Thank you Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for access to this arc.

Sowards writes about tough times and tough people who face danger and death. And while things aren’t described graphically, nonetheless bad things can and do happen. I hesitated about requesting this arc but in the end, I enjoyed “A Waltz with Traitors” and “Of Sword and Shadow” so much and was so intrigued with this book’s time frame that I couldn’t resist. I finished it glad that I read it. 1373 Serbia is not a book setting I’ve read before so the glossary was handy but honestly, the terms were used so well in the narrative that the meanings were plain anyway.

There are things about this book which will probably make some readers rule it out but which I appreciated being included. “Beneath a Crescent Shadow” is an inspirational story but it’s not a preachy one. The characters are religious and turn to religion and prayer a lot. They also act and believe as some Christians did then in that there was a feeling that if you sinned (or thought you sinned) that God could punish you or others for this. Usually I’m not a fan of modern day sentiments and beliefs being forced onto historical people so I’m actually okay with Konstantin’s feelings. They are honest for the time and lead to a “third act breakup” that, again for the time, makes sense.

Konstantin has been raised in a family of love. Many of those he loves have been lost to disease or battle but he believes in love and that people can have happy marriages even if those are arranged ones. He’s initially a bit baffled by Suzana’s reserve and moments of flinching around him. Suzana opens up a bit to his Aunt in her questions about how often a “good husband” beats his wife and luckily that good woman gives her nephew some hints and tips about why Suzana acts as she does. After a lifetime of one parent who uses his fists to enforce his will, I would have been surprised if Suzana had instantly melted into love. Yay that they talk honestly and begin to build a solid marriage.

The bulk of the conflict in the story is external to the romantic relationship. I like how Konstantin and Suzana use their strengths to work together for the good of the zupa. TImes are hard enough but with the tribute that must be paid, the military service that will take Konstantin and most of his men away for a summer campaign in Anatolia, and continued “incidents” that plague them, there’s a lot of upheaval and unrest to fill the story and keep things moving.

Konstantin and Suzana act in ways that feel authentic to the times and place. These were people used to death and struggles but also ready to reach for joy when they could. Both MCs grow and develop over the course of the book. They face obstacles and crises of faith but keep going. Konstantin’s duty as leader of his people is something he constantly thinks about and he tries his utmost even if a few times he still has some things to learn. Suzana offers her skills to her new people as well as faces her worst fears. When they emerge on the other side of what they’ve fought, they are hardened steel and rock solid in their love. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. B+

"Beneath A Crescent Shadow" by A. L. Sowards is a historical romance novel set in the Balkans in 1373. The book tells the story of Konstantin, who is named Zupan after his father is killed in war. Konstantin's life is full of hardships - between the war, famine, and thieves stealing and destroying his land, he's about to lose everything.

In an attempt to save his land, Konstantin's grandfather arranges a marriage for him to Suzana, a wealthy merchant's daughter. Konstantin had hoped for maybe a friendship with his bride-to-be, but he didn't expect to fall in love with her. As they navigate through numerous obstacles, their love, strength, and courage are put to the test.

The book delves into themes of arranged marriage and found family, both of which are elements I usually enjoy in historical romance. However, "Beneath A Crescent Shadow" left me wanting more. While I wanted to enjoy the book, it seemed to focus more on the history and battles than on the actual romance story.

Despite this, I appreciate the opportunity given by A. L. Sowards, Shadow Mountain Publishing, and NetGalley to read this ARC (e-book). The novel offers a unique perspective on historical romance, blending elements of love, war, and survival against all odds. If you're a fan of historical romance with a heavy focus on historical context, "Beneath A Crescent Shadow" might just be the book for you.

❤️ Happy Reading!!! ❤️

My thanks for the ARC goes NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Spice Level: Fade to black
Other contents: Rape is mentioned and is part of the plot but not shown on the page.

I think this is my first Sowards novel. The research must have been intense for the 1300s.

BENEATH A CRESCENT SHADOW is interesting. It's during a time and place I'm not familiar with, and I thought there was a good balance of more modern ideals in the characters and historical attitudes and details. There is also a thread of faith and Christianity running through the story in a way that resonated with me. I think most historical fiction readers are going to love this story because of the detail to the time and the array of problems the main characters face.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. The story threads that involved rape (though accurate in war and such) are hard for me to plow through, and that is why I'm marking it down a titch.

I'm interested to hear what you thought about this one.

Happy reading!

Set in the Balkans during the 1300s. Konstantin, a young Serbian, leads his people as a vassal of the Ottoman Empire. To save his nation, he must marry into wealth and unbeknownst to him, his grandfather arranges a marriage to Suzanne, the daughter of a wealthy merchant. He has enemy and it seems she does as well, when her life is in danger. They've both faced pain and heartache and attempt to forge a new relationship, as they continue to face adversity.

As an only child, Suzanne is unsure of what family looks like, and Konstantin's swallows her in love and compassion, and she strives to protect them also when Konstantin is away. There's mystery and political tensions, difficult decisions and heartbreaking events and we watch their characters deepen and develop resilience to lead.

If you enjoy medieval historical fiction this is definitely for you! If not, I think you'll still enjoy the suspense, mystery and character development in this story.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and for the opportunity to post an honest review.

This author always does a great job weaving an interesting plot line and endearing characters into a wealth of historical facts, particularly for a time period that few people know much about. I know I learned a ton! I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.

I love reading books that are set in interesting historical times. This is set in the Balkans in the late 1300's. I loved learning about the customs and traditions of the people in that time and area. I loved the characters and the way they grew throughout the book. There are many hard things that the characters are challenged with, I loved how they leaned on their faith to help them get through. I loved the relationships between family members and friends. This is another homerun from A. L. Sowards. I would highly recommend but there are definitely triggering subjects so be aware of that.

I gave this a high 4 ⭐️. Its was a well written historical fiction that had lots of suspense and romance. I really knew nothing about this time period and found it interesting. The churches and culture were picturesque in my mind while I read and the war was a real and painful account. Although this book is over 350 pages I felt like I barely got to know the characters in it and look forward to the next one.
Thanks Shadow Mountain via NetGalley.

Wow! This was an intense and epic work of historical fiction. A.L.Sowards always does an incredible job recreating a world that existed long ago and putting believable characters into that world. I’ve never known much about the Balkans nor too many details of the Ottoman conquering, but reading this book was fascinating. I loved Sowards’ attention to historical detail, her deep and compelling characters, and her focus on love and healing through faith. Konstantin is so young and unprepared to be leader of his people under the rule of the Ottoman sultan. Because of the difficulties of war, famine, and brigands, he is nearly bankrupt. In order to save his lands and protect his people he has to marry a wealthy bride. Suzana, the daughter of a very prosperous merchant, is soon his betrothed, though she has burdens of her own. Their journey to peace and love is full of so many obstacles; I was seriously anxious for both of them to heal and grow and solve these seemingly impossible problems. What an incredible story of hope, faith, and loyalty.

Trigger warnings: rape and abuse is mentioned several times though not in detail. Violence through war is described.

A.L. Sowards does it again with this fantastic historical fiction! I love that this is going to be a series! A look into the Serbs and Ottomans during the 1300s. A story that will keep you on the edge of your seat through the action packed adventure from cover to cover!

I received an ARC through Netgalley and all opinions are my own.

This book takes place in the 1300's and tells the tale of Konstantin and Suzana. Her dowry saves his lands, but makes them a target for others who desire to take over their land.

This book deals with so much heaviness, from war and rape to infant loss and domestic violence. It felt a bit too heavy for me. But it was well researched, with interesting historical notes at the end. The story is well written as well, with glimpses of hope always appearing at the darkest times.

I give it four stars because it was not an enjoyable book to read, due to the subject matter. But very well done.

I received an ARC from Netgalley, but all opinions are my own.

Beautifully written!

History and romance awaits you in this captivating book. The battle scenes are descriptive and gripping, very well written! The romance between Konstantin and Suzanna is simply a beautiful journey, it reminds me of a rose bud just waiting to open up and truly bloom. Definitely recommend this one!!

What a great story! I have loved all of the author's previous books, and this one was no different. I wasn't at all familiar with this time period or the history between the Serbs and the Ottoman Empire - other than that I've heard of the Ottoman Empire, of course.

Anyway, I always love reading historical fiction, because history is fascinating, but it can be a bit dry at times (side note: I hated history class in high school, because it was so boring. I'm betting if this author taught my history class, I would not have felt that way.) Not only was the history fascinating, but the characters were well fleshed-out, and I felt like I knew each and every one of them. In some novels where there are several different characters, I sometimes find it hard to keep track of who is who, but that wasn't a problem in this book.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. This one was definitely a page-turner!

This is a suspense/romance set in 1373 in the Balkans. Vivid historical and setting details were woven into the story, bringing it alive in my imagination. The main characters were engaging, complex, and felt like real people. The suspense came from repeated attacks against Konstantin's people and strained resources needed to protect his people and his family.

A famine and defeat in battle left the area that Konstantin ruled short on fighting men and food. Then brigands started burning the fields and later set what were obviously traps to kill Konstantin. I wondered why it took so long (and others pointing out that he's a target) before Konstantin started to wonder who was behind the attacks. He wasn't proactive in trying to stop the attacks or to figure out how they were pulled off. I guess it's because he's young and inexperienced, but I had a fair idea of what was going on long before Konstantin. Anyway, I still really enjoyed the story.

Suzana grew stronger in her faith in God throughout the story. Konstantin felt he had failed his wife and God at one point by not standing against evil and thought that God was punishing him. He came to realize that both family and God would forgive him. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting, suspenseful historical novel.

LOVED THIS.

Oooo y’all know I’m a sucker for arranged marriages and I adored this one so dang much. I loved Konstantin and Suzana. They were incredible on their own and the chemistry between them was palpable.

I loved how strong Suzana was. And that all of the terrible hands she had been dealt didn’t deter her from being open to the softness and joy of a new path before her. I loved her ability to work with others and her resilient and tender nature was incredibly endearing.

And Konstantin?? A cinnamon roll of a Zupan who is also obsessed with his wife? Say less. I loved how he was balanced. Showing up to take down enemies when needed, and also working hard to show Suzana that he was a safe place to land. And when they both found comfort in each other I was a goner.

I love clearly well researched historicals and this was amazing. I felt like I was a part of this world, and learned a lot more about the time period and battles between vassals. There were betrayals and twists, perfectly scripted action scenes, and quiet moments of forgiveness and love. I loved all of the themes and care that went into the beautifully crafting of this story. I can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fiction + Romance
Language: none
Romance: closed door between a married couple
Violence: moderate-high
Content Warnings: mentions of rape (recounted, not in detail, but definitely mentioned), miscarriage, loss of life, battle/war themes

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!

As a vassal to the Ottomans who have conquered their lands, Konstantin must meet the sultan's heavy demands. After catastrophic losses, the only way for Konstantin to save his people is to marry a wealthy bride, even if it means marrying a stranger.

Suzana never expected her groom to be so young, so kind, or so handsome and has hopes if not for love, then at least a better life than with her father.

But as Konstantin and Suzana seek to build a relationship, they are faced with danger from enemies on every side as well as ghosts from the past, and only together can they find the strength, faith and love to overcome all the obstacles in their way.

What you'll love:
Set in Balkans, 1373
Dual POV
Marriage of convenience
Rich history
Action and adventure
Sweet, sigh-worthy romance
Battle scenes
Found family
Protective yet gentle MMC
Honor and loyalty
"To me, you are everything."

I am completely and totally in love with this book! Words like captivating and breathtaking come to mind but I feel like they don't quite do this story justice.

The story gripped me from the first page and I was immersed in a time and place so far distant from my own and yet the story on the pages brought it to life. I truly cannot tell you which I enjoyed most, the action and suspense, the heartwarming scenes of family, or the stars-in-your-eyes marriage of convenience romance.

This is a story of family and friendship and faith, of finding the kind of love that heals your heart and fills your soul, and of holding on to hope even when the challenges seem to great to bear.

I am in love with the setting and these characters, and am so glad that there is another book yet to come in the series. I know it will find a spot on my favorites shelf right next to this one! If only I could give this book more than 5 stars because it deserves them all!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review is not required.

TW/CW: <spoilers> intense battle scenes with injuries and death, physical abuse (past and off-page), implied intimacy between married couple but nothing on page besides kissing, rape (in past and no graphic details shared) <spoilers>

Confession time - I quite enjoy reading books by A.L. Sowards . Due to my love of their books I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed.
This book was entertaining , intriguing , suspenseful , romantic , and more .
It is set in the Balkans and Ottoman time periods. Konstantin a young ruler and Suzana, the daughter of a rich merchant are betrothed in an arranged marriage ceremony. Konstantin isn’t sure how he will pay he and his peoples taxes . The answer is given through marriage to Suzana. She is glad to get away from her abusive father . She thinks it cant be worse . Konatantin doesn’t want to marry but does it because he needs the money to help his people .
The story begins with an attempted assassination of Suzanna and it doesn’t stop with just one time . Time and time again her life is threatened . But who is doing the threatening ? I loved going on a journey with both main characters as they let down their guard in order to love and be loved . Such a beautifully written clean suspenseful romances. I will add it to my collection. Thank you to netgalley and shadow mountain publisher for a download in exchange for a review .

Another phenomenal historical fiction from A.L. Sowards. If you haven't read any of her books yet, I can't recommend them enough. Especially if you enjoy history, fabulous characters, and storylines that pull you in and don't let go even after the book is finished. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

This is the first book in a new series. There is a prequel novella, After the Crescent Strike, that gives a little bit of backstory of the Ottoman Empire conquering the Serbs and what led to Konstantin becoming the current vassal of his region and in servitude to the Sultan. It's a fabulous read as well but does not have to be read prior to reading this one. But I recommend reading it because it was a fantastic book as well! I read it then quickly dove into my arc of this one! And let me tell you that as soon as I finished reading this book I was telling my book besties that I needed more!!! But now I'm going to be patient as I wait for the second book to release in January 2025. I'll just have to come back and read the prequel novella and this one while I wait! Definitely worth it!!!

Konstantin is a wonderful character. I loved his character arc. The struggles and stressors that he experiences and feels due to being the vassal (leader) of his people and trying to protect them, make sure there is money in their coffers-enough to care for his people and to pay tribute to the Sultan- and guiding his younger siblings in their roles as well. Imagine his surprise when his grandfather arranges a marriage with Suzana, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, to help Konstantin build up his coffers again.

Suzana and Konstantin are my favorite part of this book. Don't get me wrong, I loved the whole book, but their storyline together and the ups and downs that their budding relationship/marriage encounters was so well written. So many emotions that they go through due to their relationship, family, war, brigands, danger and so much more, will have you captivated while reading. I was hooked. And like I said previously, I need more! So much more with these two characters! But I'm very excited to see what the next book will bring and who's story we will watch develop and come to life in our imaginations thanks to the very talented writing of this author!

Beautifully written story about a powerful group of people and a powerful love story that will have you feeling all of the emotions and possibly shedding a few tears and most definitely cheering on these characters.

Content: Clean. This book does deal with an arranged marriage. There are some kisses and some off-page intimacy between a married couple but nothing graphic or in detail. It is a very sweet and clean love story. It does have some Christian fiction elements in it as the characters turn to God and pray to Him, trust Him to guide and direct and bless them. These elements are definitely what the people of the time period would have done. The book does have elements of war so there are battles and sword fights and death and blood. There is talk of pillaging as well and some mention of rape but not in graphic detail. There is mention some talk of PTSD for a couple characters but was written very well and in a sensitive manor. The author really did a great job of keeping this a clean read even with some of these more sensitive topics. I would let my teenagers read this book (I am pretty conservative in what I read and what I let them read).

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

A. L. Sowards is the queen of historical fiction with the perfect amount of romance. She’s a genius at making history come alive, leap off the page, and suck you back into a thrilling and captivating story. This book is simply stunning! It has adventure, mystery, action, loyalty, betrayal, and romance. What more could you want in a medieval historical fiction novel?
From the very first page you are thrust into this intriguing story that grips your attention. The glorious amount of research for this book is felt in every detail and you really feel as if you’re truly there. You’re transported to a time of upheaval and unrest, in a far away land hundreds of years ago, with many different cultures and customs. It was truly impressive how well this book is written to make the reader feel like they are really in the middle of the story. This book not only has exceptional, and authentic, historical insights, but the fictional element is also done so well.
Konstantin and Suzana were phenomenal main characters. They felt so real with their struggles and triumphs, moments of sorrow and of joy, and their wants and desires. They’ve each been through horrible times in their lives, and yet they come together and are able to help each other and create something beautiful. I loved both of their arcs and how they changed and grew stronger throughout the story.
While this book does come with all the heaviness, suffering, and hardships lived by those during a time of war at this point in history, I never felt like those awful things took away from the story. Just like the characters come to realize, there is God’s hand in everything. The reality of life is that we would never appreciate the good if we never had the bad, and I thought this story taught that so well. The beautiful elements of faith and hope were the capstone to this incredible book.
Overall, this novel deserves way more than five stars. I loved it so much, I will definitely be rereading this book many times in the future.



Content:

Swearing/profanity: None
Religion: General Christian themes.
Romance: Kissing. Implied (off-page) intimacy between a married couple.
Violence: Extended battle scenes. Wartime pillaging. Threat and aftermath of pillage, with its associated rape and death. Wartime injuries to humans and animals.
Other: Alcohol abuse, PTSD, miscarriage, and a character with a backstory of sexual abuse.

This is a time of history I didn’t know very much about, and since I lived in Turkey for a year, I was eager to read it. I don’t enjoy reading about battles or blood and gore, but I learned so much about the Christian serbs and the rising Ottoman Empire, it was well worth it. The Glossary at the beginning of the book was extremely helpful and informative, and I appreciate the authors research and attention to detail. However, my favorite part of the book was the sweet love story. With all the deaths, sorrows, hardships, treachery, betrayal, and demands put upon the main character, the Zupan (leader) of Rivak, Konstantin, it’s amazing he hasn’t become hardened and still can maintain his faith, strength of character, hope, and kindness. It’s also surprising that the arranged marriage to Suzana, for the wealth she could provide, could flourish and grow as it did with the abused background she came from. But these two broken souls help each other become stronger through patience and love. The fact they could face so many hardships and come out strengthened and better for it, testifies of the power of love, forgiveness, and redemption. I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This gripping story had a fascinating backdrop from a historical perspective. The characters' struggles were vividly portrayed and the challenges they faced daunting, all of which made their eventual triumphs more rewarding for me as a reader. Overall, this book has a very compelling plot and I enjoyed the historical detail.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.