... a delightful fantasy with a goodly dose of the macabre!
Shadow Magic by Joshua Khan. Illustrated by Ben Hibon. A macabre fantasy that has it all. A peasant enslaved becomes a hero, a Princess becomes a queen before her time, along with murder, ghosts, and zombies. But then the action takes place at Castle Gloom in the Kingdom of Gehenna. A dark secret entity is gathering together an army of the undead to conquer all. This is really enjoyable. Thorn is the pigheaded forester's son who has his own special abilities, a peasant's common sense (sometimes) and who ends up on a fantastical journey--after having been bought from the slavers by Ghenna's executioner, Tyburn. Lilth Shadow became the ruler of Gehenna when her family ( parents and brother) was attacked and killed in the forest when returning from a state visit to a neighbouring kingdom--Lumina. Then there is K'leef, a captured Prince, held hostage by Duke Raphael Solar, the enemies of the Gehenna for eons. Lily's parents' royal vi...