Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Cadeleonian Series - Ginn Hale Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Minor or Background Relationship(s), Elezar Grunito/Hilthorn "Skellan" Radulf, Kiram Kir-Zaki/Javier Tornesal Characters: Elezar Grunito, Javier Tornesal, Kiram Kir-Zaki, Hilthorn "Skellan" Radulf, Atreau Vediya Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Alternate Universe - Modern with Magic, Animal Death, Podfic & Podficced Works, Podfic, Podfic Length: 2.5-3 Hours

So I just finished devouring the Cadeleonian series by Ginn Hale over the course of, like, less than a week, and instantly went looking for fic (as you do), of which there are sadly only SIX, but one of these six is this amazing Modern AU that is both text and podfic. I haven’t listened to it yet but I just read it and I’m in love, so y’all should also go read it (in whatever form you prefer to consume it). You don’t need to have read Master of Restless Shadows for this one, but probably best if you’ve read through at least the first part of Champion of the Scarlet Wolf.

Currently reading Master of Restless Shadows by Ginn Hale and needed to pause and draw Atreau and Narsi. 

I love Ginn Hale’s fantasy worlds so much, I can’t recommend her books enough!

ARC Review: Master of Restless Shadows by Ginn Hale

Before we get started - I know it says Book 1 on the cover, but this is actually the fifth book set in this world, with the same primary characters throughout. If you haven’t read the others, do that first - the stories are sequential and share an overarching plot. Series page on Goodreads here. The review below contains spoilers for the previous books in the series.

Master of Restless Shadows takes us back to Cadeleon, six years after the events in Champion of the Scarlet Wolf. The men we first met as teenagers in Lord of the White Hell are now in their late twenties and early thirties, more experienced and jaded than before and even more heavily invested in intrigue and politics. 

Unlike previous books, which had only one or two POV characters, this time out we’re following four: 

Fedeles Quemanor, former victim of possession and current Duke of Rauma;

Atreau Vediya, well known for sleeping around, somewhat less known for his adventure-and-smut-filled memoirs, not know for...well, secret stuff;

Ariz Plunado, he of the ankle kicking and blank expression that we first met at the autumn tournament in Lord of the White Hell; and

Narsi Lif-Tahm, newly-minted physician from Anacleto who is making his first appearance in the series.

The action now centres on Cieloalta, capital city of Cadeleon and home to the royal family. Tensions are high in the city, with relations between the crown prince, king in all but name, and his uncle the royal bishop bad and getting worse. Priests and guards are turning up dead, minorities and others that run afoul of church doctrine are vacating the city, and everyone seems to be plotting something awful. Oh, and the ancient magical protections of the city are failing. It’s up to our heroes to figure out what’s going wrong and how to stop it - and what whoever’s pulling strings behind the scenes really wants.

The tone of the series started off fairly dark, and I think it’s fair to say it hasn’t been getting any lighter as it goes along. The series continues to address some pretty heavy topics: racism and xenophobia; religious intolerance/ persecution; violent, often prolonged assault and torture, both physical and mental - you get the idea. But things aren’t entirely bleak - Narsi’s constructive but not overly-naïve outlook is a breath of fresh air for readers and other characters, often challenging others to look at things, and at themselves, differently. 

“It will not do your reputation any good if it’s known that I was here with you at this hour,” [Atreau] said.

He was correct, Narsi knew that, but he also had no intention of joining the great number of men and women who privately enjoyed Lord Vediya’s company while publicly disavowing him. [...]

“Stay,” Narsi said firmly. “I wouldn’t deserve a good reputation if I turned my guests out into the dark like unwanted cats.” (Atreu Vediya/ Narsi Lif-Tahm,  Master of Restless Shadows)

Hale puts a lot of detail into these stories, and there are a lot of minor characters to keep track of, some of whom get barely a mention the first time we see them, then are suddenly major players in later books. It can be a lot to keep track of, so those looking for a light, quick read may find it a bit of a slog to get through. 

Also, while the series often gets tagged as romance, I’d say it’s first and foremost a fantasy. Sure, there are romantic elements - people fall in love and there’s a bit of time spent on relationships and sex and such - but that is not the core of the books. So, if what you really want is a love story that leaves you feeling all emotionally satisfied and warm and fuzzy, this may not be for you.

All that being said, I really enjoy this series so far and am very much looking forward to the next book (though this one thankfully doesn’t end on a devastating cliffhanger). Highly recommended for fans of intricate fantasy in a pseudo-historical setting. Available 8 October from the usual retailers:

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo

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The standard disclaimer - I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

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Sketch: Cultivated Plainness

Ariz Plunado, looking lethally boring.

Completed September 2019

Better late than never!! #MasterofRestlessShadows Instagram Tour⁠ Presented by: @ginnhale @blindeyebooks @anoveltakepr⁠ 👨‍⚕️✨🔮⁠ Master of Restless Shadows is a queer fantasy epic not to be missed! Out October 8, 2019, it features: Spies, monsters, assassins, and witches populate this diverse and complex fantasy world, where ancient magic is waking and a young physician may hold the key to a kingdom’s fate! ⁠ ⁠ Tour details: For five days, October 7 - 11, some truly amazing accounts will be hosting #bookstagram shots of this book. Join us to learn more!⁠ ⁠ Giveaway details: Enter to win one complete e-set of volumes 1 - 4 of the Cadeleonian series by Ginn Hale!⁠ ⁠ How to Enter: To enter:⁠ ✔️Follow @ginnhale⁠ ✔️Comment on any tour photo w/#MasterofRestlessShadows⁠ ✔️Tag a friend on any tour host photo for an extra entry⁠ ⁠ Winners contacted via the Instagram Account they used to enter. ⁠ ⁠ About Master of Restless Shadows:⁠ Freshly graduated Master Physician Narsi Lif-Tahm has left his home in Anacleto and journeyed to the imposing royal capitol of Cieloalta intent upon keeping the youthful oath he made to a troubled writer. But in the decade since Narsi gave his pledge, Atreau Vediya, has grown from an anonymous delinquent to a man renowned for penning bawdy operas and engaging in scandalous affairs. 

What Narsi―and most of the larger world―cannot know is the secret role Atreau plays as spymaster for the Duke of Rauma. 

After the Cadeleonian royal bishop launches an unprovoked attack against the witches in neighboring Labara, Atreau will require every resource he can lay his hands upon to avert a war. A physician is exactly what he needs. But with a relentless assassin hunting the city and ancient magic waking, Atreau fears that his actions could cost more than his own honor. The price of peace could be his friends’ lives.⁠ 👨‍⚕️✨🔮⁠ #anoveltakepr #newrelease #fantasyrelease #queerfantasy #ginnhale #mmreads #lgbtqromance #instagramtour #diversebooks #MMRomance #readerlife #readersofinstagram #booksofinstagram #booklife #booklover #lovebooks #bookworm #books #rainbowread #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #gayromance #loveislove #lgbt #LGBTQIA #queerbooks⁠ https://www.instagram.com/p/B3bdPVFHXeC/?igshid=ekzrt9ewh8p5

A Free Dreamer Review: Master of Restless Shadows (Master of Restless Shadows #1) by Ginn Hale

A Free Dreamer Review: Master of Restless Shadows (Master of Restless Shadows #1) by Ginn Hale

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Freshly graduated Master Physician Narsi Lif-Tahm has left his home in Anacleto and journeyed to the imposing royal capital of Cieloalta intent upon keeping the youthful oath he made to a troubled writer. But in the decade since Narsi gave his pledge, Atreau Vediya has grown from an anonymous delinquent to a man renowned for penning bawdy operas and engaging in scandalous…

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