What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadow and Starlight #2
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers
After making a deal with the King of Tronovia, Shaye attends the School of Magic to master her power and learn more hand-to-hand combat. With unlimited access to Calmara, the biggest library in the known world, she seeks answers to all of her burning questions.
Why does she have magic reserved only for the Celestials?
Is she the true Heir to the Midorian Throne?
Is Bastian, her childhood friend and fiancé, the monster everyone believes him to be?
And if all that wasn’t weighing on her enough, her growing feelings for Atlas and the revelation that their connection may be deeper than just attraction, has her fighting to keep afloat.
When the opportunity to travel to the Kingdom of Elowen arises, Shaye jumps at the chance to go, curious to see if her Frost Elf features mean she has familial ties to the northernmost kingdom. With her friends in tow, Shaye discovers more about herself than she ever dreamed possible – though she can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t safe.
With Soul Eaters still hunting her, a rare magical connection at work, and Bastian allegedly stirring an ancient evil from dormancy, Shaye must stay a step ahead and find out who she is before it’s too late.
Why does she have magic reserved only for the Celestials?
Is she the true Heir to the Midorian Throne?
Is Bastian, her childhood friend and fiancé, the monster everyone believes him to be?
And if all that wasn’t weighing on her enough, her growing feelings for Atlas and the revelation that their connection may be deeper than just attraction, has her fighting to keep afloat.
When the opportunity to travel to the Kingdom of Elowen arises, Shaye jumps at the chance to go, curious to see if her Frost Elf features mean she has familial ties to the northernmost kingdom. With her friends in tow, Shaye discovers more about herself than she ever dreamed possible – though she can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t safe.
With Soul Eaters still hunting her, a rare magical connection at work, and Bastian allegedly stirring an ancient evil from dormancy, Shaye must stay a step ahead and find out who she is before it’s too late.
Unknown Binding
Published April 25, 2024
61 people are currently reading
1557 people want to read
About the author
Morgan Gauthier
12 books253 followersStorytelling is in Morgan Gauthier’s blood; She can’t seem to turn her brain off at night and some of her best ideas have come to her in the shower.
Born to two book-loving parents, Morgan was raised on a healthy diet of The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, and any fantasy book she could get her hands on. She started writing her own stories at eleven years old and hasn’t looked back.
Wolves of Adalore was her first self-published YA Fantasy title and since then, she has published a Contemporary Romance (Aloha, Seattle) with the second YA Fantasy installment in the Mark of the Hunter Trilogy (The Red Maiden) coming in April of 2022.
Morgan Gauthier lives in East Tennessee with her husband and best friend, Brad, with their three children, Remi, Archer, and Roux (who are 4 years old and younger!). If five people wreaking havoc in the same house wasn’t enough, Morgan also has three dogs, Potter, Skye, and Bubba, and one grumpy bird named Titus.
If Morgan isn’t writing or reading, she can be found binge watching Netflix shows, attempting to cook like Gordon Ramsay (not even close to his level), and practicing archery.
Born to two book-loving parents, Morgan was raised on a healthy diet of The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Nancy Drew, and any fantasy book she could get her hands on. She started writing her own stories at eleven years old and hasn’t looked back.
Wolves of Adalore was her first self-published YA Fantasy title and since then, she has published a Contemporary Romance (Aloha, Seattle) with the second YA Fantasy installment in the Mark of the Hunter Trilogy (The Red Maiden) coming in April of 2022.
Morgan Gauthier lives in East Tennessee with her husband and best friend, Brad, with their three children, Remi, Archer, and Roux (who are 4 years old and younger!). If five people wreaking havoc in the same house wasn’t enough, Morgan also has three dogs, Potter, Skye, and Bubba, and one grumpy bird named Titus.
If Morgan isn’t writing or reading, she can be found binge watching Netflix shows, attempting to cook like Gordon Ramsay (not even close to his level), and practicing archery.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
March 18, 2024
Spice 🌶️🌶️/5 only one scene
Magic school training where love interest is teacher
Dragon rider training/missing lost princess is found vibes (fourth wing meets Tangled vibes) only the last 10% of the book though.
Loved book one. This book only got my attention in the last 10%. It was enough to make me read the next.
Not much happened until the end. Needs editing. Where is the plot. Looking for plot not over described things/scenes.
The whole plot seem to be centered around the slow burn, but the whole time both characters were basically in love with each other so the slow burn wasn’t a burn. It was more like Insta love 🙄 and other than that it was the exact same thing repeated over and over again they would go home flirt they would go to school flirt they would go home flirt they would go to school flirt they would go home flirt they would go to school. Flirt. Need I go on?
I liked thrane more than atlas 🤷🏼♀️ slow burn was so slow that I didn’t care anymore if they got together or not
Secretly was wanting her to date thrane instead he reads wayyyy better. he is confident, protective l, he fights for her, their dragons are mates, and he just has that book boyfriend AIR about him whereas atlas reads like a wimp. Atlas is a pus who didn’t fight for her and would have let her marry whoever. Gross ick. I need her to be with thrane.
Also, it usually takes me about one day or two to read a book that is 400 pages but this one it took me over a week and a half just because I was so bored that I had to keep forcing myself to read it. And then, of course, at the end, it got interesting.
I’m still reading making notes as I go though.
Spoilers below don’t read further
She’s a princess/student. He is her professor.
Slow burn that is so slow I don’t think I will care when it finally happens.
Book needs editing. It is long and full of writing but the writing is repetitive. They say the same things fifty different ways.
FMC is frustrating me. The miscommunication trope particularly. She wants to f MMC but won’t tell him that she isn’t going to marry bastian. How does that make sense? You have the courage to say that you want sex but that you don’t want to marry this other guy?
Was not expecting her to be a magic school. Twist I didn’t see.
Everything is overly described. I have started skimming some descriptions because I don’t need a novel to know about one thing. Especially food. Lots of overly described food. Idc.
The writing is fine but not nearly as interested in it as book one. I’ve been reading it for a week. Normally I’d be finished in a day or two. Just keep putting it down and forcing myself to go back. It is not holding my attention. However it is not the authors fault entirely. I just don’t find the plot or characters interesting.
There is no plot. There is tension that is dragged out so much it’ll just annoy you instead of slow burn you. Idk just not loving it.
Hoping it’ll improve because I LOVED book one
About the 77% mark of the book, dragons enter the picture. Reminds me of fourth wing discussing keeping your seat
Chapter 33 it finally got interesting!!
Wait a minute why is Thrane hotter than Atlas!?!? 🥵
I am still reading, and I kind of hope that she gets with thrane.
It has a little bit of fourth wing because of the dragons and the Disney movie tangled where there’s a lost princess and the people leave tribute every year for the last princess. It has a little bit of those vibes.
I hate atlas in a way. He doesn’t fight for her love. He is passive. I want her to marry her cousin now😒🙄
“By his tone, it sounds like he doesn't care that I'm expected to pledge my life and hand to the Frost Elves, but by the tightness in his shoulders and storm brewing in his eyes, I know he's scared. "What do you intend to do?" he asks, his eyes pinned to the city below. "I don't know. Thrane offered to marry me, so I don't have to pledge myself to a stranger. He said you and I could continue seeing each other, since he has no real interest in me as a wife.”
“His fingers grip the stone, as if he's trying to restrain himself from finding Thrane and beating the shit out of him. Slowly, he slides his hand against the banister to meet mine but stops short. He doesn't respond or look up at me, so I whisper, "Don't you have anything else to say? Any advice to offer?""What's there to say?" He finally meets my gaze. "You finally found your family. Here you have titles and a future. I could never ask you to give all of this up for me.""Maybe I would."He smiles, but I can sense the pain behind those green eyes. Slowly, he reaches over and tucks loose strands of my hair behind my ear. "You belong here.""That's all you have to say?" I hiss like a wounded animal. "I belong here?""What do you want me to say, Shaye?" A flash of frustration erupts across his face. "Maybe, don't marry Thrane? Or don't give into fulfilling some warped sense”
“even matter?" He squares his shoulders to mine; tension tightens in his frame. "How long would it take for you to resent me? How long would it take for you to hate me for pushing you into abandoning what you've been denied your entire life? A day, a month, a year?""I would expect the man whose fingers have been curled inside me to at the very least pretend to put up a fight for my hand" – I eye him up and down with viciousness – "but I suppose I have no one to blame but myself for blind stupidity.”
Can’t stand atlas anymore. Team thane.
Bastian enters the picture at the end and he actually loves shae I think which was a plot twist and he has had to hide the fact that he has magic too from everyone lol I thought he was just evil but he actually like shae whoa and did like her 😳
I Will read book 3 simply because I have put in so much time reading these books and now I’m curious to see how it’ll go in the next book.
But I don’t really think that the war is going to be a war because there’s a lot of plot but there’s not really any conflict mentioned and I’m pretty sure now the only person she’ll be fighting against is bastion, but bastion still cares for her so there isn’t really an enemy.
And I’ll read the next one, but I’m not like super excited about it and I might not even remember that book 3 exists because there isn’t a place for me to add it to my list of books to read on Goodreads or any place for me to add it to my List to purchase books in the future on Amazon, so I might forget it exists
Magic school training where love interest is teacher
Dragon rider training/missing lost princess is found vibes (fourth wing meets Tangled vibes) only the last 10% of the book though.
Loved book one. This book only got my attention in the last 10%. It was enough to make me read the next.
Not much happened until the end. Needs editing. Where is the plot. Looking for plot not over described things/scenes.
The whole plot seem to be centered around the slow burn, but the whole time both characters were basically in love with each other so the slow burn wasn’t a burn. It was more like Insta love 🙄 and other than that it was the exact same thing repeated over and over again they would go home flirt they would go to school flirt they would go home flirt they would go to school flirt they would go home flirt they would go to school. Flirt. Need I go on?
I liked thrane more than atlas 🤷🏼♀️ slow burn was so slow that I didn’t care anymore if they got together or not
Secretly was wanting her to date thrane instead he reads wayyyy better. he is confident, protective l, he fights for her, their dragons are mates, and he just has that book boyfriend AIR about him whereas atlas reads like a wimp. Atlas is a pus who didn’t fight for her and would have let her marry whoever. Gross ick. I need her to be with thrane.
Also, it usually takes me about one day or two to read a book that is 400 pages but this one it took me over a week and a half just because I was so bored that I had to keep forcing myself to read it. And then, of course, at the end, it got interesting.
I’m still reading making notes as I go though.
Spoilers below don’t read further
She’s a princess/student. He is her professor.
Slow burn that is so slow I don’t think I will care when it finally happens.
Book needs editing. It is long and full of writing but the writing is repetitive. They say the same things fifty different ways.
FMC is frustrating me. The miscommunication trope particularly. She wants to f MMC but won’t tell him that she isn’t going to marry bastian. How does that make sense? You have the courage to say that you want sex but that you don’t want to marry this other guy?
Was not expecting her to be a magic school. Twist I didn’t see.
Everything is overly described. I have started skimming some descriptions because I don’t need a novel to know about one thing. Especially food. Lots of overly described food. Idc.
The writing is fine but not nearly as interested in it as book one. I’ve been reading it for a week. Normally I’d be finished in a day or two. Just keep putting it down and forcing myself to go back. It is not holding my attention. However it is not the authors fault entirely. I just don’t find the plot or characters interesting.
There is no plot. There is tension that is dragged out so much it’ll just annoy you instead of slow burn you. Idk just not loving it.
Hoping it’ll improve because I LOVED book one
About the 77% mark of the book, dragons enter the picture. Reminds me of fourth wing discussing keeping your seat
Chapter 33 it finally got interesting!!
Wait a minute why is Thrane hotter than Atlas!?!? 🥵
I am still reading, and I kind of hope that she gets with thrane.
It has a little bit of fourth wing because of the dragons and the Disney movie tangled where there’s a lost princess and the people leave tribute every year for the last princess. It has a little bit of those vibes.
I hate atlas in a way. He doesn’t fight for her love. He is passive. I want her to marry her cousin now😒🙄
“By his tone, it sounds like he doesn't care that I'm expected to pledge my life and hand to the Frost Elves, but by the tightness in his shoulders and storm brewing in his eyes, I know he's scared. "What do you intend to do?" he asks, his eyes pinned to the city below. "I don't know. Thrane offered to marry me, so I don't have to pledge myself to a stranger. He said you and I could continue seeing each other, since he has no real interest in me as a wife.”
“His fingers grip the stone, as if he's trying to restrain himself from finding Thrane and beating the shit out of him. Slowly, he slides his hand against the banister to meet mine but stops short. He doesn't respond or look up at me, so I whisper, "Don't you have anything else to say? Any advice to offer?""What's there to say?" He finally meets my gaze. "You finally found your family. Here you have titles and a future. I could never ask you to give all of this up for me.""Maybe I would."He smiles, but I can sense the pain behind those green eyes. Slowly, he reaches over and tucks loose strands of my hair behind my ear. "You belong here.""That's all you have to say?" I hiss like a wounded animal. "I belong here?""What do you want me to say, Shaye?" A flash of frustration erupts across his face. "Maybe, don't marry Thrane? Or don't give into fulfilling some warped sense”
“even matter?" He squares his shoulders to mine; tension tightens in his frame. "How long would it take for you to resent me? How long would it take for you to hate me for pushing you into abandoning what you've been denied your entire life? A day, a month, a year?""I would expect the man whose fingers have been curled inside me to at the very least pretend to put up a fight for my hand" – I eye him up and down with viciousness – "but I suppose I have no one to blame but myself for blind stupidity.”
Can’t stand atlas anymore. Team thane.
Bastian enters the picture at the end and he actually loves shae I think which was a plot twist and he has had to hide the fact that he has magic too from everyone lol I thought he was just evil but he actually like shae whoa and did like her 😳
I Will read book 3 simply because I have put in so much time reading these books and now I’m curious to see how it’ll go in the next book.
But I don’t really think that the war is going to be a war because there’s a lot of plot but there’s not really any conflict mentioned and I’m pretty sure now the only person she’ll be fighting against is bastion, but bastion still cares for her so there isn’t really an enemy.
And I’ll read the next one, but I’m not like super excited about it and I might not even remember that book 3 exists because there isn’t a place for me to add it to my list of books to read on Goodreads or any place for me to add it to my List to purchase books in the future on Amazon, so I might forget it exists
March 11, 2024
Wonderful continuation to the Shadow and Starlight series. Morgan does an excellent job of giving us those powerful moments of Shaye growing into her power, of Atlas and Shaye figuring out who they are to each other, and the love of found family.
Morgan's books always give me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I loved following Shaye's journey as she discovered the role she can play as a powerful figure, but also found people who loved and cherished her -- something she hasn't had before. I also loved that she was able to reconnect with others. Atlas, Nyx, Finn and Eris are the perfect found family side characters and I love their interactions with each others. But I need Finn and Eris to get over themselves and finally admit some feelings! C'mon you two.
The plot moves quickly, but I did have a heard time figuring out where it was going. The last 25 percent of the book really sets up the next book and the forthcoming battles. That ending chapter and resulting cliffhanger will leave you with a feeling of dread and reading to dive into the next book.
Morgan's books always give me that warm fuzzy feeling inside. I loved following Shaye's journey as she discovered the role she can play as a powerful figure, but also found people who loved and cherished her -- something she hasn't had before. I also loved that she was able to reconnect with others. Atlas, Nyx, Finn and Eris are the perfect found family side characters and I love their interactions with each others. But I need Finn and Eris to get over themselves and finally admit some feelings! C'mon you two.
The plot moves quickly, but I did have a heard time figuring out where it was going. The last 25 percent of the book really sets up the next book and the forthcoming battles. That ending chapter and resulting cliffhanger will leave you with a feeling of dread and reading to dive into the next book.
May 15, 2024
Again, if you’re the author, please don’t read this review unless you’re really good at handling criticism.
Is this slightly better than book one or am I just more used to it? Probably the second one. This series is my cheesy bad sci fi movie. It’s so bad it’s good.
Butcherblock counter tops were mentioned at least four times. Sweatpants. In ground hot tubs. This is a fantasy novel????? Also, maybe in an effort to feel like a fantasy novel, characters never used contractions when they spoke. Which didn’t make it feel more like a fantasy. It made it feel weird, especially because anything that wasn’t dialogue had contractions.
Also the wine tasting continues in this book, though not as many times as the first. Speaking of food, be prepared for lots and lots of descriptions of everything she ever eats to distract you from the fact that there is no real plot until maybe like the last ten percent of the book.
Sometimes it felt like this was written by an alien who had observed humans but didn’t know what it was like to actually be a human, so can’t write believable natural feeling characters. So maybe AI?
Random magic school with weird name. Of course there’s dragons and of course things surrounding the dragons feel very fourth wing. Other scenes feel ripped from ACOTAR and tangled. Which I know she’s said this is inspired by both but when does it cross the line from inspiration?
Everyone is weirdly obsessed with Shaye and Atlas’s relationship and if they’ve kissed or done other things. And I mean everyone. Kings, teachers, friends, etc.
heads bobbed countless times. Teeth clicked. Eyebrows bounced playfully. People were eating distance. Anytime the word walk could and should’ve been used, a thesaurus was consulted instead. I’m half convinced Shaye will fall in love with her cousin simply from the way she describes him in this book. That doesn’t bode well for Atlas.
Speaking of Atlas. We would randomly get a POV chapter from him every now and then. It was mainly used to info dump his perspective from book 1. Which if his perspective then was important, why not give it to us in book one instead of him giving us pages of recap while he’s in the middle of doing other things (things where you wouldn’t expect him to be reminiscing about the past)
Also lots of typos. We had the return of “I turn to puddy” which horrified me in book one (it should be putty.) I’m just assuming there was no editor.
I could go on but I’ll stop there. Can’t wait for next year so I can finish this with a tale of trial and torment
Is this slightly better than book one or am I just more used to it? Probably the second one. This series is my cheesy bad sci fi movie. It’s so bad it’s good.
Butcherblock counter tops were mentioned at least four times. Sweatpants. In ground hot tubs. This is a fantasy novel????? Also, maybe in an effort to feel like a fantasy novel, characters never used contractions when they spoke. Which didn’t make it feel more like a fantasy. It made it feel weird, especially because anything that wasn’t dialogue had contractions.
Also the wine tasting continues in this book, though not as many times as the first. Speaking of food, be prepared for lots and lots of descriptions of everything she ever eats to distract you from the fact that there is no real plot until maybe like the last ten percent of the book.
Sometimes it felt like this was written by an alien who had observed humans but didn’t know what it was like to actually be a human, so can’t write believable natural feeling characters. So maybe AI?
Random magic school with weird name. Of course there’s dragons and of course things surrounding the dragons feel very fourth wing. Other scenes feel ripped from ACOTAR and tangled. Which I know she’s said this is inspired by both but when does it cross the line from inspiration?
Everyone is weirdly obsessed with Shaye and Atlas’s relationship and if they’ve kissed or done other things. And I mean everyone. Kings, teachers, friends, etc.
heads bobbed countless times. Teeth clicked. Eyebrows bounced playfully. People were eating distance. Anytime the word walk could and should’ve been used, a thesaurus was consulted instead. I’m half convinced Shaye will fall in love with her cousin simply from the way she describes him in this book. That doesn’t bode well for Atlas.
Speaking of Atlas. We would randomly get a POV chapter from him every now and then. It was mainly used to info dump his perspective from book 1. Which if his perspective then was important, why not give it to us in book one instead of him giving us pages of recap while he’s in the middle of doing other things (things where you wouldn’t expect him to be reminiscing about the past)
Also lots of typos. We had the return of “I turn to puddy” which horrified me in book one (it should be putty.) I’m just assuming there was no editor.
I could go on but I’ll stop there. Can’t wait for next year so I can finish this with a tale of trial and torment
April 28, 2024
This sequel delves deeper into the world and shifts towards more complexity in the characters introduced in the first book, offering a richer and more expansive story. My biggest complaint was the simplicity of the first, but there is none of that here.
The sequel continues to follow Shaye as she navigates the challenges of mastering her previously-secret magic and uncovering her true identity, all while grappling with her growing feelings for Atlas and the mysteries surrounding her connection to him. The addition of new settings and lore drastically expands the world-building and adds depth to the story.
I DO think that things were expanded a little too much towards the end. The introduction of could have benefited from slower development and exploration in the NEXT book. This felt like it had a pacing issue towards the end and the story was too complex. I also still don't really understand the unwavering mistrust of her loved ones without substantial evidence or being able to hear their side of the story. I'm just trying to ignore it now because it's never going to make sense to me.
Overall, this is a great continuation of the series that substantially improves upon the first with compelling characters and a richly imagined world. It is just as engaging and leaves readers eager to uncover more secrets in the next installment. But while the sequel offers a more intricate storyline, I felt that certain aspects could have been given more room to breathe.
Thanks to the author. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
The sequel continues to follow Shaye as she navigates the challenges of mastering her previously-secret magic and uncovering her true identity, all while grappling with her growing feelings for Atlas and the mysteries surrounding her connection to him. The addition of new settings and lore drastically expands the world-building and adds depth to the story.
I DO think that things were expanded a little too much towards the end. The introduction of could have benefited from slower development and exploration in the NEXT book. This felt like it had a pacing issue towards the end and the story was too complex. I also still don't really understand the unwavering mistrust of her loved ones without substantial evidence or being able to hear their side of the story. I'm just trying to ignore it now because it's never going to make sense to me.
Overall, this is a great continuation of the series that substantially improves upon the first with compelling characters and a richly imagined world. It is just as engaging and leaves readers eager to uncover more secrets in the next installment. But while the sequel offers a more intricate storyline, I felt that certain aspects could have been given more room to breathe.
Thanks to the author. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.
March 14, 2024
Ugh, so good! Read this series ASAP! 😍
...
Tropes:
Close Proximity
Found Family
Secrets & Lies
Dragons!
Favorite Random Quote: "I don't know anything about baking other than I love to eat baked goods."
...
Tropes:
Close Proximity
Found Family
Secrets & Lies
Dragons!
Favorite Random Quote: "I don't know anything about baking other than I love to eat baked goods."
April 17, 2024
This book brought about the best journey for Shaye and I loved every second of it. The bond between her and Atlas was absolutely everything. I loved getting to know Nyx, Eris, Finn, and Ronan more. I’m so grateful I was able to have this as an ARC and absolutely cannot wait for the next one!! ✨🤩
June 9, 2024
Really a 3.25 star 😂😅. I’m easily invested in the main characters love story, but otherwise the book as a whole felt off and didn’t completely mesh with the previous book. The author does a good job of world building and I enjoyed most of the fantasy elements (initially). A majority of this book felt rushed but simultaneously unnecessary. Like the main character, Shaye, spends all this time relearning proper history and we still get introduced to completely new concepts and major story lines, like a lost princess, 75% through the book. This really only works if it’s the main focus of the next book, but by the end of this book the new concept is seemingly complete. Not to mention she’s been the missing princess from an entirely different kingdom for several months and there’s ZERO correspondence from home? (This topic is brushed upon but not in detail.) it’s illogical. Understandably, Shaye’s tutor from book one gave an abridged version of history, but it would’ve been helpful to hear about a long lost princess then. Instead it’s introduced 3/4 of the way in book two and, “only a few people initially knew about her existence,” but the city was happy to have her home. And once she was finally “home” there wasn’t a significant uproar….from an entire city that missed their princess for 21 years?! No parties, nothing just welcome back. There wasn’t even a significant reunion with her mom, it didn’t feel heartfelt and happy, idk could be a me thing. The name change(s) are slightly confusing, but not a deal breaker. The spice was forced, can’t stand it. Reading it was slightly uncomfortable, and it felt like the author was uncomfortable writing it. Not to mention the tone didn’t match the rest of the book. Readers are okay with spice, it’s trending in romantacy, but we can live without it. Also, where did dragons come from?!?! So unnecessary considering all the other fantasy elements we have going on. Finally, the title annoyed me simply because “a song…” and “ a ballad” CAN be used synonymously. Re-reading this review, I sound like a hater. So let me clarify I generally liked the book, more so it’s potentially, but I do like the series. Just really annoyed with the missed opportunity to be a great fantasy book, which is where all the criticism comes from. It just doesn’t feel Ike multiple books were intentionally planned and linked together. I will tune in for book three next year, hopefully it changes my mind.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 25, 2024
I have officially been converted into an Atlas girlie. I’m so sorry to my dear Finn, I’m sure you’ll win my heart back next book, but for right now I am leaving you for your shadow daddy brother 🫡
Hello! This book was amazing. It surpassed all of my expectations and was dare I say, even better than A Song of Shadow and Starlight. We get so much 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵! We get more 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥-𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨! We get 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬!!! There is so much going on throughout this book and I never wanted it to end. This is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite fantasy romance series, and fantasy worlds in general. I want to live inside these pages.
Shaye gets some answers, finally, about who she is and where she came from. We get some really fun mentor moments while she’s learning how to control her magic 😏✨ and her relationship with each of the brothers, and Eris too, grow and are nurtured with such care. Nyx is seriously the bestie we all want, right?! And Eris is the sister and best friend every girl needs 🩵 Finn is so kind-hearted and patient, and I loved how he took Shaye under his wing to help her find her hobby.
Atlas. Oh, my Atlas. Words fail me. Just read this book, mmmkay.
I also loved how Morgan used Atlas’s POV sparingly; it really made his chapters feel that much more impactful.
The ending- prepare for a bit of a cliffhanger, but not in a bad way! Just in a “I need book three like I need air in my lungs” kind of way 💀 sorry, it’s true.
Special shout-out to my other newest obsession, Thrane Basilius 😮💨 Morgan sure knows how to write them. I’ll come live in your ice castle anyday. 🫠
Hello! This book was amazing. It surpassed all of my expectations and was dare I say, even better than A Song of Shadow and Starlight. We get so much 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘱𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵! We get more 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥-𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨! We get 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐬!!! There is so much going on throughout this book and I never wanted it to end. This is quickly becoming one of my all-time favorite fantasy romance series, and fantasy worlds in general. I want to live inside these pages.
Shaye gets some answers, finally, about who she is and where she came from. We get some really fun mentor moments while she’s learning how to control her magic 😏✨ and her relationship with each of the brothers, and Eris too, grow and are nurtured with such care. Nyx is seriously the bestie we all want, right?! And Eris is the sister and best friend every girl needs 🩵 Finn is so kind-hearted and patient, and I loved how he took Shaye under his wing to help her find her hobby.
Atlas. Oh, my Atlas. Words fail me. Just read this book, mmmkay.
I also loved how Morgan used Atlas’s POV sparingly; it really made his chapters feel that much more impactful.
The ending- prepare for a bit of a cliffhanger, but not in a bad way! Just in a “I need book three like I need air in my lungs” kind of way 💀 sorry, it’s true.
Special shout-out to my other newest obsession, Thrane Basilius 😮💨 Morgan sure knows how to write them. I’ll come live in your ice castle anyday. 🫠
July 28, 2024
Alright, after pausing at 45% for a couple of weeks I finally finished this book
I didn’t love it but for some reason the story is strangely addictive and I‘ll probably read the third one
My main issue with ABOBAB was the pacing, there was no progress in plot or romance in 75% of the book
Shaye and Atlas were constantly finding reasons not to be together while confessing their love to everyone but each other
The whole romance was way too drawn out and built on miscommunication, which made it feel very immature
Also by the end it felt like a reverse harem with Bastian, Atlas and possibly Thrane being in love with her…
While the first book was giving YA ACOTAR, the second installment added GOT’s Targaryen vibes
The dragons came out of nowhere and in my opinion they were an unnecessary addition to a plot that had too much going on already
I would have preferred if there was a little more action in the first half of the book though
The crew basically chills in Tronovia while their enemies sit around and wait for Shaye to master her affinity which seems to take all of 3 training sessions
After spending a decent amount of time in libraries discovering nothing but sex books, she walks into snow elf territory only to immediately be proclaimed the lost princess, which she comes to terms with within two whole days
Going as far as changing her name and calling a woman she spoke all but five sentences with ~Amma~
Another BIG issue was the ratio of telling versus showing, which probably made the first half of the book so boring to read
I didn’t love it but for some reason the story is strangely addictive and I‘ll probably read the third one
My main issue with ABOBAB was the pacing, there was no progress in plot or romance in 75% of the book
Shaye and Atlas were constantly finding reasons not to be together while confessing their love to everyone but each other
The whole romance was way too drawn out and built on miscommunication, which made it feel very immature
Also by the end it felt like a reverse harem with Bastian, Atlas and possibly Thrane being in love with her…
While the first book was giving YA ACOTAR, the second installment added GOT’s Targaryen vibes
The dragons came out of nowhere and in my opinion they were an unnecessary addition to a plot that had too much going on already
I would have preferred if there was a little more action in the first half of the book though
The crew basically chills in Tronovia while their enemies sit around and wait for Shaye to master her affinity which seems to take all of 3 training sessions
After spending a decent amount of time in libraries discovering nothing but sex books, she walks into snow elf territory only to immediately be proclaimed the lost princess, which she comes to terms with within two whole days
Going as far as changing her name and calling a woman she spoke all but five sentences with ~Amma~
Another BIG issue was the ratio of telling versus showing, which probably made the first half of the book so boring to read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2024
Honestly I was willing to continue this series after the first book was a bit meh for me. The actual plot and story is engaging, but all the side quests and filler chapters of nothing just kill me. From 75% onward the book is engaging again, and it’s set up to be a much more engaging story for the third book.
A crapload of telling and very little showing.
But, the actual story is (again) engaging.
A crapload of telling and very little showing.
But, the actual story is (again) engaging.
February 23, 2024
I have loved jumping back in with Shaye and the Harland Brothers!
Book one in the series, A Song of Shadow and Starlight was Shaye, the brothers and Eris’s adventure. It was there tumultuous meeting which evolved into friendships and trust.
A Ballad of Beast and Brothers is more of the story of self discovery, and cementing the relationship Shaye has with Atlas, Nyx, Finn and Eris. In this next installment in The Shadows and Starlight series we follow mostly Shaye but it is dual POV and we see some of Atlas’s side of the story as well. We watch Shaye go from a sheltered princess to a strong powerful woman. We watch Atlas break down his walls to try and let Shaye in.
Shaye has a special relationship with each of the other characters. With Nyx she has fun verbally sparring and Nyx’s banter is always on point. But outside of the banter Nyx and Shaye are able to really talk to and be there for each other. With Finn, he very much seems like the older brother. He is protective and caring and always has Shaye’s back. And then there is our angsty shadow wielding Atlas. Early on you can feel the pull that Atlas and Shaye have for each other. Despite this pull Shaye and Atlas have their own separate feelings to work out but all the while their sexual tension is palpable and when they finally break through their own walls, it is absolutely worth it.
I love the way, Morgan incorporates her world building into the storytelling itself. It gives the story a different kind of depth that is also interesting and captivating for the reader.
The end of the book threw several new characters and plot twists at us that I wasn’t anticipating but loved!
Since this is an ongoing series, the storyline is not resolved, and we are left with a little bit of a cliffhanger, but not one that has me rolling on the floor distraught. That being said, I can’t wait for book 3.
Book one in the series, A Song of Shadow and Starlight was Shaye, the brothers and Eris’s adventure. It was there tumultuous meeting which evolved into friendships and trust.
A Ballad of Beast and Brothers is more of the story of self discovery, and cementing the relationship Shaye has with Atlas, Nyx, Finn and Eris. In this next installment in The Shadows and Starlight series we follow mostly Shaye but it is dual POV and we see some of Atlas’s side of the story as well. We watch Shaye go from a sheltered princess to a strong powerful woman. We watch Atlas break down his walls to try and let Shaye in.
Shaye has a special relationship with each of the other characters. With Nyx she has fun verbally sparring and Nyx’s banter is always on point. But outside of the banter Nyx and Shaye are able to really talk to and be there for each other. With Finn, he very much seems like the older brother. He is protective and caring and always has Shaye’s back. And then there is our angsty shadow wielding Atlas. Early on you can feel the pull that Atlas and Shaye have for each other. Despite this pull Shaye and Atlas have their own separate feelings to work out but all the while their sexual tension is palpable and when they finally break through their own walls, it is absolutely worth it.
I love the way, Morgan incorporates her world building into the storytelling itself. It gives the story a different kind of depth that is also interesting and captivating for the reader.
The end of the book threw several new characters and plot twists at us that I wasn’t anticipating but loved!
Since this is an ongoing series, the storyline is not resolved, and we are left with a little bit of a cliffhanger, but not one that has me rolling on the floor distraught. That being said, I can’t wait for book 3.
April 26, 2024
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers
*some spoilers if you haven’t read book 1*
Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Book 2 tropes:
- close proximity
- found family
- training scenes
- dragons
- mystery
- ancient evil
For fans of Tangled and Avatar the Last Airbender this is a series I would recommend checking out!!
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for this book, all thoughts are my own!!!
The book series follows Shaye, a princess in a land where magic is outlawed. She is the only heir but will never be allowed to rule. She is engaged to her childhood best friend, but the night before her wedding she accidentally stumbles upon an assassination attempt and is kidnapped by an enemy kingdom. She finds herself on a dangerous journey with three brothers that she’s been taught her whole life are her enemy - but is there more she does not know? Secrets about the kingdoms and more importantly herself continue to unravel in books 2 creating twist and turns!
I enjoyed this read, this romantasy is vibrant and character driven and with elements of a Tangled retelling what’s not to like! I liked that our main character starts out with so much growth left - to be honest I didn’t like her for a while and that seems like the point. She is sheltered and until you uncover more about her she isn’t automatically likable and I found that refreshing! I absolutely loved the brothers (I am a Nyx girl 100%) the more you get the know them the more each of their personalities shine. The found family is such a fun part of this series.
My favorite part about this read was the magical school/training element. It was an engaging way to display the development of Shaye’s powers while also developing her as a character. The relationships and trust that grow in this book are very special. Sometimes you just want to shake these characters and yell at them, but at the same time it makes their insecurities and personalities feel much more real.
The world continued to grow with this book and it seems like the stakes will only continue to grow. The ending of this book was shocking and I am very interested to see where this story continues to go and I will definitely be reading the next one! Thank you again to Morgan Gauthier for the e-ARC!!!
*some spoilers if you haven’t read book 1*
Overall rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
Book 2 tropes:
- close proximity
- found family
- training scenes
- dragons
- mystery
- ancient evil
For fans of Tangled and Avatar the Last Airbender this is a series I would recommend checking out!!
I had the pleasure of being an ARC reader for this book, all thoughts are my own!!!
The book series follows Shaye, a princess in a land where magic is outlawed. She is the only heir but will never be allowed to rule. She is engaged to her childhood best friend, but the night before her wedding she accidentally stumbles upon an assassination attempt and is kidnapped by an enemy kingdom. She finds herself on a dangerous journey with three brothers that she’s been taught her whole life are her enemy - but is there more she does not know? Secrets about the kingdoms and more importantly herself continue to unravel in books 2 creating twist and turns!
I enjoyed this read, this romantasy is vibrant and character driven and with elements of a Tangled retelling what’s not to like! I liked that our main character starts out with so much growth left - to be honest I didn’t like her for a while and that seems like the point. She is sheltered and until you uncover more about her she isn’t automatically likable and I found that refreshing! I absolutely loved the brothers (I am a Nyx girl 100%) the more you get the know them the more each of their personalities shine. The found family is such a fun part of this series.
My favorite part about this read was the magical school/training element. It was an engaging way to display the development of Shaye’s powers while also developing her as a character. The relationships and trust that grow in this book are very special. Sometimes you just want to shake these characters and yell at them, but at the same time it makes their insecurities and personalities feel much more real.
The world continued to grow with this book and it seems like the stakes will only continue to grow. The ending of this book was shocking and I am very interested to see where this story continues to go and I will definitely be reading the next one! Thank you again to Morgan Gauthier for the e-ARC!!!
March 17, 2024
Summary:
Shaye has been kidnapped from the only home she’s ever known, separated from her fiancé and told he is really a monster, and learned that she has magic that’s been suppressed her entire life. Oh, and it’s possible she’s falling in love with one of her captors. She is safe for the moment, but is searching for answers. In the meantime, Shaye and Atlas need to figure out what to do about their feelings for each other.
Title: A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers (Shadow and Starlight series book 2)
Author: Morgan Gauthier
@authormorgangauthier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
🌶️🌶️2/5
Tropes:
Fantasy
Hidden identity
Slow Burn
Enemies to Lovers
Triggers:
Secrets/Lies
Mention of SA/r*pe
Difficult family reunions
Whitney’s Thoughts:
Book 2 definitely lived up to how much I loved book 1 in this series! Shaye and Atlas have the best chemistry and I love the exploration of Shaye’s friendships with Atlas’s brothers and Eris. The on-page spice is a lovely payoff to the top-tier tension from book 1! Definitely plan on a re-read of A Song of Shadow and Starlight as this book picks up where book 1 left off and is very fast-paced!
Shaye has been kidnapped from the only home she’s ever known, separated from her fiancé and told he is really a monster, and learned that she has magic that’s been suppressed her entire life. Oh, and it’s possible she’s falling in love with one of her captors. She is safe for the moment, but is searching for answers. In the meantime, Shaye and Atlas need to figure out what to do about their feelings for each other.
Title: A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers (Shadow and Starlight series book 2)
Author: Morgan Gauthier
@authormorgangauthier
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5
🌶️🌶️2/5
Tropes:
Fantasy
Hidden identity
Slow Burn
Enemies to Lovers
Triggers:
Secrets/Lies
Mention of SA/r*pe
Difficult family reunions
Whitney’s Thoughts:
Book 2 definitely lived up to how much I loved book 1 in this series! Shaye and Atlas have the best chemistry and I love the exploration of Shaye’s friendships with Atlas’s brothers and Eris. The on-page spice is a lovely payoff to the top-tier tension from book 1! Definitely plan on a re-read of A Song of Shadow and Starlight as this book picks up where book 1 left off and is very fast-paced!
March 9, 2024
I could not put this book down. Shaye’s power and real identity was such a mystery that I just needed to know. I was glad to see the hints throughout the book. What made it better was having the occasional Atlas POV just the combination I wanted.
I enjoyed how the first part was all about Shaye’s power and her relationship with Atlas. And then the second half, it was all about her real identity. I think that setup is what made me not stop reading.
It was incredible reading about this new mother-daughter relationship. Very hopeful and it will give you all the feels. But my favorite part by far is the Harland brothers. I mean Atlas with his dark shadows and brooding. Then, Finn with his healing and cooking, I swear if you love Azrael from ACOTAR you’ll love Finn. I really hope we get more Finn and Eris because they deserve each other. And finally, Nyx who made me laugh the entire time and his charm is unlimited.
Definitely would read this again when I get the chance. Probably right before book three comes out.
I enjoyed how the first part was all about Shaye’s power and her relationship with Atlas. And then the second half, it was all about her real identity. I think that setup is what made me not stop reading.
It was incredible reading about this new mother-daughter relationship. Very hopeful and it will give you all the feels. But my favorite part by far is the Harland brothers. I mean Atlas with his dark shadows and brooding. Then, Finn with his healing and cooking, I swear if you love Azrael from ACOTAR you’ll love Finn. I really hope we get more Finn and Eris because they deserve each other. And finally, Nyx who made me laugh the entire time and his charm is unlimited.
Definitely would read this again when I get the chance. Probably right before book three comes out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 29, 2024
Ok yall- if this is a series you haven’t started yet, this is your official notice to hop on it!
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers picks right up where book 1 left off. This book went in a different direction than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it!
Shaye continues to grow into herself with the help of her friends. All of the characters are soooo good and the banter is once again top tier! I definitely love the found family aspect of this book.
This book moves quickly and there is a lot to take in, but I couldn’t put it down once I started reading! I also appreciate that like book 1, this book doesn’t end on an abrupt cliff hanger. I’m not sure I could handle many more of those!
This is a book for you if you like:
-magical academia
-slow burn spice that pays off
-dragons
-found family
-multiple POV
-fated mates
-witty banter
Definitely give this series a read!!
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers picks right up where book 1 left off. This book went in a different direction than I was expecting, but I really enjoyed it!
Shaye continues to grow into herself with the help of her friends. All of the characters are soooo good and the banter is once again top tier! I definitely love the found family aspect of this book.
This book moves quickly and there is a lot to take in, but I couldn’t put it down once I started reading! I also appreciate that like book 1, this book doesn’t end on an abrupt cliff hanger. I’m not sure I could handle many more of those!
This is a book for you if you like:
-magical academia
-slow burn spice that pays off
-dragons
-found family
-multiple POV
-fated mates
-witty banter
Definitely give this series a read!!
March 18, 2024
I enjoyed seeing more of the world and more about the Harlands lives back home.
Shaye's growth and determination has been a joy to read. It has been amazing to read about the found family in this book. How much they all care or Shaye and each other.
I loved seeing this side of Atlas! His cinnamon roll side. *melts*
I loved getting to know Nyx more and his humor. And Finn and his midnight activities.
Both Finn and Atlas has mastered the I won't force decisions on females. and I love it.
Shaye's growth and determination has been a joy to read. It has been amazing to read about the found family in this book. How much they all care or Shaye and each other.
I loved seeing this side of Atlas! His cinnamon roll side. *melts*
I loved getting to know Nyx more and his humor. And Finn and his midnight activities.
Both Finn and Atlas has mastered the I won't force decisions on females. and I love it.
April 13, 2024
Thank you to Morgan for the ARC!
This was a great continuation after book 1, and I'm definitely going to keep reading this series.
I love the found family element that continued in this book so much. All three brothers have such a special place in my heart and they had me wanting to move into their townhouse with them to bond with them!
Shaye stays being a really cool and complex fmc and I can't wait to see how her story continues as she progresses on her journey.
I docked a star for this book because this story felt very stagnant. It was very much training center - school - dinner at night and back again. I'm hopeful that the next installment will really take us out of this loop though!
This was a great continuation after book 1, and I'm definitely going to keep reading this series.
I love the found family element that continued in this book so much. All three brothers have such a special place in my heart and they had me wanting to move into their townhouse with them to bond with them!
Shaye stays being a really cool and complex fmc and I can't wait to see how her story continues as she progresses on her journey.
I docked a star for this book because this story felt very stagnant. It was very much training center - school - dinner at night and back again. I'm hopeful that the next installment will really take us out of this loop though!
September 29, 2025
I have a very bad habit of losing interests in storylines and therefore tend to stick to stand-alones. But at NO point did I want to but this book down and DNF the series. It is so so good, and had me hooked from the moment I read the first page. Shaye is so frustrating, but at the same time her feelings and reservations make so much sense. Atlas literally has my heart, I love that man more for every page I read. I am sooo excited for the next one to come out, can’t wait! 5 stars big time ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 5, 2025
The way this author has written the FMC is such a breath of fresh air. Even though she grew up extremely sheltered, she isn't dimwitted and lacking in common sense. It's nice to have a story progress without relying on the FMCs clumsy stupidity to keep things moving. She's not perfect, but her choices are believable and understandable
March 2, 2024
While I loved this book as evident by the 4 star rating, I started getting really annoyed at some point by the main character, or more irritated on her behalf. Everyone keeps telling her that the MMC loves her but she has to make the first move, THEN SHE MAKES THE FIRST MOVE, and the MMC turns her down. This happens several times in the book (I counted at least 3x) and I just do not get it. She initiates several ways, a few times with kissing and once with sex and apparently none of this counts as her making the first move? Therefore it’s her fault the MMC continues to turn her down? It infuriates me. All in the name of slow burn but really by the time things…escalated…I was too angry to enjoy it 🤣.
Additionally it’s made known that she is a virgin, but in my opinion she knows way too much about sex and arousal to actually be a virgin. I don’t think the author really knew how to write a virgin character, and this is not it. Plus the sex scene, when it does happen, is not consistent with the virgin rhetoric.
The last flaw isn’t necessarily a flaw, but a stylistic choice. This author chose to crush as many tropes as possible into the book without fleshing them out well. If you delight in just seeing the tropes, whether or not they are well described or used to their full abilities, you will have no problem with this book. I personally prefer tropes to be more well used over the number used.
But, if you are willing to overlook these three major flaws, the book is excellent. I especially love the development of the side characters, they are extremely believable and well rounded. And while I like the FMC in general I feel bad for her (as mentioned above) and don’t feel that she acts like she is actually a virgin 🤣
Additionally it’s made known that she is a virgin, but in my opinion she knows way too much about sex and arousal to actually be a virgin. I don’t think the author really knew how to write a virgin character, and this is not it. Plus the sex scene, when it does happen, is not consistent with the virgin rhetoric.
The last flaw isn’t necessarily a flaw, but a stylistic choice. This author chose to crush as many tropes as possible into the book without fleshing them out well. If you delight in just seeing the tropes, whether or not they are well described or used to their full abilities, you will have no problem with this book. I personally prefer tropes to be more well used over the number used.
But, if you are willing to overlook these three major flaws, the book is excellent. I especially love the development of the side characters, they are extremely believable and well rounded. And while I like the FMC in general I feel bad for her (as mentioned above) and don’t feel that she acts like she is actually a virgin 🤣
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 8, 2024
I read the first book of this series within a day and was counting down the days until this book was released. This book contains more world building, finding oneself, chosen family, and DRAGONS !!! Following Shay's story and her finding herself made the book feel like home and I found myself feeling proud for her and cheering her on.
I will now go back to counting the days until the 3rd book is released.
Favorite Character: Atlas
Favorite Scene : The last chapter of the book (loved seeing the beasts POV)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Character Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ending: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 30, 2025
So this is more a 2.5 but does that really mean anything? This one wasn’t as good as the first but way heavier on the actual Rapunzel vibes and interpretation. We learned a lot of lore some would say too much lore and we’ll see if I remember to read the third one when it comes out
April 2, 2024
**SPOILER FREE ARC REVIEW**
It has been a long time since a book has consumed my every thought. After reading A Song of Shadow and Starlight, I was ready for the next book. This book gave everything I needed and more!
This book follows Shaye as she continues learning about herself, her power, and who she truly is. This book gave so much more insight to all of the brothers and I loved every moment of it. We also got more of the different kingdoms. Questions were answered, and more questions were formed. I can’t wait to read the next book! This book was easily 5/5 ⭐️!
It has been a long time since a book has consumed my every thought. After reading A Song of Shadow and Starlight, I was ready for the next book. This book gave everything I needed and more!
This book follows Shaye as she continues learning about herself, her power, and who she truly is. This book gave so much more insight to all of the brothers and I loved every moment of it. We also got more of the different kingdoms. Questions were answered, and more questions were formed. I can’t wait to read the next book! This book was easily 5/5 ⭐️!
May 19, 2024
3.5 stars, but rounding up because I really love this world ✨ this book desperately needs an editor with a heavier hand, but I love the vibes and will absolutely be reading the next in the series.
September 22, 2025
Ok, yup I’m obsessed with this series. I need the next one asap. Also Thrane is giving me Keris from Bridge Kingdom vibes and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him.
March 6, 2024
I was one of the lucky ones to receive an ARC for this book and let me say! I loved this one just as much as the first! So many challenges between Shaye and Atlas and so many things revealed in this book! Shaye grew a lot throughout this book and overcame more challenges that were put in her path. It was also nice to see a little bit of Atlas POV! I loved learning about the dragon lore as well ❤️It’s gonna be a long wait for the third book but it will definitely be worth the wait! Thank you Morgan for this story 😊 hope you guys enjoy the story as well!
October 10, 2025
Incredible. Love everything about it - no notes.
April 25, 2024
I loved book one so much and this second book is even better! I loved the university setting and seeing Shaye discover her magic and go through her training. Side note: if you love training tension scenes there are boatloads in this book!
I also really enjoyed that we got to see more of the brothers and I just love them so much. They are all so different but they have such a strong family unit and they care so much for each other and so that was really great to get to see more of.
And don’t even get me started on the tension between aAtlas and Shaye HOLY GODS that was insane all throughout the book! They are just tiptoeing around each other, sometimes coming together and sometimes going further apart and it’s a little bit maddening (but in the best way) because you’re just shouting at the two of them to finally get together!! Which, by the way, they do at the end of the book 😆😍
Which leads me to my next thing which is the ending of this book which I wouldn’t say left on a cliffhanger, but was cliffhanger adjacent and it was so good!!!! It was spicy for one thing— that scene where they finally gave into each other 👀😍🥵Holy hell I was honestly not expecting that, but I was here for it!
And after that was action packed and intense and was like a little bit shocking, which was really great because we get to see some characters stand up for themselves and really do something finally. I also really enjoyed that Shaye got to find out where she comes from and meet her family and discover who she really is.
Meeting her dragon was super cool and watching her training with her dragon was a highlight of the book!! The relationship that the frost elves have with their dragons is fascinating and I hope we get to see more of it in the future.
I would say this book is definitely on the new adult side of fantasy romance and features lots of fun things like a university setting, magical training, Dragon riding, missing royals and lots and lots of banter & tension, and of course found family! This second book had Tangled/Rapunzel vibes (more than book one I would say) and also the whole series has Avatar the Last Airbender vibes with the elemental magics. We also get to learn a little bit more about the history of the elemental magic, which was really really cool.
I love this series a lot I can’t wait to see where it goes and how the story develops and I would absolutely recommend it to everyone who loves fantasy romance, and who likes any of the tropes that are in this book!!
Tropes & things:
Hand flex!!!
They forget other people are in the room a lot 😂
One horse
Training tension
Elemental magic
DRAGONS and dragon riders!!
Shadow powers 😘
Some spice and sooooo much delicious tension
Lost family
Found family
Magical university
Fated mates
Her hands glow when she thinks of him and that brings about all sorts of mischief
Touch her and die
“You’re mine and I’m yours”
I also really enjoyed that we got to see more of the brothers and I just love them so much. They are all so different but they have such a strong family unit and they care so much for each other and so that was really great to get to see more of.
And don’t even get me started on the tension between aAtlas and Shaye HOLY GODS that was insane all throughout the book! They are just tiptoeing around each other, sometimes coming together and sometimes going further apart and it’s a little bit maddening (but in the best way) because you’re just shouting at the two of them to finally get together!! Which, by the way, they do at the end of the book 😆😍
Which leads me to my next thing which is the ending of this book which I wouldn’t say left on a cliffhanger, but was cliffhanger adjacent and it was so good!!!! It was spicy for one thing— that scene where they finally gave into each other 👀😍🥵Holy hell I was honestly not expecting that, but I was here for it!
And after that was action packed and intense and was like a little bit shocking, which was really great because we get to see some characters stand up for themselves and really do something finally. I also really enjoyed that Shaye got to find out where she comes from and meet her family and discover who she really is.
Meeting her dragon was super cool and watching her training with her dragon was a highlight of the book!! The relationship that the frost elves have with their dragons is fascinating and I hope we get to see more of it in the future.
I would say this book is definitely on the new adult side of fantasy romance and features lots of fun things like a university setting, magical training, Dragon riding, missing royals and lots and lots of banter & tension, and of course found family! This second book had Tangled/Rapunzel vibes (more than book one I would say) and also the whole series has Avatar the Last Airbender vibes with the elemental magics. We also get to learn a little bit more about the history of the elemental magic, which was really really cool.
I love this series a lot I can’t wait to see where it goes and how the story develops and I would absolutely recommend it to everyone who loves fantasy romance, and who likes any of the tropes that are in this book!!
Tropes & things:
Hand flex!!!
They forget other people are in the room a lot 😂
One horse
Training tension
Elemental magic
DRAGONS and dragon riders!!
Shadow powers 😘
Some spice and sooooo much delicious tension
Lost family
Found family
Magical university
Fated mates
Her hands glow when she thinks of him and that brings about all sorts of mischief
Touch her and die
“You’re mine and I’m yours”
April 25, 2024
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers is the sequel of A song of Shadow and Starlight. I enjoyed this one even more than the first book (rated 5*). It was a great page turner; I didn’t want to put the book down.
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers was focused on character’s development and I was well done. Shaye owned my heart and I’m so proud of her and her journey. The found family was amazing; it was so easy to connect with them. I felt like being a part of this group while reading.
Thrane was introduced and I liked him a lot! Morgan is really good at writing loveable characters.
The slowburn and the romance of this book were truly great. I loved them so much & missed them. They gave me butterflies. When I reached the last page, I was like “No” I want more!
We got new information about the characters and I am super excited about the next book!
Did I mention that this book had dragons?
A Ballad of Beasts and Brothers was focused on character’s development and I was well done. Shaye owned my heart and I’m so proud of her and her journey. The found family was amazing; it was so easy to connect with them. I felt like being a part of this group while reading.
Thrane was introduced and I liked him a lot! Morgan is really good at writing loveable characters.
The slowburn and the romance of this book were truly great. I loved them so much & missed them. They gave me butterflies. When I reached the last page, I was like “No” I want more!
We got new information about the characters and I am super excited about the next book!
Did I mention that this book had dragons?
August 2, 2024
SO FREAKING GOOD! I am utterly obsessed with this series from the start, but this book... ugh! I loved every part of it. It made me sad, happy, shocked, satisfied with revenge, and so much more. I'm so ready for book three, I can't stand it! I can't recommend this series enough.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews