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The Scholar's Shadow: A Quest for a King prequel
Paperback
Series: The Bridges of Magic
Publisher: Independently Published
Published: Oct 30 2025
Pages: 106
Weight: 0.31
Height: 0.27 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Barok Tana was once a promising Guild magician, until forbidden research and dangerous questions led to exile on an Island, where magic goes to die and desperate men make bargains they can't unmake.
When a shadow offers escape, Barok accepts without understanding the cost. Left hollow but functional, he forges credentials and climbs Drakenholt Mountain, home of the ancient vampyre clans who guard dangerous magical knowledge.
The seven elders welcome him as a humble student seeking redemption. They offer patience. Trust. Teachings forbidden to outsiders for centuries. In meditation chambers carved from ancient stone, they begin to share wisdom earned across millennia.
They don't realise he's come to harvest them.
As Barok's mask of humility conceals mounting betrayals, some vampyres begin to suspect the truth. But suspicion without proof changes nothing. By the time certainty arrives, it will be too late for everyone.
What readers are saying about morally complex dark fantasy:
- Perfect for fans of The First Law trilogy and The Broken Earth series
- A protagonist you'll watch fall despite knowing you should look away
- Magic with genuine consequences and psychological depth
- Explores how corruption happens gradually, one compromise at a time
Content warning: This book contains graphic violence, morally grey/villain protagonist, and themes of psychological manipulation and betrayal. Not a redemption story.
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