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S.J. Hartland
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The 19th Bladesman (Shadow Sword series Book 1) Kindle Edition

by S.J. Hartland (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 383 ratings

Winner of the 2019 Readers' Favorite award for epic fantasy, winner of the 2019 CIPA EVVY award, fairytale/folklore/mythology.

His duty is to die young, but fate has something far more lethal in mind.
If Kaell breaks, the kingdom breaks with him. And prophecy says the 19th Bladesman will break...

The Bonded Warrior...

Kill. Die young. That's what a swordsman bonded to the ancient gods does. Without expecting praise from the man who trained him to survive this centuries-old, malignant war against the inhuman followers of an invincible lord.
But Kaell wants more. More of Val Arques' attention, his approval. Just more.

The fire dancer...

Ice lord, spy, Heath never loses a fire dance. Yet he longs to know that thrill of danger down his spine as he kills for his god, to fight a warrior who might, just might be better than him.

The broken...
Val Arques is a bladesman of formidable power entrusted not only with Kaell's life but with the truth that will destroy him.
Banished to a grim outpost of this doomed kingdom of sorcery, poetry, and treachery, he cannot afford to care about the young warrior.
For love means loss. And Val Arques has a shameful secret...

A kingdom on the edge of chaos...

As a vengeful god escapes his ancient prison and draws Kaell into his web of deception, even Val Arques can't protect him from the dark prophecy awaiting him. Because you can't flee fate unless you're willing to do the unthinkable.

Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal, and the price of power that will enthral fans of Game of Thrones, Blood Song and the Mistborn trilogy.
If you love dark plots, dark magic and characters with even darker secrets; pick up The 19th Bladesman, first in the sensational Shadow Sword series.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Shadow Sword series
  2. Print length
    633 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    November 21, 2018
  6. File size
    2.3 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Australia has produced some phenomenal fantasy writers in recent decades: Sara Douglass, Cecilia Dart-Thornton, Kate Forsyth, and Trudi Canavan, among others. Fantasy fans can now add Hartland to that list. Her story is just that good. - BlueInk Review ..."An engaging and intricate fantasy that delivers plenty of political intrigue." - Kirkus Reviews..."An epic fantasy journey into an ancient, fabled world that beckons with echoes of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones.A debut novel from an author we're keeping our eyes on." - Chanticleer Reviews
"S.J. Hartland writes the kind of action scenes that effortlessly draw the reader in and have them visualizing the flurry of movement in such a masterful way that I have only ever encountered in a handful of authors. However, it is not only the fast-paced, heart-pounding action where the author excels, but the world building is also phenomenal, with clear attention paid to provide a rich culture, society, history, religion and structure. The characters are every bit as deep and complex as the world itself ... " - K.J. Simmill for Readers' Favorite---With its superbly developed characters and accomplished prose, The 19th Bladesman is a book to devour...-The Prairies Book Review ..."S.J. Hartland has created a magnificent world in this epic fantasy tome. ... Due to fantastic world building aided by a delicate balance between showing and telling and a brisk pace, I was completely immersed in The 19th Bladesman. All the characters, right from the protagonist to even the ordinary soldier, are engaging and memorable ... Further, the action scenes are splendid. I could visualize every parry and hear every clank of the clashing swords." - Debjani Ghosh for Readers' Favorite ...S.J. Hartland weaves a world like a spiderweb--intricate, detailed, beautiful, but deadly--populated with well-developed characters with complex morals, motives, and mettle." -Laura B., Proofreader, Red Adept Publishing...The author has taken common fantasy tropes of vampires and twisted them into a new viewpoint - the ghouls are abhorrent, yet follow a lot of common vampiric traits. It's exciting to see a different interpretation within the fantasy genre. -The International Review of Books ...THE 19TH BLADESMAN is a gripping and thoroughly enjoyable first book in what will hopefully be a grand epic high fantasy series in the best tradition.
~Catherine Langrehr for IndieReader

From the Author

What's coming up from the Darling Downs, the home of the Shadow Sword series, this year and into 2020.The second in the Shadow Sword series, The Last Seer King, was published last year. The third in the series, The Sword Brotherhood, is now out. And...I have this new series I've started which I think is going to be a little insane. Watch this space. Kind regards, Susan. 

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07KS7SCVV
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Dark Blade Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 21, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 633 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0648437215
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 4 ‏ : ‎ Shadow Sword series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 383 ratings

About the author

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S.J. Hartland

S.J. Hartland

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S.J. Hartland is an Australian journalist, emerging epic fantasy author, and foil fencer (Cyrano club in Sydney,) who has spent too many holidays wandering around obscure castles, and is obsessed with anything medieval.

She is originally from Townsville, north Queensland, lived in Sydney for many years, and now calls the Darling Downs home. She lives with two mad but lovely dogs, Lily and Coffee.

The 19th Bladesman, the first in the Shadow Sword series, is her first book. The second in the series, The Last Seer King, was published in July, 2019. The third, The Sword Brotherhood, was published in May, 2020. The first in the new Decallion series, Blade Lord, was published in January, 2021.

Find out more at sjhartland.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/the19thbladesman/ or drop Susan an email at writersjhartland@gmail.com.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
383 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this fantasy book engaging, with plenty of magic and intrigue that keeps them entertained for hours. The characters are well-developed, and one customer notes the incredible range of personalities. They appreciate the diverse elements, with one review highlighting multiple layers and depth, while another mentions unexpected surprises throughout the narrative. The book successfully evokes raw emotions from readers.

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IntrigueReadabilityCharacter developmentMysteryRomanceDiversityEmotion level
48 customers mention "Intrigue"41 positive7 negative

Customers find the book's intrigue engaging, describing it as a fantastic fantasy book with sorcery that goes beyond an epic adventure.

"...and actually it was from the 600 plus pages to the story it was pretty interesting and kept me on edge each time I opened my kindle to read and had..." Read more

"...that hits all of the right chords: compelling characters; intriguing antagonists; a deeply built, sprawling world; mysticism and magic; prophecies;..." Read more

"...Aside from that, the world the author created was interesting and I feel like they added a different twist to the story from your traditional..." Read more

"...The characterisation is superb and I liked the technique of having chapters narrated from the point of view of different characters...." Read more

27 customers mention "Readability"27 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and entertaining, with one mentioning it keeps them reading to see what happens next.

"This is hands down a riveting first novel in what promises to be an excellent series!..." Read more

"...It’s a good book, but I sometimes struggle with trying to decipher who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, and the reasoning for the blurred lines...." Read more

"...The characters are strong and compelling. Written in a medieval time, the plot is both magical and bold...." Read more

"...And Val’s torment about Kaell is certainly relatable. Great work!" Read more

26 customers mention "Character development"21 positive5 negative

Customers appreciate the well-developed characters in the book, with one customer noting their incredible range of personalities.

"...so complex and endearing in his own way, for me they were pretty unique characters with lots of layers and complicated relationships between..." Read more

"...weaves an epic fantasy that hits all of the right chords: compelling characters; intriguing antagonists; a deeply built, sprawling world; mysticism..." Read more

"...Kaell, the eponymous 19th Bladesman is such a sympathetic character; a young man brought up to die in the line of duty – and probably to die young...." Read more

"...It is hard to believe this is S.J. Hartland's first novel. The characters are strong and compelling...." Read more

10 customers mention "Mystery"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery elements of the book, featuring magic and various secrets, with one customer noting it keeps readers guessing throughout.

"...The story follows a young man, destined by fate and cursed by magic, who must sacrifice his own life and blood to fulfill his duty to his Kingdom..." Read more

"...: compelling characters; intriguing antagonists; a deeply built, sprawling world; mysticism and magic; prophecies; among others...." Read more

"...a lot of elements here from battles and spies, to mysticism and various secrets...." Read more

"...So many unexpected surprises. Vraymorg and Kaell are such incredible characters. Each of the characters is so well developed and believable...." Read more

6 customers mention "Romance"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, with one customer noting how the characters feel connected from the first page, while another mentions how it pulls readers in right from the start.

"...the author has built a compelling fantasy world, and pulls you in right from the start...." Read more

"...They have such an incredible range of personalities and motivations...." Read more

"...I enjoyed this story and felt connected from the first page. I recommend you give this one a try and then come back and tell me what you think...." Read more

"...Kaell and his lord and their relationship are so interesting. The author developed their characters so quickly and thoroughly it's astounding...." Read more

4 customers mention "Diversity"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the diversity of the book, with one mentioning its varied elements and another noting its multiple layers and depth.

"...The plot of this story is highly complex with so many disparate elements and threads turning and twisting this way and that...." Read more

"...and their relationships as something ever evolving, with multiple layers and depth. A very good first book that definitely caught my interest." Read more

"...this first book in the series is akin to a 10 course meal, so rich and varied, with so many characters and kingdoms to discover...." Read more

"different and exciting..." Read more

4 customers mention "Emotion level"4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional depth of the book, with one mentioning how it pulls on their empathy.

"...It’s a perfect mix of emotion and description without falling too much on either side...." Read more

"...S. J. Hartland crafted their characters so well that they pull on your empathy even though some of them may be the “bad guy”...." Read more

"...with a lot of different elements like love, duty, power, evil, good and emotions, all struggling and challenging in one story to make it a twisted..." Read more

"...Beyond the swords and fighting there are raw emotions worthy of any devoted soul revealed here." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Joss1685
    5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I received a free copy of this book and reviewed voluntarily.

    Now what I actually liked the first time about this one was the theme, I liked fantasy and this one sounded pretty epic, and actually it was from the 600 plus pages to the story it was pretty interesting and kept me on edge each time I opened my kindle to read and had me asking myself what was going to happen next.

    I loved all of them, Kaell, Heath, Aric, even Val arques, they all were so complex and endearing in his own way, for me they were pretty unique characters with lots of layers and complicated relationships between them.

    I'm actually expecting the second installment on this one because the story too, was pretty cool with all the lay out and betrayals and planification so on ahead, it reeled me up with the first chapter until the end.

    For me if you like fantasies and epic stories you should give this one a try.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Jodi Wilson
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fantasy, Knights, and Magic---this book has it all
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A fantasy tale about: Kings, wars, warriors, duty, power, love and allegiance; this book is as much adventurous as it is magical. The story follows a young man, destined by fate and cursed by magic, who must sacrifice his own life and blood to fulfill his duty to his Kingdom and to “the gods.” Potions, dark magic, curses, and mystical visions re-occur throughout the story and often foreshadow what the reader can expect next. Mystical, psychic-like visions are described with great detail and vividness- allowing the reader to sense every aspect of this story’s magic. With both skill and delicacy, the author managed to invoke feelings of empathy within me. I frequently found myself wanting to comfort the story’s leading character- despite his arrogance, brashness, and stubborn-like need to engage in violence.

    The author does a commendable job creating a fictional world filled with magic, casualty, and war; and she describes this world skillfully, allowing the reader to feel as though we are also a part of this fantasy dimension. However, I would like to caution that for me, the book was a bit difficult to read at times for various reasons. I found that the story lagged behind on several occasions- several pages were spent solely describing scenery instead of actually telling the story and advancing the book’s plot. Additionally, it takes a while to get to the overarching plot and conflict of the book; there is quite a bit of build up before the reader begins to figure out what is happening in the book. Last, there are several different characters and stories all being introduced sporadically throughout the book. Thus, sometimes it is difficult to follow along with who is at war with who, who has battled who, who is who’s father/son, and so forth. That being said, if/when you are able keep track of the various character’s and their conflicting story lines- you will find this story thrilling, as it is full of fantasy, creativity, and suspense! All in all, I think this story would likely make an exciting and stunning movie. However, if you have difficulty keeping track of multiple moving parts, concentrating on one thing for an extended period of time, or you do not normally read for leisure, you may find it a bit difficult to parse through this piece.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Amy Turner
    5.0 out of 5 stars What an epic fantasy!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is hands down a riveting first novel in what promises to be an excellent series! Author S.J. Hartland weaves an epic fantasy that hits all of the right chords: compelling characters; intriguing antagonists; a deeply built, sprawling world; mysticism and magic; prophecies; among others. Almost immediately I was drawn in by Hartland’s story-telling. Her way with words is rare, how she tantalizingly teases the reader into reading just another page before she turns up the action. It’s a perfect mix of emotion and description without falling too much on either side.

    I look forward to reading the second novel which comes out in May - The Last Seer King. I don’t want to give too much away of the plot, but Kaell, a young boy, is doomed to die. But, as usually happens in great fantasy novels, the gods have different plans for him. You’ll be pulled into a magical tale that’s on par with some of the best mainstream fantasy novels out there. You won’t regret reading this.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Shanell
    3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting new world but the characters were a little lacking.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    First thing that comes to mind is that this is a long read! Usually I can finish a book in a few hours but this took a bit to get through for me. It’s a good book, but I sometimes struggle with trying to decipher who is a good guy and who is a bad guy, and the reasoning for the blurred lines. I think anyone who is into the sorcery type of fantasy reads would really enjoy this book regardless. I do wish the characters were a little more personable, I like a great read where I can find a character that I can truly relate to and really pull for in the story. I didn’t really find that in any of these characters. Aside from that, the world the author created was interesting and I feel like they added a different twist to the story from your traditional otherworldly fantasy novel.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • M. Hernandez-Alvarez
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic fantasy
    Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    This is everything fantasy novel should be and I loved it. The characterisation is superb and I liked the technique of having chapters narrated from the point of view of different characters. Kaell, the eponymous 19th Bladesman is such a sympathetic character; a young man brought up to die in the line of duty – and probably to die young. All he yearns for is for his adoptive father to love him and to call him “son”. However, when you learn about Val, you understand why he finds it so hard to give Kaell what he yearns for. Val is also born to a life of duty - to do anything his King desires without question. This book leads to a turning point, can Val behave as he should - as his emotions dictate - or will duty win the day? The fantasy world is convincing and authentic –it was no stretch to empathise with the characters in their setting.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • J_Kellie_Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Truly epic, dark fantasy!!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 3, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    Where to begin? The 19th Bladesman is the start to an epic-fantasy series akin to Malazan: Book of the Fallen, or Sword of Truth. Kaell has been trained as a warrior since childhood, bonded to a war god to fight Ghouls (think wights or vampires). Long ago, a seer-king used dark magic to cast a protection spell to contain the Ghoul God, but now that magic is weakening. Two cousins war over who is the true king. Love and duty will be put to the test as the many sides clash.

    I absolutely could not put this book down. Another review had compared it to Game of Thrones, probably due to the chapters being character focused, rather than time/location focused, and the presence of Ghouls. However, that is where the similarities end, as there is always an undercurrent of hope and coincidence doesn't always land in favour of evil. My only negative is that all of the plot points involving female characters happen in bed.

    I would definitely recommend reading this book!
    Report
  • Paul A.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great story telling
    Reviewed in Germany on March 16, 2020
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    A difficult start in the first chapters bud then it turns into a story ratcheting up the tension and action.
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  • Regina Campbell
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intrigue!
    Reviewed in France on December 30, 2018
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Loved this story - what a whirlwind of intrigue and suspense! Can't wait for the next volume!!!!!
    Report
  • Meghan Bryant
    5.0 out of 5 stars Un-put-downable fantasy novel
    Reviewed in Australia on December 1, 2018
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I finished this book in a weekend! I’ve been waiting for a new fantasy novel that gives me a “I can’t put this down until I finish reading” feeling. The 19th Bladesman was un-put-downable. The story line told from alternating points-of-view kept me intrigued from the start. Each of the characters have a complexity about them and couldn’t help but love Kaell and Val. So much love for Kaell!

    I’ve recommended this book to a few friends already, and so far they’re enjoying it as much as I did. I can’t wait to find out what happens next. Hopefully it’s not too long until the next book comes out.

    Fantastic 10/10!
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  • Frank Murphy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great intelligent read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 15, 2019
    Format: KindleVerified Purchase
    I have to say this is one book I really enjoyed and believe it is well deserving of five stars. An epic adventure mirroring that of GOT or Lord of the Rings. Equally satisfying and very well written.
    Report

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