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Blood Skies #6
Chain of Shadows
The barrier between worlds has been broken, and the invasion is about to begin.
Eric Cross, burdened by the loss of those who’ve died under his command, must lead his recently reunited mercenary team against the shadow wolf sorcerers known as the Maloj. Bound to dire artifact blades and charged with protecting the Kindred, Cross seeks help from the enigmatic White Mother, leader of the Southern Claw.
But sinister forces bring his vessel down in a strange and distant land, and soon Cross and his allies are beset by undead armies vying for control of the deadly region called the Chain of Shadows. Trapped in a desert waste where wielding magic is dangerous and nothing is as it seems, Cross’s team will pay the ultimate price in their battle to finally get home...
Return to the world After the Black in this pivotal 6th book of the BLOOD SKIES saga!
Eric Cross, burdened by the loss of those who’ve died under his command, must lead his recently reunited mercenary team against the shadow wolf sorcerers known as the Maloj. Bound to dire artifact blades and charged with protecting the Kindred, Cross seeks help from the enigmatic White Mother, leader of the Southern Claw.
But sinister forces bring his vessel down in a strange and distant land, and soon Cross and his allies are beset by undead armies vying for control of the deadly region called the Chain of Shadows. Trapped in a desert waste where wielding magic is dangerous and nothing is as it seems, Cross’s team will pay the ultimate price in their battle to finally get home...
Return to the world After the Black in this pivotal 6th book of the BLOOD SKIES saga!
320 pages, Paperback
First published October 21, 2013
2 people are currently reading
212 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
November 29, 2013
Another great read from Steven. This tale follows Cross and crew in the Blood Skies universe but into new territory. Old issues come to haunt. New problems surface. New (old) swords. Old characters get f'ed up. New enemies and minions. I like where this is going even if it isn't good for the characters. My only complaint is the lack of really dark descriptions. The details were excellent, I just miss some of the ebons and pitch blacks and such. I like the development of a couple of surviving characters and the expanded potential of Soulrazor/Avenger. Missing vampires? Try some wolves. Another great addition to the Blood Skies series.
December 14, 2013
I recently tweeted author Steven Montano (@Daezarkian) to let him know he’s ruined me for reading any other Dark Fantasy novels. Although I said it half-jokingly, the fact is it would be tough to find another author to match Mr. Montano’s vivid prose, imaginative plots, thrilling action sequences, and fully realized characters and settings.
Chain of Shadows, the sixth entry in Mr. Montano’s exceptional Blood Skies Series, might just be the best of them all. I had the pleasure of reading a copy provided by the author in return for an honest review. Although any of the Blood Skies books can be enjoyed on their own, to truly appreciate the depth of the world Mr. Montano has created you must read them all.
The Black, a cataclysmic event where worlds and realities were violently fused together, introduced undead and alien creatures to our planet as well as magic, and most of the remaining humans have banded together under the flag of the Southern Claw. Former warlock Eric Cross and witch Danica Black have battled the undead and the living, the real and the imagined, and somehow survived while many of their friends have fallen; but now they face the Maloj, shadowy wolf-like creatures of immense power that have leaked into our realm through a crack in reality.
Enroute to a meeting with the White Mother, an otherworldly being and the savior of humanity, after retreating from an encounter with the newly-arrived Maloj, Eric and Danica’s party — including former assassin Ronan, warlock Creasy and father-and-daughter Flint and Shiv — is transported to a devastated and isolated part of the World After The Black: Nezzek’duul.
Landing in the middle of a separate war between dark supernatural powers, the group fights for survival while trying to discover the reason for their summons to the desert known as the Chain of Shadows. And while they’re battling in Nezzek’duul, what horrors are the Maloj visiting upon the land of the Southern Claw?
That’s as much as I can say without spoiling the action-packed story. There is magic, swordplay and assault rifles, good versus evil, loves won and lost, new wonders and old enemies — all recounted in Mr. Montano’s rich, lyrical style. He’s created a wonderfully imaginative, dark, scary universe to tell tales about. And I for one will keep coming back for more.
For more information about Mr. Montano and his writing, visit his website, Blood Skies.
Chain of Shadows, the sixth entry in Mr. Montano’s exceptional Blood Skies Series, might just be the best of them all. I had the pleasure of reading a copy provided by the author in return for an honest review. Although any of the Blood Skies books can be enjoyed on their own, to truly appreciate the depth of the world Mr. Montano has created you must read them all.
The Black, a cataclysmic event where worlds and realities were violently fused together, introduced undead and alien creatures to our planet as well as magic, and most of the remaining humans have banded together under the flag of the Southern Claw. Former warlock Eric Cross and witch Danica Black have battled the undead and the living, the real and the imagined, and somehow survived while many of their friends have fallen; but now they face the Maloj, shadowy wolf-like creatures of immense power that have leaked into our realm through a crack in reality.
Enroute to a meeting with the White Mother, an otherworldly being and the savior of humanity, after retreating from an encounter with the newly-arrived Maloj, Eric and Danica’s party — including former assassin Ronan, warlock Creasy and father-and-daughter Flint and Shiv — is transported to a devastated and isolated part of the World After The Black: Nezzek’duul.
Landing in the middle of a separate war between dark supernatural powers, the group fights for survival while trying to discover the reason for their summons to the desert known as the Chain of Shadows. And while they’re battling in Nezzek’duul, what horrors are the Maloj visiting upon the land of the Southern Claw?
That’s as much as I can say without spoiling the action-packed story. There is magic, swordplay and assault rifles, good versus evil, loves won and lost, new wonders and old enemies — all recounted in Mr. Montano’s rich, lyrical style. He’s created a wonderfully imaginative, dark, scary universe to tell tales about. And I for one will keep coming back for more.
For more information about Mr. Montano and his writing, visit his website, Blood Skies.
December 29, 2013
Chain of Shadows starts with a bang as we are thrown right into the thick of it with Cross and his team running for their lives! Something dark has definitely landed and it is hunting Cross and his team, only they don't realize it until it is much too late.
The road for Cross and his team of mercenaries has definitely been a hard one with members of the team dropping like flies it is hard to tell just who is going to make it out of this hellacious war alive. Every time I picked up Chain of Shadows I would turn into a huge ball of nerves and anxiety as I waited for the doom, death and destruction that I knew would come. After all it is war. And as Steven Montano reminds us war is not pretty and even the good guys have to die. But that didn't stop my fears. That didn't stop me from hoping and praying that my favorite characters Cross, Danica, Ronan, Maur, Shiv and Flint would make it.
I know these are irrational fears, but if you read the Blood Skies series at all then you know that anything can happen in this world and that it usually does. And it of course will find Cross and his team. It never seems to fail. These guys just can't catch their breath. I think these characters are in serious need of a nice relaxing vacation on the beach, but alas I know it is not in the cards for these fearless mercenaries. Someone has to stop the darkness from consuming the world. And there is absolutely no one better than Cross and his team. I know that but it doesn't hurt any less when they get hurt, which in Chain of Shadows is a lot I'm afraid.
I am so hooked to these characters. I feel like I have known them forever and in a sense I have known them quite a long time. When the series just started Cross was new and still learning, I was just learning the ropes of the series as well, but by Chain of Shadows Cross is an experienced warrior who looks death in the eye on a regular basis and lives to tell the tale. He is scarred physically and mentally and is the glue that holds the team together and now I am a pro at the series too. And like Cross I can't bear anything bad happening to this crew of misfit mercenaries.
When Steven Montano develops characters he makes it into an art form. Making them real with flaws, fears, and limits. His characters though they are the hero's aren't perfect and that's what makes them so easy to connect with they are just as likely to die as any supporting character. And that is just not something you find in a lot of books now days.
There were so many close calls, uncertainties and almosts in Chain of Shadows I thought I was going to die of a heart attack before it was all said and done. The danger in Chain of Shadows is unlike anything they have faced before and that ups my level of anxiety to nuclear levels. Now they face a vicious dark being called the Maloj, shadow wolf sorcerers that are determined to destroy the world as they know it. But they aren't the only danger lurking in the shadows, but they are a very real threat. A threat that another group of evil baddies wants to use. And it is because of these groups that they end up fighting for their lives and the world in a strange land. They are tested like never before and each of them begins to question whether or not it's all worth it.
But there is a glimmer of happiness in their desolate and dark world a small one, but it was enough to almost make me leap off my couch and shout with glee! In what is sure to be an historical moment between Cross and Danica my heart soared and I smiled from ear to ear, finally the moment we all have been waiting for, one that was so well deserved and a long time coming. But now I sit waiting for the other shoe to drop, biting my nails as I have even more to lose. (Funny, those are the the exact same thoughts Danica had after this awesome moment)
This team is absolutely amazing. They are a solid well oiled machine that act as a part of each other, almost like they are all pieces of a puzzle. As individual pieces they are all strong, durable, unique, and powerful; but when you put them together they can be unstoppable. And with the addition of Shiv to their team I can only imagine the things they will conquer in the future. You want to talk about kick butt characters, Shiv takes the cake. She is almost stronger than all the team together, but she is young and needs the help and guidance of the team to carry her through. Shiv grew exponentially in Chain of Shadows growing from that young uncertain girl to a confidant Kindred in the blink of an eye. Of course we are still learning just what a Kindred is, but from what we have seen I know it is something awesome!
As with all the Blood Skies books there were twists and turns and completely unexpected things happening around every corner and just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, Steven Montano would pull the rug out from under you and remind you that absolutely anything can happen.
Chain of Shadows was dark, twisted, and so full of nail biting moments I don't have any nails left. Steven Montano really knows how to take you to the brink and let you hang. The holy crapballs moment at the end of Chain of Shadows solidifies his stance as the king of the unexpected. There is no way I saw that ending coming and I can't even begin to imagine what it all means or where this story is going now.
Chain of Shadows is exhilirating, action packed, dark, and as twisted as a pretzel. It will give you heart palpatations, make you shout for joy, and quiver in a corner. It is darkness as only Steven Montano can write and it will make you cry for more. This has now taken reign as my favorite in the series! You all seriously need to jump on this dark bandwagon and find out what this is all about!
The road for Cross and his team of mercenaries has definitely been a hard one with members of the team dropping like flies it is hard to tell just who is going to make it out of this hellacious war alive. Every time I picked up Chain of Shadows I would turn into a huge ball of nerves and anxiety as I waited for the doom, death and destruction that I knew would come. After all it is war. And as Steven Montano reminds us war is not pretty and even the good guys have to die. But that didn't stop my fears. That didn't stop me from hoping and praying that my favorite characters Cross, Danica, Ronan, Maur, Shiv and Flint would make it.
I know these are irrational fears, but if you read the Blood Skies series at all then you know that anything can happen in this world and that it usually does. And it of course will find Cross and his team. It never seems to fail. These guys just can't catch their breath. I think these characters are in serious need of a nice relaxing vacation on the beach, but alas I know it is not in the cards for these fearless mercenaries. Someone has to stop the darkness from consuming the world. And there is absolutely no one better than Cross and his team. I know that but it doesn't hurt any less when they get hurt, which in Chain of Shadows is a lot I'm afraid.
I am so hooked to these characters. I feel like I have known them forever and in a sense I have known them quite a long time. When the series just started Cross was new and still learning, I was just learning the ropes of the series as well, but by Chain of Shadows Cross is an experienced warrior who looks death in the eye on a regular basis and lives to tell the tale. He is scarred physically and mentally and is the glue that holds the team together and now I am a pro at the series too. And like Cross I can't bear anything bad happening to this crew of misfit mercenaries.
When Steven Montano develops characters he makes it into an art form. Making them real with flaws, fears, and limits. His characters though they are the hero's aren't perfect and that's what makes them so easy to connect with they are just as likely to die as any supporting character. And that is just not something you find in a lot of books now days.
There were so many close calls, uncertainties and almosts in Chain of Shadows I thought I was going to die of a heart attack before it was all said and done. The danger in Chain of Shadows is unlike anything they have faced before and that ups my level of anxiety to nuclear levels. Now they face a vicious dark being called the Maloj, shadow wolf sorcerers that are determined to destroy the world as they know it. But they aren't the only danger lurking in the shadows, but they are a very real threat. A threat that another group of evil baddies wants to use. And it is because of these groups that they end up fighting for their lives and the world in a strange land. They are tested like never before and each of them begins to question whether or not it's all worth it.
But there is a glimmer of happiness in their desolate and dark world a small one, but it was enough to almost make me leap off my couch and shout with glee! In what is sure to be an historical moment between Cross and Danica my heart soared and I smiled from ear to ear, finally the moment we all have been waiting for, one that was so well deserved and a long time coming. But now I sit waiting for the other shoe to drop, biting my nails as I have even more to lose. (Funny, those are the the exact same thoughts Danica had after this awesome moment)
This team is absolutely amazing. They are a solid well oiled machine that act as a part of each other, almost like they are all pieces of a puzzle. As individual pieces they are all strong, durable, unique, and powerful; but when you put them together they can be unstoppable. And with the addition of Shiv to their team I can only imagine the things they will conquer in the future. You want to talk about kick butt characters, Shiv takes the cake. She is almost stronger than all the team together, but she is young and needs the help and guidance of the team to carry her through. Shiv grew exponentially in Chain of Shadows growing from that young uncertain girl to a confidant Kindred in the blink of an eye. Of course we are still learning just what a Kindred is, but from what we have seen I know it is something awesome!
As with all the Blood Skies books there were twists and turns and completely unexpected things happening around every corner and just when you thought you knew what was going to happen, Steven Montano would pull the rug out from under you and remind you that absolutely anything can happen.
Chain of Shadows was dark, twisted, and so full of nail biting moments I don't have any nails left. Steven Montano really knows how to take you to the brink and let you hang. The holy crapballs moment at the end of Chain of Shadows solidifies his stance as the king of the unexpected. There is no way I saw that ending coming and I can't even begin to imagine what it all means or where this story is going now.
Chain of Shadows is exhilirating, action packed, dark, and as twisted as a pretzel. It will give you heart palpatations, make you shout for joy, and quiver in a corner. It is darkness as only Steven Montano can write and it will make you cry for more. This has now taken reign as my favorite in the series! You all seriously need to jump on this dark bandwagon and find out what this is all about!
October 25, 2013
Delicious and gripping, Chain of Shadows is a desolate land filled with more deadly creatures to battle and pivotal moments steeped in deep emotional turmoil and the drive to survive. As if the vampires aren't enough, Mr. Montano introduces a deadlier creature: the shadow wolf (or the Maloj) - where shadows swarm and run thick through its veins as it tethers itself to the mind and soul of a living host. Eric, Danica, Ronan, and Shiv live on the brink of sanity and push themselves to their limits in attempts to defeat a desert city of shadows, the Black Witch with her zombies and spirit warriors, and a lone Maloj. In the meantime, the undead and shadow creatures of The Black are amassing themselves for a battle against the White Mother now that the doorway between the physical and spiritual worlds has been broken.
Chain of Shadows is by and far the best book of the Blood Skies series. Mr. Montano elaborately weaves the battle-weary foursome in such an intimate fashion that the reader cannot help but feel their victories, pain, love, and sorrow. These four souls are bound together as a family, on a journey to save the world from the dark forces that desperately want to rule it.
**Recap of the ones I like to think of as the 'fabulous foursome' in the Blood Skies series:
-Eric Cross has led troops in battle since the beginning of the Blood Skies series. He is a former mage who has been granted the power of the dual-blade, Soulrazor, since the loss of his spirit.
-Danica, the mage, not only has her spirit and his enormous powers due to her sub-human arm but also maintains the Claw that can cleave a spirit from its host.
-Ronan is a human warrior with his katana and now the black arcane blade named Scar. He has the ability to enter the Deadlands to repress any feelings of pain, allowing him survive every battle, despite his wounds.
-Shiv is a young 11 year old girl and a Kindred with supernatural abilities, which is more power than anyone can anticipate.
Chain of Shadows is by and far the best book of the Blood Skies series. Mr. Montano elaborately weaves the battle-weary foursome in such an intimate fashion that the reader cannot help but feel their victories, pain, love, and sorrow. These four souls are bound together as a family, on a journey to save the world from the dark forces that desperately want to rule it.
**Recap of the ones I like to think of as the 'fabulous foursome' in the Blood Skies series:
-Eric Cross has led troops in battle since the beginning of the Blood Skies series. He is a former mage who has been granted the power of the dual-blade, Soulrazor, since the loss of his spirit.
-Danica, the mage, not only has her spirit and his enormous powers due to her sub-human arm but also maintains the Claw that can cleave a spirit from its host.
-Ronan is a human warrior with his katana and now the black arcane blade named Scar. He has the ability to enter the Deadlands to repress any feelings of pain, allowing him survive every battle, despite his wounds.
-Shiv is a young 11 year old girl and a Kindred with supernatural abilities, which is more power than anyone can anticipate.
December 16, 2013
First of all I would like to thank Steven Montano for sending me a copy of this book (which was won in Goodreads Firstread).
I started this series using this book and as it was book 6 I was a little confused at the being about what was going on (probably should of read the first 5, opps). However, after reading several chapters I found that I could follow the book and I had an understanding on what was going on.
It is such a gripping book and a well written on at that! The character were great and I found myself seeing them as real people instead of just characters (that's how you know when a book is a good one!). I don't really want to go into too much detail about the story line as I don't want this review to contain spoilers but the plot was well written out and the characters had to face many problems that got in their way.
I would recommend reading the first 5 books before reading this book as it does (obversely) make it easier to follow. Hopefully I will be able to get my hands on the first 5 books and then I will reread this one and get a full understanding. However, it is well worth a read!
4/5
I started this series using this book and as it was book 6 I was a little confused at the being about what was going on (probably should of read the first 5, opps). However, after reading several chapters I found that I could follow the book and I had an understanding on what was going on.
It is such a gripping book and a well written on at that! The character were great and I found myself seeing them as real people instead of just characters (that's how you know when a book is a good one!). I don't really want to go into too much detail about the story line as I don't want this review to contain spoilers but the plot was well written out and the characters had to face many problems that got in their way.
I would recommend reading the first 5 books before reading this book as it does (obversely) make it easier to follow. Hopefully I will be able to get my hands on the first 5 books and then I will reread this one and get a full understanding. However, it is well worth a read!
4/5
March 3, 2014
If I was to describe Blood Skies saga, I would say its a graphic novel in text format. Most of the descriptions make no sense but are out of this world. Most of the creatures sound exotic but there is no way to picture them in my head. Despite this they work. And so does what appears to be a side track book for we leave the current Blood Skies worlds and travel to a new one to meet one new terror and reacquaint with an older one. By the end though a lot more is getting clear on the black and its perpetrators. Its more sword and sorcery (not the traditional kind) is enhancing our journey and I hope that Montano can now bring this saga to a crescendo finish.
April 18, 2014
Good!
October 1, 2014
One step closer to the finale! Chain of Shadows picks up where the Witch's Eye left off, with Cross and his not-so-merry band of mercenaries, witches, warlocks, and sentient swords attempting to stave off the vampiric horde from eliminating the rest of humanity...only this time it's not vampires they have to worry about. The originators of the Black, the Maloj, are a race of shadowy lupine sorcerers with a penchant for annihilating entire worlds, and they want Earth.
I must say that for me, the series has maintained a steady three-star rating since book three for two basic readings: slow character development, and needlessly drawn-out descriptions. I was entranced by the world of the Black in the first two books, but after that it just felt tiring to read through five whole pages on how bleak and miserable the world was. I will always maintain a healthy respect for Steven's use of imagery. The guy's a genius in that respect...I just wish I knew more about what other people were thinking rather than seeing.
As for the characters Cross and Danica are as cool as ever. I'm only slightly turned off by the fact that they begin sharing a romantic inclination toward each other. For those who've read the series, Danica is, well, she plays for the other team. I just don't see her falling for Cross that way. The male part of me thinks she's hot...the reader in me doesn't think she'd ever go for a guy even if he is the last man on earth.
The introduction of a new setting, Nezzek'dul, was nice. I only wish the characters had more time to explore it. Like GRR Martin, Steven Montano has a habit of killing off his own characters. More than half the cast is dead by the end of this book, characters I liked "ARGH!" Why oh why couldn't they have had more screen time? They sounded so interesting. Two in particular I found far more interesting than the latest spotlight-stealers, Flint and Shiv, father and daughter, respectively. In the end, you find out why Shiv is so important to the story, but it takes a while to get there and I was left wishing she'd just shut up sometimes.
I'm happy I stuck with the series to this point and plan to finish it very soon. If you're reading this, Mr. Montano, I hope to see more of those vampires you were using to fill my head with nightmares because you've made them cool again.
I must say that for me, the series has maintained a steady three-star rating since book three for two basic readings: slow character development, and needlessly drawn-out descriptions. I was entranced by the world of the Black in the first two books, but after that it just felt tiring to read through five whole pages on how bleak and miserable the world was. I will always maintain a healthy respect for Steven's use of imagery. The guy's a genius in that respect...I just wish I knew more about what other people were thinking rather than seeing.
As for the characters Cross and Danica are as cool as ever. I'm only slightly turned off by the fact that they begin sharing a romantic inclination toward each other. For those who've read the series, Danica is, well, she plays for the other team. I just don't see her falling for Cross that way. The male part of me thinks she's hot...the reader in me doesn't think she'd ever go for a guy even if he is the last man on earth.
The introduction of a new setting, Nezzek'dul, was nice. I only wish the characters had more time to explore it. Like GRR Martin, Steven Montano has a habit of killing off his own characters. More than half the cast is dead by the end of this book, characters I liked "ARGH!" Why oh why couldn't they have had more screen time? They sounded so interesting. Two in particular I found far more interesting than the latest spotlight-stealers, Flint and Shiv, father and daughter, respectively. In the end, you find out why Shiv is so important to the story, but it takes a while to get there and I was left wishing she'd just shut up sometimes.
I'm happy I stuck with the series to this point and plan to finish it very soon. If you're reading this, Mr. Montano, I hope to see more of those vampires you were using to fill my head with nightmares because you've made them cool again.
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