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A Dance of Fire and Shadow #1
Shadowblade
Ariel knows that to accept the Shadowblade's deadly gift of fighting skill and power is the first step on a dark path to tyranny.
Blade adepts are hated and feared––and ultimately hunted down and killed.
She has no choice. It's her only chance to rescue her sister from capture and slavery by the ruthless Rapathian invaders.
It feels like a desperate but simple decision until she meets Marin, Captain of the Eldrin, the elite force of mage-warriors protecting King and realm from attack. Pledged to defend their country, they are also sworn to capture and kill dangerous Blade adepts.
Now Ariel has to convince Marin and his highly skilled team of fighters to help her rescue her sister––and that they can trust her to fight alongside them.
Failure means instant death. But the path to success is long and hard. Love and war would be complex enough without having to resist the temptation that too much power brings––or the interference of powerful Elementals focused on revenge....
Shadowblade is the first book of A Dance of Fire & Shadow, the new fantasy adventure-romance series from Jay Aspen.
Blade adepts are hated and feared––and ultimately hunted down and killed.
She has no choice. It's her only chance to rescue her sister from capture and slavery by the ruthless Rapathian invaders.
It feels like a desperate but simple decision until she meets Marin, Captain of the Eldrin, the elite force of mage-warriors protecting King and realm from attack. Pledged to defend their country, they are also sworn to capture and kill dangerous Blade adepts.
Now Ariel has to convince Marin and his highly skilled team of fighters to help her rescue her sister––and that they can trust her to fight alongside them.
Failure means instant death. But the path to success is long and hard. Love and war would be complex enough without having to resist the temptation that too much power brings––or the interference of powerful Elementals focused on revenge....
Shadowblade is the first book of A Dance of Fire & Shadow, the new fantasy adventure-romance series from Jay Aspen.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 27, 2021
338 people are currently reading
411 people want to read
About the author
Jay Aspen
34 books18 followersHi, thanks for visiting my page. I’m Jay, a sci-fi, thriller and occasional fantasy author from the wild Welsh borders!
I love weaving my (sometimes hair-raising) experiences of extreme sports into my stories as well as painting scenes from my travels into both contemporary and imagined worlds.
When I’m reading, I find the blend of fast-paced plots and interesting, compelling characters is what keeps the pages turning – so that is how I like to write.
I hope you’ll love my stories – there are more of them due out this year!
You can find more of my online pages and my work at the links below. Don’t forget to sign up for my VIP reader-group to keep up to date on my news and new releases!
I love weaving my (sometimes hair-raising) experiences of extreme sports into my stories as well as painting scenes from my travels into both contemporary and imagined worlds.
When I’m reading, I find the blend of fast-paced plots and interesting, compelling characters is what keeps the pages turning – so that is how I like to write.
I hope you’ll love my stories – there are more of them due out this year!
You can find more of my online pages and my work at the links below. Don’t forget to sign up for my VIP reader-group to keep up to date on my news and new releases!
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
January 24, 2022
Power Vs discipline
A great first book of this fantasy series. Empires, races, magic, action and adventures. Very good world building and more importantly for introduction to the characters.
A young huntress, Ariel, is devastated by the destruction of her village and family to an invading empire. To rescue her younger sister she needs power. This power comes at a price to recive and to keep using it. She makes allies with surviving members of her kingdom's surviving elite warriors. However can she remain true to herself in using her powers, and what will her suspicious allies do if she cannot?
I really like the ballance of raw power Vs training and discipline. I also the overlooked part about martial arts. The mental aspects, not just the will and determination to keep going, but the mental sharpness. The ability to think fast and adapt quickly in high pressure situations. Especially when the stakes are life and death.
A great start to the series. I really like that all the characters are not one dimension. The have their own secrets and backstories. The book is a real page turner. As soon as o read one chapter I wanted to read the next one. Now that I finished this book I want to get the next one in the series.
A great first book of this fantasy series. Empires, races, magic, action and adventures. Very good world building and more importantly for introduction to the characters.
A young huntress, Ariel, is devastated by the destruction of her village and family to an invading empire. To rescue her younger sister she needs power. This power comes at a price to recive and to keep using it. She makes allies with surviving members of her kingdom's surviving elite warriors. However can she remain true to herself in using her powers, and what will her suspicious allies do if she cannot?
I really like the ballance of raw power Vs training and discipline. I also the overlooked part about martial arts. The mental aspects, not just the will and determination to keep going, but the mental sharpness. The ability to think fast and adapt quickly in high pressure situations. Especially when the stakes are life and death.
A great start to the series. I really like that all the characters are not one dimension. The have their own secrets and backstories. The book is a real page turner. As soon as o read one chapter I wanted to read the next one. Now that I finished this book I want to get the next one in the series.
April 19, 2022
A bit of a slow start, but it ended strong. Someone summed up the theme of this book well: Power vs Discipline. It’s great to have power but if you don’t have the discipline to back it up it can consume you and take over who you are. The world-building and character development are done well, especially for such a short book. The magic system is interesting and Deris is the best character so far!
Ariel is a hunter and learning to be a healer from her mother when things happen to change her life. She needs to learn how to use this power she has while still holding onto her humanity and who she is and not letting it take over and consume her. There is war, political intrigue, betrayal, love at first sight, battle training, and more.
Ariel is a hunter and learning to be a healer from her mother when things happen to change her life. She needs to learn how to use this power she has while still holding onto her humanity and who she is and not letting it take over and consume her. There is war, political intrigue, betrayal, love at first sight, battle training, and more.
March 5, 2021
Exciting fantasy adventure
This is a fascinating fantasy adventure, where Ariel makes a dangerous devil's bargain in a desperate attempt to save her sister, and then discovers how difficult life has become as she tries to avoid the deadly consequences of her choice. Now she's caught between the ancient and powerful Shadowblade Elemental and the mysterious mage-warrior whose duty it is to hunt and kill Blade adepts. Or... it would be if love hadn't started to make things even more complicated. Elves, wolves, dragons and a savage invading Empire also conspire to make things even more interesting.
This is a fascinating fantasy adventure, where Ariel makes a dangerous devil's bargain in a desperate attempt to save her sister, and then discovers how difficult life has become as she tries to avoid the deadly consequences of her choice. Now she's caught between the ancient and powerful Shadowblade Elemental and the mysterious mage-warrior whose duty it is to hunt and kill Blade adepts. Or... it would be if love hadn't started to make things even more complicated. Elves, wolves, dragons and a savage invading Empire also conspire to make things even more interesting.
August 20, 2021
I enjoyed this book very much!
Ariel, A hunter and healer finds her village destroyed. Those who were not killed were taken as captured slaves including Ariels younger sister. Ariel will do whatever it takes to rescue her sister even it means taking in a power she doesn't understand and doesn't know how to use! The stakes have never been higher for Ariel as she becomes a Blade adept. This adventure has life changing challenges, vengeance, trust issues, intrigue and some very interesting twists. This is a well crafted story with very well developed characters and moves at a good pace. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one...
Ariel, A hunter and healer finds her village destroyed. Those who were not killed were taken as captured slaves including Ariels younger sister. Ariel will do whatever it takes to rescue her sister even it means taking in a power she doesn't understand and doesn't know how to use! The stakes have never been higher for Ariel as she becomes a Blade adept. This adventure has life changing challenges, vengeance, trust issues, intrigue and some very interesting twists. This is a well crafted story with very well developed characters and moves at a good pace. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the next one...
June 4, 2021
Traitors and intrigue
This book is full of traitors and intrigue. The characters are nicely developed through the story. One YA girl comes home to find her entire village maliciously murdered. To avenge them she finds the legendary Blade, who she convinces to give her fighting abilities and a legendary type sword. She runs into some of the Eldrin and joins them to rescue the King. They don’t trust her skills, which usually drives an individual mad, murdering everyone around them. Can she convince them she wouldn’t do that, or do they carry out the mandatory death sentence?
This book is full of traitors and intrigue. The characters are nicely developed through the story. One YA girl comes home to find her entire village maliciously murdered. To avenge them she finds the legendary Blade, who she convinces to give her fighting abilities and a legendary type sword. She runs into some of the Eldrin and joins them to rescue the King. They don’t trust her skills, which usually drives an individual mad, murdering everyone around them. Can she convince them she wouldn’t do that, or do they carry out the mandatory death sentence?
August 10, 2021
Intense
It's a good storyline and definitely grabs your interest. It could use a little bit better editing, especially with the occasional random word just missing. It's definitely a dark story so it's good to be prepared for that. One of the things that bothered me most was the casual inclusion of the enslaved rape/prostitution- not in detail, just that you know it's going on and even that there's a group that is physically abused as well and they're just left behind, with the hope of helping them in the future.
It's a good storyline and definitely grabs your interest. It could use a little bit better editing, especially with the occasional random word just missing. It's definitely a dark story so it's good to be prepared for that. One of the things that bothered me most was the casual inclusion of the enslaved rape/prostitution- not in detail, just that you know it's going on and even that there's a group that is physically abused as well and they're just left behind, with the hope of helping them in the future.
September 26, 2021
2.5/5
If you like any of these five things in a book, you should consider reading this one!:
- Battle training
- Learning how to control magical powers
- Political intrigue and traitors
- Band of friends/warriors (kind of qualifies as a found family? Will probably grow over course of series)
- Morally gray main characters
Overall, I had a fun time reading this. I found the magic system fascinating. Deris had to be my favorite character, with Marin in a pretty close second place. I liked the training sequences especially! I do love me a good training sequence lol
If you like any of these five things in a book, you should consider reading this one!:
- Battle training
- Learning how to control magical powers
- Political intrigue and traitors
- Band of friends/warriors (kind of qualifies as a found family? Will probably grow over course of series)
- Morally gray main characters
Overall, I had a fun time reading this. I found the magic system fascinating. Deris had to be my favorite character, with Marin in a pretty close second place. I liked the training sequences especially! I do love me a good training sequence lol
November 27, 2021
Flashes
Reading this book was like following a D&D style campaign in which the healer has been possessed by the shade of an assassin. There are so many facets available to the main character that the author could have been forgiven if the rest of the cast had been a bit flat and one sided. They arent though. They parcel out insights and flashes of their own facets in a cautious dance around the maelstrom that is the main character.
Reading this book was like following a D&D style campaign in which the healer has been possessed by the shade of an assassin. There are so many facets available to the main character that the author could have been forgiven if the rest of the cast had been a bit flat and one sided. They arent though. They parcel out insights and flashes of their own facets in a cautious dance around the maelstrom that is the main character.
September 22, 2022
wow, what a read!!!
I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end…
The storyline, with all its intensity and turns….
The characters…. They jumped out of the pages for me…
I could clearly visualise almost everything that was going on…
The trials to gain control of something strong and somewhat evil within being a constant battle….
I will definitely follow this series….
Cannot wait to see where Ariel ends up…. And in What state of mind….
A really great read….
I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end…
The storyline, with all its intensity and turns….
The characters…. They jumped out of the pages for me…
I could clearly visualise almost everything that was going on…
The trials to gain control of something strong and somewhat evil within being a constant battle….
I will definitely follow this series….
Cannot wait to see where Ariel ends up…. And in What state of mind….
A really great read….
June 14, 2025
Excellent reading
I highly recommend this book. First time I've read anything by this author and it certainly won't be the last. I felt like I could see the fantastic world she has built. Great character, world scene building. A book that read as being written by an experienced writer. Wish I was allowed more space to share my experience. Read this book. You won't regret it.
I highly recommend this book. First time I've read anything by this author and it certainly won't be the last. I felt like I could see the fantastic world she has built. Great character, world scene building. A book that read as being written by an experienced writer. Wish I was allowed more space to share my experience. Read this book. You won't regret it.
May 5, 2021
Fantasy about Power and Community
This story tells of the life of a young woman forced by circumstances to make difficult and challenging choices to not only save her own life, but also to save the community of people she has come to value. Fast moving. Adventure. Learning to trust and be trusted.
This story tells of the life of a young woman forced by circumstances to make difficult and challenging choices to not only save her own life, but also to save the community of people she has come to value. Fast moving. Adventure. Learning to trust and be trusted.
October 30, 2023
3.5 stars. It was OK. As is often the case in fantasy books, the author seems to lack an appreciation of size and space. Characters travel between kingdoms within a day or so; between towns/cities in hours. Entire populations consist of a few thousand in one or two cities/towns. If you can set all of that aside, the book had some interesting ideas so I'll read the sequel.
March 9, 2021
4 1/2 stars
I chose to read this book based on the very intriguing blurb supplied by the author. It more than met my expectations. The story was well crafted to entice the reader with great world building and interesting characters. The fast pace moved the story forward and held my interest from the beginning. I enjoyed reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I chose to read this book based on the very intriguing blurb supplied by the author. It more than met my expectations. The story was well crafted to entice the reader with great world building and interesting characters. The fast pace moved the story forward and held my interest from the beginning. I enjoyed reading this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
April 10, 2021
I love books that weave a good story that pulls you in immediately, and this book did just that. The characters are interesting and complex. It is a multi book series, which helped me not feel so bad as this book ended a bit too abruptly for me.
April 11, 2021
A land of cruelty and beauty
Arial had a battle behind her and in front. Conquer the terrible rage or die. Marin seems to be her only hope. Whether she does it not depends on so much. Since there's us a sequel, she must be doing something right.
Arial had a battle behind her and in front. Conquer the terrible rage or die. Marin seems to be her only hope. Whether she does it not depends on so much. Since there's us a sequel, she must be doing something right.
August 15, 2025
How Much Power Do You Need
Gruesome tale of an invasion with innocent people losing their lives. The main character is forced into accepting powers she is untrained to handle. Those she saves have a worry that she could turn on them. No trust with this powerful ability.
Gruesome tale of an invasion with innocent people losing their lives. The main character is forced into accepting powers she is untrained to handle. Those she saves have a worry that she could turn on them. No trust with this powerful ability.
March 8, 2021
Really like this! Ariel is a truly original character from a truly original imagination. Almost a breakout genre of its own.
March 17, 2021
Intelligent, fast moving and innovative. Great book.
August 25, 2021
Great worldbuilding and interesting characters, I have already bought the next book in the series.
Give it a go.
Give it a go.
September 29, 2021
An interesting read, it took me a while to get into it, but in my opinion there were too much “politics” especially in the end…
It deserves a try!
It deserves a try!
December 28, 2021
It was interesting, but i feel it was something missing there espesially with Ariel, i did not feel her character growing or anything.
March 25, 2021
A great read - it’s perfect escapism and just what we all need right now. Here’s to the next one!
September 14, 2023
I have said this before, I love books with strong female characters. The plot in this book is a little unusual but one that is familiar at the same time.
The writing of this book is captivating, there is no wasted prose. It will hold your attention and keep you up.
I was reading this book during a 22-hour power outage with a 100-degree temperature. It keep my mind off just how hot it was.
The writing of this book is captivating, there is no wasted prose. It will hold your attention and keep you up.
I was reading this book during a 22-hour power outage with a 100-degree temperature. It keep my mind off just how hot it was.
June 10, 2021
The start of the series sets the tone and pace for the entire arc. What would you do if your town was destroyed and your family taken by the enemy? Forging an alliance with ancient enemies to face a common enemy leads to unexpected adventures.
February 18, 2021
What a wonderful and harrowing start to this series. Jay Aspen pulls you in from the very beginning and the grip never lessens. I recommend this book and am waiting impatiently for the next!
Born a hunter but always aware that something is missing with their people. Tragedy strikes and Ariel must gain the power of the shadowblade if she has any hope of rescuing her sister and keeping them alive. But, everyone knows the shadowblade is cursed and anyone who wields it must be killed. Will she live long enough to save her sister? Read the book and maybe you will know!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
Born a hunter but always aware that something is missing with their people. Tragedy strikes and Ariel must gain the power of the shadowblade if she has any hope of rescuing her sister and keeping them alive. But, everyone knows the shadowblade is cursed and anyone who wields it must be killed. Will she live long enough to save her sister? Read the book and maybe you will know!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.
January 2, 2025
Straight into the action with soldiers, death and ransacking......Lots going on in this book and some great city fight scenes and clambering about assassin style. A solid first book... just want to find out more about the characters now.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews