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Shadow Dance
What would you do if the game you were playing suddenly becomes your reality?
Saga escapes her mundane life of modern stresses and anxieties, a failed relationship and a monotonous job by immersing herself in an online game. When dark whispers begin to invade her mind, she is pulled through a rift into a world eerily reminiscent of the game she plays.
Whatever brought her to this place stalks her at every turn, a sinister siren song calling to her, bringing her closer to a source of power that threatens everything. Trapped in this confusingly familiar world, she must find herself, her strength and allies to help her survive.
Grand Prior Roseheart, the leader of a paladin order, sees the potential and power in Saga. Persuading her to join his order, he is convinced that she is the key to defeating the dark magic that blights the land — but is that all he sees in her?
Saga’s journey through the world of Theadrath is perilous, taking her from the regal city of Whitekeep, audiences with the vampire council, to the elegant cities of the high elves, where Prince Kailunn Sunseeker rules over the land in the absence of his mother, Queen Sunseeker.
Saga knows the fictional Kailunn very well. Her phone’s photo gallery is filled with screenshots and fan art of him — but is the real prince the same as the man on the screen whom she fell in love with, or does he hide secrets behind his soft-spoken words?
Saga escapes her mundane life of modern stresses and anxieties, a failed relationship and a monotonous job by immersing herself in an online game. When dark whispers begin to invade her mind, she is pulled through a rift into a world eerily reminiscent of the game she plays.
Whatever brought her to this place stalks her at every turn, a sinister siren song calling to her, bringing her closer to a source of power that threatens everything. Trapped in this confusingly familiar world, she must find herself, her strength and allies to help her survive.
Grand Prior Roseheart, the leader of a paladin order, sees the potential and power in Saga. Persuading her to join his order, he is convinced that she is the key to defeating the dark magic that blights the land — but is that all he sees in her?
Saga’s journey through the world of Theadrath is perilous, taking her from the regal city of Whitekeep, audiences with the vampire council, to the elegant cities of the high elves, where Prince Kailunn Sunseeker rules over the land in the absence of his mother, Queen Sunseeker.
Saga knows the fictional Kailunn very well. Her phone’s photo gallery is filled with screenshots and fan art of him — but is the real prince the same as the man on the screen whom she fell in love with, or does he hide secrets behind his soft-spoken words?
474 pages, Hardcover
Published May 31, 2023
51 people are currently reading
305 people want to read
About the author
C. K. Andersson
3 books60 followersC. K. Andersson writes swoony fantasy and portal fantasy novels inspired by her favourite computer games. They feature characters with strong voices and the individuals who love them fiercely and respectfully. When she's not crafting fantastical worlds, she spends her time watching K-drama together with her rescue cats and rescue dog, and painting miniatures together with her partner. Originally from Sweden, C. K. now lives in the UK.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
March 25, 2024
5⭐
The Full List of Content Warnings for this book are listed in the book and on the author's website. Always check warnings prior to starting a book if there are certain topics you cannot read.
CW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Death, Psychological Abuse, Torture, DA, substance usage (magical), child SA (off page, after the fact), mentions of nudity, SA (off page), Sexual Harassment, religious themes (based on the online world), Gore
How can I forget when my heart is now sealed by you, stamped with your sigil?
This story primarily follows Saga Falk (LOVE THAT NAME) as she finds herself in a world very similar to the video game that she has spent most of her life playing. This is where she meets Grand Prior Roseheart (Garren) a man she's not so familiar with because she played the game from the elves side. Garren convinces her to join his order to help with the dark magic that is taking over. All the while Saga has to figure out how she got there.
“I’d welcome them with open arms if it means you’re close to me,” he says softly as he cups my face with his hands. “You speak as if you’re falling in love,” I mutter unsteadily. “I won’t deny the fact that I’m drawn to you. You fascinate me.”
Saga has a pretty rough past, which you will learn a bit about, and as a result of such she kind of used a character, Kailunn, as a way to cope. He's been a fictional character she has been in love with for so long and boy do I get is Saga. i like this man too. She spends a lot of the book not opening up to Garren despite having an attraction because she feels like it's betraying Kailunn in some way. Even when she hadn't met him yet. I'll be honest it got to a point in this book where I was just like girl take them BOTH. Live your best life. Why choose? I don't know if Garren would be into that though. *insert smirky face here*
There's also some pretty cool side characters in this book too. My favorite being Sandro. (He's the cutie to the left of Saga on the cover) His such a golden retriever, I love him. Also like seriously check out all the character art for this book. I saw most of the character art before I even finally had the chance to read the book (I listened to the audiobook alongside, PHENOMENAL by the way.) and as soon as the characters were starting to get described I was like oh my gosh that's "Garren" "Lysander" etc.
I will say the last bit of the book was a sobfest for me. CK just took my heart out of my chest, threw it on the ground and stomped on it over and over. Then the fatal wound of how this ended. I need book two like I need the air in my lungs to breathe. I need to know.
Tropes/Themes:
Portal Fantasy
He Falls First
Age Gap
Slow Burn
Vampires
Elves
Great Banter
Multiple POV
Anyways Read this heckin book sooner rather than later. Honestly, You should just stop your current read and pick this one up.
------------
Completed a reread this time around with the paperback. YUP still as great as the first time around. Garren is all the GREEN Flags. I love him. I love Saga. I love Kailuun. I love Sandro. I love this book.
The Full List of Content Warnings for this book are listed in the book and on the author's website. Always check warnings prior to starting a book if there are certain topics you cannot read.
CW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Death, Psychological Abuse, Torture, DA, substance usage (magical), child SA (off page, after the fact), mentions of nudity, SA (off page), Sexual Harassment, religious themes (based on the online world), Gore
How can I forget when my heart is now sealed by you, stamped with your sigil?
This story primarily follows Saga Falk (LOVE THAT NAME) as she finds herself in a world very similar to the video game that she has spent most of her life playing. This is where she meets Grand Prior Roseheart (Garren) a man she's not so familiar with because she played the game from the elves side. Garren convinces her to join his order to help with the dark magic that is taking over. All the while Saga has to figure out how she got there.
“I’d welcome them with open arms if it means you’re close to me,” he says softly as he cups my face with his hands. “You speak as if you’re falling in love,” I mutter unsteadily. “I won’t deny the fact that I’m drawn to you. You fascinate me.”
Saga has a pretty rough past, which you will learn a bit about, and as a result of such she kind of used a character, Kailunn, as a way to cope. He's been a fictional character she has been in love with for so long and boy do I get is Saga. i like this man too. She spends a lot of the book not opening up to Garren despite having an attraction because she feels like it's betraying Kailunn in some way. Even when she hadn't met him yet. I'll be honest it got to a point in this book where I was just like girl take them BOTH. Live your best life. Why choose? I don't know if Garren would be into that though. *insert smirky face here*
There's also some pretty cool side characters in this book too. My favorite being Sandro. (He's the cutie to the left of Saga on the cover) His such a golden retriever, I love him. Also like seriously check out all the character art for this book. I saw most of the character art before I even finally had the chance to read the book (I listened to the audiobook alongside, PHENOMENAL by the way.) and as soon as the characters were starting to get described I was like oh my gosh that's "Garren" "Lysander" etc.
I will say the last bit of the book was a sobfest for me. CK just took my heart out of my chest, threw it on the ground and stomped on it over and over. Then the fatal wound of how this ended. I need book two like I need the air in my lungs to breathe. I need to know.
Tropes/Themes:
Portal Fantasy
He Falls First
Age Gap
Slow Burn
Vampires
Elves
Great Banter
Multiple POV
Anyways Read this heckin book sooner rather than later. Honestly, You should just stop your current read and pick this one up.
------------
Completed a reread this time around with the paperback. YUP still as great as the first time around. Garren is all the GREEN Flags. I love him. I love Saga. I love Kailuun. I love Sandro. I love this book.
May 23, 2023
I was absolutely blown away! I truly loved Shadow Dance! I will be reading it a second time, and looking very forward to reading its sequel. Yes - you become that invested in the characters in this beautifully written story. I should start by saying, this is not my usual genre, but the book came highly recommended to me by a friend, and thus, I requested an Advanced Reader Copy, and Miss Andersson was very kind to send one to me. C.K. Andersson is an amazingly talented author, and her writing style and this story had me hooked from the very first page. The book is beautifully written, with characters, and scenes that are so real and engaging, and a storyline that is colorful, fun, and unpredictable. I adored Saga, she is witty, feisty, brave, shy, and so many other things, and her development throughout the story is so much fun to watch as it unfolds. All the characters are magnificently written, and profoundly different from one another. This type of engaging writing takes tremendous skill, and as I started this review: I was blown away. I found myself feeling and thinking about the characters and their circumstances and relationships, long after I'd put the book down each day. They develop wonderfully, and build in exciting and unpredictable ways. You find yourself wishing for things to happen (like a first embrace, or kiss, or a confrontation), because you are so invested in the characters. But circumstances, and plot twists, and character nuances keep you holding your breath, and then when it finally happens, WOW! I could write pages and pages regarding the vivid scenery and the world that Saga finds herself in. But I would give far too much away. Let's just say that the pictures Miss Andersson paints are incredibly beautiful and wonderfully detailed, and the poetic ways in which she paints them are effortless and stunning. You truly find yourself deeply immersed in this lovely world. I cannot recommend Shadow Dance highly enough. There are few books, that regardless of Genre, are a must-read, for anyone who loves a great story, and I believe Shadow Dance to be one of them. Well Done C.K. Andersson! I will certainly be following your writing career closely, and looking for your future releases. Well done! Thank you for sharing your wonderful story with me! Yours is truly a rare gift to the world of books. A.P. Shepherd
October 21, 2024
It is always refreshing to find a romantasy novel with an FMC who isn't an infallible 18 year old who suddenly becomes the most powerful creature alive. I love the uniqueness of Saga's character and her development throughout the novel. The characters we get introduced to are all intriguing and stand out in different ways which make them memorable. While the story centers on a fantasy plot, I felt like the character development is what stood out to me the most and how it was woven in with the story. The romance between Saga and Garren is one of my favorite things ever, it had me kicking my feet with giddy. I can't wait for the second book because that cliffhanger - OOF! You're killing me, Andersson!
December 9, 2023
I have so much to say about this story and the authors power to get you to like a character when you know you shouldn't! Lol
First off, the plot. It constantly flowed, not one time did I find myself bored. From the first few pages, we have these moments that hint things are about to happen. (Will try to write this without spoiling.)
As a lover of manhwas, this was my kinda of story. It had all the Isekai vibes for me.
A normal everyday gamer girl gets transported into an online game she played for years and really becomes the main character, or at least a very, very, very important character. (If you know, you know) So if you're into stories that involve transportation, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually into another world, this ones for you!
The writing: The author did a phenomenal job at transporting not only Saga but the readers following the journey. From the first chapter to the last, I could see, feel, understand, and smell what these characters were sensing.
I also appreciated the way emotions were reflected, how the writing expressed it rather than just telling you like Saga was sad. But it really made you feel what she felt.
Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I love that fact it's a series. I can not wait for Spell Bound!
First off, the plot. It constantly flowed, not one time did I find myself bored. From the first few pages, we have these moments that hint things are about to happen. (Will try to write this without spoiling.)
As a lover of manhwas, this was my kinda of story. It had all the Isekai vibes for me.
A normal everyday gamer girl gets transported into an online game she played for years and really becomes the main character, or at least a very, very, very important character. (If you know, you know) So if you're into stories that involve transportation, whether physically, mentally, or spiritually into another world, this ones for you!
The writing: The author did a phenomenal job at transporting not only Saga but the readers following the journey. From the first chapter to the last, I could see, feel, understand, and smell what these characters were sensing.
I also appreciated the way emotions were reflected, how the writing expressed it rather than just telling you like Saga was sad. But it really made you feel what she felt.
Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I love that fact it's a series. I can not wait for Spell Bound!
August 31, 2024
An enjoyable fantasy! Saga falls into another world - the world she knows feom her favourite game, Reign Online. She faces the perils of magic, violence, and matters of the heart as she tries to figure out where to go from here.
Without spoiling anything.... gonna need the sequel ASAP!!!
Without spoiling anything.... gonna need the sequel ASAP!!!
December 16, 2023
3.5/5 stars
This book was amazing. its feels like a buid up to what is all the come. And i cant wait to see what it is.
There is only 1 chapter before she is transported to the gaming world, This could have been a bit longer for me. More build up and more of saga's life before she gets transported.
i found it funny that the inkeeper almost had the same name as the author (missing just 1 letter)
The author did bring out really good what it's like the have a bad past and how that effects your life after it. But the main character seems a bit overdramatic.
i did have to google some of the words used because i didnt know what they meant, but that might have been because english isnt my first language.
I loved the relationship between saga and garren and the teasing between them.
ïts only you i see behind my eyelids"
"did you swallow your tounge again ?" and then
"well wont you look at that. It seems we found it togheter" It made me laugh. Their bond seems amazing and i love the slow burn between them.
her obession with the elven prince kailunn seems a bit to much. Also she is quick to point out when people are making assumtions but she does it herself all the time. Saga isnt really a nice person and judges almost everyone. I hope that in book 2 she starts trusting people more and makes more friendships.
i do love her friendship with sandro, but it would have been nice to read more about it. It seems to appear out of nowhere without really a good explanation behind it. Sandro also protects Saga, but why ?
Its was a good book and i cant wait to read book 2 and see what journey the follow next!
This book was amazing. its feels like a buid up to what is all the come. And i cant wait to see what it is.
There is only 1 chapter before she is transported to the gaming world, This could have been a bit longer for me. More build up and more of saga's life before she gets transported.
i found it funny that the inkeeper almost had the same name as the author (missing just 1 letter)
The author did bring out really good what it's like the have a bad past and how that effects your life after it. But the main character seems a bit overdramatic.
i did have to google some of the words used because i didnt know what they meant, but that might have been because english isnt my first language.
I loved the relationship between saga and garren and the teasing between them.
ïts only you i see behind my eyelids"
"did you swallow your tounge again ?" and then
"well wont you look at that. It seems we found it togheter" It made me laugh. Their bond seems amazing and i love the slow burn between them.
her obession with the elven prince kailunn seems a bit to much. Also she is quick to point out when people are making assumtions but she does it herself all the time. Saga isnt really a nice person and judges almost everyone. I hope that in book 2 she starts trusting people more and makes more friendships.
i do love her friendship with sandro, but it would have been nice to read more about it. It seems to appear out of nowhere without really a good explanation behind it. Sandro also protects Saga, but why ?
Its was a good book and i cant wait to read book 2 and see what journey the follow next!
January 5, 2024
At first I didn’t click with the character Saga. She was a bit needy and not a very likeable person. But! As her story came out and she filled out as a character I liked her more and more.
The Prior I liked instantly. Fairly gruff and no messing with. Yep him I liked!
As the two grew the story started to take off. More people arrived and it padded out nicely.
Even Kailunn he gave different sides to him, liking that.
Sandro though. I mean who knew. Right?!
The story definitely got going and rallied as each chapter was read.
Definitely taking off in the last 1/4.
As it’s stated it’s a slow burn and then well, I enjoyed it and am waiting as patiently as I can for book 2.
Update: I’ve now listened to the audiobook & it was fab. The narrator really brought these guys to life! The tones & texture was spot on! I loved it anyway & to anyone who wants to listen, go for it! You won’t be disappointed no matter which way you get the story.
The Prior I liked instantly. Fairly gruff and no messing with. Yep him I liked!
As the two grew the story started to take off. More people arrived and it padded out nicely.
Even Kailunn he gave different sides to him, liking that.
Sandro though. I mean who knew. Right?!
The story definitely got going and rallied as each chapter was read.
Definitely taking off in the last 1/4.
As it’s stated it’s a slow burn and then well, I enjoyed it and am waiting as patiently as I can for book 2.
Update: I’ve now listened to the audiobook & it was fab. The narrator really brought these guys to life! The tones & texture was spot on! I loved it anyway & to anyone who wants to listen, go for it! You won’t be disappointed no matter which way you get the story.
July 12, 2023
tragic tale of a girl who fails
This is a tragic tale that never truly gets off the ground. She never improves in her training… she doesn’t make a true-connection and seems to have no friends.
Don’t know why she was brought to this world other than a magic snack for evil.
The style of writing is good- I just wanted her to be more powerful and make friends and connections to make a difference, but she does her best, and the beginning was great - I just don’t think the tale ever truly takes off and the entire book seems sad.
She is not willing to bend and understand others even though she claims they understand her - anyways a very sad tale
This is a tragic tale that never truly gets off the ground. She never improves in her training… she doesn’t make a true-connection and seems to have no friends.
Don’t know why she was brought to this world other than a magic snack for evil.
The style of writing is good- I just wanted her to be more powerful and make friends and connections to make a difference, but she does her best, and the beginning was great - I just don’t think the tale ever truly takes off and the entire book seems sad.
She is not willing to bend and understand others even though she claims they understand her - anyways a very sad tale
September 1, 2023
This book was beautifully written.
I really enjoyed Garren and loved reading how his and Saga's relationship developed.
The ending was unexpected. I assumed it would end on a cliffhanger, but this ending I did not foresee, which made me love the book more.
I look forward to book 2!
I really enjoyed Garren and loved reading how his and Saga's relationship developed.
The ending was unexpected. I assumed it would end on a cliffhanger, but this ending I did not foresee, which made me love the book more.
I look forward to book 2!
September 9, 2023
Loved Garren and Sandro! Made me want to replay Dragon Age!!!
January 9, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🧝♂️ 🧛 🪄 🎮
“I’m used to being invisible, but he sees me.”
Do you ever just wish you could live inside of your favorite video game? That’s definitely the mindset Saga Falk has until one day it actually happens to her.
Living out an existence she finds mundane and unfulfilling, Saga finds comfort and purpose in the MMORPG ‘Reign Online’. She’s been playing for years, knows the characters and has all but fallen in love with one of them. One evening she’s signing in to play and has an Alice in wonderland type moment and finds herself thrust into a physical world that greatly resembles her virtual game. The people know Saga is different but aren’t sure why. She does her best to fit in and train to be a paladin until she can figure a way back to her own world. That is until her feelings get in the way and never mind the fact that Saga has a powerful magic inside her that just may vanquish the darkness that’s been creeping through the land and poisoning its inhabitants.
✨ Action, Intrigue, Dragon Age Vibes, Slow Burn Romance.✨
I enjoyed this book! It made me want to go play Skyrim or Dragon Age. 😅 I love that it was multiple POV, it added necessary depth. I found myself snickering more times than not and I did tear up quite a few times. And I’m so glad I signed up for the ARC for book 2 because man, that cliffhanger!
🧝♂️ 🧛 🪄 🎮
“I’m used to being invisible, but he sees me.”
Do you ever just wish you could live inside of your favorite video game? That’s definitely the mindset Saga Falk has until one day it actually happens to her.
Living out an existence she finds mundane and unfulfilling, Saga finds comfort and purpose in the MMORPG ‘Reign Online’. She’s been playing for years, knows the characters and has all but fallen in love with one of them. One evening she’s signing in to play and has an Alice in wonderland type moment and finds herself thrust into a physical world that greatly resembles her virtual game. The people know Saga is different but aren’t sure why. She does her best to fit in and train to be a paladin until she can figure a way back to her own world. That is until her feelings get in the way and never mind the fact that Saga has a powerful magic inside her that just may vanquish the darkness that’s been creeping through the land and poisoning its inhabitants.
✨ Action, Intrigue, Dragon Age Vibes, Slow Burn Romance.✨
I enjoyed this book! It made me want to go play Skyrim or Dragon Age. 😅 I love that it was multiple POV, it added necessary depth. I found myself snickering more times than not and I did tear up quite a few times. And I’m so glad I signed up for the ARC for book 2 because man, that cliffhanger!
September 9, 2024
I don't think there are words to describe how I am feeling after finishing this book. The ending has me shook. I kept putting off reading the ending because I did not want the story to end! I have never read a portal fantasy type book before and I was pleasantly suprised. There is so much character growth with the main character, and she is so relatable! Instead of a super strong, confident fmc lead, she is anxious, has ptsd from past relationships and closes herself off from feelings. Mental health representation is so important especially within fantasy books, and C.K. did such a wonderful job incorporating it! The world building was complex but not super hard to follow. I cannot wait to see what happens next!!
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December 22, 2024Hi, I’m the author of Shadow Dance.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken a chance on my novel. It really means the world to me and I hope that my characters will speak to your heart.
Please make sure to check out the story notes with CW, themes and tropes on my website if you haven’t already:
https://www.ckandersson.com/storynotes
Spellbound, the sequel to Shadow Dance, is set to be published in June 2025. It picks up where Shadow Dance left off, and will resolve the plot threads from the first book. It’s the last book in the series, and after that I’ll be focusing on standalone books set in the same universe.
Thank you again for taking a chance on an unknown, small indie author and I hope you enjoy your time spent in Theadrath.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has taken a chance on my novel. It really means the world to me and I hope that my characters will speak to your heart.
Please make sure to check out the story notes with CW, themes and tropes on my website if you haven’t already:
https://www.ckandersson.com/storynotes
Spellbound, the sequel to Shadow Dance, is set to be published in June 2025. It picks up where Shadow Dance left off, and will resolve the plot threads from the first book. It’s the last book in the series, and after that I’ll be focusing on standalone books set in the same universe.
Thank you again for taking a chance on an unknown, small indie author and I hope you enjoy your time spent in Theadrath.
October 4, 2024
Wow, what an incredible book.
The world building, the storyline, the characters!
A journey of self empowerment, discovery, friendship and relationships.
That ending! I NEED the next book!!!
It was so beautifully written i thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Brief overview:
Saga loves playing her favourite online game “Reign Online” then one night she’s physically sucked in and finds herself in a different dimensional reality that the games based on, she now has to navigate the new world with no idea if she will get home whilst meeting new friends on the way , dealing with her own anxieties and fears. Dark forces are at work and how is she connected to it????
The world building, the storyline, the characters!
A journey of self empowerment, discovery, friendship and relationships.
That ending! I NEED the next book!!!
It was so beautifully written i thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
Brief overview:
Saga loves playing her favourite online game “Reign Online” then one night she’s physically sucked in and finds herself in a different dimensional reality that the games based on, she now has to navigate the new world with no idea if she will get home whilst meeting new friends on the way , dealing with her own anxieties and fears. Dark forces are at work and how is she connected to it????
November 5, 2024
This was such a good read! I loved the portal fantasy element where she is from the world, but gets sucked into the video game that she loves to play so much. As a Warcraft girlie, this felt nostalgic and fun. I adored the anxiety and mental health rep, because same.
Watching Saga overcome all of the shock and hurdles that she faced having woke up in this strange, but familiar world had me cheering her on through each event. The ability to see how she reacted to each of the familiar characters was enjoyable.
I'm a sucker for a bad guy though and Lysander shouldn't have been as hot as he was.
This is a fantasy book with no spice and excellent romantic tension!
I have a physical copy of this book and did a parallel read with the audio and found it fabulous.
Definitely check it out!
Watching Saga overcome all of the shock and hurdles that she faced having woke up in this strange, but familiar world had me cheering her on through each event. The ability to see how she reacted to each of the familiar characters was enjoyable.
I'm a sucker for a bad guy though and Lysander shouldn't have been as hot as he was.
This is a fantasy book with no spice and excellent romantic tension!
I have a physical copy of this book and did a parallel read with the audio and found it fabulous.
Definitely check it out!
July 10, 2025
Shadow Dance book is clearly a 10.
For me, it has all it needs for a book to be a good one: characters and situations that make you feel something.
Now, getting a little bit on depth (and forgive my expressions as English is my third language).
At numerous points I wanted to grab Saga from the shoulders and shake her empty head off 😂. That's not a bad thing. As I said, it made me feel that way for all the book, in a cohesive way. I just found that some of her reasoning was doubtful, but that's her way of being so it's fine.
Garren it's the golden retriever archetype. He can be charming and playful, but will indeed bark and bite to protect what his heart loves.
Kailunn is sassy and mysterious. You never know his truly intentions.
Sandro... in my opinion is a bit flat. He's charming and all, but I didn't feel that connection as with the other characters, maybe because he was introduced late on the book, or maybe because the lack of a stronger personality.
Cinaéd is the big forgotten character. Cinaéd appears really early on the book, giving dangerous vibes, placing himself as a kind-of-villan (as Garren is his enemy), then he threatens Saga... but then his plot merges on a more secondary layer. I WANT MORE OF THEM. How he met his partner? What is Cinaéd past/lore? I feel that there's a lot of game still for this character!
Lysander, on the other hand, it's the BBEG, of course. The book keeps spinning around his figure, showing more and more of this enigmatic character. On each encounter, we learn something more about his power, and that kind of cool.
Now, about all that happens on the book.
It can be easily split in two books: one that covers the part on which they are on Whitekeep, and the second one that covers the latter part -in fact, the second could start with Sandro's appearance.
The first part is beautiful. It's just day-to-day things, we see Saga develop her character, learn, fail, and all this. I really like the parts on which we see that Saga is human, that she does not know everything, that she can fail, she's not the typical teenager that dominates every skill one one week.
As a WoW player, I saw Stormwind all around (despite I'm 100000% Horde Lok'tar Ogar), so maybe that also played on favour, but I think it's a clever move to use this nostalgia, ngl.
On this part there was one thing I find a bit "too much coincidence" (it's just my opinion), and that's the fact that magic transmits better with kisses.
Now we reach the turning point.
They left the city to wander the forest.
Sandro is presented to the reader.
Here I want to add that Sandro's introduction felt a bit abrupt, in the sense that the king is describing him on the first page of the chapter, like if he saw him for the first time. I think that CK here had the chance to play around a bit: as the king knew Sandro -for at least centuries-, the chapter could skip most of the descriptions, giving only a few hints (for example, curled hair, third eye). Then, once Sandro meets Saga, she slowly discover his features, and that discovery is more than enough to let us make a full impression of him.
Again, that's just my opinion, I'm not saying that is a bad thing.
After the turning point, we see Saga, Garren, Cinaéd, Xerxi and the rest of the party suffer. We can see how Saga trains with her sword, how she made some firends, and how most of the party seems to look her weird. Again, more character development; good development indeed.
We can see how Saga tries to clear her head, now it seems more full and I wanted less to shake her. She seems more thoughtful, realising she's not probably on a videogame but rather on another reality. She tries to forget her previous knowledge of Kailunn, and she bonds even stronger with Garren.
The part that happens on Kailunn castle is awesome. How the mother plot twist unravels is really good.
At this point, I felt that the "wander on the forest" part was a bit fast (in a sense that from one chapter to another several days passed), and then the three last chapters begin.
Although the ending is brutal and left me on a cliffhanger, I felt a bit off-guard by the sudden rise of power of Saga. I'm sure there's an explanation on the second book, but at that moment I felt that I skipped one or two chapters (I'm really picky with this topics, but I understand that there will be a valid explanation later). I would love to maybe have an epiloge with what happened on that time, why she was able to control all that power at once as if nothing.
Overall, it's a very good book.
Totally recomendable.
(The time spent on reading was because of external issues!)
For me, it has all it needs for a book to be a good one: characters and situations that make you feel something.
Now, getting a little bit on depth (and forgive my expressions as English is my third language).
At numerous points I wanted to grab Saga from the shoulders and shake her empty head off 😂. That's not a bad thing. As I said, it made me feel that way for all the book, in a cohesive way. I just found that some of her reasoning was doubtful, but that's her way of being so it's fine.
Garren it's the golden retriever archetype. He can be charming and playful, but will indeed bark and bite to protect what his heart loves.
Kailunn is sassy and mysterious. You never know his truly intentions.
Sandro... in my opinion is a bit flat. He's charming and all, but I didn't feel that connection as with the other characters, maybe because he was introduced late on the book, or maybe because the lack of a stronger personality.
Cinaéd is the big forgotten character. Cinaéd appears really early on the book, giving dangerous vibes, placing himself as a kind-of-villan (as Garren is his enemy), then he threatens Saga... but then his plot merges on a more secondary layer. I WANT MORE OF THEM. How he met his partner? What is Cinaéd past/lore? I feel that there's a lot of game still for this character!
Lysander, on the other hand, it's the BBEG, of course. The book keeps spinning around his figure, showing more and more of this enigmatic character. On each encounter, we learn something more about his power, and that kind of cool.
Now, about all that happens on the book.
It can be easily split in two books: one that covers the part on which they are on Whitekeep, and the second one that covers the latter part -in fact, the second could start with Sandro's appearance.
The first part is beautiful. It's just day-to-day things, we see Saga develop her character, learn, fail, and all this. I really like the parts on which we see that Saga is human, that she does not know everything, that she can fail, she's not the typical teenager that dominates every skill one one week.
As a WoW player, I saw Stormwind all around (despite I'm 100000% Horde Lok'tar Ogar), so maybe that also played on favour, but I think it's a clever move to use this nostalgia, ngl.
On this part there was one thing I find a bit "too much coincidence" (it's just my opinion), and that's the fact that magic transmits better with kisses.
Now we reach the turning point.
They left the city to wander the forest.
Sandro is presented to the reader.
Here I want to add that Sandro's introduction felt a bit abrupt, in the sense that the king is describing him on the first page of the chapter, like if he saw him for the first time. I think that CK here had the chance to play around a bit: as the king knew Sandro -for at least centuries-, the chapter could skip most of the descriptions, giving only a few hints (for example, curled hair, third eye). Then, once Sandro meets Saga, she slowly discover his features, and that discovery is more than enough to let us make a full impression of him.
Again, that's just my opinion, I'm not saying that is a bad thing.
After the turning point, we see Saga, Garren, Cinaéd, Xerxi and the rest of the party suffer. We can see how Saga trains with her sword, how she made some firends, and how most of the party seems to look her weird. Again, more character development; good development indeed.
We can see how Saga tries to clear her head, now it seems more full and I wanted less to shake her. She seems more thoughtful, realising she's not probably on a videogame but rather on another reality. She tries to forget her previous knowledge of Kailunn, and she bonds even stronger with Garren.
The part that happens on Kailunn castle is awesome. How the mother plot twist unravels is really good.
At this point, I felt that the "wander on the forest" part was a bit fast (in a sense that from one chapter to another several days passed), and then the three last chapters begin.
Although the ending is brutal and left me on a cliffhanger, I felt a bit off-guard by the sudden rise of power of Saga. I'm sure there's an explanation on the second book, but at that moment I felt that I skipped one or two chapters (I'm really picky with this topics, but I understand that there will be a valid explanation later). I would love to maybe have an epiloge with what happened on that time, why she was able to control all that power at once as if nothing.
Overall, it's a very good book.
Totally recomendable.
(The time spent on reading was because of external issues!)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2024
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 💫
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖🎧
Tropes/Themes:
*Portal Fantasy,
* slowburn,
* Multi-POV,
*Vampires,
*Elves,
*He Falls First,
*Some Profanity
YOU NEED THIS BOOK
♡𝙼𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠♡
#shadowdance is a spellbinding masterpiece that doesn’t just tell a story—it pulls you into its world and makes you a part of it. From the first page, I found myself not just reading but living within the vibrant, unpredictable world that K. Andersson so masterfully created.
The characters felt like my companions, their struggles, and triumphs as real to me as my own. Every scene was painted with such vivid detail that I was no longer an observer—I was a character, deeply entwined in their lives.
I got a personal emotional connection with the main character Saga, I ended up reliving memories, which made me feel like I was heard, understood, and loved.
Andersson’s writing is nothing short of magical. Her ability to craft such intricate, emotionally charged moments is breathtaking. The story is a beautiful dance of colors and emotions filled with twists that left me breathless and utterly captivated.
Each page turned felt like a step further into this mesmerizing world, a world I never wanted to leave.
The audiobook was an experience. All its own—phenomenal doesn’t even begin to cover it. The narrator didn’t just read the story; they breathed life into it, capturing every nuance of emotion.
CK’s voice held me captive, making every joy, every heartbreak, hit with an intensity that left my heart in pieces.
The final chapter—I can’t even begin to describe the emotions it stirred. It was like the ground being ripped out from under me, leaving me desperate, gasping for the next breath, the next page, the next book. Trust me when I say, don’t read that last chapter until you have the sequel ready."
You’ll need it as much as you need air to breathe. This isn’t just a book you read—it’s a world you become a part of, a journey you live through. And when it ends, it leaves you yearning for more, aching to return to the place that felt like home.
⚠️CW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Death, Psychological Abuse, Torture, Domestic Abuse, Magical Substance Use, Off-Page Child SA, Nudity, Off-Page SA, Sexual Harassment, Religious Themes (based on the game Gore)⚠️
𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📖🎧
Tropes/Themes:
*Portal Fantasy,
* slowburn,
* Multi-POV,
*Vampires,
*Elves,
*He Falls First,
*Some Profanity
YOU NEED THIS BOOK
♡𝙼𝚢 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠♡
#shadowdance is a spellbinding masterpiece that doesn’t just tell a story—it pulls you into its world and makes you a part of it. From the first page, I found myself not just reading but living within the vibrant, unpredictable world that K. Andersson so masterfully created.
The characters felt like my companions, their struggles, and triumphs as real to me as my own. Every scene was painted with such vivid detail that I was no longer an observer—I was a character, deeply entwined in their lives.
I got a personal emotional connection with the main character Saga, I ended up reliving memories, which made me feel like I was heard, understood, and loved.
Andersson’s writing is nothing short of magical. Her ability to craft such intricate, emotionally charged moments is breathtaking. The story is a beautiful dance of colors and emotions filled with twists that left me breathless and utterly captivated.
Each page turned felt like a step further into this mesmerizing world, a world I never wanted to leave.
The audiobook was an experience. All its own—phenomenal doesn’t even begin to cover it. The narrator didn’t just read the story; they breathed life into it, capturing every nuance of emotion.
CK’s voice held me captive, making every joy, every heartbreak, hit with an intensity that left my heart in pieces.
The final chapter—I can’t even begin to describe the emotions it stirred. It was like the ground being ripped out from under me, leaving me desperate, gasping for the next breath, the next page, the next book. Trust me when I say, don’t read that last chapter until you have the sequel ready."
You’ll need it as much as you need air to breathe. This isn’t just a book you read—it’s a world you become a part of, a journey you live through. And when it ends, it leaves you yearning for more, aching to return to the place that felt like home.
⚠️CW: Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Death, Psychological Abuse, Torture, Domestic Abuse, Magical Substance Use, Off-Page Child SA, Nudity, Off-Page SA, Sexual Harassment, Religious Themes (based on the game Gore)⚠️
January 28, 2024
Shadow Dance is a portal fantasy about a gamer girl named Saga who ends up in another dimension that looks exactly like the video game she's been playing for years, except nothing is what she expected. I spent many years of my life playing World of Warcraft, so this book is definitely for gamer nerds like me. This book does touch on some heavy subjects so check the trigger warnings before starting it.
I listened to the audiobook and I became hooked to this story soon after she arrived in Theadrath. Saga has spent years with a crush on the elven prince of the game, she even wears his symbol around her neck and has a gallery full of pictures on her phone. When she arrives in Theadrath, she appears as her human self, not as her elven character. She meets Grand Prior Garren Roseheart, a human and the leader of a paladin order. Garren recognizes the power within Saga, and convinces her to join his order. We get this steamy forced proximity build up between Saga and Garren as Saga grapples with her feelings for the elven prince.
When Saga and Prince Sunseeker finally meet, things become more complicated than they already were when the Prince also takes an interest in Saga and her magic. The prince doesn't usually mix with humans, so I was suspicious of his real intentions for most of the book.
I loved the world building of this story, it sounded like a true game setting. There is a vampire character with three eyes called Sandro that I really liked because he was an outcast but Saga took to him immediately. I think the author did a great job putting us in Saga's perspective and showing the world and the characters through her point of view. This story has everything you need for a high fantasy including magic, different races of creatures, and a sinister plot to take down the protagonists and their world. This book is an adventure story that includes forced proximity romance and found family.
The ending is a doozy! I recommend this book, and the audiobook, to fans of fantasy adventure stories that have a touch of romance and self-discovery. I'm looking forward to book two!
I listened to the audiobook and I became hooked to this story soon after she arrived in Theadrath. Saga has spent years with a crush on the elven prince of the game, she even wears his symbol around her neck and has a gallery full of pictures on her phone. When she arrives in Theadrath, she appears as her human self, not as her elven character. She meets Grand Prior Garren Roseheart, a human and the leader of a paladin order. Garren recognizes the power within Saga, and convinces her to join his order. We get this steamy forced proximity build up between Saga and Garren as Saga grapples with her feelings for the elven prince.
When Saga and Prince Sunseeker finally meet, things become more complicated than they already were when the Prince also takes an interest in Saga and her magic. The prince doesn't usually mix with humans, so I was suspicious of his real intentions for most of the book.
I loved the world building of this story, it sounded like a true game setting. There is a vampire character with three eyes called Sandro that I really liked because he was an outcast but Saga took to him immediately. I think the author did a great job putting us in Saga's perspective and showing the world and the characters through her point of view. This story has everything you need for a high fantasy including magic, different races of creatures, and a sinister plot to take down the protagonists and their world. This book is an adventure story that includes forced proximity romance and found family.
The ending is a doozy! I recommend this book, and the audiobook, to fans of fantasy adventure stories that have a touch of romance and self-discovery. I'm looking forward to book two!
February 14, 2025
I LOVE this book! The fantasy genre isn't one I've read often, let alone romantic fantasy; however, this book has really grabbed my attention!
It's about a girl who is a long time player of a MMORPG, living her normal life. Like many of us, she too has fantasies about beloved video game characters. While playing the game one night, she hears some voices she's been hearing the last few days. All of a sudden, she's pulled right out of our universe and into the world of this game! Imagine how crazy that would be! I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything, but all I can say is that it's great!
I, being a man, have never generally been the target audience of books like these. They're typically just marketed towards women. I for one am happy that I decided to read this. It's so fascinating to read a book of this genre from the perspective of a woman who has thoughts, feelings, and urges about men. It's a perspective I think more men who want to understand women should read more.
CK Anderson has also written this character, "Saga Falk" so well. Saga wears glasses, vegan, has anxiety, etc. Not someone you typically (in my experience) think of as a main character in a fantasy novel. Saga is great representation for folks like her.
Anderson's writing style is also a joy to read. The flow of the sentences and cohesiveness of the story unfolding is so smooth. The way Anderson presents these scenarios/scenes as they happen definitely makes it easy for me to visualize what is happening, what someone looks like, the emotions being expressed.
I am VERY much looking forward to the sequel coming soon, "Spellbound".
Tldr: Read this book, you won't be disappointed!
It's about a girl who is a long time player of a MMORPG, living her normal life. Like many of us, she too has fantasies about beloved video game characters. While playing the game one night, she hears some voices she's been hearing the last few days. All of a sudden, she's pulled right out of our universe and into the world of this game! Imagine how crazy that would be! I won't say more because I don't want to spoil anything, but all I can say is that it's great!
I, being a man, have never generally been the target audience of books like these. They're typically just marketed towards women. I for one am happy that I decided to read this. It's so fascinating to read a book of this genre from the perspective of a woman who has thoughts, feelings, and urges about men. It's a perspective I think more men who want to understand women should read more.
CK Anderson has also written this character, "Saga Falk" so well. Saga wears glasses, vegan, has anxiety, etc. Not someone you typically (in my experience) think of as a main character in a fantasy novel. Saga is great representation for folks like her.
Anderson's writing style is also a joy to read. The flow of the sentences and cohesiveness of the story unfolding is so smooth. The way Anderson presents these scenarios/scenes as they happen definitely makes it easy for me to visualize what is happening, what someone looks like, the emotions being expressed.
I am VERY much looking forward to the sequel coming soon, "Spellbound".
Tldr: Read this book, you won't be disappointed!
March 27, 2024
4.5 ⭐
.5 🌶
I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator, Samantha Norbury was fantastic! She literally was a one woman show, doing voices for all characters regardless of gender. She is amazingly talented!
This book was magical and a perfect pick for our Book club for March.
This is a portal story where Saga our FMC gets sucked into her favorite RPG game. She doesn't realize where she is until she starts seeing familiar faces. Will she finally be able to meet the Elf Prince she always dreamed about?
In the midst of all this, love kind of sneaks up on her. She learns to trust and open up again. Multiple times she's forced out of her comfort zone and becomes stronger. She also learns that she has something deep inside her that wants to be free and the villain will stop at no cost to get what she has.
Garren, our golden boy, follower of the Light, highest ranking paladin of Whitekeep. He's every green flag you can think of. We seriously all love him. Our Knight in shining Armour. He helps Saga and takes her underneath his wing. He will protect her at no end.
The villain in this book is perfect. You loathe him with every inch of your being. Don't look art of him though... it might cause some serious confusion.
This story was such fun to read. There is a lot of action but also hits that emotional nerve in your soul. If you like when he falls first, amazing side characters, masterful Villain, portal story, amazing character growth, twists, interesting magical abilities, and pretty much everything in between you will love this book!
.5 🌶
I listened to this as an audiobook. The narrator, Samantha Norbury was fantastic! She literally was a one woman show, doing voices for all characters regardless of gender. She is amazingly talented!
This book was magical and a perfect pick for our Book club for March.
This is a portal story where Saga our FMC gets sucked into her favorite RPG game. She doesn't realize where she is until she starts seeing familiar faces. Will she finally be able to meet the Elf Prince she always dreamed about?
In the midst of all this, love kind of sneaks up on her. She learns to trust and open up again. Multiple times she's forced out of her comfort zone and becomes stronger. She also learns that she has something deep inside her that wants to be free and the villain will stop at no cost to get what she has.
Garren, our golden boy, follower of the Light, highest ranking paladin of Whitekeep. He's every green flag you can think of. We seriously all love him. Our Knight in shining Armour. He helps Saga and takes her underneath his wing. He will protect her at no end.
The villain in this book is perfect. You loathe him with every inch of your being. Don't look art of him though... it might cause some serious confusion.
This story was such fun to read. There is a lot of action but also hits that emotional nerve in your soul. If you like when he falls first, amazing side characters, masterful Villain, portal story, amazing character growth, twists, interesting magical abilities, and pretty much everything in between you will love this book!
December 20, 2025
Shadow Dance by C. K. Andersson is an absolutely captivating and imaginative journey that blends fantasy, suspense, and emotional depth in a way that keeps you completely hooked from start to finish. The story’s premise where a simple escape into an online game becomes a thrilling and dangerous reality is brilliantly executed, immediately drawing readers into Saga’s world and her gripping struggle for survival.
Andersson masterfully builds the world of Theadrath, from the majestic city of Whitekeep to the intricate politics of the vampire council and the elegant lands of the high elves. The vivid descriptions make the settings feel alive, while the mix of magic, dark forces, and unexpected twists keeps the tension high throughout. Saga herself is a compelling and relatable protagonist; her journey to find strength, allies, and self-discovery feels authentic and deeply engaging.
The interplay between her real-life attachments and the fantastical world adds layers of emotional depth, particularly her connection with Prince Kailunn Sunseeker. Andersson skillfully balances romance, mystery, and adventure, making the story appealing on multiple levels.
This book is perfect for fans of immersive fantasy with strong character development and intricate world-building. Every chapter propels you forward, blending suspense, intrigue, and heartfelt moments seamlessly. Shadow Dance is a thrilling, magical, and utterly enchanting read that leaves you eagerly turning pages and rooting for Saga at every turn.
Andersson masterfully builds the world of Theadrath, from the majestic city of Whitekeep to the intricate politics of the vampire council and the elegant lands of the high elves. The vivid descriptions make the settings feel alive, while the mix of magic, dark forces, and unexpected twists keeps the tension high throughout. Saga herself is a compelling and relatable protagonist; her journey to find strength, allies, and self-discovery feels authentic and deeply engaging.
The interplay between her real-life attachments and the fantastical world adds layers of emotional depth, particularly her connection with Prince Kailunn Sunseeker. Andersson skillfully balances romance, mystery, and adventure, making the story appealing on multiple levels.
This book is perfect for fans of immersive fantasy with strong character development and intricate world-building. Every chapter propels you forward, blending suspense, intrigue, and heartfelt moments seamlessly. Shadow Dance is a thrilling, magical, and utterly enchanting read that leaves you eagerly turning pages and rooting for Saga at every turn.
August 24, 2024
This was such a lovely read!
Shadow Dance follows a young woman, Saga Falk, who finds herself transported into a world identical to a game she has played for most of her life. She has been through a tough past and is quite guarded, but slowly finds herself on a journey of self discovery as she meets various people in this world and encounters various situations. Despite her already knowing many of these characters through playing this game, meeting them in person turned out to be a whole new experience. This concept in itself is already such a fun and interesting one.
This immersive story is full of lush descriptions of scenery. There were many wholesome and endearing moments which warmed my heart and made me giggle, and this was enriched further with characters who were nothing short of lovable. Amongst the species included humans, elves, and vampires - some of which were thousands of years old. As someone who has found that most books she has read seems to focus on young characters with ages ranging from the early teens to early twenties, it was very refreshing to see this story had a slightly older cast. Not to mention, the gentlemen in this story were so well written, and many times I found myself swooning. . .Garren I am talking about you!
I'm super excited to see where this story will go, and I can't wait for the second book. If you love stories of fantasy, gaming worlds, ones with a vast cast and multiple POVs, slow burn, wholesome characters and endearing romance, this may be the next book for you.
Shadow Dance follows a young woman, Saga Falk, who finds herself transported into a world identical to a game she has played for most of her life. She has been through a tough past and is quite guarded, but slowly finds herself on a journey of self discovery as she meets various people in this world and encounters various situations. Despite her already knowing many of these characters through playing this game, meeting them in person turned out to be a whole new experience. This concept in itself is already such a fun and interesting one.
This immersive story is full of lush descriptions of scenery. There were many wholesome and endearing moments which warmed my heart and made me giggle, and this was enriched further with characters who were nothing short of lovable. Amongst the species included humans, elves, and vampires - some of which were thousands of years old. As someone who has found that most books she has read seems to focus on young characters with ages ranging from the early teens to early twenties, it was very refreshing to see this story had a slightly older cast. Not to mention, the gentlemen in this story were so well written, and many times I found myself swooning. . .Garren I am talking about you!
I'm super excited to see where this story will go, and I can't wait for the second book. If you love stories of fantasy, gaming worlds, ones with a vast cast and multiple POVs, slow burn, wholesome characters and endearing romance, this may be the next book for you.
August 27, 2024
My initial thoughts about this book were not entirely positive. The Kailunn obsession is a bit much and doesn’t fully make sense to me from the get-go.
The first chapter doesnt do anything for me, either. This was prior to Saga being sucked in to the other world, and it all seems disjointed and pointless.
I truly wanted to like this—the premise was so interesting—and I do admit it gave me nostalgia over my World of Warcraft days. However, most of it was like puzzle pieces slapped together that sort of fit, but didn’t really make a clear picture.
I liked Garren’s characterization the most, and I liked the exploration between him and Saga. I also really enjoyed the fact that Saga was an older MC than in most book standards. The characters themselves I think are the most redeeming part of this book.
The last 30% was arguably better than any of the rest of the story, but the ending made absolutely no sense to me. I also was expecting Saga to have gained some sort of control over her powers, or really shift and have important character development, but she seems the same in the end as she was in the beginning. I do believe there is a book two coming out, and I do plan on reading that in hopes of getting more answers.
All in all, this book wasn’t bad, it just didn’t give me that YES factor that I was hoping for. However, if portal fantasies are your thing and you love an interesting plot line with a no-spice romance involved, then definitely give this a try!
The first chapter doesnt do anything for me, either. This was prior to Saga being sucked in to the other world, and it all seems disjointed and pointless.
I truly wanted to like this—the premise was so interesting—and I do admit it gave me nostalgia over my World of Warcraft days. However, most of it was like puzzle pieces slapped together that sort of fit, but didn’t really make a clear picture.
I liked Garren’s characterization the most, and I liked the exploration between him and Saga. I also really enjoyed the fact that Saga was an older MC than in most book standards. The characters themselves I think are the most redeeming part of this book.
The last 30% was arguably better than any of the rest of the story, but the ending made absolutely no sense to me. I also was expecting Saga to have gained some sort of control over her powers, or really shift and have important character development, but she seems the same in the end as she was in the beginning. I do believe there is a book two coming out, and I do plan on reading that in hopes of getting more answers.
All in all, this book wasn’t bad, it just didn’t give me that YES factor that I was hoping for. However, if portal fantasies are your thing and you love an interesting plot line with a no-spice romance involved, then definitely give this a try!
July 25, 2024
Saga, the main character, grapples with deep emotional wounds from page one. Fans of romantic fantasy who want more character transformation than just "she gets the guy" will love this book. The world and pacing reminded me a lot of anime like Sword Art Online. It was almost cozy at times and hinted at a bigger world and plot potential I can't wait to explore in the next book. I gained a lot of empathy for Saga as the story went on, and I really like to subtle complexity of the main love interest. He's a badass with a complicated background but without being a toxic narcissist in a handsome package as is so frequent in this genre. I also really loved that Saga wins friends and allies by the strength of her character and kindness rather than cheaply-gained magic powers (another trope I'm tried of). Also, the villain and morally gray characters are phenomenal. I was on the edge of my seat every time they were on the page. If you want a fantasy that has both dark and cozy moments, romantic themes without shoving them down your throat, and meaningful character growth, this book is for you.
December 8, 2024
This book focuses on Saga Falk, who is transported to the world of a videogame she is so familiar with ... or so she thinks.
This isekai-style book takes a character who is accustomed to modern luxuries and places her in the world of magic and less than easy circumstances. There were a few things I found difficult, primarily the main character - if I hear how skinny or vegan she is one more time I may explode. The supporting characters were incredibly likeable however and that balanced out the plot a lot. I did find myself getting invested in the characters and plot, and must say it was a fun read despite the above snark I have inserted. I think I may pick up the next volume as I found it ended on quite the note.
The narrator did a great job of translating the voices of the characters and making the story come to life. It was not robotic and there was emotion there, making it a really easy and accessible way to read this book.
Overall a fun book and I think many people would really enjoy it!
I was provided with an ARC in exchange by the audiobook narrator for an honest review.
This isekai-style book takes a character who is accustomed to modern luxuries and places her in the world of magic and less than easy circumstances. There were a few things I found difficult, primarily the main character - if I hear how skinny or vegan she is one more time I may explode. The supporting characters were incredibly likeable however and that balanced out the plot a lot. I did find myself getting invested in the characters and plot, and must say it was a fun read despite the above snark I have inserted. I think I may pick up the next volume as I found it ended on quite the note.
The narrator did a great job of translating the voices of the characters and making the story come to life. It was not robotic and there was emotion there, making it a really easy and accessible way to read this book.
Overall a fun book and I think many people would really enjoy it!
I was provided with an ARC in exchange by the audiobook narrator for an honest review.
February 19, 2024
Shadow Dance is an amazing, immersive fantasy experience. It starts with Saga, a woman who is literally sucked into a fantasy role-playing game called ‘Reign Online.’ She struggles to get her footing in this new world but eventually accepts her fate and tries to adapt to fit in. She meets knights, elves, and vampires along the way. Saga becomes confused because her loyalty lies with the elves and Kailunn, a prince of the elves in the game; however, she is thrown in with the human knights where she meets a Paladin named Garren. With Garren, Saga realizes she is developing a power which Garren shares. Saga begins to develop conflicting feeling on where her loyalties lie, especially when she meets Kailunn in person. Meanwhile, a malcious villain in this world, Lysander, is trying to gain power and steal some of Saga’s inexplicably developing power. The conflict leaves you on the edge of your seat, and this book leaves you wanting more! Shadow Dance is an amazing read!!! Everyone who loves fantasy will love this book!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2024
I loved this book. I love a good portal fantasy where the fmc falls into another dimension that resembles her video games. This had forced proximity, a slow-burn romance with a character you don't realize is going to become the main love interest. This book gives you all of the good feelings and happiness you've been yearning for...
Until the last chapter. If you want to remain happy, procrastinate reading the very last chapter. No spoilers, but trust me, and don't read the last chapter until you have book two ready to read next. Just trust me.
I found the fmc super relatable, especially for those who have gone through hard times in past relationships and fitting in in a social setting. I adore Saga with my entire heart.
Garren is the love interest you do not expect to fall in love with, it was super unexpected for me because I thought we were going to seek out the Elvin Prince right away but then we just got swept away by Garren. Garren has my whole heart now.
Until the last chapter. If you want to remain happy, procrastinate reading the very last chapter. No spoilers, but trust me, and don't read the last chapter until you have book two ready to read next. Just trust me.
I found the fmc super relatable, especially for those who have gone through hard times in past relationships and fitting in in a social setting. I adore Saga with my entire heart.
Garren is the love interest you do not expect to fall in love with, it was super unexpected for me because I thought we were going to seek out the Elvin Prince right away but then we just got swept away by Garren. Garren has my whole heart now.
May 22, 2023
Thank you to the author for an advanced copy in exchange for this honest review.
I am not a fantasy reader, but I found that this book took many of the tropes that I've been discouraged by before and twisted them into new and exciting threads of a brilliantly-composed story with compelling stakes (both high, and personal!), a romance I could root for - and was at times challenged by - and characters that seemed effortlessly real. I enjoyed this book a huge amount and believe it worthy of far more intellectual praise than this, but can only finish by saying that it was a thrilling and worthwhile read and a story I feel privileged to have been witness to. I'm excited for more from the author!
I am not a fantasy reader, but I found that this book took many of the tropes that I've been discouraged by before and twisted them into new and exciting threads of a brilliantly-composed story with compelling stakes (both high, and personal!), a romance I could root for - and was at times challenged by - and characters that seemed effortlessly real. I enjoyed this book a huge amount and believe it worthy of far more intellectual praise than this, but can only finish by saying that it was a thrilling and worthwhile read and a story I feel privileged to have been witness to. I'm excited for more from the author!
January 10, 2026
I really wanted to like this book. The writing is unpolished, but it has potential. A lot of the similies are poetic but make no sense, i.e. 'His sternness seems to lose its leaves, and rosehips of softness appear in his eyes.'
There isn't much plot and the villain is severely undeveloped. I had to re-read the last two chapters twice to figure out what happened as it was all rather rushed and not described well. I am still not entirely sure how what happened, happened.
The artwork is gorgeous and the author seems very sweet, but this book could use a lot more work.
On a final note, I'm not sure what book the five star reviews were reading, but I am not convinced we were reading the same book.
There isn't much plot and the villain is severely undeveloped. I had to re-read the last two chapters twice to figure out what happened as it was all rather rushed and not described well. I am still not entirely sure how what happened, happened.
The artwork is gorgeous and the author seems very sweet, but this book could use a lot more work.
On a final note, I'm not sure what book the five star reviews were reading, but I am not convinced we were reading the same book.
March 25, 2023
Thanks to the publisher/author for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Andersson writes from the heart without shying away from the parts that ache. The characters of Shadow Dance are vivid and memorable, and the author's genuine love for her craft breathes life into every detail. Many will find the world of Theadrath comfortably familiar at first glance, but preconceived notions often clash with reality and nothing can be taken for granted as Saga and the reader dance between light and darkness in this soulful fish-out-of-water story.
Andersson writes from the heart without shying away from the parts that ache. The characters of Shadow Dance are vivid and memorable, and the author's genuine love for her craft breathes life into every detail. Many will find the world of Theadrath comfortably familiar at first glance, but preconceived notions often clash with reality and nothing can be taken for granted as Saga and the reader dance between light and darkness in this soulful fish-out-of-water story.
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