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L. L. Thomsen
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A Change of Rules: The Missing Shield, Episode 1 - Literary Concept Fantasy Kindle Edition

by L. L. Thomsen (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 56 ratings
In a realm on the brink of chaos, one guard must walk a dark path to protect her royal friend from a deadly foe…

Solancei Calverhana, handmaiden and childhood friend of Princess Iambre, is not just any ordinary servant. A highly skilled soldier, she is also Iambre’s sworn secret Shield, duty-bound to protect the princess in exchange for her own life if needs be.

And that’s just fine. After all - despite the recent fallouts - Solancei considers her and Iambre’s friendship worth dying for, and she is ready. Except for what comes next!
Because when danger strikes, it’s from a most unexpected direction.

Suddenly swept from Iambre’s side when an illegal duel drops her into darkness, Solancei must now somehow balance her own survival and the protection of her friend with no other weapons to defend them than her wits and The State of Veranto, a mystic skill that she has had little recent success in controlling and may yet prove her undoing.

Trapped by a hateful, cold foe masquerading to the world as an ally, can Solancei walk the perilous tightrope of mental games and physical hazards to escape and warn Iambre of the betrayal coming from the shadows? Or will she break and become the very thing that could destroy the princess?

Time is precious, and not just for Solancei and Iambre.

Beyond the Realms of Dallancea lies the Void – the prison that binds the mad gods from returning to unleash chaos upon the world of the living.

The Guardians and the Veils are all that stand between the gods and a ruinous future, but with the new millennium approaches new opportunities. The Guardians, no longer immortal or all-powerful, are at odds and their circle ripe with dissent…

***

A fantasy quest set to span 9 realms, this is an unusual dark/epic story with deep character perspectives, immersive world-building, and a lyrical feel – perfect if you are looking for something with a unique twist and prefer long, layered fantasy reads.

MA/NA contents. Please also note that due to the serial format of this series each episode will end on a cliff hanger.

***

“This is the first instalment of a complex and intriguing high fantasy story, and it does a fantastic job of introducing the characters.

Orphaned at only 7 years, the aristocratic Solancei was taken into the home of her uncle and aunt, the rulers of the 7 Kingdoms. She wasn't expected to be just a playmate for their only child, Princess Iambre, however. Solancei, now grown up, is Iambre's secret life shield. Entering an illegal backstreet prize fight in order to sharpen her skills, Solancei discovers her opponent is more dangerous than she could imagine.

Meanwhile, the threat of mad gods and twisted magic has awoken the world's Guardians from a long sleep. They want to find the evildoers and repair the damage to the Veils that protect humanity. If only they could actually agree on how to do it...

The short chapters, engaging characters and whiff of political intrigue make for a page-turning tale. I've already downloaded the next episode on my Kindle and can't wait to read it.”

5-star review from Amazon.co.uk
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  1. Book 1 of 8
    The Missing Shield
  2. Print length
    238 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    March 30, 2018
  6. File size
    683 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 8 books in this series.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

For a biography and more, please visit - http: //www.llthomsen.co

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07B7PTPRP
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ L L Thomsen
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 30, 2018
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 683 KB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 238 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1912648016
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 8 ‏ : ‎ The Missing Shield
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 56 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
L. L. Thomsen

L. L. Thomsen

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Pick up one of L. L. Thomsen’s high fantasy books and you get treated to an explosion of immersive prose, complicated characters, mystery and plots.

Her main world, Dallancea, is home to nine realms and a wealth of races – some known, some entirely new. You do not have to be familiar with fantasy to enjoy the books, but those who are will recognise her zest to spin you an epic tale of complexity and to explore her characters to the core.

“I invented my first character when I was around five years old,” L. L. laughs, “they lived in my head and took me on adventures at bedtime after ‘lights’ out. These days I allow them onto paper. There’s not enough space in my head anymore.”

L. L. is inspired by the wordsmithing and complexity of worlds and characters created by authors like Wurts, Hobb, Erikson, and Martin. She always puts the best and worst into the melting pot, always making hers a guaranteed unique read.

L. L. currently lives with her family + one cat and a dog, in the back-of-beyond near the Sherwood Forrest, U.K.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
56 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers praise the book's lush writing style with its lyrical descriptions and masterful sentence structure, describing it as an awesome fantasy adventure with excellent worldbuilding. The mystery content receives positive feedback, with one customer noting how the major story arcs are revealed gradually. Customers appreciate the character development, with one review highlighting the strong female characters, and find it to be a wonderful beginning to a larger series.

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21 customers mention "Writing style"21 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as lush, high literary, and vivid, with one customer noting its elaborate and flowing diction.

"...’s style is literary, with an expansive vocabulary and masterful sentence structure, in a way befitting the eons old parliament of Guardians where..." Read more

"...The constantly shifting viewpoint keeps the story sharp and interesting with every page...." Read more

"...The writing is wonderful, and world building perfect...." Read more

"...Several in fact. Author Thomsen's writing style is enjoyable with a great deal of lyrical description...." Read more

16 customers mention "Enjoyment"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an awesome fantasy adventure that is enthralling, with one customer noting its authentic feel of a fantasy world and another describing it as polished high fantasy.

"...descriptions, you will find this first novel in this Epic fantasy a compelling and interesting start to a wider adventure." Read more

"...The constantly shifting viewpoint keeps the story sharp and interesting with every page...." Read more

"...Truly a wonderful read and escape! This is a great high fantasy setting, and I loved the immense world filled with mystery and magic the author..." Read more

"...right away, which sounded archaic and but it created an authentic feel of a fantasy world...." Read more

15 customers mention "Mystery content"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery content of the book, finding it very intriguing with a great plot that keeps them guessing. One customer notes how the major story arcs are revealed little by little, while another mentions how it holds secrets for readers to discover.

"...this first novel in this Epic fantasy a compelling and interesting start to a wider adventure." Read more

"...The author did a wonderful job of creating an air of mystery while at the same time building a world that’s both interesting and still holds secrets..." Read more

"Every page of this book kept me guessing, and I found myself unable to put it down! Truly a wonderful read and escape!..." Read more

"A Change of Rules is an intriguing piece which goes between Solancei's memories, the present time with her adventures/misfortunes and the people..." Read more

14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a wonderful read that serves as a great beginning to a fantastical series.

"...Truly a wonderful read and escape!..." Read more

"...for intricate world building and sophisticated writing, this is the perfect book." Read more

"This is a solid first entry to a larger series. The world building is established and the characterizations let you get to know main players...." Read more

"...This is the first book in the series, so you’ll want to read this and continue on...." Read more

9 customers mention "World building"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the world building in the book, with one customer noting how it instills powers of presence of mind.

"...Dallancea, the overseeing god-like Guardians that have been given mystical powers and extended lives near immortality to hold the “mad ones” and..." Read more

"...of creating an air of mystery while at the same time building a world that’s both interesting and still holds secrets for the readers to discover..." Read more

"...and I loved the immense world filled with mystery and magic the author created...." Read more

"This book has lofty goals...." Read more

8 customers mention "Character development"8 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them interesting, with one customer highlighting the strong female characters and another noting the presence of gods and monsters.

"...with local thugs to test her mettle, is fast paced and reflects the quick-witted heroine...." Read more

"...All the characters have their own unique backgrounds and while it seemed as if there was more to the history of this world that went unexplained, I..." Read more

"...If you are in the mood for a great, high fantasy story, with a great cast of characters, this is it. Highly recommend!" Read more

"...The characters are all interesting, possessing their own histories and secrets that somehow intersect, forming a much bigger picture that sucks you..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Jay Veloso Batista
    5.0 out of 5 stars Epic Fantasy in a High Literary Style
    Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This novel is the first introduction to the Nine Realms of Dallancea, the overseeing god-like Guardians that have been given mystical powers and extended lives near immortality to hold the “mad ones” and ensuing chaos at bay, Solancei, a bodyguard “shield” maiden in training, and the petulant and spoiled princess Iambre that our shield is dedicated to protect. The book builds a tapestry of nuanced description of guardian political machinations and provides insight into the tragedies of Solancei’s past through personal memoirs, while engaging the reader in the “no holds barred” action of an underground gladiator combat, complete with illegal gambling, double crosses, and sword play.

    The writer’s style is literary, with an expansive vocabulary and masterful sentence structure, in a way befitting the eons old parliament of Guardians where human passions and rivalries seem to lurk underneath their cool veneers.

    The chapter “First Touch,” our first glimpse into the realistic “jackal” battle where the shieldmaiden practices with local thugs to test her mettle, is fast paced and reflects the quick-witted heroine. This chapter grabbed my attention and drew me into the story more than the high court maneuvering of the Guardians. The chapters on Princess Iambre displayed a shallow haughty and naïve young lady, over her head in a nuanced political situation and unable to grasp the significance of either her position or the expediency of the “jackal games” for training an up and coming shield. One hopes that her character grows in the later books of the series. The action of this first novel in the series seemed to take place over a single day, with memoirs providing background material, and the political wrangling of the Guardians providing additional understanding of the unique world created by L.L. Thomsen. If you like a high literary style and nuanced descriptions, you will find this first novel in this Epic fantasy a compelling and interesting start to a wider adventure.
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  • Kayla Frederick
    4.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Worldbuilding
    Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    When the reader is introduced into the story, we see a Change of Rules unfolding which leaves all the characters in the opening scene uneasy. As the story advances, we are thrusted between the discussions of the Guardians and the memoirs of one of the characters named Solancei. Occasionally, we also see Solancei in real time. The constantly shifting viewpoint keeps the story sharp and interesting with every page. All the characters have their own unique backgrounds and while it seemed as if there was more to the history of this world that went unexplained, I have a feeling we’ll learn more as the series continues. The author did a wonderful job of creating an air of mystery while at the same time building a world that’s both interesting and still holds secrets for the readers to discover later on.
    One person found this helpful
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  • AmazonReviewer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommend!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Every page of this book kept me guessing, and I found myself unable to put it down! Truly a wonderful read and escape! This is a great high fantasy setting, and I loved the immense world filled with mystery and magic the author created.

    I could really immerse myself in the story and follow along with the characters on their journey. I loved the number of strong, female characters, especially.

    The writing is wonderful, and world building perfect. If you are in the mood for a great, high fantasy story, with a great cast of characters, this is it.

    Highly recommend!
    One person found this helpful
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  • G G
    4.0 out of 5 stars interesting set of nesting storylines
    Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A Change of Rules is an intriguing piece which goes between Solancei's memories, the present time with her adventures/misfortunes and the people around her, and a discussion between a group called the Guardians who have recently lost one of their own and are finding that they are not as powerful as they thought. A storm is brewing. Several in fact.

    Author Thomsen's writing style is enjoyable with a great deal of lyrical description. At first switching between portions of the story was jolting, but it soon became expected and welcome.

    This work ends what appears to be mid-story. It was described as an episode, so I view it more as a set up to a greater story arc than a cliffhanger. I look forward to reading more.
    One person found this helpful
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  • G.S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well Written and Enjoyable
    Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Reading this book was a new experience to me. I was captured by the language right away, which sounded archaic and but it created an authentic feel of a fantasy world. The story centers on the theme of power struggle in a changing world. There are multiple storylines weaving through political situations, friendship and power struggle between genders. Solancei is haunted by memories of her parents’ funeral, after which she becomes a different person and a fearless fighter. The author is gifted with wealth of vocabulary and fluency of the language. I find the fighting scenes the protagonist Solancei and her male opponent Simaro especially engaging. The brutal actions are injected with her tender feelings as well as self-doubts. The sport turns into almost a courtship game during some moments, where Simaro desperately wishes to take control of Solancei. In this paradoxical world where women hold high positions in court, males are nonetheless taunted if losing a fight to a woman.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Gweniver
    4.0 out of 5 stars Polished High Fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book has lofty goals. A great part of the story covers the political nuances of a council of immortal Guardians, and the entire language throughout the novel uses a very high registry to support this epic perspective. At the same time we follow the flashbacks and current duel of a young, talented and dedicated warrior, Solancei. I wish the two plot lines had somehow tied together in an understandable way before the end of the book, I guess more will be revealed in the sequel. if you're looking for intricate world building and sophisticated writing, this is the perfect book.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Matt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you want from a high fantasy
    Reviewed in Australia on June 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A Change of the Rules: The Missing Shield has everything you can want from a high fantasy novel. The story takes us through Solancei's Memoirs and beyond into the world that L. L. Thomsen has successfully created. If you like adventure, if you like a story that has everything going for it then this is it. A Change of the Rules is a character-centric novel that is sure to please. The promising start to a new series where politics, action and adventure are all woven together to create a compelling tale.
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  • Pam
    4.0 out of 5 stars Mooi geschreven, maar niet altijd even duidelijk
    Reviewed in the Netherlands on July 22, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Dit boek bestaat uit verschillende verhaallijnen. De interessantste vond ik die van Solancei, de bodyguard van prinses Iambre en iemand die in het geheim aan illegale vechtwedstrijden meedoet. Een groot deel van het boek beschrijft zo'n gevecht in detail. De manouvres die de personages maken en hun dialoog waren heel goed geschreven, en zogen me diep het verhaal in. Solancei's verhaal wordt ook via memoires verteld, wat voor een prettige afwisseling zorgt. De schrijfstijl is hier ook het meest poetisch.
    Een andere verhaallijn volgt de Guardians. Hier kan ik kort over zijn; ik begreep er bar weinig van. De Guardians moeten de werelden beschermen terwijl hun krachten afnemen, maar vliegen vooral elkaar in de haren om redenen die me niet duidelijk zijn.
    Iambre is ook een personage door wiens ogen we het verhaal zien, maar waar Solanceis acties and gedachten mijn aandacht trokken, vond ik Iambres hoofdstukken minder natuurlijk overkomen. Wanneer belangrijk nieuws met haar gedeeld moet worden gaat de vaart uit het verhaal. Dit nieuws was overigens al voor de lezer bekend, dus naar mijn idee had het korter gekund. Ook vond ik Iambres reactie erop een beetje raar. Haar gedachtes gaan vooral over de illegale vechtpartijen en haar eigen veiligheid, maar ze maakt zich niet zo'n zorgen om Solancei, terwijl die op dat moment wel in gevaar is.
    Wat dit boek niet makkelijker maakt om te lezen is dat de meeste personages minstens drie niet altijd even makkelijke namen hebben, en dat die namen door elkaar worden gebruikt. Zo is er Klaas (een vrouw, overigens, al had ik een half boek nodig om dat te realiseren; ik denk niet dat de schrijver door had dat dit in het Nederlands een heel gebruikelijke mannennaam is). Klaas heet eigenlijk Klaasinah Eso Mehadja, en al deze namen worden door elkaar gebruikt, zelfs in hetzelfde hoofdstuk. Dit was vooral vervelend bij de hoofdstukken over de Guardians, omdat hier veel personages in voorkomen.
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  • London Lass
    5.0 out of 5 stars High fantasy page turner
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first instalment of a complex and intriguing high fantasy story, and it does a fantastic job of introducing the characters.

    Orphaned at only 7 years, the aristocratic Solancei was taken into the home of her uncle and aunt, the rulers of the 7 Kingdoms. She wasn't expected to be just a playmate for their only child, Princess Iambre, however. Solancei, now grown up, is Iambre's secret life shield. Entering an illegal backstreet prize fight in order to sharpen her skills, Solancei discovers her opponent is more dangerous than she could imagine.

    Meanwhile, the threat of mad gods and twisted magic has awoken the world's Guardians from a long sleep. They want to find the evildoers and repair the damage to the Veils that protect humanity. If only they could actually agree on how to do it...

    The short chapters, engaging characters and whiff of political intrigue make for a page-turning tale. I've already downloaded the next episode on my Kindle and can't wait to read it.
    Report
  • Julie Whitley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Full immersion in a world within a world
    Reviewed in Canada on May 7, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A Change of Rules: the Missing Shield builds a world of strong women and mysterious guardians who are on a collision course of destinies. The depth of detail in each character’s inner dialogue sets the stage for the strife to come. The fight scene alone was thrilling and well-drawn and had me wanting to read more about Solancei. This a full-immersion experience for fantasy lovers.
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  • Jason Wride
    4.0 out of 5 stars Whisks you away to another world
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    This high-fantasy story is full of imagination, and shows a lot of promise for future instalments. The characters are unique and the dialogue and prose are very different to what I have encountered in the past. Sometimes I found it a little confusing, and I thought it was over complicated but I have to applaud the author for taking a risk and daring to be different. All in all I enjoyed the story and will definitely look out for the next book. It is full of action and adventure and very entertaining.
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