Book Title: An Odyssey of Shadows
Author, Cover Artist, and Publisher: Dion Marc
Release Date: April 1, 2024
Genre: 1940’s Period drama and Ancient Greek fantasy
Tropes/themes: Family Drama, Courage, Dealing with Loss, Hero’s Journey.
Length: 298 pages
Heat Rating: 0.5 out of 5
It is the first book in a new series. It ends on a cliffhanger.
Buy Links – Available in Kindle Unlimited
A Hero’s Journey is a Tale of Tragedy
Blurb
A Hero’s Journey Is a Tale of Tragedy.
In the wake of his brother’s death, Theodore’s world is irrevocably shattered. Now he stands alone against the shadows that dance at the whims of Gods. Clad in armour touched by magic and driven by a sharp mind, he faces a world of chaos and trials of unimaginable darkness all to save his brothers life. Each heartbeat of fear, each spark of hope, fuels his fight through a world where his bookish smarts may be his key to survival. Yet, Gods have never been known to play fair – especially the war god – Arēs
‘An Odyssey of Shadows’ is the first instalment of a new fantasy series set in the year 1945, penned by Amazon bestselling author and artist Dion Marc. This saga weaves queer protagonists and intricate plot lines into an unputdownable read.
They say it is human nature to fail. After all, in this game of gods and heroes, it only ever seemed that the gods were the ones to walk away unscathed. Still, if it is true that it’s human nature to fail, then it is also fair to say that it is human nature to try, even against impossible odds.
The shadows I wandered through bore no resemblance to the ivy-clad halls and candlelit chambers of academia where I, Theodore, had once lost myself in the pursuit of knowledge. The life of a scholar, amidst books and poems, had been upended—replaced with a blade’s edge and a destiny thrust upon me by a capricious twist of fate.
Athena’s whispered words played like a haunting melody: seven trials, a descent into the deepest caverns of the underworld, all converging at the House of Hades’s daunting gates. The setting of the sun on my thirty-second day was my deadline. The glinting prize? A fragile strand of hope that Thomas could once again draw breath, bridging the chasm that his absence had carved into my soul.
The remnants of my dance with Arachne clung to me—those piercing eyes, the silk strands that sought to bind, and the cold dread of her relentless pursuit. She was now a page in my unfolding saga, our fates inextricably intertwined.
My once pure white chiton, now a canvas of the underworld’s trials, was testament to my transformation—from fountain pen to sword. The linothorax, initially a cumbersome burden, now clung to my reshaped form like a comforting second skin.
But it was the echo of Thomas’s laughter, the shadow of our shared past, that steeled my resolve when shadows threatened to consume me. His memory was the beacon, guiding me through my odyssey of shadows, urging me to continue, to persevere.
I coughed. Little flecks of deep scarlet fell on the blackened sand beneath me. Well, maybe I wouldn’t make it.
Looking down, I assessed the damage that creature had done to my left side. Blood oozed from three giant claw marks that had penetrated my armour. Though the colour being secreted was more akin to blackened sludge than any red that was healthy. It gave off an acrid stench. It was as if the underworld itself had marked me…again.
Eerie whispers echoed in the distance, becoming louder, more desperate with every step, urging me to move faster. They sounded like lost souls, trapped between realms, their warnings chasing me like relentless hounds. A fleeting image of Thomas, clear and vivid against this nightmarish realm, spurred me on. His face was like a lighthouse guiding my boat onwards, pulling me forward, reminding me of my purpose.
Excerpt From
An Odyssey of Shadows
Dion Marc
Bestselling Scottish Australian author Dion Marc lives and breathes queer art. Whether he is painting, writing, sewing or dancing naked in the moonlight he does it with pride. He is a practising Hellenistic polytheist who believes in healing the world one hug at a time and that drinking tea without a biscuit is a horrendous crime. Dion has worked on Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge, Hamilton and so many more creative and flamboyant shows.
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