by Tricia Levenseller
Published on February 25, 2020 by Feiwel & Friends
ISBN: 9781250189967
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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?
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I had no idea what a “Slytherin romance” looked like but I can now firmly say The Shadows Between Us is the exact definition. This book answers the question of what happens when you throw two Slytherins with somewhat murderous tendencies together and I loved it.
Totally not biased as a Slytherin myself. Promise.
First, I think Levenseller’s writing style is just on point. I really enjoyed her Daughter of the Pirate King duology, which were both fast-paced fantasies that hooked me from start to finish. The Shadows Between Us was no different in that regard and I felt myself sucked in from the first page.
Alessandra is the kind of morally gray character I love reading about. She’ll do whatever is necessary to achieve her goal but there’s an ethical line she dances along the entire time—close enough to make her decisions questionable but far enough to give her that redeemable quality that makes her relatable. This is how you write a Slytherin. Her ambition and cunning poured off the page but she was also determined and innovative and loyal. I think people sometimes forget that Slytherins aren’t just ambitious but Levenseller didn’t.
And we didn’t get just one Slytherin, but TWO! Kallias, our resident Shadow King is just as eager to hold onto power. Just as willing to kill to achieve his goal. Determined and eager to take what he wants. But still redeemable. You can’t help but love him the more the story goes on. Even when he messes up—especially when he messes up, if I’m being honest.
Plus the ROMANCE. Loved loved LOVED it. The Shadows Between Us takes “slow burn” to a whole new level. Alessandra’s goal is to seduce (and kill) the king. Kallias can’t be physically touched, which tends to get in the way of said seduction. The resulting relationship allowed for both character and emotional development rather than forcing a romance based on lust. Plus the book features one of my favorite romance tropes (View Spoiler ») as if I needed another reason to love it.
All that said about the characters, the story was just as well crafted. I never felt like it dragged but the plot still ebbed and flowed to provide time for everything going on to come together in one final plot twist and I almost guessed but not quite so it was a moment of satisfaction for me as the reader. I mean, I literally read this book in one sitting. Start to finish in a few hours because I couldn’t get enough.
I almost wish there was another book, but The Shadows Between Us wraps up so nicely that it really doesn’t need one (I just want more Slytherin relationship goals). And the only real complaint I had was that the ending, though nicely tied up and whatnot, came on a bit suddenly and I didn’t feel like the different plot lines had the time they needed to really find closure. It wasn’t a big enough issue to detract me from the book as a whole but everything did come together a bit too conveniently there at the very end.
In any case, I loved The Shadows Between Us and can’t recommend it and Levenseller’s other books enough. Definitely one to get on your shelves if you love a good fantasy romance!
About Austine
I'm a 20-something research proposal developer with a background in the life sciences and education. Reviewer of books since 2011, amateur photographer by day, and aspiring author by night. I believe animals (and books) are better than people.
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