Shadow Dance

The Offline Series, Book One

By: C. K. Andersson

Narrated by: Samantha Norbury

Length: 15 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's summary

What would you do if the game you were playing suddenly becomes your reality?

Saga escapes her mundane life of modern stresses and anxieties, a failed relationship and a monotonous job by immersing herself in an online game. When dark whispers begin to invade her mind, she is pulled through a rift into a world eerily reminiscent of the game she plays.

Whatever brought her to this place stalks her at every turn, a sinister siren song calling to her, bringing her closer to a source of power that threatens everything. Trapped in this confusingly familiar world, she must find herself, her strength and allies to help her survive.

Grand Prior Roseheart, the leader of a paladin order, sees the potential and power in Saga. Persuading her to join his order, he is convinced that she is the key to defeating the dark magic that blights the land — but is that all he sees in her?

Saga’s journey through the world of Theadrath is perilous, taking her from the regal city of Whitekeep, audiences with the vampire council, to the elegant cities of the high elves, where Prince Kailunn Sunseeker rules over the land in the absence of his mother, Queen Sunseeker.
Saga knows the fictional Kailunn very well. Her phone’s photo gallery is filled with screenshots and fan art of him — but is the real prince the same as the man on the screen whom she fell in love with, or does he hide secrets behind his soft-spoken words?

---

‘Shadow Dance’ is a character-driven dark fantasy novel with romance elements, containing rich lore, a story with compelling stakes and characters that seem effortlessly real. Please refer to the content warnings on Andersson's website.

©2023 C. K. Andersson (P)2023 C. K. Andersson

If you like world of warcraft...

This story has it all, especially if you're a vanilla or bc wow player. Many world of warcraft vibes, the characters are interesting and have wworld of warcraft racial vibes. You wont be disappointed if you're looking for that kind of feel.
The narrator is pleasant to listen to, wonderful job.

5 ⭐️

Shadow Dance is an amazing, immersive fantasy experience. It starts with Saga, a woman who is literally sucked into a fantasy role-playing game called ‘Reign Online.’ She struggles to get her footing in this new world but eventually accepts her fate and tries to adapt to fit in. She meets knights, elves, and vampires along the way. Saga becomes confused because her loyalty lies with the elves and Kailunn, a prince of the elves in the game; however, she is thrown in with the human knights where she meets a Paladin named Garren. With Garren, Saga realizes she is developing a power which Garren shares. Saga begins to develop conflicting feeling on where her loyalties lie, especially when she meets Kailunn in person. Meanwhile, a malcious villain in this world, Lysander, is trying to gain power and steal some of Saga’s inexplicably developing power. The conflict leaves you on the edge of your seat, and this book leaves you wanting more! Shadow Dance is an amazing read!!! Everyone who loves fantasy will love this book!!!

Great Story and a Captivating Narration

5⭐

The Full List of Content Warnings for this book are listed in the book and on the author's website. Always check warnings prior to starting a book if there are certain topics you cannot read.

How can I forget when my heart is now sealed by you, stamped with your sigil?

This story primarily follows Saga Falk (LOVE THAT NAME) as she finds herself in a world very similar to the video game that she has spent most of her life playing. This is where she meets Grand Prior Roseheart (Garren) a man she's not so familiar with because she played the game from the elves side. Garren convinces her to join his order to help with the dark magic that is taking over. All the while Saga has to figure out how she got there.

“I’d welcome them with open arms if it means you’re close to me,” he says softly as he cups my face with his hands. “You speak as if you’re falling in love,” I mutter unsteadily. “I won’t deny the fact that I’m drawn to you. You fascinate me.”

Saga has a pretty rough past, which you will learn a bit about, and as a result of such she kind of used a character, Kailunn, as a way to cope. He's been a fictional character she has been in love with for so long and boy do I get is Saga. i like this man too. She spends a lot of the book not opening up to Garren despite having an attraction because she feels like it's betraying Kailunn in some way. Even when she hadn't met him yet. I'll be honest it got to a point in this book where I was just like girl take them BOTH. Live your best life. Why choose? I don't know if Garren would be into that though. *insert smirky face here*

There's also some pretty cool side characters in this book too. My favorite being Sandro. (He's the cutie to the left of Saga on the cover) His such a golden retriever, I love him. Also like seriously check out all the character art for this book. I saw most of the character art before I even finally had the chance to read the book (I listened to the audiobook alongside, PHENOMENAL by the way.) and as soon as the characters were starting to get described I was like oh my gosh that's "Garren" "Lysander" etc.

I will say the last bit of the book was a sobfest for me. CK just took my heart out of my chest, threw it on the ground and stomped on it over and over. Then the fatal wound of how this ended. I need book two like I need the air in my lungs to breathe. I need to know.

Stunning and Immersive - I did not want it to end.

C.K. writes in such a rare and beautiful style that will quickly immerse you into this world and simply not let you go. The characters are colorful and real and their relationships are surprising and profound. Each character is truly unique and plays a very special role in this story that will sweep you away and leave you wanting more. When is the next book in this series coming? Please hurry - I need to know what happens next :)

And Samantha Norbury brings these brilliant characters and this stunning world to life in a way that perfectly compliments C.K.s amazing storytelling. This is a title in my library that I will listen to many times. I honestly cannot recommend Shadow Dance highly enough. Just get it! You will be taken on a journey that you will never forget.