Dethroned

House of Shadows #2

by Ruby M. Darling

Queen VittoriaI finally have them. They’re all mine. This bond is changing us. We’re evolving, getting stronger… Stranger. We thought we were better as one… Could we have been wrong? With Shyfters attacks getting closer, targeting those closest to us, new alliances must be made. But is it enough?

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2024

About the author

Ruby Darling is a small town Texas Native that reads too much Dark Fantasy Romance and sleeps too little, which has probably caused her to be delusional enough to create a world of her own. She hopes you have a great time under the glamour and in the veil.

Reviews

[Jen Strimbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this read even when it hurt

Dethroned was such a fun read for me. It’s high spice, medium plot, paranormal reverse harem… basically very much my kind of book. You’ve got vampires, werewolves, shifters, gods, action, tension, and enough going on that it keeps pulling you into the next chapter.

What kept me really invested though was the FMC. She’s not just out here existing while everything happens around her… she’s running a kingdom. She’s trying to figure out what it looks like to build a real life with her mates where they stand beside her, not over her, and at the same time she’s doing everything she can to protect herself and the people she loves. In a world where betrayal is always lurking, that really worked for me.

The spice is absolutely there, but it’s not just spice for the sake of it. There’s emotion, relationship growth, power struggles, and plenty of action mixed in. If you like paranormal romance with reverse harem, supernatural politics, protective mates, and an FMC who is trying to create safety and happiness in the middle of all the madness, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

This book truly took me on a wild ride. I loved learning more about each of the characters and seeing them grow in their bond. I’m absolutely OBSESSED with Percy and his relationship with the harem!!! The strategy and the flash backs to the wars of the past were just as interesting as the romance element. Another well done to Ruby Darling!! She writes a book like no one else, constantly sucking you in and her plots flow beautifully.





SLIGHT SPOILER 🚨

The planning and training seemed to last longer than the war……or did it? Don’t get me started on poor Evander. I NEED book three!!!

[Taylor Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dethroned by Ruby Darling delivers all the intensity, emotion, and tension I’ve come to expect from her writing. This book pulled me in fast and kept me invested with its messy relationships, sharp dialogue, and characters who feel deeply flawed but impossible to look away from.

I loved the emotional depth and the way the power dynamics constantly shift—nothing ever feels stable, and that kept the story feeling fresh. The romance is charged, complicated, and full of moments that had me internally screaming (in a good way). Ruby Darling really knows how to write yearning and confrontation in a way that hits.

A few sections dragged slightly, and there were moments where I wanted just a bit more development or payoff, but overall the journey was worth it. The tension, angst, and character-driven drama more than made up for it.

All in all, Dethroned is a strong, addictive read that delivers on emotion and intensity, and it easily earns a solid four stars.

[Hiba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Book 2 is even worse than book 1…

save yourself