Posted on  20/08/2024 17:00:17

My rating: 5 battleborn stars

I found out about this short story during my FB IFA Summer Reading Challenge and downloaded it from the author's site, where it's available for free. Why didn't I know about it sooner!!!?

A short tale of courage in the face of despair! Bloody, gritty, dark and gruesome, it will plunge you into a desperate battle for survival against overwhelming odds!

An awesome intro to the upcoming Battleborn Mage series, Beyond the Shadows dumps the reader straight into the fire! No cuddling, snuggling or smooching! Man up and hold your ground even when all odds are stacked against you!

The world of Arcanthia is besieged by shadowspawn. The seemingly endless waves of monsters are hell-bent on destruction and death, And the only thing standing in their way is The Black Wall. The first and final line of defense of Arcanthia, manned by the elite Shadowguard.

Jarrett, whose family had been slaughtered by shadowspawn, is determined to have vengeance and has dedicated his life to the defense of his realm from these creatures of nightmare. Stolen from the streets, forced into slavery, and trained as gladiators, Jarrett and his brother Kolby are now among the best of the Shadowguard.

The beasts attack night after night but the Shadowguard holds!
Yet, when the shadowspawn launch an all-out assault, Jarrett is thrust into a battle of cataclysmic proportions. When darkness spreads and the death toll mounts, even the Shadowguard’s courage and skill may not stand against their evil.

In a vivid style that makes you see the battle unfold in every single detail, Angel Haze will give you arrows flying, beasts howling, blood flowing and entrails flying!
Something that looks a little bit like this:


Amid bodies torn apart and nightmarish creatures that seem to revel in the carnage, Jarrett is determined to hold his ground. But the monsters are too many and the Shadowguard may not survive this time.

And the stakes are brought even higher as Jarrett and his comrades realize the Battlemages are also outside, among the hellish beasts! The only ones who could put an end to the creatures' invasion!
Will they be able to make it to the Wall alive? And will they be able to get to safety, when the standing orders are to "Not open the gates"?

In the heat of the battle, through grief and despair, Jarrett has to make a choice upon which the very fate of the realms hinges. What that is, you're gonna have to read and find out! :)

For such a short story, Beyond the Shadows manages to deliver excellent action scenes and nicely fleshed out characters in an utterly vivid style and at great pacing.

I highly recommend it to anyone in search for a short gritty and bloody read and am looking forward to the upcoming Battleborn Mage series.

Check out this book and more of Angel Haze over at www.angelhaze.com