Shadow of the Son

“Shadow of the Son is the sequel to Ivan Obolensky’s incredible first novel, Eye of the Moon and, if possible, this return to Rhinebeck is even better than our original trip. Percy and Johnny are back, along with all our old friends and a few new ones in another wonderful, mysterious, and captivating weekend that just might hold even more secrets than the first.

“As this sequel begins, we are all back at Rhinebeck for another gathering full of old secrets, new beginnings, and, of course, amazing dinner parties. While all of the characters that we became attached to in the first book are back, there are some new additions to the weekend that really add so much to the story. Percy’s mother arrives and the reader is given a wonderful look at the past between our beloved main character and his childhood as Mary opens up to her son. There is also the evil Lord Bromley, a character touched on in Eye of the Moon, who crashes the weekend in order to finally meet his son Percy face-to-face. Of course, nothing with Lord Bromley is simple, and there are numerous underlying reasons for his being there that are so much fun to discover. What does he really want?

“An exceptional part of Shadow of the Son, and the weekend, was learning more about Stanley and his wife Dagmar. They are both intriguing characters who run the household with humor, talent, and an iron fist. Between these two characters and the exploits of everyone around them, this book is so worth the read. And that, dear readers, is just what you will have to do if you want the answers to what everyone is really up to.

“Mr. Obolensky has given us yet another wonderfully written novel. The words flow together so perfectly and show that this author has an incredible talent for writing and, his background in such a world of glamour and privilege allows him to write about it perfectly. The descriptions are so vivid that anyone reading the book will feel as if they are actually at the splendid estate taking part in the weekend. The characters are all so riveting that it is almost impossible to pick a favorite. Any reader will find themselves rooting for each and every person in the novel and it will easily feel as if you have grown to know them and care about what happens to them, not only on these pages, but even after the book is finished. This author does no wrong in terms of the way he writes about the friendships, issues, and love that is dealt with between this multitude of very diverse characters.

“I would highly recommend this book to everyone. In my humble opinion, you should definitely read Eye of the Moon first so that you understand who these characters are and where they are coming from, and then devour Shadow of the Son as soon as you are finished. I cannot say enough good things and I hope that everyone out there joins me in becoming a huge fan of Percy, Johnny, their family and friends, and especially, Ivan Obolensky.

“Quill says: The first book in this series, Eye of the Moon, was an amazing novel that was extremely difficult to put down once you start reading. It says a lot about the author, the storyline, and the characters when the sequel is even more compelling and even harder to put down, as is the case with Shadow of the Son. I truly cannot wait to see what comes next.”

-Kathy Stickles of “Feathered Quill”

***

“Shadow of the Son is the novel that the readers of Eye of the Moon have been impatiently waiting for.

“The plot unfolds at the same palatial estate on the banks of the Hudson River, a bucolic setting crisscrossed with mysterious undertones that can be at times benevolent or threatening.

“The story resolves some of the pending issues from Eye of the Moon, while new ones are introduced. The Rhinebeck estate is shown to be once again a microcosm where anything is possible: the love story between Percy and Bruni that could result in not only marriage but a business partnership; the roles of Stanley, the butler, and Dagmar, the cook, which influence the destinies of the guests; the protagonists confronting their pasts, the convenience of hiding rather than revealing. Surprises follow one after another, making it difficult for the reader to put down the book.

“By the start of the second novel, you are familiar with the characters and have likely taken sides. But your opinions may change when new characters arrive, adding complexity to the situation. Some doubts will be resolved, while others will be raised. The doors will open to reveal new secrets, all of which make this book, like the previous one, a true thriller.

“This is a novel that wholly fulfills its mission: the telling of a story in the best possible way. Written with mastery characterized by his elegant prose and a fine, penetrating humor that is at times sharp, yet always intelligent, Ivan Obolensky develops a brilliant narrative with a sure hand that does not let up for a moment.

“Shadow of the Son, with its mixture of mystery, romance, intrigue, secret family stories, and those small and large power struggles that are revealed, will light up the days and nights of its readers making it, without a doubt, one of their best reads of the year.”

-María Cristina Restrepo, novelist and literary translator

***

“Synopsis: Shadow of the Son by Ivan Obolensky is the hauntingly majestic tale of broken promises, old scores settled, second chances, passion and jealousy.

“What starts as a simple question from an uninvited guest descends into a complex game of move and countermove, as ties between the guests surface, and secrets behind secrets are revealed. Everyone, and all that resides at the mystical heart of Rhinebeck, must come to grips with someone who hides sadistic and malignant intentions -- one who has calculatingly affected all their lives and is determined to do the same again. Will love and loyalty triumph over darkness and diabolical cunning?

“As with Eye of the Moon, be transported into a world that will captivate you and have you reading late into the night.

“Critique: The impressively entertaining sequel to Eye of the Moon, author Ivan Obolensky's new gothic novel Shadow of the Son is an inherently intriguing and deftly crafted story of magic, intrigue, and mystery… especially and unreservedly recommended for community library General Fiction collections….”

-Midwest Book Review

We launched Book 3 in this series, Dark of the Earth, on the 4th of July, 2024. As part of a multi-tiered post-launch promotion and book tour, we are “relaunching” our catalog with Special Editions of our ebook and paperback novels for the independent and library communities, promoted across wider channels. We are actively seeking reviews we can use in virtual tours starting in July through to December, and in-person book tours scheduled for November, centered around our booth at the Miami Book Fair.