He has known nothing but darkness for years.
Now it’s time to let it consume him.
After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone-a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl...without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises.
Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired. When Mason's true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they've sworn to do? |
Release Date: September 20, 2023
Genre: Fantasy Romance (Clean)
I am always up for a good fantasy novel from a new-to-me author and Shadowcast was certainly both. Coming in at over 500 pages this first The Gateway Trilogy novel from Crystal D. Grant is quite the story. Featuring battles, betrayal, spies, a touch of romance, redemption, and sacrifice this book has a little bit of everything.
Crystal D. Grant had me intrigued by her well done – and certainly vivid – fantasy realm from start to finish. Darkmen, Stewards, and Gifts of the Moon, plus the mysterious Shadowstones. Add in a healer with more laundry to take care of than she has patients, a man bent on a revenge after a tragic loss, a man trying to find his place once again despite the mistakes of the past, and the evil one determined to own or destroy them all. Well, as you can see you get a pretty entertaining tale.
Shadowcast is the first book in The Gateway Trilogy and as it ended on something of a cliffhanger I am on tenterhooks as to what will happen next. I am by no means waiting patiently so I hope it won't be too long before I get to visit with Seria, Mason, Eric, and the others both good and evil. It's going to be an epic tale for sure...
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Shadowcast by Crystal D. Grant a 4.5 Bark rating.
Crystal D. Grant is a daydreamer who adores freshly-baked cookies and anything with fur or feathers. During the day, she strives to instill a love of books and learning within her young students. As a hearing-impaired, home-school graduate, she found her voice in writing and has had multiple short stories and poems published. When she’s not reading or writing stories that sweep her away to another time and place, she watches classic movies and TV shows that do the same. Or she works on jigsaw puzzles. Crystal currently resides in smalltown Missouri, where she is always looking for space for another scented candle.
Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalgrantauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates. |
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