A gender-flipped Die Hard set in a mysterious castle, Cameron Johnston's The Last Shield is an engaging fantasy read, perfect for fans of John Gwynne and Mark Lawrence.
The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations – a precarious situation. At its centre, the Sunweald Palace is home to the Lord Regent and the heir to the throne, together with numerous precious and powerful artefacts. The Palace is protected by the realm's elite Shields, dedicated to guarding the royal line against all foes.
A group of vicious brigands called the Wildwood Reivers have been stealing arcane artefacts and smuggling them across the borders, out of Sunweald. And the objects they most desire are stored in the mystical Wyrm Vault, hidden away deep in the bones of the earth, within the walls of the Palace itself.
As political and religious tensions mount, Sunweald's druids prepare to enact rituals for the Summer Solstice – but the Wildwood Reivers and their treacherous allies have other plans. It falls to Briar, the commander of the Shields, to defend the ancient corridors and secret tunnels of the Palace. The odds may be against her, but she'll see every enemy head adorning a spike or she'll die trying…
Genre: Fantasy
The ancient forest realm of Sunweald is bordered on two sides by far mightier nations – a precarious situation. At its centre, the Sunweald Palace is home to the Lord Regent and the heir to the throne, together with numerous precious and powerful artefacts. The Palace is protected by the realm's elite Shields, dedicated to guarding the royal line against all foes.
A group of vicious brigands called the Wildwood Reivers have been stealing arcane artefacts and smuggling them across the borders, out of Sunweald. And the objects they most desire are stored in the mystical Wyrm Vault, hidden away deep in the bones of the earth, within the walls of the Palace itself.
As political and religious tensions mount, Sunweald's druids prepare to enact rituals for the Summer Solstice – but the Wildwood Reivers and their treacherous allies have other plans. It falls to Briar, the commander of the Shields, to defend the ancient corridors and secret tunnels of the Palace. The odds may be against her, but she'll see every enemy head adorning a spike or she'll die trying…
Genre: Fantasy
Praise for this book
"Johnston has done it again! I absolutely loved The Last Shield. Super fast, furiously paced, and so much fun. You'll want to devour this action-packed medieval thriller in one fell swoop." - Dyrk Ashton
"Cameron Johnston writes with such wild abandonment that you can't help but be dragged along for the ride." - RJ Barker
"Ho Ho Ho, now I have a longsword! Brutal action, memorable characters, dark magic, and chock full of inventive slayings." - Rob J Hayes
"Not only a fantasy-Die Hard, but also a tale about coming to terms with yourself. Briar is a magnificent heroine, and few people write villains as good as Cameron." - Steve McHugh
"An action packed ride filled with clashing battles, unforeseen betrayals, inventive deaths, evil magic and one very badass Commander of Shields. Epic fun." - Anna Stephens
"Johnston's The Last Shield is gritty, action-packed, and ceaselessly clever, with a heroine who uses her considerable determination and wit to claw her way closer and closer to rescuing the people she loves. Briar is the underdog you can't help but root for, and who you would always, always want to have on your side." - Andrea Stewart
"Cameron Johnston writes with such wild abandonment that you can't help but be dragged along for the ride." - RJ Barker
"Ho Ho Ho, now I have a longsword! Brutal action, memorable characters, dark magic, and chock full of inventive slayings." - Rob J Hayes
"Not only a fantasy-Die Hard, but also a tale about coming to terms with yourself. Briar is a magnificent heroine, and few people write villains as good as Cameron." - Steve McHugh
"An action packed ride filled with clashing battles, unforeseen betrayals, inventive deaths, evil magic and one very badass Commander of Shields. Epic fun." - Anna Stephens
"Johnston's The Last Shield is gritty, action-packed, and ceaselessly clever, with a heroine who uses her considerable determination and wit to claw her way closer and closer to rescuing the people she loves. Briar is the underdog you can't help but root for, and who you would always, always want to have on your side." - Andrea Stewart
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