When Shadows Speak, Argion Listens
Jak never planned on becoming anyone’s savior. He wanted quiet evenings—simple meals, familiar paths, and absolutely no swords pointed his way. Everything shifts when Queen Duvessia’s black‑armored warriors thunder into his village demanding his capture. Their arrival sparks a breathless chase across Argion, driving Jak through mist‑draped valleys, lonely watchtowers, and crowded bazaars humming with rumor. Each mile grows heavier because a second voice now coils inside his thoughts, whispering promises of strength, influence, and dominion. It tempts, prods, and laughs whenever he hesitates, turning every campfire pause into an inner duel. Readers feel that tension on every page. They know power rarely speaks softly, yet the hush of its promise always sounds inviting. Jak runs from soldiers, yet he also runs from himself… and the kingdom of Argion holds its breath, waiting to see which hunter reaches him first—the queen’s blades or his own restless shadow.
Heroes, Anti‑Heroes, and the Murmur of Power
Princess Helena of Sennelin moves with purpose. Her woodland realm teeters on a knife‑edge, and she alone senses magic crackling beneath her skin—raw, untested, fiercely alive. She needs Jak, though she doesn’t yet grasp the reason, and that urgency pushes her behind enemy lines armed with courage, wit, and blossoming abilities she barely controls. Queen Treance, sovereign of a neighboring kingdom, surveys rising tensions from wind‑battered ramparts, entrusting a young commander with the impossible task of holding the line against Duvessia’s relentless legions. Between these two leaders rises Duvessia herself: the usurper of Norbai’s throne, ambition gleaming in her eyes, armies marching in her name. Jack Gibbons paints every figure with shades of gray. Motivation matters, yet desperation bends rules, and the novel’s pulse quickens each time ideals collide with survival. Readers pivot with them, truly feeling hope rise, sag, and surge again with every charged encounter.
Stakes That Stretch Across Kingdoms
Conflict claws at Argion from every direction. Duvessia’s conquest ripples outward, forging uneasy alliances, sabotaged treaties, and long‑marching legions that darken the horizon. Helena’s race to locate Jak isn’t merely diplomatic; it’s the fragile thread on which Sennelin’s survival dangles. Treance feels the weight of entire cities as she orders fortifications reinforced and prayers offered at dawn. Meanwhile, an ancient power awakens in the shadows, restless and eager to crown a vessel willing to end the world rather than watch it burn slowly. The conflict becomes a three‑fold storm—armies clashing in daylight, monarchs scheming in lantern‑lit halls, and unseen forces tugging at human hearts. By weaving these layers together, Gibbons lets external chaos mirror internal struggle. Readers sense that no victory comes free, and the line between hero and villain fades every time the whisper grows louder.
Jack Gibbons—From Sports Hall to Epic Halls
By day, twenty‑eight‑year‑old Jack Gibbons lectures on strategy, stamina, and teamwork, sketching plays that hinge on decisive moments. By night, he channels those lessons into fiction, swapping gym floors for forest trails and thunderous arenas of war. A devoted fan of Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb, and Mark Lawrence, he absorbs the hallmarks he loves—expansive worlds, layered journeys, a brush of darkness—then reshapes them into something distinctly his. A Shadow’s Whisper, his debut novel, launches The Shadow of Argion series and showcases the vigor he brings from the sports arena: brisk pacing, visceral combat, and dialogue that crackles with possibility. The same clarity he offers a lecture hall fuels scenes where commanders weigh impossible odds and ordinary citizens shoulder extraordinary burdens. For a debut, the novel feels confident—proud to stand beside books that once inspired its author.
A Shadow’s Whisper hums with one timeless question: when your own shadow offers power, will you listen? Gibbons never answers outright. He trusts readers to feel that chill, measure their response, and carry the echo long after the final page. Short bursts of prose spike tension… longer lines invite reflection… em dashes drive momentum through twisting corridors of doubt. The rhythm itself mirrors Jak’s sway between resistance and surrender, Helena’s dance with untested magic, and Treance’s struggle to inspire hope while fear pounds at the gate. Because the series has only just stepped onto the stage, a promise lingers like the hush before a storm. More kingdoms will rise, more voices will call, and the border between hero and tyrant will shift again. For now, Argion waits, the whisper growing bolder by the minute, and readers everywhere lean closer, eager to hear what it says next. Early reviewers praise its suspense and the way Argion feels ancient yet fresh, recommending it to friends who crave epic fantasy.
We had the privilege of interviewing Jack Gibbons. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Jack, It’s great to have you with us today! Please share about yourself with our readers.
Hi, I’m a 28-year-old sports lecturer with a passion for storytelling. I’m a lifelong fan of fantasy. I have just published my debut novel, A Shadow’s Whisper, now available on Amazon. When not writing or teaching, I can be found devouring books by Brandon Sanderson, Robin Hobb, and Mark Lawrence—always chasing that perfect blend of epic worldbuilding, deep character arcs, and a touch of darkness.
Please tell us about your book, A Shadow’s Whisper.
A Shadow’s Whisper is the first installment of the book series, ‘The Shadow of Argion‘. It follows Anti Hero Jak, who is being tempted by an ancient power, and the Princess of a Woodland realm who just discovered her powers and wants to save her home.
Please share your journey with our readers.
As a child, I always had a creative imagination and was always lost in my own world. I decided to write a book to bring some of those ideas to life, never expecting to get past chapter one.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I just wrote every day, even if it was 50 words, and I made sure I was consistent in that.
Any message for our readers?
Do give it a go and enjoy the internal struggles of the characters, and remember, there’s plenty left to come.
Thank you so much, Jack, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!