The Light in the Shadows

by EL Pace

The Light in the Shadows is the haunting first installment of the Born of Shadows series. It follows Skia, the daughter of the ruthless King of Shadows, who was born with light inside her - a gift stolen by her father. As two kingdoms teeter on the edge of war, Skia must decide who she the weapon her father raised, or the spark of rebellion destiined to burn the Shadowlands to the grownd.

Across the border, the newly crowned King of Light is drowning under the weight of a kingdom that worships the sun but hides its own secrets in the dark. When fate binds him to the enemy's daughter, he faces a protect the light, or let it vurn everyting he's ever known.

As war brews, ancient magic awakens, and a prophecy threatens to unravel both realms. Skia must Will she become the monster they fear- or the storm that breaks them?

Enemies to somwthing more. Betrayal with teeth. A crown made of shadows.

For fans of morally grey heroines, starcrossed destines, and dark fantasy that hurts so good.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 26, 2025

Reviews

[Mybookish.odyssey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of reading this eARC, by the amazing
EL Pace. This dark fantasy will have you in your feelings.
This book includes feuding kingdoms, Resilient FMC, slowburn, family secrets, fated mates and more!!!
Add to your TBR!!!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A princess of shadows bent to be a weapon of darkness by her cruel father
A reluctant king holds a powerful and forbidden secret in a kingdom of light
A prophecy binds them
A betrayal threatens
Will they remain enemies and destroy each other, or join together and remake everything they've known?

I enjoyed The Light in the Shadows very much! Here are some highlights (without giving anything away!):
🕯️The direct style of writing gives a sense of urgency and an ominous feeling, which is in theme with the story. The pacing is quick and the story rolls right along, and almost gave me the feeling of watching a movie in that I felt like I was IN IT
🕯️There are multiple POV changes that really filled out the story, particularly between Skia and her father, and Meir. The POVs also included more secondary characters which I felt added depth to the storyline and main characters themselves.
🕯️I enjoyed the flashback chapters, where I was constantly looking for little details that I thought would show up somewhere later 👀
🕯️There are some refreshing twists on tropes, such as fated mates, betrayal, and who wields light and who wields shadow

Overall I thought The Light in the Shadows was a very satisfying read. The writing is immersive and atmospheric, the characters are engaging, there are clues abound, and I can't wait to get more into the magic and details of this world!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cinematic, haunting, and utterly addictive.

The Light in the Shadows delivers exactly what the title promises — a world carved from contrast, a heroine built from contradictions, and magic that feels like it crackles right off the page.

Skia is everything I love in a dark-fantasy lead: morally grey with teeth, emotionally layered, and impossible not to root for. And the way El Pace writes the shadows — alive, textured, almost sentient — is nothing short of stunning. Chills.

Across the border, the overwhelmed King of Light is the perfect foil: bound by prophecy, suffocating under expectations, and suddenly tethered to the enemy’s daughter. Their connection? Slow-burn, fated-mates tension that hurts so good.

The world-building is cinematic, the stakes are real, and the supporting cast shines (Raven especially — I need an entire novella about them immediately).

If you love:
✨ morally grey heroines
✨ enemies-to-something-dangerously-more
✨ dark vs. light mythology
✨ star-crossed destinies
✨ devastating magic and delicious betrayal

…you’re going to devour this one.
The final chapters hit like a storm, and now I’m counting down to book two. El Pace, you have my full attention.

[lizette franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (4.5/5)
This book swept me into a world of magic, kingdoms at war, and forbidden love. Who wants a Shadow Daddy when you can have a Shadow Vixen and a Light Daddy, they’re the perfect combination. With a powerful blend of enemies-to-lovers, fated mates, and ruthless betrayal, this fantasy tale hits all the high notes for readers who love morally grey characters and high-stakes romance.
It’s A Gripping Fantasy Full of Shadows, Light, and Star-Crossed Lovers; what more can you ask for?!
We follow Skia, the shadow princess of the Shadowlands, whose brutal father, the King of Shadows, has shaped her into his personal weapon and tries to break her in the process. She’s a beautifully complex morally grey heroine: a mix of strength, pain, and rebellion. We also follow Meir, the noble light prince of Luminiaria from the Lightlands, trained his entire life to destroy the very shadows Skia comes from. When fate throws them together, sparks fly, not just from their clashing beliefs, but from a deeper connection neither of them can deny.
Their journey together through the Dark Forest of the Darklands is packed with tension, danger, and unexpected moments of vulnerability. The rivalry-turned-alliance is compelling, especially with the looming pressure of a mysterious prophecy, two kingdoms on the brink of war, and deadly hunters on their heels.
This book is steeped in themes of shadow vs. light, duty vs. desire, and love vs. loyalty. The forbidden romance between Skia and Meir had me hooked, and the final chapters left me craving for book two immediately. That ending? Just wow. The author definitely knows how to set up a sequel.
⚠️ Trigger Warnings: Includes scenes of torture, abuse, and death—please check full warnings before diving in.
If you're into star-crossed lovers, dark fantasy worlds, and slow-burn romances that are built against all odds, this one is for you. I can’t wait to see how this prophecy unfolds in book two.

[Amelia Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Light in the Shadows is everything I want in a dark fantasy haunting, immersive, and impossible to put down. From the very first page, I was pulled into Skia’s story, torn between the ruthless legacy of her father and the light inside her that refuses to be extinguished. She’s the kind of morally grey heroine I crave: layered, flawed, and utterly unforgettable.

The worldbuilding is breathtaking two kingdoms on the brink of war, secrets lurking in every shadow, and a magic system that feels both ancient and dangerous. I loved how the author balanced high-stakes political tension with raw, emotional character moments.

And then there’s the dynamic between Skia and the King of Light… tense, forbidden, and filled with the kind of slow-burn spark that makes you ache for more. Betrayal, destiny, star-crossed ties it’s all here, written in a way that kept me glued to the page.

If you’re a fan of enemies-to-lovers, dark prophecies, and fantasy that cuts deep while still giving you hope, this book will be your next obsession. I’m already desperate for the next installment in the Born of Shadows series!

[Janet Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t Wait to See Where This One Goes!

I had the privilege of ARC reading The Light in the Shadows and I really enjoyed it. It’s a dark fantasy filled with forbidden magic, prophecy, betrayal, meddlesome gods, cruel kings, dark forests, and monsters of all kinds. Pace poured her heart and soul into this book and it shows. All the characters have depth and flaws, and you don’t quite know who to trust. Betrayal lurks in every shadow.

Skia and Meir come from two completely different worlds, two kingdoms that have been enemies for centuries, each with its own dark secrets. Can they learn to trust each other amidst so much betrayal? A cryptic prophecy ties them together but it hints at both salvation and ruin. Their path isn’t clear. One wrong step and they could destroy everything, including each other.

The world is immersive, the characters are complex, the pacing is filled with tension, and the burn is slow. I can’t wait to read more about this dark world. This is the first book in the shadow born series. So excited to read more!

[Jeannie Storm Hayes · Rating 5 out of 5]

cannot wait to continue this series! We dove right into the darkness and heartache and quickly into adventure! I loved the emotions in it! Very descriptive. The journey is a good pace, unlikely characters put together with some witty banter that made me laugh! You quickly learn so much about the battle that is to come. Uncovering secret after secret along the way. With terrifying creatures and beings! Skia's internal struggle definitely struck a nerve in my soul. Her self doubt and her darkness were just the tip of who she is and love seeing her start to figure that out. I've  felt so many of the things she has in my own mind. It very beautifully painted a picture. The yearning between the characters was scorching! You could feel the need in every encounter! A prophecy that will either remake or destroy the world. I was hanging for dear life not wanting it to end. The journey has just begun and I cannot wait to see what comes next.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This dark fantasy is full of atmosphere and imagination, with curses, forbidden borders, and shadowy villains. At its core are themes of sacrifice, survival, and love. With vivid world-building and high stakes, it shows the timeless pull between light and darkness. Fans of dramatic fantasy will be drawn into its haunting world-at its heart, this is a story about hope, resilience, and the fight to protect what matters most.

[Michelle Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to El Pace for allowing me to read this early!

This is a fast pace story surrounding magic, love and war. The world building is expanse and does take a minute to get use to if you are not use to expanse building. The forbidden realtionship between Skia and Meir leaves me wanting more. This has definitley become my jumping off point into fantasy!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was masterfully woven together. It was full of mystery magic war and add in a little enemies to lovers. I stayed up late reading several nights and had me thinking about the story for days after I was finished. I look forward to reading more from this author.

[Sarah Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark, gritty, yet hopeful fantasy had me hooked on every single page!

Skia was born with a gift of light, which was stolen away by her father, the king of the shadows. Now with her entire being deeply rooted in shadows, Skia soon finds herself at a crossroads-will she allow herself to be the weapon of shadows or will she go after the enemy prince turned king, who happens to be the holder of light magic? And who also is the key to saving both the shadow and light kingdoms from a gruesome war. With a betrayal she never saw coming, Skia is left to fight for herself and hope that the extinguished light that lived once inside her, can be brought back to life and that she will see her kingdom saved, and hopefully, the king of light, once again.

This story is dark, powerful, emotional, and has so many moments filled with hope that glitters throughout. I loved the dynamic between Skia and Meir, which started out as an enemy to lovers that soon was transported to fated mates, and was all done in the best way. The setting and folklore woven throughout added an element of mystery and showed that there were more enemies under the surface than what meets the eye.

I enjoyed this first installment immensely and cannot wait to read the next book!

Romantic Content: Closed Door/Fade to Black, Low Spice, Attraction Mildly Described

TW: Violence, Torture, Depression, Anxiety, Betrayal, Parental Abuse, Mild Innuendos and Language