Shadowlancer: Heart of a Darkdancer #1

by Ramon Terrell

An ambitious king. A vengeful enemy. Between them stands Zaiyera. Once a streamdancer but no more, Zaiyera Tuneem devotes her life and her sword to the protection of travelers across the harsh deserts of Samhar. But when she discovers two nearly dead shydon hunters, everything changes. Zaiyera holds no trust for the brutal justice-wielding shydon, but they hunt a deadly A shadowlancer. A lancer corrupted by near infinite power, Malhadiev blazes a trail of death and ruin across Samhar in vengeance for his brother's murder. It won't stop there. A shadowlancer's hunger for power is insatiable. After seeing the destruction wrought in Samhar, Zaiyera fears that when Malhadiev returns, he will be invincible. Though her skills are formidable Zaiyera discovers that it's her unique scimitar that is the key to defeating the shadowlancer. After years of fleeing her own dark past, Zaiyera is forced to face it. If she fails, countless will die, and every civilization north and south will bend to the will of the shadowlancer or be obliterated. Once sworn to preserve life, now Zaiyera must battle death. Praise for Ramón Terrell Unleashed Fast paced, packed with action and engaging dialogue, Unleashed was a book I thoroughly enjoyed. --Brandon Sanderson, New York Times bestselling author of Stormlight Archive Out of Ordure It's a fun and sprightly tale, a tongue-in-cheek take on the 'other' tasks that fairies might have to do in addition to painting frost on windows or coaxing buds to open or helping kittens learn to mew. Terrell dives into his tale with enthusiasm and imagination. -- Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author of Fitz and the Fool Trilogy

562 pages, Paperback

Published July 13, 2022

About the author

I have two addictions: Books, video games, and potatoes, (okay, that's three) but they are all well managed. *grin*

I am a writer who loves to write, and thinks about writing when I am not writing. When I am writing, the world around me fades into a dim background. :)

A native of Carson, California, I have found my love in Vancouver, BC and don't plan on leaving. :)

Reviews

[Wayland Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping fantasy epic in an unusual setting, this story impressed me on many fronts. Zaiyera is a caravan guard, trying to keep her charges alive through some very hostile country. She and her few friends stand off an attack by bandits, some of whom are lancers, this world's version of magic users. Thanks to her unique blade, Zaiyera can battle the magic in a way no one has seen before, and she and her companions triumph. They find two Shadow Hunters, a group that hunts down the ones that misuse their power in a truly hideous way, and free them.

The group learns that a shadowlancer, the worst of the worst, is loose, and reaching unheard of heights of power. They all agree to try and stop this menace, forcing them to travel to distant lands, brave the wrath of kings, and risk their lives time and again to stop this great evil.

The world building here is fantastic. I loved the very different magic system, and the fights were very well staged. The POV character being different from the stereotype Western European hero was a great change of pace, and this world is rich in detail.

I enjoyed this a lot, and will both be reading more from this author and looking for more in the series.