Scions of the Shade

Beginning in a culture where sacrificing "nightborn" infants is common, the story follows two main characters: Laurel, a member of the Ebascan resistance, and Tysane, a General in the occupying Pilion army. Both are chosen by the Shade, an evil deity, to facilitate her rebirth. When the Shade’s essence compels these sworn enemies into becoming lovers, Laurel's resulting pregnancy endangers everything they know. The story also follows Ghort, a “Magister” whose goal is to assist the Shade’s rebirth and prove its mythos false (or true), and Varna, an “Arcan” sworn to keep myths from being proven or disproven—even at the expense of lives like Laurel’s. Everything culminates during an eclipse, the only "safe" time for the child to be born, when Laurel must decide if she will allow it to live.

While the main plot focuses on the clashes between Laurel and Tysane and their nations, themes of religious and mythological provenance (and the moral dilemmas they present) are integral to the plot. The Magisters believe all mythology to be mere illusion, meant to control the masses, while the Arcans believe it vital to maintaining the status quo and avoiding anarchy. There are also the “Sages,” men with a philosophy of peaceful study and non-intervention. These three groups compete in the researching and cataloging of the mythos of nations, and the different schools of thought provide an essential backdrop to the main conflict.

Scions of the Shade is my second Epic Fantasy novel and I'm currently seeking publication for it. Thank you for your interest.



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