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The Shield Road: A Collection of Fantasy Short Stories
A thief. A princess. A warrior. A Bladekin.
They wander the world alone, encountering fire and shadow wraiths, moss barons and secret royal agents. They each have their own problems, their own missions. They walk the shield road.
But the discovery of a certain artifact sets things in motion which will bring them together, to prevent the return of an evil long thought defeated.
The Shield Road is a collection of fantasy short stories that take place chronologically in the same world. Featuring thieves and assassins, road-weary warriors and a slew of interesting monsters, no character has a simple choice to make, especially when ancient evils threaten to return and tip the world upside down.
They wander the world alone, encountering fire and shadow wraiths, moss barons and secret royal agents. They each have their own problems, their own missions. They walk the shield road.
But the discovery of a certain artifact sets things in motion which will bring them together, to prevent the return of an evil long thought defeated.
The Shield Road is a collection of fantasy short stories that take place chronologically in the same world. Featuring thieves and assassins, road-weary warriors and a slew of interesting monsters, no character has a simple choice to make, especially when ancient evils threaten to return and tip the world upside down.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 29, 2021
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99 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
May 3, 2021
"They called it the shield road. The path of the lone warrior, forced to carry their own supplies. He'd walked it for too long."
The Shield Road is amazing! In but a few short stories, and just shy of 200 pages, a world dripping with fantasy and lore has been created. Complex, well-thought out characters, an intriguing magic system, and all written in a flawless, descriptive style. These short stories start out completely separate from one another, but as the book goes on, their paths connect, and pieces we're told through-out the narrative finally click together!
An absolutely fantastic read! If you're a fan of Sword and Sorcery, or Tolkien, you'll definitely enjoy The Shield Road!
The Shield Road is amazing! In but a few short stories, and just shy of 200 pages, a world dripping with fantasy and lore has been created. Complex, well-thought out characters, an intriguing magic system, and all written in a flawless, descriptive style. These short stories start out completely separate from one another, but as the book goes on, their paths connect, and pieces we're told through-out the narrative finally click together!
An absolutely fantastic read! If you're a fan of Sword and Sorcery, or Tolkien, you'll definitely enjoy The Shield Road!
July 30, 2022
The Shield Road is a delightful collection of fantasy short stories that I thoroughly enjoyed!
I’ve read many short story collections, but very few are set up like this, in the same world with overlapping plots and characters. Hargreaves does a fantastic job of creating a complicated world populated with unique characters all within the bounds of a series of short stories.
I can easily see Hargreaves taking the fantasy world by storm. If this is any indication of his talent, I am eagerly awaiting whatever he does next, although I do hope he returns to this world at some point because I’d love to see more from this cast of characters.
I’ve read many short story collections, but very few are set up like this, in the same world with overlapping plots and characters. Hargreaves does a fantastic job of creating a complicated world populated with unique characters all within the bounds of a series of short stories.
I can easily see Hargreaves taking the fantasy world by storm. If this is any indication of his talent, I am eagerly awaiting whatever he does next, although I do hope he returns to this world at some point because I’d love to see more from this cast of characters.
July 22, 2021
Excellent inter-woven collection of stories
I particularly liked how the stories were inter-linked, making one cohesive story, and the little Easter eggs as you recognised a part of one story in the other.
They characters were well-fleshed out, each with their own motives, back story and personality.
All in all, a super enjoyable read!
I particularly liked how the stories were inter-linked, making one cohesive story, and the little Easter eggs as you recognised a part of one story in the other.
They characters were well-fleshed out, each with their own motives, back story and personality.
All in all, a super enjoyable read!
April 2, 2021
This was a very intriguing fantasy read. Billed as a series of short stories, as the book progresses, the line starts to blur between "story" and "chapter" as there is more overlap and revisiting of characters from tale to tale so that it begins to feel more like a normal fantasy novel structure toward the end. That is not a criticism, just a bit of a warning as some readers may find this unusual approach disconcerting if you aren't expecting it. I enjoyed it. It was a bit like catching glimpses of a puzzle with the fun of trying to put the pieces together in your own mind. I found myself flipping back to previous stories and rereading them once I had a deeper context for the world and the overall storyline in order to appreciate them even more. The worldbuilding is very good and revealed naturally rather than through info dumps. There is a central lone wolf figure that recurs that reminded me a bit of The Witcher but they were well supported by a cast of other intriguing characters. In some ways, this reads like a warm up to a fantasy series that will explore in greater depth this world and the characters in it and if so, it definitely whet my appetite for more. Extremely well-written and edited, I would recommend for readers who enjoy a quieter, more literary take on traditional fantasy themes.
May 9, 2021
This is the kind of short story collection that I love. All these stories, while technically standing on their own, occur in the same universe and if you read them in order, you get a wider, more encompass story. But if you want to jump around, you can! I love for the versatility of that!
Loved the world building within this book. It’s very subtle and done through the characters’ adventures which is absolutely my favorite way to explore a new world. I felt like I was discovering things along with the characters.
Speaking of characters, the ones in here are so well done! I can’t really tell you a favorite because I found something to like in all of them. They were grounded, realistic and yet still likable, something not always found in fantasy as of late.
If you want to explore a fun fantasy world but aren’t feeling up to a long epic, definitely dip into this world. It’s well worth the visit and I hope we see more of it in the future!
Loved the world building within this book. It’s very subtle and done through the characters’ adventures which is absolutely my favorite way to explore a new world. I felt like I was discovering things along with the characters.
Speaking of characters, the ones in here are so well done! I can’t really tell you a favorite because I found something to like in all of them. They were grounded, realistic and yet still likable, something not always found in fantasy as of late.
If you want to explore a fun fantasy world but aren’t feeling up to a long epic, definitely dip into this world. It’s well worth the visit and I hope we see more of it in the future!
October 20, 2021
Action, adventure, magic, mystery, and monsters all wrapped up in an excellent fantasy, quest-like story in less than 200 pages? Perfect!
The writing style was flawless--I could picture everything perfectly from the descriptions. I was drawn to one character in particular (Talfrin--I got a Witcher vibe from him) but ALL of them were complex, relatable, and endearing to make you root for them! These short stories first start out separately, but eventually, all characters come together by the end. If you like Tolkien, you'll surely love The Shield Road.
I want more!
The writing style was flawless--I could picture everything perfectly from the descriptions. I was drawn to one character in particular (Talfrin--I got a Witcher vibe from him) but ALL of them were complex, relatable, and endearing to make you root for them! These short stories first start out separately, but eventually, all characters come together by the end. If you like Tolkien, you'll surely love The Shield Road.
I want more!
May 6, 2021
Of the few short story collections I’ve read, none have really had this idea of forming a larger plot. Usually, you see something more like a collection of short fairytale retellings or even unrelated stories. I quite like the idea of weaving together a larger tale from independent stories. In a way, reading The Shield Road is not really all that different from reading a normal novel, but I could totally see reading any one of these in a fantasy lit magazine and enjoying it by itself.
The one downside to the format of this book is perhaps that there’s just so many named characters, and we don’t get to hang out with any one of them for very long at first. Still, Hargeaves manages to pack great pieces of characterization into each and every story. Each individual feels real and fleshed out in their moment. Then, as the stories come together, we start to focus in more on specific characters, such as the Bladekin and the Princess.
I also don’t know how Hargreaves crams so much worldbuilding into each individual story. The art of showing “just enough” is difficult when writing a novel, but in my opinion it is even more difficult in a short story. Each of Hargreave’s stories has enough worldbuilding to be enjoyable and understood as its own unit. And yet, together they create a sprawling landscape. Masterfully done.
I very rarely give out 5 star reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. A 5 star review is a very high bar to clear. Hargeaves cleared it with room to spare with The Shield Road. He pulled off what can be a very tricky format with grace and aplomb. I was fascinated right up until the very end of the book. And although the conclusion was satisfying, I was still left craving more. I really hope we get to see more of the rich world he has created in future works.
The one downside to the format of this book is perhaps that there’s just so many named characters, and we don’t get to hang out with any one of them for very long at first. Still, Hargeaves manages to pack great pieces of characterization into each and every story. Each individual feels real and fleshed out in their moment. Then, as the stories come together, we start to focus in more on specific characters, such as the Bladekin and the Princess.
I also don’t know how Hargreaves crams so much worldbuilding into each individual story. The art of showing “just enough” is difficult when writing a novel, but in my opinion it is even more difficult in a short story. Each of Hargreave’s stories has enough worldbuilding to be enjoyable and understood as its own unit. And yet, together they create a sprawling landscape. Masterfully done.
I very rarely give out 5 star reviews on Amazon or Goodreads. A 5 star review is a very high bar to clear. Hargeaves cleared it with room to spare with The Shield Road. He pulled off what can be a very tricky format with grace and aplomb. I was fascinated right up until the very end of the book. And although the conclusion was satisfying, I was still left craving more. I really hope we get to see more of the rich world he has created in future works.
February 14, 2023
I would recommend this book, but I would recommend reading it as a novel, I think!
It's got me to think about what I'd even define as a 'story', because I think if I had tried to read this the way I might usually read a collection of short stories, it wouldn't have worked for me. The way I experienced this book wasn't as a short story collection but as a single novel with, well, chapters. I think part of that is because there's a primary narrative thread through all of them, but more of it's because I don't think every story/chapter can stand on its own. Some can, but some are short links that only work for me if I think of them as adding to the overall book rather than as being pieces in themselves. (And of the longer ones, I'm not sure how many I would've enjoyed had I read them on their own, since they are so firmly situated in context.)
None of this is a criticism, by the way! Whether it's a novel or a collection has no bearing on its quality, but I think it's worth bringing up because how you read this book, what you expect from it going in, might affect how you enjoy it. I'm thinking of it as a novel because that's how the experience works best for me, I think, so I can consider it from the most favourable perspective.
What we do get is a nice balance of variety and consistency: there's a range of POVs and characters, but not too many. We spend enough time with each of the major players to get to know them. It's only a short book, so even those we meet briefly have enough proportionate time on the page that we remember them when they pop up again later.
There's a lot of really nice attention to worldbuilding detail packed into the book's short length, too - it's efficient, getting a lot done with its time. I'm sure I've seen the author describe the vibe as alike to The Witcher or Skyrim, and I'd agree with both of those - it's definitely evocative of a particular genre. I even saw a lot of the scenes in my head with a distinctive colour palette that reminded me of those other franchises.
I only wish there were a bit more, really. Perhaps because it was conceived of as a collection of short stories, I think I put it down with less of a sense of... a grand tale, or an epic adventure, than I might have expected. Which is of course probably my fault for coming into it with those expectations. Still, I have the vague sense that I wish it had spent a little more time staying still so that the conclusion could've felt like more of a real Big Moment. It's not unsatisfying at all, so perhaps it's just my preconceptions of what things in this genre usually do muddying my view. Which is, again, my fault!
So the long and short of it is that I think how you read this book is probably quite important, because I think I read it differently than how it might've been conceived and yet I still think I found myself holding it to preconceptions or comparisons that didn't necessarily serve it well. You should read this book, but perhaps just try to go into it without expecting... well, anything in particular. I suspect that might be the best way to experience what The Shield Road has to offer, which I do still think is an awful lot.
It's got me to think about what I'd even define as a 'story', because I think if I had tried to read this the way I might usually read a collection of short stories, it wouldn't have worked for me. The way I experienced this book wasn't as a short story collection but as a single novel with, well, chapters. I think part of that is because there's a primary narrative thread through all of them, but more of it's because I don't think every story/chapter can stand on its own. Some can, but some are short links that only work for me if I think of them as adding to the overall book rather than as being pieces in themselves. (And of the longer ones, I'm not sure how many I would've enjoyed had I read them on their own, since they are so firmly situated in context.)
None of this is a criticism, by the way! Whether it's a novel or a collection has no bearing on its quality, but I think it's worth bringing up because how you read this book, what you expect from it going in, might affect how you enjoy it. I'm thinking of it as a novel because that's how the experience works best for me, I think, so I can consider it from the most favourable perspective.
What we do get is a nice balance of variety and consistency: there's a range of POVs and characters, but not too many. We spend enough time with each of the major players to get to know them. It's only a short book, so even those we meet briefly have enough proportionate time on the page that we remember them when they pop up again later.
There's a lot of really nice attention to worldbuilding detail packed into the book's short length, too - it's efficient, getting a lot done with its time. I'm sure I've seen the author describe the vibe as alike to The Witcher or Skyrim, and I'd agree with both of those - it's definitely evocative of a particular genre. I even saw a lot of the scenes in my head with a distinctive colour palette that reminded me of those other franchises.
I only wish there were a bit more, really. Perhaps because it was conceived of as a collection of short stories, I think I put it down with less of a sense of... a grand tale, or an epic adventure, than I might have expected. Which is of course probably my fault for coming into it with those expectations. Still, I have the vague sense that I wish it had spent a little more time staying still so that the conclusion could've felt like more of a real Big Moment. It's not unsatisfying at all, so perhaps it's just my preconceptions of what things in this genre usually do muddying my view. Which is, again, my fault!
So the long and short of it is that I think how you read this book is probably quite important, because I think I read it differently than how it might've been conceived and yet I still think I found myself holding it to preconceptions or comparisons that didn't necessarily serve it well. You should read this book, but perhaps just try to go into it without expecting... well, anything in particular. I suspect that might be the best way to experience what The Shield Road has to offer, which I do still think is an awful lot.
January 9, 2023
I loved this book, I’ll get that out of the way first. It was really fantastic and gripped my attention throughout. It’s marketed as a collection of short stories which take place chronologically in the same world, and it absolutely is that… but if I were to describe it, I’d say it leans more heavily on the connectedness of the stories than I perhaps expected, and the way they come together at the end is reminiscent of subplots converging in a novella. For me, then, this sort of straddles that line between being a novella and a collection - almost like the stories could have been serialised in the way Asimov’s Foundation was, then brought together in this volume. It’s not a bad thing by any means - in fact it works really well - it’s just my perception of it after having read the book.
Dewi’s writing style is thoroughly evocative and immersive, and carries a beautiful sense of gravitas regarding the world without being self indulgent. It was honestly a joy to read. There’s a depth of worldbuilding that defies the book’s length, and I’d be veeeery interested in reading more stories set in this world. The plot is tight and engaging, with each story moving things forward often through the use of references and Easter-eggs - this is particularly the case with the story The Silent Stones, which was the least directly connected one of the set - and sometimes convergence with characters from previous stories. In fact, the character of the Witch acts as a sort of through-line in between the stories as she moves from place to place. The character of Talfrin quickly becomes the centre-point of the book, a Bladekin magic-hunter and monster killer with strong Witcher vibes, whom the other characters all gravitate to. All the characters in their individual stories are really well fleshed out, from the thief to the Moonblade Princess. Talfrin was really awesome though - when I say “strong Witcher vibes”, I mean I literally pictured him as Henry Cavill!
Overall, an excellent read, and it comes highly recommended from me. Go pick this one up!
Dewi’s writing style is thoroughly evocative and immersive, and carries a beautiful sense of gravitas regarding the world without being self indulgent. It was honestly a joy to read. There’s a depth of worldbuilding that defies the book’s length, and I’d be veeeery interested in reading more stories set in this world. The plot is tight and engaging, with each story moving things forward often through the use of references and Easter-eggs - this is particularly the case with the story The Silent Stones, which was the least directly connected one of the set - and sometimes convergence with characters from previous stories. In fact, the character of the Witch acts as a sort of through-line in between the stories as she moves from place to place. The character of Talfrin quickly becomes the centre-point of the book, a Bladekin magic-hunter and monster killer with strong Witcher vibes, whom the other characters all gravitate to. All the characters in their individual stories are really well fleshed out, from the thief to the Moonblade Princess. Talfrin was really awesome though - when I say “strong Witcher vibes”, I mean I literally pictured him as Henry Cavill!
Overall, an excellent read, and it comes highly recommended from me. Go pick this one up!
March 9, 2023
If you’re looking for a short fantasy read that feels as immersive as an epic, look no further! The Shield Road delivers deep characters and world building, all within 179 pages.
Each chapter in this book is concise and immersive, and manages to deliver its own story arc while simultaneously driving the plot forward. While each of the individual stories could be read as a stand-alone, together they build towards an epic fantasy ending that you’ll have to read to believe!
Highly recommend! 5 stars!
Each chapter in this book is concise and immersive, and manages to deliver its own story arc while simultaneously driving the plot forward. While each of the individual stories could be read as a stand-alone, together they build towards an epic fantasy ending that you’ll have to read to believe!
Highly recommend! 5 stars!
May 10, 2024
I love indie books. I love the imagination that goes into them and I love how authors think outside the box and sometimes take risks to realise their vision.
This is one such book.
As others have said, while touted as an interlinked short story collection this is more like a novel told in the format of short stories. And that's where the imagination and thinking outside the box comes in.
Each story is self-contained but all building towards a satisfying climax and a poignant epilogue.
Great stuff! Look forward to reading more from this author.
This is one such book.
As others have said, while touted as an interlinked short story collection this is more like a novel told in the format of short stories. And that's where the imagination and thinking outside the box comes in.
Each story is self-contained but all building towards a satisfying climax and a poignant epilogue.
Great stuff! Look forward to reading more from this author.
January 25, 2023
This book is an amazing journey through an interesting world. Each story centers on one character and they weave together nicely. ❤️❤️
December 31, 2023
A collection of short stories that is really one interwoven tale, expertly done.
April 3, 2022
I absolutely loved this collection of short stories. It was so fun to read and the world building was excellent, full of magic and lore woven throughout. Each story can be read separately and stands on its own, but when combined they tell the story of the Shield Road itself.
April 6, 2021
The Shield Road is fantasy world-building at its finest; it weaves together a tapestry of complex characters and seemingly disconnected stories that ultimately converge on one another during the climax of the book. While I usually would struggle to feel invested in short stories, the common threads throughout The Shield Road lend a sense of familiarity, even when introducing new locations, concepts, and characters. It's less of a disconnected anthology and more of a multiple POV story. The difference between this and your standard multi POV fantasy is that The Shield Road doesn't mince words or drone on. Each segment is short and purposeful, though the purpose of scenes might not be immediately apparent--but it all feels relevant in the end. It's the sort of book where you'll pick up on things you missed, when you go back to read it a second time (and you'll definitely want to).
Stylistically, I found Hargreaves's prose to be concise and engaging. The world in which The Shield Road takes place draws on some tried-and-true traditions of high fantasy while also introducing enough unique elements to maintain a fresh feel and not come across as derivative. I'd compare it to The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, though rather than focusing on a single protagonist, it features a diverse cast of characters, who all somehow manage to win you over despite the brevity of their appearances and their often questionable motives.
In short, The Shield Road was a breath of fresh air in a genre that is too often bogged down by the same old format. It's unique, succinct, and digestible, but no less immersive for it.
Stylistically, I found Hargreaves's prose to be concise and engaging. The world in which The Shield Road takes place draws on some tried-and-true traditions of high fantasy while also introducing enough unique elements to maintain a fresh feel and not come across as derivative. I'd compare it to The Last Wish by Andrzej Sapkowski, though rather than focusing on a single protagonist, it features a diverse cast of characters, who all somehow manage to win you over despite the brevity of their appearances and their often questionable motives.
In short, The Shield Road was a breath of fresh air in a genre that is too often bogged down by the same old format. It's unique, succinct, and digestible, but no less immersive for it.
October 26, 2021
A wonderful collection of stories
There are a lot of strong stories here and some memorable characters, too. Each story contributes to an overarching narrative and they knit together really well. While one or two of the stories felt more like connections than standalone stories, the threads are otherwise expertly brought together. The pacing was a great strength here.
The world building was another strength of the collection, offering us enough detail without ever threatening to overwhelm in the way some fantasy works can.
Overall, this is a truly enjoyable fantasy journey and one I would highly recommend you take.
There are a lot of strong stories here and some memorable characters, too. Each story contributes to an overarching narrative and they knit together really well. While one or two of the stories felt more like connections than standalone stories, the threads are otherwise expertly brought together. The pacing was a great strength here.
The world building was another strength of the collection, offering us enough detail without ever threatening to overwhelm in the way some fantasy works can.
Overall, this is a truly enjoyable fantasy journey and one I would highly recommend you take.
November 11, 2021
Misses more than it Hits. Characters range from decent to teeth-grindingly dull. Some story elements would've served a long story better, most either run out of steam or die at the premise.
Recommended to me by a student. I now judge their taste in fantasy.
Recommended to me by a student. I now judge their taste in fantasy.
September 8, 2023
Indie author Dewi Hargreaves's debut offering, The Shield Road, is an interesting specimen. The premise of the book, a collection of fantasy short stories set in chronological order in the same world, intrigued me, much like I imagine the idea for The Hindenburg also did for the masses in the 1930s. Unfortunately, in terms of execution - much like The Hindenburg - the book doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Now that I’ve given away my opinion in the opening paragraph along with a masterful link to a historical tragedy and filled my quota for the week, let’s roll it back and unpack that first paragraph.
A lot of people talk about not judging a book by its cover but let’s be realistic. Every single book ever published in the history of humankind has been and always will be judged by its cover. Luckily, the cover for The Shield Road is awesome.
The cover’s really solid, with simple shades of complementary colours subtly breaking up the cover nicely without being too jarring. The green and blue are broken up nicely by the white tones of the moon and shield. The cover’s got a nice matte finish and is really good to touch.
The only thing that bugs me about the cover is the title. It jumps out and catches my attention but the art doesn’t quite gel with the more subtle cover art. Overall, credit has to go to Dewi for the stellar work he did with the cover.
So, the cover’s great but what about the writing itself? Is it worth the ink? I’d have to say it is for the most part. Dewi’s writing style is enjoyable and pretty easy to follow with prose that isn’t too long-winded and sluggish.
His descriptions aren’t excessive, it’s no Wheel of Time situation, which is a good thing. It gives me enough of a picture in my head so I have a sense of where I am in that world and what’s going on at that point in time. All of this stuff didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story too much and really drew me in.
The characters throughout the book unfortunately have impacted my enjoyment of the stories. Up until The Moss Baron about a quarter through the book, most of the characters felt just one-dimensional and flat to me. Talfrin the Bladekin felt like the first real character that appeared in the book. He was developed and had a bit of nuance to him. He was engaging and believable and made me want to keep reading the story.
I was glad every time he turned up in the book and was far and away my favourite character. This wasn’t a high bar to clear unfortunately as most of the characters don’t have that same spark that Talfrin has. They weren’t cardboard cut-outs for the most part but just didn’t grab me.
This whole premise of the book is one long overarching story told through the short story collection. Like I said earlier, it’s a nice idea and the whole reason I picked up this book in the first place. The arch felt just really scattershot to me in execution; only a few of the stories felt like they were actually contributing to that narrative and the rest felt like filler.
For me, the arch doesn’t really start kicking in until around The Keeper - 125 odd pages into the book - and when your book doesn’t start until 125 out of the 160 odd pages that’s not a great sign.
So yeah, The Shield Road. Give it a read and form your own opinion. Personally, I look forward to Dewi’s next work as all the good and bad from this book are going to help improve the next work.
Now that I’ve given away my opinion in the opening paragraph along with a masterful link to a historical tragedy and filled my quota for the week, let’s roll it back and unpack that first paragraph.
A lot of people talk about not judging a book by its cover but let’s be realistic. Every single book ever published in the history of humankind has been and always will be judged by its cover. Luckily, the cover for The Shield Road is awesome.
The cover’s really solid, with simple shades of complementary colours subtly breaking up the cover nicely without being too jarring. The green and blue are broken up nicely by the white tones of the moon and shield. The cover’s got a nice matte finish and is really good to touch.
The only thing that bugs me about the cover is the title. It jumps out and catches my attention but the art doesn’t quite gel with the more subtle cover art. Overall, credit has to go to Dewi for the stellar work he did with the cover.
So, the cover’s great but what about the writing itself? Is it worth the ink? I’d have to say it is for the most part. Dewi’s writing style is enjoyable and pretty easy to follow with prose that isn’t too long-winded and sluggish.
His descriptions aren’t excessive, it’s no Wheel of Time situation, which is a good thing. It gives me enough of a picture in my head so I have a sense of where I am in that world and what’s going on at that point in time. All of this stuff didn’t impact my enjoyment of the story too much and really drew me in.
The characters throughout the book unfortunately have impacted my enjoyment of the stories. Up until The Moss Baron about a quarter through the book, most of the characters felt just one-dimensional and flat to me. Talfrin the Bladekin felt like the first real character that appeared in the book. He was developed and had a bit of nuance to him. He was engaging and believable and made me want to keep reading the story.
I was glad every time he turned up in the book and was far and away my favourite character. This wasn’t a high bar to clear unfortunately as most of the characters don’t have that same spark that Talfrin has. They weren’t cardboard cut-outs for the most part but just didn’t grab me.
This whole premise of the book is one long overarching story told through the short story collection. Like I said earlier, it’s a nice idea and the whole reason I picked up this book in the first place. The arch felt just really scattershot to me in execution; only a few of the stories felt like they were actually contributing to that narrative and the rest felt like filler.
For me, the arch doesn’t really start kicking in until around The Keeper - 125 odd pages into the book - and when your book doesn’t start until 125 out of the 160 odd pages that’s not a great sign.
So yeah, The Shield Road. Give it a read and form your own opinion. Personally, I look forward to Dewi’s next work as all the good and bad from this book are going to help improve the next work.
March 20, 2022
Dewi Hargreaves' THE SHIELD ROAD is a triumphant example of the power and value of independent publishing. A big-tent house might not know what to do with a peculiar and intriguing (and certainly non-standard) project like this - or else snap it up and fumble the bag entirely when it comes to marketing the thing. But in the independent scene, this wonderfully unique collection has found a well-deserved audience, and I count myself among them.
As advertised, THE SHIELD ROAD is not a straightforward novel. Each chapter is posed as its own separate short story set in the same fantasy world; arranged linearly, these stories form a larger cohesive narrative, where the paths each character takes along their journeys sometimes overlap, collide, or join together in surprising and engaging ways. My one disappointment here was that this was not a true composite novel: not ALL of the stories can be read separate from the host narrative, and some are mere joining-pieces between larger chapters. But this fault is more than made up for by the engaging storytelling, grand worldbuilding, and instantly loveable characters.
Well-read perusers might draw comparisons between THE SHIELD ROAD and THE WITCHER, particularly THE LAST WISH - also told in short stories. And while those comparisons are valid, Hargreaves never goes full grimdark. The world of this collection is dangerous, but there is much gentleness to be found as well - and magic is less vicious and more mysterious, and the monsters lurking in the shadows are more easily vanquished. Heroism too is more easily found, as characters fall more along the lines of good and evil than do some others in more recent fantasy outings. This isn't GAME OF THRONES. The heroes are easy to root for and look up to.
The style too is a boon to this collection. Hargreaves makes the cunning choice to present the more fantastical elements of his world simply, with little explanation - this fleshes out the world without it feeling as though the narrator is holding our hand. Think of THE SHIELD ROAD not as a fantasy book, but a book of realistic fiction that might be published in its own fictional world. We would not explain what a dolphin is; Hargreaves therefore doesn't explain a fire wraith, or other such beasties. The language of the story is also simple yet elegant, allowing the storytelling to take center stage and pull you through, rather than forcing you to zero in on the wordplay.
All in all, THE SHIELD ROAD is a brief but diverting expedition into a familiar-feeling yet absorbing fantasy setting that I could see both the author and readers revisiting many times in the future.
As advertised, THE SHIELD ROAD is not a straightforward novel. Each chapter is posed as its own separate short story set in the same fantasy world; arranged linearly, these stories form a larger cohesive narrative, where the paths each character takes along their journeys sometimes overlap, collide, or join together in surprising and engaging ways. My one disappointment here was that this was not a true composite novel: not ALL of the stories can be read separate from the host narrative, and some are mere joining-pieces between larger chapters. But this fault is more than made up for by the engaging storytelling, grand worldbuilding, and instantly loveable characters.
Well-read perusers might draw comparisons between THE SHIELD ROAD and THE WITCHER, particularly THE LAST WISH - also told in short stories. And while those comparisons are valid, Hargreaves never goes full grimdark. The world of this collection is dangerous, but there is much gentleness to be found as well - and magic is less vicious and more mysterious, and the monsters lurking in the shadows are more easily vanquished. Heroism too is more easily found, as characters fall more along the lines of good and evil than do some others in more recent fantasy outings. This isn't GAME OF THRONES. The heroes are easy to root for and look up to.
The style too is a boon to this collection. Hargreaves makes the cunning choice to present the more fantastical elements of his world simply, with little explanation - this fleshes out the world without it feeling as though the narrator is holding our hand. Think of THE SHIELD ROAD not as a fantasy book, but a book of realistic fiction that might be published in its own fictional world. We would not explain what a dolphin is; Hargreaves therefore doesn't explain a fire wraith, or other such beasties. The language of the story is also simple yet elegant, allowing the storytelling to take center stage and pull you through, rather than forcing you to zero in on the wordplay.
All in all, THE SHIELD ROAD is a brief but diverting expedition into a familiar-feeling yet absorbing fantasy setting that I could see both the author and readers revisiting many times in the future.
October 2, 2021
Very interesting inter-woven collection of short stories. I picked this up because I was a bit tired of 800 pages-long fantasy tomes part of never ending 10 books series and I was told this could have been up my street. And it definitely was what I was looking for. I was so pleased that after years I could finally read fantasy without the 800 pages commitment. I don't want to spoil much in this review but if you like action, magic, some monsters here and there and a bucolic setting this is for you. What I liked about these stories is that they keep the reader in the dark about many aspects of the world, the magic system, races etc. There is no need to explain everything, even in a complex world like the one in The Shield Road. For example, I loved the Bladekins figures, their skills and ethics and although I would have loved to read more about them I think knowing this little is enough.
The structure of The shield road reminds of what fantasy used to be before Tolkien set the modern standards: short stories sharing a world and few characters showing up here and there. Think about Jack Vance and his Dying Earth's first book where there is a common theme, common world and some characters but they can be read independently.
I got lost a couple of times here and there in some stories, but overall it was a well written collection and I highly recommend it to people like me that love fantasy but are tired of Bible-like books. I'm looking forward to reading a sequel!
The structure of The shield road reminds of what fantasy used to be before Tolkien set the modern standards: short stories sharing a world and few characters showing up here and there. Think about Jack Vance and his Dying Earth's first book where there is a common theme, common world and some characters but they can be read independently.
I got lost a couple of times here and there in some stories, but overall it was a well written collection and I highly recommend it to people like me that love fantasy but are tired of Bible-like books. I'm looking forward to reading a sequel!
December 27, 2022
I don't normally read short stories, but decided to give this a try because it sounded intriguing. And I'm glad I did. Whilst it is in essence a collection of short stories that could, potentially, be read as standalone pieces, when read together in order they create a fascinating story with a wealth of interesting characters.
The worldbuilding is so well done, making it feel like you have dropped into a world full of ancient history, sometimes so ancient it has been forgotten even by those who live within it. And the wealth of experiences we get to have as readers by following a variety of different characters brings it all to life so well. There's a witch, and a thief, and a princess, and a warrior. There are scholars and lords, bandits and wraiths. It's interesting to spend time with each and every one of them, as you try to figure out exactly what's going on and where the story is leading you.
All in all it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading it a second time at some point to see what little snippets I missed on my first read - because I have no doubt that the author has left plenty of little hints that I overlooked the first time.
The worldbuilding is so well done, making it feel like you have dropped into a world full of ancient history, sometimes so ancient it has been forgotten even by those who live within it. And the wealth of experiences we get to have as readers by following a variety of different characters brings it all to life so well. There's a witch, and a thief, and a princess, and a warrior. There are scholars and lords, bandits and wraiths. It's interesting to spend time with each and every one of them, as you try to figure out exactly what's going on and where the story is leading you.
All in all it was an enjoyable read, and I look forward to reading it a second time at some point to see what little snippets I missed on my first read - because I have no doubt that the author has left plenty of little hints that I overlooked the first time.
July 18, 2021
I was honored to receive an ARC of Dewi Hargreaves’ upcoming anthology, The Shield Road.
This collection of fantastical and interwoven short stories is a masterpiece of fiction. Though each story could be read on its own, the collection as a whole and the puzzle pieces strewn throughout are extremely satisfying to read and piece together. The recurring themes and mysterious elements make reading the entire thing, front to back, worth your while.
Though these stories are of course short, the characterization within is wonderful and cohesive. Each character is a fully fleshed person with individual wants, fears, and motivations. We begin with meeting each character in their own story and along the way, get to enjoy as these characters find each other in this vast world, their stories weaving together to create an overarching plot.
I cannot recommend this anthology enough. If you’re looking for a story with impressive world building, found family tropes, and suspenseful intrigue, look no further than The Shield Road.
This collection of fantastical and interwoven short stories is a masterpiece of fiction. Though each story could be read on its own, the collection as a whole and the puzzle pieces strewn throughout are extremely satisfying to read and piece together. The recurring themes and mysterious elements make reading the entire thing, front to back, worth your while.
Though these stories are of course short, the characterization within is wonderful and cohesive. Each character is a fully fleshed person with individual wants, fears, and motivations. We begin with meeting each character in their own story and along the way, get to enjoy as these characters find each other in this vast world, their stories weaving together to create an overarching plot.
I cannot recommend this anthology enough. If you’re looking for a story with impressive world building, found family tropes, and suspenseful intrigue, look no further than The Shield Road.
August 6, 2021
Loved this collection sooooo much. It was amazing. It truly blew me away. The little stories were nice sized chunks to get through the book and never seemed like too much. If anything they made me read through the book faster and kept me wanting to read it.
The fantasy elements are spot on and I loved them and the magic involved and all the character dynamics, mmmmm. This book was so beautifully written and edited to perfection. I love the blue on the cover, there is so much blue, thank you it is my very favourite.
I did purchase the physical copy of this book and am so glad I did. I also love the tiny barely there hints and splashes at romance, just because romance is a part of life, but that isn't what these stories are about.
This author is very talented and must have spent a lot of time crafting and creating these stories which fall in the same world and follow the same timeline. Because they are gripping, they are interesting, they don't lag and they don't bore. They keep you wanting more, even after the book is over.
The fantasy elements are spot on and I loved them and the magic involved and all the character dynamics, mmmmm. This book was so beautifully written and edited to perfection. I love the blue on the cover, there is so much blue, thank you it is my very favourite.
I did purchase the physical copy of this book and am so glad I did. I also love the tiny barely there hints and splashes at romance, just because romance is a part of life, but that isn't what these stories are about.
This author is very talented and must have spent a lot of time crafting and creating these stories which fall in the same world and follow the same timeline. Because they are gripping, they are interesting, they don't lag and they don't bore. They keep you wanting more, even after the book is over.
January 3, 2022
The Shield Road is a very cleverly constructed cycle of short stories set in a medieval fantasy world, that gradually tie in together into a larger narrative that reveals just enough, but not a word too much. The reveals and twists are subtle, and one has to pay attention to clues throughout the stories to make sense of all the connections, without them being too obscure, so there a bit of fun and rewarding detecitve work involved, which makes it all the more engaging.
Many of the characters in this book are loveable and I enjoyed spending time with them very much, especially during their more humorous moments.
I would describe the writing style in The Shield Road as economic but effective: it is truly impressive what vivid a picture of this world the author paints with very few, but poignant words.
Overall, Dewi Hargreave's book is a solid, well-written and nicely plotted classic fantasy story that takes the reader on a mysterious and entertaining trip down The Shield Road.
Many of the characters in this book are loveable and I enjoyed spending time with them very much, especially during their more humorous moments.
I would describe the writing style in The Shield Road as economic but effective: it is truly impressive what vivid a picture of this world the author paints with very few, but poignant words.
Overall, Dewi Hargreave's book is a solid, well-written and nicely plotted classic fantasy story that takes the reader on a mysterious and entertaining trip down The Shield Road.
July 1, 2024
Shield Road is definitely one of my favorite fantasy books for this year. It captures a sense of escapism that is nurtured in part by Dewi’s vast fleshed out world-building and strong sense of voice, but also perpetuated by making the reader feel as though they are alongside each character through their story, as if walking with a friend. I would greatly recommend The Shield Road as a comfort read for anyone who enjoys the high fantasy of Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia, as well as the plot conventions of found family and unlikely friends. Dewi is a talented writer, and a master of introducing local color and pushing the boundaries of fantasy, dystopia, whatever world he envisions. The Shield Road is more than a work of fiction, it’s a tapestry, woven in the stories of travelers, thieves, princesses, Bladekin, and more.
July 18, 2021
Dewi Hargreaves has written a book of short stories, each with their own good ending - yet they flow perfectly from one to another to come full circle in creating a larger tale. Each tale captivates you with a rich background, a colorful bunch of cultures & classes, and full-dimensional characters that kept me invested all the way through. I love fantasy writing but often find myself lacking in time to get into an epic. This collection allowed me to do so in a serial format. I could pause and then pick it right back up where I had left off. It got me immersed very quickly. I can stop here, with this book and be happy, but part of me is hoping to see more about not only the characters but the world and its societies and cultures.
October 13, 2022
Hargreaves has taken an interesting approach with ‘The Shield Road’. The book is billed as a short story collection, but reading the book’s stories consecutively unfolds a novel-length narrative that’s cohesive and engaging from beginning to end.
There is plenty here for fans of the fantasy genre: solid world building, swords and magic, compelling and familiar character types. That said there is enough different here, and the storytelling is so compelling, folks who do not generally dive right into fantasy will find a lot to like. Also the book is not a mega-door stopper volume in a 6 part series. Would that Hargreaves would let us spend that much time in this world as I would absolutely read it.
There is plenty here for fans of the fantasy genre: solid world building, swords and magic, compelling and familiar character types. That said there is enough different here, and the storytelling is so compelling, folks who do not generally dive right into fantasy will find a lot to like. Also the book is not a mega-door stopper volume in a 6 part series. Would that Hargreaves would let us spend that much time in this world as I would absolutely read it.
August 9, 2021
Sheild Road is a collection of fantasy shorts that remind me of a range of influences: a cursed object that echoes the one ring, world building and thoughts around history/memory that make me think of Robert Silverberg, a sense of action adventure straight from Skyrim!
What's most impressive around the book is that it starts off feeling like individual shorts set in the same universe, however by the end the plots thread together into one larger narrative, that gives satisfying additions to characters we'd met in earlier stories.
5 stars - looking forward to reading more from the author.
What's most impressive around the book is that it starts off feeling like individual shorts set in the same universe, however by the end the plots thread together into one larger narrative, that gives satisfying additions to characters we'd met in earlier stories.
5 stars - looking forward to reading more from the author.
March 9, 2023
Possibly a masterclass in short-story, Dewi’s collection is brilliant: each story/chapter stands on its own as a fully featured vignette, complete with unique lore, fascinating political dynamics, and living breathing characters with wants, motivations, secrets…
And then he’s gone and arranged them so that there’s a progression, an interweaving of story that’s never forced, always intriguing. It’s fun to let a character or scenario go, knowing they’re likely to pop up again soon.
A fun read, easy to digest but not simply written. Dewi’s voice as an author is clear and unencumbered. Highly recommend!!
And then he’s gone and arranged them so that there’s a progression, an interweaving of story that’s never forced, always intriguing. It’s fun to let a character or scenario go, knowing they’re likely to pop up again soon.
A fun read, easy to digest but not simply written. Dewi’s voice as an author is clear and unencumbered. Highly recommend!!
August 27, 2023
Good collection of fantasy short stories with a connecting thread
This was a good collection of short stories with a connecting thread. I enjoyed the magic and the characters. I would have liked more detail in certain parts. Some of the stories feel like skeleton outlines/back stories for characters in a larger epic. Others stand nicely alone. I'm hoping there is another volume with many of the same characters, I want to see what happens next in this world! The concepts for some different "types" or classes of folk seem like they would be a good basis for some role playing. Overall worth the time it took to read. 😊
This was a good collection of short stories with a connecting thread. I enjoyed the magic and the characters. I would have liked more detail in certain parts. Some of the stories feel like skeleton outlines/back stories for characters in a larger epic. Others stand nicely alone. I'm hoping there is another volume with many of the same characters, I want to see what happens next in this world! The concepts for some different "types" or classes of folk seem like they would be a good basis for some role playing. Overall worth the time it took to read. 😊
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