Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 331 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Mar 7, 2018
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
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About the Book
That is not all Taliesin learns from Uthyr. He discovers Nimue has left Affalon as well, traveling under her mortal name of Viviaine, and has allied herself with Myrthin. Sick with the bitterness of her betrayal, he races north to warn Arhianna. In his efforts to protect her, he strays into an ever-more complicated labyrinth of deceit.
Arhianna still remembers nothing of Knockma. She goes north with her husband in search of his clan, knowing he will never be content until he discovers what has become of his people. Her decision changes her fate in drastic ways, sending her on a dark journey that takes everything from her but her will to survive.
All have an immense role to play in the great wars to come; wars that threaten to take far more from the clans of Brython than their fortresses, fields and forests. Should they fail, their enemies will lay waste to their gods and stories, ancient rites and sacred places, leaving nothing in their wake but the history they choose to write across their trampled bones.
By the end of their struggle, none will have escaped succumbing to the shadow within; lies will be told by the most honest, oaths broken by the most loyal, and weakness will torment the strongest, as all strive to defend and protect what they cherish most.
My Review
Characters are flawed and face difficult choices. The characters feel real, flawed and even a little relatable rather than being flat characters in a game. They make hard calls. They second-guess themselves. They carry the weight of leadership, loyalty, and betrayal in ways that aren’t neat or convenient. There are hard-hitting emotional moments present in both the quiet exchanges and the big confrontations. I kept wondering who would hold firm and who might finally crack under pressure — and that tension kept me completely pulled in.
The story grows darker, but keeps its focus. This novel definitely raises the stakes, but it never feels messy or overdone. The political strain tightens, alliances shift, and the consequences feel real. What I appreciate is that the mythic elements never overpower the human ones. Even as the conflicts deepen, the emotional core stays steady. Nothing feels thrown in just for shock value.
The narrator is perfect for this series. The audiobook experience works especially well for me in this series. The narrator doesn’t overact or try to dominate the story, which I’m grateful for. Instead, the delivery feels measured and steady, letting the emotion come through naturally. Tension builds where it should, quieter scenes hold emotional impact, and character voices are clear without being exaggerated. It’s easy to settle into the rhythm of the performance and not want to leave at the end.
Would I recommend Into the Shadows? If you enjoy epic fantasy that balances strong, yet flawed and realistic characters, and fictional world building with situational and historical realism, this one delivers. The themes faced in this book are a little darker--and morality and emotions hit hard throughout. In audio form especially, it’s easy to get swept up in the journey. This book, again, is a little darker, and I found myself disappointed in some of the characters--and saddened by some of the directions the storyline has moved--but, I was definitely ready to continue the journey into the 5th book!
Learn about Islands in the Mist: Book 1 in my book review spotlight.
Read my Review of Across the Sea, Book 2.
Read my Review of Rise of the Pendragon.
Next in the Series
Book Title: THE YOUNG STAG (Book 5) by J.M. Hofer
Category: Adult Fiction (18 yrs +), 472 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Indie
Release date: Oct 28, 2021
Content Rating: PG-13 +M: 1) contains mild profanity, 2) contains occasional non-explicit sex scenes, but Book 4 has a rape scene, hence the rating, 3) contains battle violence but it's not gory or explicit
About the Book
Soon after Arhianna begins her training at Dun Scáthach, restored memories throw her into a perilous emotional tailspin that results in deadly consequences. Her path winds into ever darker places in her search for redemption, triggering a painful transformation.Taliesin, desperate to gain the skills required to defend his loved ones against the ancient powers that stalk them, commits to an apprenticeship under Amergin the Bard. His journey takes him far from Caer Leon, leaving Igerna to bear the heavy secret of Morgen’s parentage alone.
Igerna shoulders her responsibility well, at first, raising Morgen as twin sister to her only son, Arthur. A twin birth is auspicious, and the people of Caer Leon rejoice that their king and queen have been so blessed. As the years pass, however, Morgen’s birthright becomes more apparent, inciting gossip among the house servants. Morgen is, as expected, an enchanting and special child, gifted with supernatural abilities in spades. Unable to reach Taliesin and fearful that Morgen may soon become the object of ridicule—or worse, persecution—Igerna takes matters into her own hands. She journeys home with her children to seek the advice of the one other person in the world she feels might be able to help her daughter.
The wheel of fate turns as Morgen and Arthur come of age, sending them in separate directions. Once outside the safety of Caer Leon, those seeking to influence the two promising youths close in quickly, some well-intentioned, others ruthless and opportunistic.
Arthur is catapulted into the position he was born to fulfill, though perhaps not in the way anyone expected. Morgen, too, finds herself pulled toward an expected destiny, but conversely, one marked by efforts to prevent it, rather than facilitate it.
Both stand poised on the precipice of immense power, pulling everyone around them into their wake as they step into the roles that will be sung of for centuries to follow.
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Meet the Author
As a child, whenever anyone would ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I would answer, “I want to write books!” That enthusiasm has never wavered. Fifty years later, I still feel most fulfilled when I'm writing.As a reader, I regularly devour books on mythology, folklore and fairy tales. I believe the stories we choose to tell generation after generation are doorways into the heart of humanity. These are the stories that assure us we're not the first to doubt ourselves or face what seems an impossible challenge; the stories that help us realize we're not alone in our struggles. Most importantly, they inspire us to summon the courage to leave behind the familiar and find out what we're made of--to face the dragon, resist the trickster, and heed the advice the village elder gives us.
My aim as a storyteller is to transport you to a world that feels ancient yet somehow familiar, where the veil between realms is thin and magic is very, very much alive.
connect with the author: website ~ X ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
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