Saskia remembers when the soil of Durundal hummed with peace, but everything changed the night her home was attacked.
Captured and taken to Hezekiah Hall, she is incarcerated in a remote tower while her people are shackled and branded as slaves. Though help from an unlikely source promises to groom her into a deadly assassin … with one condition. But she’ll do anything to win freedom for her … for her people … no matter the consequences.
‘On my blood, I will triumph over my enemies … let the bloody battle begin.’
Excerpt:
‘You might be my nemesis now, but I do not fear you. You think you have the power to destroy me, to keep me here, to imprison me – but you are wrong. I am the power – and one day I will destroy you. On that day I will see you as a blade of grass on the ground, and cast aside your illusion of grandeur. Your face of stone will be like a veil of silk to me, a soft cushion of feathers, a bed of straw. I will escape your clutches and take flight like the owl. I will camouflage myself like the moth and I will look back at you with my huge vacuoles and watch you crumble into the pits of the earth – and then I will be gone from here forever.’
Magical ★★★★★
With stories as perennial and universally beloved as The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of The Rings – but also unlike anything but themselves – this book is perfect for those new to the Kingdom of Durundal series, as well as those who are well-acquainted with its enchanting magic: for to know the Kingdom of Durundal is to love it.
Pivotal ★★★★★
With a cast of characters pivotal in all eight books, this promises to be an immersive experience. Perfect for fans of Outlander and Game of Thrones.
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“So many paths cross and entwine with another, and then each one returns to its starting point.”
Ajeya’s words to Dainn are true of both what they observe at that point in the story, and of the story itself. ‘A Stag In The Shadows’ is as compelling and breathtaking a story as the three books that preced it in Turner’s Kingdom of Durundal series, but it also draws together the threads of the stories from each one and reveals the bigger picture of the whole tapestry. In this, it is very satisfying to readers who have followed the series from the beginning, yet it is not the end as there are still questions to be answered and mysteries remaining to be solved in the following book.
Even for readers who have not read the rest of the series, this book is independent enough of the others to be a most enjoyable read, although it is fair to say that those who have read the previous instalments will get more out of it.
The reader becomes involved in this story early on, and develops a strong sense of allegiance with the characters by the time the tensions really start to rise. Just like the characters do, the reader must wait for each development and revelation to occur as the story unfolds, once again positioning characters and reader alongside one another and against those who threaten them. There is drama and action aplenty to balance the waiting and suspense.
A Stag in the Shadows is the perfect culmination for the previous three books in the Kingdom of Durundal series because it incorporates characters and places from all three. With themes of redemption and forgiveness, justice and payback, it weaves a scenario that is both familiar and new in its complexities. Will cruel and powerful emperors and kings never learn that they will not gain anything by taking and imposing their will on others? When will they figure out that good always triumphs and people of conscious are always there to make sure their devious plans don’t come to fruition? It was great fun to be reunited with favorite characters and once again, I admired the clever determination and resiliency of the clans people. Heroine Saskia and her father, Philipe, Coben, Moira and Dom will capture – and sometimes break – your heart. And am I the only one who still doesn’t quite trust Cornelius? As always, Turner keeps you on the edge of your seat with her magical Kingdom of Durundal. I can’t wait for A Moth in the Night!
Although each book in this series tells a complete story, they all relate to one another. The author teases out more of the overall picture each time, giving the reader a more comprehensive look at the lives of all the people in the kingdom and how each of their stories relates to the other. I imagine it took a great amount of planning to make the story line work together so well.
In each book, what I love the most is the enchanting picture of life that the author paints. Well, it’s not all always so enchanting as you’ll discover in this episode. But it’s all so vivid, drawing you in as if you were there suffering or rejoicing with the characters.
I can hardly wait for the next book to be available.
A Warrior Princess Saves Her People From A Cruel Overlord!
Overview: Through great determination and a spirited vengeance to free her newly enslaved people, Saskia tricks a great warrior into grooming her for her own defense. Instead, she becomes a deadly assassin, and there is nothing she won’t do to win the freedom of her father and her people… No matter what the consequences.
In “A Stag in the Shadows”, Author S.E. Turner draws readers into a complex and highly driven Fantasy epic with compelling characters and colorful settings. Author Turner’s opening plotline reads much like an adult fairytale, with idyllic kingdoms falling prey to a villainous conqueror, kings and their subjects captured and enslaved in the villain’s dark and treacherous mines, and a beautiful young princess being held prisoner in a lonely tower—Forced to remain there until she is of age to marry said villain. However, Turner’s Princess Saskia is neither demure nor helpless as she develops into a strong female lead by tricking the usurper’s right-hand man, Cobin, to secretly groom her as a warrior. But despite the fact that she is a princess, held against her will in a tall tower, Saskia is no Rapunzul. Instead, she is devilishly determined to become an expert assassin—A lethal force to exact vengeance on King Hezekiah’s for his unwarranted treachery against her and her father’s kingdom.
Turner’s plotline is riveting from beginning to end as she guides readers on a pulse-pounding fantasy journey they will not soon forget. Just as in the other books in the Kingdom of Durundal Series, the reader feels as though they are being drawn through this tale… Living an alternate life in order to reach an ultimate purpose that has yet to be defined.
Turner’s unforgettable characters have a depth of personality that reminds one of a person plucked from history rather than a made-up, imaginary individual. Each character has their own well-developed personality and backstory, and each fits perfectly into the overall plotline of this remarkable tale.
I highly recommend “A Stag in the Shadows” to anyone—ages 17 and up—who loves Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery tales, and Adult Fairytales with amazing characters and a strong female lead. I also recommend that one reads “A Stag in the Shadows” in sequence as part of the Kingdom Of Durundal Series for the best enjoyment and understanding of the full story even though this novel may also be relished as a stand-alone read. It is worth noting that this novel does contain graphic violence.
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This is the kind of book that lovers of beautiful words and eloquent phrases can easily lose themselves in. The story takes place in a richly detailed mythical land filled with dreadful despots, kindly kings and erratic emperors. It centers around several different families who are tied together by unbearably tragic circumstances.
One of the key players is Saskia, a young girl whose family was abducted and tortured by the despicable ruler of Hezekiah Hall. While held prisoner in a lonely tower for two years, she secretly learned sword wielding skills from an unexpected champion of her people. Her determination to use her hard-earned warrior arts to rescue her clan keeps a searing flame of freedom burning brightly in her heart.
Saskia is also aided in her rebellion by a mysterious man who dreams of otherworldly encounters with fire witches and magic books but who has no memory of his previous life. Together, against overwhelming odds, they grasp their one and only opportunity to attempt the impossible.
This epic tale takes the reader on intriguing flights of fantasy and hopelessly romantic imaginings. The story abounds with such rich folklore and pageantry that I almost felt as if I were reading real accounts of earth’s ancient histories rather than the creations of the very talented S.E Turner. A Stag In The Shadows is one of several in the Kingdom of Durandal series but this story definitely stands on its own.
If you particularly enjoy a clean fantasy read, then this emotionally uplifting book is certainly worth your time and attention.