“They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.”
Tricia Levenseller, The Shadows Between Us
Author: Tricia Levenseller
Publication Date: 25 February 2020
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Page Count: 336
Reading Method: Physical Book
Dates Read: April 9
Synopsis:
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?
Review:
Y’all! A morally grey protagonist and a dark king… yesssss. I feel like all the MCs we read about are the hero of the story and that can become quite boring and redundant. So when I read the synopsis for this one, I knew I needed to add it to my TBR.
Characters:
Alessandra is on a mission to become queen, and she doesn’t need anyone’s help getting to that throne. In fact, she has plans to take out anyone who gets in her way. I really loved that she isn’t like the typical protagonist in the sense that she isn’t afraid to look out for herself through any means necessary and make decisions that may not be the most socially acceptable. What I struggled with while reading about Alessandra are the major “I’m not like other girls” vibes she gives off. She’s definitely not like other girls… but it goes a little overboard in trying to convince us of this fact. On the other hand, I really loved the Shadow King. He was dark, brooding, and mysterious but he continually surprised me throughout the story. Both of these characters have major issues but that what makes them work together.
Writing:
I feel like this one tip toes right on the border of young adult and new adult. Based purely on the content of the book, and the premise of the story, I would have preferred it to go fully NA. I think there could have been even more dark, evil deliciousness. Aside from the constant reminder of just how different Alessandra is from the “other girls” I quite liked the writing. The book immediately pulls you in and I found it difficult to put down. It’s not a long book by any means, but I did manage to finish it in one sitting. It just keeps you wanting more and more. There are tons of good conversations about double standards for men and women.
The only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the fact that I could have done with a bit more world building. I mean, it’s a standalone fantasy – so there’s only so much world building you can really expect within such a short time frame. But there are several kingdoms surrounding the Shadow King’s and I would have loved to learn more about them, especially since there is talk of expanding into the other realms. I honestly could have done with learning more about the Shadow King’s realm as well.
Overall:
Ultimately, I thought it was a pretty great for what it was. It was fun to read and impossible to put down. While there are elements I might have like to see done differently, it doesn’t ruin the story in the slightest. I wouldn’t mind reading another book if this were turned into a series.
