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The Paladin's Thief #4
SHADOWCLOAKS
Teamus Steeps is an acquisitioner, not a thief. Admittedly, the nuance doesn’t play well with town authorities, but ever since he left his home in Ector over a misunderstanding with the assassins’ guild, he’s managed--mostly--to leave that reputation behind.
Unfortunately, the dark guild isn’t so forgiving. When the passes south begin to thaw, the guild is at his throat again, and this time they have leverage. Teamus knows that the butcher bill must be paid if he’s going to have any peace for his family, even if it means losing his soul.
And that’s if the tax collectors don’t catch him first.
Unfortunately, the dark guild isn’t so forgiving. When the passes south begin to thaw, the guild is at his throat again, and this time they have leverage. Teamus knows that the butcher bill must be paid if he’s going to have any peace for his family, even if it means losing his soul.
And that’s if the tax collectors don’t catch him first.
392 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 14, 2019
6 people are currently reading
17 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin K. Hewett
8 books46 followersBenjamin K. Hewett lives in Houston and translates English into English for NASA. He also speaks French, mumbles German, and is slowly learning Arabic and Chinese. He is a Vera Hinckley Mayhew Award recipient and winner of the 2019 Marburg Award in Germany. In addition to reading and writing, Ben enjoys spending time with his three kids, playing jazz piano, and juggling fire.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in French, a Master of Public Administration, and was once a fourth grade teacher.
He has a Bachelor of Arts in French, a Master of Public Administration, and was once a fourth grade teacher.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 25, 2019
You guys! This epic fantasy series is so good! The characters are complex, the action is intense, and the world-building is solid! I had so much fun reading this book and diving into the nuanced world of Teamus Steeps and his friends--I especially loved the power of house magic, and learning more of the backstory of Pale Tom. I highly recommend this series!
April 1, 2022
This book was an excellent conclusion to the series and added depth and complexity to the characters that was somewhat missing in the previous books. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I will note that I read the Kindle version and the editing was pretty bad. So, prepare yourself and don't be dissuaded from reading by the editing errors. It was still worth it.
I will note that I read the Kindle version and the editing was pretty bad. So, prepare yourself and don't be dissuaded from reading by the editing errors. It was still worth it.
August 6, 2022
Excellent fantasy
This book moves fast, like the first 3, but builds more and more character and depth into this fantasy world. I just hope there's a book 5, and soon! I can't wait to see what Teacup gets up to next.
This book moves fast, like the first 3, but builds more and more character and depth into this fantasy world. I just hope there's a book 5, and soon! I can't wait to see what Teacup gets up to next.
October 21, 2023
Steips? Stieps? Steaps? Steeps?
What a great series! It starts out as a cozier fantasy series and quickly becomes epic in scope and proportion. Love the characters.
What a great series! It starts out as a cozier fantasy series and quickly becomes epic in scope and proportion. Love the characters.
January 24, 2022
This series has the kind of characters where you didn’t realize how much you missed them and how good it is to see them again, until you (finally) get to read the next installment. This one is the longest yet, which means: More time in Ector!
In Shadowcloaks, our favorite acquisitioner-turned-Nightshade-slayer Teacup and former barmaid Lucinda – now a paladin-in-training – are on their way back to Ector to save Carmen, Teacup’s wife, from said Nightshades. They face unforgiving snowy mountains, hungry packs of wolves and unusual inhabitants that seem to think thief-meat would make an excellent meal. And that’s just the beginning.
Because, it turns out, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome and enemies to defeat on the way. Not only does Teacup have to figure out how to save his wife, but also the entire city of Ector, which has been overrun by Nightshades in his absence and has since built him, the Nightshade-slayer, up to be the savior that will free them all. No pressure.
This has also come to the attention of the king’s Tax Watch and their infamous enforcer unit that is descending upon Ector, because there are only “two sure things in Eastmarch – taxes and retribution for not paying your taxes”.
In Shadowcloaks we finally find out more about Pale Tom’s history and how he came to be a Dreadlord. Turns out, the lines between good and evil are often not as clear as we (or Teacup) like to think. As he tries to discover new truths and old facts about ring and magii magic, he also dives deeper (quite literally) into the city of Ector and its well-kept secrets.
Teacup’s quest also teaches him a lot more about Carmen’s family background. And he runs into some characters from previous books – the crew of the Black Cat, for one, including my favorite, drunk-but-harmless Markel (“Lushinda, I shwear I’m shober”), as well as the mysterious Red woman from Rings.
Aside from the page-turning adventures, the secret powers of Shadowcloaks and many magical fights, this book again is really about the power of love and family (natural or acquired) and the lengths people will go to to protect their loved ones.
As he tries desperately to find Carmen, Teacup finds that he can rely on a lot more people than he thought and even acquires (no pun intended) new friends and allies in unexpected places, because of his dedication, his courage, his reputation (only somewhat deserved) and his heart. Acquisitioner or not, he is clearly one of the good ones, even if he may be the last person to believe that about himself.
I really liked this book and very much recommend it to anyone looking for an imaginative fantasy series with awesome worldbuildung and genuinely touching characters - along with Darts, Rings and Swords.
Can’t wait for the next one in the series.
In Shadowcloaks, our favorite acquisitioner-turned-Nightshade-slayer Teacup and former barmaid Lucinda – now a paladin-in-training – are on their way back to Ector to save Carmen, Teacup’s wife, from said Nightshades. They face unforgiving snowy mountains, hungry packs of wolves and unusual inhabitants that seem to think thief-meat would make an excellent meal. And that’s just the beginning.
Because, it turns out, there are plenty of obstacles to overcome and enemies to defeat on the way. Not only does Teacup have to figure out how to save his wife, but also the entire city of Ector, which has been overrun by Nightshades in his absence and has since built him, the Nightshade-slayer, up to be the savior that will free them all. No pressure.
This has also come to the attention of the king’s Tax Watch and their infamous enforcer unit that is descending upon Ector, because there are only “two sure things in Eastmarch – taxes and retribution for not paying your taxes”.
In Shadowcloaks we finally find out more about Pale Tom’s history and how he came to be a Dreadlord. Turns out, the lines between good and evil are often not as clear as we (or Teacup) like to think. As he tries to discover new truths and old facts about ring and magii magic, he also dives deeper (quite literally) into the city of Ector and its well-kept secrets.
Teacup’s quest also teaches him a lot more about Carmen’s family background. And he runs into some characters from previous books – the crew of the Black Cat, for one, including my favorite, drunk-but-harmless Markel (“Lushinda, I shwear I’m shober”), as well as the mysterious Red woman from Rings.
Aside from the page-turning adventures, the secret powers of Shadowcloaks and many magical fights, this book again is really about the power of love and family (natural or acquired) and the lengths people will go to to protect their loved ones.
As he tries desperately to find Carmen, Teacup finds that he can rely on a lot more people than he thought and even acquires (no pun intended) new friends and allies in unexpected places, because of his dedication, his courage, his reputation (only somewhat deserved) and his heart. Acquisitioner or not, he is clearly one of the good ones, even if he may be the last person to believe that about himself.
I really liked this book and very much recommend it to anyone looking for an imaginative fantasy series with awesome worldbuildung and genuinely touching characters - along with Darts, Rings and Swords.
Can’t wait for the next one in the series.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews