Title: Sword and Shadow
Author: Saje Williams
Published in 2007 by: Samhain Publishing
Science Fiction/Romance/Vampire
ISBN: 1-59998-253-6
Raven is a prominent figure in his world; known as a legend to some while others deem him a monster. While everlasting at fifteen, he is really hundreds of years old and knows much about mage. He was turned into a monster’s monster, a hunter of the night, death to the undead. Sort of like a bogeyman type of guy. Now he must make sure that no one knows the real truth about his identity as an agent while keeping civilization safe from terrorization. Against his better judgment he calls in the other agency that only brings him trouble in a fleshly form by the name of Val.
The Church of the Three-Fold God was a political organization but when Raven begins to see weapons that some of the guards are carrying, weapons that should not exist and someone supplying the bunch with them he needs answers. He needed to call into base and follow the rules about the condition but that was something that he didn’t wish to do. He hates following rules. Raven allows others to believe that he is a thief catcher. He cannot reveal his real identity. In reality he is a war hero, an undercover agent, one irresistible vampire, and not a morning person. When paired with a TAU agent, he soon learns that she is one force to reckon with.
Valerie Winn stands on the threshold of the worldgate waiting for her contact only to find herself being ensnared by cohorts she doesn’t know. She has been trained as a field agent but this is her first mission and she never expected it to be anything glamorous but neither did she imagine being ambushed her first night. She may be a novice agent but after her contract arrives she never expected the disreputable Raven. Now she had no idea why TAU insists she work with the undead.
As a TAU agent, Val must prevent any unauthorized personnel penetrating world technology to be introduced to primal worlds. When her first assignment pairs her with a living legend, a vampire, she finds him to be a most interesting sort that excites her in many ways. He is a huge legend and now she is linked with him. One thing she unmistakably is eager to gain is more insight to the dark handsome Raven, who strikes some deep heat within her loins. Amidst chaos surrounding them, she finds herself thrown into a mission that sends them on some spine-tilling adventures.
While on an expedition in search of an inexplicable relic, Val finds herself working with the legendary undead, Raven. It proves to be quite a journey that weaves an implausible magnetism as they explore a mystery that blankets the manifestation of weapons that have no place in the current world. It is a hunt to stop a massive destruction that must not take place as Raven and Val work non-stop to unlock the secrecy while keeping their mutual attraction for each other from interfering with their task. With an appearance of a ship in a frozen wasteland and unknown powers quite possibly connected to the artifact, Val wonders will her association for Raven grow more intense as the search continues or if he is really the Reformer of Prophesy.
Sword and Shadow is filled with drama. Val doesn’t take anything from anyone as she dishes out as well as taking it. Raven, a most clever, admirable character sprinkles some chemistry in the pages. At the ripe age of fifteen, Raven was changed so exhibits young features yet he is many years advanced that enhances his physical appearance more to the human eye, especially when it comes to Val, who finds him totally charming in some ways. When the two meet, a searing warmth seems to stir between them but they know their mission is first and foremost. I love when a heroine is gutsy and stands her grounds and Val is quite the woman in this story, guts and glory, so to speak. With a cast of secondary characters this action-yarn takes off flying. And with Cerberus, a trusting dog, that often gets in the middle, it makes it most intriguing.
Saje Williams spins a delightful tale that keeps the readers interest until the last page. He paints a refreshing tale that is full of some cliff-hanging gripping moments while incorporating another world where magi and vampires roam, and magic is just an everyday occurrence. Sword and Shadow takes on a world of imagery as he fashions a culture with multifaceted figures that pulls the reader completely into the breaking story. His techniques are quite interesting how he crafts a read where the reader hops aboard and journeys along in the investigative search. Plunge in a copy of Sword and Shadow today at: Samhain Publishing where a voyage is waiting.
Sincerely good reading,
Linda
Saje Williams Review
Buy Saje's Book at Samhain Publishing
