Britannia meets The Mist ―with a touch of Evil Dead ―in this illusory fantasy horror about a kingdom left to darkness…

This was great! Well-written, the world-building was great, and the atmosphere was well-done. Spine-tingling.

Thank you to Kathrine for answering my questions, writing a great coming of age, and adventure story and Brittany at Entangled Publishing for the eARC!

To Kill a Shadow was my first book by Katherine and before I was even halfway through, I had already pre-ordered, I just knew this book was going to be one I wanted in my collection! This Young Adult debut is written from a dual point of view that follows Kiara who would do anything to protect her brother and Jude a young man who only knows leading the Knights and doing the King's bidding. These two young adults are stubborn and survivors, with each other's help, they open up to the idea of new thinking methods and ways of life. I absolutely love the dynamic between Kiara and Jude, from the start, there is nothing but tension in this commander-recruit relationship. The sunshine and grumpy attitude and their slow burn romance kept me engaged and invested in their fated relationship. The underlying details of two people learning to trust others, because life has taught them otherwise, it is bittersweet to watch.

Jude is a broody, hardened by his duties, and calculating commander. He has a dark and complicated back story that will break you at the seams when you hear it. Due to his history, he is very by the book, everything must be done for a reason, and the plan must be followed. He has no spark left and only knows darkness until Kiara…

Kiara is a headstrong, confident, stubborn young woman who keeps a dark secret. She enjoys living her life, flying by the seat of her pants, and is so sure of herself she doesn’t think she can ever be wrong. She is a force of nature with a side of sass and fiery red hair.

Kathrine does a great job at character, lore, and world building for about half of the book. From there the characters set out on a fated adventure to save their world that the Sun Goddess abandoned. This story is full of love, loss, challenge, fated destinies, secrets, and betrayal. Let me say the last few chapters, UGH they HURT!! Talk about blindsiding, that turn of events did not involve who I thought it would! I love it when I am able to be kept on my toes when reading, so thank you for that!! Also, that epilogue?!!? OH MY GOSH!! This plot is clearly well thought out and complex and has a much larger picture that I cannot wait to see expanded upon in book 2.

I devoured this in under 24 hours and this is a great YA read for those who love secrets, magic, darkness, slow burn romance, unique mythology, and adventure. I just ask we don’t go back to the mist please, I don’t know if my heart can take it again.

Kiara is conscripted into Knights of the Eternal Star, under the command of lethal soldier Jude. The two get closer as they embark on a journey to find the answer to bringing light back to the Kingdom, but not everything is as it seems ...

Overall, I liked this book. It was gruesome and dark in parts, with a definite horror vibe that worked well with the story and the clever world building. The only thing I wasn't too keen on was the relationships - both the romantic relationship and the friendships felt way too fast, and weren't very believable as a result. I'd love to see them built on a bit more in the sequel!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

This book is an action-packed teen romantasy with so many twists and turns. Nothing is as it seems in this book, and it will keep you second-guessing until the last page... and probably into the forthcoming second book.

The Kingdom of (Asidia) has been in darkness for 50 years since the sun goddess Raina disappeared. The people have toiled under a moonlight sky ever since. Eager to lift what the people call "the curse," one child from each family is enlisted to join the royal Knights. Usually boys join, but for the first time a young woman is chosen.

Jude Maddox is the commander of the Knights and has known nothing of love or even light. He knows only his grim duty as the Hand of Death. It’s only when he sees Kiara that he feels warmth. Kiara has been an outcast in her village and sees Jude as a leader and wanting him is treacherous...but hard to resist.

Together, the Kights must enter the mist and fight the evil lurking within to get the sun back for their people.

A gripping fantasy read with a bit of romance sprinkled throughout!

Read if you like:
Instant love (he falls first)
Death
Dark fantasy
Touch her and 💀

To Kill a Shadow was dark and cruel. Kiara grew up never knowing the warmth of sunlight. Her kingdom has been cursed with darkness for 50 years and time is running out. Crops are finally dying out and with a selfish king on the throne there is little to hope for. The king had mandated that every family must give one child to serve their kingdom by battling the mist, an all but guaranteed death sentence. Kiara serves in place of her brother (hunger game vibes).

I couldn’t get into the story. Everything was too much and too fast that I had to keep pushing myself to finish the book. It was dark and depressing. These are things that affected me personally, the book itself was great if that’s the tone you are searching for. The only sense of relief from the brutal plot was the attempt at romance. I didn’t find the instant love believable. It felt like forced chemistry to me. The dynamic is Commander-Recruit so there is a small power play.

The world building itself took a really long time to make sense. The lore could’ve been explored so much more than it was. Near the end all these characters were introduced. Word of advice, read the letters at the beginning of every chapter. They come into play later.

Omg this was going to be a low rating for me but the ending saved this book. I am screaming, I never saw that coming. This is perfect for fans of dark dystopian novels like the Hunger games or Maze Runners.

I voluntarily read this book on netgalley. Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a super accessible YA fantasy that easily pulled me in. There are many popular tropes and familiar archetypes included, but I found myself devouring the book regardless. The writing is simple, and the story lacking in depth, but I assume this will allow the book to cast a wider net. In this way, it reminds me so much of “Fourth Wing,” also with the shadow magic, training school, etc.

There is gruesome horror that came as a shock to the system. Usually, YA fantasy doesn’t have as many horror elements as this book does. On the spice side, however, I would say “To Kill a Shadow” is very, very mild. It’s an odd mix of gore and a couple kisses? I thoroughly enjoyed the story, though I wish it was adult instead and didn’t pull any punches with the deaths and romance. That would have been thrilling.

Without getting too spoiler-y, I did like how the reveals at the end are sort of an inverse of the typical YA tropes. That being said, the ending is also muddled, with lots of “exploding light,” and I was left scratching my head at the whats and whys of it all. That’s not to discourage you; this is worth a read, and I think it will resonate with readers.

This is an intriguing story with some twists. Ill be looking for the next book to see how it turns out. Thank you

An amazing grumpy/sunshine forbidden romance between a recruit & her broody commanding officer.

Kiara is a mysterious ray of sunshine, and she immediately drew in Command Jude Maddox. She did not shy or balk from his scars, not when she has scars of her own. An outcast in her village for an event that happened as a child, she is left with no friends other than her brother. That is until she becomes a recruit of the Knights of the Eternal Star.

The cruel King that controls Commander Maddox will do everything in his power to restore the sun, or so they think. As they enter the mists in a suicide mission, they lose Knights & recruits and face deep betrayal and revelations.

I cannot wait to see where this goes and if they’ll be able to restore the sun without sacrificing each other.

Thank you for the e-arc!

Thank you to Netgalley and Entangled Publishing for this opportunity to read rate and review this arc which will be available November 28,2023!

The byline that will make you want to buy this book has it right. This is a Britannia meets the Mist with a touch of the Evil Dead. This was an awesome freaking book. I was fully engaged, engrossed and the plot? Awesome. Jude Maddox is a Hand of Death, he leads the Knights of the Eternal Star into a land filled with monsters, nightmares and horror. Then he meets her. So yes there is a love story in this fantasy but honestly it works. Highly recommend this book

At first I thought I was going to be raving about a book that has its two leads making googly eyes in battle. But the end actually made me forget that entire scene and now I can not wait for more (also if in the movie adaptation of this, Jake should be played by Kit Young because I got Jesper vibes). Though a lot was revealed, there is also a lot untold. And there are definitely some mysteries that need to be unfurled. No matter if you figure some things out, there's enough mystery to keep you wanting more. Particularly trying to understand who Kiara and Jude actually are to each other.

3.5 stars rounded up.

An Amazing Journey of Unwavering Love and Courage.

First of all, I’d like to express my gratitude towards Netgalley, Entangled Teen and Katherine Quinn for generously providing me with a free advanced reader copy. This review is entirely voluntary, and I want to emphasize that it truly reflects my genuine emotions and thoughts about the story.

Star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice rating 🌶️

Prior to "To Kill A Shadow," I hadn't had the pleasure of reading any of Katherine Quinn's work. It was a delightful and honorable experience to dive into this book before its official release date. What intrigued me about “TKAS” was its comparison to a blend of "The Mist" and "Game of Thrones' Night's Watch," coupled with a dose of romance and a strong, self-assured heroine. The story's pacing was both steady and flawless, and the dual point-of-view narrative added to its appeal. I thoroughly relished Kiara and Jude's journey and their evolving romance.

Katherine skillfully included a valuable element into her book, one that imparts a meaningful lesson through the character development of both Jude and Kiara. I believe that this story goes beyond just the journey of Jude and Kiara; it's about self-love. It emphasizes finding the beauty within oneself, regardless of external judgments and opinions. This inner strength can be one of the most significant assets one possesses, even if it isn't immediately evident. I found this included element to be enchanting, especially in a young adult book.

Kiara emerges as a strong, witty, fierce, and loyal character. Her protective instincts for her brother and fellow recruits won me over completely. She is incredibly relatable, and I quickly grew fond of her. And I thoroughly adored the brooding commander Jude.The chemistry between Kiara and Jude is evident right from the beginning. Their banter and the palpable tension between them kept me eagerly turning the pages, craving more with each chapter. Their undeniable chemistry left no doubt in my mind and I was living for it. I adored the gradual unfolding of their romance, and I am eagerly anticipating what the author has in store for us in the sequel.

Katherine got me in a chokehold with that ending, and every moment spent reading each page of the book was absolutely worth it. I devoured and savored every moment of this story, eagerly anticipating its release. I am excited for every reader to have the opportunity to experience this remarkable book starting November. If you're seeking a captivating tale woven with a fast/slow-burning-ish romance and deep friendships, "To Kill A Shadow" is definitely the book for you.

This was a good book.
⭐️ Pros? It was well written, had good pacing, the romance.
💩 Cons? It lacked depth to dive deeper into the world building and characters although this could be done in the next book.

Overall I enjoyed reading this but couldn’t disappear into it.
Would I read it again? Probably not.
Would I buy the next book? Almost definitely

Any book I’d rate 5 stars I’d read again and this one didn’t quite make it but it’s still amazing and worth the read.

☀️ Grumpy x sunshine
☀️ Slow burn
☀️ Secrets

*Thank you to Entagledteen, the author, and Netgalley for providing a E-ARC of "To Kill A Shadow" in exchange for an honest review*

To Kill a Shadow was a unique read, I enjoyed the plot twists, tho I felt like I could tell what they were when they were coming up. I found much of the dialogue witty, and I enjoyed the banter between our main characters, but also at times felt it was a bit more YA than I generally like.
This story had the potential to be really gritty in its telling, in its character histories and the action sequences, but found it lacking a little.
However, I enjoyed the story, and will definitely be reading the next book, the cliff hanger it left me on is devastating in that I have to wait however long to read the next instalment!

The title and the cover of To Kill a Shadow are beautiful! Unfortunately this one just didn’t land for me.

I loved the premise and felt I’d be hooked and it all started off well with Kiara taking her brothers place and setting off to be a Knight. However, there were a lot of inconsistencies that I kept getting hung up on and the relationships felt forced and too quick. Kiara was a strong individual but her ego kept me from developing any feelings for her. “Hero” complexes aren’t really something I can relate to so for me this wasn’t working. Everything felt very easy for her and I just didn't see any true development. Also: few things happened during training in a cave that didn't get mentioned after that seemed would be a big deal but ???

For most of the book I felt like a stone skipping across the surface of what could have the potential for great depth: I liked the Gods and they intrigued me, I would’ve liked to understand more about them and the “curse” right out of the gate so I could get a better grip on the stakes.

Jude was another character I felt was inconsistent and the fast burn romance just really wasn’t for me personally. I didn’t feel there was enough substance to their interactions for some of the “feelings” he was having after one or two meetings.

There were also inconsistencies/plot threads left hanging that I noticed while reading and that was also difficult for me to overcome. I didn't find myself connecting to any of the characters and found my intrigue was more about the Gods, which I wish there was more mention of. Overall this one wasn't for me.

Thank you Entangled Teen for the arc.

Wow! I loved this book! I couldn’t put it down. I love a good, dark fantasy with a strong female protagonist.

I enjoyed the narrator changes. So often you only hear one side of the story. The world building was strong. I felt transported to Asidia. The story had a bit of everything: mythology, mystery, adventure, horror and romance. I loved the banter between Kiara and Jude.

My one disappointment was the cliffhanger ending. Can’t wait for the next one! I would highly recommend this.

Cool premise, easy to read and easy to follow. I wasn’t personally hooked and stopped after chapter 3 (5%) but I feel like it will go over well with the target audience.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for the ARC.

A fun and engaging YA fantasy for fans of An Ember in the Ashes or similar series. Entangled continues their chain of romantic fantasy, spanning age groups.

Okay, those last few chapters HURT.
Katherine Quinn is an auto buy author for me, and To Kill a Shadow only confirmed why I love her books so much!

From the first meeting, Kiara and Jude have so much tension between them. The way their first interactions are written makes it hard to breathe, the connection between them is a tanglible cord that gets plucked and shrivels as the story unfolds. It was so refreshing to read a fantasy romance with a commander-recruit dynamic instead of the popular enemies to lovers that still maintains a satisfying slow burn.

I love Jude. His backstory was so interesting and tragic, and I feel like we've only scratched the surface. I mean that last chapter?!? I need more. And I need my broody commander to be protected at all cost.

Obviously, the romance was my favorite part, but the worldbuilding is so dark and beautiful and unique. The plot is complex and intriguing, making it difficult to put the book down. The Mist? Terrifying. The creatures inside it? So much worse. The betrayals?? Blindsided.

I read this in 24 hours. Overall, this is a great YA fantasy romance that I think will be popular with many readers!
Thank you so much for the ARC and I cannot wait for book 2!! Meanwhile, someone go give Jude a hug.

“the only way to fight darkness is to become it” wow!!!!! what a thrilling read. It has fantasy and horror but i will say this is definitely more of a YA read but it is still so captivating! 🤍

This was such an amazing read! I flew through this book in one afternoon because I could not stop! The characters were so unique and gripping that I really adored them. The author did a great job with keeping the plot moving and avoiding any stale moments. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know!