In Beneath the Hunter’s Shadow, the forest is not empty—even when it appears so.
Elara runs with purpose. Each mile put behind her is meant to carry warning forward—to villages that have not yet heard the truth, to healers who still believe they have time. She moves as an herb-scribe always does: observant, listening, trusting the land to guide her steps when roads fail.
What she does not expect is company.
A man appears without warning on the forest path, as if he has stepped out of the mist itself. Is he a thief meant to rob her, a seeker searching for endless answers, a mercenary who cares for nothing but coin or a wanderer, a lost one who wanders between villagers?
In a realm where obedience is enforced and fear decides guilt, a stranger is never just a stranger. Elara knows better than to trust quickly. Survival has taught her that much. Yet she also knows the cost of turning away from someone in need—and the danger of traveling alone when the forest itself feels unsettled.
The road does not give her time to decide gently.
The Hunters are moving.
Villages are already falling silent.
And the choice to walk alone—or together—may decide far more than her own fate.
Beneath the Hunter’s Shadow is not only a story of pursuit, but of unexpected alliances forged under pressure—where trust is a risk, and companionship can be as dangerous as solitude. Because in a land ruled by command and fear, the most unsettling thing of all is not knowing who walks beside you… and why.
Book one of The Realm of War & Whispers Trilogy releasing in February.
This sounds so interesting. I look forward to reading this book. I love your writing!