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The World She Silenced #1
A Land in Shadow
Darkness engulfs a ravaged land …
Dreadful legions of undead devour any remnant of life …
But there is still hope …
Dreadful legions of undead devour any remnant of life …
Ashyla, a crazed Goddess gone mad with vengeance, will stop at nothing to regain her stolen freedom. Trapped with a ravenous Shadow that she can no longer control, and a fiery nemesis destined to strike her down, she must balance the strings of a crumbling realm, else forever lose her glimpse of freedom.
But there is still hope …
A group of companions, with no memories of their former selves, is thrust into a barren world of decay. Tasked with reuniting with the Flame, and defeating the vile Shadow, they must journey through the dark wilderness consumed by death and destruction. It is a battle for survival. In a land full of traitors and lies, will the companions escape the iron clutches of darkness, or will they fall victim to Ashyla’s webs of deception?
324 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2019
About the author
Daniel Whitman
2 books9 followersDaniel Whitman is an engineer who, on the side, loves to dabble in the realm of fantasy. He grew up reading fantasy books and playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, Magic: The Gathering, and Diablo. Now, he is taking this childhood passion and crafting his own stories.
Daniel's passion is for dark fantasy, with a special interest in morally complex characters and heart-wrenching moments. He wrote his first book, A Land in Shadow, while he was still in high school, and he wrote his second book, A Resurgence of Hope, while he was pursuing his master’s. Now working for his Ph.D., he is excited to present his third book, A Fall from Radiance, which is his deepest, darkest, and most thrilling story yet!
While Daniel is an engineer by trade, writing is his passion, and one of his dreams is to be listed among the greats of fantasy!
Daniel's passion is for dark fantasy, with a special interest in morally complex characters and heart-wrenching moments. He wrote his first book, A Land in Shadow, while he was still in high school, and he wrote his second book, A Resurgence of Hope, while he was pursuing his master’s. Now working for his Ph.D., he is excited to present his third book, A Fall from Radiance, which is his deepest, darkest, and most thrilling story yet!
While Daniel is an engineer by trade, writing is his passion, and one of his dreams is to be listed among the greats of fantasy!
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 23, 2026
A Land in Shadow by Daniel Whitman captures the spirit of a classic Dungeons and Dragons style adventure and delivers a story that is both engaging and energetic. From the opening chapters, the narrative pulls you in and refuses to let go. I found myself fully absorbed and turning pages far later into the night than I intended.
The companions at the heart of the story come from a wide range of races and backgrounds, and their shared
journey to reunite with the Flame and confront the corrupting Shadow gives the book an exciting sense of purpose.
The party itself is memorable and well crafted. Ro, the draconian. SmibSmob and Nalgene, the gnome brothers. Andromeda, a nimble Tabaxi. Fasto, the not so clever orc. And Margaret, a striking female orc with a demonic arm. It is an unlikely but fascinating mix of personalities. Their introduction is especially entertaining, as they all awaken in a prison with no memory of who they are or how they arrived there. Watching them build trust and
camaraderie from this shared confusion adds depth to their relationships and makes their progress as a group feel earned.
The book is filled with high energy battles and dangerous encounters, many of which occur without warning. I appreciated that the author did not allow the characters to breeze through these moments. They take real injuries and suffer real consequences. Thanks to Nalgene and his healing abilities, the party survives, but the tension remains present throughout the story. It gives each conflict weight and keeps the action from feeling predictable.
As someone who has a soft spot for the often overlooked race of gnomes, I was immediately drawn in. Even so, I made a point to evaluate the story fairly, and I am glad I
did, because what Daniel Whitman delivers here is genuinely impressive. It is imaginative, fun, and heartfelt, with a cast that is easy to root for.
I confidently give A Land in Shadow a solid 5 out of 5. May your light Pierce the Shadow.
The companions at the heart of the story come from a wide range of races and backgrounds, and their shared
journey to reunite with the Flame and confront the corrupting Shadow gives the book an exciting sense of purpose.
The party itself is memorable and well crafted. Ro, the draconian. SmibSmob and Nalgene, the gnome brothers. Andromeda, a nimble Tabaxi. Fasto, the not so clever orc. And Margaret, a striking female orc with a demonic arm. It is an unlikely but fascinating mix of personalities. Their introduction is especially entertaining, as they all awaken in a prison with no memory of who they are or how they arrived there. Watching them build trust and
camaraderie from this shared confusion adds depth to their relationships and makes their progress as a group feel earned.
The book is filled with high energy battles and dangerous encounters, many of which occur without warning. I appreciated that the author did not allow the characters to breeze through these moments. They take real injuries and suffer real consequences. Thanks to Nalgene and his healing abilities, the party survives, but the tension remains present throughout the story. It gives each conflict weight and keeps the action from feeling predictable.
As someone who has a soft spot for the often overlooked race of gnomes, I was immediately drawn in. Even so, I made a point to evaluate the story fairly, and I am glad I
did, because what Daniel Whitman delivers here is genuinely impressive. It is imaginative, fun, and heartfelt, with a cast that is easy to root for.
I confidently give A Land in Shadow a solid 5 out of 5. May your light Pierce the Shadow.
December 18, 2025
A solid 5 star read!
Honestly, A Land in Shadow feels like a really solid dark-fantasy opener. The world is bleak and dangerous, and you get that constant sense that everything is on the edge of collapse. I liked how the story follows a group of characters who wake up with no memories and have to survive while figuring out who they are, it keeps things mysterious and tense. While some characters may follow familiar fantasy archetypes, their interactions and personal journeys help elevate the stakes.
The goddess Ashyla was especially interesting to me. She’s powerful but broken, and her struggle with vengeance and control adds a lot of depth to the story.
The author does a good job setting the mood and keeping the plot moving. The writing reveals a passion for classic fantasy and role-playing influences, with detailed worldbuilding and a tone that evokes survival against overwhelming odds.
Overall, it’s a good pick if you enjoy darker fantasy with undead threats, lost identities, and a strong survival vibe. It feels like the kind of first book that’s clearly setting up something bigger.
Honestly, A Land in Shadow feels like a really solid dark-fantasy opener. The world is bleak and dangerous, and you get that constant sense that everything is on the edge of collapse. I liked how the story follows a group of characters who wake up with no memories and have to survive while figuring out who they are, it keeps things mysterious and tense. While some characters may follow familiar fantasy archetypes, their interactions and personal journeys help elevate the stakes.
The goddess Ashyla was especially interesting to me. She’s powerful but broken, and her struggle with vengeance and control adds a lot of depth to the story.
The author does a good job setting the mood and keeping the plot moving. The writing reveals a passion for classic fantasy and role-playing influences, with detailed worldbuilding and a tone that evokes survival against overwhelming odds.
Overall, it’s a good pick if you enjoy darker fantasy with undead threats, lost identities, and a strong survival vibe. It feels like the kind of first book that’s clearly setting up something bigger.
November 12, 2025
Some books do not just tell a story, they pull you into a dream you do not want to leave. That is what Land in Shadow did for me. From the first chapter, I felt like I was walking through a forgotten town full of whispers and unspoken memories. Every page hums with emotion, quiet, haunting, and beautiful.
The way Whitman builds his world feels almost alive. You can sense the chill in the air, the flicker of light through the trees, and the heavy stillness that makes you want to look closer. It is not just what happens, it is how it feels that stays with you.
I love books that make me pause, think, and imagine, and this one did all three. There is something tender in the shadows here, something worth exploring. If you are drawn to stories that feel both intimate and mysterious, I think you will find something special in Land in Shadow.
Book two is waiting for me, and I am ready to step back into Whitman’s world whenever I need to remember why I fell in love with stories like this in the first place.
The way Whitman builds his world feels almost alive. You can sense the chill in the air, the flicker of light through the trees, and the heavy stillness that makes you want to look closer. It is not just what happens, it is how it feels that stays with you.
I love books that make me pause, think, and imagine, and this one did all three. There is something tender in the shadows here, something worth exploring. If you are drawn to stories that feel both intimate and mysterious, I think you will find something special in Land in Shadow.
Book two is waiting for me, and I am ready to step back into Whitman’s world whenever I need to remember why I fell in love with stories like this in the first place.
June 28, 2026
I’ll be honest: I am typically not a fan of third-person point of view (3POV). I usually prefer the immediate, deep intimacy of a first-person perspective(1POV)to really connect with a story. However, A Land in Shadow completely blew past that preference. Dan handles the POV structure so masterfully that I felt just as deeply involved and intensely connected to these characters as if it had been written in 1POV.
I love that the characters are stripped of their memories so we discover their identities, fears, and instincts at the exact same moment they do. That shared blank slate completely erases the typical distance of third-person narration. Dan makes you feel trapped in the frantic, fractured mind of the goddess Ashyla, then plunges you right into the raw, immediate survival stakes of the amnesiac companions.
From one fantasy reader and author to another, this was a fantastic story!
I love that the characters are stripped of their memories so we discover their identities, fears, and instincts at the exact same moment they do. That shared blank slate completely erases the typical distance of third-person narration. Dan makes you feel trapped in the frantic, fractured mind of the goddess Ashyla, then plunges you right into the raw, immediate survival stakes of the amnesiac companions.
From one fantasy reader and author to another, this was a fantastic story!
January 13, 2026
Holy Dark Fantasy
Do you like dark fantasy? Well, this is extraaaaa dark fantasy. 2 gnomes, 2 orcs, a man/dragon hybrid, and a cat/woman hybrid are freed from their prison and are immediately assaulted by mobs of the undead.
These characters were riveting and never received a hint of mercy.
Things that worked for me: the action was intense and there was plenty of it. The overall story was very entertaining.
Things that didn't work: at times, the POV seemed to switch around from a third person omniscient to third person limited. I could have used some more depth to the characters and their backstory.
Daniel should be proud of this book!
Do you like dark fantasy? Well, this is extraaaaa dark fantasy. 2 gnomes, 2 orcs, a man/dragon hybrid, and a cat/woman hybrid are freed from their prison and are immediately assaulted by mobs of the undead.
These characters were riveting and never received a hint of mercy.
Things that worked for me: the action was intense and there was plenty of it. The overall story was very entertaining.
Things that didn't work: at times, the POV seemed to switch around from a third person omniscient to third person limited. I could have used some more depth to the characters and their backstory.
Daniel should be proud of this book!
September 18, 2025
A fun, gritty read filled with memorable characters in a Dungeons & Dragons style setup. The story is a wild ride from start to finish, the world is oppressive and seemingly insurmountable, and the author's passion and care for the story can be felt in the pages. Can't wait to see what he cooks up next.
January 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this debut. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the story. Nalgene was my favorite character and andromeda showed a huge amount of growth in my opinion. I will continue this series. Would recommend.
June 27, 2026
Godesses, gnomes, orcs, humans, giants, dragons, AND zombies? This book has it all! Great writing, amazing worldbuilding, wonderful characters you are both unsure of, but rooting for all the same. In-depth lore and magic! Fast paced and lots of action!!! Great read!!!
July 2, 2026
Took me awhile to get into, but it was a good read! Suuuuuper DND themed. I feel like you can practically see the party members rolling the dice and getting themselves out of perilous situations. Really well written. 3.5 stars.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews