I dnf'd this at 22%. I don't think there's good character development. Everything just seems choppy to me.

Kiara and Jude are one of my favorite book couples ever! Kiara, with her fierce determination and fiery red hair, and Jude, the broody, growly knight commander with a tragic backstory, are impossible not to root for. Their connection is magnetic—a slow-burn romance full of tension, forbidden love, and those "touch her and die" moments that leave you breathless.

The world is dark and unique, shrouded in a deadly Mist that hides terrifying creatures, and the plot unfolds with twists, betrayals, and surprises that keep you hooked. The last chapters had me feeling *everything.* From political intrigue to magic and found family, this story has it all. I devoured this in a day and immediately started book 2.

Why did I love this book so much? Why did the ending hurt so much? I thought I was going to be ok, I thought I was prepared for the ending, but I wasn't prepared at all. I absolutely fell in love with Kiara and Jake's characters. Kiara is a strong, badass FMC who kicks some major ass and stands up for and protects her friends and those she loves and cares for. Jake is her grumpy commander who has closed himself off from feelings and emotional connections with people, but upon first meeting Kiara, his heart starts to thaw. They have this great connection and playful flirting, and banter going on throughout the first part is the book, then a much deeper meaningful connection in the later part. This book has found family, a dangerous quest, secrets, mystery, adventure, and romance. You will be turning pages until you get to the very end, and then you will immediately pick up book two because you need to know what happens next!

To Kill A Shadow has a mysterious mist, secret magic, quest vibes, ✨romance✨, and action!

I loved the fast-paced story and eerie forest vibes of this story! I am really excited for book two, especially after that ending!

I am head over heels for the OwlCrate edition, and I love that it features one of my favorite fantasy tropes, the tension-filled knife to the throat. 🗡️

Thank you to Entangled Teen for the eARC. All thoughts are my own.

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

“Everything I’ve done has been to help you , Kiara. EVERYTHING.”

This was a fantasy escape for sure! I enjoyed reading this story’s. It definitely kept you guessing what would happen next.

Kiara is a warrior. She has been marked on her hands and made an outcast in her town. When the soldiers come for annual recruits she is taken in place of her brother.

She is to be trained as a fighter. There she meets the commander Jude. Jude is known as the Hand of Death; he is fierce and a killer of many. He is taken with Kiara and her lack of following the rules or catering to anyone.

Kiara and her friends get picked to go into the mist and try and break the curse. This is where the real adventure begins but also the mist is merciless and takes more than it gives.

I cannot wait to see what is next in this journey of adventure.

This book started strong for me but ended up crashing about 30% in. It didn`t hold my attentiont and I was actually not even motivated to finish it. To me the characters were a bit confusing and the MCs attraction was so instant it just wasn`t believable to me. The story started a bit more fast paced then felt like nothing was happening. I wanted to like this book so much but I think it just wasn`t my cup of tea.

This was a very good book that really drew me into the Romantasy world of Jude and Kiara. This story just called out to me and held me fast from the beginning of the story till the ending and has left me craving to know more and needing to get to Book Two. Dark and tragic, this YA novel is must read.

Note: this book may garner another star from me after I read Book Two because I have so many unanswered question that may be part of the books sequel, but which now left me feeling a little unfulfilled

I absolutely loved this story. The way Katherine writes pulls you into the world and makes you really feel the emotions is a talent in itself.
I love Katherine's writing style and the characters are brought to life

I heard such great things about this one and was so excited to read it! I was drawn in immediately to this one and couldn’t wait to know what was going to happen! I adore Kiara and her big heart. And watching Jude soften towards her. The ending of this one surprised me and made me immediately want book 2! I can’t wait to see where this story goes!

I got completely lost in To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn! The blend of fantasy, romance, and just the right amount of darkness made it such an exciting read for me. The world felt so real and eerie, and I loved following the characters through all the twists and action. Some of the magic was a little complex, but it didn’t take away from how much I enjoyed the story. If you like fantasy with a darker edge, I think you’ll love this one too!

This was a good escape to a Ya fantasy world. I love how brave the main characters were, even if they were scared. It started a little slow for me, but then I really got into it. I can’t wait for the next one, like I’m ready for it now! I’m so excited to see what happens with the story line and character development, especially between the main characters Kiara and Jude - who are both badasses! I could not put it down at the end, and I loved seeing the relationship between Kiara and Jude grow, and how they both slowly let down their guards that they have always had to have up their whole lives

“You are what I imagine the sun to be like.” “Fiery. Beautiful. Damning.”

This was a good and interesting start to an upper YA romantasy and I enjoyed the read. I love how easy to read this book was and the characters. This book has shadows, assassins, monsters, and gods. The mmc Jude is a commander of knights who needs to go to this nightmare land. The fmc Kiara is an outcast who can fight and is strong af. They are instantly attracted to each other and are so cute. I thought the world building was done well and I was able to picture the gritty and mysterious world. The ending was surprising to me and I'm glad I have an arc of the next book to read.

Tropes/themes:
- Upper YA
- Romantasy
- Instant attraction
- Grumpy sunshine
- Shadows and mists
- Found family

To Kill a Shadow is easily one of my favorite books of the year! The story started off a little slow for me but once I got hooked, I. WAS. HOOKED. Kiara Frey is a harboring a dark secret of a curse that has caused her and her family to become the town pariahs in a sense. When it is time for her sickly brother Liam to be chosen to fight for the king in the Knighthood of the Eternal Star, Kiara's warrior training kicks in to defend her brother getting her chosen in his stead. Commander Jude Maddox has a dark past and secrets of his own. When the two are sent on a suicide mission into the mist along with other recruits of the the knighthood to find the keys to breaking the curse of the realm, all secrets are revealed with devastating results.

This story has all the elements to make it a well rounded novel: broody and dark MMC, strong and fearless FMC, found family, magic and curses, enemies to lovers, ancient lore surrounding temperamental gods, and so much more. The ending leaves us on a cliffhanger with anticipation of what is to come but does not leave you reeling. I can't wait for the sequel and to see what happens in the fall out from the events in this book.

I have been provided with a review copy of this title from NetGalley for an impartial review. I was just drawn into this wonderful story and I just couldn’t get enough of it. It was just so easy to get lost in this great story. I just didn’t want it to end. I just lost myself in and I just couldn’t get enough of these interesting characters. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

A friend recommended this book and I was very happy to receive an ARC copy. I love the cover. It took me a while to finish, I read several other books instead. It was just hard to hold my attention. I'll try again before the 2nd book comes out - it interested that much where I want to read the second one.

2.5 stars. The fact that I didn’t DNF this is what brought it from 2 to 2.5 stars. Unfortunately, it didn’t work for me. The characters and plot were extremely underdeveloped. The two main characters were supposed to be like an enemies to lovers trope (maybe?) but the author never gave enough time to develop it. First thing you know the male is this horrible guy and the next page they like each other. Similarly, the world building didn’t expand or stay consistent. I was able to keep reading it though so it wasn’t horrible, but not for me.

I wanted to get into this but I didn't vibe with the writing. I liked the plot but the execution fell a little flat again. I might try some other books by Katherine Quinn at another time.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me give my honest review

Favorite quote(s):

“You’re not leaving me, Kiara,” he commanded, nostrils flaring. “I won’t allow it.” He let out a reverberating growl, more animal than man. “You say you’re a monster”—he dug deeper into the wound, and tears streaked my cheeks—“but a monster didn’t rescue me, didn’t make me believe in hope again.”


“Love is not the absence of self, but rather, the absence of fear, for only the brave drop their armor and walk onto a battlefield with their hearts exposed.”


Review:

I loved this book. It was action-packed, and I never knew who to trust fully. I loved the friendships and how there was the found family trope. I loved the magic and history throughout. The banter was great and entertaining. I thought Jude was an interesting character. He won me over after a few chapters. I was unsure about him at first. I loved Kiara from the start, how she wanted to protect her brother and her friends. There were so many twists and I enjoyed them so much. Some moments were creepy, like with those undead creatures. And a fair bit of death and violence, too. Which shocked and enticed me. I enjoyed the romance and can’t wait for more. I was so shocked at how the last few chapters went. It was insane. Over all this was a great read and I can’t wait for the next book to get more answers and more of the characters.

Didn’t think this would be for me and it would probably read more YA. It’s actually pretty dark. Reminded me a lot of One Dark Window with an evil mist around the kingdom and the kings commander as the love interest. I did like To Kill a Shadow better. The story felt a bit repetitive at times, but I was still curious enough to keep reading. Jude and Kiara are strong characters. Interested to see how things resolve in the next book.

Thanks to @entangledpublishing for the gifted e-book.

This book was truly incredible. I enjoyed both listening to the audiobook and reading the book simultaneously. The narrators did an exceptional job, bringing the characters Kiara and Jude to life.

Kiara Frey is a fierce fighter, loyal friend, and strong woman. When she is selected to train with the King’s knights, her unexpected attraction to the commander, Jude, adds an intriguing layer to the story. As a small group venture into the darkest part of the lands, Kiara showcases her fighting skills and friendship.

Each chapter started with some background that tied the story together. The plot is fast-paced, action-packed, and filled with surprising revelations that will keep you hooked. The ending leaves you eager to jump into the next book to discover what happens to Kiara and Jude. I highly recommend this book! The sequel, "To Shatter the Night," is set for release on December 3, 2024.