Shadows of the Night

by Darin Kennedy

Ethan Harkreader – College dropout turned stage tech extraordinaire
Rosemary Delacroix – Trained from birth to protect the world from darkness
Persephone Snow – The number one pop star in the world, and she knows it
As the shadows rise, this trio from three vastly different worlds find themselves caught in the crossfire of a conflict that stretches back millennia and their lives on a collision course with love, war, heartbreak, and destiny.

Genres: Fantasy

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 28, 2024

About the author

Darin Kennedy, born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Bowman Gray School of Medicine. After completing family medicine residency in the mountains of Virginia, he served eight years as a United States Army physician and wrote his first novel in 2003 in the sands of northern Iraq. His debut novel, The Mussorgsky Riddle, was born from a fusion of two of his lifelong loves—classical music and world mythology— and is slated for publication by Curiosity Quills Press in Fall/Winter 2014. His short stories can be found in various publications, as well as two short story compilations available on Amazon, and he is currently hard at work on his next novel. Doctor by day and novelist by night, he writes and practices medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina. When not engaged in either of the above activities, he has been known strum the guitar, enjoy a bite of sushi, and rumor has it he even sleeps on occasion. He is represented by Stacey Donaghy at Donaghy Literary Group. Find him online at darinkennedy.com.

Reviews

[Caitlin Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book via Kickstarter because I thought the concept looked interesting and I was looking to explore a new genre. I’m happy to say that it didn’t disappoint.

The story begins with a roadie helping to save a pop star from a kidnapping attempt after a concert and the action only grows more intense from there. The reader is introduced to a hidden world of magical beings called the Ascendant, who walk among us unnoticed by the average person. People who can manipulate shadows, summon elemental powers and manipulate technology with magic are central to the story.

I enjoyed how the characters developed as their story progressed. I was often surprised by some revelations about their personalities. The pacing was great and I never got bored, though no scene felt rushed. I also appreciated how the author was able to find an 80’s song title for each and every chapter.

I look forward to the future installments in this series. I’ll be starting Book 2 soon.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up the new contemporary fantasy, Shadows of the Night (and the rest of the Songs of the Ascendant trilogy) through a Kickstarter campaign, and I’m so glad I did!

No spoilers here, but this was the most fun I've had with an e-book in a while. This book was described to me as at the intersection of X-Men/Heroes, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Chuck, and Highlander, with large inspiration from 80’s songs in general and Pat Benatar in particular, and I only had to delve a little into the story to see how true that was.

We’re introduced quickly to Ethan, Persephone, and Rosemary, who become suddenly and inextricably linked in a way none of them expected, and find themselves running from a series of powerful figures. This growing cast of threats pursues them from the shadows (sometimes literally) while the mystery about what exactly they are after grows.

The pace was great and made it hard to put the book down. There was noticeable growth within and between characters, and I really liked that the “bad guys” were not excluded from this dynamic. I can already smell a certain situation between protagonists that is going to drive me crazy. I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys fantasy and any of the inspirations listed above.

[Chloe A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even just from the synopsis, this story already feels like it’s bursting with energy and promise. I love the way it brings together such unique characters a college dropout, a trained protector, and a world-famous pop star and throws them into a battle against ancient darkness. It sounds like the perfect mix of fantasy, destiny, and human emotion, with hints of love and heartbreak woven into the bigger fight. I can already imagine the drama, the clashes of personality, and the growth each character will go through. Definitely feels like the start of an epic and unforgettable adventure!

[J.D. Blackrose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kennedy gives us a epic urban fantasy full of 80's pop references that is fast, fun, and incredibly entertaining. Grab this series and settle in for a ride that will make you want to run, not walk, to the second book.

[Rebecca Antal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. I got to meet the author when I bought it and just the passion he had talking about it made me very interested in reading it. Not my usual type of book but I’m glad I branched out