Silent Shadow

Shadow Sisters #2

by Delta James

A shifter with hidden talents. A powerful vampire determined to claim his fated mate. But some truths are best kept secret.

Mercy Bowen is more than just a member of the Shadow Sisters—she’s a falcon shifter with a secret gift, one she's kept hidden from everyone. Her quiet life takes a dramatic turn when the mysterious Hunter Hayes meets her in the sky one evening. There's something undeniably otherworldly about him, something that draws her in despite the danger she senses lurking beneath his calm exterior.

When strange and unsettling events begin to plague the town, Mercy is irresistibly drawn to Hunter, even as she uncovers the dark truth about his nature. He’s a vampire, existing in a world of shadows and peril. But Mercy isn’t just an ordinary woman—her secret gift may be the key to unraveling the ancient prophecies and supernatural forces now threatening their lives.

As Mercy reveals her hidden powers, the stakes are raised. She and Hunter are thrust into a dangerous world of archaic beliefs, warring factions, and deadly secrets. Their connection deepens, blossoming into a forbidden love that challenges the boundaries of their respective worlds. But as the dangers escalate, they find themselves walking a treacherous path where trust is fragile, and betrayal lurks around every corner.

Will Mercy and Hunter’s love defy the odds, or will they be consumed by the darkness closing in around them?

In Silent Shadow, the second book of the Shadow Sisters series, the line between humanity and immortality blurs in a tale of forbidden romance and supernatural intrigue.

Kindle Edition

First published September 27, 2024

About the author

As a USA Today bestselling romance author, Delta James aims to captivate readers with stories about complex heroines and the dominant alpha males who adore them. For Delta, romance is more than just a love story; it’s a journey with challenges and thrills along the way.

After creating a second chapter for herself that was dramatically different than the first, Delta now resides in Florida where she relaxes on warm summer evenings with her loveable pack of basset hounds as they watch the birds, squirrels, and lizards. When not crafting fast-paced tales, she enjoys horseback riding, hiking, and white-water rafting.

Her readers mean the world to her, and Delta tries to interact personally with as many messages as she can. If you’d like to chat or discuss books, you can find Delta on Instagram, Facebook, and in her private reader group https://www.facebook.com/groups/34898....

Reviews

[Rhonda Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Second star on the right and straight until morning."
This "Silent Shadow" series has turned into an edge-of-your-seat paranormal romance/thriller!
During the battle, a Vampire maliciously turned Hunter, our MMC, back in 3300BC. He has kept his humanity by deleting those who would force the same fate on anyone.
Mercy is a falcon shifter with eyes in the sky as part of the Shadow Sisters. It's a necessary job but she knows deep inside she can do so much more to help with the fight.
So now we have shifters, witches, vampires, and the catalyst in this one is Fae. There's both white and black magic, the veil between the worlds in jeopardy and Fate wants to bring mates together. This is one intense, thrilling, and romantic read!

[Jeanette Wolfe · Rating 1 out of 5]

2.5 Stars downgraded to one star

I could have liked it more, but it just doesn't flow smoothly. While individual scenes are good, well written, interesting and all the things you need for a book, one scene to the next just doesn't always flow well. The storyline is choppy, frequently the dialogue or inner monologues are redundant and repetitive, and in other cases there was no proper segue from one scene to the other (e.g. when she encounters Hunter at the Abbey for the first time inside the fae shifters recovery room, they're talking she's angry she walks out as if she's leaving and then in the next scene she's back in the room- why, why didn't she leave like the build up of the previous scene indicated, it didn't make any sense).

Another problem with the storyline is how bald statements are made that are not supported in the story development. One case is Hunter referencing what was happening in their "relationship" but they didn't have a relationship at that point, they'd met three times, spoken maybe a dozen sentences to each other, there is no "relationship" there's barely an acquaintance. In another scene, during the big battle at the abbey, Hunter is waxing poetic about how amazingly well Mercy fights and says he'd seen Mercy fight before but it was just a flat-out plot error. Hunter and Mercy had only known each other a day maybe two he'd never seen her fight because there hadn't been a physical altercation up to that point.

And then there were sections that were just overdramatic and made me roll my eyes, so overall it was okay but it wasn't really good or great, and heck, the title page had a typographical error and "romance" was spelled wrong. What ended up causing me to downgrade it from 2.5 stars to 1 star was how quickly she forgave him for turning her and bonding with her against her will: I mean there's fast, then there's miraculously instantaneous, and then there is so fast it makes readers wonder why you even made this a plot point because it's so abrupt it is now inconsequential. It was ridiculous and incredibly lazy writing with zero development of that miraculous personality transplant about feelings regarding being turned into something she loathed. One minute she's furious and wants to die and the next, 'oh, okay, you eat me so good, I forgive you. . . No you taking all my choices away and turning me into something I detest, taking my humanity, bonding with me against my will. . . oh, I've decided, I love you.' It was just that abrupt and just that stupid, flat out shallow over-dramatic, undeveloped, dribble.

[SEng · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Mercy and Hunter's story. She despises vampires but they are meant for each other. I enjoyed this spicy, action-packed romance with its twists. I received an arc of the book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandy Grepares · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an action-packed story. Hunter and Mercy are brought together by fate. He's a vampire, and she's a falcon shifter. This book was more focused on the suspense than any romance. The fights were hard won, and I'm sure there's more to come.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kathy Heare Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

SHIFTERS AND WITCHES AND VAMPIRES AND FAE, OH MY!

The Shadow Sisters is a spin-off of Mystic River and Otter Cove. Now that Colby Reynolds and Brie are mated, he has moved them to the Abbey of St. Piran, where they will continue building up the Resistance. Brie’s beta is Adrianna, a powerful witch. Working with the Shadow Sisters will be Mercy Bowen, a falcon shifter who keeps watch off the rugged coastline of Cornwall.

Hunter Hayes was a wolf shifter who was attacked in his village and turned by vampires. He has lived for ages, and his goal is to protect others from what happened to him. He will find an evil witch and old vampire performing a ceremony and rescuing the woman being used, he takes her to the library where Mercy works. Mercy will contact Brie and ask her to bring Colby and others able to help.

Colby: Well, well. Isn’t this a lovely surprise? You brought home a vampire, Mercy. That complicates things.
Brie: We’ll take them to the abbey. They’ll be safe there. Both of them need time to recover. Then we can figure out what happened.
Colby: So, you going to come with us this time? We’ve been trying to get you to move in for ages.
Mercy: You know I work better alone.
Brie: And yet, you stayed. You didn’t leave him behind.
Mercy: I wanted to leave him. I really did. But I can’t. He’s…my fated mate.
Colby: Well, that changes things.
Brie: We’ll take care of him at the abbey. You’re welcome to come by if and when you’re ready.
Colby: A shifter and a vampire. Fate has a warped sense of humor.

Mercy: How does this work? How are you…this?
Hunter: Curious, aren’t you?
Mercy: I’m trying to understand. You feel—warm. Alive. But you’re not.
Hunter: I’m not alive in the human sense. It’s more—magic, I suppose you could say. I don’t need to breathe, but I can. I don’t need to eat, but I still can.
Mercy: So, you’re basically a walking corpse with benefits.
Hunter: You know what I am. You’ve always known.
Mercy: I’m not tying myself to a vampire.

The story is mystery, suspense, discovery, and danger. It is an action-packed page-turning tale of good versus evil. It is knowing which side you need to be on and working together as a team to fight and destroy the darkness. Colby may not like the idea of opening the abbey to a vampire, but he also understands the stance Hunter is taking to discover what the witch and vampire are up to and hopefully stop them. It will take shifters, witches, vampire, and fae to fight the battle.

“We’ll take them down. No compassion; no grace.”

Once again, Ms. Delta James has taken this reader on a fascinating journey of good and evil, with a vast cast of characters, interactions, and relationships. The story is an ongoing saga, all part of the battle for power of good and evil. The story does have a unique spin for two unlikely fated mates—but that is part of what makes her stories so captivating.

[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have adored Mercy since she was first introduced. As a falcon shifter, she can be the eyes in the sky and an early warning system for those that the Shadow Sisters and Colby’s people at the Abbey. Something bigger is coming that Apophis. In all of the books, in the different interconnecting stories (Kodiak shifters, Alaskan Tails, Phantom Fire and now the Grimm Files). I have loved all of them. I love learning more about the Shadow Sisters and how everything works. Mercy lives in an old smuggler’s cottage on the cliffs over the nearest town to the Abbey. She works in the library, which I found very interesting. While flying in her falcon form, another falcon intrudes on her. He too is a shifter and soooo much more. This is Hunter Hayes and he is freaking OLD! Read the book to find out how old he is. He is also so much more than a shifter. I found him to be totally fascinating. He is unlike anything we’ve seen so far in the books. He is hilarious at times and I like how Colby and Brie speak with him. Finding out both of their pasts were heartbreaking, I cried for both of them. Hunter has followed a new threat that is part of something bigger, something unknown as of yet. The fight scenes are awesome as usual. I swear I can see them, as if I’m watching a movie in my mind. I loved this book and how Mercy finally gives in. I knew what was going to happen with them since they are fated mates. I defo needed my AC on both for the steam of the romance but also because of the fight scenes. Elyria is amazing and I did not see anything to do with her at all coming. Just wow. I can’t wait to see what happens next and the new Grimm series is awesome too. All of the books by this author are on my TBR list and I’ve finished over half of them now.

I received this advance reading copy for free from Booksirens and am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was so much jam packed into this 200 page book any romance between Mercy and Hunter was pretty much an afterthought. The story was compelling and had the potential for so much more, but there was a bit too much storytelling to fit in a shorter length book.

Mercy and Hunter are both are both loners preferring a solitary life. Hunter is an immortal vampire who was turned in 3300 BC, so 5300+ years old, and he is also a wolf-shifter. Mercy is a falcon-shifter and she strongly despises vampires.

A good portion of the book focuses on these two main characters separately as they first encounter each other and then go on with their typical life.
After their first meeting, which is pretty dramatic and highlights the falcon-shifter capabilities, each of them have an erotic dream about the other. The dreams while sizzling don’t advance any feelings between the characters, just a recognition they are fated mates with a strong pull without any emotional connection.

They have a couple of short and surface level interactions which show more antagonism between them versus sexy banter or flirting. A number of scenes take place where they are in the same room and discussing upcoming issues/battles against a witch/vampire pair who are using dark magic or actually in the heat of battle. From their first meeting to him telling her he loved her was almost whiplash fast.

Delta is a fantastic storyteller and has woven together numerous books across a multiple different series to create an addictive and fascinating world. Unfortunately, this one book within that compelling world was more world building than romantic or sexy. It’s not a lesser quality book, just different than Delta’s typical scorching hot page turners.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Morgana Lefaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was somewhat disappointed by this book, but not as much as I have been by other recent books by Delta James, I’m not sure if she’s just trying to write too many words too fast, or if it has to do with some health issues that she’s mentioned recently in her newsletter, but the quality of recent books has not been what I expect from her. This one is better than the last couple, but still had some serious problems. I would really call it about a 3.5 rather than a 4 star.

The romance between Mercy and Hunter had an interesting premise given that Hunter is a vampire and incapable of love, and Mercy hates vampires, as they killed her family, although we readers know that Hunter is a good vampire who has spent the last 2000 years killing other vampires to prevent them from turning anyone without their consent. A longer book that more thoroughly explored the enemies to lovers scenario would have been preferable. As it was, there was a bit of a sense of whiplash; now she hates him, now she loves him; now he’s incapable of emotion, now he’s in love. This relationship deserved a proper slow burn.

Their meeting, by the way, was thrilling and the perfect set up for that slow burn that we didn’t get.

Another problem that stood out for me, there’s an incredibly powerful fae shifter, who implies that she will be able to easily vanquish the witch and vampire that are attacking them, and yet when the time comes, she can’t. She needs help, a lot of it. Why why have her say with such confidence that she’s going to extract vengeance and destroy them, with that proves not to be the case. OK she could’ve been overestimating her capabilities, but then I would expect some sort of comment on the fact that she can’t kill the witch on her own and she can’t kill the vampire and she can’t put down all the invading vampires. It just didn’t fit well together.

The climactic battle scene was also problematic. I never had a clear sense of what was happening, how many vampires and shifters were involved, whether the fighting was all in the courtyard or scattered around the compound. Also at one point, Hunter, very clearly states ‘ We have to kill the witch. She’s powering all the vampires.’ Two seconds later, Elyria , the fea, says ‘ but first we have to deal with these vampires.’ Huh? Makes no sense. Why would she say that?

I was also puzzled by the following:

The battle was over - for now. But deep inside, Hunter knew this was only the beginning. There was still a darkness looming on the horizon., a threat far greater than the one they had just faced. And somehow, Mercy was at the center of it all.

What is this feeling of his based on? There’s nothing prior in the book that should have given Hunter these ideas. OK, obviously the author has something in mind and is a building towards a larger conflict, but it hasn’t been laid out clearly in the book up to now so this just comes out of nowhere.

I enjoyed the book in spite of these caveats, but I wish Delta had taken the time (and the necessary page length) to write the book this could have been, one that was fully up to her previous standards. I hope to see her return to form in the future.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating read that I thoroughly enjoy, great characters and plot that had me riveted
This was a simply wonderful read and I cannot express how much I thoroughly enjoyed the second book in this wonderful series and I know that other readers will enjoy this book in the Shadow Sisters series as much as I have.
Hunter is a wolfshifter that is turned vampire and Mercy is a falcon shifter are the main characters and Hunter who had rescued Elyria who is also a very powerful fae from the power mad vampire witch duo and has ended up in the Abbey.
Mercy hates a vampire had has fought the attraction, this is especially after a very volatile fight with the dark witch and her band of followers when Hunter has to make a life changing in aa live or die situation. There is no shortage of suspense and the intrigue kept me captivated within its pages and I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and am looking forward to future books in this series.
This book was full of intrigue and suspense and I am sure that other readers will enjoy it as much as myself, I highly recommend the series and this was even more wonderful that the first book in the series.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the wonderful writing.

[Shelly Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new twist to the Shadow Sister/Shifter universe. Hunter is a vampire but a "good" one and Mercy is his fated mate and Falcon shifter as well as something else. Throw out everything you think you know about vampires except they have to be invited in the building.

I'm not really sure about this one. The premise is a good one, but it seems to leave the reader lacking. I can't put my finger on it but I'm going to hope it was simply the first introduction of a "good" vampire and fae. There's quite a bit going on and it seems to hop rather than be lineal. The fae showing up makes sense but then she drops an unknown bit of knowledge and disappears - yes that's the shorten version. There's not much focus on the connection between Hunter and Mercy which makes the relationship and turning kind of lackluster. Still giving the benefit of the doubt. There are some unanswered questions - how Hunter remained "good" & walks in the day, why the witch could sense Mercy's familial tie but no one else, who is the fae and where did she go. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Martha Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

The word "hitched" was used so many times I turned it into a drinking game. I made so many notes on this book I could have turned it into my own novel. Don't get me wrong, I really do enjoy Ms. James stories but the editing and proofing have become so bad it's become laughable. Even the story arch has developed holes, losing it's cohesion.
Silent Shadow is the second in the Shadow Sisters series. This book draws in many of the characters and plots from Ms. James other series and advances the fight against the Big Evil, but leaves just as many questions, if not more, than it answers.
I'm finding Ms. James writing abilities to be waning. To be honest, I'm not sure anymore that she is writing the stories due to the quality of writing diminishing.
Not withstanding the editing and proofing sliding, the actual story quality and cohesion of the overall story arch is failing.
I did like the story and really liked the MMC and FMC. Unfortunately there were so many repetitions it left little room to fully flesh out the characters and their story.
I borrowed this book from KU as I am no longer purchasing these books due to their decreased value.

[Nickole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. We meet Mercy, a falcon shifter who works for the sisterhood. She has always like her solutide and lives in a small cabin near thr abbey. She is their eyes in the sky but she knows she is capable of more. We meet millennia turned vampire Hunter who is after a vampire witch duo who is reeking havoc and he is determined to stop them. When he finds an underground cave with where they are sacrificing a women. He steps in and saves her. Mercy has come face to face with a vampire covered in blood and an unconscious woman. She decides to help as her body knows Hunter is her fated mate...that's just cruel. When the mysterious woman awakes they discover she is fae anf powerful at that. She is able to tell them what happened. She also tells Mercy she is fae in her as well. The Witch anf the vampire are after the fae and will stop at nothing to have her power. Will Mercy, Hunter and the clan stop them or will they become their next victims?

[Laure · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mercy Bowen is a falcon shifter with secrets she hasn't revealed even to the Shadow Sisters. An unexpected encounter with another falcon shifter will turn her life upside down. Hunter Hayes is a vampire and a shifter, and he is a hunter of his own kind. He is investigating a strange and dark power he senses in the small town where Mercy works. They have no idea that they will both be drawn into a battle that could very well destroy not only their world, but also the other worlds that exist outside of their own. They will have to depend on each other, and everyone connected to the Shadow Sisters to fight off the darkness that threatens to consume not only them, but their world.
Fantastic characters, each with unique personalities that kept me engaged in their story. Exciting and brutal battles, shifters, magic, vampires, fae, witches, and a bunch of surprising twists that kept me engrossed in this book from the first page to the last. I recommend this book to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Shelley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew this book was phenomenal. It had so many plot twists and turns u never quite knew what would happen next yet the story stayed cohesive and on track with the details and timeline. Everything flowed when from event to event. Descriptions were amazing rich detailed and fully able to be pictured in your head.

Thus story contained an abundance of strong alpha characters who all managed to work and fight together towards a common goal. Mercy was an incredibly strong very caring woman who feels vulnerable and not quite understood never really finding her fit in life.

Always on the outskirts feeling like she needs to prove her worth. Hunter is always on the outskirts by virtue of his age and fighting evil alone for so long. But fate needs them together but how do they possibly mess their lives when one is a hated vampire? Read this action packed story to find out. Highly recommend one of the best in this series so far.
I received an arc copy from book sirens and this is my honest voluntary review.

[Marlene Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy Bowen is Falcon Shifter who has a gift of "seeing" the type of shifter another is… and has been assisting the Shadow Sisters in some ways but is actually a trained fighter who wants more responsibility. On a cliff overlooking the water, sees a solitary figure who shifts to become a large male falcon… Hunter Hayes flew with and then gripped her talons, making both plummet… leaving her disoriented on landing… her fated mate… not that she wanted or would believe that, except for her dizzy spell… but he's a vampire… turned as a youth in 3300 BC when a horde of Vampires overran his village and has been hunting them since… but there is trouble coming to the coast of Cornwall in the form of a witch and vampire working together to steal magic from the Fae… a different, more powerful magic which could change the world if it comes to the human realm… could this destined pair stop it??? I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I do like that we now apparently have not only a new character and a new enemy, I found parts of this story to be confusing and not as well written as Delta's books usually are. Mercy seemed fixated on her feelings that her role as a Shadow Sister was not what she wanted it to be. Cry me a river. We find out that she has another job, which she only seems to go to when she feels like it. Everyone seems to accept that Hunter is a 'good' member of a species that doesn't seem to have many. Why? I also think Colby was made to look like an idiot on several occasions, which I found disturbing.

All that said, I liked Mercy and Hunter together and I'm glad we have a new set of bad guys to hate. Hopefully, we will see Elyria again in a future book and learn more about her. I was given an advanced copy of this book by the author. My review is voluntary.

[Vickie Chaisson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine a world full of vampires, witches, shifters, and Fae and what will happen as then all try to keep their part of the world safe. This is the second book in the Shadow Sisters series and start with an absolute bang and you will be on the edge of your seat waiting to see what the next page brings. The world building is exceptional and pulls you right in. This author enthralls with the storyline and entices readers with her characters. There is so much history within the evolving theme that I recommend reading this series and the other book related to the series in order. The richness of the locations and surroundings add another element to the story. Hunter and Mercy with the traumas of their past have chemistry off the charts. They are true warriors and I couldn't put the book down. Another great story by this author and I would recomment it.

[Margo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hunter is a vampire who was turned against his will thousands of years ago. He has spent his life protecting others from forcible turning. Mercy is a falcon shifter and is a member of the Shadow Sisters. She is frustrated with her role of flying the skies looking for danger. She wants to prove herself and step up in the Shadow Sisters.

While searching for a dangerous witch and vampire pair and saving a woman being sacrificed, he meets Mercy and realizes she is his fated mate. Mercy hates vampires and that complicates things. However, they work together to bring down the evil pair and eventually connect.

You must read this terrific story to learn some surprises about Mercy and what Hunter must do to Mercy. It's one of those "WOW" moments. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[PN_booklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars - I liked the story but I noticed that there were some parts of the story (descriptions of things) that were repeated which broke the flow of reading sometimes. Also, the FMC whilst being strong and independent, would admit to her feelings privately but would deny it openly. And whilst I can understand that you may not want to admit to your feelings out loud. She would also then sometimes be in self-denial, which seemed odd since she had already acknowledged it to herself privately. I guess her pride, not only in this but in other things was very off putting to me personally. Despite this, I did enjoy reading this book and enjoyed the reference to characters in her other recent books from another series. I'm curious how all this comes together in the end.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh wow, this book was phenomenal! Delta always does a magnificent job creating characters with heart and purpose, but Hunter and Mercy took it to another level for me. The traumas that they have both experienced have played such a pivotal role in their development, and give a glimpse into the true heart of the characters. From the aura of tension and mystery that underlies the action scenes to the verbal sparing and interactions between MCs, the reader is compelled to dive deeper, searching (along with the characters) for answers and security.

I can't do justice to this book with my review. It's classic D James, and more. It's the 2nd book in the series, so it's easy to catch up from the beginning (though they are standalone tales). I'm greatful for the AR copy and willingly provided this review. Happy Reading Y'all 📚

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this story, especially the two main characters, Mercy and Hunter. It’s very well written and drew me in from the very beginning. One major thing I love about this series is its relationship to the other series and the fact that previous characters, especially Colby and Brie are still in the thick of what is happening.
The story is action packed with danger coming from an unexpected source. There was a strong secondary character, Elyria who added an unexpected twist that I wasn’t expecting but it added greatly to the story. I hated for this story to end but excited about what is to come next. I would love to hear more about Elyria and her possible association to Colby’s fighters or the Shadow Sisters.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksirens and are voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Shadow Sisters series by Delta James and this is Mercy Bowen (Shadow Sisters member/falcon shifter with a secret gift/fated mate) and Hunter Hayes (Wolf shifter turned Vampire) story. They met in the sky one evening, they are drawn to each other. They meet again when Hunter saved a woman from a ritual being performed by an ancient vampire and a witch, he took her to Mercy at the library, who in turn took her to the shadow sisters to be safe. When her secret gift is revealed that just might be the key to unraveling the ancient prophecies and supernatural forces now threatening their lives. Will they be able to nullify the ancient vampire and witch? Will she be able to accept him as her fated mate?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[JLH · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is with villains trying to destroy the Veil? Hunter, who was made into a vampire, even though he was a wolf shifter has lived until present day. Well, almost present day. And Mercy is a falcon shifter and warrior who works with the Shadow Sisters. Here's how things get weird. Hunter and Mercy or faded mates. How in the blue blazes he waited this long for his mate is beyond me (since 3300BC)! It's a good thing he's part vampire. There are so many paranormal character beings in this that you have to just hold on and go for the ride! That's how good this one is! You got to read it or get the audiobook because once you start, (if you can suffer through the darkness) you can also figure out the good, the bad, the magic and the romance.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

We hit the ground running with new evils to face. I really liked that Colby (a very charismatic character from previous books) and Brie play important parts in this story. I think Mercy will be an important factor moving forward as she realizes and grows into all her new talents and strengths. Hunter was a special guy, or vampire as the case may be. To be so very old and never have had a mate, was sad but it made finding Mercy and the lengths he went to to protect her understandable. As Hunter points out, no group - vampire, shifter, human, witch - is all good or all bad. There is always a choice to be made. A LOT happens in this story and new factions are introduced. Can’t wait for more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Christine Biesheuvel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fae, Vampires, Witches and Shifters
The longer books by ms James – and this is one – leave opportunity to give insight in history and character of the MCs. And that makes reading them a lot more satisfying to me.
Enter a millennia old vampire, who holds all kinds of tricks: entertaining. And finding his mate, who does not want to have anything to do with him: quite the challenge. A new enemy lurks around the corner and this forces them to cooperate: action.
The Shadow League apparently has withdrawn into the background, but is hopefully not forgotten…
A thrilling story with all kinds of new developments. Recommended!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mariaan Belinfante · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely a fantastic captivating read. Back with the Shadow Sisters and new interesting characters. This is action packed and a new fated mates combo with a twist. Hunter a wolfshifter turned vampire and Mercy a falcon shifter. Hunter rescued Elyria a powerful fae from the power mad vampire and witch duo and ends up in the Abbey. Mercy hates vampires and fights the attraction, especially after a volatile fight with the dark witch and her followers when Hunter has to make a life changing in a live or die situation. No shortage of suspense and intrigue. Fated mates does not mean it's an easy road. I highly recommend this series as book 2 definitely is a marvel.
I received an advanced review copy and leave this review voluntary Thank you BookSirens

[JigsawGirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story started out slowly to me, but as I read further, the pace picked up at stayed pretty brisk until the end. I think it seemed slow to me because Mercy spent so much time at the beginning bemoaning her need to prove herself as something more to Bree and the Shadow Sisters.

Hunter proved to be an interesting character because he could be almost anything except fae. His backstory was interesting and unknowingly similar to Mercy's.

There was some pretty intense action that occurred involving a variety of supernatural characters. I also thought there were a couple of unexpected but nicely played twists. It seemed to me like whatever was on the horizon was about to get infinitely more complicated and dangerous.

[Patricia Hoffstaetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible & very thrilling addition to the series “Shadow Sisters”. I found the plot intriguing, suspenseful & full of completely unexpected, interesting situations and to be quite honest I found that I could not put this book down until the end. There was a beautiful connection between the two main characters (a female falcon shifter “Mercy” & a male vampire “Hunter”) and this bond continued to grow throughout the storyline.
There is: various kinds of shifters, vampires, witches, fae, dangerous enemies, fated mates, adventure, action, twists & turns, drama, mystery, intrigue, suspense, twists & turns, threats, devious intentions, determination, compromises, surprises, contentment, some steamy scenes & a fairly happy conclusion for this couple.

[Avis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all of the twists and suspense. Well written. The flow was nonstop. I loved the eventual chemistry between Hunter and Mercy.

Mercy kept thinking she needed to prove herself as more than a scout. And she did that in spades. I loved her determination, spunk and defiance.

Hunter was also a mystery. I liked the way he was able to eventually open up to Mercy.

Then we have Elyria. And her role in all of the challenges they had to face. The choices they made.

I liked the inclusion of previous characters and future book characters.

This is a standalone but best read in order.

HEA vibe but I think we will be hearing more from them with the backstory still unresolved.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nora · Rating 4 out of 5]

How can things be okay when you find out you’re fated to be with the type of monsters you hate? Mercy is a falcon shape shifter who lost her family to vampires. Hunter is a wolf shape shifter who was turned into a vampire against his will. But fighting together against those dealing in dark magic helps her to see him differently. Meeting Elyria and realizing that she is more than she thought is transformational. Even as Mercy is changed into the monster she despises the most. A love story filled with torment and a common enemy that heals the brokenness in Mercy and restores Hunter into the man he once was.

I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you BookSirens!