In a job like this, one mistake can cost you everything.As a Shadowchaser, Kira Solomon has been trained to serve the Light, dispatch the Fallen, and prevent the spread of chaos. It’s a deadly job, and Kira knows the horror of spilling innocent blood. But now she has a new role, as the Hand of Ma’at, the Egyptian Goddess of Truth and Order, and an assignment that might just redeem her.A fellow Shadowchaser has gone missing, and so has a unique artifact imbued with astonishing magic. Unless the Vessel of Nun is returned, it will cause destruction beyond anything the modern world has seen. Kira’s got a team at her back, including Khefar, a near-immortal Nubian warrior who’s already died for her once. But as complicated as her feelings for him are, they’re nothing compared to the difficulties of the task she faces.And the only way to defeat the enemy is to trust in a powershe can barely control, and put her life—and her soul—on the line.
Shadow Chase (Shadowchasers)
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About the Author
Seressia Glass has always been a voracious reader, cutting her teeth on comics, cereal boxes, and anything else at hand. Writing her own stories soon followed. After winning the national "Living the Dream" essay contest for the inaugural Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday celebration in her hometown of Atlanta, Seressia realized her ability to move people with her words. Today, her fiction features diverse people realizing the universal dreams of love and acceptance. Stories have appeared recently in Vegas Bites: A Werewolf Romance Anthology edited by by bestselling author L. A. Banks and its sequels Vegas Bites and Vegas Bits Back. She's also published four romance novels, once of which, Through the Fire, was chosen for Black Expressions Book Club. Shadowblade is her fantasy debut. When not writing, Seressia is an instructional designer for an international home improvement company who loves to belly dance and watch anime.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
Chap†er 1
Coming back from the dead was exhausting work.
Not that Kira Solomon had done much more since her resurrection than survive a celebratory feast with a demigod, an immortal warrior, a bureaucrat, an ageless woman, and two friends she’d accidentally tried to kill.
Then again, that was more than enough. As glad as she was to be on the right side of the grass, she’d had just about all the celebrating she could handle.
She leaned against the whitewashed column supporting the porch overhang, waiting for Khefar to show up with his car. The bungalow was situated in a beautiful old neighborhood in Ansley Park in Midtown Atlanta, tree-lined and gentrified, not far from the High Museum and Piedmont Park. Where else would Balm live other than some century-old neighborhood on the National Register of Historic Places?
Kira wondered if the other residents of Ansley Park knew their sometime neighbor was a woman of unfathomable age who headed an international clandestine organization. An organization dedicated to fighting the evil of the Fallen: their human hosts, Shadow Avatars, and all those who consorted with or were descended from the original Fallen—demons, halflings, hybrids, and other beings of Shadow.
Somehow Kira didn’t think that was something that could be shared over tea and cookies with the neighborhood welcoming committee.
Right now, she could do with a soothing cup of tea herself. Anything to fight the chill that still clung to her bones despite her ever-present gloves and the black faux leather jacket she wore over charcoal wool trousers and a gray turtleneck sweater. All Kira wanted to do was go home, settle down on the couch or in her altar room, and relax with a mug of chamomile.
It was hard to be thrilled to be alive when so many weren’t—like the innocents who’d been on the receiving end of her bad Shadow-induced flipout. Feeling the weight of those deaths while playing happy with her friends and coworkers had been a burden almost impossible to bear. She was looking forward to having some time to herself, in her own space, surrounded by her own belongings.
The front door to the bungalow opened. Kira stiffened as Wynne stepped out. She should have been happy that her friends still wanted her around, but she couldn’t get past the guilt of what she’d done to them, especially Zoo. Even though Wynne’s husband seemed to be fully recovered, Kira knew he bore a jagged dark scar in his olive skin, thanks to her.
Wynne leaned over the porch rail, her pink hair a shocking contrast against the orange and bronze fall leaves of the neighborhood trees. Dressed in a pair of desert-print army combat uniform trousers from her former military life and a black sweater that looked as if it had been on the losing end of a catfight, Wynne Marlowe was every bit the contrast she presented: a disciplined soldier with an unpredictable nature, a petite woman with a sweetheart face and an expertise in tae kwon do, a big-hearted woman who took as much pride in the spells her husband wove as the weapons she forged.
“You know, now that this is over, the four of us should go somewhere guaranteed to be uneventful,” Wynne announced. “Maybe Antarctica. It can be like a couples’ vacation.”
“A couples’ vaca— Did Zoo add a little extra herb to your tea?”
“I’m being serious, Kira.” Wynne turned to face her.
Kira backed up a step, maintaining the space between them. “You’re being crazy. I’m not part of a couple.”
“Now who’s dipping into the herbs? I’m not blind. I was there when Khefar saved you and brought you back from—wherever y’all went. Something tells me he wouldn’t do that for just anybody.”
Kira shoved her gloved hands deep into her trouser pockets. Her dying memories swirled along the edges of her mind, much like the leaves scattering around the bungalow. Khefar had saved her. He certainly hadn’t had to, not the way he had. She’d tried and failed to come up with a good reason why he’d endangered himself to save her. She did know, however, that it wasn’t because they were a “couple.”
“Wynne, there’s no couple stuff going on between Khefar and me.”
“Why not? Don’t you want it to?”
Wynne might look like a pink punk pixie, but she was as tenacious as a terrier. Where the hell was Khefar and his car? “It’s not a question of want. The reality is that he lives—and has lived for thousands of years—to complete his redemption so he can die and be reunited with his family in the afterlife. I’ve got the most dangerous job on the planet with the possible exception of those people who take lava samples from active volcanoes. One day, sooner or later, I won’t be able to pull off a miracle. I’ll fail even more spectacularly than I have in the last couple of weeks, and that will be it. There won’t be any coming back. Khefar and I, we’re both short timers. Our clocks are winding down.”
The terrier made a puppy-dog expression. “But—”
“Wynne.” Kira closed her eyes for a brief moment, dreading what would come next. This wasn’t going to be easy, and she would rather have waited. But what she had to say needed to be said, and sooner was better than later.
“You’re a good friend, a true friend, and I appreciate you and Zoo having my back in combat and in normal life more than I can ever say.”
Wynne narrowed her eyes. “Why does it feel like there’s a humongous ‘but’ coming? Like you’re breaking up with me?” Her pale face paled further as surprise widened her eyes. “Wait. Are you breaking up with us?”
“Not the friendship,” Kira said quickly. “But I can’t have you guys helping me with Chases anymore.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m the Shadowchaser. I’ve got the training and magic to take on the Fallen, and I barely survived the encounter. You guys aren’t even part of Gilead’s support staff. You’re not protected!”
Wynne folded her arms across her chest, looking like a petulant teen. A petulant teen who just happened to be an excellent marksman and weapons master. “We’re protected. We’ve got skills, weapons, and my man’s a witch. There’s no reason why we can’t still have your back.”
For a moment Kira couldn’t even form words. “Have you forgotten what happened a couple of days ago? I almost killed you and Zoo!”
Wynne’s hand cut through the air between them. “That was a one-time thing and not your fault! You were doped up on Shadow and out of your mind. We don’t blame you for what happened in the cemetery!”
“I know.” Kira kept herself as still as possible. She didn’t want to accidentally touch Wynne, even with thick jackets and her gloves between them. Magically downloading every bit of her friend’s thoughts, emotions, and memories, and possibly draining her life-force just wasn’t high on the list of things she wanted to do, ever. “I know you don’t blame me, and I’m grateful. So very grateful. But … it was hard seeing Zoo like that, seeing you seeing your husband like that. It was hard finding out I had done that to him without even hesitating.”
“Kira.” Tears shimmered in Wynne’s lashes. “You were defending yourself. You thought we were trying to hurt you. You even warned us to stay back!”
“It doesn’t matter.” Kira didn’t know how she could make her friend understand, but she had to try. “I need you to try to understand where I’m coming from on this. It’s too dangerous now. I don’t think it’s going to get any less dangerous. The Fallen know they can hurt me and other Chasers, make me do things that go against everything I stand for.”
“But—”
“They pushed me into Shadow, Wynne!” She pulled her gloved hands out of her pockets, wrapped them around the porch railing. Somehow she forced her voice back to normal. “They changed me, and they won’t stop until they drag me kicking and screaming to the other side. I’m not taking anyone else with me.”
“We won’t let them!” Wynne scrubbed at her eyes, leaving a smear of black eyeliner across her cheek and knuckles. “We can help like we always do!”
“No, Wynne. You’ve done your time on the front lines. You and Zoo deserve a little peace and quiet.”
“Since when have we done peace and quiet?”
Kira dragged out a smile. “Okay, your version of peace and quiet. Either way, you guys need to tend to your business, to the family you want to have. Helping me makes you both targets, and I can’t do what I need to do when I’m worrying about you.”
Wynne set her jaw. “That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? You think we’re a liability.”
“I didn’t say that!”
“You didn’t have to.” Wynne stepped back toward the front door. “I guess now that you have an immortal warrior and a demigod on your side, you don’t need two humans getting in the way.”
Kira winced. That was true and not true at the same time. Because Wynne and Zoo were human and fragile and her friends, she wanted them safely out of harm’s way. If they stayed away from her they’d be safe—safe from the things Kira Chased, and from Kira herself. How could it be wrong of her to feel that way?
“Well.” Wynne sniffed, then brushed her arm across her face again. “I guess I’d better tell my husband that us lowly humans aren’t wanted around here.”
“Wynne, please try to understand...
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Could be better,
By
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Shadow Chase (Shadowchasers) (Mass Market Paperback)
I read Shadow Blade a while back and couldn't wait for this book to be released. I must say I have mixed feelings about this book or series. The first book was good and I could see it evolving into something great but the sequel just didn't cut it for me. First off just let me say I love the idea of the book. I love the characters, especially Kira and Khefer. But I got lost in the long, drawn out details and set ups for what was going to happen or long explanations. I am an avid reader and I know a good book when I read one or atleast a good book to me. I get lost in the pages, the characters come alive and I can't put it down until I'm finished. I can see the characters doing and saying the things that the author has written but for me I just didn't get that with this book. I kept waiting for her to pull me in and then I finally just gave up and finished reading the book because I started. I didn't feel any passion from her with this book. Like I said, the idea of this story is wonderful and so are the characters but that's it. The book kept going and going and building up to this final scene of returning the "waters" and when it finally happened it was over in a few paragraphs. So much time was spent on Kira's guilty conscious or Khefer and Kira's struggle to give in to what they feel for each other. I don't know what else to say except for I didn't get what I expected!!!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Plot takes a while to get rolling,
By Kelly (Fantasy Literature) (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)
This review is from: Shadow Chase (Shadowchasers) (Mass Market Paperback)
The back cover blurb for Shadow Chase promises an adventure story revolving around the Vessel of Nun, an Egyptian artifact that has gone missing and, unless restored to its proper place, will unleash a worldwide flood.
This storyline, however, doesn't start until after the 100-page mark (though there is one brief hint that foreshadows part of it), and this is to the detriment of the book. In the early chapters, most of the page time is taken up with introspection, discussions, and arguments about the events that occurred in Shadow Blade and the issues these events raised. The same concerns are raised repeatedly. On the one hand, this could benefit readers who haven't read Shadow Blade and are starting with this installment. But readers who did read the first book may be impatient for this book's plot to get rolling. And once it does get rolling, it's a great deal of fun. We travel with Kira, Khefar, and friends to London, Cairo, Aswan, and an eerie alternate dimension, and Seressia Glass puts them through the physical and emotional wringer several times. In terms of the adventure aspect, the Egypt sections could have used a little more description to help "transport" the reader there, but nonetheless the story is enjoyable. We also get plenty of development on the romance front. Shadow Chase reminded me a bit of the GRAIL KEEPERS series Evelyn Vaughn wrote for Silhouette Bombshell several years ago, with its combination of archaeology, romance, goddess mysticism, and a strong heroine. If you liked those books, you will probably like the SHADOWCHASERS books too. Shadow Chase would be a stronger novel if some of the talk and introspection were cut from the early chapters. The plot is a good one, but it takes an unusually long time to get there.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Egyptian lore the author combines gives it an exotic and alluring atmosphere that readers looking for something new,
By Bookaholics Reviewer (Bay Area, California) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Shadow Chase (Shadowchasers) (Mass Market Paperback)
Shadow Chase by Seressia Glass
Urban Fantasy- July 28th, 2010 4 stars This fast faced Urban thriller is sure to keep readers on their toes. The author starts the heroine in the thick of things and I would advise first time readers to check out the 1st book Shadow Blade to get up to speed. The heroine, Kira Solomon has just recovered from a deadly battle that nearly killed her friends. And one where she almost died herself. She was only saved by the enigmatic and sexy Nubian Khefar. A man she desires but who keeps her at arms length. But before she can recover she is already assigned a new mission to find the Vessel of Nun. An object of power that unless returned will cause untold damage. This book really explores Kira's feelings. I liked how it delved into Kira's thoughts of inadequacy and the need to prove herself. Because Kira has been tainted by shadow this reader could really feel how much she struggles to do the right thing. But I do have to admit all her constant insecurities did grate on me after a while. I found the best part of the story were the fantastic secrets about Kira that are revealed. Especially why she was adopted by the powerful Balm. The author reveals details about Balm herself! Also the intriguing Khefar plays a prominent role in this book. He is the only one that Kira can actually touch without draining him of his life force. And his noble enigmatic personality plus super hot bod make him irresistible to Kira and me! This book was also special because Kira's beloved mentor Bernie makes some unexpected cameos which were surprisingly heartfelt. Fans of this series will have to get this book if only for the secrets it reveals about Kira's past. I loved that it explores something other than vampires and shifters. The Egyptian lore the author combines gives it an exotic and alluring atmosphere that readers looking for something new in the Urban Fantasy genre will devour. Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
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