Shard & Shield

Baugh (The Songweaver’s Vow) hits the ground running in the satisfying, high-stakes fantasy that opens the Shard of Elan series. The human city of Alham is under threat from the Ryuven, winged, magic-wielding creatures. Shianan Becknam, a commander in the King’s army; Lady Ariana Hazelrig, a mage; and her servant, Tam, are tasked with retrieving the Shard of Elan, a magical object that will form a shield around Alham, sealing it off from the Ryuven realm and preventing further attacks. The trio successfully secure the shard, but in the process Shianan unwittingly lets in an enemy who dismantles the shield. Ariana and Tam are almost crushed by the collapsing barrier and are forced to escape into the Ryuven world, where Tam reveals himself to be a high-ranking Ryuven in disguise. As Shianan works to free them, Ariana learns to survive the Ryuven realm. Baugh keeps the pages turning with tightly plotted action sequences and taut suspense. Her multidimensional characters make consistently believable choices, though the romantic subplots are a bit half-baked. Still, high fantasy fans will find plenty to enjoy in this fast-paced adventure. (Self-published)