These Shadows Become Her

The Divine Bride #1

by Demi Clorissa

Can forbidden love bloom where grief has taken root?

In the bustling city of Alderdeen, artistic prodigy Mia has long hoped to apprentice with a world-renowned artist. But when he crushes her dreams, despair drags her into a murky abyss of whiskey and men, with only her sister, Kali, as a light in the darkness.

But when Mia stumbles across her sister’s mutilated corpse, she is once again lost and untethered. All she knew crumbles around her with the gruesome sight, awakening a shadowy secret—one that could see her burn.

Her first suspect is the man found standing over Kali’s body: Idris Blackwood, a brooding vampyre haunted by his own dark past, complicated by their one night of sizzling passion. That is, until he saves her from the creature’s sharp claws. Bound by a common enemy, Mia and Idris entangle themselves not just in the mystery of the grisly murder, but in a love affair that the gods themselves never weaved.
Time is running out, and the creature's hunger grows. With each passing night, more lives are taken. Can Mia and Idris work together to save Alderdeen, before their undeniable desire for each other reveals that fate has bigger plans for this witch?

These Shadows Become Her is the first book in the Divine Bride Series. Beneath the cover is an immersive, vibrant world with bloodthirsty creatures, a slow burn romance, with a twisting murder mystery. Perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and An Enchantment of Ravens!

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Forced Proximity, Romance, Fae

522 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2024

About the author

I’m Demi Clorissa, a proud Wiradjuri woman, who writes heart breaking dark romantic fantasy. You will find body diverse FMCs, men who YEARN, and emotional damage (that will make you reach for the tissues) within the pages. I’m inspired by strong women, and those who they decide to love.

When I’m not writing you’ll find me reading anything I can get my hands on (mostly fantasy), reading BL, watching trashy TV shows, and spending my afternoons at the cinema. I love food (but I’m a self confessed awful cook!). I’m blessed to have a little dachshund, Della, who is often curled around my feet as I craft my next emotional scene.

Reviews

[blank ⁺‧₊˚ ཐི⋆♱⋆ཋྀ ˚₊‧⁺]

I read vampyre and immediately added to the tbr because I'm that basic lmao

[Stress Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Shadows Become Her (Book 1 in The Divine Bride Series)
4.5⭐️ rounded up

When Mia's, the adopted daughter of a fae warrior turned emissary, is crushed by being the only person not chosen to be an apprentice, she understandably falls into despair. She turns to alcohol and men to avoid her internal pain. But then, tragedy strikes when a loved one is murdered, and she truly spirals. Which leads her to team-up with a mysterious and beautiful vampyr named Idris. Together, they're on a journey to discover who, or what, is responsible for the ever-growing list of victims. Can forbidden love bloom where grief has taken root?

I really enjoyed the plot, especially the murder mystery aspect. I love reading about vampires, I think they're slowly coming back to the forefront in this genre.

I don't often enjoy third person POV, but it just works so well for some books - and this is one of them.

I found the prose to be gritty and beautiful, evocative and bold at times. I did find a few passages to be repetitive, pulling me out of the story a bit (this is most of why it isn't 5⭐️ for me).

The pacing was good. The reveals and twists were well placed, it had me making guesses all the way through. It was maybe a little longer than it needed to be. It took a minute to set the scene, but once it did the pace was good.

The characters felt well developed and dimensional. Mia, oh my heart, she's so full of both self confidence and self doubt. That's the nuance that I love to see in books. I love that the love interest wasn't clear initially, and then it was a slooow burn - until it catches fire. The unconditional love between Mia and her adoptive parents - as an adoptee, it just made my heart so warm and fuzzy. The characters grow and develop.

It does end on a pretty big cliffhanger. A great one, but I know that matters a lot to some.

If you enjoy fantasy romance, murder mystery, and spice - this one is for you. If you're a fan of An Enchantment of Ravens (Margaret Rogerson) or From Blood & Ash (Jennifer L. Armentrout) - I think you'd love These Shadows Become Her by Demi Clorissa.

This is a dark work that has some heavy parts. Please make sure to check the author's site for triggers before reading.

Thank you to @haus.of.fables_pr and @demiclorissawrites for the eARC. This is my unbiased review.

[Lyndsey Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Mia!

This book really unpacks self confidence and self doubt! I love how Mia portrays what so many of us goes through with failure, bullying, self loathing, addiction to substance and also the healing stages.

She struggles through relationships with family, loss of loved ones, love, sexual abuse and so much more. But she powers through, she admits mistakes and try’s to do better.

The magic and world in this is also fantastic! It’s adventure, murder, magic, different magical and paranormal creatures.

I found this book thought provoking but wrapped up in a delicious ribbon of being out of this normal world into a fantasy world.

I can’t wait to be able to read book two 😍

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖: These Shadows Become Her (The Divine Bride Series Book 1)
🏵️ Releasing August 1, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

The adopted daughter of a fae warrior turned emissary, Mia struggles with fitting in and finding her place in society. After she’s humiliated and rejected from an art apprenticeship she’s dreamed of and worked for, she seeks solace in drink and men.

Tragedy strikes and Mia seeks assistance from the brooding vampyre Idris and her father’s ex-best friend to discover why her beloved sister was murdered and capture the murderer. While investigating, their fates become intertwined. Mia learns of the sinister evils lurking, dangerous secrets, and haunted pasts.

Tropes:
⛔️ Forbidden love
💫 Shadow magic
🫂 Forced proximity
‼️ Touch her/him & 💀
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Found family
🔥 Feminine rage
❤️‍🩹 Mental health rep
✨ Supernaturals
🌶️: Moderate to high

“𝘌𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘯, 𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴. 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦”
“𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘳𝘶𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘦.”

In These Shadows Become Her, we step into a dark, gritty world sprawling with magic, monsters, and steamy romance. We explore complex relationships, power imbalances, grief, and trauma.

Evocative and bold, Demi skillfully blends elements of mystery and fantasy romance. The murder mystery will keep you guessing to the very end with each reveal carefully crafted. I was completely mesmerized by this book and am inundated with theories about what is in store for Mia!

Huge thanks to the author and Haus of Fables for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[sam | sammylou.reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT A BANGER. I really fell in love with this book and all of the characters. It’s an emotional read and heavy at times, so be sure to check the TW!

First off, Mia is MESSYYY and I honestly was living for all the drama 😂 but I loved seeing her character growth.

I obviously enjoyed the romance aspect of this book, but the m*rder mystery is what really kept me on the edge of my seat. Things really pick up around the halfway mark and the twists and turns just keep coming!! Mia’s relationship with her adoptive parents was also a highlight for me.

I ATE UP the banter between Mia and Idris, I cackled every time she called him "old man" and I obvs loved the way he called her “little witch.” 😏 OH AND HE WASHES HER HAIR - one of my favorite micro-tropes everrr!!

I highly recommend this book and I feel like it’s a perfect read for fall.

“𝙊𝙝, 𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝, 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙣𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝙙𝙤 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙨𝙠,”

“𝙀𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙠𝙚𝙣, 𝙨𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨. 𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚, 𝙈𝙞𝙖 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚.”

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆:
🧡 Forbidden Love
🧡 M*rder Mystery
🧡 Witches, Fae, Vampyres
🧡 Shadow Magic
🧡 Feminine Rage
🧡 Mental Health Rep

Thank you again to Demi and Haus of Fables PR for gifting me a physical copy of this beautiful book!

[Katelyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

There was so much to this story that I wanted so desperately to like, and ultimately I didn’t. The writing style was not my favorite unfortunately, and I was very distracted by typos and editing errors. Another pass through would have been really beneficial to this book. I did not connect with Mia’s character at all. She was overly emotional, and her feelings flipped from one extreme to the next with little to no warning. It didn’t feel genuine at all. I felt like every ten pages I was reading another passage about how girls can do anything including sleep with people, and while I’m all for girl power it got to be a bit much in my opinion and stopped lending itself to any movement in the story. I loved the premise of this book, with witches and vampires and a past that she can’t remember. These stories are always very interesting to me, hence the 2 stars instead of 1. Beyond the premise of the book, there wasn’t a whole lot I enjoyed. The side characters felt shallow and boring. I did not connect to anyone in the book, and feel like I really just skimmed the last 100 pages in an effort to finish. Overall I would not really recommend this book and really wish I had liked it more.

[Together Tomes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to Haus of Fables and the author for the eARC!

This one had such an exciting premise and I was really looking forward to reading it but unfortunately it didn't quite hit the mark for me.

The world-building was good, I didn't find it overly information-dumping and I appreciated the mix of things like witches, fae and vampyres in one world.

I think it was a bit too long and some things got lost along the way. I felt that there were some inconsistencies throughout and at times it felt quite disjointed.

I was certainly intrigued by the plot and I was hooked enough to keep reading despite the above, but in the end it fell a bit short for me.

[Witchetty Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Demi Clorissa is back with a new series! After loving her debut I was excited to see her new series. Oh to watch her grow and this series didn’t let me down.

It’s full of great imagery and storytelling. I enjoyed the pacing and things we learnt along the way.

We follow Mia who is living in the shadow of her adoptive sister, Kali.
They live in a town made up from people from far lands finding a place to call home. Vampyres, witches, fae and who knows what else is lurking!
After a rough turn of events Mia’s world is turned upside down, and she is determined to find the truth.
She is sucked into a world of lies, undercover truths, hidden identities and mystery. Along the was she meets Idris, but is he all that he seems?

I love the banter between Mia and idris.

Favourite line=
““You’re not lost. You’re simply on a forest path and your way is overgrown, that is all.”


I love dedications and this one didn’t let me down. “To those who fear those long, dark nights will swallow them whole. Morning will come.”

This ends on a cliffy so if you aren’t down for that, it’s not for you. Also this is on the darker side so check tr!ggers as it can be quite confronting. With things such as alcohol misuse, SA, gore and de@th.

So I’ll say again this is a dark romantasy. It’s not all peaches and sunshine. But it was a great ride.

I can’t wait for book two!

Thanks to Books and Bitches, these are my totally honest and totally awesome opinions!

[Bookishandbrewsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll write a full review later, but it was good. A little long. But still a solid 4.5

Mia is a secret witch and everyone knows but her.

She’s got the hots for her adopted dad’s right hand man, which is crazy because me too.

Only to also fall for the mysterious and broody Idris, and again, what a coincidence because I also fell for him.

Unfortunately she’s promised to someone else and he’s on his way to collect her. And chances are if given the opportunity I would probably think he’s hot too. Because all of these men are delectably broody and morally grey. Oh yeah there are witches and vampires and fae and she’s trying to be an artist, an alcoholic and solve her sisters murder. She’s very busy.

[Dahné "anotherbookchick" · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 so round up 💙

As someone who typically avoids reading 3rd person I was shocked at how quickly I was drawn into this book! This book takes a second to set the scene and then stuff is happening and you're invested!

I love many of the characters & I love that it's not super clear who the love interest will end up being keeping you guessing until the slow burn stops burning and EXPLODES 🥵

THAT CLIFFHANGER.. imma have to practice my patience 🤣🤣

[Lin_reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

These Shadows Become Her follows Mia, the adopted daughter of a fae warrior, who goes through a lot of pain and challenges by indulging in a lot of self-destructive behaviour, it gets worse when her sister is murdered. This leads her to team up with a mysterious vampyr named Idris. And the rest is history I guess. Their relationship was fun but a bit weird I don't know it I dig that kind of "keeping secrets toxicity". But I did like the slow burn in this book yes yes yes.

I love me some good murder mystery, it definitely kept me engaged. This book was way too long though, I struggled to get through it a lot, never the less I finished and I glad I did, but it was a thick mama.

Read if you like:
- Feminine Rage
- Forbidden love
- Found family
- Murder mystery
- Shadow magic

Check yours trigger warnings before reading this book!

Thanks Hause of Fables for sending me an e-arc, all opinions are my own.

[Elise Hernandez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the concept of this book to be very interesting. It had witches, vampires, magic, and even a murder mystery.

However, I felt like this book was way too long. There were times where I got bored and felt like the book just wasn’t moving forward. While I did love the relationship between Mia and Idris, the slow burn was a little too slow for me.

Beware of the cliffhanger 😭

Thank you Haus of Fables for the ARC 💜

[Robin (DocRobReads) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was super promising! It was (imo) about 300 pages too long. I love the ideas that were used to build the foundation, and if this had been a standalone, I would have understood. But it ended on a cliffhanger. Not my cup of tea, and I'm sure others out there will adore this. ♥️

[MollyRoseN · Rating 5 out of 5]

“You’re not lost. You’re simply on a forest path and your way is overgrown, that is all”

Mia doesn’t know the depths of her power, her destiny and her soul - all she believes is that she is someone that no one wants. The loss she has to endure to find her true self is heartbreaking - this book had me feeling every single possible emotion. This is mias journey to self discovery, self worth, divine feminine power, love & breaking the will of the fates.

I can’t express how much I loved this book - I preordered the signed copy immediately - I could not put it down!!! I require every single one of you to read this book!

“I can be anything you want. Your salvation… your destruction”

Idris.. idris, I fear I am in love with you - I loved his story, I love his character & every single thing about this man, please book 2 - give me what I neeeeeed 💗

“You’re worth more than the stars in the sky and the gold deep in the earth. You lost nothing in that room - you were freed”

Mia’s relationship with her adopted parents was one of my favourite parts of this story - the love they have for each other and the struggle to understand it and eachother was written so beautifully. I love that she has such powerful people on her side, through everything. And kali … I cannot discuss how much kali holds my heart 💗

“I have never met you behind, and I never will. You are part of me, as much as I am part of you. Bonded with the ties of love, not in blood. I am nothing without you my sister”

Parts of this book were very heavy, please read the trigger warnings prior to reading!

I don’t want to give too much away - I am obsessed please please please read this book when it’s realised on August 1st!!!

[Nikita · Rating 5 out of 5]

These Shadows Become Her is a lotus flower. Love’s blooms reaching up through the darkness and breaking through the muddy soil and murky waters of grief.

It cultivates the feelings of loss and despair, long before any murders occur. That being said, murders DO occur and this book presents a vulnerable and realistic depiction of mental health, confusion, and attempting to survive and thrive beyond trauma and grief. A story of finding love in the midst of mourning and anger… while investigating murd3rs.

🩸Strong female characters
🩸Feminine rage
🩸S3x positive/empowering
🩸Mental health rep & trauma recovery (FMC & MMC)
🩸Strong friendships (new and old)
🩸Monstrous k!ll3rs & mystery
🩸Banter & spice
🩸Vampires, fae, and witches
🩸Shadow magic
🩸”Fuck fate”

As always, check your content warnings 🖤

[Kate Ivy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️ This book started off so good, I cried in the prologue…. The prologue!!!! Zero to 100 real fast.

I went through the whole book never knowing who to trust! It is a murder mystery & the lies and deceit- they were strong.

I love the relationships in this book, the character growth, the links it had to modern day issues of women.

I laughed, I cried and then…. I was confused… the middle of the book had a lull, to focus on the budding romance which was fine but then everything was over delivered at the end of the book which mean my brain was wondering what the heck is happening and how?!

Let’s just say I was frustrated at some things… I am definitely reading book 2 because I need these to be explained haha and I must know what happens after the cliffhanger.

[Emma Hatton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fabulous. I am such a huge fan of Demi and her writing style. This book was emotional and witty and strong willed and everything I needed. This book is easily a top read for me this year. Not to mention there are witches and vampires, my two favourite supernatural beings.

If you are looking for a book that has equal parts smut and plot this is for you.

[Liz 🪽✨ S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review

This really intrigued me when I signed up to read TSBH, I mean vampires, witches, slow burn and a little murder mystery? Yes please! I definitely think it is promising but I just don’t think it’s for me as much as I thought. I just didn’t find myself getting invested with the characters or the storyline. I think the ideas and mystery of it was exciting but it just didn’t hit the mark for me but I’m sure it definitely will for others 🩶

Thank you Haus of Fables for sending me this ARC!

[Belle O'Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 62% - I just couldn’t get into the plot and wasn’t keen on the characters, ended up losing interest and can’t make myself pick it back up.

[Kasia Rybka · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Shadows Become Her by Demi Clorissa is a captivating read that blends mystery, romance, and a touch of the supernatural. The story follows Mia, an artist who’s lost her way after her dreams fall apart. She’s spiraling, relying on her sister, Kali, to keep her grounded—until she finds Kali’s body, brutally murdered. That discovery shakes Mia to her core and pulls her into a dangerous new reality.
The book takes off from there, with Mia crossing paths with Idris Blackwood, a vampyre with a dark past who’s somehow tied to Kali’s death. Despite their complicated history and the fact that Mia finds him at the crime scene, she and Idris end up working together to figure out what’s really going on. As they dig deeper into the mystery, their relationship becomes more complex, adding a lot of tension and emotion to the story.
Alderdeen, the city where it all takes place, is described in such a way that you can almost feel the shadows closing in. It’s eerie and atmospheric, perfect for the unfolding drama. The plot keeps you engaged with plenty of twists, and even when the story slows down a bit, it’s because Mia is dealing with some heavy emotions that make her character feel real.
The romance between Mia and Idris is handled very well—it’s slow-building and believable, never overwhelming the main mystery. You can really feel the stakes as they grow closer while trying to stay focused on solving the crime.
These Shadows Become Her, is a great start to a new series, especially if you like books that mix dark fantasy with a strong love story and a good mystery. It’s an engaging read that keeps you guessing and invested in the characters from start to finish. I can not wait to read next part . Highly recommended!!!!

[Charity Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another easy 5 🌟 read for me. It was longer than most books I’ve read lately so it took me two days as opposed to one, but it was still VERY BINGEABLE. Did I neglect my weekend to read this cover to cover…why, yes I did.

If you love these things, then add to your
TBR: 👇
Feminine Rage
Forced Proximity
Witches, Fae, and Vampyres
Murder Mystery
Shadow Magic
Exploring Grief
Forbidden Love
Slow Burn
Hot Dads (chuckling at this because I am legit obsessed with Mia’s dad, Henry, and am SO EXCITED for the novella featuring him and his wife, Anne.)
Touch Him and Die
“Tell me how you like it!”

Mia is a train-wreck and it made sense because she was really going through some major self-worth issues. I felt connected to her character immediately. She handled things in all the wrong ways, but she needed to learn from her mistakes. I love that once she discovered herself and came into her own strength, she fought back against the institution that would see women torn down and lesser than their male counterparts. Her resilience was admirable! Fem rage at its finest!

Within these pages lies a mystery surrounding Jack the Ripper-esque murders and the author does a great job kind of throwing you off the trail. It was wild discovering what actually was going down. I didn’t trust anyone…

I’m unsure if this is considered a love triangle, but let me tell you, I LOVED the two men she found herself entangled with and that is all I’m going to say on the matter. I am confused as to which direction this will lead, but super excited about the possibilities! 👀 The questions I have are consuming my thoughts.

It ended on a major cliffhanger and I need that next book like I need Idris, Wyn and Henry on a silver platter. Iykyk! 😉 🥵

[FloofyMooseReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in The Divine Bride series, a dark romantic fantasy that is also part murder mystery. Tropes include slowburn then hot, forbidden love, feminine rage, mental health rep, shadow magic, forced proximity, and touch him/her and die. There are a number of spicy and most (but not all) are long or in detail. Please, please see content warnings for dark themes and topics.

The Lovely: I loved, loved this story - the darkness and the murder mystery in a fantasy world. Full disclosure, I did beta read this book and knew then this would easily be a five star read. All of the pieces of the story - characters, plot and world - come together seamlessly. I remember when I was beta reading I couldn’t put this book down because I just had to know how situations would progress.B

Also Lovely: I also loved the main characters. Mia, the FMC, is complex and realistic. She goes through a lot in this book and we see how the consequences of her own reactions play out, especially in relation to other characters. Idris is broody but determined, and trying to do the right thing. I loved how he didn’t let others’ perceptions of him hurt him or get him down. His warring emotions were written with such depth you could feel those emotions right along with him.

Rating: 5/5 Stars 3/5 Flames

Recommendation: I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Needless to say, I highly recommend this book. It has everything you’d expect and want in a dark romantasy, plus the murder mystery element. The ending is a bit of a cliffhanger and I’m anxiously awaiting book two, which is due to be released in 2025.

[Julie Monson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up
3 🌶

This is my best attempt at keeping much of this book unspoiled.

Mia is an adopted daughter of an affluent family in a magical world full of vampyres, fae, and witches. She is vying for a place as an apprentice for a renowned artist, but tragedy strikes, and she loses herself. While she is finding herself, more tragedy strikes, and she begins to focus her pain and trauma to finding answers.

This book contains a well developed cast of characters and realistic interactions between them. I felt fully immersed into the world and couldn't wait to see what happened. The mystery aspects were interesting and not immediately predictable. I loved the plot and the spicy scenes added to it instead of retracting.

I took away half a star for the cliffhanger because I don't enjoy cliffhangers.

Thank you to the author and Haus of Fables PR for the advanced readers copy of this book!

[Dana 🦋 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Favorite Quotes:
"Bound in love, not in blood."
“I can be anything you want. Your salvation…your destruction.”
“I can hold up a lantern for you, so you can find your way home to us.”

No notes. Hands down complete and utter perfection! This is a must read!!!
From the start, this book grabbed my attention and I felt like an addict. I couldn't stop. I just kept wanting more.
Let's start off with Mia. Mia is great as an FMC. She's not perfect actually she's far from it and that drew me to her and made me love her so much!
Idris from the start stole my heart! The rollercoaster ride that is their relationship is so fascinating to see.
This author leaned into the characters flaws, their addictions, their self loathing and built on that.
Demi Clorissa just became an auto-buy author for me. Absolutely incredible. Thank you for this amazing book. Your mind is a wonderland!! Can't wait for book 2!

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was easy enough to loose myself in the world created by the author to follow Mia and Idris as they race against time to solve a murder mystery which has affected Mia deeply. The banter between the two is delightful and the slow burn is excruciating but worth it.

The romance between the characters does not overshadow the storyline which is refreshing as the book is quite plot heavy with many twists and discoveries made along the way. This actually made certain parts of the book confusing and quite messy.

Overall, a great start to the series, the cliffhanger ending is sure to entice readers to wait patiently for the next instalment.

As always, please read the trigger warnings!

Read if you enjoy:
- Murder Mystery
- Forbidden Love
- Feminine Rage
- Shadow Magic

Thank you Haus of fables and Demi Clorissa for providing me with the arc.

3/5 Stars

[Smut Cartel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can forbidden love bloom where grief has taken root?
In the bustling city of Alderdeen, artistic prodigy Mia has long hoped to apprentice with a world-renowned artist. But when he crushes her dreams, despair drags her into a murky abyss of whiskey and men, with only her sister, Kali, as a light in the darkness.

Although it took a moment to get into, once I delved in, I was hooked.
I absolutely loved Mia's character, her development throughout was something beautiful to read, seeing her overcome so much.
Its a long read, but its filled with captivating characters, world building, spice, romance and mystery.
This does end on a cliffhanger, which makes you eager for book 2 in the series.

Tropes:
- Feminine Rage
- Forbidden love
- Found family
- Murder mystery
- Shadow magic

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a fantastic book! I was completely drawn in by the intriguing characters, the unique magic system, and the paranormal beings that bring this world to life. It’s a thrilling blend of adventure, murder mystery, and surprises that kept me hooked until the very end.

This story is deeply character-driven, following Mia as she navigates her struggles with self-confidence and doubt. We journey alongside her through grief, abuse, and complex relationships—sometimes leading her to self-destructive choices. Her growth throughout the story is both raw and powerful!

If you’re a fan of dark romantasy, this book offers everything—morally gray characters, layers of mystery, deep emotional intensity, and a heavy dose of spice. Make sure to have tissues nearby, because this wild ride will leave you feeling it all! Highly recommend.

[Ashley Van Durmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive an eARC for These Shadows Become Her from Demi.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

If you are a fan of Dark Fantasy Romance with Vampires, Fae, Witches, Forbidden Love, Shadow Magic, Forced Proximity, Feminine Rage, Slow Burn, Murder Mystery and so much more, this one is for you!

In These Shadows Become Her, we follow along Mia who has always felt like a bit of an outsider being adopted and in the shadow of her sister Kali.

While she loves her sister, she has always felt she was never enough and when an event occurs she settles into that despair drowning herself in anything she can. Until one night her sister is murdered, with the broody Idris standing over the body, leaving Mia questioning everything and to pick up the pieces of herself while handling her grief.

Idris and Mia team up to try to solve the mystery of her sister’s death and the strange things going on in the city. With an undeniable pull between them and Mia being drawn to her Father’s Ex-Bestfriend Wyn, the mysteries of Mia’s past start to unravel and truths of identity come to light. The latter half of the book is action packed when Mia learns the truth of everything and with the cliffhanger you will be left wanting more.

I don’t want to give too much away because there is so much that happens in this story and I couldn’t put it down. The themes are certainly darker with everything that Mia has to endure, the burn was so well worth the wait and I cannot wait to see what happens next.

[Pashy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Going into this book, I didn't expect the depth of writing that I read. I knew I was going to enjoy this book but wow this was not what I expected. The Shadows Become Her touches on deep themes of the struggles of a woman under scrutiny no matter what she does. Mia was an incredibly powerful fmc whose determination throughout everything she went t0 was so inspiring. Not only is this book a steamy romantasy, but its also full of magic and mystery. The tragedies and hardship that Mia went through and the mystery of the murders was what kept me reading until the very end!

[Dannii Logan · Rating 4 out of 5]

These Shadows Become her by Demi Clorissa

⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

This took me a few chapters to get into but once it did, it certainly pulled me through. When everything is light and feels alive to suddenly having everything taken away from you like our MFC Mia does. It can certainly be crushing. Mia gets lost in her grief and resorts to different substances to ease the pain, some that include all her male companions… 👀👀

The Question is, will Mia solve the case of who killed her sister? Will she end up settling with Idris? You must read this book by Demi Clorissa to find out! You wont regret reading it, I promise!

Tropes
🦇 Who did this to you?
❤️Forbidden love
❓ Mystery
❤️‍🔥 Slow burn
🙊 Tell me how you like it.
🪄 Witch magic

Favourite quote (it made me reminiscent of twilight)

Mia: “I know what you are, Idris” “I know what kind of monster you are”

Idris: “And what is that Mia? What am I?” “Say it”

Mia: “You're the blood-sucking monster…..”