In Solitude’s Shadow by David Green

Haltveldt is a nation built on bloodshed. With the Order of Sparkers brought to heel, Emperor Locke wields his mages – and their magic the Spark – like a weapon as he wages a war of genocide.

But the enemies of his empire multiply.

In the almost-forgotten north, the ancient citadel of Solitude, filled with two-hundred exiled Sparkers, watches over the mysterious Banished. With a new apprentice under her wing, Zanna Alpenwood pines for her estranged daughter when everything changes – for the first time in centuries, The Banished are on the move.

Miles away in Haltveldt’s southern frontlines, Calene Alpenwood makes a startling discovery in the most unlikely of places and her estrangement from her mother is tested. As is her faith in the Order of Sparkers and loyalty to the Empire.

And in Haltveldt’s capital, Kade Besem – whose son Arlo is training with Zanna – scrambles to react to the events at Solitude in a den of vipers.

Haltveldt is an empire forged in fire and nothing is at it seems. But one thing is certain: with the Banished returning, and the elves to the south on the brink of annihilation, Zanna, Calene, and Kade stand on the brink of earth-shattering change.

A great game, millennia in the making, is coming to its stunning conclusion. Who will survive? And who is the true enemy of Haltveldt?

I read the original version of In Solitude’s Shadow a few years ago and quite enjoyed it. Since then, David Green has only gotten better with each book, so I was excited to get my hands on an ARC of the revised edition. (Yes, I am quite late for a review on an “advanced” copy, blame the TBR bigger than Mount Everest!)

It’s still the same story at its core, but now it’s tighter, smoother, and more polished overall. There are small additions and refinements throughout, making it a better book, and one that fits more seamlessly with the rest of the series.

We follow several POVs throughout the story. The main one is Calene and her companion, who stumble across something that shakes the very foundation of what they thought they knew. Their arc kicks things off with a real sense of mystery and urgency.

We also get chapters from Calene’s estranged mother, Zanna, who has been exiled to Solitude, a fortress tasked with keeping the land of Haltveldt safe. For years, life there has been relatively peaceful and uneventful… but that calm is about to end.

Then there’s Kade, a desperate father searching for his son. The boy was supposed to be safe at Solitude, but then the news came…

The revised edition really improves the flow and character work. The dialogue especially feels sharper and more natural, and the side characters are more fleshed out, making them feel like real people with their own agendas and struggles.

The worldbuilding is another strength. This is a world full of magic and tension, where humans and elves are constantly at odds. Elves are enslaved, mistreated, and murdered without consequence. Then there are the mysterious Banished, and the Sparkers, humans who can wield magic, but only within strict limits. They’re allowed to use their power only in defense and for the public good. But politics always find a way to twist things, and over time, Sparkers have been forced into roles as weapons of war.

What I really appreciate is how the story doesn’t offer easy answers. Who is right? Who is truly evil? Or is it more complicated than that? Green doesn’t draw a simple line between good and bad. He lets you sympathize with multiple factions, even when they’re at odds, making every conflict more compelling, and every battle more emotionally charged.

If you’re looking for classic fantasy, with fortresses, magic, battles, and scheming, but told with a modern voice and a diverse cast, this is a great pick. It strikes a nice balance: the world is gritty and violent, but there’s also kindness, hope, and moments of real connection. It’s not all bleak, even though the situation is dire.

From sweeping battles to intimate personal trauma, from themes of racism and oppression to love, loyalty, and found family, In Solitude’s Shadow offers a bit of everything. It’s a story that moves between close, character-driven moments and a larger, high-stakes political conflict, and it does both well.

In Solitude’s Shadow is a sharp, character-driven fantasy with teeth, full of heart, heartbreak, and hard choices. If you want magic with meaning, battles with consequences, and a cast that actually makes you care, don’t miss this one.

I’m really glad this book got a second chance in the spotlight, it deserves it.

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