Christine Feehan's Blog - Posts Tagged "shadow-riders"

I clearly recall the day I came up with the idea for my Shadow Riders. I have two Black Russian Terriers who are somewhere between 130 – 140 pounds each. People often comment that they look a lot like big, black bears. So, you can imagine my surprise when one day, they became very difficult to locate in the yard.

I stood up on the porch looking down into the dog yard. It’s large with lots of trees that line the fence. My dogs, Drago and Vladimir, were playing in the late afternoon sun, chasing each other and enjoying the day. It’s a joy to watch them when they play and I was in no hurry to call them back in.



As they ran around the yard they drifted over to the line of trees near the fence. Each tree threw a shadow across the yard, nearly leaning into one another on the ground. The shadows seemed to be stretching out toward each other. The dogs entered the first line of shadows and for a moment I lost sight of them. I was shielding my eyes with my hand, squinting against the dying sun and suddenly, they just weren’t there anymore.

Then Drago rushed in between the shadows, closely followed by Vladimir. They entered the next line of shadows and again, I could hardly see them at all. In my mind it was as though the shadows stretched to accommodate a path for them and they entered one, jumped to the next, disappearing along the way, but still moving forward.

My vivid imagination wondered what it might be like to travel from one shadow to the next. Why would someone do it? What would be the purpose? What if…an assassin had this ability? What would the assassin do and why? The thought took hold in a way that I had to do something about it. So, I began to imagine a family of assassins who looked to bring justice where it had not previously been served. Not a mob family, not really, but they might disguise themselves that way to hide what they really are; Shadow Riders.



My Shadow Riders series was born and today, June 4, 2019 my fourth book in the series, Shadow Warrior, will be released. I have so many ideas for the Shadow Riders and hope to keep writing about them for as long as readers enjoy their stories.

Grace Murphy is a resilient character and I enjoyed writing her story. She’s had a difficult start in life, in and out of foster care. She finally finds someone who is a brother to her, who cares about her, just to find that he is not who she thinks he is. He’s dangerous. And he’s jealous of anyone she gives her attention to, which makes her life very lonely.

She’s sold by that same foster brother to repay a debt. It’s here where our story starts and where Vittorio discovers that, not only is there a traitor to the Ferraro family, but the Saldi’s are up to something. Then, he discovers Grace and what her fate was to be.





Imagine waking up in the hospital to find that an infamous billionaire playboy is taking care of you and claiming to be your fiancé. You’re wounded and betrayed and know that wherever you are, whoever you’re with, danger follows you. It’s a vulnerable position to be in. Then some wildly sexy man wants to protect you and take care of you. What’s a girl to do, right?

I love that Grace holds up under pressure. So much of her life is changing and other people are trying to maneuver her, but even with so much confusion and danger in her life she holds true to herself.

Grace is a perfect fit for Vittorio. She knows when something is worth arguing for and when it’s not. She’s sweet and caring and has longed for a family. The mutual respect between Grace and Vittorio is one of the things I loved most about their relationship. They want to understand one another and find harmony in their life together.



I love that Grace has her own kind of power and is a heroine in her own right. She’s a perfect match for a Shadow Warrior.

Shadow Warrior is unique in that we see the Ferraro family being attacked in more than one way. I liked the idea of keeping the family off-kilter so they didn’t know where to focus their attention. If they choose poorly, someone they care about or love would pay the ultimate price.

The obvious villain in this book is creepy. I wanted to write a villain that would be scary in a fundamental way. In a straight forward way. In a way that would give readers goosebumps. I feel this may be one of the best villains I’ve ever written.

If you’ve seen the book trailer, you already have a hint as to what kind of villain this is and you saw him being creepy. I wanted people to realize that sometimes we’re not even safe in our own homes that danger can lurk in places that you should be able to feel safe in.
Other dangers await the Ferraro family and they have to determine how to respond to it. Sometimes the scariest villain is the one you’re uncertain of. Are they out to get you? Now? Later? Not knowing can be the worst feeling of all.


Tell me about some of your favorite villains and why you think they’re so great!

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I thought I'd update everyone on what books are coming out and what I'm writing now.



Toxic Game released in paperback recently and I'm so happy to have Draden and Shylah's story out once more. These two stole my heart and are one of my most favorite couples. I think Toxic Game is one of the most romantic stories I've ever written.




Next up for the GhostWalkers will be Lethal Game, which is Malichai Fortunes and Amaryllis.





I completed Lethal Game and turned it in already. I'm not sure which character will be next, but you're welcome to tell me who is on your wish list!

Dark Illusion was released in hardcover Sept. 3rd and I'm so happy so many of you enjoyed it. We hit #3 on the New York Times combined list, thank you! This is Julija and Isai's book. I enjoyed bringing back Xavier's book and the shadow cats! The paperback version will be out in a few months. As soon as I have an exact date I'll post that on my website.





Currently, I'm writing Dark Song which is Ferro and Elisabeta's book. I'm already a few chapters in and have I am being surprised by Ferro. It's always fun when a character becomes even better than I thought they would be and I'm having so much fun writing this story.
The book should be out around this time next year, but I don't have the exact date just yet.



Leopard's Wrath is my next Leopard series book and it will be released on Nov. 5th. This is Mitya and Ania's book. I know many readers have been waiting for Mitya's book and I'm happy it's finally time for his story to be told. You get to find out more about his history and I'm leading up to something surprising for this series in the books to come!




Shadow Flight is Taviano and Nicoletta's book and I am so excited it's finally their time! I completed that book and turned it in for editing. This is one of those books that was so satisfying to write. It's helpful to write about characters over a long period of time where you get to know them so well. When it's their time to be featured in a story you already know how they'll react. Sure, you get surprised from time to time, but they're familiar in a way that feels good to spend time with them. Both characters were that way. Yeah, there was a bit of fiasco in the beginning, but... oh wait...I can't give any of this away yet! It's too soon!

The next book in my Torpedo Ink series is Ice's book. Vendetta Road brings our Ice man to Vegas and to a woman he knows he doesn't deserve, but hey! Why let that stop you, right? LOL Ice has the charm and he's not afraid to use it. But, never fear, his woman is no shrinking violet. Someone's about to have their heart melt. :-)





After Vendetta Road is Desolation Road which is Absinthe's book. That book did not go as I had originally planned, which is always a double-edged sword. It's fun, but sometimes you just want a story take the easy road. What was I thinking? LOL


I think that catches up for now. I'd love to know which character you're most looking forward to reading about in any or all of my series!

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SHADOW STORM






I always knew the Shadow Riders would have a violent history similar to organized crime that included a feud with another rival family. The Ferraros and the Saldis have that history. It’s this fight that nearly wiped the Ferraros off the face of the earth.

There’s nothing like a good conflict in any story to give intrigue and emotion. It seemed to make sense to me, and be a natural progression, of the overall story arc to have the two enemy families have children who’d grow up to be adults that would one day meet.



Val is somewhat older than Emme. He was ruthless even when they first met and she was too young to seduce. But, they had this magnetic pull that made them hyper aware of each other. So, when Emme finally came of age Val didn’t hesitate to lay claim to her, regardless of the fact that neither family would be agreeable to the match.





The Ferraros were nearly wiped out by the Saldis long ago. In the eyes of the Ferraro family the Saldis were enemies and could not be trusted. What did the Ferraros of Chicago treasure most? Their little sister. They were extremely protective of Emme. Everyone knew Valentino Saldi was a dangerous man in a dangerous family. The conflict for them was that Emme so obviously loved Val and they wanted her to be happy.



The Saldi family knew the Ferraros were dangerous. To them, the Ferraros were the bad guys. And, the fact is, the Ferraros are assassins. Killers. Regardless of how someone was investigated and what proof there was, the Ferraros took matters in their own hands and people died. The Saldis knew the Ferraros were not exactly all they presented themselves to be. They were hiding something. They couldn’t be trusted. So when the heir-apparent to the entire Saldi empire decided he had to have Emmanuelle Ferraro there was no one on the Saldi side happy to hear that.



Their relationship was doomed because of everything each family was. They would have to determine for themselves whether or not it was worth the fight to be together.

Of course, nothing is ever easy. Mistakes were made. When Val and Emme split up there was a collective sigh of relief from the families, even as Emme’s brothers were also sad for her.



Now, with Valentino in danger it’s the Ferraros who must decide whether or not to help the devil they know. And Emme to decide if the cost of loving Val is worth the price.

Shadow Storm is about to turn the Shadow Riders' mythology on its head!

Two families from Sicily. Ties with organized crime. The Ferraros and the Saldis. The Saldi family wanted the Ferraro family to join forces. They knew there was something about the family that was different, but wasn’t sure what that was. Whatever it was, they wanted in. But, the Ferraro family turned them down. So, the Saldi family waged war, doing their best to take out the entire Ferraro family. As the blood bath took most of the Ferraros, it was only those who could ride shadows that were able to escape. They scattered all over the world in a bid to save themselves. They found other Shadow Riders and began to grow the family again.



There are Shadow Riders all over the world. It isn’t just the Ferraro family. But, the feud with the Saldi family continued through time and over continents. Each family grew stronger in their own way. Those who moved to the United States created their own territories that they would do anything to protect.
History, even a violent one, creates relationships. The Ferraros and the Saldis are no longer actively fighting, but the feud isn’t over. There is no trust. No love. Well, except for Valentino Saldi and Emmanuelle Ferraro. That love stands against years of hate and mistrust. It’s not welcome by the families. But, what is to be done when the heir to one wants the now-grown little sister of the other?



The fact is, we all are good and we are bad. With a twist of the kaleidoscope the view changes. Perspectives change. Which of the families are not killers? Which of the families are not willing to destroy the other to keep their own safe? Who is good? Who is bad? What determines that?

In Shadow Storm we realize there are good people and bad people in each family. We find betrayal in the Ferraro family. We find loyalty in the Saldi family. Nothing is simple. Not in fiction. Not in real life. We all have layers to us. And the dynamics of the two families are about to get a turn of the kaleidoscope.
Emme is loyal to a fault. Her family means everything to her. She loves her brothers. Stefano is more like a parent to her.



Valentino Saldi is ruthless and his loyalty must be earned. When his uncle, the leader of the Saldi family, adopts him after his parents die, Val feels a strong bond to the older man. And the bond is mutual.
Now, Val is under attack. His tie with Emme was severed. He stands alone against a powerful army of his own people. He’s wounded and vulnerable. When someone within his circle contacts Emme to tell her what’s happened the Ferraros must decide whether to join Val or let him die, effectively removing the greatest threat to their little sister’s happiness.

Of loyalty and love, which will win? Which is stronger? Which will ride out the storm?

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For several years we’ve followed the Ferraro family of Chicago. And though I wasn’t ready to let them go, it was time to move on and meet someone new. Someone from a different family of Shadow Riders.

I wrote Shadow Fire to introduce someone from a different family.



I hadn’t thought about writing Elie’s book. He was a fun secondary character that I enjoyed writing. But, soon he took on a life of his own and he insisted he had his own story to tell.



The Archambault family, which is centered in France, is notorious not only for their shadow riding abilities but because they are a family who also could mete out justice to other Shadow Riders. Try to imagine what kind of training you would need to be able to kill well-trained assassins who could also ride shadows.

The fact that Elie had a dark side to him made perfect sense. He was raised in the shadow of a great family. The expectations of his skills was extraordinary. Because the Archambault family was akin to royalty in its own way, a great deal of discipline and little affection was simply the way Elie was brought up.

When it was dictated to him that he would marry a woman of his family’s choosing, Elie rebelled. And the young woman his family wanted to tie him to heard every cruel word Elie had to say about why he’d not marry her. Elie tried to apologize later, but to no avail. She disappeared and he left France, joining the military and then the Ferraro security detail.

But Paris was never truly far away. Not in his memory. Or heart.



There had been a woman there who’d caught his attention. A woman who stood out. He only had to wait until she was old enough. Ready enough. Now that was gone. As was the chance of a love-match.

He accepted the terms of an arranged marriage. A woman from France. Who met a very specific criteria. She would have everything…but his heart.

She arrived in the United States already married by proxy. The ceremony just a formality. They finally were able to meet in person. And that’s when everything went to Hell.

I had such a great time writing this book and giving Elie someone that would challenge and fulfill him.

Shadow Fire brings us back to the discussion of how horrible it can be to ride the shadows.



From the very beginning of the series, it was made clear that riding shadows wasn’t something easy to do. Some people just couldn’t. Some people did but paid a high price for it. Having the ability to ride the shadows wasn’t a guarantee that you’d be successful at it. So above and beyond a rider’s ability to use the shadow tubes, they also had to be well versed in fighting and weapons. In killing.



The Ferraro’s lost their young brother, Ettore, in the shadows. Their mother pushed the younger Ferraro into going into the shadows in order to save her own pride and it was Stefano who had to retrieve his brother’s body from within the shadow tubes. Riding those tubes takes a physical toll on the body.



When Nicoletta was forced to ride the shadow tubes with Taviano in Shadow Flight, in order to escape a group of killers, she became disoriented and ill at first. It would take training in order for her to learn to ride the shadows like the others.

Brielle Couture is a woman who doesn’t take failure lightly. Not if she can improve herself and come out on top. She’d not been the prettiest sister. The most eligible. Riding the shadows made her extremely ill. And though no one thought she’d be a Shadow Rider, she had the Shadow Rider genes and that was where they saw her value. But, Brielle didn’t see herself that way. She would train regardless of the cost. No one would take away what she had fought so hard to do. No one would take away the life she carefully worked at having. A husband. A family. Respect and perhaps even affection.



Everything she worked so hard to have would be put into question, challenged or potentially taken away.
Riding could cost her everything, including her life. But she wasn’t about to let Elie Archambault dictate what she could or could not do.

Sometimes we want something so much we are willing to do what it takes to have it. And when we get it, it’s not good for us. Even when we know it’s a bad idea, we’ve fought for it for so long it feels like you’d rather take chances than give up.



Brielle will have to make compromises in her new, married, life. Making the wrong choice could be a point of no return when you’re a Shadow Rider.