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The Dominions Stars & Shadows
She warned them to never underestimate her ability to shatter souls. But fools never listen. And now all they have left is one simple what do you call a warrior whom even the gods fear?
Fresh off the heels of Soturi graduation, Asha Raynor finds herself at a fated crossroads.
Bound by oath to serve the very Leadership that stole everything from her, she must obey the system that shaped her, or burn it to the ground.
Haunted by her brother's death and the secrets buried alongside him, Asha is determined to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more dangerous her path becomes.
Enemies close in. Betrayals cut deep. And just as vengeance edges within reach, a single, shattering revelation changes everything-rewriting what she once believed about the worlds, the kingdom, the Council, and most of all... herself.
As war brews and the kingdom tightens its grip, Asha must decide what kind of warrior she wishes to become. One led by rage, or one willing to risk her heart in a world determined to break it.
The truth always has a cost. And Asha is about to discover just how steep the price can be.
Fresh off the heels of Soturi graduation, Asha Raynor finds herself at a fated crossroads.
Bound by oath to serve the very Leadership that stole everything from her, she must obey the system that shaped her, or burn it to the ground.
Haunted by her brother's death and the secrets buried alongside him, Asha is determined to uncover the truth. But the deeper she digs, the more dangerous her path becomes.
Enemies close in. Betrayals cut deep. And just as vengeance edges within reach, a single, shattering revelation changes everything-rewriting what she once believed about the worlds, the kingdom, the Council, and most of all... herself.
As war brews and the kingdom tightens its grip, Asha must decide what kind of warrior she wishes to become. One led by rage, or one willing to risk her heart in a world determined to break it.
The truth always has a cost. And Asha is about to discover just how steep the price can be.
508 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 20, 2026
2 people are currently reading
2 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 4, 2026
This book was such a joy to read!! I could not put this book down. It’s packed with adventure and quests that keep the story moving and keep the reader at the edge of their seat. The story flows beautifully, with unexpected twists and turns that kept me engaged from start to finish. A genuinely entertaining read I absolutely didn’t want to end. I can’t wait for book 3 to come out to continue Asha’s journey.
January 30, 2026
Usually, it takes me forever to read a book because I am a slow reader, but I finished the second installment of The Dominions series so quickly! I could not put this book down. While the first installment of the series (Ash and Embers) was more of a slow burn at the beginning and then grows more and more intense with each chapter, Stars and Shadows hits the ground running right away. We are no longer confined to the Base at Sveaborg, but now we are exploring the expanded and more immersive world of Darnella; and Asha and Anselem are ready to burn kingdoms to the ground!
Without giving too much of the story away (and there are some major surprises throughout the book), the book starts out following a new character that was only briefly mentioned in the first book. Although I typically shy away from the idea of authors introducing new character perspectives, Iskander Blaidd, a member of the Septant and General of the Vanguard, is a worthy addition to the story. I fell in love with him almost immediately; with his cool-guy charm, pain-ridden past, and sarcastic banter, he helps to really bring the underlying story to life.
Not only are there a few new characters in the story, but we are granted more in-depth access to beloved characters from the first novel like Kaira and Jeremiah. And let’s not forget the main FMC and MMC of the story, Asha and Anselem. Their love story is such a slow build-up in the first book, and it has been nice to see their love and loyalty to one another deepen in this story as well. Their love is mature and built on trust and shared respect for one another, and they actually communicate their thoughts and ideas and speak to one another like adults (which is a nice change from the typical love story conflicts based on needless miscommunication or lack thereof).
We also get a closer look at the expanded lore of the world and the magic system in general. I particularly love the mythology behind the Amarok and Fenri warriors, which we only got a taste of in the pervious novel. It was fun to see each character slowly uncover their powers after their magic has been fully released once they graduated the academy. Some powers are more mysterious (and dangerous) than others!
After Soturi graduation, Asha and Anselem leave the familiarity of the Base and become entangled in the hidden darkness and evils lurking in the Kingdoms of Perseis. Asha is powerful, but does she belong to the Darkness or to the Light? Her life has been marked with pain and suffering and struggle, and yet she goes on to discover that there are secrets in her past that her family has kept from her. Some questions the readers are left with in the first novel are starting to get answered, yet there is still so much more that we don’t know.
I just loved this book! It’s so rare that I find an indie romatasy that isn’t a copy/paste of mainstream books. Also, I really enjoy when a second book in a series doesn’t just serve as filler to get to the next book. Stars and Shadows really builds upon Ash and Embers in an exciting way, and I am very much looking forward to the next books in the series!
Without giving too much of the story away (and there are some major surprises throughout the book), the book starts out following a new character that was only briefly mentioned in the first book. Although I typically shy away from the idea of authors introducing new character perspectives, Iskander Blaidd, a member of the Septant and General of the Vanguard, is a worthy addition to the story. I fell in love with him almost immediately; with his cool-guy charm, pain-ridden past, and sarcastic banter, he helps to really bring the underlying story to life.
Not only are there a few new characters in the story, but we are granted more in-depth access to beloved characters from the first novel like Kaira and Jeremiah. And let’s not forget the main FMC and MMC of the story, Asha and Anselem. Their love story is such a slow build-up in the first book, and it has been nice to see their love and loyalty to one another deepen in this story as well. Their love is mature and built on trust and shared respect for one another, and they actually communicate their thoughts and ideas and speak to one another like adults (which is a nice change from the typical love story conflicts based on needless miscommunication or lack thereof).
We also get a closer look at the expanded lore of the world and the magic system in general. I particularly love the mythology behind the Amarok and Fenri warriors, which we only got a taste of in the pervious novel. It was fun to see each character slowly uncover their powers after their magic has been fully released once they graduated the academy. Some powers are more mysterious (and dangerous) than others!
After Soturi graduation, Asha and Anselem leave the familiarity of the Base and become entangled in the hidden darkness and evils lurking in the Kingdoms of Perseis. Asha is powerful, but does she belong to the Darkness or to the Light? Her life has been marked with pain and suffering and struggle, and yet she goes on to discover that there are secrets in her past that her family has kept from her. Some questions the readers are left with in the first novel are starting to get answered, yet there is still so much more that we don’t know.
I just loved this book! It’s so rare that I find an indie romatasy that isn’t a copy/paste of mainstream books. Also, I really enjoy when a second book in a series doesn’t just serve as filler to get to the next book. Stars and Shadows really builds upon Ash and Embers in an exciting way, and I am very much looking forward to the next books in the series!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews