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The Third: A Dark Fantasy Romance
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.
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
1 book1 followerMisty 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.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
September 4, 2025
~ 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!
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!
June 1, 2026
Tropes:
DARK fantasy romance
Morally grey
Wand magic
Shadow magic
Isekai Vibes
The Third is psychologically intriguing, beautiful carnage.
This book sat in my tbr for a while, waiting for the perfect moment to be picked up. I was craving a romantasy with a darker edge, but what I got was something far more unhinged.
From chapter one, this story throws you into 9ft of morally black chaos that immediately hooks you with questions that become almost addictive.
- “How much worse can this possibly get?”
- “How far are they willing to go?”
- “Did she really just do that?”
Every chapter just escalates the madness even more and I quickly (and unknowingly) found myself here for it.
The fmc and mmc are genuinely some of the most unhinged characters I’ve ever read. They are two questionable beings that end up colliding from different worlds and develop this relationship that turns into something more obsessive than romantic.
Chemistry 🌹
The dynamic that these main characters share reminded me of the infamous Mr. J and Harley Quinn. Very toxic and constantly in limbo of destruction and infatuation. They try MULTIPLE times to end each other and their banter is sharp threats of violence, that neither of them can get the upper hand with. I was super entertained with this duo and their personalities.
The fmc is very manipulative and wears many masks that gives her character depth. Her inner monologue is crazy and I found myself laughing or bugging my eyes lol. Now Calluem the mmc is very complex. I just do not know what he’s calculating or going to do next and no one is safe around this man, which kept me flipping the pages. He also happens to be a fashionista diva 💅
This is a story that will not hold your hand through the journey. pleaseeee check trigger warnings beforehand because this book does not hold back.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy:
- morally black characters
- dark fantasy romance with unhinged elements
- relationships built on destruction instead of love
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book completely succeeded at keeping me shellshocked, entertained, and invested from beginning to end!
DARK fantasy romance
Morally grey
Wand magic
Shadow magic
Isekai Vibes
The Third is psychologically intriguing, beautiful carnage.
This book sat in my tbr for a while, waiting for the perfect moment to be picked up. I was craving a romantasy with a darker edge, but what I got was something far more unhinged.
From chapter one, this story throws you into 9ft of morally black chaos that immediately hooks you with questions that become almost addictive.
- “How much worse can this possibly get?”
- “How far are they willing to go?”
- “Did she really just do that?”
Every chapter just escalates the madness even more and I quickly (and unknowingly) found myself here for it.
The fmc and mmc are genuinely some of the most unhinged characters I’ve ever read. They are two questionable beings that end up colliding from different worlds and develop this relationship that turns into something more obsessive than romantic.
Chemistry 🌹
The dynamic that these main characters share reminded me of the infamous Mr. J and Harley Quinn. Very toxic and constantly in limbo of destruction and infatuation. They try MULTIPLE times to end each other and their banter is sharp threats of violence, that neither of them can get the upper hand with. I was super entertained with this duo and their personalities.
The fmc is very manipulative and wears many masks that gives her character depth. Her inner monologue is crazy and I found myself laughing or bugging my eyes lol. Now Calluem the mmc is very complex. I just do not know what he’s calculating or going to do next and no one is safe around this man, which kept me flipping the pages. He also happens to be a fashionista diva 💅
This is a story that will not hold your hand through the journey. pleaseeee check trigger warnings beforehand because this book does not hold back.
I recommend this to readers who enjoy:
- morally black characters
- dark fantasy romance with unhinged elements
- relationships built on destruction instead of love
⭐⭐⭐⭐
This book completely succeeded at keeping me shellshocked, entertained, and invested from beginning to end!
September 6, 2025
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!
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!
April 20, 2026
This was my first dive into dark fantasy, and I went in completely blind, not knowing what to expect. The opening was intense enough to make me question whether I wanted to continue, but I’m so glad I did.
There were moments when the pacing slowed and some revelations took time, but the payoff was absolutely worth it. When everything finally clicked into place, it hit hard.
The main characters are what truly carried this story for me. The FMC is deeply unsettling in the best way, imagine Harley Quinn and double her crazy. The MMC, on the other hand is cold, brutal, and powerful, with a personality that never wavers.
The final chapters take a turn into horror, which I completely loved. I probably should have seen the ending coming, but I didn’t and it left me staring at my wall for days.
Overall, this book was a rollercoaster. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for truly morally gray characters. Even though it’s not really marketed as an enemies-to-lovers dark romantasy, I think, it absolutely fits that vibe.
There were moments when the pacing slowed and some revelations took time, but the payoff was absolutely worth it. When everything finally clicked into place, it hit hard.
The main characters are what truly carried this story for me. The FMC is deeply unsettling in the best way, imagine Harley Quinn and double her crazy. The MMC, on the other hand is cold, brutal, and powerful, with a personality that never wavers.
The final chapters take a turn into horror, which I completely loved. I probably should have seen the ending coming, but I didn’t and it left me staring at my wall for days.
Overall, this book was a rollercoaster. I’d recommend it to anyone looking for truly morally gray characters. Even though it’s not really marketed as an enemies-to-lovers dark romantasy, I think, it absolutely fits that vibe.
December 26, 2025
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! ✨📖
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! ✨📖
December 29, 2025
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 🥹💗😎
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 🥹💗😎
January 19, 2026
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.
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.
February 24, 2026
This book literally have me ina. choke hold. Discovered it during the time the ID Special Ed is up for sale (and I wasn't able to get one because damn shipping fee to my country is hella expensive). And hey, when I got the chance to finally read it I got into it. I did had a hard time trying to understand some of the words but I was still able to push through—mainly because the world building definitely interests me. And can we talked about the characters????!!!! All I can say that thankfully I didn't cry, but hey... I stopped breathing for a while there at the end😭
February 1, 2026
This was an incredible reading experience for me. I love how Misty Qiu blends insane characters into such an epic story. Her imagination is unreal—this book will leave you hooked and emotionally crushed. If you're looking for an UNDERHYPED romantasy with rich world-building, magic, thrills, and solid twists, you need to give The Third by Misty Qiu a try!
September 26, 2025
Interesting... I had some doubts at the beginning, but I like it. A bit different finally!
Read
November 28, 2025I DNF’d this book. I don’t think it’s for me.
January 24, 2026
Fast-paced, page turner.
February 23, 2026
that was rollercoasters. all plot twists are inside. I have so much fun reading it ❤
May 7, 2026
4.5/5 ⭐
This book is insane.
Personally, I find this book was a bit hard to digest in the beginning. I legit need to push through and I'm glad that I did so. It leaves me heartbroken and destroyed in the few final chapters.
It made me crave for more of the story. There were so many things that left unanswered, so many that left you hanging. Then again this is only book 1 👀
All in all, I really enjoyed the characters, the world building, and the magic. And this is what I'm curious about! I want to know more about their world! So far I think it's only described at surface level in this first book.
About our MCs? Oh how they made me fangirl so much. Both the MMC and FMC are morally grey, sometimes they fight each other sometimes they just banter like siblings, it's cute ngl. Their unhinged relationship blossomed as time went on.
Finally, please heed the TW because some of the scenes are graphic.
This book is insane.
Personally, I find this book was a bit hard to digest in the beginning. I legit need to push through and I'm glad that I did so. It leaves me heartbroken and destroyed in the few final chapters.
It made me crave for more of the story. There were so many things that left unanswered, so many that left you hanging. Then again this is only book 1 👀
All in all, I really enjoyed the characters, the world building, and the magic. And this is what I'm curious about! I want to know more about their world! So far I think it's only described at surface level in this first book.
About our MCs? Oh how they made me fangirl so much. Both the MMC and FMC are morally grey, sometimes they fight each other sometimes they just banter like siblings, it's cute ngl. Their unhinged relationship blossomed as time went on.
Finally, please heed the TW because some of the scenes are graphic.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews