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Shadows of the Empress: Tales from M'Diro
The world is on the verge of war, and suffering has caused the people of the frozen south to act out of desperation. They unleash something that will echo though the lands for the next 400 years.
The specter of that decision touches the lives of many and echoes through the centuries. From the priestess that first had to come to terms with what they had done, to a historian who wrote the last page of his nation's history in the immediate aftermath. Destiny was changed forever with one dark ritual.
Now in the present; a child of the streets finds her own way, a Spymaster looks for his godchild, a thief is given an impossible task and choice, a ranger and his hawk meet a bored guardsman, an orc faces off with her own demons, and the local Margrave finds out that evil is not only on the move but has an army. All of this and more fall under the Shadows of The Empress.
What is her grand plan?
What does a fable told to children have to do with it all?
In this short story collection lays a history; living, breathing, and growing.
Welcome to M'Diro.
This short story collection covers not only my journey though the world I created, but my writing journey as well.
The specter of that decision touches the lives of many and echoes through the centuries. From the priestess that first had to come to terms with what they had done, to a historian who wrote the last page of his nation's history in the immediate aftermath. Destiny was changed forever with one dark ritual.
Now in the present; a child of the streets finds her own way, a Spymaster looks for his godchild, a thief is given an impossible task and choice, a ranger and his hawk meet a bored guardsman, an orc faces off with her own demons, and the local Margrave finds out that evil is not only on the move but has an army. All of this and more fall under the Shadows of The Empress.
What is her grand plan?
What does a fable told to children have to do with it all?
In this short story collection lays a history; living, breathing, and growing.
Welcome to M'Diro.
This short story collection covers not only my journey though the world I created, but my writing journey as well.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 7, 2026
Shadows of the Empress: Tales from M’Diro by R.F. DeAngelis is an engaging, interconnected short story collection that blends dark fantasy fiction with sapphic/lesbian literature. The book is built on a grand, 400-year history that begins with a desperate choice made by the people of the frozen south, who unleash a dark force that threatens to spark a massive world war. Instead of focusing on just one hero, the author brilliantly builds this universe through a wide lens, using different perspectives in the present day. We get to see this world through the eyes of a street child finding her footing, a spymaster looking for his godchild, an orc facing internal battles, and a local ruler discovering that an army of evil is actively marching toward them.
From a professional standpoint, the book's greatest strength is its unique structure and incredible world-building. Even though it is a collection of shorter tales—deeply inspired by immersive roleplaying setups like Dungeons & Dragons—it never feels scattered or messy. Instead, every single story acts like a vital puzzle piece that builds toward a bigger, grander picture, making the fictional land of M'Diro feel deeply alive, ancient, and layered. The writing handles diverse, strong characters beautifully, ensuring that their personal struggles and emotional lives feel completely real and grounded, even in a high-stakes fantasy world filled with thieves, rangers, and monsters.
My personal review of this book is highly positive because of how incredibly addictive the reading experience becomes as you turn the pages. DeAngelis balances the dark, heavy themes of war and historical trauma with a fast-paced, highly engaging storytelling style that makes you constantly want to read "just one more story." It is an accessible and thoroughly rewarding read for core fantasy fans and newcomers alike, succeeding because it values intimate, human character moments just as much as epic, world-ending stakes.
From a professional standpoint, the book's greatest strength is its unique structure and incredible world-building. Even though it is a collection of shorter tales—deeply inspired by immersive roleplaying setups like Dungeons & Dragons—it never feels scattered or messy. Instead, every single story acts like a vital puzzle piece that builds toward a bigger, grander picture, making the fictional land of M'Diro feel deeply alive, ancient, and layered. The writing handles diverse, strong characters beautifully, ensuring that their personal struggles and emotional lives feel completely real and grounded, even in a high-stakes fantasy world filled with thieves, rangers, and monsters.
My personal review of this book is highly positive because of how incredibly addictive the reading experience becomes as you turn the pages. DeAngelis balances the dark, heavy themes of war and historical trauma with a fast-paced, highly engaging storytelling style that makes you constantly want to read "just one more story." It is an accessible and thoroughly rewarding read for core fantasy fans and newcomers alike, succeeding because it values intimate, human character moments just as much as epic, world-ending stakes.
January 5, 2026
Shadows of the Empress by R.F. DeAngelis completely surprised me—in the best way.
Going into this book, I honestly didn’t know what to think. A collection of short stories? A world tied to D&D? None of that is usually in my comfort zone, and at first it felt like I’d stepped into unfamiliar territory without a map. But page by page, story by story, that uncertainty turned into curiosity… and then full-on captivation.
Each short story builds on the last, slowly pulling you deeper into a richly imagined world that feels both vast and intimate. Even without any prior knowledge of D&D or similar fantasy settings, I never felt lost for long. DeAngelis does an incredible job of immersing the reader, making the world feel lived-in, layered, and meaningful. The characters and themes linger long after each story ends, and instead of feeling disjointed, the collection begins to feel like pieces of a larger, compelling puzzle.
What really stood out to me was how addictive the reading experience became. I found myself thinking, just one more story, over and over again. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was genuinely hooked and left wanting more from this universe. What started as something completely outside my usual reading preferences turned into an experience I truly enjoyed.
Shadows of the Empress is proof that stepping outside your comfort zone can be incredibly rewarding. If you enjoy immersive worlds, strong storytelling, and books that grow on you in the best possible way, this one is absolutely worth picking up—even if, like me, you’re not familiar with the genre going in
Going into this book, I honestly didn’t know what to think. A collection of short stories? A world tied to D&D? None of that is usually in my comfort zone, and at first it felt like I’d stepped into unfamiliar territory without a map. But page by page, story by story, that uncertainty turned into curiosity… and then full-on captivation.
Each short story builds on the last, slowly pulling you deeper into a richly imagined world that feels both vast and intimate. Even without any prior knowledge of D&D or similar fantasy settings, I never felt lost for long. DeAngelis does an incredible job of immersing the reader, making the world feel lived-in, layered, and meaningful. The characters and themes linger long after each story ends, and instead of feeling disjointed, the collection begins to feel like pieces of a larger, compelling puzzle.
What really stood out to me was how addictive the reading experience became. I found myself thinking, just one more story, over and over again. By the time I reached the end of the book, I was genuinely hooked and left wanting more from this universe. What started as something completely outside my usual reading preferences turned into an experience I truly enjoyed.
Shadows of the Empress is proof that stepping outside your comfort zone can be incredibly rewarding. If you enjoy immersive worlds, strong storytelling, and books that grow on you in the best possible way, this one is absolutely worth picking up—even if, like me, you’re not familiar with the genre going in
June 6, 2026
Pick up this short story collection, and take a trip to M'Diro, a land inhabited by all kinds of characters, including Orcs, Elves, Gnomes, and humans, amongst others.
I was drawn to the cover design, and I think I expected these stories to be quite dark, but in places I felt like there was more of a cosy fantasy vibe with some otherworldly elements. Nevertheless, the world of D'Miro is brought to life beautifully on the pages. If you read this, you will realise that the stories are connected in some way, which I really liked. I enjoyed reading the author's notes about the stories as well.
This is quite a long read, so I couldn't finish in one sitting, but the good thing about a book of short stories is that you can read as much or as little as you like in one session. I will say one thing though; if you decide to visit D'Miro, you might get a little bit lost there and find you want to stay for a while. I did.
I was drawn to the cover design, and I think I expected these stories to be quite dark, but in places I felt like there was more of a cosy fantasy vibe with some otherworldly elements. Nevertheless, the world of D'Miro is brought to life beautifully on the pages. If you read this, you will realise that the stories are connected in some way, which I really liked. I enjoyed reading the author's notes about the stories as well.
This is quite a long read, so I couldn't finish in one sitting, but the good thing about a book of short stories is that you can read as much or as little as you like in one session. I will say one thing though; if you decide to visit D'Miro, you might get a little bit lost there and find you want to stay for a while. I did.
November 11, 2026
In the notes accompanying the short stories of Shadows of the Empress, R. F. DeAngelis calls herself a world builder - and that's what she is. M'Diro really feels ancient, with a long history and thousands of stories like the ones in this book, you feel they are just drops in the huge ocean of the tales of these worlds, still every story is so deep and draws in the reader. I loved the characters with their own motives and background, none of them good and bad, and I enjoyed how it challenged some ideas about being good or bad and religion. It is a good read even without being familiar with the world of D&D.
June 29, 2026
This is classic good vs evil book.
World is verge of war.
A child born on streets. She is in front of an army. Army of evil.
Now she has to fight.
But this short story collection tells different dark stories.
A spymaster looking for his godchild
And a thief given a impossible task and a choice .
This vivid image paints a different picture of dark world.
Loved it.
World is verge of war.
A child born on streets. She is in front of an army. Army of evil.
Now she has to fight.
But this short story collection tells different dark stories.
A spymaster looking for his godchild
And a thief given a impossible task and a choice .
This vivid image paints a different picture of dark world.
Loved it.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews