The Shadow of Theron (Age of Shadows 1) by Kathryn Troy-Review & Guest Post

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The powers of old are fading. A new Age is dawning.

Holy relics are all that remain of Theron’s sacred legend.

Now those relics, the enchanted weapons forged by the Three-Faced Goddess to help Theron defeat the wicked Sorcerer Argoss, are disappearing.

Lysandro knows the village magistrate Marek is responsible, and he searches for proof disguised as the masked protector the Shadow of Theron.

But when Marek wounds him with an accursed sword that shouldn’t exist, Lysandro must find a way to stop Marek from gaining any more artifacts created by the Goddess or her nemesis.

The arrival of the beautiful newcomer Seraphine, with secrets of her own, only escalates their rivalry.

As the feud between Lysandro and Marek throws Lighura into chaos, a pair of priestesses seeks to recover the relics and return them to safekeeping. But the stones warn that Argoss is returning, and they must race to retrieve Theron’s most powerful weapon.

While they risk their lives for a legend, only one thing is certain. The three temples to the Goddess have been keeping secrets: not just from the faithful, but from each other.

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REVIEW: Another magical read for me. And I loved it. Although a little slow and confusing in the beginning, it’s worth continuing as it’s a really good read. Written really well, plenty of descriptions and feelings put into this book.

A little Zorro in places, he fights for justice wearing a mask, Lysandro wants answers and thinks Marek knows the answers to his questions.

Seraphine becomes entangled in the two’s world, she’s not a pushover by any means. She’s not impressed with Marek (who really is a nasty person) but with Lysandro that’s a whole different story, how she didn’t guess Lysandro wasn’t Theron I’ll never know (but look at the weak guise superman/Clark Kent used!) and her reaction when she finally knows the truth was a little overboard.

Both Lysandro and Marek make a play for Seraphine, but it’s Lysandro that wins her heart, but it’s not an easy task, it might be love at first sight for Lysandro, but it took a little time to convince her ?

There are triggers in this book, it’s a dark fantasy with a splash of romance. There is mentioning a of rape (not the MFC) there is a hanging scene, and scenes of torture! But the violence is kept to a minimum, and for those who don’t like bad language, that’s hardly used.

Can Lysandro find the missing relics that will help him overcome evil? Can he convince Sera to give them a chance, and if she does, then will they be able to stay together? Will he ever find the mystical items to help him beat the evil Sorcerer?

I really enjoyed the book. So I’d recommend this one to those who enjoy action and adventure with a little romance.

Copy supplied for review

? Reviewed by Julie B

Lysandro moved along the edges of the room, circumnavigating the central space occupied by countless dancing couples. Then he saw her. At the far end of the hall, the normal view out over the coast had been replaced by a painted backdrop of the Maghreve Desert, at the very farthest border of Mirêne. With her arms wrapped around herself, Seraphine looked out over the artificial horizon. She wore a sleek ivory dress covered in gold and copper crystals that left her shoulders daringly bare. That now familiar ache that hadn’t left him since this morning grew more pronounced.
As he observed the faraway, wistful look in her eyes, he realized he recognized it—homesickness. He took a deep breath and called on well-used skills to smooth his nerves and keep them tightly tucked away under a charming façade.
He inhaled the hypnotic scent of her hair again as he stood close to her, and almost lost his nerve. He agonized over what to say, knowing he might have only one shot to get her attention.
“Is the city of stars as beautiful as they say?”
She turned to face him, and he saw the truth in her eyes.

Guest Post: The Act of Creation by Kathryn Troy

So many writers are so often asked by avid readers and aspiring writers alike: “Where do you get your ideas?”

It’s a natural question to ask, but it can be just as hard for some authors to answer this as it is to come up with the “elevator speech.” Which got me to thinking what it is about this query that bothers everybody so much.

The simple, semi-redundant answer to “where I get my ideas” is: I get them from my head. Because I’m creative. It’s in my nature to be observant, thoughtful, and reflective. I also have a knack for stringing words together because I’ve been doing it so long and make it a regular habit. To read the question in an unkind way, asking someone where they get their ideas is another way of saying “I have no ideas of my own, and I don’t know why.” Some people are creative. Some people are not. It’s wiring in the brain that causes this, and it’s not a personal affront to people who can’t imagine or tell stories, the same way it’s not an affront to the large majority of people who can’t draw beyond a kindergartner’s level, or those who become nauseous at the sight of the formulae of an astrophysicist. It takes a certain kind of brain function, coupled with practice, instruction, and discipline.

The same is true of writing. There are multiple skill sets at work here: the ability to research (possibly), deep reading (to understand themes of other authors and engage with them in your own work), understanding narrative (plot, narrative tension, setting, character, etc. etc. etc.) the actual writing (technicalities like grammar and sentence construction, poetic ability, vocabulary, mood), an imagination, an understanding of tropes and how to bend them, just enough to be new but not totally out there…and the list goes on and on.

So again: Where do I get my ideas?

1. From what I read: I see divergent storylines, or ways to fulfill my anticipation if the actual writing did not. I also absorb character types, environmental description, the setting of mood, and dialogue patterns. In the case of my latest book, The Shadow of Theron, its influences were, for starters: Zorro, Wheel of Time, Pyrdain, Indiana Jones, The Legend of Zelda, Xena: Warrior Princess, regency romance, the Spanish Inquisition, Italian principalities, Chinese mystery novels, The Odyssey, Berserk…I could go on. And on.

2. From what I see and hear: my stories are shot in full trillion-dollar color in my head-then I find the words to describe what I see in my mind’s eye. A collection of movie aesthetics, sounds, actor mannerisms, lighting, framing, perspective. Inspiration has come from tense strains in music-like the theatrical accompaniment of a musical movement. It promotes mood production and emotion.

3. From what I’ve experienced: Places I’ve been have given me plenty of inspiration- places that speak of the past, or promise the future. Where I’ve traveled. The activities I participate in. Everyday circumstances and practicalities.

4. From daydreaming: experimenting with my characters, allowing them multiple possibilities to understand behavior, predictability, authenticity.

To summarize: if you’re looking for inspiration, some things you can do that might help you: Reading, Writing, Observing, Living, and Dreaming.
There. I’ve given you the keys to the universe. Use wisely.

I’m a history professor by day, a novelist by night. I like to write what I read – fantasy, romantic fantasy, gothic fiction, historical fiction,  paranormal, horror, and weird fiction. Horror cinema and horticulture are my other passions.

When I’m not reading or writing or teaching, I’m gaming, traveling, baking, or adding some new weird creepy cool thing to my art collection. I’m a Long Island native with one husband, two children, and three rats.

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