Felt a bit rushed.
No time for enemies to lovers really, in 10 pages they seemed to get over things pretty quickly and fall in love
Climax felt pretty rushed too, not my favourite read I think there's better steamy reads. The characters didn't really develop much either so it wasn't like the plot was rushed to aid them

It makes me sad that it took me 45% of the book to get invested in any of the characters or in the plot, and it is not due to the fact that they aren’t good people, not even the main character who tells the story from her point of view. In her case we can’t say that she’s an unreliable narrator because she is not a good person, she killed her first lover and now she intends to seduce the king, marry him and kill him in order to become queen. For that much of the book there’s nothing more to her, she has people who like her and people who despise, and then there’s the elusive young king, mysterious and shadowy, with strange powers and who can’t touch or be touched by anyone. He, too, is unforgiving but has a soft spot for his young fiancée. It’s his strange affliction what makes him secluded for him, until she starts seeing other men. And here’s where the plot becomes a little bit interesting.

The reason why it makes me sad that I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would is that I read the “Daughter of the Pirate King” duology last year (2022) and I had so much fun! The writing and the plot were considerably much better than this one, the characters, good and bad, were more appealing and more complex and the love story was believable to start with. The fact that it gets better so late into the book and that the improvement is mainly plot wise may have made my punctuation rise from two to three stars because I still think that the story is good and that someone out there might enjoy it more than I did.

I adored this book, I can't believe it took me this long to read it and I'm horrified that it's only a standalone novel!

It's captivating from start to finish and took me less than 4 hours in total to read. It's a beautifully told story with twists and turns and I can truly say I'm sad now I've finished it. The shadow king is the epitome of morally grey, along with a strong FMC which I love; it's nice to have a FMC who isn't in need of saving all the time and in danger. I liked the plot that she was the danger to begin with. Set in a relatively normal world but with a slight magic element to it. I wish we learnt more about the shadow king's family and their past and how they actually went about getting their power from the demon, but I understand that it would detract from the main story. But, you never know maybe in a different book..

This is the first of Tricia's books that I've read but I can happily say it won't be my last.

Oh what a delicious quick read! I tried to savor it and yet I still finished it in no time!

Writing style: I loved Levenseller's writing in the Daughter of the Pirate King duology and she delivered yet another well-written novel. The world-building could use some work as most things were left unexplained, but I didn't really mind because it was such a character driven story and it consumed me whole.

Characters: Boy oh boy, it's been a while since I fell so hopelessly in love with a main character. Alessandra has been added to my book girlfriend/boyfriend list. Kallias wasn't so bad to read about either 😏 AND THEIR CHEMISTRY WOW 😍👌🏼

Story: The plot was a bit predictable and I saw the plottwist coming, but it didn't take away from the fun. I got the feeling I was reading a romance novel a couple of times and I got extremely frustrated at all the sexual tension and then when things finally get interesting... NO SMUT 😭

It was just such a fun, quick and deliciously morally grey read. 4 stars for The Shadows Between Us.

Alessandra is a great lead character - cunning, not an innocent virgin. She knows what she wants and is willing to do what it requires to get it. The Shadow King is her target, and she wants power, for people to know who she is.
3 stars from me for this one. The romance is slow burn, but I found my attention wandering in the first third of the book. The back story could have been fleshed out more, but dragged on a little in other places. I would definitely read more from this author, but it lacked a little in the execution for me. Loved the premise though!

This book was everything! The characters, the plot, the setting... This book proves why Tricia Levenseller is one of my absolute favourite authors. I can heartily recommend this to everyone!

I love the determination of Alessandra to be powerful. I often think that female protagonists in ya are often not allowed to be cunning and ambitious because they’re seen as ‘dangerous’ traits and are more or the villainous characters. While I’m happy to see that there’s more ambitious female characters, I always love to see them written about more in books.

The only reason that this didn’t get 5 stars from me was that I felt that it was missing some more developed of certain plot lines. I don’t want to spoil it for anyone but there should have been more discussions around something that happened in Alessandra’s past, which would have fleshed it out more.

Other than that, I really enjoyed reading about Alessandra and Kallias. The two had great chemistry and I loved that they were both equally unhinged. They truly complemented each other.

Thanks so much to Netgalley, Pushkin Press and Tricia Levenseller for this copy of The Shadows Between Us. I absolutely loved this book - Alessandra is one of my favourite female leads - the sex positive vibes from this book were incredible and I was so disappointed to find out it was a standalone. Now, of course, there is another book in the works set in this world, so I will be grabbing that as soon as physically possible because I loved everything about this book!

This book is one of the best fantasy books I’ve read!
That first line will have you hooked and you won’t be able to put it down. I love that Alessandra is the morally grey sort of villain of the story.
She has a plan to become the new queen and she is committed to her role but getting to know the king is not going how she expected it and she is falling for him.

Of course there are a couple of things that felt incomplete, first I wish the angle of the thief, maybe Alessandra and Kallias working together! When the true identity of the thief pretty much fell in her lap it was sort of anti climatic!

All together I loved the book, if there is a book 2 with Alessandra’s sister story, I will definitely read it!

I can see the appeal of The Shadows Between Us, but it didn't quite hit the mark for me. Unfortunately, I didn't warm to FMC until very near the end (but enjoyed most of the other characters). As it was her POV, it took me out of the story. I liked the message of empowerment for women, and how Alessandra encouraged her friends to be active in their destiny and choices of partner. I think it was too short for the story that could have been told. There could've had so much more tension and intrigue for me, more building of the story, world, characters and magic. I was just left needing more.

i had so much fun reading this book, this was a refreshing, light and deliciously wicked little story, proof that you don't need everything to be dark and gloomy to have morally grey characters. totally recommended,

I was given this ebook by @netgalley and @pushkinpress, in exchange for an honest review.

If this book was perfect? No. Did I enjoy reading it? Absolutely!

I enjoyed that the FMC was morally grey, self-aware and super ambitious. I also enjoyed the feminist approach within a medieval theme, that women should have their hobbies and dreams (aside from the traditionally expected) and sexual liberation instead of ostracisation.

The plot and romance were good and developed at a fast pace, which had me gripped from start to end.

Considering that this book was advertised as a “Slytherin Romance”, I wish that Kallias (MMC) was eviler and that the ending was darker as well.

For a Fantasy book, there is barely any world-building, as a reader you understand that this is a medieval-like setting, but there is barely any actual social context about the other kingdoms conquered. However, considering that this was a standalone book, that didn’t deter me from enjoying the Romance-focus plot.

It’s a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star for me, I had a great time reading it!

A really fast paced and enjoyable stand-alone. Full or morally grey characters (which I LOVED). There were no moments where I felt the story was dragging or boring. Would love to see other standalone stories in the same world!

“They've never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will.”

Thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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?

Alessandra is a tough cookie. She knows what she wants and will stop at nothing to achieve it. Direct and cunning, she manipulates events just to her liking. I thought that I wouldn’t like her character very much considering how cold she appeared initially but her wit and meticulous consideration really drew me in until I was hooked on her. I liked how strong she was mentally, refusing to allow anything to faze her and throw her off course. As the book progressed, I really enjoyed seeing her protect her newfound friendships but also continue to protect herself - and her heart, which she had sworn would remain unbeating. There was an element of softness creeping in towards the end, reducing her frostiness. But she still remained quick-witted and very witty which I really appreciated. She developed as the story went on but remained very much herself. I think she is certainly a well rounded character.
Kallias is a character that certainly surprised me. When we’re introduced to him, it’s abundantly clear that he is very guarded - figuratively and literally in the form of his shadows. He’s wary of anyone and anything but this seems to break down is Alessandra’s presence. There were many moment we got to see this softer side to the Shadow King that really drew me in to his character. The more we saw them, the more I wanted from him. And I was not disappointed! Kallias is definitely going to be added to my favourites list!

This was quite a fast paced book - one that I very much enjoyed. Stand alone fantasies can be a little hit and miss with me as sometimes they can feel rushed. I do enjoy a multi book story that brings in a lot of world and character building. This one is definitely a hit with me. The overall plot was very good and the characters felt successfully fleshed out. I perhaps would have liked to have seen the ending expanded upon a little more and the big climax to be a bit bigger - but that could just be me being rather picky and wanting more more more. I have previously enjoyed Levenseller’s Daughter of the Pirate King duology so was excited to pick up this story. Levenseller has a way with words that just draws me in and grabs me hook, line and sinker. Another successful read for sure!

Overall, The Shadows Between Us is a great fantasy stand alone that I enjoyed every second of.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Really good! I did like female protagonist, the plot and the fact that it is only a stand alone. There are way too many series atm and I am overwhelmed.

A fantastic dark fantasy romance. Alessandra has a very simple plan, make the king fall in love with her, marry him and then take his life and kingdom. She's a despicable, morally grey character, but at no point did I truly dislike her. I admired her strength and tenacity, the way she was completely and unapologetically herself throughout the whole book.
There's wonderful chemistry between her and the shadow king, who is another dark and murderous character. It was refreshing see how they both had their own agenda. The court life is bustling and full of political intrigue with a wonderful cast of side characters.
The plot has a murder mystery side to it. I really enjoyed this book.
Thank you so much to the publishers and Netgalley for providing an arc in return for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the eArc in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, just wow. What a story. This one didn't disappoint.

Alessandra (FMC), I will admit was a self-centred narcissist and I didn't like her initially but when you start to get more of her story she is a woman who knows what she wants and isn't afraid to get her hands dirty. Yes, she is very much a morally grey character but she turns out likeable even with her background. Nothing she does is because of a tragic past, but she has thoroughly and painstakingly gone through every part of her plan and the confidence she has in herself is refreshing. She doesn't need anyone to help her, she is more than capable of doing everything. She is very much a woman who is an "anything you can do I can do better backwards and in high heels" and this is shown throughout the book.

The Shadow King is someone I'd have liked to have had more interaction with. While Alessandra is getting seen at balls and other events of the court he is held up in meetings and I know he has to have more of a personality that was only shown in the last quarter of the book.

The slow-burn romance is something that certainly helped with my love of this book. Too many that I have read have the instalove which is just not something I believe in. Unmistakably, there are the signs but Alessandra is a bit like me and completely oblivious until something stupidly glaring obvious happens.

This is a book that I am kicking myself for not reading sooner. I will be going out and buying a physical copy of this so I can return to this world again and again.

In some ways, this book reminded me of To Kill a Kingdom and The Cruel Prince. All stories are about morally grey heroines with big ambitions, all stories feature slow burn romance, and all suffer from limited world building. It's impossible for me to talk about this book without comparing it to the other two.

Character wise, I think this book does a far better job than those stories. The main character here is far more vicious, unapologetic and far less sympathetic than the other two. But she's also more humane, and more complex. Because of that reason alone ( and not in spite of it ) I found her narrative more compelling.
True, Lira of To Kill a Kingdom has killed more people when we first meet her. But she's a siren, it's normal, even encouraged in their society to kill humans. Not to mention the whole my-abusive-mother-made-me-do-it narrative. The Cruel Prince practically opens with a tragic incident in the life of heroine. While all these elements tend to humanise the characters, they also ruin what could've been gloriously murderous heroine. I'm a big fan of anti-heroes and as much as I enjoyed those stories, I'd be lying if I say I wasn't waiting for someone to do a better job. Thankfully this book is what I was waiting for.

Alessandra doesn't have a tragic past to make the reader want to protect her, neither the whole my-abusive-parent-made-me-into-this sort of excuse. In that alone, I think she is more true to her character than either of those heroines. I found this lack of justification quite refreshing, and a bit liberating if I'm being honest. Sometimes the use of tragic past feels emotionally manipulative. In that alone, Alessandra is unique because she's not forced to be who she is by an abusive parent, but she chose to be this way anyway.

For me the biggest selling point of this novel was heroine and I'm glad to say it totally delivered. The voice was very fun and engaging. I liked everything about her character. All the subtle psychological manipulations, the acting, the humour, her hobby of fashion design, even her pettiness, and her passion when she talked about women's right and how she would change things when she become queen, it all contributed to turning her into a complex character that didn't feel fake or superficial. I rooted for her from the beginning to catch the eye of the king. I felt pissed with her when the king said "you'r not beautiful enough to tempt me", and I equally wanted to hurt the king when she kissed someone just to hurt the king.

Plot wise though, it's not as good as the other two stories. To Kill a Kingdom specially, does a very good job at pacing that seemed much needed here. Even though I enjoyed most of the story, there were times in the middle that I found boring. There was way too much talk of balls and matches and court gossips and who is with whom. It just felt very Ausen-esq and I really wasn't expecting that. I expected this to be a bit more action-packed that it was.Also, I totally guessed the twist at the end.

That being said, I think the book totally made up for it by slow-burn romance. For me the key to a satisfying romance is building a connection, not the Insta-lust not the whole I die without you sort of nonsense that plagues the ya. But a genuine connection based on geniune understanding. This delivered that, plus emotions and heartache and fun and humour in all the right places.

Bottom line is, I totally recommend this. Even though it's not perfect, the things that it does good are so good that totally make up for everything else.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'The Shadows Between Us' by Tricia Levenseller.

I feel rather conned by this book.. when I received this ARC I was excited as I had heard multiple good tales about how beautiful it was. But for me, I didn't relate to those good tales. I felt the book was lacking in something and it was empty for me to the extent where I didn't enjoy it. Does that make the book a bad one? Of course not. Would I try the sequel? I'm afraid that I don't know the answer to that, maybe in the future in hopes it's better than the first.

what the actual F???? the worst part of it was that this book took itself too seriously. it felt like a parody of a YA fantasy: the shadow guy, alessandra being such a selfish, unlikeable, self centered and arrogant character was SO funny. i would have continued had the book not been this cringe with the way the writing, again, took itself too seriously. a big nope, don’t recommend.