Of Sea and Shadow

The Elder Empire: Sea, Book 1

By: Will Wight

Narrated by: Travis Baldree

The Guild of Navigators has ruled the Aion Sea for centuries, using their fleet of mystical ships to collect trade for the Aurelian Empire.

Now, the Emperor is dead.

For Calder Marten, Captain of The Testament, the Emperor’s death is not an end, but an opportunity. He and his crew seek the legendary Heart of Nakothi, an artifact that could raise a second Emperor...and earn Calder a fortune.

But they’re not the only ones who want the Heart.

The Consultant’s Guild, an ancient order of spies and assassins, will stop at nothing to keep the world in chaos. They seek to destroy the Heart, and prevent the world from uniting under a single Emperor ever again.

On the seas, a man works to restore the dying Empire.

In the shadows, a woman seeks to destroy it.

Will you explore the seas here with Calder? Or will you walk the shadows with Shera, in the parallel novel Of Shadow and Sea?

©2014 Hidden Gnome Publishing (P)2019 Audible, Inc.

Clean Fun!

I've really enjoyed the other books by the same author. this book the first in a series of six, two parallel trilogies, is no exception! I'm so glad I started it, but best of all I can share it with my kids because it's very cleanly written! nothing dirty at all but loads of action. thank you so much will!

Great book once again by Wight

The Magic is new an yet still perfect. Performance Wow! I thought the Unsouled series was good. This book has me hooked.

I loved this book

I loved this book the writing the story and the performance. ill definitely be finishing this series throuroughly

Becoming a Will Wight fan

I started with the Cradle series, and as of Spring 2021, they are not finished. :( So I went seeking other Will Wight books. I had a difficult transition from the Cradle series and took a little break.

This being the first in a new series I must say I am intrigued and look forward to continuing with this and the parallel series.

Great imagination, story telling, and characters. All in all, good stuff!

Fun and entertaining

Refreshingly new adventure in this genre of fantasy storytelling. Quirky characters and clever dialogue entertain. Seafarers and unusual creatures give the reader a break from the typical elves, dragons and wizards found in traditional forest fantasy. Plus the author offers the reader paralleling books in the series told from different perspectives and motivation of the main characters.

I’m so glad I read this before shadow and sea

Calder’s story is much more fun then sharrah’s . He’s got a complex outlook on the events and his view is more interesting then the psychopathic assassin lady who only wants to eat and sleep . And this should have never been split between to series .

Slow burner

Just a little slow but by the time I finished, I was hooked pretty good

Wow, fantastic story!

Wow! What an interesting way to tell a story. Leave it to Will Wight to come up with this unique tale... I just finished careening from the end of Of Shadow and Sea, and rushed head-long into this story. So first there was Shera's perspective as an assassin of the Consultant's Guild, and this time we get Calder Marten's point of view. He's Captain of the ship Testament, and an infamous member of the Nautical Guild.
I think I see why Will Wight would choose to make 2 books out of all this, instead of just one. It seems like it's too big of a story to actually fit in one book. With each of the two storylines recieving the same deference to the present day, and to their own personal backstories, it just wouldn't fit properly. Seriously, the two storylines only cross each other a few times, so there's hardly any scene duplication, but Holy Gods, when they do cross, expect Fireworks!
Also, I felt that Of Sea and Shadow had more world building, and gave me a better idea of what the different Guilds were all about, so I didn't feel as if I'd been set adrift in an ocean of unknowns...I felt firmly on the deck of the Testament! The story gives us more about the Elder Gods, and just how steampunk this world really is. Don't get me wrong, there aren't any slow spots in this action packed story, you simply get well placed and well timed world building amidst all the action!
Grab this book! And if you haven't already grabbed of Shadow and Sea, get that too... and let Travis Baldree and in turn Emily Woo Zeller tell you two Amazing stories!

Interesting world and Magic (Again)

I really enjoy Will wight, and have all the books narrated by Travis Baldree.

Sea and Shadow has the opportunity to position itself as an interesting prequel or parallel story line to the Cradle series.

I find the level of detail in the story a little "trying" to get through, and have had to take a few breaks during the book where internal monologue drags on for a little too long.

The companion book of Shadow and Sea is an interesting take on a book seen from the other lead characters view, but the internal monologue borders on Waaaaaaay too much.

A good read, possibly a good series, but I dont think I will continue with the alternate story line series.

Excellent

Can't get enough of Will White and Travis Baldree. Can't wait to read the rest of the series.