The Crown of Fractured Darkness

by Laura Winter

“Where you go, we go. To the ends of this land or the depths of the oceans. Into shadow hell itself.”

The vow between three assassins has now become reality as the shadow god’s appearance can only mean one thing: war. Time is running out, Ryia’s power is failing, and what exists beyond the Veil wall might be their only chance of victory.

Brela has gone by many titles in her life, and now she must confront the truth of her existence and the harsh expectations that come with her power. The Daughter of Shadowfire has never been more than a pawn for others, but she is a prisoner no more. It is time for her to show the world exactly who she was meant to be.

This time, she will not be alone.

Cason has avoided this conflict his entire life, but now he finds himself in the midst of war, fighting for the magic and people he once swore to destroy. But he is not the same former captain and son of the famed Anfroidian general, running from his fears and hiding from his magic. He has found a purpose, a safety, and he will do everything he can to make sure his family has a future.

With alliances forming and plans in motion, hope is on the horizon, but some costs are too great. Morals, magic, and lives are at stake, and sacrifices must be made. But there is one vow that will carry them to the end, no matter what it may be.

“Always together, arm in arm, hand in hand. With blades sharp and chins raised. Always for family.”

The Crown of Fractured Darkness is the final book in the Smoke and Shadow series and ends with a HEA/HFN. It is suggested to read The Blade of Severed Bonds for character overlap and minor context, but is not necessary to understand the plot.

Genres: Romantasy

764 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2025

About the author

Laura Winter is a passionate creator, minimalist, and van life dreamer. She's dedicated to writing character-driven stories with intricate plots that will keep you engaged until the last page. Explore new worlds, fall in love with characters, and enjoy an escape.

You can join her community at https://sendfox.com/laurawinter and never miss a new publication.

Reviews

[Julie Mercier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throne of Glass from Temu but I say that with so much love. 4.75 ⭐️

[Danielle Kida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finishing this series completed devastated me because of how attached I’ve grown to these characters. The world building, character growth, and plot development were written beautifully. This series is in my top 5 best I’ve ever read. 💜🩶

[Marit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

I loved this series. Was it TOG coded? Absolutely. Did I still like the uniqueness it carried? Totally.
Unfortunately the ending was rushed and I missed a bit of structure but still I loved this with my entire being.

[Taylor Disselhorst · Rating 4 out of 5]

i think overall i would give this series 4 stars! i love the characters and their growth, i love the relationships, friends, and found family, i loved the ridiculousness of it at times (a marriage proposal in a fight sequence in enemy territory - silly goofy cute fun!). im also a sucker for when my man knows which pocket of HIS i like my backup knife to be kept in.

i did find the world building to be confusing at times. in this book in particular, i still have questions about some major things that (to my knowledge) weren't wrapped up like what happened with Riya after you-know-who died, what was emril up to this whole time, what about the other god and the moon magic? it's possible i missed it due to my being confused at times but i don't remember this being fully resolved, door closed, it's done, done.

i see this compared to Throne of Glass a lot and i don't think that's fair. maybe in some aspects but i think that at this point every strong, independent, smart, sarcastic, magic-based female character is going to get compared to that series.

this series is like if Aelin stayed with Chaol who was also her equal in terms of magic/power and Dorian and Nehemia were her best friends/the counterparts to a former throuple/poly situation and if Aelin's birth parents hated her rather than loved her, which is obviously not the same thing as the original story at all. FANS of TOG would probably like, but i wouldnt say theyre the same.

each of the books is a CHUNK (700+ pages each) so if you're looking to get into a fun, lengthy, sexy, fantasy i think this would be a good one to dedicate time too! it took me a while because i read the other two in a week on vacation and was burnt out when i started the third, but if you pace yourself like a normal person i think this is a great time!

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly an incredible series with an amazing plot, well-developed characters arcs, and a riveting plot line. It’s sad that it gets roped into comparisons, because there were so many facets of this series that I found new and exciting. I thoroughly enjoyed this romantasy, the magic system and the lore that only grows stronger.

From the beginning, I was absolutely enraptured by the use of elements for magic, but the shadow magic and the lore tethered to it made for such an intriguing story. Brela’s characterization, and all the people involved in shaping her into who she is, whether through antagonism or support, was so richly detailed. I loved Orion’s character, along with many of the fae we met and learned about.

I have such a soft spot for the way Cason loves Brela from the get-go. They say it all the time (“I see you”) but it truly hits harder each time because with every new development and every new struggle, they understand one another. That scene where Brela immediately worries for Cason after seeing his mother in the memory, even after seeing everything that happened with Uvril and Orion, was just one of the many examples of it.

Loved this series, and I’m a huge fan of the writing. I look forward to spin-offs or any future works in this genre from Winter!

[Bekah Jackson (lit.spo) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew this day was going to come eventually, but wow, I was not prepared for it. I can't remember the last book I read where I cried on the last page because it was the final one in the series. These books have truly meant so much to me. The characters are just incredible, and I will never not talk about them. I loved seeing the growth and how everything culminated into this final portrayal of their journey. What a fun and emotional ride this series has been. I have loved every second of it! Cannot recommend this enough.

[Vice · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm sad to see this universe go (for now)! Thoroughly enjoyed this series: the world building, the characters and their witty repartee and growth and found family ... all a delight. This last book wrapped up the journey neatly: we see justice served, we see people in positions of power who can work to build a more unified and just world, we have a healthy smattering of bets and pranks and challenges along the way, and we have our happily ever after(s). Brela, Farrah, and Elias were so good throughout, and I adored Brela and Cason. Just a really fun and captivating series.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a long time since I've read a book where I cared so much about all the side characters

[Shweta · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟
Would have been 5🌟 if not for the last smut scene (just a personal preference I guess)