Realm of Shadow is Part I of the Shades of Gray Series.
Ine'iss is world in which over two centuries' prior humans have took control, enslaving and detaining the races of elf and dwarf, and slaying the last of the regal dragons. Using ancient magic of the dragons, a vengeful wizard opens a portal to the plane that borders those of light and dark in his second attempt to enslave the entire world. This act, foretold by elves, is the catalyst that has prophesied the freedom of the enslaved dragons and to bring the world back to its former glory.
Unwillingly enlisted to stop this mage is Jason Shadowgrass, an angry bitter man who's only desire is to steal others money and drink his days away. A pirate captain, Catherine Foster, who yearns to settle down as middle age creeps up, decides to assist him. Having Cat with him stirs feelings he once tried to bury as they work together to solve the puzzle and find the liar of this dark mage. As others pull his strings, forcing him to act, it becomes apparent that they, even those he thought he could trust, are using him as a pawn and that this mage is only a stepping stone for those same people to position themselves with the upper hand as a new age dawns.
As power struggles continue, Jason, Catherine, and his bodyguard Shae struggle to keep themselves out of harm's way, as mysterious shadows, trapped undead servants of the mage, follow their every move. After entrusting his empire to trusted friends and leaving in search of the dark enemy, a civil war between factions vying for power after the fall of the dark wizard erupts. This forces another, Norrelle Friedman, the last free dragon hiding amongst men, to act upon her own to save her city from an onslaught of shadows and corrupted humans, hoping Jason can succeed in slaying the mage known as Clinox. As factions try to out maneuver each other, Jason follows Clinox back to his home city, which bursts into a battle that will remain in the memory of all forever and start a new age in the world of Ine'iss.