In the Shadow of an Obsession

Fareview Fairytale #5

by Maci Aurora

Unbeknownst to Jessamine Fareview who’s still asleep under the spell cast by her mother, she’s been abducted and carried off into the Kaloma landscape by a stranger who calls himself the Master. Only the man left a Johesha Malinor, captain of the Royal Guard, who abandons his post to follow. After infiltrating the Master’s household, Johesha has also become ensnared in the stranger’s web of enchantments. When he discovers a way to wake the sleeping Jessamine, Johesha sets into motion the Master’s dark plot against the Fareview family.

As Jessamine and Johesha work together to find a means to escape the enchanted manor, they find themselves drawn to one another, and fall into a forbidden love affair that risks both of their lives if discovered. When the opportunity to escape presents itself, they flee from the manor only to run headlong into another trap set by the Master, who separates them with a spell. Now isolated from one another, Jessamine and Johesha must find a way not only to bring the Master to his knees, but find a way back to one another despite the magic keeping them apart.

Genres: Fiction, Romantasy

518 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 1, 2025

About the author

Maci Aurora also writes as CL Walters, the author of several published books for YA readers. She’s been writing stories since she was a child. At eleven, she fell in love with reading Sunfire Historical Romances about girls who made a difference in their lives and still fell in love. Then in high school, a friend introduced her to Lavyrle Spencer and Judith McNaught, and those stories cemented her writing journey to telling stories about love. Maci writes in Hawaiʻi where she lives with her husband, their children, and their fur-babies. This is her 8th novel.

Reviews

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johesha is working hard to wake Jessamine who is under a spell and has been asleep for a long time. When he thinks he's found the answer, he then has to find a way for them both to escape the Master's house in order to return her to her family. 

Fantasy is a genre I pick up every now and then. Most of the books don't really hit the mark for me but I can safely say the Fareview Fairytale series, which is a retelling of fairy tales, has won me over. I have read and loved all five books in the series and though I am sad this is the last book, I acknowledge that it was a fitting way to finish the series with Jessamine's parents finally revealing everything about their situation. I inhaled this book right from the start and plunged right back into the Fareview world - it was so hard to put down once I started reading! It was also great to hear about previous book characters in their little cameos too. 

[Paola · Rating 5 out of 5]

With In The Shadow Of An Obsession, Maci Aurora delivers another beautiful fairytale retelling full of mystery, magic, passion, romance, spice, tough and adventurous heroines, and hot and charming heroes.
As always, Maci Aurora uses words in a very powerful way and she catapults readers into a magical world from which they never want to leave.
In The Shadow Of An Obsession is the perfect conclusion for my very first and favorite romantasy series. To be honest, I am not ready to let it go. As a matter of fact, reading this book got me so emotional! I mean, I was already crying while reading the dedication. No kidding.

[Sonderous Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fairview family has had their share of fairy tales. Between gods, destinies, powers, and promises, you'd think they've had enough. But with Jessamine, the eldest daughter, still asleep and hidden away by a cruel man who calls himself the Master, the family has one more adventure before they can find peace. As they seek their sister, one Johesha Malinor, captain of the prince’s guard, has infiltrated the Master’s household to keep vigil and protect Jessamine. From magic, the Master, and possibly… himself.

I’ll be 100% honest, I'm not sure how I got here. I found the ARC in my inbox one afternoon and added it to my TBR pile. I had no idea it was the fifth book in the series (more than probably the last book too) until I was several pages into reading it. Now, picking up a random book from a series and starting there is chaotic, but not something I hadn’t done before. I simply added the rest of the series to my cart and set off.

The story begins with a recap of the previous children and their misadventures in love, lust, and magic, which helped set the scene. But once the book began, I found that I wasn’t all that disoriented. It honestly could have been a standalone and I would have been none the wiser. If anything, I'm even more eager to go read about the other characters and discover what happened in-between the pages here. There was beauty, love, and magic that reminded me of the fairy tales I used to love.

At its core, the novel was about making a choice for yourself. Johesha was never meant to love her. Jessamine was never supposed to see him. But their fates were intricately twined from the moment they had laid eyes on each other. Their love was about acceptance of both the good and bad. Their story was about letting yourself become what your heart needs you to be. A lesson every eldest child tends to forget. 

[Rebecca Love · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

Let's start with what i liked.
We finally got to learn some more about the magic system in this one, and it was pretty cool. I liked the addition of the forgetting spell. It would have been too easy otherwise.

I really liked Johesha as a love interest for jessamine. They're very sweet together. I do wish we had gotten to see them fall in love, though. I also really liked the side characters we get at the wizards house. They were a great way to show our MCs caring for others.

That being said, there was in general just too much going on. Spells and darklings. Time travel that we hear about but don't experience. A hunt for a solution that again happens off page. Plus all the spice. I actually stopped reading the spice because it always goes the same way, really.
I feel like the series started out really well, and the reason book 2 is my favourite is because we actually see that couple fall in love as we're reading. The last two books have featured couples who are already partway there, and sadly, that did make it feel like there was more of an emphasis on the physical side of things because it starts earlier.
I will say though the last 30%, of this one pulled it back. It was intense, and having all the questions answered was nice.

I received an advance review copy of this book, and this review represents my honest opinion. Thank you to edelweiss, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.

[Shandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The sleeping spell has been broken and the Fairviews wake up to realize that Jessamine has been taken. Luckily for her someone saw and followed. Unluckily for Johesha he is now under the spell of the Master, Jessamine’s father. Tangled in a web of spells Johesha knows he can’t leave until Jess awakens. But when she does it triggers a final confrontation between the Master and Scarlett. And Johesha and Jessamine find themselves falling for each other and this romance will give them the strength they need.

This was a great way to end this series. While this couple wasn’t my favorite of the four, I still very much enjoyed the overarching plot. And I thought Jessamine and Johesha were so sweet together. They meshed so well. My only real problem is I wish we could have seen more of what happened when Scarlett, Tomas, and Mattias travelled back in time though. Hopefully someday the author can come back to this world and tell us Mattias’ story. Sad to see the series is done but I enjoyed every book.

Rating 4 stars
*I received a review copy from the author for my voluntary and honest review

[CR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had all the fairytale retelling vibes I love—dark, dreamy, and full of twisted magic. It pulled familiar elements and gave them a fresh, emotional spin that felt both nostalgic and new. The romance, the secrets, the tension—it all worked so well together. If you’re into fairytales with a grown-up edge and stories that dig into obsession, longing, and enchantment, this is one worth picking up. Definitely a strong addition to the series.

[Sarah J Stebbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rating.

This whole series was quite the ride, and I enjoyed every minute, and the final book was no exception. It was bittersweet reading the end of this book, but there were plenty of twists and turns before we got there. The journey to get to the end was also a really enjoyable and great one. The ending was very satisfying. I definitely recommend reading this series.

[Mae Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I savored this beautiful conclusion to the Fareview family. While fantasy isn’t my go-to genre, I have genuinely loved my time with these sisters and their family. Aurora has built up an incredible, magical world and it captivates me!

[meevreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed this last installment in the series a lot! This book had Snow White and the Huntsman vibes with Maci's fantastic writing. For real, if you're looking for immersive writing and finally enjoy a book written in 3rd person then she's your girl! 😁

I liked the magic in this book and the side characters just as much as the main characters. I think Jessamine and Johesha worked great together and I enjoyed their dynamic. There was tension, angst, and a little bit of drama; the perfect recipe for an entertaining read!

I received an early copy of this book to review and this is my honest opinion.

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Edelweiss+)

3.75 stars

Overall, a solid end to the series but not my favorite of them. I think maybe because I didn't care for the spice between Jessamine and Johesha? It kind of took me out of the story a little. I did love getting to see the characters from the previous books though.