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emilierose36 's review for:
What Lies Within Masks & Shadows
by Nicolle May
An unforgettable enemies-to-lovers fantasy which brought me back to life after Kingdom of Ash shattered my heart.
What Lies Within Masks & Shadows is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page. Dark, brutal, and deeply emotional, it’s a story of survival, power, and impossible choices — wrapped in a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance that will absolutely destroy you.
At the heart of it is Alora, a woman trapped in a violent, loveless marriage to Lord Kaine — a man capable of truly unspeakable things. Her world is one of control and fear, until she crosses paths with Garrik, the Savage Prince of Elysian. Feared across the continent, Garrik is something more — or less — than human. He is shadow and power and wrath incarnate.
“An unstoppable force. Immovable. Unshakable. Endless in his sovereignty and perfection in his existence.”
This book doesn’t hold back. The trauma runs deep. The world is harsh and brutal, reminiscent of The Witcher with echoes of Throne of Glass. There are fae, monsters, species with unique abilities, and a magic system that’s intriguing and original — kind of Powerless meets Quicksilver. Both Alora and Garrik possess immense, terrifying power — though only one is fully aware of it. Yet.
The enemies-to-lovers arc here is masterful — slow, tense, and full of anguish and longing. Their connection is built moment by moment, pain by pain, and when it hits… it hits hard.
“Make no mistake, my darling, there is no reality in which I would not return to you.” Garrik’s thumb traced her lips. “The thought of never seeing you again … feels like dying.”
This is not a light read — it’s a slow burn filled with trauma, violence, political unrest, and deeply damaged characters. But it’s also about resilience. About finding flickers of softness in a cruel world. About choosing to fight, and feel, and love — even when it hurts.
Book one is heavy on world-building and character setup, and by the end, you can feel that a much bigger storm is coming.
What Lies Within Masks & Shadows is the kind of book that lingers long after the final page. Dark, brutal, and deeply emotional, it’s a story of survival, power, and impossible choices — wrapped in a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance that will absolutely destroy you.
At the heart of it is Alora, a woman trapped in a violent, loveless marriage to Lord Kaine — a man capable of truly unspeakable things. Her world is one of control and fear, until she crosses paths with Garrik, the Savage Prince of Elysian. Feared across the continent, Garrik is something more — or less — than human. He is shadow and power and wrath incarnate.
“An unstoppable force. Immovable. Unshakable. Endless in his sovereignty and perfection in his existence.”
This book doesn’t hold back. The trauma runs deep. The world is harsh and brutal, reminiscent of The Witcher with echoes of Throne of Glass. There are fae, monsters, species with unique abilities, and a magic system that’s intriguing and original — kind of Powerless meets Quicksilver. Both Alora and Garrik possess immense, terrifying power — though only one is fully aware of it. Yet.
The enemies-to-lovers arc here is masterful — slow, tense, and full of anguish and longing. Their connection is built moment by moment, pain by pain, and when it hits… it hits hard.
“Make no mistake, my darling, there is no reality in which I would not return to you.” Garrik’s thumb traced her lips. “The thought of never seeing you again … feels like dying.”
This is not a light read — it’s a slow burn filled with trauma, violence, political unrest, and deeply damaged characters. But it’s also about resilience. About finding flickers of softness in a cruel world. About choosing to fight, and feel, and love — even when it hurts.
Book one is heavy on world-building and character setup, and by the end, you can feel that a much bigger storm is coming.