The Third: A Dark Fantasy Romance

by Misty Qiu

She lost her past. He lost his present.
Together, they might rewrite the future, if they don’t tear each other apart first.


For Emilia, he was an escape.
All the thrill and torment she’d been craving.
But a prince saving a princess only happens in fairytales.

For Caellum, she was a mistake.
An abomination that should never have existed.
But an obedient beast only exists in bedtime stories.

Now she’s trapped in his world.
Her power is waking,
the lies are piling up,
and his enemies are crawling back—hungry for blood.

The only question is: WHOSE?


The Third is the first book in The Dance of Shadow series, a dark fantasy romance set in Mythrale, a world filled with magic and divided by religion. This book features graphic violence, a morally gray woman who lives by her own rules, a magus with forbidden magic who enjoys blood a little too much, and a deadly clash with a hidden cult.

349 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 3, 2025

About the author

Misty Qiu has loved writing since her school days, though life made her set it aside for a while. She found her way back and now enjoys creating dark stories for readers to escape into. When she is not writing, she spends her time cooking, playing online games, or doodling surprise sketches of her characters to share online. She lives in Indonesia with her husband and son, juggling family life and fiction one chapter at a time.

Reviews

[Jayde Crowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

~ ARC Review ~

First off, WHAT??! This book was a ROLLERCOASTER in the best of ways. and the last 10% of the book absolutely destroyed me.

The world(s), the characters, the magic system - literally everything, was perfection. The very first sentence of this book hooked me and I couldn’t put it down. I would’ve GLADLY read 500 pages more if it meant I could dive deeper into this story.

The FMC is strong, stubborn, and way smarter than she seems. The MMC is prideful with a huge ego, and equally stubborn. Watching them go head to head with fiery attitude was very entertaining, but also seeing a twisted relationship blossom between the two was something else entirely.

The Third is a slow burn - and burn it did, in more ways than one. The emotions were rich, and I felt them all as if they were my own. The hatred, the rage, the pain, all of it. You don’t know who the real enemy is until the end, and even then, it makes you question if they’re truly the enemy, or a savior in disguise.

All that being said, The Third left me stunned and speechless, and I need book 2 immediately!! This was an immediate 5 star for me, no hesitation. I HIGHLY recommend this book, you will not be disappointed!

[Marmalade · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

3.5 ⭐

First of thank you Misty Qiu for letting me ARC review this book!

For me The Third started off a bit rough for me to get into. I wasn't too sure on it. But I'm glad I gave it a chance. Honestly, I thought the FMC and MMC were both quite annoying and childish with the actions. I get that they are both supposed to be screwed up in the head but still.

I enjoyed the side characters more. I thought they were written quite well but I wished there was more about them! The twist at the end I didnt see coming, I was a bit confused about their motivations. But that could be just me!

The world building was interesting, and I liked the different customs that were talked about. I did enjoy the character development towards the end of the book!

Overall, the author did a pretty good job! Did I enjoy this book? I did! Was it my favorite? No. But I will read the sequal if they write one!

[Fiha Febiala · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a dark fantasy romance, and I honestly enjoyed it a lot. I really love Caellum — he has that cold-on-the-outside but hot-on-the-inside vibe that I can’t resist 👀.

As for Emilia, I’m not really a fan of her character since she stays in a moral gray area for most of the story, but I do appreciate the character development for both of them. Watching their growth throughout the book was still interesting and engaging.

My only issue is that the main conflict felt a bit too short. I wish some situations were explained in more detail so the story could feel more complete and impactful.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m excited to continue the series. Can’t wait to read the second book! ✨📖

[Dwi Kato · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to talk about the world-building.
It’s super detailed, and there’s even a map, which honestly helps my tiny brain not get lost while reading.

Since this is the first book, it does feel like an introduction to the world.
But for me, that actually works. It makes all the systems, places, and conflicts easy to picture.

This was actually my first experience reading a fantasy romance book, and I really enjoyed it.

I love Caius, and chapter 34 completely stole my heart 😍🔥. Love kak misty sekebon 🥹💗😎

[Chelsea Isabella · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first dark fantasy read in 2026

Started reading this after seeing the author's Indonesian-exclusive hardcover edition of The Third (crying from Malaysia 😭) I hope she will release hardcover ver on amazon one day 🥹

Okay, now onto the review.

Wow that was a rollercoaster ride. Emilia and Caellum were both as unhinged as they can get 😂 The author really did a great job writing this. It's definitely a DARK FANTASY ROMANCE. And the ending? It was simply chef's kiss. I'm satisfied.

If you're looking for something dark then I definitely recommend The Third.

[Arina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting... I had some doubts at the beginning, but I like it. A bit different finally!

[Man Av ★]

I DNF’d this book. I don’t think it’s for me.