3.89 AVERAGE

reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

3.5/5

I can't decide if I liked this more or less than the first one, but it was a very good time either way!

also please tell me I'm not the only one who for a while was convinced Eryx was a chupacabra. once they mentioned the mysterious deaths of sheep in his home village I was basically that "I've connected the dots" meme. frankly I still think I was somewhat robbed of a chupacabra romance. chupacabromance?
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
dark lighthearted reflective medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
fast-paced

I liked this one better than the first book. The end felt a little rushed, though, because of how easily
the king let it go that Eryx might be a threat to him
. I like the slow burn, enemies to lovers trope.
challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
dark inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous mysterious medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

If there's one thing Tricia Levenseller knows how to do it's write an opening line, I'll tell you that for free!

I loved The Shadow Between Us so I was both nervous and excited for this. Although there was no need to be nervous, Tricia has original characters and beautiful loves stories that are fast paced down to a science. I really enjoyed how this unfolded and at how both MCs were being deceitful but for very different reasons. I did enjoy the reappearance of previous characters but would have loved a bit more on the world building.

Levenseller is easily becoming an autobuy author for me.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Pushkin Press | Pushkin Children's Books for a free e-arc in exchange of an honest opinion.

It had been a long time since i read the first book in this series however when i started this book it all came back to me very quickly. It was so fun and well paced and i loved the banter between the two main characters- the commentary on the role of woman in society was done really well. Very easy read and would definitely recommend!