Blurb:

Magic is the enemy. When he discovers all is not what it seems, can a young knight survive long enough to protect the world from the forces of darkness?

Adrian Navarro burns for revenge. The lone member of a defunct military sect, the nineteen-year-old can’t shake the horrific nightmare of witnessing his father’s murder by shadowy fiends.

So when a cataclysm devastates a neighbouring kingdom and his superiors blame a powerful sorceress, he gladly agrees to assassinate her to settle the score.

Striking out across another realm’s border, the relentless soldier tracks the evil wielder of the dark arts. But after he’s ambushed by magic-users and captured, he’s shocked to discover his crusade for vengeance could be built on a stunning lie - and now the fate of the world is at stake.

As he’s confronted by soul shattering truths, can Adrian overcome his greatest fear and save the world?

Order of the Shadow Dragon is the action-packed first book in the Legacy of Light & Shadow epic fantasy series. If you like heroes who grow, fast-paced thrills, and humour along with the danger, then you’ll love Steven McKinnon’s high-stakes adventure.

Review:

Steven McKinnon has lost none of his sense of drama and excitement since completing his Raincatcher’s Ballad stories. If anything, he’s consolidated his ability to weave a story which builds to the inevitable epic confrontation. A story in which its repertoire of characters grow and develop into fully-rounded people who were not the same as they started out. So much of this story is about personal growth and the cathartic events that force individuals to examine who they really are. This, for me, defines McKinnon’s work. He has an unerring ability to present us with damaged people and show us how, with the help of friends, that damage can be repaired.

Set in the same world as the Raincatcher’s Ballad, the sword and sorcery combination is brought to the fore. Adrian Navarro, the titular knight of the Order of the Shadow Dragon, is young, inexperienced and has allowed his traumatic childhood to define him. Catastrophic events have struck a neighbouring country and political opportunists plan to capitalise on the disaster. Magic is a dirty word. Mages distrusted. Yet it may all be part of a huge propaganda exercise to hide what is really happening in this toxic world. The parallels to our own society is obvious, another factor that makes McKinnon such an outstanding author. Fantasy can deliver social commentary too. 

Our dark hero’s mission is joined by others. A ‘team’ that reminded me a little of that cult 70s TV show, Blake’s Seven. We have the damaged warrior, the con man, the powerful magic wielder, the law enforcer and the two soldiers; none of them can get along. The dangers they encounter strip away their facades to reveal the people they should be. Even then, it may not be enough to save the day.

Because the scale of disaster is also typical of a McKinnon tale. He doesn’t do things by halves. Bodies mount up by the score, catastrophe is never far away and hope doesn’t just get lost, it looks like its joined the body count. The pace is relentless. There is little time for reflection, when it occurs it’s a preamble to another massive threat. Tension is ever-present for this reason. You end the story gasping for breath. I found it hard to put the book down for that reason. 

I highly recommend Order of the Shadow Dragon. It’s epic but it doesn’t stop the small details from playing significant parts in the drama that unfolds. Steven McKinnon just got even better.