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Shades of Black #1
In Darkness Cast
The last sorcerer of the Everlasting Dark has destroyed it all. Now he must train the only hero who can bring him to judgment. Gideon Halcyon is a young man who wants nothing more than to save his people from the hordes of Hell. Demons and cultists run roughshod over his home, slaughtering and sacrificing to a trifecta of fallen angels on the cusp of destroying the kingdoms of Man. Gideon is helpless in the face of extinction itself...
...until he meets Ashkelon.
Coming from the Void beyond the world, Ashkelon alone survives the world he left in ruins. Cynical and ruthless, the dark sorcerer seethes with millennia of hatred, and his cursed sword Acherlith shrieks with the last screams of a thousand failed heroes.
Ashkelon makes Gideon an offer – to train him to be a hero of the Light beyond the failures sealed within his blade, a peerless warrior to exceed even the exacting standards of the Everlasting Dark. Reluctantly, Gideon accepts, and is thrust into a world of infinite cruelty under Ashkelon’s black fist where the slightest misstep will see him just another scream in the sorcerer's black blade.
As Hell consumes the hopes of Man, a hero is forged in darkness. Read it today.
...until he meets Ashkelon.
Coming from the Void beyond the world, Ashkelon alone survives the world he left in ruins. Cynical and ruthless, the dark sorcerer seethes with millennia of hatred, and his cursed sword Acherlith shrieks with the last screams of a thousand failed heroes.
Ashkelon makes Gideon an offer – to train him to be a hero of the Light beyond the failures sealed within his blade, a peerless warrior to exceed even the exacting standards of the Everlasting Dark. Reluctantly, Gideon accepts, and is thrust into a world of infinite cruelty under Ashkelon’s black fist where the slightest misstep will see him just another scream in the sorcerer's black blade.
As Hell consumes the hopes of Man, a hero is forged in darkness. Read it today.
- GenresFantasy
436 pages, ebook
Published November 10, 2020
25 people are currently reading
634 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
November 20, 2022
The lone survivor of a world destroyed. A sorcerer emerges in another on the verge of annihilation. There he will seek an apprentice to stand against the enveloping doom. Epic, action packed & lots of fun! Great characters & surprising humour.
November 20, 2021
I loved this book. It's an unusual combination of elements. Good versus evil. Epic and realistic battles, some against millions of yukky monsters, others one-on-one. Deep themes. Hard questions. Answers debated in the action and experiences of the story. Hints of dark history. Sleeping evil. Mysterious powers. Humor when you least expect it. By the first or second chapter, I was so thoroughly hooked there was no way I could resist reading the rest of it.
December 23, 2022
A thoughtful and heartfelt, action-packed novel about good and evil, the fallen nature of humanity, and questions of belief, power, honor, and love. And I in particular love how Shuerger used a lot of his own background and experience in crafting his story; it really imbues the text with meaning and care.
Eager for Book 2!
Eager for Book 2!
November 20, 2021
Shades of Black caught me by surprise. I’m not always a big “swords and sorcery” gal but every once in a while, an adventure will sweep me up in a rush of pages that I can’t put down till I know how it ends. Shuerger weaves a tale of a broken world with flawed people, plagued by some seriously sinister creeps and monsters. And things don’t always turn out how you’d expect.
Although of course, we root for Gideon in his quest to be a hero, my favorite character is the antihero Ashkelon. He stole the show with his wonderful lines of dialogue, incredible abilities, and searing judgements of humanity's flaws—think Hans Gruber meets Sesshomaru.
The story had good character development, a satisfying conclusion, and lots of vivid action, like something of a mashup between old horror movies, Godzilla, and Quentin Tarantino.
I can’t wait for book 2!
Although of course, we root for Gideon in his quest to be a hero, my favorite character is the antihero Ashkelon. He stole the show with his wonderful lines of dialogue, incredible abilities, and searing judgements of humanity's flaws—think Hans Gruber meets Sesshomaru.
The story had good character development, a satisfying conclusion, and lots of vivid action, like something of a mashup between old horror movies, Godzilla, and Quentin Tarantino.
I can’t wait for book 2!
February 8, 2025
Should Christian men should read Nobledark fantasy?
Possibly- if they enjoy stories about flawed heroes mired in a world of incredible darkness, overcoming crushing odds and battling to reach the light.
Particularly- if the author happens to be a Christian.
Positively- if that Christian author weaves the gospel message throughout.
For the Christian reader, aside from the grim world and an often violent story, the problem with most secular Nobledark fantasy is how the hero achieves the goal. Often, these stories feature heroes who overcome and achieve admittedly worthy goals — but strictly by their own strength. This is true even where that strength is supernatural. Magical. It’s still a power of them, not of God.
Worse, what it means to do good is often based only upon what is good in their own eyes, but not in obedience to the one and only Higher Power of the universe. Oh, the story often does feature “gods” of some sort, but the hero will never find the ultimate Truth. Because the real God of Creation will not be found in those pages.
Therefore, though the hero may experience some sort of transformation, they will never experience the one transformation that matters.
In Darkness Cast, much like other Nobledark fantasies, is set in an incredibly dark world. It’s violent. Terrible things happen.
As Western Christians, comfortable in our own sheltered worlds, we often shrink from such. But to do so is to forget that many genuine heroes have braved that darkness, the violence. Have seen terrible things . . . many of those terrible things happened to them.
They’ve willingly done so that the innocent (you and me) might live in freedom- experiencing no such thing themselves. Never even imagining such.
So it will behoove us to acknowledge that the darkness exists. To realize that even if grittier, dark stories aren’t our preferred reading fodder, they serve a purpose for some Christian readers. These stories mirror real world experience, touch some at a soul level. Engage those readers with the Power of Story for God’s Glory- men whose inner being will never resonate with stories of romantic suspense or even the supernatural suspense and intrigue of my own story world.
So- again the question. Should Christian men read Nobledark fantasy? My answer is yes, if it's Jonathan Shuerger’s In Darkness Cast -because in Jonathan’s story, the God of Creation plays a leading role. The Gospel and the redemption of the sinner, even the chief of sinners, is a central theme, shining light where “darkness has been cast,” illuminating that lost world. Revealing the path to an eternity worth fighting for.
The author has woven these eternal truths into his story in a way that’s not intrusive. Is natural. Inevitable. Not cheesy or forced.
So finally, after such a long and arduous journey, we can report the acquisition of the long-sought prize- a fantastical story I wholeheartedly recommend to adult male Christian readers!
May this be the first of many.
Possibly- if they enjoy stories about flawed heroes mired in a world of incredible darkness, overcoming crushing odds and battling to reach the light.
Particularly- if the author happens to be a Christian.
Positively- if that Christian author weaves the gospel message throughout.
For the Christian reader, aside from the grim world and an often violent story, the problem with most secular Nobledark fantasy is how the hero achieves the goal. Often, these stories feature heroes who overcome and achieve admittedly worthy goals — but strictly by their own strength. This is true even where that strength is supernatural. Magical. It’s still a power of them, not of God.
Worse, what it means to do good is often based only upon what is good in their own eyes, but not in obedience to the one and only Higher Power of the universe. Oh, the story often does feature “gods” of some sort, but the hero will never find the ultimate Truth. Because the real God of Creation will not be found in those pages.
Therefore, though the hero may experience some sort of transformation, they will never experience the one transformation that matters.
In Darkness Cast, much like other Nobledark fantasies, is set in an incredibly dark world. It’s violent. Terrible things happen.
As Western Christians, comfortable in our own sheltered worlds, we often shrink from such. But to do so is to forget that many genuine heroes have braved that darkness, the violence. Have seen terrible things . . . many of those terrible things happened to them.
They’ve willingly done so that the innocent (you and me) might live in freedom- experiencing no such thing themselves. Never even imagining such.
So it will behoove us to acknowledge that the darkness exists. To realize that even if grittier, dark stories aren’t our preferred reading fodder, they serve a purpose for some Christian readers. These stories mirror real world experience, touch some at a soul level. Engage those readers with the Power of Story for God’s Glory- men whose inner being will never resonate with stories of romantic suspense or even the supernatural suspense and intrigue of my own story world.
So- again the question. Should Christian men read Nobledark fantasy? My answer is yes, if it's Jonathan Shuerger’s In Darkness Cast -because in Jonathan’s story, the God of Creation plays a leading role. The Gospel and the redemption of the sinner, even the chief of sinners, is a central theme, shining light where “darkness has been cast,” illuminating that lost world. Revealing the path to an eternity worth fighting for.
The author has woven these eternal truths into his story in a way that’s not intrusive. Is natural. Inevitable. Not cheesy or forced.
So finally, after such a long and arduous journey, we can report the acquisition of the long-sought prize- a fantastical story I wholeheartedly recommend to adult male Christian readers!
May this be the first of many.
October 7, 2023
Strong story
One must wade through the first hundred or so pages. The training of the apprentice went on too long. But once the real story started it kept me wanting to read more. Well written. Fascinating characters. You have to like battle and fighting. If you do you won’t be disappointed.
One must wade through the first hundred or so pages. The training of the apprentice went on too long. But once the real story started it kept me wanting to read more. Well written. Fascinating characters. You have to like battle and fighting. If you do you won’t be disappointed.
March 14, 2022
I am a huge lover of fantastical/magical fiction, particularly those of the epic fantasy tradition, so I was sure that I was going to enjoy In Darkness Cast from the offset – and how right I was! This entertaining and engaging tale of angels, demons and learning to conquer the power within is sure to be a hit with readers who love that ‘Good vs. Evil’ fantasy trope but are also looking to sink their teeth into something new.
From beginning to end, In Darkness Cast was such a fun and addicting read to me. I love nothing more than immersing myself in new fantasy worlds, and the world building here was truly excellent. Dark and gritty with a cinematic tone running throughout, it was so easy to picture it all in my mind as I read, even the battle scenes which can often be a little confusing to read for me! Shuerger has done such an excellent fantastic job here of creating such an effortlessly readable book within a genre that can often lean too heavily into overly-complex magical systems and descriptions - the world in which he created felt so vivid and realistic without the need for passages of excessively descriptive writing or ‘info-dumping’, and again fantastically showcases his talents as a writer.
In addition to the wonderful writing and world building, I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout the course of the novel. Our hero Gideon was such a joy to root for as he embarks on his epic quest, and I also really enjoyed the character of Ashkelon, who made a great anti-hero! I loved the contrast between the two, and again the way in which Shuerger was able to make such a popular fantasy trope of ‘the light and the dark’ feel fresh and unique is hugely commendable.
Epic, entertaining and packed full of adventure, this is a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre that I’m so glad I read, and am already looking forward to the next instalment!
From beginning to end, In Darkness Cast was such a fun and addicting read to me. I love nothing more than immersing myself in new fantasy worlds, and the world building here was truly excellent. Dark and gritty with a cinematic tone running throughout, it was so easy to picture it all in my mind as I read, even the battle scenes which can often be a little confusing to read for me! Shuerger has done such an excellent fantastic job here of creating such an effortlessly readable book within a genre that can often lean too heavily into overly-complex magical systems and descriptions - the world in which he created felt so vivid and realistic without the need for passages of excessively descriptive writing or ‘info-dumping’, and again fantastically showcases his talents as a writer.
In addition to the wonderful writing and world building, I also really enjoyed getting to know the characters throughout the course of the novel. Our hero Gideon was such a joy to root for as he embarks on his epic quest, and I also really enjoyed the character of Ashkelon, who made a great anti-hero! I loved the contrast between the two, and again the way in which Shuerger was able to make such a popular fantasy trope of ‘the light and the dark’ feel fresh and unique is hugely commendable.
Epic, entertaining and packed full of adventure, this is a wonderful addition to the fantasy genre that I’m so glad I read, and am already looking forward to the next instalment!
May 1, 2021
This novel was interesting enough to keep me engaged throughout, however...
Have you watched a movie in which the writers attempted to increase the tension by adding more? What could be worse than demon worshippers? Cannibals who are demon worshippers... With trained assassins... And a 12-foot tall champion... And spiders... And so on.
My favorite part of the book was when the antihero (He is not quite the antagonist, but neither is he the protagonist) asks a girl if she realizes who he is. Her answer gives him quite a jolt. I loved it.
Perhaps this pictures my frustration with the book. The evil guys are almost comic book evil with no redeeming qualities. The paladin-in-training good guy and main character is somewhat... boring? undefined? lacking direction? Something is missing from him. But I can't tell what it is.
Yet the mysterious, not-quite (or no longer) human who teaches him is intriguing. I wish he were the main character. I will likely read the next book just to see what happens to him. As a teacher, I can feel his frustration ith his student. I could never get away with his methods of disciplining his errant pupil though.
I would urge you to give the book a read, and let me know what you thought. Maybe I am missing Jonathan's point.
Have you watched a movie in which the writers attempted to increase the tension by adding more? What could be worse than demon worshippers? Cannibals who are demon worshippers... With trained assassins... And a 12-foot tall champion... And spiders... And so on.
My favorite part of the book was when the antihero (He is not quite the antagonist, but neither is he the protagonist) asks a girl if she realizes who he is. Her answer gives him quite a jolt. I loved it.
Perhaps this pictures my frustration with the book. The evil guys are almost comic book evil with no redeeming qualities. The paladin-in-training good guy and main character is somewhat... boring? undefined? lacking direction? Something is missing from him. But I can't tell what it is.
Yet the mysterious, not-quite (or no longer) human who teaches him is intriguing. I wish he were the main character. I will likely read the next book just to see what happens to him. As a teacher, I can feel his frustration ith his student. I could never get away with his methods of disciplining his errant pupil though.
I would urge you to give the book a read, and let me know what you thought. Maybe I am missing Jonathan's point.
June 22, 2022
Enjoyable and violent Sword and Sorcery tale
Such a surprise. Very surprising story that twists expectations. It is a tale of evil and no hero to save anyone, which is believable. What I particularly liked was the antihero Ashkelon. Of course, the main character Gideon and his quest to be a hero is well done, but Ashkelon and his ascorbic wit and judgment are the strength of the story for me. Now if you have a hard time liking a villain then this might be a tough read. But I thought beneath the sword and sorcery there was a layered and enjoyable and gory story.
Such a surprise. Very surprising story that twists expectations. It is a tale of evil and no hero to save anyone, which is believable. What I particularly liked was the antihero Ashkelon. Of course, the main character Gideon and his quest to be a hero is well done, but Ashkelon and his ascorbic wit and judgment are the strength of the story for me. Now if you have a hard time liking a villain then this might be a tough read. But I thought beneath the sword and sorcery there was a layered and enjoyable and gory story.
December 19, 2022
Have you ever asked yourself the question, how could a loving God allow so much suffering? If you have, then Shuerger’s book is perfect for you! Diving into the darkness of evil and the desperate need for light, he weaves a tale that will leave you spellbound and captivated as you walk with Gideon through his journey of finding an answer to that question. This epic story is not for the faint of heart, but it’s an incredible read. If you’re a fan of fantasy and epic battles of light vs. darkness and good vs. evil, this book is for you!
March 24, 2024
I must confess that when I started "In Darkness Cast," I thought it was a children’s or young adult book. The assumption is completely my fault as neither the book, the author, nor the marketing gave this impression (I think I must have concluded this from the cover art). Fair warning, this book is NOT suitable for younger readers due to disturbing imagery and gruesome violence. For adult readers, on the other hand, it is an interesting read and a respectable offering for Mr. Shuerger’s first full-length novel. Admittedly, starting took some effort due to a jumpy timeline and a general over-reliance on genre tropes. Nevertheless, the gritty nature of the action and the atypical setting (the bad guys are really winning) of the story kept me engaged. Stereotypical characters fill the book, but creative twists on many of them mean they eventually end up being unique. About 20% of the way though the book, the storyline becomes much tighter and more concise, making the action more gripping but also highlighting the problems with the first portion of the novel. In this part of the story, there is a romance, a term I use in the loosest sense. The interactions between the characters are often hostile or odd and limited, making the supposed romantic development completely unbelievable. Of course, the book is not really about romance, but action and adventure which is where it shines. The author’s great writing style brings to life epic showdowns featuring warriors of good and evil, titans of ancient days, and monsters galore. The focus of the novel is indeed the action, but throughout the volume the reader can catch glimpses of an incredibly deep fantasy world complete with myths and legends Mr. Shuerger created for his debut novel. By the end of the book, I had concern for the sequel, concern tempered with optimistic hope. The book’s trajectory ascends steeply from fantastical to incredibly epic in scale which leaves seemingly little place to go. Nevertheless, I have seen other authors make it work admirably and based on the quality of this novel, I am sure Mr. Shuerger has a plan and won’t run out of road before the story ends! I, for one, am eager to see what happens in the next book.
February 21, 2023
In Darkness Cast balances combat scenes, action, and suspense with lore and character development that has you taken in from the start. Creating characters you can easily root for and spinning a riveting story progression that takes you from a farm to the city, ruins, mountains, and beyond, Jonathan Shuerger has done a great job for his first of many large novels to come. Readers of the fantasy genre will see familiar tropes and be glad the author does them justice, and even introduces new outlooks on celebrated themes. Each layer we peel throughout the novel of the world and the characters in it will keep you invested for the next big arc. Being able to easily identify with some characters and their very human errors, thoughts, and misgivings about life and against God, vastly outside my wheelhouse and what I normally read and identify with, gave me moments after setting the book down to really think. Given the world to work in and work his magic, Jonathan Shuerger delivers. Highly recommended!
October 16, 2022
I'm not sure why others rating this a 5 stars rating as if this is another great story....must've been friends of the author? Speaking the truth here, it's a classic story good versus evil as if it hasn't been done before? I mean this story is nothing new. It's much closed to many story that I've read. I came across this from another recommendation to read however, I am extremely disappointed overall. Copycat at it's best! My honest opinion, this is extremely bad writing and at times I had to re-read what the author was trying to say. Its a hard read.
September 14, 2024
I enjoyed this book and finished it quicker than most of late. A christian fantasy novel about a hero trained by an elite man of darkness. Good battle scenes, well-developed characters and some deep questions. The book and world seems very dark, with no beauty and little light. Just overwhelming darkness as the hero tried to bring light to the world and understand how God is working. A solid four.
December 7, 2020
As a lit major, this book is not my genre. I hate violence and gore, but I'm so glad I read this book. It challenged me in lots of ways and helped me see evil for what it is - EVIL I find myself thinking about the characters and wondering what is next for this endearing people group. Looking forward to the next book!
July 19, 2022
I have no words. This book blew my mind. It elevated me to a higher level. It’s conflict raged on so many levels. No writer has ever tackled like this. If I could give ten stars I would. This book is the best book I’ve read of 2022 top down. Period. It will remain on my Immortal shelf for best books I’ve ever read. Well done Mr Shuerger. Well done.
September 15, 2023
A cracking bit of dark fantasy. Through the dark wizard Ashkelon, Shuerger does an excellent job of subverting expectations and undermining our sense of what a 'hero' should be, even as his paladin Gideon does his best to meet those expectations head-on.
Also, Vikings and giant spiders and cultists, oh my.
Also, Vikings and giant spiders and cultists, oh my.
July 11, 2022
Great story
I love this story it reminds me of Lord of the Rings and of those fantasy stories. I love Gideon who fights the forces of evil in this page turner. I would like to know more about the author. Great work.
I love this story it reminds me of Lord of the Rings and of those fantasy stories. I love Gideon who fights the forces of evil in this page turner. I would like to know more about the author. Great work.
July 28, 2022
A warrior fighting to keep bad guys from taking over. A great story, I enjoyed reading this tale. Talk about good, bad, guts, monsters, villains and not everything turns out the way you want it to. A must read for book lovers everywhere.
March 18, 2022
Pretty Good!
Some nice story telling! There’s also some great imagery—the author’s prose is beautiful in some moments.
Overall, a fun story.
Some nice story telling! There’s also some great imagery—the author’s prose is beautiful in some moments.
Overall, a fun story.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews