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Lisa Cassidy
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A Tale of Stars and Shadow Kindle Edition

by Lisa Cassidy (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,002 ratings
See all formats and editions

A corrupt kingdom. A rising darkness. Can a broken warrior save a world?

Mithranar is a country divided by ignorance and magic. Oppressed by their winged folk rulers, humans struggle to eke out an existence. Their only help comes from the mysterious Shadowhawk, a criminal who has evaded all attempts at capture. Meanwhile, something else … something violent … stalks the streets, and it has ambitions that could bring Mithranar to its knees.

The arrival of a foreign warrior will change everything.

Descended from the ruling house of the kingdom of the Twin Thrones, Talyn Dynan is a born warrior. But after a combat mission goes tragically wrong, she is left broken and wracked with guilt, her confidence in tatters. A dangerous mission to the allied country of Mithranar is her final chance to prove she can still be an elite warrior.

And it could change the world.

Or end in her death.

A Tale of Stars and Shadow is the first book in an adult epic fantasy series for readers who love: political intrigue, found family, a hint of magic, and a strong female lead.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    A Tale of Stars and Shadow
  2. Print length
    499 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    June 19, 2019
  6. Reading age
    16 - 18 years
  7. File size
    3964 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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From the Publisher

AToSaS series image
About lisa
AToSaS series - Lisa's other books

Editorial Reviews

Review

What readers are saying about A Tale of Stars and Shadow:
'It's left me desperate for more, and with one wicked book hangover.'
'Lisa Cassidy's writing style is beautiful. She has this wonderful way with words that draws you in and keeps you hooked on every sentence... I loved, loved, LOVED Talyn. A born leader and a real inspiration. One of my favorite characters I've read all year.'
'The real magic is how the story and the characters are woven into a seamless tapestry that I just couldn't put down.'
'Wonderfully drawn characters, vivid settings and a cracking story. The author also deftly covers several heavy themes, with respect for characters and readers alike.'
'A story where the human spirit is tested in a beautiful magical world with a dark side where cultures clash. There are so many layers to this story and I found myself completely absorbed in it all. What a great read!'
'I was really surprised by the amazing writing style, deep words, incredible world building, visual descriptions and outstanding complex characters. This book was the perfect fantasy read.'

About the Author

Lisa Cassidy is a self-published fantasy author by day and book nerd in every other spare moment she has. She's a self-confessed coffee snob (don't try coming near her with any of that instant coffee rubbish) but is willing to accept all other hot drink aficionados, even tea drinkers. She lives in Australia's capital city, Canberra, and like all Australians, is pretty much in constant danger from highly poisonous spiders, crocodiles, sharks, and drop bears, to name a few. As you can see, she is also pro-Oxford comma. A 2019 SPFBO finalist, Lisa has published the YA fantasy series The Mage Chronicles, and is working on her epic fantasy series, A Tale of Stars and Shadow. She has also partnered up with One Girl, an Australian charity working to build a world where all girls have access to quality education. A world where all girls-no matter where they are born or how much money they have-enjoy the same rights and opportunities as boys. A percentage of all Lisa's royalties go to One Girl.

Danielle Cohen grew up in Manchester, England, reading anything and everything aloud, and at the age of eight dreamed of being a news reader, or later, a stand-up comedian! Neither of those careers ever came to fruition, but she did pursue an acting career for many years, performing in many venues around London, at the Edinburgh Festival, and worked with several children's theater companies. Danielle has also voiced a number television documentaries. Danielle now lives in Vermont. She is an actress and a successful audiobook narrator. She has always loved telling a good story and being an audiobook narrator has been a natural progression. When she's not narrating audiobooks, she can be found walking or running with friends, playing board games with her husband and teenage daughters, or baking and eating cake.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07S1FK3DH
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tate House (June 19, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 19, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3964 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 499 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 1,002 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Lisa Cassidy

Lisa Cassidy

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Lisa is a self-published fantasy author by day and book nerd in every other spare moment she has. She’s a self-confessed coffee snob (don’t try coming near her with any of that instant coffee rubbish) but is willing to accept all other hot drink aficionados, even tea drinkers.

She lives in Australia’s capital city, Canberra, and like all Australians, is pretty much in constant danger from highly poisonous spiders, crocodiles, sharks, and drop bears, to name a few. As you can see, she is also pro-Oxford comma.

A 2019 SPFBO finalist, and a finalist for the 2020 ACT Writers Fiction award, Lisa is the author of the young adult fantasy series The Mage Chronicles, and epic fantasy series A Tale of Stars and Shadow. She recently released the final book in her latest series, Heir to the Darkmage, and is currently working on a secret New Thing.

Lisa has also partnered up with One Girl, an Australian charity working to build a world where all girls have access to quality education. A world where all girls — no matter where they are born or how much money they have — enjoy the same rights and opportunities as boys. A percentage of all Lisa’s royalties go to One Girl.

You can follow Lisa on Instagram and Facebook (if you’re on Facebook, you can join her book discussion group, Lisa’s Writing Cave) – she loves to chat to her readers! You can also visit her website: lisacassidyauthor.com

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
1,002 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SCAreads
5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite epic read of 2024 so far!
Reviewed in the United States on April 25, 2024
Verified Purchase
This was not the story I expected from the cover. Honestly the cover with crossed swords and lightning doesn't do this book justice at all. The prose was seemless, making the occasional 15 to 20 page chapter be read effortlessly. The plot was well constructed. The characters were emotionally layered, but the best part of this novel had to be the found family aspect: 6 characters with nothing in common coming together with little to no trust between them. Their growing bond in this book made every page worthwhile as they learned each of their strengths, grew in confidence, and defended their little group. I was a little underwhelmed at having guessed the reveal at the end early on, but it doesn't change the fact that I went and bought the 2nd book right after finishing this one.
One person found this helpful
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Kelsey
4.0 out of 5 stars enjoyed this
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2021
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Good read, a few slow places but I felt her emotions
And really enjoyed the characters. Would read again too
One person found this helpful
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Addie
5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing series
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2024
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One of the most entertaining series I have read in a long while. The magic and combat was interesting, and I liked that the characters had strengths and flaws in more or less equal measure. The first book is a bit clunky at the start, but it gets better fairly quickly and it is definitely worth sticking with it.

Probably the best part about the series is how well it avoids so many tropes. A female character isn’t immediately sidelined because she gets pregnant. When secrets are kept it’s for valid reasons, not because one person is scared about how another person will receive the news. Magic bonds that aid in combat are created and strengthened by shared combat experiences, respect and trust, not sex.

There’s a lot to like. The only problem I have is that the female main character’s horse is named FireFlare, which I think is a completely stupid name. It bothered me the whole series.
2 people found this helpful
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C. R. Naranjo
5.0 out of 5 stars Really enjoyed this
Reviewed in the United States on February 20, 2023
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I wasn’t totally sure what to expect, but this book was so good. Well written, captivating and with a badass female main character you can root for. There were parts in the middle that dragged a bit - I feel like it could have been condensed more, especially when nothing is really happening besides Talyn training her reluctant band of petty criminals into the fantastic team that comes together at the end. I was not really shocked on who the Shadowhawk was, but it did kind of piss me off and frankly, it wasn’t who I wanted it to be. This character pissed me off so much, and there wasn’t even really a glimmer of likability with the way he treats Talyn when not I’m his guise of Shadowhawk. I get why he does it, but it just makes him SO unlikable.

But overall it was a great story and I’m excited to keep going.

Also FYI - part of the reason I read this book is because it’s been shelved on goodreads as a romance, and there’s zero of that in my opinion. Just warning in case that’s part of the appeal
One person found this helpful
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HotPinkUnicornMess
5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth taking the chance to read.
Reviewed in the United States on April 6, 2023
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I know that reviews are the bread and butter of book sales and authors. That comments are essential and needed--but writing one is a difficult thing for me. The rate at which I read and devour books would leave me writing a review a day, and honestly, I reserve the reviews and words for the books that have truly moved me.

There are good books, OK books and then there are great books. Lisa Cassidy's A Tale of Stars and Shadow is hands down, in my opinion, a great book. From the moment I was introduced to the characters, main and side, I began to be intrigued and as I was intrigued by them I grew to care about them as people. Her writing made it effortless to imagine the little character quirks that make people individual, with an excellent and realistic inner monologue.

And that's not even touching the air of frustratingly delicious mystery, heart-pumping action, and moments of heartbreaking beauty.

I am usually pretty good at putting some hints and clues together to see an approaching plot twist. It's not a talent, it's just that sometimes things are telegraphed. This book probably did drop some hints but I have to say the unexpected twist at the very end actually surprised me. I did not, as they say, see it coming, and what a delight.

Anyway, I've already read this one and the second one and cannot wait to start the third after work today AND I wanted to make sure I wrote a review for this because great books and stories and authors like this deserve it.

Burn bright and true.
2 people found this helpful
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Brittany Metz
4.0 out of 5 stars Wow, incredible world building and character development
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2021
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Cassidy does a phenomenal job creating and establishing a fantasy world in this novel that is unique but still easily understandable. She truly takes her time fleshing it out and making sure the reader can recreate it in his/her mind. I could easily see this turned into a TV show adaption from that angle.

This story primarily focuses on the main character's character development Tayln is suffering from grief and trying to figure out how to move on with her life, find something to hang out to. Her palpable sense of loss is heartbreaking but critical to who she is. Her trying to move on, while training an unlikely group of men to fulfill orders to guard a prince, is the driving force of this novel rather than a specific plot point. That does make this read intentionally slow and I'm not sure the true main plot of the story has been revealed yet. Hence why I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5.

Bottom line: this novel sets up the beginning of what I feel like will mean amazing series and I think the subsequent books will be better as the plot pick up. This laid solid groundwork and I'm excited to see where it goes.
3 people found this helpful
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Heather Nichole McAnnally
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating story that kept me on my toes!
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2022
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This story was beautifully written and filled with real emotion. (I apologize in advance for potential spoilers.) Talyn’s survivor’s guilt and struggle to rebuild her life and her self confidence felt so relatable. Each character started out beaten or broken in some way and to watch the growth and healing that they all undergo was wonderful. Add to that the flood, the edge of your seat game of alleya, and the final twist at the end? A truly masterful story and I can’t wait to see what comes next.
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 30, 2023
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Breathtaking and absorbing, this series kept me up far into the night for too many nights. A fantastic and unusual story, don't miss it.
The only criticism I have is that the ending felt a bit rushed. I hope there is more to come in this story there is so much still Tobe told
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars "Burn Bright and True"
Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2020
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I stumbled across this book by pure chance and I am so glad for that because A Tale of Stars and Shadow was brilliant!

Twin Thrones, an island where fierce warriors called Callanan are the police and Kingshield are the protectors of the Dumnorix (royal) bloodline. The story follows Talyn Dynan, a Dumnorix-Callanan turned Kingsguard, after facing a devastating loss. While she's recuperating, she sails to Mithranar, for a covert mission to guard the youngest prince of a foreign country, while everyone else knows she's going to train Winged guards.

In Mithranar, things are far from what they appear to be. There's great disparity between the Winged people and the humans and there's a hooded Robinhood (Shadowhawk) in town stealing from the royal coffers to feed the poor. She's given the impossible task of training a band of misfits, the dregs of the society, to form a protection wing for the prince who wants nothing to do with it.

The story moves at a pretty slow pace which goes well hand in hand with the characters' backstory and development. I absolutely love the chemistry between Talyn's Wolves. Talyn's internal struggle and her journey to the point where she finally decides to live is incredibly built. While Talyn balances her duties between training her men, protecting the prince and trailing the Shadowhawk there's a bigger power at play which throws her into a world of games, politics and assasinations as mysteries start to unravel. The ending leaves you wanting more and I can't wait to jump into the next book in the series!
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Smileyrie
5.0 out of 5 stars Another excellent read
Reviewed in Australia on August 5, 2023
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If, like me, you’ve already read Lisa’s other two series, you know that this will be well written, fascinating & full of inspiring characters with the odd twist & turn or ten in the plot. And yes. It is. Unlike the others though, this lead is very likeable from the start & it’s some of the supporting characters who take a while to warm up to. And the world built in this book is really fascinating. If you’ve ever read the book “When We Have Wings”, you’ll already have an idea of how having a winged race mixing with humans (or humans with wings), might change things drastically. Everything would be affected - from architecture, furnishings, clothing & of course, the balance of power. After all, if there are enough of them, they can literally look down on people. Add in a monarchy, medieval type society & give magic to those with wings & plain old humans don’t tend to fare too well. And while most might accept their lot in life because it’s the way things have always been, bringing in someone new can definitely shake things up.
One person found this helpful
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Michael J Sheehan
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story with great characters
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2021
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A lot of the fantasy available now is dreadful, so I am always delighted when a genuinely excellent book is available. This works well as a stand alone novel, but is also the first of a four part series, with each book being as good as the others. The world-building is skilfully done and the characterisation is excellent. You really care about the characters and the author handles complex emotional and moral issues really well. The world comes to life because the peoples and the characters that represent them are so convincing and attractive. Equally the baddies are believably unpleasant representatives of unjust societies. I haven't read the authors other series, but this one is certainly first class. I invariably bought each sequel while only half way through the previous one.
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Tilly
4.0 out of 5 stars It's good, but not great.
Reviewed in Australia on December 24, 2020
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The plot is interesting and it's generally well-written. I gave it 4 stars because i found the book genuinely interesting, however i found that there was a lot of unnecessary build up. It felt like there was a lot of filler and then all of a sudden a jump to something that leads the plot forward without warning (i thought i'd missed a chapter and even went back to see if a missed part of the story, but no it just jumped right ahead and as i found out, is back filled much later). The only good thing about stretching out the story was that you ended up getting to know some of the characters pretty well. The main character's inner monologue can get really tedious at times though.
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