Blog Promo: 'In The Shadow of Ruin' by Tony Debajo I V.L. Book Reviews

Blog Promo: 'In The Shadow of Ruin' by Tony Debajo

8/2/2021

Photo Credits: Angel Milostan, Tony Debajo
Edited by Vaishali

Title: In The Shadow of Ruin
Author: Tony Debajo
Genre/Themes: Action-adventure,
Adult Historical Fiction, Mythology
Suspected Publication Date: April 2021
Publisher: Self-published

Like myself, fantasy reads have been the shepherding keepsakes for so many readers all over the world. There's a stark reason this genre soars with success. History can be marked by the most popular and best-selling books. We can all remember 2011 for the release of Veronica Roth's 'Divergent' series, 2010 for Brandon Sanderson's 'The Way of Kings' and 1995 for 'Northern Lights' by Philip Pullman. My point is that we mark the best moments of our lives by the cadence of time and the stories that, once read and relished, become ours to keep.

While most of us will have ear-marked 2020 as the year that took so much from us, readers still thrived through the stories that writers had so patiently inked with solicitous ambition. That's not to say 2020 wasn't a minefield to navigate for writers. Many were crippled and devoid of motivation, but a number feverishly sought inspiration and monopolised on it. Debut author Tony Debajo delivers that inspired vision, prime and packed to share 'In the Shadow of Ruin', a historical action-adventure, rife with West African civilisation and its rich mythological background.

First in a trilogy from the Fractured Kingdom series, Debajo promises a fascinating, adventurous tale that deals with survival, inter-tribal warfare, sibling rivalry, retribution, injustice and familial heritage. Themes of war and violence are not to be overlooked which is why this fits snugly on the list of adult fantasy. At an indulgent 500 pages in e-book format and just under 400 in print, Debajo is keen for this adult fantasy, an ode to old-age Nigerian folklore, to tell a story not often explored - a culture unexposed and unsung in this sweeping bracket of literature.

Time, tradition and godly worship are central themes set in a world of controversy, conflict, bad blood and persisting contention, but be sure, fellow readers, that the most conspicuous worlds are those that speak for the unbounded unnanmed. A coming-of-age sure to entertain even the most experienced of fantasy readers, this new on-the-scene addition, interlaced with magic, superstition and crosses generations of landscape, is loaded with content for healthy fantasists.

Keep those sights open for Debajo’s ‘In the Shadow of Ruin’, soon to be released later this year. For now, I leave you with an excerpt kindly provided by the author!

EXCERPT REVEAL

EXCERPTED FROM CHAPTER ELEVEN - THE THIRD

Ayo finally caught up with Enitan standing silently amongst the trees, peering into the gloom of the densely populated forest. The vegetation around Enitan swayed gently in the night air but the temperature around him was strangely warmer than the rest of the forest when he got closer.

Ayo could not sense anyone around, but he felt a presence that he had never felt before, something profound that sent a chill through his bones. Something has happened here, he thought, and he walked cautiously towards the boy who stood in contrast to the swaying trees and shrubs arrayed in their natural splendour.

Somehow, Enitan appeared to stand taller, like a man grown, from the set of his shoulders and his stance; his legs were set apart as if ready to fight, and he saw that Enitan had his sword in his hand, held casually but firmly by his side. Ayo’s fear started to mount, but he forced himself to walk forward and gently touch Enitan on the shoulder.

It took a few seconds for Enitan’s eyes to focus, pulling him away from some distant place, and he turned his head to look at Ayo. ‘My prince, we cannot stay here, soldiers are hunting us and I fear–’ Enitan cut him off. ‘Ile-Ife is under attack.’

* * *

THE BACK OF THE BOOK

King Jide Adelani has ruled the lands of the Yoruba in West Africa for many peaceful years, but now his kingdom is in turmoil and the cold grasp of death’s embrace is closing in around everything he holds dear.

Jide spent years garnering the respect and loyalty of the tribes in the hopes of uniting them into one cohesive empire when his half-brother, Prince Olise, returns from banishment to claim the throne as his own.

The offspring of a union between the late King Adeosi and the evil enchantress Ekaete, the bitter Olise has devoted the last decade to one purpose; to seize the throne and rule the kingdom. If he fails, he risks his name being erased from the history of the tribes.

With the support of his mother, a powerful witch whose name is whispered in fear across the lands of the tribes, the outcast Olise now seems unstoppable in achieving his goal.

Facing overwhelming military might and dark forces that he cannot comprehend, Jide must either choose to ignore the warnings of the gods, and seek help from those who also practice dark arts; or risk losing his kingdom.

* * *

Set in ancient Nigeria, Jide Adelani is the king of the most renowned tribe in the lands that claim to trace their lineage directly from the gods. His reign is threatened by his half-brother, Olise, whose mother is known to belong to a cult of witches.

Jide is forced to abandon his morality and seek support from men of the underworld, at the risk of provoking the wrath of the deities, to save his kingdom. Jide’s three sons, separated by their city in flames, are hunted by Olise, as he sweeps through the war-ravaged lands, purging it of the remnants of Jide’s fading alliances.

Each of Jide’s sons’ destinies is irrevocably altered by the events they bear witness to. Their journeys are beset with mystery, treachery and the unseen hands of the capricious gods, and take them across diverse and hostile landscapes, while their father fights to preserve what little of his legacy and dignity remain to him.

* * *

IN THE SHADOW OF RUIN

- B Y T O N Y D E B A J O

A big thank you to Tony for getting in touch to share the details of his adventurous debut.
Take a look at the details below, keep your eyes peeled for the release and GET YOUR COPY !!

W H E R E Y O U C A N F I N D T O N Y A N D H I S W O R K

● Website: https://de-bajo.com/books/
● Twitter: https://twitter.com/tdebajo
● Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/de_bajo_author/
● tony@de-bajo.com

A b o u t T o n y D e b a j o

Tony Debajo was born in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. Shortly after, his parents moved to London, England, where he lived until he was six years old, then the family relocated to Nigeria. He lived there for 11 years before coming back to England. Tony studied Civil Engineering at the University of East London and has worked in this field for seventeen years.

Tony’s inspiration for his novel comes from his time spent in Nigeria, where he became fascinated with the culture of his heritage. At a young age, he was very creative. He had a vivid imagination for characters and far-away lands.

In his teens, he created comic books, and was once approached by a local newspaper to have a regular feature in their comic column, however, being the son of doctors, this path was naturally frowned upon, and he never pursued it. He found his passion for reading and loved tales of ancient civilisations, enthralled by their way of life, beliefs, and cultures.

He devoured any books he could lay his hands on about the Roman empire, the Mongol empire, ancient Greece, Nordic civilisations, but most of all the mythology associated with these people. He soon realised that his country of origin was equally rich with traditions, tales of ancient gods and acts of heroism and decided to tap into that world.

Although he found a wealth of material covering Western African civilisations, he could not find books and stories compelling enough to shed light on these fascinating people and attract readers unfamiliar with African history. So, he decided to write one. Garnering tales and folklore remembered as a child, some of which would have been passed down through generations and typically told around fires, he began writing his debut novel, In the Shadow of Ruin, which grew as he wrote and will now be a series called The Fractured Kingdom. Tony hopes to bring to life his characters and set them free into the world.

I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below!

H A P P Y R E A D I N G

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