Kindle Edition Download from Smashwords (eBook) Amazon C.M.J. Wallacea Category:  Fantasy Publisher: C.M.J. Wallace--Carvel ISBN-10:  0985914033 Type: Fiction Pages: 456 Copyright: Jan 2012 ISBN-13: 9780985914035 Price: $3.99 (eBook) The Aluian Killer continues to terrorize Torvia unopposed. Andrin's fate and the creature Rift's intertwine, hurtling Andrin toward a destiny that could destroy him. This is book 2 of the Rift series and is not a stand-alone novel. The Aluian Killer continues to terrorize Torvia unopposed. Intent on conquest and unaware that his army harbors a Torvian spy, the Mistrin emperor invades the city with the blessing of its mad king and all but conquers it by law and edict. But when the king agrees to a tribute of Torvians to the Mistrin Empire, Prince Danielen knows the time has come for him to overthrow his father--and the draldur bardelains decide the time has come to kill the prince and Andrin Sethuel. As the astromancers search for the weapon that will crush their hated enemy, the Torvian resistance strikes against the emperor. War breaks out, pitting Torvians against Mistrins and one another and ripping loyalties apart. And Andrin's fate and the creature Rift's intertwine, hurtling Andrin toward a destiny that could destroy him. Excerpt The Aluian Killer continues to terrorize Torvia unopposed. Intent on conquest and unaware that his army harbors a Torvian spy, the Mistrin emperor invades the city with the blessing of its mad king and all but conquers it by law and edict. But when the king agrees to a tribute of Torvians to the Mistrin Empire, Prince Danielen knows the time has come for him to overthrow his father--and the draldur bardelains decide the time has come to kill the prince and Andrin Sethuel. As the astromancers search for the weapon that will crush their hated enemy, the Torvian resistance strikes against the emperor. War breaks out, pitting Torvians against Mistrins and one another and ripping loyalties apart. And Andrin's fate and the creature Rift's intertwine, hurtling Andrin toward a destiny that could destroy him.

This is a superb book--well written and engaging
Sing the Midnight Stars was brilliant. Does book two of the Rift series match the brilliance of that volume? On the whole the answer has to be 'yes'!

Flight of Shadows is, necessarily, a more complex volume for it must begin to pull some of the threads together into a coherent whole. It does so with skill and compassion. It also does so in a more psychologically complex way that pits Andrin against himself and against the several women in his life.

There is a resolution to one of the primary threads in this volume. I wasn't surprised by the resolution although I still hadn't solved that mystery for myself. It made sense, and that is important. Too often these kinds of threads will either be obvious from the start and the suspense is never there, or resolution comes through a deux ex machina move by the author.

Characters are strong, suspense is present in spades, there are moments when I want to throttle a character for their perfectly reasonable but oh so frustrating choices, and the integrity of Wallace's sub-creation is untarnished. The language of the book remains an absolute joy--sophisticated without being elitist, rich without being cloying--and very well edited.

This is a superb book--well written and engaging. It is clearly a book which sits within a series rather than on its own but it also, very cleverly, completes one of the arcs of the original book.

If you enjoyed the first book (and how could you not) then this is a wonderful continuation of the series. If you haven't read the first book yet, then go and read it, then come back, snuggle into a comfortable chair, grab a delicious snack or two, and enjoy this one.


C.M.J. Wallace's Flight of Shadows is brilliant!
Intrigue, betrayal, sedition, murder and magic fill the pages of this brilliantly written, fast-paced sequel to C.M.J Wallace's Sing the Midnight Stars. There are surprises at every turn and the supremely competent, beautifully descriptive writing brings the world of Carvel alive and is an absolute pleasure to read. Don't miss out on the continuing saga of Torvia's chief detective Andrin Sethuel as he attempts to capture the serial killer who is terrorizing the city and save the kingdom from imminent invasion by its worst enemy.