people who are threatening her grand scheme to control known civilization. Jaz, Charis, Avilon, and Durban have returned to Temsevar to escape her—dropping them right in the middle of a civil war. Everything between these characters will be challenged.

Avilon, in cryo at the end of Book 2, presents hope and fear and many worries for his friends. Until he... well, that would be spoilers. Let’s just say, it’s going to surprise you.

Charis comes into her own on Temsevar, demonstrating her keen abilities, judgement, and great heart. She gets pretty bad-ass if pressed.

The interplay between Jaz and Durban continues to be fascinating—and you are not going to believe by how what happens there!

The Overlord of Temsevar is a nuanced character that defies your expectations. And then there’s the assassin... who’s definitely now what you assume.

The thrilling third and final book in the Haruspex Trilogy, get A Walking Shadow NOW.

[Disclosure: I was fortunate enough to be a beta-reader of this book.]

[Ducky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, I start out my reviews with the positive comments. This time I'll put the bad first. The bad part of this book is that it ended and I have to wait for the next one.

E.M. Swift-Hook weaves a complex tapestry of characters against the background of a world that is as rich and diverse as our "real" world. Somehow she manages to acquaint the reader with the history and social structure of her world without a lot of exposition. Her stories are fast paced and have lots of excellent twists and turns. This is certainly a series to keep the reader hooked.

I loved this last Haruspex book and can't say much more without spoilers, so I'll leave it at this: Get the books, read them, ENJOY!

[Chrys Cymri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the sixth book featuring several of the main characters, and it's a very satisfying conclusion to many plots lines--and the start of some new ones.

Character development is one of the author's great strengths. Over the course of this saga, people have changed, and alliances have shifted. We return to where everything started, Temsevar, and see the world anew through the eyes of those who once lived there but have seen the wider universe.

There's also a moral dilemma at the heart of this tale. Should someone be restored to what he once was, if this destroys the person he is now? And is it selfish of his friends to want his previous self back again?

Highly recommended.

[Laura Koerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read four or five of this author’s books. Obviously, I like her books! She writes character-driven and action-filled science fiction that feels realistic and authentic. I think that’s what I particularly like: her sci-fi settings feel real. They are grounded in the details of real life. She doesn’t let the technology overwhelm the story.
I said that her stories are both character-driven and full of action. In this novel, I thought there was a little too much text on the ins and outs of the relationships—generally I like to infer that sort of thing, rather than be told. I thought that one entire chapter was unnecessary. However, I like the depth of character and the importance of relationships. To me, too many sci fi novels are lacking in this area and over-emphasize the technology or the aliens or the action. Her stories are about people. The people inhabit multiple planets and have technology we don’t have and often have cultural values and standards of behavior that we don’t share. Nevertheless, her stories are always relatably human.
This novel is part of a series. I strongly recommend the whole series. I don’t think this book works very well as a stand alone novel. I suggest starting with Trust a Few—which is great! A really solid thriller with unforgettable characters! and then go on to read the rest of the trilogy in order.

[Jeremy Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Avilon is in stasis and his only hope for survival lies on Temsevar, a technological backwater currently at the mercy of the whim of a few powerful warlords including one overlord. Durban Chola, Jaz, and Cheris must navigate a primitive culture and a volatile political landscape if Avilon has any hope.

But there is more danger here then any of them realize. Legendary hunter and assassin Archanbor has landed. He knows the planet better than anyone and he's got Chola in his sights.

For the last installment of the Haruspex Trilogy, E.M. Swift-Hook pulls us away from the sci-fi noir of the previous books and drops us into the 'swords and starships' genre. Which as a self-contained book still worked. As usual, the author is good a creating a vast and immersive environment that I easily get lost in.

Where this book fell a little flat for me was when you put it next to the previous two. It just felt... out of place. Right from the get-go, I was pulled out of the story when I'd have to go back and try to figure out why we were on this planet in the first place. It is explained by the end but it feels 'stuck on'. It felt like this was a different book from the series with some bits at the end to wrap up the plot threads from the previous book. It's really hard to talk about the ending without spoilers so I will just say this. As Eddie Izzard once said, "I like to finish my show with kind of a... huh... feeling."

That's basically how I felt.

I still enjoyed the ride. Swift-Hook's characters are as engaging as ever and continue to evolve in interesting ways (Jaz feels oddly at home charging into a medieval battle on horseback with a sword in one hand and an energy snub in the other). The author manages to weave together a Game of Thrones-ish political war with the usual dangers from the outside in a way that made this more of a page-turner than the previous books in the series.

But it was still probably my least favorite of the trilogy. If you enjoyed the first two books, you should absolutely grab this one and finish the saga. For me, after a wonderfully engaging story, it stumbled on the landing a little.

[Florian Armas · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Walking Shadow is a return to the roots, the medieval world of Temsevar, the periphery of the civilized world, and to The Fated Sky, the first and the best novel in the series so far. Temsevar is a savage world, yet in some ways, there is more humanity there than in the City. It is not only a geographic return, but also a return to a more complex style of writing, full of twists, and engaging characters. There is Jariq again, the most interesting personality of the series, and it’s a pity that he has only an episodic role now, and there is Karlynne, the girl who brought, both then and now, a real ingenuity, and the feeling that there is some good in the world. We have two new colorful characters, The Drum and his dog, and there are some elements of the old and more appealing Durban.

This is not a pleasure journey; Jaz, Durban and Charity need to bring Avilon back from the cryo chamber storing his body, which is the only barrier between life and death, chased by The Drum, a famous hunter under contract to kidnap or kill Durban. There are several strings of actions, some very old and almost forgotten, and they are well pulled in parallel, and meet only at the end of the story in a taut climax. And then, there is the great surprise of Avilon, the old Avilon, who is now only an electronic memory, when he refuses to let an old past taking over a new one.

[Yvette Bostic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another ending to a great series. It's so easy to get emotionally invested in these characters. I'm still not sure how I feel about Avilon's fate. No spoilers here...I'll let you guys find out for yourself. The genuine friendship that grows between Jaz and Durban filled a void that I didn't realize was missing until the end. Once again, I was thoroughly entertained.

[Mary Rowe · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book holds together very, very well and seamlessly engages the reader with the universe created by the author. Keep ‘em coming!!!!!