A Touch of Shadows is a fast paced, engaging read that will lull you in with its shadow magic. I feel like this book would be a perfect gateway to those looking to get into fantasy/romantasy books for the first time. It’s a relatively short, quick read that isn’t overly heavy on the fantasy elements and world building. I actually read it in one sitting. I wasn’t a huge fan of the insta love going on, but it does work well in this story since the magic’s effect on their feelings is a point of exploration in this book. Overall, I wish there was more going on — more world building, more character development, etc. I read this via audiobook and I felt that Helen Keeley did well with the narration. I thought the story was easy to follow and easy to keep characters straight with the narration. Overall, I’m still curious to see where the story goes.

Overall Rating: 3.5⭐️

3.5/4 I listened to this book thanks to an arc I got on Netgalley
The narration firstly is good
The story is about a girl who feels the shadows call in a world where the Nox has been destroyed (nox being like dark shadow magic) but remnants and dark shadows remain especially in the dead wood were people go to make bargains with the shadows.
Wren lives in a quiet village with her healer mother who uses light magic to help her in her craft
But when wren saves a knight in the deadwood her whole world is changed

I don’t want to say more than that because spoilers

This book had a lot going for it
It’s a super easy read, it was quick and I didn’t want to put it down
So much so that I finished it in 2 days.
I liked the characters enough and the plot and magic systems
The start as well was a great set up
It reads like a YA especially since the narrator makes wren sound young (like 17 maybe) and I love YA
But then there is smut in here which I don’t think vibed with the style
(I love smut too btw) also he was more submissive than her which again didn’t feel quite right because of the ages and it’s not my jam personally
Also this was insta-love which I’m not a fan of
And it kinda meant we didn’t get to see Finn battle with his notion of being a witch hunter and then knowing a witch. In fact I don’t even think that’s really mentioned except in the blurb
There is talk of other witch hunters which seems to be against him so this all wasn’t made super clear
Same with certain characters and at one point I did think one person was there uncle which made a scene super weird but I was mistaken and corrected and was like aaah ok
So that’s on me and I may have missed things because I was doing the audio
It is fast paced and I think it could have slowed down a little to expand on characters etc and really see relationships develop

I think the plot and whole concept is brilliant and well written and it’s the start of a very interesting series that I would continue
My main gripes are just the instalove and the smut that I didn’t feel fit with this vibe and not my thing smut wise too but that’s all personal preference

I was pleasantly surprised by this audiobook. I did look up reviews on goodreads so I didn't have super high expectations but I thought it was entertaining. While I'm usually all about the enemies to lovers and slowburn, the insta love in this book was a fun chance of pace and it was not overly spicy but definitely had a bit. I definitely plan to keep reading this series to see what happened next and I enjoyed the narrators. For me it was 3.5 ⭐️

I gave this book a solid 4 stars. I was held back from 5 stars only because I felt that the relationship between Ren and Phin (or is it Finn) was just kind of smashed (no pun intended) together. I don't mind insta-love, but I felt that we didn't get any foundation at all on Ren or Phin/Finn before they're wildly in love. I would have loved a smidge more backstory on Phin/Finn that lead into his magnetic pull towards Ren. Elodie was my absolute favorite character and I very much enjoyed any chapters or scenes with her in it.

If you love shadow characters, light vs. dark magic, lost queen, lost princess, mysterious magic, witches, war, tension and spice, you'll defineitely enjoy this romantasy. I plan on finishing up the series because I did very much enjoy the overall premise of the book. The small flaws were not enough to stop me from enjoying the ride or being invested in the characters (mainly Elodie). The narrator for the audiobook was SUPERB! I also plan to see if I can find more books narrated by her because she is an incredible weaver of stories and her accent/tone of voice was beautiful, mysterious and had me totally drawn in from the first sentence.

This book started out so well- lost queen & heir, secret magical abilities, two warring kingdoms. The first 6 or so chapters were so lively with character interactions and story depth. And then the writing changed abruptly - tons of telling/not showing and limited character interactions through dialogue. This resulted in underdeveloped relationships and plot. The relationship between the FL & ML felt forced and insta-lust. The world building also felt underdeveloped and the stakes were only vaguely discussed. The magic system isn't well fleshed out, so even after finishing the book, I still can't tell you what has the kingdoms warring, the point of them having magic or what the current stakes are. The narrator did a great job eliciting emotion and keeping me interested enough that this didn't become a DNF. That said, I'm not sure I'm motivated to continue the series.

Thank you for NetGalley to grant me access to this audiobook - it was a first time experience, and for that I’m grateful.

Unfortunately the book itself was 2,5 ⭐️ for me. Not sure if these issues are so obvious to me because I listened to the story, but I was struggling hard…
Throughout the book all of the conversations, thoughts of the characters and descriptions of the world were very, very repetitive. Perhaps this was done on purpose to highlight a certain feeling or being stuck but I was still fairly annoyed with it halfway through.
I also felt that the story lacks romance, if anything, this is more fantasy than anything else. Romance happened kind of randomly; with little to no conversation between the characters and when something happened it confusing..

Looking back I also feel like I do not know the characters, they are lacking depth in general.
I hope in the next part the characters will get some more depth and hopefully even some development.

I might into book 2 to see if the story has evolved but I’m not sure…

Appreciate the chance once again though 🙏

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC copy of Touch of Shadows! I really enjoyed this book and think it was easy to follow in terms of romantasy! It also gives tangled meets game of thrones in some ways. I would love to continue to read this series!

Thank you for this early access copy

This was a really easy and short fantasy romance, I thought the magic system was really interesting but it didn’t go into it as much as I would have liked, I also thought there could have been a bit more world building but the book is only around 260ish pages so I can see why that wouldn’t be the case

The romance for me was a bit lacking, it was pretty much insta love which isn’t something I enjoy in a fantasy book but if that’s something you like then you’d this, I prefer a slow burn

Overall I would recommend this book, it was a fun and quick read

A Touch of Shadows is the first book in the Lost Queen trilogy, written by Jessica Thorne. Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for early access to the audiobook, which was incredibly well narrated by Helen Keeley.

The story was fast paced, with lots of action, supported by just a light spattering of world building, ideal for those who are fairly new into the fantasy/romantasy genre who may find a lot of detailed world building overwhelming, but perhaps lacking for the more die hard epic-fantasy fans who want to be fully immersed in a different world.

This was a relatively short story (approx 8 hours of audio, and I believe the book itself is approx 320 pages), so it was very quick to finish.

The characters are very likable, and the love connection between Wren and Finn was very quick to form, although it made me realise I personally prefer more of a slow burn love story, as that excitement and intensity you get in slower build ups was missing here, it just kind of happened instantly.

Be warned, this book does end on a cliffhanger, so you will be itching for the release of the second book.

I think this book/audiobook would be perfect for those who liked One Dark Window.

I really struggled to get into this one, the book was feeling too similar to some other books in the genre

This was a very solid romantasy. I enjoyed the little glimpses we see of the world in this first instalment, and I liked the characters, especially the older couple who are given the secondary role to our younger main character and her love interest. The author's prose is confident and flows well, and the pacing was well done. Recommended for romantasy readers who enjoyed books like A Feather So Black.

The audio narration was stellar - I loved the different voices the narrator was using for the characters!

Thank you NetGalley for the audio arc.

Now I have to start with the fact that the narration was BRILLIANT. Her voice was perfect for fantasy and I absolutely adored all the character voices she did. 5/5!

Now to the novel itself (2.5).

A Touch of Shadows is exactly what I thought it was going to be based on the cover, title and description. However, what I really loved (and will always love) is a powerful magical (usually a witch) protagonist. I just wish Wren’s power was established a little bit more at the beginning! I thought the ideas and concepts for the world and its politics were really interesting and somewhat unique, but I was not really sold on the characters and their relationships with each other. Especially the insta-love between Wren and Finn. I think this book is adequate if you’re looking for an easy, fast-paced romantasy read, but not if you’re looking for more in-depth characters and world-building.

I loved this story. Wren is a great character, and it’s exciting to have a shadow FMC for a change! And Fin is the perfect MMC. I enjoyed the plot twists in this book, I genuinely didn’t expect them all, and I love how the magic system works. Also the narration for the audiobook was excellent, she really made the story come alive.

I can’t wait to see what happens in the next installment!

Our FMC Wren is very unaware of the dangers that lurk in the shadows, waiting to claim her. Her mother and guardian, also a lost queen, has shielded Wren from these dangers as best as she could until one day, a simple errand turns into a fight for survival. When Wren's livelihood has been threatened, she meets Finn who also happens to be hunting her kind. Witches, shadow magic, and other dark forces are now working against Wren and Finn as she discovers her life has been full of lies and betrayal from the one she trust the most.


Jessica Thorne is a new to me author and I'm so glad that I was able to read/listen to this book. I was able to listen to the audio of this book and I loved every second. The narrator, Helen Keeley did such an amazing job with this book. Apart from the audio, this book was able to hold my attention and keep me interested in the story. I fell in love with each character and hoped to predict what the outcome(s) would be. I felt every heartbreak, every triumph. I can't wait to dive into the second book to continue the story.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves romantasy or wants to get into this genre and don't know where to start.

Thank you to Jessica Thorne, Second Sky, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

This book was a definite easy read without extensive world building and without a complicated magic system and it was pretty short for a fantasy book so it was also a quick read. It is the first book in an incomplete series, and the remaining books have yet to be written or released at this time.

Since this book was short, I do feel like that affected the plot and romance aspects of this story. The romance was very quick, a kind of love at first sight romance story, and it seemed like there was not enough time for the two characters to really form an actual bond and that fell flat to me, especially when this book is marketed as a romantic fantasy. I also wish that some of the characters were explored more. Elide was such a great character and it seemed like she had a lot of depth due to what we saw and I loved her as a character, I just wish we got a little more. I think that this was all due to the short length of the book, and that could have been improved if the story was just a little bit longer. Especially since it is the first book in the series, it is when the readers are first learning about the characters, and it would be the best time to give more details about the characters and their back stories. The rest of the characters, like Wren and Finn, were also great. They had many layers that were peeled back and explored more as the story went on, and it really added to the story as a whole but once again could use with some more exploring.

Speaking of the fantasy aspect, I did like the idea of the dark magic, but I feel like it wasn't as explored as I would have liked. Like I mentioned above, it didn't have a complicated magic system, but the book didn't go that in depth into the magic system, so it may actually be more complicated than was stated in this book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series. I would recommend to any lovers of fantasy books, with a romantic twist, without the unnecessarally long world building.

A touch of shadows by Jessica Thorne is a romantasy, good vs evil, witchy, action packed book. It works well with the magic system, light vs dark hero and villian trope. The book starts off with our FMC ans the autor sets up the premise with her abilities, her ambiguity and the voyage she embarks upon. I particularly enjoyed the beginning of the story and the pacing at which it takes off. You're engrossed in the tale and it is very well written, the characters endearing!
I felt the story got lost a bit in the middle with the plot, a lot of things happening but the fleeting and didnt have any strong anchor points which are memorable. The characters seemingly go through a lot in a few minutes and the story moved on to the next scene/event - I as a reader felt like it lacked depth and didnt give the reader to process the gravitas of the incident we just witnessed/read. The romance as well felt a bit forced, despite the soulmate-you're made foe me vibe the author was going for.
The climax picks up again with more characters thrown in and it does get to a satisfactory end with enough to anticipate and expect in the sequel.

Overall, I'd recommend this book as a great entry to Fantasy to audience who has never forayed into the genre. Despite the flaws, it was an enjoyable read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

**Enchanting and Gripping Fantasy Romance!**

"A Touch of Shadows" by Jessica Thorne is an absolutely spellbinding start to a new fantasy series! The world-building is lush, the magic is enthralling, and the chemistry between Wren and Finn is palpable from the first moment they meet. Helen Keeley’s narration perfectly captures the tension, emotion, and passion that drive this story forward. The stakes are high, with kingdoms on the brink of war, and the twist of forbidden magic adds an irresistible layer of intrigue. Highly recommend!

2.5 🌟 - fast-paced, action-filled, gentle world building, and romantic subplot

Thank you to Net Galley and Second Sky for an advanced audiobook copy of <i>A Touch of Shadows</i>. Firstly, huge props to the narrator for doing a great job at keeping my attention. She was engaging and fitting for the story. As an avid Romantasy reader, I will say this book was a bit lacking in the world building. I understood the two different kingdoms and the basic concept of the conflict, but other than that I wasn’t really sure of the setting. Time seemed to move fast and then slow and I’m not entirely sure over what span of time all of these events happened. If you’re new to fantasy, this is an easy read and not super heavy on world building or magic systems. I genuinely didn’t understand how the magic system worked in this one. I suppose you could fill in the blanks yourself. The story moves fast and has lots of action so at times it felt hard to understand what was happening and why.

I didn’t feel connected to either Finn (MMC) or Wren (FMC). Their personalities were a little all over the place. Wren starts off as a strong defiant woman and then reverts to being very immature and stubborn. Finn starts off as a fearless burn-the-world-for-her type, but has multiple moments of being fearful and shaken. Elodie and Roland both seem a lot more interesting to me and I would have loved to learn more about their shared past.

So, instalove is a trope, and like any trope, it can be done well or not-so-well. Instalove isn’t my favorite trope, but I won’t rate a book unfavorably just because I didn’t like the tropes. With that being said, the story leaves much to your imagination on whether these two characters have an authentic attraction to each other or not. I believe the author is trying to convey some aspect of magic at work, but I didn’t really connect with their relationship.

I’d say the last 30% of the book got very interesting as the conflict and plot thickened a bit. It was very predictable at times but ends on a big cliffhanger. I think there might be potential to better develop the characters and didn’t think it was a terrible intro to a series. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. I usually like to give series a 2-book chance so I’ll be reading the next one but if it doesn’t jive for me I will probably be fine to dnf and not find out what happens.

Though not a typical high fantasy with extensive world building in a 700 page book, I consider this a fantasy novel done well. There were enough details provided to orient the reader in the world and provided enough understanding of the mechanics in that world. I enjoyed the mystery amongst the characters and any current or developing relationships or past relationships. Throughout the story, bread crumbs were shared that kept me hooked on the story and where it was going. The type of magic that was used in the created world was fascinating to me and I even liked the dichotomy between light and dark/shadow. It was fun but also displayed a level of seduction between the characters and the magic and I really liked that. Within that, I think readers will enjoy some of the unknowns that get discovered as you read the story.

My only real critique is the reliance Wren had on Elodie. A lot of Wren's identity in the first half is not really her own, which is okay as this can happen with those that raise you as a kid, teen, and young adult. However, it took a little longer for Wren to develop their own sense of self and it slowed the pacing a little in the first half.

narration: The narrator did an amazing job with this story. Their ability to convey the emotions of the characters kept me interested and attentive to what was happening in the story.
flow: The story flowed well and the narrator did a great job maintaining the pacing the story set. The only critique I had about this is listed above and it was not bad by any means.
unique elements: Specifically, I really liked the inclusion of the shadow folk and some of the lore from those traditions.

I will definitely read Book 2 when it comes out!

2.5 ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced audiobook in exchange for my honest review!

I started considering DNFing this book at 15% and called it at 35%. I’m not sure if it’s the book, or narrator but I could not get into this story at all. While the narrator did a good job reading, the pacing on the audio was a little off and certain parts felt really fast while others slow (note: I listened to the NetGalley audio and hope this will be improved in the final release). With how far I managed, it felt incredibly generic and I didn’t feel a connection with either the characters or the world, and if I were to describe this book to a friend I’m not sure how I’d finish the “the one with…”. I probably would have ranked this lower, but as a rule I give books I DNF 2.5 stars since I can’t vouch for the ending.