
When Shadows Grow Tall
A Novel
by Maressa Voss
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Pub Date Aug 01 2024 | Archive Date Jul 15 2025
Collective Ink Books | Roundfire Books
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Description
From debut author Maressa Voss comes the highly anticipated debut, the beginning of the epic quest for truth and magical equity in the Grasp. For fans of Alix E. Harrow and Patrick Rothfuss.
"Part cosy Tolkien-Shire fantasy and part dark magic, power and back-to-nature themes of Le Guin’s Wizard of Earthsea..."
-FanFi Addict Review
When truth becomes a weapon, who shall wield it?
In the Grasp, a realm on the threshold of enlightenment, the dactyli guard the fading embers of their ancient brotherhood, dedicated to the pursuit of absolute truth. Lovelace and Gunnar, two of the order's last rangers, find themselves on the precipice of a changing world. When the order faces a fatal threat from within, Lovelace and Gunnar embark on a dangerous ranging where they discover more than the welfare of the order is at stake: a rogue dactyli named Alev amasses an army of those he calls the Burned Ones, mercenaries wielding elemental forces. Lovelace and Gunnar are forced to grapple with the unimaginable implications.
Meanwhile, the Grasp languishes under the oppressive rule of Osbert, who exploits the recent advent of the printing press to smoor the fires of budding enlightenment. A young woman named Kylene undertakes a journey to find her missing father, a prominent printer wanted for sedition. Her path leads her to the kapnobatai, a mysterious group of outcasts with whom Kylene takes up refuge and the mantle of her father’s fight for freedom.
In the mountains of Droch Fhortan, Lovelace and Gunnar encounter a feral young woman, Cora. Her mere existence uproots an age-old belief and puts to ground a new truth: magic can be awakened, magic can be taught. As their paths intertwine, a shared purpose emerges—to expose Osbert's tyranny, thwart Alev's dangerous plot, and rekindle the flame of enlightenment. So begins the battle for the minds of the Graspish people, and a quest for the heart of magic itself.
Advance Praise
Showing a confident grasp of character and stunning worldbuilding, Maressa Voss’ debut fantasy novel, When Shadows Grow Tall, shows us not only a society beset by evil, but gathers the company who must fight for truth and thus vanquish it. It’s both a tender coming of age and a stirring call to arms, with a wonderfully deft weaving of magic and nature. Highly recommended.
Julie E. Czerneda, author of DAW Books’s the Night’s Edge series
Unlikely heroes abound in Voss’ fantasy novel of magic ... Readers will be swept into an unusual landscape that’s engagingly similar to our own in some ways; in this world, nature has been stripped of its resources and corruption has silenced dissent, though it’s not too late for compassion to prevail. As the story, which features vivid descriptions and intricate history, weaves in elements of mystery, readers will wonder whom the heroes can trust; along the way, they’ll enjoy scenes of fast-paced action and dangerous magic ... the work contains great beauty and a sense of hope, and readers will likely be excited for a sequel. A fun adventure that will keep readers engaged.
Kirkus Reviews
Available Editions
EDITION | Other Format |
ISBN | 9781803415178 |
PRICE | $18.95 (USD) |
PAGES | 344 |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Average rating from 131 members
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