A Threat of Shadows by JA Andrews
Once Alaric was a Keeper.
He protected the land with his knowledge and his magic. He advised the queen.
Once he was a good man.
Until, in a futile attempt to save his dying wife, he delved deep into dark magic, betraying everything he believed in.
But now there is one last chance to save his wife, buried in an ancient Wellstone. With a map from a disgruntled dwarf, and the help of an inscrutable elf and an inept wizard, Alaric just might find it.
Except there are other, darker forces searching for the Wellstone. And if they find it first, they’ll use it to awaken a terrible evil.
To face this growing threat—and have any chance at saving his wife—Alaric needs the strength and power of a Keeper, not the brokenness of the man he has become.
Can he overcome the darkness in his past? Or will it be the shadows within himself that destroy everything?
A Threat of Shadows is a brilliant introduction to the magical world of The Keeper Chronicles, a new epic fantasy series from author JA Andrews.
In a land of magic, elves, and the occasional dragon, an engaging adventure unfolds about what it means to reconcile who you are, with who you thought you’d be. A story of sacrifice, friendship, and the weight of our pasts.
This is JA Andrews’ debut novel, and it is beautifully noblebright. At first it seems to be a stereotypical, albeit well-written, epic fantasy in which a mismatched group of adventurers (a human, a wizard, an elf, a dwarf…) must go on a quest, but there’s more going on than first appears. The plot is epic but the character journeys are intensely personal, written with sensitivity and understanding. Highly recommended.
This book review originally appeared on C. J. Brightley’s blog.
One thought on “A Threat of Shadows – JA Andrews”