All The Violent Ways: The Realm of Nume

by Emma Lynn Ellis

The Southern Kingdom did not bend rules or deviate from tradition. For Syrenn, this meant that she would have to continue vying for the Prince’s hand in marriage—even though she often found her eye wandering toward his darker, elder brother. Until the Southern Prince chooses his bride, however, she is stuck in a realm that is not her own, participating in a marriage contest against her will.

When her fellow contenders start dying gruesome deaths, she must uncover who is behind the murders. Even if it costs her own freedom.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

317 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 22, 2024

About the author

Emma likes nothing more than to read a good book and drink some good coffee. Or write, as I'm sure you can tell. You can find her... No where, because she's always at home.
Emma is a graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor of Art in Secondary English Education.

Reviews

[Emily Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Omg omg omg. Not Emma writing an incredibly gripping, dark, romantic, thrilling, murder mystery epic fantasy!
All the Violent Ways was everything I didn't know I needed, and I'm obsessed.
Syrenn is stuck competing in a competition to be a bride to a prince she absolutely loathes. She spends a year there while the prince takes his time picking his bride to be, when suddenly some of the competitors start dying gruesome deaths. A scared Syrenn finds herself leaning into her only friend in the castle, hoping to keep her friend from becoming the next target of the killer. Wanting to leave the castle forever and return home Syrenn ends up striking a deal with the princes' older brother, the one everyone says is evil, the one she was warned about. With a promise to get her back home Syrenn agrees to help the elder prince discover the killer and bring justice for the castle murders, but also a crime committed many years prior.

Everything meshed together really well, and nothing seemed to drag on too long. The characters are fleshed out in a way that makes them real, with flaws, internal struggles, and morally grey values. The romance was as much a main plot as it was a side plot, and I loved it because we still got the political struggles of the kingdom, a solid predicament to overcome, and a crazy mystery to solve, while simultaneously exploring relationships and falling in love.
I loved Syrenn and Ender, the banter was exactly what you'd expect from these types of characters and I don't mean that in a bad way. It made me giddy, and it also felt real.
Ender had my heart in a chokehold and I'm totally okay with that.
Over all this book is definitely worth the read if you enjoy tropes such as but not limited to; enemies to lovers, morally grey men, FF/MF romance, murder mystery, and forced marriage, oh and shadow daddy's.

[Emma Lynn Ellis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Did I write this for the shadow daddy? Maybe. Is it a fantastic romantasy/murder mystery crossover? Also, maybe.

[✨Rissa✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I was hooked from the beginning and devoured this book within 24 hours! It’s a dark and thrilling mystery Romantasy that has everything you could possibly want in a fantasy with an ending you’ll never see coming!

[Rachel’s Coffee & Rain Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️! Extremely well written, multidimensional flawed characters, interesting in depth world building, a broody sexy shadow daddy, and a woman who doesn’t wait around to be saved (she’s a little stabby). A great read! Spoilers below because I have things to discuss so read at your own risk! 😏

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- spoilers/notes: ok I loved this. This is my first book by this author and I’ll definitely be looking into more. The writing was so well done. She packed a TON of story into slightly over 300 pages, I feel like I’ve read a duology! It was fast paced, which I enjoy as you get lost in the story and don’t realize how much time has passed, and it kept my interest. Combining a murder mystery, rich fantasy world, and sexy shadow romance, and you’ve got the makings of a great story.

The characters were some of the best part, and that’s not always the case. Syrenn, our violent girl FMC, was fierce, secretive, gentle, loyal, and stabby. She managed to be sarcastic and stick up for herself without being unnecessarily combative or whiny. No damsel in distress here, and trust me, she takes more than her fair share of beatings. She’s hidden her magic from everyone but her best friend and co-contestant, but when it’s discovered by the broody dark elder prince Ender, she has to decide to trust him or believe the lies she’s been told that he’s evil.

Ender is a true shadow daddy, folks. Dark, tall and brooding, he understood the assignment. He can see through those shadows, travel through them, and control them 😏 he’s been maligned his whole life but when bride contestants start turning up murdered, he emerges from his shadows and enlists Syrenn’s help in finding the culprit. Their chemistry is 🔥🥵. From the first encounter these two smirk, glare and eye roll with the best of them and I was here for it. I would not call this enemies-to-lovers. It’s more reluctant allies to lovers, which I honestly prefer. Our prince Ender has a soft heart under all those shadows and when we get to see it, oh boy does the yearning yearn. He might be inching his way up my list of book boyfriends… the spice in this book is so hot and well done it’ll make you sweat.

“Side” characters were also well developed, to the point many felt like principles as well. Daphne was an enigma, starting out as the somewhat oblivious friend in love with Prince Gideon, but turning out to be a key player in this game. Gideon was one sadistic bastard, and great villain. There were honestly times I wasn’t sure what to believe, the sign of a truly great mystery. He could play innocent so well he had my head spinning along with Syrenn.

Why not 5 full stars?? Well I felt the murder mystery went on a tad too long, I would have liked to see more of Gideon behind the scenes, just to make us really hate him, and I wanted more of Syrenn and Ender’s HEA. That’s just personal preference though. I also felt the sexual relationship between Daphne and Syrenn was slightly out of place, though I saw the reasons for it plot-wise later.

Finally, the silhouette… I’ve seen many reviews question this aspect, and it was odd. We never get full resolution to who/what it was, but I believe it was the healer, Kaya. She mentions being from Farehail with Asher, being trained together as kids/teens, and there is language to indicate it’s female (Asher caresses its curves). Just my thought.

All in all this was a great read and I’ll definitely be picking up more from this author!!

[Shelby Shelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

All The Violent Ways has everything you could ask for in a romantasy/murder mystery—unique magical powers, political & familial conflict, strong FMC, forced proximity, spicy romance scenes, and a fight for the title of king and queen!

Syrenn finds herself among a group of 5 other women who have all been invited to stay at the castle of the Southern Kingdom for a year to strive for a chance at the eldest prince’s hand in marriage, and title as Queen, however, Syrenn despises the thought of marriage, and has only ever wanted to be free. When other contenders are mysteriously murdered, Syrenn risks using her hidden powers to help uncover who is behind their deaths. As her search continues, Syrenn discovers many secrets about the Southern Kingdom and the family that rules it—the family she may be forced into if she cannot uncover the truth in time.

The plot is so well balanced focusing both the mystery at hand, and the romantic interests. Both develop side by side and have a hand in how each turn out in the end. There are many twists and turns and secrets revealed throughout the book that will keep you guessing as to who committed the murders and how they will be put to an end.

I genuinely could not put this book down! It has dramatically pulled me out of a reading slump, and I highly recommend it to any and every fantasy or romance reader!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5 stars

[Grace E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea I needed a romantasy/murder mystery in my life until I read this book!! 😍

This book started quick and hooked me pretty much instantly.

The story is about Syrenn, a girl from a small village/kingdom with mind-reading powers, who is reluctantly sent to the Southern Kingdom by her parents to compete with other girls to marry the King-to-be, Gideon. Right from the jump, we learn the girls are being killed off by…??? We don’t know. Hence murder mystery.

We move through this story as Syrenn falls for Gideon’s supposed-to-be-evil, shadow power-wielding older brother Ender, and the two of them try to figure out who or what is killing off the girls.

I loved this book. The twists and turns it takes us through and the pieces of the puzzle slowly coming together through mic-drop realizations was perfection! It made me cry, it gave me chills, it was everything.

The only thing that bothered me at the beginning was that the romance seemed a bit rushed and forced, but by the end I was so in love too I didn’t even mind 😂❤️

[Klarisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, I really did. But I had a few problems. Thus the 3 stars. One, I felt the ending was rushed. The mystery behind all this was played out thru the book, and then it felt like oh this is the bad guy, here’s the solution we fixed it, the end. Two, not that I have anything against people reading it… but I wasn’t exactly expecting the bisexual female lead. That came completely out of left field and personally felt like an add in to make everyone happy. It made me not like the book as much because of the stuff with Daphne. Like… let them just be friends. Allow the character to be in love with the shadow daddy prince?! Why have to add the confusion in? And finally, the silhouette?!?! It was never really explained. I kept thinking it was the Prince’s shadow at first. No. Then I said it’s the sister somehow?!! No. I was just confused.

Again. I actually enjoyed this book, there was just some stuff that made me knock it down a few stars. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Ava Winger · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a good winter break read for me. While this book had many good qualities, some negatives left me wanting more. First, I believe that the mystery of the murders was dragged out too long. I think the author brushed over the powers and mysteries of the kingdom a little too much for my liking. I believe that Syreens powers were not explored enough. The Dahphne Lover storyline was a little forced. When Daphne and Syreen started to sleep together it felt inauthentic. Daphne and Syreen were meant to be close friends, not lovers. I feel as though Ender and Syreen were more compatible as lovers.

These are just some of the negative thoughts I had while reading this book. This does not mean that I did not enjoy it. I feel as though there is some room for improvement for the author.

[Payton Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was too good!! To start off.. the murder mystery aspect was amazing… the only thing I did not enjoy about it would be that I guessed the killer and why this person was killing. Other than that I thought it was an amazing story and the perfect twist to a fantasy.

I wish we got to see more of Ender too. It made it seem as if he always knew when Syrenn needed help but yet he was rarely ever there?? I don’t know! Also the love seemed so sudden!! But what they had was beautiful and I loved seeing him protect her and I loved her change of feelings of him 🥰

As for the land and the fantasy… I LOVED IT!! It was beautifully written and told. I wish we were able to see more about where Syrenn was from though!!

Definitely give this book a read when it comes out. It was so so good!

[Marissa (rissareads13) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Syrenn is one of the lucky ones, she gets to court the prince - except she doesn’t want to be married off, oh and also she loathes him. When other girls competing for his hand turn up dead it’s up to Syrenn and the dark elder prince (whom they’ve all been warned to stay away from) to find the culprit and protect those remaining. Along the way, they’ll discover who the really violent ones are.

This book was amazing from beginning to end. It had me on the edge of my seat and I devoured it in one day. The mystery, the romance, the friendships, the magic - all of it was top-tier. I hadn’t read the first book in the Wildewood series, but I don’t think it made a difference. I cannot wait for more in this magical realm by this fantastic author.

[Tam · Rating 3 out of 5]

The mystery, some of the characters, & the spice is what kept me reading & engaged. Absolutely LOVED shadow daddy. Syreen was a complete bad ass. Her relationship with Daph.. it took a weird turn. I know it said through out the book their friendship was on the fence of being more. But I took it as like are you even best friends if people don’t question your relationship. It really came out of nowhere and was never explained. The silhouette.. at first I thought it was shadow daddy’s shadow.. then I thought it was the little sister.. now I’m thinking it’s syreen’s ex lover?? It never explains it nor does it explain what it has to do with Asher.. so I’m hoping that was on purpose for the next book… but overall it was a good read. I enjoyed it.

[Lindsey Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

In All the Violent Ways, Emma Lynn Ellis transports us into a magical world and weaves a story of love, hate, heartbreak, danger, mystery, and revelations. Ellis wrote a story that I could not put down; I was enraptured every moment of the book. The spice will have your body heating; the mystery will have you leaning forward in your seat as you try to solve it yourself. This book was well written, with thorough forethought of the entire plot and how each piece would fall into place as the story progressed, with nothing sacrificed in content. It was an amazing read and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Romantasy murder mystery that will keep you reading late into the night!

The story starts in the middle of an action and keeps you in suspense throughout. Syrenn is the strong female lead, who is keeping her powers secret from everyone but her close friend Daphne. She and other girls are in a marriage contest for the princes and there is his brother, the other prince, who is a the hott morally grey, shadow daddy.

There is a good balance of mystery, romance, magic, and friendship. Every turn of the page you are learning something new and getting deeper into the realm of nume, which makes the book really engrossing.

[Allix Reich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very excited to receive this ARC, I enjoyed the author’s first book and think it’s very fun these are standalones but are within the same universe. The nod to the first book in this one was a fun easter egg. Great spice! I wish the end was stretched out a bit more, it felt like we just quickly had to end the book when more details could have been given to bring it together better. I really enjoy the unique magic system and will happily ready more from this universe as I assume we will continue to have connecting characters and books (fingers crossed)!

[Crystal Cleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and loved the first book in the series so when the opportunity to read this one was offered of course I jumped on the chance. I was not disappointed I loved the relationships built and the who did it plot along with the romance that was just perfect. This story has it all even as I was putting together the mystery with our FMC the ending still got me and I was not disappointed the magic was done so well that it was not complicated and was easy to understand. 10/10 would recommend this book.

[MelodyHusky.EmilyReads (Emily) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing romantasy/ murder mystery and this was a first for me but it was amazing, fantastic. I received this as an Ark for a first time author and she definitely did not disappoint. Over all I rated this 4.8-5⭐️. I loved this soo much although it’s a little fast paced in places which usually I can’t read but she did it spectacularly and I can’t wait to read her future books if I get the opportunity. I definitely recommend this to literally anyone that asks me for recommendations. Thank you for for giving me the opportunity to read such a masterpiece. I hope whoever reads this decides to pick up the book and read through it. 🥰🥰🥰

[Kandace Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Murder mystery
*Forced into marriage contest
*Multiple love interest
*Shadow daddy
*3/5 spice

I'm going to have to do a reread but it's about a woman who has to discover who is murdering the other contests and she has a power that she hasn't told anyone and is trying to keep it from everyone.
a quote from the back that I love is "that's not blood pouring from his flesh, that was smoke, no not smoke. Shadow".

[Sierra Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up from my local library book sale because it sounded interesting…
I ATE this book up. I can’t stop thinking about it. I need MOOOORE!
The spice was 🔥SPICY🔥. Did I know I needed a little girl on girl action in my life? No. Did I love it? Absolutely!
And then to my surprise I find that this author is LOCAL?!
Emma, girl, I will be consuming EVERY single word you write from here on out! I might even fan girl if I see you out and about!
100/10, highly recommend!
❤️ Sierra

[Justin Perucca · Rating 2 out of 5]

So, I read her first book last year it was okay. Then I read this and at first it seemed promising, then just randomly very descriptive smut scenes popped up left and right and I wasn't convinced of the romance. Also, the ending felt so rushed, but the villain, he had the power to control others, but why didn't he do it to stop his murder. It was very poor writing at the end. I would not recommend you read this one. Hopefully, the author will learn from this one.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so entertaining! I did not know that I needed a murder mystery/ Romantasy in my life until I read this book!

The slow burn, the spice the plot twists, all of it had me eating this book up! And just when you think you know what’s going on, another piece is the puzzle gets added. I loved every second of this book!
Definitely recommend!

[Katie Ellshoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book but felt like it could've been a little longer. It seemed like some parts of the storyline were rushed like her falling for Ender and the ending. I also was confused by the relationship change with Daphne. I felt like their relationship before chapter 17 wasn't going in that direction so that chapter threw me off. Overall was a fun read though!

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great fantasy story that I could not put down! There was a surprisingly amount of *QUEER* spice in this book and the ending was a nice twist. There were some character developments that I felt were a little half baked but all in all I quite enjoyed my time in this universe. The ending sets us up for a hopeful second installment that I would be very excited for!

[Emma Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ I had such a good time reading this book. My husband purchased me a signed copy and it took me a while to work my way through my TBR to this book. But MY GOD. I still have questions about some things, answers I assume I'll get if I continue the series.
But for now, I'm happy with this story.

[Doug Pawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was such a fun read! the characters are rich and fully developed. great pacing. the murder mystery was fun to try to figure out and i guessed completely wrong haha. good spicy scenes and some really well written uncomfy scenes too. highly recommend a read!

[Wicked Monster · Rating 4 out of 5]

So good! It kept me entertained the whole time. And the spice was definitely spicing!! It’s crazy to see the change from your first book to this one! (They were both good don’t get me wrong) but the writing was superb as was the plot.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg loved it! This is an incredible gripping, dark, romantic, thrilling, murder mystery epic fantasy!
All the Violent Ways was everything I didn't know I needed lol
Everything was very well written. Very much enjoyed reading it. And can’t wait for her next book!!
4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice rating🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Kirstin W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book! It had me turning the pages so fast to find out what happens next. All The Violent Ways is a beautifully story with just the amount of spice! Highly recommend! Bravo

[Rikki Langley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Justice for daphne and Annalise This was incredible, there were some points I was lost because there were so many names to remember but that’s no big deal.
I wish we could’ve gotten the old queens pov at the end.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was so much better than her 1st. I did like the 1st one but I loved this one so much more! Syrenn was a great character. There was a minor twist, that I had a feeling about but it didn't give it all away. I can't wait to read the 3rd book.

[Rachel Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrator: 4.5/5
Story: 4.5/5

The twists were awesome. The love story drew you in immediately. The emotions this book made you feel - so many and all felt deeply. It was almost hard to finish because I wanted more. The narrator was awesome and was so easy to follow it all. Highly recommend.