Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early access of this book!

An easy to read romantic fantasy with some good characters and interesting story beats. Nothing particularly new but the elements were used well and didn't feel stale or overused.

I did find some story elements could have been explored more. The world building and the magic system were pretty basic and could have used some expanding.

This book has a lot of potential. The story is interesting and has some twists on popular tropes. However, the romance felt forced, the character development was lacking, and the magic system was not well explained. I'm hoping that we'll get more of an understanding of the magic in the second book. What we do know is interesting, there are two types of what I believe are meant to be goddesses, the Aurum and the Nox.

I'm fairly certain that the book takes place over the course of 3 days? Definitely less than a week. This short span makes what is supposed to be an intense romance between Finn and Wren feel rushed. With comments about how well they know each other made by the two, it really put me off.

The writing also could use some work. Sometimes the chapter endings felt abrupt or weird. There were also times when it would have been nice to get an explanation about something from another character's POV. For example, [spoiler ahead] Wren gets captured by Leander and then Finn gets captured shortly after but there's never any explanation of how Finn got captured.

Overall, I think the sequel will provide some needed answers so I'm looking forward to reading it.

Intricate, fast-paced and a romance that will make your head and heart spin - A Touch of Shadows

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

A Touch of Shadows follows Wren, a hedge witch's apprentice, who gets torn away from their safe tower in the woods by forces and powers she can scarcely comprehend. Finn, a Knight on a solo mission, soon crosses her path and can't help but protect her from harm.

Wren and Finn's romance is not the pure focus of the book, but still a very strong and important element. It's story - beats hit fast, and often, which was a delightful change of pace from all the slow-burns I've been reading. This leads to pretty much the whole book having a lot of steamy moments and a little bit of spice.

Thorne has crafted a very interesting, intricate setting - kingdoms devided, magic slumbering and the people who will decide the fate of kingdoms and magic both spread across the board. She has managed to craft characters and a story that continuously hint at Rapunzel - although saying this is not a spoiler, since the story is so much broader, complex and also very different from the popular fairytale.

The book sets up strongly divided Light and Dark factions, Light seeming classically good, Dark seeming classically evil. Everything turns out to be much more complex and interwoven than that. The characters seem to have very little agency amid these powers, being torn along by magic, fate and power just as the reader is.

I absolutely tore through this book, constantly thinking chapters felt short when in fact, they weren't. The pace of the novel is just so high that it feels that way. As the reader, I am given little to no respite between plot events. Which is thrilling and captivating, but also felt...unsettling, in it's way. Which fits the energy we get from the characters, so I couldn't bring myself to mind too much. What did bother me a little is that the narrative sometimes feels muddled - we experience the story as the character who's POV we are currently reading, and don't know much more than they do. In the many instances where a character was "out of it" in some way, shape or form, that made it a bit hard for me to follow.

Overall, the pacing of reveals was also very fast, but not too fast. Little intermezzos of lore, prophecies and the like teach us more about the world's dynamic at the perfect moments. The last one of these - at the very end of the book - is chilling, and wonderfully teases the continuation of the story.

I would absolutely recommend "A Touch of Shadows" to readers that prefer their books fast-paced and thrilling, their fantasy a little dark and grim without being grimdark. It's a very worthy addition to any bookshelf, and I cannot wait to see what the next installment of the series brings!

Dark and light magic, a lost queen, a terrible power , romance , multiple POVs, Kingdom politics, hunters of magic-wielders, as well as the start of what might be an amazing world , what more do you need or want in a start of a new seris .

4.25/5

I really really enjoyed this! A super quick-paced fantasy (and the book being so short probably contributed to that) that had my attention captured from the very beginning.

I could predict the first little twist, but that's so common in the genre that I don't think it was supposed to be a massive surprise. I just got really happy and excited that my prediction/theory was correct.

I love when characters have seemingly chance encounters that turn into something so much bigger than they could've ever predicted - and this book has that for Wren and Finn!

Kingdom politics, hunters of magic-wielders, independent FMC, hidden shadow magic, and a touch of mystery. I would like a bit more world-building and I hope that we get that in the next book in the series.

I really am so excited to read the next book and I think that tells you everything you need to know about my feelings for this book! (I will begin reading the sequel as soon as I finish writing this review.)

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My review is already up on Goodreads and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

This book was a quick and enthralling read and I’m very happy, that I don’t have to wait too long for book 2!
I found it very easy to dive into this magical world, about dark and light magic and some strange dark monsters.
Right at the beginning Wren meets Finn and both fell in love at first sight.

”There was only her. His dark queen. A goddess of shadows thought long lost. And he was hers. Just as it was always meant to be.“

I really enjoyed their love story, but it could’ve been a little bit more tension between them, there was a lot of potential.
But all in all their journey caught me and I liked the bond between them.

”Her Wren. So brilliant, so powerful, so impossibly stubborn. Elodie realised that she had never been more proud.“

Alongside Wrens love story was the mysterious relationship between her and Elodie, which may be her mother but one doesn’t really know.
I did love, that the book was written in different perspectives and not only the ones from Wren & Finn.

I think it’s a perfect, fast read romantasy and I can’t wait for the other 2 books!

3.5/5 stars!!

A Touch of Shadows follows a young witch, Wren, who is tempted by the darkness inside her. The story unfolds when her home is set ablaze and she flees to the woods, where she encounters a young knight named Finn. Some strange attraction seems to pull them together to the point where their lives seem intertwined, and we watch as their journey unfolds.

I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would with it being told in the third person- I will say I gravitate more towards first-person storytelling, but this was done well. I thought the premise of the storyline was interesting; however, at times, it didn't feel fleshed out, which left me with unanswered questions and mildly confused. Additionally, I found myself constantly wanting more to happen and for the plot to pick up a little more. I liked that the author was trying to leave breadcrumbs for the reader to piece together what would happen, but without solid worldbuilding in the beginning I found it difficult.

Despite all of this, I am extremely curious as to what's going to happen in this story- I wish this book would have been longer because now I'm just eagerly and anxiously awaiting the next installment of the story.

*Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review

Thank you, NetGalley and Second Sky for my ARC of A Touch of Shadows.

***3.5 rounded up***

This was a quick and easy read for anyone who wants to dip their toes into the Fantasy/Romantasy genre! I liked the concept, and the plot had so much potential. It was hard to pull my attention away from the book once I started it!

This was my first time reading a book with love at first sight and I will say I am not a huge fan of it. For Wren living a very sheltered life, I could not believe how easily she let the love interest in.
I would have loved to see more into the character's motives as some fell flat in their development. Many seemed one-dimensional. The romance never developed after it was established. Why was the villain evil? Why did Elodie let Wren be so naïve in her adulthood?

I liked the multiple POVs, and how nuanced some of the character's actions were. It was nice to see their reasoning even if I sometimes thought it was absurd. I also LOVED that it was Rapunzel-but-make-it-darker. I liked the parallels between the past and present too!
The author’s writing style and how she described things were lovely! Her writing had me hooked from the very beginning! I plan to continue the series and I’m excited to see where the author takes us!!

“It was all past. It was all gone. There was only her. His dark queen. A goddess of shadows thought long lost. And he was hers.
Just as it was always meant to be.”

“She was lost in him, and it was wondrous.
She never wanted to be found again.”

I think this author did a number on me. Once again !!! It was really really good!! In this first book in the lost Queen series we meet Wren and Finn and boy is their story a complicated one!! Dark and light magic, a lost queen, a terrible power lurking in the darkness and a young woman who doesn’t know what to do with the shadows calling to her. A love so passionate that defies the rules of existence and a woman who won’t stop in front of anything to save the most important thing in her life. There’s something about this book that is simply spellbinding and enchanting. It will bring you to the darkness and then show you a way out. The way the author describes these characters is wonderfully curated and beautifully done. I feel like they all have depths we still know nothing about even at the end of the entire book! The fact that it was written in multiple povs made it even better and even more intriguing to get through. A fantasy definitely worth the name. With a romance that is spicy and addicting and oh so good. And some characters that, despite frustrating on occasion, are too charming for their own good (Finn, I’m talking about you) !!!! And with that last cliffhanger … damn I need more !!!

“She was darkness and light, hope and fear, pleasure and a longing so deep it was the twin of pain. He was lost in her and he couldn't bring himself to fight that, let alone care.”

Fantasy Romance
Shadow magic
Family Secrets
Political Intrigue
Multiple POV
The Lost Queen #1


Wren has a dark power that needs to be contained or it calls to the darkness of the Nox. Finn is a witch hunter and spy. After saving Wren from a disgruntled ex-lover, they run into some trouble with powerful shadow creatures. Wren, who is a hedge witch in training, saves Finn’s life and as a result, they are bound magically.
The magic system is absolutely fantastic. Wren’s magic is dark and dangerous and the bond formed with Finn is hot and intriguing. I cannot wait to see what this connection can do in the next book.
The world building was easy to get into which is great for newcomers to fantasy.
I could not put this book down, I inhaled it like a starved cat but it left me hungry for more.
I highly recommend starting this series weather you are new to fantasy or have read just about everything popular.


I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Second Sky for this e-arc.

A huge thank you goes to Second Sky, Net Galley and the author for letting me read a copy of A Touch of Shadows! This stunning NA fantasy romance is a treasure trove of goodness: full of devastating magic, family secrets and epic battles between good and evil. So be honest with me glitterbugs, do you think anyone could pass that up?! Of course not!

A Touch of Shadows has honestly been nothing short of perfection in my eyes... I raced through the pages of this fantasy romance, because I desperately needed to know if Wren would be okay. This tale is such a beautiful blend of plot and character, and I swear Jessica has hooked some kind of magical tether around my heart upon reading this book. And can we talk about the long lost love trope, with the potential for a second chance romance? I ate. This. Up.

When magic becomes an entity in and of itself? When you can *feel* the ancient world coming to life around you, with the veins of old magic and the darkwood colliding? I have been left breathless, glitterbugs. The way Jessica writes is exquisite, and I’m so invested in how a prophecy and opposing magic will upend the world as Wren and her loved ones know it. The magic in A Touch of Shadows is so unique, from the shadow kin to how magic affects Wren when she uses it. I won’t say more, because spoilers are never fun, but seriously… This fantasy romance is absolutely spellbinding. I need more. Let’s be honest, I need everything.

Not everything is as it seems within A Touch of Shadows, and I love that it’s only as the story goes on that certain truths come to light. You know you’re in for a great time when you look up from reading and it’s suddenly 3am! This beautiful tale binds the reader, heart and soul, to Wren and Finn’s journey. So will I now be adding everything Jessica has ever written to my TBR? Absolutely! And will I be getting physical copies of the books in this series as soon as I possibly can? Of course! This. Is. Flawless.

A Touch of Shadows by Jessica Thorne is an NA fantasy romance full of danger, family secrets and devastating magic. I have been thoroughly enchanted with this gorgeous tale, and honestly can’t wait to see what happens next!

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review *

A Touch of Shadows was an easy to read, decent romantasy.

That said, it relied heavily on tropes and didn't present much that felt new or unique if you read a lot in the genre.

Also, the romance felt quite insta-love y and to further their character development we could have used some more development of the relationship between our MCs.

Thorne’s writing is atmospheric and evocative, creating a gripping narrative with well-drawn characters and a compelling plot. The blend of fantasy elements and emotional depth makes "A Touch of Shadows" a captivating read for fans of magical adventures and epic tales.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

I DNF'd this at around the halfway mark, and it was mostly because I just found myself not hugely interested in the story or the characters.

I'm used to being thrown into fantasy, or sci-fi, worlds and having to figure out what's going on, but this felt a little too confusing for me. There's 'light' and 'dark' magic, which was haphazardly explained at the start but I still didn't understand it. The dark magic is bad, but then there's still people who are worshipping it and stuff? And our main character is so connected to that dark magic that it calls to her and she always wants to go into the forest?

I do question why the hell her mum raised her daughter right next to where the dark magic was strongest, if her child has this much of a reaction to it. I also thought it was hilarious how her hair...grew...every time she used/got close to this darker magic, whatever it was. It was a weird thing and I'm wondering how on earth that would ever work if you were trying to use your magic but your damn hair kept growing all the time.

Overall, I didn't hate it but I didn't feel engaged enough to continue reading.

First of all, let me say I enjoyed this book, and I think it showed a lot of promise.

The story follows Wren, who is called to the dangerous shadow magic. Her mother, Elodie, has given up everything to try to keep Wren safe, and in the process, she has kept a lot of secrets from her. When Wren stumbles across Finn in the woods, they have an instant connection. They both get thrown on a journey of deceit, power, and war.

Things I liked about this book:

✨️ Multiple POVs
✨️ Light and Dark Magic
✨️ Strong FMCs
✨️ Kingdoms at war

I really enjoyed the premise of this book. However, I did feel like there was a lack of world building. It didn't feel totally fleshed out, and there wasn't enough information given to the reader about the different types of magic. I did like Wren and Finns relationship. However, I felt it was very much Insta love, and I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other before falling head over heels. I would recommend this to people who like shorter fantasy books with light vs. Dark magic .

Thank you to NetGalley, Jessica Thorne, and publisher for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

A lost queen’s sacrifice. Two kingdoms at war for centuries. And a spark of passion between hunter and hunted with the power to end everything…

A Touch of Shadows was an unexpected and exciting read. I loved the worldbuilding and magic. This story hit the ground running and continued with a steady pace which is something you don't typically see with fantasy novels. I found myself fascinated by Wren. I enjoyed her feistiness and devotion to those she let close. Yes, I will 100% admit, her romance with Finn was very much instalove. That being said, I thought it worked well and I looked forward to seeing how things would progress between them.

A Touch of Shadows isn't just a love story but is a story filled with intrigue, secrets, and magic. This book was super easy to read and would be a great start for those just getting into the romantasy genre. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and devoured it in just a single sitting.

If you're looking to dive into a fast-paced romantasy with good action, mystery, and spice, you won't want to miss A Touch of Shadows. This book will definitely leave you excited for more and if you're like me, you'll be waiting in anticipation to get your hands on the next book in this series.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Touch of Shadows is a story of a girl, Wren, who can bend darkness by her will. She's lived by the edge of a small town with her guardian Elodie her whole life. Elodie is a hedge witch who acts the local healer. Wren knows Elodie has kept secrets of her origin from her, and she doesn't know exactly what the secret is. That is, until she meets a knight and everything changes.

This book markets itself as a fantasy romance, but readers should know that this is actual romance before anything else, really. I'm down for a romantic subplot, but this book had a big ol' "love at first sight" going on, which is one of my pet peeves in novels. I almost ditched the whole thing altogether because of it, but with the very interesting magic system going on, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

But maybe I should have.

The two main characters don't change much at the end of the story, which by the way leaves in a huge (and confusing) cliffhanger. Elodie, her secret love interest (minor spoiler)---basically any other side character had way more interesting backstories than Wren and Finn themselves. And we don't exactly know where Wren came from, which gives more questions than answers really. Plus, where are the commas?? The book is littered with so many long sentences with missing commas (as well as other editing blunders) that it's almost frustrating to read.

Was it a decent story at best? Yes.
Am I gonna recommend it to people? Only if you want to read something that's not... very thought-provoking.
Am I gonna read the sequel? Do I even have a choice lol. It's a damn series, I might as well wait for the sequel to come along.

A Touch of Shadows is a tight, well paced fantasy with some absolute gems of prose. (Get your highlighters ready!)

The world building is wonderfully done. You are immersed in the world from the very beginning, being introduced to the magic system and politics at exactly the right pace.

The mystery and intrigue are tantalising, drawing you into the story and deeper into the shadows. There's enough foreshadowing that the climax is satisfying, but not obvious. As a reader you are right there with Wren trying to navigate the many secrets wrapped around her and those closest to her.

I love Wren as a FMC. She is feisty, without being bratty. And she shows a wonderful amount of insight! A combo I can get behind for my fantasy heroines.

As much as I loved Finn and Wren together - their smutty kisses making my feet kick - it's quite a fierce instalove, so it feels like we missed a step in the romance. It works plot wise, but left me a little hollow. However, I get the feeling we've got more to explore on that in the next book.

Fantasy takes precedent from the romance here, which is not a bad thing when there is so much to delve into within the main plot and the world itself.

All the characters jump off the page, each with their own mysteries and histories. I wish we had more depth to them in this book, but I think the sequel will let us dig deeper.

Overall:
7/10
A solid, quick read, which will benefit from a sequel.

I was here for the plot and the romance, but wanted more depth to both. It feels like there is so much plot and character development waiting in the wings, but we're yet to see it.

Oh, and that last page ... gods, I don't want to wait for the sequel!!


Thank you so much Second Sky, NetGalley, and the author, Jessica Thorne, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review. All opinions are my own.

It took me a while to get into this one and it was worth it. A girl who is so much more than she seems. Her guardian has hidden everything from her. Magic, betrayal, love and pain all woven through the story.

ARC from NetGalley. All thoughts in this review are my own!

Synopsis: Wren lives in the woods with Elodie, outside of a small village. Elodie is a hedge witch who acts as a healer for the village. Wren also has some magic, but she struggles to control it in the same way that Elodie can. She's been warned not to call the shadows, but to only call for the light. One day, Wren is forced to run from the village, and a knight (Finn) comes to her defense, only to find that they are in trouble from the shadows in the woods. Wren and Finn quickly become attracted to one another, and continue to journey on together as they try to figure out who to trust.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this book. I was quickly engrossed in the world of Asteroth, and needed to know what secrets Elodie had been keeping from Wren. I liked that while Wren and Finn did seem to have a bit of an insta-love (lust?) connection, there were questions around the role that magic played in all of it. This was definitely an exciting book, and there is so much more that I need to know, so I can't wait for the next book in the series!

Quintessential Quote: "The shadows here were deeper, darker, and somehow that was a comfort. It shouldn't be. She knew that."