Queen of Shadow

by P.C. Cast

From #1 New York Times bestselling author P. C. Cast—a sexy and magical epic of Celtic legend, perfect for romantasy fans who love Sue Lynn Tan and Thea Guanzon.

Step into the mystical world of the Isle of Skye in 200 BCE, where legends come to life and the Queen of Shadow holds court. But Scáthach is no ordinary queen. Daughter of the Underworld goddess Bēfionn, golden-haired Scáthach is gifted with the Sight, able to glimpse all the possibilities of the future and pass between the world of men and the world of gods.

Scáthach dedicates her life to training the fiercest warriors from across the land in her fortress at Lethra. But then a newcomer arrives in Lethra and upends everything about Scáthach's existence. He is Cuchulainn, the hero of Ulster, son of the Irish God Lugh. Known for his strength and bouts of berserker rage, Cuchulainn wants Scáthach to help him hone his skills and find redemption for his violent past. The Queen of Shadow reluctantly agrees to take him in, ignoring their growing attraction, and what it might mean for her destiny.

Meanwhile, Scáthach's jealous half-sister Aife threatens Scáthach’s claim to the kingdom she loves and challenges Scáthach for Cuchulainn’s loyalty. Caught in a snare of duty and desire as she navigates the perils of leadership, Scáthach discovers that her destiny may lie in the Underworld, where she can forge a future for herself and Cuchulainn by tricking death itself....

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Adult

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication August 1, 2026

About the author

PC was born in the Midwest, and grew up being shuttled back-and-forth between Illinois and Oklahoma, which is where she fell in love with Quarter Horses and mythology (at about the same time). After high school, she joined the United States Air Force and began public speaking and writing. After her tour in the USAF, she taught high school for 15 years before retiring to write full time. PC is a #1 New York Times and #1 USA Today Best-Selling author and a member of the Oklahoma Writers Hall of Fame. Her novels have been awarded the prestigious: Oklahoma Book Award, YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, the Prism, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, Booksellers’ Best, and the Laurel Wreath. PC is an experienced teacher and talented speaker. Ms. Cast lives in Oregon near her fabulous daughter, her adorable pack of dogs, her eccentric Maine Coon, and a bunch of horses. House of Night Other World, book 4, FOUND, releases July 7th, 2020. More info to come soon about the HoN TV series!

Reviews

[lookmairead · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve said it before, but the bar in mythology is extremely high. But I’m always eyeing new-to-me authors, because I’m curious to watch this category grow and evolve.

So, many thanks to Netgalley & @williammorrowbooks for the chance to read this ARC.


For me though, this was a TBR miss.
The writing felt YA, but then 1/2 way through it felt very spicy. And it gave me the ick factor I just couldn’t shake.

It unfortunately didn’t grab my heart as it hoped. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Sara · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uhhh god I’m gonna have to sit on this for a few days while I think about this book. Review to come 🗡️

(FINAL REVIEW:)

I honestly don’t know what to say about this. I loved Cast’s Boudicca and was intrigued by her decision to take on the relationship between Cú Chulainn and Scáthach, but this did not work for me at all. It’s rather funny to me that Boudicca was advertised as a romantasy and this is a historical fiction since I found them to be flipped. For a reimagining of Ireland’s most important hero, I found this really frustrating as I feel like Scáthach was depicted in a way that I both expected and found cringeworthy. As for Cú Chulainn, I do enjoy seeing a hero shown as an average human burdened with divine heritage, but the romance with his teacher just left an INCREDIBLY bad taste in my mouth. Again, I think I will have to start with the positives first and then get into the problems that I had with the book because man were there A LOT. 😮‍💨

First and foremost, I think it was a very powerful decision to write a book about SA survival and healing along with the portrayal of a young man as the victim. I think this was the biggest highlight for me from this book because I do think there needs to be more discussion on the SA of young men and the healing journey overall. However, I have other thoughts on the characters that were in that event. The depiction of Befíonn was both expected for an important goddess, but also one that cares for her child. I do wish we could have gotten a deeper look into her potential link with the Picts of Scotland, but again this is an Irish myth reimagining so I get that it wasn’t explored. If this story just focused on Scáthach and her relationships with her daughter and Shadow Guard, I think this would have been a great look into this incredible Scottish warrior. And lastly, I do like the depiction of Cú Chulainn in this since I like to see famous heroes struggle to please their divine parents and fit it. This makes them way more human and even tragic figures because they never really got to live the life that they wanted, but what everyone expected of them. Despite all of these positives, the negatives were too glaring for me for these to make any kind of dent in my opinion. 😔

The biggest problem that I had with this book was the romance itself. While Scátchach’s age is never truly revealed, it still felt very uncomfortable to read about a grown woman having a sexual relationship with a man who was a few years older than her 19-year-old daughter. I’m all for an older woman getting into a relationship with a younger man, but the fact that Cú Chulainn is old enough to be her son and that he is her student . . . . You get where I’m going with this. It just felt like a weird incestuous mother-son relationship due to the fact that Scáthach continuously treated Cú Chulainn like a son and that he described him as “boyish” all the time. I get that Cast raised his age from the canon 17 in order to make this less cringeworthy and in turn make Scáthach a p£d0, but it never sat well with me. Plus, seeing a warrior woman like this acting like a lust filled teenage girl made me so irrationally mad. I also couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that a famed warrior would make mistake and mistake in battle when it came to her lover. The second thing that I really had problems with is the depiction of Aife, Scáthach’s half-sister. She just felt like a cartoonish villain to me the entire time. The other thing that really annoyed me about Aife is that Cast changed the canon r@p£ that happened between Aife and Cú Chulainn. While I did say earlier that I loved the representation of a young man as the victim, I LOATHED that a woman that was previously the victim is now the perpetrator. To me, it almost erases Aife’s pain and trauma after being coerced into sleeping with Cú Chulainn because (spoiler!) he kills the son that was conceived and made Aife send when he was old enough to be alone. I think if Cast had created new characters with a similar storyline and setting this would have worked just fine, but taking the canon myth and warping it into this just made me go ballistic. All I can think about now are the future readers who are not familiar with Irish myths or won’t go looking into the original story, now believing that this is the canon story and forever believing that Cú Chulainn is a good boy done wrong. The last things that just drove me wild while reading the book is just the overall lacking of “Irish-ness” in this book. Sure Scátchach is a canon Scottish warrior, but for this being an Irish myth reimagining, there was a lot of focus on Norse mythology and the use of the Welsh mythology name of the Underworld: Annwn. 😤

. . . *sighs* This book could have been such a wonderful depiction of the healing journey after SA, but it just nose dived trying to reimagine a romance in a myth that had no love in it. I wish I could say that the little positives that I had redeemed this book, but in reality, I don’t think they could. 😫

Thank you goes to William Morrow and NetGalley for accepting my request read this in exchange for an honest review. I do I wish I could have enjoyed this, but my love of Irish mythology just couldn’t stand this reimagining. 💔

Publication date: August 4

Overall: . . . . Man, I dunno anymore 1.25/5 ⭐️

[Erin Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

✨✨✨THE ENDING 🫠 ✨✨✨

Queen of Shadow is such an enjoyable read!! Both Scáthach and Cuchulainn’s characters were really interesting to me and more mature than what I’m used to in fantasy/romantasies. Hallelujah! I really appreciated a strong, wise, and kick ass ADULT FMC. Who’s also a mother! Claps for that! 👏

The world building is easy to understand and so cool! Absolutely love the mix of Norse and Greek mythology! I do feel like with the battles they were kinda lacking tension a bit but that’s okay.

I like the writing style though and it’s such a FUN, fast-paced, and entertaining fantasy novel!! The ending had me in my feels!!! 😱

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 4, 2026 .

[Sarah Seltzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was not a fan. There's no explanation whatsoever about the magic system the FMC has use of, the characters are all pretty one-dimensional aside from the MMC (who is the only one I was able to feel any sort of connection to. I did not care at all about the others.) This also felt like 2 separate books that were sped up and mashed into 1. This could have easily been fleshed out and worked into a duology. Everything was just concluded so quickly and easily and things were all so convenient. I think if this has been more thought out it could have been good as there are some good and interesting elements. But the execution is severely lacking.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me? Reading pure fantasy? Noblebright, no less? Strange, I know. But I grew up on PC Cast’s House of Night series, so I leapt at the chance to request this ARC and was delighted to receive it.

There is SO much exposition and scene-setting to be done, with much of happening through in-universe personal conversations, that Queen of Shadow admittedly gets off to a bit of a clunky start. The pieces are all there - an imaginative, historical world rich with mystery and belief; the enchanting coexistence of gods, goddesses, religions and otherworlds feels fresh and unique, like Superwholock is real and nothing hurts - but they just don’t quite come together in the way I expected.

For all of the combat, there is little real conflict for quite some time; for all of the things that happen, the stakes never feel particularly high; for all of the worldbuilding, the plot somehow feels a bit anemic, like an early draft rather than a polished release. I wish I could’ve connected more with our main cast of characters, but as it was, I almost felt like I was watching a movie on 2x speed. Part III was my favorite by FAR, so stick it out to be rewarded with some mesmerizing visuals and fascinating folklore!

Another thing I did really like was getting to see a strong, capable grown woman - a mother, no less, and not of a toddler - be the focus of a romantic fantasy. It was refreshing and engaging, and made the entire tale feel much more relatable and realistic (caring about realism in an Ulster Cycle fantasy? yes, I know, I know) than the world being saved yet again by someone who just got their non-vertical license this year.

P.S. dog-lovers unite: the buff and fearless Shadow Queen, daughter of Béfionn, teacher of heroes and warring men, commander of the sea and demigoddess of the Afterlife, basically named her guard dog Sweetheart. Sweetie Pie. Babydoll. Lovergirl.

Relatable.

Many thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC!

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC from NetGalley to review this book. The book sounded right up my alley, but I could not get into it at all. I would go days between picking it back up, and I'm not sure if that was just from the slower pace of the book or the fact that the writing style was really not my cup of tea. Something about it just didn't read smoothly to me. The characters were a bit robotic with their, "How good of you to correct me," and "you were right to remind me I am being unfair. I won't do it again." I think it was a slight lack of varying emotions of these characters, but the story just fell flat for me. There were some elements that I really loved, like the Winter, Autumn, and Summerlands as the afterlife. I loved the idea of a transitional land where you really had to self reflect before being allowed passage into Paradise. I'm not very familiar with Celtic mythology, so I'm not sure if that was original to the book or a big part of established mythology. I wish there had been a pronunciation guide at the beginning of the book, because I was truly lost with trying to figure out pronunciation of all the names (historically I'm terrible with Garlic and Celtic pronunciations). I really wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't get into it. I feel bad giving it a 2 star, but several times I contemplating a DNF. I really appreciate the opportunity to read this book, and hope that everyone else enjoys it! i would have given this a 2.5 or 2.75 star, but I could not justify rounding it up with how hard of a time I had finishing this book.

[Keri M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been reading P.C. Cast’s books for years, and every time I pick up a new release, it feels a little like coming home. Queen of Shadow absolutely did not disappoint.

This book has everything I’ve come to love from Cast—strong female characters, rich world-building, magic woven into every page, and enough twists to keep me coming back for more. The story pulled me in from the start, and the emotional moments hit just as hard as the action-packed ones.

My only very minor critique is that there were a few spots where the pacing slowed slightly as the story set up bigger events down the road. But honestly, that’s a tiny complaint in an otherwise fantastic read, and the payoff was worth it.

If you’ve been a longtime P.C. Cast fan like I have, you’ll find so much to love here. And if you’re new to her work, Queen of Shadow is another reminder of why she’s remained one of my go-to fantasy authors for so many years. A captivating, magical, and thoroughly enjoyable five-star read.

[Book Nook Baddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A self-contained world, rich in its own mythology and fully realized inside the story. "Queen of Shadow" blends Norse and Greek mythology, with its own tiny additions to create a beautiful world of warriors.

Scathach is the Queen of Shadow, a daughter of a god training only the worthy to be wise warriors and leaders. She uses strength and grace to teach not only her students but also her daughter to defend their home and others. When a champion comes to be trained, he must follow her teachings to master not only the physical feats of training, but also to calm the battles inside of himself.

This story feels like an epic quest, calling on the gods themselves to grant wisdom and favors upon mortals. Much like Hercules proving himself through his trials, so too does the warrior Cuchulainn in his journey to be a worthy student of the Queen of Shadow.

P.C. Cast does a wonderful job of building a world that is both mythical and real. The story flows easily and it isn't hard to get caught up in the action. This is an enjoyable book that fans of mythology and fantasy will enjoy.

Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy.

[Breezy · Rating 5 out of 5]

okay as a girl who is utterly obsessed with the works of PC Cast AND mythology this book is stunning.
PC Cast has a way of building worlds that i get so sucked into, worlds that I can visualize almost instantly and characters I love from the get go.
I am typically someone who struggles to read true fantasy, but this one? I was hooked. Between the way our main characters were written, our fmc with such grace and love for her people and our mmc who was complex and so fiercely loyal and protective to those around him.
thank you to netgalley and PC Cast for this eARC i’m utterly in love.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

My rating: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)
celtic mythology 🤝 warrior queen 🤝 “fate says no but what if we ignore that?”
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
okay but…i was NOT expecting this to feel so different from a lot of current romantasy.
because instead of having snarky assassins with shadow daddies and endless miscommunication
this gave me myth and destiny with powerful people acting like actual adults and honestly???
that was refreshing.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what i loved was SCÁTHACH.
finally a fantasy heroine who already knows who she is. she’s not discovering hidden powers or learning she's secretly special or stumbling through leadership
she IS the leader.
she’s respected, she’s powerful, she’s already built a life and a legacy for herself and i LOVED that.
watching her navigate duty, desire and prophecy felt so much more interesting because she wasn’t starting from nothing.
and cuchulainn???listen, this man could've easily become broody warrior #47 but instead he’s surprisingly earnest. yes, he’s dangerous yes, he has a violent reputation but underneath all of that there’s a lot of vulnerability and self awareness that i wasn't expecting and his dynamic with scáthach worked because it felt like mutual respect first, attraction second which i appreciated.
the mythology was probably my favorite part of the book i mean the gods feel PRESENT not just names dropped for aesthetic reasons.
you really get the sense that fate matters the prophecies matter the divine is constantly interfering
and the celtic mythology gives everything a more ancient, legendary feeling than a lot of modern fantasy romances.
which speaking of the romance, this is definitely more mature and emotional and fate driven than super spicy romantasy. the relationship develops through trust, training and shared experiences rather than instant obsession.
and honestly? that worked for me.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what didn’t fully hit was that the pacing gets a little uneven.
the first half really takes its time building the world and relationships...and then parts of the second half move much faster than i expected. there were also moments where the dialogue felt a little too modern compared to the ancient setting and while i liked the romance, i never became completely obsessed with it in the way i hoped i would.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
overall this felt like sitting beside a fire listening to an old legend while knowing the ending might be tragic and hoping the characters can outsmart fate anyway it’s more mythic than addictive.
more atmospheric than fast paced but i genuinely enjoyed spending time in this world.
So if you like celtic mythology with powerful adult heroines and fate driven romances and fantasy that feels like a legend rather than an adventure…this will probably work for you.

My final thought;
i came for the warrior queen and mythology…
i stayed because apparently watching two powerful people try to argue with destiny is one of my favorite forms of entertainment ⚔️🖤✨
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher House for providing me an ARC!

[Mia 🌸 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved P.C. Cast’s House of Night series when I was in high school, so I was really excited to see her write an adult fantasy book, but sadly this one just wasn’t for me.

This book is a reimagining of the Irish myth of Scáthach and follows Scáthach, Queen of Shadow, and Cú Chulainn, the famous hero of Ulster and son of the Irish sun god. I thought the concept was really interesting, especially with the Celtic mythology and the setting on the Isle of Skye. I also liked the Isle of Skye mention because it felt like a fun callback to House of Night, where the characters also travel there. However, I wish there was more worldbuilding. The book also brings in Norse mythology, and I felt like I was expected to already know how everything connected. The only mythology I really know is Greek and some Roman, so I had no idea who these characters were, their stories, or even how to pronounce their names.

I also struggled with the writing style. Even though this is marketed as adult fantasy, it felt more like YA. There was a lot of unnecessary explaining, repeated thoughts, awkward dialogue, and slow pacing. The chapter openings also spoiled what was about to happen, which I found frustrating.

The characters were probably my biggest issue. I never felt very attached to them. Scáthach is strong, kind, and basically perfect, which made her feel bland. Cú Chulainn had more personality, but I still struggled to connect with him.

The romance was also a big issue. Cú Chulainn is around 18, while Scáthach seems to be around 40 since she has a teenage daughter, and that age gap gave me the biggest ick. I just couldn’t get behind their relationship.

The first 60% focuses on one villain, but she was so immature that her villain arc felt almost comical. Then the story completely shifts into another journey with Scáthach and Cú Chulainn, making the second and third parts feel like two different stories forced into one. I think this could’ve worked better as a duology with more time spent developing the characters and plot.

There is also a scene of sexual assault, so definitely check trigger warnings before reading. The male main character is the victim, and the book does focus on his healing afterward.

Overall, I think this could be a good book for someone interested in Celtic mythology, but I wouldn’t go into it expecting a typical romantasy. The romance is a smaller part of the story, and the pacing, characters, and writing style made it hard for me to fully enjoy.

Thank you to Netgalley and William Marrow for this ARC!

[Alcovia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this one. Celtic mythology, an older FMC, and a warrior school setting. It had everything going for it on paper. But somewhere between the page and my heart, it just never connected.

I'll start with what worked. The mythology itself is genuinely interesting, and you can tell P.C. Cast did her research. The underworld worldbuilding had some imaginative moments, and the idea of Scáthach as a warrior goddess running her own school is inherently compelling.

But I never felt connected to any of the characters. Scáthach is written as strong, wise, and endlessly kind, which sounds great but in practice made her feel flat. And for a legendary warrior goddess whose entire identity is training the greatest fighters in the world, she makes some genuinely baffling errors in judgment that cost people around her dearly. These are not endearing flaws that make her feel human. They undermine the entire premise of who she is supposed to be.

Cuchulainn had slightly more dimension, but the romance between them never moved past a dynamic that felt more mother and son than slow burn. Their dialogue reinforced that feeling throughout.

The book also has a pattern of handling sexual violence in ways I found genuinely troubling. Without going into specifics, I felt the narrative treated the aftermath of sexual violence with a lightness that prioritized plot momentum over the weight of what characters had experienced. For a book written by a survivor and with a content warning upfront, I expected more care in the execution.

There is also a scene in the underworld involving a man who attempted to kidnap and assault a child that I felt the narrative framed with more sympathy than I was comfortable with. Rather than treating his actions with appropriate gravity, the scene seemed to invite the reader to feel sorry for him. That did not sit well with me.

Readers familiar with the source mythology will notice that Cast made deliberate adaptation choices, some that modernized the myth effectively and some that I felt needed more reimagining than they received.

The mythology foundation is interesting enough that some readers will enjoy it, but readers sensitive to age-gap dynamics, teacher-student power imbalances, or the handling of sexual violence should go in with eyes open.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and William Morrow in exchange for an honest review.

[Emma Z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before I dive into this review, I want to clarify that while this is a 3-star read for me personally, I think there are a ton of fantasy and romantasy readers who will find this to be easily 4-5 stars, and I think this could potentially be one of the biggest fantasy books of 2026, especially in the romantasy readers’ sphere.

Readers who loved Throne of Glass will find this to be a super satisfying, stand-alone (I think), mythology-inspired fantasy/romantasy (80% adventure/20% romance). I suspect that readers of PC Cast’s
House of Night series will also enjoy reading something more adult from such a beloved author.

Writing: the prose is better than TOG in my opinion, but not by a ton. Nothing novel in the prose itself, but it gets the job done.
Characters: I LOVE that we finally have a romantasy book featuring a middle aged MOTHER! Hell yeah—no more insecure, weak-but-somehow-strongest-girl-alive tropes. Scáthach is wise, compassionate, strong AF, and she is at least 40, I think. It was so refreshing to read about a mature woman in fantasy (and with a younger man, too)!
Plot & Pacing: I wasn’t super familiar with the Ulster Cycle (Irish mythology), so I went into this fairly blind, and I love Cast’s take on the Irish gods and legends. I don’t know how well it matches actual Irish mythology, but I think it’s pretty well done. At times, it felt too fast-paced (a significant portion of the book takes place all in 1-2 days), and that prevented me from feeling the sense or urgency and tension that a slower-burning plot can inspire, but overall the pace and plot were effective.
Spice: reminiscent of one of the later TOG novels—all the actual spice is in the last 15% of the book, and it’s not that detailed. Definitely adult, but kind of mild spice imo. More romantic than spicy.

So overall, if you want poetic, powerful prose or epic fantasy, I’d skip this one. But if you loved the Throne of Glass series (but long for older, more mature characters), or tend to enjoy mythology-based romantasy, I think this is a must-read.

Huge thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins, and P.C. Cast for access to this ARC.

[Lauren🦋 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC of Queen of Shadow by P.C. Cast.

I grew up reading P.C Cast’s House of Night series and was so excited to be approved for this ARC, as I haven’t read any of her adult novels. I unfortunately felt the writing to read very similar to her YA series and it pulled me out of the story so many times because the FMC, Scáthach, is a grown woman with a 19 year old daughter.

On the topic of Scátchach, while her exact age is never revealed, we know that Cuchulainn is only a couple years older than her daughter, which would mean realistically Scátchach is old enough to be his mother. While age gap is fine, (it’s not my personal preference) I just thought their relationship read a bit icky. She is his teacher and he’s a student in her school. So many times it felt like they had a motherly relationship, when she was comforting Cuchulainn with his issues regarding his berserker and his relationship with his father, but then halfway it shifted to a lustful interest and it just felt uncomfortable. On the same vein of predatory relationships and how they are perceived in the book there is a scene later in the book regarding a man who is obsessed with a 9 year old child and Scátchach says that is a redeemable offense and that he could eventually go to the summerlands, which there’s just too much there to unpack for me, but I’ll just say I didn’t agree with that whole concept at all.

If I’m being honest the only redeeming part of this book, in my opinion, was Cuchulainn. I really liked exploring the concept of this Demigod who really struggled with his divine heritage and wanting to earn his father’s love. His character, while explained as a revered warrior, honestly came across as such a golden retriever, I love him so much. I absolutely sobbed during the SA and the aftermath he endured, and it was one of the few things I thought was done well. I don’t think SA of men is talked about enough and I thought it was an important topic.

Overall, this was definitely not what I was expecting from this book and have to say it was a bit of a disappointment.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

P.C. Cast is known for her ability to immerse readers in different worlds and bring gods and goddesses to life. Queen of Shadow uses characters and features of Celtic lore to create a vibrant and multilayered setting for Scáthach and Cuchulainn’s story. Cast’s dedication to carefully researching her chosen legend(s) shines through in this work, although it’s missing the modern twists of her Goddess Summoning and Divine Series. This different approach lends itself to this particular story and helps the reader fall back in time and myth.

What stood out the most in Queen of Shadow is Scáthach’s steady self-assurance in her own abilities and worth, and Cuchulainn’s humility. It’s exciting to have a female protagonist who has earned strength and wisdom through many years and puts the good of others over personal glory, and refreshing to have a man who recognizes the opportunity he has to learn from a strong woman without her needing to prove herself or convince him.

-Scáthach is powerful but uses her abilities to train others into strong capable warriors and to act with honor and compassion.
-She uses her own fighting abilities as a last resort when diplomacy has failed, and only to prevent further loss of innocent life.
-She recognizes her divine powers are a gift and uses them sparingly and always with thanks.

-Cuchulainn is already strong but recognizes Scáthach has skills and knowledge he doesn’t possess.
-He admits when he doesn’t know something and takes guidance and advice seriously.
-He supports and uplifts his peers through training, and never brags about his superior abilities or looks down on others

Fantasy romance fans tired of the ‘young woman suddenly gifted with extraordinary powers’ trope will appreciate the steady confidence and capability of Scáthach, the mutual respect and admiration between her and Cuchulainn, and enjoy the slow burn as she allows herself to find love.

*Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC*

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book really brings to life the story of Cuchulainn, hero of Ulster, in a retelling this time focused on Scáthach, Queen of Shadow and daughter to the goddess of the Underworld. I really appreciated that Scáthach here is in her 30's and extremely settled into her role as Queen of Shadow and master of her sentient castle, happy and content with her daughter and her students that she is training. Scáthach's castle is a happy and warm place, her students patiently encouraged towards heroic feats while they bond together and learn what a warrior should really be fighting for. It's easy to see why Cuchulainn falls in love with both the castle and the Queen of Shadow, and their growing slow-burn romance is beautiful to see.

This is not a cozy story though, with Scáthach's half-sister Aife intent on ending her sister to ensure her own place on the throne and also desperately wanting a child with a god-like bloodline as well. Definitely check the trigger warnings on this one. I thought for sure that Aife's son would come back as a tragedy since that's what happens in the original myth, but that was dropped entirely, which made it seem a bit like a dangling plot thread.

Even while brutal though, the world is rich and lush, even more so when Scáthach and Cuchulainn travel into the lands of the Underworld and encounter different spirits and lands there. There is so much detail and love put into the details of the Summerlands, Autumnlands, Winterlands, and the Isle of Skye itself, and it's wonderful to read about.

What also didn't quite work for me were the sections at the beginning of each chapter from the other POV that kind of spoiled what would happen later in the chapter. Still, that's a small ding, and overall, if you want a romantic Celtic myth retelling with a very mature and steady romance along with big battles, definitely check this one out.

[Mayra Biggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Queen of Shadow by P.C. Cast is a book with an incredibly compelling premise. Grounded in Celtic mythology, it follows the legendary warrior queen Scáthach and the hero Cuchulainn on a high-stakes, atmospheric quest that blends ancient lore with classic romantic fantasy tropes. There is a lot of inherent potential in this setup, especially for readers who love forced-proximity dynamics and journeys into the Underworld.
However, while the conceptual foundation is strong, the execution ultimately didn't quite land for me due to the writing style and world-building mechanics.
Right from the beginning, I struggled to fully immerse myself in the story. The narrative introduces a dense influx of mythological names and terms early on, which quickly became confusing and made it difficult to keep track of the characters and their relationships. Instead of pulling me into the ancient Isle of Skye, the world-building felt somewhat hard to understand, occasionally stalling the momentum of the plot.
Because the writing style didn't quite align with my personal reading preferences, I found the pacing a bit difficult to push past in the opening sections. That being said, readers who are already well-versed in Celtic lore, or those who actively enjoy complex, lore-heavy fantasy environments where you are dropped right into the thick of things, will likely find a lot to appreciate here. The dynamic between the central characters has a lot of texture, and the stakes of the mythological quest are genuinely high.
Ultimately, Queen of Shadow has all the ingredients for a great epic romantic fantasy, but the dense world-building and confusing naming conventions made it a challenging read for me.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Gabrielle Armstrong Velazquez · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book brought me right back to my beloved university classes, where discussing Norse and medieval literature felt like a book club amongst nerds.

There were many details I clicked with because it reminded me of the way the Prose Edda for example the third person omniscient narration, and the juxtaposition between different points of view without an explicit warning to the reader. The quirks of Norse myth was also included and that was fun to read! For my shadow daddy lovers; here we have a shadow mommy ✨💕✨💕✨💕

Moreover, this hero’s journey would have made Tolkien proud; especially with the female protagonist being both otherworldly beautiful yet a warrior who valued love and hope and life over glory and violence. At some points you will get confused as to whose story this is; Scathac’s or Sentata’s and it’s definitely hers. Sentata the MMC also plays important roles as son of Lugh (sun god), a berserker and Hero of Ulfster BUT he’s just part of Scathac’s epic. The sheer love she had for her mother, goddess Befionn, her daughter and the other strong women around her was contagious. From an unwanted crown to defending her students and finding love in the most unexpected of places, to stumbling upon her destiny, Scathac’s tale can heal your soul.

This epic, as most Norse tales, yield important life lessons that withstand the pass of time.

✨ “Oh, Little Fry, I am not fearless. Only an idiot fears nothing.”
✨”women are never just one thing. We carry the magick of creation within us, and that allows us to be composed of a myriad of wonders.”
✨”Now I want anything, everything—all that you will give me.”
✨”And the realm responded to the daughter of their beloved goddess, granting them the one thing they never had enough of in the mortal realm—time.”
✨”But I know how painful it is to choose to love yourself and your own life over giving yourself to another.”

[East of Reality · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is listed as an adult work. I, however, think it rests very firmly in the YA category. There is so much telling, so much redundancy and a lot of unnecessary hand holding as if the book doesn’t trust the reader to comprehend simple facts. There’s a scene where someone make an innuendo, and then someone innuendos back … only to have the author inform us hey, that innuendo was an in-u-en-do. I imagine most readers would be able to figure it out on their own without having to be explicitly told. The simple writing, the exposition, the way every character thinks very, very clearly about what they want, what they’re going to do, and why they’re angry … didn’t work for me as a supposed adult fantasy work.

Then there are the constant lessons on how to be a warrior — which has a better purpose than the ubiquitous “school” most YA books have for exposition dumps. They’re done well. Simply written, clean and only slightly repetitive. The dialogue is stiff and stilted, and the pace is a too meandering for my taste. There are a lot of contrivances in the plot and everything gets tied up so neatly that it doesn’t feel real. It feels convenient.

Scáthach is bland and generic. She’s strong, kind, dutiful, loving, and all things to all people. She’d kind to enemies, unlike her sister; she’s kind to her daughter who she loves, she’s gentle to Cuchulainn. And she’s boring. Cuchulainn has slightly more to him, perhaps because he’s not the main character and is allowed to have flaws.

This was boring. The characters are lackluster, everything is overly explained, and I just didn’t have fun with this book. This is a fine YA. But as an adult fantasy it’s a solid meh.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Robin · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

This was my first P.C. Cast read, and honestly, I had mixed feelings about it.

While overall, I found it had an interesting and entertaining plotline taking place on the Isle of Skye in 200 BCE, the writing to me felt a bit simplistic at times. Other than the few spicy scenes, it almost felt like a YA novel even though the heroine is a mature half goddess/half human with a young adult daughter of her own...and there lies my second conflict with the book.

Scáthach, the heroine, is a teacher/trainer of warriors and meets our hero, Cuchulainn (also half god/half human) when he wins the right to enter her training program. Cuchulainn is roughly the age of Scáthach's daughter and while sweet and an endearing and sympathetic/tragic character is very naive and immature in some ways. The two mains become friends (with a little hero worship coming into play from Cuchulainn toward Scáthach) and then develop a more intimate relationship. The problem for me was the about-face of Scáthach from teacher/friend to something more. It seemed rather out of the blue, and to be honest, both the age difference and the power dichotomy really bothered me more and more as I went along. There were moments that it just felt "icky" to me (for lack of a better word). And yes, I wholeheartedly own that this is a personal issue for me and may be perfectly fine with other readers. To each his/her own.

So overall, a good story (a bit of a juvenile writing style) with a nice world-build but just not my cup of tea as far as the main characters' relationship was concerned.

My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing the free early arc of Queen of Shadow for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

[Bookjunky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been a huge fan of folklore and mythology so I was really excited to dive in to this book. P.C. Cast has a unique and only captivating narrative voice here, and her characters are compelling and well written.

Scathàch is the Queen of Shadow, the daughter of the Goddess of the Underworld, and a fierce, vibrant woman who knows her heart and owns her strength. Her beauty is renowned, but it's the compassion and love that she leads with that is the true light of her spirit. I love the way Cast blends soft femininity with unapologetic ferocity. Scathàch is a woman who doesn't apologize for being a bad ass, who knows her worth and is uncompromising in her ideals.

The story follows the Celtic legend of Cuchulainn, but focuses on Scathàch as she accepts the young warrior into her school and agrees to train him. They fall in love during a courtship of battles and an epic quest, and one of my favorite things about this story is the way Cast allows Scathàch to save Cu's life on multiple equations and he never once feels diminished or unmanly. He just accepts that Scathàch is a force to be reckoned with, and loves her all the more for it.

The plot was engrossing and moved well. The writing itself was mostly well done, but there were a few instances where the language felt a little stiff and overly formal, especially with character dialogue. There are a lot of difficult to pronounce names, so I wish there'd been a pronunciation guide, but I managed with Google translate.

All in all, a solid 4 star book with an extremely well written main character and an intriguing storyline.

[Amela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Shadow is a fun Celtic/Nordic/Greek mythology mash-up. Scáthach is the daughter of the goddess Befionn, and the mistress of a school for warriors. Legendary hero Cuchulainn comes to her asking her to teach him, and at the behest of her mother she does accept him.

I've been a fan of P.C. Cast's writing since the House of Night series, so I was very excited to see this ARC available and even more excited to be approved for it! I really enjoyed the warrior school atmosphere and all the in depth lessons, it made the world feel very grounded and you really got to know Scathach's patience, strength, and her ability as a teacher. Scathach is a very fun FMC, because she's older and very much knows who she is and knows her power, which you don't get as much with romantasy from the perspective of 19 and 20 year olds. You also get to know her daughter Uathach and her second in command Tabiti very well, and they're both fun characters, with their own strength and quips. All in all, this is a unique setting, built from a unique combination of mythologies, and with a fun magic system.

Cuchulainn/Sentanta is a great male lead because he's very eager to learn and you see his respect and care for Scathach as a warrior and teacher grow into love. I really liked that this didn't have a stereotypical happy ending and required Scathach and Cuchulainn to go their separate ways

My one point of feedback is that the names are pretty difficult and I would have loved a pronunciation guide.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the opportunity to read this ARC!

[Katie at Book Ink Reivews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have loved PC Cast since I was a child. Her House of Night series enthralled me, and I am incredibly excited that she now has this beautiful adult fantasy to dive into.

I am tempted to liken it to other stories, but it honestly stands as a monument of its own. Cast showcases knowldge of Greek mythology, the Picts, and the Norse seamlessly weaving each of their societies and dieties. While billed as a Romantasy, it is also researched enough to be an ancient historical fantasy to boot. This is a character-driven novel. While stakes are high and action still happens, know you will spend a significant time delving into multiple characters to fully flesh them out.

In Scáthach you find everything you want a FMC to be. She is kind, patient, loving, and wise. And yet, she is still a warrior, willing and able to protect her people and dance politically with other leaders. She is, in short, incredible.

In Sentana you find the best book boyfriend. Still leaning into the warrior of honor, integrity, and prowess, Cast completely avoids the shadow daddy concept and instead gives us a man with a broken childhood and a good and kind heart towards all, not just his inner circle. I wanted to protect him and be protected by him the entire time.

Add a journey to the Underworld that carries some simar vibes as Orpheus and Eurydice with a home base on thr Isle of Sky and Dunscaith, Queen of Shadow is breathtaking in its scope, story, and setting.

I am comfortable calling it now: this will absolutely be one of the biggest Romantasy books of 2026 and TikTok and Instagram will go wild over it.

[Amanda’s Reading Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

First, I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the chance to review this book! I loved P.C Cast growing up. Her Marked Series really started my fantasy journey as a teenage, so I was incredibly excited for the chance to review.

Now, let's talk about my rating. I went back and forth on how I wanted to rate this book and this is where I settled. I liked the premise of the book, but I found myself having difficulty picking the book up and reading it. After 10 pages, I would need to put it down again. It comes down to that there is a lot of description within the book. I like being led to a conclusion and left to figure things out on my own, and it felt like things were overly explained and overly clarified. Each small thing was described to every minute detail regardless if it was needed. If maybe a 1/3 was removed, that would have made it easier to digest.

That said, I would probably recommend this to many of my friends and feel like it speaks to a wider audience than myself. There is that slow-burn romance between Scathach and Cuchulainn where they truly fit together, in their fighting styles, in their shared exeperiences as children of Gods, and in their later travels. There is sibling rivalry that actually had me screaming (check your trigger warnings) that had me so angry in the end that Cuchulainn treated Aife with so much kindness, because what! It is not a true romantasy and it's definitely not cozy, but it is great for aanyone looking for a High Fantasy feel or Mythology!

[Sarah Rogers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Queen of Shadow is a breathtaking journey that pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very last. P. C. Cast crafts a world so rich and immersive that you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into a living tapestry of myth and magic. The prose is both lyrical and sharp, effortlessly blending beautiful imagery with a pace that keeps your heart racing. There’s a wonderful rhythm to the storytelling that makes every chapter feel like a new adventure waiting to unfold.

What truly captivated me were the stakes woven throughout the narrative. This isn’t just a tale of battles and glory; it’s about personal growth and the emotional scars that shape us. Scáthach, our fierce heroine, is not only battling external foes but also confronting her own past. The depth of her journey is incredibly moving, and you’ll find yourself rooting for her every step of the way. The dialogue sparkles with wit, making even the most intense moments feel relatable and grounded.

As you navigate this enchanting world, you’ll be struck by the atmosphere that Cast creates - both haunting and hopeful. The relationships are layered and complex, adding an emotional weight that resonates deeply. This book is a testament to the power of resilience and the beauty of forging your own path. If you’re looking for a read that will keep you on the edge of your seat while tugging at your heartstrings, look no further.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and P. C. Cast for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 Stars)
Queen of Shadow by P.C. Cast is a richly woven Celtic/Norse fantasy that follows Scathach, the daughter of the underworld, and Cuchulainn, a warrior destined for greatness. Set in 200 BCE, the story blends training, battles, mythology, and a dangerous journey into the underworld as both characters grow into their destinies.
Scathach was easily my favorite part of the book. She is strong, wise, compassionate, and willing to make difficult choices to protect the people and lands she loves. She embodies everything I enjoy in a fantasy heroine—powerful without losing her humanity. Cuchulainn's journey from warrior-in-training to legendary hero was also compelling, and I enjoyed watching his growth throughout the story.
I’ll admit that it took me a while to fully connect with the book. The first few chapters felt slow, and with the worldbuilding and mythology being introduced, it took some patience to settle into the story. However, once the plot gained momentum, I found myself invested in the characters and eager to see where their journey would lead.
As always, P.C. Cast delivers an epic tale filled with adventure, mythology, and heart. While the slower beginning kept this from being a higher-rated read for me, the strong characters, immersive setting, and emotional growth made it a worthwhile fantasy adventure. If you enjoy Celtic mythology, heroic quests, and powerful female leads, this one is worth picking up.

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

[Kasey · Rating 3 out of 5]

After having read some of P.C. Cast’s House of Night series, I was very interested to see how a romantasy novel would compare!

This book follows Scáthach, Queen of Shadow and daughter of the goddess of the underworld, and her adventures with Cuchulainn, the hero of Ulster and the son of the Irish sun god.

While the concept was great, I did have a few things that I wasn’t a huge fan of. The sections at the beginning of each chapter that essentially just spoiled the chapter was the first of these few things as they felt very unnecessary and kind of made me mad. The characters also didn’t feel like they had too much to them. I didn’t feel invested in what they were doing, so I didn’t really find myself reaching for this book. The final issue was that it felt like the second and third parts of the book were two different tales forced into one book. I think this easily could have been stretched into a more defined and detailed duology or trilogy with more attention to the characters, and the plot of the third part could have been expanded upon greatly.

In general, I think this would be a decent read for someone who is interested in mythology (this one in particular being Celtic mythology), but I wouldn’t go into it expecting your typical romantasy. It was pretty slow on the romance side compared to other popular books in this genre.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review :)

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a bit of a love–hate relationship with this book, mostly because of the pacing, but the strength of the storyline ultimately made this a solid four-star read for me.

The premise immediately hooked me. Scathach, Queen of Shadows and daughter of Befionn, Goddess of the Underworld, runs a school dedicated to training elite warriors. When Cúchulainn, the son of the god Lugh, arrives seeking her training, everything begins to shift. At the same time, Scathach’s half-sister Aife threatens to destroy everything she has built, setting the stage for conflict on both personal and epic levels.

The world building is descriptive and well done, and the plot itself is engaging and compelling. Honestly, the plot is what saved this book for me. While the story kept me invested, I struggled at times with the pacing. Some of the dialogue felt a bit flat, and a lot of time was spent on character exploration. Normally, I love deep character work, but here it occasionally felt repetitive and slowed the momentum more than I would have liked.

That said, I can absolutely see character-driven readers loving this and rating it higher. The emotional depth and focus on motivations will really work for the right audience. Bonus points for this being a standalone and for an ending I genuinely adored.

Overall, a strong story with some pacing issues, but still very much worth the read.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this took me longer to read than my usual devouring speed, it was a pleasant, enjoyable, almost peaceful slice of life-type read. Don't let that fool though - this story was action packed. I absolutely loved the mature FMC. She was wise, fair, caring, a great warrior/teacher/mother, and frankly didn't need a man. A far cry from most romantasy FMCs who are 19/20 & have barely experienced life. She was a wonderful role model to her daughter & had a wonderful role model in her own mother, a goddess - and was very appreciative of the gifts her mother provided her. The younger MMC was rich in character development & his multiple moments of healing were beautifully written. As the blurb says, there is something "more" to him than initial looks (handsome, strong, and a sometime berserker). There were good moments of humor, memorable side characters, good villains, and cute animals.

Even through battles & injuries, I never felt like the MFC or MMC were in real, lasting peril because they were such good warriors & had god-blood. I like how the ending tied everything up nicely. The only thing I didn't like were the paragraph(s) at the beginning of chapters. They were like mini-spoilers.

Great world building to pull on historical legends, but still felt unique. Thanks for the ARC opportunity, NetGalley & the publisher.

[Jaici Rae · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great time if you love anything with Norse Vikings and gods which is one of my favorite and most read type of romantasy so this in theory was the perfect book for me! Also have to say if you loved Wild Reverence which I absolutely did then this would be a great book for you! I cannot spell the characters names which honestly is about my only complaint the names were all very difficult to say so I had to give them a simpler version as I read but other then that I truly have no complaints I enjoyed all of this story so much and the characters had some beautiful and heartbreaking moments but I found the FMC and MMC honestly so perfect they were so sweet and patient with each other and both wise beyond their years. There is a SA scene to tw for that it’s not what you’d expect but it stuck with me and made me so sad for the characters but seeing how they moved forward and healed from it was so special and made their relationship so much more real feeling. The journeys they went on felt too short but also so much more special for valuing what time they had together. I’d recommend for anyone who likes this category of writing it might not be the best for someone who has never read anything with Vikings but if you have or that interests you I think you’d love it. Thankful to NetGalley for the arc read I loved this one and would rate 4.5 rounded up to 5!