A Tale of Light and Shadows Tour!
A Tale of Light and Shadow by Jacob Gowans Published by Shadow Mountain on September 9th 2014
Genres: Fantasy
Pages: 400
Format: Hardcover
Amazon • Barnes & Noble • Goodreads
Enter Atolas, a world where swords and daggers both extend life and end it, where magic is feared by all but a few, and where feuds and friendships influence kingdoms and courtships. Henry and Isabelle have secretly sworn to marry despite his lowly station. Though Henry is but a carpenter, his devotion drives him to commit an unthinkable act that may cost both of them their lives. At the same time, a secret, dark prophecy has set in motion events that will affect not only them, but the thrones of rulers throughout all of Atolas, threatening to eclipse the world in shadow. But all is not lost while hope remains in the guise of an unlikely hero and the strength of friendship.
When I started reading A Tale of Light and Shadow the writing style felt familiar to me. So I searched through my blogging archives, perfectly sure I knew this style, and low and behold I found the link. In 2011 I reviewed Jacob’s first novel Psion Beta! It came flooding back to me. It was a phenomenal dystopian with militaristic elements but realistic and loveable characters. It was my favorite for a while there and somehow while waiting for book two I lost track. So happy to have a series to return to but in the mean time I turned back to A Tale of Light and Shadow.
I won’t be forgetting Jacob again anytime soon. This novel was a phenomenal read filled with adventure and genuine characters with legitimate struggles through an amazing fantasy world. Unforgettable in every way and with a hook that keeps you engaged and twists that leave you breathlessly flipping pages at three in the morning. The pacing was wonderful and I loved that it wasn’t the kind of cookie cutter novel that has just one villain; as with real life there are many obstacles to face and many people who presented those obstacles, quite a few of whom I loved to hate as they got under my skin and helped further the conflict. There were heroes with traits normally attributed to the lost and villains with traits normally attributes to a hero. Every convention was flipped on its head yet it fit the fantasy genre perfectly.
Simply unforgettable, un-put-down-able, and a one of a kind read!
Jacob Gowans is a dentist currently working in Utah. He is husband to a beautiful wife, and father to four cute children. He shuns all pets. When not working or writing, he enjoys watching sports, reading, running, acting, listening to a variety of music, kissing his wife, internet shopping, and chasing his kids around the house. He is passionate about board games, both old and new. Psion Beta was his first novel, followed by Psion Gamma, Psion Delta, and Psion Alpha. He is currently working on books in both the Psion series and his new series, A Tale of Light and Shadow, published by Shadow Mountain Publishing. He is also planning Unknown and Super Six, two more series.
To see my review from 2011 of Psion Beta stop by this link here:
http://emmamichaels.com/2011/05/review-psion-beta-by-jacob-gowans.html
About Emma Michaels
Emma Michaels is the bestselling author of the Society of Feathers series. As an avid reader she started her book blog in 2009 (www.EmmaMichaels.com) and over the years has received numerous short story publications in addition to her full length novels. Working to help Indies and small presses from around the world she has received the nickname ‘The Mad Hatter’ for her versatility in graphic design, publishing, marketing, and blogging.
