LOVE LOVE LOVE this book!

First, let me agree with everyone else who has read this book...if you love From Blood and Ash, this is the next series for you.

Arcadia is showing her storytelling chops with this debut novel! I was drawn in from the very beginning with the twists and turns, engaging characters, and the obvious sexual tension between MCs Clay and Thea.

The basic premise of the book is Thea (or is that her name??) arrives in Athenia with no memory of who she was before she wakes up after causing a bit of chaos. Her journey begins with learning she is the last Descendent of the House of Hyrax after finding the mark on her chest. Clay, House of Zion and Crown Prince, is initially non-trusting but the more time they spend together, lets just say HOLY SEXUAL TENSION. Thea begins her life in Athenia but is not comfortable. The Dragon, Clay's dad and the King, well...lets just say he is not the nicest. He has his own agenda for Thea, one she is definitely not on board with but is scared. The Dragon uses the relationships she is developing with her core group of friends, especially Iris (LOVE HER!) against her in order to bend her to his will.

The Rose in the Shadows is Thea's journey to learning more of who she is, discovering her power, and finding her place. It is a journey I am excited to watch unfold.

Is Book #2 here yet? Are we there yet? Help!

Thank you to Arcadia Rayne and Net Galley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't move away and was invested in it from the first page!
The Rose in the Shadows by Arcadia Rayne was such a magnet story!
The writing pulled me in from the first page and I stayed glued to every word. It's so well-done.
I can’t wait for book two!

This book completely pulled me in from the start! Theadora’s journey is intense, mysterious, and full of intrigue, making it impossible to put down. The world-building is rich and immersive, blending magic, court politics, and dark secrets in a way that keeps you hooked.

I loved the slow-burn romance—it felt natural, filled with tension and depth, rather than rushed. The chemistry between the characters is electric, and the twists along the way kept me guessing. If you enjoy fantasy with strong heroines, a bit of mystery, and a touch of romance, The Rose in the Shadows is a must-read. I’m already excited for the next book in the series!

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

I wanted to read this book first as the second book is coming out in may.

Can i just say i loved this book, i enjoyed the plot the twists.. honestly the end i was like oh god damn.

I cannot wait to read the second one which i have been kindly sent to me as an e-arc.

clay is the man i need in my life i couldnt put this book down even if i wanted to, i managed to read this in a day so that says to me that i very much enjoyed this book!

Let me start out by saying, this book is UNIQUE. I have read so many fantasy books where it seems like everything is going to be the exact same. This book specifically was very refreshing. The Rose in the Shadows by Arcadia Rayne is a captivating blend of magic, mystery, and romance that had me hooked from the very first page. The book introduces Theadora Moore, a young woman with no memory of her past, but a powerful magic and a mark on her chest that reveal she is the last Descendant of Hyrax, the God of the Dead. This unique premise sets the stage for a thrilling adventure filled with political intrigue, danger, and a slow-burn romance that kept me eagerly flipping the pages.

What I absolutely loved about this book was the slow-burn romance between Thea and Prince Clayton Vail. Their relationship develops gradually, with tension building at just the right pace. It's the kind of romance where every moment feels earned, and I found myself rooting for their connection while eagerly anticipating the next twist. The chemistry between them was electric, even when the plot was centered on action and danger, and I couldn’t get enough of their dynamic. This was the TRUE definition of a SLOW-BURN ROMANCE.

The action-packed scenes were another highlight. The suspense and danger kept escalating, turning the book into a true page-turner. I found myself staying up late just to find out what would happen next, as every chapter brought new revelations, betrayals, and intense confrontations. The high stakes of Thea's situation—being targeted by dark forces and forced into a web of court politics—kept me on the edge of my seat. I actively stayed up until 3am to finish this book.

I was also drawn to the unique plot of a protagonist who wakes up with no memory of who she was, only to discover she is the heir to a powerful and dangerous legacy. The mystery of Thea’s past, combined with her powerful abilities, created an intriguing narrative that kept me guessing about her true potential and the enemies lurking in the shadows.

The world-building was immersive, with Arcadia Rayne creating a vivid palace setting full of secrets and hidden dangers. The political intrigue added another layer of complexity to the story, making the stakes feel even higher. The tension between characters and the ever-present danger made every moment feel intense.

In summary, The Rose in the Shadows is an exciting, well-paced fantasy with a wonderful mix of action, magic, and a slow-burn romance that will keep you hooked. While I loved most aspects of the story, the only thing keeping me from giving it a full 5/5 stars is the pacing in a few spots, but overall, it was a fantastic read that I couldn’t put down.

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 The Rose in the Shadows
✒️ Arcadia Rayne
💫💫💫💫

Thank you to @netgalley for an eARC in exchange for a honest review.

I read this book in 2 days! The prologue absolutely sucked me in and I did not resurface until I found out who Thea was. I have never read a book with an amnesia trope, mainly because I wasn't quite sure how they would be to read, but this one was amazing. You felt a part of the world and learned it through Thea as she tried to uncover her secrets and keep her heart in one piece.

This has a slow burn romance that makes you want to yell at them but when it happens it is perfect.

The book is a little predictable, hence the loss of a star , but it was still ana amazing read.

This book respectfully wasn’t a good match for me at this time, I may come back to it at some point in the future to give it a second shot.

The arc ebook had an odd format of a grey background with white italic font that was honestly throwing me off the entire time and the writing felt to me a little juvenile, however going off all the rave reviews it does appear that I am the outlier here so don’t let my initial thoughts deter you from trying this book if it sounds interesting to you.

If I end up reading more I will update these opinions at a later date! Thank you for the gifted copy!

An epic story that left me needing book two immediately.

I absolutely loved the mythology aspect of this book and wish I could read more about the Gods and Goddesses of Athenia. This book follows the story of Thea, who wakes in an infirmary with no memories of how she got there or of her past. Thrust into a life she never asked for, she must navigate the politics of court, and finding the answers of who she is all while falling for the one person she can never have.

Arcadia Rayne gives us a slow burn, forbidden romance that will have readers guessing until the end.

Perfect for fans of mythology inspired stories.

The Rose in the Shadows
Overall Rating~ 4.75 stars
Themes~ Memory Loss, Forbidden Romance, Courtly Conflicts, Gods & Humans Conflicts
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Summary Analysis~ A slow-burn, forbidden romance paired with complex world building and a unique mythology system makes "The Rose in the Shadows" an excellent read for those who like Romantasy! The prosperous kingdom of Athenia is ruled by a council of the gods’ descendants with their leader being “the Dragon”, the descendant of Zion, who is the “King of the Gods”. All gods are represented on the council except for House Hyrax, the God of the Dead, with the lineage thought to be extinct until a young woman arrives and changes the politics and fates for all of those at the court. The main character Theadora is thought to be the unexpected heir to Hyrax’s lineage and has severe memory loss. To stay alive, she must make allies at court and in doing so she becomes close to the crown prince, Clayton. In this complexly built world, Thea’s budding, forbidden romance with prince Clayton, the complex history of the gods and their past wars, and the courtly politics make this an all around bingeable read.

Standout Characters~
~ Theadora: A FMC that gains depth as the story progresses and maintains her likability throughout
~ Clayton: He shows the clear conflict in his affection toward Thea and the responsibility of his role as Prince

Standout Aspects~
~ The complex history of the gods
~ The cliffhanger ending with us wondering the truth about what we have learned in the last few chapters…
~ The unique prologue opening, I love the POV shift and how unique this was
~ The pacing never dragged for me! It was a read I didn’t want to put down

Wishes~
~I wish there were a few more reminders about the gods and their specific powers when they were brought up later in the story. I needed to lookup their names to refresh my memory to follow along the story, specifically in the culminating chapters as the story moved fast
~ I wish Thea’s dreams were made more “clear” to her early on given the seemingly obvious hints and signals

4.25/5

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, this book was addictive! I was hooked from the first page.

The Rose in the Shadows perfectly blends politics, romance, friendships, and struggles.

I really like Thea as a character and think she grew a lot throughout the book.

Some things happened that I wasn't expecting, and I love that!

Such a great book, I'm so excited to read the ARC for book 2! Can't wait to see more of Clayton!!

Okay wow this was SO fun! I am so grateful to have received this and the second book ARC which i am now so excited for. This book series is perfect if you like found family, politics, SLOW BURN ROMANCE (my fav), magic, lost memories!
I am a big loved of forbidden romance so best believe i was hooked on this book. I was actually kicking my feet giggling at the fmc and the mmc it was incredible romance.
This was so full of action i was sat on the edge of my seat it was such a wild ride i loved every second!
It follows Thea, a girl who wakes up with no memory but carries a mark linking her to a powerful family. As she discovers her abilities and navigates life at court, she must also avoid angering the dragon, the ruler of Athenia. With growing threats, shocking truths, and unexpected feelings for the dragon’s son, this book is hard to put down. I cannot wait for the next book.