Shadowed Skies by Haley Cavanagh
Shadowed SkiesHaley Cavanagh
Genre: YA Dystopian Fantasy Romance | YA Science Fiction |Publisher: Our Street BooksDate of Publication: March 25, 2025ISBN: 978-1803417721ASIN: B0DV31JXS2Number of pages: 208Word Count: 60,000Cover Artist: Lapiz Digital Services
Tagline: Hunted for their blood. Fighting for their future.
Book Description:
In the shadowed aftermath of global destruction, humanity’s hope takes flight on the wings of the Evol-humans. River Shaw, secluded in his high-altitude sanctuary, seeks solace after a life scarred by loss. His quiet existence is disrupted when Delene Fairborne, fleeing captivity and a dark past, crashes into his world.
Together, they find strength in their unique abilities, resisting the sinister forces that hunt them for a cure only their blood can provide. As love blossoms amidst the chaos, they face a ruthless scientist hell-bent on harnessing their power. Shadowed Skies is a tale of survival, sacrifice, and soaring hope, where two souls, bound by destiny, fight for a world on the brink. Dive into a world where love flies against insurmountable odds.
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Excerpt:
Iwake to a muscular, silent figure looming over me, his wings casting unnervingshadows. Intelligent dark eyes scrutinize me from his smooth, brown face framedby cropped black hair and raven quills. He’s been around the block.
Myguard shoots up. I’d stand, but my body’s too weak from the climb. “Your nest,huh? Sorry, I didn’t see your name on it.”
“It’scarved right over there.” He points past me to the rockface. My eyes travelover the stone, where he’d etched River in craggy letters. The carved name isso tiny I didn’t notice.
“Nowyou’re supposed to tell me your name. That’s how this goes.”
Iblink. “Delene Fairborne. Listen, would you mind if I–– ow,” I scrape againstthe wall and suck air through my teeth. I clamp my eyes shut.
“Areyou okay?”
Ishrug the blanket off, and my injured wing flops lamely near my shoulder.River’s eyebrows lower, and he comes closer.
“Letme look.”
Hestows his serrated hunting knife, presents empty hands, and crouches to examinemy injury. “Relax. I won’t hurt you. Let’s see the damage.” He’s gentle,avoiding the wound and handling my feathers softly. He lightly touches thebandage.
“Dr.Lytle runs the Stockade, the underground bunker and lab where the humansimprison and experiment on our kind. His men hunted me down and shot me with acrossbow as I tried
toescape. The wound is still healing––I changed the bandage earlier, but withouta spare set of clothes, I had to tear strips off my pants to re-dress it.”
“Hmm.”He examines the back with a frown. “There’s an exit wound.”
“Yeah,I pulled it out.”
“Well,that was stupid of you. You could have died if those goons pierced a bloodfeather.”
Mytemper flares. “Oh, as opposed to leaving it in. I’d rather take my chances,thanks.” My voice is hostile, though I’m grateful for his help. I still don’tknow who he is or what he wants, and my mother warned me to be on my guard.
Riversits back on his haunches, sighs, and meets my eyes.
“Doesn’tlook good. How long have you been here, kid? A day or so?”
“I’mno kid. I’m seventeen.”
“Well,I’m eighteen. So, you’re a kid.”
“Bywhat, a few whole months?” I snicker. “Okay. If a kid free-climbed in thepitch-black up a hundred-foot cliff to get here, I guess I’m a kid.”
Afterexamining the wound, he says, “The damage looks fixable. Let’s clean this wellto prevent infection.”
“I’vecleaned the wound.”
“Cleandeeper,” he admonishes. “I don’t have antibiotics, but I’ll try to get some. Orat least honey. Honey heals.”
Hehesitates before retrieving water, then takes a rag from his pouch and soaksthe cloth. With the knife still in hand, he comes closer.
“Look… You seem all right, but I’m a lone wolf. I operate solo. You have a targetwith a big ‘X’ on your back. I feel bad for you. I do. But you know how it iswith our kind.” He gives me a blatant look, so here’s your cue to leave.
“Gee,I’d kindly vacate the premises, but I can’t fly.”
Herubs the back of his neck, agitated. “The valley’s full of drones. And they’vegot at least a dozen soldiers combing the forest.”
“I’msorry.” I shift my eyes down. “You never asked for any of this.”
“Noneof us did,” he waves me off. “The soldiers are here.
I’mscrewed either way.” He pauses and assesses me. “Stay the night. Then afterthat, I’m sorry, but you need to find somewhere else to hide.”
Thenight might be all I need. “Thank you.”
Haley Cavanagh is a military veteran, wife, and mother. She is a multiple award-winning and best-selling author and the two-time recipient of the League of Utah Writers Silver Quill Award in 2020 and 2024. Haley is an alumna of Columbia College, a musical theater nut, and she loves to dive into any book that crosses her path. Haley resides with her family in the United States and enjoys spending time with her husband and children when she’s not writing. She loves to hear from her readers and encourages you to contact her via her website and social media.
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