Shadowmancer

Harnois (Mages & Mechanisms) launches a romantic fantasy series with this promising if uneven novel. Jittery Marius Everhart is on the run from the Queen of Shadows, who kidnapped him, planted false memories, and gave him impressive abilities to control darkness. Most people fear shadowmancers like him, so Marius is surprised when wealthy, charismatic Ayodele Sauveterre invites him to join his mage guild, Paladin Charm. Tempest-controlling Ayodele already recruited four weaker mages to protect his small homeland of Aveyons from being overrun by Serpent Fang, the ruthless guild that Ayodele used to belong to. The members of Paladin Charm are divided on accepting Marius, as he has dangerous episodes when he cannot control his powers. As Marius attempts to prove himself, he and Ayodele begin an insatiable affair told in charged sex scenes. Paladin Charm prepares for the imminent invasion by Serpent Fang, struggling to convince the king and citizens of Aveyons that they are a different kind of guild and that not all magic is harmful. After a well-drawn epic battle, an oddly truncated conclusion may leave readers wondering what’s left for the sequels. This novel will appeal to readers looking for fast-paced fantasy with a dash of sexy romance. (BookLife)