Shield of the People - (Maradaine Saga: Maradaine Elite) 2nd Edition by Marshall Ryan Maresca (Paperback)

About the Book

With rebels and separatists threatening the upcoming elections, Dayne and Jerinne might be the only thing protecting the voice of the people.

Book Synopsis

The second novel in the Maradaine Elite series blends fast-paced high fantasy and political intrigue. "I love seeing good-hearted characters who keep true to their moral centers even in a gritty world. Shield of the People is wonderfully emotionally complex while also barreling through fantastically-paced action. Highly recommend!" - Cass Morris, Author of From Unseen Fire

After saving the Druth Parliament, Dayne Heldrin and Jerinne Fendall find themselves on the margins of the Tarian Order: lauded as heroes in public but scorned and ignored in private, their future in the Order hazy. Dayne's new assignment further isolates him from the Order, and Jerinne is hazed and bullied at the bottom of the initiate rankings.

It's election week in the city of Maradaine, celebrating over two centuries of freedom and the foundation of the reunified modern nation, bringing parades, revelry... and protests. A dissident group called The Open Hand-and their mysterious, charismatic leader, Bishop Ret Issendel-seeks to disrupt the Parliament elections with their message of secession and dissolution.

Despite orders to stay out of the public eye, Dayne and Jerinne are drawn into the intrigue of the Open Hand and kept apart by dark powerful conspiracies that brew around them. Dayne and Jerinne must fight for their own principles and protect the will of the people as the election is thrown into chaos.

Review Quotes

Praise for the Maradaine universe:

"Maresca's debut is smart, fast, and engaging fantasy crime in the mold of Brent Weeks and Harry Harrison. Just perfect." -Kat Richardson, national bestselling author of Revenant

"Veranix is Batman, if Batman were a teenager and magically talented.... Action, adventure, and magic in a school setting will appeal to those who love Harry Potter and Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind." ―Library Journal (starred)

"Marshall Ryan Maresca is some kind of mad genius.... Not since Terry Pratchett's Ankh Morpork have we enjoyed exploring every angle of an invented locale quite this much." -B&N Sci-fi & Fantasy Blog

"A well-conceived and well-written melange of popular fantasy sub-genres: there's a university with a magic department, there is some vigilante derring-do and thievery.... If you're looking for an action-and-adventure-filled new fantasy series, then The Thorn of Dentonhill will suit very well." -Civilian Reader

"The Thorn of Dentonhill is a light-hearted, fun read, and Maresca has introduced a hero with plenty of room to grow, a couple of villains who will provide plenty of conflict in upcoming books. And, most importantly, he's created a character that I care enough about to continue reading." -Relentless Reading

"Take the caped avenger of Batman, the teenage-superhero angst of Spiderman, the street-gang bravado of West Side Story, and toss in the magic of Harry Potter, and what have you got? Marshall Ryan Maresca's The Thorn of Dentonhill." -Kings River Life Magazine

"Maresca brings the whole package, complete and well-constructed. If you're looking for something fun and adventurous for your next fantasy read, look no further than The Thorn of Dentonhill, an incredible start to a new series, from an author who is clearly on his way to great things." -Bibliosanctum

"The Thorn of Dentonhill was a fast-paced read with action from start to finish. I loved every minute of it." -Short and Sweet Reviews

"Definitely a fun read, and one classic fantasy fans will likely enjoy." -Bibliotropic

"So much of it is terribly exciting and fun.... What I really liked about the ending was how it set up relationships and possibilities for the next book (which I definitely plan on reading)." -Tenacious Reader