At first, I was so sad the second book wasn't about Alessandra, but then. BOOM. This book happened. I loved the first book in the series, but that could not have prepared me for how much more I would love this one. This book gave me regency romance mixed with fantasy- complete with the whole female rights issues. It was amazing to see how the duchess played men for years, with the simple skill of acting dumb in order to further her own agenda. Obviously, we still have a ways to go for female equality, and I really enjoyed this take on it for the fictional time period. Thank you, NetGalley for a copy of this audio!

This book was just as fun as the first one. I liked the way the author writes the main characters. In this as with the first one the main characters are not good people. They do things such as murder and scheming but do not feel bad about it. They are definitely Slytherins. It is refreshing to sometimes have characters that are not always good. But at the same time you are cheering for them to achieve their goals. I liked the characters, the story and the writing. Levenseller is definitely one of my favorite YA authors.

This sequel/follow-up to The Shadows Between Us was just as fantastic as the first book! Although it can stand on its own, reading the first book would provide more background on the world and certain characters. I adored this book, and Caitlin Davies' performance was superb (as always) with excellent inflection that brought the story to life.

Fun & Fast Paced With Great Characters and A Steamy Romance


Thoughts: 💡
I loved Chrysantha. She was cold and calculating and so smart it was almost scary. She used what she had to make her place in the world, but she was secretly a sweetheart. And the angry hate filled enemies to lovers trope was brilliant. I really wasn’t sure that she would have a partner until almost the very end.
My favorite things about this story was all the complicated relationships with various characters. The romance was an important factor of the story, but the story seemed more about Chrysantha finding herself, gaining confidence in living authentically, and learning to trust people. Which admittedly wasn’t an easy feat when living in a complementary society that has little to no respect or protection for women, and the person you’re falling in love with is hiding dark and dangerous secrets and unaliving people in front of you.
The narration was perfect on this one. It was a single narrator, because the book is a single POV; but she was a fantastic storyteller.
I also really need to read The Shadows Between Us now.

Fun Bits:
⚜️ Hate to lovers
⚜️ He has secretes but isn’t hiding the dead
bodies from her
⚜️ Monster love for the win
⚜️ The best side characters
⚜️ An interesting and well crafted fantasy world

✨Note✨ This is a standalone but set in the same world as The Shadows Between Us with some of the same characters.

Stats:📊
YA: Lots of Steam, Fade to Black
Characters: 💙💙💙💙💙
Audio: 🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Narrator: 🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️
YA Romantasy: Enemies to Lovers, Hidden Secrets, Found Family, Morally Grey, Monster Love 📕
(Single POV)
⚠️: violence, blood & gore, death, sexual harassment and attempted sexual assault

This was a great audio book. It was the second one I have ever listened to. The narrator did a great job with the characters. The story was great. I will definitely look for other books from this author.

I'm incredibly sorry about this but here we go...

Main Character:
She is incredibly unlikeable. Sure a girl being a bit materialistic is fun at times and we all love pampering, but it being a main character trait? No thank you. There are other things a woman can be. I understand she's standing up for herself to be her own person aside from a man (which in regency era women struggle with this), but there could be better ways than her just wanting to spend money. Similarly, she is RUDE. Like incredibly mean. She consistently puts down the love interest until at least halfway (even then she continues), which, I don't understand how I am to like a person that is constantly viewed negatively by the point of view telling the story. She calls him a lot of things and "stupid" is one of them, at which point she BARELY knew the guy. I don't think it's ever appropriate to insult someone's intelligence. In the same vein, there is a very kind and wholesome young single father in the book who she is best friends with and loves his son, BUT SHE PUTS HIM DOWN TOO (!!!!). She uses the fact that he has "a child out of wedlock" to win an argument over him -- THIS IS NOT OKAY!! That poor man. I do not know how he was still friends with her after that because I would have said "see ya!" I pushed through to the end and probably should not have to avoid that entire scene.

Genre/Age Group:
I believe this is being marketed as YA. This is more NA than that. The FMC hires a 'mistress' within the first 20% off the book. Good for her, but also does not see to have a place in a YA marketed book. Similarly, there is the start of a spicy scene at the end (it is closed door), but again, I don't agree with it in a book that could be in the hands of children around the ages of about 12 (a lot of this age group read YA).

Dialogue vs. Exposition:
One criticism many reviewers had about book 1 of this standalone series is that they didn't really understand the world. It should be regency but you don't get much description of the surroundings. I found this to be fairly similar. There is some small improvements but not too much. It feels very dialogue focused, very little showing over telling, mostly just exposition of the FMC's thoughts and descriptions of clothing. This could have been more balanced for readers to feel immersed in the world.

I really did enjoy the Pirate King and Siren Queen books by this author so I do feel quite let down by this, unfortunately. I've never written so much of a negative review because I really respect authors, but this one just missed every mark for me, and I'm truly sorry. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I do hope to still read future books by this author! This one just did not meet any expectations.

This was my first time hearing about any work from this author. I enjoyed it and thought the narrator did a wonderful job. While I enjoyed the book overall, and it was paced well, I would love to see more building of the the magic system itself. A solid understanding of the world and how it works would have made it more enjoyable to read and understand.

I sure love a real enemies to lovers story.
The FMC is a bitchy ambitious woman that just wants to live a life not controlled by men. When a mysterious stranger comes into her life and takes over. Takes her freedom, takes her money, and also takes her breath away. The audio was fantastic. The story kept me wanting more at the end of each chapter. I would categorize this as "New Adult" not "YA".

rating: 4.25/5
spice: 1.5/5 (fade to black but has lead up)
narration: 3.75/5

the narration was great and simple but as an avid audiobook listener this was very simple. there was no deeper tone or different voices for other characters, it was all the same. it made it a bit hard to figure out who was saying what some moments but overall a good narration throughout.

i read The Shadows Between Us a few years ago and although I don’t remember a whole lot about it, I do know I loooved it, and was so excited to hear there was a follow up about her sister Chrystantha.

i was expecting to dislike the FMC but actually really liked her character. Chrysantha was fierce, calculated, and very relatable.

Chrysantha and Eryx were a true enemies to lovers, the build up and tension was absolutely exquisite! I devoured this book in a single day, I couldn’t put it down.

I do wish that there were more of the fantasy elements, more shadow use! Other than that this was such a great read!

*thank you netgalley for the arc

I loved the Shadow Between Us so much I didn't know how she was going to achieve the same level of greatness with The Darkness Within and she did!! By far my favorite series by the author.

This was my 1st book by this author and what drew me in was definitely the cover. I had no idea what the story was about, but I give every book a fair chance. The narrator did a great job with distinction of characters and moved the story along at a decent pace. Chrysantha is a fun character and her plight to finally be in control of her own life is a tale as old as time. In fact, this story did give me Beauty and The Beast vibes. Eryx and Chrysantha's energy were that of Belle and Beast. The mutual dislike from the beginning draws you in because you want to know more about them. Each of them trying to get what they want has you rooting for each of them, respectively especially when Chrysantha learns of her sister's wedding. Eryx secret has you going back and forth in your mind to figure out who or what he really is. I enjoyed this book and look forward to more from this author.

Chrysantha Stathos has tricked everyone into underestimating her and gotten everything she has ever wanted. Until a man shows up to ruin all her plans and steal her inheritance.

I overall enjoyed this book. At times I really enjoyed it and other times it frustrated me.

The plot was intriguing but I would have liked for there to have been more world building and understanding of the magical system. The magic seemed to be thrown it without adding a ton to the plot.

The pacing of the book I thought was good. There wasn't any lulls and a fair bit of action.

I found Chrysantha annoying in the beginning. Even though she grew on me, I needed more growth to genuinely like her. I am glad the relationship with her sister improved because it was so immature. I respect her feminine rage but at times it was over the top. I found her funny and enjoyed her relationships with the staff.

Eryx was meh to me. I enjoyed him as a true enemy instead of a love interest.

I really liked Caitlin as the narrator and the production was very enjoyable.

Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, Tricia Levenseller and Caitlin Davies for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was hoping this book would be more enjoyable than the first, but I was disappointed. I appreciate what the author was trying to do by creating a story for women to be more in control of their lives in a time when they didn't have that option, but it fell short. The added "fantasy" aspect did not do anything for the story and seemed unnecessary.

As for the characters, I didn't like any of them. Chrysantha Stathos is not any better when you get to know the real her and Eryx Demos is unremarkable.

LOVED IT!

This was such a delightful 2nd installment to this realm, this time featuring Allesandra's sister, Chrysantha. Although described as dimwitted in the first book by her sister, you will quickly learn that Chrysantha is no wilting flower. In fact, she is much more like her sister than she ever seems to realize. She became a wealthy (widowed) duchess by manipulating all the men around her to get one thing - freedom. When an heir shows up saying the house, fortune, and dukedom are his, she immediately sets out to challenge this claim. He is, of course, extremely handsome.

This book was delightfully chaotic, with so many twists and turns, and a strong FMC. The ending was a bit anticlimatic, but I still love a HEA. Highly recommend this one if you liked the first in the series!

First wanted to sat thank you for allowing me to be an arc listener!

I was so excited to get into the second book! I love that we get to learn more about the sister in this book. I enjoy that the women are always trying to find a way to better themselves. They do not settle for less then they deserve. I would love to hear the books from the male perspective!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio for this audio arc!!

When I say that the first book The Shadows Between Us is one of my favorite books of all time its not a lie, so to have the chanced to read the sequel before publication I just about died.

This follows Alessandra’s sister Chrysantha’s story right where the first book left off, We hate Chrysantha in the first book so I was wondering how I would feel about her story arc, but let me tell you she did not disappoint. You find out why she is the way she is, and she is so determined and lovable. She’s such a feminist icon in my mind!

The love story had me on my toes the whole time, were we hating him or loving him or both!!

Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.
Following the first book, The Shadows Between Us, this book concentrates on the older sister, Chrysantha who married a man much older than her based on laws of the land that do not give women much choice. However, now that her younger sister Alessandra is queen, there are new edicts of the land that give women many more rights. Meanwhile, her late husband's estranged grandson is laying claim to the life Chrysantha has built for herself. He threatens to take away her freedoms by his claim, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye.
I absolutely enjoyed this romantasy for exposing laws and held beliefs that are still present in our society today that do not give women complete autonomy and freedoms that men have. Like the last book, both sisters are fierce and willing to stand up for themselves. While it took Chrysantha more time to stand up for herself, once she gets a taste of freedom, she is more willing to fight to keep it. This is a love story, a fantasy, and women's rights novel.

I will begin with saying I truly wanted this book to be a follow up from Alessandra and Kalaus. Instead this book brings about the story of Alessandra’s sister, Chrysantha Stathos.

Much like The Shadows between us, this book begins slowly. Causing this reader to take a bit of a pause but then remembering that once I’m past the slump that the real story will completely and utterly draw me in. Tricia Levenseller doesn’t disappoint with her ability to eloquently build a story that even when completed leaves you wanting more from her. In true fashion she has yet again made me wish to read another story with both sisters bring the star of the story.

This review is based on a Free ARC and I want to thank NetGalley, the publishers and Tricia Levenseller for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

As sequels go this one held its own. I enjoyed the narrator, I found her infliction was the perfect touch to keep the lister interested. I highly recommend this series!

I really loved the first book and didn't realize that this book wouldn't be about Alessandra, but instead would focus on her sister. I enjoyed this audiobook immensely however, I did listen to the other book as an audiobook and wish the narrator would've changed Chrysantha's voice a bit because in my mind she sounded exactly the same as Alessandra's voice which threw me a bit because my brain wouldn't separate the sister's stories at the beginning. This narrator is great at making different voices for different characters so I feel like she easily could've done this but it probably wasn't even worried about for production (I won't be removing any stars for this as not everyone will use the audiobook and the review should be based off the story in my opinion).

The story was great, considering we knew that Chrysantha had already been married (because of Alessandra's story) to an older duke I wasn't really sure what her story would entail or how much of a twisty, turny plot could be provided for us but I loved the way it turned out! Plenty of twists and turns, plenty of "what's going to happen next?" moments.

I really loved that Chrysantha's character changed so much throughout the story, Alessandra didn't represent her sister very nicely in the first book and it was nice to get to know this character better, her side of her past and see how she developed throughout the story.

Tropes:
-found family
-enemies to lovers
-family reconciliation
-sisterly bonds
There are probably more, I don't usually catch on to all of them!

**This does have some relative spice that is age appropriate - closed door but hints as something more- it does reference sounds being made and if the whole house could hear them. Parents can decide off that if this book is appropriate for their child.
**There also is more gore then there was in the first book. Murder, including a relatively calm scene and a "tear them to pieces" scene.