I'm excited to be apart of a blog tour for Jacob Gowans novels A Tale of Light and Shadow and A Tale of Light and Shadow, Vol. 2: Secrets of Neverak.
I'll start with Vol. 1...
A Tale of Light and Shadow
About:
Enter Atolas, a world where swords and daggers both extend life and end it; where magic is feared by all but a few; where feuds and friendships influence kingdoms and courtships. Henry and Isabelle have secretly sworn to marry despite his lowly station. Though Henry is but a carpenter, his devotion drives him to commit an unthinkable act that may cost both of them their lives. Unknown to either, a dark prophecy has set in motion events which will affect not only them, but the thrones of rulers throughout all of Atolas by eclipsing the world in shadow. But all is not lost while hope remains in the guise of an unlikely hero and the strength of friendship.
In my opinion:
I thought that A Tale of Light and Shadow would be a fantasy. So, I was a little nervous about committing to reading these books. However, I was pleasantly surprised that this wasn't a typical fantasy novel but a story about love, friendship and adventure. Thank goodness. I'm normally not a fan of fantasy so I was happy that it was more of a love story. I took a chance and now have added another author to my favorites list. Jacob Gowans not only surprised me by his brilliant writing but I was on the edge of my chair the entire time. I loved his style of writing. He kept me wanting more. If you plan on buying the first volume, you better get the second so you can start reading the moment you finish the first volume. His descriptions were wonderfully written and I felt that I was right beside Henry and Isabelle on their adventures. Overall, I loved this novel and look forward to reading more of A Tale of Light and Shadow.
A Tale of Light and Shadow, Vol. 2: Secrets of Neverak
About:
Henry Vestin always believed that, despite being a carpenter with no training in swordplay or survival, he could lead Isabelle and his friends to safety. He thought he could defy an emperor and protect Isabelle from harm. He was certain that love and friendship would help them survive.
He was wrong.
The second volume in the Tale of Light and Shadow series follows Henry and his friends after the disastrous battle at the Iron Pass. Horrors await the band of travelers in strange new lands. Crippled and broken, Henry must rely on his friends more than ever. New allies and foes find them at every turn, but which are friendly and which are deadly? Isabelle, now a slave in Neverak, finds herself surrounded by enemies, uncertain about the fate of her friends, and relying on only herself to survive. The Emperor moves forward with his plans of conquest, spurred on by the Seer’s dark prophecy, but he has not forgotten those who defied him.
Return to the world of Atolas, where swords and daggers extend life or end it, where feuds and friendships influence kingdoms and courtships, and where magic is feared by all but a few.
JACOB GOWANS was raised in Papillion, Nebraska, graduated with a bachelor's degree in theater studies and then moved to Cleveland, Ohio, where he graduated from dental school at Case Western Reserve University. Jacob and his wife and three children live in Arizona where he works as a dentist for the Indian Health Services.
In my opinion:
I absolutely loved reading book 1 and book 2 back to back. It helped me remember the characters and their experiences. Jacob Gowans delivered another brilliant story and I was on the edge of my seat again. What would happen? Would Isabelle escape her enemies? Could Henry rely on his friends for help? There was a lot happening in the second book which helped me get through. I normally like shorter books but Gowans didn't let me down so it didn't feel so long. The adventure continued and their journey was challenging and dangerous. There were parts I skipped because other characters drew me in. Although Isabelle was imprisoned in the Emperor of Neverack's palace, I wanted her to escape. I wanted the other concubines to figure out that they were slaves too. It was sort of weird that the other girls were enjoying their lifestyle. There was a lot of jumping from one character to the next but it was also exciting. There is definitely another book because there is more to the story. I'm looking forward to the next novel and was very pleased with Gowans style of writing. Well done!
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
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