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Tales of the Verin Empire #3
Shadow Debt
Glynn Sorley is sheriff of Keat’s Field, a tiny settlement in an otherwise lawless frontier. With the discovery of diamonds, her town is flooded with fortune-hunters looking to strike it rich. It’s also a target for competing colonial powers, savage goblin tribes, and outlaws.
A rustler on the run from the law stumbles across his father’s mysterious legacy – a weapon of immense magical power. He uses it to ravage across the territory as the notorious outlaw Gentleman Jim.
But the weapon’s power comes at a terrible cost, and Keat’s Field may just have to pay the price…
This third Tale of the Verin Empire returns us to the world of Gedlund and The Great Restoration. It explores a frontier trapped between competing nations, where goblins reign and a lone sheriff fights to keep the peace.
Drawing inspiration from L’Amour’s Comstock Lode, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and our own late 19th century, Shadow Debt continues William Ray’s bold, critically acclaimed reinvention of classic fantasy in a world of memorable characters and unique perspectives, and features sketches from acclaimed illustrator Tom Parker.
A rustler on the run from the law stumbles across his father’s mysterious legacy – a weapon of immense magical power. He uses it to ravage across the territory as the notorious outlaw Gentleman Jim.
But the weapon’s power comes at a terrible cost, and Keat’s Field may just have to pay the price…
This third Tale of the Verin Empire returns us to the world of Gedlund and The Great Restoration. It explores a frontier trapped between competing nations, where goblins reign and a lone sheriff fights to keep the peace.
Drawing inspiration from L’Amour’s Comstock Lode, Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings, and our own late 19th century, Shadow Debt continues William Ray’s bold, critically acclaimed reinvention of classic fantasy in a world of memorable characters and unique perspectives, and features sketches from acclaimed illustrator Tom Parker.
- GenresFantasy
249 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2020
20 people want to read
About the author
William Ray
4 books51 followersWilliam Ray is the author of Gedlund, named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2016, as well as The Great Restoration and other forthcoming tales within the Verin Empire setting.
Originally from North Carolina, he currently lives in Reston, VA with his wife and dogs. A graduate of Ithaca College, and Wake Forest's School of Law, he has worked in television, retail, patent prosecution, trademark law and other irrelevant nonsense. To paraphrase Lloyd Alexander, however, if being a life-long lover of fantasy literature qualifies one to write it, then he is well qualified indeed.
Originally from North Carolina, he currently lives in Reston, VA with his wife and dogs. A graduate of Ithaca College, and Wake Forest's School of Law, he has worked in television, retail, patent prosecution, trademark law and other irrelevant nonsense. To paraphrase Lloyd Alexander, however, if being a life-long lover of fantasy literature qualifies one to write it, then he is well qualified indeed.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
November 12, 2020
4.5
It’s hard to grow up in Texas and not have a little bit of western love in your blood or to not be slightly enamoured with cowboy legends like Jesse James, or Doc Holliday.
Shadow Debt the newest book in The Tales of the Verin Empire has all the hallmarks of a great western inspired fantasy, and hits a lot of my buttons by including those things that make the wild west stories so fun; outlaws, saloon brawls, and shoot-outs involving a magical gun- that doesn’t ever let you forget what you owe it. Why, heck, there’s even a good old-fashioned train robbery.
The story begins with Elgin- freshly escaped from prison, he and his gang have big plans for Keat’s Field and especially the claim-land, that supports the area.
Although Elgin is the gang leader, he is pulled along through the story more by the goals of the bad company he keeps, and the legacy of his father’s gun than by any of his own plans. Deep down Elgin, is a decent guy who wanted his family to have a better life and we see that multiple times as he is stuck with choices that get worse as the days go by.
Ned– our other pov. A journalist, Ned’s newspaper sent him across country to get an interview with the Sheriff Sorlie of Keat’s Field. With the women’s suffrage movement going on back home, the head honchos at the paper are looking to get a fresh angle (and cash in a bit) on that fact that the sheriff of Keat’s field is a woman, and is doing a fine job keeping order in a part of the country that tends to be full of outlaws and vigilante justice.
Ned is our window into the area of Keat’s field. He is a fish out of water and adds a bit of lightness to the story as we explore the area, and meet the people through him. I enjoyed Ned. He comes across a bit shy, probably because he has a stammer, giving him an awkwardness that’s rather endearing.
This is a stand-alone series but there are small ties here and there- characters, and events from previous books are mentioned in passing. The tie-in outside of the world itself (and Sorlie) that I thought was the neatest way to expand the world- was the one through Ned, with the newspaper clippings, and adverts that were in the beginning of the chapters in the previous books.
This time, we don’t get the articles but William Ray, went a step further here and included the illustrations that Ned made while visiting Keat’s field, brought to life for us by the amazing Tom Parker. I loved this idea. I have always been partial to books that have illustrated pieces of the story included, it’s such a nice touch and something you just don’t see much anymore, which is a real shame.
This series has been phenomenal when it comes to bringing these characters and the world, they inhabit to life. I really loved the time period in this book with the “boom” and the claims and unsurprisingly, I loved Elgin (Gentlemen Jim) and his gang of outlaws and how Ned’s and Elgin’s stories eventually connect in an unexpected way.
I think my favourite thing about this series though has been the incredible scenes with the “demons/myths” that are still around, scenes that remind us that the snakes the size of a house, aren’t the most terrifying creatures in this world.
I did have to let the books ending settle with me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first- Gentlemen Jim, the writing was on the wall but Sorlie, had me hesitating until I realized it couldn’t be any different because this wasn’t her story, really- it was Ned’s (and Elgin’s of course). And once I remembered that, my doubts melted away.
I don’t know if you can be underrated in self-pub, which is already underrated on its own, but William Ray, definitely falls in that category of authors that should be getting more attention because he consistently puts out quality work. I can’t even choose a book in this series that I like the best because they are all so damn good and they are all so different.
I feel like this was the most unfocused and rambly review I have written, so to sum it up:
Don’t miss Shadow Debt, or for that matter, anything in The Tales of the Verin Empire series!
A huge thank you to the author William Ray for the digital copy.
It’s hard to grow up in Texas and not have a little bit of western love in your blood or to not be slightly enamoured with cowboy legends like Jesse James, or Doc Holliday.
Shadow Debt the newest book in The Tales of the Verin Empire has all the hallmarks of a great western inspired fantasy, and hits a lot of my buttons by including those things that make the wild west stories so fun; outlaws, saloon brawls, and shoot-outs involving a magical gun- that doesn’t ever let you forget what you owe it. Why, heck, there’s even a good old-fashioned train robbery.
The story begins with Elgin- freshly escaped from prison, he and his gang have big plans for Keat’s Field and especially the claim-land, that supports the area.
Although Elgin is the gang leader, he is pulled along through the story more by the goals of the bad company he keeps, and the legacy of his father’s gun than by any of his own plans. Deep down Elgin, is a decent guy who wanted his family to have a better life and we see that multiple times as he is stuck with choices that get worse as the days go by.
Ned– our other pov. A journalist, Ned’s newspaper sent him across country to get an interview with the Sheriff Sorlie of Keat’s Field. With the women’s suffrage movement going on back home, the head honchos at the paper are looking to get a fresh angle (and cash in a bit) on that fact that the sheriff of Keat’s field is a woman, and is doing a fine job keeping order in a part of the country that tends to be full of outlaws and vigilante justice.
Ned is our window into the area of Keat’s field. He is a fish out of water and adds a bit of lightness to the story as we explore the area, and meet the people through him. I enjoyed Ned. He comes across a bit shy, probably because he has a stammer, giving him an awkwardness that’s rather endearing.
This is a stand-alone series but there are small ties here and there- characters, and events from previous books are mentioned in passing. The tie-in outside of the world itself (and Sorlie) that I thought was the neatest way to expand the world- was the one through Ned, with the newspaper clippings, and adverts that were in the beginning of the chapters in the previous books.
This time, we don’t get the articles but William Ray, went a step further here and included the illustrations that Ned made while visiting Keat’s field, brought to life for us by the amazing Tom Parker. I loved this idea. I have always been partial to books that have illustrated pieces of the story included, it’s such a nice touch and something you just don’t see much anymore, which is a real shame.
This series has been phenomenal when it comes to bringing these characters and the world, they inhabit to life. I really loved the time period in this book with the “boom” and the claims and unsurprisingly, I loved Elgin (Gentlemen Jim) and his gang of outlaws and how Ned’s and Elgin’s stories eventually connect in an unexpected way.
I think my favourite thing about this series though has been the incredible scenes with the “demons/myths” that are still around, scenes that remind us that the snakes the size of a house, aren’t the most terrifying creatures in this world.
I did have to let the books ending settle with me. I wasn’t sure how I felt about it at first- Gentlemen Jim, the writing was on the wall but Sorlie, had me hesitating until I realized it couldn’t be any different because this wasn’t her story, really- it was Ned’s (and Elgin’s of course). And once I remembered that, my doubts melted away.
I don’t know if you can be underrated in self-pub, which is already underrated on its own, but William Ray, definitely falls in that category of authors that should be getting more attention because he consistently puts out quality work. I can’t even choose a book in this series that I like the best because they are all so damn good and they are all so different.
I feel like this was the most unfocused and rambly review I have written, so to sum it up:
Don’t miss Shadow Debt, or for that matter, anything in The Tales of the Verin Empire series!
A huge thank you to the author William Ray for the digital copy.
October 1, 2023
Read for SPFBO, Thai is only my personal opinion, group verdict might differ widely!
I openly admit I've never been a fan of westerns, which wasn't too detrimental for most of this book, but especially the big showdown in the end was told in a way that just didn't work well for me, so that is a main reason for me going with the lower score.
I really liked the different perspective of a journalist who isn't really the adventurous type as a main character. He gets pulled into things and then has to adjust to what life throws at him, which was my main draw for the story.
There's a second POV about a gentleman bandit, and I liked the fantasy, magic part in that part, with a magical, probably cursed, gun. However I really didn't care for any of the characters in those scenes at all, so that's another reason for my low score - where I again want to make clear that I am simply not the target audience for the normal western.
Overall I did enjoy the book for its strong female characters, the interesting world and blend of magic, goblins and western, but not enough to keep reading the series.
I openly admit I've never been a fan of westerns, which wasn't too detrimental for most of this book, but especially the big showdown in the end was told in a way that just didn't work well for me, so that is a main reason for me going with the lower score.
I really liked the different perspective of a journalist who isn't really the adventurous type as a main character. He gets pulled into things and then has to adjust to what life throws at him, which was my main draw for the story.
There's a second POV about a gentleman bandit, and I liked the fantasy, magic part in that part, with a magical, probably cursed, gun. However I really didn't care for any of the characters in those scenes at all, so that's another reason for my low score - where I again want to make clear that I am simply not the target audience for the normal western.
Overall I did enjoy the book for its strong female characters, the interesting world and blend of magic, goblins and western, but not enough to keep reading the series.
October 13, 2020
Shadow Debt by William Ray is a wonderful book for several reason, top of my list is the world he’s created. I confess to being new to his Verin Empire stories (this is his third) but it works as a standalone well. So why is the world building so good?
It’s the originality first of all. It’s set in the equivalent of The Wild West, complete with shoot-outs and brave sheriffs who stand up against the baddies single-handedly. Except here, the aboriginal people are not Native Americans, they’re goblins. Humans treat them in the same way though, there’s prejudice and fear, a complete lack of understanding and respect for another culture. We experience all this as the sheriff, Glynn Sorley, investigates a murder and shows she’s the only one who is open-minded and respectful.
Having mentioned the sheriff, I’ll pause there to talk about her and how she fits into this world. She is the law in a wild frontier filled with prospectors, outlaws and violent gangs. She’s a fantasy version of Annie Oakley. She’s strong, single-minded and the opposite of her refined and feminine sister in every way. All the female characters are strong, this is because the world is harsh, unforgiving and the weak would never survive. (The book references other stories in the series which involve equally strong suffragettes who fight for their right to vote.) She’s monosyllabic, hard and unforgiving yet we get to see glimpses of the thoughtful, considerate woman underneath this hard shell. She carries the narrative perfectly for this reason, she reflects the world but she allows us insights into its finer details.
Complementing the sheriff perfectly is Ned, the journalist and illustrator sent to obtain a profile of this astonishing woman so the folks in civilisation can learn about her. Ned is a ‘dandy’, so-called for his stylish clothes that are better suited to the streets of civilised cities rather than frontier settlements. His dental problems are worse than Gollum’s, which causes him to lisp badly, not your traditional hero by any means. He does have a good right hook though, which he uses to punish people who go too far. Much of the story is told through his eyes, allowing us to discover this strange world at the same time as he does.
It is a strange world indeed. This is a place filled with monsters, definitely unlike the Wild West. They are often giant variations of snakes and otters or demons with the ability to freeze or set fire to anyone they don’t like. While we’re talking about the demonic darkness of this world, it’s important to include the gun. The weapon used by Elgin, the outlaw Gentleman Jim, whose psychotic path leads to Keat’s Field where most of the story takes place. I felt sorry for the guy, I admit. Driven by desperation to use it in the first place, the demonic weapon haunts him endlessly and leads him into deeper bloodbaths.
The illustrations by the talented Tom Parker enhance the story, adding to the world building but also making the story feel that we’re seeing the finished result of Ned’s journalism.
This is such a great story. It’s exciting, with non-stop action that leads inexorably to the climax. The narrative is cleverly woven so all the details are tied up at the end without ever losing its relentless pace. Characters are vivid, real and engaging. The world building so highly original it’s refreshing. This is such a wonderful and thrilling read!
It’s the originality first of all. It’s set in the equivalent of The Wild West, complete with shoot-outs and brave sheriffs who stand up against the baddies single-handedly. Except here, the aboriginal people are not Native Americans, they’re goblins. Humans treat them in the same way though, there’s prejudice and fear, a complete lack of understanding and respect for another culture. We experience all this as the sheriff, Glynn Sorley, investigates a murder and shows she’s the only one who is open-minded and respectful.
Having mentioned the sheriff, I’ll pause there to talk about her and how she fits into this world. She is the law in a wild frontier filled with prospectors, outlaws and violent gangs. She’s a fantasy version of Annie Oakley. She’s strong, single-minded and the opposite of her refined and feminine sister in every way. All the female characters are strong, this is because the world is harsh, unforgiving and the weak would never survive. (The book references other stories in the series which involve equally strong suffragettes who fight for their right to vote.) She’s monosyllabic, hard and unforgiving yet we get to see glimpses of the thoughtful, considerate woman underneath this hard shell. She carries the narrative perfectly for this reason, she reflects the world but she allows us insights into its finer details.
Complementing the sheriff perfectly is Ned, the journalist and illustrator sent to obtain a profile of this astonishing woman so the folks in civilisation can learn about her. Ned is a ‘dandy’, so-called for his stylish clothes that are better suited to the streets of civilised cities rather than frontier settlements. His dental problems are worse than Gollum’s, which causes him to lisp badly, not your traditional hero by any means. He does have a good right hook though, which he uses to punish people who go too far. Much of the story is told through his eyes, allowing us to discover this strange world at the same time as he does.
It is a strange world indeed. This is a place filled with monsters, definitely unlike the Wild West. They are often giant variations of snakes and otters or demons with the ability to freeze or set fire to anyone they don’t like. While we’re talking about the demonic darkness of this world, it’s important to include the gun. The weapon used by Elgin, the outlaw Gentleman Jim, whose psychotic path leads to Keat’s Field where most of the story takes place. I felt sorry for the guy, I admit. Driven by desperation to use it in the first place, the demonic weapon haunts him endlessly and leads him into deeper bloodbaths.
The illustrations by the talented Tom Parker enhance the story, adding to the world building but also making the story feel that we’re seeing the finished result of Ned’s journalism.
This is such a great story. It’s exciting, with non-stop action that leads inexorably to the climax. The narrative is cleverly woven so all the details are tied up at the end without ever losing its relentless pace. Characters are vivid, real and engaging. The world building so highly original it’s refreshing. This is such a wonderful and thrilling read!
November 5, 2020
William Ray has done it again. By that I mean he’s offered readers another fantastic story in his Tales of The Verin Empire series. This one comes with gun slinging outlaws, a no-nonsense sheriff, a claim rich mining town, indigenous tribes chaffing at a colonial presence, fantastical monsters, and a dose of shadowy magic just to keep things interesting.
If you don’t already know, it was William Ray’s Gedlund: A Tale of The Verin Empire that was my gateway book into self-published fantasy. What I loved about it (besides the story) was the way in which it wasn’t your normal fantasy. It was a mix of genres like black powder/military fantasy, vampires, sword and sorcery, and filled with magic and monsters. But more than that, it sought to capture something typical fantasy (at least epic fantasy) doesn’t do, and that’s to focus not on some grand future that the past is building toward, but to explore the “present” in light of the past, and all that comes with it.
Ray followed Gedlund up with The Great Restoration which had some of the elements above, but was written as more of a 19th century detective story. Somehow Ray managed to pull off a book that included some characters from the previous story while totally switching up sub-genres.
With Shadow Debt Ray has switched things up again while maintaining some of the overall thematic elements of the other books. In Shadow Debt we get a mix of 19th Century dime western and imperial exploitation reminiscent of Britain’s foray into South Africa. It’s a mix you’d think wouldn’t work but Ray pulls it off fabulously. Throw in some dark soul capturing magic and you end up with another great tale in this continuing series that can be read as a stand-alone without prior knowledge of the other books.
Ray tells the story through two alternating points of view, that of a notorious outlaw with a mysterious gun, and that of a somewhat self-absorbed newspaper reporter. Ray uses these characters in different ways. The gunslinger Gentleman Jim takes the reader on a dive into the psyche of an outlaw and the reasons for the decisions he makes, even if some of them are not of his own volition. Jim is is complex and someone you want to lose given all that he’s done but you can’t help but hope maybe things will work out for him in the end. The reporter Ned at times seems like a progressive fighting for things like the rights of women but then shows he’s still a man of his age with all its negatives. But it’s through him and his desire to tell a story to readers back home that we really see the other primary characters Sheriff Sorely and Essie, both of whom truly have power and stature and agency that men like Ned don’t possess.
When I said it’s a western I meant it. It has cattle rustling, and train robbing, and shootouts on main street, all of which will make you want to hop on a horse and ride into the fray. Then there’s the tensions with the indigenous goblins, dealings with the army, and full-on gun battles that seem both western and taken from British colonial history. All this set within a mining town just outside the furthest borders of the Verin Empire. I loved how Ray mixed these elements into the setting for the book.
But it isn’t just the setting, but the way the setting impacts the writing that was so entertaining for me, especially the western elements. There’s a HUGE dime novel feel to parts of the book, especially the climax. Think of all the great Westerns you’ve read or watched with epic gunfights and you’ll have feel for what’s in store here. By the end you’re left wondering how much was “real” and how much embellished by an author who may not have witnessed all the events in order to sell a story back home as it all comes together in one explosive action packed ending.
Oh and then there’s magic and the supernatural. This is ancient god powered magic that has seeped back into the world. It threatens individuals and nations alike. A magic that threatens to drive those it possesses mad unless they can meet its terms or overcome it. Will they succumb to it’s whims and desires? Can they master it? Or is any of that even possible. It’s the magic in this story that really drives much of the narrative toward it’s end, and keeps that fantasy feel alive.
Shadow Debt picks up on some themes explored in Ray’s other books. One that really stands out is the role women play in society. One half of the story is devoted to the unusual notion of a female sheriff in one of the most dangerous territories around. Yet it is this sheriff and other women in the book who are truly the primary movers and shakers in their community. As with his other novels in this world Ray also explores the theme of Empire at the periphery. What I mean by that is the way you can tell the true nature of a country by the ways it exists and operates in the territories at it’s edge, where it interacts with other peoples and nations, or where there is no governance at all. It’s in this area that Shadow Debt really takes the two above themes and explores the notion of law and lawlessness, who holds power and who doesn’t, whether the governing empire wants to admit it or not.
I really enjoyed this third foray into the Tales of The Verin Empire. I don’t typically read westerns and I was unsure how I’d feel about this one even though I was a fan of Ray’s other two books. Ray has built a world I truly want to explore more of, and he’s gone about it in a way I haven’t seen other authors do, by changing up sub-genres with each book. It’s a great example of reward following risk and I’m glad he took the risk. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for future Tales of The Verin Empire and just what genre Ray will use to tell them.
If you don’t already know, it was William Ray’s Gedlund: A Tale of The Verin Empire that was my gateway book into self-published fantasy. What I loved about it (besides the story) was the way in which it wasn’t your normal fantasy. It was a mix of genres like black powder/military fantasy, vampires, sword and sorcery, and filled with magic and monsters. But more than that, it sought to capture something typical fantasy (at least epic fantasy) doesn’t do, and that’s to focus not on some grand future that the past is building toward, but to explore the “present” in light of the past, and all that comes with it.
Ray followed Gedlund up with The Great Restoration which had some of the elements above, but was written as more of a 19th century detective story. Somehow Ray managed to pull off a book that included some characters from the previous story while totally switching up sub-genres.
With Shadow Debt Ray has switched things up again while maintaining some of the overall thematic elements of the other books. In Shadow Debt we get a mix of 19th Century dime western and imperial exploitation reminiscent of Britain’s foray into South Africa. It’s a mix you’d think wouldn’t work but Ray pulls it off fabulously. Throw in some dark soul capturing magic and you end up with another great tale in this continuing series that can be read as a stand-alone without prior knowledge of the other books.
Ray tells the story through two alternating points of view, that of a notorious outlaw with a mysterious gun, and that of a somewhat self-absorbed newspaper reporter. Ray uses these characters in different ways. The gunslinger Gentleman Jim takes the reader on a dive into the psyche of an outlaw and the reasons for the decisions he makes, even if some of them are not of his own volition. Jim is is complex and someone you want to lose given all that he’s done but you can’t help but hope maybe things will work out for him in the end. The reporter Ned at times seems like a progressive fighting for things like the rights of women but then shows he’s still a man of his age with all its negatives. But it’s through him and his desire to tell a story to readers back home that we really see the other primary characters Sheriff Sorely and Essie, both of whom truly have power and stature and agency that men like Ned don’t possess.
When I said it’s a western I meant it. It has cattle rustling, and train robbing, and shootouts on main street, all of which will make you want to hop on a horse and ride into the fray. Then there’s the tensions with the indigenous goblins, dealings with the army, and full-on gun battles that seem both western and taken from British colonial history. All this set within a mining town just outside the furthest borders of the Verin Empire. I loved how Ray mixed these elements into the setting for the book.
But it isn’t just the setting, but the way the setting impacts the writing that was so entertaining for me, especially the western elements. There’s a HUGE dime novel feel to parts of the book, especially the climax. Think of all the great Westerns you’ve read or watched with epic gunfights and you’ll have feel for what’s in store here. By the end you’re left wondering how much was “real” and how much embellished by an author who may not have witnessed all the events in order to sell a story back home as it all comes together in one explosive action packed ending.
Oh and then there’s magic and the supernatural. This is ancient god powered magic that has seeped back into the world. It threatens individuals and nations alike. A magic that threatens to drive those it possesses mad unless they can meet its terms or overcome it. Will they succumb to it’s whims and desires? Can they master it? Or is any of that even possible. It’s the magic in this story that really drives much of the narrative toward it’s end, and keeps that fantasy feel alive.
Shadow Debt picks up on some themes explored in Ray’s other books. One that really stands out is the role women play in society. One half of the story is devoted to the unusual notion of a female sheriff in one of the most dangerous territories around. Yet it is this sheriff and other women in the book who are truly the primary movers and shakers in their community. As with his other novels in this world Ray also explores the theme of Empire at the periphery. What I mean by that is the way you can tell the true nature of a country by the ways it exists and operates in the territories at it’s edge, where it interacts with other peoples and nations, or where there is no governance at all. It’s in this area that Shadow Debt really takes the two above themes and explores the notion of law and lawlessness, who holds power and who doesn’t, whether the governing empire wants to admit it or not.
I really enjoyed this third foray into the Tales of The Verin Empire. I don’t typically read westerns and I was unsure how I’d feel about this one even though I was a fan of Ray’s other two books. Ray has built a world I truly want to explore more of, and he’s gone about it in a way I haven’t seen other authors do, by changing up sub-genres with each book. It’s a great example of reward following risk and I’m glad he took the risk. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for future Tales of The Verin Empire and just what genre Ray will use to tell them.
October 6, 2020
Shadow Debt
Wow - where to even begin. First, this is just a great fun read. The story is enticing from chapter 1 and it keeps you enthralled to the end with many surprising developments. We see the adventure develop through the eyes of Ned the journalist and Elgin the outlaw, the paths of their lives intertwining in an unsuspected way. It is indeed a treat to be back in the rich world Ray has created. The characters are fully developed and the story line is intriguing. I loved following the characters and enjoying the rich visual imagery. Also nice in these times to have a strong female character. This book stands alone and you will enjoy it even if you haven't read the first two, but after you finish this one you will probably want to read the first two. And I warn you, once you start this one you can't put it down. I look forward to whatever world Ray decides to take us into next.
Wow - where to even begin. First, this is just a great fun read. The story is enticing from chapter 1 and it keeps you enthralled to the end with many surprising developments. We see the adventure develop through the eyes of Ned the journalist and Elgin the outlaw, the paths of their lives intertwining in an unsuspected way. It is indeed a treat to be back in the rich world Ray has created. The characters are fully developed and the story line is intriguing. I loved following the characters and enjoying the rich visual imagery. Also nice in these times to have a strong female character. This book stands alone and you will enjoy it even if you haven't read the first two, but after you finish this one you will probably want to read the first two. And I warn you, once you start this one you can't put it down. I look forward to whatever world Ray decides to take us into next.
November 4, 2020
I have to start by talking about the worldbuilding, which matches the mash-up of genres for originality. This is the Wild West fantasy-style, and while there are traditional aspects of that world from cattle rustling to outlaws and gunfights, there are also indigenous goblins, demons and monsters and magic. I particularly enjoyed the magic, which was both new and ancient as it crept back into the world, and I liked that this magic was a problem. A threat, that came at great cost and that it posed so many questions from individuals up to nations, and while it wasn’t the only fantastical element to this book, it was very much a driving force throughout and particularly towards the end. The world of Shadow Debt, like the overall book, was a unique blend of different elements, and fun to read, especially when accompanied by the illustrations of Tom Parker, which only serve to enhance the world and story. This is a living, breathing world, where you’re swept into its pace, caught up in the gunfights and story, and as invested in the outcome as the characters that inhabit the world.
The characters were as unique and colourful as the world around them. Gentleman Jim was my favourite, for all that his path was probably the darkest, and who you are torn between feeling sympathy for and wanting him to pay for what he’s done. A wonderfully complex character, he brought the world of the outlaw – both internally and externally – to life. Yet, the other main characters, including Ned, who was as far from a traditional hero as you could get, and yet was also our pathway to most of the story. And Sheriff Sorley – the face of the law in a lawless region was a wonderful character, hardened by life, but with a depth to her, that was fantastic to see – all had unique voices and motivations and roles in this world. The cast of secondary characters was just as well written.
This was my first foray into the Verin Empire, and it hooked me from the start. This was an unusual fantasy that took risks, breaking down genre boundaries and expectations, and it worked so well. I look forward to seeing what else the author will do in this series, and what genres will come into play in future books. I would highly recommend Shadow Debt as a standalone, and the Tales of the Verin Empire series for anyone who wants something that not only thinks outside the box but breaks the box completely.
Full review: https://beneathathousandskies.com/202...
Want to read
January 27, 2024This is not a full review. I read through the beginning of all 300 SPFBO9 contest entries. This was a book I wanted to read more of.
Newly escapes convicts flee through a dangerous, dense swamp, taking shelter in a cabin where a magic weapon sleeps…
Our MCs father used to live in this cabin, and that’s where he made his last stand. The weapon can change shapes. It has a mind of its own, and is both a mystery to our MC and his one chance at freedom as the law closes in.
This is a western inspired fantasy that does a good job of not forgetting its fantasy elements. The natural threat of monstrous creatures large and small in the dense “bander” put as much pressure on our convicts as the pursuing law.
The prose is competent and clear, with lots of good details to ground the reader in the scene. The dialogue sounds like people talking, and is revealing of character and also lends a sense of relative place and time to the story.
I do think this opening dragged its feet a little bit. Our main characters retread the same conversation twice, and there’s some confusing business about sleeping in this cabin overnight even though it seems like the law is hot on their trial…
I think the author was caught between the desire to keep the tension high, but also to have a scene where our characters lay low in the hopes of losing their perusers, but those desires got a little crossed up in the narrative.
Nonetheless, the conceit of a L’Amour style western colliding with a fantasy of dragons and magic weapons that shift from a knife to a revolver in need is intriguing and playfully creative. I want to know what happens next. I’m in.
Newly escapes convicts flee through a dangerous, dense swamp, taking shelter in a cabin where a magic weapon sleeps…
Our MCs father used to live in this cabin, and that’s where he made his last stand. The weapon can change shapes. It has a mind of its own, and is both a mystery to our MC and his one chance at freedom as the law closes in.
This is a western inspired fantasy that does a good job of not forgetting its fantasy elements. The natural threat of monstrous creatures large and small in the dense “bander” put as much pressure on our convicts as the pursuing law.
The prose is competent and clear, with lots of good details to ground the reader in the scene. The dialogue sounds like people talking, and is revealing of character and also lends a sense of relative place and time to the story.
I do think this opening dragged its feet a little bit. Our main characters retread the same conversation twice, and there’s some confusing business about sleeping in this cabin overnight even though it seems like the law is hot on their trial…
I think the author was caught between the desire to keep the tension high, but also to have a scene where our characters lay low in the hopes of losing their perusers, but those desires got a little crossed up in the narrative.
Nonetheless, the conceit of a L’Amour style western colliding with a fantasy of dragons and magic weapons that shift from a knife to a revolver in need is intriguing and playfully creative. I want to know what happens next. I’m in.
November 6, 2020
This novel is the equivalent of what if you mixed goblins, elves and high fantasy in a wild west setting. Its a setting that everyone will love. Its a setting that’s well constructed. It’s an immersive world that you will find yourself gripped into. It is a standalone book, but it feels immersive enough that you will find yourself enchanted in the deep canyons of this book. Gentlemen Jim’s the tragic villain in this story. He truly is. He goes through a deeper and darker story far more than you can ever imagine.
And his buddy, Mike? Truly either a loyal friend or a despicable human being. You will find out more in this novel as you read about him. You’ll go into taverns and inns, fight cowboys and become engaged in fistfights far too often. Jim’s gang are a notorious gang of ruthless people, that in a way, want to earn their fame and fortune. I think the system itself is rigged, corrupt and doesn’t allow anyone to prosper. In a way, the wild west setting emulates the golden age of piracy. William uses this to great effect: He builds a world where, when times are desparate, crime will rise because people have nowhere else to turn into.
I love the trains in this novel. Just riding on a train seems so nice. I bet William played a lot of Red Dead Redemption 2, but he also gathered a lot of inspiration from movies and books. I wasn’t too sold on Sorley’s character, as I feel I needed to see more of her in the novel. I would have wanted to have seen more of the goblins in this novel. And that Goblin Shaman was right! He was right. This book is well written, easy to read, and not hard to grasp either. Also, Ned is the true hero of this story. He truly is.
I just enjoyed it a lot. 10/10 from me!
And his buddy, Mike? Truly either a loyal friend or a despicable human being. You will find out more in this novel as you read about him. You’ll go into taverns and inns, fight cowboys and become engaged in fistfights far too often. Jim’s gang are a notorious gang of ruthless people, that in a way, want to earn their fame and fortune. I think the system itself is rigged, corrupt and doesn’t allow anyone to prosper. In a way, the wild west setting emulates the golden age of piracy. William uses this to great effect: He builds a world where, when times are desparate, crime will rise because people have nowhere else to turn into.
I love the trains in this novel. Just riding on a train seems so nice. I bet William played a lot of Red Dead Redemption 2, but he also gathered a lot of inspiration from movies and books. I wasn’t too sold on Sorley’s character, as I feel I needed to see more of her in the novel. I would have wanted to have seen more of the goblins in this novel. And that Goblin Shaman was right! He was right. This book is well written, easy to read, and not hard to grasp either. Also, Ned is the true hero of this story. He truly is.
I just enjoyed it a lot. 10/10 from me!
November 25, 2020
Sharply written characters and entertaining Western action! I loved seeing the variety of badass women included in the Western setting and the cursed gone was a particularly poignant metaphor for violence.
November 18, 2020
William Ray is a marvelous story-teller, and this is my favorite of his so far. His stories are creative, complex, and captivating. In a way, he reminds me of Robert Louis Stevenson.
October 6, 2023
Read for #SPFBO9. I am only one Judges and their opinions will vary.
"A tiny settlement in the midst of goblin territory, Keat’s Field has previously been known for only two things: the discovery of diamonds there, and the town’s temerity in appointing a woman as their sheriff."
If you like Westerns; whether it be fiction or movies where industrialisation/colonisation is just reaching the Wilds then this Western Fantasy has some great appeal. It has all number of Western tropes such as a gang of raiders that hold up trains and settlers (albeit this one has the leader wielding a gun that is possessed), a naive newcomer that is arrested on arrival to town by the heroic sheriff, friction between townsfolk and local tribes to warring factions between the tribes themselves but as it says in my quote from the book these tropes have been turned into a cool fantasy with Goblins, diverse magical monsters and an awesome female sheriff that takes no bullshit (even whilst working in the gender confines set by the town's ruling enclave).
I haven't read anything by William Ray before but he has obviously created a much bigger world and it is one that I'm eager to explore. Shadow Debt can easily be read without knowing anything about the Verin Empire but we get tantalising hints of large cities as well as other lands. There are also glimpses of industrialisation and technology which always interests me personally in my choice of reading material.
This was an enjoyable read and I've put William Ray's other two published books set in the Verin Empire onto my reading pile.
"A tiny settlement in the midst of goblin territory, Keat’s Field has previously been known for only two things: the discovery of diamonds there, and the town’s temerity in appointing a woman as their sheriff."
If you like Westerns; whether it be fiction or movies where industrialisation/colonisation is just reaching the Wilds then this Western Fantasy has some great appeal. It has all number of Western tropes such as a gang of raiders that hold up trains and settlers (albeit this one has the leader wielding a gun that is possessed), a naive newcomer that is arrested on arrival to town by the heroic sheriff, friction between townsfolk and local tribes to warring factions between the tribes themselves but as it says in my quote from the book these tropes have been turned into a cool fantasy with Goblins, diverse magical monsters and an awesome female sheriff that takes no bullshit (even whilst working in the gender confines set by the town's ruling enclave).
I haven't read anything by William Ray before but he has obviously created a much bigger world and it is one that I'm eager to explore. Shadow Debt can easily be read without knowing anything about the Verin Empire but we get tantalising hints of large cities as well as other lands. There are also glimpses of industrialisation and technology which always interests me personally in my choice of reading material.
This was an enjoyable read and I've put William Ray's other two published books set in the Verin Empire onto my reading pile.
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