Reviewed by Elloise Hopkins for the BFS:

The Assassin’s Shadow by R.S. Moule
Book Review
Elloise Hopkins

Locanisho D’Cithe Fultik A’ino, or Locan A’Shadow as he was known, was also once heralded the deadliest man alive. An assassin who could use the very shadows to hide and travel, Locan’s fame spread wide, and our narrator is one of the few who met, travelled and fought at his side. When he was only 18, Cetrik, of a noble house of Guiland, left home to cross the desert dust that was left in the wake of the Abomination King’s attacks, in search of the infamous assassin.

Young Cetrik, it turns out, seems to be the only one to have survived the wraiths of the crossing with his sanity intact, but that does not stop him being set upon by bandits the moment he scales the northern bank of the River Midnar in Narlond. Now, with his first kill behind him, Cetrik seeks shelter at a farm, soon to find himself enmeshed in a sinister and disturbing scheme.

Not only does Cetrik discover that his map is wildly out of date, and Narlond is definitely not quite as he expected, his only travelling companion, a bad-tempered horse named Morvolt, apparently has little faith in Cetrik’s ability to survive the next encounter – fire, raiders in the night, and an ill-mannered, drunkard of a stablehand. Cetrik is left wondering why raiders would only take children, how he is going to escape the clutches of magic-wielding elves and various axe-wielding enemies, and whether he is ever going to find Locan A’Shadow.

The Assassin’s Shadow is the first book in Moule’s new Legends of the Shadow series, and the narrative voice is a true strength, particularly at framing the novel from start to finish. It gives Cetrik’s tale, which we know is being told by an older version of himself, the feel of a very grand, traditional epic, promising more adventures to come. It also allows Cetrik the vulnerability of reflecting on his actions and choices, particularly some of his follies of youth, giving his character relatable dimension.

In terms of plot, there is an underlying menace and the mystery of the stolen children to be unravelled, but the prime focus is on what will become Cetrik’s band of adventurers. All the classic elements are there – antagonistic friends, plenty of sword and sorcery, a love triangle, and of course Locan A’Shadow, who turns out to be somewhat different in reality to the picture Cetrik had built of him. This is an enjoyable summer read, but it has to be said that Morvolt steals the show as the most contrary and entertaining animal sidekick we have seen in high fantasy for a long while.

Thank you to Second Sky, NetGalley and the author for the arc.
I really enjoyed this book!
It was definitely more of an epic fantasy with great world building, It gave me LOTR vibes which I loved. The magic system was interesting and there’s a small amount of romance which it’s why it’s leaning more to the epic fantasy rather than romantasy , I really enjoyed the character development and the fact that there was snippets of humour throughout to break up storyline.
Locan is my new book husband morally grey a badass and funny to go with it.
I can't wait to see where the writer takes us in the next book .

This book had an intriguing premise and definitely delivered on the dark, classic fantasy atmosphere. There were moments where the story really hooked me, but other times where the pacing slowed down and it was harder to stay invested. The characters and world had potential, though I felt like some parts could have gone deeper.

Overall, not a bad read—just one that didn’t completely grab me. I think readers who enjoy assassin-driven fantasy and a touch of grim adventure will still find plenty here to enjoy.

R.S. Moule’s The Assassin's Shadow kicks off the Legends of the Shadow series with a familiar but atmospheric fantasy adventure. The story follows Locan A’Shadow, a legendary assassin forced out of retirement when an old enemy—vampire Solis Deadhand—returns, threatening the land with blood and magic. Alongside a young noble and an elf sorcerer, Locan journeys through haunted forests and snowy mountains to confront this ancient evil.
The book excels at world-building, The setting is vivid and would appeal to fans of epic quests and classic fantasy tropes.
However, the novel struggles with slow pacing at the start, and the characters, while interesting, often lack depth and memorable development. The plot leans heavily on well-worn genre conventions, and the execution of character arcs and dialogue sometimes falls flat, making it difficult to fully invest in the cast.

As a huge fan of assassin tales, I knew I had to pick this up. As much as I love a good assassin tale, I wish this was a female assassin. But still, Locan was fun and it was great to go on this adventure with him. The vampire element was also a pleasant surprise. Very reminiscent of Jay Kristoff. I just wanted more from the story, especially as it is advertised as epic fantasy. I think the overall story was a bit rinse and repeat but the series has promise and I'd read book 2.

I really enjoyed the pacing of the story and how immersive the world building was throughout. It felt like there was never a dull moment, especially with some suspenseful elements, I think there could have been a deeper dive and attachment to the characters- I love to be so invested that I feel a semblance of what they feel. All-in-all, I did really enjoy the story and I'm so glad I read it. It's the kind of fantasy immersion that I really enjoy.

A good read, a fun story, Moule does a great job making me care about the characters. I was worried about their actions, which is the only way to have a reader care about the story itself.

Cetrik is on a mission, just not the one he thinks he is. His only plan is to find the legendary assassin Locan A’shadow. Through mishaps and dumb look he finds exactly who he’s looking for, but Locan didn’t want to be found, he’s left the life behind him and planned to live the rest of his life on a farm doing simple work and drinking anything he can get his hands on. Dragged from his retirement, Locan and Cetrik trek across the land in search of the children stolen by the bandits that attacked the farm, the mastermind behind the attacks and kidnappings is not only a vicious enemy of Locans but he was supposed to have been killed, but now he’s back with more power and crueler intentions. Locan is a killing machine, a legendary tale, but even he can’t beat blood magic alone. Cetrik, young and naive, adds an ethnical and hopeful balance to Locans brutality and skill. We all have secrets, even Cetrik, and these secrets will both hinder and empower their journey to save themselves and the lands around them.

I gave this a solid effort (10%), but just couldn’t get into it. At first I wondered if it was because I read so many fantasy books with female protagonists, but then I realized I’ve recently loved books with male protagonists, so I’m not sure why it didn’t click. Maybe the flashback format was a bigger culprit - it’s not my favorite method of storytelling for a number of reasons.

I kept trying to go back to this and read it so it wouldn’t be staring at me on my shelf but eventually I had to throw in the towel. I am still very grateful to Second Sky & NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance reader copy!

Very interesting after getting through the first 1/3. Great wold building with lots of excitement. imaginative, and well written..would definitely recommend..

This book wasn’t for me. The world building was fantastic and great pacing but it just personally wasn’t for me. I think if you are a high fantasy lover and you find male lead stories more compelling, then this will definitely for you. For myself, I don’t read a lot of male lead fantasy so I found it hard to stick with.

I loved the three books in the Erland saga, and I loved this book equally as much. I think RS Moule is a rising star, and I'm eager for Shadow Book 2 to come along soon.

The prose, the story construction, the character building, the world scenario building, are all excellent. I've compared this author to Tolkein before in these regards, and unashamedly do the same again for this book. The imagination to come up with this epic fantasy plot is quite something.

There's also a good strand of humour throughout, with Locan, Elbows, Cetrik, and other colourful characters raising the odd chuckle.

I won't precis the book here, as it's now on general release and I can't add to the book cover, but this book and author get my strong recommendation.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture for the advanced copy to review.

I think that previous books by this author outshine this one, unfortunately. Although the story is solid and entertaining the characters are lacking, I did not connect to them and found that I really didn't care much about them or what happened to them. For me not being able to connect with characters is a big deal. Again, story is solid and it's a decent read, just not something I will revisit.

A Shadow Worth Waiting For: A Review of R.S. Moule's "The Assassin's Shadow"

R.S. Moule has crafted a truly captivating work of fantasy with "The Assassin's Shadow," a novel that plunges readers into a world teeming with adventure and pulse-pounding action. From the very first page, I was swept away by a narrative that felt both intricate and relentlessly paced. Moule masterfully weaves a tale where danger lurks around every corner, and the protagonist's journey is a constant barrage of thrilling encounters and daring escapades.

The author deserves high praise for creating such a compelling fantasy world. The lore feels rich and well-developed, providing a solid foundation for the high-stakes adventure that unfolds. Whether it was navigating treacherous landscapes, engaging in expertly choreographed fight sequences, or uncovering ancient secrets, "The Assassin's Shadow" consistently delivered on its promise of excitement. The action is visceral and impactful, keeping you on the edge of your seat, while the sense of adventure propels you forward, eager to discover what lies beyond the next horizon.

While "The Assassin's Shadow" was published some time ago, life and work unfortunately conspired to delay my completion of this fantastic title. However, I can unequivocally say that finally reaching the end was well worth the wait. The immersive world, the compelling characters, and the expertly crafted plot all culminated in a satisfying and memorable reading experience.

If you're a fan of fantasy novels that deliver on both thrilling adventure and high-octane action, then I wholeheartedly recommend picking up "The Assassin's Shadow" by R.S. Moule. It's a testament to the author's skill in the genre and a book that will undoubtedly leave you eager for more. Don't let life's interruptions deter you; this is one shadow you'll be glad you chased to the very end.

Rating: 4.5/5 - but can't do anything less than full marks for each star.

Such an amazing read. So full of adventure. Kept me hooked and reading! Will for sure read more from this author!

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

Assassins? Dragons? Fantasy? Yeah sign me up. The Assassin’s Shadow follows Locan as he hunts down his enemy who forced his hand to reveal his secret - he is the greatest assassin who ever lived.

This book was good, some scenes did drag a little, but overall the D&D vibe won me over. I did wish there was more to the quest, but the character development and humour does make up for it. I will definitely be continuing this series as the next book is released.

Thank you to NetGalley and SecondSky books for the eARC of this book. I leave this review honestly and freely.

First in a fantasy series.
A slightly feckless young royal sneaks off to follow his dream of finding a legendary assassin. In doing so (and finding him rather too easily) he becomes involved in a battle against evil that threatens the whole world.
Lots of familiar tropes but in fairness to the author there are slight twists. Our hero doesn’t become a skilled warrior overnight, his companions are suspicious of him and our assassin is not that great a guy. So not a tight band of warriors!
There is slightly confusing world building where you have to accept or assume lots, but once it gets going this is a fun read.

What a great new series! Thoroughly enjoyed this, some great characters and storyline.
I’m really enjoying some epic fantasy books lately and this didn’t disappoint.
I shall be eager to continue this series

Great characters good storyline. Hooked from the first chapter. Thanks for letting me review. Would continue the series

Another amazing story from R.S.Moule. His imagination is remarkable. The stories are always gripping and difficult to put down. I am sure there are more to come, can't wait!