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Shadow and Jewel
In a kingdom fractured by greed and despair, two fates collide to challenge a king’s tyranny and ignite the embers of a long-forgotten legacy.
Layla, raised as the king’s precious jewel, is a princess trapped in a golden cage. She knows little of freedom but much of sacrifice. When betrayal strips her of her title and chains her to a life of servitude, she discovers the unlikeliest ally—a dragon’s egg pulsing with ancient power.
Avery, the shadow of a man once broken by a cruel world, has spent years trying to earn his freedom from the king’s service. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he vows to honor the dying wish of his mentor and rescue Layla. But finding her means facing treachery at every turn and confronting emotions he has long buried.
As Layla’s bond with the first dragon in centuries grows stronger, and Avery becomes entangled in a rebellion that could reshape the kingdom, their worlds intertwine in ways neither could have foreseen. Together, they must navigate a web of danger and desire, torn between duty and the undeniable pull of their hearts.
With a kingdom’s future at stake and enemies closing in from all sides, Layla and Avery face a question with no easy how much of themselves are they willing to sacrifice to protect those they love?
Shadow and Jewel is an epic fantasy filled with betrayal, redemption, and the kind of love that sets the world on fire. Perfect for readers who crave rich worlds, complex characters, and a spark of magic.
Layla, raised as the king’s precious jewel, is a princess trapped in a golden cage. She knows little of freedom but much of sacrifice. When betrayal strips her of her title and chains her to a life of servitude, she discovers the unlikeliest ally—a dragon’s egg pulsing with ancient power.
Avery, the shadow of a man once broken by a cruel world, has spent years trying to earn his freedom from the king’s service. Haunted by the ghosts of his past, he vows to honor the dying wish of his mentor and rescue Layla. But finding her means facing treachery at every turn and confronting emotions he has long buried.
As Layla’s bond with the first dragon in centuries grows stronger, and Avery becomes entangled in a rebellion that could reshape the kingdom, their worlds intertwine in ways neither could have foreseen. Together, they must navigate a web of danger and desire, torn between duty and the undeniable pull of their hearts.
With a kingdom’s future at stake and enemies closing in from all sides, Layla and Avery face a question with no easy how much of themselves are they willing to sacrifice to protect those they love?
Shadow and Jewel is an epic fantasy filled with betrayal, redemption, and the kind of love that sets the world on fire. Perfect for readers who crave rich worlds, complex characters, and a spark of magic.
547 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 3, 2025
20 people are currently reading
48 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 1, 2026
This was my book club read and I could not put it down. I loved every second the characters had me on the edge of my seat with the tension and I have not cried while reading a book in a long time. And this book made me cry, and I loved it. If you want a book that leaves you wanting more and to cry. I highly recommend
September 16, 2025
For a debut fantasy novel, Shadow and Jewel by Elizabeth Clayton completely exceeded my expectations.
The immersive detail in this book made the world feel real — textured, lived-in, and so beautifully rendered I could smell the earth and feel the ache. Layla and Avery are an unlikely pairing, but from the very first moment they spoke, I was hooked. This is a story of growth and grief, longing and love — with the kind of prose that makes you slow down just to reread a sentence twice.
Be warned: this is not a complete story. It’s book one in a duology (with an expanding world still to come), and you will want book two the moment you finish. Trust me.
I can’t wait to dive into Broken and Bound — if this first book was grief, I’m fully ready for the feminine rage.
A few reader notes (possible light spoilers):
🌶 Spice level – Steamy, not spicy. It leans closed-door but is written with gorgeous romantic prose. If you like the longing more than the thrusting, you’ll eat this up.
🌍 Worldbuilding – 5/5. The land-based magic system is unique and easy to follow, especially for fantasy-light readers like me. It’s not about power from bloodlines or chosen ones — it’s about connection to the land and knowledge passed down.
📈 Character arcs – 5/5. You feel the transformation in these characters. You grieve with them. You grow with them.
The immersive detail in this book made the world feel real — textured, lived-in, and so beautifully rendered I could smell the earth and feel the ache. Layla and Avery are an unlikely pairing, but from the very first moment they spoke, I was hooked. This is a story of growth and grief, longing and love — with the kind of prose that makes you slow down just to reread a sentence twice.
Be warned: this is not a complete story. It’s book one in a duology (with an expanding world still to come), and you will want book two the moment you finish. Trust me.
I can’t wait to dive into Broken and Bound — if this first book was grief, I’m fully ready for the feminine rage.
A few reader notes (possible light spoilers):
🌶 Spice level – Steamy, not spicy. It leans closed-door but is written with gorgeous romantic prose. If you like the longing more than the thrusting, you’ll eat this up.
🌍 Worldbuilding – 5/5. The land-based magic system is unique and easy to follow, especially for fantasy-light readers like me. It’s not about power from bloodlines or chosen ones — it’s about connection to the land and knowledge passed down.
📈 Character arcs – 5/5. You feel the transformation in these characters. You grieve with them. You grow with them.
June 22, 2025
**A Delightful and Emotional Read!**
This book was a fantastic journey—I found myself both giggling and tearing up at different moments! The tension between the characters was masterfully built, keeping me fully engaged throughout. The world-building unfolded seamlessly, with just the right amount of detail and a lovely touch of magic woven in. I especially appreciated how the characters developed trust and weren’t afraid to speak their minds—it all felt incredibly natural and authentic. I’m already looking forward to diving into the rest of the series!
This book was a fantastic journey—I found myself both giggling and tearing up at different moments! The tension between the characters was masterfully built, keeping me fully engaged throughout. The world-building unfolded seamlessly, with just the right amount of detail and a lovely touch of magic woven in. I especially appreciated how the characters developed trust and weren’t afraid to speak their minds—it all felt incredibly natural and authentic. I’m already looking forward to diving into the rest of the series!
February 5, 2026
Shadow and Jewel
This is one of the best books I have read in a long while!
Princess Layla is nothing to the King but a way of making money and connections buy marriage.
Avery is a prisoner who was made into a bounty Hunter! Avery is sent to find Layla when she is kidnapped!
When he finds her their long journey back to castle is filled with danger, fighting, slow burn, found family and a bonded dragon!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, epic adventure and good verses evil!
This is one of the best books I have read in a long while!
Princess Layla is nothing to the King but a way of making money and connections buy marriage.
Avery is a prisoner who was made into a bounty Hunter! Avery is sent to find Layla when she is kidnapped!
When he finds her their long journey back to castle is filled with danger, fighting, slow burn, found family and a bonded dragon!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy, epic adventure and good verses evil!
September 23, 2025
Why is this book not spoken of more. Avery and Layla may had entered one of my favorite couples. I love the growth they share and the fact we get to see them as a couple and individuals. I also have a lot of theories about what may happen next both in this and the next book. Highly recommend this book
June 9, 2025
The yearning. The storyline. The adventure. Oh my goodness this book was phenomenal. I loved every part of it and the ending was SO good!!!!
October 28, 2025
Shadow and Jewel by Elizabeth Clayton is an absolutely breathtaking fantasy debut that pulls you in from the very first line and doesn’t let go. Clayton weaves a world of dragons, betrayal, and forbidden love with incredible emotional depth and cinematic detail. Layla’s strength and transformation are inspiring, and Avery’s tortured loyalty makes him impossible not to root for. The chemistry between them burns against a backdrop of rebellion and destiny, creating a story that’s as thrilling as it is heartfelt.
If you love fantasy with powerful heroines, morally complex heroes, and dragons that feel truly legendary, Shadow and Jewel is a must-read. It’s a spellbinding start to what promises to be an unforgettable series!
If you love fantasy with powerful heroines, morally complex heroes, and dragons that feel truly legendary, Shadow and Jewel is a must-read. It’s a spellbinding start to what promises to be an unforgettable series!
November 2, 2025
Just amazing!
There are not enough words to describe this boo! It is filled with heartbreak, laughter, anger, ALL the emotions! You will go for a ride! Just an amazing book that kept me wanting to read more!
There are not enough words to describe this boo! It is filled with heartbreak, laughter, anger, ALL the emotions! You will go for a ride! Just an amazing book that kept me wanting to read more!
February 12, 2026
Shadow and Jewel by Elizabeth Clayton was such an addictive slow-burn fantasy — and YES, it has dragons.
If you love dragons, you are going to LOVE Krovus. He has a serious attitude… and he holds a grudge too, which made him even more entertaining. My favorite line is still:
“You brought dogs? I brought a dragon.”
ICONIC.
This story has the perfect mix of action, romance, and some real sadness that hits you when you least expect it. I genuinely loved the characters, and the emotional moments made the story feel even more intense.
If you want fantasy romance with a slow burn, great character chemistry, and a dragon with personality, this is absolutely worth reading.
If you love dragons, you are going to LOVE Krovus. He has a serious attitude… and he holds a grudge too, which made him even more entertaining. My favorite line is still:
“You brought dogs? I brought a dragon.”
ICONIC.
This story has the perfect mix of action, romance, and some real sadness that hits you when you least expect it. I genuinely loved the characters, and the emotional moments made the story feel even more intense.
If you want fantasy romance with a slow burn, great character chemistry, and a dragon with personality, this is absolutely worth reading.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 15, 2026
I could not put this book down and it has had me in an absolute choke hold for the past 48 hours. Shadow and Jewel had me at dragons, but the love story of Layla and Avery had become one of my favorites. The instant love I had for these characters even surprised me. I cried and laughed along with this book. The twists and plot development is immaculate. Shadow and Jewel has easily made it to one of my top favorites and I will recommend it to anyone who listens!
January 19, 2026
The story is very interesting, but the writing could be polished. There's a distracting amount of typos, and formatting makes it hard to keep track of where you are, or sometimes what's happening.
January 25, 2026
A strong 4.25
The storyline is interesting and I LOVED the interactions between the humans and the horses and Krovus.
The storyline is interesting and I LOVED the interactions between the humans and the horses and Krovus.
January 28, 2026
Absolutely enthralling! This book had me on the edge of my seat, had me laughing, and even had moments where I was just purely upset! I cannot wait to read book 2 after this!
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews