Synopsis
In the aftermath of battle, a truth is laid bare—the world, and the people within it, are not as they appear.
Adrift without an anchor and nursing a broken heart, Lidan steels herself for a task she never thought would fall to her—to hunt down the architect of the horrors that have plagued the South Lands for years.
Ranoth stands on a precipice, his plans in tatters. The path forward leads as easily home as to death. Hungry for answers, he and Lidan set out in pursuit of a common enemy, for dark and fathomless powers are moving beneath the surface of Coraidin.
The unseen realms have awoken and within them, ancient feuds flare to life.
A new and deadly threat looms, and an old bargain will be struck anew. Will Lidan and Ran survive the coming storm to finish what they have begun?
Empire of Shadows is the stunning conclusion to the epic Coraidic Sagas trilogy.
Review
Damn what an epic journey and conclusion to an amazing trilogy. You could feel and see that author Alicia Wanstall-Burke has sacrificed blood, tears and poured her heart and soul into bringing this wonderful grimalicious tale to fruition, and what a way to start my reading adventure for 2025 with a bang.
Empire of Shadows is the third and final instalment in The Coraidic Sagas series. After finishing, I hope the author returns to this world one day or whatever new world she creates, I look forward to seeing what she brings us next.
Empire of Shadows is a tale of sacrifice, love, heartbreak and vengeance. I love the way the two story lines of our two main protagonists, Lidan and Ranoth merge together, finally joining forces to fight and find the architect who has created an evil by using dark magic that has plagued both sides of the Woadan Empire.
The author gives us an in-depth look at some of the other characters’ story arcs. Selen, Lidan’s mother, we get to see more of her background and where she originated from and how she came to be head wife of the Tolak Clan of the southlands, and wow its one hell of twist that will bring tears.
This story is full of surprises and twists that will leave you flabbergasted. There are a nice few little Easter eggs in there that made me smile. If you’re looking for a trilogy that will captivate your mind from the very start, then you will love this. It’s fast-paced, action-packed, full-on blood curdling stabby action. Monsters that would give you nightmares, gods interfering and pulling strings to sate to own ends and characters that you will love and hate that will leave you with very mixed emotions.
As the story continues, Lidan, Ranoth, and their companions treck across the Woadan Empire, hunting their quarry that will lead them into dangers unmanageable. But not all as it seems as higher beings throw themselves into the mix, pitting the two groups against each other. One is looking for blood and sacrifice, and the other is looking for balancing the world to rights.
Can Lidan and Ranoth stop the wheel that was set in motion twenty years prior by dark magic and put an end to who created it in the first place, who’s looking to create more monsters that could bring devastating consequences to the Woadan Empire. Will they prevail or die trying, only the gods know.
To all who love fantasy. I implore you checking out The Coraidic Sagas. You will laugh and cry, and it’s truly wonderful storytelling that everyone should experience. I can’t highly recommend this amazing series enough, so what are you waiting for. Happy reading for 2025.
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