The Shadow Codex
by Steven W. Truelove

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In an ancient estate, a mysterious sorceress performs a necrotic rite to uncover forbidden knowledge. She’s paid for this knowledge in blood—and she’ll pay again to gain the dominance she craves. Above, young wizard Elrith enjoys the sights of a bustling city, unaware of the threat lurking below. But when he discovers his mentor missing, Elrith takes his first step into darkness, caught in the necromancer’s terrible web. So begins Elrith’s journey to expose the sorceress Soleena’s schemes and stop her before she enslaves the world. As he uncovers dark secrets of death and undeath, he’ll also find allies along the way. In the face of selfish greed, will friendship be enough for these heroes to overcome each hidden horror and protect all they hold dear?

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“A good-versus-evil tale with the flavor of a role-playing game, The Shadow Codex is a charming fantasy novel.” —Foreword Clarion Reviews “Individuals band together to thwart a sorceress’ diabolical scheme in Truelove’s fantasy novel, the first in a series… This diverting fantasy will surely pique readers’ interest in the heroes’ further adventures.” —Kirkus Reviews

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Steven W. Truelove has loved storytelling from a young age, developing his passion through books and role-playing games. He’s been building fantasy worlds for over thirty years in tabletop RPGs. Outside of writing, Steven has channeled his creativity into a 35-year IT career, finding inventive solutions for clients. A sommelier, he also loves cooking and hosting wine-pairing dinners. Whether writing, gardening, or sharing wine and food, Steven is driven to create something from nothing. The Shadow Codex is his first book in the Nexus of Arcanus trilogy, with more stories on the way. He lives in Perth, Ontario, Canada, with his wife.

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Steven W. Truelove