What do you think?
Rate this book
The Missing Shield #4
Running the Gauntlet
In the realm of Ostravah, magic lies broken and forgotten. Now, with the approaching millennium, an ancient strife that has spanned aeons will soon rekindle because the capricious Gods never rest - and they want their dues...
The debilitating uncertainties continue…
Solancei, Duchess of Ivanor and secret life shield of Iambre Actarione, is certain of one thing only: that her present situation cannot possibly get any stranger.
However, when her jackal fight tormentor drags an unhinged prisoner before her, she is forced to bend her neck to the Gods’ overwhelmingly bad sense of humour, for not only does the ranting madman seem to know her, he also insists on calling her Mistress, and moves to protect her.
Though she may not live to see sunlight again, Solancei still knows she cannot let this seemingly innocent man suffer either. Yet, will she manage to save this mad prisoner from his intended fate or is her unpredictable captor simply toying with them both? And what does he actually want? Playing a dangerous game to keep her true identity hidden, she is forced to wonder if she too will become a mad, abused substance addict like the other prisoner - or if the Gods might for once show mercy and favour her?
Regardless of Gods or men, as Solancei counts her own fleeting odds, she is certain of the repercussions to Iambre, should she falter - and so for duty and love, she must prevail no matter the cost to herself.
Likewise mired, a victim of her own unsettling circumstances, Princess Iambre of Ostravah is heart sore from the binding promise finally made to her true love, Captain Metavo. Solancei’s continued absence wreak havoc with her thoughts, and feeling the need to do the ‘right thing’ has suddenly very little to do with what’s proper and everything to do with following a gut instinct that tells her she must act to help her missing Shield or else lose her forever.
But how can she make a move when she is watched wherever she goes and remains surrounded by Zanzier’s sycophantic nobles? Her ungraceful host conducts himself like a bore and threatens her patience, but worst of all he inspires aversion and suspicions of the worst kind, something that leaves her ever wary of his agenda.
Meanwhile, Zanzierian Lord Simarovien Zulavi pursue plans of his own. An uneasy alliance with a noble 'loon' from Tuxama Lake promises to produce the results he has long been striving for, but when a trial to test an old set of supposed-magical stones proves successful, Zulavi should perhaps be wondering if there is more to the ramblings of his bookish scholar-ally than meets the eyes?
Tan’Xaviar is peculiar and turns Zulavi’s guts, but an ally is an ally.
At least, for now…
Excerpt
Blinking twice, she resisted the urge to rub her eyes. The heat combined with her intense stare was making her eyes water and her vision dance, but again the question of Angemar’s goal persisted to overshadow personal discomforts.
Was he simply going to walk past the Demonai? Was that his plan? Solancei shifted as if she was walking at his heels.
As the monsters continued to shrink into submission, their peculiar thin bodies bending to obey this silent pressure Angemar appeared to assert, she was inspired to notions of awe. What was happening was both flecking impossible and brilliant and she couldn’t take her eyes off of the sight.
The air was pregnant with expectation.
The debilitating uncertainties continue…
Solancei, Duchess of Ivanor and secret life shield of Iambre Actarione, is certain of one thing only: that her present situation cannot possibly get any stranger.
However, when her jackal fight tormentor drags an unhinged prisoner before her, she is forced to bend her neck to the Gods’ overwhelmingly bad sense of humour, for not only does the ranting madman seem to know her, he also insists on calling her Mistress, and moves to protect her.
Though she may not live to see sunlight again, Solancei still knows she cannot let this seemingly innocent man suffer either. Yet, will she manage to save this mad prisoner from his intended fate or is her unpredictable captor simply toying with them both? And what does he actually want? Playing a dangerous game to keep her true identity hidden, she is forced to wonder if she too will become a mad, abused substance addict like the other prisoner - or if the Gods might for once show mercy and favour her?
Regardless of Gods or men, as Solancei counts her own fleeting odds, she is certain of the repercussions to Iambre, should she falter - and so for duty and love, she must prevail no matter the cost to herself.
Likewise mired, a victim of her own unsettling circumstances, Princess Iambre of Ostravah is heart sore from the binding promise finally made to her true love, Captain Metavo. Solancei’s continued absence wreak havoc with her thoughts, and feeling the need to do the ‘right thing’ has suddenly very little to do with what’s proper and everything to do with following a gut instinct that tells her she must act to help her missing Shield or else lose her forever.
But how can she make a move when she is watched wherever she goes and remains surrounded by Zanzier’s sycophantic nobles? Her ungraceful host conducts himself like a bore and threatens her patience, but worst of all he inspires aversion and suspicions of the worst kind, something that leaves her ever wary of his agenda.
Meanwhile, Zanzierian Lord Simarovien Zulavi pursue plans of his own. An uneasy alliance with a noble 'loon' from Tuxama Lake promises to produce the results he has long been striving for, but when a trial to test an old set of supposed-magical stones proves successful, Zulavi should perhaps be wondering if there is more to the ramblings of his bookish scholar-ally than meets the eyes?
Tan’Xaviar is peculiar and turns Zulavi’s guts, but an ally is an ally.
At least, for now…
Excerpt
Blinking twice, she resisted the urge to rub her eyes. The heat combined with her intense stare was making her eyes water and her vision dance, but again the question of Angemar’s goal persisted to overshadow personal discomforts.
Was he simply going to walk past the Demonai? Was that his plan? Solancei shifted as if she was walking at his heels.
As the monsters continued to shrink into submission, their peculiar thin bodies bending to obey this silent pressure Angemar appeared to assert, she was inspired to notions of awe. What was happening was both flecking impossible and brilliant and she couldn’t take her eyes off of the sight.
The air was pregnant with expectation.
219 pages, ebook
Published July 1, 2018
5 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
November 12, 2018
I may have skipped ahead a bit in this series however, the beginning chapter gave me what I needed to know. That leaves me in a pickle. I want to go back and read books 2 and 3 but I also want to continue forward.
From what I have read so far this series gets stronger as it goes along. "Lucky, lucky day, take my pain away!"
I like the cross-outs in the memoirs. It added a nice touch.
5/5 stars for this one!
From what I have read so far this series gets stronger as it goes along. "Lucky, lucky day, take my pain away!"
I like the cross-outs in the memoirs. It added a nice touch.
5/5 stars for this one!
December 23, 2019
This was a great continuation of 'The Missing Shield' series. The first chunk of the book primarily focuses on Solancei, in which I thought perhaps the whole book would narrow in on this character. But as I kept reading, other favorite characters were brought back in to continue their storylines as well, which I was excited to see. There is more tension in this book compared to one or two of the earlier books (I don't want to post any spoilers), which kept me excited to see where the overall story is heading. Looking forward to seeing what lies ahead in the next installment!
December 28, 2018
I enjoyed the continuing story of the Missing Shield with Running the Gauntlet. Episode 4. With each book, I've grow closer to the characters and am more invested in what's happening to them - and more worried for their safety. Three story lines run through the book, each one interesting and able to hold my attention, and each one having dangerous implications for the characters well-being. Solancei's memories of what happened to her parents is scary and riveting and Princess Iambre has all kinds of ongoing problems. The mysterious and heartbreaking Angemar raises many new questions while Simaro is just as despicable as ever. Nefer's story is equally intriguing. The plot and descriptions and intricately woven and will keep you reading if you like complex plots.
November 9, 2019
"The Missing Shield" is a gripping story of love, death, duty and magic. It's delivered in instalments, and is easy to follow, because each begins with a summary of the story so far. This episode, like all the others, features nail-biting tension and ends on an exciting cliffhanger.
In "Running The Gauntlet", Lord Simaro is toying with his new prisoner, hoping to break beautiful Solancei as he has with other women who have had the temerity to challenge him. Solancei hasn't admitted her true identity, however, so he doesn't know she's accompanied Princess Iambre on her state visit to his stronghold in Zanzier. Iambre, for her part, is both worried about Solancei's disappearance and uneasy in Simaro's company. His pleasantries leave her cold, but she just can't understand why she dislikes him so much...
In "Running The Gauntlet", Lord Simaro is toying with his new prisoner, hoping to break beautiful Solancei as he has with other women who have had the temerity to challenge him. Solancei hasn't admitted her true identity, however, so he doesn't know she's accompanied Princess Iambre on her state visit to his stronghold in Zanzier. Iambre, for her part, is both worried about Solancei's disappearance and uneasy in Simaro's company. His pleasantries leave her cold, but she just can't understand why she dislikes him so much...
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews