Overture of Shadow (Muses’ War 1) by Wally Waltner-review

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date May 24, 2025

Light reveals, shadow conceals. What we illuminate, we become.

In Breheimen, artisans and craftsmen aren’t just respected. They are revered. The Muse-touched are individuals whose creativity seems divinely inspired, capable of conjuring beauty so profound it borders on the mythical. Their gifts shape culture, hold political sway, and define the kingdom’s identity—the very spirit of the realm.

But when Master Bard Dorian Silversong is summoned to the capital by his mentor, he walks into a world unraveling. That same mentor, the head of the prestigious Collegium Bardica, has been murdered. Muse-touched artisans are vanishing. And at the heart of it all lies a web of courtly machinations and unseen forces determined to twist the bond between creator and creation for malevolent ends.

What if the power to create was the greatest one of all?

•••••

REVIEW:Overture of Shadow begins with Master Bard Dorian Silversong having been summoned to the capital by his mentor, Sonoran. Upon his arrival at the capital, he is informed that his mentor and friend had been murdered a couple of days before. Dorian then makes his way to Lydian’s estate where she proceeds to tell him what has been happening in the capital.

Dorian and Lydian attended the Collegium Bardica together and had always been close friends and held Sonoran close to their hearts. The Collegium is where the Muse-touched artisans attend to master their particular area of expertise. When Lydian also tells Dorian that other Muse-touched artisans have vanished they vow to get to the bottom of what is going on.

Dorian and Lydian make their way to Sonoran’s estate, which was bequeathed to Dorian upon Sonoran’s death, it does not take long for the two of them to stumble upon things that upend everything they thought they knew about the Muse-touched.

As they set out to uncover the truth, there are several things that must be investigated head on. One being the attraction that has always been there………………Second being their beliefs that being Muse-touched was a blessing for everyone who was chosen.

Overture of Shadow is a well written fantasy tale that slowly lures you into the story. The world building is second to none and leaves the reader being able to see, in their mind’s eye, a landscape that is intriguing and beautiful. The secondary characters, especially Mixolydian (Mixie for short), are very well written. Mixie’s character development leaves you hoping that she features prominently in the next installment. If you are a fantasy fan, you will surely enjoy this world full of intrigue created by Waltner. Well done, Wally Waltner!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie

GOODREADS / Amazon Author Page/ Raconteur Press/

Wally Waltner is a genre fiction author and storyteller whose work blends the grandeur of epic fantasy with the pulse and punch of pulp-era adventure. His stories explore the transformative power of creativity—where art and imagination aren’t just themes, but elemental forces that shape worlds, destinies, and the people caught between them.

Born and raised in rural South Dakota, Wally’s roots are grounded in wide skies, hard work, and a deep appreciation for the quiet stories that unfold far from the spotlight. That upbringing taught him the value of listening closely—to people, to landscapes, and to the myths that live just beneath the surface of everyday life. It also fed an active imagination, where a discarded pipe fitting becomes a ray gun, the bed of a rusted-out pickup truck becomes a sailing ship’s deck, and a fallen tree becomes Excalibur.

Wally holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where he studied brass performance, voice and composition. Though his creative medium has shifted from music to the written word, the rhythmic sensibility and harmonic structure of his early training continue to shape his storytelling today. Whether orchestrating the politics of a fallen kingdom or the inner lives of Musetouched heroes, Wally brings a composer’s discipline and an artist’s intuition to every tale.

His fiction is often set in richly textured worlds like Breheimen, a kingdom where creativity is more than expression—it’s power, and sometimes peril. Drawing inspiration from bardic traditions, psychological archetypes, and the high-stakes drama of pulp narratives, his work celebrates both the beauty and the burden of imagination.

Muses’ War: Overture of Shadow From Wally Waltner and Raconteur Press

Beyond the page, Wally has spent his career as a leader in the management consulting world, where he helps organizations solve complex problems through clarity, structure, and strategic insight. That same mindset flows into his writing, where story architecture, character purpose, and thematic resonance are treated with the same rigor he brings to transformation programs and executive leadership.

Amongst other things, Wally is a certified Kansas City Barbecue Society judge, a volunteer leader for Paizo Publishing’s Organized Play Program, and a worship musician for his local church.

Wally lives in Kansas City with his wife of 33 years, Mechelle — his steadfast partner in life and creativity — and they are the proud parents of a grown daughter who continues to inspire them both. With plans to relocate to North Texas in the near future, Wally is looking forward to planting new roots, meeting new readers, and finding new stories in the heat, hum, and cultural crossroads of the Lone Star state. Whether he’s exploring broken kingdoms, guiding reluctant heroes, or unpacking the strange bargains that power human ambition, Wally Waltner writes with a storyteller’s grace, a strategist’s mind, and a heart full of wonder. His goal is simple: to craft compelling, creative stories that stay with you long after the final page