By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson

From the Publisher

Given the chance to train as a squire, kitchen servant Achan Cham hopes to pull himself out of his pitiful life and become a Kingsguard Knight. When Achan's owner learns of his training, he forces Achan to spar with the Crown Prince--more of a death sentence than an honor. Meanwhile, strange voices in Achan's head cause him to fear he's going mad. While escorting the prince to a council presentation, their convoy is attacked. Achan is wounded and arrested, but escapes from prison--only to discover a secret about himself he never believed possible.

Christian Fiction Review

By Darkness Hid is the kind of fantasy that should be on Christian bookstore shelves everywhere. Fascinating and complete. If you like fantasy novels at all, you owe it to yourself to get hold of this one. I can't wait to explore it further. Highly Recommended.

VOYA

With no family, Achan Cham is marked as a stray and lives the brutal life of a slave. When he is lucky enough to be chosen to begin training as a Kingsguard Knight, his life changes completely, but he is left to wonder if it is for the better. The tonic given to him daily as a slave is discontinued, and the voices in his head are about to drive him insane. Is he really a descendant of royalty destined to rule? Vrell Sparrow is hiding out, pretending to be a stray boy to avoid a marriage she does not want. When she realizes the power of Achan's bloodvoicing, she has no problem accepting that he is in the direct lineage to the crown. Wonderfully written with a superb plot, this book is a sure-fire hit with almost any reader. It is an adventure tale with a touch of romance and enough intrigue to keep the pages turning practically by themselves. A subtle Christian undertone is found in the plot line, with the hero's advocating strongly for a one-God belief system, but the novel is a solid choice for any collection. Be sure to leave room on the shelf for the sequel. Reviewer: Angie Hammond

VOYA

By Darkness Hid ended up being an enjoyable book. The proud will be humbled and the humble exalted seems to be the main theme of this book; I could see it becoming the series' underlying theme. My only concern would be the number of characters the reader would come up against in the first few chapters. This book had Christian undertones, but they were subtle enough that a non-Christian would be able to enjoy the book. Reviewer: Bethany Jones, Teen Reviewer

What People Are Saying

Eric Wilson
"Jill Williamson is a major arrival. She presents characters full of mystery, and leaves room for plenty of further exploration. By Darkness Hid is a fast-paced addition to the world of swords and sorcery, using a backdrop of political and spiritual intrigue to heighten the tension. When readers begin lining up for the sequel, you'll find me at the front of the line."--(Eric Wilson, author of Field of Blood and Haunt of Jackals)

Donita K. Paul
"I love a good fantasy, and By Darkness Hid more than fits the bill. With an unpredictable plot, twists of supernatural ability, and finely crafted tension between the forces of good and evil, Jill Williamson's book had me captivated. I jumped into the skin of the heroine and enjoyed her journey as if it were my own."--(Donita K. Paul, author of the Dragon Keeper Chronicles: DragonSpell, DragonQuest, DragonKnight, DragonFire, and DragonLight)

Michelle Griep
"Wow . . . what a great start! Author Jill Williamson pulls the reader into this saga so completely that waiting for the rest of the series to be published will be agony indeed. Witty. Snappy. Humorous. By Darkness Hid is definitely a jewel in the crown of Marcher Lord Press. Be sure to pick up this title for a great read."--(Michelle Griep, author of Gallimore)

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