Seriously!!!! This book is absolutely AMAZING! My heart is still trying to recover. All the feels in this book and that last couple of chapters aghhh if I could I’d give it more stars! Both the main characters Jude (our lovely broody commander) and Kiara (our very witty smart woman) I absolutely loved the slow burn with this book. First time I’m reading Katherine Quinn and she has won my heart! I desperately need book 2 and this hasn’t even came out yet!!

This. Was. So. Good. 🤩

"You are what I imagine the sun to be like. Fiery, beautiful, d*mning."

This book had me thoroughly interested from the beginning. The storyline is so good, the characters are amazing, I instantly loved Ki and how protective, strong, and thoroughly bad*ss she is! Jude is broody and rude and I love itt. I honestly thought I had the mystery parts figured out around page 254, and I still only got it half way right. Those plot twists at the end sheeew wee did not see that coming like at all! REALLY excited to read the next book and this one isn't even officially released yet!

A huge thank you to Entangled, the author, netgalley, and anyone else who had a hand in allowing me to arc read! I loved it. ❤️ my review is also processing on Books A Million and Barnes and Noble!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Boy oh boy what?!?!
This was wicked cool and such an intriguing world to step into. And the characters were excellent.

I loved the dark twisty vibes and the intensity.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an arc copy of this book to read and review. All of these comments are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. The storyline was fantastic and the characters were so much fun and likable.. I do wish that there was more world/story building. I felt like some stuff wasn’t explained enough but I’m hoping since this is a series, that more will be explained later.

The slow burning romance was top notch. I’m seriously inlove with Ki and Jude. I love them so so much and I hope that in the next book everything gets worked out.

My only “complaint” but not really a complaint is that the “villain” didn’t make sense in who it ended up being. I just didn’t really like the way that ended up. Also, warning… DO NOT get attached to anyone because a lot of deaths happened that I did not see coming and it made me sad lol.

Now, I’m going to sit here impatiently and wait for book two.

4 stars!

Thanks to Entangled Publishing/Netgalley for an eARC!

Entangled publishes some really interesting, really unique YA fantasies, but this was not one of them. I'll also add that I've never read anything of this author before, but nonetheless, I am interested in looking out for more of her work, because I do think that--generally speaking--she is a good writer. Ultimately, I think there was great POTENTIAL for this book that never quite managed to scratch the surface. It falls, once again, into my struggles with YA fantasy over thee past few years. A lack of worldbuilding and development. Same with the characterization.

Overall, I wish I'd loved this more. The cover is gorgeous!

I didn't want it to end!! I loved it and didn't want it to end!

To Kill a Shadow is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. Jude and Kiara are amazingly complex and strong characters that had me totally immersed in their world from the first page. In fact all the characters surrounding Jude and Kiara are some of my favorite characters I've ever read. Jude's tragic past and present make you love him as the layers are peeled back and you get to see his motivations. Kiara is an extremely strong female who isn't afraid to speak her mind and can handle herself in ALL ways.
Katherine Quinn writes so vividly that I felt I was standing right there in the story and I felt ALL the feels. I laughed, cried, and cared for them throughout the book as though I was a recruit serving right beside them the entire time.
Some of my favorite quotes are:

"Tell me a secret, then. One you can part with"

"Control is an illusion, something to make us feel grounded and in charge of our destinies."

"Don't overthink everything. You might be surprised by how much you'd like being out of control. Being alive is chaos, and living in it is half the fun."

" 'You are what I imagine the sun to be like.' I whispered so softly I wasn't sure she could hear the admission. 'Fiery. Beautiful. Damning' "

I am truly hoping that Katherine Quinn will continue to write more about this world as there is definitely an opening for a second book. I am not ready to let go of Jude, Kiara, or the others that made it to the last page just yet.

"To Kill a Shadow" is the first installment of "Mistlands," a ya fantasy romance series written by Katherine Quinn and currently in progress.

I loved the premise of this book and the cover atmospheric! I really hoped to like it, but unfortunately the unfolding disappointed me and I'm sad.

I loved the writing! Compelling, evocative and lyrical, it fascinated me a lot! I enjoyed the suggestive descriptions, quite vivid, so much so that I could imagine the various places. The fast, effervescent, and light pace kept me glued to the pages, making me reach the end without almost realizing it! Seriously, on a purely aesthetic level, I loved the style a lot! The problem, in my opinion, comes when it comes to world building and characters.

The world building to me seemed confusing at the highest levels. I don't know, I felt a lot of gaps, and that left me very puzzled. I'm sorry because I found it full of potential, it intrigued me, but then it got lost along the way.

I liked the plot quite a bit! Captivating, quick and smooth, it kept me entertained without moments of boredom or heaviness. Too bad for the lacking world building, which in my opinion affects the story in a negative way. I perceived some convenient situations and several plot holes, which I think is just due to the poor setting and not the narration itself.

The characters, main and secondary, did not convince me. They seemed superficial, poorly analyzed, so much so that they left me indifferent. I was unable to bond with them, to care about their events. I am sorry, because they had all the makings of winning me over, but instead it did not happen. Unfortunately, because of this, I wasn't even able to appreciate the romance in the book.

All in all, this is a book with great potential, which unfortunately failed to satisfy me. However, I hope for improvement in the second installment, because I love the idea behind the story!

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. .

This book has it all - amazing world building, a swoon-worthy romance and a darkly atmospheric plot. A must read for any fantasy lover!

Tha k you to the publisher for providing a review copy.

U was super excited for this one and it didn't disappoint! I couldn't wait to pick this up. This book has controlled every moment of my awake time. 10/10 I honestly am lost for words. I love when a book is everything you hope it to be

This one GOT me. Kiara is as selfless as they come, starting with saving her brother from the fate of becoming a knight. On that fateful day, her path crosses with Jude. Soon they’re off, heading into dangerous territory to try to save their people by bringing the sun back, only to find nightmares come to life.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It kept me on edge wondering what was going to happen next, which secrets would get revealed next, and when the romance would kick it up a noch. This has themes and tropes of slow burn, chosen one, and found family.

Will be reviewed on Amazon & Goodreads.

Thank you Entagled Publishing and NetGalley for providing me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review. My review is my own and not influenced by others.

I was looking forward to read this book, but in the end it was a disappointment for me. The characters lacked depth and the world building and plot were not well developed.

For me this book didn’t work but I’m sure other people will enjoy reading it.

2,5 ⭐

I wanted to love this book, but in the end, I didn't.
I felt like we were given not enough information about the world-building and I often felt like I was missing something. The characters lacked that characterization I enjoy and they felt rather flat to me. I couldn't really empathize with any of them and it was definitely a letdown.
The plot was the most interesting part of this book, but without the proper world-building, it didn't live up to its potential.
The thing I loved the most is the character arc story of Patrick, a character I didn't really care for at the beginning, but who became more interesting towards the end.

The found family trope: an example of a badly written one. I felt like Kiara finding so many friends who felt like a family was just too forced. And finally, the love story: I wished there was none. This book had a lot of potential, which I truly hope will be developed in the next installment.

The premise of this book sounded intriguing, and I was excited to read this one. It took me a little bit to get into the plot, but once I did, I could not wait to see what happened next.

Kiara is enlisted to join the Knights, a group of recruits who are tasked with a mission to find a way to bring light back to their land. While apart of the Knights Kiara becomes close with some of her fellow recruits and forms a bond with them. The commander of the Knights is Jude, who finds himself constantly drawn to Kiara. It was fun and amusing seeing them constantly bickering with one another. The journey into the mist was a dangerous and at times, gruesome one, where there was a lot of fighting and loss along the way.

An action-packed read with twists and turns and some surprising revelations along the way proving that you can't trust everyone.

This book is amazing. Thanks for letting me have this arc. I had to force myself to my responsibilities. Lol but I already preordered this book. Can’t wait to have a physical copy.
But this book, not only have a dual point of view. I love that they’re both, have strong personalities and fight through everything. Not that everyone is good is good. Evil hides in good “people” just in real life.
There’s another one right? Lol

*4.25*

To Kill a Shadow was a dark, tense read. The premise of the book was promising and didn’t disappoint. This book featured some very interesting and terrifyingly detailed creatures.

One thing I absolutely loved about this book was the characters! Each character had their good moments, but Jake immediately stood out. Kiara was an excellent FMC. She was resilient, stubborn, and undeniably strong. She is a very well written character that you can’t help but feel for. Jude!!! Such a great love interest. I loved being able to see his POV during the book.

The plot of this story was well developed and the writing was perfect to create this chilling atmosphere. I’d say the plot of book was an even split between romance, action, adventure, and mystery. I enjoyed the buildup to the venture in the woods just as much as all the action in the woods. The world building in this book is nicely balanced. It doesn’t overload with information in the beginning, but rather gradually builds throughout the book.

The last few chapters of this book have left me reeling. The plot twist??? Wow. I was definitely expecting something, but that was not what I was thinking at all. I cannot wait to see what the next book holds! Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Teen for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh

My

Fucking

Gosh

ENTANGLED WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME!?

I’ll admit, it took me minute to really get into the book, but once I did, I COULD NOT STOP. I SWEAR—y’all put something in your books ‘cause I can never seem to put them down.

How is that any fair?

All the fucking stars for Kiara and Jude.

All the stars.

Those last few chapters HURT. Jude’s decision? PAIN. Kiara’s choice? PAIN. Patrick? P A I N.

The whole book? PAIN PAIN PAIN.

I hope you’re happy.

This book! OMG! This one shocked me! I picked it up thinking I was just going to enjoy it and its premise, what I did not expect was to fall in love with this romantasy book! This book gripped me right from the start and the entire time I was rooting for the Knights to come out on top as the heroes. I got so attached to them and I couldn't stop reading until I got to the very end.

This book definitely sank its claws in me and I could not be happier! I'm going to be thinking about this book for a long time afterwards because the plot, characters, and storyline overall were just so enticing, I couldn't help but fall in love!

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC!

Thanks to Entangled Teen, Netgalley and Katherine Quinn for the advanced readers' copy! Before starting, I would like to highlight the fact that this review is entirely voluntary and all thoughts and opinions are genuine and entirely mine.

This is the first time I read a book by Katherine Quinn and after this first experience, I’m more than thrilled to dive into the following books of the Mistlands series! The world building was spectacularly done, opposed to dumping all the information at once, the author revealed little snippets of the world as the story developed and as characters were introduced. The overall pace of the storyline was fast enough to keep me hooked, and I’m sure that if the time had been right, I would have read this in one sitting.

The book’s plot was well balanced between the action, romance, and the mystery. From the get go we see a glimpse of the personalities of both of the main characters, Jude, the brooding commander and Kiara, the strong-willed recruit who is determined to prove that she is more than capable of becoming a knight.

As the plot develops, we start to realize that these two have more in common than what we initially thought. They both carry the scars they gained from the toughest battles they fought during their childhoods and that have sculpted them into what they are.

Beyond being a story of two heroes who embark on a journey to bring the sun back, this book talks about the importance of embracing our scars as part of what we are. Both Jude and Kiara had to go through traumatic events during their childhood. They were tormented to no end, but together, they realized that they’re not defined by the marks on their bodies. The truest and purest type of love blossomed from them bonding through their hardships.

Aside from the important reflection this book left, I’m also still reeling from the plot-twist and the amount of suffering Jude and Kiara had to endure in the last few chapters. I honestly don’t know how I will wait for the second book to come out (considering that this one isn’t even officially released yet).

For the fans of Stephen King’s “The Mist” and “Game of Thrones Nights’ Watch”, “To Kill a Shadow” introduces adventure, mystery and a touch of sizzling romance in a masterfully crafted story that will keep all readers waiting for more!

If you like strong, badass female main characters, and brooding, yet protective (Jude is literally obsessed with Kiara) male characters that embark on a seemingly impossible journey to save the world, then this is your book!

To Kill a Shadow worked well for me, and I found it to be quite entertaining. My attention was held from start to finish. The story read quickly. It did take me a bit to get into an agreeable reading rhythm. There was a twist that I wasn't expecting. There were familiar tropes. The magic system was on the softer side. Overall, To Kill a Shadow was very well written, and I do want to continue the series if there were to be another installment. I would recommend To Kill a Shadow to readers who enjoy dark fantasy with romantic tension.

Content Guide: violence, gore, sensuality, brief nudity, grief

I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy through Entangled Teen Publishing and Netgalley, and I give my honest review voluntarily. My review is my own thoughts and opinion; my experience in reading this story.

Plot and Writing:

The strength of this book is its plot. Its engaging, catchy, maintains a great pace and does not give you a moment to get bored. It was hard to not keep flipping the pages, I really wanted to finish this in a go. The letters in the beginning of each chapter adds to the intrigue and appeal of the book

The writing is splendid! Equal times witty and charming, it does not let the plot down. The only issue I found was that I could not orient the setting to a certain time. My mind made itself believe that the plot occurs in the 18th century ( circa ) era and thus usage of certain colloquial modern words appeared a little jarring.

Characters:
I am in love with the characters! They are lively, gray and most importantly very real characters. Even though it is a fantasy book, I could feel that they could be people I see around myself which made reading the book so much better.

Overall
It was a easy, fun read and I would recommend it people who love a good fantasy

4/5 stars