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Shattered Crown #3
Shadow and Son
Not yet published
Expected 20 Apr 27Scorch the realm. Bring the dawn.
Throne of Glass meets The Return of the King in the highly anticipated conclusion to the Best of #BookTok Shattered Crown trilogy.
A Fractured World
The fragile peace forged in the wake of the Crucible is unraveling. With the rise of an old foe and ancient magic stirring, the scars dividing Arcanis have begun to bleed anew, and the future of the realm hangs by a thread.
A Queen of Shadow
Elyria Lightbreaker has paid a devastating price to save her loved ones. Now, she faces a whole new darkness—and must decide how much more of herself she is willing to give to save a world that has already taken so much.
A Man on the Brink
Rocked by the secrets of his past and the truth behind his power, Cedric Thorne scours the continent in search of the woman he loves. But as enemies emerge from hiding and Elyria is pulled ever farther from reach, he must face the terrifying possibility that saving her may mean becoming something unforgivable. And once his fire is unleashed, there may be no putting it out.
A Final Reckoning
Bound by love but burdened by prophecy, Elyria and Cedric stand at the crossroads of Arcanis’s future. Together, they will confront a truth neither can Not all wounds can be healed, and the price victory demands may not be worth paying.
SHADOW AND SON is the third and final installment in the Shattered Crown trilogy, perfect for fans of realm-shattering high stakes fantasy, character-driven plots, rich world-building, a diverse cast of characters, elemental and shadow magic, and steamy, tension-filled romance—as well as authors like Carissa Broadbent, Penn Cole, Helen Scheuerer, Raven Kennedy, and Sarah J. Maas.
Content This is an adult dark romantasy book that contains strong language, dark themes, and open door spice, and is thus recommended for mature readers.
Official cover to be revealed.
Throne of Glass meets The Return of the King in the highly anticipated conclusion to the Best of #BookTok Shattered Crown trilogy.
A Fractured World
The fragile peace forged in the wake of the Crucible is unraveling. With the rise of an old foe and ancient magic stirring, the scars dividing Arcanis have begun to bleed anew, and the future of the realm hangs by a thread.
A Queen of Shadow
Elyria Lightbreaker has paid a devastating price to save her loved ones. Now, she faces a whole new darkness—and must decide how much more of herself she is willing to give to save a world that has already taken so much.
A Man on the Brink
Rocked by the secrets of his past and the truth behind his power, Cedric Thorne scours the continent in search of the woman he loves. But as enemies emerge from hiding and Elyria is pulled ever farther from reach, he must face the terrifying possibility that saving her may mean becoming something unforgivable. And once his fire is unleashed, there may be no putting it out.
A Final Reckoning
Bound by love but burdened by prophecy, Elyria and Cedric stand at the crossroads of Arcanis’s future. Together, they will confront a truth neither can Not all wounds can be healed, and the price victory demands may not be worth paying.
SHADOW AND SON is the third and final installment in the Shattered Crown trilogy, perfect for fans of realm-shattering high stakes fantasy, character-driven plots, rich world-building, a diverse cast of characters, elemental and shadow magic, and steamy, tension-filled romance—as well as authors like Carissa Broadbent, Penn Cole, Helen Scheuerer, Raven Kennedy, and Sarah J. Maas.
Content This is an adult dark romantasy book that contains strong language, dark themes, and open door spice, and is thus recommended for mature readers.
Official cover to be revealed.
576 pages, Paperback
Expected publication April 20, 2027
About the author
Gretchen Powell Fox
8 books938 followersGretchen Powell Fox spent her childhood in far-off places—figuratively and literally. She grew up with her nose buried in books and her feet on foreign soil. Both, she found, were essential in forming her deep fascination with stories.
Now, she crafts fantastical and futuristic worlds—along with the fiery heroines destined to change them for the better.
Her creative process involves copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids and sleeping fitfully. Her many interests include Taylor Swift, polka dots, reading fantasy novels, and playing the ukulele.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two wild, wonderful children.
Find her on Instagram at @gretchenwritesbooks.
Now, she crafts fantastical and futuristic worlds—along with the fiery heroines destined to change them for the better.
Her creative process involves copious amounts of Sour Patch Kids and sleeping fitfully. Her many interests include Taylor Swift, polka dots, reading fantasy novels, and playing the ukulele.
She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two wild, wonderful children.
Find her on Instagram at @gretchenwritesbooks.
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June 6, 2026
✨4.5/5✨
My journey with this trilogy is done, and I couldn’t be happier with the way this book ended. Alright, like I’m not fully satisfied with everything because some things went the way I didn’t want them to go, and many characters I loved didn’t make it… but! Elyria and Cedric got their happy ending, and I’m just so happy about it!!!
The romance is full-blown here, the spice is exceptional, and the writing is as great as always. Elyria is still one of my favourite FMCs, and she reminds me so much of another FMC that I really love. The whole trilogy has my whole heart because of the found family trope — like yes, thank you, Gretchen — and in this book I couldn’t ask for it to be better shown. It was amazing.
Not full 5 stars as some parts of the book were slower (especially the beginning), and I didn’t necessarily enjoy that many different points of view. Not that I don’t love those characters, but the book was long anyway, and I found them a bit underwhelming. I still loved the book as a whole.
Without a doubt, this series will be one of my favourite series I’ve ever read! (can’t wait for a reread some time in the future 🤭😌)
As always, thank you to the author Gretchen Powell Fox for sending me this ARC! As always, it’s been a pleasure!!!! 🫶🏼❤️
ahhh I forgot! for my safety girlies: completely safe, no ow/om drama, no cheating, no sharing, no breakups, couldn’t be safer
My journey with this trilogy is done, and I couldn’t be happier with the way this book ended. Alright, like I’m not fully satisfied with everything because some things went the way I didn’t want them to go, and many characters I loved didn’t make it… but! Elyria and Cedric got their happy ending, and I’m just so happy about it!!!
The romance is full-blown here, the spice is exceptional, and the writing is as great as always. Elyria is still one of my favourite FMCs, and she reminds me so much of another FMC that I really love. The whole trilogy has my whole heart because of the found family trope — like yes, thank you, Gretchen — and in this book I couldn’t ask for it to be better shown. It was amazing.
Not full 5 stars as some parts of the book were slower (especially the beginning), and I didn’t necessarily enjoy that many different points of view. Not that I don’t love those characters, but the book was long anyway, and I found them a bit underwhelming. I still loved the book as a whole.
Without a doubt, this series will be one of my favourite series I’ve ever read! (can’t wait for a reread some time in the future 🤭😌)
As always, thank you to the author Gretchen Powell Fox for sending me this ARC! As always, it’s been a pleasure!!!! 🫶🏼❤️
ahhh I forgot! for my safety girlies: completely safe, no ow/om drama, no cheating, no sharing, no breakups, couldn’t be safer
May 18, 2026
This finale to the Shattered Crown series from Gretchen Powell Fox is everything you could want in a series ending. I loved the multiple new POVs and felt they did a good job of portraying the complex plot without feeling overly complicated or burdensome. Gretchen is an expert at writing heartbreak and victory, anguish and joy and everything in between and you feel ALL OF IT in this story. I think one of the most beautiful things in Gretchen’s books is that the characters are well fleshed out and the plot doesn’t depend on immaturity or miscommunication to move at a steady pace. This is a refreshing thing to see in Romantasy! I’m super grateful to be on Gretchen’s street team and have gotten early access to this ARC copy. I can’t wait to see what she writes next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
“In darkness and in daylight, in peace and in ruin. What you carry, I carry. What you become, we become.”
An epic, emotional conclusion to one of my favourite series. The intricate, high stakes plot that’s been unfolding for three books concludes with even more epic nail-biting battles (Gretchen’s battle scenes are some of the best I’ve read), the most beautiful and heartbreaking character journeys and a romance that swept me off my feet until the very end. Every victory in this was hard-earned, every loss was gut-wrenching devastation (Gretchen doesn’t pull any punches with this. I was ugly crying). I’ve fallen in love with this world and these characters over and over again and had my heart ripped out more than once.
I finished this with a bit of a heavy heart, knowing that this series is done. I will miss our loveable knight in shining armour, his secret-softie shadow Queen, and the rest of the crew dearly. I do get the sense the door may be ajar for future spin-offs or novellas with certain charcters?! 👀 Fingers crossed we can revisit Arcanis and the gang again in future.
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
Being on GPF's arc team is a dream 🤩 Thank you so much Gretchen and the team for the early copy.
An epic, emotional conclusion to one of my favourite series. The intricate, high stakes plot that’s been unfolding for three books concludes with even more epic nail-biting battles (Gretchen’s battle scenes are some of the best I’ve read), the most beautiful and heartbreaking character journeys and a romance that swept me off my feet until the very end. Every victory in this was hard-earned, every loss was gut-wrenching devastation (Gretchen doesn’t pull any punches with this. I was ugly crying). I’ve fallen in love with this world and these characters over and over again and had my heart ripped out more than once.
I finished this with a bit of a heavy heart, knowing that this series is done. I will miss our loveable knight in shining armour, his secret-softie shadow Queen, and the rest of the crew dearly. I do get the sense the door may be ajar for future spin-offs or novellas with certain charcters?! 👀 Fingers crossed we can revisit Arcanis and the gang again in future.
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
Being on GPF's arc team is a dream 🤩 Thank you so much Gretchen and the team for the early copy.
May 30, 2026
Oh my gods this was absolute perfection! I cried and laughed and cried some more, this was the best ending for the series and the epilogue scenes were amazing. I’ll update this review closer to release day
June 2, 2026
4.25⭐️ a satisfying, well-forged conclusion to a vivid romantasy trilogy!
Since this is a third book in a series coming out in October 2026, I obviously can’t say too much for spoilers sake but I do think lovers of this trilogy will really enjoy its ending.
This was definitely the spiciest and most romantic book in the series as a huge bonus - i just love what a loverboy Cedric Thorne is. We had some classic knightly rescue moments from him in this book which was outside his usual babygorl personification which was very fun, even though the situations he was rescuing our girl from was ABSOLUTELY TRAUMATIZING!!!
I will say there was nothing that really surprised me in this book, which is fine imo not every book has to be chock full of plot twists. Everything seemed to reach its natural conclusion with little character relationship threads being open-ended which the author does acknowledge as being purposeful. I always reiterate when recommending this series that while I think the writing and development allows it to standout amongst current new publications for me, it will still always feel a bit familiar to frequent romantasy readers, particularly with the fated mates, epic battles against the Big Bad and shadow/light based magic holdsrs.
The only thread i was really anticipating in this book that i kinda feel like wasn’t fully fleshed out/explained for me was the whole Elyria vs her dad thing. What exactly happened between the two of them and WHOOOO was elyrias mom??? Also seeing him acknowledge the Raefe event would have been nice.
Usually a conclusion is my favorite in a series but I will also admit the pacing in here wasn’t my favorite, particularly in the middle third of the book, as I felt like we kept revisiting a couple of different POVs to essentially rehash the same information we already learned about. I feel like if some of those yappier “feel good” scenes were replaced with some more impactful action or plotting, it might have felt a little more gripping to me personally.
Overall though, i was satisfied, i never cringed once and i genuinely had fun which is really all i can ask for from romantasy in my current moodreading state. Will always highly recommend this series as a “classic romantasy” read or even a good alternative intro to the genre as opposed to *other* certain largely recommended authors.
Thank you so much to Gretchen Powell Fox and Scarlett Press for the gifted e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
Since this is a third book in a series coming out in October 2026, I obviously can’t say too much for spoilers sake but I do think lovers of this trilogy will really enjoy its ending.
This was definitely the spiciest and most romantic book in the series as a huge bonus - i just love what a loverboy Cedric Thorne is. We had some classic knightly rescue moments from him in this book which was outside his usual babygorl personification which was very fun, even though the situations he was rescuing our girl from was ABSOLUTELY TRAUMATIZING!!!
I will say there was nothing that really surprised me in this book, which is fine imo not every book has to be chock full of plot twists. Everything seemed to reach its natural conclusion with little character relationship threads being open-ended which the author does acknowledge as being purposeful. I always reiterate when recommending this series that while I think the writing and development allows it to standout amongst current new publications for me, it will still always feel a bit familiar to frequent romantasy readers, particularly with the fated mates, epic battles against the Big Bad and shadow/light based magic holdsrs.
The only thread i was really anticipating in this book that i kinda feel like wasn’t fully fleshed out/explained for me was the whole Elyria vs her dad thing. What exactly happened between the two of them and WHOOOO was elyrias mom??? Also seeing him acknowledge the Raefe event would have been nice.
Usually a conclusion is my favorite in a series but I will also admit the pacing in here wasn’t my favorite, particularly in the middle third of the book, as I felt like we kept revisiting a couple of different POVs to essentially rehash the same information we already learned about. I feel like if some of those yappier “feel good” scenes were replaced with some more impactful action or plotting, it might have felt a little more gripping to me personally.
Overall though, i was satisfied, i never cringed once and i genuinely had fun which is really all i can ask for from romantasy in my current moodreading state. Will always highly recommend this series as a “classic romantasy” read or even a good alternative intro to the genre as opposed to *other* certain largely recommended authors.
Thank you so much to Gretchen Powell Fox and Scarlett Press for the gifted e-ARC! All opinions are my own.
May 20, 2026
Thank you Gretchen, this was quite the ending! It was bittersweet to say goodbye to such wonderful characters; it felt like being sucked into the in-between without anyone to get us out. As with the previous books, this one was filled with action. Not one word wasted, every second was packed with heavy emotions. Although it is a HEA, it wasn’t without heartbreak, and oh dear, did it hurt! But the journey was absolutely fulfilling. Our dear green flag, Ric, will forever be our knight in shining armor and Elle, our cider-loving bacon-addict shadow mommy. We will miss you!😭
I read an ARC of this book and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. I’m honored to be in Gretchen’s Arc team.
I read an ARC of this book and I’m leaving this review voluntarily. I’m honored to be in Gretchen’s Arc team.
June 16, 2026
What a fantastic end to such an amazing trilogy. Gretchen truly outdid herself with the final installment in the Shattered Crown trilogy. We got love, anger, grief, humor, loss and overall, we got family.
The found family that developed over the past 3 books continued to grow and flourish in book 3. We were able to get into the minds of some fan favorite characters with chapters dedicated to their POVs and it was fantastic. The world building continued to grow and expand and the way that Gretchen writes makes me envision Arcanis in my mind so vividly that I would think it was actually real.
Thinking of what Elyria goes through in this book makes a tear come to my eye. I want to say out of the three books this one was slightly darker in themes. Watching Elyria, who is always so brave and ready to fight, struggle to cope with what she went through was so heartbreaking. But there was hope within that made it much more powerful when she finally rose up and took back what was lost to her.
And throughout it all, Cedric was by her side. He was on a whole another level in this book, he was always down bad for Elyria however Cedric Thorne in book 3? He was going to go through any lengths to make sure his girl was safe and in his arms. I believe I said this in my other reviews for the trilogy but, he is the blueprint for men. Men need to be more like Sir Cedric Thorne! I also love the evolution of him being the damsel(knight) in distress in book 1 to being an absolute machine in book 3.
This book hurt a lot. Especially towards the end, I was fully sobbing and I went to bed with tears in my eyes. I’m not fully ready to let go of this world so I’m so glad that there was a few little openings left here and there that can hopefully make for a good little novella or spin-off. I need to know more about the fate of some characters endings that felt a bit ambiguous.
Thank you to Gretchen and her team for letting me read this early, I had an absolute blast! Count me in for the next books you’re writing.
The found family that developed over the past 3 books continued to grow and flourish in book 3. We were able to get into the minds of some fan favorite characters with chapters dedicated to their POVs and it was fantastic. The world building continued to grow and expand and the way that Gretchen writes makes me envision Arcanis in my mind so vividly that I would think it was actually real.
Thinking of what Elyria goes through in this book makes a tear come to my eye. I want to say out of the three books this one was slightly darker in themes. Watching Elyria, who is always so brave and ready to fight, struggle to cope with what she went through was so heartbreaking. But there was hope within that made it much more powerful when she finally rose up and took back what was lost to her.
And throughout it all, Cedric was by her side. He was on a whole another level in this book, he was always down bad for Elyria however Cedric Thorne in book 3? He was going to go through any lengths to make sure his girl was safe and in his arms. I believe I said this in my other reviews for the trilogy but, he is the blueprint for men. Men need to be more like Sir Cedric Thorne! I also love the evolution of him being the damsel(knight) in distress in book 1 to being an absolute machine in book 3.
This book hurt a lot. Especially towards the end, I was fully sobbing and I went to bed with tears in my eyes. I’m not fully ready to let go of this world so I’m so glad that there was a few little openings left here and there that can hopefully make for a good little novella or spin-off. I need to know more about the fate of some characters endings that felt a bit ambiguous.
Thank you to Gretchen and her team for letting me read this early, I had an absolute blast! Count me in for the next books you’re writing.
June 12, 2026
“you were always you. you always will be. perfect in every rendition.”
—
cedric will forever be a top-tier book boyfriend for me. i LOVE this man. he practically worships the ground she walks on. i loved watching him come into his birthright, especially as he learned to navigate his magic.
elyria… this book made me cry. she went through so much, but never let it break her. seeing how close she came to losing herself and reading about her internal struggles was heartbreaking. but in the end, she proved just how strong she is—not only for herself, but for the people she loves and for a better future.
“𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅.”
this series has one of the best found families ever. you seriously can’t help but feel for all of them, and getting to see a lot of their povs this book was so fun.
the ending stakes were INSANE. i’ve never been more stressed in my goddamn life, fearing for every single character. a few things were actually diabolical… gretchen? you do know you didn’t have to do that to me, right?
dare i say i’m sensing a spin-off? and if not, i’ll scream, because what do you mean a certain character’s story just ends like that??? i damn near threw my kindle at the wall.
thank you soo much to gretchen and her team for allowing me to be on the ARC team!! this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it didn’t disappoint! ♥︎
“𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆.”
—
cedric will forever be a top-tier book boyfriend for me. i LOVE this man. he practically worships the ground she walks on. i loved watching him come into his birthright, especially as he learned to navigate his magic.
elyria… this book made me cry. she went through so much, but never let it break her. seeing how close she came to losing herself and reading about her internal struggles was heartbreaking. but in the end, she proved just how strong she is—not only for herself, but for the people she loves and for a better future.
“𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒅.”
this series has one of the best found families ever. you seriously can’t help but feel for all of them, and getting to see a lot of their povs this book was so fun.
the ending stakes were INSANE. i’ve never been more stressed in my goddamn life, fearing for every single character. a few things were actually diabolical… gretchen? you do know you didn’t have to do that to me, right?
dare i say i’m sensing a spin-off? and if not, i’ll scream, because what do you mean a certain character’s story just ends like that??? i damn near threw my kindle at the wall.
thank you soo much to gretchen and her team for allowing me to be on the ARC team!! this was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and it didn’t disappoint! ♥︎
“𝒊 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒚𝒐𝒖, 𝒆𝒍𝒍𝒆.”
May 23, 2026
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
SIR CEDRIC THORNE THE MAN THAT YOU ARE. This book had everything I wanted from the conclusion of this epic romantasy trilogy and more. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet and I blushed. Gretchen broke my heart a little bit with this one, that final battle was amazing and also such a hard read. Everyone grab your tissues for this one. I love this found family so much and it is so sad to be leaving this world behind (for now 👀). Elyria and Cedric forever have my heart and I love them even more after shadow and son. They had some of the most epic moments and this is definitely a series I will be coming back to and rereading. If you haven’t read this series yet what are you waiting for.
I loved the extra POVs we got this book and it feels like we have some teasing going on for some of the characters in this world, I will be very impatiently waiting to see them all again.
Thank you so much to Gretchen and her team for letting me read this ARC. I just about died when I got the email.
SIR CEDRIC THORNE THE MAN THAT YOU ARE. This book had everything I wanted from the conclusion of this epic romantasy trilogy and more. I laughed, I cried, I kicked my feet and I blushed. Gretchen broke my heart a little bit with this one, that final battle was amazing and also such a hard read. Everyone grab your tissues for this one. I love this found family so much and it is so sad to be leaving this world behind (for now 👀). Elyria and Cedric forever have my heart and I love them even more after shadow and son. They had some of the most epic moments and this is definitely a series I will be coming back to and rereading. If you haven’t read this series yet what are you waiting for.
I loved the extra POVs we got this book and it feels like we have some teasing going on for some of the characters in this world, I will be very impatiently waiting to see them all again.
Thank you so much to Gretchen and her team for letting me read this ARC. I just about died when I got the email.
June 9, 2026
4.25 rounded up
A solid improvement from books 1 & 2 in terms of pacing, and the battle scenes were fleshed out wonderfully. Sometimes authors can get a bit long-winded or overly descriptive in the climactic moments, but Gretchen did a great job in Shadow and Son.
Not going to say anything to spoil it, but I’m thinkingggg we’re getting a spin-off series or a novella at the very least revolving around Nox; which I wouldn’t be mad about in the slightest. There were some interesting revelations in book 3 that I’d be interested to read more about. 👀
My only complaint… is with Cedric and Elyria.😅 Their relationship was hard to read in terms of cringe level cheesiness. It wasn’t all the time, but it was enough that it sticks out in my mind. Elyria had a tendency to call Cedric “Sir worrywart” at the most inopportune, mood killing-est of times. 😅 I don’t know. Maybe I’m a grump. They just felt so gushy over one another that it got old to read for me personally.
The variety of POVs kept the plot interesting, and they all had actual depth to them instead of irrelevant filler- which was nice given the size of the book. Often times the bigger the book the more fluff you get with the side characters, but that wasn’t the case here.
Overall, this was a great end to the trilogy and one I’m glad to have been able to read early. Huge thanks to Gretchen and her team for the chance to read the advanced digital copy. 🫶🏼
A solid improvement from books 1 & 2 in terms of pacing, and the battle scenes were fleshed out wonderfully. Sometimes authors can get a bit long-winded or overly descriptive in the climactic moments, but Gretchen did a great job in Shadow and Son.
Not going to say anything to spoil it, but I’m thinkingggg we’re getting a spin-off series or a novella at the very least revolving around Nox; which I wouldn’t be mad about in the slightest. There were some interesting revelations in book 3 that I’d be interested to read more about. 👀
My only complaint… is with Cedric and Elyria.😅 Their relationship was hard to read in terms of cringe level cheesiness. It wasn’t all the time, but it was enough that it sticks out in my mind. Elyria had a tendency to call Cedric “Sir worrywart” at the most inopportune, mood killing-est of times. 😅 I don’t know. Maybe I’m a grump. They just felt so gushy over one another that it got old to read for me personally.
The variety of POVs kept the plot interesting, and they all had actual depth to them instead of irrelevant filler- which was nice given the size of the book. Often times the bigger the book the more fluff you get with the side characters, but that wasn’t the case here.
Overall, this was a great end to the trilogy and one I’m glad to have been able to read early. Huge thanks to Gretchen and her team for the chance to read the advanced digital copy. 🫶🏼
June 4, 2026
“In darkness and in daylight, in peace and in ruin. What you carry, I carry. What you become, we become.”
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
I'm sitting here days after finishing the arc of this book, and I have no words. Well I do, but they aren't coming to me quick enough. This was such a beautiful, and emotional conclusion to easily one of my favorite fantasy series I have read so far.
This book picks up days after the ending of Splintered Kingdom. Everyone is doing about how you would expect after that ending, with Sir Worrywart really earning that nickname this go around. Everyone is off in different directions and split up, but they are all working towards a single goal: find Elyria and put a stop to Malakar before he changes the world for the worse. There is so much that happens in this book, but it was so well written that I was able to keep up with all the events going on.
A bonus in this book that I really enjoyed was getting the POV's from some of the other characters. It really helped bridge the "chasm" so to speak, and helped to move the story along when we weren't inside Elyria or Cedric's heads. It also helped me fall more in love with some of the side characters I've grown to love reading this series. It's just something about being inside their heads that does it for me.
The ending of this book and series was everything I wanted it to be. It was so beautiful and wrapped up our favorite couple's story very well. I laughed, I cried, I cheered with all the characters. From the moment I picked up this series I was completely enamored with it. It was everything I was searching for in a fantasy at the time, and it kept the momentum going until the final book. I truly can not wait to see what Gretchen writes next, and this series will forever hold a special place in my heart, and is going to be added to my "comfort books/series" list.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow. What an ending, I’m absolutely speechless, and in awe. Full review to come 💜
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
I'm sitting here days after finishing the arc of this book, and I have no words. Well I do, but they aren't coming to me quick enough. This was such a beautiful, and emotional conclusion to easily one of my favorite fantasy series I have read so far.
This book picks up days after the ending of Splintered Kingdom. Everyone is doing about how you would expect after that ending, with Sir Worrywart really earning that nickname this go around. Everyone is off in different directions and split up, but they are all working towards a single goal: find Elyria and put a stop to Malakar before he changes the world for the worse. There is so much that happens in this book, but it was so well written that I was able to keep up with all the events going on.
A bonus in this book that I really enjoyed was getting the POV's from some of the other characters. It really helped bridge the "chasm" so to speak, and helped to move the story along when we weren't inside Elyria or Cedric's heads. It also helped me fall more in love with some of the side characters I've grown to love reading this series. It's just something about being inside their heads that does it for me.
The ending of this book and series was everything I wanted it to be. It was so beautiful and wrapped up our favorite couple's story very well. I laughed, I cried, I cheered with all the characters. From the moment I picked up this series I was completely enamored with it. It was everything I was searching for in a fantasy at the time, and it kept the momentum going until the final book. I truly can not wait to see what Gretchen writes next, and this series will forever hold a special place in my heart, and is going to be added to my "comfort books/series" list.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wow. What an ending, I’m absolutely speechless, and in awe. Full review to come 💜
June 4, 2026
Thank you to Gretchen Powell Fox for an eArc of Shadow and Son, the 3rd and final book in the Shattered Crown trilogy. I am so grateful to be a part of the Feral Foxies. This review is spoiler-free and more about how this book/series made me feel. I think I felt every emotion possible reading the final book in this series. The amount of love I have for this world and these characters is unmatched. Seeing Cedric and Elyria's character progression has been everything I could want or need in a romantic fantasy. The slow burn and anguish these two had, and the ultimate payoff we get as the readers of witnessing their love story flourish, is incredible. There was so much emotional whiplash in this epic conclusion, but it was absolutely perfect. I have no notes, and I can not wait until this book's release, and I can get a physical copy to complete my collection. These characters and this world will stay with me for a long time. Gretchen is an incredible writer, creating such a unique and interesting world. She created this incredible sense of found family where you are rooting just as much for the side characters as the main ones. I am so sad this series is over, but what an incredible journey we were taken on, and this book has such a satisfying conclusion packed with so many emotions.
June 1, 2026
Arc review: 5 stars!!
🔥❤️🔥⚔️🐾🦋❤️🩹
I would like to start off and thank the author and the team for having the opportunity to read and review this book.
I absolutely loved and cried over the ending of this incredible series full of love, war, tragedy and family.
And these characters wow!! 🥹 They have made me laugh and cry so many times in this book alone and I can’t believe it’s now over.
Highly recommend to anyone awaiting the official release of this book in the future!! 💖
🔥❤️🔥⚔️🐾🦋❤️🩹
I would like to start off and thank the author and the team for having the opportunity to read and review this book.
I absolutely loved and cried over the ending of this incredible series full of love, war, tragedy and family.
And these characters wow!! 🥹 They have made me laugh and cry so many times in this book alone and I can’t believe it’s now over.
Highly recommend to anyone awaiting the official release of this book in the future!! 💖
June 19, 2026
Many thanks for the ARC!
This was a great finale. Not everything was as expected, and I’m very curious about the ‘doors left cracked open’ in this world… 👀😭👏🏼
This was a great finale. Not everything was as expected, and I’m very curious about the ‘doors left cracked open’ in this world… 👀😭👏🏼
March 23, 2026
An epic ending to an epic series. There’s love, loss, heartache, hope, and the knowledge that fighting for what’s right may be hard but it’s worth it. But really, the overall message is love: romantic, familial, platonic, and for the world we wish to build.
full disclosure: I was a Beta reader for Gretchen and received an early copy for free for my honest feedback. I chose to review as well of my own volition. All opinions are my own.
full disclosure: I was a Beta reader for Gretchen and received an early copy for free for my honest feedback. I chose to review as well of my own volition. All opinions are my own.
May 28, 2026
Tropes & Themes:
⚔️ Epic Romantasy
💜 Multi POV
⚔️ He'll burn the world for her
💜 Fated Mates
⚔️ Chosen One(s)
💜 Found Family
⚔️ "My Wife"
I genuinely don’t even know where to begin with this review because this trilogy has completely embedded itself into my heart and I apologize ahead of time for the extremely long review...
I’ve been lucky enough to be on Gretchen Powell Fox’s ARC team for a while now, and every single release from her feels so special because you can truly tell how much love and care she pours into these books. Shadow and Son, the final installment in the Shattered Crown trilogy, was absolutely no exception.
Ever since book one, I’ve been obsessed with this world, these characters, and the emotional atmosphere surrounding the story, and somehow Gretchen managed to bring everything together into a conclusion that felt both epic and completely worthy of these characters we love so dearly.
Elyria Lightbreaker continues to be one of my favorite FMCs to read. She’s fierce, stubborn, loyal, and completely unwilling to back down even when her entire world is falling apart around her. After the ending of Splintered Kingdom, I was genuinely terrified for her, and every mention of her wings throughout this book had me immediately tearing up. Watching her struggle with that loss and everything it represented absolutely shattered me.
And then there’s Sir Cedric Thorne… this MAN. I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever recover from these two. Cedric has the moral compass of an actual saint, but the second Elyria is in danger, that morality starts bending REAL fast. The unwavering loyalty, the desperation, the raw love these two have for each other was honestly breathtaking to read. They are easily one of my favorite romantasy couples because their relationship feels so deeply rooted in trust, sacrifice, and genuine devotion.
Beyond the romance, this book truly felt like an epic fantasy conclusion. The worldbuilding, the twists, the shifting alliances, the multiple POVs, everything slowly clicked together like puzzle pieces falling into place. One thing Gretchen does incredibly well is making you hate a character one moment and then somehow turning around and making you understand and even love them later, which made the journey throughout this finale even stronger.
What I appreciated most was that this ending felt right. Certain character arcs concluded exactly the way they needed to, while still leaving little breadcrumbs for possible novellas or spin-offs in the future (which I will absolutely be begging for 👀).
I cried an embarrassing amount while reading this, not just because of what was happening, but because I knew I was reaching the end of a story that has meant so much to me over the course of this entire trilogy. This series truly holds my heart in the palm of its hand, and I’m incredibly grateful to Gretchen and her PA Emily for giving me the opportunity to experience this story early and fall in love with it the way I did.
Honestly? If I could give this infinity stars, I would, because 5 just doesn’t feel like enough.
⚔️ Epic Romantasy
💜 Multi POV
⚔️ He'll burn the world for her
💜 Fated Mates
⚔️ Chosen One(s)
💜 Found Family
⚔️ "My Wife"
I genuinely don’t even know where to begin with this review because this trilogy has completely embedded itself into my heart and I apologize ahead of time for the extremely long review...
I’ve been lucky enough to be on Gretchen Powell Fox’s ARC team for a while now, and every single release from her feels so special because you can truly tell how much love and care she pours into these books. Shadow and Son, the final installment in the Shattered Crown trilogy, was absolutely no exception.
Ever since book one, I’ve been obsessed with this world, these characters, and the emotional atmosphere surrounding the story, and somehow Gretchen managed to bring everything together into a conclusion that felt both epic and completely worthy of these characters we love so dearly.
Elyria Lightbreaker continues to be one of my favorite FMCs to read. She’s fierce, stubborn, loyal, and completely unwilling to back down even when her entire world is falling apart around her. After the ending of Splintered Kingdom, I was genuinely terrified for her, and every mention of her wings throughout this book had me immediately tearing up. Watching her struggle with that loss and everything it represented absolutely shattered me.
And then there’s Sir Cedric Thorne… this MAN. I genuinely don’t think I’ll ever recover from these two. Cedric has the moral compass of an actual saint, but the second Elyria is in danger, that morality starts bending REAL fast. The unwavering loyalty, the desperation, the raw love these two have for each other was honestly breathtaking to read. They are easily one of my favorite romantasy couples because their relationship feels so deeply rooted in trust, sacrifice, and genuine devotion.
Beyond the romance, this book truly felt like an epic fantasy conclusion. The worldbuilding, the twists, the shifting alliances, the multiple POVs, everything slowly clicked together like puzzle pieces falling into place. One thing Gretchen does incredibly well is making you hate a character one moment and then somehow turning around and making you understand and even love them later, which made the journey throughout this finale even stronger.
What I appreciated most was that this ending felt right. Certain character arcs concluded exactly the way they needed to, while still leaving little breadcrumbs for possible novellas or spin-offs in the future (which I will absolutely be begging for 👀).
I cried an embarrassing amount while reading this, not just because of what was happening, but because I knew I was reaching the end of a story that has meant so much to me over the course of this entire trilogy. This series truly holds my heart in the palm of its hand, and I’m incredibly grateful to Gretchen and her PA Emily for giving me the opportunity to experience this story early and fall in love with it the way I did.
Honestly? If I could give this infinity stars, I would, because 5 just doesn’t feel like enough.
May 17, 2026
4.5 stars 🌟
I cannot believe I have finished this amazing series! Shadow and Son was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint! It was everything I hope it would be. If you’ve not picked this series yet, this is your sign to do so!!
Shadow and Son was filled with some incredible action, the battle scenes were detailed, fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat! Whilst the high stakes plot is exciting, it’s the characters and their journey that really shines. There’s heartbreak, devastation, grief, trauma, rage, but also hope and so much love, both romantic and platonic. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Cedric and Elyria are one of my fav book couples. The development of their relationship, their love for one another and their individual character arcs throughout the series has been beautiful to read. Their dynamic is what initially drew me into this series, and although they maintain that dynamic of Cedric being the golden retriever and Elyria being the black cat, it has been so satisfying to see Elyria soften and open up to Cedric and Cedric bringing the touch her and die vibes! Honestly they are just perfect for each others, they balance each other so well and their love story is just everything!
Gretchen has written some of the best found family. These were people from opposite sides, who held strong views about each other, who were forced together and developed the most beautiful friendships and bonds with one another. I genuinely cared for each and every one of the characters and the additional POVs in this book added so much. And I cannot write a review without mentioning Sid, the best shadow cat familiar!!
There is still so much mystery surrounding Nox, and I just feel like we aren’t quite done with their storyline yet. I’m praying I’m right as I need more of this world and these characters!!
I honestly don’t know how to feel after finishing The Shattered Crown series. The ending was perfect, it was everything I wanted for the MCs and it’s completed me, but I’m so sad that it’s come to an end, it’s always a bittersweet feeling finishing an incredible series but I will be ready and waiting for Gretchen’s next story!
Thank you so much to author Gretchen Powell Fox for gifting me this arc to review. All opinions are my own.
I cannot believe I have finished this amazing series! Shadow and Son was one of my most anticipated reads this year and it did not disappoint! It was everything I hope it would be. If you’ve not picked this series yet, this is your sign to do so!!
Shadow and Son was filled with some incredible action, the battle scenes were detailed, fast paced and had me on the edge of my seat! Whilst the high stakes plot is exciting, it’s the characters and their journey that really shines. There’s heartbreak, devastation, grief, trauma, rage, but also hope and so much love, both romantic and platonic. It will take you on an emotional rollercoaster.
Cedric and Elyria are one of my fav book couples. The development of their relationship, their love for one another and their individual character arcs throughout the series has been beautiful to read. Their dynamic is what initially drew me into this series, and although they maintain that dynamic of Cedric being the golden retriever and Elyria being the black cat, it has been so satisfying to see Elyria soften and open up to Cedric and Cedric bringing the touch her and die vibes! Honestly they are just perfect for each others, they balance each other so well and their love story is just everything!
Gretchen has written some of the best found family. These were people from opposite sides, who held strong views about each other, who were forced together and developed the most beautiful friendships and bonds with one another. I genuinely cared for each and every one of the characters and the additional POVs in this book added so much. And I cannot write a review without mentioning Sid, the best shadow cat familiar!!
There is still so much mystery surrounding Nox, and I just feel like we aren’t quite done with their storyline yet. I’m praying I’m right as I need more of this world and these characters!!
I honestly don’t know how to feel after finishing The Shattered Crown series. The ending was perfect, it was everything I wanted for the MCs and it’s completed me, but I’m so sad that it’s come to an end, it’s always a bittersweet feeling finishing an incredible series but I will be ready and waiting for Gretchen’s next story!
Thank you so much to author Gretchen Powell Fox for gifting me this arc to review. All opinions are my own.
May 22, 2026
4.5 ⭐️ | ARC Review!
Ohhhh, this one hurt. What an incredible conclusion to one of my all-time favorite trilogies! And what a gift it has been to get to read and review these masterpieces early - I am so so grateful to Gretchen and her team for the opportunity to be on her permanent ARC team (and cannot wait to see what comes next)!
First off - I absolutely loved the new POVs in this book! The new insight from some of my favorite side characters made me adore and appreciate them so much more! The found family in this series is just so so special, and Gretchen really has a gift for writing such deep and relatable characters.
I also want to mention the world building and the incredible detail used to really paint a picture of this incredible world. This book had me homesick for a place that (unfortunately) doesn’t even exist, I swear.
The journey that the characters went through in this book both warmed my heart and had it aching all the same. Cedric and Elyria have really been through the wringer in this series but came out of it so much stronger. I absolutely adore their love story, and getting to watch it grow and flourish to what it was in this book was so worth all the heartache along the way.
I also was pleasantly surprised with how attached I grew to Nox and their backstory in this book. It was such a bittersweet ending for them and I am hoping (begging) for a spin-off or novella to continue their story!
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
Just a moment for Sir Cedric (Yearns-a-Lot) Thorne, everyone. Now THAT is how you write an MMC.
There is now an Elyria-and-Cedric-shaped hole in my poor heart. I’ll be in mourning for the forseeable future over the fact that this trilogy is over.
Ohhhh, this one hurt. What an incredible conclusion to one of my all-time favorite trilogies! And what a gift it has been to get to read and review these masterpieces early - I am so so grateful to Gretchen and her team for the opportunity to be on her permanent ARC team (and cannot wait to see what comes next)!
First off - I absolutely loved the new POVs in this book! The new insight from some of my favorite side characters made me adore and appreciate them so much more! The found family in this series is just so so special, and Gretchen really has a gift for writing such deep and relatable characters.
I also want to mention the world building and the incredible detail used to really paint a picture of this incredible world. This book had me homesick for a place that (unfortunately) doesn’t even exist, I swear.
The journey that the characters went through in this book both warmed my heart and had it aching all the same. Cedric and Elyria have really been through the wringer in this series but came out of it so much stronger. I absolutely adore their love story, and getting to watch it grow and flourish to what it was in this book was so worth all the heartache along the way.
I also was pleasantly surprised with how attached I grew to Nox and their backstory in this book. It was such a bittersweet ending for them and I am hoping (begging) for a spin-off or novella to continue their story!
“I don’t think anyone in the history of this wretched world has ever loved another person as much as I do you.”
Just a moment for Sir Cedric (Yearns-a-Lot) Thorne, everyone. Now THAT is how you write an MMC.
There is now an Elyria-and-Cedric-shaped hole in my poor heart. I’ll be in mourning for the forseeable future over the fact that this trilogy is over.
June 18, 2026
Plot- So the book picks up right after book 2 and readers immediately go into thinking ‘Right how are we getting our reverent back??’ Should we talk about the reunion between Cedric and Elyria? Yeah we should 😩 my gosh was it emotional and so lovely and my heart finally started beating again 🙌 those two always need to be together, I don’t make the rules 🤷🏻♀️ The first half of the book is very much trying to get Elle back and her healing journey afterwards. The second half is full balls to the wall, planning, fight sequences and high action. This was a great balance between high stakes and the slower paced romance and found family moments 🙌 a really satisfying conclusion with some sprinkling plot points that leaves the door cracked open to return - and you best believe I will be returning!
Romance - The way the communication between Elle and Cedric is always rooted in honesty, respect and unwavering devotion is honestly a blueprint for all couples. There’s never any pushing the other person away or hiding their feelings, they simply exist in each other’s orbit filled with love and admiration. They are both so incredibly supportive of each other and the undying faith they have in their person is exquisite! 💕 It is truly a testament to Gretchen and her writing that she was able to craft such a lovely relationship arc for the two of them with so much growth for them as individuals and as a couple. Oh and their bonding scene! Sweet baby Jesus 🥵 I loved every moment of their relationship across the series and they’re definitely a firm favourite ❤️
Thank you so much to Gretchen and her team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Romance - The way the communication between Elle and Cedric is always rooted in honesty, respect and unwavering devotion is honestly a blueprint for all couples. There’s never any pushing the other person away or hiding their feelings, they simply exist in each other’s orbit filled with love and admiration. They are both so incredibly supportive of each other and the undying faith they have in their person is exquisite! 💕 It is truly a testament to Gretchen and her writing that she was able to craft such a lovely relationship arc for the two of them with so much growth for them as individuals and as a couple. Oh and their bonding scene! Sweet baby Jesus 🥵 I loved every moment of their relationship across the series and they’re definitely a firm favourite ❤️
Thank you so much to Gretchen and her team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2026
Thank you to the author and team for this eARC!
Oh woooow! I can’t believe how amazing this book was! It was epic, it was sad, it was beautiful, it was sexy, and it was a perfect ending to this epic trilogy.
I loved the tension. Picking up a few weeks from where Splintered Kingdom ended. Elyria is Malakar’s prisoner, while Cedric desperately searches for her.
We finally meet some characters that I have wanted to meet. We also meet a few new ones here at the end.
Cedric and Elyria’s relationship is so beautiful and moves up the next level. It was heartwarming, and Cedric will remain one of my favorite green flag MMCs.
I felt this book did a beautiful job wrapping up this tale. There was some great humor mixed in with all of the tragedy. The final battles were well written and intense. And the final chapters were beautiful.
I’m so sad it’s over! But very satisfied with how it ended. What a wonderful trilogy.
Oh woooow! I can’t believe how amazing this book was! It was epic, it was sad, it was beautiful, it was sexy, and it was a perfect ending to this epic trilogy.
I loved the tension. Picking up a few weeks from where Splintered Kingdom ended. Elyria is Malakar’s prisoner, while Cedric desperately searches for her.
We finally meet some characters that I have wanted to meet. We also meet a few new ones here at the end.
Cedric and Elyria’s relationship is so beautiful and moves up the next level. It was heartwarming, and Cedric will remain one of my favorite green flag MMCs.
I felt this book did a beautiful job wrapping up this tale. There was some great humor mixed in with all of the tragedy. The final battles were well written and intense. And the final chapters were beautiful.
I’m so sad it’s over! But very satisfied with how it ended. What a wonderful trilogy.
June 6, 2026
Thank you Gretchen for the eARC!
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Gretchen, you put me through every emotion imaginable with this book! This series has easily become one of my all-time favorites, and this final installment was such a satisfying journey 🎢
The pacing was excellent from beginning to end, keeping me fully invested and eager to see what would happen next. One of the biggest strengths of this series is its incredible cast of characters. There are so many that I've grown to love over the course of these books, making every triumph, heartbreak, and emotional moment hit even harder 🥰
Cedric (Sir Knight, Sir Worrywart etc.) and Elyria were absolutely perfect. Their story, their growth, and their dynamic were everything I could have hoped for and more 🫶
And that ending! What a fantastic conclusion to an unforgettable series. It wrapped things up beautifully while still leaving me hopeful that we might get to return to this world someday 😉
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐️
Gretchen, you put me through every emotion imaginable with this book! This series has easily become one of my all-time favorites, and this final installment was such a satisfying journey 🎢
The pacing was excellent from beginning to end, keeping me fully invested and eager to see what would happen next. One of the biggest strengths of this series is its incredible cast of characters. There are so many that I've grown to love over the course of these books, making every triumph, heartbreak, and emotional moment hit even harder 🥰
Cedric (Sir Knight, Sir Worrywart etc.) and Elyria were absolutely perfect. Their story, their growth, and their dynamic were everything I could have hoped for and more 🫶
And that ending! What a fantastic conclusion to an unforgettable series. It wrapped things up beautifully while still leaving me hopeful that we might get to return to this world someday 😉
May 23, 2026
This book. Omg, what a perfect way to wrap up the Shattered Crown trilogy. Such an emotional rollercoaster! I attempted to count how many times I cried (sad, happy, distressed, all the tears) and lost count around 20. I think I ended up crying about 25 times? Who knows for sure; I just know it was A LOT (I am crier; can’t you tell? Haha). I am incredibly attached to these characters and their world; when they hurt, I hurt, when they celebrate, I celebrate. Elyria and Cedric have my heart (and so do Kit, Thraigg, Nox, Tenny, Tristan, Ollie, Jocelyn, Shep, Sephone, and Zephyr… basically the entire found family). Cedric is BOOK HUSBAND, omg. Elle is who I want to be when I grow up. I cannot wait for publication so I can have this book in my hands so I can hug it. Thank you Gretchen for an incredible trilogy! Thanks to Gretchen and Emily for the eARC.
June 23, 2026
Shadow and Son by Gretchen Powell Fox ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Screaming, crying, throwing up ah the fact that I just finished this AMAZING series. I don’t think you guys understand how much I absolutely loved this series. Shadow and Son was an absolutely amazing conclusion to the Shattered Crown series. The nonstop action had me on the edge of my seat, I had to put it down and pause just so I can savor it some more lol. Reading the amazing world that Gretchen created with the best group of characters ever has been such a privilege! Shadow and Son really had the perfect blend of banter, action, spice, and tears. I was clutching my pearls and running for tissues while reading this book. You NEED to read this book. Matter of fact, read the whole series even if you already did, do it again lol. This book series will forever be a part of me and I will hold this book so close to my heart.
✨Shadow and Son releases October 20, 2026!✨
Screaming, crying, throwing up ah the fact that I just finished this AMAZING series. I don’t think you guys understand how much I absolutely loved this series. Shadow and Son was an absolutely amazing conclusion to the Shattered Crown series. The nonstop action had me on the edge of my seat, I had to put it down and pause just so I can savor it some more lol. Reading the amazing world that Gretchen created with the best group of characters ever has been such a privilege! Shadow and Son really had the perfect blend of banter, action, spice, and tears. I was clutching my pearls and running for tissues while reading this book. You NEED to read this book. Matter of fact, read the whole series even if you already did, do it again lol. This book series will forever be a part of me and I will hold this book so close to my heart.
✨Shadow and Son releases October 20, 2026!✨
June 14, 2026
I got an ARC of this for being a member of GPF’s Patreon - sometimes it doesn’t hurt to be a dorky fan girl!
This is the final book in the Shattered Crowns trilogy and it’s an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. It was exactly what I wanted out of a trilogy and if you haven’t read Smoke and Scar yet, stop sleeping on it!
(Or tbf if you wanted to wait a bit until the release date of SAS is closer, wouldn’t blame you, the book 2 cliffhanger is diabolical).
Anyway, five celestial stars for the book and six for the series
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is the final book in the Shattered Crowns trilogy and it’s an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. It was exactly what I wanted out of a trilogy and if you haven’t read Smoke and Scar yet, stop sleeping on it!
(Or tbf if you wanted to wait a bit until the release date of SAS is closer, wouldn’t blame you, the book 2 cliffhanger is diabolical).
Anyway, five celestial stars for the book and six for the series
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
June 25, 2026
Thank you to the author Gretchen for the ARC copy! Loved the whole trilogy, I can’t believe it’s over!!
Would say that the beginning was a little slow for me and I feel like I still want more from some of the characters’ endings, and don’t get me started on some of the deaths, but I love me some love, and I loved Elyria and Cedric’s romance and happy ending!
Would say that the beginning was a little slow for me and I feel like I still want more from some of the characters’ endings, and don’t get me started on some of the deaths, but I love me some love, and I loved Elyria and Cedric’s romance and happy ending!
June 6, 2026
I literally cannot express into words right now me feelings about this book, but know that they are many and I hope I can get them down soon. This conclusion was everything I hoped it would be, and I’m so glad I both took my time with it and also sped through the parts the way I did. This was such a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy, and I will be dreaming about Cedric and Elyria for many moons to come.
June 11, 2026
I don't have the words to express the way Gretchen broke me in this book. This story...this trilogy has been truly fantastic and I cannot rave about it enough. Getting an arc copy early was a complete blessing and one I'm incredibly grateful for. The way this trilogy has been wrapped up, the ending for Elyria and Cedric was just everything. Make sure to pre-order this one, cause you don't want to wait till later. You're going to want to read it straight away! Just make sure to have the tissues on stand-by. And maybe even a back up box.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much to Gretchen for the e-ARC of Shadow & Son! Returning to Arcanis was something I’d been so excited for ever since finishing Splintered Kingdom on a cliff hanger, and I was really looking forward to seeing how Elyria and Cedric’s story would conclude. Unfortunately though, this book didn't resonate with me personally.
This is not a spoiler-free review.
1) Pacing
One of the biggest things I struggled with in this final installment was the pacing, particularly surrounding Elyria’s captivity. Since rescuing her is such a major driving force of the story, I expected to feel far more emotionally invested in what she endured. While her time with Malakar was undeniably dark, a lot of it felt glossed over rather than deeply explored, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with the FMC-in-peril arc emotionally. Ironically, the relationship that affected me most throughout the book was actually Elyria’s relationship with her father. Their dynamic carried some of the strongest emotional weight for me, which is why I found myself disappointed that there wasn’t a true heart to heart reunion or sense of closure between them by the end.
2) The magic system
I find this a common problem with many romantasy books unfortunately - the magic system is underdeveloped. Cedric unlocking new Sunfyre abilities had the potential to be incredibly exciting, but many of these power developments felt sudden and insufficiently explained. Rather than seeing meaningful progression or a deeper exploration of the lore, it sometimes felt like abilities simply appeared when the plot required them. The life bond between Cedric and Elyria especially stood out to me as something that could have benefitted from much more depth and clarity, because beyond “they’re bonded and now stronger,” as a power-up to fight Malakar, there wasn't much more substance.
3) An oversimplified villain
Another unfortunate thing that deterred me from connecting with this story was the lack of any real motivations from Malakar who is your typical "i just want to take over the world" villain. He has no other motivations besides that and I have found that this works in other series when the villain is cunning and manipulative but Malakar lacks depth and complexity. His plans are predictable, his agenda is predictable and he always shows up exactly when you expect him to.
4) The multi-POV was messy
The multi-POV structure was another aspect that didn’t fully work for me. Once the main couple got together, I usually need more emotional tension between them or stronger development from the side characters. Unfortunately, many of the additional POVs felt disconnected from the main story. Several chapters focused on characters coordinating politics, relaying messages, or attempting to gather support, but these sections often disrupted the momentum for me rather than adding to it. I also struggled to feel attached the side characters because they didn’t feel distinct enough beyond one or two defining traits (e.g. Jocelyn having her wings chopped off). The sudden introduction of a dwarven clan of mercenaries near the final battle made it difficult to keep track of who was who and the character deaths unfortunately held little meaning to me when I couldn't really remember who they were.
That said, I still appreciated the ambition and scale of this finale, and there were moments between Elyria and Cedric that reminded me why I loved returning to Arcanis in the first place. The world itself still has such an immersive atmosphere, and I’ll always appreciate the emotional foundations that were built earlier in the series. While this conclusion ultimately didn’t fully land for me personally, I’m still grateful for the opportunity to revisit these characters and this world one last time.
This is not a spoiler-free review.
1) Pacing
One of the biggest things I struggled with in this final installment was the pacing, particularly surrounding Elyria’s captivity. Since rescuing her is such a major driving force of the story, I expected to feel far more emotionally invested in what she endured. While her time with Malakar was undeniably dark, a lot of it felt glossed over rather than deeply explored, which made it difficult for me to fully connect with the FMC-in-peril arc emotionally. Ironically, the relationship that affected me most throughout the book was actually Elyria’s relationship with her father. Their dynamic carried some of the strongest emotional weight for me, which is why I found myself disappointed that there wasn’t a true heart to heart reunion or sense of closure between them by the end.
2) The magic system
I find this a common problem with many romantasy books unfortunately - the magic system is underdeveloped. Cedric unlocking new Sunfyre abilities had the potential to be incredibly exciting, but many of these power developments felt sudden and insufficiently explained. Rather than seeing meaningful progression or a deeper exploration of the lore, it sometimes felt like abilities simply appeared when the plot required them. The life bond between Cedric and Elyria especially stood out to me as something that could have benefitted from much more depth and clarity, because beyond “they’re bonded and now stronger,” as a power-up to fight Malakar, there wasn't much more substance.
3) An oversimplified villain
Another unfortunate thing that deterred me from connecting with this story was the lack of any real motivations from Malakar who is your typical "i just want to take over the world" villain. He has no other motivations besides that and I have found that this works in other series when the villain is cunning and manipulative but Malakar lacks depth and complexity. His plans are predictable, his agenda is predictable and he always shows up exactly when you expect him to.
4) The multi-POV was messy
The multi-POV structure was another aspect that didn’t fully work for me. Once the main couple got together, I usually need more emotional tension between them or stronger development from the side characters. Unfortunately, many of the additional POVs felt disconnected from the main story. Several chapters focused on characters coordinating politics, relaying messages, or attempting to gather support, but these sections often disrupted the momentum for me rather than adding to it. I also struggled to feel attached the side characters because they didn’t feel distinct enough beyond one or two defining traits (e.g. Jocelyn having her wings chopped off). The sudden introduction of a dwarven clan of mercenaries near the final battle made it difficult to keep track of who was who and the character deaths unfortunately held little meaning to me when I couldn't really remember who they were.
That said, I still appreciated the ambition and scale of this finale, and there were moments between Elyria and Cedric that reminded me why I loved returning to Arcanis in the first place. The world itself still has such an immersive atmosphere, and I’ll always appreciate the emotional foundations that were built earlier in the series. While this conclusion ultimately didn’t fully land for me personally, I’m still grateful for the opportunity to revisit these characters and this world one last time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
And with that, it's all over. Sort of. Maybe not? Hopefully not.
Shadow and Son was one of my more highly anticipated books of the year, and I'm pleased to say it delivered on the big ol' romantasy fun time I was hoping for, while still leaving a few bits and pieces in the world to potentially be explored in the future.
Picking up after the cliffhanger of a finale from book 2, the story is very action focused this time around, and I enjoyed it. If book one was all adventure and a little romance, and book two was more romance to go alongside the adventure, Shadow and Son feels like a balanced scale of the two. It's clear Gretchen enjoys writing her action and platonic character driven moments as much as she does her romance moments, and book 3 is full of exciting battle scenes and fast paced action that keep you on your toes.
The plot is fast paced and won't leave you bored, as there are many twists and turns and plot beats to get through to bring the story to a conclusion. You certainly can't accuse this book of being slow or boring in any way. Which is maybe where I had some issues with the book generally. I think there might've been some benefit to balancing the pacing and allowing a little more time to show rather than tell us what was happening and why it was important. But with so much happening I also understand the choices that were made, and still found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time, rooting for our heroes.
As always, the characters are one of the biggest delights of the series. There are a few characters added in who I wish did a little more, or had more time to shine throughout the book, though. Cedric and Elyria are such good characters that I have no issue with the bulk of the plot focus staying rooted on them, but I did notice that characters split up very early on and then weren't heard from for almost half the book. This feels like a hollow criticism, because it boils down to 'I like the characters a lot and wanted more of them!' but I do think the character focus was at its best in book one when the core cast were all in the same space for the whole story. And to balance things out, the core cast remain my absolutely favourites in the series and getting to spend time with them again made me extremely happy. It's a huge deal for me to genuinely like every major character in a series, and I really do in this one. The found family and friendship that these characters have is very touching and makes up a strong emotional core that adds a little more weight to everything, and I appreciate that.
Now this is all over I feel a little bittersweet. The Shattered Crown series has been my go to 'fun' read over the past year, because I know I'm going to have a good time with this cast and these characters. And now it's over, there's a little empty space where their story once was. Sort of.
Because, y'know. Nox. I am still desperate to know so much more about Nox. But with the fact they remain the most mysterious of the cast, and with where things left off I have a feeling we might... not be entirely done with this world yet?
And if that's true, then I will wait patiently to come back some day. Until then, I'll be looking out for Gretchen's next series and looking forward to immersing myself in that too. This book was a solid four star good time for me in general, much like the other two books in the series. While I had a couple of issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride to the ending, and this will remain my go to recommendation for anyone who wants me to recommend them a fun romantasy story for them to sink their teeth into
A huge thank you to the author, Gretchen Powell-Fox, for providing an advanced copy of the book for me to review!
Shadow and Son was one of my more highly anticipated books of the year, and I'm pleased to say it delivered on the big ol' romantasy fun time I was hoping for, while still leaving a few bits and pieces in the world to potentially be explored in the future.
Picking up after the cliffhanger of a finale from book 2, the story is very action focused this time around, and I enjoyed it. If book one was all adventure and a little romance, and book two was more romance to go alongside the adventure, Shadow and Son feels like a balanced scale of the two. It's clear Gretchen enjoys writing her action and platonic character driven moments as much as she does her romance moments, and book 3 is full of exciting battle scenes and fast paced action that keep you on your toes.
The plot is fast paced and won't leave you bored, as there are many twists and turns and plot beats to get through to bring the story to a conclusion. You certainly can't accuse this book of being slow or boring in any way. Which is maybe where I had some issues with the book generally. I think there might've been some benefit to balancing the pacing and allowing a little more time to show rather than tell us what was happening and why it was important. But with so much happening I also understand the choices that were made, and still found myself on the edge of my seat the whole time, rooting for our heroes.
As always, the characters are one of the biggest delights of the series. There are a few characters added in who I wish did a little more, or had more time to shine throughout the book, though. Cedric and Elyria are such good characters that I have no issue with the bulk of the plot focus staying rooted on them, but I did notice that characters split up very early on and then weren't heard from for almost half the book. This feels like a hollow criticism, because it boils down to 'I like the characters a lot and wanted more of them!' but I do think the character focus was at its best in book one when the core cast were all in the same space for the whole story. And to balance things out, the core cast remain my absolutely favourites in the series and getting to spend time with them again made me extremely happy. It's a huge deal for me to genuinely like every major character in a series, and I really do in this one. The found family and friendship that these characters have is very touching and makes up a strong emotional core that adds a little more weight to everything, and I appreciate that.
Now this is all over I feel a little bittersweet. The Shattered Crown series has been my go to 'fun' read over the past year, because I know I'm going to have a good time with this cast and these characters. And now it's over, there's a little empty space where their story once was. Sort of.
Because, y'know. Nox. I am still desperate to know so much more about Nox. But with the fact they remain the most mysterious of the cast, and with where things left off I have a feeling we might... not be entirely done with this world yet?
And if that's true, then I will wait patiently to come back some day. Until then, I'll be looking out for Gretchen's next series and looking forward to immersing myself in that too. This book was a solid four star good time for me in general, much like the other two books in the series. While I had a couple of issues, I thoroughly enjoyed the ride to the ending, and this will remain my go to recommendation for anyone who wants me to recommend them a fun romantasy story for them to sink their teeth into
A huge thank you to the author, Gretchen Powell-Fox, for providing an advanced copy of the book for me to review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was sent an advanced reader copy of this by Emily (Gretchen’s PA) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Well, if it isn’t my first ever fully 5 star series.
I went into Shadow and Son with exceptionally high expectations after how much I adored books one and two, and somehow — somehow — it still exceeded them. Gretchen Powell Fox has firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite authors, and I genuinely cannot wait to see where the rest of her author journey goes, because you best believe I will be reading absolutely anything this woman writes, even her grocery list if she’s so inclined to share it.
No one balances romance and fantasy plot quite like Gretchen does, and this book is no exception. The world she’s created is layered, detailed, and so vividly written that you feel like you’re standing right beside these characters. Nothing feels half built or underdeveloped — every corner of this world feels intentional.
And the characters? Outstanding. The side characters and the found family dynamic in this series have been phenomenal from the beginning, and that remains true here — though I do still have a particular soft spot for our burly dwarf, Thraigg. I was ready to throw hands at multiple points because of Thraigg. Gretchen, you know what you did.
This book has everything: hilarious banter, edge-of-your-seat action, trauma healing, genuinely heartwarming moments, and romance so well done that Gretchen somehow achieved the impossible — she made me genuinely adore a golden retriever man for perhaps the first time in my life. And somehow Cedric levelled up even further in this book, which frankly feels unfair to every other book boyfriend.
As always, Gretchen isn’t afraid to go dark. There are some genuinely bleak, hard hitting moments in this story — but they’re perfectly balanced with warmth and humour, which makes the emotional payoff land even harder.
What impressed me most is how authentic every character arc feels. Everyone has grown in ways that feel true to who they are, and that character development is never lost amid the action. Nothing feels neglected — not the characters, not the world building, not the lore, not the plot.
The only thing lacking was my self-restraint not to beg Gretchen to let these characters rest and leave them alone.
And that final battle? One of the best battle scenes I’ve read in fantasy. EVER. The stakes were sky high, the tension was relentless, and I was emotionally unwell the entire time concerned about how the characters I’ve loved for three whole books were going to fare.
I am, however, not forgiving Gretchen for two of those deaths.
This was an intense, deeply fulfilling end to a trilogy that has quite literally raised the bar for every romantasy I read going forward to a near unattainable level. The main character arcs were wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying and earned — but that little hint at the end? The suggestion that maybe not all of these stories are truly over? What a filthy tease.
Bravo, Gretchen.
Now if anyone needs me, I’ll be curled in a small emotional hole, sulking because this series is over.
Well, if it isn’t my first ever fully 5 star series.
I went into Shadow and Son with exceptionally high expectations after how much I adored books one and two, and somehow — somehow — it still exceeded them. Gretchen Powell Fox has firmly cemented herself as one of my favourite authors, and I genuinely cannot wait to see where the rest of her author journey goes, because you best believe I will be reading absolutely anything this woman writes, even her grocery list if she’s so inclined to share it.
No one balances romance and fantasy plot quite like Gretchen does, and this book is no exception. The world she’s created is layered, detailed, and so vividly written that you feel like you’re standing right beside these characters. Nothing feels half built or underdeveloped — every corner of this world feels intentional.
And the characters? Outstanding. The side characters and the found family dynamic in this series have been phenomenal from the beginning, and that remains true here — though I do still have a particular soft spot for our burly dwarf, Thraigg. I was ready to throw hands at multiple points because of Thraigg. Gretchen, you know what you did.
This book has everything: hilarious banter, edge-of-your-seat action, trauma healing, genuinely heartwarming moments, and romance so well done that Gretchen somehow achieved the impossible — she made me genuinely adore a golden retriever man for perhaps the first time in my life. And somehow Cedric levelled up even further in this book, which frankly feels unfair to every other book boyfriend.
As always, Gretchen isn’t afraid to go dark. There are some genuinely bleak, hard hitting moments in this story — but they’re perfectly balanced with warmth and humour, which makes the emotional payoff land even harder.
What impressed me most is how authentic every character arc feels. Everyone has grown in ways that feel true to who they are, and that character development is never lost amid the action. Nothing feels neglected — not the characters, not the world building, not the lore, not the plot.
The only thing lacking was my self-restraint not to beg Gretchen to let these characters rest and leave them alone.
And that final battle? One of the best battle scenes I’ve read in fantasy. EVER. The stakes were sky high, the tension was relentless, and I was emotionally unwell the entire time concerned about how the characters I’ve loved for three whole books were going to fare.
I am, however, not forgiving Gretchen for two of those deaths.
This was an intense, deeply fulfilling end to a trilogy that has quite literally raised the bar for every romantasy I read going forward to a near unattainable level. The main character arcs were wrapped up in a way that felt satisfying and earned — but that little hint at the end? The suggestion that maybe not all of these stories are truly over? What a filthy tease.
Bravo, Gretchen.
Now if anyone needs me, I’ll be curled in a small emotional hole, sulking because this series is over.
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