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Kat Drummond #15
Shadow Realm
Never make deals with demons or gods…
Trust me. I have. And they don’t tend to go too well.
I have been exiled from Hope City. Convenient timing, too, as I made a deal with Thor himself to go fight his war for him up north.
So, I’m headed to a war-torn Europe. Was about time for a vacation anyway.
But war isn’t a joke. And if I can have a shot at destroying the Conclave once and for all, I must take it.
Even if it takes me across two continents, and across the In Between…
My name is Kat Drummond. The Last Light. The Vessel.
A monster hunter.
Shadow Realm is the 15th book in the Kat Drummond Series, an action-packed urban fantasy series. Follow Kat as she pursues her sworn foes across Africa, the Mediterranean and into the bowels of a Europe consumed by magical warfare.
Don’t miss this penultimate chapter to this epic saga!
Trust me. I have. And they don’t tend to go too well.
I have been exiled from Hope City. Convenient timing, too, as I made a deal with Thor himself to go fight his war for him up north.
So, I’m headed to a war-torn Europe. Was about time for a vacation anyway.
But war isn’t a joke. And if I can have a shot at destroying the Conclave once and for all, I must take it.
Even if it takes me across two continents, and across the In Between…
My name is Kat Drummond. The Last Light. The Vessel.
A monster hunter.
Shadow Realm is the 15th book in the Kat Drummond Series, an action-packed urban fantasy series. Follow Kat as she pursues her sworn foes across Africa, the Mediterranean and into the bowels of a Europe consumed by magical warfare.
Don’t miss this penultimate chapter to this epic saga!
- GenresUrban Fantasy
452 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 31, 2022
61 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
Nicholas Woode-Smith
151 books155 followersNicholas Woode-Smith is a fantasy and science fiction author from Cape Town, South Africa. He has been writing since the age of twelve, writing short stories, novels, and RPG campaigns. In 2013, he published his first book, Fall of Zona Nox. Five years later, he published it again after greatly improving his skills.
Since then, he’s written dozens of books in the urban fantasy and sci-fi genre. Notably, the best-selling urban fantasy series, Kat Drummond.
Nicholas has a degree majoring in economic history and philosophy, and minors in political science, international relations, and English literature from the University of Cape Town. He has been involved in politics, civic activism, and political analysis since 2014.
Since then, he’s written dozens of books in the urban fantasy and sci-fi genre. Notably, the best-selling urban fantasy series, Kat Drummond.
Nicholas has a degree majoring in economic history and philosophy, and minors in political science, international relations, and English literature from the University of Cape Town. He has been involved in politics, civic activism, and political analysis since 2014.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 30, 2022
Review
This book starts off with monster Hunter after monster hunt for Kat, Brett, Candace and Philip. They must slowly make their way up north to help Thor, but fate seems to be against them. Darkness follows Candace and you wonder if she can be saved. Death and carnage seems to follow in their wake as well. They must battle monsters, necromancies and even a god to get to the conclave. And the battles they face when they get there are like none Kat has ever seen. And when it seems she can do no more, she is sent on yet another journey that could help end the war, bringing back a potential end to the war. She finally reaches the 6th convent but will it be worth it? How much will she have to sacrifice?
This book is full of action and you get to see what the cataclysm and the war have done to more of the world as well. From Hope City through Africa and Europe. And monsters Kat has never seen before! Wendigos, wyverns and more. There’s also a hint at a possible spin off book from back in hope city! Once I started I couldn’t put this book down. It could be an emotional roller coaster wondering what will happen with Kat and especially Candace! I can’t imagine how the next book will top this!
This book starts off with monster Hunter after monster hunt for Kat, Brett, Candace and Philip. They must slowly make their way up north to help Thor, but fate seems to be against them. Darkness follows Candace and you wonder if she can be saved. Death and carnage seems to follow in their wake as well. They must battle monsters, necromancies and even a god to get to the conclave. And the battles they face when they get there are like none Kat has ever seen. And when it seems she can do no more, she is sent on yet another journey that could help end the war, bringing back a potential end to the war. She finally reaches the 6th convent but will it be worth it? How much will she have to sacrifice?
This book is full of action and you get to see what the cataclysm and the war have done to more of the world as well. From Hope City through Africa and Europe. And monsters Kat has never seen before! Wendigos, wyverns and more. There’s also a hint at a possible spin off book from back in hope city! Once I started I couldn’t put this book down. It could be an emotional roller coaster wondering what will happen with Kat and especially Candace! I can’t imagine how the next book will top this!
October 30, 2022
WOW.
I have been reading along with Kat since her humble beginnings as a Part Time Monster Hunter and I was blessed with the opportunity to read the ARC of Shadow Realm before my pre-ordered copy was available. This, the fifteenth book in the Kat Drummond books, is a truly epic journey accross two continents and into the heart of darkness itself, the 6th Convent of the Conclave.
Every book in this series has been very enjoyable to read (even the parts that tear at your soul and make you cry!) the action is amazing, the bad guys and creatures that threaten the world are creative and well thought out. All the characters grow and change and through their journeys give us the opportunity to grow with them!
This series has become truly epic and I highly recommend getting entrenched in it!
The Hunt will continue in the final book The Titan Awakes, and I can't wait to read it as well!
David
I have been reading along with Kat since her humble beginnings as a Part Time Monster Hunter and I was blessed with the opportunity to read the ARC of Shadow Realm before my pre-ordered copy was available. This, the fifteenth book in the Kat Drummond books, is a truly epic journey accross two continents and into the heart of darkness itself, the 6th Convent of the Conclave.
Every book in this series has been very enjoyable to read (even the parts that tear at your soul and make you cry!) the action is amazing, the bad guys and creatures that threaten the world are creative and well thought out. All the characters grow and change and through their journeys give us the opportunity to grow with them!
This series has become truly epic and I highly recommend getting entrenched in it!
The Hunt will continue in the final book The Titan Awakes, and I can't wait to read it as well!
David
October 19, 2022
In the 15th book in this epic saga, the author delivers once again. I found myself having to stop reading now and then just to catch my breath! Mayhem, action, apocalyptic scenes and so much more drag you into the horror that is war. The author manages to join conventional warfare with the fantastical to create a world the reader can easily imagine. Kat and her motley crew of supporters move across Europe at the behest of the god, Thor, to destroy the evil Conclave once and for all. What would a novel with Kat in it be without torment and struggle along the way? Even though this book in the series is dark and, at times, sad, the author cleverly includes scenes which actually made me laugh out loud. I won’t go into much more to avoid spoilers but I highly recommend the book. Kat’s growth coupled with her very human frailties make her such an appealing protagonist and I continue to root for her.
October 31, 2022
Shadow Realm continues the Kat Drummond series as she tries to fulfill her promise to Thor. Which isn’t exactly what it seems and the hardest journey Kat has ever faced. On top of the struggle to fight an endless enemy Candace is losing herself to the darkness without the soul bond she had with Kat thanks to the mentor.
I do have to admit the few times Kat faces the mentor they simply talk. She doesn’t fight him or even bother to try to get the eye back to restore the soul bond (I won’t lie I found that highly disappointing) I know she wasn’t ready for a smack down all out battle she was too mentally and physically exhausted but I can’t believe she didn’t try to barter or demand the eye back). The battles are epic as can be expected but the overall morale of the book was lacking. Several times Kat and Brett where ready to just let death take them. War had finally taken to much from our hero’s.
Honestly as much as I love the series it wasn’t my favorite book. I found it sad to see our crew so exhausted and mentally defeated with so few wins that truly mattered. And I guess being a Thor fan I didn’t like that Thor and his father are just where’s in the cog of politics and no longer the heroes of old. I will forever love Kat Drummond and the series hold a special place in my heart. Great addition and I recommend the series!
I do have to admit the few times Kat faces the mentor they simply talk. She doesn’t fight him or even bother to try to get the eye back to restore the soul bond (I won’t lie I found that highly disappointing) I know she wasn’t ready for a smack down all out battle she was too mentally and physically exhausted but I can’t believe she didn’t try to barter or demand the eye back). The battles are epic as can be expected but the overall morale of the book was lacking. Several times Kat and Brett where ready to just let death take them. War had finally taken to much from our hero’s.
Honestly as much as I love the series it wasn’t my favorite book. I found it sad to see our crew so exhausted and mentally defeated with so few wins that truly mattered. And I guess being a Thor fan I didn’t like that Thor and his father are just where’s in the cog of politics and no longer the heroes of old. I will forever love Kat Drummond and the series hold a special place in my heart. Great addition and I recommend the series!
March 22, 2023
This is the longest and darkest, by far, of the Kat Drummond book so far. Kat and crew, Brett, Candace, and Treth are traveling far from home (Hope City), meet several dark characters along the way, and become involved in a war they want nothing to do with. Candace is barely holding on, keeping the dark at bay, and there are a few times she looses her grip leading to... Well, no spoilers here. Candace does show how powerful she is, both light and dark. Brett is Brett and ends up with a new weapon worthy of him. Kat is, as usual, worried about everyone else, but leads them into "battle" again and again. Kat is betrayed after having fought a war, and at the end of the book, it's time to head home...
March 8, 2023
I am a bit biased, but with this being the longest and most epic Katverse instalment yet, I know it's worth 5-stars.
November 15, 2022
I have enjoyed EVERY book in this series, and Mr. Woode-Smith still manages to surprise me and keep me in suspense. He manages to tug on all the emotional heartstrings while somehow keeping the story believable given the laws of the Katverse. In an epic this large, you definitely want to start with book 1, but each book in this series has had a definite ending point, so if you somehow decided you didn't want to read more (I'm not sure how you could decide that, but if you did), you wouldn't get to the end of a book and feel like you NEEDED to read the next book in the series just to find out how the book you just read ended. Each book is an episode in Kat's life, and each episode has an ending. This is important to me, because I hate it when authors try to bait me into buying their next book by not ending the current one.
This book sees Kat traveling away from her beloved Hope City and out of Africa altogether. Mind you, getting out of Africa is no small task, especially when her destination is in Europe and she's going overland. And her journey doesn't get any easier once she reaches her destination continent. In fact, it just gets more difficult. I loved this book. I loved the returning characters. I loved the new introductions. I loved the places Kat visited. I can't wait for the next book!
This book sees Kat traveling away from her beloved Hope City and out of Africa altogether. Mind you, getting out of Africa is no small task, especially when her destination is in Europe and she's going overland. And her journey doesn't get any easier once she reaches her destination continent. In fact, it just gets more difficult. I loved this book. I loved the returning characters. I loved the new introductions. I loved the places Kat visited. I can't wait for the next book!
September 13, 2024
War is a greedy man's game
War isn't something I ever saw Kat joining in, but that's why I'm not the author. This book felt like it swerved away from how it all started. Kat even struggles within herself over her part in this. It never quite sits right, but it does help each of them grow in some way. For me, the mentor character grows tiring, & Kat obviously feels it wearing on her, too. I did enjoy seeing Brett find his place & realize his leadership capabilities. As interesting as this jaunt to other places was, I will be glad for them to get back to Hope City, where I'm hoping the people have realized over the past 2 years that Kat was what kept them safe & she'll be welcomed gratefully.
Oh, & as an imP: Hail the Snail, but down with the f-ing Tarrasque!
War isn't something I ever saw Kat joining in, but that's why I'm not the author. This book felt like it swerved away from how it all started. Kat even struggles within herself over her part in this. It never quite sits right, but it does help each of them grow in some way. For me, the mentor character grows tiring, & Kat obviously feels it wearing on her, too. I did enjoy seeing Brett find his place & realize his leadership capabilities. As interesting as this jaunt to other places was, I will be glad for them to get back to Hope City, where I'm hoping the people have realized over the past 2 years that Kat was what kept them safe & she'll be welcomed gratefully.
Oh, & as an imP: Hail the Snail, but down with the f-ing Tarrasque!
November 3, 2022
A quest and journey into the unknown, with unexpected detours. Even in the new places the Last Light was known.
It is a great story with a very enjoyable storyline, characters and I love the mix of humour and seriousness of the situation our heroes face.
The Kat Drummond series is an excellent urban fantasy series and “Shadow Realm” even brings it to another level.
Can’t wait for more.
I received the book free from the author and decided to review it
It is a great story with a very enjoyable storyline, characters and I love the mix of humour and seriousness of the situation our heroes face.
The Kat Drummond series is an excellent urban fantasy series and “Shadow Realm” even brings it to another level.
Can’t wait for more.
I received the book free from the author and decided to review it
November 2, 2022
Time to pay the piper. In return for Thor's help with the dragon Kat had promised to help him with the war in Europe against the Holy Roman Empire.
Kat, along with Brett and Candace traverse through Africa to get there, fighting monsters along the way.
Participating in a conventional war drags on their souls and minds on their way across Europe, leaving Kat in a dark place.
Kat, along with Brett and Candace traverse through Africa to get there, fighting monsters along the way.
Participating in a conventional war drags on their souls and minds on their way across Europe, leaving Kat in a dark place.
November 2, 2022
Kat, Brett, Candace (and of course Treth) travel to Europe to keep the promise she made to Thor. It was war, and war is always bloody, but they weren't really prepared for what they encountered. Many deaths, lies and some victories. They eventually get to Rome and the Conclave. Things didn't turn out how anyone expected. A marvellous book in the series.
October 19, 2024
This story was a lot deeper than the others in the series and certainly a lot longer. I enjoyed it as much as I did the others but the made-up names for monsters e.g. the lich still grated on me as you can never remember what type of monster this is.
Note that this book is listed as book #17 on Amazon as other books have been slotted in to the series
Note that this book is listed as book #17 on Amazon as other books have been slotted in to the series
November 13, 2022
Review to come soon.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews