Elysia Dayne returns in Shadows Under the Shade, a continuation of the multiple award-winning literary epic fantasy, Under an Azure Sky.
If you love somebody enough, you will do anything to claw your way back to them…
After a traumatic duel to the death against a malevolent sword master, Elysia is left desperately clinging to life. Isabella, the princess that she was tasked to rescue, nurses her back to health in the wilderness, many miles from the safety of civilisation. With their supplies depleted, they finally reach Middlestone, resting for only a moment before beginning the final leg of their journey to the Royal Palace in Astoria.
Elysia and Isabella’s bond deepens as the expedition continues, fraught with undiscovered peril. Embroiled in danger, can Elysia save the love of her life from the shadows under the shade?
Back in time, adolescent Elysia has to adjust to life in the Grey-Lands. Struggling with sword skills at the military academy, she happens upon a Niemirian prisoner, who instructs her in the art of the butterfly blades. Soon, she becomes a force to be reckoned with… but will it be enough to combat prejudice and inequality, all the while learning the price of friendship, and making sense of her sexual awakening?
Shadows Under the Shade – Elysia Dayne: Book Two is the second in this exciting series by Wil Chan and it should not be missed by fans of the series. Wil Chan has created a captivating and exciting second installment featuring this wonderful protagonist that I am sure will be as much of a hit with readers as the first book. In addition, book two is one that can stand alone and enchant readers who are new to the series as well as those returning for their second ride.
In the story we find the main character, Elysia Dayne, trying to fight her way back to life and being nursed back to health in the wilderness by Isabella, the princess Elysia was supposed to rescue. As Elysia heals, she finds herself beginning to care for Isabella as much more than a friend as the struggle begins to find their way back to the palace in Astoria. Without giving away too much information, I will tell you that this journey is filled with tons of adventure and danger, as well as lots of soul searching and emotion as these characters try to survive both the world and their awakening feelings.
Shadows Under the Shade is an incredible continuation of the Elysia Dayne series. The quality of Mr. Chan’s writing is exceptional. He has created wonderful and very memorable characters and continues to write them flawlessly. I, as the reader, feel that I can actually understand exactly what the characters are thinking and feeling and I can think of no higher praise than that. In addition, his beautiful descriptions of the places in the book make one feel as if they are there.
Shadows Under the Shade – Elysia Dayne: Book Two is a story full of adventure and emotions and I recommend it to all those who enjoyed the first book, Under an Azure Sky, as well as to all those who just enjoy the fantasy genre and all that it brings. It is a wonderful read full of action and excellent character development and should be read by all. I, for one, cannot wait to see what is next for Elysia Dayne.
It’s a good book, but I liked the first one better. The MC broods too much about her failures and things that don’t go her way. I’m also sick of her crying about how she’ll never have her princess and how she is too stupid to admit she can heal herself by bathing in fire.
Shadows Under the Shade follows the story of Elysia Dayne in search for the truth about her family history and also to save princess Isabella. It is a world full of magic and mystery and love components. The plot is interesting as LGBTQ literature increases. It is a book that talks about different kinds of love and bravery. Elysia and Isabella’s relationship will put you at the edge of your seat. Elysia is the type of hero this world needs, she is not constrained by her gender. It is a coming-of-age book and becoming working through adversities, even mercenaries have their troubles too. This is the second book so I would recommend also reading the first book if you have not yet.
Shadow Under the Shade is the second book in the series created by author Wil Chan and that has Elysia Dayne as protagonist. In this instalment, the expert warrior has to fight to survive and keep the love of her life. I liked this novel a lot. The author has created an engaging plot with action and adventure to captivate readers from the beginning and until the last page. The characters are compelling and believable and I liked the fact that we get to know the past and the present of Elysia in this novel, since the narrative moves back and forth reflecting the protagonist's traumatic past and her uncertain present. I highly recommend this series.
This second installment in the Elysia Dayne series is the best possible continuation to an epic adventure. The constant danger that the main characters face add excitement to the story which kept me biting my nails. What surprised me the most while reading this book was the quality of the author's writing which in my opinion is even better than in the first title, even though it seems impossible. He was able to tell the reader about Elysia e Isabella’s journey with such an amazing quality that it’s very easy to imagine yourself in Astoria, more precisely into the Royal Palace. It’s a fascinating book, but I strongly suggest to all reader the whole series. They are not wasted.
Fans of epic fantasy: this is sensational! Fans of awesome female protagonists who are strong and ready to take the world: this is for you!!
Wil Chan is an incredible mind, building a world you can get lost in with characters you want to root for, yet life keeps throwing them down, down down
But at the same time, our protagonist Elysia Dayne is a hardened warrior and a gentle soul. She protects people, she wants the best for the good ones, but she is unafraid to pull out her weapons to fight for a good cause.
This book leaves us on SUCH a cliffhanger that has me needing to know what happens
Pick this up, and the first book too, of course
***
Hey, guess what? I had the pleasure of editing this novel
If you're a diverse author looking for a supportive and comprehensive editor, I offer an affordable line-editing, developmental editing, proofreading and beta-reading 4-in-1 package!
I love SFF, mystery and romance in MG, YA, NA and Adult. I've worked with traditional and indie authors who have found success in querying, secured an agent and have gone on to publish.
This second book by Elysia Dayne makes us delve into an amazing world of characters well-developed that have the purpose of introducing us to a fantasy narrative that sometimes feels almost like reality due to the author’s skill at writing. Through dragons, princesses and the rest of the characters, the author has been able to paint a great reading atmosphere for us to enjoy during the holiday season. Even though this is the second installment, the book can be read as a standalone and be understood anyway. This book can be described as a highbrow treat for fans of literature, and a book offering deep insights into storytelling and how narrative functions. Loved it!