I loved book one and was so excited for this one.

I think the pacing was off, unfortunately. It was really slow in the first half but did pick up towards the end. I was already checked out at that point.

I loved the slow burn - the build up, the tension.

Overall, I'm still looking forward to the next book.

Wow this book was dangerously stunning Quell and Jordan are just fantastic. This sequel had me on the edge of the seat just like book one did. With so many thrilling scenes and magic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read a free copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

"A must read for fans of Stephanie Garber, Leigh Bardugo, and Alex Aster." Honestly, this tagline made me want to read these books in the first place and it definitely rings true! I will definitely be reading J. Elle's other series while we wait for the conclusion to this trilogy in 2025!

Shadows of Perl offers a solid mix of adventure, magic, and intrigue, though it might not completely satisfy those looking for deeper character exploration.

I do not think I’m able to write this book due to the fact that I DNF House of Marionne. honestly, I was not expecting to DNF the first book in the series, but I did not feel like the characters had a lot of depths to them and the whole world building just felt weird. I also did not like how the FMC automatically kind of accepted the fact that she belongs to some magic society and just kind of went on about her day. She knew she had some sort of power, but that was it and the fact that she just accepted going to some magical school just felt really weird. I do wish I could have enjoyed that book more to be able to read Shadows of Perl. I may go back and pick the first book up but the chances are very slim. And because of that, I cannot rate this current book.

RATING: 🥀🥀🥀🥀/5 Enchanted Roses

ONE-WORD REVIEW: THRILLING

TAG LINE: Unleash the darkness. Claim your power.

OPENING LINE: The only thing colder than the crisp fall air thumped an easy cadence against the girl’s ribs.

REVIEW:

Huge thank you to Penguin Teen for providing me with an advanced reader copy!

𝒮𝒽𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝓁 sweeps us back into the intoxicatingly dark and enchanting world of the Order, where secrets are currency, and power is a dangerous game. If House of Marionne was a slow burn of mystery and magic, 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝓁 turns up the heat, unraveling deeper secrets, deadlier stakes, and heart-pounding revelations.

Quell’s journey continues, but this time, she’s stepping further into the shadows—literally and figuratively. The stakes are so much higher, and I loved seeing her grapple with the weight of her choices. She’s still the same girl who wants freedom, but now she’s playing a much more dangerous game.

And let’s talk about Jordan. My shadow daddy has layers, y’all. We finally get more insight into his past, his motivations, and why he’s so damn guarded. The tension between him and Quell? Immaculate. The chemistry? Stronger than ever. Their dynamic is shifting in all the best ways, and I ate up every moment.

The intrigue, the betrayals, the twists—I couldn’t put this book down. 𝒮𝒽𝒶𝒹𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝒫𝑒𝓇𝓁 leans even harder into its dark academia-meets-dangerous-society vibes, making it an absolutely thrilling sequel. If you loved the first book, buckle up because this one takes everything to the next level. Not to mention, secrets are revealed and the story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. . .

ELEMENTS:
✨ Forbidden magic
✨ Secret societies
✨ Shadowy assassins
✨ Enemies-to-lovers tension
✨ Dark academia aesthetic
✨ Plot twists on plot twists

Final Verdict? This series owns me, and I need the next book ASAP.

Happy Reading!
Ashley
www.TheTatteredPage.com

An absolutely enchanting book. The story keeps you hooked from beginning to end and you feel connected to the universe in a unique way. Thank you for letting me read this work of art.

hadows of Perl is the sequel to House of Marionne and it not only continues Quell's story, but has a lot more worldbuilding. It picks up pretty much where its predecessor left off, with Quell having escaped her grandmother at House Marionne and Jordan having betrayed her. We get to follow both Quell as she looks for her missing mother and Jordan as he carries out an assassin mission. Even though there isn't too much development of their tentative romance from the first book since they're separated for most of this one, Elle does touch upon how they genuinely care for each other in a really sweet (if somewhat subtle) way.

It was also interesting to learn more about Jordan's role as an assassin and how his duties intersect with his feelings for Quell. Shadows of Perl also sees the introduction of another POV character, Nore, the heir to the House Ambrose who is hiding a major secret. The inclusion of Nore helped explain the house system, and added another dimension to the story. I also liked how Elle wrote about Quell's toushana (dark magic) in this sequel. She feels torn between hiding her toushana and embracing it, and that internal struggle leads Quell to place her trust in some questionable people. I definitely had bad feelings about some of them and wanted to yell at Quell to not let them into her life, but it adds a dose of reality into this fantasy story.

I wasn't feeling this book. I wasn't able to invest in the story like I was hoping to. It felt like it might have been me.

I was eager to delve into Shadows of Perl, the second installment in J. Elle's House of Marionne series. This sequel not only meets but exceeds the expectations set by its predecessor, offering a rich tapestry of magic, political intrigue, and complex character dynamics. Shadows of Perl is a commendable continuation of the House of Marionne series, weaving a narrative rich in magic, intrigue, and emotional depth. J. Elle's ability to craft a dark and complex magical society, coupled with her nuanced character portrayals, makes this book a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre. For those who appreciate intricate plots and slow-burn romance set against a backdrop of political machinations, this novel is a valuable addition to any collection.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘤𝘢𝘯’𝘵 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘮𝘦.
𝘉𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴

In the follow up to House of Marionne, we continue where we left off, though it took me a chapter or two to remember the plot as it has been a while since the first book.

The story is told this time from the POV of Quell, Jordan and Nore as each work their way through their own House loyalties/disloyalties and revelations while trying to accomplish their separate goals.

It was interesting to see how the different House Mistresses had their own secrets and fractures, yet willing to help others who were not of their own House while simply disregarding their own.

Quell's continued quest to locate her Mother leads her to the House of Perl, Nore's desire to wield toushana leaves her torn between her position as heir to House of Ambrose while seeking help from House of Marionne. Jordan who has left House of Perl and the ward of Marionne is now fully in the Dragunhood and questioning the morals and Order of their world.

We finally get to see more of the story unravel, mostly through Jordan chasing his tether to Yagrin and Quell - and things take a fast turn once they reunite. As each character and House races for the Sphere that holds all magic, along with it's impending destruction, we start to see the stakes.

The battle for the Sphere towards the end was unexpected in terms of which Houses and groups were trying to wrangle the power for themselves, and the shock in who ultimately won left me reeling as the story ended there abruptly. Excited to see what comes next!

The enemies-to-lovers and lovers-to-enemies slow burn in this story is well executed and engaging. Elle weaves in twists that feel natural, creating significant tension and longing between the female main character (FMC) and male main character (MMC). I appreciate that most of the points of view are in the first person, with one in third, making it easier to follow.

However, I found the familial ties a bit confusing; a family tree would help clarify these relationships. The story ends on a major cliffhanger that has me excited for Book 3.

If you enjoy young adult romantic fantasy, I highly recommend this trilogy. It's a fun and engaging read, especially for fans of *The Selection*, *Fourth Wing*, or authors like Stephanie Garber and Leigh Bardugo. Add this gem to your to-be-read list!

This book truly picked up from book number one and had me VERY interested from start to finish. I enjoyed the multiple points of view for the characters, and the tension between Jordan and Quell truly was so interesting to read and see from their points of view. They both hated each other, but couldn't fight the chemistry between themselves. I also enjoyed watching Jordan go from such a lover of the Dragons ways and rules and seeing him realize how inhumane some of their practices were, and that everything wasn't so black and white as they made it seem. Seeing the corrupt practices of government always leads to a juicy storyline in my opinion.

As the sequel to House of Marionne, Shadows of Perl expands the magical world and raises the stakes, but it doesn't quite reach the gripping intensity of the first book. While the foundation for an exciting third installment is clearly being laid, this book feels more like a bridge than a fully satisfying continuation.

Quell and Jordan’s story remains compelling, especially with their complicated dynamic as former lovers now on opposing sides. The tension between them is well-executed, and their individual journeys add depth to the plot. However, the pacing slows considerably due to extensive world-building and political intrigue. The addition of new POVs was interesting, but at times, it made the story feel a bit scattered rather than intensifying the drama.

While the intricate magic system and House politics are fascinating, there were moments where the information-heavy sections overshadowed the action. The book delivers some intriguing revelations, but it lacks the same urgency and emotional pull that made House of Marionne so captivating.

That said, the ending is a major cliffhanger, setting up what promises to be an explosive conclusion. Despite some slower sections, Shadows of Perl is still a solid sequel that fans of the series will enjoy—just be prepared for a lot of setup before the real action kicks off.

Thank you to NetGallery, Penguin/Razorbill, and the author for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

I was swept away into the magical world of the Houses of the Order in this YA romantic fantasy sequel filled with betrayal and secrets. The story follows three points of view and has two connecting storylines that merge into an exciting battle and a shocking ending, leaving me eager for the final book in this trilogy.

The character development of Quell and Jordan stood out to me. They both grow and start making their own choices. Quell shows both strength and vulnerability, while Jordan struggles between duty and feelings. The plot’s mysteries, House secrets, and character interactions kept me engaged. I recommend this series to YA fantasy romance readers.

I suggest re-reading the ending and the Appendix of House of Marionne before starting this book for better understanding, as the beginning may be confusing without a quick refresh.

Shadows of Perl is a worthy sequel. I enjoyed House of Marionne and this book gives us even deeper insight into the world and its magic system. I find the magic system in this series rather unique and enjoyed following Quell on her journey to learn more about her magic and how to use it after her binding in book 1. Quell and Jordan are now enemies and this book definitely delivered on that front. There is good tension between the two when they have to team up once again. The addition of Nore’s voice was an added bonus. We learn more about her and some good stuff comes of it. Her POV provided a good accompaniment to the overall story. I really like Elle’s writing style - the story was compelling and unpredictable. I could not put the book down and flew through it. Every moment of it was filled with angst/longing, action, and magic.
I recommend this book to anyone that enjoys reading fantasy, especially if you like a well written back and forth of enemies-lovers. I am eagerly awaiting the sequel - you can’t leave me hanging like that!
Many thanks to Penguin Teen Canada (Penguin Random House) and NetGalley for a digital advanced copy of the book. The opinions expressed are honest and my own.

DNF: 8%

It is time for me to accept that this trilogy isn’t for me.

I failed myself by not listening to my gut and doing my due diligence when it came to both “House of Marionne” and “Shadows of Perl.” See, this isn’t my first go around with J. Elle. My attention was caught when I stumbled upon her book “Wings of Ebony.” And while the cover to that novel is so beautiful, I couldn’t manage to get past Chapter 3. So, when I came across the cover of Shadows of Perl on NetGalley, I just had to request it. It wasn’t until I was approved of my request that I discovered that Shadows of Perl is the SEQUAL to House of Marionne. Immediately, I requested both the physical copy and audiobook to House of Marionne. Next thing I knew, I was 15 chapters into “House of Marionne” and was ready to DNF but I couldn’t. I have been DNFing a number of ARCs lately and growing embarrassed about it. So, I forced myself to finish House of Marionne so that could start Shadows of Perl in the New Year. I even found a way to convince myself that Shadows of Perl would be different. Unfortunately, I am wrong!!!

As sad as I am to be giving up on yet another ARC, I have learned that DNFing a book that just isn’t right for you does more good in the long run. Just because both House of Marionne and Shadows of Perl didn’t work for me, doesn’t mean that it won’t work for someone else. This series will attract the right people. I, unfortunately, am not that person.

I want to wish J.Elle all the positive vibes and best wishes on all of her future endeavors, especially her writing career.

Picks up where the 1st left off. The twist and turns!!

I found the pace of this book, in my opinion a little slower than the 1st book.

I did enjoy it!

Thank you netgalley

I am so sad that this one didn’t hit as good as the first one did! I found this book to be super slow and tedious. At times it didn’t even feel like it came from the same author that wrote the first one.

Shadows of Perl is the sequel to J. Elle’s House of Marionne. I read the first book about a year ago and really enjoyed it, so I was excited to check out the sequel.

Unfortunately I think I forgot a lot of this world and characters during the year between books because I was super confused through a lot of the book. Minor characters were brought up without reintroductions and there was no sort of recap of the world as a whole, so it was hard to jump right back into it.

I considered a few times putting the book down because I was so confused, but even with the confusion there were parts of the book that kept me engaged, especially after I hit about 65%. For me the most captivating thing about this book is the relationship between Quell and Jordan. Their will they, won’t they relationship kept me coming back because I wanted to know what was going to happen with them.

This book ends on a cliffhanger that I currently feel invested in, so I may pick up the next book (although there currently isn’t a pub date).

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC! Shadows of Perl is available now.