A shadow storms inside Lyvia, all-consuming and unyielding to her transformative light, as two of the mightiest powers in the Realm of Vael struggle to coexist.
After retreating from a devastating loss at the Battle of Odessa, the crew of the Evecta and soldiers of the Rising grow restless in the elven Queendom of Lotrennia. Though they’ve found refuge, Queen Antares rules her court with cunning words and calculated wit. Lyvia must navigate dangerous politics as she attempts to gain control over her newfound powers, dethrone King Saros of Sultira, and save the souls of the ashen.
But as news of mysterious deaths spread in Lotrennia, what remains of Lyvia’s humanity is exploited, setting in motion events that cannot be undone. The hunt for the next bone of power will push Lyvia to her limits, forcing the Bellator to make choices that will shape the future of her world and who she is.
Oaths will be sworn, bonds will be broken, motives will be revealed, and salvation will rest in the hands of the enemy. Lyvia must learn to live with the decisions she’s made, and accept herself despite them, as the shadow of the Sending begins to eclipse her very soul.
The second installment of the Nyxteria is a high-stakes Indiana Jones meets Mistborn adult fantasy series—where legends become reality, a scholar becomes a warrior, and the bonds of found family are tested.
A.M. Kay grew up in the Midwest where she spent countless hours on horseback, daydreaming about epic fantasy battles and studying archaeology. She has always had a profound love for reading and all things fantasy. She found her passion for writing in 2023 and believes it's never too late to chase your dreams.
I loved Bones of the Bellators, Book 1 of A.M. Kay's Nyxteria series, and I honestly didn't know if anything could top it. Then came the sequel, Shadow of the Sending, a book I've had the immense privilege of beta-reading. So, let me at least try to pour my feelings into words...
A.M. Kay dives even deeper this time. She captures character growth, painting a raw and vivid picture of inner demons, buried truths, and long-hidden wounds brought to life. This isn’t a sequel written just to extend the story or fill in gaps. This is a book that stands on its own. It demands love, awe, and reverence every bit as much as its predecessor, if not more.
As readers, we’re gently guided back into Nyxteria, given just enough to reconnect with the story before the storm hits. It truly feels like coming home after a long, perilous journey, one where you already know that peace won’t be waiting for you. But you welcome the pain anyway. You crave it viscerally.
Livia and Bayne may be at the center, but their perfectly imperfect found family anchors the very soul of the story. Shadow of the Sanding showed us more of Nerissa's vulnerability, and I loved that. We see some cracks in Vulcan's tough facade. We witness the quiet rise of Carina, hinting she may become far more than a timid princess. I believe she will truly shine in Book 3.
And then there are Livia and Bayne...
If I could choose my favorite moment, it would be their reunion. My poor heart almost couldn't take it. These two went through so much, and there are still too many obstacles and storms lying ahead, but I just know, deep in my soul, that they will emerge victorious.
Shadow of the Sending delivers revelations that could shake everything we thought we knew. Yet it doesn’t give away all its secrets. Not yet. There are still truths to unearth, hearts to break and mend, and paths to walk through the darkness.
Would I have preferred an ending where everyone is happy, healthy, and in love? Of course. I care too much about these characters not to. But did I expect that? No. I wanted to be left breathless. Heart shattered, soul quiet, staring into nothing.
And this series gave me exactly that. It gave me "I am not afraid of the dark". It gave me "Hello, Lyvia". It gave me everything.
I received this book early to be reviewed, here is my review!
This was such an epic continuation of the Nyxteria series and I’m totally in love with Lyvia. I feel like her best friend, I know all her insecurities and her strengths, and I’m just over here cheering her on.
The writing is so good! The timing of the details is spot on and every character feels alive. And Astreus….. I cannot wait to see what happens with him in book 3. Hoping for something spicy, not gonna lie.
Huge thanks to AM Kay for this series. I’m in it for the long haul. The book is packed with twists and turns, and every chapter keeps things moving. Loved it.
Thank you AM Kay for the opportunity to read your fantastic book!
WOW, what a roller coaster this book was. I raged, I cried, and I fell in love. I raged because Livy had to deal with so much in a short amount of time, the betrayal after betrayal was just gut wrenching and I hurt right along with her. I cried because of what happened to some of her friends and the swell of pride I had for her overcoming herself doubts and what was thrown her way so many times, also her new fury friend is an absolute bad a** and he also made me cry a few times. I fell in love with all the new characters we met and I am so excited to see whatever happens next (especially after that doozy of an ending). If you love feminine rage, slow burn, found family, fury friends, interesting magic and world, elves, and so much more than I highly recommend this book!
A.M. Kay has absolutely destroyed me with Shadow of the Sending. I tell everyone how good Bones of the Bellators is but this next installment is just phenomenal!
The story picks up with Lyvia's pov 6 weeks after the Battle of Odessa. Laying low in Lotrennia, our crew must plan a defense against the continued threat from Kings Daimos and Saros, master their magic and navigate the manipulative politics of Lotrennia's Queen Antares.
It was a joy to pick this story back up and immediately be greeted with so many of the characters I loved from the previous book. The found family in this series is flawless. We only have Lyvia's pov but we see the flaws and strengths of the characters so well, the different way they all show their love, care and protection. Vulcan and Nerissa in particular - heart eyes for both of them! I love a grumpy character. I love even more when they break and acknowledge how much they care for the MC. The supporting characters in this story are so well fleshed out, that despite never having their pov, they feel like whole people. None of them fall flat and the ones you end up disappointed in or frustrated with - it doesn't feel out of character. It makes perfect sense why a "poor" decision was made or why they chose to betray their friends. I gasped and cried and raged along with Lyvia. Her emotions and processing are so tangible throughout the story. The way she describes feeling her waves of emotion; her worry that her anger at the constant hardships is tainting her soul; how she witnesses and empathises with her friends emotions and struggles - beautiful. The writing is so evocative that many, multiple times throughout this book I was taken aback by how acutely I was able to share in Lyvia's emotions and empathy.
I've said it before, I'll say it now and I know I'll say it again in the future - A.M. Kay's world building is exceptional!! I'm not always the best at picturing the world the characters are experiencing but the way A.M. Kay writes her world is not just vivid but immersive in a way that makes you feel like you're truly there. I could smell the salt in the ocean air, feel the grain of wood beneath my hands and the texture of horse hair and feathers as I flew alongside the characters. I didn’t feel like a setting had just been described - the writing evokes real life sensations, matching the fantasy with tangible, familiar experiences.
The plot was stunning. Never once did I feel bored or confused. The twists were entirely gasp worthy, the betrayals hurt, the romance was the perfect kind of torture! Lyvia makes so much progress with her magic and her sense of self, her confidence in her abilities. I don't want to be that person but I genuinely can't wait for the next installment because that cliffhanger ending was absolutely brutal and the story just keeps getting better!! Everytime something was confronted or solved - we actually unlocked another piece of lore or found another bone and the whole dynamic shifted and it was just so much fun!!
This is the type of epic fantasy I want. I want strong female leads, sisterhood, found family and platonic love. I want hard decisions and temperamental magic. I want smirking, shirtless pirate lords and questionable noble men. I want a queen who is nothing short of a horribly manipulative cow and her daughter who I just know is going to turn into an absolute power house of a woman! I want a backdrop I can get lost in. I want celebrations where I get drunk and dance in glitter with my friends. I want to end a battle, bruised and bloody and emotionally defeated, only to lock eyes with my friends and sag in relief to see them still breathing. I want sea spray, the creak of a ship and sarcastic, telepathic flying horses. I want heartbreak and betrayal and fucking anger. I want to build myself back up and realise I'm capable. I want the emotions and family and world I found inside Shadow of the Sending. Simply a stunning book. I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to arc read this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Hi. Anne broke me. Like all my pieces are on the floor and I haven’t been able to function fully. May or may not have bombarded her DMs because my life is changed. 🤭🤭 This goes in my top 5 of books that utterly destroyed me and I can’t wait for her Anne to put me back together.
We begin pretty close to right where we left off at the end of book one, except we have moved from human lands to the elven lands where a scheming queen has her sights on Bayne and her evil plots upon Lyvia. We dive right back into the action and heartache, but I’ll say that this one hurts WAY MORE. Continuing to be plot driven, our romance has been diabolically tampered with and you’re gonna love seeing where Anne takes us. It is going to be painful but I believe it’s worth it! It’s worth it because we get to see our FMC find her self-worth and own her power. She transcends the doubts of others, heals some wounds and faces others, and finds balance between two warring magics. And she does all of this while fighting to keep her moral compass, empathy, and compassion in a beautifully transparent and vulnerable way.
As we travel on our favorite Pirate Lord Astraeus’ ship (who I can’t wait to see more of 😜), we grow our found family and we oust more traitors. We get to know these characters so deeply they feel real. The stakes get EVEN higher (and you thought that wasn’t possible!), the sacrifices for love and humanity have not lessened, the magic and powers are increasing, the world and our characters are growing. Chaos REIGNS, but our beloved characters never lose hope even in the most hopeless moments. Unlikely heroes and allis band together and new bonds begin to blossom.
My whole heart has been rocked. What book one created, book two demolished and created anew. This epic fantasy is one that is so full of action, tension, and suspense that you’ll need an ice bath after just to cool down. It truly affected my real life in the best way. 🤣
Tropes you may find in SOTS are forced proximity, medium spice, found family, unique bonds, animal bonds, magical oaths, elemental magic, feminine rage, slow burn, deaf rep, epic high fantasy, so much tension, plot driven, and a cliffhanger.
I apologize to Anne for bothering her so much and I extend all my thanks for this gifted arc. I NEED BOOK THREE YESTERDAY.
I honestly didn’t think anything could top Bones of the Bellators, but Shadow of the Sending completely blew me away. This sequel hits deeper in every way — emotionally, mentally, and even spiritually. A.M. Kay has such a gift for writing characters that feel real. You don’t just read about them; you feel with them.
Lyvia continues to grow in ways that are both painful and beautiful. I love how A.M. Kay doesn’t shy away from showing her flaws, fears, and fierce determination. The whole found family dynamic — Bayne, Nerissa, Vulcan, Carina — adds so much heart to the story. Each of them shines in their own way, and I’m obsessed with how their bonds continue to deepen.
The writing is absolutely stunning. Every emotion hits hard, every twist lands perfectly, and there’s this constant feeling of tension and hope that keeps you turning pages. The world of Nyxteria feels more alive than ever, full of mystery, danger, and love that refuses to fade no matter the darkness ahead.
A.M. Kay delivers another emotional rollercoaster packed with heart, secrets, and revelations that will leave you desperate for Book 3. I’m completely hooked on this series and all its characters — they’ve carved out a place in my
6 stars! Ugh... noooo. The ending- I need the next book right now. This book was incredible, awesome, amazing! I was hooked the whole time. I feel like I was there, I can dream it. "I was alone, but I wasn't. Just like I was never really alone." When Lyvia gets not one power, but two bestowed upon her and is the only one with the nack for finding the others everyone will try to use her to get power for themselves. Choices must be made and she must figure out who she can trust. Will enemies be able to work together to save everyone from the plots of corrupt rulers? Is there something larger at play here?
The first book made me fall in love with this world, and the second book DESTROYED me! I felt her yearning, her pain, the betrayal as if it was my own. I can't wait to find out what happens next...I'm invested, I'm in DEEP. Whom will she ultimately find her bliss with? Will she reclaim what's hers (I'm trying so hard to not give spoilers or reveal my guesses for what happens next...)
If you enjoy that yearning for sense of self and purpose, that romantic tension, that independent and strong FMC, read this! In just a few words, it's gender-bent young Indiana Jones in a fantasy realm.
The ending of this book was a keep you on your toes, very intense and just needing to know what happens next. It ends on a cliffhanger so be warned! There’s a lot of twists and turns and a new love interest that I cannot wait to see more of. I will say that the storyline was good, but I did feel like I was missing a lot of the story as it was being told, making me feel lost at times. The way people talked seemed inconsistent and anachronistic. I was really hoping for a strong FMC but found she was a little immature for her role. I’m ready to see more growth in the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
A.M. Kay has taken me on another wild ride in book two of The Nyxteria — Shadows of the Sending.
The secrets are being revealed, and choices must be made… and some of these choices had me SOBBING.
Lyvia finally gets the healing and self-acceptance I’d been hoping for — but at what cost?
A.M. Kay continues to craft a cast of villains (yes, plural) you’ll absolutely love to hate. And yet, there are still more secrets waiting to be unraveled…
I literally just finished the final sentence of this book and the only reason I'm sad is because the book is finished.
I thought the first book in this series was amazing, but the sequel - EVEN BETTER! So much character development, beautiful back stories, twists and turns. My emotions were an absolute roller-coaster throughout this book, I was actively upset anytime I had to put it down.
Beautifully done, devestatingly addicting. I can't wait for this story to continue.
If you thought the first book was amazing…just wait till you read this book!
All I can come up with is WOW!!!! This story took turns that I did not see coming at all. We learn so much about all the characters. We see them come together, be torn apart, grow as individuals. I’m honestly sad that I’m finished with this book 😅