The Shadows Between Us (The Stathos Sisters)

The incredibly talented Tricia Levenseller has done it again with The Shadows Between Us! She has written yet another novel filled with lush descriptions and amazing characters that will completely sweep you away on a fantasy tale filled with love, deception, and MURDER!!! Alessandra is a very headstrong young woman, she knows what she wants from life and will do whatever it takes to get it. After having her heart broken by the man she loved three years ago, she killed him…even says this in the beginning of the book, so no spoiler there! She has high ambitions and after entertaining a few paramours, she sets her sights higher…on the Shadow King himself. Her plan is simple, woo the king, marry the king, kill the king and then rule the lands herself. Should be simple enough. Insert evil grin from the author. Alessandra comes to the castle and instead of trying to do her best to woo him with her looks and presence like all the other girls in line to vie for their chance at a proposal, she ignores him completely. Which proceeds to get his attention rather quickly and after a chance encounter, Alessandra finds herself with an invitation to join his court and she finds she’s one step closer to her goal. But things aren’t quite as simple as they seem, for the Shadow King believes someone is trying to kill him, like they did his parents a few years ago. He’s ordered his entire court to stay at the castle until the murder can be solved and it’s there Alessandra finds herself in the midst of a mystery but she doesn’t let it consume her attention completely as she has her own goals in mind still. Alessandra makes friends among the nobility at court and shockingly enough finds herself growing attached to the Shadow King. He even offers her an opportunity to play his “intended” so that the council who has to help him rule until his twenty-first birthday gets off his case. Alessandra agrees to the ruse and naturally, a real relationship starts to form between her and the Shadow King who reveals his name is Kallias. A true friendship seems to be growing between them and it’s honestly a marvel to see, for we get so used to that insta love when pretending to be in love trope, I enjoyed that Tricia had her characters take their time. I wasn’t sure that I would like Alessandra when you know from the start that she has murderous intentions, but after a while I grew to adore her. True, she has a vicious streak, but so does Kallias in a way, since he is the Shadow King, but even his character was surprising. He was built up to be this dark man of mystery and as Alessandra got to know him better, well, let’s just go back to saying it was a surprise. I also enjoyed that Alessandra developed real friendships with two other ladies at court. At first it seemed like they would be her friends by proxy, but a real bond began to form between the three. I was also a little surprised to uncover a line here and there that lead me to wonder if this book wasn’t as high fantasy as I thought, things such as electricity, indoor plumbing, the mention of a handgun. It only happened periodically but it made me wonder if this wasn’t entirely set off in another land far far away. There are no other clues or hints to give this theory any validity, it’s just a suspicion I had, and really in the end, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment. Just something I picked up on when reading that left me in a whirlwind of other thoughts. This was a very much action packed kind of read with a multitude of court scandals going about, think of them as mini mysteries alongside the greater one at large. The Shadows Between Us kept me thoroughly entertained and all the while I was dreading the end because I knew the magic would be over. I initially thought this was going to be another duology, but everything was perfectly wrapped up in a neat little bow and I am honestly thrilled by this prospect! There are so few standalones in the fantasy world that finding one that’s so incredible as this one is like finding a gem in and of itself! The ending was another shocker! Just as you think things might be headed towards a cliffhanger kind of ending, we get a dramatic twist and reveal and it was ultimately thrilling! I didn’t see this one coming, though I admit to thinking something about the character at first, but then dismissing it as the story went on! Let’s just say he came as a complete surprise but one that wasn’t out of left field! At the end of the book, I was completely smitten with the story! The Shadows Between Us is a page-turning fantasy that you will not want to let go of. It held me riveted from the very beginning and I never wanted the story to come to an end. But as they say, all good things must end. It was a refreshing fantasy read with characters who don’t conform to any norms, complete with flaws and all, and I think that is what made them so appealing and had me smiling through its ending! This is not a fantasy read you will want to miss out on! Overall Rating 5/5 stars

Series Info/Source: I bought this book for Kindle. This is a stand alone fantasy novel. Story (4/5): The plot for this book is not all that original but I enjoyed it all the same. This is a theme I enjoy. It’s basically an intrigue driven plot where our main protagonist, Alessandra, ends up falling in love with the very person she is trying to make a power grab from. While the story is a lot of political intrigue, there is also an lot of action in the form of assassination attempts. It is fun to watch the Shadow King and Alessandra try to manipulate each other, while finding out that they are more and more well matched. While there is a story about bandits in the outside kingdom, this ended up being a rather minor plot point and wasn’t woven into the story all that well. This is at its heart an intrigue-filled romance. Characters (4/5): I really enjoyed the characters here even if neither of them are particularly likable. Alessandra is obsessed with having power and the ability to control her own fate and doesn’t really much care who she steps on. The Shadow King is concerned about his kingdom and its stability but doesn’t seem overly concerned about the actual welfare of his people. Both of them are using each other and honest about it. I enjoyed the frankness of these characters and their wittiness and manipulation of each other; even if I didn’t really like them much. The side characters are a bit underdeveloped throughout. Setting (3/5): The setting is a pretty typical fantasy kingdom style setting. We hear a bit about the agglomeration of kingdoms that the Shadow King rules but this is very much in the background. This is definitely more of a character driven story and could have taken place in any generic fantasy kingdom. Writing Style (4/5): This story was engaging and well written. It was very easy to read and full of fun, witty dialogue and scenes. It’s a fairly simple story but very entertaining. While this is definitely not Levenseller’s strongest book it was still a fun diversion. It had a good balance of fun characters, humor, intrigue, action, and romance. My Summary (4/5): Overall this was an entertaining read that was sweet and a bit edgy. You are getting exactly what you expect from the synopis; a story about two people who make an arrangement to use each other accidentally falling in love. There are some politics and action to keep things exciting but at its core this story is definitely a combative romance. I enjoyed it and am glad I read it; it was fun and made me smile.

This book was pretty good and still deserves 5 stars! It was a very quick read with a simple plot. The story was pretty cute and I did get pissed off, cried and even laughed during reading. The only thing is, personally I found it hard to feel IN the story and feel connected with the characters. There wasn't enough description of how characters looked & acted/reacted. It was similar with the world building, for me, there wasn't enough description of surroundings, the appearance of the location, feeling of the area, the smells, the little details that usually pull me in. It left a lot up to imagination, which is fine, but it also had me struggling to focus on the book. There was a lot of focus on clothing, so if you're into that, you may enjoy this! It is fade to black, which I am fine with and actually prefer but I wish there was a bit more love/romance/teasing/banter. There was a small unexpected plot twist which I did but didn't see coming at the same time. Overall, if you don't want to get pulled into a long series and just want a quick read 5/5!!

“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.” For me, Tricia Levenseller became a “must buy” author after I read and completely fell in love with her Daughter of the Pirate King duology back in 2018. I love that she doesn’t shy away from the use of strong voices and making her non male characters the shining beacon of the story. The Shadows Between Us is no exception. Our leading lady, Alessandra is so completely and entirely unapologetic. She knows what she wants and she goes after it, all in, with no reservations. What else I loved about her? She is absolutely flawed down to the bottom of her very soul. Alessandra is no traditionally beautiful maiden with goals of creating a better world and doing good for the people. No, this lady wants power, fame, and everything that comes with it and has no problem dealing out a little death to achieve her aims. Despite loving her character and how truly unrestrained she is, at the same time she annoyed me off and on. I felt like her sex sells, give me all of the power attitude was very one dimensional. There was no depth to it. None of her actions were surprising, everything ticked along for her exactly as you would expect it. No surprises, she and the plot just trotted along like a well trained animal. Let us take a moment to discuss the Shadow King. He is painted as this enigmatic, terrifying man who is horribly flawed and needs to be removed from the throne. However, I never really got that from him. The Shadow King was merely a young man whose parents had been murdered and he was trying to do his best for his people while keeping himself from also being assassinated. Not a bad guy, just someone with power struggling to make the right choices. You know, the more I type here the more I consider lowering my rating of this book from a 4 to a 3. I enjoyed the overall plot of it with palace intrigue, some danger, sexual tension, and clearly defined stakes. At the same time it was utterly predictable and vapid. I don’t know folks, judge for yourself. The story had some good points and I was satisfied by the ending for the most part. Levenseller’s descriptions and imagery make a lovely story and her willingness to go all in with a variety of different character with their own strengths and weaknesses appeals to me. I just feel like there was something missing. I needed a little more depth, a little more reason for some of the actions the character’s took. As I read the book I was utterly absorbed and couldn’t put it down and that is certainly a sign of a good book. At the same time, upon reflection, I can see a few things that could have been improved upon. I will certainly continue to read Levenseller’s work in the future.

**Disclaimer: I was given a free ARC in exchange for an honest review from the author.** Title The Shadows Between Us Author Tricia Levenseller Release Date February 25, 2020 Description from Amazon “They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.” Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power: 1) Woo the Shadow King. 2) Marry him. 3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself. No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it. But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen―all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen? Initial Thoughts I have been wanting to get my hands on a ARC of this book since I finished Warrior of the Wild last March. As luck would have it, I won a contest that Tricia Levenseller hosted on Instagram and she sent me a personalized ARC (this is the stuff my dreams are made of). I was THRILLED. Anyway, I received the ARC on Thursday, January 16 and finished it all that night. Dear Tricia, I 100% blame you for the fact that no amount of coffee could keep me awake the next day – but, it was totally worth it! Some Things I Liked Villain-y lead. I loved that the main character is basically a terrible person in the beginning of the story. It’s so refreshing to find a character that’s not a perfect goody-two-shoes type and I thought her honesty was highly entertaining. Fashion as a theme. I loved the role that fashion and colors played in this story. I thought it gave the author a chance to paint a rich picture as well as give the reader so much to visualize. Gender equality and positive body image themes. So much of this book was about Alessandra showing the world that she was an independent woman and she didn’t need a man to do anything for her. She lived in a very oppressive world but she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her dreams. I loved that she challenged gender norms as well as fought for equality. Favorite Quote The rebel in me loves to throw dirt in the face of decorum. Page 13 Series Value I’d love to come back to this world and read more about these characters and their lives. However, this story feels complete. I didn’t feel like anything was left unresolved to the point that I need a sequel, it’s a nice to have simply because I enjoy Tricia’s writing style. Final Thoughts I read this book all in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down. I loved the characters, plot twists, and setting in this story. I already knew that I was a Tricia Levenseller fan, but this book only solidified the idea. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️️ Recommendations for Further Reading Warrior of the Wild by Tricia Levenseller – if you enjoyed the writing style, and kick-ass female lead, try this standalone by Tricia Levenseller. Beyond the Shadowed Earth by Joanna Ruth Meyer – if you liked the villainess turned hero vibes of The Shadows Between Us, try this new release by Joanna Ruth Meyer. The Evil Queen by Gena Showalter – once again, if you like a villain-y lead, try this fairytale retelling a try.

This book was devilishly good 😈 A true Slytherin romance indeed! I was hooked just from reading the first couple of sentences (and that’s something that rarely happens) Like who starts their story off with death(?!?!) but still somehow manages to reel you in with so much force! Well this book did just that. Alessandra, our beautiful and brainy MC. I loved the confidence she exerted and the self awareness that she had. She knows exactly what she is - beautiful, smart, unapologetic, cunning, intelligent, goal driven - and used all that & so much more to her advantage. She was someone all the men wanted and who all the women wanted to be. She has a nic for fashion, which was one of the things that helped her stand out from the crowd when first meeting the Shadow King, and it was that fashion taste that had all the women copying her every outfit piece. She was definitely a force to be reckoned with. She’s definitely not your typical female MC - she’s arrogant, remorseless, selfish, demanding, scheming, will do anything to get her way and what she wants, and surprisingly, she wasn’t the only character in the book who was like that. Despite her being that way, she was also very caring and protective towards those she really cares about. I loved her transition from anti-hero to hero in this story, but still keeping the anti-hero characteristics, because Alessandra wasn’t inherently bad, but she wasn’t all that good either. Kallias, our untouchable and deliciously yummy ML, whom we call The Shadow King. He, just like Alessandra, was just as ambitious. He’s not your typical new king in this book (a king who’s usually nice, cares for his people, a great leader, and blah blah blah) NO - Kallias is selfish, ruthless, power hungry, and I mean this man don’t give a fuccc. He will kill anyone who gets in his way, or to make a point to others. He keeps to himself, scared to open up because of the dangers he faces as a new king, and being touched is a BIG nono. His shadows are his greatest strength, but it is his weakness too. Despite all that, deep down inside, he’s a big softie. Throughout the book, I found him so charming, and I loved that he fights for what he wants as a king, and is not bad but not good either; he still cares for his subjects, but is not afraid to be a ruthless leader to get what he wants. Honestly, morally gray characters, just like Alessandra and Kallias, will always be my favorite kind of characters. I loved their relationship. They actually communicate about their feelings... COMMUNICATE!!! Even during their ruse as a “couple”, they talked, they opened up, and that helped them see a whole new different side of each other. The slow building romance, the sexual tension, the understanding and acceptance of one another despite all the flaws - OH HOW I LOVED IT. I loved their playful and funny banter, and when Kallias found out what Alessandra did, HE LAUGHED. He laughed like he hadn’t done so before, and even that surprised me. His openness towards Alessandras sex life - her past flings and romances, he didn’t care, and vice versa. & when you not only have one but TWO morally gray characters IN A RELATIONSHIP ✨chefs kiss✨ He sees her as his equal, his confidante, and he gave her the power to rule beside him - something that she always wanted, and something that she would literally KILL for. I loved how the book talked about how women should not be judged based on their bedroom life and who they’ve been with; how they can be unapologetic about it just as men are. ✨“I’m a sexually empowered woman, and there is nothing wrong with that.”✨ YES AND YES! Definitely my favorite Alessandra quote in the whole book. It was a quick read, but throughout the book you could guess what would happen next. Too many reveals and not much mystery. THE ENDING, I wasn’t satisfied with it. I felt like there could’ve been so much more to it, but it just didn’t sit well with me. Honestly I didn’t like it; it felt rushed and not what I expected. But it is what it is 🤷🏻‍♀️ Despite that, it was a great standalone book that I enjoyed reading!

The Shadows Between Us is by far one of my favorite standalone fantasy books. There’s always going to be books that make it almost impossible for you to put down. That was the case with The Shadows Between Us. I could not put this book down. And even after days of finishing the story, I can’t keep the characters off my mind and out of my heart. The characters are strong and ruthless. I loved how this book was pitched as a Slytherin romance because that’s exactly what it is. Both characters are cunning and vengeful and beautifully illustrated. Alessandra has no problem being murderous, especially when she needs to kill someone for something she needs. She’s a dark and morally gray character, but that’s one of the reasons that makes this book so good. She has no issue showing the world who she is and that’s what made her such an enjoyable character for me. Levenseller wrote a book with characters that could be hard to love and difficult for readers to see the logic behind most of their actions. But she wrote a book that’s so unbelievably good! And the romance is definitely worth all the swooning. It’s raw and fresh and built on deception, but I feel that’s how a good villain romance usually starts. And this villainous romance is one readers will not soon forget. Even though Alessandra wants to kill the king, she never expected to feel a certain way about him, a feeling that could potentially put her whole plan at risk. I love how this story is dark and unapologetic. It’s a story that’s perfect for readers who are looking for a dark world and deliciously vengeful characters. It’s a book I didn’t realize I needed until I read the first page and literally went “WOW.” The Shadows Between Us is a powerful story that doesn’t just focus on what Allesandra is trying to destroy/build; it also focuses on the blossoming of a new relationship and both characters’ pasts and futures. It focuses on how dark characters can continuously stay dark but find a light inside that darkness, a light that shows that each character is not as corrupted as they may seem. And once again, Levenseller has created a world that is dark and vicious but overall beautiful. Her world building is exquisite and completely fits the darkness of each character. She’s created a world of deceitfulness but also a world that has the ability to change. It’s unlike any fantasy world I’ve seen and I loved that aspect of the story. I loved how everything was different from most fantasy stories. Levenseller has created an unforgettable story with characters that will surprise you in the most unsettling ways. It’s a story that is worth all the hype. The Shadows Between Us is easily a book I can read over and over again. This book is perfect for those readers looking for a dark and devious tale.

Excellent book! My Woman is devouring it says she can't put it down.

Lo compré porque me enamoré de su portada muy poco me importó la historia. Pero me he enamorado de la historia por completo. Alexandra es la segunda hija de un noble por lo que nunca nadie la tiene en cuenta y pasa totalmente desapercibida. Sin embargo, es ambiciosa y lleva un tiempo organizando un plan para llegar hasta lo más alto. El primer paso es conquistar al Rey de las Sombras, después casarse con él y finalmente matarlo para conseguir su poder y gobernar sin que nadie le ponga límites. A pesar de que todo el mundo teme al Rey por esos poderes que tiene y que nadie realmente entiende cómo funcionan, ella no le tiene miedo y hará todo lo que sea necesario para conseguir su objetivo. El problema es que no es la única persona que quiere acabar con la vida del rey por lo que tendrá que protegerlo al menos hasta que ella pueda matarlo. Simplemente maravilloso, y aunque está en inglés es muy fácil de leer. Es Autoconclusivo así que otro punto más. En cuanto al envío, la verdad es que Amazon deja mucho que desear encontrar uanto a la protección de los libros, de la parte trasera venia con una marca pero que no me afecta, aun así puede que a alguien si le pueda molestar.

Girl after my own heart, she knew what she wanted and grabbed it with everything she had. Love this story. Beautifully written, easy read, great pace and I need morwle ❤️

The Shadows Between Us is a deliciously wicked tale of love, power, and deception. Our morally grey protagonist, Alessandra, is a force to be reckoned with. Her cunning, ambition, and sharp wit make her a captivating character. The romance between Alessandra and Kallias is a slow-burn masterpiece. Their dynamic is thrilling and heartwarming, as they navigate a complex relationship filled with passion and power struggles. The author expertly balances the romantic tension with moments of humour and intrigue. One of the novel’s greatest strengths is its well-developed supporting characters. From Alessandra’s loyal friend to the enigmatic Shadow King, each character adds depth and complexity to the story. While the plot may not be groundbreaking, it is executed with finesse. The pacing is perfect, keeping the reader engaged from beginning to end. The author’s vivid descriptions and witty dialogue bring the world to life. If you’re looking for a fun, fast-paced read with a morally grey heroine and a swoon-worthy romance, The Shadows Between Us is the perfect choice.

Piękne wydania. Nie mam im nic do zarzucenia

So beautiful. The sprayed edges at so pretty and the book has an annotated chapter by the author in the back!! I also love this book and the characters.