It’s a villain love story. It’s a VILLAIN love story. IT’S A VILLAIN LOVE STORY! My goodness, I was so excited to get this in my hands. After reading Warrior of the Wild and someone had whispered what Tricia Levenseller was working on next, I knew I wanted to do everything in my power to get my hands on it (short of murder of course, haha). This isn’t your goodie two-shoes damsel in distress lying in wait for her prince charming to rescue her, it’s a young villainess who’s dammit-all attitude serves as a refreshing reminder that even our baddies need a little romance too, even if it comes followed by murder.
In The Shadows Between Us, Alessandra is the often overlooked second daughter of a nobleman. However, she has some pretty high ambitions…which include: wooing the Shadow King, marrying him, and then killing him and taking the kingdom all for herself. No one knows exactly what the Shadow King’s powers are, some say it’s mind control, and others say he reads minds. Either way, Alessandra knows her worth and what she deserves, so she’ll do everything she can to obtain the power she wants. Except she’s not the only one out to kill him. Now Alessandra must make sure that the Shadow King survives long enough to marry him, so she can kill him herself.
After reading that summary, how could you not want to read this book?! If that hasn’t sold you, you should definitely read the first chapter, because it’s stunning. Alessandra is the living embodiment of the phrase “still waters run deep”. She’s unapologetically brutal and will apologise to no one. A master manipulator who is sexually aware and knows exactly what she wants from a person and I wasn’t expecting to like her so much. Who among us wouldn’t see red upon being jilted by a lover. I don’t know that I’d react quite the way that Alessandra did, but my goodness, does she breathe life into the act of death. Her ambition and humour just make her such a well rounded character.
The story moves fast, but it’s a perfect pace. Alessandra is on a mission, but something that I didn’t expect (and loved), was her ability to set a fashion trend. She does so quite well, and soon all eyes are on her, including that of the Shadow King. From there, we go into the intrigue happening at court. The people gathered there are all simpering for the King’s attention, but there’s also something else happening underneath it all. Someone is trying to kill the King, and Alessandra is determined to stop them from ruining her plans.
I was obsessed with all the little mysteries surrounding the Shadow King. There’s so many rumours to dispel, and I truly loved seeing all aspects of this brooding and dark man. He’s definitely dangerous, which I think makes that whole romance level ramp up a notch. Everything around them is electric. However, the Shadow King is also a little obtuse at times, which makes things interesting when it comes to seeing Alessandra try and woo him. Also, his dog is the best boy.
Something I wasn’t expecting to find in this story were female friendships. Alessandra doesn’t have a good relationship with her sister, but she does find friends in the palace who empower each other, and there’s nothing better in my eyes. I loved the little side stories going on with them as well, especially if you’re wanting some less murderous romance in the book. I honestly could have done without the family dynamic in this book because I loathed them. They were the worst sort of people, I delighted in seeing what happened to them.
Alessandra’s personality is perfect for challenging people, ideas, and more importantly, sexism. For her playing a damsel is merely a role she uses to get what she wants, and then sheds the mask the moment she gets what she wants. While this does wind up with her in a small heap of trouble, it’s fun to see her work out just how she’ll get out of it. On the other hand, there were some moments in the book that felt a little slowed down, where they were discussing strategy or court politics, but was minor in comparison to the rest of the book. There were also a couple of times where I felt that our villainess wavered a bit more than she should, but that’s just my opinion.
Overall, I was really pleased with The Shadows Between Us. It’s dark, but still romantic…I cannot wait to see where Tricia Levenseller takes us next. I’d rate this story an 8/10. It’s a very interesting read, and I encourage villain lovers to read it and see what you think!
The Shadows Between Us is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of February 25th 2020.
Will you be picking up The Shadows Between Us? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:
1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.
No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.
But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?
