Synopses & Reviews
Screenwriter and noted film critic C. Robert Cargill continues the story begun in his acclaimed debut
Dreams and Shadows in this bold and brilliantly crafted tale involving fairies and humans, magic and monsters—a vivid phantasmagoria that combines the imaginative wonders of Neil Gaiman, the visual inventiveness of Guillermo del Toro, and the shocking miasma of William S. Burroughs.
ix months have passed since the wizard Colby lost his best friend to an army of fairies from the Limestone Kingdom, a realm of mystery and darkness beyond our own. But in vanquishing these creatures and banning them from Austin, Colby sacrificed the anonymity that protected him. Now word of his deeds has spread, and powerful enemies from the past—including one Colby considered a friend—have resurfaced to exact their revenge.
As darkness gathers around the city and time runs out, Colby has to turn to forces even darker than those he once battled for aid.
Following such masters as Lev Grossman, Erin Morgenstern, and Kim Harrison, C. Robert Cargill takes us deeper into an extraordinary universe of darkness and wonder, despair and hope to reveal the magic and monsters around us . . . and inside us.
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“In this beautifully written debut.... The universe is richly detailed, and issues of destiny and sacrifice give the story depth…for those that enjoy a rollercoaster ride into the depths of strangeness and despair.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“Exceptional worldbuilding, sure-handed plotting and well-rounded characters, even the nasty ones, abound, and the whole impressive enterprise moves smartly along through a fairy culture with a structure and motivations sharply different from that of humans. A mesmerizing and highly original debut.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Richly imagined...an auspicious debut.” Booklist
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“Hard to put down…this is definitely going to attract readers of contemporary fantasy, particular those who enjoy Neil Gaimans adult books or Lev Grossmans The Magicians.” Library Journal
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“Dark, comedic, and unsettling, Dreams and Shadows is everything an urban fantasy sets out to be.” Tor.com
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“Cargill proves with Dreams and Shadows that hes not just a writer capable of creating and presenting dense mythology well Breitbart/ Big Hollywood
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“As a result, Dreams and Shadows is a potent introduction to a world where the wondrous is rarely wonderful, the best intentions are guaranteed to roam farthest astray, and the reader is destined to keep turning the pages until the (somewhat) bitter end.” BookPage
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“A thoroughly enchanting debut novel” Starburstmagazine.com
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“Powerful…. Brimming with philosophical conundrums… Cargills world is abundant in detail and imagery in the service of the story. … Will keep readers entranced.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)
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“[T]his is a fantasy about mythmaking, learning the uses of power, and living with the consequences of ones behavior. Recommended for readers of Lev Grossmans Magicians series and Neil Gaimans adult contemporary fantasies.” Library Journal on QUEEN OF THE DARK THINGS
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“Cargills screenwriting chops bring to life a vivid mix of real and imaged folklore in his fantastical second novel. While the mix of urban fantasy, Guillermo Del Toro-like monsters and academic explanations of this magical world shouldnt work, it absolutely does.” No Source on QUEEN OF THE DARK THINGS
About the Author
C. Robert Cargill is the screenwriter of the Sinister movies, as well as several other projects currently in various stages of production. He wrote for Aint It Cool News for nearly a decade under the pseudonym Massawyrm, served as a staff writer for Film.com and Hollywood.com, and appeared as the animated character Carlyle on Spill.com. The author of Dreams and Shadows lives and works in Austin, Texas.