I was browsing on Facebook because I am a millennial and that was my home at one point in time, and I stumbled across a post recommending Bride of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes.  Our Hero, Vor is a blue trolde, and I was immediately hooked by that.

I really loved this book up until about 50% of the way through it.  The book itself started out with a bang with our heroine, Princess Faraine, in trouble.  Her brother Theodore had come to get her from the covenant she stayed at, and their carriage was attacked.  King Vor came speeding in on his mount and saved her.  It was love at first sight.  What was the problem?  King Vor was supposed to marry her sister, Princess Ilsevel. 

The chemistry between Vor and Faraine is incredible, and I love the longing on both sides.  She is willing to give up her chance at happiness to ensure the safety of her kingdom.  Vor and Ilsevel are promised to each other, and Faraine is sent back to her covenant.  Days later however, her brother is sent to retrieve her again, because her sister has been murdered.  Her father expects her to take her sisters place.  This is about where I lost interest.

I understand that this was done for a plot purpose, and that Faraine was disguised with magic to look like her sister, but it felt wrong.  Faraine wanted to be honest with Vor, but was told no.  She was even threatened, and it felt like an insult to the characters.  Obviously the book ends with Faraine getting found out and Vor is understandably upset.  Sorry, enraged would be a better word for this.

If you are curious what happens next, ME TOO.  This is another one of those romance books that is split into a trilogy, though at least with this one I can understand why they did it.  Quite a bit happens in this book.

Overall – this was a decent book but once I hit that plot twist of Faraine having to take on her sister’s name and personality I kind of lost interest and had to force myself to continue with the book.  Book two in this series is out currently, and book three is slated to be released in September of this year (2023) so if you need to find out what happens you won’t have long to wait.

Bride of the Shadow King – Sylvia Mercedes

Cost* – eBook is $5.99.  This book is available on Kindle Unlimited.

*Cost is based upon what the book cost when book review is published