Leyndra Jirau has taken an oath to protect the head of the Idaphos noble family from all threats, both within and without. She finds herself outmatched, however, when a host of living shadows assaults her employer in his own home.
Now, responsible for the death of the man she had sworn to protect, Leyndra finds herself on the run from the law of Ythis, a target of the Imperial Guard, and the prey of some...thing...that exists beyond death.
Hunted through the streets of Ythis, Leyndra must find a way to clear her name and settle the score with the being who set these events in motion. But when she gains the attention of one of the sorcerers of Ythis, events threaten to drag her down into darkness, and consume the lives of those she cares about most.
Andrew J. Luther was born in Toronto, Ontario, and now lives in Burlington, Ontario with his wife and son. He currently works as a communications professional for a multi-national corporation.
You can keep up-to-date with Andrew J. Luther at www.andrewjluther.com or on Twitter @andrewjluther.
Further stories set in the city of Ythis—and in the rest of the Empire—will appear soon.
This book has a special place in my heart, both as a woman, and the mom of a tween-daughter. It is so refreshing to read a book in this genre with strong female characters. More than that, it's the way that they are strong that impresses me. There are 3 key female characters in this book, and all are strong in both mind and body. They are clear about their own convictions and live by their own values. I'll give a little away by saying that 'the mom' in this story loves her kids the way I do...and will do anything to protect them.
This writer likes to spice up his novels by adding little twists which, in my mind, are meant to play with the reader. He directs the story to a point where you think, "I know exactly what is about to happen..." and then something different happens and you're left pleasantly surprised.
This book was action packed from beginning to end. There was always something going on, so it easily held my interest. However, there were several times when I really couldn't follow it all that well. I'm not sure if it is because it is the second book in a series and I haven't read the first or if it was just that the writing style was a bit... I don't know... different from what I'm used to so I got lost. As I said, I'm not sure which of those is to blame.
Overall, I give this book a solid three stars. It was interesting and enjoyable, but it wasn't anything epic or absolutely unforgettable. I did love the protagonist however -- a bit like Buffy Summers if Buffy Summers was more stern and less of a ditz. Ha.