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A Year With the Ferrier #1
A Vow of Shadows
Marked by Death. Saved by a Vow.
For years, Katrin has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin, but the dark markings have affected more than her appearance. Ostracized by the high society she was born into, she's forced to watch the world carry on without her.
As her untimely end draws near, Katrin seeks out the one creature who might save her—Death's own servant, The Ferrier of Souls. The mysterious reaper agrees to keep Katrin safe for one year, long enough to hopefully find a way around her dark fate. All it will cost is the small fortune that was to be her dowry.
With the bargain sealed, Katrin is whisked away to a strange world between the living and the dead. But the longer she stays, the more she realizes how wrong she was about Death, her mark, and the man behind the scythe.
In this precarious deal, her connection to The Ferrier might be the only thing to save her once Death comes to collect what's his.
Fans of Belladonna and A Deal with the Elf King will fall in love with this atmospheric and enchanting fantasy romance inspired by Welsh mythology.
For years, Katrin has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin, but the dark markings have affected more than her appearance. Ostracized by the high society she was born into, she's forced to watch the world carry on without her.
As her untimely end draws near, Katrin seeks out the one creature who might save her—Death's own servant, The Ferrier of Souls. The mysterious reaper agrees to keep Katrin safe for one year, long enough to hopefully find a way around her dark fate. All it will cost is the small fortune that was to be her dowry.
With the bargain sealed, Katrin is whisked away to a strange world between the living and the dead. But the longer she stays, the more she realizes how wrong she was about Death, her mark, and the man behind the scythe.
In this precarious deal, her connection to The Ferrier might be the only thing to save her once Death comes to collect what's his.
Fans of Belladonna and A Deal with the Elf King will fall in love with this atmospheric and enchanting fantasy romance inspired by Welsh mythology.
294 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2024
18 people are currently reading
380 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
November 17, 2024
This is a beautifully written gothic romantasy reminiscent of Belladonna in all its decadence. With players of Death, the Ferrier of Souls and Fate itself, it’s hard not to be captured by Kat’s story as she attempts to forge her own path - whatever that may be. I very much enjoyed the push and pull between our main duo as they fought against their own hesitations, and this isolated setting makes it feel inescapable while we toe the world of the Between.
(Note: this is low on the spice scale)
(Note: this is low on the spice scale)
October 21, 2024
I received this book as an advance reader copy and this is my honest review.
This story put such a twist on the lore of the reaper and death. Making them separate entities wasn’t something I expected!! I was hooked from the beginning with Kat, her shadows, and the bells. I loved the inclusion of how to summon the Ferrier and that there are multiple resisting in The Between. Kat and The Ferrier have such a beautiful relationship and their own tumultuous backstories. I enjoyed their banter so much! This book raised so many questions about life, death, and selflessness. Not to mention the twist that I kinda saw coming but still didn’t really expect? I was fully convinced it was going to happen and then BAM there it was. It does end on a cliffhanger which has me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next!
This story put such a twist on the lore of the reaper and death. Making them separate entities wasn’t something I expected!! I was hooked from the beginning with Kat, her shadows, and the bells. I loved the inclusion of how to summon the Ferrier and that there are multiple resisting in The Between. Kat and The Ferrier have such a beautiful relationship and their own tumultuous backstories. I enjoyed their banter so much! This book raised so many questions about life, death, and selflessness. Not to mention the twist that I kinda saw coming but still didn’t really expect? I was fully convinced it was going to happen and then BAM there it was. It does end on a cliffhanger which has me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happens next!
April 20, 2025
https://bioquimicadaleitura.blogspot....
Esta foi uma surpresa para mim e muito boa! Sem nunca ter ouvido ou lido algo sobre a obra, a capa chamou-me a atenção e fui compelida a ler a sinopse. Soube imediatamente que tinha de a ler.
A Katrin é uma pessoa muito especial, ela é única. Filha de um lorde, mas ostracizada pela sociedade devido ao seu aspecto peculiar.
Ela sabe que a morte está vindo buscá-la, pelo que faz um acordo com o "ferrier of souls" para mantê-la escondida e a salvo durante um ano, enquanto tenta encontrar uma maneira de escapar ao seu destino.
Ler esta história foi como andar numa montanha-russa, uma aventura! Cada descoberta era emocionante e eu só queria saber mais e mais. Era difícil pousar o livro.
A química entre a Katrin e o ferrier era muito boa, e gostei de aprender sobre o passado dele. Achei inesperada a explicação sobre a marca no corpo da Katrin e o destino que a aguarda.
Recomendo e aguardo o segundo volume com expectativa.
Esta foi uma surpresa para mim e muito boa! Sem nunca ter ouvido ou lido algo sobre a obra, a capa chamou-me a atenção e fui compelida a ler a sinopse. Soube imediatamente que tinha de a ler.
A Katrin é uma pessoa muito especial, ela é única. Filha de um lorde, mas ostracizada pela sociedade devido ao seu aspecto peculiar.
Ela sabe que a morte está vindo buscá-la, pelo que faz um acordo com o "ferrier of souls" para mantê-la escondida e a salvo durante um ano, enquanto tenta encontrar uma maneira de escapar ao seu destino.
Ler esta história foi como andar numa montanha-russa, uma aventura! Cada descoberta era emocionante e eu só queria saber mais e mais. Era difícil pousar o livro.
A química entre a Katrin e o ferrier era muito boa, e gostei de aprender sobre o passado dele. Achei inesperada a explicação sobre a marca no corpo da Katrin e o destino que a aguarda.
Recomendo e aguardo o segundo volume com expectativa.
November 2, 2024
This book was a great surprise in so many ways, I was stunned by this book. First of all for the originality of the plot: the idea of a ferryman between life and death is not a concept that we often read about (although very classic) but above all, Death as Elle wrote it is not something that we read every day. As I read it was more and more of a surprise, and when Death was introduced I went literally crazy. I didn't really expect this twist, I didn't expect The Ferrier's character and I was truly enthralled throughout the entire book. I sincerely would have preferred it to be a little longer, for both the fantasy and romance plots to have perhaps had a little more space, despite this the book is not rushed but well structured in all its parts.
Our main character, Katrin, has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin for years. Katrin seeks out the one who might save her, the Ferrier: a mysterious reaper who agrees to keep her safe for one year. If there's one thing that Elle knows how to do very well, it's creating atmosphere and mood. Whether through dialogue, descriptions or the events themselves, the gothic mood is a certainty. We spend most of the time in Katrin’s mind, living the events with her directly and obviously you’ll end up loving her. The situation is slightly different with the Ferrier: we often also read his pov, which however rarely, especially at the beginning, is dedicated to him but is often directed towards Katrin. I would have liked to know him better, but I understand that this narrative choice was made to maintain an aura of mystery around his character (100% successful).
Our main character, Katrin, has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin for years. Katrin seeks out the one who might save her, the Ferrier: a mysterious reaper who agrees to keep her safe for one year. If there's one thing that Elle knows how to do very well, it's creating atmosphere and mood. Whether through dialogue, descriptions or the events themselves, the gothic mood is a certainty. We spend most of the time in Katrin’s mind, living the events with her directly and obviously you’ll end up loving her. The situation is slightly different with the Ferrier: we often also read his pov, which however rarely, especially at the beginning, is dedicated to him but is often directed towards Katrin. I would have liked to know him better, but I understand that this narrative choice was made to maintain an aura of mystery around his character (100% successful).
October 21, 2024
This is an amazing start to what promises to be a great fantasy romance series. I’m dying for the next installment!
• Gothic Romantasy
• M/F
• Dual 1st Person POV
• NA / Adult
• Indie Author
• Forced Proximity and One Bed
• Slow Burn
• Shadow Magic
• Different Worlds
• Sentient Shadows 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 & 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴...
• Reluctant Protagonist
• Death, Demons & Demonic Dogs
Welsh mythological inspiration twisted up with 𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙘 𝙫𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙨, Death is a heavy theme here (also a character). For the ones who live for the 𝙨𝙡𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣, Elle kills it with the 𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜. The anticipation she builds is 𝘏𝘖𝘛! Plus, we get the 𝙈𝙈𝘾’𝙨 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚, too — I was living for his chapters.
The MCs are really well developed & the circumstances driving them are rooted in deeply emotional factors. They each have different goals which bring them together, unhappily at first, but when feelings evolve those original goals become obstacles. The types of choices they face make this love story fraught & emotional — very 𝙍𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤 & 𝙅𝙪𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙩.
𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘔𝘊 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘳. If the image that came to mind at that word is “cloak & scythe” you’re right… but under the cloak is a tall, dark & handsome 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬 𝙙𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙮! Referred to as The Ferrier in this book, he’s hard not to fall for. Katrin is the brave, imperfect FMC. I liked her quite a lot! Marked by Death, Katrin contends with 𝙥𝙝𝙮𝙨𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙡𝙖𝙬𝙨 & held grudges, but her character grows so much throughout this book. I loved the dialogue between these two — it flows so well & their relationship evolves in a very natural way.
Most of the book takes place in The Between where The Ferrier resides, a plane of “stasis” between the world of the living & the Afterworld. I found this setting, along with the belief system regarding death & the afterlife Elle applies to this story, very fascinating!
There’s plenty of exciting action & harrowing ordeals. All in all, this is a very unique plot with unique characters, but with popular tropes & magic systems, and I found it so refreshing to step into a different kind of fantasy backdrop. The world building is comprehensive but clear-cut. There’s 𝙨𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙨 who become lovable sidekicks! And the heart-wrenching 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙚 at the end had me nearly in tears — I’m desperate for the next book!
𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳 & 𝘉𝘦𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘗𝘈 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘙𝘊 𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺! 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2024
I received this as an advanced review copy.
I enjoy Elle's writing style, her word choices and ability to set the mood. I really love a good psychopomp, there's something immensely fascinating about this in-between life and death, which is what Elle is setting the majority of the story in, this liminal space. I thought the idea of the sentient shadows were great. She also did something quite interesting with the chapters.
Overall, not a bad book and I’ve seen a lot of the other reviews being ecstatic and loving it - so don’t be put off by my review! I don't think I am the right audience for this particular book as this stage in my life. The reason is it's very introspective, the reader spends a lot of time in Kat's, the FMC, mind, hearing her thoughts and impressions. Without spoiling anything, at 40% Kat has yet to investigate why she is marked, there's no real sense of urgency on her behalf which I found odd given that's the entire reason she made her bargain to gain another year. This frustrated me as I felt the story became a bit stagnated. Personally, I like a heavy action and conversation based book.
If you do love introspect books with a slower pace, this is a great choice and again, her writing is really good!
I enjoy Elle's writing style, her word choices and ability to set the mood. I really love a good psychopomp, there's something immensely fascinating about this in-between life and death, which is what Elle is setting the majority of the story in, this liminal space. I thought the idea of the sentient shadows were great. She also did something quite interesting with the chapters.
Overall, not a bad book and I’ve seen a lot of the other reviews being ecstatic and loving it - so don’t be put off by my review! I don't think I am the right audience for this particular book as this stage in my life. The reason is it's very introspective, the reader spends a lot of time in Kat's, the FMC, mind, hearing her thoughts and impressions. Without spoiling anything, at 40% Kat has yet to investigate why she is marked, there's no real sense of urgency on her behalf which I found odd given that's the entire reason she made her bargain to gain another year. This frustrated me as I felt the story became a bit stagnated. Personally, I like a heavy action and conversation based book.
If you do love introspect books with a slower pace, this is a great choice and again, her writing is really good!
October 12, 2024
See you don’t often find books with this take on Death. The way the story was woven was something else, shadows and The Ferrier. I was intrigued by the lot of it. I’m assuming there will be another book to make up for that damn cliffhanger. Cause why’d you’d do that to me woman? If you like the idea of Reapers, Death and fate weaving a tale, then this book is for you.
I received an early arc copy, and this is my honest review of it!
I received an early arc copy, and this is my honest review of it!
October 23, 2024
“The next time you want to disrespect her, I’ll cut out your tongue and feed it to Behryn’s hounds”
For years, Katrin has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin, but the dark markings have affected more than her appearance. Katrin seeks out the one creature who might save her—Death's own servant, The Ferrier of Souls. The mysterious reaper agrees to keep Katrin safe for one year, long enough to hopefully find a way around her dark fate. All it will cost is the small fortune that was to be her dowry.
This book had me on grip from the beginning to the end. The story is so well written. I love all their interaction, their banters , all the twist and the cliffhanger had me heartbroken and wanting more of the book. Eagerly waiting for the next book. Elle you are amazing. Thank you for choosing me as an ARC reader.
For years, Katrin has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin, but the dark markings have affected more than her appearance. Katrin seeks out the one creature who might save her—Death's own servant, The Ferrier of Souls. The mysterious reaper agrees to keep Katrin safe for one year, long enough to hopefully find a way around her dark fate. All it will cost is the small fortune that was to be her dowry.
This book had me on grip from the beginning to the end. The story is so well written. I love all their interaction, their banters , all the twist and the cliffhanger had me heartbroken and wanting more of the book. Eagerly waiting for the next book. Elle you are amazing. Thank you for choosing me as an ARC reader.
October 25, 2024
This book had a really unique take on the afterlife and the "in-between" plus in how they portrayed Death. It is inspired by Welsh mythology, which who here doesn't love mythology inspired stories?
Tropes:
🖤 Gothic setting
🖤 Cursed FMC
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Paranormal romance
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Reluctant allies
Tropes:
🖤 Gothic setting
🖤 Cursed FMC
🖤 Forced Proximity
🖤 Paranormal romance
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Slow Burn
🖤 Reluctant allies
November 9, 2025
5 stars!!
Bargain with Grim Reaper + Gothic Romance + Yearning + Can’t Wait To Read Book 2!
Bargain with Grim Reaper + Gothic Romance + Yearning + Can’t Wait To Read Book 2!
December 7, 2024
DETAILED REVIEW!
This is an amazing start to what promises to be a great romantasy series. I'm desperate for the next instalment!
Tropes:
• Cursed FMC
• Paranormal romance
• Found Family
• Reluctant allies
• Gothic Romantasy
• M/F
• Alphahole to cinnamon roll
• Dual 1st Person POV
• Indie Author
• Forced Proximity and One Bed
• Slow Burn
• Shadow Magic
• Different Worlds.
• Sentient Shadows with feelings & opinions...
• Reluctant Protagonist
• Death, Demons & Demonic Dogs
There's plenty of exciting action & harrowing ordeals with a very unique plot, unique characters, a great magic system, and a rather interesting setting .
The magic rules/lore, along with the belief system regarding death's rules & the afterlife, are very fascinating!
It is inspired by Welsh mythology, mixed with gothic vibes, Death - the character and the enevatability - are a heavy theme here.
The descriptions of the different realms are detailed and haunting. The world building is comprehensive and quite simply wonderful.
Most of the book takes place in the 'between' where the Ferrier lives .
The Between is a plane of "stasis" between the land of the living, & the Afterworld, linked together by a supernatural corridor with multiple doors/exits into different places. There's something so intriguing about this in-between world of life and death.
The length of time in The 'Between' felt strange, it was never really mentioned in the story if time moves the same or slower and so I'd get a bit lost until a character would explicitly say how long its been. When I thought it’ only been a week or two and when actually it had been a month or more.
This story had everything, cute minions (shadow deamons), Fates, Death, Love and the strength to fight and not give up against overwhelming odds.
We could not have asked for better characters as all the MCs are really well developed and well written. Their back stories are easily understandable and relatable. They all have similar objectives that bring them together, unhappily at first, but they do find common ground . And when feelings grow, the characters' individual objectives change from being a planned goal to work towards into an unnecessary obstacle in their path. As the mc's develop, these previous goals offer up new feelings and choices that make a very emotional read.
The MMC is the Reaper, also known as The Ferrier of Souls. But, who/what is under that cloak? a shadow creature? A demonic and brooding skeleton or a tall, dark & handsome shadow daddy? And how did he become the reaper? There are just so many questions that come with this brilliant character.
The FMC is Katrin, she is a 21yo lady living in a very wealthy, high society household that was brought up with many social rules and etiquette lessons that have now seem to have all been for nought, as she has been living in hiding since she was 13 when she first started seeing the mark appear and grow across her body. She has been dropped by her friends, bullied by her household servants, and generally treated like crap from all - even those who knew her before. Kat is just feared by all, as if her mark were some filthy disease that could be caught by simply talking to her.
Katrin is a brave, fierce, strong, loud mouthed, badd ass and although a pampered lady she is clearly and fiercely marked by Death. But for what reason we dont know? Katrin contends with unusual looks and stares, and the snub from society that comes with being marked - but she doesn't take this lying down. Kat grows so much throughout this story as new unpredictable and unusual events are thrown in her path.
I loved the dialogue between the mc's and the sassy banter between these two just flows, making it easy and fun to follow along with.
Next in the character list are the shadow demons, or rather cute ickle puppy dogs who are just waiting to be told they're a "good boy." They become utterly lovable sidekicks, not the scary evil monster they sound like. And 2 special little cuty pies (inky and storm) are given the roles of body guards! When I read shadow demons, I expected dark, scary, horrid creatures - and that couldn't be further from the truth. I did find a potential small plot hole here though, because as kat starts to befriend them , she starts to talk to them and ask questions and just generally tries to get to know them. But why didn't she create a yes/ no system to get answers? As in " Storm- Are you happy to be my bodyguard? If yes, go to my right, if no, go to my left..." It seemed really obvious to me, and I awaited its appearance in the story, yet it never came up?
it’s very introspective, you- as the reader spends a lot of time in the FMC mind, hearing her thoughts and no spoilers here but-what I found most annoying was that kat's story was all based around the want, need and drive to investigate why she is marked. Yet she maybe spends 2 days actively looking for info on it? I felt there were times in the story where I was left feeling a bit awkward and annoyed almost because she should have been getting her butt in gear, searching books, or questioning the ferrier and yet she was doing sod all... I found this really odd given that’s the main plot of the book and the entire reason she made her bargain with the ferrier to gain another year. This frustrated me so much as I felt the story became a bit stagnated with her lack of interest/ lack of self-preservation skills. By the end of his book, I felt like I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, but these will hopefully be answered in the next book. Although it does end on a massive cliffhanger, I wish some of the questions would have been revealed already, but I can't elaborate without giving spoilers.
A Vow of Shadows presents a unique take on the lore of separate realms, death, reapers, and fate. The idea of death and the Ferrier as separate entities and the sentient shadow deamons was intriguing and set an atmospheric tone that kept me hooked.
I enjoy this writing style, the word choices, descriptions, the way the author can put emotions into such powerful words, and her ability to set the mood, which makes this book really stand out.
If you enjoy a slower-paced read that explores life, death, and fate with a unique perspective, this is definitely for you. I’m hoping the next book dives deeper into the mysteries set up here, as there’s a lot of potential for this world to be expanded- Like offering the reader more understanding of this books mystical realms, the corridor exits, and the magic system would be nice. For example- how did the reapers meet other reapers? Where did these other doors lead to? How did the horses come to be? What of the world that kat entered when she was dropped off to await her ferrier?
According to my rating system, this should be a 3* read. However, I loved it that much it was almost a 5* because of the amazing way that the author writes! For all the reasons mentioned above this story is just elevated and a really wonderful read that overpowers all its cons and I truly hope you will rush out and buy it because this is going to be one hell of a series!!
Favourite quotes:
" Would I go from being the girl marked by Death to the woman who cheated him?"
" When I see you naked, I want to be able to run my hands over every inch over your body, followed by my tongue. "
Thank you to the author & Netgalley for the ARC opportunity! All opinions are my own.
This is an amazing start to what promises to be a great romantasy series. I'm desperate for the next instalment!
Tropes:
• Cursed FMC
• Paranormal romance
• Found Family
• Reluctant allies
• Gothic Romantasy
• M/F
• Alphahole to cinnamon roll
• Dual 1st Person POV
• Indie Author
• Forced Proximity and One Bed
• Slow Burn
• Shadow Magic
• Different Worlds.
• Sentient Shadows with feelings & opinions...
• Reluctant Protagonist
• Death, Demons & Demonic Dogs
There's plenty of exciting action & harrowing ordeals with a very unique plot, unique characters, a great magic system, and a rather interesting setting .
The magic rules/lore, along with the belief system regarding death's rules & the afterlife, are very fascinating!
It is inspired by Welsh mythology, mixed with gothic vibes, Death - the character and the enevatability - are a heavy theme here.
The descriptions of the different realms are detailed and haunting. The world building is comprehensive and quite simply wonderful.
Most of the book takes place in the 'between' where the Ferrier lives .
The Between is a plane of "stasis" between the land of the living, & the Afterworld, linked together by a supernatural corridor with multiple doors/exits into different places. There's something so intriguing about this in-between world of life and death.
The length of time in The 'Between' felt strange, it was never really mentioned in the story if time moves the same or slower and so I'd get a bit lost until a character would explicitly say how long its been. When I thought it’ only been a week or two and when actually it had been a month or more.
This story had everything, cute minions (shadow deamons), Fates, Death, Love and the strength to fight and not give up against overwhelming odds.
We could not have asked for better characters as all the MCs are really well developed and well written. Their back stories are easily understandable and relatable. They all have similar objectives that bring them together, unhappily at first, but they do find common ground . And when feelings grow, the characters' individual objectives change from being a planned goal to work towards into an unnecessary obstacle in their path. As the mc's develop, these previous goals offer up new feelings and choices that make a very emotional read.
The MMC is the Reaper, also known as The Ferrier of Souls. But, who/what is under that cloak? a shadow creature? A demonic and brooding skeleton or a tall, dark & handsome shadow daddy? And how did he become the reaper? There are just so many questions that come with this brilliant character.
The FMC is Katrin, she is a 21yo lady living in a very wealthy, high society household that was brought up with many social rules and etiquette lessons that have now seem to have all been for nought, as she has been living in hiding since she was 13 when she first started seeing the mark appear and grow across her body. She has been dropped by her friends, bullied by her household servants, and generally treated like crap from all - even those who knew her before. Kat is just feared by all, as if her mark were some filthy disease that could be caught by simply talking to her.
Katrin is a brave, fierce, strong, loud mouthed, badd ass and although a pampered lady she is clearly and fiercely marked by Death. But for what reason we dont know? Katrin contends with unusual looks and stares, and the snub from society that comes with being marked - but she doesn't take this lying down. Kat grows so much throughout this story as new unpredictable and unusual events are thrown in her path.
I loved the dialogue between the mc's and the sassy banter between these two just flows, making it easy and fun to follow along with.
Next in the character list are the shadow demons, or rather cute ickle puppy dogs who are just waiting to be told they're a "good boy." They become utterly lovable sidekicks, not the scary evil monster they sound like. And 2 special little cuty pies (inky and storm) are given the roles of body guards! When I read shadow demons, I expected dark, scary, horrid creatures - and that couldn't be further from the truth. I did find a potential small plot hole here though, because as kat starts to befriend them , she starts to talk to them and ask questions and just generally tries to get to know them. But why didn't she create a yes/ no system to get answers? As in " Storm- Are you happy to be my bodyguard? If yes, go to my right, if no, go to my left..." It seemed really obvious to me, and I awaited its appearance in the story, yet it never came up?
it’s very introspective, you- as the reader spends a lot of time in the FMC mind, hearing her thoughts and no spoilers here but-what I found most annoying was that kat's story was all based around the want, need and drive to investigate why she is marked. Yet she maybe spends 2 days actively looking for info on it? I felt there were times in the story where I was left feeling a bit awkward and annoyed almost because she should have been getting her butt in gear, searching books, or questioning the ferrier and yet she was doing sod all... I found this really odd given that’s the main plot of the book and the entire reason she made her bargain with the ferrier to gain another year. This frustrated me so much as I felt the story became a bit stagnated with her lack of interest/ lack of self-preservation skills. By the end of his book, I felt like I was left with a lot of unanswered questions, but these will hopefully be answered in the next book. Although it does end on a massive cliffhanger, I wish some of the questions would have been revealed already, but I can't elaborate without giving spoilers.
A Vow of Shadows presents a unique take on the lore of separate realms, death, reapers, and fate. The idea of death and the Ferrier as separate entities and the sentient shadow deamons was intriguing and set an atmospheric tone that kept me hooked.
I enjoy this writing style, the word choices, descriptions, the way the author can put emotions into such powerful words, and her ability to set the mood, which makes this book really stand out.
If you enjoy a slower-paced read that explores life, death, and fate with a unique perspective, this is definitely for you. I’m hoping the next book dives deeper into the mysteries set up here, as there’s a lot of potential for this world to be expanded- Like offering the reader more understanding of this books mystical realms, the corridor exits, and the magic system would be nice. For example- how did the reapers meet other reapers? Where did these other doors lead to? How did the horses come to be? What of the world that kat entered when she was dropped off to await her ferrier?
According to my rating system, this should be a 3* read. However, I loved it that much it was almost a 5* because of the amazing way that the author writes! For all the reasons mentioned above this story is just elevated and a really wonderful read that overpowers all its cons and I truly hope you will rush out and buy it because this is going to be one hell of a series!!
Favourite quotes:
" Would I go from being the girl marked by Death to the woman who cheated him?"
" When I see you naked, I want to be able to run my hands over every inch over your body, followed by my tongue. "
Thank you to the author & Netgalley for the ARC opportunity! All opinions are my own.
October 18, 2024
'Beware the bells of violet blue,
a flower sweet and lovely too.
To hear the bluebell's haunting tune
means death will come to follow soon.'
Inspired by Welsh mythology, A Vow of Shadows by Elle Backenstoe is the first book in the A Year With the Ferrier series.
Katrin has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin since she was thirteen and has been ostracised by the high society she was born into. Forced to watch the world carry on without her, Katrin seeks out the one person that may be able to help her, The Ferrier of Souls. She leaves the safety of her home the night before her twenty-first birthday and makes a bargain with The Ferrier. He will keep her safe from Death for one year for the small fortune that was to be her dowry. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems and the longer Katrin stays with The Ferrier in the strange world between the living and the dead, the more she realises she is wrong about Death, her mark and The Ferrier.
'I may not have a chance at winning, but at least I'm still playing the game.'
Katrin has a quiet strength about her that she hides from those around her. She knows Death is coming dor her button she's not going to go before she is ready. Strong, tenacious, with a quick mind and quicker mouth as well as a desire to live, not just exist, you can't help but want Katrin to get her happy ever after away from Death's clutches.
'To love was to hurt. I knew that as well as any.'
The Ferrier of Souls is Death's servant and sees Katrin as a way to end his indebtedness to Death and finally be able to enter the Afterlife. He is insufferable, taunting Katrin relentlessly when she first arrives in The Between. Things are not what they seem with The Ferrier and we soon get to see how complex he is. He loves deeply, is protective, and struggles at times with his role ferrying souls to the Afterlife. The inclusion of his backstory is interesting and gives you an insight into some of the decisions he makes throughout the book.
The plot will be enough to keep you turning the pages but throw in solid worldbuilding, strong characters, an original storyline and a slow burn romance for the ages and this is a book you won't be able to put down. Be warned, the cliffhanger will leave you wanting to throw something.
Death, Reapers, Fate, grief, loss and taking control of your own life, A Vow of Shadows is one of those books that sneaks up on you and leaves you thinking about it long after you have read it.
a flower sweet and lovely too.
To hear the bluebell's haunting tune
means death will come to follow soon.'
Inspired by Welsh mythology, A Vow of Shadows by Elle Backenstoe is the first book in the A Year With the Ferrier series.
Katrin has lived with the shadow of Death upon her skin since she was thirteen and has been ostracised by the high society she was born into. Forced to watch the world carry on without her, Katrin seeks out the one person that may be able to help her, The Ferrier of Souls. She leaves the safety of her home the night before her twenty-first birthday and makes a bargain with The Ferrier. He will keep her safe from Death for one year for the small fortune that was to be her dowry. Nothing is ever as simple as it seems and the longer Katrin stays with The Ferrier in the strange world between the living and the dead, the more she realises she is wrong about Death, her mark and The Ferrier.
'I may not have a chance at winning, but at least I'm still playing the game.'
Katrin has a quiet strength about her that she hides from those around her. She knows Death is coming dor her button she's not going to go before she is ready. Strong, tenacious, with a quick mind and quicker mouth as well as a desire to live, not just exist, you can't help but want Katrin to get her happy ever after away from Death's clutches.
'To love was to hurt. I knew that as well as any.'
The Ferrier of Souls is Death's servant and sees Katrin as a way to end his indebtedness to Death and finally be able to enter the Afterlife. He is insufferable, taunting Katrin relentlessly when she first arrives in The Between. Things are not what they seem with The Ferrier and we soon get to see how complex he is. He loves deeply, is protective, and struggles at times with his role ferrying souls to the Afterlife. The inclusion of his backstory is interesting and gives you an insight into some of the decisions he makes throughout the book.
The plot will be enough to keep you turning the pages but throw in solid worldbuilding, strong characters, an original storyline and a slow burn romance for the ages and this is a book you won't be able to put down. Be warned, the cliffhanger will leave you wanting to throw something.
Death, Reapers, Fate, grief, loss and taking control of your own life, A Vow of Shadows is one of those books that sneaks up on you and leaves you thinking about it long after you have read it.
October 23, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I wish I could give this book a 10 !!
This book was amazing !
“ Would I go from being the girl marked by Death, to the woman who cheated him “
“When i see you naked, I want to be able to run my hands over every inch over your body, followed by my tongue “
The way this story came together from the very beginning had me on a death grip , it was breathtaking.
It had me clinging to my chest from that cliffhanger 😭😭😭😭
This story had it all, Fates, Death, Love and the strength to fight and not give up . We could not have asked for better characters, we have our FMC Kat , living in hiding since she was 13 when the shadows first appeared, had her future foretold to her, Death will be coming for her, claiming her but she will not go with out a fight, she refuses to let it keep taking from her , leading her to seek out The Ferrier of souls , she makes a deal with the Reaper thus thrusting her in to his world of the In-between
Our Reaper, bound and pretty much enslaved by Death itself, trying to pay off a debt that will free him and allow him to meet his first love in the Afterlife, agrees to grant Kat protection for a year which in the end would grant him what he desires but OMG !
But their relationship becomes more ! The way he becomes so protective of her and she of him! How will they be able to go their separate ways once the deal is over ? Will death finally come for her ? 🙊🙊🙊🙊
This ended in such a heartbreaking cliffhanger!!!!
I was reeling and seething at the ending !!
Well played Elle , well played ! 😈😈😈😈
Desperately awaiting the release of book 2 !! Please don’t make us wait too long !
This book was amazing !
“ Would I go from being the girl marked by Death, to the woman who cheated him “
“When i see you naked, I want to be able to run my hands over every inch over your body, followed by my tongue “
The way this story came together from the very beginning had me on a death grip , it was breathtaking.
It had me clinging to my chest from that cliffhanger 😭😭😭😭
This story had it all, Fates, Death, Love and the strength to fight and not give up . We could not have asked for better characters, we have our FMC Kat , living in hiding since she was 13 when the shadows first appeared, had her future foretold to her, Death will be coming for her, claiming her but she will not go with out a fight, she refuses to let it keep taking from her , leading her to seek out The Ferrier of souls , she makes a deal with the Reaper thus thrusting her in to his world of the In-between
Our Reaper, bound and pretty much enslaved by Death itself, trying to pay off a debt that will free him and allow him to meet his first love in the Afterlife, agrees to grant Kat protection for a year which in the end would grant him what he desires but OMG !
But their relationship becomes more ! The way he becomes so protective of her and she of him! How will they be able to go their separate ways once the deal is over ? Will death finally come for her ? 🙊🙊🙊🙊
This ended in such a heartbreaking cliffhanger!!!!
I was reeling and seething at the ending !!
Well played Elle , well played ! 😈😈😈😈
Desperately awaiting the release of book 2 !! Please don’t make us wait too long !
October 23, 2024
A Vow of Shadows
I loved it! The concept was fascinating and the characters even more so!
Katrin was easy to root for. I loved her determination. She never gave up and possessed an inner strength that I loved!
Ferrier was an intriguing character. I loved uncovering his mysteries and learning more about him and this in-between world in general.
There’s still so much to this world that I want to know and I can’t wait for the next book.
Some awesome tropes in here are; bargains, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, time limits, forced proximity, slow burn, on the run, and more!
I loved it! The concept was fascinating and the characters even more so!
Katrin was easy to root for. I loved her determination. She never gave up and possessed an inner strength that I loved!
Ferrier was an intriguing character. I loved uncovering his mysteries and learning more about him and this in-between world in general.
There’s still so much to this world that I want to know and I can’t wait for the next book.
Some awesome tropes in here are; bargains, grumpy/sunshine, hurt/comfort, time limits, forced proximity, slow burn, on the run, and more!
November 8, 2024
Its a little slower paced than im used to. Katrin is marked for death. However, she is able to make a bargain with the ferrier to keep her safe 1 year. She gets wrapped up in helping him carry out his task but also meets many people tied to this marking along the way. There was also a big revelation.
October 18, 2024
Please tell me there is a 2nd book in the works because OMG! This book pulled me in from page 1! Katrin's bravery of seeking out the ferrier, the vow made with the shadows, the pull of souls, the love that grew! Everything about this book was absolutely amazing! I eagerly await book 2!!!
November 1, 2024
An intriguing premise, steamy tension, and dang, that cliffhanger!! I need book two now.
January 12, 2025
Overall Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I will forever love a good reaper story and this one was just as enjoyable to me as I expected from the synopsis. Elle Backenstoe is a new to me author and I truly enjoyed her writing style. The writing is pretty without being overly flashy. She does a great job of balancing the big details against the small and setting the stage for more to come.
Plot Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the concept of the story and while nothing overly surprised me I thought the execution was done well. The beginning of the story is a bit of a slow start and the repetition of the bell peals in her head became a bit much for me but it worked well with the concept of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the crossroads meet cute and that was the moment I was truly hooked! The more I read, the more I could see some Beauty and the Beast elements in the book. The carriage and hellhound scene really solidified it for me. (I'm not complaining). The book does an excellent job of setting the stage for the series to continue and I am excited to see what happens. I would have liked to see more of the various reapings and perhaps more research. Both happen sporadically in the book but could have been a bigger part. Especially with the introduction of the demon language, they could have tried to find a way to read half of the books in the library. There just seems to be a lack of urgency to discover the mark or a way out. Maybe the next book will have a side quest for just that reason.
Characters Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Katrin is an okay FMC and I appreciate her growth. She was almost unbearable at the beginning; so worried about what she was missing out on that she failed to see what she could be enjoying. Being in the Between does do her some wonders and she grows a bit as a character. Even though the character is said to be 21, she comes across as a bit younger which I will attribute to her withdrawal from society. But her naivety did grate on my nerves on occasion. I would have liked more of her backstory; we get a hint of it later in the story but then it's never mentioned again. I also kept expecting more of her magic and something from the shadows but alas, I will have to wait to see what happens in the next book.
The Ferrier started out as such a strong MMC. Overall he's still fine by the end but I wish he would have remained much darker. He falls too quickly for my liking and the more he falls the less fearsome he becomes. Instead, becoming more of a nervous nelly and worrying about Katrin. I loved his character at the beginning with all the brooding and snark. I notoriously do not like whiney, emotional men and in some ways he devolves into that by the end. His backstory, though limited, was a nice insight into the man beyond the reaper but I would have liked more. He hints at the reason for giving up his soul, but what happened after the fact?
The banter between the two main characters is absolutely top-notch! The beginning of their relationship gave me so much joy! I loved his snarky responses and quick-witted replies. While it remains throughout the book, the sharpness left too soon because he became so enthralled with Katrin.
There are only a few secondary characters which did make me a little sad. I live for secondary characters. But don't worry, I LOVE the shadow guards! Inky and Storm were everything to me. I loved each appearance. Sam was also a great addition and I loved his scenes; I could have done without the nickname though. Here's to more of the shadows and a few more guest appearances in upcoming books!
Ending Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The ending did not take me by surprise. Based on how the character had acted the entire book I expected it. While it wasn't a shock it does a good job of setting up the next book.
Spice Level - 0
There is no spice and I am quite okay with it. Truly had there been it wouldn't have fit the theme or writing of the book unless it was closed door. There are a few chaste kisses and some thoughts from the two characters but nothing is ever acted on.
Fun Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall I enjoyed the book. The story kept me thoroughly engaged and it was straight up my alley. The lack of spice, in no way impacted my reading experience. I loved the little beauty and the beast easter eggs. I wish I was more up on my Welsh mythology so I would have noticed those tidbits as well. The story was well thought-out and I felt book one summed up well by the end. I thoroughly think this is a great start to a new series and I will be on the lookout for book 2 as soon as it is available!
Final Thoughts
This book was picked as the first book to review on our YouTube channel 2 Gnomes and a Unicorn in an effort to bring more attention to indie authors!
The book is told in dual POV which I will forever be a fan of. The story is well written though a bit slow. It kept me wanting to read the whole time but the lack of urgency continued to baffle me. I out loud asked a few times while she was whiling away the day if she would like to look into her problem. There are some things that I wish had been more than touched upon and I am hopeful that the next book will have a bit more action and a little less sitting on our hands. The premise of the series is excellent and I think I have an idea of how everything will work out for our main characters but I am interested to see the journey to get there! Regardless I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a quieter story with a solid start for a series!
I will forever love a good reaper story and this one was just as enjoyable to me as I expected from the synopsis. Elle Backenstoe is a new to me author and I truly enjoyed her writing style. The writing is pretty without being overly flashy. She does a great job of balancing the big details against the small and setting the stage for more to come.
Plot Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I loved the concept of the story and while nothing overly surprised me I thought the execution was done well. The beginning of the story is a bit of a slow start and the repetition of the bell peals in her head became a bit much for me but it worked well with the concept of the story. I thoroughly enjoyed the crossroads meet cute and that was the moment I was truly hooked! The more I read, the more I could see some Beauty and the Beast elements in the book. The carriage and hellhound scene really solidified it for me. (I'm not complaining). The book does an excellent job of setting the stage for the series to continue and I am excited to see what happens. I would have liked to see more of the various reapings and perhaps more research. Both happen sporadically in the book but could have been a bigger part. Especially with the introduction of the demon language, they could have tried to find a way to read half of the books in the library. There just seems to be a lack of urgency to discover the mark or a way out. Maybe the next book will have a side quest for just that reason.
Characters Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Katrin is an okay FMC and I appreciate her growth. She was almost unbearable at the beginning; so worried about what she was missing out on that she failed to see what she could be enjoying. Being in the Between does do her some wonders and she grows a bit as a character. Even though the character is said to be 21, she comes across as a bit younger which I will attribute to her withdrawal from society. But her naivety did grate on my nerves on occasion. I would have liked more of her backstory; we get a hint of it later in the story but then it's never mentioned again. I also kept expecting more of her magic and something from the shadows but alas, I will have to wait to see what happens in the next book.
The Ferrier started out as such a strong MMC. Overall he's still fine by the end but I wish he would have remained much darker. He falls too quickly for my liking and the more he falls the less fearsome he becomes. Instead, becoming more of a nervous nelly and worrying about Katrin. I loved his character at the beginning with all the brooding and snark. I notoriously do not like whiney, emotional men and in some ways he devolves into that by the end. His backstory, though limited, was a nice insight into the man beyond the reaper but I would have liked more. He hints at the reason for giving up his soul, but what happened after the fact?
The banter between the two main characters is absolutely top-notch! The beginning of their relationship gave me so much joy! I loved his snarky responses and quick-witted replies. While it remains throughout the book, the sharpness left too soon because he became so enthralled with Katrin.
There are only a few secondary characters which did make me a little sad. I live for secondary characters. But don't worry, I LOVE the shadow guards! Inky and Storm were everything to me. I loved each appearance. Sam was also a great addition and I loved his scenes; I could have done without the nickname though. Here's to more of the shadows and a few more guest appearances in upcoming books!
Ending Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
The ending did not take me by surprise. Based on how the character had acted the entire book I expected it. While it wasn't a shock it does a good job of setting up the next book.
Spice Level - 0
There is no spice and I am quite okay with it. Truly had there been it wouldn't have fit the theme or writing of the book unless it was closed door. There are a few chaste kisses and some thoughts from the two characters but nothing is ever acted on.
Fun Rating: 4 - ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall I enjoyed the book. The story kept me thoroughly engaged and it was straight up my alley. The lack of spice, in no way impacted my reading experience. I loved the little beauty and the beast easter eggs. I wish I was more up on my Welsh mythology so I would have noticed those tidbits as well. The story was well thought-out and I felt book one summed up well by the end. I thoroughly think this is a great start to a new series and I will be on the lookout for book 2 as soon as it is available!
Final Thoughts
This book was picked as the first book to review on our YouTube channel 2 Gnomes and a Unicorn in an effort to bring more attention to indie authors!
The book is told in dual POV which I will forever be a fan of. The story is well written though a bit slow. It kept me wanting to read the whole time but the lack of urgency continued to baffle me. I out loud asked a few times while she was whiling away the day if she would like to look into her problem. There are some things that I wish had been more than touched upon and I am hopeful that the next book will have a bit more action and a little less sitting on our hands. The premise of the series is excellent and I think I have an idea of how everything will work out for our main characters but I am interested to see the journey to get there! Regardless I would recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a quieter story with a solid start for a series!
January 7, 2025
A great start to a reaper series
This is my first official review from the author pick of the month on our YouTube channel 2 Gnomes and A Unicorn.
Tone: Dark, Death, Somewhat mysterious maybe? Had the feel of The Adventures of Charlotte Doyle/Beauty and the Beast Vibe.
Pace: For the first half of the book a bit slow and somewhat repetitive regarding her inner monologue of her life. Kat is the daughter of a well respected family, a lady and a lord and laments frequently about how her life has been ruined by her markings.
*Imagery was beautiful but I would have liked more character building vs. description.
Tropes: Reluctant Allies, Slow Burn, One Manor, He Tends Her Injury, Moderate Banter, Shadow Pets, Demons
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: 4 stars, fairly easy to follow and able to anticipate twists along the way but still enjoyable to read.
Characters: 3.5 Stars for Katrine: Her lamenting and woeful thoughts are at times irritating but I do enjoy her vulnerable “young” quality and compassion, and her brief moments of bravery.
Ferrier: 4 Stars, enjoyed his gruff demeanor at first but he seems to change very quickly having been decades as a reaper without his “humanity”. His interactions with the shadows were some of my favorite parts and I did like that even though he believed himself a monster he did hurt for the souls that he ferried, just never did anything to soothe them.
Side Character Sam: 3.5 Stars Sam, an antagonistic friend that enjoys teasing them both. There isn’t much to him, his history is a bit of a mystery.
The shadows: 4.5 stars, they were the best familiars for her and Evander, I loved their sentient nature.
Fun/Enjoyment: 4 Star, Enjoyed the second half of the book more, especially their interaction with each other and journey to pick up souls. I would recommend it for a slow burn, beautiful imagery (I could see her world in huge amounts of detail and if this is your thing as a reader you would love it), paranormal reaper tale. Wanted more Ferrier chapters if I am to be very honest.
Spice: 0, There is some tension filled touching and scorching kiss that abruptly ends.
Quote: “When Behryn used my name, it was a cruel reminder of the man I used to be. With Katrine, it was a call to the man I could be again. It grated on my cursed soul, and yet, I did not correct her again.
“To love was to hurt. I knew that was well as any.”
Thank you to the author for this enjoyable read that sent me back to my younger years as a lover of reaper stories!
This is my first official review from the author pick of the month on our YouTube channel 2 Gnomes and A Unicorn.
Tone: Dark, Death, Somewhat mysterious maybe? Had the feel of The Adventures of Charlotte Doyle/Beauty and the Beast Vibe.
Pace: For the first half of the book a bit slow and somewhat repetitive regarding her inner monologue of her life. Kat is the daughter of a well respected family, a lady and a lord and laments frequently about how her life has been ruined by her markings.
*Imagery was beautiful but I would have liked more character building vs. description.
Tropes: Reluctant Allies, Slow Burn, One Manor, He Tends Her Injury, Moderate Banter, Shadow Pets, Demons
Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Plot: 4 stars, fairly easy to follow and able to anticipate twists along the way but still enjoyable to read.
Characters: 3.5 Stars for Katrine: Her lamenting and woeful thoughts are at times irritating but I do enjoy her vulnerable “young” quality and compassion, and her brief moments of bravery.
Ferrier: 4 Stars, enjoyed his gruff demeanor at first but he seems to change very quickly having been decades as a reaper without his “humanity”. His interactions with the shadows were some of my favorite parts and I did like that even though he believed himself a monster he did hurt for the souls that he ferried, just never did anything to soothe them.
Side Character Sam: 3.5 Stars Sam, an antagonistic friend that enjoys teasing them both. There isn’t much to him, his history is a bit of a mystery.
The shadows: 4.5 stars, they were the best familiars for her and Evander, I loved their sentient nature.
Fun/Enjoyment: 4 Star, Enjoyed the second half of the book more, especially their interaction with each other and journey to pick up souls. I would recommend it for a slow burn, beautiful imagery (I could see her world in huge amounts of detail and if this is your thing as a reader you would love it), paranormal reaper tale. Wanted more Ferrier chapters if I am to be very honest.
Spice: 0, There is some tension filled touching and scorching kiss that abruptly ends.
Quote: “When Behryn used my name, it was a cruel reminder of the man I used to be. With Katrine, it was a call to the man I could be again. It grated on my cursed soul, and yet, I did not correct her again.
“To love was to hurt. I knew that was well as any.”
Thank you to the author for this enjoyable read that sent me back to my younger years as a lover of reaper stories!
October 30, 2024
Katrin was once known as Lady Katrin, until she was marked 8 years ago with marks, appearing as dark whorls on her body, for what, no one knows, but they view her as cursed and a monster. And Katrin believes she was marked by Death.
Now 20, and a day away from turning 21, Katrin is convinced her death is approaching and has decided to leave to help her family avoid seeing her death and to make a deal with the Ferrier of Souls to protect her for a year while she tries to break this curse on her.
The Ferrier of Souls has a debt to Death that he is not close to paying off, until this mortal woman comes and offers him many coin to protect her for the next year. And he thinks she may be the key to ending his debt to Death, and so agrees to help her.
I always enjoy Elle’s romances. The way they are written might be a bit fast, but I always love them and the way they play out.
This one is no exception. I really loved the build up of the romance between Katrin and the Ferrier. I love how it starts as basically enemies who are reluctant allies and turns into something almost more by the end. The back and forth between the two is golden.
The Ferrier is also a bit confused with his feelings, and you’ll just have to read the book to understand what I mean 😉, which added an element to the romance that makes you wonder whether they will end up together or not.
I really enjoyed the gothic like world we enter when Katrin makes the deal with the Ferrier. It’s very eerie and spooky and seems to just get spookier as the story progresses 😅
There’s also a side character called Sam whom I just adored and would love more of him!
Then that ending, which totally shocked me because here I’m thinking this is a standalone and then the book just ends!? Now I have to wait to see what happens next!? That was a cruel ending LOL. I was ready for what happened, but not that it was the end of this first book! It got me hooked, though, and now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book!
If you enjoy darker gothic-like romances with a spooky factor, then you’ll love this one!
Thank you to the author for the gifted e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Now 20, and a day away from turning 21, Katrin is convinced her death is approaching and has decided to leave to help her family avoid seeing her death and to make a deal with the Ferrier of Souls to protect her for a year while she tries to break this curse on her.
The Ferrier of Souls has a debt to Death that he is not close to paying off, until this mortal woman comes and offers him many coin to protect her for the next year. And he thinks she may be the key to ending his debt to Death, and so agrees to help her.
I always enjoy Elle’s romances. The way they are written might be a bit fast, but I always love them and the way they play out.
This one is no exception. I really loved the build up of the romance between Katrin and the Ferrier. I love how it starts as basically enemies who are reluctant allies and turns into something almost more by the end. The back and forth between the two is golden.
The Ferrier is also a bit confused with his feelings, and you’ll just have to read the book to understand what I mean 😉, which added an element to the romance that makes you wonder whether they will end up together or not.
I really enjoyed the gothic like world we enter when Katrin makes the deal with the Ferrier. It’s very eerie and spooky and seems to just get spookier as the story progresses 😅
There’s also a side character called Sam whom I just adored and would love more of him!
Then that ending, which totally shocked me because here I’m thinking this is a standalone and then the book just ends!? Now I have to wait to see what happens next!? That was a cruel ending LOL. I was ready for what happened, but not that it was the end of this first book! It got me hooked, though, and now I’m impatiently waiting for the next book!
If you enjoy darker gothic-like romances with a spooky factor, then you’ll love this one!
Thank you to the author for the gifted e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
October 17, 2025
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨
Shady woman seeks refuge from a man with one of his staff
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Unique premise
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Just fell a bit flat for me
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨/𝙨𝙪𝙗 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨
Romantasy
Shadow daddy
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨
Katrin has been marked by shadows on her skin that have spread from the age of 13. She’s basically been ostracised from “polite society” because they think she’s cursed or contagious or…any other small minded notion people get about someone who looks different.
However, she keeps hearing the tolling bells of death and is desperate to find a cure so she can truly live, and so decides the only possible way to hide from death, is to seek refuge with the ferrier. Who literally works for death. Go figure.
Anywho, the ferrier turns out to be desperate to escape his fate too, and the dowry she offers him will go a long way to paying off his debt so he’s all fuck yeah! Come live with me in the grey where we can both deludedly pretend that it isn’t practically impossible to hide you from my employer!
I really liked the premise, and apparently is based on Welsh mythology although I’m not exactly sure which part.
The idea that the ferrier is just a hot guy who sold his soul to a demon and has spent centuries paying off his debt, has control of shadows, and can still feel empathy after all this time where he thought himself numb was an intriguing one. And for Katrin to have her body being taken over by shadows had the potential to tie them together quite nicely.
Unfortunately it all just fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t feel their chemistry, I didn’t really empathise with Katrin - I absolutely got where she was coming from but..I dunno. Her character was just kind of blah so I didn’t really care.
And how they thought she could hide from death in the lands his employees inhabit was baffling.
It ends on a cliffhanger but in just not sure I care enough to continue when the next book is released, which is a shame because the writing itself is decent.
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
🤤🤤
🤣
😭😭
🌟🌟🌟
Shady woman seeks refuge from a man with one of his staff
𝙂𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Unique premise
𝘽𝙖𝙙 𝙨𝙩𝙪𝙛𝙛
Just fell a bit flat for me
𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨/𝙨𝙪𝙗 𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙚𝙨
Romantasy
Shadow daddy
𝙊𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨
Katrin has been marked by shadows on her skin that have spread from the age of 13. She’s basically been ostracised from “polite society” because they think she’s cursed or contagious or…any other small minded notion people get about someone who looks different.
However, she keeps hearing the tolling bells of death and is desperate to find a cure so she can truly live, and so decides the only possible way to hide from death, is to seek refuge with the ferrier. Who literally works for death. Go figure.
Anywho, the ferrier turns out to be desperate to escape his fate too, and the dowry she offers him will go a long way to paying off his debt so he’s all fuck yeah! Come live with me in the grey where we can both deludedly pretend that it isn’t practically impossible to hide you from my employer!
I really liked the premise, and apparently is based on Welsh mythology although I’m not exactly sure which part.
The idea that the ferrier is just a hot guy who sold his soul to a demon and has spent centuries paying off his debt, has control of shadows, and can still feel empathy after all this time where he thought himself numb was an intriguing one. And for Katrin to have her body being taken over by shadows had the potential to tie them together quite nicely.
Unfortunately it all just fell a bit flat for me. I didn’t feel their chemistry, I didn’t really empathise with Katrin - I absolutely got where she was coming from but..I dunno. Her character was just kind of blah so I didn’t really care.
And how they thought she could hide from death in the lands his employees inhabit was baffling.
It ends on a cliffhanger but in just not sure I care enough to continue when the next book is released, which is a shame because the writing itself is decent.
𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨
🤤🤤
🤣
😭😭
🌟🌟🌟
October 28, 2024
I've always loved books about Death or Hades, so having this one being focused on the Ferrier of Souls really intrigued me. I was instantly struck by the world building and how unique a lot of things were. Some books about the same types of characters or creatures can start to run together, but this had things I had never read before. I loved that there were multiple reapers that have unique skills and powers, that Death is a king that's replaceable, and that shadows have personalities (lol). Inky and Storm were amazing! I was immersed the whole way through.
Katrin was such a strong character. Despite the hand she has been dealt, she has snark and snarl, but is filled with goodness. Her interactions with the Ferrier were everything. A battle of wills, of jabs and comebacks that left me grinning ear to ear. I was a little worried at the beginning about the Ferrier's lack of personality, but Katrin slowly brought him back to life. It was so interesting to learn more about his backstory and how he became a reaper.
The only thing that kind of took me out of the story was the passage of time. Sometimes Katrin would say/think something about only a few days passing, but then a few paragraphs later it seemed like weeks had passed. It got sort of confusing about how long she had been there. I also felt like the ending was kind of rushed. Even though I enjoyed it because it was leading up to that cliffhanger, I feel like a lot of things changed rapidly with little to no explanation / development.
I was expecting a stand-alone, so that ending just about took me out. I'm dying to see what happens next!
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Katrin was such a strong character. Despite the hand she has been dealt, she has snark and snarl, but is filled with goodness. Her interactions with the Ferrier were everything. A battle of wills, of jabs and comebacks that left me grinning ear to ear. I was a little worried at the beginning about the Ferrier's lack of personality, but Katrin slowly brought him back to life. It was so interesting to learn more about his backstory and how he became a reaper.
The only thing that kind of took me out of the story was the passage of time. Sometimes Katrin would say/think something about only a few days passing, but then a few paragraphs later it seemed like weeks had passed. It got sort of confusing about how long she had been there. I also felt like the ending was kind of rushed. Even though I enjoyed it because it was leading up to that cliffhanger, I feel like a lot of things changed rapidly with little to no explanation / development.
I was expecting a stand-alone, so that ending just about took me out. I'm dying to see what happens next!
Thank you to the author for allowing me to read this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 26, 2024
*ARC review*
Oh, Marked by Death. Saved by a Vow. is a book that hooks you by the throat and drags you into a dark, twisted world that you just don’t want to leave. Katrin is marked, shunned, and basically walking around with a giant "kick me" sign from Death itself. But she isn’t some damsel waiting around—oh no! She decides to go head-to-head with her fate by tracking down Death’s hottest employee, the Ferrier of Souls, and striking a deal that could either save her or doom her. And let me tell you, the reaper in this story? Drop dead gorgeous with that touch of dangerous charm you know is going to complicate everything deliciously.
With a snap of his fingers (and her fortune down the drain), she’s hauled into this bizarre, mesmerizing land caught between life and death, where each shadow and every secret is dripping with tension. And the Ferrier…let’s just say, he’s got some secrets and a scythe, and we’re all here for it. The back-and-forth between Katrin and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Deadly is everything! Every interaction, every sidelong glance—it’s a little dangerous, a little forbidden, and whole lot irresistible.
This isn’t just a dance with death; it’s a full-on tango that leaves you breathless and begging for more. Katrin and her reaper’s tale is haunting, romantic, and laced with just the right amount of dark magic to keep you reading way past your bedtime. If you want your heart racing and your mind spinning with every page, then buckle up, because this book takes
Oh, Marked by Death. Saved by a Vow. is a book that hooks you by the throat and drags you into a dark, twisted world that you just don’t want to leave. Katrin is marked, shunned, and basically walking around with a giant "kick me" sign from Death itself. But she isn’t some damsel waiting around—oh no! She decides to go head-to-head with her fate by tracking down Death’s hottest employee, the Ferrier of Souls, and striking a deal that could either save her or doom her. And let me tell you, the reaper in this story? Drop dead gorgeous with that touch of dangerous charm you know is going to complicate everything deliciously.
With a snap of his fingers (and her fortune down the drain), she’s hauled into this bizarre, mesmerizing land caught between life and death, where each shadow and every secret is dripping with tension. And the Ferrier…let’s just say, he’s got some secrets and a scythe, and we’re all here for it. The back-and-forth between Katrin and Mr. Tall, Dark, and Deadly is everything! Every interaction, every sidelong glance—it’s a little dangerous, a little forbidden, and whole lot irresistible.
This isn’t just a dance with death; it’s a full-on tango that leaves you breathless and begging for more. Katrin and her reaper’s tale is haunting, romantic, and laced with just the right amount of dark magic to keep you reading way past your bedtime. If you want your heart racing and your mind spinning with every page, then buckle up, because this book takes
October 31, 2024
This was a great read. I wasn’t sure what to expect to be honest. I thought I would enjoy it, but certainly not as much as I did.
Katrin and the Ferrier are amazing characters. Katrin is feisty and knows what she wants from her life (which she will fight tooth and claw for). She has faults and a temper on her but it makes her so much more relatable. And who wouldn’t be terrified and have their hackles raised when death is literally after her? The Ferrier was probably my favourite character though. I love a good mysterious figure, made even more so when he refuses to remove his cloak or share his name. And then the banter supplied by Sam, when we meet him.. the whole thing just works.
Plot wise, it’s busy with lots going on.. hardly a dull moment. It was fast paced and very tense throughout. I was a bit concerned with the general concept of death being so prevalent and potential anxiety rising because of it but I really enjoyed it.
World building was on point. This isn’t a brand new concept as books go, but it is original enough for me to not immediately know what is what. We are brought into the world at a sedate and comfortable pace, so no complaints there.
Overall, this was a quick read, mainly because it was such a pleasure to devour in just a few sittings. And that end! I already know where I want this series to go and I can’t wait to find out whether I’m right or not! I sort of hope I’m wrong because I love the shock value of reading! Onwards!
Katrin and the Ferrier are amazing characters. Katrin is feisty and knows what she wants from her life (which she will fight tooth and claw for). She has faults and a temper on her but it makes her so much more relatable. And who wouldn’t be terrified and have their hackles raised when death is literally after her? The Ferrier was probably my favourite character though. I love a good mysterious figure, made even more so when he refuses to remove his cloak or share his name. And then the banter supplied by Sam, when we meet him.. the whole thing just works.
Plot wise, it’s busy with lots going on.. hardly a dull moment. It was fast paced and very tense throughout. I was a bit concerned with the general concept of death being so prevalent and potential anxiety rising because of it but I really enjoyed it.
World building was on point. This isn’t a brand new concept as books go, but it is original enough for me to not immediately know what is what. We are brought into the world at a sedate and comfortable pace, so no complaints there.
Overall, this was a quick read, mainly because it was such a pleasure to devour in just a few sittings. And that end! I already know where I want this series to go and I can’t wait to find out whether I’m right or not! I sort of hope I’m wrong because I love the shock value of reading! Onwards!
November 4, 2024
I was lucky enough to receive an arc of A Vow of Shadows. This book is a captivating tale that expertly weaves together themes of fate, sacrifice, and the intricacies of life and death. The story follows Katrin, who is marked by the shadow of Death throughout her life, leading her to be ostracized by high society. As her end approaches, she strikes a bargain with The Ferrier of Souls, Death’s servant, in a desperate attempt to alter her fate.
What truly stands out in this book is the rich world-building that Elle has crafted. The setting between the living and the dead is beautifully illustrated, immersing the reader in a unique realm filled with intrigue and depth. The characters are relatable, especially our fierce female protagonist, Katrin, whose resilience and determination make her journey compelling and inspiring.
I was particularly drawn to the exploration of Welsh mythology woven throughout the narrative, adding an extra layer of richness to the story. The slow-burn romance between Katrin and The Ferrier kept me on edge, and just when I thought I knew where the plot was heading, Elle surprised me with unexpected twists and turns.
Overall, A Vow of Shadows is a beautifully written fantasy that had me hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy rich world-building, relatable characters, and a slow-burn romance. Can't wait for the second book!
What truly stands out in this book is the rich world-building that Elle has crafted. The setting between the living and the dead is beautifully illustrated, immersing the reader in a unique realm filled with intrigue and depth. The characters are relatable, especially our fierce female protagonist, Katrin, whose resilience and determination make her journey compelling and inspiring.
I was particularly drawn to the exploration of Welsh mythology woven throughout the narrative, adding an extra layer of richness to the story. The slow-burn romance between Katrin and The Ferrier kept me on edge, and just when I thought I knew where the plot was heading, Elle surprised me with unexpected twists and turns.
Overall, A Vow of Shadows is a beautifully written fantasy that had me hooked from start to finish. I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy rich world-building, relatable characters, and a slow-burn romance. Can't wait for the second book!
November 7, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
“Beware the bells of violet blue, a flower sweet and lovely too. To hear the bluebell’s haunting tune, means death will come to follow soon.”
When Death has marked you, you run and make a deal with the Ferrier of Souls, to hide you.
~
While reading this I wrote and sent to my very lovely group of book besties as follows :
‘Slow Burn: Slowly burn me alive with the tension and angst of these two characters who might kiss…’
The way I was on the edge of my seat like kiss already!! A slow burn as hot as Death’s fires, and I was there for every moment. I loved how beautiful the relationship forms, and The Ferrier and Katrin can move through hard topics together. It’s truly a beautiful read…hauntingly, yearn-fully beautiful.
Our MFC Katrin is so funny, and definitely relatable. I too would fold in the arms of the Reaper…both characters were very witty, and the banter was delightful. They are also both deep and feeling, and I find their relationship exciting.
This story has catered to very specific niches for me, the Reaper 😉 and the Victorian gothic vibes. I was so captivated by the entire story, I procrastinated turning the page because I didn’t want it to end. It’s so addictive and interesting to me and I can’t wait to read what happens next! The cliffhanger was 😮💨
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy. This is my honest opinion.
🌶️
“Beware the bells of violet blue, a flower sweet and lovely too. To hear the bluebell’s haunting tune, means death will come to follow soon.”
When Death has marked you, you run and make a deal with the Ferrier of Souls, to hide you.
~
While reading this I wrote and sent to my very lovely group of book besties as follows :
‘Slow Burn: Slowly burn me alive with the tension and angst of these two characters who might kiss…’
The way I was on the edge of my seat like kiss already!! A slow burn as hot as Death’s fires, and I was there for every moment. I loved how beautiful the relationship forms, and The Ferrier and Katrin can move through hard topics together. It’s truly a beautiful read…hauntingly, yearn-fully beautiful.
Our MFC Katrin is so funny, and definitely relatable. I too would fold in the arms of the Reaper…both characters were very witty, and the banter was delightful. They are also both deep and feeling, and I find their relationship exciting.
This story has catered to very specific niches for me, the Reaper 😉 and the Victorian gothic vibes. I was so captivated by the entire story, I procrastinated turning the page because I didn’t want it to end. It’s so addictive and interesting to me and I can’t wait to read what happens next! The cliffhanger was 😮💨
Thank you so much to the author for an ARC copy. This is my honest opinion.
November 14, 2024
Oh look at the shiny recent release that derailed me from my TBR 😂😂😂 because deals with reapers always grab my attention.
.
You know what I loved about this?
Woman, Katrin, is marked for death ( why is a mystery, but the crazy markings make her a recluse from society), so she bargains with a reaper for safety so she can try to figure her way out of her demise.
Katrin finds the mysterious reaper frightening, but his voice is nice-- no he's scary.. . Or is he? But once she's at the reaper's mansion she runs into a man. And wait, she knows that voice! That's what's under the creepy robes?! Haaaaawt. Nope, scary. . .scary hot, no scary, but 😍😍😍 Keep it together, Katrin! 🤣🤣🤣
.
However, Death proves more relentless than either anticipated. How far will the reaper go to keep his lovely Katrin--I mean, the frustrating woman 😉 safe?
.
This is a slow burn ( steam not reached in this book) with an absolutely rude cliffhanger, BTW.
But I'm highly intrigued by how things are developing with the mark and fate and the power Katrin seems to hold. I'm a little scared by where that cliffhanger could be going, but I'm sure it'll be fine. Right? Right?!
.
But I really do have a sneaking suspicion, and I'm excited for the next book to see if I'm on the right path.
.
P.S. Yes, the reaper controls shadows.
.
You know what I loved about this?
Woman, Katrin, is marked for death ( why is a mystery, but the crazy markings make her a recluse from society), so she bargains with a reaper for safety so she can try to figure her way out of her demise.
Katrin finds the mysterious reaper frightening, but his voice is nice-- no he's scary.. . Or is he? But once she's at the reaper's mansion she runs into a man. And wait, she knows that voice! That's what's under the creepy robes?! Haaaaawt. Nope, scary. . .scary hot, no scary, but 😍😍😍 Keep it together, Katrin! 🤣🤣🤣
.
However, Death proves more relentless than either anticipated. How far will the reaper go to keep his lovely Katrin--I mean, the frustrating woman 😉 safe?
.
This is a slow burn ( steam not reached in this book) with an absolutely rude cliffhanger, BTW.
But I'm highly intrigued by how things are developing with the mark and fate and the power Katrin seems to hold. I'm a little scared by where that cliffhanger could be going, but I'm sure it'll be fine. Right? Right?!
.
But I really do have a sneaking suspicion, and I'm excited for the next book to see if I'm on the right path.
.
P.S. Yes, the reaper controls shadows.
October 19, 2024
What a beautifully interesting story with a little mystery, a little darkness, and a little flirtation!
>>Start because: What does it mean to be marked by death with a shadow growing on you? On the eve of her birthday, a young woman makes a deal with a man who really hates his job and his boss. His job? A ferrier of souls. The deal? Keep her safe and hidden from death. The cloaked figure is accompanied by powerful shadows, one (if not the only) perk of his occupation.
The thrill of not knowing when or how death will catch her or who the reaper will be called to next had me flying through these chapters.
>>Finish because: The details. The POVs begin unbalanced. The Ferrier doesn't have much to say at first but then he opens up as his chapters go on. The descriptions of the different realms/worlds are gorgeous and haunting. You'll uncover the clever and fascinating manner in which one becomes a reaper. And the mark itself - the details would come too close to spoilers but I'll just leave it as - brilliant plot device.
>>The best part: The shadows! Usually I'm all about the individual wielding the shadows but these ones are characters in their own right. I was picturing them like Flubber, blobby morphs that are sweet one moment then stubborn or silly the next. Inky and Storm are darlings who started to steal the show.
>>Start because: What does it mean to be marked by death with a shadow growing on you? On the eve of her birthday, a young woman makes a deal with a man who really hates his job and his boss. His job? A ferrier of souls. The deal? Keep her safe and hidden from death. The cloaked figure is accompanied by powerful shadows, one (if not the only) perk of his occupation.
The thrill of not knowing when or how death will catch her or who the reaper will be called to next had me flying through these chapters.
>>Finish because: The details. The POVs begin unbalanced. The Ferrier doesn't have much to say at first but then he opens up as his chapters go on. The descriptions of the different realms/worlds are gorgeous and haunting. You'll uncover the clever and fascinating manner in which one becomes a reaper. And the mark itself - the details would come too close to spoilers but I'll just leave it as - brilliant plot device.
>>The best part: The shadows! Usually I'm all about the individual wielding the shadows but these ones are characters in their own right. I was picturing them like Flubber, blobby morphs that are sweet one moment then stubborn or silly the next. Inky and Storm are darlings who started to steal the show.
December 7, 2024
I received this book as an advanced reader copy and this is my honest review. I was in a bit of a reading slump and wanted to wait to read/write this when I could give it the attention it deserved.
This story was so different than anything I have read. I loved the complexity of the characters and the storyline as a whole. When we think of death, we typically imagine him in the black cowl with a scythe collecting the souls of the dead. I love that Elle made the reaper and death two separate characters and that the reaper is not one person, but one of many throughout The Between.
At first, I was disappointed with the amount of reaper POV that was written. But I loved that as the story progressed, so did his POV. I was also kept intrigued the whole time trying to figure out why Katrin was marked and what it meant. Elle did a great job of waiting until nearly the end to reveal it.
If you tend to like spicier books, this will have you wanting more. Recently I enjoy the tension more than the spice, and I loved the tension Elle built between our two main characters.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait for the second one to see how the story continues for Evander, Katrin, Sam and my two favorite shadows.
4.25/5⭐️
This story was so different than anything I have read. I loved the complexity of the characters and the storyline as a whole. When we think of death, we typically imagine him in the black cowl with a scythe collecting the souls of the dead. I love that Elle made the reaper and death two separate characters and that the reaper is not one person, but one of many throughout The Between.
At first, I was disappointed with the amount of reaper POV that was written. But I loved that as the story progressed, so did his POV. I was also kept intrigued the whole time trying to figure out why Katrin was marked and what it meant. Elle did a great job of waiting until nearly the end to reveal it.
If you tend to like spicier books, this will have you wanting more. Recently I enjoy the tension more than the spice, and I loved the tension Elle built between our two main characters.
The book does end on a cliffhanger, and I can’t wait for the second one to see how the story continues for Evander, Katrin, Sam and my two favorite shadows.
4.25/5⭐️
October 27, 2024
✨️💜 eArc Review 💜✨️
🪻'Beware the bells of violet blue,
a flower sweet and lovely too.
To hear the bluebell's haunting tune,
means Death will come to follow soon.'🪻
🖤 Shadow Daddy
🖤 Reluctant Allies
🖤 Gothic Manor
🖤 Magical Vow
🖤 Grimm Reaper
🖤 Welsh Mythology
I was sucked into this straight away and didn't want to put it down. I found the concept and idea of the Ferrier and Death fascinating. The fact they were almost human or had once been human instead of skeletal forms or demons was unique.
I was rooting for Katrin from the start. Her determination and strength were empowering. Evander was beautifully grey, but I think he's a real cinnamon roll deep down, even if it's just for Katrin. Their chemistry and banter were brilliant.
That last chapter had me on the edge of my seat, and I was nearly brought to tears on the last couple of pages. I could feel the connection between the characters and my heart bleeding for them.
I'm left needing more and so excited to see where this story will go.
If you enjoyed Belladonna and A Deal with the Elf King, then this is a book for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5
🪻'Beware the bells of violet blue,
a flower sweet and lovely too.
To hear the bluebell's haunting tune,
means Death will come to follow soon.'🪻
🖤 Shadow Daddy
🖤 Reluctant Allies
🖤 Gothic Manor
🖤 Magical Vow
🖤 Grimm Reaper
🖤 Welsh Mythology
I was sucked into this straight away and didn't want to put it down. I found the concept and idea of the Ferrier and Death fascinating. The fact they were almost human or had once been human instead of skeletal forms or demons was unique.
I was rooting for Katrin from the start. Her determination and strength were empowering. Evander was beautifully grey, but I think he's a real cinnamon roll deep down, even if it's just for Katrin. Their chemistry and banter were brilliant.
That last chapter had me on the edge of my seat, and I was nearly brought to tears on the last couple of pages. I could feel the connection between the characters and my heart bleeding for them.
I'm left needing more and so excited to see where this story will go.
If you enjoyed Belladonna and A Deal with the Elf King, then this is a book for you!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4.5
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