Pit Guard: Silver and Shadow by Robert E Kreig is a gripping tale of loyalty, sacrifice, and the eternal struggle between light and shadow. Young warrior Arnald Oberlin and elven sheriff Kysha Naberyn arrive in Wyvernmont to honor their fallen commander. Their duty is supposed to be simple: bid farewell to their commander; however, rumors of something sinister swirl through the town. When two boys are mysteriously slain and an ancient ruin is uncovered, they awaken a long-buried horror—the Upyr, a bloodthirsty creature capable of turning friend into foe. As the creature’s shadow spreads, alliances are tested and a desperate battle erupts. Can trolls, fae, and townsfolk unite against a common enemy? Yet, even if they survive the night, the true darkness waits in the depths, forcing Arnald and Kysha to choose between protecting what they cherish or facing the ultimate sacrifice to banish the darkness forever.

Pit Guard had me riveted from the first sentence to the very last word of the story. Readers are immersed in a world that is meticulously designed with a clear idea of place — the lowlands, the forests, and the runes. Robert E Kreig knows how to create the terrifying and the exciting elements in a story, dropping premonitions that keep you reading on, expecting something terrible to happen, building suspense and tension as the conflict grows. The characters are engaging and fully developed, complex and unique in their nature. The storytelling is masterful, and the writing is stellar. I enjoyed the descriptive prose, the tight writing, the confident narrative voice, and the sparkling dialogue. This book delivers the kind of entertainment you get in epic fantasy tales and leaves you wanting more.

Pit Guard: Silver and Shadow by Robert E Kreig is a dark fantasy that follows young warrior Arnald Oberlin and elven sheriff Kysha Naberyn as they travel to Wyvernmont to honor their fallen commander. What should have been a sad farewell quickly turns bleaker when they learn about two boys found dead under strange circumstances. Their investigation leads them into a mystery involving ancient ruins. Unknowingly, they awaken the Upyr, an old, bloodthirsty force capable of turning anyone into monsters. As Wyvernmont is overtaken by monsters, Arnald and Kysha must unite trolls, fae, and frightened townsfolk in a desperate fight for survival. However, nothing and no one can save them until they get rid of the Upyr, and for that, they need to make some sacrifices. Are they ready for?

Author Robert E Kreig's incredible fantasy borders on horror. The narrative style reminded me of Stephen King, and I loved it. The partnership between Arnald and Kysha drives the story. Their personalities clashed in the best way possible, with their determination to find out why those boys died. The Upyr is genuinely scary and unsettling. The pace of the story is fast while also moving seamlessly from mystery to action to high-stakes tension. The worldbuilding is magical, and each scene feels realistic. I wanted to know what would happen next and how things would end. Pit Guard is a fantastic story and perfect for readers who enjoy novels with enough intensity to last for hours after they have finished reading.