Bride of the Shadow King
Ratings7
Average rating3.6
15
Ratings7
Average rating3.6
For fans of The Bridge Kingdom and A Deal with the Elf King, this arranged marriage romance about a human princess forced to wed a dark and desperate Shadow King is sure to entice! A shunned princess. A reluctant king. A marriage that could save both their kingdoms . . . but destroy their hearts. Though she is the oldest daughter, Princess Faraine lives in the background, shunned from court and kept out of sight. Her chronic illness makes her a liability to the crown, and she has learned to give place to her beautiful, favored younger sister in all things. When the handsome and enigmatic Shadow King comes seeking a bride, Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice. Though not eager to take a human bride, King Vor is willing to do what is necessary for the sake of his people. When he meets the lively Princess Ilsevel, he quickly agrees to a marriage arrangement. So why can't he get the haunting eyes of her older sister out of his head? Passionate and alluring, Bride of the Shadow King is an arranged marriage tale with dual point-of-view (his and hers). The first book in a new fantasy romance series, this sweeping tale of love and betrayal is perfect for readers looking for a touch of spice to go with the sweet in their next swoony, slow-burn romance.
Reviews with the most likes.
“It is my belief that no thing of beauty should ever be caged, princess.
Both humans and Troldes are in danger, for mostly unknown reasons, and hope to secure a future with an alliance, through a marriage between a Human princess and a Trolde king.
The romance starts quite early in the book, and from that point, it is full of pinning until the end. It might appear to be a bit insta love, but both characters POV help understand the relationship development, and make you root for them.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters, and appreciate their contribute to the story pace and dynamics.
I loved that the world building happens organically, and we discover everything along with the characters, never feeling overwhelmed with information.
There's a part of the story that is not making much sense to me, or at least I'm not convinced of it, but I'll have to wait and see.
Personally, this amount of angst, with no pay-off, leaves me quite anxious. I get very impatient, and just want to grab the characters heads and force them to speak and work their issues immediately.
I tend to favor a happy ending on the first book, instead of a slow burn romance throughout the series. In any case, I enjoyed the story and found the setting original and beautiful.
I am curious enough to discover more of this world and continue the series.
If you like Fae, slow burn and Romantasies full of angst, this book is for you. It is also a good fit for people who enjoyed The bridge kingdom.
3.5 ✨
I would like to thanks Daphne Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Featured Series
3 primary booksBride of the Shadow King is a 3-book series with 3 primary works first released in 2022 with contributions by Sylvia Mercedes.
