Light the Shadows

Under Elfhame’s Stars #1

by Lucia Laurence

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.

She’s terrified of the fae. Now she has no choice but to trust one…

Lyra thought nothing could ever make her venture out into the darkness of Yuletime—a season when restless spirits and dangerous fae are said to roam the Earth, but when her best friend is taken by the Wild Hunt, Lyra knows that it’s not just his life, but his soul that is in grave danger. Now, nothing will stop her from finding him, not even the haunted nights she’s always feared.

She knows nobody in her village will ever believe her. But when her search brings her to Umbriel—a moody and undeniably alluring shapeshifter—she’s forced to make an unbreakable deal: he’ll help her, but she can never breathe a word about him to anyone.

Lyra hates the thought of trusting a fae, but time to save her friend is running out… and she can’t deny that she’s strangely drawn to the mysterious and brooding Umbriel. Plunged into the shadowy and magical fae world of Elfhame, the pair must track down the dreaded Huntsman, the only one who can give Lyra the answers she seeks. But when she discovers a shocking secret that shatters her budding trust, everything Lyra thought she knew about Umbriel—and herself—is thrown into doubt.

Can Lyra risk opening her heart to a fae after spending her life fearing them? And will she find her best friend before it’s too late?

Step into an electrifying fantasy romance novel that will set your heart ablaze with slow burn forced proximity romance, irresistible tension, and scintillating spice. As the first gripping book in the Under Elfhame’s Stars series, Light the Shadows is an otherworldly adventure that’s perfect for fans of fae mythology, magic, and finding love in the most unlikely places.

Genres: Fantasy, Fae, Romance, Slow Burn, Fantasy Romance

386 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 16, 2024

Reviews

[Essie Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeously written. Felt like your hand was being held gently, while also pulling you right into their journey from the mortal world to the Fae world and what lay hidden within. Umbriel's grumpiness couldn't stand in the aura of Lyra's sunshine. they melded well together and I hope there is a sequel to their story
and also this cover is stunning

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! The atmosphere and writing style drew me in right from the beginning and kept me reading into the night until I wasn’t able to stay awake. The pacing and plot made me excited to find out what happened next all the way to the end. I loved the details Laurence included and how vivid her descriptions were without being overwhelming or taking away from the story. Lyra is such a genuine character and I loved how loyal and what a real friend she is. Like the book, she is not assuming or overdone and the balance between her narration and who she is as a person is very well done. It doesn’t seem like the book flashes between the author and Lyra, instead it feels like Lyra wrote the story herself. Umbriel is captivating from the moment he appears through the mist and you just know that he’s going to be impossible not to fall in love with. The perfect balance of flirtation, drama, and adventure draws them closer together in a way that’s totally electric. They are so sexy together!! The main conflict of Lyra’s search for Tam is so relatable and human and Laurence does a really good job of making readers share Lyra’s drive to find her missing friend. I’m really excited for Tam’s book!

[Margaret Rochester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucia Laurence’s Light the Shadows adeptly captures the romance, magic, and mystery of the world of the fae as the hero and heroine quest to discover the fate of Lyra’s beloved friend Tam who vanishes on Mid-Winter Eve, the most dangerous night of the year. Laurence’s beautifully developed characters encounter the enchantments and dangers that await them on their passage to Elfhame, testing and building their growing, but tenuous romance. I love the tension she creates between these two characters, and although the reader knows that a happy ending awaits, every twist and turn creates suspense within their love story, leaving me on the edge of my seat, eager to find out how things would come together for them to find their happiness. I highly recommend this book to readers of romantacy! As an enticing bonus, at the end of the story, Laurence includes a couple of sample chapters of her upcoming The Huntsman and the Spellweaver that tells the story of what happened to Tam, which I can’t wait to find out. -Kind of like waiting for the next season on Netflix😊 The author promises to have this out later this year, so at least I don’t have to wait too long.

[Julia K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the mix of magic, fantasy, suspense, and romance in this book! I couldn’t wait to find out what happened, both with Lyra’s search for Tam and especially between her and Umbriel. Lyra and Umbriel’s love story was so captivating, and I loved how real the connection and tension between them felt. Slow burn leading up to deliciously steamy spice! Umbriel is my favorite kind of Byronic hero: just a touch dark and moody, thoroughly charming and romantic, and haunted by his past. Lyra is so relatable, and her character growth through the story felt really believable. I really liked her, and I felt like she and Umbriel worked so well together!

I'm excited to see that the story of what happened to Tam is coming out soon! I am definitely looking forward to seeing more from this author!

[Kris McKenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The angst, the magic, the adventure, the descriptions, everything felt so beautiful and real. I cried, I laughed, I gasped.

I could not get enough of Umbriel's moments of bloodthirsty protectiveness of Lyra. I felt my heart tumble over realizing when he fell for her, and I wanted to shake her for not realizing it and being convinced that he didn't care. I loved how loyal she was to Tam and my heart broke over her father's mistreatment of her.

I could read a hundred books about Lyra and Umbriel. Like the book could just be describing the mundane parts of life together, without a single adventure, and I would still eat it up with a spoon.

I think Lucia Laurence is easily a new favorite author.

[Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Light the Shadows pulled me straight into a world where fear, magic, and unexpected romance collide. Lyra’s determination felt raw and real, and Umbriel, well, let’s just say “broody fae” has never been so compelling. The tension was beautifully done, with that perfect slow-burn spark that keeps you flipping pages.

What I especially loved was how the story balanced danger with heart, it never felt rushed, and the atmosphere of Elfhame was both enchanting and haunting. For fans of fae mythology, forced proximity, and romance that makes you hold your breath, this book delivers.

Lucia Laurence has crafted a captivating start to the Under Elfhame’s Stars series, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.

[Courtney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This would have been 3 stars if the ending with Tam wasn't so bad. I hate when authors intentionally don't answer questions just to get you to buy another book. Tam was an integral factor to this story and it's bullshit that we don't even get a condensed version of what happened to him. I can accept when authors do it for side characters whose stories aren't necessary to make sense of the main plot, but not one like this. Other than that, this was a cute, fast-paced story to spend an afternoon with. Nothing ground-breaking or anything, but a comforting fantasy.

[Crimson Lace · Rating 3 out of 5]

maid falls in love with the first heterosexual male she meets then almost dies because she took her clothes off