This is a very intricate and detail oriented book. It's written very well and is very plot driven. The court politics are VERY heavy which is a bit difficult for me to get through. However; the relationships and action around the politics were interesting enough to keep me entertained. My only major critique is that the characters themselves felt flat the stories and relationships were not but the personalities themselves were lacking to me. Overall I liked it, I didn't love it but it was a baseline good fantasy book.

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

This romantasy by Arcadia Rayne checks all of the boxes of a great romantasy. The story begins with an attack on the kingdom, and then we’re thrown into the POV of our main character, Thea. Thea has no memories of her past, but she contains the mark of Hyrax, god of the Underworld. She is the last known descendant of Hyrax. The story continues from there and develops beautifully as we watch Thea grow and learn more about who she is and who she wants to be. This story has so many of our favorite romantasy tropes. One bed, “who did this to you?”, found family, untold power, forbidden love, slow burn romance. All of the great tropes we love to kick our feet over. This story was a 5 star read for me and I can’t wait to read the next installment.

This story does contain some SA, so be mindful of your triggers when diving into it.

Thank you to Arcadia Rayne, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A fun and twisted story for sure. With no memory, but proof of her former life, we go through with the main character as she tries to find her way without those memories. Not knowing who to trust or what information is true, each decision weighs heavily.

The Rose in the Shadows was one of those books that pleasantly surprised me on many levels. When I first started reading it I felt somewhat sceptical... but after a couple of chapters I found myself hooked!.

The story had many layers of magic, politics and character growth which really does capture your attention entirely. I enjoyed this read!

*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publishers for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

"I couldn’t put this book down! The story was gripping, the characters felt real, and every chapter pulled me deeper. Totally worth the read!"

I would like to start by saying thank you for the arc! Any thoughts and feelings are just my honest opinions and I share them in hopes they're helpful!

This book had a plot that kicks into gear straight away so it's great for anyone who needs their attention grasped quickly. I do appreciate that the author was trying to world build and develop the plot. However I find the characters fell short for me, they weren't all that interesting and I found our main character Thea didn't inspire much emotion. I felt pity for her but not anything else.

The side characters (like Iris) were fun and I would've actually like to follow Iris because I found her to be quite interesting. Camilla is set up to be the generic mean girl, which I'm not a fan of. I was low key rooting for her because yeah I'd probably dislike Thea in real life too lol.

Clay was by far the worst part. He was so awful and I don't understand why Thea would ever fall for him except for him being the lesser of other evils. He flip flopped between being nice and understanding to being a meany who pulled rank for no reason. Like yes you're a prince, we know. You don't have to mention it every five minutes or whenever Thea says something you don't want to hear. They 'relationship' felt borderline abusive as he grabbed her and shouted at her. It seemed as though he liked having authority over her and controlling what she can say even when she wasn't saying anything bad or when others weren't around. Personally I didn't enjoy him as a MMC and I think that ruined the reading experience for me.

The memory loss trope is a fun one and I liked Thea trying to piece together who she is however the overall court and the king felt kind of bland. The king was a generic villain who was just you know...evil. The court and the council didn't feel fleshed out enough for me to actuvly care what was happening. I honestly just wanted Thea to jump ship and run off...maybe with Deminti lol. What can I say I prefer guards over a prince!

The Rose in the Shadows was a great twist of the usual romantasy, it has all the popular tropes but somehow managed to make it feel fresh and new.

The romance in this book had me hooked and the dynamics between every character all felt very deep and thought out

10/10

I loved the concept of this book and its unique magic system, however I just struggled to immerse myself in the story. I felt throughout the book there wasn’t really a main goal - was Thea wanting to be a council member? Or was she tracking down her memories? I always felt the romance went from 0 to 100, without much tension which there was supposed to be. Towards the end I did start to get into it more so I most likely will continue the series.

Forbidden Romance. Slow Burn. Dragon Shifters. Gods and Witches. Found Family. Yes Please.

Memories lost and full of unknown power, Theodora Moore tries to find answers from the mark on her chest, those within the Kingdom and her dreams, all while trying to battle with her feelings towards Prince Clayton Vail.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting lost in the world building and connecting with the characters in Arcadia Rayne's debut novel. The world building was done perfectly where I wasn't overwhelmed in description and information, where I could picture everything so clearly.

The prologue started off action packed, with questions I was dying to find the answers too. If you are looking for a fast-paced romantasy then this is definitely one to pick up. Perfect for first time romantasy readers.
The plot overall kept me turning pages needing answers and that final chapter done the job in wanting me to pick up book 2 ASAP. Talk about a cliffhanger. The intricacies of this world and power systems was not overwhelming for a fantasy but done to a point where you won't get lost or confused.

The slow burn, the banter... was everything I need from a romantasy. Then a the forbidden aspect. I was giggling and kicking my feet. I can't wait to see more of Clay and Thea in book 2.
I will say, I wish we had more training scenes of these two!

Please make sure you check the content warnings before reading.
Thank you Victory Editing Netgalley Co-op and Arcadia Rayne for the eARC of this book for an honest review.

This is such a wonderful debut novel. From the very beginning, we are thrown right into the story. Every chapter continued to be fast paced and action packed. And I loveddddd the magic system. As a long time fan of Percy Jackson, I am a sucker for stories involving gods and allllll the drama that comes with them.

Our FMC has wonderful character development throughout the book and by the end, I couldn’t help but truly admire her strength and resilience.

“But I did it then. I bowed to my people. Because who is it that truly rules a land, if not the people within it?”

This is a very slow burn romance. And a forbidden one at that. I am rooting so hard for Thea and Clay.

“I wanted so much, but above all, I wanted him.”

And let’s not forget to mention that ending?! I genuinely did not see it coming. I love when a book can surprise me. I just know the next book is going to be insane in the best way.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for this ARC!

I loved this book, I was easily sucked into the plot and wasn’t expecting the ending at all! Very grateful I have received an arc for book this book and the second one because after that ending I RAN to book number two! Can’t wait to see where this series goes. It’s really unique in the world building with nods towards Greek mythology but a interesting spin on it… would highly recommend

After looking at the other reviews, I’m questioning if we read the same book. The writing felt very juvenile at times, the plot felt predictable to me, & many of the characters felt as though they should be young teens—not adults. I kept waiting for this book to stand out, to shock me, to bring some kind of element to the table to keep me engaged. It fell very short. I’m a huge fantasy & romantasy reader. I’m constantly looking for new books that will take me on adventure I don’t want to put down. This book didn’t have it.

Immediate 5 star read! It has ALL the tropes you desire and I couldn’t get enough!
DRAGON SHIFTERS, Lost heir, elemental power, God descendants, fierce enemies to lovers, forbidden romance, dream walker, untouched power, unknown powers, found family… just to name a few!
You wake up with Thea and follow her on this journey of rediscovery, with lost memories and a sassy, fierce attitude. The slow burn, forbidden romance is to DIE for with a protective MMC with glittering golden eyes, with a tendency to breathe fire and gain some scales when he’s angered *smirk*
The world building is amazing with a strong found family built up throughout the story and I couldn’t recommend it enough!

The Rose in the Shadows is a must-read for anyone who loves a fast-paced, romantasy! TRINS is the first book of the series and by the time I reached the last page, I wasn't sure who wanted answers more: Thea or ME!!!! I think by now we are all a little bit weary of the "trials" trope so, I loved how the author wove the trope into the plot without making book one consist of only trials. In fact, I was even asking myself when I finished reading, "wait, what about the trials??". I am excited to see how the characters and plot progress in book 2 but I must confess that I am not entirely sold on Clayton as Thea's HEA and am secretly hoping another MMC makes an appearance in the next book.

Thank you so much to Arcadia Raye & NetGalley for the Arc Opportunity

"The Rose in the Shadows" is a truly remarkable book.  We initially know little about the main female character, but we follow her journey as she explores friendship, love, and politics, gradually discovering her identity and place in this new world.

I found the magic system captivating; each house in the kingdom is associated with a god, granting them unique powers.

The romantic tension between the main female character and the male character was intensely compelling.

I eagerly anticipate the next book and am curious to see how the story unfolds.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher of *The Rose in the Shadows* for the wonderful opportunity to review this ARC.

This book! THIS! BOOK! I slipped right into this world and never wanted out!

After waking up in an infirmary in the Athenian castle, with no memory of who she is or how she got there, Theodora is thrust into a world of court politics and manoeuvring. She bears The Mark of Hyrax, labelling her as the last descendant of the House of Hyrax. Which makes her valuable and a target. Theodora needs to uncover the secrets of her past, all while training to wield her newfound powers, avoiding "The Dragon" King of Athenia, who wants to use her for political gain, trying her best not to fall for the annoyingly handsome Prince Clayton that seems to want nothing to do with her, yet is always there when she needs him, oh, and figuring out who the heck keeps trying to kill her!

This book needs to be on everyone’s radar! The world was full and developed, giving you twists you don't see coming. The characters were impeccable, found family at its finest. I was infatuated with Theodora and Clayton's slow burn, forbidden romance, pinning... ughhh!!! It was delicious! The world, the magic, everything! Did I mention the cliffhanger? I want more; I need more; please give me more!

4.5 ⭐

Awoken with no memory, Theadora Moore can only rely on the mark inked on her for answers. Thea learns her mark represents that she is the last Descendant of Hyrax, the God of the Dead, a house thought to be extinct. Thea becomes engrained in the politics of Athenia, destined to become a member of the Royal Council, and now has magical powers she must learn to control. With assassination attempts and threats from the Dragon king become common occurrences, she turns to Prince Clayton Vail, crown prince of the kingdom, for guidance. Will the prince ensure her survival or will he be her downfall?

I was incredibly impressed that this was Arcadia's debut novel as it is more than just a romantasy - it touches upon grief, PTSD, addiction, mental health, and shows readers that you are never truly powerless (even when you feel like you might be). Thea's strength of acknowledging her weaknesses and struggles while still pushing to do the right thing, carry on with her duties, and being the best version of herself is inspiring. I think we all face moments when we think the pressures of the world fall on our shoulders like Thea. This story shows that when you believe in yourself and confide in a support system, you are stronger than you could have ever imagined. Thea's resilience to oppressive authority and sticking up for her beliefs is admirable. I loved her character, especially how brave she was despite not knowing her past or her own strength.

Clay quickly stole a piece of my heart with his intentions, caring soul, and his complex backstory. The slow burn forbidden romance filled with yearning, subtle gestures to show affection, and heartbreaking twists had my soul aching. I am excited to see where their love story will go (and it best be in the right direction!). The secondary characters were all complex as well. Thea, alone in this new world, manages to surround herself with friends that become her family. There were many betrayals that occurred by the end of the book, and each one pierced new holes in my heart. I grew attached to many of Thea and Clay's friends in ways that I didn't expect. I wonder if and when the betrayers will be able to find a way back into Thea's life.

The world building was intricate, in a non overwhelming, digestible way. I love how elements of the lore are a play on Greek mythology. As the reader, it was fun learning about the world as Thea was learning the history and piecing together parts of her past.

Overall, I cannot wait to read the second installment in this series. This book is perfect for those that enjoy:
✨ slow burn romance
✨ interesting world building
✨ amnesia
✨ magic and shifters
✨ badass FMC
✨ royals and politics
✨ one bed

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Rose in the Shadows - Arcadia Rayne
5✨
I devoured this book, it had me hooked from page one! Usually I am not the biggest fan of protagonist with amnesia but here it really worked. The world building was great, the plot and characters amazing. The twists and turns just kept on coming and I am here for it. I adored our FMC, she is fierce, loyal, strong minded and gosh is she powerful. Clay is the perfect love interest, forbidden and protective. Her found family is great and they all have such nice chemistry. I can’t wait to dive into book 2 of this series and see what happens next! If you like the following,
🥀Forgotten past
🥀Powerful FMC
🥀Enemies to lovers
🥀Kingdoms and courts
🥀Found family
🥀Mythology
🥀Descendants of Gods
🥀Captive
🥀Dragons
this book is for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Arcadia for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily💕

I recently discovered "The Rose in the Shadows" when I requested an Advanced Reader Copy of its sequel, "The Crown of the Dark Prince". "The Rose in the Shadows" was a compelling and fast-paced read. I appreciated the elements of fantasy, court politics, and the mystery surrounding Thea, along with the theme of betrayal. From the outset, it was evident that this book would be difficult to put down, and I eagerly anticipated the second book. Although the ending was somewhat jarring, being able to dive right into "The Crown of the Dark Prince" eased the ending for me. Overall, I really enjoyed reading “The Rose in the Shadows” and look forward Rayne’s next works. 3.75 stars.

Okay wow! This book was so fascinating I’m so glad I got approved for both books so I can instantly continue on!!
I devoured this book wait no… is they a word that means more than devoured? If so I mean that.
The plot was fast paced and easy to follow full of fantasy, mystery and a whole lot of betrayal.
The romance aspect had me giggling and kicking my feet and I genuinely had to stop and put the book down at some parts(in the best way!)
This was one of the best Debut novels I’ve read in a WHILE