Reviewed by Taylin
TITLE: Shadowmancer 
SERIES: Paladin Charm #1
AUTHOR: Devin Harnois
PUBLISHER: October Night Publishing
LENGTH: 189 pages
RELEASE DATE: March 5, 2019
BLURB:
Marius Everhart is something even mages fear — a shadowmancer. His power marks him as cursed, a creature belonging to the Queen of Shadows. Marius escaped her realm with his memories corrupted and his sanity in tatters, managing to live a fragile, lonely existence at the edges of society.
Some might call Ayodele Sauveterre delusional. He prefers the term “optimistic”. With his homeland in danger from invasion, Ayodele will do anything to protect it, even recruit a shadowmancer. Marius’s incredible power and gentle nature make him a perfect addition to Paladin Charm, a new mage guild dedicated to helping rather than exploiting the non-magical populace. The fact that handsome Marius also warms Ayodele’s bed is a wonderful bonus.
With support from Ayodele and his new friends in the guild, Marius begins to heal. He’s also quickly falling for the alluring mage, but Ayodele struggles with what’s forming between them. Past experience left Ayodele flippant but guarded, and Marius’s open honesty unnerves him.
As they grow closer, Paladin Charm prepares for a battle with impossible odds. And in the darkness, the Queen of Shadows waits to reclaim Marius and drag him back into a nightmare.
REVIEW:
Marius knew some of his memories were real, other’s he wasn’t so sure about. Some memories he knew the Queen of Shadows put there, though which ones, confounded him. Marius escaped the Queen’s clutches, but he knew she searched for him and wouldn’t stop. What Marius wanted was to live a simple life and to have a home. In the latest of a long list of towns, he is rejected and moved on yet again, he knew a shadowmancer would never be allowed such things. Then, Ayodele found him. In return for his services, Ayodele offers him stability, a home, money and protection.
Marius goes with Ayodele, back to Aveyons where Ayodele needs help to protect his home against invasion from the Serpent Fang, a guild he used to belong to. There is resistance from the mundane countrymen who neither like nor understand those able to wield magic in any of its forms – especially shadowmancers. Without the Paladin Charm Guild, there is no hope of winning the looming battle.
There is wariness and mistrust within the guild against Marius, who must prove he isn’t a danger to anyone other than an enemy. As lust blooms, between Marius and Ayodele there are complications too when an ex-lover appears.
Within the confines of the guild, Marius slowly sorts through the memories in a bid to sort out who he is opposed to what someone wants him to be.
Told in the third person, there was lots that I liked about this story. Technically, it is in good order, and there is a good balance between intimacy and action. I liked the natural flow, too, despite the story being a little predictable in places. There is a heat rating which wasn’t cold shower time, but I was glad the sex didn’t overshadow the story.
This is a tale where teamwork rules so that a number of low-level mages could become something more powerful. But before that can happen more than one variety of prejudice must be overcome. Traditionally, Mage’s acted superior to mundane people. Ayodele wants to buck this trend. It was entertaining watching how the various dramas played out to thwart the obstacles put before them. The latter chapters were particularly gripping.
Shadowmancer is the first in a series. If you are drawn to books involving magic, this is a series to look out for.
RATING: 
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