Hope has been talking about her story The Stealthmaster's Shadow for several months. First it was just a nameless retelling, then it became its own story and found a name and now a cover.
Which I shall reveal shortly.
I think I like it not only because it is cool but because it reminds me of the covers of Brent Weeks Lightbringer series. (Which is another series I enjoyed greatly, though there was some content which makes me hesitate to recommend them, and the cliffhanger ahhg!) I'm glad to say I have no such hesitations about Hope's books. Though I haven't read this one yet, I have heard a lot about it. Her other books are so delightful I have no doubt that this one will be too. But onward we must go. Here is a snippet.
Now it's time to reveal the gorgeous cover designed by, Kate Flournoy. Or at least time to read that sentence, and then look at the cover either for the first time or again. Because there are a number of these posts being posted, and because when I see cover reveal posts I scroll down to find the cover before reading the post.
Especially because the posters like to put lots of space between words and the cover.
So you have to scroll.
But we are probably all quite practiced at scrolling.
Looking at you social media.
Usually all that blank space can be ignored.
Because it is boring,
and blank.
But what if it were words?
Not just white space.
Would people stay to read it?
As I was saying.
But now it is really time for these words to end.
For them to disappear into the background.
so they shall
eventually
do so.
But I am curious, had you already seen the cover?
Did you see all these words?
I must say it is quite a dramatic cover.
It’s ten confounded years since the war ended.
Ten years since the Prince won the war and pardoned the rebels.
And left.
The Prince left, but lasting peace never had a chance to begin. As a Stealthmaster, Verus is determined to complete the task the Prince left, whatever the cost. Traitors, needlessly vague governors, and threatening rumors are all part of a standard mission. Verus will bring peace to what is left of the world, one city and village at a time. According to the governor’s daughter, the war was never about a physical peace in the first place, but what does she or any of the other Followers know? They weren’t there during the war.
They didn’t see the horrors Tauscher spread over the land or the scars that will never fade.
Commandeering the task of a former soldier, Verus presents himself to the governor of Nerva. Eventually he’ll need to undermine the man, but even Stealthmasters need money, and a mission to discover the owner of a misshapen slipper shouldn’t be difficult.
Until the ambassador from Zahavia appears.
Suddenly face to face with nightmares from the past, Verus struggles to help those plunged into danger, from the governor’s newest prisoner to a serving lad to an infuriating woman he’s taken to calling princess. Fleeing will only make the enemy stronger. But staying…
Staying could doom them all.
Coming the 1st of June 2018.
You can also find the book here on Goodreads.
Hope Ann uses chocolate to bribe a wide ring of spies, from the realm leapers of Aslaria to the double agents of Elkbend, for their stories. Based in Indiana (a place in America), she is the self-published author of the Legends of Light series, personal writing coach, and the Communications Coordinator for Story Embers. You can find out more about her at authorhopeann.comSo, what do you think? Looking forward to instalment four of Legends of Light? I am.
