About The Light Of Burning Shadows

As the human-dominated Calahrian Empire struggles to maintain its hold on power in the face of armed rebellion from within, the Iron Elves’ perilous quest to defeat the power-hungry elf witch, the Shadow Monarch, takes on greater urgency. The Iron Elves, shunned by their own people for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, and desperately wanting to forever erase this shame, became legendary for their prowess on the battlefield as the Calahrian Imperial Army’s elite shock troops. But when their commanding officer, Konowa Swift Dragon, murdered the Viceroy of Elf kyna, he was exiled, and these brave elves were banished to a remote desert outpost, doomed and leaderless, their honor in tatters. Recalled to duty to reform his regiment from the dregs of the Imperial Army, Konowa thwarted the plans of the Shadow Monarch at the Battle of Luuguth Jor—ensuring that the fabled Red Star, a source of great natural energy, did not fall into Her hands.

Now Konowa must cross storm-tossed seas to seek out the lost elves and the prophesied return of another Star somewhere in a desert wasteland roiling with mysterious power, infernos of swirling magic, and legends brought back to life in new and terrible ways. And the fate of every living creature will come to depend on a small band of ragged and desperate soldiers, whose very loyalty to the Empire they have sworn to serve is no longer certain. When death is but a temporary condition, a terrifying question arises: who is the true ally—and fearsome enemy—in a growing conflict that threatens all?

 

Iron Elves Series Reviews

“A masterful debut — if J.R.R. Tolkien and Bernard Cornwell had a literary love child, this would be it.”
—Karen Traviss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Legacy of the Force-Revelation and City of Pearl

“Fascinating…combining the best touches of fantasy and military storytelling.”
—John Ringo, New York Times bestselling author of the Legacy of the Aldenata and The Council Wars series

“A thrilling epic from beginning to end, filled with wit, intrigue, and twists and turns reminiscent of Glen Cook’s The Black Company. A grand new entry in the field of fantasy masters!”
—Richard A. Knaak, New York Times bestselling author in the Dragonlance, The Dragonrealm, World of Warcraft, and Diablo series

“A fantasy in which the gritty realities of war and politics are as important as the magic — and all are handled very well.”
—David Drake, national bestselling author of the Lord of the Isles and Hammer’s Slammers series

“Imagine Napoleon’s armies invading Middle Earth, mixing gunpowder with magic, monsters, and heroes. The Iron Elves will march across the landscape of fantasy and claim new territory. Chris Evans gives us an entertaining debut, with the promise of more great adventures to come.”
—Charles Coleman Finlay, acclaimed author of The Prodigal Troll and Wild Things

“I’m always thrilled by seeing a new author press the boundaries of the conventions of fantasy. Chris Evans does just that — taking the broad sword and sorcery archetypes and placing them squarely in a new and exciting environment.”
—R. A. Salvatore

“An earthy, sardonic antihero, Konowa (Swift Dragon) stands uneasily at the crux of a complicated network of loyalties while flanked by a large, colorful cast…A truly worrying conclusion hooks readers for book two.”
—Booklist

“Evans’s first novel heralds the launch of an outstanding military fantasy series unlike any since Glen Cook’s beloved “Black Company” series… Strong storytelling, a compelling cast of heroes and villains, and a keen knowledge of military tactics of the Napoleonic era make this a priority purchase for most libraries and a splendid read for fans of both sf and fantasy military adventure. Highly recommended.”
—Library Journal

“A gutsy fantasy set in a world of imperial greed and magical plotting, with an eye for the ordinary soldier’s plight that would have done Kipling proud.”
—Karen Traviss, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Legacy of the Force — Revelation and City of Pearl

“Evans evokes the era of Napoleon with muskets and slashing swords while neatly mixing in military fantasy, swords and sorcery, and a great deal of success; readers will no doubt end up desperate for the next volume.”
—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Private Alwyn Renwar of the Iron Elves is having constant, debilitating nightmares of the evil Shadow Monarch-and it’s nearly killing him. The magical acorn which the Shadow Monarch planted in the chests of all the reformed Iron Elves during their last campaign carries dark magic, useful in combating the Monarch’s minions, but filled with evil and contrary to the nature of elves. In this quick but moving second volume of Evans’s Iron Elves series, Private Renwar, Major Konowa Swift Dragon, Sergeant Arkhorn, and the rest of the regiment discover that one of the dark acorn’s side effects is turning souls, after death, into ghosts. Private Renwar focuses all his efforts on finding a cure for this curse, while a more worldly battle transpires over a magical falling star, the Jewel of the Desert, which must be found before the Shadow Monarch claims its powers for “Her” own. Evans evokes the era of Napoleon with muskets and slashing swords while neatly mixing in military fantasy, swords and sorcery, and a great deal of success; readers will no doubt end up desperate for the next volume.