TRICIA LEVENSELLER
(Book 1 in the The Shadows Between Us duology)*
Synopsis:
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?
Content:
Language: there might be a few minor swear words sprinkled throughout, but nothing memorable
Violence: While there is not much on-page violence, a large portion of the story revolves around murders. The main character is said to have killed and buried her first lover in a chest (in the first page, so that's not a spoiler), and part of the plot is a murder investigation. There are also a few fight scenes/skirmishes, really, with swords. There were not any graphic depictions of gore and blood.
Sex: There is not a crazy amount of sex in this book, but I marked it as upper YA since allusions to intimacy are made several times in nearly every chapter. It is never explicitly labeled, but sex is often involved in discussions among the characters. The main character is said to have had multiple lovers and her stay at the castle in the longest she has gone in a while without sleeping with someone. In the first pages, we are introduced to Alessandra as she wakes from a night with a lover. There are also several kisses and one fade-to-black scene toward the end.
LGBTQ: One of the characters is noted to be gay and dances with other men at different events.
My Review:
Like Tricia Levenseller's other books, this book focuses heavily on the romance aspect. Some people on Goodreads expressed their disappointment with this, so I wanted to make that clear.
* The book was originally meant to be a stand-alone, so it can of course be read as one. The second book in the duology doesn't even follow Alessandra again. It is going to be focused on her sister, and can likely also be read as a stand-alone.