War, forbidden love, and a bargain that could change it all. 

Out of Embers and Shadows: In a world where the clash between rival nations ignites the flames of war, Lora finds herself thrust into a whirlwind of unexpected alliances and dangerous secrets. Forged with a singular purpose, she was meant to be the weapon that brings down the Shades’ greatest foes, the war-mongering Drakes.

But fate has other plans when Lora is captured by the very enemy she was trained to destroy. Desperate to escape, Lora faces a bitter bargain: help her enemies in their quest, and they will grant her freedom from the relentless grip of war.

Lora must navigate the murky waters of trust and betrayal, where the boundaries between friend and foe blur with each passing moment. But if you’ve already sacrificed everything, what else is there to lose?

Blurb for Into Flames and Shadows: 

New love. Betrayal. And a secret that could destroy everything. 

Lora thought she had found relative peace after making a bargain with Kalon, the prince of the Drake Kingdom, but nothing is ever that simple, and peace never lasts long in a world shattered by the brutal conflict between the Shades and the Drakes. As tensions between the armies reach a boiling point, Lora is once again caught in the crossfire of a conflict she can’t avoid.

With the Shades unveiling a terrifying new weapon—one capable of wiping out entire armies in the blink of an eye – Lora and her friends are desperate to uncover the truth before the weapon seals their doom. 

But protecting the ones she loves comes at a cost. To safeguard those dearest to her, Lora must walk a treacherous line between light and darkness, facing impossible choices that threaten to unravel her soul. How far will she go to protect them? And at what point does she become the very monster she seeks to destroy? 

The lines between loyalty, love, and survival have never been more blurred. And this time, the price of freedom may be far greater than she ever imagined. This gripping sequel, Into Flames and Shadows brings you deeper into a world of treachery and passion, where every choice comes with devastating consequences and Lora’s heart may be the deadliest weapon of all.

Evolution of Female Characters in Fantasy: From Dependence to Independence

All my life I have loved to read and immerse myself in my wild imaginings. As I grew up I used different genres of books to escape the trivial perils of everyday life but my favorite stories were those involving magic and heroism. Harry Potter was my first real taste of magic and by the time I was in my twenties I became fully invested in High fantasy (specifically the subgenre of Romantasy).

As I devoured books suggested by BookTok and ‘Author’s Lounge’ I found that a lot of times the strong female leads started off weak and in need of guidance from their male counterparts. By the end of the stories they had come into incredible power, only to lose it all in order to save the world. These tropes are fine – and believe me I still tear through books that have this – but I have grown rather bored with the idea of females needing men really at all on their quest for greatness/destiny. 

Creating Lora: A Powerful, Independent Heroine on a Journey of Self-Discovery

So, one day as I traversed a mountainous trail with my partner I conceived the idea of Lora: a headstrong, already powerful female, full of rage and might. She is stubborn, yes, but she is brave and courageous and moral – all things that help her help herself. Does she make friends along the way that guide her and help her unlock parts of herself? Sure. Are they only men? No. Lora navigates war, abuse, and betrayal as she works to find her kidnapped friend and gain her freedom. The story includes a romance – because who doesn’t love a good romance – but it also features the growth of female friendships and self-discovery, which I believe is equally important to showcase.

Shadowfire Series: Lora’s Journey and the Power of Character Creation

For Lora, the road ahead is going to get pretty rocky, but she will have not only her own internal strength, but people that care about her to help her manage the challenges I plan on throwing her way. The Shadowfire series will be a five-book series, which may or may not cross over with another series in development. I feel as though I have so many stories to share with so many diering characters. I create each new character as a tiny piece of my soul brought to life on the page, and I can’t believe others get to be part of my wild imaginings with me.

Out of Embers and Shadows: A Strong Female Lead and Upcoming Releases in the Shadowfire Series

If you are looking for a strong female lead who is already condent in her own abilities and is determined to protect those she loves at any cost, Out of Embers and Shadows is for you! Out of Embers and Shadows is already available on Amazon (as an ebook and paperback) using this LINK, and Into Flames and Shadows, book 2 in the Shadowre series, is being released soon! I have included both blurbs below, as well as my social media handles and the link to my website and newsletter (where you can nd exclusive sneak peeks into the Shadowre world!) 

Instagram: Shelby_Oval 

Website: www.shelbyoval.com 

Newsletter link: Click here!

Grab a copy of the book available on amazon.com (Out of Embers and Shadows)