5.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting New Fantasy Standalone!

J.S. · February 25, 2020

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

4.0 out of 5 stars Fun romance fantasy.

K.E. · May 7, 2021

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.

Una fantasía muy fácil de leer en inglés.

C.d.A. · December 17, 2021

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 Bolo 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.

Hell yes 😍

S.L. · June 15, 2025

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 ❤️

An Honest Review!

B. · November 7, 2024

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.

Śliczne!

I. · July 30, 2024

Piękne wydania. Nie mam im nic do zarzucenia

Assassins, enemies-to-lovers and a fast paced plot

M. · June 8, 2020

This book was excellent!! I've read works by the author before and LOVED them, so I knew I had to read The Shadows Between Us.The characters are amazing. Alessandra, the female main character, is snarky, sassy, kind but also very clever. She is unapologetic and herself. She was a great characer, and the male main character Kallias was dark, broody, but also sweet and fierce all at the same time.Basically Alessandra goes to The Shadow Kings court in order to woo him, marry him and then kill him. There are some twists and turns along the way, and neither of them expected to be friends.It was awesome. Highly recommend if you love enemies-to-lovers, assassin plots, clever characters and witty one liners. I will always buy works by this author because I know I will love them.