Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes. It’s an immersive adult romantasy about Shadow King (Love, love, love him!) trying to save his people and a princess forced to deceive and marry him to forge a political alliance.  The story hooked me from the beginning, and the end left me salivating for the next book! 

First, I have to say, I adore Vor. I fall in love with a lot of fictional characters, and Vor is SO easy to fall for.  He’s so honorable and determined to do right by his people, and he selflessly puts himself on the line to protect others.  

I loved Faraine, too, and I really felt for her. Unloved by her father and ignored by her mother, Faraine lives a solitary life in a convent until forced to leave by her family.  Throughout the story, however, she gets put in impossible situation after impossible situation, and she’s forced to be part of a deception that changes the trajectory of her quiet life forever. Faraine also struggles to control her power, which she’s tried to hide her entire life.  Her character has a lot of depth, and I love that her confidence grows as she gains knowledge and control.

The story is told from both Faraine and Vor’s perspectives, which is always a favorite of mine.  The dual POV is immersive and enlightening and gives the reader a well-rounded look into both of their journeys. it also sheds light on how each feels about their situations and relationships, and their feelings about each other. Vor and Faraine have an instant connection, even though he is meant for someone else, and I loved their slow-building and burning romance. There’s so much angst and pining, and the build-up is pretty swoon-tastic! Plus, the banter - sooo good!

The secondary characters are fabulous too - Vor’s brother and his captain are compelling, and I’m curious to find out more about Faraine’s sisters because I think there’s more to their story. The world is also really intriguing and unique, and the contrast between Faraine’s world and Vor’s Trolde (Troll) kingdom contrasts well. I like the juxtaposition and how both are different than what they seem, and the brewing wars and darkness that threaten the fae add a constant sense of impending doom and destruction. It’s a suspenseful, tense, and dark plot with many compelling layers, and after that ending, I definitely need to read the next book.

Bride of the Shadow King captured me from the opening chapter, with a princess consigned to a convent, sibling bickering during a wild carriage ride . . . and an attack by fae riding unicorns with flaming horns atop their heads! With my curiosity already stoked, Princess Faraine quickly endeared herself to me, and King Vor ensured I’d see this through to the end.

What I appreciated most about this was that Sylvia Mercedes crafted a proper romantasy, a book that would be entirely serviceable as either a fantasy or a romance, but which becomes completely captivating in how she intertwines the two, weaving a story that’s stronger than the sum of its parts. Both Faraine and Vor are strong characters, equally capable of carrying the fantasy, and their slow-burn romance really worked for me. It helps that they both have a strong cast of supporting characters who grow and evolve over the course of the book – although, I am sad to say, the woman who excited me the most does not live to see the story through to the end.

There’s magic and mythology here, along with a wonderful degree of worldbuilding, especially in the underground realm of the troldfolk. Usually, when it comes to fantasy, I’m all about the forests, the mountains, and the seas, but here I was utterly consumed by the crystal lighting, the racing rivers, the gaping chasms, and the construction underground. I wanted to wander down there and explore their world, even with the terrifying dangers stalking the depths. Both the humans above and the troldfolk below have something they need from the arranged marriage, an alliance against their own enemies, but the truth is, there are evils within both ruling families that make me very uncomfortable.

As for what I want from the next book? Some answers about what lies beneath Mythanar, the truth about Vor’s step-mom and her creepy priest, to know whether Faraine’s father intends to honor the alliance; and (hopefully) more of the fae and their flaming steeds.

Well-paced and perfectly detailed, Bride of the Shadow King is a book worthy of its characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into it, but coming out the end, I’m eager to pick up the next two books in the series.

This book surprised me! I enjoyed the different take on Fae lore, world building, and the characters differing magic abilities. That cliffhanger though....UGH! I need book two asap!

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley and Berkley/Ace, all opinions are my own. In full transparency, I had already purchased the audiobook and ebook prior to the book being picked by Berkley/Ace, and this has been sitting on my TBR for 2 years so the rerelease was the perfect motivation to finally pick this book up.

This follow Faraine, the oldest of several sisters who has been sent to live at a convent when her courtship goes awry due to her gift. Each of her siblings has a magical gift, hers tends to make her ill when she is overwhelmed with the emotions of others. Having failed to make an alliance, she is sent away only to be called back to help her younger sister forge a new alliance with the Shadow King. Her sister Ilsevel is everyone's favorite, and Faraine has been brought home to convince her that this alliance is necessary to save their kingdom. Faraine meets the intimidating King Vor and finds him to be kind and respectful, they have an instant connection but they both know that duty comes before desire. When Faraine is forced to take her sister's place, she is not eager to deceive Vor, but again she must fulfil her duty. Both Vor's kindgom and Faraine's kingdom need each other to survive, but can their marriage survive the deception despite their undeniable connection?

I found this compelling and hard to put down. It is rare that immediately want to pick up the next book in the series, but that is the case here. It alternates between Farraine and Vor's perspectives. There are times when their chapters will rewind and recap events from the previous chapter from the other character's perspective. I didn't mind as one or the other character wasn't present in the scene taking place so we get to understand what was going on where they were, for other readers that will be and irritating style choice as the timeline isn't moving forward at all times. Some readers will not want to read the same thing twice, for me sometimes I felt like I was missing something in the prior chapter, but then we get that info in the next chapter from the other POV.

The spice is fairly low in this book. Nothing is overly graphic or descriptive, which is actually my preference when it comes to spice. I'm not sure if things get more detailed as the books continue, but I desperately want to dive right into the next book. I actually appreciated this was more of a slow burn and that the spice level was low considering the betrayal and deception. I thought the worldbuilding was great, we get good descriptions of the characters and their surroundings which I always appreciate. I still don't feel like I have a handle on what is going on with each of the kingdom's yet and the things they are fighting, but I suspect that there is more to be revealed in the next two books. I also expect more character development as the series continues, as I feel like I was just starting to get to know Vor, Faraine, and the rest of the characters when this ended. It says alot about how much I enjoyed this when I want to push aside all of the other books I need to read and review this week and read this series instead. The remaining books are set to be rereleased by Berkley/Ace in early 2025 but they are currently available on Kindle Unlimited and Audible. If you are looking for a fun slow burn romantasy, pick this up today! I absolutely loved it!

I didn’t realize this was a fantasy series, not a standalone, and that’s on me. As a result, it was different than what I usually enjoy. I liked the leads, I’d probably still pick up the other installments if I was in the proper mood.

3.25 stars

I was enjoying this story in the beginning until the Princess Faraine's family's deception. In the beginning it seemed as if King Vor had some type of attraction/curiosity towards Faraine but that immediately went out of the window when he met and chose her sister to be his bride. Although thoughts of Faraine weren't far from his thoughts he still proceeded to court and make his vows to Faraine's sister Princess Ilsevel.

I feel that Faraine should have spoken up instead of continuing with the deception of making King Vor think he was married to Ilsevel instead of a glamoured Faraine; but because she was shunned by her family; her father the king demanded that she played her part even though she didn't want to. She could have used the opportunity to explain to King Vor what tragedy befell Ilsevel and her other sisters instead of making him think he was with the woman of his choosing, who simply wasn't Princess Faraine.

This book had all of the makings of a romantasy, but I just couldn't get past the manipulation and deception. The feelings and vows King Vor was professing were to Princess Ilsevel not Princess Faraine; but Faraine is who he ended up married to due to deception and know we will have to go through the pain of reading about King Vor and his conflicting feeling about the situation and how he was deceived and how Faraine will need to accept the fact that King Vor was professing his love, desire for Ilsevel and not her; in hopes that he will one day forgive her for her deception and profess those same feelings for her.

No thank you. All of this drama is bringing more harm than good between the two realms. The point of the marriage to become allies and combine forces against a common enemy but now with this deception uncovered how can King Vor look past the deceitful alliance that he has fostered? Why would Fararine continue to do her family bidding knowing they loathe her and will never treat her s anything more than an inconvenience?

Wow! I have to admit I expected the typical romantasy arc from this book, but it is so much more! There are so many twists and turns within this story, it kept me in its grip. I absolutely loved Faraine and Vor. Faraine desires to be so much more than the timid girl she sees herself to be. Vor wants to be a strong, yet kind, leader, but Faraire and the humans cannot be trusted and he has some really difficult decisions to make. Their relationship is so complicated at this point, but I'm rooting for them! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.

I also loved that this edition included bonus material! I don't want to give anything away, but it's definitely worth the read.

Bride of the Shadow King tells the tale of an outcast princess who enters into a political marriage with a hesitant king in order to protect their kingdoms. This captivating first installment in the popular Bride of the Shadow King series is a blend of romance and fantasy that left me eagerly anticipating the next book. Mercedes skillfully weaves together a story filled with intrigue, action, and well-developed characters set against a richly detailed world. The novel strikes a perfect balance between moments of tenderness and tension, keeping me hooked from beginning to end. Get ready to be swept away by this addictive and thrilling beginning to an epic trilogy.

GIVE ME MORE!! i loved this book & can’t wait for the rest! it was giving the vibes of fantasy that i love mixed with the right amount of romance and ugh

This book really drew me in with the romance in particular having the "we want each other but cant have each other" plot. I couldnt put it down. The ending truly has me so excited for the next book!

Perfect romantasy: fae, trolls, humans, slow burn romance, forbidden romance, and an ending that leaves more questions than answers. Chefs kiss.

Also I want to live where there are crystal palaces and mushroom forests!!! Such cool world building!!

This book was a whole lot of fun. I don’t read a lot of romantasy, and fae are not really my thing, But when I saw this book, and it seemed interesting I was like yeah lets do this. Boy, am I glad I did because this ended up being quite the treat. This book had me in its clutches from the start and that did not let up. In the beginning the pace was a little slower, but it makes sense because the author was starting to lay things out, but then after a little bit the pacing picked up and continued at a nice clip. I feel like as someone who struggles with world building, this book did a fantastic job and I did not get lost or confused at all. The romance in this book was a little mild, there is a lot of angst and I’m curious to see how this goes in the next book. I feel like despite being a romantasy this book was fairly light on the romance, or it felt like it was more an adventure book not necessarily a romance book, or is there a action book about romance? It just fell a little flat in this area for me but I did still really enjoy the book.

If you are looking for a romantasy that has delightful worldbuilding and a fast plot, then you should check this one out.

3.5 Stars

I've been on a bit of a fantasty/Paranormal kick lately, and Bride of the Shadow King does not disappoint.

This story is written well and entertaining. I enjoyed the world building and magic. The characters were intriguing and frustrating at the same time. The romance was a slow burn with an intense quality to it.

Overall, I think this series is off to a great start.  The action, chemistry, and betrayal will leave you begging for more. I can't wait to see where this series will go next.

I actually really liked how this story was going in the beginning. The world building was very interesting and I was curious to learn more about Faraine, the gifts that each sibling of the King had, the overall setting of Gavaria, and the troldefolk. The storyline was very promising, but I felt like as it progressed I became increasingly bored. The characters did not stand out very much to me, even Faraine and Vor, who are the main characters. They had no qualities that stood out to me and both annoyed me when they had feelings for each other but did nothing about it. I also felt like this story overall did not have any plot outside of the alliance that was necessary between Faraine’s father and the Shadow King, Vor. I understand the premise was based on Ilsevel and Vor getting married but this wasn’t enough for me personally, and I expected more from this book!

I originally thought Faraine and Vor would fight for each other, or at least that things would play out differently than they did. So, ultimately I’m sad to say I was disappointed and will not continue this series. I did not dnf this book because I was interested in finishing the story however, the ending made it clear to me that this series just is not for me.

Rating: 2.5 🌟

Thank you Netgalley & Berkley publishing for the arc!

I enjoyed this!
I prefer a faster pace, but this made sense for the storyline. I enjoyed the characters (and their flaws) and will enjoy getting to know them better!
The epilogue threw me, what a cliffhanger! I think I know who’s behind the bad things happening to Vor and his people. But only time will tell as I read the rest of the series!

I am really enjoying Sylvia Mercedes books lately. This book reminded me so much of a Deal with the Elf King and it was in a good way. Also the cliff-hanger...... AHHHH I need book 2 immediately. The whole premise of the book is wild and I really enjoyed it.

This was a pretty standard romantasy novel. It was sweet and the political story arcs were interesting. Unfortunately, I didn't connect with Faraine as a heroine. I found the book mostly forgettable, but I could see why other readers might enjoy it. I give Bride of the Shadow King 3/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Co. for the opportunity to review Bride of the Shadow King. All opinions are my own.

I've had my eye on this series for awhile now, and was debating on getting KindleUnlimited in order to read it. I'm happy that I was finally able to read it.

I really enjoyed the characters and their reasons for their journeys. I really enjoyed that some of the world building happened through their conversations about their respective worlds. It definitely left off in a cliffhanger which makes you immediately want to start the next book.

While I really enjoyed it, there are pieces of information that I feel like need to a bit better explanation - Faraine talks about her dear sweet sister Ilseval and how much she loves her, etc, but you don't ever really see that sweetness. I wish we would have seen some more of the familial relationships - maybe from growing up? - to help develop the characters a bit more!

When King Vor the shadow King saves the life of Princess Faraine while she in on the road back home sparks fly. King Vor is visiting the human kingdom in order to marry a princess of the realm, however, while he may want Princess Faraine, the best thing to do in order to save his realm is choose her sister Princess Ilsevel. When disaster strikes princess Ilsevel, Faraine must take her place no matter how King Vor feels about it.

This was a really compelling story! I’ve read a few of Sylvia’s books and I would say this is the best one to date.