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The Shadow of the Gauntlet

Casey Caracciolo (Goodreads Author)

4.34 · Rating details · 70 ratings · 23 reviews

A high-tech fantasy, in which young Thomas Scargen finds himself deeply entangled in a centuries old magical war while trying to discover the truth about his father.

On the eve of his graduation from New Salem High, Thomas Scargen awakens from an all-too-real nightmare depicting his father's mysterious disappearance. Before the boy can regain his composure and slack back in ...more

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Paperback, First Edition, trade paper, 506 pages

Published September 1st 2013 by Roundstone Publishing (first published May 28th 2013)

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Jun 04, 2013 Clawcoof rated it it was amazing

If you're looking for a book to get lost in this summer, I highly recommend The Shadow of the Gauntlet. The world of Mages sucks you in from the very beginning, and before you know it you're 100 pages in and read through dinner time. As a main character, Thomas Scargen is a great guide through this new and uncharted world, since much of the reader's discovery is his own. The story takes on many points of view - from Thomas to a dragon to two troll henchmen to the commander of the evil forces - g ...more

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Dec 24, 2013 Khalia Hades rated it it was amazing

If you enjoy sci-fi and magic, this is a novel for you. This is a classic battle between good and evil set in the future. The robots are awesome and the talking animals possess magic power. I could not put the book down, because I had to know what happened next. What really drew me into this book is the seamless blend of fantasy elements and science fiction tech. The book grabs you from the very beginning and doesn't let go until the very end, culminating in a fantastically depicted battle of go ...more

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Jul 08, 2013 Mike rated it it was amazing

Hard to believe that a story with dragons, vampires, robots, werewolves (and many more creations of Caracciolo's own mind) could work together, but they sure do. I must admit, this guy knows how to tell a story.

Thomas Scargen's adventures are what I think many of us once wished in our wildest dreams to be our reality. It made me laugh, made me sit whiteknuckled on the edge of my seat during badass mage battle scenes, it pulled on the heartstrings a bit (didn't see that coming) and it takes you ...more

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Jun 05, 2013 John St.John rated it it was amazing

I think that the best thing I can say is, I can't wait for the next book in the series. Great read, pulls you right into Thomas's world, to the point that you can really picture everyone you meet and everything you see while reading. Great villains too, makes you really pull for the good guys. I wasn't sure what to expect going in, but got to the point when I thought, "This book is really a winner". Can't wait to see how Thomas grows and matures in the next book. Bring on Book 2, I'm really look ...more

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Apr 17, 2014 Farmer Dan rated it really liked it

This book was narsh. At first I was skeptical to keep coming across characters from all walks of the fantasy/sci-fi genre, but by the end was quite impressed how all the characters meshed together. Who would have thought that dragons and robots could operate within the same realm?

The plot was well crafted including some very emotional twists towards the end. As the first in a series it definitely sets the foundation for tons more adventure to come. Whether a veteran of the genre or a newcomer r ...more

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Feb 25, 2014 Laura rated it it was ok

Shelves: own-it

Well, I really loved the concept. I like the mix of sci-fi and fantasy. What I wasn't sold on was the dialog. It all seemed so, blah, predictable, trite. It felt like the dialog was the only thing propelling the story at times and the story needed only to be fleshed out. It could have been so much more if we really were able to get to know the characters a bit more. I felt at times that we were dictated the story instead of being immersed in it. Things were described very bluntly instead of imme ...more

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Sep 16, 2013 Justin rated it it was amazing

This book is awesome. If you liked percy Jackson then this book is right up your alley. He blends vampires, magic, tech, and other things to form an awesome and addicting read. I had trouble putting it down once I started. Definitely worth it to read plus the author is very nice. One of my favorite books for sure.

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Jun 05, 2013 Tentsu rated it it was amazing

Amazing, I didn't expect much of this book, I mean magic and tech, teleporting dragons and robots fighting with spirits, trolls, and mages? it seemed like too much to pull off and still create a good story, but Casey Caracciolo brings it together! This man turned the skeptic into the believer. This is a fantasy epic worthy of any reader's attention. ...more

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Jun 03, 2017 Wes Scheffler rated it really liked it

Narsh! I remember spending a brief moment at Megacon, shortly after purchasing the book, and pondering what this word scribbled on the front page by the author was supposed to mean. Now, I realize it is the perfect description for this book.

While the book starts off a bit awkward, finding its pace and groove, everything really clicks in place once we are thrown into this world of magic and science. Particularly when the author seemingly throws out a bad joke he heard at a bar once..."Hey! Did y ...more

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Oct 14, 2017 Danielle Marks rated it really liked it

I have to admit, I was doubtful on this one at first, but the last ten chapters or so totally turned it around for me. If the author has a strength in anything, at least judging by this book, it’s writing action scenes. The final battle was so vividly realized, I found myself wishing there was a movie I could watch after ( this would make a swell animated feature).

The book is loooooong, and at times I felt like it was buckling under the vastness of the mythology the author was building, but I c ...more

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Aug 29, 2020 literaryfreak11 rated it really liked it

This book has great family values and a fantastic storyline. I was really thrown for a loop by one of the twists at the end.
Unfortunately the writing is poor and the main character has so little personality that I was sort of rooting for one of the bad guys underlings. Also reading all the cockney accents are terrible.

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Nov 04, 2017 Krysta Halye rated it liked it

Shelves: given-away

I am giving this a 3 because it is a very good story concept, but the actual production of that story is awkward.
The paragraphs cause the reader to pause when the main character is referred to by name and then referred to as "the boy" in the next sentence. And the use of a written Cockney accent for everyone who is from the British Isles is a little hard to take. ...more

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Jul 29, 2020 Sean McCartney rated it it was amazing

A great story that kept me on the edge of my seat.

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May 04, 2014 Rachel rated it liked it

Shelves: disliked, reviewed

I strongly believe in brutally honest criticism, so here goes.

Honestly, I hated this book until I started thinking about it like comic book without pictures, and even then it was only tolerable, not enjoyable. It kind of was a comic book in that it had a lot of action and very little character development and other such elements that make a book good. I would have given it two out of 5 stars if it hadn't been for the last three chapters, which had more emotion and were slightly better written t I strongly believe in brutally honest criticism, so here goes.

Honestly, I hated this book until I started thinking about it like comic book without pictures, and even then it was only tolerable, not enjoyable. It kind of was a comic book in that it had a lot of action and very little character development and other such elements that make a book good. I would have given it two out of 5 stars if it hadn't been for the last three chapters, which had more emotion and were slightly better written than the rest of the book. Because of them, I am actually somewhat interested in the sequel. If only the whole book had been written like that. I probably would have enjoyed the ride rather than suffered through it. For starters, the writing was awful. I frequently found myself wincing at awkwardly worded paragraphs and speed reading to skip over the worst parts. There was even improper use of words and incorrect grammar, which, to me, is an inexcusable sin. For example;

”When he saw the dark man’s face, it looked strangely recognizable.” (p. 420) Here, the word “recognizable” is used incorrectly. It is used like “touchable” in the sentence “The stars looked strangely touchable.” The stars look that way regardless of who has or has not touched them. They appear to have the property of touch-ability, and have not necessarily been touched by anyone. So basically, the author is saying that the dark man’s face appears to have the property of recognize-ability, not necessarily that the boy recognizes him.

”They were in a narrower hallway now, but just as tall.” (p.422). The author’s meaning in this sentence does come through, but his meaning and what his grammar says are different. The grammar says that the two people are just as tall in this hallway as they were in the last one, which made me laugh. I was surprised that this slipped by the “editor,” since it is such an obvious mistake.

While I have only bothered to provide two examples, I assure you that there are many, many more throughout the book.

Another problem I had with this book, which I have mentioned before, is the terrible skill with which the characters were handled. The worst example is the way the author handled the main character, Thomas’s, feelings about his missing father. Early in the book, Thomas’s father goes missing, and Thomas is sad. But he only occasionally dwells on this, which I understand. He is busy fighting evil and has little time to spend grieving. He seemed to find plenty of time to crush on his female compatriot, but that’s another matter. Anyways, the readers are left to assume the bond between father and son (or something) that colored the little emotion that Thomas did show. It was like a horror movie without the music. The viewer understands that it must be scary to be stuck in a closet while heavy footsteps sound outside, but without the music the emotion is not transferred from the character to the viewer and the effect ends up rather comical. That was another problem, the author was no good as transferring the emotions of his characters onto the readers, leaving them to stretch to imagine what the characters must be feeling, rather than feeling it in their own guts as a result of the skill of the storyteller.

Also, this book had the worst textual imitation of a cockney accent I have ever seen. Clearly the author is not accustomed to hearing cockney accent. That, or he has heard only one person speak it, and has built all his cockney characters off of that person’s odd way of speaking cockney. I found it hardly bearable to read the cockney characters’ speaking bits.

As much negative criticism as I have offered, I have to say that I liked the story. It was fun and interesting. Since the story is the most important part, that means a lot. Even if it is the book’s only redeeming quality, it is an important one, and I would recommend it to people based on that. I would still warn them about the other stuff, though, because, damn.

I really think this book should have been written as a graphic novel. Based on the drawing on the cover page, the author is pretty good with cartoons, and the comic book genre allows for all the important elements that were missing from this book to be missing, since, in comic books, they are perks, not expectations. If it is not too late, I would recommend the author re-release this as a graphic novel and continue the series in that vein.

Now I am willing to admit that I may be a book snob. I mostly read canon literature, so this book is a far cry from my normal read. It is possible that few of the people who read stuff like this book will feel the way I do, but I stand by everything I've said.
...more

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Aug 24, 2013 Compulsion Reads rated it really liked it

Thomas Scargen is a pretty typical sixteen-year-old boy living in the future where wrist communicators, artifs (awesomely advanced robots) and holobooks are part of everyday life. Unfortunately for him, his life is about to become very atypical.

On the eve of Thomas’s high school graduation he wakes up from a nightmare about his father, who is excavating artifacts in Egypt. Before Thomas is able to get his bearings and contact his father, he is attacked by shadowy creatures. With the help of a y Thomas Scargen is a pretty typical sixteen-year-old boy living in the future where wrist communicators, artifs (awesomely advanced robots) and holobooks are part of everyday life. Unfortunately for him, his life is about to become very atypical.

On the eve of Thomas’s high school graduation he wakes up from a nightmare about his father, who is excavating artifacts in Egypt. Before Thomas is able to get his bearings and contact his father, he is attacked by shadowy creatures. With the help of a young Native American girl who has been sent to save him.

Thomas is about to discover that all of his favorite stories about magic, necromancers and other mythical beings are real. Shoved into this fantastical reality, he learns that he is destined to play a role in saving both the natural and the supernatural worlds from a deep dark evil that has been trying to take over since the dawning of time. Accompanied by a dog-loving dragon, a gremling (they don’t like to be called gremlins), a werewolf, a vampire, a spirit ghost and a variety of other dynamic characters, Thomas is about to set out on the adventure of a lifetime and hopefully save us all.

The Shadow of the Gauntlet is an action packed, heartwarming, adventure story. Author Casey Caracciolo instantly pulls the reader in and takes them on a journey to meet a most amazing cast of characters. Each of Thomas’s new friends, and there are a lot of them, were expertly crafted. I really appreciated the well-developed characters that played a role in Thomas’s transition to this new world and acceptance of his destiny. Even the bad guys were written in such a way as to make your heart ache a little as Thomas continually evaded their attacks. It’s rare to find an author who will take the time to thoroughly develop the supporting casts. I’m so glad that Caracciolo decided to invest the time and energy to do this, because it really brought the book to life.

Overall I loved this book. The one problem I had, which is entirely my personal opinion, is that I never really connected with Thomas. I felt like he was just too okay with all of the changes he experienced. He was very patient when he was learning to use his powers instead of insisting on finding his dad. There were a number of instances where I would have liked to see Thomas really lose his cool. I understand that Thomas had special attributes that allowed him to wield the Gauntlet, and those personality traits are why he was the ideal candidate to be the bearer of this burden, but I still would have liked to have seen a little more gusto in his reactions to this new world.

I think fans of the Harry Potter and Tiger’s Curse series will really enjoy this book. Between the mythology, future gadgets and new friends you’ll meet while reading The Shadow of the Gauntlet, you’ll probably never want to leave the world that Caracciolo has created.

(This book was provided to Compulsion Reads for review by the author.)
...more

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Dec 09, 2016 Erin Miller rated it it was amazing

So my partner picked this book up from one of the conventions she sells her art work in. This and the sequel to it anyway. When she came back, she handed me the book saying, "You'll probably like this. You read faster than I play through video games." Anyway, she was right and I did like this book a lot.
So let's get on with the good and the bad, starting with the bad first.
The cover of this book could be better. The simple design is nice but since books are still judged by their covers, it nee ...more

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Jun 20, 2014 James Vernon rated it it was amazing

I have to say, I might not have given this book a try at first glance, but I met the author at Philly Comic-Con and he certainly sold the story to me. If you get the same first impression that I did, DO NOT let it keep you from giving the story a chance.

First, the story is completely unique. Of course you have your good vs. bad, with sides clearly set from the very beginning. What isn't the norm is the excellent way the author blends sci-fi and fantasy without it feeling forced.

The main charact ...more

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Nov 08, 2016 Ac rated it it was amazing

Hi Casey, I was with my family when I met you at the River Reads event at the Prallsville Mill in NJ. You introduced me to your books and the characters. I really liked this book. There was a lot of action. Thomas goes on a thrilling adventure to interesting places. One of the coolest parts was [SPOILER ALERT!] when Thomas incinerated the Earah with an energy blast and he doesn't know how he does it. I can't wait to read "The Dragon Within" and follow the characters through their adventures. ...more

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Jun 21, 2015 Nina rated it it was amazing

This book is the perfect blend of fantasy and science fiction. Caracciolo creates a world that is at once familiar yet entirely unique, from the streets of London to the talking animals of Maktaba. I enjoyed the diverse group of characters and the wild, continent-hopping journey. I definitely recommend this book to everyone!

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Oct 03, 2014 Jason Nadal rated it liked it

Very simplistic fantasy-ish novel. Seems made for kids. Cockney accent on several characters is off-putting.

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Jul 17, 2014 Daniel Wible rated it really liked it

A pleasant surprise! Fun, engaging, and wildly inventive.

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Dave S rated it liked it
Nov 02, 2014

Aug 07, 2017 Draconianheart rated it it was amazing

I bought this book in the bookstore in New Hope (where the author works) and I loved it. I really enjoyed the librarian trees, as well as a lot of the other characters. The fast pace of the book pulled me in right away, and as a fan of sci-fi, fantasy and anime, I enjoyed all the references and nods made to all of those things. I highly recommend reading it. I just talked to the author recently and he said he is currently working on the third book in the series.

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Aras Azuolas rated it it was amazing
Dec 27, 2013

Techphilosopher rated it really liked it
Nov 23, 2015

matt d rated it really liked it
Jul 09, 2015

Nikita Shulzhenko rated it really liked it
Sep 25, 2014

Julie Stevenson rated it it was ok
Dec 24, 2013

Cheryl Jumps rated it it was amazing
Nov 09, 2018

Tj Stamm rated it it was amazing
Jun 26, 2015

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The Sword and Laser: The Shadow of the Gauntlet Giveaway	3	30	Nov 05, 2013 09:03AM
Addicted to YA: The Shadow of the Gauntlet, the first book in the epic SciFi/Fantasy Scargen series	1	9	Sep 01, 2013 02:09PM

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About Casey Caracciolo

Casey Caracciolo

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Casey Caracciolo spent six years crafting the first installment in the Scargen series, The Shadow of the Gauntlet. His first novel promises to be the start to an epic Sci-Fi/Fantasy experience. “It’s like the best parts of Science Fiction mingled with Fantasy staples, with a healthy sprinkling of Comics and Anime,” says Caracciolo. “Dragons, vampires, robots, and fireballs shooting out of people’s Casey Caracciolo spent six years crafting the first installment in the Scargen series, The Shadow of the Gauntlet. His first novel promises to be the start to an epic Sci-Fi/Fantasy experience. “It’s like the best parts of Science Fiction mingled with Fantasy staples, with a healthy sprinkling of Comics and Anime,” says Caracciolo. “Dragons, vampires, robots, and fireballs shooting out of people’s hands. What more do you want?”

Caracciolo spent his afternoons working as a bartender while compiling notes and sketches on the backs of the special menus as he worked at Triumph Brewing Company of New Hope. “Ideas would just pop in my head, and if I didn’t get them down as soon as possible, I was scared they’d be lost to the cosmos.” He would make detailed outlines and draw characters just to get the concepts on paper. And using these notes, he’d go home and write, and rewrite, and rewrite some more. In the summer of 2012, this dedication paid off and the manuscript for the first book in the Scargen series, The Shadow of the Gauntlet was complete.

But now Caracciolo faced another dilemma. Should he go the traditional publishing route, or try to do things his way?

After researching the choices, the decision was made to self publish. “It just seemed like a ridiculously impersonal process for something I’ve spent six years of my life on, and the more I read, the more I realized that the traditional publishing model is antiquated,” explains Caracciolo. “Who are they to say what I can and can’t write, or worse, what you as a reader can and can’t read? With all the advancements in digital printing and online marketing, you just don’t need them anymore.

But he needed funding to make it happen. To help make The Shadow of the Gauntlet a reality, Caracciolo decided to use the crowdfunding site Kickstarter.

Caracciolo went to work creating a Kickstarter project that would help people understand his vision and help him reach his dream. The project was selected as a staff pick on Kickstarter and was Geekadelphia’s Kickstarter project of the week. Geekadelphia described the book as covering “well worn, well loved territory, but puts a fresh spin on the magic, tech, and fantasy that we’ve all grown up loving. A Shakespeare quoting, whiskey-swilling werewolf style spin.”

The project was a success, and in January, with the help of 109 backers, from across the country, Caracciolo raised over $7,000. The Shadow of the Gauntlet was another step closer to being a reality.

This support with his own determination has spurred Caracciolo to do what he has done. His background in animation helped Caracciolo when it came to the design and graphic elements of such an undertaking. Everything you see that has any component of design, Caracciolo has had a hand in, from the Scargen merchandise to the cover of The Shadow of the Gauntlet. “It’s not enough to write a good book anymore. We have a brand, and I think that will help get people to the writing. My idea is to be as approachable as I can be. Accessibility is important to me. I understand what it is like to be invested in a series, and it’s my hope that the reader loves these characters as much as I do. The least I can do is be there when they want to talk about it.” ...more