About the Author

Marshall Ryan Maresca is a fantasy and science-fiction writer, author of the Maradaine Saga: Four braided series set amid the bustling streets and crime-ridden districts of the exotic city called Maradaine, which includes The Thorn of Dentonhill, A Murder of Mages, The Holver Alley Crew and The Way of the Shield, as well as the dieselpunk fantasy, The Velocity of Revolution. He is also the co-host of the Hugo-nominated, Stabby-winning podcast Worldbuilding for Masochists, and has been a playwright, an actor, a delivery driver and an amateur chef. He lives in Austin, Texas with his family.

Reviews

Praise for Maradaine"Maresca's doughty heroes remain sturdy as ever, and the story moves with lightning speed. Fantasy adventure fans will enjoy this action-packed thriller, and series readers will be gratified to see all the pieces come together." -Publishers Weekly"This epic adventure is hard to put down, leaving readers curious about the future progression of these characters while smoothly setting up the next adventure." -Booklist"The Way of the Shield is at its best when they're running around in the streets getting themselves beaten up by political subversives and the constabulary, and dealing with the consequences of their decisions. Maresca writes solid action scenes and has an eye for the believably absurd." -Locus"In one fast-paced, funny, highly readable novel after another, Maresca continues to build out every nook and alleyway of Maradaine, which is fast becoming one of the most richly detailed settings in fantasy." -Barnes & Noble Sci-fi and Fantasy Blog"It's a story about morality, about sacrifice, about what people want from life. It's a fun story-there's quips, swordfights, chases through the streets. It's a compelling, convincing work of fantasy, and a worthy addition to the rich tapestry that is the works of Maradaine." -Sci-Fi and Fantasy Reviews"I love the complexity of Marshall Ryan Maresca's worldbuilding as the vast conspiracy underlying all the inner workings of Maradaine is emerging through the intertwining pieces coming together. It's nothing short of brilliant!" -Fresh Fiction"Highly recommend this series to anyone who loves high fantasy, political intrigue, magic, fantastic world building, and characters who you can root for." -Gizmo's Reviews