In Solitude's Shadow
by David Green
The Banished have returned, and they will have their revenge.
Zanna Alpenwood, a powerful mage, stands atop Solitude’s walls staring down at an army bent on invasion. Two hundred aged and forgotten Sparkers are all that stand between the Banished and the nation of Haltveldt.
With time running out, Zanna is forced to reach out to her estranged daughter, Calene, and set her on an impossible quest. In doing so Calene must decide between her masters and her own conscience, as she teams up with unlikely allies to forge their way over land and sea. Will they arrive in time to save the fortress of Solitude from destruction?
Only one thing is certain. Ruin is assured if Solitude falls.
Welcome to Haltveldt
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Reviewers are Raving!
"David Green lights a fuse that fizzes and sparks to an explosive conclusion."
- A.M. Justice, author of 'A Wizard's Forge.'
"Green hits hard... drug addiction, estranged family, and child slavery as well as exceptionally subtle humour." - K.B. Elijah, author of 'Whispers in the Dark.'
"A true epic fantasy. From the first page you are drawn into a world of races and war. With beautiful writing and tangible descriptions, enveloping you into the story and the intense themes all in one" - Neen Cohen, author of 'Cold As Hell.'
"The relationship between mother and daughter... pulled on my heartstrings." - Drew Starling, author of Sentinel.
"Character conflicts that blur the lines between good and evil." - Chris Hewitt, author of 'Heart of Thorns.'
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A note from the Author
A Note from the Author
I never thought I'd write fantasy. To be honest, I never thought I'd write at all, but that's a different story.
Fantasy is my first reading love; from childhood days reading about King Arthur and the mystical, fantastical places in Cheshire through Alan Garner, to having my eyes opened and never closed by JRR Tolkien's The Hobbit, the fantasy genre was always something I found inspiration and comfort from. When I began my writing journey, I avoided fantasy.
Not for any nefarious reasons, you understand. No, because I thought what could I bring to it?
After The Hobbit, I never looked back. The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion followed, then I devoured David Edding's Belgariad, Terry Brook's Shannara. If I saw a hooded figure or a sword on a book cover, I bought it. Then came The Wheel of Time, Malazan Book of the Fallen, The First Law, Earthsea, Robin Hobb... my tastes and experience in this wonderful genre of ours continued to develop and leave me in awe of what these masters could achieve. I'd pour over maps, trawl fansites, delve into the communities, and dream those dreams that only fantasy could bring me.
So, I began to write. But fantasy... no, leave that to the masters. But, best laid plans and all that. With each project, my influences crept in. My love of fantasy moved the needle closer and closer until I completed my first dark fantasy short-story. It got published too, a big surprise to me and a sign that maybe, just maybe, I could give it a go.
In Solitude's Shadow, the first book in the Empire of Ruin series, is the end result. It's a book I'm immensely proud of, a book that contains the aspects of fantasy I love, and I hope I've brought something new to say. As you read this, I hope you recall all the wonderful aspects of fantasy, remember all the magnificent places our genre can transport us. But overall, I hope you enjoy the ride.
Thanks for reading, David.
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