Of Shadow and Sea

The Elder Empire: Shadow, Book 1

By: Will Wight

Narrated by: Emily Woo Zeller

The Consultant’s Guild has served the Aurelian Empire for over 1,000 years, working in the darkness to hunt dissension and eliminate traitors.

Now, the Emperor is dead.

For Shera, an assassin in the employ of the Consultants, the Emperor’s death is the beginning of a nightmare. Powerful forces hunt the Heart of Nakothi, a cursed artifact that can raise a second Emperor...and corrupt him in the process.

But some desire power at any cost.

The Guild of Navigators, an infamous collection of swindlers and pirates, has been paid a fortune to secure the Heart. Their only lord is greed, their only loyalty to gold, and they would sell the Empire’s freedom for the promise of a quick coin.

In the shadows, a woman works to set the world free.

On the seas, a man seeks to raise a lunatic to lord over mankind.

Will you walk the shadows here with Shera? Or will you explore the seas with Calder, in the parallel novel Of Sea and Shadow?

©2014 Hidden Gnome Publishing (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Another narrator, please!

The narrator has a really nice voice. For anything that is meant to make you fall asleep. If it weren’t for the fact that I want to know the other half of the story I would have stopped after the first chapter. I made it through but I can’t say that I enjoyed it. She made this story utterly and completely boring! I’m not sure if the story is worth suffering through two more books like this.

Start with the other one…

I really enjoy this series, and have read the six books (listened to them?) a few times now. I would recommend listening to Of Sea and Shadow before this book. I think that one does better in world building and giving a real feeing to the book series overall. This book makes a lot more sense when you already know some of the main characters and have an understanding of reading and intent. I know that going back and forth between time periods and perspectives isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I really enjoy putting the puzzle together throughout the series. I also really, really enjoy (as in all Will Wight’s series) that there is no “she’s strong…for a woman” or any mention of gender related to power or strength or standing. All women in his series stand on their own with no mention of gender in relation to their abilities. It’s so refreshing!

A good light read

It's a good counterpart to Of Sea and Shadow, fills in a lot of gaps. But I just find the main protag's love interest weirdly...forced, given her characterization. A bit disappointing thing, but good thing it didn't focus on that too much.

great caricatures

i love the inner monolog this author provides! One of my favorites! I'm excited for the next book

Amazing

I love Emily Woo Zeller. I loved this story and the characters. This book is going on my favorites list!