After the chaos of Bride of the Shadow King, I was eager to dive into Vow of the Shadow King. And wow, this book didn’t hold back—it’s an emotional rollercoaster full of heartbreak, tension, and a slow-burn romance that had me hooked.

The story dives deeper into Faraine and Vor’s tumultuous relationship, delivering a slow-burn romance tangled with heartbreak, betrayal, and the looming threat of a collapsing world. Picking up right where the first book left off, the story had me hooked from the very start as Faraine struggles to navigate life in the Shadow Realm. Trapped as a "guest" of her new husband, she's trying to salvage an alliance that could save her people. Vor, however, is still reeling from the betrayal and can barely stand to be in the same room as her—yet his feelings are anything but simple.

Faraine truly shines in this book. Her quiet strength and determination kept me rooting for her, especially when Vor's distrust and emotional walls made things downright frustrating. I loved watching her grow into her own, showing that she’s more than just the discarded princess everyone underestimated. And Vor… I kind of had a love-hate relationship with him in this one. His struggle between duty, hurt pride, and undeniable feelings for Faraine created a hot and cold attitude toward her that frustrated me at times even though his feelings made sense. I can't wait to see what happens between these two because their chemistry is fabulous, and they both deserve some happiness. Hopefully, they'll learn to communicate better with each other in the next book!

The writing is vivid and immersive, and like the first book, the stakes in this story are high—not just for Faraine and Vor's relationship but for the entire realm. And the side characters added so much depth, especially Hael, who is definitely my favorite. And that ending? My word! Sylvia Mercedes sure knows how to write a stunning cliffhanger!

I think die hard fans of book 1 will enjoy this enough because of the characters but if you want a plot, this isn't bringing it to you

Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes is a mesmerizing paranormal romance that immerses readers in a world of magic and fantasy. If you are seeking a high fantasy romance with compelling characters, expertly crafted romance, and a vividly detailed world, then this book is a must-read. It has quickly secured a spot in my top 5 favorite series of all time. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy literature.

I want to say a huge thank you to Berkley publishing for this ARC. In exchange for this ARC I am offering my honest review.

This series builds a unique fantasy world where the trolde civilization needs an alliance with the humans to save both their kingdoms. The characters go through a lot in these two books, but this fell flat for me. Both the romance and the plot was very erratic and repetitive throughout the whole story.

The book had a loose outline of the fantasy world to begin with, which I don't mind as long as the romance is the focus. This is also not the case as the romance felt very forced from the start, and was then riddled with miscommunication and distrust in this book. Whenever I thought there would be some real start to their romance, it was quickly ripped away from the reader.

This was frustrating for me since my expectations of this series were it being a fantasy romance. I would recommend this to someone that wants a more difficult read, in a sense where things do not work out quickly.

Vow of the Shadow King is the second book in the fantasy romance series by Sylvia Mercedes. It continues the story of Faraine and Vor’s romance and how Faraine can help save Vor’s cursed kingdom.

A note to readers, I haven’t read the first book, but I’m a fan of the troll king lore and would be willing to give it a try to see how Faraine and Vor ended up together.

So here’s the thing, not all books work out for every reader, and, unfortunately, Vow of the Shadow King wasn’t for me.

What didn’t work for me:
The writing. How the story was written felt as though a novice was telling the story. The cadence and rhythm wasn’t sound. It felt similar to that of an author still perfecting their craft. A work in progress.
What also didn't work for me was Vor and Faraine’s romance. There is clear tension between these two characters due to the big reveal and deception at the end of the first book. But the back and forth of “can I love her,” “can I trust her,” “will he love me,” “can we make this work,” is tiring after so many chapters of indecisiveness on both character’s parts. Also, after a rather unsettling scene where Vor nearly attacks Faraine, I questioned why Faraine would feel safe or want any type of relationship with Vor, even after he explained why he almost hurt her. It reminded me of the scene in chapter 17 in Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco. There’s no reason to go into detail of what happens in that chapter or the chapter I’m referring to in Vow of the Shadow King, but I question when authors in fantasy write about sexual abuse in their novels when it isn’t the focus of the story. As readers, we know sexual abuse exits in the real world and is wrong. It’s when an author decides to include a chapter of sexual abuse, in their story, using those actions as a “teachable moment” (as in KOC) or “overtaken by a disease that almost caused the potential abuse” like we see in this novel, where I question why is this needed in the story and what purpose does it serve in the overarching plot? And I don’t have answers in either case. I personally feel like they could have been edited out of the stories all together.

Even though this one wasn’t for me, if you enjoy fantasy that features a cursed kingdom, a princess whose magic can save said kingdom, and a steamy romance between the two main characters, give this series a try.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

This is one of the best slow-burn, marriage of convenience, political fantasies I’ve read in a. WHIIIIIILE!!! The first book in this series was such a delight and I loved learning who characters were, the world, and the secrets of the gods-gifts and other magic sources. This book dove so much deeper into all of these areas, as well as giving a masterclass in the art of pining before getting to the beloved MY WIFEEEEEE. I have so many predictions swirling in my mind regarding the next book and I absolutely cannot wait to dive in!!!! And as an important aside, the spice still remaining minimal and touch-and-go made Vor and Farraine’s relationship and these moments 3000000% more impactful for me. Okay? Thank you!

2.5⭐️2.75🌶️

Second book
Romantasy
Dual POV
Slow burn
Unique Fae magic and lore
Mythical beasts
Politics

This book introduces a lot of new issues that weren’t foreshadowed in the first one, and it makes for a confusing read. It’s hard to stay engaged when it feels like the story has taken a sharp turn with little build-up, especially when so much foreshadowing was laid out in the previous book.

I also feel that the magic system—specifically how the fae races’ magic and their vows work—should have been explained earlier, especially in book one. The way it’s revealed only as it becomes relevant doesn’t really work for me. Had it been explored earlier, it could have added more tension and given us deeper insight into Vor’s perspective. The constant references to it in the plot felt like missed opportunities to show its significance, leaving the stakes feeling a bit hollow.

One thing that really bugged me was the portrayal of the MMC’s interactions with the female protagonist. It often feels like he treats her as fragile, almost as if she’s a delicate object that needs to be handled with care. This constant dynamic didn’t sit well with me—it felt overdone and took away from their connection.

Ultimately, I’m struggling to stay invested in this story. The magic system, plot, timeline, and character development all have weak points that make it hard to truly enjoy the series as I read. I was hoping for more consistency and depth, but right now, it just isn’t pulling me in.

I will not be continuing with this series

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Very slow burn, if you enjoy that. These high stakes romantasy’s just make me feel impatient, but I’d still recommend for fans of the genre.

A treacherous bride.

A heartbroken groom.

Is their marriage over before it’s begun?


Vow of the Shadow King picks up Bride of the Shadow King left off and hits the ground running. From action to betrayal to the romance I was waiting for, Vow of the Shadow King definitely delivers and will leave you begging for more.

Vow of the Shadow King is a fantastic follow-up to Bride of the Shadow King and sets the stage for Heart of the Shadow King. The stakes are high and I for one, can not wait to see how everything will come together in the end.

This was a great continuation of the story and picks up right where the last one left off. There was so much tension at the end of the last book and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one to see how things turned out. The romance element of this book really worked. It flowed nicely and I think that the tension is still there between the characters. The romance felt natural and realistic (yes even though it’s fantasy), and I really enjoyed it a lot. The beginning of this one is on the slower side as things are building up, but the pacing picks up midway and then we’re off to the races and things move along at a nice clip. The slower beginning was not a deterring factor for me and actually helped suck me into the story. I have plenty of questions after reading this one and I am very excited for the next book to see how things wrap up.

If you’re looking for a really fun romantasy then you need to check this one out.

This had everything that I was looking for from the Bride of the Shadow King series, it felt like the same world and worked with the previous book that I read. Sylvia Mercedes was able to write a strong story and was engaged with what was happening to them. The romance element worked well and thought it worked well in this world and was glad it was so realistically done. I enjoyed getting back to this world and characters and had enjoyed the way Sylvia Mercedes wrote this.

Absolutely obsessed with this series!! I haven't felt so excited about a book in a while. I have been recommending this one to everyone I know

Okay this one was a bit slower to start than the first book, but eventually picks up about midway through. The slow burn is doing what it does best and slow burning the book away…. but I have a feeling once we burn we are going to get EVERYTHING!
Also I swear if book 3 doesn’t answer some of the billions of questions I have… we are going to have words Sylvia.

I enjoy this fantasy world and how this second book brings some insight into what is happening, though with more questions since there is a book 3. Looking forward to getting answers (a little disappointed I didn’t get book 3 as an ARC).

This book is a little slow. A lot of pages for not that many important events. Many paragraphs could have been cut: too much pining, not enough communication, repetitive missions. I do like how their feelings towards another builds, but the "non speaking plainly" is a bit annoying. Too much lust or magical connection, not enough love and trust.

I hate how the poison made the king react. Assault should never be in a book when it happens between a couple we are supposed to root for.

Best thing: I love the mothcats!

This is one of my favorite new trending authors. Also, the narrative of shadow king has been a trending theme/trope lately and this author rocked it with her own way of writing and make the concept her own. Very well done.

I freaking loved this one! The angst, THE DRAMA, the sexual tension and spice were all fantastic. I NEED THE NEXT ONE IMMEDIATELY

This series has been on my TBR for a little while as the description interested me. I enjoyed the first one quite a bit, but I found this second one a bit dull. It's not that there wasn't a lot happening in the story, but just that parts of it fell flat and I didn't find myself reaching to pick up the book to keep reading. It was still good, and I will read the last book. I just hope the next book feels more like the first one.

When King Vor realizes he has been tricked into this marriage as well as betrayed by the human king he takes his anger out on Princess Faraine. While the trust is broken, feelings are brewing between the two. King Vor's realm is on the verge of collapse and disaster is around every corner. Slowly they realize that maybe they need each other in order to save both of their worlds.

Faraine and Vor relationship was rocky to start. They had to figure out if they could get beyond that and make a go of it even with all the other things being thrown at them. I can't wait to see if they make it before the world goes crazy.

What a fun read! The cover of this book is shady really drew me in, but the words kept me going. Enemies to lovers and forced proximity are my all time favorite tropes and the author did not disappoint. The characters were so diverse and there were so many layers to this book. It was hot and steamy which is always a plus.