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rellimreads's review
4.0
Note: These books do not stand alone. While each book follows the relationship of one couple, there’s a storyline threaded throughout all of them. They need to be listened to in order. Also, reviews may contain spoilers to previous books.
I loved this story - partially because it was so emotionally gut wrenching in many ways. I felt so bad for Shadow struggling to acclimate to the world and bearing the derision of the Kings of Hell and Gray in particular. However, when they got together it is amazing.
I also really enjoyed the action/suspense/mystery of continuing to serve Baal and defeat him via Magpie. It leads to some really great twists and turns.
I wish things were a little more solid than an HFN for Gray & Shadow - but it’s the nature of these stories and the series as a whole. I’m looking forward to how things are going to wrap up in the final book.
Narration:
Joel Leslie continues to do a fantastic job. The cast expands and with it more accents and personalities. His flawless narration makes it easy to binge listen to the series.
I loved this story - partially because it was so emotionally gut wrenching in many ways. I felt so bad for Shadow struggling to acclimate to the world and bearing the derision of the Kings of Hell and Gray in particular. However, when they got together it is amazing.
I also really enjoyed the action/suspense/mystery of continuing to serve Baal and defeat him via Magpie. It leads to some really great twists and turns.
I wish things were a little more solid than an HFN for Gray & Shadow - but it’s the nature of these stories and the series as a whole. I’m looking forward to how things are going to wrap up in the final book.
Narration:
Joel Leslie continues to do a fantastic job. The cast expands and with it more accents and personalities. His flawless narration makes it easy to binge listen to the series.
_lindsay_reads_a_lot_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.5
purple676's review against another edition
5.0
oof this book was absolutely Golden. Honestly the best of the series. I loved it so much I can’t even put into words. It was everything I wanted and more. I adore both Grey and Shadow. I would die for them. I would kill for them. I would do literally anything for them. They’re perfect. just perfect. the fucking best. and I loved that Grey chose Shadow over everything else. I swear this book made me drown in so many emotions. Oh and and really loved Elliot and Knight in this book. like i didn’t expect it but they won me over with their support. I hated Grey’s dad but I loved his brother. Everytime Grey thought about him I just wanted to cry. I was also so pissed when the gang told grey to cut off Shadow’s finger. like how dare you? leave my poor sweet babies alone. because let’s be honest Beast and Knigt would do the exact same thing Grey did when it comes to Laurent and Elliot but moving past that, this book was pure perfection❤️ I will cherrish it with all my heart forever
carosi's review
3.0
WHAAAAAA - I hated that book and I am struggling because I hated it and I love this series so much.
I rated the book with three stars because it is a fucking KA Merikan book so even if I hated it there were a lot of good parts - damn that women can write.
But to the protagonists, are you shitting me Gray is nothing but an asshole to Shadow but he can nothing do about the connection he feels. That is kind of an unhealthy start if you ask me. The whole relationship is a disaster from the beginning to the end. And yes we have some parts were our beloved couples from the previous books come to play but that fact couldn't save the book for me.
Nontheless there is no question I am going to read the next book but please let Gray and Shadow not be a big part of the story... but wait they have to be because THE FUCKED THE REST OF THE WORLD OVER.... FUCKERS!!!!
I rated the book with three stars because it is a fucking KA Merikan book so even if I hated it there were a lot of good parts - damn that women can write.
But to the protagonists, are you shitting me Gray is nothing but an asshole to Shadow but he can nothing do about the connection he feels. That is kind of an unhealthy start if you ask me. The whole relationship is a disaster from the beginning to the end. And yes we have some parts were our beloved couples from the previous books come to play but that fact couldn't save the book for me.
Nontheless there is no question I am going to read the next book but please let Gray and Shadow not be a big part of the story... but wait they have to be because THE FUCKED THE REST OF THE WORLD OVER.... FUCKERS!!!!
haletostilinski1's review
5.0
4.5 stars!
This and Knight & Elliot's story has to be my favorite of the series so far.
It was a rough start for Gray & Shadow (Gray's literal shadow), who was made into a being by Baal for the deal Gray made to save Jake, in which his shadow has to sacrifice some blood or something three times on each new moon, and then go back to being Gray's shadow.
Only, Shadow becomes his own person, his own entity, and he's sweet and kind and gentle. Gray thinks the worst at first, that because he came from his deal with Baal that Shadow is sent there to being Baal's tool for chaos or something and that he's a monster. But really, Shadow has no ulterior motive and is just Gray's shadow, and he doesn't know the ways of the human world yet.
It takes some time for Gray to realize that, and he is quite cruel to Shadow at times at first, but once things change, the love these two share is immense. I enjoyed their chemistry together so much.
The only thing that frustrated me was the ending, hence taking off .5 stars. It didn't feel complete, like things with Gray and his father, Rev, were still horrible, Rev was still horrible to Shadow by the end, things were tense between Gray & the rest of the gang, they seem no closer to defeating Baal, and it just didn't feel complete. Very open ended.
Gray & Shadow are in a could place and a tentative HFN, which was good, but I just wanted a more solid ending, a more secure ending.
Also what Gray & Shadow do is pretty crazy, but...they really were running out of options. And I don't know what Beast did with his ruby for Laurent, but it had better be a good explanation for it, is all I'm saying.
So overall I loved this, seeing how these two fell in love, and how much care and kindness Shadow brought into Gray's life.
I'm a little apprehensive about the last book, but I will still read it and hopefully Baal will be defeated once and for all.
Onto the next!
This and Knight & Elliot's story has to be my favorite of the series so far.
It was a rough start for Gray & Shadow (Gray's literal shadow), who was made into a being by Baal for the deal Gray made to save Jake, in which his shadow has to sacrifice some blood or something three times on each new moon, and then go back to being Gray's shadow.
Only, Shadow becomes his own person, his own entity, and he's sweet and kind and gentle. Gray thinks the worst at first, that because he came from his deal with Baal that Shadow is sent there to being Baal's tool for chaos or something and that he's a monster. But really, Shadow has no ulterior motive and is just Gray's shadow, and he doesn't know the ways of the human world yet.
It takes some time for Gray to realize that, and he is quite cruel to Shadow at times at first, but once things change, the love these two share is immense. I enjoyed their chemistry together so much.
The only thing that frustrated me was the ending, hence taking off .5 stars. It didn't feel complete, like things with Gray and his father, Rev, were still horrible, Rev was still horrible to Shadow by the end, things were tense between Gray & the rest of the gang, they seem no closer to defeating Baal, and it just didn't feel complete. Very open ended.
Gray & Shadow are in a could place and a tentative HFN, which was good, but I just wanted a more solid ending, a more secure ending.
Also what Gray & Shadow do is pretty crazy, but...they really were running out of options. And I don't know what Beast did with his ruby for Laurent, but it had better be a good explanation for it, is all I'm saying.
So overall I loved this, seeing how these two fell in love, and how much care and kindness Shadow brought into Gray's life.
I'm a little apprehensive about the last book, but I will still read it and hopefully Baal will be defeated once and for all.
Onto the next!
iam's review
3.0
I loved Gray as a side character in the other books of this series so I was super excited for Gray's Shadow. Sadly, I didn't click with him as a main character at all.
I did like Shadow, though. The way he, as a demon-y shadow being, tried to figure out his newfound humanity often made me coo about him, and I loved how genuine and untained by society's expectations, gender roles and toxic masculinity he was.
That said, many of the things he did and said, especially in the beginning, were super creepy and partly disturbing.
So I was not surprised when Gray reacted badly to that and treated him horribly. It made sense given Shadow's threatening actions and what he was. But it still made me feel bad. Their relationship was abusive and made me feel terrible for a big chunk of the book. Then when it got better it's a sudden 180° turn that baffled me.
Generally a lot of things didn't make sense to me in this book. Especially Gray, his thoughts and actions were often left me reeling or confused. I related to him regarding how introverted he is and I liked that he was obviously on the a-spectrum (demisexual to be exact) but the depricating way he talked down to anyone who didn't feel as he does was alienating.
I simply did not like many of the things he did, the decisions he made or conclusions he came to, and thus I also did not enjoy much of the plot throughout the book. It also felt like there were many unexplored side threads that never really gained any relevance aside from being hinted at or mentioned once which confused me.
Gray's Shadow ties in with the rest of the series though it felt a bit disconnected from the overall happenings compared to what went down in book3.
I really like this series and I'm looking forward to the next and final book, especially since we'll get to see Laurent & Beast as protagonists again!
I did like Shadow, though. The way he, as a demon-y shadow being, tried to figure out his newfound humanity often made me coo about him, and I loved how genuine and untained by society's expectations, gender roles and toxic masculinity he was.
That said, many of the things he did and said, especially in the beginning, were super creepy and partly disturbing.
So I was not surprised when Gray reacted badly to that and treated him horribly. It made sense given Shadow's threatening actions and what he was. But it still made me feel bad. Their relationship was abusive and made me feel terrible for a big chunk of the book. Then when it got better it's a sudden 180° turn that baffled me.
Generally a lot of things didn't make sense to me in this book. Especially Gray, his thoughts and actions were often left me reeling or confused. I related to him regarding how introverted he is and I liked that he was obviously on the a-spectrum (demisexual to be exact) but the depricating way he talked down to anyone who didn't feel as he does was alienating.
I simply did not like many of the things he did, the decisions he made or conclusions he came to, and thus I also did not enjoy much of the plot throughout the book. It also felt like there were many unexplored side threads that never really gained any relevance aside from being hinted at or mentioned once which confused me.
Gray's Shadow ties in with the rest of the series though it felt a bit disconnected from the overall happenings compared to what went down in book3.
I really like this series and I'm looking forward to the next and final book, especially since we'll get to see Laurent & Beast as protagonists again!
leahkarge's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Blood, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Murder, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Violence
karentje's review
5.0
Stunning paranormal MC romance! The emotional connection between the MC's is incredible! Off the charts!
This was a gut-wrenching, deeply emotional hurt/comfort story. So unexpected against the backdrop of the whole "saving the world from Baal and utter destruction" storyline that has all the characters very much preoccupied, and understandably so.
Gray and Shadow are both quite atypical heroes, also very much not your stereotype bikers.
Gray's sexual preferences and demisexuality have always made him feel like an outsider and Shadow is the perfect vulnerable and gentle giant, so at odds with his physical appearance.
It takes Gray some time to see past Shadow's "monster status" and to open himself up to the possibility of tenderness and love between them.
In the beginning, Gray is quite awful to Shadow actually, though he does have his reasons. Shadow isn't always great at respecting boundaries and people's personal space. These are concepts he is wholly unfamiliar with.
The writing is superb, fluent and evocative. The more suspenseful scenes were very well paced and some had a really great eerie quality to them. Befitting the many creatures that go bump in the night who populate this story's world.
My favorite parts of the book, though, where all the sweet little moments between Shadow and Gray, they are just so affectionate with each other.
I'm not all that into MC stories, and I had a difficult time warming up to some of the secondary characters. There's a certain point in the story where even Gray has doubts about his "family", and I could totally see why.
That being said, the world-building in this book is amazing and (darkly) original. The secondary characters are all interesting, if not all immediately likable, and intriguing in their own right.
I'm very curious to see what will happen next and if/how they will save the world.
This was a gut-wrenching, deeply emotional hurt/comfort story. So unexpected against the backdrop of the whole "saving the world from Baal and utter destruction" storyline that has all the characters very much preoccupied, and understandably so.
Gray and Shadow are both quite atypical heroes, also very much not your stereotype bikers.
Gray's sexual preferences and demisexuality have always made him feel like an outsider and Shadow is the perfect vulnerable and gentle giant, so at odds with his physical appearance.
It takes Gray some time to see past Shadow's "monster status" and to open himself up to the possibility of tenderness and love between them.
In the beginning, Gray is quite awful to Shadow actually, though he does have his reasons. Shadow isn't always great at respecting boundaries and people's personal space. These are concepts he is wholly unfamiliar with.
The writing is superb, fluent and evocative. The more suspenseful scenes were very well paced and some had a really great eerie quality to them. Befitting the many creatures that go bump in the night who populate this story's world.
My favorite parts of the book, though, where all the sweet little moments between Shadow and Gray, they are just so affectionate with each other.
I'm not all that into MC stories, and I had a difficult time warming up to some of the secondary characters. There's a certain point in the story where even Gray has doubts about his "family", and I could totally see why.
That being said, the world-building in this book is amazing and (darkly) original. The secondary characters are all interesting, if not all immediately likable, and intriguing in their own right.
I'm very curious to see what will happen next and if/how they will save the world.
caiacassiopeia's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
5.0
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