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Angel Ruin #1
The Shadows that Listen
WHO WILL SURVIVE THE NIGHT?
The Shadows that Listen is an unputdownable dystopian romantasy with a delicious slow burn romance, from debut author Louisa Carmody. Perfect for fans of Crescent City and Silver Elite.
It's been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war. Daemons crawled from the depths of hell and the sky bled gold as the angels arrived. Humanity thought it was saved, but the angels did not come to protect us.
Amara is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days searching for those who don't make it home after curfew. But when her boyfriend Jeremy goes missing, she decides to venture into the shadows to bring him back. Even if it means death.
Nathaniel is an archangel tasked with leading the destruction of humanity, for which he cares little. He doesn't have time to protect little humans running around in the dark, especially those who stab him in the stomach.
But Nathaniel and Amara will soon realise they share a foe, one that lurks in the shadows and stalks them from the skies. She might long to kill him, but Amara knows that having an angel at her side is the only way to find the man she loves.
The shadows lengthen. They listen. Who will survive the night?
The Shadows that Listen is an unputdownable dystopian romantasy with a delicious slow burn romance, from debut author Louisa Carmody. Perfect for fans of Crescent City and Silver Elite.
It's been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war. Daemons crawled from the depths of hell and the sky bled gold as the angels arrived. Humanity thought it was saved, but the angels did not come to protect us.
Amara is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days searching for those who don't make it home after curfew. But when her boyfriend Jeremy goes missing, she decides to venture into the shadows to bring him back. Even if it means death.
Nathaniel is an archangel tasked with leading the destruction of humanity, for which he cares little. He doesn't have time to protect little humans running around in the dark, especially those who stab him in the stomach.
But Nathaniel and Amara will soon realise they share a foe, one that lurks in the shadows and stalks them from the skies. She might long to kill him, but Amara knows that having an angel at her side is the only way to find the man she loves.
The shadows lengthen. They listen. Who will survive the night?
399 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 18, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 415 reviews
April 6, 2025
DNFed 29%.
The premise was so good, reminds me so much of Susan Ee’s Angelfall series which I LOVED.
However.
The writing just isn’t good. And by writing, I don’t mean the line level. It was decent enough, a lot of repetitions not caught and blocky, repetitive sentences the same length at times that made it monotone but the wrtiting was bad in two crucial areas:
The characters psychological acuity. For instance, a person who has never been to space needs to show a bit of wonder and fear the first time going there, and not confidence for it to make sense if we are to believe the character has never been to space, right?
An angel who believes and call humans insects, needs to treat them as such until they learn better, right?
I just didn’t not believe the reactions, behavior and actions most of the time from the characters. They lack psychological acuity.
For example, an IMMORTAL ARCHANGEL who sees humans as INSECTS, yet he immediately smirks, laughed, is amused and leans in to whisper flirtily in her ear? Why? It seems more likely he would be cold and calculated, not behave like a cocky fratboy. His character was the most two dimensional and everytime he behaved like 22 year old Chad, it took me out of the story.
The dialogue is also very info-dumpy, over-explanatory. Like Afriel when our FMC meets him at the club. And he could have just said “I’m his second”. That’s all the info we need, as readers, layers of inuedos and meanings are there. Yet the dialogue continues where and the clunkyness is heavy as he reiterates what sounds like background info dump while speaking to a human he sees as an instect, and we are to believe, an immortal angel warrior sounds like a robot regurgitating backstory of the mmc. It’s so… clunky. And as a reader we can tell the author did not trust us to understand underlying context.
And the fmc is sort of dumb and a lot of their actions are illogical.
Maybe I’ll try again but I can get past bad line level writing if the characters feel fleshed out and 3D. They did not and it could have used a lot more rounds of edits to take away and remove the over explanation and add more plausible reactions from the characters in tuned with their backgrounds but I think the author lacked that eye as their actions doesn’t make sense with how the author tried to portray them, hence the unbeliveability.
Sorry, I just can’t continue with a story where I can’t believe the characters and they don’t feel real
The premise was so good, reminds me so much of Susan Ee’s Angelfall series which I LOVED.
However.
The writing just isn’t good. And by writing, I don’t mean the line level. It was decent enough, a lot of repetitions not caught and blocky, repetitive sentences the same length at times that made it monotone but the wrtiting was bad in two crucial areas:
The characters psychological acuity. For instance, a person who has never been to space needs to show a bit of wonder and fear the first time going there, and not confidence for it to make sense if we are to believe the character has never been to space, right?
An angel who believes and call humans insects, needs to treat them as such until they learn better, right?
I just didn’t not believe the reactions, behavior and actions most of the time from the characters. They lack psychological acuity.
For example, an IMMORTAL ARCHANGEL who sees humans as INSECTS, yet he immediately smirks, laughed, is amused and leans in to whisper flirtily in her ear? Why? It seems more likely he would be cold and calculated, not behave like a cocky fratboy. His character was the most two dimensional and everytime he behaved like 22 year old Chad, it took me out of the story.
The dialogue is also very info-dumpy, over-explanatory. Like Afriel when our FMC meets him at the club. And he could have just said “I’m his second”. That’s all the info we need, as readers, layers of inuedos and meanings are there. Yet the dialogue continues where and the clunkyness is heavy as he reiterates what sounds like background info dump while speaking to a human he sees as an instect, and we are to believe, an immortal angel warrior sounds like a robot regurgitating backstory of the mmc. It’s so… clunky. And as a reader we can tell the author did not trust us to understand underlying context.
And the fmc is sort of dumb and a lot of their actions are illogical.
Maybe I’ll try again but I can get past bad line level writing if the characters feel fleshed out and 3D. They did not and it could have used a lot more rounds of edits to take away and remove the over explanation and add more plausible reactions from the characters in tuned with their backgrounds but I think the author lacked that eye as their actions doesn’t make sense with how the author tried to portray them, hence the unbeliveability.
Sorry, I just can’t continue with a story where I can’t believe the characters and they don’t feel real
May 18, 2026
This read like fanfiction.
A dystopian where nights are for the war between heaven and hell. If a human was out after lockdown, they become fair game.
Amara is an agent of Angel Intelligence Agency. When her perfect boyfriend goes missing (like literally the most wonderful, best person ever), Amara stays out past the lockdown and ends up forging an unwelcome and tentative alliance with an archangel.
She’s spunky, fearless, and not like other girls.
He’s cold, vengeful, and morally grey.
The writing was just too cheesy for me. This is supposed to be an adult novel, but you’re hit with:
But Xavier’s smile has always had a hold on me: boyish, charming and cheeky all at once. He could make anyone melt. His forest-green eyes that are shielded by heavy lashes, and contrasted so beautifully by his brandy skin, have won the hearts of many.
How many cliches can you fit in one description?
Another example of ‘she’s not like other girls and needs you and everyone else to know that’:
“You have to stop giving him compliments, or one day I swear that pretty head of his will explode.” Layla can’t really help it, though; it’s just who she is. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s compassionate. She’s likely to die in the field. It’s a realisation that dawns on her as quickly as it does me. I know it by the vacant look that casts over her eyes.
It’s trying to catch that 2000s/2010s charm where supernatural, angel, and dystopian romances were the obsession. I just couldn’t get past the writing style.
Dnf at 33%.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
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A dystopian where nights are for the war between heaven and hell. If a human was out after lockdown, they become fair game.
Amara is an agent of Angel Intelligence Agency. When her perfect boyfriend goes missing (like literally the most wonderful, best person ever), Amara stays out past the lockdown and ends up forging an unwelcome and tentative alliance with an archangel.
She’s spunky, fearless, and not like other girls.
He’s cold, vengeful, and morally grey.
The writing was just too cheesy for me. This is supposed to be an adult novel, but you’re hit with:
But Xavier’s smile has always had a hold on me: boyish, charming and cheeky all at once. He could make anyone melt. His forest-green eyes that are shielded by heavy lashes, and contrasted so beautifully by his brandy skin, have won the hearts of many.
How many cliches can you fit in one description?
Another example of ‘she’s not like other girls and needs you and everyone else to know that’:
“You have to stop giving him compliments, or one day I swear that pretty head of his will explode.” Layla can’t really help it, though; it’s just who she is. She’s sweet, she’s kind, she’s compassionate. She’s likely to die in the field. It’s a realisation that dawns on her as quickly as it does me. I know it by the vacant look that casts over her eyes.
It’s trying to catch that 2000s/2010s charm where supernatural, angel, and dystopian romances were the obsession. I just couldn’t get past the writing style.
Dnf at 33%.
Physical arc gifted by Orbit.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
February 26, 2025
ANGELS DEMONS MILLENNIAL CORE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🫑 (ONLY KISSING)
-Urban fantasy 🏙️
-Enemies to reluctant allies to… 👀
-SLOW burn & yearning ❤️🔥
-Angel/demon warfare 🪽
-Twists, turns, secrets & betrayal 💔
“Then may I ask why you have your hand wrapped around my throat, and my arm pinned to the tree?”
“Perhaps this is how I like my women.”
What in the actual fuck did Louisa put in this book because I ATE IT UP.
This was serving all the Hush Hush, Fallen, Mortal Instruments, 2010s vibes, but the story was still so unique, well thought out, and planned.
What I loved:
🪽 This story was AMAZING. It was action packed, it had tense moments, emotional moments, and it all flowed really well.
🪽 Louisa isn’t scared to rip your heart out lol. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
🪽 All the characters were 10/10, even very minor side characters were fleshed out; they all had their own unique personalities and stories.
🪽 This is a proper SLOW BURN. If you prefer your romantasy books with low/no spice but want more of a focus on the emotional aspects of the relationship, THIS BOOK.
What I didn’t love:
🪽 The writing wasn’t without its flaws, and there was repetitiveness for things like “his lip twitched”, “he smirked”, like the man was doing a lot of lip twitching, lip quivering and smirking. But I think a new editor for book 2 should be able to fix that. IT WAS SUCH A SMALL THING.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🫑 (ONLY KISSING)
-Urban fantasy 🏙️
-Enemies to reluctant allies to… 👀
-SLOW burn & yearning ❤️🔥
-Angel/demon warfare 🪽
-Twists, turns, secrets & betrayal 💔
“Then may I ask why you have your hand wrapped around my throat, and my arm pinned to the tree?”
“Perhaps this is how I like my women.”
What in the actual fuck did Louisa put in this book because I ATE IT UP.
This was serving all the Hush Hush, Fallen, Mortal Instruments, 2010s vibes, but the story was still so unique, well thought out, and planned.
What I loved:
🪽 This story was AMAZING. It was action packed, it had tense moments, emotional moments, and it all flowed really well.
🪽 Louisa isn’t scared to rip your heart out lol. That’s all I’ll say on the matter.
🪽 All the characters were 10/10, even very minor side characters were fleshed out; they all had their own unique personalities and stories.
🪽 This is a proper SLOW BURN. If you prefer your romantasy books with low/no spice but want more of a focus on the emotional aspects of the relationship, THIS BOOK.
What I didn’t love:
🪽 The writing wasn’t without its flaws, and there was repetitiveness for things like “his lip twitched”, “he smirked”, like the man was doing a lot of lip twitching, lip quivering and smirking. But I think a new editor for book 2 should be able to fix that. IT WAS SUCH A SMALL THING.
December 1, 2024
If you’ve been missing urban fantasy vibes specifically with angels then this book is about to be your new favorite!
Oh my god there are so many amazing aspects of this book! It’s the perfect blend of romance and action! And the banter and tension between the characters has me giggling and swooning!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
Oh my god there are so many amazing aspects of this book! It’s the perfect blend of romance and action! And the banter and tension between the characters has me giggling and swooning!
I can’t wait for book 2!!
January 1, 2025
Absolutely worth the read!! I couldn’t put it down and I loved the urban fantasy vibes. Cannot wait to get more from this author!
March 9, 2026
Wow, what a great read - this is dystopian vibes - angels and daemons. A lot of banter and angst and just great writing.
This is set in a world ravaged by a war between angels and daemons - where humanity was the collateral of that conflict. But unlike most stories, the angels in this story can be just as lethal and cruel as the daemons. Amara is a human, working as a soldier she tries to track down the numerous people that go missing every night as a result of angels/daemons. But she is limited by the strict curfews set in place by an agreement with the angels - and if you are out after curfew you are likely never coming back. But for the past 2 years she’s made a comfortable life for herself with her boyfriend even while in lockdown. Until one day, he doesn’t come home by curfew. Desperate she decides to go out and look for him. Instead she finds a lethal archangel who’s willing to spare her and make a deal. Together they will work to find a dangerous fallen angel and Amara’s boyfriend.
This is set in a world ravaged by a war between angels and daemons - where humanity was the collateral of that conflict. But unlike most stories, the angels in this story can be just as lethal and cruel as the daemons. Amara is a human, working as a soldier she tries to track down the numerous people that go missing every night as a result of angels/daemons. But she is limited by the strict curfews set in place by an agreement with the angels - and if you are out after curfew you are likely never coming back. But for the past 2 years she’s made a comfortable life for herself with her boyfriend even while in lockdown. Until one day, he doesn’t come home by curfew. Desperate she decides to go out and look for him. Instead she finds a lethal archangel who’s willing to spare her and make a deal. Together they will work to find a dangerous fallen angel and Amara’s boyfriend.
February 23, 2025
‘Just one more chapter.’ Is what happened here.
I I just stalked the authors socials after reading because I need updates on THE NEXT BOOK ASAP PLEASE!! & I actually saw it described as a hint of ‘Crescent City, The Mortal Instruments & Hush Hush’ - the fact I am currently reading the CC series & Hush Hush series as well & have read the Mortal Instruments (which btw is my fav SH world series) - this is 100% that vibe!!👏🏽
This was incredible for a first debut novel. I was hooked. Super easy to read. I was second guessing myself a lot & then I was like ‘HUH’ & gasped!!!
Post apocalyptic dystopian world - my favourite time of reading genre/books & this defiantly hit the bar for me🤌
I was sitting at a 4/4.5 star then the last 20% of this book made it a 5 star read for me. I was going through all the emotions & I just had to finish it. It’s once of those you won’t want to put down.
Yeah i’m obsessed. Congrats to this beauty👏🏽🩷
I I just stalked the authors socials after reading because I need updates on THE NEXT BOOK ASAP PLEASE!! & I actually saw it described as a hint of ‘Crescent City, The Mortal Instruments & Hush Hush’ - the fact I am currently reading the CC series & Hush Hush series as well & have read the Mortal Instruments (which btw is my fav SH world series) - this is 100% that vibe!!👏🏽
This was incredible for a first debut novel. I was hooked. Super easy to read. I was second guessing myself a lot & then I was like ‘HUH’ & gasped!!!
Post apocalyptic dystopian world - my favourite time of reading genre/books & this defiantly hit the bar for me🤌
I was sitting at a 4/4.5 star then the last 20% of this book made it a 5 star read for me. I was going through all the emotions & I just had to finish it. It’s once of those you won’t want to put down.
Yeah i’m obsessed. Congrats to this beauty👏🏽🩷
December 19, 2024
I received an ARC of this by the author. Thank you so much.
THIS IS THE BOOK OF 2025
5/5⭐️
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. It’s a combination of dystopian and fantasy and it took me back fifteen years ago when I began reading this genre. Louisa has done an incredible job of storytelling, writing complex characters and settings. The plot was magnificent and it all flowed so well. I only wished there was more romance, as it’s quite slow burn, but something to look forward to in book 2! The slow burn made want to throw my kindle to the other side of the room! It was devastatingly beautiful. 💗
THIS IS THE BOOK OF 2025
5/5⭐️
I haven’t read a book like this in a long time. It’s a combination of dystopian and fantasy and it took me back fifteen years ago when I began reading this genre. Louisa has done an incredible job of storytelling, writing complex characters and settings. The plot was magnificent and it all flowed so well. I only wished there was more romance, as it’s quite slow burn, but something to look forward to in book 2! The slow burn made want to throw my kindle to the other side of the room! It was devastatingly beautiful. 💗
May 30, 2026
I was lucky enough to snag an ARC of this, and honestly, thank god, because I’ve been screechin' with excitement since I read the synopsis. If you’re like me and your brain has approximately 47 tabs open at once, consider this your sign to clear your schedule. I inhaled this in two sittings.
I’m not here to write a literary thesis. I’m here for the vibes, and the vibes were very much giving a mix of the Grinch smirk and surprised Pikachu.
I was so emotionally invested in Amara and Nathaniel that by the end, I felt personally victimised by the fact that there wasn't a sequel already waiting for me.
I wish there was more lore for me to devour, the depth would've really helped me connect with the characters more. I wanted more of the world and its history. Like give me the full Lord of the Rings level deep dive. But the chemistry between the leads carried me through. If you’re a sucker for a FMC who can hold her own and a MMC who is basically a "golden retriever with a dark secret" archetype, you’re going to have a good time and stay.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy 🖤
*Editing to say I'm so glad this book has blown up. It was so fun and I'm still thinking of it a month later.
I’m not here to write a literary thesis. I’m here for the vibes, and the vibes were very much giving a mix of the Grinch smirk and surprised Pikachu.
I was so emotionally invested in Amara and Nathaniel that by the end, I felt personally victimised by the fact that there wasn't a sequel already waiting for me.
I wish there was more lore for me to devour, the depth would've really helped me connect with the characters more. I wanted more of the world and its history. Like give me the full Lord of the Rings level deep dive. But the chemistry between the leads carried me through. If you’re a sucker for a FMC who can hold her own and a MMC who is basically a "golden retriever with a dark secret" archetype, you’re going to have a good time and stay.
Thank you Netgalley for this copy 🖤
*Editing to say I'm so glad this book has blown up. It was so fun and I'm still thinking of it a month later.
January 18, 2025
This had me hooked from the very first page! Every chapter left me wanting more, and I couldn’t put it down. The twists kept me guessing, and the story was so vivid and gripping that it’s still stuck in my head. Can’t wait for the next one!
April 26, 2025
4.5
I need time to think about that book. I have feeling that i just watched tv show about angels, humans and apocalypse. I like how author built the plot, we have many plot twists (some of them predictable, some no, but still good). FMC reminds me of Buffy or more like Cordelia and MMC reminds me of Damon from Vampire Diaries. Don't ask me why, I just feel it haha
Tropes
- angel/deamon/human war;
- dystopian vibes;
- one bed;
- 'that`s my girl';
- badass FMC;
- enemies to lovers to enemies?
- you can trust no one
Anyway, it was captivating and I def gonna read second book
I need time to think about that book. I have feeling that i just watched tv show about angels, humans and apocalypse. I like how author built the plot, we have many plot twists (some of them predictable, some no, but still good). FMC reminds me of Buffy or more like Cordelia and MMC reminds me of Damon from Vampire Diaries. Don't ask me why, I just feel it haha
Tropes
- angel/deamon/human war;
- dystopian vibes;
- one bed;
- 'that`s my girl';
- badass FMC;
- enemies to lovers to enemies?
- you can trust no one
Anyway, it was captivating and I def gonna read second book
April 27, 2026
If you’re into Angels, Demons, and a military style dystopian, you’ve come to the right place.
TSTL is fun, fast paced, and a suuuuper slow burn. Packed with enemies to lovers, hidden revelations, a FMC who carries a bit of weight to her character, and a decent amount of fleshed out side characters.
I loved how Carmody wrote Amara’s character, being put into the adoption/fostering system and how that moulded her and her very prevalent attachment issues, it’s sad but so true with adoptees. Amara is ready to die for the cause and her friends and she’s completely at peace with it, sad but in a nice way? 🤷🏻♂️
A very solid plot with no downtime makes for a very fun read.
The pacing was really good, so easy to lose yourself in and easily digestible, short chapters are always a plus for me!
There’s a *gasp* moment that I genuinely did not see coming at all and makes me want to read the sequel all the more! 🫨🫨
I’m a sucker for lore and I would love to know more of the Angels and Demons so fingers crossed we get that! 🤞🏻
Thank you to Orbit for the early copy! 🫶🏻
TSTL is fun, fast paced, and a suuuuper slow burn. Packed with enemies to lovers, hidden revelations, a FMC who carries a bit of weight to her character, and a decent amount of fleshed out side characters.
I loved how Carmody wrote Amara’s character, being put into the adoption/fostering system and how that moulded her and her very prevalent attachment issues, it’s sad but so true with adoptees. Amara is ready to die for the cause and her friends and she’s completely at peace with it, sad but in a nice way? 🤷🏻♂️
A very solid plot with no downtime makes for a very fun read.
The pacing was really good, so easy to lose yourself in and easily digestible, short chapters are always a plus for me!
There’s a *gasp* moment that I genuinely did not see coming at all and makes me want to read the sequel all the more! 🫨🫨
I’m a sucker for lore and I would love to know more of the Angels and Demons so fingers crossed we get that! 🤞🏻
Thank you to Orbit for the early copy! 🫶🏻
April 1, 2026
I decided to read The Shadows That Listen because of its comparison to Angelfall by Susan Ee. Unfortunately, it misses the mark due to underdeveloped worldbuilding and a lack of chemistry between the FMC and MMC.
Readers are introduced to the world through the FMC’s experience of nightly lockdowns meant to protect humans from the ongoing war between angels and demons. She works as an agent for the Angel Intelligence Agency, but for an organization with such a name they seem to know remarkably little about the angels, demons, or the world since their arrival. This lack of information becomes one of the most frustrating aspects of the novel.
The romance also falls flat. There is little to no chemistry between the FMC and MMC. In what appears to be an attempt to differentiate the story from Angelfall, Carmody has the FMC’s boyfriend be kidnapped instead of a sibling. However, this choice undercuts the romantic tension, as the developing relationship between the FMC and MMC veers uncomfortably close to emotional infidelity despite the FMC repeatedly questioning her existing relationship.
Although the FMC is written as an older character, her voice does not reflect this. Instead, she comes across as an inexperienced young adult who is in over her head. While this could have worked as a character trait, it clashes with her portrayal as highly competent. Despite having only two years of training, no field experience, and a primarily desk-based role, she consistently performs at an implausibly high level.
I ultimately rated the novel three stars rather than two because the twist at the ending was genuinely surprising and well-executed. Without my frustrations with worldbuilding and the FMC’s characterization, I would have enjoyed the book much more.
Overall, The Shadows That Listen had an intriguing premise and a strong final twist, but it ultimately fell flat due to weak worldbuilding and a developing relationship with little to no chemistry. While it may still appeal to readers who enjoy angel/demon conflicts, those looking for rich worldbuilding and compelling romance may find it lacking.
Readers are introduced to the world through the FMC’s experience of nightly lockdowns meant to protect humans from the ongoing war between angels and demons. She works as an agent for the Angel Intelligence Agency, but for an organization with such a name they seem to know remarkably little about the angels, demons, or the world since their arrival. This lack of information becomes one of the most frustrating aspects of the novel.
The romance also falls flat. There is little to no chemistry between the FMC and MMC. In what appears to be an attempt to differentiate the story from Angelfall, Carmody has the FMC’s boyfriend be kidnapped instead of a sibling. However, this choice undercuts the romantic tension, as the developing relationship between the FMC and MMC veers uncomfortably close to emotional infidelity despite the FMC repeatedly questioning her existing relationship.
Although the FMC is written as an older character, her voice does not reflect this. Instead, she comes across as an inexperienced young adult who is in over her head. While this could have worked as a character trait, it clashes with her portrayal as highly competent. Despite having only two years of training, no field experience, and a primarily desk-based role, she consistently performs at an implausibly high level.
I ultimately rated the novel three stars rather than two because the twist at the ending was genuinely surprising and well-executed. Without my frustrations with worldbuilding and the FMC’s characterization, I would have enjoyed the book much more.
Overall, The Shadows That Listen had an intriguing premise and a strong final twist, but it ultimately fell flat due to weak worldbuilding and a developing relationship with little to no chemistry. While it may still appeal to readers who enjoy angel/demon conflicts, those looking for rich worldbuilding and compelling romance may find it lacking.
June 2, 2026
3.5 stars
The Shadows that Listen is an urban fantasy/dystopia with 2010s vibes and a lot of action. A strong debut, I can see why it was picked up for trad publishing.
Firstly, I liked that angels were not the comforting saviours like you see in a lot of stories. It reminded me a lot of Supernatural in that sense where the angels are ‘dicks’ (in Dean Winchester’s words). Humans are once again the collateral in a war between angels and daemons - and neither side cares about them. This was what initially drew me to the novel as I was craving an urban style fantasy reminiscent of Crescent City and I do think if you liked CC, you will enjoy this series.
Amara, our FMC, made some very frustrating choices. The book is solely told from her pov. She’s a classic fantasy heroine - sassy, driven, courageous. I wish we had more of her backstory at the start but this makes sense at the end of the book as does her slow burn with the archangel Nathanial. I hope we get his pov in the next book as I think the story telling would benefit from that.
I found the pacing to be a bit slow at the start and it dipped a bit in the middle, but there were a lot of action scenes to keep the story moving. In terms of world building, I thought this was done well on the whole but I was still left with a lot of questions that I hope are answered in the sequel. I was able to easily visualise the daemons and world from the descriptions. There was a bit of an info dump at the beginning and I don’t feel like we know a lot about why the daemons appeared 5 years ago or what they and the angels were doing before that.
I’d recommend to fans of other urban fantasy/dystopian series and I look forward to continuing the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.
The Shadows that Listen is an urban fantasy/dystopia with 2010s vibes and a lot of action. A strong debut, I can see why it was picked up for trad publishing.
Firstly, I liked that angels were not the comforting saviours like you see in a lot of stories. It reminded me a lot of Supernatural in that sense where the angels are ‘dicks’ (in Dean Winchester’s words). Humans are once again the collateral in a war between angels and daemons - and neither side cares about them. This was what initially drew me to the novel as I was craving an urban style fantasy reminiscent of Crescent City and I do think if you liked CC, you will enjoy this series.
Amara, our FMC, made some very frustrating choices. The book is solely told from her pov. She’s a classic fantasy heroine - sassy, driven, courageous. I wish we had more of her backstory at the start but this makes sense at the end of the book as does her slow burn with the archangel Nathanial. I hope we get his pov in the next book as I think the story telling would benefit from that.
I found the pacing to be a bit slow at the start and it dipped a bit in the middle, but there were a lot of action scenes to keep the story moving. In terms of world building, I thought this was done well on the whole but I was still left with a lot of questions that I hope are answered in the sequel. I was able to easily visualise the daemons and world from the descriptions. There was a bit of an info dump at the beginning and I don’t feel like we know a lot about why the daemons appeared 5 years ago or what they and the angels were doing before that.
I’d recommend to fans of other urban fantasy/dystopian series and I look forward to continuing the series.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for access to this ARC.
Did Not Finish
May 25, 2026DNF at 57%.
I wanted MORE from this.
I think my expectations were a little high ‘cause this literally has all the things I love—
Dystopian.
Angels and Demons.
Urban Fantasy, and just in comparison to a lot of my favorite UFs, it just wasn’t giving what needed to be gave for me.
The writing was just not for me though. It got very repetitive (enough w/ fuckin’ Jeremy already), and a lot of the time it had my cringing.
The chemistry between the MCs was also giving me absolutely nothing, and the jokes felt soooo 🌽
“I know you don’t want to hear this but I need to say it. If it were up to me, I’d choose you. Over him, over anyone, any day.” “I know, X. I love you too.” I open my eyes and end the call. “Goodbye, Xavier.”
Honestly, I wish it had more Xavier lol. But like, overall I just needed more of a connection and more depth w/ everyone.
And these lines right here? ⤵️
I liked these 🫶🏽
If we’re gonna give shitty vibes, which we LOVE, I need it to be taken allllll the way there lmfao.
“No. Poison takes too long. I’d have to spend too much time listening to your witty jokes before you die.”
“You will only slow me down if you become tired.”
Overall, this has potential, and is probably good to some, but I feel like I have just read too many great Dystopians / Urban Fantasy’s in comparison.
I wanted MORE from this.
I think my expectations were a little high ‘cause this literally has all the things I love—
Dystopian.
Angels and Demons.
Urban Fantasy, and just in comparison to a lot of my favorite UFs, it just wasn’t giving what needed to be gave for me.
The writing was just not for me though. It got very repetitive (enough w/ fuckin’ Jeremy already), and a lot of the time it had my cringing.
The chemistry between the MCs was also giving me absolutely nothing, and the jokes felt soooo 🌽
“I know you don’t want to hear this but I need to say it. If it were up to me, I’d choose you. Over him, over anyone, any day.” “I know, X. I love you too.” I open my eyes and end the call. “Goodbye, Xavier.”
Honestly, I wish it had more Xavier lol. But like, overall I just needed more of a connection and more depth w/ everyone.
And these lines right here? ⤵️
I liked these 🫶🏽
If we’re gonna give shitty vibes, which we LOVE, I need it to be taken allllll the way there lmfao.
“No. Poison takes too long. I’d have to spend too much time listening to your witty jokes before you die.”
“You will only slow me down if you become tired.”
Overall, this has potential, and is probably good to some, but I feel like I have just read too many great Dystopians / Urban Fantasy’s in comparison.
May 5, 2026
Review of uncorrected proof from NetGalley
NOOOO. I wanted to love this book with all my heart. I went in with such high expectations and absolutely loved the premise, wanted some angels & demons, and urban fantasy. But this was not it.
My biggest issue with this book is the marketing. This is NOT a slow burn enemies to lovers. If you’re flirting within the first few interactions, it’s not slow burn. And if you’re teaming up after the first interaction, it’s not enemies to lovers. This really set me off for the rest of the book :/
I was really holding out for the big “twists” at the end, hoping against hope that I would be surprised but I wasn’t… I guessed what Amara was pretty early on, and wasn’t all that surprised to find out about Jeremy either. Also her whole “I’ll team up with you and then I’ll kill you” thing to the archangel felt so stupid I was like girl pls we all know you’re going to fuck him this is so unserious. I’m just very sad I didn’t love this :(
I’m giving it two stars because I JUST wanted to love it so bad. It definitely did give crescent city with angels at times, so kudos for that, I guess?
NOOOO. I wanted to love this book with all my heart. I went in with such high expectations and absolutely loved the premise, wanted some angels & demons, and urban fantasy. But this was not it.
My biggest issue with this book is the marketing. This is NOT a slow burn enemies to lovers. If you’re flirting within the first few interactions, it’s not slow burn. And if you’re teaming up after the first interaction, it’s not enemies to lovers. This really set me off for the rest of the book :/
I was really holding out for the big “twists” at the end, hoping against hope that I would be surprised but I wasn’t… I guessed what Amara was pretty early on, and wasn’t all that surprised to find out about Jeremy either. Also her whole “I’ll team up with you and then I’ll kill you” thing to the archangel felt so stupid I was like girl pls we all know you’re going to fuck him this is so unserious. I’m just very sad I didn’t love this :(
I’m giving it two stars because I JUST wanted to love it so bad. It definitely did give crescent city with angels at times, so kudos for that, I guess?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 15, 2026
Apocalypse on Earth, and humans are just collateral damage.
Angels and demons are at war, and Amaris, a truly badass FMC, is trying to save the people she loves while being drawn in by Nathanael, archangel extraordinaire, whose interest in her is… not exactly subtle, the experienced reader can make an educated guess early on.
He’s very much fighting his fate, which adds tension. No scent description, but his pug-like snores were oddly adorable.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read with a strong heroine.
Angels and demons are at war, and Amaris, a truly badass FMC, is trying to save the people she loves while being drawn in by Nathanael, archangel extraordinaire, whose interest in her is… not exactly subtle, the experienced reader can make an educated guess early on.
He’s very much fighting his fate, which adds tension. No scent description, but his pug-like snores were oddly adorable.
Solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read with a strong heroine.
March 15, 2025
Seriously blown away, I almost can’t believe this is a debut novel.
The Shadows that Listen is a book about humans, Angels, Daemons, and more. It’s action-packed, gritty, suspenseful, romantic, and twisty. I guessed the ending early on but I was still surprised but it and didn’t get it exactly right. I can’t wait to see where this series goes and where this author goes with her talent.
The Shadows that Listen is a book about humans, Angels, Daemons, and more. It’s action-packed, gritty, suspenseful, romantic, and twisty. I guessed the ending early on but I was still surprised but it and didn’t get it exactly right. I can’t wait to see where this series goes and where this author goes with her talent.
April 7, 2025
4,75⭐
April 28, 2026
Wow this was a journey and I loved every second of it! Lots of twists and turns and craziness that made for an excellent plot - also truly amazing pacing and that ending was so so good!!!! I need book 2 asap 🙂↕️
Thank you so much to Orbit for the proof!
Thank you so much to Orbit for the proof!
May 26, 2025
★★★☆ I wanted to give this 5 stars so bad, but multiple things drove me crazy, so we'll have to settle for a 3.5.
Spice: 🫑
🎵 Theme Song: "Darkside" - Bring Me The Horizon
🗡 Post-apocalyptic world
🗡 Angels/Archangels vs demons
🗡 Fierce female warrior
🗡 Enemies to reluctant allies to...👀
🗡 Fate vs free will
📖 Plot Overview
Amara is a warrior in the Angel Intelligence Agency, where heaven has turned earth into collateral damage in a war between angels and demons. When her boyfriend Jeremy vanishes without a trace, she breaks curfew to search for him—and runs straight into the Archangel Nathaniel. Instead of smiting her on sight, he... pairs up with her? Yep. Cue an unlikely alliance between an elite archangel and a human warrior as they unravel a much bigger mystery that may change the fate of the world.
But there are secrets between them, and what they uncover might burn the whole world down.
⚔️ Characters
Amara (FMC): Fierce, mouthy, and not here to be saved. She's a badass warrior who refuses to be underestimated—even by literal archangels. I loved her confidence, her refusal to be silenced, and how she throws herself into danger, as if fear is just a concept.
Nathaniel (MMC): Broody archangel energy, powerful and intimidating, but I wanted more. The build-up didn’t quite reach the intensity I hoped for, and the chemistry felt more like a flicker than a blaze. Give me more moments that represent this quote!!!
⚔️ World-Building
- Post-apocalyptic setting with angels/demons was so up my alley
- Strong atmosphere—gritty, haunting, and cinematic. Felt like a movie in my head.
♥️ What I Loved
✔️ Amara is that girl. She had fight, fire, and a set of sharp blades.
✔️ The enemies-to-allies energy was fun, and I was hyped to see where their relationship would go.
✔️ The banter was so fun. Found myself kicking my feet
✔️ I love any story when a female is kicking demon @$$
💔 What I Didn’t Like
✖️ Repetitive language (how many times can someone twitch or smirk?)
✖️ The ending felt... meh. No big payoff - ending felt a little rushed
✖️ Missed opportunities! I wanted a big underdog arc or shock-value twist to punch me in the chest.
✖️ The romance wasn’t romancing. There wasn’t enough yearning, angst, or build-up, and no payoff.
✖️ There are more - read my spoilers if you want to know.
📝 Overall Thoughts
The Shadows That Listen is one of those books that had everything I love—angels, a fierce FMC, post-apocalyptic vibes, and reluctant allies—but stumbled right at the finish line. It should have been a 5-star read. The world was there, the writing had its moments, and Amara is the kind of character I cheer for in every scene.
But some missed opportunities, repetitive phrasing, lack of emotional build-up in the romance, and a "meh" ending knocked it down to 3.5 stars. I’ll still read the sequel (because I’m curious and mildly invested), but I hope the next book delivers the emotional stakes, twists, and payoffs I know this series is capable of.
If you like angels, urban fantasy, and badass heroines with sharp mouths and sharper blades, check this out.
⚠️ Hidden Spoiler Rant
Spice: 🫑
🎵 Theme Song: "Darkside" - Bring Me The Horizon
🗡 Post-apocalyptic world
🗡 Angels/Archangels vs demons
🗡 Fierce female warrior
🗡 Enemies to reluctant allies to...👀
🗡 Fate vs free will
📖 Plot Overview
Amara is a warrior in the Angel Intelligence Agency, where heaven has turned earth into collateral damage in a war between angels and demons. When her boyfriend Jeremy vanishes without a trace, she breaks curfew to search for him—and runs straight into the Archangel Nathaniel. Instead of smiting her on sight, he... pairs up with her? Yep. Cue an unlikely alliance between an elite archangel and a human warrior as they unravel a much bigger mystery that may change the fate of the world.
But there are secrets between them, and what they uncover might burn the whole world down.
⚔️ Characters
Amara (FMC): Fierce, mouthy, and not here to be saved. She's a badass warrior who refuses to be underestimated—even by literal archangels. I loved her confidence, her refusal to be silenced, and how she throws herself into danger, as if fear is just a concept.
Nathaniel (MMC): Broody archangel energy, powerful and intimidating, but I wanted more. The build-up didn’t quite reach the intensity I hoped for, and the chemistry felt more like a flicker than a blaze. Give me more moments that represent this quote!!!
“I think that you want someone who challenges you. You want something that you have to fight for, someone who’s going to keep you on your toes. You want someone who would crawl from the grave back to you.”
⚔️ World-Building
- Post-apocalyptic setting with angels/demons was so up my alley
- Strong atmosphere—gritty, haunting, and cinematic. Felt like a movie in my head.
♥️ What I Loved
✔️ Amara is that girl. She had fight, fire, and a set of sharp blades.
✔️ The enemies-to-allies energy was fun, and I was hyped to see where their relationship would go.
✔️ The banter was so fun. Found myself kicking my feet
✔️ I love any story when a female is kicking demon @$$
💔 What I Didn’t Like
✖️ Repetitive language (how many times can someone twitch or smirk?)
✖️ The ending felt... meh. No big payoff - ending felt a little rushed
✖️ Missed opportunities! I wanted a big underdog arc or shock-value twist to punch me in the chest.
✖️ The romance wasn’t romancing. There wasn’t enough yearning, angst, or build-up, and no payoff.
✖️ There are more - read my spoilers if you want to know.
📝 Overall Thoughts
The Shadows That Listen is one of those books that had everything I love—angels, a fierce FMC, post-apocalyptic vibes, and reluctant allies—but stumbled right at the finish line. It should have been a 5-star read. The world was there, the writing had its moments, and Amara is the kind of character I cheer for in every scene.
But some missed opportunities, repetitive phrasing, lack of emotional build-up in the romance, and a "meh" ending knocked it down to 3.5 stars. I’ll still read the sequel (because I’m curious and mildly invested), but I hope the next book delivers the emotional stakes, twists, and payoffs I know this series is capable of.
If you like angels, urban fantasy, and badass heroines with sharp mouths and sharper blades, check this out.
⚠️ Hidden Spoiler Rant
December 2, 2024
THIS BOOK IS NOT AVAILABLE UNTIL 1/9/25. I was fortunate enough to be an arc reader and wanted to post my review before ADHD led me to forgetting.
I’m not an in-depth, analyze every sentence type of reader. I read for the pure entertainment of it, and I don’t have the energy to go any deeper than that. That said, if a book keeps me interested and caring about characters, I’m happy with it. I COULD NOT stop reading this, and was incredibly sad when I finished it. Because I had no more of it to read. I finished it in a day.
It had twists, but they weren’t necessarily punch you in the gut and ruin you twists. There were subtle hints leading up to it that makes you question, then question your questioning. I pray there is more coming with this world Louisa has built, because I need it.
There were some things I wish we got a little more detail on - maybe a little more details of the daemons, the war, a little more build to Amara’s relationship before - well, no spoilers. I guess some would call it world building? Still, not mad at it.
I feel she did a wonderful job building tension with Amara and Nathaniel. Their banter was fun, and the tension build killed me. I wanted more of them. From them. 🤷🏻♀️ also why I pray there’s more to this world. I’ll read it again, for sure, and it will be added to my collection. I’m a sucker for a badass FMC and a badass MMC who has a growing weakness for the girl.
I’m not an in-depth, analyze every sentence type of reader. I read for the pure entertainment of it, and I don’t have the energy to go any deeper than that. That said, if a book keeps me interested and caring about characters, I’m happy with it. I COULD NOT stop reading this, and was incredibly sad when I finished it. Because I had no more of it to read. I finished it in a day.
It had twists, but they weren’t necessarily punch you in the gut and ruin you twists. There were subtle hints leading up to it that makes you question, then question your questioning. I pray there is more coming with this world Louisa has built, because I need it.
There were some things I wish we got a little more detail on - maybe a little more details of the daemons, the war, a little more build to Amara’s relationship before - well, no spoilers. I guess some would call it world building? Still, not mad at it.
I feel she did a wonderful job building tension with Amara and Nathaniel. Their banter was fun, and the tension build killed me. I wanted more of them. From them. 🤷🏻♀️ also why I pray there’s more to this world. I’ll read it again, for sure, and it will be added to my collection. I’m a sucker for a badass FMC and a badass MMC who has a growing weakness for the girl.
April 27, 2026
"I see a man who stares at me like I'll quench his thirst. A man who looks at me like I'm the body of water he's been hallucinating in the desert. Like I'm the deity he's been praying to."
Okay, jaw dropped. The last 20% of this book was an intense, shocking, nail biting series of events that kept me at the edge of my seat. Talk about plot twists, dramatic revelations, and knowledge that may or may not turn the tides of war between humans, angels and daemons.
There's sassy banter, action, & this delicious push and pull between the two main characters. Are they enemies? Will they be lovers? The dance scene? The switch ups will have you screaming, and begging for just a kiss.
I loved the super fast paced plot and the vivid urban setting that I could definitely picture in my head. I had so many theories and my gears were constantly turning. This was just the dystopian I needed, and I had SO much fun reading this with one of my friends!!
I can't wait to see what happens in book two!
Okay, jaw dropped. The last 20% of this book was an intense, shocking, nail biting series of events that kept me at the edge of my seat. Talk about plot twists, dramatic revelations, and knowledge that may or may not turn the tides of war between humans, angels and daemons.
There's sassy banter, action, & this delicious push and pull between the two main characters. Are they enemies? Will they be lovers? The dance scene? The switch ups will have you screaming, and begging for just a kiss.
I loved the super fast paced plot and the vivid urban setting that I could definitely picture in my head. I had so many theories and my gears were constantly turning. This was just the dystopian I needed, and I had SO much fun reading this with one of my friends!!
I can't wait to see what happens in book two!
January 8, 2025
This. book. was. PHENOMENAL! i was sucked in from the very beginning to the very end, grasping onto every single freaking word.
the world, the characters, the plot twists, the LORE!!! Louisa, you ate with this one, i’m afraid.
I think that the craziest part of the entire plot was how brutal the angels were described (and they are…) from the very beginning, but then to learn WHY?! oh god. it’s just so good. and the detail that went into the fighting/gore scenes was so well done that i could picture the scenes in my head perfectly. i always love when an author can do that!
Amara is that girl! she is an independent woman who don’t need no human man to protect her (see what i did there, Louisa?? 🤭) Right from the beginning, she just felt so real to me with how she views the world and her reality. and i especially loved the little tells she had all throughout the book that you wouldn’t have ever known were important until the very end because obviously there’s a crazy plot twist 😫🤯
And Nathaniel. oh my sweet baby Nathaniel, i can’t wait for you guys to meet him. its him slowly revealing how much of a softy he truly is underneath his big bad angel exterior the further into the book we get for me.
there is no explicit romance in this book, guys. but i’m willing to bet there might be some in the next one, based off how this one ended 🫣 i can’t wait!
⚔️ enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
🌏 post apocalyptic dystopian world
🌞 forced proximity
⏳ hidden identity
🔥 slow burn with crazy tension
🪽 angels and daemons
🗡️ feminine rage
Thank you Louisa for the ARC of your debut novel! i truly felt the years of hard work you put into it with every word! i can’t wait for the world to experience this!
the world, the characters, the plot twists, the LORE!!! Louisa, you ate with this one, i’m afraid.
I think that the craziest part of the entire plot was how brutal the angels were described (and they are…) from the very beginning, but then to learn WHY?! oh god. it’s just so good. and the detail that went into the fighting/gore scenes was so well done that i could picture the scenes in my head perfectly. i always love when an author can do that!
Amara is that girl! she is an independent woman who don’t need no human man to protect her (see what i did there, Louisa?? 🤭) Right from the beginning, she just felt so real to me with how she views the world and her reality. and i especially loved the little tells she had all throughout the book that you wouldn’t have ever known were important until the very end because obviously there’s a crazy plot twist 😫🤯
And Nathaniel. oh my sweet baby Nathaniel, i can’t wait for you guys to meet him. its him slowly revealing how much of a softy he truly is underneath his big bad angel exterior the further into the book we get for me.
there is no explicit romance in this book, guys. but i’m willing to bet there might be some in the next one, based off how this one ended 🫣 i can’t wait!
⚔️ enemies to reluctant allies to lovers
🌏 post apocalyptic dystopian world
🌞 forced proximity
⏳ hidden identity
🔥 slow burn with crazy tension
🪽 angels and daemons
🗡️ feminine rage
Thank you Louisa for the ARC of your debut novel! i truly felt the years of hard work you put into it with every word! i can’t wait for the world to experience this!
January 21, 2025
Predictable…with an insufferable FMC.
I think the overall goal was to have a really strong FMC, but honestly it was bringing a lot of male energy. The book was also written with a fast chain of events popping off, and I think the author is trying to have all these different twists that you don’t see coming…but I saw them coming.
The author said she took 8 years to write this? I honestly can’t understand how this book would take that long. Went in with high hopes but didn’t like it at all.
I think the overall goal was to have a really strong FMC, but honestly it was bringing a lot of male energy. The book was also written with a fast chain of events popping off, and I think the author is trying to have all these different twists that you don’t see coming…but I saw them coming.
The author said she took 8 years to write this? I honestly can’t understand how this book would take that long. Went in with high hopes but didn’t like it at all.
January 18, 2025
3,5 ⭐
I loved the plot up until that called plot twist... But I'll keep reading the series because I'm curious
I loved the plot up until that called plot twist... But I'll keep reading the series because I'm curious
January 27, 2025
“I think that you want someone who challenges you. You want something that you have to fight for, someone who’s going to keep you on your toes. You want someone who would crawl from the grave back to you.”
“What makes you say that?”
“Because you’re a warrior, and I know the desires of warrior women.”
One thing that thrills us with reading is when we find a new to us author. We love uncovering those lesser-known books and sharing the love with our book buddies. Another thing we absolutely love are Angels – the saviours and the fallen, and in The Shadows That Listen by Louisa Carmody, we found both. Bingo!
’The archangel is a flame, and I’m standing close enough to get burned.’
It’s been 5 years since Amara (Mara) Jones’ world went to pot. She a soldier with the Angel Intelligence Agency. After three years of brutal war, following a deal with the angels, they had room to breathe, but a fallen angel is wreaking havoc, murdering at will and he needs to be stopped.
’The temptation of sin warp the mind unlike anything else.’
On the hunt for her missing boyfriend, Mara crosses paths with the Archangel Nathaniel. He’s incredibly strong and powerful, he’s stunningly handsome, he’s witty, and he’s a pain in her arse, but she needs his help as they enter realms and dangers that would make the strongest person wince.
”The angel of all angels.” His lethal gaze turns to playful, and he looks away. “I like that title.”
Louisa Carmody has woven a fabulous romantic urban fantasy with daemons, hellhounds, and every other fearful creature you can put in the paths of Nathaniel and Amara. This is both a fast paced and slow-moving story with the chemistry and tension between our MMC and FMC palpable. There are some twists and turns. Some we saw coming and others we didn’t.
’We will never win this war. This is the start of the end of our world.’
This does end on a cliffy which we didn’t expect, and we’re looking forward to picking up where we left off. We love it!
August 14, 2025
24 hour finish & HOLY SH*T. Think an angels vs demons hit the real world in a “The Last of Us” apocalyptic way. This story is going to be sitting rent free in my brain for a while. It does get more a little gorey & dark than I’d say a typical romantasy does, so be warned but like please don’t let that stop you from reading it I’m begging.
FMC was 10/10, not annoying whatsoever imo & I am just so taken with the MMC in like a really big way. Their banter was soo good too BUT it is a SLOWWWW BURN. Like SLOW. Like barely anything happens (if yall catch my drift) but like there’s enough banter & tension to make it work. There’s also just the fact the world’s collapsing around these individuals so like when would you even have time to think about something like that (I’m looking at you Feyre & Rhys in that gods damn tent during a full on battle). There is another factor at play here too for reasons why that ^ will prob wait until the next book which I’m BEGGING TO THE GODS will be soon.
Final note - it’s on Kindle Unlimited! I made a saved list on Amazon with all of my TBR books that are on Kindle Unlimited so I don’t have to manually search every time, so if anyone is interested in that, hit my line 😤
FMC was 10/10, not annoying whatsoever imo & I am just so taken with the MMC in like a really big way. Their banter was soo good too BUT it is a SLOWWWW BURN. Like SLOW. Like barely anything happens (if yall catch my drift) but like there’s enough banter & tension to make it work. There’s also just the fact the world’s collapsing around these individuals so like when would you even have time to think about something like that (I’m looking at you Feyre & Rhys in that gods damn tent during a full on battle). There is another factor at play here too for reasons why that ^ will prob wait until the next book which I’m BEGGING TO THE GODS will be soon.
Final note - it’s on Kindle Unlimited! I made a saved list on Amazon with all of my TBR books that are on Kindle Unlimited so I don’t have to manually search every time, so if anyone is interested in that, hit my line 😤
June 5, 2026
I feel a little conflicted about this book. On one hand, I really liked the urban atmosphere, even though I wanted a little bit more of it. I also liked the universe, there aren’t many romantasy or fantasy books about angels and it felt refreshing. It was also relatively well-paced and I wasn’t bored when I was reading it. On the other hand… the characters fell flat for me. Amara was the most interesting of them all, which was a relief because she’s the main character. The male characters, though, were not really to my liking. Nathaniel was too mocking sometimes, it really annoyed me. I wish we had more of the relationship between Amara and Xavier. And the romantic plot felt a tiny bit icky to me, because Amara is still in a relationship of her own when she met Nathaniel. It rubbed me the wrong way to watch their relationship develop so quickly. This was definitely not a slow-burn, the attraction is instant. There was a reveal at the end that I didn’t like very much, but other than that I could read the sequel, so I guess it wasn’t that bad. I just feel a little… let down. But it was still an enjoyable read overall and I would recommend it if you’re looking for a romantasy to binge-read.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
March 25, 2026
“𝐈 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬, 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐢𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐞, 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐮𝐩 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐧𝐨 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐞.”
Oh Louisa absolutely delivered with this debut. The second I saw The Shadows That Listen was pitched for fans of the Shadowhunters franchise, I knew I had to pick it up and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Dystopian is SO back besties.
Amara is such a badass FMC who takes no shit from anyone and honestly, we all know I support women’s rights but most importantly women’s wrongs, so I cannot wait to see how her character develops as the series continues. The banter between Amara and Nathaniel was so good. I ate that shit up. I also really loved the friendship between Amara and Xavier.
The magic system, plus the whole angels, demons, and humans dynamic, really pulled me in and that plot twist at the end had me shook. I need more books from Louisa immediately, please and thank you.
the vibes ™:
- angels x demons x humans
- dystopian
- nothing is what it seems
- banter
- insane tension
- reluctant allies
- strong friendships
💌 Special thanks to Orbit for allowing me to read this as an arc!
Oh Louisa absolutely delivered with this debut. The second I saw The Shadows That Listen was pitched for fans of the Shadowhunters franchise, I knew I had to pick it up and it did not disappoint in the slightest. Dystopian is SO back besties.
Amara is such a badass FMC who takes no shit from anyone and honestly, we all know I support women’s rights but most importantly women’s wrongs, so I cannot wait to see how her character develops as the series continues. The banter between Amara and Nathaniel was so good. I ate that shit up. I also really loved the friendship between Amara and Xavier.
The magic system, plus the whole angels, demons, and humans dynamic, really pulled me in and that plot twist at the end had me shook. I need more books from Louisa immediately, please and thank you.
the vibes ™:
- angels x demons x humans
- dystopian
- nothing is what it seems
- banter
- insane tension
- reluctant allies
- strong friendships
💌 Special thanks to Orbit for allowing me to read this as an arc!
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