A Shade of Chrome and Malice

Celestials of Arcadia #2

by K.L. DeVore

Sequel to A Touch of Gold and Madness, Book 2 in Celestials of Arcadia.

Stay tuned for blurb.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Dark, Dark Fantasy, Magic, Unfinished

476 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 30, 2025

About the author

K.L. is a dark fantasy romance author who lives for complex plots, characters, and worlds. When she isn't writing or editing, she is either reading or drawing realistic charcoal portraits. As a mother of two rowdy boys, she values the quiet evenings when she can focus on her work best while drinking a mug of sugar-free hot cocoa.

While she loves writing a spicy slow burn and lots of fight scenes, her books depict dark themes of trauma and healing that she hopes will resonate with other readers.

Reviews

[Marianna Moore]

DNF at 56% I do really love chrome and cotton so much and hoped I could get past the betrayal that happened…. But it just personally wasn’t for me.

To say I’m beyond shocked by this seeing as I gave book 1 6 stars would be an understatement. I need time to collect my thoughts because I have a lot of them but also I think this book just simply was not for me and that’s okay but apparently I’ve discovered I have a hard limit for a specific trope in books and that’s okay. There’s definitely a target audience for this that I just unfortunately wasn’t a part of and sometimes that happens!

This book is advertised as a love triangle which I was already dreading going in because it’s my least favorite trope 95% of the time and book 1 wasn’t a love triangle, but I went in with an open mind because I loved this world and these characters so so soooo much and I know there are exceptions to everything.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!!
I do think it’s really important to know going in that this will be nothing like a typical love triangle you are used to. In my personal opinion it seemed to me like it was just a clear case of infidelity seeing as Gray’s love and loyalty towards Chrome was never severed and there was never any indication that they were no longer together. Yet she ended up sleeping with her ex for closure and well there’s a lot to unpack there and I truly don’t have the patience to do so now. I just truly felt like gray and slates betrayal was unforgivable and I’m so loyal to chrome that I literally couldn’t stop crying reading this scene. He’s one of my favorite MMCs ever and that still holds he is EVERYTHING. I am just so agonized over this for him and truly believes he deserves so much better. He was the best part of this book for me and I need him happy more than I need air to breathe.

This whole situation just made it hard for me to believe in Grays love for chrome. The fact that they are bonded really doesn’t sit right with me either. It makes the bond feel meaningless that she could just so easily betray chrome like that without a second thought. Her “justification” that it was for closure didn’t sit well with me. I know she’s been through hell and back but this simply did not need to happen in my opinion.

Don’t even get me started on slate…. The way he so easily disregarded Chromes feelings…. The man who he calls his BROTHER? No I cannot.

But again I’m sure people might love that type of angst and messiness but that’s not the specific type of “messy” I prefer to read regardless of how much trauma a character might have. And that’s okay!!

I also need to say the plot was alllllll over the place. The world building was clunky. There were so many random reveals that just seemed thrown in for shock value and I felt like there were a lot of recycled scenes. But also I didn’t finish the book so it’s 100% possible it all came together in the end!

I was so kindly offered an early copy by the author who’s is such an amazing person and so talented and I know that this book is already well loved by so many unfortunately it missed the mark for me!

[Emmy Rosam]

Soft DNF at 64%. I love this series and these characters but chapter 20 really hurt to read 😢 I love a love triangle but this felt more like betrayal and I don’t think I’m in the right headspace to fully understand why our FMCs intentions and actions aren’t aligning anymore. Will try again later

[Laura Jane ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This whole book was insane & I have thoughts! I am editing my review after 6 weeks (yes that is how long it has been on my mind) because I have had time to sit with my feelings. It may seem like I am being slightly harsher now - this is not my intention, I just truly was overthinking this book for so long (ask my friends about it) and I was genuinely so conflicted. I was trying my best to focus on my love for the start of this series and the good parts of this book - but the fact I am still upset now speaks volumes. Unfortunately - as time has passed - the bad really does outweigh the good, so I am lowering my rating from 3⭐ to 2⭐ Do with that information as you will.
Disclaimer: my feelings & thoughts haven't changed, I can just form a better review now that I have spent so long reflecting on it. I am trying to be objective because there are parts I did enjoy - but in all honesty I have spent so long being upset over this book - like truly. 3 stars just doesn't accurately reflects my feelings. Ugh - gutted :(

Firstly, nothing and no one can ever make me not love Chrome with every fiber of my entire existence. This man is constantly being put through hell and back to protect the people he loves. He is the definition of someone who will sacrifice everything he is & lose everything he knows - to keep the ones he loves safe. I feel sick. I love him so much. I will die on a hill defending him. Like my chest hurts just thinking about him and everything he's been through and is going through. I officially know no peace because this man knows no peace. He suffers blow after blow but he never weavers from his love and devotion to Gray. One of my favourite MMCs ever.

Moving onto Gray. I am so conflicted. My heart hurts for what she endured, truly, but I also keep going back to a handful of events & I genuinely am so upset about it. I have honestly lost so much respect for her. In general her behaviour in this book wasn't what I was expecting from her at all. I don't know how she went from one of my favourite FMCs to someone who I felt like I didn't even know. I cannot even defend her or her thoughts.

Special shout out to my sweet angel man Cotton though. I love him so freakin’ much!!! He is a huge part of what I enjoyed!! I loved his POV and his romance story line! Actually Cotton is carrying my love on his back - my man!

Not even sorry to all the Slate lovers out there, but you cannot pay me to like this guy. The things he’s known all along and then still gone ahead with certain things - naaa bye. I truly hate him. Who needs enemies when he exists. I would rejoice if he got killed off. He repulses me.

In general we got a lot of new developments and so many hints to what the future might hold. The plot was definitely action packed!! It kept me on my toes but I do wish we had sat with a few things a bit longer! I enjoy a crazy fast paced book but sometimes you need to sit in a moment for a bit. The ending was basically whiplash after whiplash, and I did cry at a certain point.

I was so excited for this book, given how much I adore the series. However, something happens in this book that I hated and I really struggled to read it. I wish it had been handled very differently, but I do respect that’s not for me to decide. It has hugely affected my experience. I feel very strongly about this it makes me feel physically unwell.
I am not sure if I can move past it to be honest, the more time passes the more I worry that I genuinely can't. I have never felt this way after finishing a book before! I think the reason it has sat with me for so long is because I adore this series so much and then this... well I don't know, potentially has ruined it all for me. Which is really upsetting. At this point there is a lot of time to pass before the next book and I do plan to give it a go & hope it works out for me but I can also see me just accepting I am done now. As mentioned there are parts of this I enjoyed a lot and I love Chrome and Cotton SO MUCH but as time goes on - the series feels tainted.
I guess this really comes down to a personal thing and that is okay. Respect to have different takes! I really hope I have managed to explain in a fair way - because I never want to come across as negative (given I don't think a 'bad' review = negative) I know a lot of readers weren't bothered about what I was - so you could 100% eat this up! I would be very mindful to recommend this series now and would suggest people read the content list on this book to see if they can deal with what I can't move past - if you can then yay enjoy!! If you can't then perhaps don't bother because it is not fun to have a god tier series making you feel this way :(
If you read all this then thanks cause I am yapping like there is no tomorrow! You can tell that I am very passion about these books which is testament to the author for creating something I feel this deeply about. I am only sorry this one didn't work for me.

I actually had a chat with K.L about my feelings (in a very respectful way obviously) & I don’t think many authors would be open to this so huge respect and love to her, I just wanted to mention that. Also a huge thank you to her for having me on her street team & for this arc. She is honestly such a gem! I am always honest with my reviews and I am not afraid to say that I do feel guilty for this rating because she is such a lovely, lovely human & I feel terrible that I feel the way that I do. .

Now I am going to add spoilers so if you don't want to see them - STOP NOW!

Spoilers below!!!

I just truly do not think I’m going to ever forgive Gray for CHEATING on her twin soul. I’m sorry you cannot convince she needed to cheat on the love of her life for closure, no matter who it was with. But it cuts deep it is with his trash cousin as well, ouch my poor baby Chrome deserves better. He just has been screwed over SO much and now this it also has completely tainted a mating bond!! I have NEVER read a book where mates cheat!!! Like that’s meant to be so deep and special. In general Grey didn’t try hard enough for Chrome throughout this book. She almost just accepted he was ‘gone’ and he literally wasn’t in control of his own actions!!!
Chrome, I could never hate you. I hated that people blamed him for actions that were out of his control!!! C'MON HE TRIED TO FIGHT IT.
I know this is fictional and if you read this and you were okay with this part of the book - LOVE THAT FOR YOU (I truly wish I could agree) but in my head, cheating is cheating and it's NOT a love triangle. I almost feel like if we didn't know they were mates, I could fuck with it. But we do and he had to watch it happen and he felt it happen down their bond and I will actually be sick. Bye.
I also worry Chrome has just forgiven Grey and it makes me so incredibly sad because he doesn't deserve this. His twin soul doing this to him? She wasn't made to do things - like he was. This was her choice. I am sick.

[✨Caroline✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay It seems like GR is finally letting me rate and review books again😌 I have so many thoughts and feelings about this book!! Rtc

pre-read:
Arghh I’m FINALLY reading my arc!! ATOGAM was perfection so I’m so excited to see how I feel about the second book!! Tysm for the arc K.L DeVore😫 I’ve missed chrome sm!!

[Abbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I read this whole book in one sitting I couldn’t put it down 😅

The first 40% was incredible. K.L has really upped her game and the stakes were high! I absolutely loved the world building, more details around the unique magic system and being introduced to new characters!

Being reunited with Chrome again made my heart so happy but it breaks for him just as much. My man needs a break. He’s been through so much trauma and it just keeps continuing for him. One thing that never falters however is his love for Gray and this is consistent throughout the book. This man continues to go THROUGH IT and I will defend him until my last breath.

I absolutely loved having more of Cotton’s POV in this and getting to know more of his backstory. He deserves the world my sweet angel boy 🥺

Gray however has left me feeling very conflicted, some of her actions in this book made me upset. I understand she needed closure over something but for me this could have been handled differently.

This pains me to write because she is an FMC i loved from the very beginning. She has been through so much but it just didn’t sit right with me what she did. This doesn’t mean everyone will agree with me however and please don’t let this sway you from reading!!

The last 10% of the book gave me whiplash, and there was a specific scene that made me SOB like a baby which I thought was so beautifully written.

This was looking to be at least a 4.5 star read for me. But sadly for me, I personally feel hurt by what happened and events that occurred afterwards which did affect my reading experience so I cannot rate this book any higher 💔

I will be 100% reading the next book and the rest of the series to see how it pans out because I love this series so so much and i’m so intrigued to see what happens next.

Huge thank you to K.L for sending me a copy of this arc and allowing me to be a part of your street team 🫶🏻

[Makiita · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️ the story was great but Gray and Slate ruined the whole series for me. I have A LOT to say.

So Chrome has been slave bonded to Celanea. He trying to resist so he’s flicking between good Chrome and evil Chrome. When the kinetics attack the hollow, evil Chrome joins in, and he kills Orion. The elementals flee and plan to make it to Arcadias castle, where Cotton and Scarlett are living their best life. Slate and Gray commit and act of ultimate betrayal to Chrome, that he witnesses, and evil Chrome steals them away before good Chrome frees them, taking them to the Wind Kingdom, the magic people there have the stone that controls the goodness of magic as well as the magic sword that can sever bonds. Cotton and Scarlett are living their best life in Arcadia and we learn the horrible back story of how Cotton lost his tongue by the kings hand. Cotton is taught by the mystics to speak to people telepathically. Valik manages to rescue everyone from the Hollow and Cotton is reunited with Onyx, who he’d been on a secret relationship with years prior. Evil Chrome kidnaps Gray and slate again before Cotton and onyx turn up on a rescue mission, with the magic rock and the special bond ending sword. All hell breaks loose, evil chrome is killed by Gray and the magic sword, but the magic Valik used on him 10 years prior saves him, he returns having his syphon bond with Celanea broken, in time to see Gray kill her dad, forest, by depleting his aura. Chrome, who is now good, saves Gray by power sharing and just when Gray thinks she has the up hand in the massive battle with Celanea, Celanea wins, disappearing with Gray.

Now I know Gray has conflicting feelings for Slate. Considering she once loved him. It broke her heart when he “died”. She grieved and moved on. Then he’s back all of a sudden. Her anger with him dissipates in the matter of a 5 seconds. She can’t escape the feelings she had for him. And yet every time she talks about her feelings for Slate, the next sentence is how Chrome is her everything and more. She knows Slate only came to protect and support her in the first place because Chrome asked him to. Not because Slate wanted to.

So. I’m seriously disappointed in Gray having sex with Slate, for a long list of reasons. Prefacing this with I’m not “opposed” to a cheating storyline so much, but this has ruined the entire relationship building of Gray and Chrome in book 1. I wasn’t able to focus on the rest of the story properly. It makes no logical sense. It has ruined Gray as a character for me. She was one of my favourite FMCs now she’s one of my least favourites. Gray spends the entire book before this point harping on about saving Chrome and bringing him back, so how does she do this? By banging his cousin, her ex, immediately after she’s been crying from missing him. She’s literally telling Slate how madly in love with Chrome she is as Slate is undressing her. Book 1 does a beautiful job of building Chrome and Gray’s relationship organically. It explains the bond between them extremely well. Their commitment is evident. The remainder of his book is a massive reminder of that. The “love” Gray has for Chrome and her commitment to saving him is x100 at the end of the book. What is the point in having a bond of their souls, if at the first sign of a problem she goes off to fuck her ex? If the “romance” was a minor subplot then sure, you can add some cheating in. But it’s not, the romance and connection between Gray and Chrome is what this series is built on, that has been evident and clearly explained from the start. It actually doesn’t matter that Slate is her ex, the entirety of book 1 and the prequel it is well explained that Chrome and Gray are connected, bonded and their romance is a significant part of this story. At no point is that even questionable considering how early we find out about their connection to each other. To further show how this absolutely does not fit into the narrative - she’s telling Slate how much she loves Chrome as they start fucking and within 3 lines of Gray fucking Slate, she says “Chrome is my beginning, middle and end” …. You literally just cheated on him with his cousin. This plot point has damaged things for me. Not just because I loved Chrome and Gray together but also because logically it doesn’t make any sense with the narrative that’s already written. This unfortunately has lowered my rating of the book. It’s very disappointing. I was in tears when Chrome says “I watched as my twin soul betrayed me. Betrayed us. Our future together”. The whole relationship and Gray’s character has been dirtied.

Also Slate is a disloyal POS. Having sex with his cousins girl after she’s just been sobbing from missing said cousin (again it doesn’t matter to be slate is her ex when that only happened because chrome asked Slate to look after Gray)

Here is a list of some of the quotes from Gray, leading up to her cheating, regarding her feelings for chrome that show her cheating does not logically fit into the story.

- “We were one soul split in two” pg 20
- “I love you I’ll find you again” pg 21
- “the agony I had felt in my soul when he turned dark reminded me every day that I needed him back to normal. Yes, I loved him. Yes, I needed him alive.” Pg 71
- “The moment I knew he was my person, he had always been my person” pg 92
- “I would bring him back. Back to his people. Back to himself. Back to Me” Pg 94
- “Chrome had truly seen me for what I was and nurtured it. He didn’t try to fix me. He had stood beside me while I waded through my darkness, holding my hand so that I wasn’t alone. He knew the darkness better than anyone else, and he stood by my side and fought off the other Demons while he navigated my way back to the light. He was my equal. My other half” - pg 160
- “The ache of chromes absence ripping away pieces of my soul with each passing day” pg 250
- “Chrome and I had something special beyond words or comprehension” pg 256
(These are pg numbers from the ebook)

I rest my case your honour.

Gray has become a bit insufferable in book 2. Everything is “woe is me”. Obviously she’s going through a difficult time. But book 1 Gray was determine during hard times. Her strength, determination and resilience is what drew me to her in book 1. Also the best queens are women that don’t need to say “but I’m the queen” all the time.
Slate literally faked his death and lied to her for 2 years forcing her to grieve, she says she’s mad at him but seemingly forgives him very very quickly. And yet Chrome sacrificed himself to save her and she remains angry at him to the point she fucks his cousin and betrays her entire relationship with him. She needs to take a leaf from Scarlett’s book when she says to Cotton “I don’t blame you for holding on to all these secrets, but gods I feel awful for you carrying all of this alone for so long”.
The sex with Slate, as already discussed above, has ruined her character. All the character building that was done in book 1 once she gets to the hollow was for nothing because she’s a disloyal and ruined it. She makes no attempt to understand what Chrome is going through, he’s been forced into a slavery bond that’s turned most of his emotions off and when he chains her up she’s literally carrying on as if he is willingly choosing to do everything. She then says he’s invaded her privacy by spying on her have sex with Slate. Are you fucking kidding me. The continued justification of the cheating between Gray and Slate is just the nail in the coffin.

I hate Slate. He has no loyalty to anyone besides himself. He cares only for what he wants while he’s sprouting bullshit about his commitment to everyone else, including Chrome. While he’s fucking Chromes twin bond. Slates a real enemy here imo.

Chrome. My sweet Chrome. My heart hurts so bad for him. He’s never had a moments peace in his life. He is utterly destroyed. The fact he does so much to fight against the syphon bond when the other infernals can’t is a testament to his commitment to Gray and his power. He forgives her after she’s betrayed him, but he’s still hurt. He is everything. When Gray ultimately kills him with the sword, I was sobbing, he loves her so so so much and she’s done nothing but betray him and be angry with him. He forgave her for fucking someone else ffs.

Cotton! He was a saving grace in this book. His story is heart wrenching and raw. He is soft and yet strong. The trauma is so clearly written into his character and is explained and shown so well through the writing. He is deep and extremely well written. I LOVE him and onyx and this is the most raw relationship in this book. I want all the happiness for him. He saved this book.

The world building is excellent, the world has expanded so much, through things we see on page with the wind kingdom and Arcadia, and further things we learn about, the Angels and their world.
The magic system is continuing to be complex, with everyone having a different hold on similar powers, kinetics, elementals, mystics, druids, angels. It’s all relative to each other and yet varies depending on the circumstance. The differences can be a little confusing if you’re not paying attention, maybe with a little more clarity needed in the explanation.

One of the main issues (besides Gray being a cheating POS) is how repetitive this is. It’s the same plot points over and over. The amount of people who have faked their death. Chrome. Gray. Onyx. Slate. Chrome depletes auras and becomes endarkened/infernal and now Gray has depleted auras (granted it was so good she killed her dad finally).
The amount of secretly conceived children. Gray. Chrome. Royal. Shadow.

The ending with Gray having to kill Chrome to break the syphon bond, also breaking their twin soul bond was heart wrenching. Celanea managing to get to upper hand was upsetting and whisking Gray away. The love that’s pouring from so many, mostly Chrome to Gray, and Cotton and Onyx. Thank the gods Forest is dead. Although I did see the control of him happening, that wasn’t overly surprising

The revelation of Celanea being Coral being Forests love being fake dead, being Royals parents threw me through a loop! What a series of dramatic events!!

This story was heart wrenching in so many ways. Good and bad. The fact that we have to wait for a prequel before more of this main story is a little frustrating.

[Jordan Miner · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 stars, I felt like I was strapped into a roller-coaster — a wild, gut-wrenching ride where the seatbelt snaps, and I’m hanging on for dear life. And yet, somehow, the ride has only just begun once the book ends.

KL really leveled up with this one. The world-building is immersive, the magic system original, and the stakes feel painfully real. She knows exactly how to hook you from the first page and refuses to let go until the very last line.

Chrome, oh Chrome. My heart absolutely breaks for him. After everything he’s endured, he deserves every bit of love and peace imaginable. And yet, despite all the darkness he carries, his love for Gray never wavers. That resilience, that unwillingness to let go, kills me in the best way.

Gray, my girl. She’s been through hell and back, and her world gets completely turned upside down with every shocking reveal. Sure, some of her decisions might be questionable — but under the weight of everything she’s been forced to learn and face, they feel more than valid. She’s doing her best to keep her head above water, trembling under the weight of revelations and heartbreak. No one can ever make me hate her for what she’s done. Her pain and survival make her only more real.

And Cotton, bless him. Getting glimpses of his POV, learning parts of his past, it just added so much more depth. I loved every moment we spent seeing through his eyes.

The final 10%… had me screaming into my pillow, pacing the room, and seriously contemplating launching my Kindle across the room. KL — how dare you end it there and force us to wait?!

This book left me emotionally shattered, breathless, and utterly hungry for more. It’s raw. It’s painful. It’s beautiful. And I can’t recommend it enough.

Tysm KL for trusting me enough to be apart of your street team and for sending me an e-arc!

[lia · Rating 1 out of 5]

I seriously want to return (or rather burn) my physical copies of book 1 and the prequel because wtf was this garbage (specifically that particular chapter and scene).

Closure? Sleeping with your lying ex while being “in love” or being bonded to someone else was not it — it was downright cheating. I don’t think I can continue on with this series any longer because I can and will never forgive Gray for that.

[Camilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

♾️♾️♾️♾️♾️ ⭐️

The story picks up right after the ending of A Touch of Gold and Madness, and we are immediately plunged into battles, emotional trauma, and introduced to new characters. In this book, we have three POVs — Gray, Chrome, and Cotton, who is far, far away from everyone. Thanks to these three points of view, we dive as deeply as possible into the world-building because, in fact, the characters are in three different locations, and we are assembling the entire puzzle of the geography, world, mythology, etc. The author has significantly expanded the world overall; we now have gods, revelations about certain personalities, a ton of secrets that are gradually being uncovered, new types of magic, and other races. It might sound a bit overwhelming, but K.L. executed it all 10/10, and I had absolutely no questions.

Cotton — my baby boy — I wanted to hug him every time his POV began and when we were shown his deepest traumas. I am endlessly happy that he is embarking on a path of healing and gets his own separate arc and a love line.

Gray and Chrome are still my favorite characters ever. I am insanely proud of the person Gray has become in this book. She has grown tremendously, found her inner strength, and become a bit of a bad bitch, but deep down, she is still that traumatized, lost girl we met in the first two parts. Chrome has already been through so much at this point that I honestly don't know how his mental state is holding together. I really hope he gets at least a little breather before the next book😂 I always want to hug and support him too, and the way he clings to Gray during the hardest period of his life and sees her as a lifeline, even just through memories — it hits right in the heart 💔

And Slate… Honestly I didn’t like him later, because I will always be team Chrome. BUT in this book he became so much more important for me so I love him now. He has this dark part of him that did something to me and I was shocked 😂 if you know you know.

Overall, this book is a never-ending rollercoaster. One minute you're laughing out loud at the jokes, the next you're sobbing. Because of this, the book is read in one sitting; you desperately want to know how everything will be resolved. This part is much darker than the first one, so be sure to check the trigger warnings. At several moments, I just closed the book and stared at the wall.

There is one moment in the book that is super controversial, but K.L. wrapped everything up perfectly and it didn’t trigger me. I understood all the motivations of the characters and cared about this moment as much as they did. I will defend that scene from all the haters, mark my words 😂

Thank you so much K.L. Devore for letting me be in your Street Team and in ARC Team. This series is god tier for me and I can’t thank you enough for writing this amazing story.

[Jenny P]

I don't usually pre-comment, but I am so excited for this. The 1st book in the series was my favorite book of 2023 out of around 300 books, so I feel very strongly about the fact that this now has a release date. Wishing Ms. Author a successful book release. I'll just be impatiently sitting here and waiting like a chump.

[ciana · Rating 4 out of 5]

“there’s nothing that will ever stop me from loving you. i’m here now. and i’m never leaving your side.”

—

okay wow i have lots of thoughts and it’s gonna be very chaotic so sorry in advance.

first and foremost chrome. my literal shayla who can’t have ONE moment of peace… get behind me. this man has had a lifetime of suffering, actually more like 20 lifetimes but sure let’s just make him suffer more???

the betrayal in this book was soo icky. there were multiple different ways they could’ve gone about this storyline but like the weird power dynamic in that moment and the justification for it was yuck. i get these characters are morally gray and are meant to make mistakes but this was a little much and was a huge slap in the face to chrome who can never catch a break.

there definitely should’ve been boundaries put in place and discussions had before anyone acted on anything... especially with how tortured and vulnerable gray is. with that being said i don’t hate her but i definitely think she has to learn and grow in time, girl has been lied to her whole life and doesn’t know how to process her emotions very well.

it’s clear this will be addressed next book and these characters will most likely work through these problems, so i’m definitely looking forward to that and seeing how these characters heal.

cotton and onyx. MY LOVES. i was invested in cottons story since book one and i was SO glad to get his pov as a main pov this book. i cannot wait to see where their storyline goes especially after that ending? i’m so sad for onyx :(

the last 10% was super good and it had me invested. i’m glad we have new powers coming to light, and i hope we learn about them more in the next book since it’s all still new and confusing about how they all work.

i also hope we see more of shadow next book because he intrigues me so much and i’d love to learn more about his backstory and powers!

“𝒊 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘…𝒊 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆. 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆.”
…
“𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒔. 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒅𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒘.”

[Nadine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the two previous books—the plot, the world, the characters, and of course the romance. Chrome went through hell, and my heart belongs to him. I even preferred him over Gray but she was also one of my favorite FMCs.
All of this led me to give both books 5 stars.

With that being said, I’m really, really disappointed with this one. It was already advertised as a love triangle, and I hate this trope. Usually, I try to avoid it. I did try to stay open-minded—but I hate it. I hate what she did to Chrome. And then the reason? Closure? WTF. It just doesn’t make any sense and could have been handled differently. This ruined the whole love story that I adored so much.
Every „sweet“ moment between Chrome and Gray afterwards, was just overshadowed.

I think I never felt so much hate towards characters as to Slate and Gray. How they both could just forgot Chrome and do this to him? After everything he did?

I‘m in such a bad mood right now and not even sure if I can move to another book. This betrayal feels personal.

In the end, I was skimming most of the book. Maybe I will give it another try later. Maybe the story and the other characters are still amazing and I just could not see it.
This love story was everything to me so it ruined the whole book.

I think I will see where book 3 is going and then maybe reread number 2 properly…

[Setayesh Fakhimi · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I say the story felt fast-paced, I mean that major, life-altering events were resolved too quickly, often without enough buildup or payoff. Even established characters died in ways that felt anticlimactic or too easy, which stripped those moments of the emotional weight they deserved. The main characters seemed to move on as if these deaths had little significance, with only a single page acknowledging how devastating they were, which made the story feel shallow at times.

Anyways, I’m not usually opposed to love triangles, but they require careful development and emotional tension to work. In this case, the shift toward Chrome and Gray’s relationship, which felt exclusive up to this point, came across as abrupt and underdeveloped. I didn’t even mind Slate until he kept calling Gray “baby” or “baby girl” in the same sentence where he’s insisting they would save Chrome (his cousin). 🫠

‼️SPOILER‼️
The betrayal was particularly jarring given everything Chrome has sacrificed for Gray. If closure was TRULY necessary, Slate should have been introduced in a way that allowed the reader to truly feel that loss in the 1st book. Instead, it played out as, "Slate was murdered, I loved him, he was my first love…I will get revenge," followed by, "Slate was alive all this time and lied about it…I’m so angry at him," and, "Chrome has turned evil and power-hungry, but I will save him, just need to forget for tonight." Even the dialogue in that smut scene, which basically comes across as, "I’ll be yours for only tonight, but Chrome is my forever," felt SO cringe. If she thought Chrome was dead, I’d understand her going to some safe space and being intimate with Slate, BUT this felt like infidelity.

I love Chrome, and seeing all the sacrifices and TRAMUA he’s endured, especially in the prequel, made it so frustrating to watch Gray turn her back on him so quickly in that moment just so she can have “closure” with Slate. After reading this book, I find Gray selfish, insufferable, and cringe-worthy, trying to act like this independent “badass” who no one can tell what to do.

Hoping book 3 is better.

[J.E. Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Shade of Chrome and Malice is the second book in the main series, and wow... K.L. DeVore does not ease up. If anything, this installment digs even deeper into the darkness, tension, and emotional chaos that made the first book so addictive.

First, I have to talk about Cotton. He is officially my new favorite character. His arc completely grabbed me, and I found myself flipping pages just to get to his chapters. There’s something so compelling, raw, and strangely relatable about him that made every one of his scenes hit harder. He’s the kind of character who sneaks up on you and then refuses to leave your head.

This is a dark romance, so I strongly recommend checking the trigger warnings before diving in. This book tackles some heavy themes: sterilization, cheating, and, of course, death. And none of them are handled lightly. If you’re prepared, though, the emotional payoff is massive.

While A Shade of Chrome and Malice was a wild ride, ATOGAM is still my top favorite in the series. That said, the ending of this book is absolutely action-packed and brutal in the best way. Just when you think everything might finally be okay, DeVore pulls the rug out from under you again and leaves you dangling off a cliff with your heart in pieces.

If you love dark romance with unforgettable characters and endings that make you scream into the void, this book belongs on your shelf.

[Karly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Touch of Gold & Madness was one of my favorite reads of 2024, so I was dying to get my hands on A Shade of Chrome & Malice. Overall, I enjoyed this book!

📖 ARC Review 📖
🗓️ Release date: December 30, 2025

🖤 Dark fantasy romance
🖤 1st person POV
🖤 Dystopian, post-apocalyptic setting
🖤 Morally black, anti-hero MMC
🖤 Princess turned assassin FMC

Spice rating: 🌶🌶

I actually prepped for this book by reading book 1 of the prequel series The Embrace of Steel & Sorrow, and, while I don’t typically like reading darker books that feature teenagers, I think it was impactful reading that prequel book to connect more with A Shade of Chrome & Malice and understand character backstories.

There are very dark themes and I had to put it down a few times, but I think K.L. Devore handled the majority of the topics with the care they deserved.

This book puts you THROUGH IT with every character and is angsty and messy. Chrome is so far off the deep end that you’re desperately clinging onto any hope for him, and then there’s Gray attempting to survive while also doing questionable as hell things.

This features a form of a love triangle, and I’m not sure how I feel about its execution. There is a scene that was very triggering to me (as someone who really dislikes any form of infidelity in books), and it’s shaped how I feel about this book and its characters.

I still love this universe, magic system, and the overall plot line, but I definitely need some serious growth, groveling, and healing with these characters in book 3 before I forgive them.

A sincere thank you to K.L. DeVore for gifting me an ARC ahead of its release.

[Desiree · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has me really conflicted.

First let’s start with what I loved, and that would be Cotton! His POVs were my absolute favorite, and I loved learning about him, his past, and him taking control of his life again.

I also loved Chromes POVs in the beginning, he was so torn between his good and bad sides until the bad eventually took over and he had less lucid days. His struggles were evident and when he had moments of clarity he struggled a lot with what he had done while he was his darker side.


Also going to preface, yes Gray has faced and endured a lot, but so has EVERY single other character. Everyone has faced betrayal, loss, torture, etc.


Grays character in my opinion lost ALL growth that she had in a touch of gold and madness, she was whiny and constantly looked to others (mostly Slate) to figure things out for her. She also wanted to “assert her dominance” regarding being queen then in the next moment would cry if someone called her out for a dumb decision.

Slate, he was more self serving than any other character. Each time Gray would learn something new she’d turn to him and he’d shrug because he already knew. This happened multiple times even AFTER he was supposed to be honest with her. He’s supposed to be Grays guardian yet left her in the dark as much as possible.

Overall this book was filled with heartache, a LOT of information, a new POV, and of course a cliffhanger. I did enjoy a majority of this book, however the betrayal was unforgivable in my eyes and affected how I felt for a good chunk of the book.

Thank you KL Devore for the arc!

Stop here if you don’t want spoilers, below is my explanation for my star rating.




WARNING MAJOR SPOILER BELOW, seriously do not read unless you want to be spoiled.

Now to the SPOILER and reason this book quickly dropped from 5 stars to 3.

In no world do I think having sex with someone should equal “closure”, and Gray betraying Chrome like this just created a larger divide between the two of them, every time Chrome had a lucid moment he’d think of this betrayal. And Gray plainly states that she has no regrets. This betrayal also didn’t add anything to the story, it felt like the “closure” just opened up more intimate moments.
This betrayal also took me out of the book, every time it was Grays POV I was upset with her, how do you do that to your twin soul? And I know Chrome has basically forgiven her but that betrayal will sit heavily on HIS soul meanwhile she has no regrets.

[Kate Haydar · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

Thank you KL Devore for the ARC of ASOCAM!

Where to even begin? I was just taken on a JOURNEY.

Just finished my ARC of A Shade of Chrome and Malice and… I am not okay. KL Devore somehow took everything unhinged, glittering, and ruthless from A Touch of Gold and Madness and cranked it all the way up. The stakes? Higher. The tension? You could cut it with a knife. The character arcs? Chef’s kiss levels of painful. If you thought book one was wild, book two is a full spiral into chrome-bright chaos and I devoured every second.

There were a couple scenes I really struggled with but that’s what you get with dark romantasy, isn’t it?

3 POVs: Chrome, Gray, and Cotton. I loved each and every one of them.

[Karly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
Ugh where to start with this… my feelings are definitely all over the place.

I’ll start with saying that I’ve loved this world and the characters so much with ATOGAM and EOSAS. Those books were 5 stars for me, so obviously going into this book I was so excited. It started off strong for sure. I enjoyed how the world really expanded in this book too and how we got to read about more characters!

CHROME. Has my man not been through enough?? I love him so much and I will defend him with my last breath. Chrome is getting all my stars! His villain era is 10/10! He goes through it in all the books and my heart always hurts for him. He’s sacrificed so much and I feel like in this book everybody, especially Gray, forgot how much he’s given up for everyone else. It made me so mad for him. His love for Gray is so unwavering and strong, I just want that reciprocated for him. He needs some good things in the next book because he was done dirty in this one. I also need him to stand on business in the next book!

Gray. Unfortunately her character went downhill for me in this one. I just could not justify things she did in this book and some of the ways she went about things just didn’t sit right with me. I felt she truly forgot what Chrome did for her at the end of ATOGAM, like he literally sacrificed himself for her!! Then in this book she just turned her back on him even after claiming so many times she would do anything to save him…Well she didn’t try very hard or last very long being on his side. I get she felt betrayed by the secrets he kept but it didn’t justify it for me. I’m just all about loyalty and fighting for those you love and Gray just didn’t show me that’s who she is for Chrome. Her words did NOT match her actions. Her love and loyalty didn’t feel as strong in this book and seemed to waver which broke my heart.

I will say I LOVED getting Cottons POV. His story is so special and it was nice to get another perspective in this book with everything that was going on! I’m excited to see where his story continues!

Ok, now the main reason I can’t rate this above 4 stars… (without getting too spoilery) there’s something that happens in this book that literally had me crying and made me sick to my stomach reading (honestly the feelings come back just thinking about it). It was so hard to read and it tainted the rest of the story for me. I know that sounds SO dramatic but I just couldn’t get past what happened. You get to read the justification as to why this happens but it didn’t add up for me. Based on why it was put in there, I do not think that was what should’ve happened. I could come up with SO many other things that could’ve occurred to reach the same conclusion. It was too far for me and I couldn’t stop thinking about it the rest of the book. Because of all that, I have to bump my rating down due to how big of an impact it had on my experience.

Overall, I do think there’s so much potential for where the story can go. The trauma these characters go through always brings me to tears. I’m still bummed about what happened in this book and I’m not sure what would need to be done to fix my feelings about it. I feel it’s important to share what I felt because I know other readers will feel the same. Ugh I’m just all over the place with how to feel about the book.


As always I’m so appreciative of KL Devore for allowing me to receive an ARC! These characters and stories are so special which is why my feelings are so strong!

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow KL did not disappoint with book 2 in the Celestials of Arcadia series. She really puts you through it with this book. If you want to FEEL THINGS add to your TBR immediately. This was a 5⭐️ read for me.

"Come into the darkness with me, little savage. That’s where we belong together."

Beautiful and brutal. A fated mates love story that is heartbreaking and captivating. An unexpected love triangle that will make you hurt and scream but is so expertly executed that you forget that you hate love triangles… ya this Taurus girlie is a one true love kinda gal that hates triangles but not this one! I need them all to have a HEA!

"Because despite everything, Chrome was my beginning, middle, and end, no matter how much I loved Slate. No matter how much he loved me, he knew that just as much."

Like book one, A Touch of Gold & Madness and the prequel, The Embrace of Steel & Sorrow, this book is dark and you witness a lot of trauma. It’s for readers that like complex morally grey (sometimes black) characters with an unhinged MMC and a fierce FMC with dark themes.

The stakes are high in A Shade of Chrome & Malice. The events of Devolution day changed the world forever but now take it to the next level and have the two realms of Terraguard and Arcadia bleeding into one and you enter the next level, the apocalypse! The world is not as we know it, from the terrain, to the new mythical creatures roaming it and magic evolved due to the exposure to the Aether. The struggle for power and control between the Elementals and Kinetics is at an all time high and the Dark Priestess is dominating.

DARK CHROME Ahhh!! Now an Infernal Death-Bringer that devours souls and instead of controlling metal and electromagnetic energy he commands the shadows… I am SAT! His love for Gray is still all consuming but it’s turned dark and sinister. Think Anakin Skywalker turns Darth Vader vibes guys.

"You can’t run from me, little savage. We’re the same. And there’s nowhere you can go where I can’t find you or get to you."

The darkness might be trying to take over but there is still no bond like the twin souls bond that Chrome and Gray share. The broken girl you met in ATOGAM is gone in ASOCAM. Gray has stepped up to being queen of the Celestials and to lead her people and will not give up on Chrome even though it feels as though all hope is lost.

"But as for Chrome, we were intrinsically tied together, cut from the same cloth, and shared a primordial love that seemed to span lifetimes."

All of the secrets revealed had my head spinning. Slate back from the dead and finding out where he’s been or should I say what he is was a highlight and omg I loved Cotton’s POV’s and am obsessed with Shadow (I need more of him!)

That ending!! The only thing that helps is knowing book 3 will be releasing in 2026!

Thank you K.L DeVore for letting me ARC read A Shade of Chrome & Malice and be apart of your Little Savages street team.

[Chloe Shilaos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, I’ve collected my thoughts so I’m writing my full review (again). My kindle was having some sync issues and I missed some of the book my first go around, including THAT chapter. Overall, I actually enjoyed the book and would rate it far higher if she hadn’t slept with Slate after dedicating herself to Chrome. To me, that’s cheating. I could have handled it if it was portrayed as a PTSD trauma response (not in her normal headspace and returning to what felt safe) or if she thought Chrome was dead. But it was just closure? Cheating is a no-go for me and she didn’t feel bad about it.

Otherwise, I was having a great time with the story and side characters, like my baby Cotton! He must be protected at all costs. I’m really invested in the side characters and will be coming back for them. Chrome is one of my favorite sad boys and even though he was done dirty here, I’m rooting for his happy ending. Another part that was hard for me was there a few occasions where characters and dialogue seemed to only be there for exposition dumps. And at times there were too many plot twists that I felt overwhelmed. Idk maybe the pacing was off? I just missed the magic of the other books here. Also, Slate can 🦆 off, what a terrible friend.

I received an ARC from the author, who is one of the nicest people, in exchange for an honest review. I hate it when I leave a negative review for an ARC and my love for this series will keep me reading. I’m hopeful my issue will be addressed in future books.

[Shanblythereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A SHADE OF CHROME & MALICE: Dark, devastating, and completely addictive, this book left me emotionally undone.

ARC REVIEW:
I received an advance copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review:
🌟🌟🌟🌟
🌶️🌶️

The story picks up immediately and pulls you into relentless battles, deep emotional trauma, and earth shattering revelations. The world expands in a huge way, gods, secrets, new races, evolved magic, and realms bleeding together into full apocalypse vibes. It’s layered and intense, yet so well executed that everything clicks. The three POVs (Gray, Chrome, and Cotton) add incredible depth.

Chrome in his dark era? Unhinged, terrifying, and heartbreaking. His love for Gray never breaks, it only twists into something darker and more desperate, and it hurt in the best way.

Gray has fully stepped into her power. Crowned, stronger, and leading, yet still carrying so much trauma. Every choice she makes feels earned, and her refusal to give up on Chrome shattered me.
Cotton owns my heart. His POVs, his past, and his healing arc added so much emotional weight, I wanted to hug him every time he appeared.

Slate surprised me. Still Team Chrome, always but his role and darkness in this book? I get it now.

This installment is heavier, darker, and emotionally intense, filled with morally gray characters and moments that make you stop and stare at the wall. There’s one controversial scene, but it’s handled with care and purpose, I’ll defend it forever. And that ending? Absolutely criminal. I was pacing, screaming, and instantly desperate for book three. Painful. Powerful. Beautifully brutal.

So grateful to K.L. DeVore for the eARC and for having me on the Little Savages street team. This series owns my heart, and I’m beyond thankful to support such an incredible story.

[Kylee Cornwall · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I am really torn on my thoughts here. The story, overall was very fast paced. I loved most of the characters and I was extremely happy with the multiple POVs. Tbh Cotton and Chrome really saved this for me.

The world has expanded so much and the world building was phenomenal. I loved the integration of both worlds and I feel like it was explained incredibly well. We also get new magic systems and it can be a little confusing because they are all fairly similar.

Let’s start with Grey. She really lost me this book. I loved her character in the first book. She really grew throughout the first book, and I loved seeing her relationship with Chrome grow organically. Now, this entire book, she is determined to save chrome, which is great and all, but she had a “poor me” attitude the entire book & to top it off, she sleeps with Slate. I get the history and her need for closure. That said, I feel like there are ways to get said closure without fucking your ex / Chrome’s cousin. It also made the rest of the book feel off putting to me… she is going to have an uphill battle to make me like her again. I’m happy that she got her vengeance on Forrest, but even that was lackluster in my opinion.

My sweet baby Cotton. I’m so happy we got his prospective in this book. He quickly became my favorite character. I loved seeing his character growth, and honestly, getting his story. He saved the book for me ngl.

My heart goes out to Chrome in this book. He literally has been through the wringer, and this book is no exception. He is slaved bonded to Celanea and just trying his best. Honestly, he gave major Anakin Skywaker vibes and I was here for it. My heart broke that he had to watch the sex scene between Slate and Grey.

I’m curious enough to see where this goes BUT I’m Grey really let me down here.

[Amelia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Really sad about this. I absolutely loved A touch of gold and madness, the dystopian setting combined with an x-men feel and the added touch of fantasy towards the end of the book.

I wish I could say that chapter 20 is my problem with this book and while that is one of the most ridiculous plot points I’ve ever read and likely the cringiest written one too, my issues are with the entire thing.

The pacing is super clunky, big things happen that kinda just get brushed over then we proceed to random chapters of nothing, a lot of characters have repetitive story lines, the entire thing just read like an absolute mess.

I also am not a fan of constantly interrupting the series to go back to a prequel book because it really affects the continuity of the overall story and events.

I will forever love A touch of gold and madness but i think this is the end of the road for me with this one.

[Sav | SavtheBookish · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most heartwrenching story OMG.

There is just something about a man character in their villian era that gets me. The heartbreak, the rescue mission. I just loved it.
I really loved Cotton's POV in this one too. the growth of this story is phenomenal!

If you are looking for an urban dark romantasy that gets you in your feels. This is the one.

I can't wait for the next!

[Megan Kendall · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I loved being back in this world after the crazy cliffhanger of Gold & Madness, just for this to be left on an even crazier cliffhanger?! As you could gather from other reviews, there is a betrayal that happens and I’m so curious how these characters will move forward and be able to heal together.

I really enjoyed the different perspectives we got because we get to see around the evil side where Chrome is, what’s going on with the Kinetic/Elemental war with Grey, and an exploration of the new realm with Cotton.

I’m loving the expansion on the world and magic system that makes this series feel really unique to me. I can’t wait for book 3!

[Madison · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book really leans into the Jekyll-and-Hyde side of Chrome. When he’s his old self, he’s impossible not to love, but when the darkness takes over… I wanted him absolutely nowhere near any of the other characters. That internal battle was easily the strongest element of the story and something we only got a small taste of in the previous books.

That said, the biggest issue for me was Gray’s betrayal. It felt completely out of sync with the plot and her established character, especially knowing she’s bonded to Chrome. I was genuinely angry about it for days and almost didn’t finish the book because it just didn’t make sense to me.

I pushed through because the Cotton storyline kept me invested, and I ate up every good glimpse of the Chrome we know and love. Unfortunately, while Gray used to be a top-tier FMC for me, this book knocked her straight to the bottom. Solid moments, strong themes but also some choices I just couldn’t get behind.

[Erica Anderson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I had to rate the book to write a review, but the rating is not my actual opinion yet. I just felt compelled to write what’s below because I truly loved book one of the main series and book one of the prequel series.

Y’all I’m scared to actually start this book. I only got as far as the TW/CW and I am NOT one for infidelity. So, I decided to hop onto this amazing app and see what everyone else had to say and to make sure I wasn’t the only one that found the warning off putting (considering the literal Soul Bond). I thought to myself “Maybe I’m being paranoid and it’s not that big of a deal in the book.” Girl, was I wrong with that thought. That being said, I rarely let negative opinions/reviews sway my judgement on whether I should read a book or not. But I had to take my own mental health into account when I saw what everyone was saying about the cheating. It’s not something I support, and maybe it’s truly not that big of a deal in the grand scheme of things for the series, but as of right now I can’t read it. And some of y’all might think I’m being dramatic, but there’s a reason authors put TW/CW at the beginning of their books: so readers like me know what’s coming so it’s not a surprise. Yes, I understand it’s a fictional book with fictional characters and fictional stories, but that’s the reason I read these: it’s fake and an escape from real life. I don’t want something that’s truly traumatic to me being a main plot in my escapism. I think I might have to come back to this book later, or maybe not at all. It’s just so sad to know that we witnessed such a strong, unbreakable, and true bond (or so we thought) between Chrome and Gray blossom in book one for her to defile that to find closure with her ex.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️✨

KL once again proves why she is a master of immersive storytelling. ASOCAM’s layered world and a complex magic system is intricate, and never once felt overwhelming. The story is explained well, the magic use is easy to follow and the narrative written is constructed so well! KL doesn’t just write a story but she finds a way to make you feel it (even if it’s so unbearably painful at times.. can you tell I’m still recovering from that ending?? 🥲)

The characters in this story are extremely likeable not because they are perfect, but simply because they’re painfully human and all process differently!! The hardships cut deep (still crying over cotton btw) and I feel the pain gray and chrome experience into the very marrow of my bones. I said this when I read ATOGAM, but you can clearly tell each page and story/experience is written from KL’s heart, or own feelings she’s experienced and that’s what makes these books feel so different from anything else I’ve read. It’s real and raw at all times!

What I appreciate in the book: no filler!! I’ve slowly noticed it’s harder for me to have the desire to pick up fantasy books because they’re too long and extremely overwhelming at times. Feels like plots get drawn out and we’re waiting chapters until the next moment of excitement. Not with this series!!! We get right to the point and that’s what makes it easy to follow and addicting to read! You simply do not need 500+ pages to get to the point so I really admire the page length and drive to get through the plot.

I beg and PLEAD that chrome and gray can find some rest next book, and also find strength to recover from the utter chaos they have been through so far. I cannot wait for the next book!!!!

I’m also hoping we get more answers and explanations. There was a lot left unsaid and moving parts that happened a bit quick but I know we’ll get the answers we’re looking for. I think the only thing I’m looking for is a bit more explanation as to how some powers work or don’t work, and a little more process to how the characters inevitably receive power or can use power. Things like practicing the power, honing it to perfection, so that way we can understand their abilities in a bit more detail (hope that made sense)!

Thank you to KL for giving me the honor to be apart of the street team and to have an ARC before the release date! 🖤

[Sadie Whatley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Okay so I would first like to say I love this series so much and chrome holds a special place in my heart.
That being said the betrayal that happened and the repetitive trope really just threw me.

First things first I love chrome and he can do no wrong in my eyes. My soul HURTS for him and the betrayal that happened to him made me so sick to my stomach. It’s the way he continued to fight for her and freedom from his literal slavery bond….and gray was just so terrible to him. (Screaming at him blaming him but being like oh no slate don’t worry it’s okay you didn’t know like WHAT?) he sacrificed his soul and freedom for her, he fights to stay sane for her he LETS HER KILL HIM and she just still sucks. He deserves more.

Onyx and cotton I love you both so much my angel babies!!! I’m so sad what happened to Smokey but I’m so confused where is onyx? Cotton and his dad??? Did the evil bitch get them??

Shadow…HEY BABE

Gray and slate deserve eachother go be somewhere else :) I truly hate disliking an FMC but I just see her so differently now.

The ending
Chrome can’t die. He died from the sword then came back to life bc valik did some hoodoo shit on him. Forest is dead. Amethyst wasn’t evil and slate knew that? Slate sucks again!!! Chrome is a full celestial? Gray depleted forest so she’s endarkened??? Celeana stole gray bye bye Gray. Slate is part angel so he’s powerful? Valik is knocked out. I am so lost

I love this series and the characters and this author so much but this book just didn’t do it for me. Will I keep reading? Yes. Am I sick to my stomach for my angel baby? Yes. Will I forgive gray……? TBD

[maite · Rating 5 out of 5]

6⭐️ ONCE AGAIN!!!!!!!

first of all i want to thank kl devore for sending me an early arc of this book <333. i already know the celestial of arcadia series will be god tier and it isn’t even finished.

kl does emotional damage like no other. i’m sending you my therapy bill 🫵! i feel so deeply for chrome and gray and reading this put me in a constant state of whiplash. i truly felt EVERY emotion reading this book and I LOVED IT.

the pacing, the world building, the drama, the betrayals, the cliffhanger!!!!!!!! the book just stepped up to another league and i can’t believe it just keeps getting better and better.

i noticed a lot of people had contention with a certain scenario in this book, but i think it’s important to note the category for this book is dark romance. to me i not only could see this coming, but also thinking it wasn’t a crazy scenario that ruined my reading experience. yes i was mad and fuming but i think that’s the point. it added tension, complexity, and emotional weight.

i was so happy to gets cottons pov and it added more layer of plot building without ever making me wish i was back with someone else’s pov. sometimes in other books i find myself bored in other povs that aren’t the main character, but kl did an amazing job and just shows how amazing she is as a writer.

i am a chrome stan till the day i die. love that man with my whole heart. the memories has been CRYING, SOBBING, SCREAMING in the clurb. i am shattered that i have to wait for the next book.

if ur my friend please go read ATOGAM then TEOSAS!!! please please please, i swear it’s worth it.

overall, flawless! love it! obsessed! going to be sitting patiently for the next book 😩