A Shield in the Shadows

MAITLAND, FL— L.A. Racines’ new book, A Shield in the Shadows, ($19.49, paperback, 9781498428729; $9.99, e-book, 9781498428736) gives readers a rare glimpse into life in the early Fifth Century Roman Empire, a time when paganism was on the wane but barbarian incursions from Germania were on the rise.

After a devastating Hunnic raid on their remote Christian commune, sixteen-year old Theona and her father flee with other survivors to find a new home. Eventually they join a massive invasion of the Roman Empire led by the pagan Gothic king Radagaisus, described by ancient writers as “a demon worshipper”. Very quickly Theona catches the dangerous interest of Radagaisus’s younger son. On the other side of the frontier, Marius Ausonius, a young Gallic aristocrat, joins the Roman army and must stand against the hordes descending one of the key alpine passes into Italy. The two protagonists meet unexpectedly in very human circumstances, and that experience will have lasting consequences for both of them and their peoples.

“I want readers to see the relevance of Scripture and the Christian Gospel to life's challenges, the tightrope believers always have had to walk, and the thrill of living with God in any century. I also want them…to learn what life was like in the early Fifth Century Western Roman Empire,” states the author. “I believe the story will appeal to males and females and can be used in evangelism.”

L. A. Racines spent twelve years researching the history and ethnology of the Germanic peoples of Europe, the Huns, and the Romans of this period before writing this adventure. She also has published articles in newspapers and magazines. As a long-time student and teacher of the Bible, her life experiences—including teaching in Nigeria during the Biafran-Nigerian Civil War—impact her writing. The author states, “This story is historical and as accurate as I could make it. It has been described as important, a page turner, one that raises big issues and needs to reach a general audience. It will leave the reader more knowledgeable, thoughtful and wanting more.”She is currently preparing to write the second novel in the series.