Shadow Magic [Hardcover]

The country of Volstov has just won a hard-fought war with the Ke-Han Empire, fought with its magic-fueled flying metal dragons and narrowly overcoming a magical plague sent by the enemy. However, peace is still not assured. A diplomatic delegation of magicians and a few military men is dispatched to the defeated capital of Lapis, charged with working with the strange and prickly Empire in order to work out the terms of peace. General Alcibiades is one of the few military men. He is no diplomat and had hoped to have some time at home after the arduous war, but the Esar, ruler of Volstov, personally commanded him to go. He's a simple soldier at heart, impatient with the alien ultra-formal customs of Ke-Han, he leaves the diplomacy up to the others. To further his discomfort, he find himself sharing quarters with one of the oddest of the delegates, Caius Graylace, a magician recently recalled from exile who is eager to immerse himself in the intricacies of the Ke-Han court and whom Alcibiades thinks is totally insane.

At the Ke-Han Court, formality and protocol continue despite the defeat. The old Emperor commits suicide, as is their custom, and his eldest sons decide to live to continue the line. Mamoru is the younger son. He's loyal to his stronger elder brother and has gained some experience as a leader during the war which he hopes will be good enough to help aid in re-building the empire, although he remains fairly sheltered and innocent within the dangerous Court, where poison-tasters, intrigue and assassins are rife. Iseul, the new Emperor, is his opposite--decisive, hard, ruthless. Caught totally unaware, Mamoru's devoted servant/companion/mentor learns the new Emperor plans to assassinate his brother (presumably to remove any competition), and they both must overcome their vows to obey the Emperor and flee for their lives.

The story follows the events depicted in HAVE MERCY, but features different characters and can be read as a stand-alone. It is told in first-person, switching from chapter to chapter between the four characters: the soldier Alcibiades, the magician Caius, the fleeing brother of the emperor Mamoru, and his loyal and resourceful servant Kouje. Alcibiades and Caius are strangers to the ways of the mysterious Ke-Han Court and need to explore it and find the highlights and pitfalls while negotiating their way to find Peace with a still-dangerous Emperor. Mamoru and Kouje are almost strangers in their own land as they are forced to make their way beyond the confines and protocol of the Court while evading those hunting for them. While the threats are often not immediate, there is suspense in spades while we see the world and people through outsiders' eyes.

The world-building is good enough to keep things interesting, even though the alternate universe Russian and Japanese cultures are somewhat familiar. Magic plays a very small part, despite the title, but the four main characters and their growth in having to deal with each other and their situations are well depicted and fascinating and easily able to carry our interest. It is the characters that really stand out, particularly the quirky, fey Caius and the sweet, earnest Mamoru, balanced by the no-nonsense General and resolute servant. They make this an exciting and memorable read.

I "couldn't put this book down". Two talented authors lead one in excited anticipation from chapter to chapter. Jones and Bennett paint in vivid colors and fine detail each scene in every foreign yet somehow familiar place. Impeccably written and incredibly visual, this book cries out to be made into a movie, one of a series, starting with Havemercy and ending whenever. Battle scenes, sword fights, dangerous disguises, transformations, loyalty tested, treachery triumphed - all the elements of great story telling are here, lightened when appropriate by gentle humor.

Each of the characters is fully outfitted in face, movement, attitude, dress, and, by the way, has something personal beyond the story to add to the reader's enrichment. We can see ourselves, our friends and family, nations, in reading this book.

I loved this second book to havemercy the characters of caius greylace and general alcibiades were hilarious.These book's just keep getting better and better, very good read.

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