To Kill a Shadow

by S.R. Griffith

I shouldn't want him, but my body yearns for the shadows wrapping around me.

All my family are hunters. We're special---or the knives we have are. After finishing my last assignment, I've been reassigned to kill the riskiest assignment for a a shadow monster. Only my knife can kill them. As I start tracking my monster, he finds me first and shows me everything those shadowy tentacles can do..

Instead of killing him, he's teasing me and helping me kill other monsters. As my guilt and my desires start to take control of my life, the truth is revealed when a fellow hunter tries to kill me. This has all been a setup to eliminate me. Now, I'll have to trust the monster I was supposed to kill to save my life and my family's.

Will we find the murderous hunter before she kills me? After all of Amzar's lies, will I trust him with my heart and leave my hunter life?

257 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2025

Reviews

[MadMoxxxie · Rating 3 out of 5]

**I received a free copy of this novel and am writing a voluntary review**

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️🌶️

"Hunt, kill, protect,clean, survive." That's the code that Starra had sworn by and what had kept her safe all this time. Monsters weren't friends, until a monster flipped the script and turned Starra's fool-proof ritual upside down and inside out. Griffith's To Kill a Shadowis a delicious tango to a melody about dancing with both the monster and herself.

I very much enjoyed how authentic Griffith created Starra to be. Starra wasn't written to be perfect just because it's fiction. She has a mind that honestly seems like the opps and as someone that struggles with mental health, I was very much able to relate there. Additionally, I admired that dark skin in the novel wasn't related to a food. As a Black woman it's a bit of an ick to see a character's skin compared to coffee (mocha) or candy (caramel, toffee, etc). Griffith described the characters in a way that was both respectful and easy to recognize.

Without spoiling anything, there were times in which the characters did not seem to stay consistent with previous revelations. I felt that there needed to be a stark difference in behavior or conversation and instead it came across as underwhelming, comical, and/or incorrect for the timeline. With that being said, none of that ruined the story at all and I was very excited to find out what happened at the end.

I enjoyed To Kill a Shadowand recommend it to monster lovers over the age of 18, especially monster lovers that are Black and/or POC. The main character, Starra, is written really well and the tug of war/tango of the characters will have them on the edges of their seats, as I was on mine.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew this book was going to have editing errors, as it was a pre-edited copy. However, it seemed to skip details. I understood what the author was trying to convey with the story, which is what kept me reading. Starra and Amzar are great characters, and they make you root for them. I liked the unique ideas S. R. Griffiths had for this story; a refreshing take on the monsters & humans genre. Amzar, being a daemon that ate human feelings and destroyed evil humans, was great, and you felt so bad for Starra dealing with her germaphobia. Yes, the book was challenging to read, even aside from the expected editing issues, but it was still worth reading. I think that if the author went back and did a rewrite, adding more detail instead of hinting at something meaningful to the plot or filling in parts that seem skipped, even if it made the book longer, it would be a terrific story. I do plan on reading other books by this author as I can see the raw talent, and I think I will enjoy a fully edited book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sara Sigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Starra is sent to kill a shadow monster because her family has the one blade that can kill them but she was supposed to have been killed, she finds that out when another hunter is sent to kill her. He works as a nurse he calms patients down by feeding on their panic and fear energy, Starra is sent to work in the hospital. Amzar feels that there is a shadow hunter near when his scar glows but doesn’t realize that it is Starra. He calms her down outside of the hospital when she has a panic attack because of the germs in there. He thought that lightmates were just a legend until he sees her glowing for him, tried to find her in her dreams but she was masked by crystal charms. Then he knows his mate is the hunter sent to him but she can’t make herself do it in the dream world he bit Starra to find her and kill her but then he knows that the hunter and his mate are the same person.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Tima · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. This story is dual POV, well written, and a darker, female monster hunter (Starra)/male shadow monster (Amzar), enemies to lovers, fated mates, contemporary fantasy romance. I empathised with Starra’s anxiety and admired the way she’d persevered to do her job whilst suffering. I chuckled at Amzar’s consternation at his empathy for Starra, knowing she was his fated mate and that she was angling to kill him. I actively did not enjoy the way Amzar positioned Starra to feel torn between his human face and monster being. I empathised with Starra’s fear and frustration. I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop fully and appreciated the HFN ending.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starra is a monster hunter with a mission - to kill a shadow. When she meets Andy while undercover, there’s a bright spark - but neither are as thy seem. Andy is Amzar, the shadow she’s hunting - and she’s his light mate. I really enjoyed their story, and the growing world shows real promise as well. While I loved the first book in this series (Monster Of My Dreams) more, this was still a solid read.

[Lisa Bing · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an engaging monster romance that brings together hunter, Starra, and shadow monster, Amzar. These two are fated mates but it's not simple when Starra is looking to off Amzar. Yikes! Expect to get caught up in the drama, action, enemies to lovers vibe and romance when you dive into this one. Good fun!

[Taara Amrine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked how this story showed vulnerability and honesty. Opposing species pulled together by fate and possibilities creative and touching, Filled with erotic and steamy scenes, this gives those with OCD and other fears the promise that there is someone for everyone.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A steamy story. Starra and Amzar are both different as night and day her family is hunters and he's who she she hunt. A good read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Victoria Golby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hunting shadow monsters

This was good, with humor, banter, spice, hunters, shadow monsters, tentacles and plenty of steamy paranormal romance with a twist.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.