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Withered by Shadows
In a world fracturing under shadows, one mortal girl could save it—or doom it forever.
Kiera of Eldwick lives a simple life in her quiet village—tending gardens, avoiding trouble, and dreaming of a future far from prophecy or power. But when shadow rifts tear open across the realms, unleashing vicious dark wielders and nightmarish creatures, her world shatters in an instant.
Marked by an ancient prophecy she never asked for, Kiera is ripped from everything she knows. Rescued by a monstrous beast in the heart of the chaos, she finds herself soul-bound to the brooding, dangerously magnetic Shadow Lord of the Umbral Expanse—a being as feared as he is irresistible.
Bestowed with lost relics from forgotten dragon gods, Kiera awakens to a wild surge of elemental magic that burns through her blood and soul. But every gift demands a price.
In the shadows, fae weave their intricate webs, pulling strings from afar—and they’ve been waiting for someone exactly like her.
Withered by Shadows is the spellbinding first book in the Scale of Eternity trilogy. This epic romantic fantasy weaves high-stakes prophecy, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension, and a steamy soul-bond that will leave you breathless—all set in a lush, crumbling world on the brink of beautiful ruin.
Perfect for readers who devour fierce, reluctant heroines who claim their power, morally gray love interests with hidden depths, and immersive realms.
If you love magic that comes at a cost, forbidden bonds that ignite, and a heroine’s rise from ordinary to extraordinary—dive into the shadows today.
Kiera of Eldwick lives a simple life in her quiet village—tending gardens, avoiding trouble, and dreaming of a future far from prophecy or power. But when shadow rifts tear open across the realms, unleashing vicious dark wielders and nightmarish creatures, her world shatters in an instant.
Marked by an ancient prophecy she never asked for, Kiera is ripped from everything she knows. Rescued by a monstrous beast in the heart of the chaos, she finds herself soul-bound to the brooding, dangerously magnetic Shadow Lord of the Umbral Expanse—a being as feared as he is irresistible.
Bestowed with lost relics from forgotten dragon gods, Kiera awakens to a wild surge of elemental magic that burns through her blood and soul. But every gift demands a price.
In the shadows, fae weave their intricate webs, pulling strings from afar—and they’ve been waiting for someone exactly like her.
Withered by Shadows is the spellbinding first book in the Scale of Eternity trilogy. This epic romantic fantasy weaves high-stakes prophecy, slow-burn enemies-to-lovers tension, and a steamy soul-bond that will leave you breathless—all set in a lush, crumbling world on the brink of beautiful ruin.
Perfect for readers who devour fierce, reluctant heroines who claim their power, morally gray love interests with hidden depths, and immersive realms.
If you love magic that comes at a cost, forbidden bonds that ignite, and a heroine’s rise from ordinary to extraordinary—dive into the shadows today.
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2026
13 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Withered by Shadows is a fast paced, action packed adventure full of elemental magic, dragons, and fae. The story revolves around Kiera and a prophecy that says she is the one chosen to save the fae realm - and by extension her own. During her journey in the fae realm she grow close to Soren and before long love is in the air.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Rating: 3.5 stars, 1.5 spice.
This story starts off with action! Kiera is immediately pulled into the fae realm and has to quickly adapt and fight in order to survive. Alongside the action is beautiful world building. I could vividly picture every detail of each scene, which is quite unusual for me! I found myself enjoying a lot of the side characters too, at times just as much (or more) than the main characters.
The fast pace of the story is a double edged sword; it creates tension and excitement but it hardly left time to digest the event that just occurred before the plot forces you to move on. Sometimes this caused rushed character development, especially for our FMC. And while the writing was wonderful for world building I did notice that the dialog was very formulaic. There is so much detail given after each character speaks before the other will reply and I wish we'd have had a few scenes where the conversation flowed freely without being overloaded with so many details.
This was still an enjoyable read. I appreciate that there is romance happening at a slower pace and on the lower end of the spice scale. There are some fun and exciting moments for sure! I really like the water and dragon realms! I can tell that this book was a labor of love and I think the author should be proud of her hard work.
I received a copy of this book from the author and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
Rating: 3.5 stars, 1.5 spice.
This story starts off with action! Kiera is immediately pulled into the fae realm and has to quickly adapt and fight in order to survive. Alongside the action is beautiful world building. I could vividly picture every detail of each scene, which is quite unusual for me! I found myself enjoying a lot of the side characters too, at times just as much (or more) than the main characters.
The fast pace of the story is a double edged sword; it creates tension and excitement but it hardly left time to digest the event that just occurred before the plot forces you to move on. Sometimes this caused rushed character development, especially for our FMC. And while the writing was wonderful for world building I did notice that the dialog was very formulaic. There is so much detail given after each character speaks before the other will reply and I wish we'd have had a few scenes where the conversation flowed freely without being overloaded with so many details.
This was still an enjoyable read. I appreciate that there is romance happening at a slower pace and on the lower end of the spice scale. There are some fun and exciting moments for sure! I really like the water and dragon realms! I can tell that this book was a labor of love and I think the author should be proud of her hard work.
Review of advance copy received from Author
What an awesome book! If you love Avatar for its elemental magics, Fourth Wing for its dragons and Dragon Prince for its fae and human bonds and fight for what's right then Withered by Shadows is a must read. So excited for book 2!
January 20, 2026
I struggled a teeeeeny bit at the start of this, with just how quickly things were happening, and there was a lot to process. But then it is all pretty much explained as the story goes along. Once I hit my groove with this book, I flew through it.
The writing in this is very descriptive, which I thoroughly enjoyed. At times, the flow seemed a tiny, tiny bit off, but nothing too major. Overall, an amazing effort for writing this debut story.
This story is fast-paced and full of secrets that get revealed as you follow Kiera's adventures. Kiera herself is a no-nonsense kinda gal, and I really enjoyed it. Her banter with many of the other characters is quite good too. And then there's a loveable, smoking hot Shadow Daddy to boot. (who doesn't love one of those!?)
This being a romantic fantasy, you might be expecting some spice. Sorry for all you chilli fans, but this is closed door/fade to black. But, the tension between the MC's is delightful.
Now, the ending..... what. What? WHAT!? 😧
I NEED BOOK TWO NOW! 😂
The writing in this is very descriptive, which I thoroughly enjoyed. At times, the flow seemed a tiny, tiny bit off, but nothing too major. Overall, an amazing effort for writing this debut story.
This story is fast-paced and full of secrets that get revealed as you follow Kiera's adventures. Kiera herself is a no-nonsense kinda gal, and I really enjoyed it. Her banter with many of the other characters is quite good too. And then there's a loveable, smoking hot Shadow Daddy to boot. (who doesn't love one of those!?)
This being a romantic fantasy, you might be expecting some spice. Sorry for all you chilli fans, but this is closed door/fade to black. But, the tension between the MC's is delightful.
Now, the ending..... what. What? WHAT!? 😧
I NEED BOOK TWO NOW! 😂
January 13, 2026
Wondering if it’s worth it to buy a debut novel of an indie author? Well, guess what: IT IS. Marlowe’s descriptions reeled me into this world… which I find ironic since the story starts in a fishing town. And I didn’t even realize how invested I was in the characters until they were in danger.
A lot of the time, with books like these, I feel like the FMC and/or MMC have to compromise parts of themselves to make it work, but that’s not the case for Kiera and Soren! She grew up under cloudy skies, which makes her feel more at home in his realm of darkness. And he’s used to people judging him as a dark wielder, but she only knows about them through him so she takes him as he is. I root for them to get together basically from their first or second meeting… although I find it ironic that the expanse of dark wielders keeps Kiera in the dark. With that said, she also keeps secrets from him, so the mutuality of it makes me less annoyed at either of them.
Also, although Kiera’s a natural at elemental magic, her ignorance regarding the fae world’s history and politics keeps her well away from Mary Sue Territory. I’ve only read one other book in recent memory where the FMC didn’t annoy me at any point, but Kiera definitely fits the bill! She works hard to get stronger, and she doesn’t get annoyed over stupid little things. When she DOES get mad, Soren deserves it, and she doesn’t string it out unnecessarily.
Basically, if you’re looking for a chosen one/soulmate read that still feels character-driven, then I’d definitely recommend this book!
A lot of the time, with books like these, I feel like the FMC and/or MMC have to compromise parts of themselves to make it work, but that’s not the case for Kiera and Soren! She grew up under cloudy skies, which makes her feel more at home in his realm of darkness. And he’s used to people judging him as a dark wielder, but she only knows about them through him so she takes him as he is. I root for them to get together basically from their first or second meeting… although I find it ironic that the expanse of dark wielders keeps Kiera in the dark. With that said, she also keeps secrets from him, so the mutuality of it makes me less annoyed at either of them.
Also, although Kiera’s a natural at elemental magic, her ignorance regarding the fae world’s history and politics keeps her well away from Mary Sue Territory. I’ve only read one other book in recent memory where the FMC didn’t annoy me at any point, but Kiera definitely fits the bill! She works hard to get stronger, and she doesn’t get annoyed over stupid little things. When she DOES get mad, Soren deserves it, and she doesn’t string it out unnecessarily.
Basically, if you’re looking for a chosen one/soulmate read that still feels character-driven, then I’d definitely recommend this book!
January 6, 2026
Holy shadows. Romantasy readers, meet your new obsession. Kiera, our humble, fierce, FMC is tough and defiant, compassionate and clever. She did not let her emotions rule her decisions, she struggles with her role in this world but always knows her heart. (never once did she annoy me).The chosen one, forced into a world she did not believe existed. A fae world, full of magic, elements soul-bonds and hidden dragons.
Rhysand who…? Soren is a shadow wielder, with all of the brooding darkness, yet none of the demeaning, arrogant masculinity of other MCCs. The soul-bound is beautiful, leaving all of the heavy intimacy behind closed doors. The spice is not needed to fully feel Kiera and Soren’s bond. The side characters will also capture your heart, but also leaving you wary…who can Kiera trust??
The descriptive language in this story is incredible. I could envision every place, every character, feel every emotion. Well written, well plotted. I am blown away by Ada’s storytelling. will be thinking about this story until the Scales of Eternity book #2 is released. Amazing!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Withered by Shadows. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Rhysand who…? Soren is a shadow wielder, with all of the brooding darkness, yet none of the demeaning, arrogant masculinity of other MCCs. The soul-bound is beautiful, leaving all of the heavy intimacy behind closed doors. The spice is not needed to fully feel Kiera and Soren’s bond. The side characters will also capture your heart, but also leaving you wary…who can Kiera trust??
The descriptive language in this story is incredible. I could envision every place, every character, feel every emotion. Well written, well plotted. I am blown away by Ada’s storytelling. will be thinking about this story until the Scales of Eternity book #2 is released. Amazing!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of Withered by Shadows. This is my honest and unbiased review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The corrupt do not cry.
That line speaks volumes to me and can be interpreted in many different ways.
**I received this book as an eARC. I was not paid for this review, the thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Ada Marlowe for the chance to read & review this book.
Kiera is a normal human, just doing what she can to survive and provide for her family. Her mother sells tea, her brother works on fishing boats, and she fixes things. Her father was a sailor, and disappeared at sea years ago. But she doesn't believe he got lost.
Whispers in her village talk of how he was mad, speaking about Fae & creatures of shadows that he fought alongside. So when she encounters those same beasts at the pier, she begins to question everything.
The early chapters of this book give me ACOTAR vibes; The Lord of the Verdant Dominion, claiming he was protecting her. Definitely gives Tamlin vibes, if Tamlin was more unhinged. And Soren? Soren gives me hard Rhysand vibes. In the good way.
One of my favorite parts of this book, is when Kiera asks Soren how he manages to resist kissing her, and how she needs to learn that same restraint. Just blunt to the core; straight out asks how he hasn't given in yet. She's not afraid to speak her mind, but she by no means is arrogant about it.
You will fall in love with the characters you meet. I promise. You'll also dislike a couple, but that's to be expected. There's so much world building in this first book, and yet we've hardly scratched the surface. Things are unfolding so quickly, but also everyone speaks in riddles and typically Fae fashion of speaking around the truth. I guarantee you could probably spend the extra time to take all the clues and hints and figure out the missing information if you really tried.
While this is more a closed door romance, there's still tension. And it does get a little steamy; more like a bell pepper 🫑 than a chili 🌶. But the tension is beautiful and will make you yearn for more.
If you liked ACOTAR, but wished there was dragons, this is the book for you.
That line speaks volumes to me and can be interpreted in many different ways.
**I received this book as an eARC. I was not paid for this review, the thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Ada Marlowe for the chance to read & review this book.
Kiera is a normal human, just doing what she can to survive and provide for her family. Her mother sells tea, her brother works on fishing boats, and she fixes things. Her father was a sailor, and disappeared at sea years ago. But she doesn't believe he got lost.
Whispers in her village talk of how he was mad, speaking about Fae & creatures of shadows that he fought alongside. So when she encounters those same beasts at the pier, she begins to question everything.
The early chapters of this book give me ACOTAR vibes; The Lord of the Verdant Dominion, claiming he was protecting her. Definitely gives Tamlin vibes, if Tamlin was more unhinged. And Soren? Soren gives me hard Rhysand vibes. In the good way.
One of my favorite parts of this book, is when Kiera asks Soren how he manages to resist kissing her, and how she needs to learn that same restraint. Just blunt to the core; straight out asks how he hasn't given in yet. She's not afraid to speak her mind, but she by no means is arrogant about it.
You will fall in love with the characters you meet. I promise. You'll also dislike a couple, but that's to be expected. There's so much world building in this first book, and yet we've hardly scratched the surface. Things are unfolding so quickly, but also everyone speaks in riddles and typically Fae fashion of speaking around the truth. I guarantee you could probably spend the extra time to take all the clues and hints and figure out the missing information if you really tried.
While this is more a closed door romance, there's still tension. And it does get a little steamy; more like a bell pepper 🫑 than a chili 🌶. But the tension is beautiful and will make you yearn for more.
If you liked ACOTAR, but wished there was dragons, this is the book for you.
February 3, 2026
Happy release day! 💕☺️✨✨
I had the opportunity to read this book prior to its release, and it was a thoroughly engaging experience. I would like to thank Ada Marlowe for providing me with an e-arc copy. Below is my review.
This novel exceeded my expectations. The characters are well developed, including those intentionally written to provoke frustration particularly Torment, whose repeated reappearances consistently disrupt Kiera’s life and heighten narrative tension in effective ways.
The overall storyline felt fresh and thoughtfully constructed. The plot did not rely on overly familiar tropes, which made the reading experience especially enjoyable. The concept of Kiera having to master all four elements was a compelling narrative device, adding both structure and depth to her character development.
The tension between Soren and Kiera is particularly well executed. Although the narrative establishes their connection early on, the emotional progression between them unfolds gradually. It takes nearly half the book for both characters to fully acknowledge their feelings and act on them, which makes their relationship feel earned rather than rushed. This slow-burn dynamic adds depth to their character development and enhances the emotional impact of the story.
Among the supporting cast, Soren and Veyrik stood out as particularly strong characters. Aside from the protagonist, they were the characters I found most engaging whenever they appeared on the page. While Soren features more prominently, I hope future installments will further explore Veyrik’s role.
One of the strongest elements of the novel is the inclusion of the dragons, the ancient beings responsible for granting the fae their powers. Their long absence and the resulting loss of faith among some fae adds meaningful thematic weight to the world-building and reinforces the mythological foundation of the story.
Overall, this was a well-crafted and immersive read, and I look forward to seeing how the series develops in future books.
I had the opportunity to read this book prior to its release, and it was a thoroughly engaging experience. I would like to thank Ada Marlowe for providing me with an e-arc copy. Below is my review.
This novel exceeded my expectations. The characters are well developed, including those intentionally written to provoke frustration particularly Torment, whose repeated reappearances consistently disrupt Kiera’s life and heighten narrative tension in effective ways.
The overall storyline felt fresh and thoughtfully constructed. The plot did not rely on overly familiar tropes, which made the reading experience especially enjoyable. The concept of Kiera having to master all four elements was a compelling narrative device, adding both structure and depth to her character development.
The tension between Soren and Kiera is particularly well executed. Although the narrative establishes their connection early on, the emotional progression between them unfolds gradually. It takes nearly half the book for both characters to fully acknowledge their feelings and act on them, which makes their relationship feel earned rather than rushed. This slow-burn dynamic adds depth to their character development and enhances the emotional impact of the story.
Among the supporting cast, Soren and Veyrik stood out as particularly strong characters. Aside from the protagonist, they were the characters I found most engaging whenever they appeared on the page. While Soren features more prominently, I hope future installments will further explore Veyrik’s role.
One of the strongest elements of the novel is the inclusion of the dragons, the ancient beings responsible for granting the fae their powers. Their long absence and the resulting loss of faith among some fae adds meaningful thematic weight to the world-building and reinforces the mythological foundation of the story.
Overall, this was a well-crafted and immersive read, and I look forward to seeing how the series develops in future books.
January 30, 2026
I received an ARC of Withered by Shadows and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was an imaginative debut with a strong opening that pulled me in quickly. The author clearly has a lot of creative ideas, and the blend of fae, elemental magic, and fantasy concepts shows a lot of promise. I really enjoyed the elemental portion, as that’s not as common as some other magic systems used in books.
That said, the pacing and clarity didn’t quite work for me. Some important moments felt rushed, while other lesser scenes went on a little too long. The worldbuilding was interesting but often unclear. The author went into a lot of detail with so many descriptions, but I found myself stopping to question how certain things worked—especially the magic system, which felt very powerful but not clearly defined or limited. Also found myself wondering at times, “did I miss something?”
The ending felt a little abrupt. There was so much tension in the last 10% of the book and then it just left me with too many questions. I understand it’s setting up a series, but very little felt truly resolved by the final page.
Overall, this book has a lot of potential and creativity behind it. Fantasy readers who enjoy fae stories and high-powered magic may still find it worth checking out.
This was an imaginative debut with a strong opening that pulled me in quickly. The author clearly has a lot of creative ideas, and the blend of fae, elemental magic, and fantasy concepts shows a lot of promise. I really enjoyed the elemental portion, as that’s not as common as some other magic systems used in books.
That said, the pacing and clarity didn’t quite work for me. Some important moments felt rushed, while other lesser scenes went on a little too long. The worldbuilding was interesting but often unclear. The author went into a lot of detail with so many descriptions, but I found myself stopping to question how certain things worked—especially the magic system, which felt very powerful but not clearly defined or limited. Also found myself wondering at times, “did I miss something?”
The ending felt a little abrupt. There was so much tension in the last 10% of the book and then it just left me with too many questions. I understand it’s setting up a series, but very little felt truly resolved by the final page.
Overall, this book has a lot of potential and creativity behind it. Fantasy readers who enjoy fae stories and high-powered magic may still find it worth checking out.
January 27, 2026
This was an ARC I had the pleasure of being part of, and I’m so glad I said yes to this one.
The story follows Kiera, a mortal swept into the Fae world by prophecy — destined to be the key to saving their realm. And let me tell you… the action starts immediately. No slow warm-up, no dragging intros — we’re in it from page one.
One thing Ada Marlowe does beautifully is world-building without slowing the story. The magical systems, dominions, and Fae hierarchy are woven in naturally, so you’re learning while still fully immersed. I especially loved the different dominions and Kiera becoming Fae through dragon-given power — that part was chef’s kiss.
Now… the romance 👀
Kiera and Soren? I LOVE. Their dynamic, the tension, the development — give me more immediately.
Tormen though… absolutely not. Straight to jail. I said what I said.
I’m fully invested in this world and these characters and will 100% be continuing the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
I will be buying a physical copy because I’m really hoping for a map of the Fae world and a character list — I did get a little lost at times, but honestly? Worth it.
The story follows Kiera, a mortal swept into the Fae world by prophecy — destined to be the key to saving their realm. And let me tell you… the action starts immediately. No slow warm-up, no dragging intros — we’re in it from page one.
One thing Ada Marlowe does beautifully is world-building without slowing the story. The magical systems, dominions, and Fae hierarchy are woven in naturally, so you’re learning while still fully immersed. I especially loved the different dominions and Kiera becoming Fae through dragon-given power — that part was chef’s kiss.
Now… the romance 👀
Kiera and Soren? I LOVE. Their dynamic, the tension, the development — give me more immediately.
Tormen though… absolutely not. Straight to jail. I said what I said.
I’m fully invested in this world and these characters and will 100% be continuing the series.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)
I will be buying a physical copy because I’m really hoping for a map of the Fae world and a character list — I did get a little lost at times, but honestly? Worth it.
January 24, 2026
***potential spoilers***
I will try and keep this as spoiler free as possible. I received this as an ARC reader. And let me say, I know it’s early in the year, BUT it’s one of the BEST books I’ve read this year so far. I always say if a book makes me emotional and stressed…it’s a good one. I literally had moments of such stressing that I had to pause to breathe. This is such a creative story that I can’t wait to get more of. This is book 1 and I CANNOT wait for the rest. I’m so thankful I got to be a part of this ARC read.
Kiera is a fierce FMC and we love that! Soren is dark and broody and I am here for it. It’s sort of slow burn and there’s fade to black romance but that’s okay with me, especially because the two of them are perfect for each other. They balance each other out nicely. I can’t wait for Elarion to be thrown off an island, IYKYK LOL. I also can’t wait for more of Veyrik’s snark. He gives total Fenrys Moonbeam vibes, who is one of my very favorite characters so I hope we get to see more of his character development. And Tormen? Screw that guy.
I will try and keep this as spoiler free as possible. I received this as an ARC reader. And let me say, I know it’s early in the year, BUT it’s one of the BEST books I’ve read this year so far. I always say if a book makes me emotional and stressed…it’s a good one. I literally had moments of such stressing that I had to pause to breathe. This is such a creative story that I can’t wait to get more of. This is book 1 and I CANNOT wait for the rest. I’m so thankful I got to be a part of this ARC read.
Kiera is a fierce FMC and we love that! Soren is dark and broody and I am here for it. It’s sort of slow burn and there’s fade to black romance but that’s okay with me, especially because the two of them are perfect for each other. They balance each other out nicely. I can’t wait for Elarion to be thrown off an island, IYKYK LOL. I also can’t wait for more of Veyrik’s snark. He gives total Fenrys Moonbeam vibes, who is one of my very favorite characters so I hope we get to see more of his character development. And Tormen? Screw that guy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2026
Shadows 🖤, dragons 🐉 , and magic ✨, oh my!
*I received this eARC in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review. Thank you to the author, Ada Marlowe!*
Withered by Shadows is the first installment in the Scale of Eternity series and is an exciting story full of twists and turns, a brooding shadow daddy, and a spunky heroine tasked with saving the world. The author’s descriptive world-building really allows you to feel like you’re a part of the action. It ends on a big cliffhanger, so beware if you’re not a fan of those!
I loved all of the characters (especially the dragons and Veyrick!) and the way that they related to the magic system was interesting. The romance is perfect for those of us who yearn for the yearning! It was the ideal balance of tension, and the introduction of “soul-bound” was magical.
My only critiques: little errors or overused words throughout (like snap). I also would’ve liked to see more backstory in the beginning and more fleshing out of the first ten or so chapters. However! It’s worth it to overlook these minor things to appreciate the story.
The vibes are impeccable and the last 20% of the book is a whirlwind! I’m eagerly awaiting book 2 and can’t wait to see where this story goes.
*I received this eARC in exchange for a thoughtful and honest review. Thank you to the author, Ada Marlowe!*
Withered by Shadows is the first installment in the Scale of Eternity series and is an exciting story full of twists and turns, a brooding shadow daddy, and a spunky heroine tasked with saving the world. The author’s descriptive world-building really allows you to feel like you’re a part of the action. It ends on a big cliffhanger, so beware if you’re not a fan of those!
I loved all of the characters (especially the dragons and Veyrick!) and the way that they related to the magic system was interesting. The romance is perfect for those of us who yearn for the yearning! It was the ideal balance of tension, and the introduction of “soul-bound” was magical.
My only critiques: little errors or overused words throughout (like snap). I also would’ve liked to see more backstory in the beginning and more fleshing out of the first ten or so chapters. However! It’s worth it to overlook these minor things to appreciate the story.
The vibes are impeccable and the last 20% of the book is a whirlwind! I’m eagerly awaiting book 2 and can’t wait to see where this story goes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Happy to have been an ARC reader!
A really exciting introduction to Ada Marlowe!
She drops the reader right into the action at a sprint, introducing both us and the FMC to this magical world and its ways. Marlowe seems to take a lot of inspiration from the most interesting elements of series like ACOTAR (without all the chapter padding and half the faerie brooding), Fourth Wing, and ATLA while creating something original.
It is so refreshing to read a FMC who doesn't ask permission for anything, stands on business, follows her instincts, and unabashedly takes up the space she inhabits in a room, despite her circumstances.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this world leads in future entries and what secrets we have yet to discover!
(I'd also, personally, love to see a graphic novel or animated adaptation made because I think the action she writes would lend itself well to those types of quick-paced visual mediums as well!)
A really exciting introduction to Ada Marlowe!
She drops the reader right into the action at a sprint, introducing both us and the FMC to this magical world and its ways. Marlowe seems to take a lot of inspiration from the most interesting elements of series like ACOTAR (without all the chapter padding and half the faerie brooding), Fourth Wing, and ATLA while creating something original.
It is so refreshing to read a FMC who doesn't ask permission for anything, stands on business, follows her instincts, and unabashedly takes up the space she inhabits in a room, despite her circumstances.
I'm looking forward to seeing where this world leads in future entries and what secrets we have yet to discover!
(I'd also, personally, love to see a graphic novel or animated adaptation made because I think the action she writes would lend itself well to those types of quick-paced visual mediums as well!)
January 4, 2026
ARC reader review
This book hooks you fast, and impressively, that immediate pull never comes at the expense of rich world-building. The transition of the FMC between worlds feel immersive rather than rushed, grounding you in the magic, and danger from the very start.
This book, in its own unique way, gave me ACOTAR, Crown of Nyaxia, or Fourth Wing vibes. If you enjoyed any of those stories, this will absolutely hit the mark—think courts (or elemental dominions), ‘underworld vibe’ rifts, and shadowy dark wielders/creatures enemies. And the dragon lore?! Genuinely unexpected and woven in with such intrigue and mystery that it became one of my favorite elements of the story.
Kiera is a standout FMC—determined, grounded, and refreshingly unannoying. I never once found myself frustrated with her choices, which is a rare gift in romantasy. The MMC, meanwhile, is pure shadow-daddy perfection: calm, cool, and (mostly, lol) collected, balancing gentlemanly restraint with just the right edge of unhinged possessiveness.
The romance is a delicious slow burn, fueled by stolen glances, simmering tension, playful competitiveness, and that taut, magnetic pull that keeps you turning pages long past bedtime.
This book hooks you fast, and impressively, that immediate pull never comes at the expense of rich world-building. The transition of the FMC between worlds feel immersive rather than rushed, grounding you in the magic, and danger from the very start.
This book, in its own unique way, gave me ACOTAR, Crown of Nyaxia, or Fourth Wing vibes. If you enjoyed any of those stories, this will absolutely hit the mark—think courts (or elemental dominions), ‘underworld vibe’ rifts, and shadowy dark wielders/creatures enemies. And the dragon lore?! Genuinely unexpected and woven in with such intrigue and mystery that it became one of my favorite elements of the story.
Kiera is a standout FMC—determined, grounded, and refreshingly unannoying. I never once found myself frustrated with her choices, which is a rare gift in romantasy. The MMC, meanwhile, is pure shadow-daddy perfection: calm, cool, and (mostly, lol) collected, balancing gentlemanly restraint with just the right edge of unhinged possessiveness.
The romance is a delicious slow burn, fueled by stolen glances, simmering tension, playful competitiveness, and that taut, magnetic pull that keeps you turning pages long past bedtime.
January 24, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Format: 📱
I really liked this book. It was easy to follow and pulled me in right away. There is a lot of lore, but it’s shared slowly and at a good pace, so it never feels overwhelming. I do wish there was a map and a pronunciation guide.
There are dragons, which I loved, and the story moves fast. I read the whole book in one day because it was hard to put down.
Kiera was a great main character. She is brave, and watching her learn about her powers was fun. It felt natural and not overdone.
Soren was a great main male character. He is kind, gentle, and very protective. He’s different from a lot of male leads in other books, and that was refreshing. I’m just hoping he doesn’t turn into a Tamlin in the next book 😂
Overall, this is a fast-paced and enjoyable read with good world-building, strong lore, and great main characters.
Format: 📱
I really liked this book. It was easy to follow and pulled me in right away. There is a lot of lore, but it’s shared slowly and at a good pace, so it never feels overwhelming. I do wish there was a map and a pronunciation guide.
There are dragons, which I loved, and the story moves fast. I read the whole book in one day because it was hard to put down.
Kiera was a great main character. She is brave, and watching her learn about her powers was fun. It felt natural and not overdone.
Soren was a great main male character. He is kind, gentle, and very protective. He’s different from a lot of male leads in other books, and that was refreshing. I’m just hoping he doesn’t turn into a Tamlin in the next book 😂
Overall, this is a fast-paced and enjoyable read with good world-building, strong lore, and great main characters.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This fantasy story starts with a bang! Kiera a mortal woman is taken into the Fae world in chapter 1!
There aren't chapters of world building in this novel, it's weaved into the flow of the story and dispersed through conversations throughout.
Kiera is the answer the high lords have been waiting for, but no one tells her exactly what the need from her or how she was supposed to do it.
She is told conflicting information, knowledge is used as currency and the high lords expect her to protect their way of life.
We have a brave, fierce, caring, and eager to learn FMC. We have a shadow wielding MMC, and the villain are on multiple fronts...oh, and Dragons!!!!
So good! If you like living in a fantasy world with mortals, fae, swords, power, love and loss then Withered by Shadows is for you!
There aren't chapters of world building in this novel, it's weaved into the flow of the story and dispersed through conversations throughout.
Kiera is the answer the high lords have been waiting for, but no one tells her exactly what the need from her or how she was supposed to do it.
She is told conflicting information, knowledge is used as currency and the high lords expect her to protect their way of life.
We have a brave, fierce, caring, and eager to learn FMC. We have a shadow wielding MMC, and the villain are on multiple fronts...oh, and Dragons!!!!
So good! If you like living in a fantasy world with mortals, fae, swords, power, love and loss then Withered by Shadows is for you!
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review! Withered by Shadows releases February 2nd! Elemental magic, dragons and fae oh my! This fast paced debut novel by Ada Marlow packs a punch! The beginning is a little hard to follow because a lot happens in a couple chapters, but it settles out and all the questions are answered pretty quickly.
Kiera the FMC, is down to earth and her banter with the other characters is fun to read. The MMC is the Lord of Shadows, ruler of the Umbral Expanse, and he is tasked with teaching Kiera what she needs to know to prepare for her role in saving the world.
The dragons have been banned to their own realm, but are extremely helpful in Kiera's training as well. I'm excited to see where book 2 takes us!
Kiera the FMC, is down to earth and her banter with the other characters is fun to read. The MMC is the Lord of Shadows, ruler of the Umbral Expanse, and he is tasked with teaching Kiera what she needs to know to prepare for her role in saving the world.
The dragons have been banned to their own realm, but are extremely helpful in Kiera's training as well. I'm excited to see where book 2 takes us!
February 2, 2026
Withered by Shadows is a fantastic fantasy romance with a chosen FMC, brooding Fae, Dragons, prophecies, action, slow burn romance, soul bonds, elemental magic, you name it!
You get dropped right into the action in chapter one. I usually enjoy a little bit more world building but in this case, it worked out okay. The world building came later, where it really counted. This book was just so much fun to read, I loved the interaction with the dragons, the slow burn low spice romance, the descriptions of the different realms. I’ve been so fortunate to read a lot of really good books this year, and this was one of them.
If you’re looking for something good to read after ACOTAR, this would be it! Hard to believe this is the author’s debut.
You get dropped right into the action in chapter one. I usually enjoy a little bit more world building but in this case, it worked out okay. The world building came later, where it really counted. This book was just so much fun to read, I loved the interaction with the dragons, the slow burn low spice romance, the descriptions of the different realms. I’ve been so fortunate to read a lot of really good books this year, and this was one of them.
If you’re looking for something good to read after ACOTAR, this would be it! Hard to believe this is the author’s debut.
February 2, 2026
Loved every minute of it!
This book is beyond incredible. The characters, the world, the plot, the pace all perfection.
When Kiera is taken prisoner by fae she is thrown into a world she know nothing about. She soon discovers fae dominions and not all are to be trusted. She is told about a prophecy they think she is to fulfill and she is given what aid they deem she needs. As she goes along this quest she unearths secrets that aren’t meant to be shared and forms relationships she never expected. But will she be able to keep everyone she loves safe? Will she be able to save the realm? Will she let everyone down?
This book is beyond incredible. The characters, the world, the plot, the pace all perfection.
When Kiera is taken prisoner by fae she is thrown into a world she know nothing about. She soon discovers fae dominions and not all are to be trusted. She is told about a prophecy they think she is to fulfill and she is given what aid they deem she needs. As she goes along this quest she unearths secrets that aren’t meant to be shared and forms relationships she never expected. But will she be able to keep everyone she loves safe? Will she be able to save the realm? Will she let everyone down?
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC copy from the author and I DEVOURED this book. I could not put it down. It's hard to believe this is a debut book. The world building is so good it transports you as if you were there. The story of resilience and determination of Kiera is inspiring. I enjoyed this journey so much. I cant wait to read more of Kiera and Soren and all the rest of the characters. Standing ovation to Ada Marlowe
Review of advance copy received from Author
I ate this book up in 2 days. I was a bit confused at the beginning as it goes straight into the action and everything moves very quickly. it then slowed down and you really get into the story and characters. I really enjoyed the magic system in this book and the different realms and dominions. a great slow burn romance.
also has come great side characters that I hope to see more of!
fae, dragons, elemental magic, soul bonds. what more could you want?
also has come great side characters that I hope to see more of!
fae, dragons, elemental magic, soul bonds. what more could you want?
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC Review: This book had me intrigued from the beginning. The world building was fascinating and each character had their own great introduction. The descriptions of peoeple, places, and creatures throughout the book was done very well and easily created a mental image. Lore was given at a great pace, and as you get more information you also have more questions which keeps it interesting. I loved the progression of Kiera and Soren's relationship, and I'm slightly obsessed with moody and possessive Soren. 😅 and the ending!! Talk about a cliffhanger. I'm gonna need book 2 STAT!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advanced copy from author.
Overall this was a good fantasy book. Downfall for me was I felt like in the beginning the FMC was acting like she had known everyone she came in contact with for years when she had in fact just met them. But, for a debut, this was good book with many of the fantasy aspects that pull readers in.
Overall this was a good fantasy book. Downfall for me was I felt like in the beginning the FMC was acting like she had known everyone she came in contact with for years when she had in fact just met them. But, for a debut, this was good book with many of the fantasy aspects that pull readers in.
January 31, 2026
Ok, wow! There is so much happening in this book and it incorporates the world building as it is revealed to the main character which flows well. The fast pace made it a bit difficult to get into but the elements of the story are so so good and have a lot of potential once you’re into the storyline more! It’s hard to believe this is a debut novel and I’m excited for the second book.
January 8, 2026
This romantasy was wonderfully written with a solid plot and the potential for so many characters to develop! For the first book in a series, I enjoyed this and couldn’t put it down! The world building was beautifully descriptive. I would’ve loved for even more to be put into explaining the dominions and expansions as well as the character histories and stories but I’m hoping for more of this in subsequent books!
Her story gives TOG/ACOTAR vibes and I LOVE the closed door, fade to black scenes! You don’t need to read anything in detail to understand the soul-bonded couple. I can’t wait to learn more about Soren and Kiera as well as all the other characters and world areas.
I received an advanced reader copy of Withered by shadows and this is my honest and unbiased review.
Her story gives TOG/ACOTAR vibes and I LOVE the closed door, fade to black scenes! You don’t need to read anything in detail to understand the soul-bonded couple. I can’t wait to learn more about Soren and Kiera as well as all the other characters and world areas.
I received an advanced reader copy of Withered by shadows and this is my honest and unbiased review.
January 31, 2026
Thank you to the author for the arc! It was so fun getting to read this early! Fans of acotar/4th wing/quicksilver will love this as it has elements of these books interlaced in the story. I’m so curious about the dragons!
February 2, 2026
I loved it and enjoyed it so much ! its everything you want in a romantasy!
soul bonded mates,fae,found powers,elemental magic , a love triangle oh and of course dragons ! This book pulls you in and doesn't let go. This is one of favorites for sure!
soul bonded mates,fae,found powers,elemental magic , a love triangle oh and of course dragons ! This book pulls you in and doesn't let go. This is one of favorites for sure!
February 3, 2026
I loved this book!!! It started out a little slow. I was not a fan of the first few chapters. But grew to love the characters!!! It was an amazing book! This was my first time to Arc read a book! Thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to be able to do that!
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
ARC review for Withered by Shadows. I want to give a huge thanks to the author Ada Marlowe for allowing me the opportunity to read this book before its release date.
*****RELEASES Feb, 2.*********
I just wanna start this review by saying…THE FREAKING SLOW BURN IN THIS BOOK IS CRIMINAL!!! 😭🤣👩🍳💋
If you like a fast paced plot, slow burn, dragons, magic, avatar the last air bender vibes 😂😂, soulmates or soul bounded as she describes it, and just fantasy in general I would definitely give this a read.
The book quite literally kicks off as we follow Keira (our FMC) a mortal girl who is “the chosen one” to save her world called Aelthar. Keira was such a delight to read. She wasn’t whiny or annoying. She has a strong character that isn’t overbearing. She has no idea what the hell she’s doing BUT is so resilient in her fight to figure things out. Her growth throughout the story wasn’t rushed. If you ever wondered what it would be like for a mortal to journey into to a magical realm, grow and adapt then I think Ada did a great job in depicting that in this book. We see Keira going through the motions of frustrations, hopelessness and doubts when she’s learning new things, and then you flip it and see her determination, resilience and strength when she’s beating the odds. Super enjoyable character. ❤️❤️❤️
Soren (our MMC) was not only brooding but a magnetic force. If I was Keira I would’ve easily fallen for Soren as well!! 🤣 I loved the way he cared for her! He was possessive BUT not in a “bro let her live her life!” kinda way. He trusted her. Never pushed her to the side or belittled her. He believed in Keira and it showed in the way Ada wrote about him even when this story is written entirely in Keira’s POV.
The main side characters were memorable and didn’t feel like fillers. They made me wish I could’ve learned more about them. I couldn’t get enough of Veyrik 🤣 absolutely love him.
The plot/storyline overall was solid. Ada was able to portray each scenario effectively. And the end!!! Omg I almost threw my phone across the room multiple times. 🤣🤣
I can’t wait to read what happens next!!!!!
🥰🥰🥰
Cons:
The book lacked valuable information in certain parts.
For example: Keira having to learn about the Fae part of her world and their history. I’m not saying I needed a 3 week course on the subject but personally as a reader I would’ve enjoyed reading some back story to get more of a foundation vs it being told in scattered conversations later on the book. I think, personally, the author wrote it this way because we’re learning things as Keira learns them (it’ll make sense when you read the book) which is an interesting approach BUT I think more could’ve been added at the beginning to really set a good foundation of this new world [Aelthar] we’re being introduced to. I would’ve like to have had more depth on this before we were taking to the Fae world. But that’s my personal preference. Yes, there were plot holes but I was too busy enjoying the ride to care.
*****RELEASES Feb, 2.*********
I just wanna start this review by saying…THE FREAKING SLOW BURN IN THIS BOOK IS CRIMINAL!!! 😭🤣👩🍳💋
If you like a fast paced plot, slow burn, dragons, magic, avatar the last air bender vibes 😂😂, soulmates or soul bounded as she describes it, and just fantasy in general I would definitely give this a read.
The book quite literally kicks off as we follow Keira (our FMC) a mortal girl who is “the chosen one” to save her world called Aelthar. Keira was such a delight to read. She wasn’t whiny or annoying. She has a strong character that isn’t overbearing. She has no idea what the hell she’s doing BUT is so resilient in her fight to figure things out. Her growth throughout the story wasn’t rushed. If you ever wondered what it would be like for a mortal to journey into to a magical realm, grow and adapt then I think Ada did a great job in depicting that in this book. We see Keira going through the motions of frustrations, hopelessness and doubts when she’s learning new things, and then you flip it and see her determination, resilience and strength when she’s beating the odds. Super enjoyable character. ❤️❤️❤️
Soren (our MMC) was not only brooding but a magnetic force. If I was Keira I would’ve easily fallen for Soren as well!! 🤣 I loved the way he cared for her! He was possessive BUT not in a “bro let her live her life!” kinda way. He trusted her. Never pushed her to the side or belittled her. He believed in Keira and it showed in the way Ada wrote about him even when this story is written entirely in Keira’s POV.
The main side characters were memorable and didn’t feel like fillers. They made me wish I could’ve learned more about them. I couldn’t get enough of Veyrik 🤣 absolutely love him.
The plot/storyline overall was solid. Ada was able to portray each scenario effectively. And the end!!! Omg I almost threw my phone across the room multiple times. 🤣🤣
I can’t wait to read what happens next!!!!!
🥰🥰🥰
Cons:
The book lacked valuable information in certain parts.
For example: Keira having to learn about the Fae part of her world and their history. I’m not saying I needed a 3 week course on the subject but personally as a reader I would’ve enjoyed reading some back story to get more of a foundation vs it being told in scattered conversations later on the book. I think, personally, the author wrote it this way because we’re learning things as Keira learns them (it’ll make sense when you read the book) which is an interesting approach BUT I think more could’ve been added at the beginning to really set a good foundation of this new world [Aelthar] we’re being introduced to. I would’ve like to have had more depth on this before we were taking to the Fae world. But that’s my personal preference. Yes, there were plot holes but I was too busy enjoying the ride to care.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book starts off with a fast pace and I devoured the first few chapters. The author paints the MC's world world with great detail interspersed with great character descriptions. The author in the first chapter makes you think that the MC doesn't think of the Fae as anything other than fairytales/myths yet when she's confronted by them, she knows exactly what the are and how their powers work. Later when she meets the leaders of the courts, she seems to have detailed knowledge of who they are, the dominions they rule over and what elements they wield.
This basis of the MC's journey is a prophecy that according to one the Dominion leaders states is about her. How? I've reread it repeatedly, there's nothing to remotely indicate that she's the one the prophecy speaks of, it's so vague that it could be about any mortal. This world that the author has created lacks a definition as to how it exists despite the massive amount of dialogue describing it. She speaks of Dominions and Expanses while the MC's home is a land. Are the continents on a planet or different realms that are a part of a planet? The Fae travel by star drifting. What is this, some from of teleportation or is it magic based and how does the MC have knowledge of this form of travel. In fact if she is mortal how do the mortals of her land travel? These are the details that don't exist in a book that's laden the descriptions.
The book also suffers from being overly descriptive and really drags the book down pacing wise getting bogged down by too much descriptive narrative and not enough dialogue or action, relying often on repetitive statements (ie, the MC is constantly rolling her eyes at least once a chapter it seems). But what concerns me is the power balance between the MC and her love interest. While this is a closed door romance, the MC is a child compared to him. She is only 23 years old and he has lived centuries, another character even describes her lifespan as nothing more than a blink for them. This trope is disturbing and overused. I'm growing tired of very young FMC's being kidnapped, thrown into dangers at Academies/Trials. Why are the children being used to 'save the world'?
It will be interesting to see how the rest of this series plays out. If the author can find a better balance between the descriptions and the dialogue between characters and action.
This book starts off with a fast pace and I devoured the first few chapters. The author paints the MC's world world with great detail interspersed with great character descriptions. The author in the first chapter makes you think that the MC doesn't think of the Fae as anything other than fairytales/myths yet when she's confronted by them, she knows exactly what the are and how their powers work. Later when she meets the leaders of the courts, she seems to have detailed knowledge of who they are, the dominions they rule over and what elements they wield.
This basis of the MC's journey is a prophecy that according to one the Dominion leaders states is about her. How? I've reread it repeatedly, there's nothing to remotely indicate that she's the one the prophecy speaks of, it's so vague that it could be about any mortal. This world that the author has created lacks a definition as to how it exists despite the massive amount of dialogue describing it. She speaks of Dominions and Expanses while the MC's home is a land. Are the continents on a planet or different realms that are a part of a planet? The Fae travel by star drifting. What is this, some from of teleportation or is it magic based and how does the MC have knowledge of this form of travel. In fact if she is mortal how do the mortals of her land travel? These are the details that don't exist in a book that's laden the descriptions.
The book also suffers from being overly descriptive and really drags the book down pacing wise getting bogged down by too much descriptive narrative and not enough dialogue or action, relying often on repetitive statements (ie, the MC is constantly rolling her eyes at least once a chapter it seems). But what concerns me is the power balance between the MC and her love interest. While this is a closed door romance, the MC is a child compared to him. She is only 23 years old and he has lived centuries, another character even describes her lifespan as nothing more than a blink for them. This trope is disturbing and overused. I'm growing tired of very young FMC's being kidnapped, thrown into dangers at Academies/Trials. Why are the children being used to 'save the world'?
It will be interesting to see how the rest of this series plays out. If the author can find a better balance between the descriptions and the dialogue between characters and action.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC reader - thank you for the opportunity! This is an honest opinion.
Withered by Shadows is a debut fantasy novel blending faeries and dragons, and draw on mastering the four elements together into one world. The MC discovers endless secrets about her life, her powers, and self through constant adventure and magical disruptions. The author’s writing is descriptive and easy to read (in a good way) with flowing prose that keeps a reader easily engaged from start to finish.
I think there is a lot of potential with this plot and would be interested in reading a sequel; however, the pacing of the novel just didn’t quite work for me. Key moments felt rushed, inconsequential moments seemed to have more dedicated word count than necessary. Additionally, while a mystery is always good to allow for continued reveals, there are so many unexplained elements that kept forcing me out of the story and into my own head - “did I miss something?”, “wait but that doesn’t say anything that everyone else seems to think it says?”
I’m also very much a fan of powers that also come with limits. And, while there are some limits in this novel, most of those limits just boil down to “exhaustion” rather than more realistic limits. There’s just a little too much high powered magic with no rules for me. And, without spoilers, there’s a little too much fantasy liberty being taken in this world related to the source of the MC’s powers.
The ending of the novel also just felt abrupt. I know the intention is for more books and I’m okay with leaving some open items but nothing feels concluded by the end of the book. It just ends after an epic scene but offered no real conclusions on anything. There’s just a little too much going on here and maybe the next book will help even out some of the complex plotting and characters - I’d be very open to that.
The book brims with ideas and ambition, but it sometimes feels like too many concepts are competing for space. With tighter editing and more focus, the core of the story could shine much more clearly. But, at the end of the day, if you like fantasy, Avatar the Last Airbender, Maas books, and want something that’s an easy read - I definitely recommend giving Withered by Shadows a read when it comes out! The author clearly has a beautiful fantastical world she’s sharing with us and there is so much possibility to explore.
Withered by Shadows is a debut fantasy novel blending faeries and dragons, and draw on mastering the four elements together into one world. The MC discovers endless secrets about her life, her powers, and self through constant adventure and magical disruptions. The author’s writing is descriptive and easy to read (in a good way) with flowing prose that keeps a reader easily engaged from start to finish.
I think there is a lot of potential with this plot and would be interested in reading a sequel; however, the pacing of the novel just didn’t quite work for me. Key moments felt rushed, inconsequential moments seemed to have more dedicated word count than necessary. Additionally, while a mystery is always good to allow for continued reveals, there are so many unexplained elements that kept forcing me out of the story and into my own head - “did I miss something?”, “wait but that doesn’t say anything that everyone else seems to think it says?”
I’m also very much a fan of powers that also come with limits. And, while there are some limits in this novel, most of those limits just boil down to “exhaustion” rather than more realistic limits. There’s just a little too much high powered magic with no rules for me. And, without spoilers, there’s a little too much fantasy liberty being taken in this world related to the source of the MC’s powers.
The ending of the novel also just felt abrupt. I know the intention is for more books and I’m okay with leaving some open items but nothing feels concluded by the end of the book. It just ends after an epic scene but offered no real conclusions on anything. There’s just a little too much going on here and maybe the next book will help even out some of the complex plotting and characters - I’d be very open to that.
The book brims with ideas and ambition, but it sometimes feels like too many concepts are competing for space. With tighter editing and more focus, the core of the story could shine much more clearly. But, at the end of the day, if you like fantasy, Avatar the Last Airbender, Maas books, and want something that’s an easy read - I definitely recommend giving Withered by Shadows a read when it comes out! The author clearly has a beautiful fantastical world she’s sharing with us and there is so much possibility to explore.
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