Wander West, In Shadow [Slow Burn Dark Fantasy]

BOOK 1 COMPLETED!

Long ago, a wicked sorceress known as the White Queen sent forth her armies across the lands of Aurum to conquer and bring folk beneath her rule. Brutal and cruel, she worked the Art of magic to bring down freezing blizzards and ruin upon those who opposed her. For many years, the Queen's War ravaged the lands, swallowing an entire generation in flame and blood, and for a time, it seemed that all would bend the knee to her. For a time. But eventually, folk banded together against the savagery of her armies, and it ended as it must: the White Queen was slain, her ambitions broken, her erstwhile kingdom shattered.

The young wizard Martimeos waited for his older brother to return home from the war, but he never did. And so now, of age himself, he journeys through these cursed and war-torn lands, looking for a fading trail amongst the ruins of destroyed towns and abandoned villages. He is joined in his travels by the mysterious swamp-witch Elyse, full of secrets, and though he does not know whether to trust her, he has little choice. For where humanity has retreated from these lands, fae, demons and other dark powers have sprung up from the shadows, and it is dangerous to go alone.

As Martimeos finds his brother's trail and uncovers haunting memories of the past, he begins to wonder what sort of man he was, and whether or not the war had changed him. How far will he have to journey until he discovers his brother's fate? How long will he wander west?

WANDER WEST, IN SHADOW is a slow-paced, classic sword and sorcery tale that takes place in a dark fantasy world of faded kingdoms and lost history. Magic in this setting is less powerful than in many other fictions, especially when Elyse and Martimeos are first starting out their journey. Discretion is the better part of valor, and it is often better to run than it is to stand and fight. If you are interested in a long story full of danger and mystery and some darker themes, where the protagonists gradually become stronger, this may be the series for you!