The Nature of Shadow by Emma.R.Schofield
16th July 2026|Paperback £9.99|Kindle £4.99
Available via Amazon and to order in all good bookshops
“Magical. I quickly fell in love with Lia, her friends, and their teachers at Anhame.” Eric Roberts, Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University
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● From a fresh new voice in literary high fantasy, the opening novel in a quintet for fans of Ursula Le Guin and Philip Pullman.
● Full of human themes – isolation and loneliness, power and responsibility, betrayal and trust, choice and consequences – with characters to empathise and connect with.
● Emma R. Schofield’s scientific background gives the worldbuilding a vivid real-world grounding, with e.g. the power of nature imagined as an active force.
● Based in Reading, the author is available for interview and to write bespoke byline pieces.
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Will she be cast out of the one place she has left to go? Anhame, the Hall under the six point star, is the only place Lia can learn how to use her terrifying powers. But to take the oath, and to pass through the trials, she must conceal the darkness that is her nature. How long can she hide her dark secret from the Masters of her craft? And if they find out, what will they do to ensure she is not a danger to everyone around her?
The Nature of Shadow is the first in an old-school fantasy series for people who love myth and magic, dragons and swordfighting, and walking the path of story with a frighteningly powerful protagonist who nevertheless faces entirely human struggles. A thoughtful narrative-driven book, it is suitable for fantasy lovers from young adult to long-retired elder.
About the author:
Yorkshire-born Emma.R.Schofield spent a decade living in Europe, including several years lecturing at Trinity College Dublin. She now lives near Reading with her family. When not writing, Emma is a technical consultant, an LGBTQ+ ally and a viola player, any of which could explain a lot.