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Scarlet Citadel (Walking Shadow Book 1) Kindle Edition
Set in the metropolis of Corinth City where steampunk meets neon gothic. Haunted by a recent heartbreak, Hughes is indebted to the city's most terrifying criminal gang. Desperate for salvation, Hughes sets his sights on joining the Scarlet Citadel, an enigmatic organization of pageant fighters, monster hunters, and keepers of secrets. As a member of their illustrious ranks, surely he can pay off his debts and change his life for the better.
On the way, he will have to enlist the help of oracles who live in a cottage made from the fiberglass bones of a carousel, an old codger with an immensely flatulent dog, and a poster of a dead man who gives entertainment advice. More importantly, Hughes will have to rely on the magic he has at his beck and call - a power to shift and twist the minds of others.
But the ladder of progression is harsh and dark, its rungs ever-slippery. As Hughes struggles onward, one misstep would spell disaster. Not to mention the otherwordly monsters, flaming skeleton biker gangs, and a plague of sinister dreams sweeping the city, promising a wicked autumn born from a summer of insanity. And while the threat of falling off the ladder of progression is bad, it turns out falling in love is even worse.
Join Hughes on this exhilarating adventure, created by one of the writers of the award winning game of the year Baldur's Gate 3 and acclaimed Game Master, inspired by years of D&D and video game development. This tale will cast you into a stormy, scary, oddly cozy world in which villains are as colorful and engaging as the heroes they seek to destroy. Fans of Perdido Street Station will love this fantastical tale.
- LanguageEnglish
- Publication dateJune 7, 2024
- File size2.9 MB
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From the Publisher



Product details
- ASIN : B0CY85MBRP
- Publisher : The Legion Publishers ltd (June 7, 2024)
- Publication date : June 7, 2024
- Language : English
- File size : 2.9 MB
- Simultaneous device usage : Unlimited
- Text-to-Speech : Enabled
- Screen Reader : Supported
- Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
- X-Ray : Not Enabled
- Word Wise : Enabled
- Print length : 630 pages
- Best Sellers Rank: #668,444 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #810 in Action & Adventure Literary Fiction
- #865 in British & Irish Literary Fiction
- #1,045 in Humorous Literary Fiction
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

Jack Fields is an Irish author, award winning playwright, and D&D enthusiast. He has worked on the development team for popular fantasy IPs in board gaming and video gaming. He lives by the seaside and writes stories, believing that there isn’t possibly enough time to meet enough people, so he must invent some himself.
Customer reviews
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- 5 star4 star3 star2 star1 star1 star92%0%4%0%4%4%
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Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers praise the book's storytelling, describing it as a stunning fantasy debut with beautiful prose. They appreciate the character development, with one customer highlighting the delightful banter between characters. Customers find the book heartwarming.
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Customers praise the book's storytelling, describing it as a stunning fantasy debut with beautiful prose, and one customer notes how it transports readers to a vivid world.
"...The rest of the cast is so colorful and creative with such fascinating magical items and abilities, you can’t help but fall in love with them..." Read more
"...Gaiman brings to his stories and the characters are enriched and interesting. I love intrigue built through the style...." Read more
"...Action manipulations, and intrigue, well-written characters and world-building combined with creamy LitRPG, the main character's performance of..." Read more
"...I mean, the story was great and all, but the actual prose inexplicably made me buy a monocle and start smoking a pipe...." Read more
Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one customer highlighting the engaging banter between characters and another noting the well-written dialogue.
"...The dialogue is also masterfully written; it’s a pure delight to read the banter between characters and hear their unique voices flow so naturally..." Read more
"...the depth and magic Neil Gaiman brings to his stories and the characters are enriched and interesting. I love intrigue built through the style...." Read more
"...Action manipulations, and intrigue, well-written characters and world-building combined with creamy LitRPG, the main character's performance of..." Read more
"...He truly knows how to weave a compelling tale and I love the premise of our main character Hughes...." Read more
Customers find the book heartwarming, with one describing it as charming.
"...Scarlet Citadel is terrifying, captivating, laugh-out-loud funny, heart-wrenching and heartwarming...." Read more
"...It's a vivid tale, spun through with color, insanity and emotion, to create a world that is entirely unlike anything I've read...." Read more
"Captivating and Charming..." Read more
Reviews with images

Stunning Fantasy Debut—An Absolute Must-Read!
Top reviews from the United States
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- Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024It’s been so very hard writing a review for Scarlet Citadel, because I feel like nothing I say will be able to do it justice. It was an absolute pleasure to read start-to-finish, and as the story progressed, the book just got harder and harder to put down.
I’m such a sucker for beautiful prose, and each page is packed with dreamy line after dreamy line. I’ve re-read countless metaphors/similes several times just to drown in the warm and wonderful emotions they imbue. The dialogue is also masterfully written; it’s a pure delight to read the banter between characters and hear their unique voices flow so naturally down the page.
I’ve loved following along with Hughes on his adventure and rooting for him despite his flaws. It’s so encouraging to watch his character growth throughout the story and I’m eager to see where he goes in the next two books. The rest of the cast is so colorful and creative with such fascinating magical items and abilities, you can’t help but fall in love with them (even the baddies!).
Scarlet Citadel is terrifying, captivating, laugh-out-loud funny, heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the fantasy or LitRPG genres, there’s something for everyone in this story (action/adventure/horror/romance/humor/magic/etc.). Add this to your summer reading list and you’ll be so glad you discovered the Walking Shadow series before the rest of the world catches on! ;)
5.0 out of 5 starsIt’s been so very hard writing a review for Scarlet Citadel, because I feel like nothing I say will be able to do it justice. It was an absolute pleasure to read start-to-finish, and as the story progressed, the book just got harder and harder to put down.Stunning Fantasy Debut—An Absolute Must-Read!
Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2024
I’m such a sucker for beautiful prose, and each page is packed with dreamy line after dreamy line. I’ve re-read countless metaphors/similes several times just to drown in the warm and wonderful emotions they imbue. The dialogue is also masterfully written; it’s a pure delight to read the banter between characters and hear their unique voices flow so naturally down the page.
I’ve loved following along with Hughes on his adventure and rooting for him despite his flaws. It’s so encouraging to watch his character growth throughout the story and I’m eager to see where he goes in the next two books. The rest of the cast is so colorful and creative with such fascinating magical items and abilities, you can’t help but fall in love with them (even the baddies!).
Scarlet Citadel is terrifying, captivating, laugh-out-loud funny, heart-wrenching and heartwarming. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the fantasy or LitRPG genres, there’s something for everyone in this story (action/adventure/horror/romance/humor/magic/etc.). Add this to your summer reading list and you’ll be so glad you discovered the Walking Shadow series before the rest of the world catches on! ;)
Images in this review
- Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024I’m new to the LitRPG genre but I couldn’t put this book down. The prose is akin to the depth and magic Neil Gaiman brings to his stories and the characters are enriched and interesting. I love intrigue built through the style. Most of all, I was swept away by how this book made me feel. Reading this is like stepping into the sun on the first day of summer, encapsulating that first breeze which has me begging for more. I savored every page. I only wish there were more to read!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024Hooked from the start. Lovely descriptions that transport you to a fantasy world following 19yr old Hughes who lands into a world of trouble. Action manipulations, and intrigue, well-written characters and world-building combined with creamy LitRPG, the main character's performance of utmost importance. I can't wait to get my hands on book 2 and maybe even dive into the audio once released!
- Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2024The advanced language in this book made me feel like a better person after I finished it. I mean, the story was great and all, but the actual prose inexplicably made me buy a monocle and start smoking a pipe. I think I'm basically the same as an Ivy League graduate, now.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 8, 2024The author is one of the best wordsmiths I've read in this genre. He truly knows how to weave a compelling tale and I love the premise of our main character Hughes.
Can't wait to grab this on audio, because I feel like the right narrator could turn this from great to a masterpiece!
- Reviewed in the United States on June 9, 2024This book is...nuts. It's a vivid tale, spun through with color, insanity and emotion, to create a world that is entirely unlike anything I've read.
It's Alice in Wonderland meets Trainspotting meets Sweeney Todd.
It's disgusting, heartwarming and confusing.
I want more.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2024Even writing this review I’m at a loss for words. It’s like they’ve all been sucked out of my life and into this story which leaves me in awe of the captivating storytelling. Jack has done something rarely seen anymore in the literary world and it’s absolutely fantastic.
- Reviewed in the United States on July 2, 2024Love to find new authors and bumping in to this on a FB post was a pleasant surprise. Character driven are the kinds of stories I most enjoy and SC hits nails it. I’ll be there for book 2
Top reviews from other countries
- A WaiReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic read!
I just finished Scarlet Citadel: Walking Shadow, Book 1, and it’s fantastic. Hughes is a very likeable rogue caught in a world of trouble.
The spectrum of characters he interacts with are amazing—each one vividly realistic and gripping, whether they lean toward good, evil, or somewhere in between. I don't want to spoil anything by naming names, but the characters breathe life into the city.
The city itself feels like a character, crafted beautifully and brought to life by the author's creative wordsmithing. It's like you’re right there in the midst of it all, seeing, hearing, and feeling the vibrancy of this deliciously dark, enchanting world.
I loved how the system elements were woven into the story. They’re not just there for show. They matter deeply to the character development and progression.
Overall, it’s a masterfully crafted tale and I can't wait to see where Hughes' journey takes him next. If you're looking for a book that masterfully combines character, story, and system elements, this is it. Five stars all the way!
- DJRReviewed in the United Kingdom on July 13, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic - give it a read
A really good story set in a well laid out world.
If you're expecting a typical power creep litrpg this book isn't that but I'd recommend reading it anyway. It blends litrpg elements in with some fantastic world building and a story that starts as a jumble of disparate pieces but that comes together fantastically.
If I was to say anything constructive I'd say that some smaller moments of the book could be fleshed out more rather than being rushed past in the downtime, but that's just because I personally loved those moments. There's one particular chapter in a pub that captured the feeling of a first date and budding romance better than anything I've read before.
Very much looking forward to Jack's further work!
- S. ReidReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 9, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting New Beginning
This new opening book from Newbie author Jack Fields is surprisingly intricate and detailed ,setting a scene for Hughes our MCs tale from lowly poverty to the fame and fortune of the upper echelons. I found the world building to be a great and interesting mystery / fantasy where the darker side gets as much attention as the more glamorous side of things. Although this clears up part of the opening chapter, the series looks to have a lot more to discover and will be on my to watch list.
- Frank HarrisReviewed in the United Kingdom on February 8, 2025
5.0 out of 5 stars Original and well crafted British themed fantasy
Picked this up because I fancied something different, and my speculation paid off! Well written with an original setting with 'British' tone, and steampunk elements, but also the kind of gothic elements that Clive Barker and Christopher Fowler excel at in their fantasy. Sympathetic characters, good exposition and well plotted. This could be the start of something special, so highly recommended.