Shadow's Fall
PRAISE FOR
SHADOWFLAME
“I absolutely loved this book! It was almost like I had been waiting for this story and it simply fell into my lap. I am hooked. Fans of vampire books everywhere, I have found the next big thing, and it is the Shadow World series by Dianne Sylvan. The twists and turns that Sylvan placed in this book kept me flying through the pages … Queen Miranda is one of the strongest female characters I have come across, and hands down this series is going to be sensational! I cannot rave enough over this one. The magic, mystery, intrigue, and each and every one of the characters have been well developed.
Shadowflame
gave me all the high-impact action, romance, and gore that I want in a book.”
—
Fresh Fiction
“Dianne Sylvan’s writing is captivating. She creates a world that will suck you in from the get-go. Her writing style is fluid and unrelenting.
Shadowflame
follows the same near-flawless writing style that book one did … I enjoyed the suspense and Dianne Sylvan’s creative way of keeping readers on their toes.”
—
Nocturne Romance Reads
“Miranda was the sort of heroine I enjoy reading about; she didn’t just suddenly fall for David, she made him work at gaining her trust … The overall book was refreshing.”
—
Night Owl Reviews
“If you thought
Queen of Shadows
was fantastic, you are going to be blown away by
Shadowflame
… Dianne really knows how to rip your heart out and get you feeling everything the characters are feeling as you read. Go out and buy it now; if you have not read
Queen of Shadows
yet, go out and buy that one, too, because you won’t want to miss them.”
—
Urban Fantasy Investigations
“
Shadowflame
is everything I love about urban fantasy—a kick-ass heroine and plenty of action, compelling characters, and interesting world building.
Shadowflame
has it all—and I can’t wait for more.”
—
Michelle’s Book Blog
“
Shadowflame
succeeds the previous
Queen of Shadows
in so many ways, and you are left wondering if it is even possible to turn the pages fast enough. Dianne Sylvan has truly created a vampire world that I would want to be a part of for years to come …
Shadowflame
was a phenomenal book from beginning to end. When you reach that last page, you will wish that you hadn’t, because the wait for the third book in this amazing vampire series will be that much more painful.”
—
Mystifying Paranormal Reviews
“Dianne Sylvan is the queen of emotional storytelling. She takes the story exactly where she thinks it needs to go, even if it’s not pretty … I loved it. Even the gritty, hard parts. Sylvan goes where other authors don’t dare. And I praise her for it.”
—
The Spinecracker
PRAISE FOR
QUEEN OF SHADOWS
“Sylvan’s powerful debut is packed with startling action, sensual romance, and delightfully nerdy vampires … [Her] compelling take on vampirism, her endearing characters, and a complex, unabashedly feminist plot will have readers hungry for a sequel.”
—
Publishers Weekly
(starred review)
“
Queen of Shadows
pulled me in … Dianne Sylvan’s rich, dark, sexy reimagined Austin is filled with people I want to visit again and again … Sylvan’s got voice, doesn’t miss a beat, and rocks it all the way to the last note. Sit down. Shut up. And enjoy the show. It’s intense, dark, sexy, with just the right touch of humor. Looking for a new addiction? Go no further.”
—Devon Monk, author of
Magic Without Mercy
“Grabbed me on the first page and didn’t let go. Miranda, the heroine, is vulnerable and gutsy, with magical abilities even she doesn’t suspect. Vampire David Solomon is as powerful and heroic as he is deliciously seductive. Dianne Sylvan has created an original take on vampires that I thoroughly enjoyed, and I’ll be looking for her next book with great anticipation. She’s a skilled and talented storyteller who definitively knows how to deliver one hell of a book!”
—Angela Knight,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Master of Shadows
“Dianne Sylvan is an incredibly talented writer. She draws the reader not only into the story but into the very marrow of someone who is starting to question their grip on reality …
Queen of Shadows
concludes with a great flourish, leaving the reader euphoric.”
—
Sacramento Book Review
“My favorite book of 2010 so far … Moving, well written, suspenseful, and sensual, this is a novel you won’t want to miss.”
—
Fantasy Literature
“Miranda’s character is a treat as she moves from victim to self-possessed, capable heroine … The supporting characters are equally well developed, providing a sense of weight and history to this thoroughly entertaining take on paranormal romance.”
—
Monsters and Critics
“Plucked at my heartstrings in a smooth rhythm of fear, mistrust, and love … Watching the romance between Miranda and David develop was a treat. Watching Miranda become a true warrior woman was the icing on the cake.”
—
Bitten by Books
“
Queen of Shadows
will make the reader feel. Feel the emotions of the characters and their own emotions … a perfect 10. Highly recommended.”
—
Romance Reviews Today
Ace Books by Dianne Sylvan
QUEEN OF SHADOWS
SHADOWFLAME
SHADOW’S FALL
SHADOW’S FALL
DIANNE SYLVAN
ACE BOOKS, NEW YORK
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by the Penguin Group
Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto, Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.) • Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England • Penguin Group Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2, Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.) • Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124, Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.) • Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi—110 017, India • Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, Auckland 0632, New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.) • Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
SHADOW’S FALL
An Ace Book / published by arrangement with the author
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Ace mass-market edition / April 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Dianne Sylvan.
Cover art by Gene Mollica.
Cover design by Annette Fiore DeFex.
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
For information, address: The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ISBN: 978-1-101-56120-1
ACE
Ace Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group,
a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.,
375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014.
ACE and the “A” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
ALWAYS LEARNING
PEARSON
To Amber: This is all your fault.
Table of Contents
Part One: Phoenix in Flight
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Part Two: Ashes to Ashes
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-one
PART ONE
Phoenix in Flight
One
“You are sure that this Prime is the one we have been searching for?”
From where she knelt below the dais, Lydia looked up at the woman sitting before her, into the cool pale eyes that held over a thousand years’ worth of memory. “Yes.”
“We have been here before, child, and you failed us … twice.”
“I know, Mother. I have paid the penance you set out for me.”
“You understand the consequences should you fail again. We are out of time, Lydia. If he isn’t the one, if anything goes wrong, there won’t be another chance. Everything we have worked for has led us to this.”
“I understand. I give you my word as I have given you my blood—we won’t fail.”
The old one lowered her eyes, her hand moving unconsciously to touch the amulet at her throat; the same fire that had forged it had forged the Signets themselves, but hers was one of a kind, passed down through generations to a chosen successor, not by chance. She had led the Order for as long as Lydia could remember … and that was a long time. Once, she had intended to step down, leaving her power and her position to someone she had nurtured and loved as her own, only to be denied, betrayed. No one in the Order ever spoke of it, but Lydia knew the whole story,
just as she knew the fate that awaited them all if she didn’t complete her mission.