The Shadow of What Was Lost
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | James Islington |
| Products | Fantasy novel |
The Shadow of What Was Lost marks the 2014 debut of Australian writer James Islington in the high fantasy genre. This novel initiates The Licanius Trilogy, continuing with An Echo of Things to Come and concluding with The Light of All That Falls.
Premise
Two decades earlier, Andarra was governed by the Augurs, individuals endowed with abilities such as foresight and temporal manipulation, alongside the Gifted who utilized Essence—a life force—for magical purposes. Unlike the Gifted, Augurs could draw Essence from various origins through a more obscure skill. When the Augurs’ abilities became tainted, resulting in flawed visions, it sparked a civil conflict. The Royalists, under King Kevran Andras, emerged victorious by eradicating known Augurs and imposing the Four Tenets—a magical covenant that limited the Gifted’s powers and placed them under the control of Administrators. Only two institutions for the Gifted, Tol Athien and Tol Shen, remained intact.
Synopsis
Davian, training at Caladel under Tol Athien’s supervision, discovers his identity as an Augur and acquires a Vessel, a relic linked to Augur power. He becomes aware that the Boundary—a northern ancient barrier—is weakening, risking an assault by monstrous forces commanded by the immortal Augur Aarkein Devaed. Following a massacre that annihilates most inhabitants except their friend Asha (also Gifted), Davian and his companion Wirr escape. Subsequently, Asha is appointed Tol Athien’s Representative to Northwarden Elocian Andras, the king’s brother and head of the Administrators. Elocian covertly supports surviving Augurs and harbors regrets over the constraints imposed by the Tenets.
Employing Davian’s Portal Box Vessel, they liberate Caeden—a Gifted man accused of a village massacre but suffering from memory loss. Davian travels through time to encounter Malshash, a shape-changing Augur who mentors him before returning him to his original era.
The Northwarden’s Augurs foresee an invasion of Ilin Illan by creatures known as the Blind. Asha, Davian, and Wirr (Elocian’s son) converge in the city. Davian uncovers Devaed’s scheme to restore Caeden’s lost memories. After Elocian is slain by the Blind, Wirr modifies the Tenets to allow the Gifted to engage in combat.
Caeden meets Garadis, guardian of Licanius—the sword destined only for one who does not seek it. Over countless past lives, Caeden pursued Licanius but deliberately erased his memories to clear his path toward it. He wields Licanius to annihilate the Blind’s forces. Davian departs for Tol Shen to join other Augurs in efforts to mend the Boundary. Using a Portal Stone, Caeden contacts an individual capable of restoring his memories; he asks to revisit the day of the village massacre intending to prove his innocence but instead uncovers his culpability—and that he embodies both Malshash and Aarkein Devaed—overwhelmed by sorrow.
Publication History
James Islington composed his initial draft of The Shadow of What Was Lost over several years while maintaining full-time employment in technology. After facing numerous rejections from traditional publishers, he opted to self-publish the work. Strong sales within six months attracted a literary agent who negotiated print and digital rights with Orbit Books, which re-released the novel in 2016 in hardcover, paperback, and ebook editions.
An audiobook version narrated by Michael Kramer was launched on Audible in 2015, produced by Podium Entertainment.
The book has been translated into several languages including Polish, Italian, French, German, Spanish, and Czech.
Reception
At its release, the novel garnered generally favorable critiques, with its acclaim growing alongside the series' development. Publishers Weekly emphasized the intricate magical framework, the political machinations, and the large ensemble of characters. Tor.com lauded the detailed worldbuilding but pointed out fluctuations in narrative momentum, characterizing it as both encouraging and uneven. Kirkus Reviews described it as an "engaging page-turner from a confident new voice." The Guardian recognized familiar epic fantasy tropes but praised Islington's confident narrative approach for a first-time author.