Three forgotten spirits. Two kingdoms on the edge of war. One Law of Silence. In a realm where magic has faded into legend, secrets lurk in the darkest corners while destiny unfurls its ancient threads. Wren yearns for freedom from the towering walls that imprison her. But when she’s coerced into spying for her enemies, she’s thrust into a perilous game of bravery, passion, and betrayal. Alongside enigmatic strangers—Jareth, a hidden warrior seeking a noble cause, and a cloaked assassin whose identity is as elusive as the very shadows he commands—their paths intertwine amidst treacherous lands where alliances shift and new enemies rise. Wren’s world shatters when her deepest secret is uncovered. Forced to marry her bitter rival to prevent war, she becomes entangled in a web of deceit and danger where every move could mean her downfall and jeopardize those she has sworn to protect. As tensions escalate and fates collide, each must make a choice that could alter the course of kingdoms: follow one's desires or fulfill one's duty bound by blood. The Law of Silence has been broken, and the consequences could mean disaster for all.
I finished Between Silence and Shadow by T. J. Knight this morning, and now I am trying to find words to describe how beautifully devastating this book is.
Since the first words of the prologue, I have been pulled in, and that was it for me. The emotions I have felt during this reading experience are hard to translate into words. I fell in love with the story, its intricacy, the way the world was described, the writing style, and the characters. The characters are so beautifully written, their emotions so perfectly portrayed, and the way they can express themselves even when they don't say a thing is mind-blowing.
Wren and Jareth, star-crossed lovers, have captured my heart, and I will be keeping my breath until I have Book 2 in my hands and know how the story will progress. Wren is an FMC you must keep close to your heart, and even while enduring all the traumatic experiences, she still manages to find the good in the world. I just want her to be happy, safe, and free. And above all, loved. I know there is so much more to learn about her and her abilities, and I know she will eventually be unstoppable.
Her and Jareth's relationship is precious and worth saving. There is more to Jareth, too, but I don't need him to be a superhero; I feel he is perfect just the way he is. I won't spoil the plot, but I can tell you the Law of Silence, preventing communication between two kingdoms, has nothing on these two. The ways they seek to convey their thoughts and feelings are just beautiful, and you need to experience it for yourself.
When Wren is forced to marry her enemy, the wheels of destiny start rolling, and they don't stop. She is thrust into a web of secrets, deceit, and danger, but I know she will eventually find her way. Even her biggest enemy is more than meets the eye, and T. J. makes me want to know all about him.
The book ends and leaves us wanting for more. It sets the perfect stage for Book 2, for so many secrets to be revealed, for characters to reveal their true selves and their true motives, and I cannot wait for it!
Between Silence & Shadow had me crying in the prologue… I knew I was in for an emotional ride. I think I felt all the emotions - heartbreak, elation, anger… surprise! Be prepared for an epic cliffhanger.
I absolutely loved and enjoyed this book. I was amazed at the authors ability to create tension between characters who have never actually met AND are forbidden to speak to one another. It was also incredible to follow Wren, the FMC, who was basically locked away, shunned, or punished her whole entire life, continue to fight for herself and the things she loved… even when it seemed like there was no hope.
I look forward to book 2! I cannot wait to continue this story. There is SO MUCH more I NEED to know.
From the prologue to the last page the emotional roller coaster didn’t stop. The mystery, the tension, the plot twists. This is my first 5 star in quite sometime and will definitely be top 3 of 2024. Reader warning you WILL have a book hangover and left wanting more! I can’t wait to see what T.J will surprise us with next.
First off, the premise of this book had me intrigued. With a kingdom who is sworn to silence from the other kingdom, it’s highly unlikely that a love would be found between two characters, a princess nonetheless. Our FMC Wren is a fiery and strong badass who has had to endure so much in order to survive. From the start of her life, her fate has been set. Upon sneaking out and boarding a ship set sail to the neighboring kingdom, Wren and Jareth (a boy she immediately harbored a connection with), form a bond despite not being able to speak to one another or face death or banishment. When Wren’s uncle the current King finds out about her sneaking away, he sends her away to do his bidding for him as a spy. There she meets a mysterious shadow man who helps save her life. Ultimately the king finds out about Wren’s secret love affair with Jareth and sends her away to marry the neighboring kingdom’s prince in order to prevent war. There, the lines become blurred between who is the enemy and who is a friend. There is heartbreak and secrecy throughout which will put you on an emotional rollercoaster. I couldn’t put this down! The book ends on a cliffhanger perfect for finding out the secrets hidden about our characters. I cannot wait for the second to come out!
In between silence and shadow we are taken to a fantasy world where two rival kingdoms have a rule, no communication can happen between citizens, law of silence. We follow Wren, who wishes to be anywhere other than where she is. Sailing thru lies, torment, duty, love, heartbreak.... I love this book. The writing is incredible, reminded me of a historical romance, with fantas, T. J Knight style is something out of a fairytale. World building 10/10, not exausting, we get to know the world as Wren discovers it herself. The characters are so intriguing, Wren as the FMC is something incredible, small, frail, she endures her pain like no one else, not expecting or wanting to be saved if it means other people get to go through it. The pace of this story also incredible, never a boring moment but also never overstimulating. Easy to keep up and enjoy. There's romance, still not sure if we are going to get a love triangle, enemies, magic, a shadow powerfull man, marriage by contract, grief, friendships, male love interest ready to die, and so much more. Honestly can't say i disliked something. For a first book it got me wanting more of this series, can't wait to see where Wren's story takes us and to explore the restbof the world. Honestly 5/5,loved everything. Can't wait for you guys to get it on April 16! Trust me you are going to love it. Spicy 🌶️, barely one full scene, chapter 22, watch out if you are sensible or younger, it's nothing crazy, questionable or forced.
This book is an amazing entrance into a thrilling fantasy world with magic, pirates, and high stakes choices. You’ll fall in love with our FMC, and it’ll break your heart to witness the pain bestowed upon her by no fault of her own. When she finally seems to have found some reprieve- things are turned upside down.
This book packs a lot of storyline in, and it leaves you needing to know more about these various aspects of the book. The writing is great. The characters are compelling. Sometimes I don’t even know if I know who I’m rooting for (but I think it’s Elias 😳🖤).
Some spice, romantasy but rich and compelling storyline and world building. All of the characters come to life on the page- even the minor ones. They feel real.
Rating: 4.25/5 Penguins Quick Reasons: mind the triggers y'all; there's a LOT happening in this read; sassy characters; confusing magic system; interesting worldbuilding; dramatic, traumatic, emotional ride
HUGE thanks to T.J. Knight for the title! My review is voluntarily written and in no way altered or impacted by the gesture.
I look back at the deep red gown. Its intricate brocade is regal in every sense.
But I am no queen.
And I am no one's shadow.
For too long, I have dwelled in the darkened corners, bound to the whims of men. But now, I will forge a new path in the void left by deserted gods.
First and foremost, please mind the triggers, Penguins. There are some heavy, traumatic scenes in this read-- keep yourselves safe, your mental health is priority.
That said, this was a whirlwind of a read from start to finish. I could not bring myself to put this read down, curious and needing to know what happened next. The characters are snarky, multi-layered, and intriguing. I found myself wishing for more-- more worldbuilding, more explanations, more answers. This was a slightly confusing read to fall into. There is a magic system.... but we aren't given many details of what that looks like, how it works, where it comes from. Characters who through the whole book seemed wholly "unmagic," in a sudden press of heavy emotions, exhibited unknown talents. There was a war mentioned multiple times.... but no reasons behind what caused it. As entertaining as the read was, I found it also lacking a bit for my preference.
She will be my salvation.
And I will be her destruction.
I told you, Iva, I will always find you.
Better run fast, little fox. There will be no hiding in the darkness when I'm the one who controls the shadows.
Still, I cannot wait to see where book 2 leads our characters! I definitely recommend this to lovers of snarky romantasy, arranged marriages, and intriguing magic systems. A new dawn approaches, Penguins.... are you ready to greet your fate?
T.J. Knight is on fire! What a wonderful debut novel. This book definitely goes in my top reads of 2024.
I LOVE this book! There was never a moment I felt bored. T.J. Has created a beautiful, intriguing and mysterious world with characters that I’ve grown really fond of. The emotions are palpable and grow with the story as the plot thickens. I found myself thinking about them and what would happen next, even when I was not reading.
At times I found myself thinking some part of the plot would resolve in a certain way, but the author found a way to deal with the plot points that I was not always able to foresee what would happen next!
I loved how the author was able to create tension (romantic and not) between the characters. And how she made me love and hate one specific character; I keep changing my mind as to how I should feel about them. I’m really curious to learn more about them and discover their mysteries.
10/10 recommend it to lovers of: 🤍high fantasy 🤍romantic fantasy 🤍forbidden love 🤍arranged marriage 🤍heartbreak 🤍mysterious worlds 🤍mysterious and intriguing characters 🤍characters to fall in love with
There was one steamy/spicy scene in book one, but you can skip it if you don’t like to read those types of scenes. Just knowing that it happened is enough for the plot!
Book one left me wanting more, and I can’t wait for book two! The ending sets a stage for a great book two that will reveal a lot of the secrets.
This just blew me away. Wow. This sucked me in immediately and I was frustrated every time I had to set it down. I have no idea where this story is going but I am dying to know! And that ending! Ahhhh, I don’t even know what I want to happen at this point... I have so many feelings!!! I can’t wait for book 2!
🐦⬛ Forbidden love 🐦⬛ Forced marriage 🐦⬛ Strong FMC 🐦⬛ Intriguing world building 🐦⬛ Magic? 🐦⬛ Slow burn 🐦⬛ Love triangle? 🐦⬛ Morally gray MMCs
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Easily one of my top reads of the year! I was blown away by the plot, twists turns and still questioning so much!There was never a lull or fill! Can I please get the next book soon!!!!
I was lucky enough to get ARC copy of this book to read. I will start by saying that I wasn’t locked in on this book until about half way through. The writing style was a little too formal for my liking and that had to do with the majority of my struggle. However there was a lot of really good elements in this book that kept me going.
I love a good forbidden romance every now and then and the story line between Wren and Jareth is so captivating. It’s not mentioned in this book, but they are giving hardcore “fated mate” vibes. I’m left wondering how their storyline will play out in the next book.
The characters are so lovable. I am not quite ready to call Wren a bad ass FMC just yet, she has some room to grow for sure, but she’s growing on me and with the amount of trauma this girl has gone through, it is amazing how resilient she is. I look forward to seeing how she continues to develop.
Jareth deserves the world! Poor guy can’t catch a break it seems but he’s ready to put it all on the line for Wren. He show so much loyalty both to Wren and his family.
I’m also so intrigued with the Prince. He seems like the villain but I feel like there is so much more going on there we don’t even realize yet. I’m wondering if he isn’t as bad as he leads himself on to be (Giving major Rhys book 1 vibes, where’s my ACOTAR girlies at?)
I do wish this first book talked more about the magic system in this book or at least the history of it. It was mentioned that it was banned a few times but didn’t go much farther than that. Hopefully it will be covered in book 2!
The ending was refreshing. We are given a third POV for the first time and the information we learn is shocking. I felt like I had more questions than when I started. There were so many layers by the end. It makes me all the more excited for book two. Overall this was a great debut book and I can’t wait to see more from this author!
Between Silence and Shadow keeps you locked in with all the twists and turns. I quickly came to love this author's writing style, and I was left with so many questions and theories that I hope will be answered in book 2.
In this book, you'll find - Soulmates - Betrayal - Locked away princess - Forbidden love - Pirates - Shadow daddy - Old magic - Arranged marriage - Possessive MMC's - and more!
I realise that this may sound a little overwhelming, but the storyline flows so naturally, and new information is revealed bit by bit, making it easy to follow. While I'm not a huge fan of fast burns, I was intrigued by how well the author portrayed a relationship between two people who are forbidden to speak to each other. Their connection was instantaneous, and it was interesting watching their relationship develop from stolen glances to a forbidden love. So much has been set up for book 2, and I can't wait to follow Wren on her journey. I hope she finds herself and discovers the life she truly wants.
Where do I even start? I had the pleasure of reading this story while it was still being written and I can't believe how obsessed with this book I have become. I always find myself in complete awe when I find a new author and see how fresh and unique their stories are. TJ Knight's writing is not only beautiful, it's captivating to the point where you can't put the book down to breathe. This story is an emotional roller-coaster ride that binds you to every single character on a profound level. I can only give five stars but she truly deserve more for this outstanding debut. Can I just add how this author was able to create not one but two of my new favorite book boyfriends ever? No one has been able to do this for me with just one book. I am so happy I got to read this, it's one of those stories I know I'll end up re reading non stop (I tend to do that a lot with the books I love) and I absolutely can't wait to see where the story will take us in book 2. Thank you TJ Knight for giving me the opportunity to read this magical beginning to a great Romantic Fantasy series.
For fans of Pirates of The Caribbean and The Plated Prisoner Series.
I was intrigued with the story at the very beginning, as it gave me major “Elizabeth Swan and Will Turner” vibes from “Pirates of the Caribbean” but as the story played out, it turned into more of “The Plated Prisoner Series” vibes.
I was interested to learn about the Law of Silence and how we could possibly get a romantic connection without words, but there were some sweet and cheesy actions that I enjoyed.
The beginning was slow, which is to be expected with any new book, but the middle was just as slow, then all of sudden things started going almost too quickly, so there is a bit of a pacing issue.
There is a lot of mystery and backstory that you learn about along the way, and still have some mystery to learn about in the next book, but overall I did enjoy the story, as it was very similar to The Plated Prisoner series.
There is a sort of love triangle, so I’m intrigued to learn more about the 3rd person and his POV and reasons to his actions.
I absolutely LOVED this. The suspense I felt between characters as they were unable to talk to each other was real for me. And the emotions that Wren feels were raw and visceral. My heart ached with hers with every page I read.
The undeniable connection that Wren and Jareth have unfolded in a very emotional way.
Wren is much more brave than she realizes and holds a power much stronger than any ruler of any kingdom.
Part of me also holds a soft spot for Elias. I’ve always had a thing for the dark, shadow wielding bad boys. I think in his own twisted way he cares for Wren deeply. I also think that she has an effect on him and he isn’t sure how to handle that emotion. I feel he holds a different side that he is afraid to let anyone see; afraid of ruining his reputation as the Crown Prince and now as King.
I am really excited to see how the rest of this saga unfolds.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book just progressively made me fall in love with the characters more and more! First of all, that prologue made me sob! I absolutely love the FMC, she is amazing! I love the slow burn in this book, it was played out so well, and their relationship is so sweet!
But oh my god I am OBSESSED with our mysterious shadow daddy and the BANTER! And that CLIFFHANGER!? THAT REVEAL!!!! I screamed! I NEED the next book in the series to come out ASAP so I can know where this leads us! Who is she going to be with? Will we get an enemies to lovers situation? Will she get away? Will I continue to root for the character that I thought I was going to HATE to get the girl!? (Probably 😂 let’s be real I love an enemies to lovers story)
FABULOUS story! I now need everyone to read this so I can talk about it with them!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This book was so much more than I could have hoped for. From the moment you meet Wren and her story unfolds, you realize there is much more to her than expected. She is fierce, "fiery", and sarcastic. Her strength is evident when you learn everything she has experienced and comes to experience during the story. Jareth is exactly what most would expect of a love interest, however Elias is gonna have my heart, I can already tell! Information about the Law of Silence and some of her Wren's backstory would have been a welcome addition to this books just to give it a little more oomph. I definitely felt a little lost at times, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Nothing is entirely as it seems, and there are so many secrets and truths just waiting to be learned in this book. Not getting all the answers, leaves me reeling and waiting for book two.
This book was really good! The author put out little bits of information throughout the whole book, and climaxed at the end leaving us wanting more from book two. I loved Elias and Iva’s relationship especially the friction between them! Everything in this book I can tell will build on the second & really ramp up! I’m already ready for book two because it left off on such an unexpected event! This was very well written, I loved it. Morally gray, golden retriever, strong FMC, forbidden love. I can also tell the banter will be so good between characters with the second book!
Favorite quote:
“She is the balance I never knew I needed, the understanding I never knew I wanted. She will be my salvation. And I will be her destruction.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
i had the pleasure of reading an arc of this book, and i couldn’t recommend it enough. from the very first chapter, i was HOOKED!! it was so well written and intense.
i really loved how dark this book was. our fmc, wren, has an abundance of scars to prove how much she’s been through. things like this make a book fun, and you never know just how far the author will go to punish their characters.
I’m not sure if this is a hot take or not, but I’m so excited to learn more about elias, and both his and wren’s powers. aldric is easily my favourite character, wren being second, but elias is a close third. there’s something mysterious about him has me intrigued!
my only issue with this book was the romance. these characters can’t talk, due to a law. they suffer from “love at first sight”, and are absolutely infatuated with one another. unfortunately, i left me feeling like it wasn’t developed properly. i loved both the characters, but couldn’t root for the romance. (I’m secretly holding out for another guy anyway 🤭🤭).
the ending is climatic and has left me with so many questions. i genuinely can’t wait for the next instalment, just so i can see what will happen next!!
I don’t even know what to say. Truly. And I am never at a loss for words. I have all of the words all of the time and they are normally dripping in sass and sarcasm.
I am wrecked and in the best way possible. The emotions I felt while journeying through this story were plentiful and I even had to stop at one point and collect my thoughts haha!
The writing was top notch. The details added and just the feeling behind each word used brought you right into the story so you could see and feel and hear what was happening. So much attention to detail and so much care for painting every single inch of the picture.
Read this book. As soon as you possibly can.
Spice was super minimal, but the tension was 🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵 Not an exaggeration. And as someone who normally reads dark, fast burn romance, I did not care one bit I loved every second.
I will be on a hiatus to recover from this book hangover. Im equal parts mad and equal parts crying for more.
The moment I read the prologue I knew I was in for a roller coaster of a book, all of the plot twists that were happening making me wanna keep on reading till I finished the book, the tension that had me literally getting goosebumps and the constant of making me think of what was happening when the plot twists were occurring, all I know if when the second book comes out I’ll drop everything just to read it cause I need to know what happens after that cliff hanger
Alright, firstly I did enjoy this book, eventually. The pacing feels a little all over the place. First it felt like it was dragging, and then suddenly we were moving at hyper speed. I would like to say I was hooked around chapter 11. There were some small errors in editing, but not so bad that it took me out the story. OVERALL I did adore this book ♥ Wren was a wonderful FMC! For a debut novel, this exceeded my expectations, and I can't wait for the next installment!
WOW. I am absolutely FERAL for this story & the characters. I cannot wait for Book 2. It leaves you on the absolute PERFECT cliff hanger and wanting MORE MORE MORE. I can’t wait to see what adventures wait for Wren. And OBVIOUSLY, more shadowdaddyyy! I am blown away by the descriptive story telling and how easy it was to slip into their world. The magic system is freaking so original and creative & I can’t wait to learn more!!
I did not think this book would end up having such a hold on me when I started reading it. By the end, I really wanted to have the next book already to continue reading further. The author has a way of hiding some of the true personalities of some of her characters until the last minute when it's revealed. There are still so many questions that I have; especially since the book ends with a major character unveil.
I LOVE a strong FMC and Wren provides. She’s relatable. So strong and you fall in love with her.
The writing was phenomenal. The plot was fantastic. The characters were well rounded. I just loved everything about this. (Except the goddamn cliiifffffhanger it ended on.)
Meet Wren and Jareth! This book was well written and was a perfect pick me up while my husband had my cr held hostage in the car for a couple of days this book was a different take on the word dark and I loved it ! Please keep your mental health as priority given some of the triggers are abuse torture and sexual harassment