Eclipsed Realms

by Madilyn DeRose

Umbra is not what it used to be. Once a beautiful, thriving realm, it is now dreary and full of hatred. The darkness was born of fear and greed. It was meant to stifle that which once brought us all joy. Equality was replaced with iniquity, diversity with oppression. Those at the top took power through violence and treachery. Only by wielding fear as a weapon have they held onto their position for a thousand years. And the darkness was spreading.

It'd been this way for a while, but within the span of Hallion Umbreath's rule, it's grown worse. Shadows stretch from Obsidius, threatening to drench the realm in a cold embrace that will signal the end of freedom as we know it. The creatures who were born of this place are being pushed out, forced into cities that are overcrowded and out of sight. I have no interest in remaining in such conditions. If I can get out, I intend to disappear into the mountains, hopefully before Umbreath's shadows reach Ebonys. When the lord posts a huge bounty that's open to all creatures, it's the perfect opportunity. All I have to do is find some woman who escaped him. It can't be that hard.

Unfortunately, I opened my door and acquired a surprise companion who might find a way to make it impossible. He's loud, energetic, and annoying. I can't stand him. Once I get that money, I'm leaving for good. There's nobody that could convince me to stay in this hellscape and I sure won't be taking him with me, nor will I listen to some mad woman's claims about curses and returning the realm to its former glory. That was a fairy tale I wanted no part of.

All I wanted at the end of this was to be left the hell alone.

Genres: Fantasy

532 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 7, 2024

About the author

I'm a self-published author who generally has a dozen projects going at one time. Check out one of my completed series or follow along with what's currently ongoing.

I was born in Portland, OR and I will unashamedly claim that the PNW is the best place to be. Catch me with an iced coffee in hand, even in the rain and snow.

My main genres are romance and fantasy. Some of my content is very dark, but it varies by book/series, so please check the content warnings in each book before diving in!

I hope you enjoy my books and leave me a review with your honest opinion!

Reviews

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"In the depths of hell, we'd earned the right to become monsters. In the warmth of the sun, we chose not to be."

Eclipsed Realms is a high fantasy, dark MM romance read from the fabulous Madilyn DeRose and it is book 2 in her The Cursed Realms series. Whilst this can be read as a standalone I would highly recommend reading book 1, Entangled Realms, first as they are very much a linked series read.

This is essentially Naeth and Zeke's story, but so many other characters are involved in their tale. Eclipsed Realms is fantasy story-telling at its unique best and the world-building and character development is just DIVINE. Who would have thought I would become so engrossed in the lives of an orc and a shadow-caster?! Be warned though - there are some extremely dark themes and explicit descriptions, so do take care before entering this Cursed Realm.

What To Expect:

🖤MM dark fantasy
🖤Very dark themes
🖤Grumpy/sunshine
🖤Non-con
🖤Dub-con
🖤Hilarious banter
🖤Spicy scenes
🖤HEA

Highly recommended if you love high fantasy!

5 stars

[Fen'Harel · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's not every day that I say I have found a book by surprise that has become one of my all-time favourite books, but I have found it in this novel right here.
I have never read Madilyn DeRose, and imagine my surprise at getting an ARC that claims it's based on Shrek. I went in with trepidation, expecting an author to fill every page with smutty innuendos and trying too hard to follow along with Shrek so that it gets no personal identity.
Well, I was wrong.
Not only does this book come with its own identity, it shines with a whole new plot and amazing characters that makes me wish I was there.
This was the second in a series, but can be read alone like I did. I haven't read the first one, but I didn't feel too lost when we met characters from the previous book.
Let's start with my love for Zeke! He was such a fun and complex character. From having shadow magic - something that puts him in a very privileged caste - to wanting to do what's best for everyone, which can be hard when everyone thinks your magic use puts you in a box and hate you.
Naeth is the perfect balance to Zeke. He's grumpy to his sunshine, and is an orc (rather than an ogre). He, too, has a complex backstory which we unfold as we go along and it's great to see how his personality changes as he accepts Zeke into his life.
I think the spicy scenes DeRose wrote were fantastic, and immediately made me want to read more MM action from them! Let me know if you have any recommendations!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kez Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the Shrek retelling you didn't know you needed. Imagine Shrek and donkey but as a grumpy sunshine M/M romance between a shadow mage and an orc. It has all the fun snarky banter, annoying attitudes and jokes, and the angry Ogre energy.
I liked the themes of mate bonds, breaking curses and the dark fantasy elements as they try to save the realm.
It spicy, the characters endure a lot of trauma, and it's an emotional ride.

[•mikaela• :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Love love LOVE. 🖤

Possibly my new favourite fantasy series, ever.

Full of action, love, secrets, plot twists and little crumbs dribbled in every page to keep you hooked.
The multiple POV’s, the depth, emotion and different personalities in each character is amazing to read through. Not to mention the different realms and world building.
Seriously Madilyn, you outdone yourself here. 🙌🏻
The MM scenes will have you swooning and blushing. 🥵

Also, being loosely based on Shrek? Child me is screaming.

This is a MUST read, but make sure you read Entangled Realms first as our favourites from there also pop in here. You gotta love the Beauty and the Beast inspired themes in that book. 🥰

Book three looking to be Lion King based? Sign me up. 💁🏻‍♀️

[Ebook Dragon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy Orc and Sunshine Shadow Caster is a Shrek retelling you need in your life. I recommend reading the 1st book in the series since there is some crossover. This MM romance has so much banter that had me laughing and the green flags had me swooning. The adventure that they started ended up being bigger than they thought it would be. The characters endure an emotional ride as the story builds to breaking curses. The plot was so captivating and worth every star. I can’t forget about Nyx! Such a strong female with all the trauma she went through to get the ending she deserves. There were many times the story got in my feels and had my eyes watery with emotions Madilyn was able to bring to life with her writing. I love Madilyn’s books and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next story.

Fav Quotes
“You’re in every thought, every dream, every tragedy.”

“It was a freedom that came from a life of bondage. Whether that was recompense for our pain or a strange irony, it was the path of those who suffered and survived.”

“I survived hell, and even though I escaped, I was never free until I found you.”

“In the depths of hell, we’d earned the right to become monsters. In the warmth of the sun, we chose not to be.”

“If we were to die, whether you or me, it would mean we were ripped away from each other. That is a tragedy, yet it’s a potential reality that grows ever closer. I don’t wish to be parted if I remain nor if I perish. Perhaps that’s selfish, I should hope the one I care for was able to live, even if I couldn’t. But I don’t want to exist in life or death without you. So yes, Zeke. I feel you now, I’ll feel you for as long as I draw breath, and when I am no more than a remnant of energy that exists in the world, I want to feel you still.”

My Star Rating:
1 star:
Probably DNF - Lacks structure - Grammatical Errors - Boring characters

2 stars:
Not a fan - Struggled to finish - Won't reread - Lacked personality - Lacked storyline

3 stars:
Neutral - Underwhelmed - Nothing special - Like the book but we're still troubled by a few components

4 stars:
Enjoyed - Concept unique - Dialogue felt real - Invested in characters - Missing cherry on top

5 stars:
Creme de la creme - It's addictive - Emotional Impact - Highly Recommend - Feels like you are part of the book

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You’re in every thought, every dream, every tragedy.”

“Eclipsed Realms,” by Madilyn DeRose

I wasn’t entirely sure about this book before I read it. When I hear shrek retelling I was not fully in but for real this book blew me away with the romance. I’ve read another book by her and her writing is so good, so I thought why not. I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved this. The whole shrek thing was not as weird as I would’ve thought. The romance was so freaking amazing, it was intense and sweet, and it kept me glued to the book. This book has tons and tons of smut but also a lot of plot. I do feel like it was longer than it needed to be, but it still was so good. 4 out of 5 stars, can’t wait to read what Madilyn DeRose writes next because I will read anything by her now.

-M/M
-Shrek Retell
-Orcs, Demons, Witches
-Shadow Magic
-SA/ Trigger Warnings

Thank you for the ARC, Booksirens.

“It was a freedom that came from a life of bondage. Whether that was recompense for our pain or a strange irony, it was the path of those who suffered and survived.”

“Once the darkness was inside of him, where no light existed, it was easier to control.”

“Slowly, I began to stitch my body back together.”

“If I was going to die, at least he still wanted to be around me when I fall.”

“I survived hell, and even though I escaped, I was never free until I found you.”

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Yes. If we were to die, whether you or me, it would mean we were ripped away from each other. That is a tragedy, yet it’s a potential reality that grows ever closer. I don’t wish to be parted if I remain nor if I perish. Perhaps that’s selfish. I should hope the one I care for was able to live, even if I couldn’t. But I don’t want to exist in life or death without you. So yes, Zeke. I feel you now, I’ll feel you for as long as I draw breath, and when I am no more than a remnant of energy that exists in the world, I want to feel you still.”

Bravo!! This story was amazing! I absolutely love what you’re doing with this series and can’t wait to see what’s next!

💚🖤This is an MM Shrek retelling and it is the second book in an interconnected standalone series. Although it can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading book one first (which is a dark Beauty and the Beast retelling). I’ve been impatiently waiting for the release of this book, because I loved book 1 so much.💚🖤

💚🖤This story has it all; tons of action, some dark and heart wrenching scenes, hilarious banter, plot twists, amazing world building and character development, secrets, beautiful love story that will take you through all the feelings, and some 🥵 Orc and Shadow daddy moments. It’s got multiple POV’s and I absolutely loved seeing some of my favorites from book 1 in this story! All of the Shrek cookie crumbs sprinkled throughout the book were my favorite part of all.💚🖤

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ECLIPSED REALMS is the second book in The Cursed Realms series and it says reading prior books is not required, but I would disagree with that. There is a lot in here about the first book, both as characters, world-building, and plot, which made me feel as though I was only getting half the story.

The half I did get was good, don't get me wrong. I love that it was based on Shrek and had absolutely no problem seeing Naeth or Zeke in their respective roles. Their relationship wasn't exactly smooth but it was worth it. Once they committed to each other, that was it. Although, Zeke did have that terrible self-sacrificing streak that kept Naeth on his toes!

Please note the TWs, they are there for a reason and need to be heeded.

A good read that I enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending, so long as you've read book 1 first.

** same worded review will appear elsewhere **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Nov 27, 2024

[Lea Gesser · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really unbelievable, Umbra, Aerranata, the shadows and all those other peoples. The worlds were described so beautifully and lifelike, it was truly a fantastic journey. A trip I made together with Zeke, a shadow, I really laughed with his crazy pranks. Despite everything that has been done to him, he still tries to make something of his life. Then he meets the Orc Naeth, son of a former professor, who is one of the few orcs to survive a massacre. Naeth has no purpose in his life and Zeke, in a way, gives him a purpose, a purpose that Naeth clearly doesn't want. Their world is in danger of disappearing into Shadow, and Zeke is the true heir to the throne. The question is does he want the throne? Because then he will also have to deal with the curse. Their journey becomes more exciting as they get to know Nyx, first as an enemy, but then as a woman who has a traumatic past and is actually a dragon. The other characters, Kiera, Reyn, Eli and Rath, are wonderful characters, with clear depth. I really couldn't put this book down, I had to finish it and go back through it. It was an incredible, magical journey. Highly recommended.

[Jay Beau · Rating 3 out of 5]

*This book was given to me for free but this opinion is my own.*
I was quite invested in this book, and though it's a good story, there were some things that bothered me.
Let me just say, the characters are well written and the world-building was fantastic. I have to say it's great for escapism. I was dreading when characters would have s3x, but, unlike a lot of books, these scenes are good for character development, fixing them as some of my favourite characters in fiction.
Now to what I didn't like about it. The numerous perspectives. No don't get me wrong, the author did a nice job with perspectives. My issue lay in the fact that there were clearly two stories in here, maybe interwoven, but every time there was a break in the story, I was confused. I had to bring myself out of the story to reorient myself. In my opinion, this could've easily been solved. One story focuses on romance and adventure. The other focused on adventure. Maybe they could be merged.
Another thing I didn't like was the wants of the characters. Now I understood the goals but I couldn't figure out for the life of me one character's wants. It seemed to change seamlessly within the first few chapters.

[Melissa Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adore reading books by Madilyn DeRose. I honestly feel like she is underrated as an author and I feel that every time I review one of her books it gets hidden away and doesn't get traction. Any author who can introduce you to a world that is not your normal and make you fall in love has some serious talent.

Eclipsed Realms is the second book in the Cursed Realms Series by Madilyn DeRose. I think that if you are to read this you should read the first book first. With that being said I read both and enjoyed every minute of it! There are a lot of MM scenes in this book and that is a whole new world for me! This is also my first ork book. These characters and this world have grown on me and I honestly cannot wait to see what else is in store for this series. The joy I got from being thrown in a world where all these different creatures create an environment where they can live and grow together was exactly what I needed.

[Kate Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing twisted re-telling of Shrek, but it isn’t your average fairy tale. I was a little dubious about this when I read the blurb but it absolutely blew me away.
Set in the Entangled Realms universe, this can be read as a standalone but you will understand so much more if you have read Entangled Realms first as Kiera, Reyn and Rath all make an appearance. The authors writing really shines in this book, taking a simple rescue the Princess plot and turning it into this wild adventure with so many great characters and plot twists, it is definitely worth losing sleep to finish it and I fell in love with Zeke so hard!
It is less intense than a lot of this author’s other books but please still read the Trigger Warnings at the beginning, they are there for a reason! Definitely recommend to anyone who likes their fairytales dark and twisted with plenty of spice.

[Nanii’s Book Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t enjoy this one as much as the first one. It had so much going on that it eventually lost me. I considered DNFing a couple of times but decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. I thought I’d be brought back to the story, but that just wasn’t the case. I did feel bad for Nyxia and everything she went through. They (the people who hurt her, and there were quite a few) really had no mercy for that girl.

For those who would want to read this book, I do recommend that you read the first book, though it says it's not really necessary to do so. And please for the love of all that is good, please read the content warnings and don’t ignore them.

𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐫 ↴
This is an Advanced Reader copy. Although this book was given to me as an ARC my thoughts are my own. Thank you to Madilyn DeRose and Booksirens for the ARC opportunity!

🫧 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 📖

[Vicki Glover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am normally not a fan of story retellings but I thoroughly enjoyed other books by Madilyn DeRose, so I wanted to try this one. I am so glad I did. It was odd at first reading a Shrek retelling, but it is so well written!

The characters are wonderful! I love Zeke and his fun positive personality. Naeth is the perfect grumpy balance to Zeke and their chemistry is off the charts. And Nyx! She is the Wonder Woman of the story. I love her strength and determination. She overcame so much to become a positive leader in a new world she created.

The romance was perfect and the intimate scenes were so hot. The plot is intricate, captivating, and suspenseful. This book is worthy of every bit of 5 stars.

[Amber Kennedy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series I recommend reading Entangled Realms prior.
This is a Shrek retell, and once you meet zeke, you won't be able to stop. This is an MM read, and I would check all trigger warnings prior to reading.
Naeth and Zekes story was absolutely adorable, and they both just made me swoon. I loved seeing all the characters from book one and hope it continues into the third book.
Overall, the book is a lot of world building and character development, but honestly, I enjoyed it. I can feel how much work went into this and how much the author grew in writing from book 1 to book 2.

[Trina Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this was a great story. It was a page turner and the suspense was outer this world. I was on the edge of my seat and I couldn't even put it down. Naeth and Zeke had to find out the truth in this moment. It was and action packed of chaos and emotions of feelings and danger. Will things change or stay the same in this madness. Will they be able to save their world and their people as well.
I highly recommend this book and you won't be disappointed.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Trina Jones

[Jessy Beckett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely Incredible

I always love DeRose's writing but this one is definitely her best yet. I laughed and cried with these characters in a story filled with love and honor, vengeance and healing. A story where fate was a leader but not the decider. The undertones of my favorite childhood movie were subtle but perfect. I can't recommend this book enough.
"In the depths of hell, we'd earned the right to become monsters. In the warmth of the sun, we chose not to be."
Chills.

[Kelley wellmeier · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1- beauty and the beast retelling
Book 2- shrek retelling!
This book has so many twists turns and plot surprises that it kept me on my toes! You don’t have to read the first book to get the 2nd one but I definitely recommend reading the first to fully understand what’s happening! This book opens your up to a whole new world of creatures and unknowns! Orc and shadow castors, Dark fairy tale, with M/M please check the TW page before reading!

[Nupur · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eclipsed Realms by Madilyn DeRose

Review-

This book opened a new world for me. It was the first book I read about Orks. Both MMCs were just amazing and their interactions were just so entertaining. I was hooked as soon as I started reading and loved how the world was built and the narrations were wonderfully done. I would definitely recommend this book to all.

[Jaime Yates · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story that is exciting and some what twisted. A strong woman who refuses to back down. This book is an intense, page-turning story filled with suspense, romance, and high stakes. Overall, this book was written so well and absolutely beautifully! I loved everything about it and I’m so so excited to see what happens next!

[Smutty Demi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a great retelling of Shrek. But it says that it is recommended to have read the first book, but it is not necessary to have read the first book. I don't completely agree with this. Many aspects return from the first book and many things were incomprehensible. Shame

[Natalie Rizvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this as an arc read and am leaving this review voluntarily. as a book loosely based on shrek I hopped on board to see where it went and omg did this author pull it out with multiple povs complex but awesome characters I'd advice anyone to try it out over the book

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wasn't sure if I would like this book since the primary romance is MM, but I enjoyed Entangled Realms so much that I wanted to continue reading the series. I ended up really enjoying all the characters in Eclipsed Realms. Loved Naeth & Zeke and their dynamics, also loved how we get to see some characters return from the first book...this story really takes you on quite an adventure and for me, some unforeseen surprises. My only issue was some of the explanations in the second half of the book were so complex that I had trouble wrapping my head around it when I would read late at night, but everything came together at the end. Definitely recommend for anyone who enjoys this genre, not recommended for teens or younger.