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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
So I enjoyed this way more than I thought I would? I gobbled this up, mainly because I’m a sucker for the arranged marriage trope, it seems. There was some serious Bridge Kingdom vibes in here. And it frustrates me (in a good way)! My one complaint is that, while I read through this fairly quickly, it still didn’t need to be so long considering the small amount of events that occurred throughout the book. Good read, will immediately start the next in the series.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
Kind of like sitting down with a bowl of popcorn while watching tv, you can easily eat the it all without too much thought.
If you DO think about it too much, there are a mix of plot holes/underdevelopments and deus ex machinas just to drive the plot to where it's wanted at the end. Definitely better in the first half-ish, started to lose me after that.
If you DO think about it too much, there are a mix of plot holes/underdevelopments and deus ex machinas just to drive the plot to where it's wanted at the end. Definitely better in the first half-ish, started to lose me after that.
Bride of the Shadow King captured me from the opening chapter, with a princess consigned to a convent, sibling bickering during a wild carriage ride . . . and an attack by fae riding unicorns with flaming horns atop their heads! With my curiosity already stoked, Princess Faraine quickly endeared herself to me, and King Vor ensured I'd see this through to the end.
What I appreciated most about this was that Sylvia Mercedes crafted a proper romantasy, a book that would be entirely serviceable as either a fantasy or a romance, but which becomes completely captivating in how she intertwines the two, weaving a story that's stronger than the sum of its parts. Both Faraine and Vor are strong characters, equally capable of carrying the fantasy, and their slow-burn romance really worked for me. It helps that they both have a strong cast of supporting characters who grow and evolve over the course of the book - although, I am sad to say, the woman who excited me the most does not live to see the story through to the end.
There's magic and mythology here, along with a wonderful degree of worldbuilding, especially in the underground realm of the troldfolk. Usually, when it comes to fantasy, I'm all about the forests, the mountains, and the seas, but here I was utterly consumed by the crystal lighting, the racing rivers, the gaping chasms, and the construction underground. I wanted to wander down there and explore their world, even with the terrifying dangers stalking the depths. Both the humans above and the troldfolk below have something they need from the arranged marriage, an alliance against their own enemies, but the truth is, there are evils within both ruling families that make me very uncomfortable.
As for what I want from the next book? Some answers about what lies beneath Mythanar, the truth about Vor's step-mom and her creepy priest, to know whether Faraine's father intends to honor the alliance; and (hopefully) more of the fae and their flaming steeds.
Well-paced and perfectly detailed, Bride of the Shadow King is a book worthy of its characters. I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, but coming out the end, I'm eager to pick up the next two books in the series.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/11/11/falling-in-love-with-bride-of-the-shadow-king-by-sylvia-mercedes/
What I appreciated most about this was that Sylvia Mercedes crafted a proper romantasy, a book that would be entirely serviceable as either a fantasy or a romance, but which becomes completely captivating in how she intertwines the two, weaving a story that's stronger than the sum of its parts. Both Faraine and Vor are strong characters, equally capable of carrying the fantasy, and their slow-burn romance really worked for me. It helps that they both have a strong cast of supporting characters who grow and evolve over the course of the book - although, I am sad to say, the woman who excited me the most does not live to see the story through to the end.
There's magic and mythology here, along with a wonderful degree of worldbuilding, especially in the underground realm of the troldfolk. Usually, when it comes to fantasy, I'm all about the forests, the mountains, and the seas, but here I was utterly consumed by the crystal lighting, the racing rivers, the gaping chasms, and the construction underground. I wanted to wander down there and explore their world, even with the terrifying dangers stalking the depths. Both the humans above and the troldfolk below have something they need from the arranged marriage, an alliance against their own enemies, but the truth is, there are evils within both ruling families that make me very uncomfortable.
As for what I want from the next book? Some answers about what lies beneath Mythanar, the truth about Vor's step-mom and her creepy priest, to know whether Faraine's father intends to honor the alliance; and (hopefully) more of the fae and their flaming steeds.
Well-paced and perfectly detailed, Bride of the Shadow King is a book worthy of its characters. I wasn't sure what to expect going into it, but coming out the end, I'm eager to pick up the next two books in the series.
https://sallybend.wordpress.com/2024/11/11/falling-in-love-with-bride-of-the-shadow-king-by-sylvia-mercedes/
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-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
This was surprisingly a really fun read, however I did not get any answers about a single thing in this entire book!
However I did enjoy every second.
Faraine is a fun main character, I enjoy that she is so deep in her own head that 1/8 of the book is her thoughts. She is a really good example of a soft main character that is strong in her own way.
I really enjoyed the side characters, they thought something new and fun to the story with differing personalities and growth opportunities!
The setting was super interactive, mysterious, and ever changing! All of the problems in the plot are confusing and changing. You know something is going to happen but you aren’t sure what it is. But I’m excited to find out!
Vor is surprisingly really healthy of a MMC and also a fun MMC! I don’t know how much I trust his court, but that’s what book 2 is for!
However I did enjoy every second.
Faraine is a fun main character, I enjoy that she is so deep in her own head that 1/8 of the book is her thoughts. She is a really good example of a soft main character that is strong in her own way.
I really enjoyed the side characters, they thought something new and fun to the story with differing personalities and growth opportunities!
The setting was super interactive, mysterious, and ever changing! All of the problems in the plot are confusing and changing. You know something is going to happen but you aren’t sure what it is. But I’m excited to find out!
Vor is surprisingly really healthy of a MMC and also a fun MMC! I don’t know how much I trust his court, but that’s what book 2 is for!
DNFed at 51%
Once it became clear that Faraine was to take her sister’s place, while looking like her sister, I knew I would find the rest of the plot uncomfortable
Plots that involved the MC having feelings possibly for two sisters, which from Goodread reviews sounds like what happens here, even though he doesn’t know it’s Faraine, just give me a yucky feeling
I was also annoyed early on how he made a comment about whether perhaps he could grow to love Faraine’s looks but then instantly seemed to find her sister attractive.
I’m sure this is a storyline that will grip others, but it wasn’t one for me.
Thank you Netgalley & the publishers for giving me a chance to read this!
Once it became clear that Faraine was to take her sister’s place, while looking like her sister, I knew I would find the rest of the plot uncomfortable
Plots that involved the MC having feelings possibly for two sisters, which from Goodread reviews sounds like what happens here, even though he doesn’t know it’s Faraine, just give me a yucky feeling
I was also annoyed early on how he made a comment about whether perhaps he could grow to love Faraine’s looks but then instantly seemed to find her sister attractive.
I’m sure this is a storyline that will grip others, but it wasn’t one for me.
Thank you Netgalley & the publishers for giving me a chance to read this!