The Shadows are Darkest

by M.R. Pritchard

A bite in the dark.
A curse awakened.
And now, the only way out is through him.

Layla was just searching for a book until something bit her in the basement of the Library. Since that night, her fingertips have darkened with strange veins of shadow. For her safety, she’s sent to a remote ranch in Montana where the skies are wide, the secrets run deep, and her new housemate is a dangerously powerful princeling with a short fuse.

He’s a cursed prince.
She’s the girl unraveling his control.

Thrush is cursed with ancient magic that burns just beneath his skin. With every flare of temper, every spark of emotion, he risks unleashing something he can’t contain. He’s training to control it. To survive it. But then Layla arrives and she’s too human, too curious, and far too tempting.


A bite runs deep.
A soul is split.
And now, she’s caught between realms where nothing is safe, including her heart.

The Shadows are Darkest is a dark fantasy romance perfect for fans of cursed monsters, forbidden attraction, slow burning tension, and the kind of gothic longing that leaves you breathless.

366 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 28, 2025

About the author

M. R. Pritchard is a two-time Kindle Scout winning author and her short story "Glitch" has been featured in the 2017 winter edition of THE FIRST LINE literary journal. She holds degrees in Biochemistry and Nursing. She is a northern New Yorker transplanted to the Gulf Coast of Florida who enjoys coffee, mint chocolate, cloudy days, and reading on the lanai.

Visit her website MRPritchard.com and sign up for her newsletter. You'll get a monthly newsletter with updates, day to day shenanigans, and book deals.

Reviews

[Terra keyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

New paranormal take done soooo right on a grumpy/sunshine book…

Tortured "other" MMC afraid of hurting those he cares about, Human FMC that isn't afraid of him

She literally goes to hell and back for him, and he would tear worlds apart for her

Everything you want out of a PNR read and more… This is a standalone but part of a much larger universe series that Im going to go jump into because this book was so good! 10/10

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that I have read all the books that are a part of this world. I do think it's important to have some back story even though it is still digestible in a stand-alone way. The knowledge from the other books just helps with nuance and some inside jokes in the book.

Personally, I loved it. I think the second generation series is getting better each book. I like how each book ending is bringing in the next main characters for the next and leaving off where it will start.

The main characters for this book are Layla and Thrush. I think they make a cute couple, and I was rooting for them the whole book. They had good chemistry. The way it seemed from each other's pov, it really was evident they cared about each other and didn't quite understand why. But they worried about the other and made it a point to help where they could.
My only con was I wished there was more information given to the reader about the books within the story. I do think in later books this will come out, though (fingers crossed).

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chelbie Lane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to this series! Angels, demons, humans, hellions, hellish creatures & the like. All so fun to read when it’s written by Pritchard! I continue to be a willing participant to ARC read any & all of her books! Especially this series!

This one focused on Layla, a petite, innocent librarian who supplies Rue (the FMC from book 1) with ancient books; and Thrush, a cursed princeling, fighting madness & uncontrollable astral magic.

This is an interlocking series so you get to have snippets of the characters from the other books, which makes it even better! It makes the “found family” hit way harder.

It was really fun to read into the backstory of Thrush, the wild cousin of the MC’s of both book 1 & 2. Layla was so relatable and funny. She adapted so well to all the sh*t she went through and ended up coming out of it all as a little badass.

I can’t wait to dive into the novella, which is next in the series!🖤

[Letty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this! I think I have a new favorite winged book boyfriend!

“The shadow in me doesn’t rage anymore. I feel whole. And it’s her. It’s always been her. I love her.” ~ Thrush

The FMC, Layla, is so relatable & works in a library! Loves books but also has a fiery side to her. Our MMC, Thrush, is tormented and cannot find peace no matter where he is, struggling with his identity and power.
Go on a journey between the earthen plane & hell to follow Layla & Thrush’s story unfold.
I think I love their’s the best so far out of this series.

The pace of this story moves right along beautifully! Easy to follow and hard to put down!

If you love angels, demons, zombies, & or the supernatural this one is for you!

It can be read as a stand alone.
Reading books one and two will give you more depth & meaning though.

*** Thank you BookSirens & M. R. Pritchard for the opportunity to read & review this ARC! I am voluntarily leaving this honest review. ***

[Flor Arasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series!

I'm not always on the mood for fantasy with a deep lore or many characters/plots, but let me tell you that when I go for that kind of read, this author is one of the few that scratch the itch for me.

The pace was exhilarating, the world building by now is rich and vast, all the lore and different types of beings are incredibly vivid, it takes you in its grasp and doesn't let you go until you finish the book. I'm in love with the "inner jokes" you get if you've read the previous books.

Our MMC is exactly how I like 'em, tortured, broken and needing to save himself desperately. There comes our FMC, sweet unwavering Layla. Their banter was top tier, I just love the layers these characters had. I felt like I was overcoming their issues with them.

I'll keep reading this series and definitely recommend this book!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Maloma]

I loved the world and character building that was done. Layla was a sweet character that maintained her dignity and integrity throughout her unexpected journey. Thrush had so much against him and confusion mixed with anger and stress was always at the forefront. His volatile emotions made him dangerous and unpredictable yet he knew that his curse made everything worse. I appreciated that this was not just a book filled with endless sex scenes. They exhibited true love, respect, empathy, and concern of each others well being. I still have so many questions as to what Layla truly is and how can they both navigate the different worlds that they are privy to. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Why are there still so many hidden truths and myths about the various entities that occupy both Heaven and Hell ?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars - This was my first M.R Pritchard book and I was hooked from the beginning, the twists, turns, slow burn tension had me unable to put this down. The banter between Layla and Thrush is hilarious and makes for a fun addition to the more intense fantasy plot.

I enjoyed that this story could be read as a standalone book but will definitely be going back to read the rest of the books from this universe.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving an honest review voluntarily.

[Jeni M. · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this had an interesting premise I found it just lacked something. I was irritated with how many times Layla was kidnapped or captured. She seemed like she needed to carry her own ransom note. Thrush had a hard time controlling his magic for most of the book. Then towards the end an explanation that could be seen for quite some time cured him to a point. The last 40ish pages seemed more like an extended epilogue. It was okay… just not what I was really expecting. I received an advanced review copy for free and left my opinions voluntarily.

[Lili · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written and well paced, I could understand the pain, the dreams and the motivation of the characters, despite not having read the rest of the series.

The world is interesting and original, there's clearly a lot of thought put into its complexity and into the plot - this author surely has an abundant imagination.

I will read the next book in the series, I think the familiarity with the characters and the background will come as a plus.

I received an advance review copy for free via BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Massiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent addition to the Veil of Shadows world. Thrush is literally broken and Layla may be the only person who can put him back together. Watching his growth in this book is cathartic. And watching their relationship blossom is a joy. The Night is Endless holds a special place in my heart but this may have upended its spot. Meredith is a genius writer and a can’t wait for the next installment.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

After Layla is bitten while retrieving a book from the archive, life as she knew it changes. Being stalked by a shadow is just the start. Thrush is still battling to maintain control of his magic, when Layla is abducted and the search for answers takes an unexpected turn. The Shadows are Darkest is a slow burn, dark fantasy romance filled with forbidden desires and building tension.

I received an advanced copy from the author

[Shanice Felipe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of M.R Pritchard I have read. This book had me hooked from beginning to end. I love the supernatural world and creatures in it . Love the MMC and FMC connection and how it builds up throughout the book. Now I’m going to read the ther two books in the Veil of Shadows Next Generation series.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Printessan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give it 4.5 ⭐️

This was such a great read. I really liked Layla and how she fights but also shows her vulnerabilities. Thrush, with his curse, gave the story a darker edge and made everything more intense. Their chemistry was strong and kept me wanting to read more. I also loved the dark atmosphere of the book, which made it even more exciting.

Thank you so much M.R and BookSirens for letting me be a part of the team. ❤️🌺

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book despite it being in third person. I’m not a big fan of third person because for me it takes away from the story… typically. However in this situation I soldiered on and really enjoyed it. It was easy to relate to the FMC and I liked that she was more easy going to a degree. I’m not a fan of FMC who are mean just because they can be. It has suspense and the right amount of romance that I would read from this author again.

[Shantrellia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was a whole ride and I was for every bit of it. The characters were great. I loved Layla as a FMC she was smart and brave. Thrush was everything you want in a lost soul MMC. The adventure was wild and fun. I could not put this down. I really enjoyed the whole story the plot was great and so was the ending?
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Pritomsreeta Borah · Rating 5 out of 5]

🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩

Just putting my thoughts- I think you should read the series as a series and not start as a standalone series.

Dark, intense, and completely addictive! The Shadows Are Darkest had me hooked from page one. Twists, atmosphere, and characters you can’t stop rooting for—Pritchard nailed it. Absolutely brilliant read!

I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

[tre.wandereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read MR Pritchard's book before so I'm familiar with his way of building a story. This book was a great addition to the whole world he's currently built! It was mysterious, it was suspenseful, a really good plot, and very appealing characters! I like that at every turn, there is something new. The development of the characters was something to fawn over! Great!

[Cindy Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve loved reading each book in the Veil of Shadows -next generation series and this one has brought me just as much pleasure as the others.

I had fun reading this book, I pretty much devoted it in less than 24 hours! It’s easy to follow, lots of action, very lovable characters, some sass & character growth. I look forward to the novella The Hallows are Monstrous :)

[Sissy Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Layla & Thrush

I love all of the stories in this world! Angels and Demons are favorites of mine, as I really love the supernatural. This is another Outstanding addition to a series that I really can not get enough of. Loved It!!! No Spoilers!! I Highly Recommend!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once you live through Zombies you just start worrying about what you need to live your life and not so much everything else. Don't we all? Fast paced as usual with this world's books. Easy as a stand alone but part of a larger world. Chaacter driven. I received this ARC from Booksirens and am happy to leave this review.

[Shantrellia Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book was a whole ride and I was for every bit of it. The characters were great. I loved Layla as a FMC she was smart and brave. Thrush was everything you want in a lost soul MMC. The adventure was wild and fun. I could not put this down. I really enjoyed the whole story the plot was great and so was the ending?

[Lorraine Whiteley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous!! Loved the book right from the get-go and it just got better and better. Fans of grumpy men, cute women, drama, action, thrills and passion will adore this book! Must read!! I received an ARC and leave this review voluntarily.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll start off by saying it's not my usual choice of read because it's in the third person style? so it took me some time getting used to it. Saying that though, once I got into it I did like the story. it was a slower pace than my usual books but overall the story was a good one. you have the tortured mmc, the innocent fmc, mystical horses and hell- add in the found family trope and like I said, it's not a bad book.

[Jordan Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc reader here. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This boooooook! Supernatural vibes, underworld and fated mates. This was a truly intriguing story. Enough that I kept turning page after page and just could not put it down!
Highly recommend!!

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Layla works in a library, you think she will be mild, but girl has a fiery side so watch out. Thrush can’t find peace no matter where he goes. To understand the world better it is better to read the first books, you don’t need too but it helps.

[Janet Guzman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unexpectedly addictive!!!!! Loved Layla & Thrush… Hope there’s more to come!!! Excellent read🖤🖤🖤

[Monica · Rating 5 out of 5]

She does it again! Another amazing book in the second generation series! Action packed and the fantasy elements are just perfection as always!

[Debbie Duffy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is another fantastic addition to the Veil of Shadows series. From the beginning, you’re drawn into the story of Thrush and Layla. They get intertwined into each others lives by an accidental incident. Thrush is your typical macho type with an attitude and Layla is the sweet girl next door that gets thrown into his world. I spent a majority of the book wondering ‘what else could possibly happen to this poor girl?’ Definitely worth reading! I read this book as an advanced copy but I will definitely buy it when it is available to add to my library.