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Realms of the Periferie #3
Beneath the Shadows
Darkness comes in many forms.
Raelyn is about to encounter them all.
Beyond the Alnok Barrens, hidden in the shadows of the Schade Catacombs, a single portal remains.
Pushed to near defeat, Cosyn has unleashed all his forces, taking Earth to the brink of war.
The Cord is torn apart, and Raelyn strikes out on her own, determined to reach the catacombs and close the portal with or without them.
In the far north, her mentor and guide Kade, wounded and desperate, leads a band of soldiers, also on a path to the catacombs.
Raelyn and the Cord must locate and destroy Cosyn’s last link to Earth or they will lose everything they love forever.
Raelyn is about to encounter them all.
Beyond the Alnok Barrens, hidden in the shadows of the Schade Catacombs, a single portal remains.
Pushed to near defeat, Cosyn has unleashed all his forces, taking Earth to the brink of war.
The Cord is torn apart, and Raelyn strikes out on her own, determined to reach the catacombs and close the portal with or without them.
In the far north, her mentor and guide Kade, wounded and desperate, leads a band of soldiers, also on a path to the catacombs.
Raelyn and the Cord must locate and destroy Cosyn’s last link to Earth or they will lose everything they love forever.
315 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 2, 2022
10 people want to read
About the author
S.L. Dooley
14 books207 followersJ.R.R. Tolkien said: “Fantasy is escapist, and that is its glory.” I’m taking him at his word. I’ll journey with Bilbo, take flight on Saphira, and cross swords with King Miraz (as soon as I get my letter from Hogwarts). There’s nothing more satisfying than dipping out of our world for a little while and joining forces with our favorite hero.
Not that I have anything from which I’m desperate to escape: A thirty-year marriage (which is magical in itself since I can’t possibly be old enough to be married that long,) two amazing kiddos, and a great home in north Texas. Plus, after a few side-quests, I’m finally back wielding a keyboard every day battling dragons in my own stories.
But life is an adventure, right? Raising children, navigating friendships, paying bills, rush hour. We wouldn’t storm Mordor without proper preparation and protection, would we? We need armor for our everyday battles. In this case it’s in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where we discover an impenetrable defense. “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground . . .”
What you’ll find in my stories are the same people who go to work, pay bills, struggle with relationships and self-doubt find themselves transported to worlds beyond their own where a different battle is waged and they must find a way to defeat the enemy. They’re you and me, everyday mortals, who discover there’s more beyond the veil, larger stakes, and a way to overcome it all.
Tolkien sums up what I believe to be the duty of every novelist, but most particularly storytellers of fantasy: “If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?....If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” Find me: https://linktr.ee/SLDooley
Not that I have anything from which I’m desperate to escape: A thirty-year marriage (which is magical in itself since I can’t possibly be old enough to be married that long,) two amazing kiddos, and a great home in north Texas. Plus, after a few side-quests, I’m finally back wielding a keyboard every day battling dragons in my own stories.
But life is an adventure, right? Raising children, navigating friendships, paying bills, rush hour. We wouldn’t storm Mordor without proper preparation and protection, would we? We need armor for our everyday battles. In this case it’s in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians where we discover an impenetrable defense. “Put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground . . .”
What you’ll find in my stories are the same people who go to work, pay bills, struggle with relationships and self-doubt find themselves transported to worlds beyond their own where a different battle is waged and they must find a way to defeat the enemy. They’re you and me, everyday mortals, who discover there’s more beyond the veil, larger stakes, and a way to overcome it all.
Tolkien sums up what I believe to be the duty of every novelist, but most particularly storytellers of fantasy: “If a soldier is imprisoned by the enemy, don't we consider it his duty to escape?....If we value the freedom of mind and soul, if we're partisans of liberty, then it's our plain duty to escape, and to take as many people with us as we can!” Find me: https://linktr.ee/SLDooley
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 3, 2026
A nicely wrapped up conclusion!
February 21, 2023
Beneath the Shadows is the third book in the Portal Slayer Trilogy and the adventure continues with more adventures and surprises. I was so excited about the recent release of S.L. Dooley and so I quickly gazed through both the first and second book in the trilogy before commencing to read the third one. . The plot line continues to be amazing with the creation of awe-inspiring worlds and soul touching characters. At the same time, Raelyn’s life gets no way better as she is about to encounter more darkness. On one side Cosyn is up with full potential going ahead to start a war with the Earth, and on the other side, Raelyn’s brother is seriously ill for which she needs to find a cure.
I loved tew ay how each chapter has been enthrallingly narrated, and the reader’s attention just increases in each one. Every piece of the story reveals new surprises until at last the puzzle box of the plot slides open to reveal the treasure hidden inside.
The characters are amazingly well-defined. Dooley has done a superb job of visually illustrating the characters, setting, and story with her rich prose. The story progresses in a steady phase and that made the reading very interesting. The ending was dynamic. Powerful and goosebump worthy. I was happy that I chose to read this book and of course, the entire series is fully packed with a lot so adventures. I would recommend this to everyone who loves Si-Fi and Fantasy, and I am sure this series will never fail to surprise you.
I loved tew ay how each chapter has been enthrallingly narrated, and the reader’s attention just increases in each one. Every piece of the story reveals new surprises until at last the puzzle box of the plot slides open to reveal the treasure hidden inside.
The characters are amazingly well-defined. Dooley has done a superb job of visually illustrating the characters, setting, and story with her rich prose. The story progresses in a steady phase and that made the reading very interesting. The ending was dynamic. Powerful and goosebump worthy. I was happy that I chose to read this book and of course, the entire series is fully packed with a lot so adventures. I would recommend this to everyone who loves Si-Fi and Fantasy, and I am sure this series will never fail to surprise you.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews