The Mortal and the Shadow

by T.B. VALENTINE

When Zema enters the mental rehab facility after a botched self-attempt on her life, she thinks she might finally have found someplace where she can escape the stress and torment of her home life. But when she encounters a strange cryptid in her room as she’s getting ready for bed, it sets in motion a series of events that unlock the secrets of her own past.

Tayce wakes up with amnesia, unable to recall much of what they experienced before losing consciousness. Drawn to their destiny by their deity’s influence and guided by the Eye in their chest, Tayce travels the mortal realm seeking energy for their Queen to use to rebuild their fallen kingdom. When they stumble across a mortal with an unusual aura, they can’t help but be drawn into the orbit of their gravity and in turn caught up in the secrets they’ve kept hidden, even from themselves.

The Mortal and the Shadow explores trauma reprocessing, consensual shared intimacy, and breaking free from cycles of toxic control.

Please review trigger warnings.

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 10, 2025

Reviews

[Madeline McMahon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of beta reading The Mortal and The Shadow, and it hooked me from the start with its fluid, atmospheric writing and powerful character dynamics. Its mystery, emotional depth, and themes of resilience, choice, and identity shine throughout, with Sleep Token–inspired undertones deepening the emotional pull. A compelling read for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance, consensual intimacy, and trauma reprocessing.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Expect to just carve out the entire day to read this, and start early in the day, so you don’t end up like me. I devoured this book in less than 12 hours. The connection between Zema and Tayce can be felt from their first meeting and had me locked in. My only complaint is it ended, and I now have to wait for the next book.

[Kayla Lowder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was privileged enough to be chosen as an ARC reader for this book and I was not disappointed in the least. The worldbuilding draws you into the mystery of another realm instantly and I found myself unable to stop reading as the POVs alternate between the two main characters, Zema and Tayce. As the story unfolds you find yourself compelled by what's happening and eager for more. I also found it incredibly refreshing to see trauma handled in a way that seems realistic without harping on the painful details unnecessarily. The same can be said for Zema, a FMC who is self-aware but in a way that lends credence to her as a person and for her continued development as a character. Tayce is a fascinating foil to Zema and the slow unraveling of the tale from each point of view made for a well-rounded narrative. Overall I found myself thoroughly entranced by the relationship built throughout the course of the story and I will be excitedly anticipating the next entry in the series.

[Carly Vaughn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was totally engrossed in this story!

While the unique world-building and suspense kept me turning the pages, the real strength of this novel is the connection between Tayce and Zema. The development of their relationship feels earned, and I was rooting for them as they helped each other process their respective trauma.

I did feel there were some points in the story where the pacing slowed. However, the emotional payoff was worth the wait.

There are some dark themes in the book, but they are handled with care.

Overall, this was an excellent start to a series I look forward to continuing!

[Evelyn Garner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to be one of the ARC readers for this book, and honestly I’m obsessed. The world, the characters, everything was so much fun. Without going into spoiler territory, I felt the more serious topics were incredibly well handled without feeling like Zema was traumatized for the sake of being traumatized. The actual world building was complex without being confusing, and the main characters really felt like people you could root for. Every single named character felt like they had their own thoughts and feelings, nobody felt stiff or plot-devicey. This is one of those books I’ll be counting down the days until I can read the second one.

[Aliaa Farouk · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very lucky to have T.B. Valentine allow me to read The Mortal and the Shadow as an ARC reader. From the first time I came across the snippets and content that she was sharing about the novel and I knew that it will be unlike anything I’ve ever read. It’s refreshing to finally read a book that’s truly original. For the first time in a long time, I felt a real and genuine connection with the main characters; their emotions, their traumas, their experiences, the way they process things and how they act.

The novel put me through a whirlwind of emotions sparked by the honest and raw depiction of the characters and how the writing truly allows you to see through their eyes.

I can’t wait to see how this book will make its way up on the charts and I know that it will be the first of many great works for T.B. Valentine.

[Ella Phant · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first sentence, I was completely locked in. The world building is woven perfectly into the story and so immersive. I might actually explode waiting for the next installment!!!!

[Ashley Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Note: I received an advance copy of this book so this is my honest review. I will also being doing my best to avoid spoilers for this book as I want folks to read it.

This story follows Zema, a young woman who is in a behavioral health facility after a failed suicide attempt. She works on trying to remain in order to avoid her parents despite showing promise of a potential release. This story also follows Tayce, a shadow creature that has one goal: to serve their queen. We see each character deal with their struggles. For Zema, it's healing from a traumatizing past that has left a dark stain on her perceived reputation. For Tayce, it's serving their queen faithfully while dealing with the curiosities of our mortal realm. But as Tayce finds themselves in the same room as Zema, their curiosity begins to turn into an obsession.

What I like about this book is that the mix of contemporary and fantasy blend perfectly to me. While it does get heavy with the mention of suicide, childhood trauma, violence, and sexual content it is laid out perfectly in the Trigger Warning. Also, I love how there's a pronunciation guide for some of the names of the characters.

In short, if you love a theme of world's colliding and curiosity leading into a high fantasy romance, then I recommend you give this book at read.

[Taylor Lianne Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

T. B. Valentine absolutely killed it with this book.
For fans of Sleep Token, our MMC is a masked hottie with skin that glistens like galaxies who also doesn’t know what to do, but loves when she makes ✨those sounds✨

He’d do anything for her and does.
There’s a cliff hanger, but I love those ❤️ always means there will be more, and trust me YOU’LL WANT MORE.

Thank you, Tiff, for the ARC. It was an honor and a pleasure to read your work. Looking forward to reading more about Tayce and Zema 😭😭🙌🏻

[Alice Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!

The world-building is very strong and unique, but the core of emotion is what really stands out. I was rooting for Zema and Tayce to overcome their trauma and really appreciated their connection. The progression of their relationship was a joy to read.

Can’t wait to find out what happens next!