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.

Firstly, I’d just like to kindly thank the publishers and Jessica Thorne for giving me the chance to review the e-arc audiobook of A Touch of Shadows. Going into this audiobook, I was quite intrigued by the concepts of shadow and light magic, as well as the general gist of the book. To me, I was also initially keen on listening to this because of the hinted romance between Finn and Wren. However, I’m sad to say that the storyline didn’t exactly live up to what I was expecting.

For starters though, I’d like the discuss the worldbuilding first. I thought the was actually quite promising; the kingdoms were well established and I could make sense of the general rulers and conflict between Asteroth and Lianthus. (I hope I’m spelling it right!) The magic system of the Aureum and the Shadows were also intriguing and as concepts, they seemed to offer a lot of options to explore throughout the storyline, such as the origin, the types of wielders, and how they would be confined to certain terrains or kingdoms. Unfortunately there were definitely issues with world building and some plot holes, and I had a lot more questions unanswered. For example, (please note some spoilers up ahead) how is the Knox supposedly Wren’s mother? Is it a sentient being or does a goddess control it? How did the two dominant magic systems come to be? How did light magic heal Finn, and if this is possible, why couldn’t it theoretically be used for other soldiers?

These are only a few questions I had in mind, so in the future I hope they’re addressed properly in the sequel!
The pacing of the book was decent in the sense that I understood what was happening and it was fluent in a chronological manner; this made the book easier to read and envision, although it was definitely slower paced at the start.

One of my biggest issues would probably be the little-to-no true romantic development between Wren and Finn. Literally, after their first meet, they kiss? It felt very awkward and unnatural. Whilst this may have just been the author’s intention to show that perhaps magic or some connected desire between them was at play, it just didn’t execute well and I could not get invested in their relationship. There was no basic foundation other than this odd in-born yearning the two had. I would have liked to see a lot more quality interactions and heart-to-heart conversations in this book (and I feel it did have room for these), because that way we could have at least learnt a little bit more about the characters’ interests, personalities and etc as well as have seen some actual authenticity in their relationship.

Moreover, the characters fell a little flat for me as a result. There was a lot more telling and mentions of what they felt rather than actually showing me. And in particular, the villain prince confused me. I didn’t understand whether he was evil for the sake of being evil, under control of the Knox or if he even had any clear motivations to bring back the Knox. Was it that simple that he only wanted his ‘ruler’ back? Or did he have other intentions? I’m not sure, but his villainous presence felt as if it were merely more of a plot device to add more action into the story rather than cause something meaningful in the story and the development of the characters. The only characters I truly found interesting were Roland and Elordi. Their actions felt most consistent to their character and I actually enjoyed the interactions they had in the book as well as their opposing approaches. In fact, I hope their potential second chance romance is a plot point in the sequel alongside the main arc.

As a side note, I noticed a potential grammar error in the audio in 023 — it said “When did it got so long?” and I believe it should be “When did it get so long?” Just a note in case it is a true error!

Some aspects I did like include the glossary (I found this very useful to refer back to when I got confused with the world and the rulers), the intriguing subplot backstory of Elordi and Roland, and some questions that I believe were purposefully posed, such as: Why did Elordi supposedly steal Wren and flee? Is she the true birth mother and if not, why does Wren look so similar to Roland? Why was Finn supposedly chosen to be the sacrifice? These questions would probably be one of the only reasons I go to attempt the sequel. Unfortunately, I fon’t think I was connected to the characters enough to really want to know what happens to them in the future. I quite liked the writing style of Thorne, however, as I felt her words were clear and effective at helping me sort of switch off and stay rooted in the main story and atmosphere.

Overall, not a bad attempt at all, but I definitely think with some revisions focusing on worldbuilding, character development and a focus on more quality discussion between characters, it could have been even better. I hope the sequel will only get better from here on out! :)

I really enjoyed the narrator of this audiobook. My attention was immediately grabbed at the start and I felt that it was a very strong start. I wished there was a little more in terms of the world-building as I was struggling to picture what the world may look like at times. That said I could not put the book down and will be continuing with the series.

I really enjoyed this story in audio book format. The narrator did a great job in helping to distinguish the characters.
As for the story, it was good, fun, Romantasy with plenty of tension and high stakes. Does it do anything really original? No, but it was an entertaining place to escape for a few hours with characters I begun to truly root for. I loved the use of Rapunzel as the basis for the story, but that it also stood on its own merits. Coming away from it, I’ve been left wondering what will happen next between Elodie and Roland (my two favourites) And I will gladly pick up a copy of the two remaining books in the series.

Thank you to Second Sky and Net Galley for the advanced copy

Netgalley book reviews
A touch of shadows
In a world where their magic can put them in forced servitude Wren, a witch raised with a secret past struggles against a magic that neither her or her mother understand. Growing up her mother enforces strict rules around how she lives and how she uses her magic. But secrets and half truths begin to spark doubt in Wren, when she falls for a handsome stranger and wants to live her life as she sees fit.
This is an interesting story about the choices of a mother and how keeping secrets even with the best of intentions can be costly. I enjoyed listening to this story, the narrator did a wonderful job.
I would say I wish I had been reading the physical book sometimes because I did want to reference back to the glossary at the beginning from time to time to sort out who was who. But other than that the audiobook was great.

The beginning was a bit slow but by the end I was very curious to learn more about the characters and where the next book will take them!

This is a great first book in the series! I appreciate that the world-building wasn’t overwhelming and the story was easy to follow. I really enjoyed the characters and the overall story. Can’t wait to read the next one!

A Touch of Shadows
The Lost Queen Book 1
by Jessica Thorne
narrated by Helen Keeley

***Five Fantasy Stars***

I really thought this was a good start to a new series. The story was easy to follow along with and it wasn't overwhelming with world building. That freaking cliff hanger! Holy Dang Crap!!!

I immediately requested book 2 from NetGalley but at most I have until September 5th to read on. I honestly don't know how anyone who read this book didn't immediately wish for book 2!

Wren has always felt the magic but it has to remain a secret to keep her life. She only uses it in secret to help people in need. Of course this means the secret comes out.

Finn serves his kingdom and swears to hunt down any who use the shadow magic. Of course this leads him into a pickle from which Wren saves him.

These events lead us on many twists and turns. Can they trust each other and work together? Or will their doubts ruin everything?

This story is an Adventure! It isn't YA because of one open door scene. I wouldn't call it spicy but that isn't to say it won't become more NA in the next two installments.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy Fantasy. The world building isn't as all encompassing as some (which I actually really appreciate) and it's easy to follow the story without getting tripped up trying to remember a lot.

Huge thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this story. Helen Keeley did a FANTASTIC job at narrating this story.

#ATouchOfShadows #JessicaThorne
#TheLostQueenBookOne #NetGalley
#SecondSky #ALCReview #Audiobook
#HelenKeeleyNarrator #Fantasy
#CliffHanger #ReadThisBook #Romance
#Magic #Royalty #ReadAllTheBooks

This was a solid start to a series, but I think it could have gone deeper and been longer. The magic system did fascinate me though and I’m intrigued by what may happen next. It just needed more depth to the characters and more conversation. I’m very interested in Elodie’s story and hope we get more of her in the next book. I listened to this on audio and the narration was fantastic. I personally don’t think the story gets muddled in audio for those who tend to steer away from fantasy on audio.

While the character development was decent, I found myself wanting more of Finn's backstory. Being the first book in a series, I'm hopeful that the gaps I noticed will be filled in future installments. I appreciated how the romantic connection between the main characters intertwined with the magic, making the insta-love trope feel questionable, even to them. The book left me curious about the origins of the war, and the magic had a Rapunzel vibe that wasn't fully explained. I'm definitely eager to continue the series to delve deeper into the characters and world-building. It's a great read for anyone who enjoys a damsel in distress, lost heir, insta-love, and magic. I'd give it a 3.5

Thanks to NetGalley for this ALC.