A Touch of Shadows is the first book in a new fantasy romance series, which follows a witch with forbidden shadow magic and a knight sworn to catch those who use it. Wren risks exposing her secret to save Finn, and the two then find themselves on the run from enemy soldiers closing in on Asteroth and looking to capture both.

I enjoyed the opposition between the light and dark magic, and I enjoyed how the back story played into it all - a good start to a new romantasy series, and one I'll be sure to continue.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
This book has all the amazing tropes we love about a romantasy! We fell in love with Wren instantly and following her story! This book is fast paced and incredibly written to the point you won’t want to put the book down! The enemies to lovers….. no spoilers but this trope is our favorite and boy did @jessthornebooks know it;) Thank you @secondskybooks and Jessica for sharing this amazing story AND for not making us wait for the second book BECAUSE a Kiss of Flame is out on the SAME DAY🥹🥹

A quick entertaining read. A good romantasy that I read in one sitting. I like more world building but still enjoyed the story.

This was a good first book to kick-start a series. It doesn't really work well as a stand-alone, because I think that the worldbuilding wasn't explained well enough, but if you think of it as a first in a series, it makes sense. I hope that the author continues to work towards making sense of the world the MCs live in in the upcoming books so the readers are able to appreciate it more.

The romance was very good imo, even if a little underdeveloped, but again, chalking it off to being the start of a series!

This was such a strange book. It was so creepy but took forever to get entertaining. I wish this was a series.

An amazing fantasy romance

Wren lives in the forest, but there are rules. Because shadow magic whispers to her, and if anyone finds out, her life would be over. And when she stumbles upon a knight in the darkwood, under attack, she feels more tempted to give into this dark power than ever. The only problem is: Finn's duty is to hunt shadow magic. And if Wren reveals herself to him, he might kill her. But saving him is more important.

I adored every second of this story! It has everything I love in fantasy romance, and more. Wren is an amazing FMC, powerful even if she has to hide it, uncertain about who she is and where she comes from, but determined to fight for what's right no matter what people throw her way. Finn is a grat love interest as well, devoted, strong and touching in the best ways. I immediately fell in love with them both, and the connection they have is absolutely beautiful and insipiring. As for the plot in itself, it was gripping, exciting and filled with revelations, twists and turns that kept me on the edge and made this book an absolute page-turner. I couldn't get enough and I couldn't wait to see what would happen next to Wren and Finn, for better or for worse. The romance is addictive and hot, full of questions and fate-entwined desire. All in all, an amazing fantasy romance that stole my heart.

I recommend if you like fantasy romance with dark magic and deals.

"He was the truest heart she had ever known."

I loved this story (anyone else get a Rapunzel vibe? The tower, the hair, the magic, or was it just me?) We follow Wren and Finn (and to some extent, the Nox) on the search for Wren’s mother, Elodie. I enjoyed how each chapter came from one of our characters, seeing the story develope through different eyes was really interesting. The chemistry between our two main characters was just enough, I don’t like the cringey awkward moments. I love how Finn just went with his gut to protect Wren, he didn’t know her yet he put his life on the line for her time and time again!

A quick and fast paced book that I finished within a couple of days, roll on book 2!

This was an absolutely incredible first book in a fantasy series. This is the perfect fall romantasy, full of dark magic and all the atmospheric elements you could want. But most importantly, this book pulls you in so quickly and completely!! If you are looking to lose yourself in a fantasy world, this is the book!!

I devoured this first book so fast, I flew through it like I haven't done in a long time. I really have to give props to Jessica Thorne for making me fall in love with this world and these characters. I loved the way this was written, it kept me on the edge of my seat.

If you like fantasy & romance - trust me, read this book!!

A Touch of Shadows was such a good book! It is a great start to the series and it was so captivating! The story follows Wren who has been raised and hidden in the forest by the mysterious Elodie who may or may not be her mother and is definitely more than your average hedge witch. Witch hunters come looking for them and Wren and Elodie become separated. Wren begins her journey with the heroic and handsome Finnian Ward to find Elodie while also fighting between light and darkness.
I loved the magic, the mystery, and fight between light and dark. The ending does end with a cliffhanger and there are still so many secrets that need to be answered! I am excited to continue the series and see what other secrets get revealed.

This was a pleasant read, I enjoyed many aspects of this book, but I feel like the characters, the magic system and the world itself could have been more developed.
The story was interesting, the characters are okay, everything is quite easy to understand.
A good first book, I want to see how the story progresses in the next volume.

This was a really fun book, with a great premise. I loved Wren as a character, as well as Elodie! The only thing that I found a bit off was the speed with which Finn and Wren became attached. I am hoping there is some explanation for that in the next book.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

I overall enjoyed this romantasy book. It was a short, easy read. My main complaints are that the magic system wasn’t really fully explained and the world building was somewhat lacking. I found myself getting confused throughout the story due to this. I would have like some better understanding in that department.

I liked the romance, but wish that had been more fully developed as well. The way the romance started was slightly confusing. However, I did like the characters together and how they grew to protect each other. I’m interested to see how that continues to develop.

The book was a little hard to get into at first, but then once the story really got gowing it was interesting. There were some interesting reveals and questions that still need to be answered. I’m invested enough that I will continue to read the series to see what happens next.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Easy and quick read perfect for someone starting out in the fantasy/romantasy genre. I’d recommend to people for sure when it comes out!

Wren has done her best to hide her magic and hide her true self to stay alive, but a chance encounter has her scrambling with hope to keep her secret safe. Finn is the unfortunate man who was attacked by shadows and, in order to save him, Wren revealed her secret.

The two of them navigate this and many other secrets of magic, politics, and even romance as they try to figure out how to move forward against the shadows. Through struggles both large and small, our characters face challenges together and learn more about one another as they go.

I DNF-ed this book. I originally requested this book due to the synopsis that intrigued me, however as I started reading I realised the writing style and plot wasn't for me. The pacing of this book was quite slow from the very first chapter - it did not grasp my attention nor curiosity and I found the world building quite weak.

This book was hard for me to get into. I felt a little lost in the world building. I put it down and tried again and was able to get more invested. I did enjoy this romantasy but felt like it could have used some tightening up.

At the start of the book, there's a comprehensive glossary that beautifully elucidates the terms specific to this world. This book offers a delightful and enchanting narrative, making it an ideal choice for newcomers to the fantasy genre. The story flows effortlessly, and I believe it would captivate the hearts of young adult readers. The multiple perspectives presented in the book are a delightful feature, offering a splendid initiation for anyone venturing into the romantic fantasy realm. While the world-building is appealing, I feel that a touch more intricate detailing would have enhanced it even further.

As a keen enthusiast of fantasy literature, I found immense pleasure in delving into the noble knight Finn's dedicated quest to serve Asteroth by tracking down wielders of the magic that Wren possesses. Their fates intertwine as Finn ventures through Wren's village and faces an ambush, only to be rescued by Wren's magical powers. With the looming spectre of war and enemy forces encroaching upon Asteroth, Wren and Finn find themselves at the crossroads of having to trust each other in a bid to safeguard their kingdom.

Wren's altruistic nature often exposes her to peril. Such tenderness and empathy are a rarity in her world, given the risks associated with revealing her secrets. This shines a poignant light on Wren's character and adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative, showcasing the complexity of her world and the challenges she must navigate.

#FantasyLiterature #EnchantingNarrative #CharacterDevelopment
#WorldBuilding #TrustAndSacrifice #MagicAndDanger
#AltruismAndEmpathy #FriendshipAndBravery #IntrigueAndAdventure

This was an easy fantasy read. I absolutely adored Wren but I did feel sorry for her in that she didn't really know where she came from or where she belonged.

Finn was a typical hero! A knight in shining armour!

Wren eventually grasped her power and let it in, growing to her full potential. I understand why Elodie kept her hidden and sheltered, but she really should have prepared Wren a little better.

This is a great book for people new to fantasy to start. Well written and descriptive. I do wish the characters were explored a little deeper.

Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Really enjoyed this read. Was such an easy read, the world and magic system were quite easy to grasp. I loved the characters and can’t wait to read more about them in book 2. Will definitely be picking that one up straight away.