Best Left In The Shadows, the latest novella from author duo Mark Gelineau and Joe King, is out today and I am so ecstatic that I had the chance to read it. I’ve been a fan of Gelineau and King since I read their first story A Reaper of Stone and their second one, Rend The Dark, in the last two months. Going into Best Left In The Shadows, I already knew or expected that I was in for a treat!
Read more about the book below and check out my review.
About the book
A Highside girl. Beaten. Murdered. Her body found on a Lowside dock. A magistrate comes looking for answers. For justice.
Alys trades and sells secrets among the gangs and factions of Lowside. She is a daughter of the underworld. Bold. Cunning. Free. When an old lover asks for help, she agrees. For a price.
Together, they travel into the dark heart of the underworld in search of a killer.
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About the bookSwashbuckling mystery
Nope, there are no pirates in this book, but the word “swashbuckling” came to mind while I was reading it. Must be because the story has scenes in docks, canals, dark alleys, and brothels. Plus there are battles involving swords, knives and a big ass scythe being handled by a kickass heroine.
Like with the previous Ascended books, I really love the characters and their dynamic. The female lead Alys is different from the heroines in Reaper and Rend the Dark, but she’s just as complex and strong. The male lead Dax, though no pushover, is a good contrast to her personality and their chemistry is fun to read.
The blurb above pretty much sums up what the book is about, but of course there are also intriguing secrets and exciting twists that hit you as you read along. The ending kind of left me wanting, but I still can’t wait to know more about what happens with Alys and Dax in succeeding novels in this series.
Did I tell you Best Left In The Shadows releases today? If you like fantasy noir, you should definitely check this book out. Need more convincing? You can check out Act 1.
Check out my reviews of A REAPER OF STONE and REND THE DARK.
Note: I received a review copy of this book from the authors. All opinions and views expressed here are my own.
About the authors
Mark and Joe have been writing and telling stories together for the last 25 years. They share a love for the classic fantasy tales of their childhood. Their Echoes of the Ascended series brings those old epic characters and worlds to new life.
Visit their Website and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Mark’s Amazon Page and Joe’s Amazon Page. For their latest releases, join their mailing list.