As always, this author has a beautiful way of bringing you along for an adventure that pulls on your heartstrings and your emotions!!! Yes, I can’t stop flipping through the pages but it’s because it’s always a gripping narrative! Thanks for this book!

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the ARC! This is the 2nd book in the series, definitely start with Bride of the Shadow King.

My problem with romantasy is that I don’t want to wait multiple books for the couple to have their HEA. What many readers feel about miscommunication, I feel about an entire book of “I want you, but I can’t be with you for REASONS.” The FMC also had nothing to do for this entire book but think. I need them to fight the big bad TOGETHER. (Also, since I was bored by the lack of movement in the romance, I didn’t focus enough to understand the big bad, but that is on me.)

I will probably come back and finish this series, but I maybe just wanted it to be one longer book with a tighter plot instead of a trilogy.

“What if I am destined to save this world?”

For anyone who ever fell in love with the Beast, and was disappointed when the curse was broken and blondie appeared, this series from Sylvia Mercedes will scratch all those beastly itches and then some. All three installments, Bride of the Shadow King,Vow of the Shadow King, and the conclusion Heart of the Shadow King are now available in these new editions as of this week.

Princess Faraine’s story begins in Bride of the Shadow King, and this may be my favorite of the three installments. Raised in virtual exile from her father’s court, Faraine is the eldest but most overlooked of her sisters. Her chronic “condition” means that she is always kept apart, and she has learned to give way for her younger sister Ilsevel, who is favored by their father in all things. When the Trollde Shadow King arrives seeking a human bride to secure the support of the human magicians, it is the humanity of Faraine’s family that casts the darkest shadow. Deals are made, engagements entered, and magical binding draws everyone into a labyrinthine relationship.

In Vow of the Shadow King trapped in the Shadow Realm and surrounded by enemies, Faraine and Vor are each shattered by the actions of the people around them, convinced that there is no way forward. As Vor struggles with his own thoughts, enemies within and without the court, and the constant doubt that has plagued him since birth, Farain struggles to find her place in this new world. As a human princess is she a liability to be thrown back to the surface, or does her growing love for the shadows and crystals of the deep mean that she is destined to be more in this world of rock and stone?

In Heart of the Shadow King Faraine and Vor return to a city in shambles, but more confident in their relationship with each other. With both realms on the brink of collapse they must each face headlong the choices they have made, and decide what to reveal to each other. Desire and loyalty are tested, as they each battle their own demons, both physical and emotional.

I am so glad I was able to read all of these together over the winter, as they were such a cozy read to while away the winter days, and each of them left me wanting more. The world that has been created here is stunning. It is beautiful and dangerous, and as Faraine grows in her new home, we feel a kinship for the place as well. Despite how hard and barren she assumed it would be, the world is teeming with life, and the way Mercedes brings the Shadow Realm to life is breathtaking.

“Strange lichens climb the large boulders, creating luminous abstract patterns that dazzle the eye. Mushrooms nearly half my height bob gently, though there is no breeze. Their gills ripple, and their speckled caps reflect the low light around them. here and there, tiny flying creatures - olk, Vor called them - flit across my vision, trailing glittering dust in their wake. The air hums with the soft music of their wings.”


I’m not a huge fan of the current “shadow daddy” obsession, but I am a huge fan of female protagonists who get to be more than the life that was crafted out from them. Faraine is manipulated and overlooked time and again by her father, but in Mythanar she finds a place that makes her comfortable in her own skin for the first time. Despite all misgivings she enjoys being here, and encounters skills that she never knew she had. I am still not a fan of the “teach me” sex scenes, and admittedly skimmed over much of the lusting, but Faraine is given far more agency over her sexuality than I feel has been the norm in my reading of late.

Generally I am not drawn to fiction that has a dual point-of-view, but I did not hate this. Given the nature of Vor and his people, it was extremely helpful to see things from his point of view. Going back and forth between Vor and Faraine gave better structure to a narrative that spun stories between two very different world. I actually would very much have liked to have had Sul and Hael’s perspectives thrown in as well so I am really pleased that these new editions each contain a chapter from Captain Hael’s point of view.

Regardless of whether we get to return to the Shadow Realm, I enjoyed the world building of Sylvia Mercedes, and will definitely be checking out her other creations, her bibliography is quite voluminous. She uses familiar tropes of course, but adds her own spin to things. Her perspective on story creation resonated strongly with me, and was evident through each book.

“They say the Between Gates simply appeared one day. That was five hundred years ago now. Our world has never been the same since. No one knows from whence they came or who built them. There are legends aplenty of course - all elaborate and complicated and contradictory, possibly each containing a small piece of the truth but never the whole.”

I loved her use of crystals, and the dragon aspects of her world were quite different and welcome. It’s a fascinating idea for a dragon and certainly something I would like to see explored more.

The redemption arc of a fairly minor character in Heart of the Shadow King while not something I saw coming, utterly delighted me, and ended the whole series on an absolute high. I wish more time had been able to be devoted to this final storyline and I was exceptionally pleased with the extra story provided at the conclusion of the book. I think a standalone telling that story all the way through from the tertiary perspective of the characters involved would maybe even surpass how much I enjoyed the story of Vor and Faraine. There are definitely several other paths that could be explored in this world, either concurrently with this story, or at either end of the history of the kingdom.

The full trilogy is now available and GeekMom received a copy of these books for review purposes.

#VowOfTheShadowKing:⁣
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Thank you @acebookspub @berkleypub for my gifted copies! #BerkleyPartner #BerkleyBookstagram ⁣
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“Grief is such a wild, untamed creature, always returning at the most unexpected times to bite.”⁣
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This is definitely second book in a series energy. It was action packed, it gave us amazing insight on our favorites, and I cried hard at loss. We all know “touch her and cry” but Vor took it a step further and told his step-mother, “Look at her and cry” Chef’s kiss Sylvia Mercedes. This is giving everything I need. ⁣
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So we’re dealing with the aftermath of book one. Very will they/won’t they? There’s also lots of stirring going on with the cave devils. Evil is afoot and we don’t know what or whom is causing it. ⁣
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The tension is tensioning y’all. It’s is tension packed. You want to scream to just make up already but you totally get it. We also lose a few people and meet some others (definitely big reveal but immediately you’ll know who they are) along the way. Off I go to polish off book 3!⁣
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QOTD: What’s for dinner tonight?

Vow of the Shadow King was a bit of a letdown in comparison with the first in the series, Bride of the Shadow King. The potential was there to expand and add to the world, however everything just fell a bit flat. I didn't feel engaged with the plot or characters.

The first book in this series was fantastic and the second one even more so.

Vow of the Shadow King picks up right where the first one ended delving deeper into the world and a foreboding danger lurking underneath. While the characters grapple with their own feelings and angst following the events of the first book, the world continues to be meticulously crafted with themes of political intrigue, magic, gods and a sense of impending doom that hooked me from the start and had me hanging on every twist and turn.

There’s so much that had me captivated, from intricate themes of betrayal and corruption, well fleshed out angst and desire, magic and ancient powers with more to be revealed, a brilliantly executed slow burn romance, and a heroine that is one of the most compelling and dynamic characters I’ve had the pleasure to read about. I could not put this one down!

⋆.˚✮ 3.5 stars ✮˚.⋆

⤿ Thank you to Ace Books and Berkley Romance for the arc through netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

after the ending of the first book, I was highly anticipating seeing what happened next for the main characters Vor and Faraine, and especially what happens to Vor's trolde kingdom. the beginning starts strong, picking up right where the first book left off as the characters are running around trying to figure out where they go from here. but, quite quickly the story falls into the same patterns. Faraine stays sequestered in her room while things in the trolde kingdom explode and Vor has to go deal with them, and they yearn after each other while nothing else happens.

while the yearning was one of my favorite parts of the first book, and still something I really enjoyed at the first part of this book, it eventually got...boring. i think this is because other pieces of the story weren't moving fast either, so it just felt like the book was lulling in the middle. this book fell a little into middle book syndrome, but still, the last 50 pages were really good. the stuff that was happening was heartwrenching and made me invested again especially the last chapter! I've always been really interested in what was driving the earthquakes and such, as it was such a big mystery, and wow I didn't think about that plot twist.

Vor and Faraine are still interesting characters, they're both complicated and have motivations that conflict with each other at times. there were a few scenes between them that made me really uncomfortable in this book, so that's another reason I couldn't get completely behind their romance in the same way I did in the first one (even if there was a plot explanation for it). that being said, I don't think they're a BAD couple and I hope to see their growth in the final book.

↬ trigger warnings: death and murder, sexual assault and violence, physical abuse mentioned, human sacrifice mentioned

This book was more focused on the development of Vor and Faraine. There is an immediate continuation of the first book. This one presents a lot of cliffhangers for the third book that should be wrapped up. It is very slow burn and the HEA does not happen in this book.

This is a fun and spicy Romantasy series. If you love fae shadow daddies this one’s for you. Absolutely delicious story.

This sequel to Bride of the Shadow King brings us back to the Trolde realm and pulls us up from the edge of the cliff. The sequel brings us some answers, but opens up other mysteries for which we beg for answers. Court intrigue is strong, Faraine begins to figure out why her power seems so tied to the crystals of this kingdom, and Vor finds himself questioning not only those closest to him, but also what is most important to him as an individual. There’s conspiracy afoot and a cult with highly questionable motives.

These stories are fast paced and being the sucker for mystery that I am in was invested. I’m still invested as there were some answers I’ve been waiting for since book 1, like I truly think Ilsevel is still alive and being married tonthe fae king and we have a spinoff series coming for us, but no confirmation yet. I find it super frustrating but the world is still cool and there are still a few characters that aren’t completely wearing on me. The MC is starting to annoy, which makes me sad because I really liked Faraine in Book 1, but the author is doing that thing where she’s super chosen and the only answer, whoch drives me nuts. I am really hoping that Heart of the Shadow King gives us some answers and brings us home, and also gives us more Haele who is my favorite.

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

Vow of the Shadow King is the 2nd book in her Bride of the Shadow King series. The story picks up as the first book ended, with Faraine’s deceit, which was done by her father. Vor having been poisoned, was able to stop himself from having Faraine killed. She is now trapped in the Shadow Realm, at the mercy of Vor; surrounded by enemies in the Trolde kingdom. Fariane hopes to convince Vor to send her home, but he knows that he cannot give up the alliance from Fariane’s father, which will spell disaster for his people. With tremors, poison, creatures spreading in the realm he needs to find a solution to save his people.

The tension between Vor and Faraine has so much angst between them. Vor wants nothing to do with her, and he assigns Captain Hael to watch over Faraine; especially since he thought Hael should have been able to reveal Faraine’s disguise. Faraine truly did not deserve all the hatred and criticism, as her father was the one who forced the disguise, as both sisters were killed.

Vor struggles with the tremors getting worse, and the poison spreading through the realm, desperate to find a solution. He also struggles with his feelings for Faraine, which continues to get stronger, as he tries to mask his true feelings. Faraine’s powers begin to grow, especially in the Trolde Kingdom, and their magic; her abilities also cause her pain. Faraine begins to openly speak her mind, growing a backbone, as she tries figure out her abilities.

I really liked the change in Faraine; especially when she learns that Vor is in danger. She does everything in her power to find a way to save Trolde Kingdom and Vor. I loved Hael, who was always great in helping Vor or even Faraine.

Vow of the Shadow King was a very good romantasy, with a slow burn romance; which had magic, deception, betrayal and sacrifice. The finale was a was a terrific ending, with Faraine using her powers to save the kingdom, and their true feelings for each other escalate. Vow of the Shadow King was very well written by Sylvia Mercedes. I cannot wait for the final book in this series.

NOTE: You need to read the first book, Bride of the Shadow King, before moving on to Vow of the Shadow King. With that being said, I want to give a heads-up about potential spoilers in my review for anyone who hasn’t read the first book yet.

Vow of the Shadow King picks up where Bride of the Shadow King left off, and as a reader, I was eager to continue the story of Faraine and Vor. I needed to know if Vor would forgive Faraine for her betrayal. In my opinion, it wasn’t entirely her fault; she was forced into that situation because of her family.

I could understand Vor’s frustration and why he had trust issues at the end of the first book and into the second. He believed he had married Faraine’s sister and had come to accept it despite his feelings for Faraine. Now, he’s faced with the difficult decision of what to do about Faraine. Deep down, he knows that the best option is to send her back home, but he struggles to let her go so easily.

Vor really has to be a King in the second book since his people are facing a darkness that has even taken on him a few times, which is why he doesn’t trust easily. He can’t even trust his stepmother and his half-brother. Vor did get on my nerves when it came to keeping Faraine as a prisoner. His conflicting feelings toward her drove me crazy, too. If only he could have understood her situation better. The poor girl has lost the people she loves, and now she’s in a new kingdom without anyone she can trust. Not even the man she has feelings for.

When it came to Faraine, she’s really growing as a character in the second book. She did get treated as a damsel in distress, but don’t worry she’s going to show her strength and what she has to bring to the table. Everyone definitely underestimated her, even Vor. She’s going to make a true Queen when Vor and his people finally accept her.

This was another great read in the trilogy that had a lot of twists and turns within it, plus a very slow-burn romance between the two main characters that you are just rooting to be together. I know I was. I give this installment four stars and look forward to reading the final installment soon. I need to know if Vor will save his kingdom and if Faraine will be his wife/queen completely.

Would I recommend this book/series? Yes, if you enjoy reading Fantasy Romance, then check out this series by Sylvia Mercedes.

What to Expect:
✔️Arranged Marriage
✔️Betrayal & Heartbreak
✔️Forbidden Romance
✔️Slow Burn Romance

The Vow of the shadow king is full of twists and turns especially at the end it really throws the reader through a loop. There is a lot of good character development in this book. Faraine finally grows a backbone and speaks up for herself. Virus really needs to come into his own. This book still had me completely engaged from the beginning to the end. Also, the bonus content where we get to read about Hael and Sul…. That puts Sul in a new perspective in my eyes. Overall, loved the book and can’t wait to get into the third book!

I want to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for a honest review.

This is such a great series! It’s just what I want in a romantasy. The world is vibrant and beautifully crafted, the magic is unique and interesting, the characters are complex and compelling, and the romance is swoony and angsty. This picked up right where Bride of the Shadow King left off, and there was so much tension, yearning, and chemistry between Faraine and Vor. Things are complicated between them because of the shaky treaty between Gavaria and Mythanar, but they want each other so much. This is how you build up a slow burn romance! This book delved deeper into the kingdom of Mythanar, and we learned more about the world, the political and religious tensions, and the danger of the stirrings and the woggha. I’m fully invested in this story and cannot wait to see what happens in the next book!
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My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️
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Read if you like:
▫️trolde, humans, and magic
▫️arranged marriage
▫️second chance
▫️slow burn
▫️dual POV
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Thank you to Ace Books, Berkley Publishing, NetGalley, and Sylvia Mercedes for the ARC. I received an advanced copy for free, and am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley, and Ms. Mercedes for the opportunity to read an ARC of the re-released title. An honest review was requested but not required.

It's been a while since I read book #1 but Vow of the Shadow King started off with enough of a bang that it was very easy to get back into the story. Faraine has been impersonating her sister, who was promised in marriage to Vor, the King of the Under Realm. Her deceit has been uncovered and she is languishing in a prison cell while Vor reels from her betrayal and his distrust of his brother and his advisors.

This does suffer a bit from bridge book syndrome, in which the emotions and events of book #1 are processed and responded to, before new plot points can be laid out. There's also a significant amount of "I burn, I pine, I perish"-style longing of the two main characters for each other, when just one decent conversation would have solved half of their problems. I was waiting (in vain) for Faraine to explain how and why she was forced to impersonate her sister; I really wish that had happened. I also wasn't sure why Vor personally had to handle so many of the crises and problems. And I wish poor Faraine hadn't had to throw herself at Vor *repeatedly*; I felt so sorry for her.

On the plus side, the non-romance plot lines were GREAT. I was really enjoying Vor's claustrophobic floundering, wondering who (if anyone) he could trust, and who was behind the poisonings. I also liked the religious extremism plot; what an interesting twist. That Targ was a repellent character for sure. The various animals and insects found in the Under Realm were also really fascinating. On Faraine's side, I was a big fan of her growing confidence and her willingness to speak up for herself.

Overall I enjoyed this despite all the angst. The plot absolutely picked up in the last third of the book and I'm looking forward to seeing how all the various plot threads will be resolved.

Vow of the Shadow King picks up right where Bride of the Shadow King left off, and this one packs one heck of a punch. I loved the first book, but honestly, this one is even better than that one.

King Vor and Princess Faraine's story is one that I will be recommending to romantasy readers from now on. This story has it all: elves, cave dwellers, Tolls (Troldefolk), and there is mention of dragons, but none have appeared yet, maybe in the next book.

In this second book of the series, we learn much more about the God-given Gift bestowed upon Faraine when she was born. She is more powerful than anyone imagined, including herself. I loved watching her figure out how she could help King Vor and his people without regard for herself. If there is anyone worthy of the title Queen, it is Faraine.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Romantasy Reads, Paranormal Romances, Arranged Marriage Romances, Royalty Romances, Interspecies Romances, or Slow-Burn Romances.

Happy Reading!!!

Many thanks to Ace/Berkley for the digital review copy of Vow of the Shadow King, which is out today, January 14th, in its republished form - including new bonus material from Hael's perspective.

Like the first book, Vow of the Shadow King grabbed me and did not want to let go. I did find the pacing to be a bit slower this time around, as a lot of the book is clearly setting up for some big stuff in book three. However, there was some great tension between the MCs that gave the slow pacing a solid slow burn feeling.

I enjoyed seeing Vor and Faraine grow as characters. Both of them undergo some changes throughout the book, as a result of what they've been through in book one. Their relationship is strained, and that carries a lot of the suspense for the book.

The plot developed even greater stakes in this book, setting up for what's sure to be a big finish in the third book in the trilogy. I thought Mercedes did a nice job of building up the stakes and making us fear for the characters, giving just enough risk and danger to make it feel real even with the knowledge that a third book was on the horizon.

In all, Vow of the Shadow King is a solid sequel that develops on the first book, teaching us more about the world and our main characters. It left me eager to see what will happen next, and I can't wait to pick up book three! I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good Romantasy with big stakes and a compelling world to explore.

What a great addition to the Bride of the Shadow King series! I loved this second book; it’s filled with tons of action and adventure, as well as tension and longing between Princess Faraine and King Vor. Each time I thought I had something figured out there would be a shift in the story and I would be surprised in some way. I absolutely love the angst-filled romance between Faraine and Vor. I can’t wait to read the book and find out what happens!

I'm not enjoying this series has much as I hoped I would. It's just missing something to hook me in as a reader. One thing I didn't like was the amount of angst that was in the plot,. it was a bit overdone. It just felt like it took over the story, and everything else fell to the side. I was also hoping that the chemistry between the two characters would have been developed a bit more, but the characters weren't together often enough to give their relationship any depth or make it believable. I'm also not the biggest fan of pinning, so when it's overdone, it's just a major turn-off for me.

There is potential in this story, but I felt it wasn't developed enough to make it a romantasy that stands out to me as a reader.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley for the rerelease of this book by Ace/Berkley in January 2025, however I do want to mention that I had previously purchased the kindle and audiobook versions of the series. As always all opinions expressed in my review are my own.

I loved the first book and immediately continued on with the series. This picks up where book 1 leaves off with Faraine and Vor at odds shortly after their marriage ceremony. Vor is naturally angry after having discovering that Faraine and her family have betrayed him. He chooses to keep Faraine more as a political prisoner than as his bride until he figures out what his next move is. He has to balance what to do about his own ailing kingdom in the wake of the betrayal and the blow to his own personal pride. Faraine on the other hand wants to actually try to salvage things with Vor, and help in any way that she can.

There is quite a bit of angst and tension in this installment as our main characters don't spend much time together developing their relationship. They do spend a good bit on their own personal development. Faraine spends time trying to figure out her magical abilities and explore as much of her new home as she can. Meanwhile Vor is trying to figure out how to save his home and workout his feelings for his new wife and the false pretenses in which they were married. They are both trying to balance duty and desire.

There is alot of set up for book 3 happening here, so don't be alarmed if all of your questions aren't answered. This does end with a cliffhanger and alot of things yet to be explained, but it all comes together in the next book. If you enjoyed book 1, like romantasy with a moderate amount of spice, political intrigue, and great worldbuilding give this series a chance. I really enjoyed the world and Faraine's unique abilities.