The Shadow of What Was Lost
Book One of the Licanius Trilogy
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4.3 • 161 Ratings
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- £5.49
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- £5.49
Publisher Description
'A storytelling assurance rare for a debut . . . Fans of Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson will find much to admire' Guardian
AS DESTINY CALLS, A JOURNEY BEGINS
It has been twenty years since the god-like Augurs were overthrown and killed. Now, those who once served them - the Gifted - are spared only because they have accepted the rebellion's Four Tenets, vastly limiting their own powers.
As a young Gifted, Davian suffers the consequences of a war lost before he was even born. He and others like him are despised. But when Davian discovers he wields the forbidden powers of the Augurs, he sets in motion a chain of events that will change everything.
To the west, a young man whose fate is intertwined with Davian's wakes up in the forest, covered in blood and with no memory of who he is . . .
And in the far north, an ancient enemy long thought defeated, begins to stir.
The Licanius trilogy:
The Shadow of What Was Lost
An Echo of Things to Come
The Light of All That Falls
'Wonderful worldbuilding and terrific characters' Boingboing.net
'Will appeal to anybody looking for a coming-of-age fantasy tale with likeable characters and strong worldbuilding' Fantasy Faction
'Love the Wheel of Time? This is about to become your new favourite series' Barnes & Noble SF and Fantasy Blog
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An ancient evil's reawakening threatens a fantasy land where magic has been proscribed in Islington's epic fantasy debut. Fifteen-year-old Davian of Andarra is one of the Gifted, able to tap into magical essence. Unfortunately, Davian was born after the civil war that destroyed the powerful Augurs, and now the Gifted are bound by laws that prevent them from using their powers freely. As a mysterious figure threatens the protective boundary wall in the north, Davian learns he is the last of the Augurs, and it's up to him to help repair the wall before it's too late. Davian is joined in his quest by friends Wirr and Asha, who prove to be more than they seem. They'll need all the luck they can muster, as various political and magical forces are trying to use them for their own purposes. Islington has built a world with all the right genre elements: complex magic, terrifying threats out of legend, political intrigue, and a large cast of characters whose motivations are seldom clear. Fans of doorstop epic fantasy will not be disappointed.
Customer Reviews
Great read! Well worth a try!
I’ve read a lot of fantasy authors...a lot, and what James has done is take something classic, then add his spin, and has made a cracking trilogy! Really love these books, they are at the top of my re read pile. Stop reading my review and go try them yourself, you won’t regret it!
Refreshingly Good Fantasy
It’s been a long time since I read anything by a new author that I’ve enjoyed so much. Well written, imaginative and with likeable characters to whom the reader can actually relate.
Good old fashioned story-driven fantasy, not over-burdened with political or dynastic machinations. Swords, magic and adventure in a fresh new world.
Highly recommended!
The shadow of what was lost
Fast paced, action packed, epic fantasy true to its genre, with riveting twists and engaging characters, can't wait for the next in the series.