A debut fantasy romance filled with hope after heartbreak, secrets, and betrayal, as a dancer-turned-spy must decide how far she will go to secure her freedom
My protector is gone, revealed to be a monster. But I remind myself that I am not a damsel. I’m no princess bound within a tower.
I am a shadow.
Vasalie Moran was once a dancer in King Illian’s court, until he framed her for murder. Barely surviving her two years in the dungeons, she’s suddenly called to face her king. He offers her a deal: become his spy at the six-week royal Gathering and he’ll grant her freedom.
As Illian’s orders grow bloody and dangerous, forcing her to harm and betray those around her, Vasalie discovers that the monster she serves may be aligned with a bigger monster—one far closer to home. With her world threatened, Vasalie enlists the help of Illian’s brother and greatest adversary, the infamous King of the East.
As the rivalry between brothers escalates, with Vasalie caught in the middle, the horrifying truth of her past comes to light. If she wants to survive, she must decide who to trust, who to fight for, and how much of her soul she’s willing to damn in the process.
Review
I really wanted to love this book. The premise was strong, and I thought the dancing element was a unique twist. But one of my main issues was that I just couldn’t connect with Vasalie. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but two things definitely didn’t help: first, she wasn’t a reliable narrator, and second, she came off as really whiny.
The love interest was fine—he gave off major Rhysand vibes—but I figured out his motives long before Vasalie did, which made her obliviousness frustrating.
There’s a lot of info-dumping throughout the book, which made the story feel heavy and at times overwhelming. It was also super confusing—maybe that was intentional, but if so… mission accomplished. The plot itself was fairly standard, but I struggled to keep track of the many rulers and political factions. It just felt like too much.
All of that aside, what really killed the book for me was the ending. It wrapped up with a trope I personally can’t stand, which left a bad taste. I’m not sure if I’ll pick up the next book because of it, which is a shame.
My Rating: 3/5 🌟🌟🌟
About the Author
Brittney Arena is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of A Dance of Lies.
With a background in both brand and visual design, she has always found solace in art. However, after a challenging health journey, she turned to writing, and what began as a coping mechanism evolved into a journey of exploration, allowing her to traverse new worlds from wherever she might be.
When she’s not penning tales, Brittney spends her time obsessing over k-dramas, playing with her camera, and waging war against ungodly amounts of pet hair. She currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and two pups, and is always ready for the next adventure, whether it be on page or in real life.s.
*I received an ARC of this book from Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest, voluntary review
