Genre: Fantasy, Romance
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
Who—or what—is Jack Bainbridge?
Jack Bainbridge thinks he’s just an ordinary college student, studying to be a teacher. But if that’s true, why have the Reaper of Strife and his warriors come to capture him? Rescued by a Holy Knight, Jack flees for his life, and takes refuge in Greywall, a city of outcasts devoted to the study of forbidden magics. In Greywall, the Guardians attempt to discover the secret of Jack’s strange powers, which were triggered by the Reaper’s attack. And what about Griffin, the Paladin who rescued him? Why does Jack find him so fascinating?
Griffin Salazar has never met anyone as open-hearted as Jack, but his only prior experience with love ended in betrayal, so he knows those feelings aren’t to be trusted. Can Griffin overcome the pain of his past enough to let Jack in? Is that even what either of them wants?
Together, Jack, Griffin, and their allies must learn the truth about exactly who and what Jack is before the Reapers close in on everyone Jack has ever loved. The secret, when uncovered, will shake the world, and upend everything any of them thought possible.
Blade of Shadows, Wings of Light is the epic beginning to a new Urban Fantasy series, The Ascension Apocalypse.
The Review
Jack Bainbridge’s family lives in Meridia. At nineteen, he has just completed his field experience for Gramercy University in Meadow Lake, Carthage. It’s his last day at the Montessori school, teaching a class of thirty-four twelve year olds. He’s played his guitar and sang with the students for the last time. The principal, some of the faculty and other field instructors have stopped by to watch. The students present Jack with a very special gift – a tradition called the rolling of the fruit. very student rolls a fruit – oranges, pomegranates, apples, etc. – to the front of the classroom and presents it to the instructor.
Jack has now boarded the van to make his way home to Meridia, with a bag of thirty-four pieces of various fruit. He’s checked his phone messages, and Sabrina, his fiancé, has flooded his phone with them. They had been friends since the age of seven, and when they were fourteen, she had declared them boyfriend and girlfriend. The previous summer, Jack had informed Sabrina he was going to Gramercy University, and not Meadow Lake where she was already admitted and it caused a big argument. Jack, being naive, panicked and made the big mistake of proposing to her, and he doesn’t really know why. Along with Jack’s naiveité, he’s confused about his feelings and himself. He’s getting ready to turn twenty and believes there is something wrong inside him.
On board the van, he’s joined by Tammy, the driver, and other field experience instructors: Dori, Tayna, Barry, and Padric. Something goes terribly wrong when Tammy is cut-off by another driver. She goes crazy and rams the other car. When Jack goes to check on her, he finds her with a broken neck.
The world has suddenly gone insane. Violence and fights break out among the people around him. Even Dori and Tayna are fighting, and as he tries to break it up, Barry attacks him. The chaos continues as Barry continues to call him an “invert” and is still fighting with him, now outside the bus.
After almost passing out and being sick, Jack sees two tall strangers with helmets, black armor and swords coming straight for him with nothing to stop them. H runs away from them and straight into a parked car. Knocked flat on his back, he tries to rise, but another stranger with a helmet, red and gray armor, and a sword comes to protect him. As they are both on the run from the attackers, his protector calls on his Steed to get them to safety. The stranger introduces himself – Ser Griffin Salazar of Greywall, a Paladin of the Way, protected by the Seal of the Martyr. He explains to Jack that they are being pursued by Vrith, who serve the Reaper of Strife.
Griffin and Jack go into hiding and make plans to get Jack to Greywall, and start to learn about each other. Interest grows between them, but both are reluctant to share what they feel. Jack still isn’t sure if he should trust Griffin, and Griffin hasn’t decided if Jack is dangerous or not.
Jack needs to know why the Reaper and Vrith are in pursuit of him. He believes he’s just an ordinary, boring person – there’s nothing special about him. But then, why wasn’t he affected by the outburst of violence? Who can he trust? Is he ready to face what is about to happen to him? And who is the one with the power of prophecy to destroy the world?
I liked Blade of Shadows, Wings of Light. It takes place in another world with its own strange vocabulary, but it’s modern day too. Grayson doesn’t go heavily into data dumps – it feels more like super hero story, which makes it fun to read.
Jack and Griffin are both likable characters. Griffin learned a hard lesson and he was shamed for it and there are those that continue to snub him. As for Jack, he’s still discovering who he is.
Mixed in with adventure and fast paced action, the story has an abundance of magic and technology.
There were a few weaknesses in the story some editing issues, but this book is filled with interesting ideas. A fun read.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.