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Magic of the Wildflowers Trilogy #1
A Wildflower in the Wind
A deadly curse. A brutal enemy. A seductive threat.
Ever since her mother fell victim to the Lonely Death, Azalea has tried to find a cure in the fabled petals of the moonflowers growing in her garden. Her attempts at conquering death are derailed when a secret is unearthed—one that forces her into captivity at the hands of the large, arrogant, and frustratingly handsome Fae Commander of the wicked Black King.
Determined to protect the friends she calls family, she is forced to embark on a journey of danger and betrayal that will threaten everything she has ever thought to be true. But despite the monsters hiding in every shadow, Azalea realizes that the biggest threat of all may be the Commander and the way her body hums with his every touch.
Let the magic of the wildflowers cast you into a world ruled by greed, lies, and darkness as Azalea confronts the undeniable truth that the man who has imprisoned her might not be her enemy after all…
Authors note: This is the first book in the Magic of the Wildflowers Trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. It includes adult themes including language, assault, and sexual content, and is intended for audiences 18+.
Ever since her mother fell victim to the Lonely Death, Azalea has tried to find a cure in the fabled petals of the moonflowers growing in her garden. Her attempts at conquering death are derailed when a secret is unearthed—one that forces her into captivity at the hands of the large, arrogant, and frustratingly handsome Fae Commander of the wicked Black King.
Determined to protect the friends she calls family, she is forced to embark on a journey of danger and betrayal that will threaten everything she has ever thought to be true. But despite the monsters hiding in every shadow, Azalea realizes that the biggest threat of all may be the Commander and the way her body hums with his every touch.
Let the magic of the wildflowers cast you into a world ruled by greed, lies, and darkness as Azalea confronts the undeniable truth that the man who has imprisoned her might not be her enemy after all…
Authors note: This is the first book in the Magic of the Wildflowers Trilogy and ends on a cliffhanger. It includes adult themes including language, assault, and sexual content, and is intended for audiences 18+.
422 pages, Paperback
Published March 30, 2023
1417 people are currently reading
8679 people want to read
About the author
Megan Shade
4 books201 followersMegan Shade is a romance and fantasy romance author from Tennessee. Megan is a mother of four, including toddler triplets, and a voracious reader of fantasy, romance, and thrillers. In her writing, Megan enjoys writing flawed characters who grow throughout their stories, strong friendships and found family, and anything with a bit of magic in it.
Connect with her on socials @meganshadeauthor on tiktok and instagram.
Connect with her on socials @meganshadeauthor on tiktok and instagram.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 386 reviews
May 9, 2023
This started off fine, and then turned into car crash with an fmc who was too stupid to live and a mmc who was constantly hot and cold and growled and glared a lot.
It’s on kindle unlimited, that’s the only positive thing I can think of saying.
It’s on kindle unlimited, that’s the only positive thing I can think of saying.
January 16, 2024
"I need to know who hurt you little flower. I need to know whose heart will take it last beat in my blood covered hands after i rip it out of their chest"
^ now that is my love language *blushes*
3/5 ★
1,5/5 🌶️ spice
➥one horse, one tent
➥fae romance
➥touch her and die
➥MINE
➥virgin fmc
➥WHO DID THIS TO YOU
➥shadow daddy
Im a sucker for romantasy where there are mystery and twists. The plot scratched me the right way from the start. The story is set in a world where magic is divided in 2, day and night magic. It's rare to have any even among the fae but even more rare as a human. Its forbidden to hide it from the king and punishment is expected if caught. And obviously our main character manages to get herself tangled with all the drama possible.
Azalea aka Lea
This years dumbest fmc ( alarming since its january), she was so naive and i wanted to slap her with a slipper 70% of the time and the reason i had to drop the rating.
She is a human who lost her mother to the "lonely death" illness and ever since then she been trying to come out with a cure. She gets tangled in a mess she could have EASILY avoided but ya know dummy girl does dummy stuff. She ends up being a captive to the arrogant fae commander and they set on a journey to the kings palace. Too bad they have to share a horse and a small tent🤭Her story is full of mystery and twists, who is she really and what is she capable of?
Commander aka shadow daddy
Ladies and gentleman, the person who carried the book!
I loved his character. He was big, a little grumpy, protective and carried a secret around. My man was beautiful. He was kind, ready to let her go if she didnt choose him. He never forced nothing. A REAL GENTLEMAN. He waited AGES for her... her.... gosh i wish he got someone better lmao
He called her "little flower" and the meaning behind that was adorable.
"You need to understand, i was selfless once but if you give yourself to me Lea, you will never escape me. I will own you, body , heart and soul"
^Like come on, after that you just have to love him.
Thomas
No, we don't talk about Thomas.💀
Overall the plot was enjoyable and i wish i could rate it higher. Just can't look past the mistakes with the fmc.mistakes with her personality. The worldbuilding and phasing felt right as well, a good debut honestly.
Ends in a cliffy ish, and i will surely read the sequel.
^ now that is my love language *blushes*
3/5 ★
1,5/5 🌶️ spice
➥one horse, one tent
➥fae romance
➥touch her and die
➥MINE
➥virgin fmc
➥WHO DID THIS TO YOU
➥shadow daddy
Im a sucker for romantasy where there are mystery and twists. The plot scratched me the right way from the start. The story is set in a world where magic is divided in 2, day and night magic. It's rare to have any even among the fae but even more rare as a human. Its forbidden to hide it from the king and punishment is expected if caught. And obviously our main character manages to get herself tangled with all the drama possible.
Azalea aka Lea
This years dumbest fmc ( alarming since its january), she was so naive and i wanted to slap her with a slipper 70% of the time and the reason i had to drop the rating.
She is a human who lost her mother to the "lonely death" illness and ever since then she been trying to come out with a cure. She gets tangled in a mess she could have EASILY avoided but ya know dummy girl does dummy stuff. She ends up being a captive to the arrogant fae commander and they set on a journey to the kings palace. Too bad they have to share a horse and a small tent🤭Her story is full of mystery and twists, who is she really and what is she capable of?
Commander aka shadow daddy
Ladies and gentleman, the person who carried the book!
I loved his character. He was big, a little grumpy, protective and carried a secret around. My man was beautiful. He was kind, ready to let her go if she didnt choose him. He never forced nothing. A REAL GENTLEMAN. He waited AGES for her... her.... gosh i wish he got someone better lmao
He called her "little flower" and the meaning behind that was adorable.
"You need to understand, i was selfless once but if you give yourself to me Lea, you will never escape me. I will own you, body , heart and soul"
^Like come on, after that you just have to love him.
Thomas
No, we don't talk about Thomas.💀
Overall the plot was enjoyable and i wish i could rate it higher. Just can't look past the mistakes with the fmc.
Ends in a cliffy ish, and i will surely read the sequel.
March 29, 2023
The story was everything I needed to get me out of my reading slump. It was enemies to lovers with a sarcastic heroine drawn to the male MC's broody ways. The Commander was mysterious, and deliciously arrogant. I found myself gitty around every corner of this plot as the tension between these two built. The world building was fantastic, the villains pulled me in and the romance between the two main characters was everything I crave in a fantasy romance. I can't wait to put this beautiful paperback on my shelf!
June 28, 2024
I don't understand the plot device where the author makes the character as stupid as possible.
Azalea is an absolute IDIOT. Not only does she KEEP getting herself in trouble because she's not listening when he tells her what she needs to be doing, but then she can't understand basic sexual innuendo, plus she didn't know Thomas was in love with her. Even more than 60% of the way through the book, she still thinks the wind isn't coming from her.
But on top of all of that, Grey TELLS HER that the prince is shitty and TELLS HER that if the prince knows what she and Thomas mean to each other he'll use that against them, then she's all shocked when Grey acts cold to her when the prince is around? She sits there second-guessing her feelings and deciding he's awful for chapters.
What a dumbass. I spent this whole novel rolling my eyes. Despite the cliffhanger ending, I really don't care what happens to her after this.
Azalea is an absolute IDIOT. Not only does she KEEP getting herself in trouble because she's not listening when he tells her what she needs to be doing, but then she can't understand basic sexual innuendo, plus she didn't know Thomas was in love with her. Even more than 60% of the way through the book, she still thinks the wind isn't coming from her.
But on top of all of that, Grey TELLS HER that the prince is shitty and TELLS HER that if the prince knows what she and Thomas mean to each other he'll use that against them, then she's all shocked when Grey acts cold to her when the prince is around? She sits there second-guessing her feelings and deciding he's awful for chapters.
What a dumbass. I spent this whole novel rolling my eyes. Despite the cliffhanger ending, I really don't care what happens to her after this.
April 2, 2023
"You're mine," he growled against her mouth, his words of ownership slipping between her lips and into her lungs, settling next to her heart. "You need to understand. I was selfless once, but if you give yourself to me, Lea, you will never escape me. I will own you, body, heart, and soul."
Buckle up lads and ladies because this book right here is not only Megan’s first novel (seriously, HOW?!) but the first in a going-to-be-epic romantacy trilogy that you do NOT want to sleep on!
🌼 TROPES & THEMES 🌼
✔️ Fated freaking MATESSSSSSS *screaming*
✔️ enemies to lovers 😏
✔️ humans vs fae
✔️ magic is illegal, and you will be 💀 🗡️ if they find you have it
✔️ “who did this to you” *faints*
✔️ one horse/one bed 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽
✔️ hidden powers
✔️ morally gray males
✔️ ride or 💀 friends 👑
✔️ slow burn romance that catches FIREEEE
✔️ plot twisties!!
✔️ a bit of a cliffy, but you’ll survive it 💃🏻
That’s a whole lotta things isn’t it??? Don’t ya see some of our favorites listed in there?? Well my friend that’s what sold me tbh. If anyone knows anything about me, it’s that I’m a total simp for Fated mates trope. 🤣 Megan took all of these incredible tropes and blended them into a story that was SO epic, so adventurous, and honestly was a really refreshing and unique spinoff that became entirely her own!
We get to follow FMC Azalea, or Lea for short. She lives in a small village surrounded by mountains and is forever trying to harvest the elusive moonflower to save people in her village from the Lonely Death - a horrible fatal disease that no one survives. Including her beloved mother. Lea spends her time outside of the gardens hanging out with her group of friends.
The Black King is a very fearsome and stern ruler who outlawed magic. If anyone has it, they must be reported to the royal family to be put to work in the castle supposedly. The Royal army travels all over to check in on the humans and make sure nothing is amiss. They are all Fae, and currently happen to be in Lea’s village at the start of the story. During bonfire event, these giant wolves (they have a name, I’m sorry I forgot it 🤣) attack the villagers but more specifically Lea’s friend Thomas’ little sister. They all swoop in to protect the village, and Thomas’ magic accidentally shows when Lea uses a weapon he forged. And it’s noticed. And they are in trouble.
The Commander of the army puts Thomas in a tent to await trial, and locks Lea in Thomas’ family home to keep her away. But Lea doesn’t give one F about what the commander has to say, so she’s constantly trying to break out to rescue her friend.
I’m not gonna say much more bc I don’t wanna spoil ANYTHING!!! 🤣 but I will say that I truly did enjoy this entire book. It was very hard to put down. I loved all the characters, I loved the exploration and world building. I loved the tension and banter between our love interests. I loved the plot twists and surprises - the ones I was onto and the ones that caught me by surprise!
Megan did SUCH a good job writing the love story that blossomed between our two main characters. I loved THE LETTERS. 😭😭 (Megan, if you’re reading this please put more letters in the next book.) I loved how he always put her happiness before his own. How he was not a good guy, and we still saw the beauty and undercover good in him despite the fact that he does and did bad things.
The friends in this story didn’t feel like just randos there to fill pages - they genuinely added to the story and also were SUCH good friends omg. 😭
The ending was WILD and I had such a hard time doing anything else BUT reading this story. 🤣
I honestly can’t wait for more!! I’m so excited to see what happens, where our characters go, and how things will wrap up. If you guys are a lover of all the tropes listed above - seriously, go get this book right NOW. It’s SO good!! 🥹🖤
Buckle up lads and ladies because this book right here is not only Megan’s first novel (seriously, HOW?!) but the first in a going-to-be-epic romantacy trilogy that you do NOT want to sleep on!
🌼 TROPES & THEMES 🌼
✔️ Fated freaking MATESSSSSSS *screaming*
✔️ enemies to lovers 😏
✔️ humans vs fae
✔️ magic is illegal, and you will be 💀 🗡️ if they find you have it
✔️ “who did this to you” *faints*
✔️ one horse/one bed 🤌🏽🤌🏽🤌🏽
✔️ hidden powers
✔️ morally gray males
✔️ ride or 💀 friends 👑
✔️ slow burn romance that catches FIREEEE
✔️ plot twisties!!
✔️ a bit of a cliffy, but you’ll survive it 💃🏻
That’s a whole lotta things isn’t it??? Don’t ya see some of our favorites listed in there?? Well my friend that’s what sold me tbh. If anyone knows anything about me, it’s that I’m a total simp for Fated mates trope. 🤣 Megan took all of these incredible tropes and blended them into a story that was SO epic, so adventurous, and honestly was a really refreshing and unique spinoff that became entirely her own!
We get to follow FMC Azalea, or Lea for short. She lives in a small village surrounded by mountains and is forever trying to harvest the elusive moonflower to save people in her village from the Lonely Death - a horrible fatal disease that no one survives. Including her beloved mother. Lea spends her time outside of the gardens hanging out with her group of friends.
The Black King is a very fearsome and stern ruler who outlawed magic. If anyone has it, they must be reported to the royal family to be put to work in the castle supposedly. The Royal army travels all over to check in on the humans and make sure nothing is amiss. They are all Fae, and currently happen to be in Lea’s village at the start of the story. During bonfire event, these giant wolves (they have a name, I’m sorry I forgot it 🤣) attack the villagers but more specifically Lea’s friend Thomas’ little sister. They all swoop in to protect the village, and Thomas’ magic accidentally shows when Lea uses a weapon he forged. And it’s noticed. And they are in trouble.
The Commander of the army puts Thomas in a tent to await trial, and locks Lea in Thomas’ family home to keep her away. But Lea doesn’t give one F about what the commander has to say, so she’s constantly trying to break out to rescue her friend.
I’m not gonna say much more bc I don’t wanna spoil ANYTHING!!! 🤣 but I will say that I truly did enjoy this entire book. It was very hard to put down. I loved all the characters, I loved the exploration and world building. I loved the tension and banter between our love interests. I loved the plot twists and surprises - the ones I was onto and the ones that caught me by surprise!
Megan did SUCH a good job writing the love story that blossomed between our two main characters. I loved THE LETTERS. 😭😭 (Megan, if you’re reading this please put more letters in the next book.) I loved how he always put her happiness before his own. How he was not a good guy, and we still saw the beauty and undercover good in him despite the fact that he does and did bad things.
The friends in this story didn’t feel like just randos there to fill pages - they genuinely added to the story and also were SUCH good friends omg. 😭
The ending was WILD and I had such a hard time doing anything else BUT reading this story. 🤣
I honestly can’t wait for more!! I’m so excited to see what happens, where our characters go, and how things will wrap up. If you guys are a lover of all the tropes listed above - seriously, go get this book right NOW. It’s SO good!! 🥹🖤
April 4, 2023
A romantasy that will fill all the comfy, tropey vibes!
Gosh this really does have every kind of trope and character storyline that I love while being unique enough that it isn't a copy and paste of anything else.
The slow burn and tension between Lea and Gray was SO well done and then the spicy scenes when we finally got there??? My God there was a part I've never heard an MMC say to an FMC before 🤤
The side characters offered much needed comic relief, especially Erik. I love him with my whole heart.
I love how magic was represented.
The plot was fast moving while still giving us sweet and aloe moments.
Overall if you love romantasy with fae, enemies to lovers, one bed/horse, touch her and you 💀, hidden identities, and fated mates, then you will like this!!
Spice was 🌶🌶/5
Gosh this really does have every kind of trope and character storyline that I love while being unique enough that it isn't a copy and paste of anything else.
The slow burn and tension between Lea and Gray was SO well done and then the spicy scenes when we finally got there??? My God there was a part I've never heard an MMC say to an FMC before 🤤
The side characters offered much needed comic relief, especially Erik. I love him with my whole heart.
I love how magic was represented.
The plot was fast moving while still giving us sweet and aloe moments.
Overall if you love romantasy with fae, enemies to lovers, one bed/horse, touch her and you 💀, hidden identities, and fated mates, then you will like this!!
Spice was 🌶🌶/5
January 16, 2024
3.5 arrrgh this book started out so well, but the last 30% were meh
April 12, 2023
DNF 40%. fMC rebels ad nauseam, just screws everything up even more each time.
July 7, 2023
Still in awe. My friend WROTE A BOOK. As if that wasn’t impressive enough…it’s GOOD. I've never been so dang proud to offer my honest review of a read.
I’ve only recently dipped my toe into fantasy novels, and while they aren’t exactly my go-to, I’ve read enough to confirm that if you like the genre, boy do I think you’re going to like “A Wildflower in the Wind.” An enemies-to-lovers romance blooms while rebellion waits in the wings of the kingdom? Yes, please.
Lea lives in a sleepy town tucked into the mountains of the realm. Her day-to-day is quiet–except when she’s trying to save her neighbors from a horrifying disease called the Lonely Death. The sickness has already taken her beloved mother, and Lea is desperately using all her mother taught her about plant remedies to keep the illness from spreading to others. Suddenly, a worse threat invades Lea’s insulated life. As Lea schemes to protect what she loves, her plans backfire, and she ends up a prisoner of the king’s family itself. Army commander Gray–an impossibly tall hunky Fae–is her personal captor, and unfortunately for Lea, at once repulsive and magnetic. As the days go by, it turns out he’s not the only one who isn’t what he seems.
Megan Shade serves up the classics with a freshness that’s hard to define. A love triangle, an oppressive royal, and a secret that even the secret-holder doesn’t yet know, just to name a few. We watch our main character grow up in the pages (her understandable moments of immaturity early in the novel give way to more reasoned decisions later on; we love us some good #growth). Plus, Shade shocked the hell out of me with some of these twists! Wtf Megan! In fantasy, I expect a certain number of tropes to be followed, and we do indeed have some fun formulas followed here, but other plot points threw me for an honest-to-goodness loop in the best way. I imagine it’s hard to bring something new to the table when working with a centuries-old set-up (faerie lore), so my favorite part is how Shade does exactly this–how dang creative she is WITHIN this beloved world. I had trouble putting this down during the second half. Um, also, wowow the #smut is a Grade A. 10/10 on the Blush Scale, y’all.
Again, this isn’t a genre I know *much* about, but I feel confident saying this is a wonderfully worthy entry into the canon.
I’ve only recently dipped my toe into fantasy novels, and while they aren’t exactly my go-to, I’ve read enough to confirm that if you like the genre, boy do I think you’re going to like “A Wildflower in the Wind.” An enemies-to-lovers romance blooms while rebellion waits in the wings of the kingdom? Yes, please.
Lea lives in a sleepy town tucked into the mountains of the realm. Her day-to-day is quiet–except when she’s trying to save her neighbors from a horrifying disease called the Lonely Death. The sickness has already taken her beloved mother, and Lea is desperately using all her mother taught her about plant remedies to keep the illness from spreading to others. Suddenly, a worse threat invades Lea’s insulated life. As Lea schemes to protect what she loves, her plans backfire, and she ends up a prisoner of the king’s family itself. Army commander Gray–an impossibly tall hunky Fae–is her personal captor, and unfortunately for Lea, at once repulsive and magnetic. As the days go by, it turns out he’s not the only one who isn’t what he seems.
Megan Shade serves up the classics with a freshness that’s hard to define. A love triangle, an oppressive royal, and a secret that even the secret-holder doesn’t yet know, just to name a few. We watch our main character grow up in the pages (her understandable moments of immaturity early in the novel give way to more reasoned decisions later on; we love us some good #growth). Plus, Shade shocked the hell out of me with some of these twists! Wtf Megan! In fantasy, I expect a certain number of tropes to be followed, and we do indeed have some fun formulas followed here, but other plot points threw me for an honest-to-goodness loop in the best way. I imagine it’s hard to bring something new to the table when working with a centuries-old set-up (faerie lore), so my favorite part is how Shade does exactly this–how dang creative she is WITHIN this beloved world. I had trouble putting this down during the second half. Um, also, wowow the #smut is a Grade A. 10/10 on the Blush Scale, y’all.
Again, this isn’t a genre I know *much* about, but I feel confident saying this is a wonderfully worthy entry into the canon.
April 7, 2023
Have you ever wanted to read a book where you have ALL the good stuff? Like, selfishly, you just want to have every itch scratched, the spicy with the sweet, all the favorite tropes? We’ll, here you go!
This book was EVERYTHING you could want out of a romance fantasy novel. The characters are well developed and complex. There’s magic, twists, spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️) and my favorite part is that I don’t have to wait a whole damn book for it 😂
I’m so glad this is a trilogy so that I can read MORE, cause I need it like, tomorrow.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk, now go buy the damn book.
This book was EVERYTHING you could want out of a romance fantasy novel. The characters are well developed and complex. There’s magic, twists, spice (🌶️🌶️🌶️) and my favorite part is that I don’t have to wait a whole damn book for it 😂
I’m so glad this is a trilogy so that I can read MORE, cause I need it like, tomorrow.
Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk, now go buy the damn book.
May 9, 2023
When I tell you I was hooked right off the bat with this book I would not be lying! This is the first book of a series and she did not disappoint! I love that she included twists and turns, all the good tropes, the characters, the world building, and just overall everything! I cannot wait for book two!
March 14, 2023
I absolutely devoured this book. I had a hard time putting it down.
Who doesn’t love all the best tropes?!
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- one bed
- one horse
- fated mates
It’s all delicious and I ate it up. I also REALLY need book two. Prepare yourself for a fantastic ride and a very sexy Fae commander 😮💨
Who doesn’t love all the best tropes?!
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- one bed
- one horse
- fated mates
It’s all delicious and I ate it up. I also REALLY need book two. Prepare yourself for a fantastic ride and a very sexy Fae commander 😮💨
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2023
Love this it has lots of twists and turns and the ending wow
May 13, 2023
It was ok, 3stars... the issue I had was the main character Lea was hard to relate to or like. She was a little holier-than-thou and self centered, which isn'ta bad thing in a story if she grows from it...but she gets worse! It bugged me. It definitely has a good story line and folklore, but if it were tweaked a little bit it would be perfect! The author has talent for sure but this book was just fell flat for me.
July 11, 2023
I need to find time to write the review this book deserves because oh my god did I fall in love with the hero. I am still thinking of him days later and I refuse to come to terms with the fact that there still hasn’t been a sequel announced 🥲
July 31, 2023
If you like a weak cry baby female lead this book is for you. I’m not a fan.
August 31, 2023
This reads like a 15 year old who is writing fanfic. The dialogue is so cringey at times, to the point where it took away from the story rather than adding to it.
I like the magic and twists, but it was so hard to read.
I like the magic and twists, but it was so hard to read.
January 7, 2026
Upon reflection - I did write this review in an emotional response rather than a well thought out review of actual issues I had with this book, so I am rewriting it. And- I want to say I am very sorry for anyone who may have been actively upset by the way I went about it! Onto a more constructive review of my feelings on this book.
I have quite a few issues with this book, from the writing and inconsistencies to the characters and the worldviews they are pushing forward.
From the writing - there are many moments in this book where the author actively seems to not remember what scene she has set before her. Moments where a character is in one position but in the next line is in a completely new spot that wouldn't make sense in practice. There was also an overuse of adjectives from the start in a way to build emotion or feeling that I think could have been better addressed in a showing instead of telling manner. These issues with the writing are not the reason I gave this book its rating - because I can see the authors desire to bring you into the world and I am sure with more practice she will strengthen that muscle.
The reason this book is rated as it is comes down to the characters themselves. Azalea is someone that doesn't seem to have any sense of self preservation in a way that makes her almost harmful for others to be around. She doesnt have an understanding of the world she lives in, but instead holds a brash personality with no street smarts to fall back on. She is a hard character to root for because it seems like she isnt even rooting for herself.
Commander Gray is one of the biggest red flags I have read in a book in a very long time. His character is meant to be possessive and morally grey when it really comes across as grooming and stalking. He actively admits to watching Lea since she was a minor, and convinces himself he is in love with her. He then builds a wall around her, only letting her interact with himself and his best friend, but we are meant to believe that she falls in love with him too. The manner in which he treats her - ripping her through his emotional spiral while pouring out his affection in a way that feels smothering before becoming ice cold once again - feels borderline abusive. She is not given the freedom to ask questions, to hear outside voices that she know her and can speak honestly to her, and she is isolated in ways that make it feel like Stockholm syndrome. My main issue - at the very start of their intimate relationship, he threatens her with sexual assault. That is not a character I will root for, nor is it a relationship I want to see progress.
In all, this book is not for me, but I do think it can provide an active discourse on the ways we connect to characters and where we draw lines in fiction. So, please note I am sorry for the starting review and the way I let my frustration drive it into unkindness rather than opening the door for a conversation.
I have quite a few issues with this book, from the writing and inconsistencies to the characters and the worldviews they are pushing forward.
From the writing - there are many moments in this book where the author actively seems to not remember what scene she has set before her. Moments where a character is in one position but in the next line is in a completely new spot that wouldn't make sense in practice. There was also an overuse of adjectives from the start in a way to build emotion or feeling that I think could have been better addressed in a showing instead of telling manner. These issues with the writing are not the reason I gave this book its rating - because I can see the authors desire to bring you into the world and I am sure with more practice she will strengthen that muscle.
The reason this book is rated as it is comes down to the characters themselves. Azalea is someone that doesn't seem to have any sense of self preservation in a way that makes her almost harmful for others to be around. She doesnt have an understanding of the world she lives in, but instead holds a brash personality with no street smarts to fall back on. She is a hard character to root for because it seems like she isnt even rooting for herself.
Commander Gray is one of the biggest red flags I have read in a book in a very long time. His character is meant to be possessive and morally grey when it really comes across as grooming and stalking. He actively admits to watching Lea since she was a minor, and convinces himself he is in love with her. He then builds a wall around her, only letting her interact with himself and his best friend, but we are meant to believe that she falls in love with him too. The manner in which he treats her - ripping her through his emotional spiral while pouring out his affection in a way that feels smothering before becoming ice cold once again - feels borderline abusive. She is not given the freedom to ask questions, to hear outside voices that she know her and can speak honestly to her, and she is isolated in ways that make it feel like Stockholm syndrome. My main issue - at the very start of their intimate relationship, he threatens her with sexual assault. That is not a character I will root for, nor is it a relationship I want to see progress.
In all, this book is not for me, but I do think it can provide an active discourse on the ways we connect to characters and where we draw lines in fiction. So, please note I am sorry for the starting review and the way I let my frustration drive it into unkindness rather than opening the door for a conversation.
March 15, 2023
Such a good fantasy read - enemy to lovers, magic, mystery and surprises leaving you wanting to read the next book! I highly suggest reading this author!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 6, 2024
⭐️⭐️ Stars
There is a lot to unpack with this book. Some of it good, most of it critical. To say I was frustrated reading this story would be an understatement. 🙃
The Good:
• I liked the lore and world-building. It was a twist on typical Fae stuff. I wish we got it sprinkled throughout the story rather than in exposition dumps, but when we did get it, I was hooked.
• Loved some of the tropes. One bed AND one horse? Touch her and die? I eat that stuff up, oh my gosh! 🙌
Unfortunately, that is all i can say about the good. I won't nitpick every little thing that bothered me, but I will give the key points:
• Both MMC Grey and FMC Lea drove me insane. Grey was wishy-washy. One minute, he is obsessed with Lea; flirting with her and being soft and protective. The next? A closed-off brick wall with the emotional IQ of a toddler. Not only did he confuse Lea with this hot and cold act, but he was just horrible at communicating anything.
• On that note, the miscommunication in this book was unbearable. Look, I understand that miscommunication is going to happen in most books. I get that people are deeply flawed, and lack of communication is one of those flaws. But this book took it to a level that I can not say in good faith was tolerable. Literally, if Grey and Lea sat down and had one decent conversation, so much unnecessary conflict could have been avoided. 🤦♀️
For example, at one point early in the book, Lea healed her injury seemingly overnight. Grey pointed this out in a shocked manner but instead of questioning how that was possible like a normal person, Lea chooses to focus on the fact that Grey might have seen her naked when he was tending to her wounds. Seriously?? And then they just brushed it off, her not bothering to think on it. This was just one small instance in the grand scheme of the story. Imagine stuff like this but constantly happening in the book to move along the plot.
• Onto Lea; she was a really weak protagonist, and I don't just mean physically. She was always throwing herself into danger even though she could not actually help or protect anyone. In fact, it was due to her stupidity throughout the book that most of the events unfolded anyhow. I also just hate how she was portrayed. The "innocent virgin 20+ year-old" trope got old fast. Why do fantasy books often do this? Can't a girl still be gentle and "innocent" without being a virgin? 😤
• Plot was generally all over the place. It was only pushed along due to miscommunication and both Lea and Grey's stupidity. Like I said, one decent conversation would have unraveled the entire plot. I hate to be so critical, but if a story can easily be broken down like that, it isn't well-written, unfortunately.🤷♀️
My final thoughts are that, yes, this was a debut novel, but I feel that it just wasn't executed well. It had all the makings to be really great, but it just fell flat. If the author ever writes something else, I will give it a shot to see how much she has grown. She has so much potential, and I hope to see more from her in the future.🐥💕
There is a lot to unpack with this book. Some of it good, most of it critical. To say I was frustrated reading this story would be an understatement. 🙃
The Good:
• I liked the lore and world-building. It was a twist on typical Fae stuff. I wish we got it sprinkled throughout the story rather than in exposition dumps, but when we did get it, I was hooked.
• Loved some of the tropes. One bed AND one horse? Touch her and die? I eat that stuff up, oh my gosh! 🙌
Unfortunately, that is all i can say about the good. I won't nitpick every little thing that bothered me, but I will give the key points:
• Both MMC Grey and FMC Lea drove me insane. Grey was wishy-washy. One minute, he is obsessed with Lea; flirting with her and being soft and protective. The next? A closed-off brick wall with the emotional IQ of a toddler. Not only did he confuse Lea with this hot and cold act, but he was just horrible at communicating anything.
• On that note, the miscommunication in this book was unbearable. Look, I understand that miscommunication is going to happen in most books. I get that people are deeply flawed, and lack of communication is one of those flaws. But this book took it to a level that I can not say in good faith was tolerable. Literally, if Grey and Lea sat down and had one decent conversation, so much unnecessary conflict could have been avoided. 🤦♀️
For example, at one point early in the book, Lea healed her injury seemingly overnight. Grey pointed this out in a shocked manner but instead of questioning how that was possible like a normal person, Lea chooses to focus on the fact that Grey might have seen her naked when he was tending to her wounds. Seriously?? And then they just brushed it off, her not bothering to think on it. This was just one small instance in the grand scheme of the story. Imagine stuff like this but constantly happening in the book to move along the plot.
• Onto Lea; she was a really weak protagonist, and I don't just mean physically. She was always throwing herself into danger even though she could not actually help or protect anyone. In fact, it was due to her stupidity throughout the book that most of the events unfolded anyhow. I also just hate how she was portrayed. The "innocent virgin 20+ year-old" trope got old fast. Why do fantasy books often do this? Can't a girl still be gentle and "innocent" without being a virgin? 😤
• Plot was generally all over the place. It was only pushed along due to miscommunication and both Lea and Grey's stupidity. Like I said, one decent conversation would have unraveled the entire plot. I hate to be so critical, but if a story can easily be broken down like that, it isn't well-written, unfortunately.🤷♀️
My final thoughts are that, yes, this was a debut novel, but I feel that it just wasn't executed well. It had all the makings to be really great, but it just fell flat. If the author ever writes something else, I will give it a shot to see how much she has grown. She has so much potential, and I hope to see more from her in the future.🐥💕
October 30, 2023
I haven't DNF-d a book in a long time! It kept getting worse and worse . The FMC Lea just ruined it for me. I don't think the author pointed out her age but she is written like she has the maturity of a bratty pre-teen.
Was really excited for this one becauae of rhe rave reviews and it started out good but it kept going downhill.
Was really excited for this one becauae of rhe rave reviews and it started out good but it kept going downhill.
June 6, 2025
This was my first time with this author. I enjoy fantasy, but this story was average to me. It was decent enough for me to finish it. Although i kept finding myself anxious for it to be done. The Commander in this book was pretty cool! I liked how he and Azalea affected each other. I enjoyed Thomas the most, though! He was brave, loving, loyal, and a protector! I think his character made me stick with this book til the end.
Read
February 8, 2025writing was really repetitive and basic. “The commander” was used a million times in first few pages
July 3, 2023
Y’ALL! THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD! I LOVED IT! Do you ever start a book and already know it’ll be a five star read? That was this book for me! I already can’t wait to reread it when the second one comes out, although I’m not sure there’s a release date yet. I shall eagerly await the next installment.
I think I heard about this book from someone who posted about it on Facebook and I was immediately intrigued by the blurb. I bought the paperback right away and it's been sitting on my shelves for months because I have commitment issues lol. I just knew I would love this book and I guess that intimidated me. Does that make sense? I think that happens to a lot of people. Anyways, I would occasionally pick up the book only to longingly flip through it until one day I just grabbed it and started reading.
First things first (okay, this is admittedly not the first thing in the review but I digress), I can’t believe this is Megan Shade’s debut novel! I think it is very well written and that the plot / world building has a kind of cohesiveness that I sometimes find lacking in debut books. Which is totally fair, I just want to emphasize how impressive I think it is for her to achieve that so early on in her writing career. I'm looking forward to all future books from Megan!
As for the book itself, what did I love?
-The magic! The magic system is interesting, it's similar to ones most of us have seen so you won't feel thrown in the deep end, but there is a little twist to it that makes it unique to the world. There’s a lot of history there yet to be uncovered. Honestly, a little mysterious... Especially with that prologue! I'm excited to learn more and see how everything ties together.
-The characters! Lea is self-sacrificing to a fault which I know can irk a lot of people,, which is fair. But on the other hand, she’s young and reckless, also a healer at heart so although her actions and motives are at times questionable, it does fit what we know about her character. I really loved seeing her experience all these new things and having her world expand beyond the village she’s always known. I also really liked Gray. He has the tortured hero aspect down pat. His past is alluded to a couple of times and I’m interested to learn more about him. Also,,, I just know Gray’s POV would be amazing (🤲🏼). The way he puts Lea above literally everything else is honestly what she deserves! She deserves someone who puts her first no matter what and ding ding ding! Mr. Commander fits the bill.
-The plot! I thought there was a good balance between the ~romance~ and plot. The stakes were high but not so much that I was physically anxious lol. I also felt like I had enough time with the characters to get a good feel of their personalities and motivations and start to really care about them. I didn't feel like the relationship between the two main characters was rushed. Slow burn but also not slow burn, ya know?
Anyways, I definitely recommend giving this book a try, especially if you have good taste! That's all. 😌 (I say as if I didn't just write a brick of text trying to convince everyone to read this).
I think I heard about this book from someone who posted about it on Facebook and I was immediately intrigued by the blurb. I bought the paperback right away and it's been sitting on my shelves for months because I have commitment issues lol. I just knew I would love this book and I guess that intimidated me. Does that make sense? I think that happens to a lot of people. Anyways, I would occasionally pick up the book only to longingly flip through it until one day I just grabbed it and started reading.
First things first (okay, this is admittedly not the first thing in the review but I digress), I can’t believe this is Megan Shade’s debut novel! I think it is very well written and that the plot / world building has a kind of cohesiveness that I sometimes find lacking in debut books. Which is totally fair, I just want to emphasize how impressive I think it is for her to achieve that so early on in her writing career. I'm looking forward to all future books from Megan!
As for the book itself, what did I love?
-The magic! The magic system is interesting, it's similar to ones most of us have seen so you won't feel thrown in the deep end, but there is a little twist to it that makes it unique to the world. There’s a lot of history there yet to be uncovered. Honestly, a little mysterious... Especially with that prologue! I'm excited to learn more and see how everything ties together.
-The characters! Lea is self-sacrificing to a fault which I know can irk a lot of people,, which is fair. But on the other hand, she’s young and reckless, also a healer at heart so although her actions and motives are at times questionable, it does fit what we know about her character. I really loved seeing her experience all these new things and having her world expand beyond the village she’s always known. I also really liked Gray. He has the tortured hero aspect down pat. His past is alluded to a couple of times and I’m interested to learn more about him. Also,,, I just know Gray’s POV would be amazing (🤲🏼). The way he puts Lea above literally everything else is honestly what she deserves! She deserves someone who puts her first no matter what and ding ding ding! Mr. Commander fits the bill.
-The plot! I thought there was a good balance between the ~romance~ and plot. The stakes were high but not so much that I was physically anxious lol. I also felt like I had enough time with the characters to get a good feel of their personalities and motivations and start to really care about them. I didn't feel like the relationship between the two main characters was rushed. Slow burn but also not slow burn, ya know?
Anyways, I definitely recommend giving this book a try, especially if you have good taste! That's all. 😌 (I say as if I didn't just write a brick of text trying to convince everyone to read this).
May 18, 2023
My main question is...when is the next book coming out?? I need to pre-order ASAP.
Loved the story, the dilemmas, and the characters were awesome, with just a little critique about the two main ones.
Lea is sweet, innocent but very naive, really too naive-I wish she had more maturity. Gray is powerful, huge, handsome, tender when he wants to be and devoted, despite being raised by evil parents with a cruel older brother, who hates him.
This evil family has been preying on the humans in their kingdom for centuries, making it nearly impossible for Gray to straddle "good" and "bad". Gray is amazing, albeit prone to anger and growling, plus not being truthful with Lea. He has his hands full, trying to keep Lea from being executed when she tries to save her childhood friend, Thomas. From there, everything goes up and down with lots of heat building.
Waiting for the next book in a series is hard, when you're an avid reader! I hope I can remember every detail of this one by the time Book 2 (and 3) come out!
Loved the story, the dilemmas, and the characters were awesome, with just a little critique about the two main ones.
Lea is sweet, innocent but very naive, really too naive-I wish she had more maturity. Gray is powerful, huge, handsome, tender when he wants to be and devoted, despite being raised by evil parents with a cruel older brother, who hates him.
This evil family has been preying on the humans in their kingdom for centuries, making it nearly impossible for Gray to straddle "good" and "bad". Gray is amazing, albeit prone to anger and growling, plus not being truthful with Lea. He has his hands full, trying to keep Lea from being executed when she tries to save her childhood friend, Thomas. From there, everything goes up and down with lots of heat building.
Waiting for the next book in a series is hard, when you're an avid reader! I hope I can remember every detail of this one by the time Book 2 (and 3) come out!
August 6, 2023
Ooof, Azalea and Gray....let me fan myself a few times. This storyline is great. Azalea has grown up a human living in a world controlled by the Fae. Any human who is capable of using magic is essentially a curse and is usually executed. On one particular day, the King's army happens to be traveling through her village when something happens, forcing her best friend Thomas to use his magic, which gets him arrested. Thus begins Azalea's adventure.
The Commander, aka Gray, aka Evander. Is a broody male, but boy, is he a beast (and by beast, I mean he's sinfully amazing). Gray tries his best to keep Azalea off the King and Prince's radar by keeping her ability to use magic a secret, but can Gray keep himself from her? Can Azalea keep herself from him? Will she be kept safe? I wish I could spoil it all for you, but that would ruin the story.
I hate that I have to wait for book 2, I'm dying to find out what happens next, especially since this book ended on a cliffy.
The Commander, aka Gray, aka Evander. Is a broody male, but boy, is he a beast (and by beast, I mean he's sinfully amazing). Gray tries his best to keep Azalea off the King and Prince's radar by keeping her ability to use magic a secret, but can Gray keep himself from her? Can Azalea keep herself from him? Will she be kept safe? I wish I could spoil it all for you, but that would ruin the story.
I hate that I have to wait for book 2, I'm dying to find out what happens next, especially since this book ended on a cliffy.
December 10, 2024
This fully scratched the romantasy itch I’ve had. This book was EVERYTHING. I’m so glad I picked this up
November 12, 2025
Eh this was ok. The plot is actually pretty good and interesting, but everything else was kind of cringe and the MC is extremely annoying don’t think I will be finishing this series.
January 11, 2026
You know that Cardi B song that says “cause I love a toxic bitch” that’s me and Gray okay
January 7, 2024
Un peu bien mais un peu nul, mais SURTOUT des baffes se perdent
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