The Shadowed Path [Paperback]

Simon Stone (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 14, 2011

In the west the ancient empire of Prast crumbles, an old man too sick to climb out of his deathbed. In the east an upstart nation of sun worshipers spread their heathen ways, swallowing up city-states and small kingdoms as they tread ever closer to Prast’s borders. War is inevitable. A war greater and more bloodthirsty than any seen since the old gods left the world. And yet, war is as nothing compared to the greatest danger. The Shadowland. A vast swathe of corrupted jungles, deserts and mountains, saturated in malevolence. Ever since the time of myth it has separated east from west, a mark on the world to remind all men of the anger of their gods. Now it has begun to spread, spewing out its deadly creatures on the nations, threatening to corrupt and consume everything. Only one man carries the key to stopping the Shadowland, a man battered and scarred from his years alone in its deadly grasp. To stop it he must first make a friend of his greatest enemy... ...and then he must enter the Shadowland again...

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Simon was born in London, UK, about the same time the original Star Wars movie was released to the world, but spent the majority of his adolescent life growing up in North Wales, the land of sheep and dragons (the dragons cunningly masqueraded as his French and History teachers). After relocating back to the city of his birth he got married (to an Colombian, just to make life interesting) and now spends his time hovering somewhere between his twin loves of music and literature.

Product Details

• Paperback: 418 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace (October 14, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1463581998
• ISBN-13: 978-1463581992
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,375,833 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Simon Stone was born in London, UK, about the same time the original Star Wars movie was released to the world (figure that one out), but spent most of his adolescent life growing up in North Wales, the land of sheep and dragons (the dragons cunningly masqueraded as my French and History teachers). After relocating back to London he got married (to a Colombian, just to make life interesting) and now spends his time working in a primary school (to pay bills that propagate as if by magic) while hovering somewhere between his twin loves of music and literature.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic debut fantasy, November 16, 2011

By 

Melisa - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadowed Path (The Archwood Chronicles) (Kindle Edition)

The Shadowed Path is a fantasy set in a Roman type world, but with a lot of differences. From the first chapter I was hooked with the story of the strange Inhumani people and the young hero Marcus as he gets trapped in a very hostile part of the world called the Shadowland. The characters are great, very realistic and have a lot of depth, especially Sheena/Jinx, she - or is it they? - is damaged girl but so compelling to read!

I'm desperate to find out what happens next, and will definitely get the next book. I would probably give it 4.5 stars if I could but I can't so will give it 5 for being an indie book!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great start to a new fantasy series, October 24, 2011

By 

S.J. Wist "Fantasy Cookie" (Toronto, Ontario) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadowed Path (The Archwood Chronicles) (Kindle Edition)

The Shadowed Path is a book that quickly pulled me into a vivid Roman Empire-like world, immersed in dark fantasy elements. Two nations on the brink of war, and between them a place all its own; the Shadowland. Here it is the waystalkers, inhumanii connected to the earth, who are at one with its darkness. But on the outside of their world, they are slaves to humans who they cannot kill. The rules change when the enemy bends some of these lethal waystalkers to their advantage, and Marcus and his companions barely escape alive.

Marcus didn't want to get sent away from his comfortable, rich life to join a merchant caravan on a such a treacherous journey. On getting out of the Shadowland four years later, he finds nothing remaining of the life he left. When things begin to escalate violently in his search for answers, his quick-wits, calm demeanor and fighting skills gained from the Shadowland make him an awesome character to follow.

When Sheena joins the story, she goes from a woman in despair to one bent on vengeance. Her shattered mind due to the traumatic loss of her family gives her character an even more suspenseful edge, particularly when she aims her vengeance at Marcus.

I'm curious to see what happens next with Marcus and Sheena and how the waystalkers will further play out. A great deal of the four years in the Shadowland has yet to be revealed as well, as the imprints it has left on Marcus and his friends are significant. Great characters, story, and action, makes this a series I will be following closely.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, December 13, 2011

By 

Ryan Lolley - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Shadowed Path (Paperback)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! I got it one day when I was halfway through another fantasy novel (won't mention which one, but it's a series I'm hooked on) and started reading it idly on the way home. I was drawn in so instantly that I put the other novel aside to finish this one, which took me just five days!

What I like about it so much is that there are so many concepts and plot ideas which I havnt come across before in my extensive reading of the well-used fantasy genre. The Shadowland is an instantly compelling, haunting concept. I love the way we only see parts of what is one of the main elements of the book, keeping us waiting to be drip fed just a little bit more of Markus' experience in it's clutches. The Waystalkers are also a truly intriguing race, almost elf like and yet still completely different from anything else I have read.

The further you progress in the book, the more you get drawn into the world of Prast and the characters, who I have to say are well developed, psychologically interesting individuals. I can't wait to see where Markus goes next, and how Sheena/Jinx is developed as a character. I thought it was a shame that Tyacles' journey, in this book at least, ends so darkly, but we will see what happens as the series progresses.

I love the vaguely familiar Roman/Aztec type settings of Prast and the Sul empire giving us a point of reference against a very fantasy inspired back-drop. The writing style is direct and easy to follow, not overly elaborate, but practical and yet very descriptive. It is easy to picture what is being presented to you. The action sequences are not heroic, unrealistic swash-buckling fights, but swift, brutal, real action, which passes by fast enough that they don't detract from the story but still add that conflict needed to drive a good fantasy story forward.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the series holds, hopefully see more of the Shadowland, and I will definitely be keeping tabs for the next book and grabbing it as soon as it comes out.

I genuinely think this is as professional a book as I've seen on mainstream publishing shelves. In fact, it's a lot better than some I've read!