by Tricia Levenseller
Published on February 25, 2020 by Feiwel & Friends
Format: ARC
Pages: 336
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
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’ll admit, this was the first Tricia Levenseller book I was worried about not enjoying. I’m so not a Slytherin, and The Shadows Between Us was definitely labelled as a Slytherin romance. Plus, morally gray characters just aren’t really my thing. I know basically everyone else loves them, and that’s great, I’ll just sit over here with all the lawful good heroes I love so much. So yeah, I was a little nervous about this one. But ha! I shouldn’t have been. Never again will I doubt Levenseller’s ability to make me fall in love with one of her stories.
So yeah, let’s talk about these morally gray characters! I’m still reeling from how impressed I am. Levenseller is the first author to write characters who really aren’t great people and make me swoon over them. I still don’t know how she pulled it off. When the facts are presented I really shouldn’t have liked Alessandra or the Shadow King because they are. not. good. people. But oops, I fell in love with them anyways. They want to tax the poor peasants more? Oh well, I still like them for some reason. That whole aspect made this book so fun and it turned out to be a pretty unique reading experience for me. Loved it!
The other thing I absolutely loved about this book was the romance. Talk about swoon-worthy, whew. The pacing of their building relationship felt right, and the chemistry was on full blast. Tension at all the right moments. This was some top-tier OTP material, let me tell you.
I thought all of the characters were really well written. Alessandra was a great lead. She, and really the whole book, repeatedly put me in mind of the first couple Throne of Glass books. I was impressed, in the same way that I was with Celaena years ago, by how Alessandra could be this gritty, tough character but still love pretty dresses and makeup and dancing. But where some of Celaena’s ruthlessness was all talk, Alessandra actually could be ruthless, and it was so much fun to read. All of the other characters were great as well. The Shadow King was a complicated and genuine romantic interest. Side characters had purpose and didn’t feel one-dimensional. Everyone played a part in this book, some more than others, making it feel like a well-oiled machine.
Gosh, I really loved this one. I guess I’d say my only critique would be that the ending wrapped up really quickly. I could have done with the climax being a little more drawn out and some more of the aftermath explored. But it didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all. If you’ve enjoyed Levenseller’s other books, you’ll love this one. I think it’s her strongest writing yet. It’s also perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas or Brigid Kemmerer’s Cursebreakers series. There’s really no need for a sequel, as the story tied up quite nicely, but I’d love to see one eventually. With intrigue, romance, and complicated characters, The Shadows Between Us solidified Tricia Levenseller as one of my favorite authors. Trust me whenI say that this isn’t a book you want to wait to read.
About Katie
I'm a twenty-something aspiring writer who really, really needs to get back to revisions. I've been reviewing books since 2014, and am determined to somehow make stories my day job. I truly think that every book out there contains something good and is meant for somebody.
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