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The Ruadhan Sidhe #1
Shadows Wake
Rowan Gilmore and her mother, Anna, have spent most of Rowan’s life running, hiding Rowan's speed, strength and precognitive powers—but without knowing why she’s different, why they have to hide, or who from.
And Rowan’s sick of running scared. But she has to continue, because she also harbours a dark power that emerges only when she’s afraid or in danger.
A power that can kill indiscriminately.
When she moves to Australia, a street fight reveals Rowan's abilities to a stranger, Fynn, and she must decide whether to run again or stay and risk discovery by her pursuers. Her mother has found happiness with a new partner and Rowan is reluctant to wreck it. So, after foiling another kidnap attempt, Rowan makes her decision. The time has come to stand her ground.
Fynn becomes and unexpected ally, with promises to help fight her unknown enemy – and to reveal the truth behind her extraordinary abilities. But what’s his agenda? Can he be trusted?
And who are the Mors Ferrum operatives he says are chasing Rowan? What do they want? What is the ocair thing they keep asking about?
Rowan has too many questions and not enough answers; too many unknowns - including herself.
For what happens if the darkness lurking in her mind wakes and comes out to play?
(Author's note: Not a vampire, shapeshifter or zombie story, in case you were wondering)
And Rowan’s sick of running scared. But she has to continue, because she also harbours a dark power that emerges only when she’s afraid or in danger.
A power that can kill indiscriminately.
When she moves to Australia, a street fight reveals Rowan's abilities to a stranger, Fynn, and she must decide whether to run again or stay and risk discovery by her pursuers. Her mother has found happiness with a new partner and Rowan is reluctant to wreck it. So, after foiling another kidnap attempt, Rowan makes her decision. The time has come to stand her ground.
Fynn becomes and unexpected ally, with promises to help fight her unknown enemy – and to reveal the truth behind her extraordinary abilities. But what’s his agenda? Can he be trusted?
And who are the Mors Ferrum operatives he says are chasing Rowan? What do they want? What is the ocair thing they keep asking about?
Rowan has too many questions and not enough answers; too many unknowns - including herself.
For what happens if the darkness lurking in her mind wakes and comes out to play?
(Author's note: Not a vampire, shapeshifter or zombie story, in case you were wondering)
- GenresFairies
309 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 25, 2018
34 people are currently reading
95 people want to read
About the author
Aiki Flinthart
43 books69 followersAiki lives in Brisbane, Australia, with her husband, (Ernest), teenage son (Leonidis - not their real names, obviously), aging dog and directionally-challenged fish.
In between being a wife, running a business full-time and helping Leonidis with homework, she squeezes in a few hobbies, including:
Martial arts, painting, writing, reading, bellydancing and playing three or four musical instruments. Occasionally she even sleeps. Very occasionally.
In between being a wife, running a business full-time and helping Leonidis with homework, she squeezes in a few hobbies, including:
Martial arts, painting, writing, reading, bellydancing and playing three or four musical instruments. Occasionally she even sleeps. Very occasionally.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 1, 2018
This was a great book for readers who like fantasy, and at the same time would like their action to be realistic. Flinthart has created a believable protagonist, a well-textured setting, and a 'I need to catch my breath' plot; this isn't the book for you of you are planning on a leisurely read.
April 12, 2019
As you read Shadows Wake, you can’t help but want to turn the next page and then the next. Aiki Flinthart gives you just enough for you to say wait, what?! As you hurtle through a world you didn’t know was there. But there is no stopping once you start.
The Australian setting is beautiful and realistic, and her imagery makes you fall in love with fantasy if you weren’t already.
The pace leaves you breathing heavily and just as exhausted as the main character. Both characters and fight scenes so realistic you could almost swear you were watching the film.
I cannot wait to get into the second book.
The Australian setting is beautiful and realistic, and her imagery makes you fall in love with fantasy if you weren’t already.
The pace leaves you breathing heavily and just as exhausted as the main character. Both characters and fight scenes so realistic you could almost swear you were watching the film.
I cannot wait to get into the second book.
May 4, 2018
A realistic action-packed fantasy! This book draws you in right from the start and holds you right through to the end, leaving you with an insatiable thirst for the next book. I highly recommend this book for lovers of fantasy and action! I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
November 17, 2018
This story opens with an explosive start and the thrills just keep on coming after that. But it wasn’t all just a roller coaster of action. The main character of Rowan is well developed, first as a young girl encountering trouble and betrayal, and learning that something dark lurks inside her. The story then moves forward five years, to a troubled young woman who has been on the run for most of her life thanks to a hidden past. She is wary of others, for good reason, and has to navigate the edges of society to protect herself and her mother from those who are hunting her.
Rowan has unusual abilities, abilities that set her apart from those around her and also make her a target. But it is when she meets someone who seems to know who and what she is that propels her on a journey of self-discovery she is not prepared for. Watching Rowan as she grappled with the darkness inside her, while trying to discover the truth about who she was, made for an interesting and intriguing read. I liked that she wasn’t perfect, her flaws bringing her to life. She had limitations on her powers and made errors of judgement. But she also owned up to the fact that she had made mistakes and was doing her best to protect her mother no matter what. This made her a likeable character, and one I could relate to.
The actions scenes were intense and realistic, putting me in the middle of the story even as I cringed in anticipation of when Rowan would discover how she had been deceived and who by. For Rowan, the story is one of self-discovery in which each new revelation pushes her further from the person she had believed herself to be. Yet rather than let her spirit be crushed by what she discovers, Rowan is determined to keep on fighting, to keep those she cares about safe. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to discover what new adventures Rowan becomes caught up in during her quest for the truth and to be free of her enemies.
Rowan has unusual abilities, abilities that set her apart from those around her and also make her a target. But it is when she meets someone who seems to know who and what she is that propels her on a journey of self-discovery she is not prepared for. Watching Rowan as she grappled with the darkness inside her, while trying to discover the truth about who she was, made for an interesting and intriguing read. I liked that she wasn’t perfect, her flaws bringing her to life. She had limitations on her powers and made errors of judgement. But she also owned up to the fact that she had made mistakes and was doing her best to protect her mother no matter what. This made her a likeable character, and one I could relate to.
The actions scenes were intense and realistic, putting me in the middle of the story even as I cringed in anticipation of when Rowan would discover how she had been deceived and who by. For Rowan, the story is one of self-discovery in which each new revelation pushes her further from the person she had believed herself to be. Yet rather than let her spirit be crushed by what she discovers, Rowan is determined to keep on fighting, to keep those she cares about safe. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series to discover what new adventures Rowan becomes caught up in during her quest for the truth and to be free of her enemies.
May 8, 2018
With so many dark gritty urban fantasy series it was a refreshing wind touched with rainforest in the author’s world of Ruadhan Sidhe. Aiki Flinthart has perfectly blended these two disparate worlds. Weaving the ancient tales of the Tuatha Dé Danann with the bright light and oppressive heat of northern Queensland with the skill of a writer who has spent a lot of time researching and living in the environment, capturing the sight, smells and culture of the place.
It’s the many and varied fight sequences where the writing shines. The author gives a real, grounded physical feel to any conflict that attests to an attention detail that leads me to picture a suffering uke who the author has walked through many of these sequences to get the details just right.
My only minor quibble with the ‘empire strikes back’ ending is that leaves me wondering what has happened to some of the characters, but that’s the ideal way to leave the reader anticipating the next book in the series.
It’s the many and varied fight sequences where the writing shines. The author gives a real, grounded physical feel to any conflict that attests to an attention detail that leads me to picture a suffering uke who the author has walked through many of these sequences to get the details just right.
My only minor quibble with the ‘empire strikes back’ ending is that leaves me wondering what has happened to some of the characters, but that’s the ideal way to leave the reader anticipating the next book in the series.
June 4, 2021
Rowan has to run and hide her entire life from something and someone for reasons she doesn’t know. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets two guys and she learns all about her heritage: she’s an elf.
An interesting concept and the way the elves and humans interact with science, magic and secret societies is fun.
What I didn’t like, though, was the claim that Jesus was an elf. It’s all well and good to say that Ghandi – a humanitarian – was a light elf and that Hitler – a megalomaniac – was a dark elf. But to make the claim that religions are built around light elves…? I almost threw the book.
One bad point aside, the story is good. The fight scenes – too numerous to count – were excellent.
Not sure I’ll read the other books in the trilogy, though, despite a lot of unanswered questions and compelling writing. (Because of my main issue with this book.)
Trigger warning: blasphemy, violence, murder, gore.
*I read this as part of the Relics and Runes boxset.
An interesting concept and the way the elves and humans interact with science, magic and secret societies is fun.
What I didn’t like, though, was the claim that Jesus was an elf. It’s all well and good to say that Ghandi – a humanitarian – was a light elf and that Hitler – a megalomaniac – was a dark elf. But to make the claim that religions are built around light elves…? I almost threw the book.
One bad point aside, the story is good. The fight scenes – too numerous to count – were excellent.
Not sure I’ll read the other books in the trilogy, though, despite a lot of unanswered questions and compelling writing. (Because of my main issue with this book.)
Trigger warning: blasphemy, violence, murder, gore.
*I read this as part of the Relics and Runes boxset.
April 22, 2022
This was such a fun and entertaining read. Fast paced, action packed and with a cool, strong, female protagonist — both physically and in character strength too.
I downloaded it because I read this author’s book on writing fight scenes, then decided to read one of her own novels to see how she tackled them herself. So it’s no surprise the fight scenes are vivid, graphic and believable but the rest is great too.
Thus is a totally binge-worthy series with no boring bits. I’ve already downloaded books 2 and 3.
I downloaded it because I read this author’s book on writing fight scenes, then decided to read one of her own novels to see how she tackled them herself. So it’s no surprise the fight scenes are vivid, graphic and believable but the rest is great too.
Thus is a totally binge-worthy series with no boring bits. I’ve already downloaded books 2 and 3.
November 22, 2020
Flinthart cast female characters with agency before it was a thing. A brilliant, and galloping read, driven by a potent cast. Get stuck into it!
March 14, 2021
Good book, nice storyline.
March 27, 2018
I was given a free copy of this book for the purposes of an honest review.
I have to say, this began as a favour for a friend - beta reading a novel not really in my genre. Well before the end of the book, though, I was keen to know what was going to happen next - in fact I volunteered to read the next book purely so I could selfishly find out what happened next (I could tell you, but...)
Aiki has a lovely way with words. For a start, it's great to read something set in Australia, in places I recognised - although the descriptions are so vivid someone who's never been here would get the picture. And some of the dialogue was just hilarious. The fight scenes and descriptions of throwing knives were clearly written by someone who knows - Aiki regularly runs writer's workshops on fighting, especially for women, and in this book that knowledge and first-hand experience is on show.
Great stuff. I recommend it
I have to say, this began as a favour for a friend - beta reading a novel not really in my genre. Well before the end of the book, though, I was keen to know what was going to happen next - in fact I volunteered to read the next book purely so I could selfishly find out what happened next (I could tell you, but...)
Aiki has a lovely way with words. For a start, it's great to read something set in Australia, in places I recognised - although the descriptions are so vivid someone who's never been here would get the picture. And some of the dialogue was just hilarious. The fight scenes and descriptions of throwing knives were clearly written by someone who knows - Aiki regularly runs writer's workshops on fighting, especially for women, and in this book that knowledge and first-hand experience is on show.
Great stuff. I recommend it
February 21, 2019
Read as part of Relics and Ruins anthology. First, this was distinctly teen/YA, which leads to all sorts of tropes that I cannot deal with. However, the story seemed to be unique enough that I was attempting to get through it anyway. By halfway through, though, we had the supposedly super-smart, super-capable heroine doing the typical ... one ridiculously ill-advised action after another, over and over. Do something utterly stupid once, that's considered an acceptable plot driver ... repeated stupid things is just a means of drawing out a book. I finally gave up. The pace was manic, but the story seemed to take forever to get to the point.
April 3, 2019
Just finished reading Shadows Wake as part of the Relics and Runes anthology.
What a ride, awesome action and well developed characters. I t was really cool to have a story set in a place i know well, it made it so much easier to get lost in the story.
The heroine has a lot to deal with, yet another new city, hired killers, her own mysterious past, discovery of others like her and high school thrown in.
The imagery, particularly of the heritage houses and the forests is truly engaging.
Can't wait to read the next in the series. Shadows Wake
What a ride, awesome action and well developed characters. I t was really cool to have a story set in a place i know well, it made it so much easier to get lost in the story.
The heroine has a lot to deal with, yet another new city, hired killers, her own mysterious past, discovery of others like her and high school thrown in.
The imagery, particularly of the heritage houses and the forests is truly engaging.
Can't wait to read the next in the series. Shadows Wake
April 13, 2018
The author sent me a pre-release copy of the Shadows Wake, and I enjoyed it.
Most authors frame the female as someone dependent on others, specifically and especially men. This has always frustrated me as it perpetuates the stereotype of a women's dependence on men within society. It was refreshing to read from the perspective of a strong and independent female protagonist.
If you enjoy Sci-Fi/Fantasy then I would recommend this book. It grabbed me from the beginning and the pace keeps you engaged throughout.
Most authors frame the female as someone dependent on others, specifically and especially men. This has always frustrated me as it perpetuates the stereotype of a women's dependence on men within society. It was refreshing to read from the perspective of a strong and independent female protagonist.
If you enjoy Sci-Fi/Fantasy then I would recommend this book. It grabbed me from the beginning and the pace keeps you engaged throughout.
April 29, 2018
I absolutely devoured this! The author has the uncanny ability to instantly draw you in, keep you intrigued, and then to surprise you as soon as you think you know what’s going on. Great action is interspersed with soul searching, while the pace is swift and utterly believable (despite the unbelievable in this story!).
I love Rowan and can’t wait to find out what happens for her next (yup, I’m now hooked into this series), and as for Logan … oh my. I won’t say more, but suggest you grab your copy of Shadows Wake right now! Well done to the author; as ever, she delivers another great tale.
I love Rowan and can’t wait to find out what happens for her next (yup, I’m now hooked into this series), and as for Logan … oh my. I won’t say more, but suggest you grab your copy of Shadows Wake right now! Well done to the author; as ever, she delivers another great tale.
August 26, 2018
Outstanding! After reading the first page I was completely hooked and didn't put it down until I finished. I've always been fascinated by stories of the Sidhe, but this novel takes it to new level. I can’t wait to read the rest.
If female led, action-packed, knife throwing, mind-blowing fantasy adventure with sizzling romantic tension is your thing, then Shadows Awake is for you!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
If female led, action-packed, knife throwing, mind-blowing fantasy adventure with sizzling romantic tension is your thing, then Shadows Awake is for you!
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
September 7, 2018
I was totally hooked from the very first page and found out quickly that it would be hard to put down, so I didn't. Ok so the main character has issues trusting people but that makes her who she is meant to be, her character draws you out. She should totally be with Logan. I'm looking forward to seeing where this story goes from here on out.
A new to me author and so far I'm loving the writing style.
A new to me author and so far I'm loving the writing style.
September 9, 2018
I just finished this, the first book in the Ruadhan Sidhe series, and was pleasantly surprised. I've not read a huge amount in the urban fantasy genre since its early days. I had rather the impression that it had become a sub-genre of romances, most of which I do not care for. This turned out to be more of an action novel in tone, with really well done fighting. There are wheels within wheels that I shall look forward to learning more about in future books.
May 20, 2018
This book got me from the first page. If you like fantasy this is book you should read.
This book is something unique and I won't spoil anything.
I just can say that shadows are coming...
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
This book is something unique and I won't spoil anything.
I just can say that shadows are coming...
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review.
August 19, 2019
This one kept me glued to my Kindle! A very nice start to an urban fantasy trilogy. Great characters, lots of action, and enough I trigue to make you question who is on which side of the battle against darkness!
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February 4, 2019This book is an entry in the 2018 Aurealis Awards, for which I am a judge. Any review will be withheld until the results of the awards are announced.
July 2, 2019
Very good has so much suspense and drama . What a life Rowan has lived so far and there is still more to come, what I find more interesting is her determination.
July 25, 2020
Fast paced, gripping thriller with plenty of magic, gore and action to keep you reading...I finished it in one night. Dark themes, not for the fainthearted. But also very thought provoking.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews