An Ember's Shadow

The Nightbane #2

by B.J. Rysewyk

Blood frees them, but Dante's not ready to face the number of deaths that must be made to ensure that freedom.

An Ember’s Shadow is the second book in the new adult dark epic fantasy series, the Nightbane Series. Outlaws to the Bremore Kingdom, a new journey awaits the Nightbane Guild as they ally themselves with Stelux. Faced with the task of turning cities against Bremore, Dante must learn more about herself, her guild, her relationship with Alexander, and what it means to be a guild leader on the frontlines if she wishes to bring her people home safely. However, as the days go on, the guild leader’s faced with more and more impossible decisions that will test her position and her sanity.

Join Dante and the Nightbane Guild on this continuation from A Widow's Web and learn what the guild has in store for the "elven bitch Queen."

Genres: Fantasy

714 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2023

About the author

B. J. Rysewyk lives in Wisconsin and has a degree in English with a minor in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin: Oshkosh. She lives with her cats, Dean and Wall-E, and works as a caregiver with special adults. When Becca Jo isn’t working, she and Dean spend their days reading, writing, and napping (because naps are life). She developed her love for reading after a childhood friend forced her to read "Twilight," sending her into a reading spiral that she’s never and chooses to never recover from. Around that same year, Becca Jo realized her passion for writing and storytelling, choosing to express it by means of writing her first novel, written roleplays, and poems. 14-years later, B. J. Rysewyk is publishing her debut novel, A Widow’s Web, and has no plans of stopping any time soon.

Reviews

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book from B.J. Rysewyk doesn't disappoint! Dante and crew are in new territory, trying to stop a never ending war. No one close to Dante is safe as she grapples with the consequences of her actions. With more magic, more action, and more romance, and more danger, you will be on the edge of your seat even after the final page.

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Words cannot describe how good this book is. The writing is brilliant, the pacing incredible. The book, just like the first, is so hard to put down.

B. J.’s world building is so thorough and detailed; it paints such a good picture of all the badassery taking place.

The character growth in Dante is insane. One of my favorite characters of all time.

An Ember’s Shadow is going to make you feel so many emotions and leave you on the edge of your seat.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be chosen as a beta reader, and if I could give this book more than 5 stars, I definitely would!

I loved this sequel more than book one, and I don't say that about books very often. You get to such a deeper dive into multiple characters of the book and get a better understanding of Dante's magic.

Now to ANXIOUSLY await book 3 😍

[Robin Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in this series that I have had the honor of reading. B.J. takes you on a journey of (can she do it and have it all?) with Dante at the center of it all. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. An Embers Shadow is filled with adventure, savagery, romance, triumph and failures, ending with a major cliff hanger. Can't wait for the next one!

[B.J. Rysewyk · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Ember's Shadow was an absolute joy to write. This novel is one action sequence after another, with spice and romance thrown in between. You truly get to know each of the characters on a deeper level, learn more about the guild and their customs, and traverse more of the land that Bremore and Stelux occupy.

Getting to know each of the characters more profoundly was a privilege because I got to see how they interact with other guild members and those outside the guild and how much of a family they are. You feel like one of the guild members in this novel, and you can’t help but want more. These characters will become a part of your life as much as you become a part of theirs.

You won’t be disappointed come Halloween when An Ember's Shadow drops. This novel has it all: battles, love, friendship, self-fulfillment, triumph, and loss. So join Dante and the Nightbane Guild on this continuation and be prepared to sacrifice it all.

[Alyssarose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit y’all be prepared for me to word vomit about this book because I am obsessed and also completely distraught!! 🤣
Wow just wow. The second installment to the nightbane series and to say I was completely engrossed in this, is an understatement.
We really get to see a level of growth in Dante in this book. She hurts and loves and thrives and fails just like the rest of us. At times she is stubborn beyond belief and sometimes she lets the trauma win. But she truly is a force and I’m in awe of her.
Her moments of happiness here had me giddy and so thrilled to finally see her get to just be Dante. But as the war continues it’s clear the the black widow is necessary and the cost is heavy.
Alexander is ugh I love him so fucking much. He is everything she needs and more. The epitome of unconditional love.
Felix made me want to throw my phone into oncoming traffic! The amount of hate I have for his character is insane! 🤬
Our lil shadow friend was one of my favorite lol details on this book and I can’t get enough 🖤

The world building in this book is extensive but it really gives you such a vivid view. There is constantly so many moving parts and I feel like BJ does an excellent job of tying everything together. A heart wrenching story filled with pain and anger but also so much love and joy, I cannot get enough. The ending had me almost in tears ( again bj!? Why must you torture me!?) my heart hurts. I absolutely need the next book because I can’t deal with all this unknown! Haha

If you want a dark high fantasy with such amazing found family, a badass main female and action that is so intense, this book series is an absolute must!
*please read all triggers before reading this series as it is very dark! All triggers are listed on the authors page. Safe reading babes. Your mental health matters 🖤
*i received this book as an ARC. My review and opinions are completely my own and in no way influenced.

[SSBSMS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the first book, this book takes you in for a ride, but it's a different rollercoaster! With the first book it was more action and war focused, whereas with this one, we learn more about the interactions of each character and about their thought processes for this war and their relationships.

There's definitely still blood spilled and prepare yourself for the pain! I was entertained by Dante's interactions with certain others(holding back on names to avoid spoilers). I'm glad that we get more insight into the lives of more characters like Nauzar, Alexander, Jade, and even Viktor. I feel that for at least half of this book, it was spent with the characters complaining or with most of them acting very immature when they're amongst themselves. It shows how quickly they've had to grow up and how much they're still maturing. I love the variance with that versus how mature they are when speaking about tactics, showing a united front, and facing obstacles as a whole guild. Can't wait to see what the future holds for them!

[Kristy Hurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.J. does it again! Book 2 in the Nightbane Guild series unfolds the romance between Dante and Xander, and you can't help but root for them after the years of hell Dante has endured. Will she be able to have it all? What about Jade and Nauzar? Will they defeat the Queen? ......I'll never tell! You'll have to dive into this incredibly imaginative world and find out for yourself. I promise you won't be disappointed!

[Aubrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WARNING; Don't pick up this series if you're not prepared to obsess, laugh, cry, fall in love, and potentially throw things.

I honestly cannot say enough about this series and the character/world development that B.j creates. I'm beyond obsessed with this series and honestly, B.j could probably write about the most minuscule thing and you wouldn't be able to put it down.

B.j - I'm gonna need the next one ASAP please. That ending is killing me to this day.

[Kelly Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be ready for this roller coaster ride of emotions. We are back with Dante and the Nightbane Guild. I didn't think that I could love this world any more than I already did, but this book proved me wrong! I love, love, love this read! Ugh! Can I also just say that Alexander is amazing and Shitlix can go kick rocks. The doozy of an ending will make you want to throw things. You have been warned.

[MediaMadame · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received an ARC copy for an honest review*

I enjoyed the sequel in the series so much! You learn to love and hate the characters. They grow and become even better or worse. One of my favorite parts of this was the flashbacks! Not a lot of books include flashbacks and I really enjoyed this because sometimes you need a refresher and it made it more relate-able. Alexander reading was literally one of my favorite parts. I also enjoyed the scenery, it’s all over. Love the variety. Also keep the spicy scenes coming because I enjoyed those probably more than I should have!

[C.A · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second installment of this series was just as great as the first. The rich world continues to flow and keep a reader captivated. My love for certain characters from the first book carried over from the first. The novel is fantasy, but their struggles feel relatable. Highly recommended.

[Rose Embry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so much fun to read. Be ready to cry and wanna kill Becca tho 🤣🤣
*Will post a more thorough spoiler review after release

[brooke_and_books · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing addition to the series. This is the second book in this series and it doesn’t disappoint. So much goes on, definitely action packed fantasy with more magic. Just absolutely love Dante in this series so much!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was one of the lucky one's to receive an ARC of this book and I was as excited to read it as I was the first one! A journey takes place in this book in more ways than one! Not only is the Nightbane Guild on the move, but Dante and her guildmates are learning more about themselves. The journey each character takes throughout this book is extraordinary and the interactions with each other tell you so much about each of them. I made the mistake of not refreshing my mind of what happened during the first book so now I get to go back and reread both books.

[Jamie (SpayceJamReads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be an alpha reader for this book.

This sequel really built on the fantasy and romance aspects of the first book. I loved seeing Dante learn about her magic and become stronger. In this book I fell in love with many of the side characters.

An Ember’s Shadow is full of adventure and like with the first book it will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. Author BJ Rysewyk does an amazing job of pulling emotions out of her her readers. I laughed and cried and screamed throughout this book much like I did in the first one. I was torn apart yet again by the cliffhanger at the end.

This series is a must read. If you love Dark Fantasy Romances like me or can appreciate the high fantasy aspects of this book do yourself a favor and pick up this series today. Book 1 is titled A Widows Web.

[Bevany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! There is a great balance between action, character, and relationship building with some smut thrown in but not so much as to overpower the story. A great continuation of the world and characters from the first book. The book picks up quickly and is a fun read. I definitely recommend it to fantasy readers, especially those who love magic and strong female characters.

[Tori Spice · Rating 5 out of 5]

* I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. *

I enjoyed every moment of this book. The characters develop so much in this book and it was amazing to get to know them better. If you liked SJM Throne of Glass series you will LOVE this series as well. The plot is gripping and will make you feel like you are a part of this world.

[Bobby L · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book of the series. With the characters have so much amazing relationships between one another. There is so much spice thrown in the story where it’s just enough in each other and it’s not too much! If you want to cry, laugh, and so on this book is for you! The ending to the book is not where I wanted it to go at all and I hope there is more to this series!!!!

[Alecia Hefner · Rating 5 out of 5]

B.J. Rysewyk as usual does not fail to come through I'm Embers Shadow. Dante's life is so crazy and chaotic and she thinks she can do it all on her own. Alexander is right beside trying to love her if she will let him. Dante knows this war was a mistake but one she must follow through on. Her magic is something she must learn to control but can she? Loved this so much!

[Marie Costa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arc review

Wowww such a big change from book one ! Defenitly B.J you grew from book onez your writing is so much better. I really enjoyed book 2 ! Dante is growing up but she can still get in my nerves ahahah and ouff I was not ready for that ending ! I CAN'T WAIT for book 3

[McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review* Becca has done it again! Tears, laughter, and everything in between. Can’t wait for the next one!

[Courtnee Liberatore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book continues the adventure with Dante & her crew. While the adventure new territories, it’ll leave you on the end of your seat and waiting for book 3.

[Shannon Courtney-Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series and it was just as good if not better than the first! I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and loved every second of it! Thank you for the opportunity

[Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so ecstatic that I was able to be a Beta reader for this book!

I love this book even more than the first one. Dante and Alexander go to a new level. Between the training, the managing of the guild , and dealing with Farrynn (aka evil bitch queen) and Felix there wasn't a moment that I wasn't experiencing some kind of emotion. I love being pulled into this world. More of Dante and her past gets explained that makes her such a strong and powerful woman and in my opinion the right person to lead this guild. Other guild members are also starting to come into play and their story lines come to light, like Nauzar and Jade, which brings in even more excitement. I can't wait for this adventure to continue!

[kim_is_bookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

4.5 stars!

I don’t know how to feel after that ending… I enjoyed this book way more than the first book, which had a LOT of world building and descriptions! But I will say, all of that is very much worth it to get to book two! It’s very well written, the world is amazing and unique, and the characters are so well developed that I’ve found myself talking about them as if they were real! I absolutely recommend this fantasy series!

[Tiana Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a continuation from AWW, following the guild members more closely. The characters continue to have complex development throughout. You are left wanting more!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

AWW was a 5-star read for me, despite it needing about 50-100 pages to truly take off. I enjoyed the political intrigue, the tension, and the general chaos.

I enjoyed reading this, and liken it to SJM'S first half of ACOWAR. It's a big buildup to the actual war.

THIS IS ALL CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, take it for what you will.

AES, while enjoyable, could have been either two shorter books or cut down considerably. There are four viewpoints here (I give the author kudos for listening to readers asking for more Jade/Nauzar, truly) and I personally am still digesting whether the latter two needed their own viewpoints vs. just including them more in the story. In Jade's viewpoint, what I got was mostly passive aggression, which disappointed me. I was a Jade apologist forreal.

There's also A LOT going on, with lulls in between. It goes from sluggish to Nascar in 0.02 seconds at multiple points in the book, which doesn't do the tension formed in the first book justice. A lot of the time, the guild is... Not doing a whole lot. I hope the third book culminates in the war ending, as we weren't shown a ton of what was actually going on in The Front.

I also don't know what the tone of this book wishes to be. The first book was decidedly dark and delicious. The prose in this book felt different, attempting several different tones at once. The third person POV is hard to maintain with four POVs. That's why my primary thought throughout the read was 'this could be just as good as a shorter book'.

The cliffhanger is good, and I think the third book will be good. The reason why it's not 5 stars to me is that in parts of this book, I felt like the interpersonal dilemmas bogged down the primary plotline.

4 stars is still quite good to me (most books I review end up being 3). I look forward to reading more in this series.

[brittnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just so amazing! It had everything that you could ask for as a reader who loves fantasy & romance. It has a perfect mixed amount of action, adventure, vulnerability, magic, war, diverse characters, romance, spice, heartache (more deaths sadly) and a cliffhanger that just makes you want to throw your book across the room! In other words, it's so good you immediately need more!

I am obsessed! I loved book one, but I felt like book one was more action & setting the tone for us. Book 2 brought it, we went more in depth with the characters and got to see more of their personalities along the journey, which made them more relatable (or annoying/hated- Jade/Felix/Farryn I'm looking at you lol) & me more attached. I love the progression and growth we see in Alexander & Dantes relationship; he is just so swoon worthy. I love that he is so protective & accepting of her without hesitation, that he allows her to be her true self where she can feel comfortable & confide even her most painful experiences in him. I can't wait to read more & see how this journey of self-discovery, war, loss & love continues in book 3!


Fave Quote:
"From this moment on, you will be my first thought & my last. I will never let you face your hardships alone, and I will never let you go into a battle without having your back. You're my life, my body, my soul, my little monster. Until the end of time, you're the woman I love. Forever isn't long enough."- Alexander

[Alexis Crotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for this sequel as patiently as I could, and it did not disappoint in the slightest! I loved the new perspectives added and there were some definite twists and turns with the plot that I didn't see coming until they were a page away. It grips you so hard with how well the author has designed the world and the depth that she gives to each and every one of her characters (including some that you get to meet more in depth in this book) that you just have to keep reading to see what happens next as you move through every emotion imaginable. I was so excited to see the magical abilities of the characters further developed in this book and see them play more of a role as well. This part of the series also includes more of the intimate romance side of the relationships formed, but it does not take away from the amazing fantasy and action aspects, that I love, of this series. Not only do you get the action packed plot, but you also get to see the development of Dante on an intimate level as she works through her own personal demons. It truly is the best of both worlds packed into one book. I am still on the edge of my seat after the ending and just need more! This was another well done continuation of the Nightbane Series and I can not wait for the next installment!
*I received this book as an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review*