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Michael D. Nadeau
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The Darkness Returns: A Lythinall Novel: Book 1 (The Lythinall Series) Kindle Edition

by Michael D. Nadeau (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 out of 5 stars 27 ratings
When an ancient evil is loosed upon the land of Lythinall, a young warrior is swept up into a perilous journey across his homeland to stop it. Drawn into a dangerous prophecy, he travels with the legendary bard Karis and the Princess of Evernight to realms he never knew existed. They will be tested as hidden forces watch with bated breath, knowing this could be the end...
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Lythinall Series
  2. Print length
    263 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    January 31, 2022
  6. File size
    4.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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There are 3 books in this series.
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09RNB2SNR
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Skullgate Media
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 31, 2022
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 4th
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 263 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1956042085
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 3 ‏ : ‎ The Lythinall Series
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars 27 ratings

About the author

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Michael D. Nadeau

Michael D. Nadeau

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Born in the usual way, I started roleplaying Dungeons and Dragons at the age of 8. I stopped playing it for awhile but soon plunged back into this world of fantasy and magic once more. I discovered a world of imagination and loved the myriad of possibilities that it offered. For years I designed worlds and cities, even races, and just as quickly I brought them tumbling down in ruin. I could create pantheons of Gods, and heroes to battle against their evil plots. I also started reading avidly, thanks to a teacher in high school, and this opened up more worlds for me to peruse and dissect for my own purposes. For the last 30+ years I have been coming up with whole functioning societies......but what was next?

Well I was already writing short bio's for characters in our game, and elaborate back stories for interesting people that we would interact with, so how was that very different than writing a book? So in 2011 I started putting my brain to use on developing a new world, except this time I would have to fill in everything. Lythinall was born. I published The Darkness Returns (A Lythinall Novel) Book 1 in June 2017, and The Darkness Within (A Lythinall Novel) Book 2 in 2018. Then it happened. A publisher read my story and wanted me. In 2018 I was signed by Kyanite Publishing! i put out a lot of short stories with them but sadly they closed their doors in 2019...but Skullgate Media wanted to sign me! My complete trilogy is now out as well as an anthology of tales all based in Lythinall. Other than all of this I still play the game that started it all, and I still design places, people and items when I'm not hanging out with my family or working my ass off at my day job

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
27 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's story engaging, with one mentioning how the first chapter immediately draws readers in. Moreover, the character development receives positive feedback, with customers appreciating how well the author builds them.

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7 customers mention "Story quality"7 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, with one customer noting how the first chapter immediately draws readers in, while another mentions how it takes their imagination to fantastic places.

"What a great book!!! The first chapter just sucks you right in...." Read more

"...The story is too good to allow these minor mistakes to bring it down, but they do. It hurts to only give this book 4 stars...." Read more

"I liked this a lot. Highly readable. Good escapist fantasy with characters I could get into." Read more

"Beautiful story! Takes your imagination to fantastic places with wonder characters and a compelling plot." Read more

3 customers mention "Character development"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting the author's wonderful job building them and finding them fun.

"...That's a great sign. This writer did a wonderful job building the characters and fleshing them out so that I cared what happened to them...." Read more

"Beautiful story! Takes your imagination to fantastic places with wonder characters and a compelling plot." Read more

"...I like a story that can surprise me. The characters were fun and I liked getting to know them and following their adventures...." Read more

A fun fantasy that swirls adventure, romance and mystery
5 out of 5 stars
A fun fantasy that swirls adventure, romance and mystery
This is definitely one of my new favorites. It's a great mix of fun fantasy, whimsy, romance and action but grounded in a near familiar low magic setting that keeps it from being unapproachable, but instead feels like a fresh take on the genre. The world building is carefully done in such as way to keep interest and intrigue without getting lost in pedantry. For me, I enjoyed that there weren't long monologues that other characters didn't have an interaction with. Each thought, as we all do, has some sort of physical cue and Nadeau does a superb job of making the characters feel alive together and reacting to each other. The characters all have a rich backstory that is mostly filled in as the story goes, the reader is learning as some characters do, which is a breath of fresh air from the omnipotent, fully competent characters in many stories. These bits feel like an appetizer to the lives each have lived. Overall, This feels like an exciting entry to burst into the world of Lynthinal, I'm glad to know there are more books to sink my teeth into!
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars So enjoyable, descriptions paint a vivid detail that makes you feel like you are right there in the story.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    What a great book!!! The first chapter just sucks you right in. The authors descriptions and details make you forget you are reading and instead feel like you are right there in the story. It is hard to put this book down, you just want to keep on reading to see what will happen next.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Steven M Nedeau
    4.0 out of 5 stars Want to give 5 stars
    Reviewed in the United States on August 10, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I'm conflicted with this review so i'm going to break it into pieces.

    Story and style 5 stars.
    The story had me at the edge of tears near the end of the book. That's a great sign. This writer did a wonderful job building the characters and fleshing them out so that I cared what happened to them.

    Format and copy edit 2 stars
    There are errors in this book. There are errors in every book. I think I took it personally because I was so enjoying the story that every time I came across an error it pulled me out of the flow. The story is too good to allow these minor mistakes to bring it down, but they do.

    It hurts to only give this book 4 stars. It deserves 5 but I cannot in good faith award five stars. Let me say again, without the formatting and copy editing errors, this book is a hit.

    If you truly love a great tale and appreciate raw talent, this book is for you.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
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  • Jonny English
    5.0 out of 5 stars R.D. Salvatore fans must read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 10, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I liked this a lot. Highly readable. Good escapist fantasy with characters I could get into.
    2 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lazy Kraken
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful
    Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Beautiful story! Takes your imagination to fantastic places with wonder characters and a compelling plot.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Christophine
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fun ride!
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I quite enjoyed this. I especially liked the way it turned some of the usual fantasy tropes so they weren't quite what I was expecting. I like a story that can surprise me. The characters were fun and I liked getting to know them and following their adventures. The more I read the more I got sucked into the world and the dangers the heroes faced. Looking forward to reading the rest of this trilogy, even more than I had expected I would.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Awesome
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Great book can't wait for the next installment !!
    Helpful
     Report
  • JProcDoc
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fun fantasy that swirls adventure, romance and mystery
    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2023
    This is definitely one of my new favorites. It's a great mix of fun fantasy, whimsy, romance and action but grounded in a near familiar low magic setting that keeps it from being unapproachable, but instead feels like a fresh take on the genre. The world building is carefully done in such as way to keep interest and intrigue without getting lost in pedantry. For me, I enjoyed that there weren't long monologues that other characters didn't have an interaction with. Each thought, as we all do, has some sort of physical cue and Nadeau does a superb job of making the characters feel alive together and reacting to each other. The characters all have a rich backstory that is mostly filled in as the story goes, the reader is learning as some characters do, which is a breath of fresh air from the omnipotent, fully competent characters in many stories. These bits feel like an appetizer to the lives each have lived. Overall, This feels like an exciting entry to burst into the world of Lynthinal, I'm glad to know there are more books to sink my teeth into!
    Customer image
    JProcDoc
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    A fun fantasy that swirls adventure, romance and mystery

    Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2023
    This is definitely one of my new favorites. It's a great mix of fun fantasy, whimsy, romance and action but grounded in a near familiar low magic setting that keeps it from being unapproachable, but instead feels like a fresh take on the genre. The world building is carefully done in such as way to keep interest and intrigue without getting lost in pedantry. For me, I enjoyed that there weren't long monologues that other characters didn't have an interaction with. Each thought, as we all do, has some sort of physical cue and Nadeau does a superb job of making the characters feel alive together and reacting to each other. The characters all have a rich backstory that is mostly filled in as the story goes, the reader is learning as some characters do, which is a breath of fresh air from the omnipotent, fully competent characters in many stories. These bits feel like an appetizer to the lives each have lived. Overall, This feels like an exciting entry to burst into the world of Lynthinal, I'm glad to know there are more books to sink my teeth into!
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
     Report
  • Reese
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 24, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Good read. Interesting stories with several plot twists. Can't wait for the sequel.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Gary Mack
    5.0 out of 5 stars A truly fabulous tale.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 29, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    In my personal experience a good book has three important hooks: a great cover, although you shouldn’t judge the book by it; secondly, when you read it you wish it was two or three times the length because you don’t want to put it down; and finally, you want to know what is going to happen to the characters, because they are so well realised. This novel ticks all three.

    Michael’s prose reminds me of Terry Brooks; and his world building of Tad Williams. In Lythinall he has created a wonderful world of warriors, kings and queens, as well as good and evil gods’ incarnate.

    Character highlights are Karsis the Bard and Ralavin who is the first of the human lazarus characters; who I hope will be developed. I hope to see Sprout again in later tales too.

    Our main heroes Liss and Rhoe are solid and they are soon bound; their relationship both personal and powerful,can only grow.

    Love is at the heart of this tale as well as loss and mortality. A great good versus evil story which I couldn’t recommend more.

    Lythinall like Michaels writing, will go from strength to strength.
    Report
  • J K Morgan
    4.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic escape from reality
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 28, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve gone to bed early every evening just so I can read more about these wonderfully colourful characters. Each night over the last week I’ve dreamt about The charismatic Bard and his red coat, Tierras long lethal braided hair, the excitable twins, not forgetting the faeries, unicorn & dark incarnation. The characters, the story and the wonderful way they have been written have grabbed me and ignited my imagination. The journey to Lythinall is a wonderful escape from reality and a world I can’t wait to get lost in again once the second book comes out.
    The only thing stopping me giving this book a 5* rating is the punctuation & over excited typing.
    Report

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