Synopsis
War Comes For Those Who Forge It. And It Never Forgives…
Haltveldt is a nation built on bloodshed. With the Order of Sparkers brought to heel, Emperor Locke wields his mages – and their magic the Spark – like a weapon as he wages a war of genocide.
But the enemies of his empire multiply.
In the almost-forgotten north, the ancient citadel of Solitude, filled with two-hundred exiled Sparkers, watches over the mysterious Banished. With a new apprentice under her wing, Zanna Alpenwood pines for her estranged daughter when everything changes – for the first time in centuries, The Banished are on the move.
Miles away in Haltveldt’s southern frontlines, Calene Alpenwood makes a startling discovery in the most unlikely of places and her estrangement from her mother is tested. As is her faith in the Order of Sparkers and loyalty to the Empire.
And in Haltveldt’s capital, Kade Besem – whose son Arlo is training with Zanna – scrambles to react to the events at Solitude in a den of vipers.
Haltveldt is an empire forged in fire and nothing is at it seems. But one thing is certain: with the Banished returning, and the elves to the south on the brink of annihilation, Zanna, Calene and Kade stand on the brink of earth-shattering change.
A great game, millennia in the making, is coming to its stunning conclusion. Who will survive? And who is the true enemy of Haltveldt? ‘In Solitude’s Shadow: Extended Edition’ – now with all new chapters, expanded scenes and including the prequel ‘Before The Shadow’, reveals all…
The magic of ‘The Wheel of Time’ meets the grittiness of ‘The Witcher’ in this fast-paced series starter!
Review
Wow, this book just gets better and better with every reread, especially now that author David Green has revamped, added new chapters, a complete rewrite of the story you know, told better than ever.
We get more from our favourite characters, Calene, more Brina, more Kade, more Zanna, more Tilo… And even some characters you might not expect and just bloody fantastic.
In Solitude’s Shadow is the first book from the Ruin Of Empire four book series, and it was even Droken Bloody better the third time round. I look forward to seeing what he has done with the next books in the series. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely loved the finished original series. But David Green has just added a beautiful touch of finesse to an already amazing series.
Holy moly, the magical battles and pure scale of magic in this book is unbelievable that at its highest that would cause a cataclysm of mass destruction, to give life or to snuff life with absolutely devastating affect. David Greens, worldbuilding is fantastic. The plot and story will have you enthralled from start to finish, it’s action-packed very fast-paced, and the cast of diverse characters are excellent.
In book one, In Solitude’s Shadow, the first people known as the banished have returned after two thousand years in their hundreds of thousands, with Solitude as their only obstacle to reaching the main land. Weather their intentions are to invade or they’ve been driven from their mountain home.
Solitude’s residents known as The Sparkers have been left to defend for themselves by their Emperor as he continues his war to eradicate all elves once and for all. War is coming to Haltveldt like no one has ever seen. Dark magic is seeping from everywhere and all magic weilders best be or on their guard or be sparked out for good.
Everything I’ve read by David Green so far has been a pleasure. His storytelling truly is excellent. If you love epic fantasy, then I really highly recommend..😁🪓💙
Release date 1st of February 2025
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