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?
What if I am destined to save this world?
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 follower of the current “shadow daddy” obsession, it’s more incidental, 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 relaunch of The Shadow King Trilogy is being published by Ace Books. The full trilogy is now available and GeekMom received a copy of these books for review purposes.
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