Synopses & Reviews
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.
Review
"Nefarious villains, vibrant country people, and a whiff of magic make for a colorful, high-fantasy adventure story."—Booklist
Review
"Combine(s) the right amounts of love, adventure and friendship into a page-turning masterpiece."
Review
"Heroic fantasy at its very best and documents author Jacob Gowans as an impressively gifted storyteller with a complete mastery of the genre."
Synopsis
Enter Atolas, a world where swords and daggers both extend life and end it, where magic is feared by all but a few, and where feuds and friendships influence kingdoms and courtships. Henry and Isabelle have secretly sworn to marry despite his lowly station as a carpenter, but his devotion to her drives him to commit an unthinkable act that may cost both of them their lives.
At the same time, a secret, dark prophecy has set in motion events that will affect not only them, but the thrones of rulers throughout all of Atolas, threatening to eclipse the world in shadow. But all is not lost while hope remains in the guise of an unlikely hero and the strength of friendship.
About the Author
Jacob Gowans is a debut author and works as a dentist for the Indian Health Services in Arizona. He enjoys watching sports, reading YA novels and books by Stephen King. He was raised in Papillion, Nebraska, lived for two years in Baltimore, graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor of arts in theater studies, and moved to Cleveland shortly thereafter for dental school at Case Western Reserve University. His family including four children live in the Southwest.