The Shadow Games, page 26
The Shadow City – Who’s Who
GLADIATORS
Jules Caesar – faction leader, enjoys intimidating people
Marcus – blocker and seer, loves coffee and books
Diana – a famed hunter, Apollina’s sister, only member of the Gladiators who doesn’t carry Caesar’s brand
Vesper – mind-talker and empath, loves hot showers, hates rats
Cato – telky, hates the Sirens for killing his partner in the Games
Thora – leccy, Bren’s partner
Bren – powerful burner, Thora’s partner
Cayden – grandson of the King of New Vegas, telky, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
Marissa – leccy, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
Ty – tiny dragon, loves stealing other people’s dinners, hates people commenting on his small stature
Nimra – Caesar’s pet beast, resembles a sabre-tooth tiger, would quite happily eat Ty for breakfast if it wasn’t for his scales
Mortimer – Marcus’s lioncat pet
SIRENS
Apollina – faction leader, leccy, Diana’s sister, likes to be the center of attention
Mara – mind-talker, one of Apollina’s furies
Evalie – mind-talker, one of Apollina’s furies
Lorelei – mind-talker, one of Apollina’s furies
Daria – burner, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
PLAYERS
Bellagio – faction leader, unknown power, likes expensive suits
Damon – mind-talker
Shui – water weaver, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
RAGAZZI
Nero – faction leader, telky, Venilia’s brother
Aidan – burner, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
VENETIANS
Venilia – faction leader, wind and water-weaver, Nero’s sister, flirts with anything on two legs
UNAFFILIATED
Bobo – eccentric slaver who captures those banished to the city floor and sells them as slaves to the factions
Elan – mind-talker, born and brought up in the Shadow City, grumpy until you get to know him
Eben – shopkeeper, collects and sells antiques
Remo – Head Gamesmaster, runs the Games in exchange for water and a tithe from each faction
Author’s Note – The Shadow Games
I HAD PLANNED FOR THIS book to be a focused, “to-market” book rooted in the conventions of a specific genre. However, as with many of my writing aspirations, this didn’t go quite to plan, and what emerged from my befuddled brain was instead a mashup of all the things I love best about my favorite books. Friendship, teamwork and found family. A far-future dystopian setting, but with a fantasy flair. Supernatural powers and strange monsters. And, of course, a dragon.
It may not be “to market” but I had a blast writing it and I fell head over heels in love with the characters. I hope that if you’re reading this, they found a place in your heart, too.
While the towers of New Vegas stemmed purely from my imagination, there are elements of the Shadow City that were inspired by modern day Las Vegas. We were lucky enough to visit the city briefly some years ago, enabling me to combine our holiday with a bit of book research. The Colosseum today is an entertainment venue of a less brutal sort, but a few of the details of Caesar’s Palace are taken from its real-life counterpart. Apollina’s motorcycle caught my eye in Treasure Island, and I couldn’t resist including it in this book. And, of course, the factions are inspired by the rival casinos of modern-day Las Vegas.
I did much of the plotting for this book on a long mountain bike ride in Kielder Forest, Northumberland. More specifically, on the very long ascent up wide gravel tracks and paths that we cycled up to get to the start of the swooping singletrack that would lead us back down to the lake. There’s something about having your lungs burn and your legs ache that takes your mind to a different place. I’m pretty sure my uphill slog was nothing compared to one of Diana’s training sessions, but it inspired the scenes in the Colosseum and Diana’s story. The descent, while a lot of fun, did not seem nearly long enough to justify the effort put in to get to the start!
Anyway, I digress...
Writing and publishing a book is never a solo effort and I have some very special people to thank for their help in getting The Shadow Games published. Firstly, my beta readers: Clare, Rhiannon, Anni, Isabel and Candy. You never fail to pick up on loose threads and always help me wrangle my early drafts into shape. Thanks also to my editor, Kim Young, for speedily working her magic and making sure none of my Britishisms made it into the final draft.
The gorgeous cover for the ebook and paperback versions was designed by the talented Jay of https://coversbyjuan.com/. The character art of Vesper and Elan in the paperback version was created by Keni Aryani, and prints along with additional swag and signed paperbacks are available to buy from my shop (alisoningleby.com).
Huge thanks to Krista and Elle for support, friendship and laughs during the ups and downs of 2019. We did it together!
Final thanks, as always, go to my wonderful family. To my husband, who is my biggest supporter, my firstborn who is always missed, and my rainbow baby who is my greatest joy.
The Shadow Games was first published in the Cursed Lands box set, which hit the USA Today bestseller list when it launched in May 2019. I had planned to re-release it later that year, but sadly, a tragic event in my personal life sent my writing plans spinning off the rails for a good while and it spent two years buried in the files on my computer.
I hesitated about re-releasing the book before I had written the sequel, but I felt that Vesper, Ty, Elan and their friends deserved to be out in the world for readers to read, not languishing on my hard drive. I’m really excited to continue their adventures and write the stories of some of the other characters who had less of a starring role in this episode. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who wants a Diana/Apollina story?!)
If you want me to hurry up and get the second book written, then please leave a review for The Shadow Games on whichever retailer you bought it from. More reviews = more pressure for me to write!
Until next time,
Alison x
About the Author
ALISON INGLEBY IS A USA Today bestselling author of sci-fi and fantasy fiction. She loves writing cross-genre books featuring complex characters, twisting plots and fast-paced action with a dash of romance.
When not writing, Alison enjoys reading, drinking tea and spending time outdoors. She lives in Yorkshire, England, but her heart loiters by the sea in north-west Scotland.
You can find out more about Alison on her website: https://alisoningleby.com/
Alison’s Books
THE WALL SERIES
A dark, gritty dystopian series with a dash of romance. Perfect for fans of Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth and Marie Lu.
Expendables (Book One)
Infiltrators (Book Two)
Defenders (Book Three)
Liberators (Book Four)
Outsider (free prequel)
DARK ELEMENTAL COURTS Series
A fae urban fantasy series with magic, snarky sidekicks and enemies to lovers romance.
Crown of Darkness (free prequel)
Fae’s Destiny
Fae’s Downfall
Fae’s Defeat
SHORT STORIES & NOVELLAS
The Faerie Flag – a spellbinding retelling of the classic Scottish legend. For lovers of fantasy stories, fae and gentle romance.
Red Sun Rising: A Story from the Alteruvium Expanse – a short science fiction story about first contact, betrayal and a mother’s love.
Dystopian Dreams – a free collection of short dystopian stories, including The Machinist’s Daughter, a story based in the world of The Wall Series.
Alison Ingleby, The Shadow Games
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GLADIATORS
Jules Caesar – faction leader, enjoys intimidating people
Marcus – blocker and seer, loves coffee and books
Diana – a famed hunter, Apollina’s sister, only member of the Gladiators who doesn’t carry Caesar’s brand
Vesper – mind-talker and empath, loves hot showers, hates rats
Cato – telky, hates the Sirens for killing his partner in the Games
Thora – leccy, Bren’s partner
Bren – powerful burner, Thora’s partner
Cayden – grandson of the King of New Vegas, telky, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
Marissa – leccy, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
Ty – tiny dragon, loves stealing other people’s dinners, hates people commenting on his small stature
Nimra – Caesar’s pet beast, resembles a sabre-tooth tiger, would quite happily eat Ty for breakfast if it wasn’t for his scales
Mortimer – Marcus’s lioncat pet
SIRENS
Apollina – faction leader, leccy, Diana’s sister, likes to be the center of attention
Mara – mind-talker, one of Apollina’s furies
Evalie – mind-talker, one of Apollina’s furies
Lorelei – mind-talker, one of Apollina’s furies
Daria – burner, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
PLAYERS
Bellagio – faction leader, unknown power, likes expensive suits
Damon – mind-talker
Shui – water weaver, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
RAGAZZI
Nero – faction leader, telky, Venilia’s brother
Aidan – burner, dropped in the Shadow City with Vesper
VENETIANS
Venilia – faction leader, wind and water-weaver, Nero’s sister, flirts with anything on two legs
UNAFFILIATED
Bobo – eccentric slaver who captures those banished to the city floor and sells them as slaves to the factions
Elan – mind-talker, born and brought up in the Shadow City, grumpy until you get to know him
Eben – shopkeeper, collects and sells antiques
Remo – Head Gamesmaster, runs the Games in exchange for water and a tithe from each faction
Author’s Note – The Shadow Games
I HAD PLANNED FOR THIS book to be a focused, “to-market” book rooted in the conventions of a specific genre. However, as with many of my writing aspirations, this didn’t go quite to plan, and what emerged from my befuddled brain was instead a mashup of all the things I love best about my favorite books. Friendship, teamwork and found family. A far-future dystopian setting, but with a fantasy flair. Supernatural powers and strange monsters. And, of course, a dragon.
It may not be “to market” but I had a blast writing it and I fell head over heels in love with the characters. I hope that if you’re reading this, they found a place in your heart, too.
While the towers of New Vegas stemmed purely from my imagination, there are elements of the Shadow City that were inspired by modern day Las Vegas. We were lucky enough to visit the city briefly some years ago, enabling me to combine our holiday with a bit of book research. The Colosseum today is an entertainment venue of a less brutal sort, but a few of the details of Caesar’s Palace are taken from its real-life counterpart. Apollina’s motorcycle caught my eye in Treasure Island, and I couldn’t resist including it in this book. And, of course, the factions are inspired by the rival casinos of modern-day Las Vegas.
I did much of the plotting for this book on a long mountain bike ride in Kielder Forest, Northumberland. More specifically, on the very long ascent up wide gravel tracks and paths that we cycled up to get to the start of the swooping singletrack that would lead us back down to the lake. There’s something about having your lungs burn and your legs ache that takes your mind to a different place. I’m pretty sure my uphill slog was nothing compared to one of Diana’s training sessions, but it inspired the scenes in the Colosseum and Diana’s story. The descent, while a lot of fun, did not seem nearly long enough to justify the effort put in to get to the start!
Anyway, I digress...
Writing and publishing a book is never a solo effort and I have some very special people to thank for their help in getting The Shadow Games published. Firstly, my beta readers: Clare, Rhiannon, Anni, Isabel and Candy. You never fail to pick up on loose threads and always help me wrangle my early drafts into shape. Thanks also to my editor, Kim Young, for speedily working her magic and making sure none of my Britishisms made it into the final draft.
The gorgeous cover for the ebook and paperback versions was designed by the talented Jay of https://coversbyjuan.com/. The character art of Vesper and Elan in the paperback version was created by Keni Aryani, and prints along with additional swag and signed paperbacks are available to buy from my shop (alisoningleby.com).
Huge thanks to Krista and Elle for support, friendship and laughs during the ups and downs of 2019. We did it together!
Final thanks, as always, go to my wonderful family. To my husband, who is my biggest supporter, my firstborn who is always missed, and my rainbow baby who is my greatest joy.
The Shadow Games was first published in the Cursed Lands box set, which hit the USA Today bestseller list when it launched in May 2019. I had planned to re-release it later that year, but sadly, a tragic event in my personal life sent my writing plans spinning off the rails for a good while and it spent two years buried in the files on my computer.
I hesitated about re-releasing the book before I had written the sequel, but I felt that Vesper, Ty, Elan and their friends deserved to be out in the world for readers to read, not languishing on my hard drive. I’m really excited to continue their adventures and write the stories of some of the other characters who had less of a starring role in this episode. (Please tell me I’m not the only one who wants a Diana/Apollina story?!)
If you want me to hurry up and get the second book written, then please leave a review for The Shadow Games on whichever retailer you bought it from. More reviews = more pressure for me to write!
Until next time,
Alison x
About the Author
ALISON INGLEBY IS A USA Today bestselling author of sci-fi and fantasy fiction. She loves writing cross-genre books featuring complex characters, twisting plots and fast-paced action with a dash of romance.
When not writing, Alison enjoys reading, drinking tea and spending time outdoors. She lives in Yorkshire, England, but her heart loiters by the sea in north-west Scotland.
You can find out more about Alison on her website: https://alisoningleby.com/
Alison’s Books
THE WALL SERIES
A dark, gritty dystopian series with a dash of romance. Perfect for fans of Suzanne Collins, Veronica Roth and Marie Lu.
Expendables (Book One)
Infiltrators (Book Two)
Defenders (Book Three)
Liberators (Book Four)
Outsider (free prequel)
DARK ELEMENTAL COURTS Series
A fae urban fantasy series with magic, snarky sidekicks and enemies to lovers romance.
Crown of Darkness (free prequel)
Fae’s Destiny
Fae’s Downfall
Fae’s Defeat
SHORT STORIES & NOVELLAS
The Faerie Flag – a spellbinding retelling of the classic Scottish legend. For lovers of fantasy stories, fae and gentle romance.
Red Sun Rising: A Story from the Alteruvium Expanse – a short science fiction story about first contact, betrayal and a mother’s love.
Dystopian Dreams – a free collection of short dystopian stories, including The Machinist’s Daughter, a story based in the world of The Wall Series.
Alison Ingleby, The Shadow Games
