i finished this many hours ago and have been back and forth trying to figure out what to rate it. but the more i thought of it, i just didn't have a reason to not 5 star it?? was it a little predictable enemies to lovers YA? yeah sorta, but i also loved it

i actually really liked alessandra as a main character, and i adore kallias. loved watching their relationship progress throughout the book <spoiler> and their love didn't feel fake or forced to me </spoiler>

i didn't love daughter of the pirate king by this same author, but i really loved this one! a sure redemption for me and i'm looking forward to anything else put out by tricia from now on.

did NOT see the major twist coming at the end btw so props

The Shadows Between Us
by Tricia Levenseller

Alessandra had so many things standing in her way, when her sister was engaged, and promise was when her life began. Yes she lived a life before, being the second daughter meant there was little that she could do until her older sister was wed. With time comes her chance. She uses all her ability to attract the most eligible men her world. The Shadow king, a young man only a year into his rule was the catch of the century. Everyone wanted to tie their family and fortune to him. But it is Alessandra's way to attached men, to make them fall for her. She has more then she can bargain for in this love match. This is a book in intrigue and mystery, with a splash of magic and bravo. Alassandra is the best of vixens and the Shadow king the most lonely of monarchs.

From my Goodreads: "Alright.. who’s not giving this story 5 stars? This was sooooo goooood!"

I could sit here and try to conjure up a review full of amazing adjectives to describe the depth of this tale and how perfectly suited this title is for the older teen. There were no boring lulls in the story; my ADHD mind somehow grabbed a hold and I rarely put this story down. Characters were great, there were surprises thrown in, what more do you need? Five stars... BOOM! done.

I was hooked from the first page! Once I started I really didn't want to stop. It totally sucked me in. Alessandra is my new favorite bad girl! She is ruthless and smart and knows exactly what she wants. I'm usually not big on romance but the slow burn romance that happened in this book was enjoyable.⁣ I loved the friendship that they created and how their relationship progressed.

*Thank you so much Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for providing me with an eARC for this through Netgalley.

The Shadows Between Us follows Alessandra’s quest to mesmerize the mysterious shadow king and win his crown so that she can eliminate him by killing him in order to obtain his power. Alessandra makes it clear that she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants.

I was so ready for all the dark power plays and twists in this book. I was so happy with the first 20 percent of this novel. I loved the introduction to this character. I enjoyed learning more about all of her motivations and depth of character.

However, I feel like the beginning of this novel was the strongest part. I soon found myself puzzled by some of the changes of this character. I feel like her characteristics turn toward the negative as the plot progresses. I feel like the writing began to change and fall less complex while growing more simplistic. I feel like this character made a lot of rash decisions and choices. Alessandra began to feel like a different character from how she was presented in the beginning.

I hate to give this book a low rating. This book was presented with so much potential to be a new favorite for me, but ultimately it feels like the rest was rushed and given less time. I wish the complexness of this character was better supported and carried on.

I was not a fan of the romance and how it changed our characters. I feel like it made the idea of plot and potential more weak. Give me the dark vibes and stick with it please! Overall, I wanted a continuation of that initial shock factor, but it just was not there.

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and netgalley! Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: The Shadows Between Us

Author: Tricia Levenseller

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Publication Date: February 25, 2020

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Pages: 336

Recommended Age: 16+ (mature content regarding sex, TW rape mentioned, murder, violence, gore)

Synopsis: Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Review: Holy cow this book was absolutely amazing!!! I loved this book so much and it was the perfect book for my once Slytherin heart. The characters were well developed, the writing was impeccable, and the plot was intriguing! Definitely recommend this one!

The only downside is that there's a lot of characters and in my haste to get more Alessandra, I got lost in the names. They're also all unique name so it gets hard to follow sometimes.

Verdict: Definitely recommend. Read now!

➝ Sum it up in points!

✔ ambitious, deadly noblewoman
✔ young king encased in shadows
✔ fake dating trope
✔ political danger, familial terror
✔ positive sexual activeness
✔ wholesome female friendships

The Shadows Between Us throws the most beautiful light on a formidable young woman who is determined to marry the king, kill him and take the throne for herself. With an exciting storyline filled with a mystery to solve surrounding the death of the young king's parents and this noblewoman's committed fumbles, the plot is bound to keep a reader by the edge of their seat. From political conspiracies to surprising revelations, the main characters are synchronised with the side characters to perfectly execute the scenes. Several societal themes like misogyny, patriarchy, and sexism is brought to the forefront for the female protagonist to flawlessly exercise against the preconceived notions and pave the way for progressive attitudes. Overall, a definitive recommendation for those who wish to witness a commendable romantic association that starts with a fake relationship build-up but soon makes the readers swoon for this ship to sail in the midst of all shadows.

➝ Trigger Warnings

✔ murder, blood
✔ psychotic love
✔ witnessing death of loved one

I will never not love one of Tricia’s books! This one was by far my favorite. It was darker and sexier and I need more!

I loved this book!! Right from the first line and that dedication, it had me sold.
A Slytherin romance - yass please!!

I loved the characters so much. They were intricately written and created and I loved how the author took her time to develop them. I loved how badass Alessandra was and how mysterious the shadow king was.

The scenes that were written were very very good. They kept me hooked throughout and kept me wanting more. I loved how through the book, the author also tried to show that one shouldn't lose one's identity in trying to impress someone else. Loved that about the story.

Apart from that, I did find the ending overly happy but nevertheless enjoyed it. The twists and turns in the book was beautifully done, keeping the reader guessing of the ultimate outcome. Every single aspect was looked super well and loose ends tied together perfectly. One more thing I loved about this book was that it is a standalone and it's great that way!!

Alessandra has had enough of being constantly overlooked because of her older, more beautiful sister, so she devises a plan to become the most powerful woman in the kingdom.
Alessandra just needs to make the Shadow King fall in love with her and marry her. Then she will kill him and rule as Queen.
Not much is known about the Shadow King, but Alessandra is determined that she will be the one to claim his heart.
But there are others who want the king dead.
Can Alessandra keep the Shadow King alive long enough for her plan to succeed?
Will she lose her own heart in the process?

Who doesn’t like a story where the protagonist has to keep someone alive (usually their enemy) so that they can use them for their own gain? I certainly do, but, unfortunately, I did only like The Shadows Between Us and not love it.
Alessandra was quite a fun protagonist to read about. She was morally grey and I enjoyed her scheming and how determined she was to gain power and to not be in the shadows any more.
There weren’t any characters that really stood out to me, but I did like the friends that Alessandra made at the palace and the Shadow King’s dog, who wasn’t in the book as much as I expected given that he was supposedly the king’s best friend.
The Shadow King himself was, I felt, quite a stereotypical character. I thought that he could have been fleshed out more as he felt a bit two-dimensional and a bit of a cardboard character.
The story was mainly set at the palace, so we don’t find out much about the kingdoms that the Shadow King ruled.
The romance wasn’t one of my favourites, but I could definitely feel the chemistry between Alessandra and the king.
The plot was good overall and there was a twist at the end that I wasn’t expecting, but I wasn’t gripped.
I thought there might be a bit more of a mystery element to the book as the king was trying to find out who murdered his parents, but it hardly felt like there was a mystery most of the time to me.
I spent most of the book feeling like something was missing and I’m still not sure what that something was.
The writing style was easy to follow.
While I did enjoy The Shadows Between Us, I’m disappointed that I didn’t enjoy it more as it had the ingredients to be something that I could have loved.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

I loved this! The dedication calls it a "Slytherin romance" and that description is perfect. In any other book, the main characters would be villains. But here they get to be heroes with a potential love story. The writing in this is terrific - I liked Alessandra more than I've liked some cozy mystery protagonists, and they are usually pretty sweet and likable. She's smart and ruthless while still being needy and vulnerable at times (although she chides herself for those moments). She's written so well.

There's an interesting magic at work in the story - a small piece that doesn't require a ton of world building, but several plot moments hinge on how the magic works. It was clever, and I enjoyed it.

This is a stand alone story - something that can be hard to find in YA fantasy. I would absolutely read this again. And now I have to go check out the author's other books because I enjoyed this so much! (Some language, sexual references)

TRICIA IS AN AUTO BUY AUTHOR FOREVER.

Oh my god. I LOVED this book. The characters were deliciously gray!!! My favorite kind!!
Alessandra was one of my fave female leads in a while. Oh my god. Her self acceptance of just who she was was BEAUTIFUL.
And oh my god. Kallias. My king. He was everything.
This book has twists and turns and omg moments and even till THE VERY END I WAS IN SUSPENSE.

MY GOD. Go pick up this book. Right NOW.

**For more book thoughts visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

At the heart of this story was a romance. And it had the best possible message- find the person who loves you for you, where you never have to hide who you are or sugar coat the truth (and can laugh at your past murders...). I loved that while the main character fully embraced her sexuality and needs, the romance in the book was a slow burn, the two characters got to really know each other before they ever even touched, which totally upped the tension for me!

Alessandra was an interesting character, one I would never want to have as an enemy. She is clever and about two steps ahead of everyone else, looking for leverage (cough cough blackmail) to manipulate the situation to her best advantage. She also loved pretty things and knew exactly how to draw the eye as needed. And the best part, she had no shame about who she was or what she wanted, her drive and confidence were truly things of wonder. I want more girls like this in literature!

And yes, while I said this was a romance, there was also a murder mystery to keep you guessing, with tons of possible suspects and assassination attempts peppering the plot to keep you on your toes.

I have really enjoyed all the books by this author, my favorite thing being how different each world has been, making unique fun reads that I can't wait to get my hands on more of. That being said, I think this is my current favorite, mainly due to the lush world created, with fantastic descriptors of decadent food and gorgeous costuming and scenery that I felt like I could see, taste and touch right along with the characters. I became part of this world with Alessandra, sitting down to read and blowing through the book over a weekend since I didn't want to stop. I highly recommend this story for anyone who like crafty smart heroines (villainess?) and steamy romances.

To Win the Heart of a King

Alessandra killed her first lover because he preferred another girl. Since then she’s had numerous lovers. She uses them, gets expensive gifts, and throws them over, but she has a plan. When her father tells her that her older sister will marry and he’s now free to find a husband for her, she lets him know that her plans are already made.

Girls are sent to the palace regularly. With Alessandra’s sister returning, it’s her turn, and she plans to use it wisely. She will seduce the young shadow king, marry him, kill him, and rule the kingdom herself. She believes she can succeed, but will it be easy when faced with real people?

This is a fun fantasy. One caveat is that the morals of the characters are more than a little shaky, if that bothers you. Alessandra is a strong character. She knows what she wants and plans to get it. She is also talented. She designs her own clothes and has good female friends.

Kallias, the Shadow King, is likable. He has many challenges trying to govern, especially when at least one person besides Alessandra wants to kill him. He makes a good counterpoint to Alessandra being not in her league for viciousness, but needing her help.

I enjoyed the book. Perhaps one of the most fun parts that YA girls will love is the description of Alessandra’s beautiful clothes.

I received this book from Net Galley for this review.

The Shadows Between us, written by Tricia Levenseur, is a thrilling young adult fantasy. Alessandra Stathos always felt underappreciated, so when her sister is married off to a noble, she seizes the opportunity to go to Court. Alessandra wants power. She schemes her entrance and blatantly ignores the King, which creates the exact effect she desires. The king notices her and invites her to stay at the castle.

Thirsty for power, she wants him to fall for her, propose to make her his queen and will stop at nothing to do so. Once crowned, Alessandra intends to kill him so that she can run the world. Though, Alessandra will quickly realize that the task will be harder than she initially thought. Someone else is trying to kill the King, but she can’t allow it before she is made queen. With morally gray and sometimes downright evil characters, this book is full of intrigue, royal plots, and unexpected twists.

When I first started reading this book, I thought right away that this story would be different. I was nervous about the main character as she appears with no morals, but as the story progresses, I realized how good this was. I simply adored how Alessandra who is as cunning as she is selfish got me to root for her in the space of a couple of chapters. I still had my moments where I didn’t like her so much, but overall, I still wanted her to succeed.

This story certainly kept me on my toes with all the obstacles rising throughout the book. The mystery around who wants to kill the king is also very enjoyable. The Shadow King is a very interesting character. His magic is interesting and you want to know what his secrets are. To me, he felt older than nineteen in this book. His personality is a sharp contrast with Alessandra’s and they seem to have the same moral standards. They complement each other perfectly. I particularly enjoyed how his character evolves and how unpredictable he is.

Two things I really enjoyed in this book and how Alessandra and the king break some standards in this world. Alessandra is a feminist and inspires the people around her not to accept a situation they wouldn’t choose for themselves. She helps them be happier. The second is that this book kept surprising me in the plot twists. There are many things I didn’t see coming to the point I couldn’t stop reading. This book is a five star for me.

Do yourself a favor and read it!

The Shadows Between Us is by far one of my favorite standalone fantasy books. There’s always going to be books that make it almost impossible for you to put down. That was the case with The Shadows Between Us. I could not put this book down. And even after days of finishing the story, I can’t keep the characters off my mind and out of my heart.

The characters are strong and ruthless. I loved how this book was pitched as a Slytherin romance because that’s exactly what it is. Both characters are cunning and vengeful and beautifully illustrated. Alessandra has no problem being murderous, especially when she needs to kill someone for something she needs. She’s a dark and morally gray character, but that’s one of the reasons that makes this book so good. She has no issue showing the world who she is and that’s what made her such an enjoyable character for me. Levenseller wrote a book with characters that could be hard to love and difficult for readers to see the logic behind most of their actions. But she wrote a book that’s so unbelievably good!

And the romance is definitely worth all the swooning. It’s raw and fresh and built on deception, but I feel that’s how a good villain romance usually starts. And this villainous romance is one readers will not soon forget. Even though Alessandra wants to kill the king, she never expected to feel a certain way about him, a feeling that could potentially put her whole plan at risk.

I love how this story is dark and unapologetic. It’s a story that’s perfect for readers who are looking for a dark world and deliciously vengeful characters. It’s a book I didn’t realize I needed until I read the first page and literally went “WOW.” The Shadows Between Us is a powerful story that doesn’t just focus on what Allesandra is trying to destroy/build; it also focuses on the blossoming of a new relationship and both characters’ pasts and futures. It focuses on how dark characters can continuously stay dark but find a light inside that darkness, a light that shows that each character is not as corrupted as they may seem.

And once again, Levenseller has created a world that is dark and vicious but overall beautiful. Her world building is exquisite and completely fits the darkness of each character. She’s created a world of deceitfulness but also a world that has the ability to change. It’s unlike any fantasy world I’ve seen and I loved that aspect of the story. I loved how everything was different from most fantasy stories.

Levenseller has created an unforgettable story with characters that will surprise you in the most unsettling ways. It’s a story that is worth all the hype. The Shadows Between Us is easily a book I can read over and over again. This book is perfect for those readers looking for a dark and devious tale.

I’ve been a long time fan of Tricia Levenseller’s books. The moment I saw the announcement for THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US, I immediately added it to my to TBR before I even knew what it was about. Later I heard the book pitched as a “Slytherin Romance” and I was all in! Haha. I’m sure I read the synopsis at some point but I had completely forgotten about it by the time I started reading the book. Tricia literally had me hooked by the end of the first page, “They’ve never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart. And they never will. I buried Hektor Galanis in a hole so deep, even the devils of the earth couldn’t reach him.” I mean.... come on! Who doesn’t want to keep reading after a start like that? The story starts with a bang and really never slows down from there.

Alessandra has always felt like an afterthought. As the second daughter of a viscount who is bankrupt, she set her sights on the king. Becoming queen would change everything. Once she’s at the palace nothing can (or will) stop her from reaching her goal. She enters an unexpected and unlikely alliance with the Shadow King. She uses the pretense of becoming his friend to help, when really it’s an opportunity to learn his secrets. As the true nature of his shadows magic is uncovered and attempts on his life increase, she wonders if maybe she’s actually falling for him. Which just can’t be possible.... can it? The King is elusive and withdrawn, but for good reason. Alessandra befriends him and gives him a real for his money. His character and several other male characters are definitely swoon worthy (some are even cringe worthy).

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from a “Slytherin romance” when I started reading. I envisioned something dark and moody, with Frenemies, backstabbing, and illicit trysts. This book was all that and more! I loved how descriptive everything was. This book made me want to wear a pretty ballgown and eat plates full of food. Written in Tricia’s typical style this book is full of sass, humor, fierce female characters, romance and enough mystery to keep you turning page after page. I would call THE SHADOWS BETWEEN a very atmospheric story. If you love delicious food, dashing men and dazzling dresses, this is the book for you!

*I WAS PROVIDED AN e-ARC FOR THE PURPOSE OF A BLOG TOUR. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION*

This book had many expectations in the reading community for readers who'd read Tricia Levenseller's previous release, but for some, it fell below. As someone who has yet to read Levenseller's Warrior of the Wild, I can't compare the two.

While reading this book, I noticed something that kind of threw me for a loop. The writing style in this novel seemed a little abrupt. It made it a little hard to keep along with the story that I so badly wanted to like, but thankfully, it didn't continue throughout the entire book.

Something I absolutely loved was the main character, Alessandra. She felt like the perfect fit to someone in this story, and I really think that her character building was put together in just the right way and fashion.

While the worldbuilding could've been a little bit more detailed, I did still enjoy pieces of it. I felt like we still could've been given a little more, but in the end, it just didn't satisfy all the way through.

For that, I rate this novel 3.25 stars.

Tricia Levenseller books are always a really great time. Fast paced, action filled, and sprinkled with romance, The Shadows Between Us is no exception. This book is absolutely perfect if you’re looking for a Slytherin romance fantasy adventure.

Alessandra is cunning and hungry for power. The Shadow King is the only one standing in her way from ruling. So, the plan is simple; woo him, marry him, kill him, and take his kingdom for herself. The only problem? She gets to know him and realizes that they are not so different and may very well do better ruling together. But others are also looking to assassinate the King and take control of the land.

I had so much fun reading this one. The characters were interesting to read about, even though I didn’t really relate to their personalities or choices. I loved how independent and free Alessandra was and how she didn’t really care what people thought about her. And the Shadow King, while seemingly menacing, totally had a gooey, soft side.

The plot was well developed and fast paced, and while the book isn’t groundbreaking or emotionally gut wrenching, it is a very fun, enjoyable novel. Highly recommended for anyone looking for a quick, standalone fantasy with a great romance!

*Thank you to Feiwel and Friends and Netgalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. *

All included quotes have been taken from an ARC and may not match the finished publication.

Content Warning: Premarital Sex, Prostitution (Brothel), Murder & Attempted Murder via stabbing and poisoning

"The rebel in me loves to throw dirt in the face of decorum."

I find myself sitting at the barren crossroads with yet another Young Adult book. Sigh. I must admit, the first thing that drew my attention to The Shadows Between Us was it’s cover. This cover is one of the most beautiful things I’ve rest my eyes upon. It’s unfounded to judge a book by its cover, but when the cover looks like this…? Throw anything dark, high Gothic Victorian at me and you have me at “cover.”

Besides the cover, this book’s synopsis had also stirred my interest. Above all else, the Shadow King’s ability made me want to know more about what exactly about the shadows were important. When I got into the first portion of this book, I knew right away that Alessandra, the main character and not-so-protagonist, would have to work a lot to gain my backing. Morally grey, narcissistic characters do not easily win, if ever, my favor. Unlucky Alessandra wasn’t on my good side from the introduction. However, the introduction clearly depicts The Shadows Between Us as a Slytherin romance, which removes me from the targeted audience.

"My smile is radiant as I leave his rooms. I only have control over one man, and yet, the power of it washes over me in intoxicating waves of heat. When I am queen, will I experience it a thousandfold, knowing I will command tens of thousands?"

The synopsis given sums up this book very well. Alessandra’s plan is to gain the attention she has always wanted by catching the Shadow King’s attention, court him, kill him, and become queen of the world. Realm. It’s not really ever given a clear idea as to how big the realm is that the Shadow King rules over as the world-building is nearly non-existent besides clothing and general decorum. Reflective of a time set in or near the 18th century, references to attire, status, and general culture during that time frame is assumed. (Except for the very random appearance of a high-powered weapon that still has me befuddled as to how it slipped into the pages at all.) Central to all of this, are the laws of woman being meek, innocent, and contrite for any form of wrong-doing being heavily at play. Alessandra is an advocate for women being able to do what they want, when they want with their bodies, and practices her beliefs freely.

Alessandra is eighteen. Kallias, the Shadow King, is nineteen. This book shouldn't be in the Young Adult genre 1) because these characters are legally adults. 2) Seeing how a large portion of this book discusses sex, and how one goes about pursuing their sexuality is just too over the top for young readers. Despite all of the talk about how one can do what they want with their body, this book does hold a quality that makes it an easy story to fall into. If you are looking for a slow-burn romance with morally flawed, ambitious characters, that settle into a quick read, this may be a good selection for that. Not being a Slytherin, I didn’t care much for this take on a relationship, but I’m sure many will love this plot.

Vulgarity: Some.
Sexual content: A lot. I would not recommend this book to younger readers.
Violence: Moderate (see content warning).

My Rating: ★★★