This second entry in the "Starstorm Series", each of which is an interconnected standalone is leagues better than the first, mostly because the MMC here is the character I wanted to be the MMC in the first book, and the FMC here is not naively annoying in the way of her sister, the FMC of the first book. Drake is such a shadow daddy and Creslyn is rainbows, sunshine, and snark. They have great chemistry and are able to accept one another as who they are - flaws and all. This would have been a 5 star read for me but for Drake's actions in the last third of the book. I will definitely be picking up the next one in this series.

4 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a complimentary copy of this book. These opinions are my own.

OH. MY. GOD. !!!

I LOVVEEEDDD THE SECOND BOOK SOOOO MUCH THAT I WANT TO GO TO AERMERAE ASAP!!

Crestlyn 's character development is phenomenal and she is the confident and bold FMC I have read so far!!

Drake...
And
His
Entire character arc and development is
Extremely fascinating ✨✨✨✨
Eager for book 3
Thank you sooo much Hillary Raymer and @netgalley for giving this best fantasy I've read so far !!

I was so excited to read this story and it didn’t disappoint. Shadow daddy, what’s not to love? A good amount of spice and the plot had me hanging on!

Loved Creslyn as the FMC she was totally badass. She wasn’t taking anything from drake.

This is book 2 in connected standalones but it is recommended to read in order.

All the Sacrifice of Shadows is book two of he interconnected stand-alone Starstorm series. I had not read book one of the series prior to this book, but it felt like it was simple enough to catch up with the world and all its players.

The main focus of book two is Creslyn and Drake, who appear to be opposites in most ways; he has shadow powers, and she has light powers. Due to an arrangement between Drake and Creslyn's family, they are set to be married, with is true reasoning unknown to her. Can they survive marriage and all of the other forces working against them?

I liked how the book set up potential couples for future books and how the main points for this couple were wrapped up without too much fanfare. The dual pov worked well in this situation because if we'd only had her pov, he probably would have seen even more insufferable at times. I'd be interested in reading more books in this world in the future!

Thanks to Hillary, BohoSoul Press, and NetGalley for an eARC of this book for an honest review.

This series is so fun, with a Bridgerton feel in a fantasy world with obviously higher stakes and conflict. And WOW this book was spicy! The dragon scene? 🥵

I enjoyed getting to learn more about Drake as he was an absolute mystery in the first book. Creslyn is vastly different than her sister but ends up being such a good match for Drake. The conflict and adventure was fun, from an evil king to a dangerous witch to martial troubles. I love that each of the siblings have their own unique magic.

I am excited to learn more about this world and the other siblings as it is very evident that there is still a lot of story to be told here!

After the first book I was really hoping to see more of Drake and this book did not disappoint! We have a shadow daddy and a rainbow/sunshine (literally) girlie and it truly gave us that. I love that each book is a new sibling and their love story. It’s still giving us Bridgerton even though a lot of this book takes place in Brackroth away from the Starstorm family.

I will say that the love was a bit insta-love for me as I was hoping for a bit more banter before the two truly fell for one another. I really enjoyed some of the new characters introduced, good and bad! Also we have more dragons now which is always a win for me. I’m excited to see where it goes next!

An arranged marriage she doesn't want, a curse he wants to break, and a prophesy that might doom them both. Is Drake the villain of Creslyn's story, or is she is hero?

Read if you like:
-Shadow Daddies
-Dragons
-Arranged Marriage
-Literal Sunshine FMC
-Cursed MMC
-I'm too broken for someone like you
-Sacrifice
-Fated Mates

Good pterodactyl screech to you. Welcome to my unhinged review of All the Sacrifice of Shadows where I will try to be normal about this book but will fail. Utterly.

"You are not my weakness, but you are not yet a weapon."
"Fine then. Make me your weapon."

COME ON! I'm dying. Hillary! I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure. You make that their dynamic and then have them say it while they are riding together on his dragon?!? You can't not expect me to fan girl over you after that.

Drake is the biggest smip for her and I love it. I'm obsessed with them. Creslyn challenging him at every turn was just chef's kiss. I love the way he spoils her rotten when what she really wants is him.

Read this book and then come scream at me about it.

god fmc was so forgiving if a man ever did that shit to me id never let it slide😭😭😭

just like book1, this was very much instalust because they were kissing by pg50 and doing it by pg100. i didnt like their relationship as well it felt very toxic. also no one is talking abt how he chose power over her LMAO.

i didnt like the mmc he was so. questionable. he did many things i disliked or disagreed with like he killed innocent ppl idk abt morally grey he just seems. yea. i liked the fmc but she definitely forgave him too quickly shldve made him beg longer for her forgiveness after picking power over her

plot was definitely there but it felt very messy at some parts? also the reveal of the what the mmc was? super random like it came from nowhere i was super confused for a minute

once again, the siblings are my fav part of this book they remind me very much of the bridgerton siblings which i love. thank you to netgalley and boho press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
3/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

-

What to Expect:
🐲Arranged Marriage
💫Shadow Daddy
🐲Enemies to Lovers
💫Touch Her and 💀💀
🐲Dragons
💫Grumpy x Sunshine
🐲Mate Bonds
💫Morally Grey MMC

-

CALLING ALL MY SPICY ROMANTASY LOVERS, if “Shadow Daddy" calls to you like it does to me, All the Sacrifice of Shadows is your next RUN to read! 🔥 Hillary Raymer has truly outdone herself with Drake and Creslyn’s story, giving us a morally grey prince who is possessive to the core and a fierce, sunshine fae who meets him toe to toe, ready to give it her all. Their chemistry? HOTTTT. From Creslyn’s playful banter to Drake’s unyielding obsession, I couldn’t get enough. Hillary knows how to turn up the heat—especially with that one scene - DRAGON - IYKYK. 👀 Let’s just say the spice was spicing!

This second book in the interconnected Starstorm (standalone) series hit all the right notes. Drake, our “shadow daddy,” isn’t just broody—he’s got layers. Watching him show glimpses of softness, not only to Creslyn but eventually to her family, was EVERYTHING. Meanwhile, Creslyn shines in every scene, blending strength with empathy. She adapts seamlessly to Drake’s darker world, embracing his shadows and balancing his darkness with her light. These two are the ultimate yin and yang, and their story is a perfect blend of plot, tension, and sizzling romance. An added bonus, the epilogue teases just enough to leave you craving the next book, where another Starstorm sibling gets their own turbulent romance.

While this series can technically be read out of order, I recommend starting with All the Chaos of Constellations to fully immerse yourself in the overarching plot and rich world-building. The vivid imagery makes each page feel like a cinematic experience, and every side character is so well written you’ll be rooting for their own stories. If you’re into dragons, morally grey love interests, and powerful heroines, this book will have you devouring every page. Buckle up, because Hillary Raymer has become one of my FAVORITE QUEENS of Romantasy! 🖤🔥


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I realized that this book was the second in the series, and also recognize that I am unable to complete both the first and the second in time for the publication date. I am excited to read the first one as the premise is greatly exciting! Thank you for this opportunity of sharing your work with me, and I will take this as. a learning experience as a new reader on Net Gallery to be careful when signing up for a sequel to ensure that I am able to finish the first and second in time for the publictation date.

ARC Review!

This series is full of interconnected standalone, so you could technically jump to this book as I did. However, I saw a review recommending reading them in order and as someone who jumped back into book 1 after this- the world-building and plot flows so much better! Kind of reminds me of Elise Kova's book plot progression!

I loved this story and the best part was the dynamic between the main characters that had me so invested. It’s not your typical enemies-to-lovers, though. Think more “arranged marriage acquaintances to lovers,” and it totally works.

Creslyn is a top FMC for me- she's fearless, strong, and super nice! She is fierce and protects herself/those she loves. Her ability to accept Drake, past and all, especially right from the start? Unheard of, and yet she took him in stride and also not afraid to lay down her own expectations!

Drake is everything you’d want from a shadow daddy and he uses those shadows, among other things, for Creslyn! LOL. Drake clearly cares for Creslyn is from the jump and watching their relationship grow was one of my favorite parts of the book.

This romantasy is such a great mix of plot, banter, powers and dragons! The magic system is unique and left me excited to continue this series. Keep in mind that this is an HEA book, but it is also meant to be a standalone. Some of the loose ends felt patched up quickly, but that didn't take away from the amazing story!

Oh, and the epilogue?! STOP. It teases the next main couple!!! So excited!!!

Love getting Drake and Creslyn’s story!

I was super intrigued by Drake in All the Chaos of Constellations. You could tell pretty quickly that he was morally gray but really a secret softie! Well Drake is an ultimate shadow daddy and I was not disappointed at all!

I absolutely loved Creslyn as well. She was a badass FMC. She was compassionate, caring and bubbly but she was not a push over and put Drake in his place continuously.

The spice was *chef’s kiss* good! It was a good balance of spice and not just spice thrown in to just have spice.

This is book 2 in an interconnected standalones but recommend to read them in order to understand the major plot throughout the series.

**Received an eARC from NetGalley and BohoSoul for an honest review**

Thank you to NetGalley and BohoSoul Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You don't need to read the first book in the series to enjoy this one, but I would recommend it because I feel you miss out on a lot of the background info.

I enjoyed every minute of this book! The pacing was perfect, there was tons of action, character growth, an amazing twist, and exactly the right amount of spice. I loved exploring a different part of this world as well.

If you love broody, morally grey shadow daddies, and strong take no BS from anyone FMCs this is the book for you.

I love how Drake evolved over the course of the story, and how Cresyln also found her footing and became the person she wants to be. Yes, the characters are toxic at times in their own ways, but that mirrors real life when you put two people together that are full of trauma.

The spice was varied, unique, and I never once got bored or felt the need to skim past it. The spicy scenes were also fairly short and very enjoyable.

I do feel the plot involving the bog, the witch, and the stone was a bit rushed. It did work out okay in the end, but I think it would have been much smoother with another couple chapters.

This book was amazing. I loved the characters and the storyline. The twist about the mmc I did not see coming. I can’t wait to explore the stories with all the other siblings: the author did a great job putting those little nuggets to entice the readers to be invested in the other siblings stories.

This book was great! The world building was very well done and the main characters were very well written! I would highly recommend!

I LOVED THIS BOOK. I adored Prince Drake in the first book but he really shined in his story. Creslyn really was his perfect match.
There was romance, plot, spice, banter, and the dragon-riding shadow daddy that stole my heart. Several scenes made me kick my feet up and giggle because it was so cute and romantic. I am obsessed.
I have already started recommending All the Chaos of Constellations but this book solidified that I will continue to recommend this series. I can't wait for more from this world!

Will she find some goodness within you? Drake knows that he has given Creslyn no choice but he hopes that she will accept him. He has to keep her far away from the king as he knows that she is not safe in the castle. But he can’t be by her side always. But the king had gone too far this time & he has no choice but to take her away. Creslyn has accepted everything about her husband and no matter how much darkness is around Drake she will always love him. Will they find a way forward together? A good read full of forgiveness & undying love. Great characters & settings. Thank you Netgalley & the publisher for the copy. This is my voluntary review.

3.5⭐️

I really enjoyed the first book in the series (All the Chaos of Constellations) and was super intrigued by Drake’s character in that book. That said, I was so thrilled to receive this ARC and follow his story with Creslyn!

This book had a lot of positives going for it! As with the first book, it was a fun read filled with It was full of romance, magic, reveals, twists, manipulation/betrayal, and court politics. I really enjoy the author’s writing style and her storytelling is very engaging. I love that these stories are written in dual POV! I really enjoy the world she has created in this series! The sibling dynamics are fun to read about and I’m enjoying learning more about their powers! I liked that Creslyn was bold and didn’t take 💩 from anyone despite her own insecurities. I liked that Drake was endearingly obsessed with Creslyn. He was also a TRUE morally gray character! And if you’re looking for a shadow daddy who knows how to use those shadows, look no further! 😉

That all said, I did have some issues with this one. My main complaint was that it was very much an instalove/instalust situation which took away from the romance for me. (I personally just tend to prefer more tension and build-up 🤷‍♀️) I also felt that there was too much focus on the lust and physical side of the relationship which also took away from the romance. I did feel like some aspects of their relationship seemed pretty toxic. I think some of the things that were supposed to be sexy from Drake came off more as red-flaggish. Granted, he is a true morally gray character so some of that is to be expected…I just didn’t find some of it as sexy or swoony as I think the author had probably intended. I felt like some parts felt rushed in their resolution (eg. The situation with the gem and the witch and the situation with the king) which left them feeling a bit anticlimactic. I was also confused by certain aspects of the world-building and story (eg. how mating bonds work in this world and Drake’s curse).

Overall, I enjoyed this read and would recommend this series to others. Overall, I still enjoyed this read and would recommend this series to others! I plan to continue the series and definitely have several characters I’m excited to learn more about in future books!

Thank you to Hillary Raymer, Victory Editing, and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a MUST READ!!

I DEVOURED this book! I was instantly hooked from the first chapter with the banter and tension between Drake and Creslyn. The chemistry between these two is OFF THE CHARTS!! Drake is the epitome of a morally grey shadow daddy that is possessive as hell and only soft for her. He fully backs up his threats that no one better touch, threaten, or even look at Creslyn! My sunshine and rainbows Creslyn is a feisty little faerie that is determined, caring, and fearless. She has no issue putting Drake in his place, shoots it straight, and will do anything for what she wants! I was eating up every interaction between these two and blushing like crazy!!! On top of all the delicious spice, we also get depth and feel the inner conflicts both Drake and Creslyn go through. There is deceit, betrayal, acceptance, and the most beautiful forgiveness as well!

Hillary is amazing at writing vivid imagery that makes you feel like you are completely immersed in the story! As this is the second book of what will be eight interconnected standalones, you can already start mapping out how the events in this book will contribute to the overarching plot. We have prophecies and brewing war and questionable rulers and a few other fun twists that I won’t mention for spoiler reasons. I am also so excited about several potential romances I can see coming in future books with the other Starstorm siblings and the epilogue will leave you already highly anticipating the next book!!

While this series can stand on its own, if you have read Hillary’s Faeven Saga you will recognize quite a few references which is so exciting to see how these worlds are connected - queue the “Hillaryverse” and I am down for it!!

Memory updated
Here's the corrected version of your review:

This is my completely honest and sincere review of this book.

I received an advanced copy of All the Sacrifice of Shadows from the publisher. After reading the first book in the series, I was intrigued by Drake, which led me to request the advanced copy. The book did not disappoint, although I found Creslyn a bit immature at times and Drake surprisingly soft.

In the first book, I found Asher and Nova somewhat annoying, but despite Drake having a limited storyline, he still managed to steal the show. As a fantasy reader, I enjoy a good love story, though I’m usually not immune to the typical edgy, dark-boy love interests that dominate many popular titles. However, in his own book, Drake didn’t turn out to be as captivating as I had hoped.

Without giving too much away, both main characters are instantly attracted to each other and have no trouble expressing their desires. Creslyn, the "wicked little faerie," is feisty and caring, bringing sunshine and rainbows to Drake’s dark shadows. She doesn't let Drake dominate her; she’s a character who can stand on her own. The book also contains betrayal and secrets that keep the reader entertained. A few new characters are introduced in this book, hopefully setting the stage for future installments.

Hillary has a remarkable talent for crafting vivid imagery that fully immerses you in the story, making every scene come to life and allowing you to experience the world she creates firsthand!

Overall, I’m intrigued by this series so far and definitely plan to continue reading the upcoming books. The storyline has kept me engaged, and I’m curious to see where it goes next.