Thank you to netgalley and the publisher.

The book started off strong and i was instantlyinterested, I thought there would be a great enemies to lovers but Natalie was immediately infatuated it seemed. I don't even understand how they fell for one another when there were really no "get to know eachother conversations". That really didn't make sense so I didn't like the book as much as i could have. Also Rayhan calling her girl at every turn bothered me. She has a name and it didn't seem like he was trying to use it as an endearment.

The story line was decent but I do feel like it could have been better if we'd gotten more information. The surface was barely skimmed it felt. I did like the book though despite my criticism. The mystery of who killed Rayhans dad was very interesting and my brain was definitely trying to figure it out the whole time.

I would recommend this book to people and hopefully we get more answers in the next book

Shadows and Sage is an original fantasy romance with just the right amount of mystery and spice. The perfect book for those who are fans of vampire fantasy romance.
Though Natalie is a powerful witch, as a young girl her chaotic magic was caged for her own well-being.
While searching for healing herbs for her father, Natalie’s village is raided by a group of vampires on horseback. As she and her sister try to escape, Natalie is cornered by a roguishly handsome red-haired vampire. With the aid of an ominous shadow, Natalie is able to use a wisp of magic to intrigue her vampire attacker and avoid death. She is given a choice between dying along-side her sister, or helping her capture unravel his fathers mystery death.
Natalie’s perseverance and love for her family push her to investigate and what she finds could bring down the kingdom of her enemies.
Shadows and Sage is an original fantasy romance with just the right amount of mystery and spice. The perfect book for those who are fans of Vampire fantasy romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, its characters and the world in which they belong.

The timeline between this book and the first one in the series is unusual. They should be in reverse in my opinion. There are a number of characters in this book and a lot of information is presented, but at least it’s done in phases throughout, instead of a massive pile in the beginning. It is less of a romance and more of an adventure story. Yes, the romance exists, but that type of relationship between Natalie and Rayhan is not front and center for the majority of the book. The plot didn't have much downtime and I kept wanting to see what happens in the next chapter. The ending is as well-resolved as I believe it could be. Curious to find out if a third book in the series happens if it occurs before or after this one in time...

This book caught my eye from the description and got me interested! Then realized this is the second book in the series.

It left me feeling like there will be another book and has me wanting more!

I enjoyed the read and really felt for the main character Natalie. There’s so much going on around her while being a prisoner and trying to figure out her magic.

It has me hoping for a third!

Thank you to NetGalley, City Owl Press, and A.N. Payton for letting me be an ARC reader! This review is voluntary.

My favorite part about this book was how Natalie had so much on her plate and yet she was still able to maintain her sanity. Between being kidnapped, doing everything she can to protect her sister and help her sick father, and learning how to use her magic, she never strayed away from anything.

I also really appreciated how her and Rayhan learned how to work together so that they could each get what they wanted. I enjoyed seeing how their chemistry grew and how they went from enmities to lovers.

I loved the sweet steam in this book but I would have appreciated a little bit more spice.

I haven’t read the first book of this series yet but I think I’ll definitely have to check it out!

Side note: the relationship between Natalie and Rayhan somewhat reminded me of Morgan and Draven from the Blood of a Fae series by Briar Boleyn!

When I saw the synopsis for this book, I knew I had to read it. Vampires? Witches? Enemies to lovers? Yes! I didn’t even realize it was part of a series at first. Luckily, this is a prequel to the first book, so I didn’t have an issue following the story at all. (Will definitely be checking out the first book!)
I had no idea what to expect going in, so I was pleasantly surprised with the writing and the descriptions of the world. It was an easy and beautiful read.
Natalie is a witch in wartime between witches and vampires. She has to care for her sick father and younger sister, Penelope. Natalie cannot access her magic because her mother put a cage, or bind, around it. She meets Rayhan, our MMC who is a vampire marshal. She’s taken prisoner after her uncontrollable magic ‘phantom’ touches Rayhan and they both see his memories. Rayhan wants her to help him solve his father’s murder and Natalie just wants to get home. I loved their interactions and the enemies to lovers, though they never felt so much like real enemies. It was a wonderful story and I can’t wait to check out the first one! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Thank you NetGalley and City Owl Press for the eARC opportunity!

I received this book from NetGalley as an ARC.
Although this was somewhat of a prequel to a series I hadn’t read yet, I felt this could be read as a stand-alone. There were a couple things that could’ve had more backstory, sure. But I’m sure that’s in the actual first book and I didn’t feel like I was missing out on anything major. Also, I love when they give the MMC’s real hobbies. It makes them SO much more interesting. I do wish the nickname would’ve been something more creative than just “girl”, especially when it’s used a lot. This isn’t a book I would re-read, but I am interested reading the other in the series!

In a world ravaged by a war between the witches and the vampires, Natalie, using what her mother taught her before her death, must look after her young sister and sickly father. When her village is raided by vampires she gives up her freedom to save her loved ones.

With her magic bound by a spell from her late mother, Nat can't use the power that dwells in her veins and finds it, except for when a phantom appears and takes control, manipulating her magic in ways she never expects. But her kidnapper, Rayhan, wants her to use her magic to help him get to the bottom of the death of his father who he believes to have been murdered.

As the two work together to try and reach their goals they find themselves coming together in a way they never expected, facing hard truths and choices that will change their lives and perhaps those of the people around them.

I really enjoyed reading this book, I thought the plot was intriguing and loved the magical elements. However, I wish that the characters had a bit more development, especially when it comes to the romantic relationship as at times it felt a bit forced and stiff. It could have done with a bit more fleshing out so that we could really understand why FMC and MMC fall for each other.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me access to this arc.

3.5 stars / 5 stars

Things I love:
Very interesting, keep me reading
Had to know who the killer was
Natalie was an amazing character
Love the vampire vibe

Things I didn’t love:
Romance was a little lacking
Little more character building needed
Little more world building needed

Natalie is a witch during wartime with the neighboring vampire kingdom. She is responsible for caring for her sick father and her little sister, however, she is captured by the vampires. The vampire who captures her promises to set her free if she helps him solve his father's murder.

The plot for this book was intriguing and I wanted to learn more about Natalie and Rayhan after reading Hellfire and Honey , however, the book fell a bit flat for me. I didn't necessarily believe the relationship development between Natalie and Rayhan - it felt a little forced. I could not be absorbed in the book as I normally am, but I did enjoy the overall plot.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Book Review 📚
Shadows and Sage by A.N Payton - 3/5 ⭐

Unfortunately, it's not as great as I hoped it would be. I way sold on the vampire part and was hoping for the best. I feel like there was a lot missing from the story? It could of been made so much more in depth and a tonne more detail and description would of been perfect.

I really enjoyed what I read, but it would of been an easy 4 ⭐ if there was just a bit more to the book. I thought it was planning an enemies to lovers trope but it was really anything in their dialogues and actions towards each other.

I think overall it's still worth a read but with a bit more character description and world building it would of been a much better story to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for allowing me to read this ARC - this is an HONEST review from my own personal opinion.

This is one of the books I expected to like, but sadly didn't. It has anything I would want out of a romantasy book but I just couldn't connect with the characters, and that is my main problem with it. Still, the story was good so I think I might give other books a try.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. As a lover of anything with vampires, I was really excited for the opportunity. My general feeling after the book is, it was okay.
The conversations could be better, they could communicate better, that could make them in my mind more vivid, alive. I felt like an outsider all the time, could not feel absorbed.
The romance was a bit dimmer than the overall fantasy romance books include but that was still acceptable.

When I read the description for this book, I was super excited to get into it. I love a good vampire book and I was so hoping this would satisfy that part of me that needed a good vampire romance.

Unfortunately, this book fell a little flat for me. It wasn't a bad book and I enjoyed reading it but I just felt there was a lot more that could have been tweaked that really would have pushed this book further, starting with a bit more background information. I honestly have no idea after reading it, why the vampires and witches were at war. There is no real point in the book where we are given this information and to me, it would have been a vital bit to know. Sometimes that little bit of extra history can make a story stand out so much more.

Next, for me personally, the romance was really lacking. I had expected a real enemies to lovers book, but this to me just read like two characters lusting after each other. Other than the short conversations about her helping find his fathers murderer, Natalie and Rayhan did not have any real, genuine conversations. They never spent any time getting to know each other and then suddenly, they were in love. For me, it just was not believable at all. I wouldn't have even known they were meant to be enemies as there was no real hint of that either. I would have loved for there to be more interaction between them that wasn't just revolving around her finding a murderer.

I have to say as well as a last thing, the amount of times he called her 'girl' in this just infuriated me. It seemed so disrespectful and I just wanted to scream that she has a name, use that! I searched and she was called girl 37 times in that book and it just got to be quite annoying and repetitive. I don't know if it was meant to be an endearing pet name but for me, it was like Natalie was being talked down to constantly.

Overall, it was an okay book and I was intrigued enough to keep reading but, it needed more character building and background story to tie everything together. I'd give it 2.5 stars overall.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

First, I would like to thank the author & NetGalley for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest

This book had a wonderful storyline, and I truly enjoyed reading it .
The world building was so beautifully written, I was easily able to visualize the cities, landscapes and characters without being overwhelmed or confused.

It had a slow burn romance with lots of action and mystery.(and a little spice)

Tropes included:
- slow burn enemies to lovers
- Kidnapping and forced proximity
- Vampire and witches
- Murder
- Lust and tension

It was a great prequel to hellfire and honey.

I received an E-Arc from Netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.

This is my first time reading this series. I have not read the first book. So I just jumped right in! Adventure time!

(Side note: I may have to get the first book )

I could not stop reading this story. I wanted to know who the killer was. I wanted to know what Natalie was going to do and to know more about her magic. She's just a great character! I hope to see more growth within her. I wanted to know more about Rayhan. I wanted to know if Natalie and Rayhan had feelings for each other. There were so many things happening!

The story mostly focused on Natalie and her goals. I liked how she processed things because so much was happening to her. Dealing with her family, dealing with vampires, dealing with being a prisoner, figuring out her magic, and so much more. That takes a toll on a person.

It was fun and adorable and adventurous read! Even the tiny steamy bits were a nice touch. The spark between Rayhan and Natalie was sweet in my opinion. It wasn't intense but kind of sweet. I think Natalie had intense moments thought but the overall feel was sweet to me. I liked it!
I will point out that I love how Rayhan is a gentleman and yet he's a vampire who can fight well.

The ending was very interesting. I dare wonder if the author left it like that for another book? That would be interesting to see.

You bet I'm going to read more.

Natalie is trying to get back to a dying father and a sister who would be alone if he fell. Rayhan is trying to solve the murder of his father that no one really believes is a murder. Their needs (and wants) intertwine in a prequel to the beloved (for me) Hellfire and Honey.

I really enjoyed the first book and while I'm not typically a fan of prequel sequals I can't say I wasn't curious about Natalie and Rayhan. It almost makes me want to re-read the first one to get more insight into what happened between them.

I think the author's strongest ability is writing her characters. I really enjoyed both our main characters as well as Reef and Maverick. Kadence felt a little flat but when you are comparing that to him being a main character in the previous book you almost can't help it. I wanted more insight into characters I loved and I got that but you can never have too much of a good thing. I really enjoed getting to know a bit more about characters like Madeline. And again I really loved Maverick's character. She seems like so much fun and I would kill for a female character like her sprinkeled in more of my books.

The "mystery" falls a bit flat for me. I had a good guess pretty early on and while that means the author did a good job of leaving bread crumbs some of the crumbs felt a little too big. Overall I enjoyed the story, it didn't fufil me quite as much as the first book but I still thought it was a fun and memorable read.

I had to buy the first one in order to read this but I’m very glad I did. Natalie sacrifices everything for her family and it’s honorable. I’m looking forward to the next one and I truly hope they get their HEA