Shadowed Heart

Shadowed Kingdom

by K.A. Knight, Kendra Moreno

Our lands are changing, three becoming one.

Merged together by my sister and her monsters.

The magic has returned and new life blooms, no longer are the Dead Lands dismal and gray, but not everyone welcomes the change.

I expected to die when I threw myself from the Gilded Land’s tower.

Instead, I find myself surrounded by the monsters I feared the most.

I assumed they’d be feral and dangerous. I didn’t expect them to show me the world, to fill my broken, darkened soul with light.

My name is Kai Black and I’m no longer the woman stolen by the Gilded King. I’ve been shattered and remade into something different. Something new.

If only I had known that I would be re-born from darkness, the same darkness that the monsters find me in.

If only I’d known who the real monsters are.

Shadows save us. Shadows guide us.

Shadows heal me.

*Please note this is a dark romance with lots of TW, for a detailed list please check inside of the book*

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Dark Romance, Why Choose, Dark, Romantasy

342 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 28, 2023

About the author

K.A Knight is a Romance author from a little town in England. She writes the monsters you love to hate. The crazier the better.

She loves her fur babies, coffee and a good book. Katie also has an obsession with monster flicks, and plans to re-watch them all!

Facebook Reader Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Katie...

Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/KatieKnightA...

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/katieknight...

http://eepurl.com/drLLoj

Reviews

[Cat H · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.4 stars.
This was very emotionally hard to read at times, especially the very beginning. If you have Any triggers regarding suicide or SA I would steer clear of this book. Kai went through a Lot of trauma before the book starts and the start of the book is her falling purposefully…it was very hard to read through the tears.

Anyway.
The monsters in this book were absolutely adorable and so sweet and caring.
It was so satisfying to see them care for Kai.
I do wish the sex was a bit smuttier though. I completely understand why it was less plentiful, but I would’ve liked a bit more monster fuckery added to the mix. I mean. One of her mates has tentacles and we only ever heard of them once and it was while he was fighting. 🥺 Sadness.

Still. I loved getting to see Kai get her very hard won HEA.
It was a pretty great conclusion to the first book.

[Miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want some easy read monster smut romances to get lost in, give 'Shadowed Heart' & 'Fractured Shadows' a try! They can be read as stand alones but they are a little interconnected.

I read Fractured Shadows IMMEDIATELY when it released and was so excited when KA Knight announced she was doing a story on the other sister Kai!

If you just want a LOT of monster smut and protective vibes then def give these books a try!!

[Kate groot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ok sooo I did like this second installment and I am glad I read it. Was our FMC my favorite - no. But I prefer strong heroines. Our character starts exactly where she left off in the first book. And let’s get it straight she is broken. You can’t really imagine the horrors she went through and you watch her grow through her trauma and become a strong character by the end. Again, with this author expect smut. I would say there was less in this one than the first but let’s be real the spice is spicin. Another great read!

[Danny · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

❝ She called us together. She made us a family. The monsters nobody wanted. The nightmares of even our own land. The wanderer, the loners, and the lost. ❞

I’m seriously obsessed with this world, with the monsters and the Black sisters, I want more!!! I loved every second of this book, it was absolutely incredible and I could not put it down. This book is about Kai Black, Cora’s older sister (from the first book) and how Kai had to fight tooth and nail to get her will to live again. After everything she went through, all the horrible things she witnessed and did by orders of the king scarred her deeper than anyone could’ve seen. She just didn’t know that her destiny was so much more than she could’ve imagined. Meeting her monsters not only saved her but also saved them too.

❝ I hold out my hand, watching her, and when she lays her soft, small one in mine, I am lost to her completely, brightened by her sunlight and darkened by her pain.
I become hers. ❞

Shadowed Heart was heartbreakingly beautiful. I really loved every second of it and it was a ride to dive into the Shadowed Kingdom world. I’ve never been much into the fantasy book world but wow, this duet just made me find a new obsession/passion.

Tropes:
- Dark paranormal
- Fantasy romance
- Monsters
- Only soft for her
- Reverse harem

[Britney ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay truly these authors couldn't write a bad book if they tried. Everything they do, together and separately, is fantastic.

I highly recommend reading the first book before this one. While you can read this as a standalone I don't think you'll get a lot of the emotional impact. There were several parts that had me near tears.

Kai starts the book as a broken woman who wants to die. You can really feel that from her. It's in everything she says, thinks, and does. At some points you really start to question if she will actually get better. But then she meets her monsters 👀. Slowly they begin to help her rebuild herself after all the trauma. Each monster who finds her fills a piece of her until together they're whole and a thriving family.

The monsters themselves are amazing as well. Each one has had their share of trauma too. They understand what Kai is going through and helping her through her journey forces each of them to face the demons of their past an let go. They all love her completely in a way that I'm jealous of because dang some of it is enough to make you blush!

It really is a fantastic book. There are some steamy scenes but there's also healing, growth, love, forgiveness, and everything else you could want in a book. Plus it ends with "The End, Monsterfuckers." and really nothing could be better than that tbh.

[Laura Gerez · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I cannot believe how much I absolutely adored this book! It was amazingly written and I cannot thank them enough for being able to read the ARC of this book! I loved the different POV’s and getting to understand how everyone was feeling and thinking. Getting to see how Kai grew and ended up accepting and facing her past and her shadows was probably my favorite thing and obviously seeing her being sooo loved appreciated and accepted! I absolutely recommend this book! I am soo excited for you all to read it already!

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just start by admitting that I may or may not have squeed when I spotted another installment of Knight’s and Moreno’s Shadowed Kingdom series was on its way. I don’t know what it is, but I can’t say no to dark monster romance, and I fell in love with the world these two crafted in Fractured Shadows. And then I found out about who was taking center stage…forget about it, I knew this was one I NEEDED.

Shadowed Heart picks up right where we left off, and tells a tale of healing and survival. Crippling pain and torment, and yet finding the strength to stand tall in the face of adversity to prevail. Even if the price is steep. While this can technically be read as a standalone, you should really read the first book in the series. Witnessing loose threads come together is definitely a rewarding experience.

I would be remiss to not quickly show my appreciation for the authors and their approach at addressing trauma. Despair may be all-consuming, yet with the right support, one can drag themself through the mud back into the light. Time heals all wounds.

Where these two excel most is with breathing life into complex characters that not only share similar emotional traits, but are also completely unique from one another. A dejected woman, a half-man-half-monster water creature, a lonely lycan, the only remaining war horse in all the lands, and the boogeyman— all broken or consumed by darkest shadows, but all finding and craving the light within each other. This unlikely quintet is beautiful, healing and finding love together.

I really don’t want to say much for fear of spoiling anything for you that haven’t read Fractured Shadows, so all I will say is that while one threat has been eliminated, another born of fear rises from its ashes. Within the pages we learn who the true monsters are, and what that means for all since the walls separating the three lands of the Kingdom have fallen. It’s heartbreaking. It’s poignant. It’s hopeful. The night is always darkest before the dawn.

Heading into this beauty, I was expecting greatness. What I got was something so much more. If you’re looking for something to break you into pieces, then carefully put you back together, this is the book you need. Go get it, you won’t regret it.

Also…Rook is THE Shadow Daddy of 2023.

[Lilibet Bombshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll admit to not being the hugest fan of the first book in this duology (at least I think it’s going to end up staying a duology). I loved the storyline but I wasn’t completely on board with all the monsters present in Fractured Shadows (I’m terrified and grossed out by snakes, if you need a clue) and that affected some of my enjoyment of the book. It’s a little hard to completely enjoy a book where one of the MMCs makes you kind of wanna throw the book out of sheer squick.

I found myself absolutely enchanted by Shadowed Heart. This book was all the storyline and plot I loved from Fractured Shadow, but with more fluff and less squick.

I will go ahead and say, as I do with most of K.A. Knight and Kendra Moreno’s darker co-writes: Please check your TW/CWs. Take care of you.

This book begins almost right where Fractured Shadow left off. You can read these books as standalones, but they are deeply interconnected. I personally don’t recommend reading them as standalones. YMMV. This, of course, means we’re in a very dark and sad place for the FMC of Shadowed Heart, Kai. Kai spent the entirety of Fractured Shadow inside the palace of the evil Gilded King as her sister fought to gain strength and confront the king to rescue her sister. Well, they might have won that battle, but Kai has been through a tremendous amount of trauma and a kingdom in time of transition is always a volatile thing.

Kai finds herself in the Dead Lands, where the monsters dwell. It’s here that she is healed by the first of her eventual mates, and as she spends more time in the now-healing Dead Lands she meets the rest of her mates, learns not all monsters are bad, and grows to love the dark beauty of the place. Then Kai and her mates discover that the Dead Lands are being threatened, and they need to seek her sister’s help to heal the land.

It was really nice to see something sweeter and more subtle from Knight and Moreno. These monsters may be hungry, but they’re conscientious of Kai and her trauma. They nurture her, court her, spend time with her and with each other, and just travel the Dead Lands so we readers can learn to care for the lands as much as the characters do. The spice starts out slow and sweet, but it does grow in heat and intensity so that by the end it’s hitting hard and heavy.

I really loved having the time that can be taken up sometimes by too much spice to get to know more about the MMCs in this book, since they all had interesting backstories. It also allowed for available page space to devote to a few passages from Cora’s (Kai’s sister) POV as the book goes along so we get a peek inside her mind as the plot progresses.

It’s a great read and a great continuation from Fractured Shadow. I highly recommend it.

I was provided a copy of this title by the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you. This review was written without compensation.

File Under: Book Series/Dark Fantasy/Dark Romance/Monster Romance/Spice Level 3/Why Choose Romance

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: paranormal why choose romance; I mean...my bae in this book is not DEATH this time, but it might as well be; STEAMY STEAMY OH SO STEAMY; action-packed; deliciously dreamy; some repetition

***TW: SA (off page descriptions); su*cidal thoughts; attempted su*cide; d*ath; some violent scenes; some graphic violence; explicit s*x scenes***

HUGE thanks to Kendra Moreno and K.A. Knight for the ARC of this title! My review of this book is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by this gesture.

"We all fear the shedding, Kai," he murmurs. "That moment where we shed our skin like a snake, but on the other side is who you were meant to be." He leans closer, his lips just above mine. I can taste the shadows between us, and I can feel them stroke my flesh. "You will not be alone there."

I look deep into his eyes and take in his expression, this monster who has become as important as the others. "You promise?"

He smiles, revealing sharp teeth. "With every fiber of my being, little oblivion," he says softly. "You will never be alone again."

I think it's time I come clean, Penguins. This is me laying my truths bare. Hi, I'm Beth, the Penguin Blogger...and I am absolutely, 100% ADDICTED...to romances between "mortals" and "death." Now, that being said, I get a pass (sort of...a small one) for this book, because the character in question is not DEATH necessarily...but uh... well he's pretty close. Sorry not sorry? Outside of my shadow bae, these characters are ALL well-written, descriptively detailed, and SO WORTH rooting for (and uh...falling just a smidge bit in love with). The character connections, their motivations, and their emotions all leap off the pages and nestle beneath your skin as you read, making this book VERY hard to put down/walk away from.

Kendra Moreno and K.A. Knight write as if they've been writing together for CENTURIES. I could not tell you which portions were written by whom, as they all blend and meld and work so seamlessly together. Once again, the prose is deliciously purple, and packed FULL of so much steam you'd think my poor penguin heart was bound to burst. There are some triggers for this read, y'all, so please take care and pay attention to those above before deciding to embark on this journey--your health and safety matters.

Rook's shadows stroke along my body. "Did you get a taste for blood while you were licking your wounds, little oblivion?" he purrs. "Did the darkness forge you into a dagger?"

I definitely recommend this read to lovers of paranormal/supernatural romances, lots of steamy explicit scenes, and characters who go beyond the call of duty to heal and learn from their pasts/journeys. This book is full of heart (and spice!), and is bound to keep you warm as we bluster our way into winter in the real world. What does it take to save a shadowed heart, Penguins? Crack these pages to find out!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowed Heart is the second book in the Shadowed Kingdom duology by K.A. Knight and Kendra Moreno. While this book is a standalone the story is connected to the previous book. I'll admit I haven't read the previous book and I made it through okay.


This book stirred up so many emotions and yes there were tears in my eyes at times. I felt for Kai, she has suffered so much and it was hard seeing her struggle just to make it through the day. Kai is stronger than she first appears. She's the one who takes those first crucial steps to heal and continues to make that decision every step of her healing journey. I found myself rooting for Kai every step of the way.


The monsters by Kai's side were the sweetest. Each went through their own horrors but came through the other side and some of that had to do with Kai. How everyone came together felt natural, like they each were a piece to the puzzle. I loved seeing the guys with Kai, they gave her a place to be herself, working through her emotions and to heal. Weyland was the most adorable, the lycan did everything in his power to seem less scary, less powerful, and less dangerous to make her comfortable. He along with the rest of the harem supported Kai every step of the way.


This book is a true monster romance. Knight and Moreno included a lot of rare supernaturals in this series. I'm talking about real monsters and not just the mates. Omg, the spider! I'm gonna have nightmares after reading that. It was fairly easy to put things together, what this world was about, and what had occurred in the past. The authors created a great balance between the characters and the plot, while filling in all the little places, that helped.


Shadow Heart was such a good read, now I need to go back and read the previous book, Fractured Shadows which I just so happen to have.

[ListenWithNic · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not sure why but both books to me feel as though the relationships aren’t fully developed. In an RH I need all parties to be on equal footing & I felt the balance was off in both her & her sister’s harems. I do like the story but I’m confused about one part, I could have swore in Cora’s book at the very end she saw a grave marker for her sister’s ex & said she didn’t know he died. Did I make that up in my head? Because in this book he’s leading the monster hunters & is there when Kai kills him. Major plot hole 🤷🏻‍♀️ I think this book & the first were just fine, I think I like the first a bit better. Kai is hella annoying, she must of said she was broken 5000 times & not for nothing but after all her sister did for her sheet her believe she was dead because she wasn’t ready? Like WHAT?! I think there are better RH fantasies IMO & there are also better books written by both of these authors like Stolen Trophy, it’s not fantasy but it’s a great book written by the both of them. I said it in the first book & I’ll say it again, idk why but they feel incomplete. Also just an FYI, this book says it’s a standalone but you absolutely will have not one single clue what’s going on if you don’t read the first book so definitely do that.

[ADHD Vixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

AHHH ADD THIS NOW

K. A. Knight has yet to disappoint me.
This book follows Kia, Cora's sister. So make sure you read book 1 first! While Cora was on her adventure, Kia was being broken. My heart hurts for Kia and what she's been through but wow is her comeback something else. The sister definitely compliment each other. I loved the random POV from Cora.
This is a reverse harem. Which she seems to attract quite the unique group of men. The spice is slow building but whew, it's hot. Her men's stories and past are just as interesting as her own. Her men are sweet, SPICY, protective, and oh so much more.
I really appreciated the ending. It is a HEA but it doesn't drag on more than it should. I think the ending was perfect. How much they have gone through and came out the otherside of, how a very broken family is whole again, and that it leaves you with the ability to imagine what life's like for everyone after.
Story is definitely 10/10. Spice I'd say 3.4/5.

I did receive this as an ARC

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadowed Heart by K A Knight.
I Give this Book a 4/5 Star Rating.

HEA(?): Yes
Relationship Type: MFMMM
Dark(?): Not to me, no.
Heat: 3.5/5
Romance: 4/5
Pacing: Mid
Drama: 4.5/5
Suspense: 4/5

Definitely no spoilers, cause this book holds a lot. If you’ve read the first book (please make sure to read the first book), and THEN jump right into this one blind.

This Book did help a bit with refocusing on reading and I’m grateful for that, it compliments the first book and make a bigger impact, loved the ending!

It would be pretty cool if there would be more books in this universe.

[Raven9308 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went right into this 2nd book in the Shadowed Kingdom duet, thank goodness both were already available on audio. I would have been itching after how these authors ended Fractured Shadows and how I knew it wasn't the end of Kai's story! These two didnt disappoint with Kai and her group of delicious monsters.

I knew this one would have some harder themes because of what happened to Kai at the end of book 1, but it wasn't a dark romance in my opinion. I liked how cinnamon roll some of her monsters were. So adorable but deadly mates for our lightning wielder and her other amazing gifts. We get this water creature hybrid who is the one who saves her and brings her back from the brink. I loved how protective he was of her and was such a solid presence for Kai and her mental health. Then we have the yummy wolf shifter who was ferocious but totally was wrapped around her little finger. I liked how his relationship progressed with her, not too fast, but a lot of chemistry right off the bat. Then we get I think one of the coolest ones, almost a horseman of death/dark unicorn thing going on haha. I loved all his forms, how he was feral and had to come back to himself, and loved how he battled and would randomly come in to protect her and her other mates. And them our demon/nightmares/darkness wielder. I thought he was the snarky guy of the bunch but helped push her and get her to overcome her darkness and her past trauma. I loved each one of them but her demon guy was probably the most surprise to me (even though he was the last to join this group, I thought they connected really well).

So in terms of the story we get a lot of ups and downs with these character growing into a family unit but also with the baddies trying to take out the monsters despite the merging of humans and monsters with Kai's sister. I was surprised the humans felt like they could do that, with all these monsters being scary and a lot having powers, they should be able to wipe them out. But mobs of crazies will get their way apparently haha. We get a character from the past showing his face and I am glad that he got his just rewards. Seeing Kai come into her powers and what she decides to do with them, love that twist so much. I liked seeing mercy given and most of the people stepped up to the plate and did the right thing and learned the errors of their ways. And the ones that don't...well....that's all I will say on the matter hahaha. I liked the battles in this one, I thought it was more fast paced in spots than book 1. I think the emotions were all over the place, based on the the tough subjects talked about and experienced. I would have been pissed if I was her sister, but I loved their relationship and how things ended. I would love to see bonus scenes from this duet, some check-ins or maybe more from this world. I liked how the authors wrote this one.

Narration was good, wasn't as good as book 1 for me though. Still a solid 4 stars and would recommend the audiobook anyway. Don't get me wrong, I love the male MMC but this could have been heightened with duet narration instead of dual. The female narrator did a good job with her voices and emotional rollercoasters haha. Again duet is my favorite and I wish more from this author was duet (hopefully the company picking these up on audio makes all new audiobooks duet, it makes for a more compelling audio/storyline.

[Kelly Eudy · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
5/5⭐️
3.5/5🔥

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬, 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐖/𝐓𝐖(𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳 𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘳):
MFMMM/multi POV/paranormal/why choose/dark elements/slow burn/fated mates vibes/HEA/mentions of assault/attempted suicide

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰:
Book 2 of the Shadowed Kingdom. While this book follows a new set of characters and can be read as a standalone, I would highly recommend reading Fractured Shadows first. It will give you a better understanding of the world and the structure of the Shadowed Kingdom. Shadowed Hearts will also contain spoilers for book one.

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Kai was left behind in the shadowed land after her sister Cora took her place as the sacrifice for 'the hunt'... but being 'saved' from certain death may not have been any better then the hand she was dealt after Cora left. We see Kai at the end of Fractured Shadows and she's not in a place where she feels like she can carry on... and now we witness her overcome her shadows against all odds.

I liked that this started by over lapping with the ending of Fractured Shadows but from Kai pov instead. I love Kai's character and the amount of growth she had. She is rising from the shadows for sure. This book will put you through all the emotions. The guys are all different but all bring something different to the table, each providing a comfort for Kai in different ways. I love the patience they had with Kai. As always Katie and Kendra bring us guys who are straight up OBSESSED with our FMC. This does have a bit of a fated mates vibes and I really enjoyed the paranormal/magical aspect and how it grew as the story progressed. This was well worth the wait and I cant wait to see what else may come from the world these ladies have created.


** 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 … 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 =𝘋 **


𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

“You are beautiful no matter the cracks in your heart.”

We’ll move at her pace, and we’ll follow her wherever she goes, even into her own darkness.

“She was, our perfect little human. You were born to be ours, to be fucked like this between us.” Rook slams all the way down my throat as I gasp, clawing at the bedding. “You were made to be fucked, Kai, made to be filled with pleasure. Made to be ours. Never forget that.”

I’m not the same Kai who leapt from a tower though. I’m not the same woman who was terrified to live. I’m not helpless and broken. I’m something else now, and I’m not alone.

“I am the darkness that dances in the forest. I am the shadows that kiss your feet. If you dive deep into your nightmares, you will find me there.”

[Taryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Shadowed Heart" is a mesmerizing journey and the second book in the Shadowed Kingdom duology. The story picks up where "Fractured Shadows" left off, with the protagonist Kai on the precipice of despair. The fall from the Gilded Land's tower is not the end but the beginning of a profound transformation.

Kai's journey is one of healing and rebirth, and the authors, K.A. Knight and Kendra Moreno, skillfully navigate the complexities of trauma and recovery. The world, once dismal and gray, now blooms with new life, mirroring Kai's own metamorphosis. The monsters, feared at first, become her saviors, guiding her through the shadows and showing her the light within.

The emotional resonance of Kai's story is nothing short of extraordinary. The authors aptly capture the depth of her character—the relatability, passion, and strength that she discovers within herself. The interconnected standalone nature of the narrative, adds layers to the experience, making it all the more rewarding for those who read the first book.

The found family element within Kai's group, composed of unique monsters, is a testament to the authors' ability to breathe life into complex characters. Each monster, with its own past and charm, contributes to Kai's healing and growth, forging bonds that go beyond the superficial.

As a reader, I found myself immersed in Kai's world, experiencing the highs and lows of her emotional journey. The themes of despair, love, and the unexpected forms it takes resonate deeply. The authors delicately handle trauma, showcasing that even in the darkest moments, there is hope, and with love, one can find strength.

Personally, I had a profound and resonant emotional connection with Kai. Her brilliantly written story touched my heart, and the character development felt genuine and poignant. The authors' exploration of darkness and light, of brokenness and resilience, left a lasting impact.

In conclusion, "Shadowed Heart" is a five-star masterpiece that transcends the boundaries of fantasy romance. It's a tale that grips your heart, unfolds with beauty and complexity, and leaves you with a profound appreciation for the strength found in vulnerability. Kai's journey is not just a story; it's an emotional odyssey that lingers, reminding us that, indeed, the cracks in our souls are where the light gets in.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a coward, and I chose death rather than life. I am broken.

After Cora's sister, Kai stepped back on the balcony and fell, we thought that was her end…only it was her beginning…

Abused, hurt and nothing more than damaged goods, Kai was nothing but a shadow of her former self after everything the king inflicted on her. Seeing no other way to stop the pain she gave up her life. Only someone was watching her, in the shallows of the water a monster was unable to stop from saving Kai and hidden away in the Dead Lands.

Kai never thought she’d wake up again and never did she believe that real monster would be the one to care for her.

Here, I can be reborn. Here, I can be whatever I want to be. Here, I am free.

Everything is changing, Kai is slowly healing and now monsters who are anything but caring creatures that want nothing more than to keep her safe within this new world. Only, not everyone is agreeing as they step across the border and some are showing that they are the real monsters that hunt in the dark.

Can Kai allow the darkness to consume her and find the light within to fill her up?
Will her monsters bring the once broken girl back to life?

The king has claimed my past, but he won’t claim my future.

I really enjoyed reading Kai's story, it was emotional and very detailed. Kai was on a new journey as she recovers, starts over and rediscovers her own life of wanting to live. She was a different character, Kai has gone through a dramatic trauma and this was written very well then with her healing too.

I loved the introduction of the monsters within this story! They all had their own charming ways and had a strong connection to Kai. They also have their own past which made them who they were and they all worked well together.

As the story builds you have a feeling how things may trainspire and with previous characters also entwined with this story everything comes to life.

[Jennifer G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The wall has fallen. The Shadow Lands wears its cruelty on the surface, the Gilded Lands hides it beneath, and Dead Lands has a reemerging beauty. The world is changing and magic is returning, but for Kai, it's too late. When her pain becomes too much, she makes the choice to end it all. But death was not ready for her and she was saved, first by one monster and ultimately by four.

This is an interconnected standalone, so I recommend you read Fractured Shadows first. It's a well-written heartbreaking tale of salvation. The body and mind can only take so much before despair destroys but with love there is hope. And love can appear at the most unexpected times and in the most unexpected forms. We can be stronger than we imagine and can find happiness even when we believe we are broken. Once again we are shown that those we consider monsters are judged too harshly and humans can be the biggest monsters of all. The characters were good, the story was good, but it was not for me. I am not a fan of monster romance. I understand that the genre has a fan base but I have to ignore all descriptions and do rewrites in my mind to enjoy the relationships. Had the men not been monsters, I would have loved everything about it but of course, then it would have made little sense. So, as I write this review, I do so independent of my own likes and dislikes and have tried to be as fair as possible. If you enjoy monster romances, I highly recommend this series. It's beautifully developed and packed with emotion. "We are all a little broken. Those cracks are how the light gets in".

[emsreviewsandrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where can I find some monsters because I am jealous. In all seriousness, I loved this book so much. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. I’ve been in a slump lately but this book fixed everything.

Kai has truly been through the worst. She has been beaten down and feels like she has no reason to live which is why she plunges off the castle. What she wasn’t expecting was a monster to come and save her. Her growth and strength that comes out over the pages were truly amazing. She becomes a goddess and we all need her on our side.

The monsters in this story are all misunderstood and lonely creatures. Just like Kai, they have been broken and beaten down. Over the pages, they grow right there along with Kai. These monsters can go from the gentlest creatures to touch her and die within seconds. I loved Kaito, Weyland, Dade, and Rook so much. Anddd that shadow scene in Chapter 64 was phenomenal.

I enjoyed Cora’s story so much in Fractured Shadows and now I have fallen in love with Kai’s story. K.A. Knight and Kendra Moreno know exactly how to tell a story and I suggest reading these two books.

[Naurarwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are a fair few TWs with this book and two of those pertain to SA and unaliving oneself. If these things will affect you in any way I suggest you potentially give this story a miss. This is a dark story with a lot of heartbreak for the FMC.

Shadowed Heart starts straight back in where the previous book ended, but this time from Kai, Aria's sister's POV. When Aria volunteered to save her sister, that's what she thought she was doing. Instead, she comes back to find her sister broken and abused by the very King she ended.

The trauma aspects of this story were handled beautifully by both authors, neither of them brushed the issues under the rug and instead showed the side of Kai where she thinks she's broken and that nothing can help her piece herself back together. That's where her caring, yet also terrifying monsters come in. They have all encountered tragedy and they will do whatever they can to help Kai through it.

I absolutely loved this story from start to finish, and while it's a tad on the longer side I just couldn't put it down. Brilliantly written, huge kudos to both authors.

[MHT Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Burn Monster Romance

This is the second book in the Shadowed Kingdom series. Shadowed Heart is an RH with slow burn but once that fire catches it goes up in flames. This story follows Kai, she was brutally tortured by the king in every way possible. She is so broken she doesn’t want to go on, she jumps hoping not to make it. But she was saved by Kaito a water Monster. He takes her to his home and nurses her back to health. She encounters 3 other monsters that are drawn to her and she welcomes them to stay. Wayland (Lucan), Dade (War Horse) and Rook (Shadow Monster) join Kaito to form a family of Kai’s making. They are patient and kind with her boundaries, and help her heal. They encounter many humans that are hunting monsters, and they are attacked several times. Eventually Kai decides to go to the castle to see her sister Cora for help. Together with their mates Cora and Kai ready for war against the humans hunting and killing monsters. After so much bloodshed Kai says enough. She’s a healer and will, not kill. The story has a great HEA. This is a great ending to the second book so easy to get lost in this world.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

At the beginning I was expecting something, but got something better.
I'm a mood reader and after I started this one I couldn't put it down!

Kai grew exceptionally much in this book. I was afraid thet she would wallow in her own misary for way too long. But she, with the help of her mates, didn't overcome her past completley but they stitched her back together slowly.

You can clearly read the past, present and the future in this one. You can clearly see Kai's journey, but not only hers, but everyones. Even the darker parts was written in a way that gives you hope. This book screams hope. I appreciate that we get a few chapters with Cora.

It's in a way peotic that Kai becomes the Healer and Cora the Sword.
The sacrifice is forged into something deadly, the broken is stitched together into something whole.

I want to read more of this world. I can't just leave it now. There must be more!!!

I received an ARC, I willingly write my own opinion and thoughts about this book.

[zthebookwormz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review 🖤

I loved Kai and her monster so bloody much!!!

I absolutely loved this story!! It had me feeling so many different ways from crying to happy crying to laughing! It was such a beautiful story of healing those demons that hunt you in the dark.

Kai the FMC in the book goes through hell. Healing from shadows that haunt her even when she is awake. You get to see Date, Kaito, Weyland and Rook take care of her and fight for her even when she feels she has nothing left. She grows a lot throughout the book. You get to see her hard days and her good days and how much she grows from the start. Each of the guys helps her heal! You get to see Kai heal and come out on top even when the past that haunt her try’s to take hold.🥰

Each of the guys help her heal, but she also heals a part of each of the guys. Kaito, the outcast, never fitting in on either side, now surround by people who care for him and love him. Weyland, has a sad past and now he has Kai, someone who will stay with him and won’t leave. Date, Kai helped calmed his demons and his beast. Rook, helps Kai with her demons and now has a family that’s not afraid of him.🖤

The story in this book keeps you entranced and I absolutely loved the world building!! The writing enthrals you and makes you feel a world wind of emotions. Once I started it I found it hard to put down!! The bond between the characters is amazing and SpIcEe 🔥🥵. I definitely will be reading again!!

[Nicky Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

K A Knight and Kendra Moreno have done it again.

If you haven't read Fractured Shadows yet, I recommend reading it before reading Shadowed Heart.

Shadowed Heart follows Kai, Cora's sister. Everyone thought she was dead after she threw herself off the balcony at the end of Fractured Shadows even though we suspected she wasn't.

Her monsters (as she meets them) Kaito, Weyland, Dade and lastly Rook, help Kai heal, but she helps them in return.

Kai and her monsters were so well written, but character and world building are what the authors do so well.

To be able to see Kai overcome what she went through at the hands of the former king and become the confident person she ends up becoming.

Kai eventually has to go to her sister and let her know she is alive, when they find out human hunters are killing monsters and they need help to stop them.

There is spice in this book, but not as much as in Fractured Shadows. This book was definitely more slow burn.

I can't wait to see what comes next.

Thank you to the authors for the ARC copy.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowed Heart by K.A Knight and Kendra Moreno is book two in the Shadowed Kingdom Series. After reading the first book I couldn’t wait to read this one. Oh my gosh was it so worth the wait! This was such a phenomenal book. This is a dark romance so check your trigger warnings to be on the safe side. I devoured this book, I think I read it fully in one sitting. This book captured my attention within the first few chapters (just like the first book) and kept me hooked until the end. This book is a why choose romance and the men were protective, hot and sweet. But what these characters went through made my heart crack at times. What an emotional journey I went on… The plot was well done and had in my opinion the perfect amount of spice. I also really enjoyed the slow burn of it all. This book can be read as a standalone but I personally recommend reading the first one because characters do play a part. I’m a fan of both of these authors as they are amazing storytellers. Definitely a recommend!

Final review:
5 out of 5 stars

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not often a sequel is better than the original, but this clearly is the exception. Filled with redemptions, self-love, and plenty of why choose spice, Shadowed Heart explores the process of rebuilding one’s self both physically and mentally.

Picking up where Fractured Shadows left off, Kai is ready to end it all. She feels alone, forgotten, and utterly ruined by her past. Yet, when she discovers herself surrounded by frightening monsters, she slowly realizes the real monsters are actually the ones that look normal on the outside. And she’s done being afraid.

“Fairy tales are for children and I am not a child. I don’t want a hero. I want a monster.”

The focus on overcoming trauma was incredible and I absolutely loved how gentle these beasts were with Kai. This found family had quite a journey in such a short amount of time, but it never felt rushed. It only got better and better the deeper I delved into the book all the way to the epic ending! A fantastic duet.

I received this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was an amazing read. Kai's story and the world it's set in was nothing short of unique to me. It was the first of the interconnected books I've read (this being the second), but I managed to understand the world well enough without having read Cora's story.

This was a beautiful, slow burn MFMMM romance, chock full of emotions, healing (in more ways than one), action and spice.

Kai's journey, her growth and her acceptance was a wonderful story to read. She comes from a dark past, one it seems she'll never heal from, but her strength shines as we read more. Each of her men (Kaito, Weyland, Dade and Rook) have their own place in her journey, each helping her to find and realise another part of herself. And the chemistry between them? Off the charts.

Definitely a book I'd re-read, and definitely going back to read how Cora's story started it all.

[Gabby Strickland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start off by saying, anything KA Knight writes, I’m going to read. And man this book did not disappoint! It’s full of all of the yummy things you want in a monster RH romance.

Kai, who is the FMC, is such a strong lead character. I loved seeing her grow and become stronger. Her story is soul crushing but her come back is magnificent!! I also loved her relationship with her sister Cora, they complimented each other so well.

Kai’s monsters are so perfect. The perfect blend of possessive, touch her and bye bye, protective, and only soft for her. Each one has their own unique story and tragic past. I absolutely adored the monsters.

It is a bit of a slow burn, but once it’s started heating up it is scorching!

All in all, this book was phenomenal. I had a hard time putting it down. Highly recommend!

5/5 rating
3/5 spicy rating

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are my own.

[Robyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in a duology, following a pair of sisters in a fantasy world. In book 2, we have the older sister, Kai, who has suffered so much trauma that she tries to unalive herself. A good portion of the book is spent focusing on Kai’s healing journey and regaining the WANT to live. Then the plot really takes over with human hunters now killing monsters and everyone is on the brink of a war. Kai’s sister is Cora, the Queen, and they fight together to save the lands but Kai isn’t a killer and can’t be. She’s a healer, a lover. And the direction her story takes is absolutely beautiful. I am glad that the author stopped at 4 monsters for Kai in this why choose instead of 6 like Cora. With Kai’s trauma, that would have been too much. But Kai’s monsters work so well together that sometimes you forget it’s a dark romance and just feel the love and tension.
I highly recommend this duology, especially if you love monster spice!

[Kelsey Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Instead of a mopey Kai, we see her rise above and find her worth alongside her mates after being saved by Kaito. This book made me feel so many things and without a doubt was an entertaining read. Though it’s a little beastly in length, don’t let it intimidate you, it went fast for me.

The spice is there and fortunately does not overpower the plot — not even a little bit. The world building is ever present and between the two authors, they are exceptionally well and have mastered this skill. I loved that each mate had a role that fulfilled and provided a different thing, not only for Kai but for each other as well.

This beautiful RH, slow burn romance is set up for success. Well rounded with a sugar sweet cast of characters, I highly recommend this magical, monster filled book!


Thank you KA Knight for the eArc!