Rise of the Shadow Mage Audiobook By James Haddock cover art

Rise of the Shadow Mage

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Rise of the Shadow Mage

By: James Haddock
Narrated by: Daniel Wisniewski
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When Robert’s mother dies, his whole world caves in on him. Fatherless, he has no one, and nowhere to go. The royal mage shows him kindness by putting him on the royal guard as a “boot” to keep a roof over his head. Robert’s quick wit and willingness to help others serve him well in the guard. He becomes friends with the king’s second son, Randal, who was placed in the guard by the king to teach him discipline. As he ages, he develops mage abilities but keeps them secret.

While on a weekend pass in the city, Robert saves Randal’s life and is rewarded by being made Randal’s liegeman. Robert is moved from the guard to the royal castle and begins specialized training to serve as Randal’s liegeman. Robert sees this as a step up in life and is doing well until he has a run-in with Randal’s brother Raymon, the crown prince.

Prince Raymon is a vindictive bully and tries to blind Robert while sparring. Though Raymon misses, enemies are made. To keep them separated, the king sends Robert to work for the royal spymaster, then on to train as a spy and assassin with the Congee spy guild. Robert returns home after five years of training, where his mage abilities continue to grow, and finds that Raymon has killed his father the king.

Raymon is now the new king. His friend, the royal mage, is in the dungeon, and Prince Randal is being held in the tower awaiting the new king’s pleasure. Robert visits the royal mage in the dungeon to find out what is going on. They decide that the kingdom, and a lot of people, will not survive Raymon’s rule.

©2024 James Haddock (P)2024 James Haddock Action & Adventure Fantasy
Engaging Storyline • Steady Character Progression • Consistent Worldbuilding • Natural Story Flow • Smooth Voice
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Don’t be thrown off by the art for this book. It is exceptional, and has a great future as a series. Highly recommended!

Reminds me of “The Lies of Loch Lamora!”

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I really enjoyed this book. The author does a really good job of creating a world and characters that are fun to listen to. It there is a problem.with the book, it is that there likely will never be a book 2. Given so many books are around 20 books long, that may not be a bad thing. Still, you end the book hoping there is more.

Really good book

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dont have time.for.a.review but.it was great just buy it already. okay then enough words yet

fun fast paced

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another good book by the author. if you liked any of his other books you'll like this one. kinda hope there will be another book to continue this story but it also has a good ending so if there isn't a second book you aren't left with a big cliffhanger

really good

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James Haddock’s *Rise of the Shadow Mage* is a masterclass in combining progression fantasy with a mature tone and sharp wit. With its well-balanced blend of slice-of-life moments and steady power-building, the novel immerses readers in a story that feels grounded while delivering on the exhilaration of magical growth.

The story follows a protagonist whose journey is as much about self-discovery as it is about mastering shadow magic. Haddock skillfully portrays the inner struggles and triumphs of a character navigating complex moral dilemmas in a world where power comes with a cost. The writing is intelligent, with witty inner dialogue and interactions that feel natural and unforced, providing humor that never undercuts the stakes of the story.

Haddock’s world-building is rich and immersive, but what truly stands out is the character progression. Each new skill or ability the protagonist acquires feels earned, with slice-of-life elements showing the daily grind of training, learning, and adapting to a challenging and often unforgiving environment. These moments of quiet determination are juxtaposed with bursts of action that are as thrilling as they are meaningful.

The mature tone of the novel doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the protagonist’s journey, but it does so with nuance and restraint. Themes of sacrifice, ambition, and the cost of power are explored in a way that feels both personal and universal. Despite the heavy themes, Haddock keeps the story engaging with his sharp prose and the occasional witty observation that makes the characters feel vividly real.

*Rise of the Shadow Mage* is a must-read for fans of progression fantasy who appreciate a story that doesn’t rush but instead savors the process of growth. It’s a tale of grit, humor, and magic that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommended for readers looking for a mature, well-crafted fantasy with a touch of wit and a lot of heart.

A Witty and Mature Tale of Growth and Magic

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I love the stories written by this author however, most of them tend to follow the same plot line and use many of the same features in the story. My criticism is not with the store itself, which is excellent store. My issue is I want to see a sequel. The author keeps telling the first book in what could be an excellent series. But it would be nice if we had some more of this excellent storyline in a sequel book.

Once again, an excellent story.

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another incredible book. i am hooked. i can’t wait for book 2 and hope there are more. thanks for your creative passion

incredible

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Haddock has done it again, great story, heart warming characters. The narrator was excellent as well.

Looooved this book

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I couldn’t stop listening. I was hooked right in. The story builds well and the world is very consistent. The author doesn’t use dumb events to push the story forward, it flows naturally.

Excellent

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In many fantasy books the main character second guess a bunch of his decisions and abilities. Not here. It was almost strange how the main character just did things. He wanted something he just bam went and got it. He just gets down to buisness. Only reason I knocked off a star is because it is just really easy for him the entire time. He did go through some specialized training, but his power is nuts. Also while it is a nice change of pace having a character just power through everything it does leave the other characters behind as background characters.

Surprisingly good in a strange way.

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