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Desire in the Shadows
Not yet published
Expected 3 Jun 26She lies to protect her heart. He can see every lie told.
After one too many bad dates, Aoife O’Donoghue summons the fabled Gates of Desire to find her soulmate. She gets far more than she bargained for when they take her to Shadach, a tattoo-soaked outcast who is everything Aoife has learned to reject. He is seductive, passionate, and harbouring a powerful secret: his eyes can see every lie spoken. In Shadach’s dark world overrun with sinister entities called Shadows, the heat between him and Aoife is instant.
But passion meets the cruel hand of destiny when a cunning god uses Aoife to declare Shadach the next emperor. The corrupt priesthood blames Aoife for the resulting chaos and puts a target on her head. She is forced to flee with Shadach, and although he swears to protect her, this is easier said than done. They will only be safe when the god’s will is fulfilled, but friends are few, ulterior motives abound, and what the Shadows know could be the kingdom’s salvation … or its end.
*** Desire in the Shadows is a sultry blend of gods, scoundrels, and destiny that will leave you breathless. There will be a heroic and seductive MMC, a brave and big-hearted FMC, delicious spice suitable for 18+, sword fights, plot twists, and a happily ever after. Passion and peril await in equal measure. Will you be brave enough to walk through the Gates of Desire? ***
After one too many bad dates, Aoife O’Donoghue summons the fabled Gates of Desire to find her soulmate. She gets far more than she bargained for when they take her to Shadach, a tattoo-soaked outcast who is everything Aoife has learned to reject. He is seductive, passionate, and harbouring a powerful secret: his eyes can see every lie spoken. In Shadach’s dark world overrun with sinister entities called Shadows, the heat between him and Aoife is instant.
But passion meets the cruel hand of destiny when a cunning god uses Aoife to declare Shadach the next emperor. The corrupt priesthood blames Aoife for the resulting chaos and puts a target on her head. She is forced to flee with Shadach, and although he swears to protect her, this is easier said than done. They will only be safe when the god’s will is fulfilled, but friends are few, ulterior motives abound, and what the Shadows know could be the kingdom’s salvation … or its end.
*** Desire in the Shadows is a sultry blend of gods, scoundrels, and destiny that will leave you breathless. There will be a heroic and seductive MMC, a brave and big-hearted FMC, delicious spice suitable for 18+, sword fights, plot twists, and a happily ever after. Passion and peril await in equal measure. Will you be brave enough to walk through the Gates of Desire? ***
409 pages, ebook
Expected publication June 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
Review of advance copy
I was sent an advanced review copy of this book and am writing this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This was such an immersive and character-driven fantasy, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected.
Aoife is such a painfully real character. She’s spent so long repressing her own wants, needs, and even her personality just to be more digestible to others, because it’s easier that way — and because she’s been conditioned to believe wanting things for herself is wrong. Watching her slowly unravel that and start to step into herself was incredibly compelling.
I love fantasy where the characters feel real, and the author absolutely nailed that here. Being inside both Aoife’s and Shadach’s heads added so much depth. They’re both relatable in very different ways, and their emotional journeys felt genuine from the start.
The world building is another huge strength. There’s a lot of lore woven throughout, but it’s introduced in such a natural, gradual way that it never feels overwhelming. You can tell it’s been meticulously thought out, which made the world feel lived in and believable. I also really enjoyed the unique spin on shadow magic. It felt fresh and added another layer of intrigue to the story.
I did have a couple of very very small quibbles. Aoife’s brother is referred to as her “little brother,” yet he’s older than her (30, but she’s 28?), which pulled me out slightly. There’s also some inconsistency around Shadach’s family history that didn’t quite line up, as it was referred to once that his family all met premature ends, yet we find out this isn’t actually the case. Minor things overall, but noticeable.
Shadach, though? I loved him. At first, he seemed like he might fall into the broody MMC category — which I do enjoy — but he completely subverted that. With Aoife, he’s patient, gentle, and endlessly encouraging. He actively supports her in wanting things for herself and being unapologetically who she is, and that dynamic was everything. I actually liked that he wasn’t the typical violence orientated MMC we’re all used to.
Also — this book is sensual. The emphasis on mutual consent throughout is incredibly well done, and honestly, it made the romantic and intimate moments even more compelling. There’s definitely a good amount of spice, but it’s balanced well with plot, so it never feels excessive.
This book actually pulled me out of a reading slump, which says a lot because absolutely nothing has helped me. I think I may have found another new favourite author in Everly Easton, because I immediately want to read everything else she writes. Plus I can see this easily getting picked up by a traditional publisher in the future.
This was SO close to being a 5 star read for me. The main thing that held it back was the ending: it felt a little anticlimactic. I was hoping for a more dramatic reunion between Aoife and Shadach, and a bigger, more dramatic confrontation with the antagonist from Shadach. While it’s true that Shadach isn’t presented as a fighter, there’s an early sense that he’s feared in the slums that never fully gets explored other than it possibly just being because of who he is and what his people can be capable of. I also would’ve loved to see a scene where Aoife fully stands her ground with her family for that complete character arc, and maybe a bit more in the epilogue showing how the Kingdom of Shadows actually changed after the new emperor’s coronation. We’re shown things have improved via the people gathered in the tavern, but not really told how it got to that point considering all the hatred and tension between the different races for all those years, nor how they came to accept their new emperor.
That said, this is a HEA, and the ending definitely feels like it could open the door to an interconnected series of standalones with different couples — which I would absolutely devour. For a debut, this was fantastic, and I’ve already signed up t0 Everly’s newsletter for her prequel.
This was such an immersive and character-driven fantasy, and I ended up enjoying it a lot more than I expected.
Aoife is such a painfully real character. She’s spent so long repressing her own wants, needs, and even her personality just to be more digestible to others, because it’s easier that way — and because she’s been conditioned to believe wanting things for herself is wrong. Watching her slowly unravel that and start to step into herself was incredibly compelling.
I love fantasy where the characters feel real, and the author absolutely nailed that here. Being inside both Aoife’s and Shadach’s heads added so much depth. They’re both relatable in very different ways, and their emotional journeys felt genuine from the start.
The world building is another huge strength. There’s a lot of lore woven throughout, but it’s introduced in such a natural, gradual way that it never feels overwhelming. You can tell it’s been meticulously thought out, which made the world feel lived in and believable. I also really enjoyed the unique spin on shadow magic. It felt fresh and added another layer of intrigue to the story.
I did have a couple of very very small quibbles. Aoife’s brother is referred to as her “little brother,” yet he’s older than her (30, but she’s 28?), which pulled me out slightly. There’s also some inconsistency around Shadach’s family history that didn’t quite line up, as it was referred to once that his family all met premature ends, yet we find out this isn’t actually the case. Minor things overall, but noticeable.
Shadach, though? I loved him. At first, he seemed like he might fall into the broody MMC category — which I do enjoy — but he completely subverted that. With Aoife, he’s patient, gentle, and endlessly encouraging. He actively supports her in wanting things for herself and being unapologetically who she is, and that dynamic was everything. I actually liked that he wasn’t the typical violence orientated MMC we’re all used to.
Also — this book is sensual. The emphasis on mutual consent throughout is incredibly well done, and honestly, it made the romantic and intimate moments even more compelling. There’s definitely a good amount of spice, but it’s balanced well with plot, so it never feels excessive.
This book actually pulled me out of a reading slump, which says a lot because absolutely nothing has helped me. I think I may have found another new favourite author in Everly Easton, because I immediately want to read everything else she writes. Plus I can see this easily getting picked up by a traditional publisher in the future.
This was SO close to being a 5 star read for me. The main thing that held it back was the ending: it felt a little anticlimactic. I was hoping for a more dramatic reunion between Aoife and Shadach, and a bigger, more dramatic confrontation with the antagonist from Shadach. While it’s true that Shadach isn’t presented as a fighter, there’s an early sense that he’s feared in the slums that never fully gets explored other than it possibly just being because of who he is and what his people can be capable of. I also would’ve loved to see a scene where Aoife fully stands her ground with her family for that complete character arc, and maybe a bit more in the epilogue showing how the Kingdom of Shadows actually changed after the new emperor’s coronation. We’re shown things have improved via the people gathered in the tavern, but not really told how it got to that point considering all the hatred and tension between the different races for all those years, nor how they came to accept their new emperor.
That said, this is a HEA, and the ending definitely feels like it could open the door to an interconnected series of standalones with different couples — which I would absolutely devour. For a debut, this was fantastic, and I’ve already signed up t0 Everly’s newsletter for her prequel.
May 17, 2026
So I was lucky to get this as an ARC from book siren.. and it was an interesting one.
The story follows aoife who is a single woman in her twenties from Ireland… she’s unlucky in love. She’s does some sorta magic with her friends and ends up opening a gate to a different dimension and a whole lot of mistaken identity is the best way to describe her. As she follows a black cat to shadach a bartender who believes she is a messenger sent from the gods and oh what a fun introduction that is 😉
The emperor of the story has died and the next emperor is chosen by a messenger from the gods finding them. Shadach not only is a bartender but he is also a halcin which is looked down on by the people so he isn’t the ideal emperor. And isn’t what certain people wanted and that is how the story begins. Following the different journeys, exploring different places and having twists turns and betrayals along the way. Also adding shadows that are made when people lie and only so many people can actually see them.
The story is very character driven, aoife and shadach both have their own POVs with their own trust issues and thoughts on the different things that happen but it’s so interesting to read but also makes them relatable to the reader.
The books is so interesting with all the different aspects, going on throughout with the religion side with the gods and also the different races, and the shadow magic they have too.
It was a very addicting standalone which I was so interested in as it was so unique with how the story followed. The romance is really sweet and nice to watch even if they did have some idiot moments and not trust each other.
Absolutely incredible book really did enjoy this but the only thing that brought it down for me was the ending felt just that little bit rushed. I could have done with more pages to give more on the reunion but also more about how the story concludes and to be fair wanted a much longer epilogue to see how the different races are brought together. So basically I needed more pages as the book was just so good and addicting
I signed up straight for the newsletter after reading this
The story follows aoife who is a single woman in her twenties from Ireland… she’s unlucky in love. She’s does some sorta magic with her friends and ends up opening a gate to a different dimension and a whole lot of mistaken identity is the best way to describe her. As she follows a black cat to shadach a bartender who believes she is a messenger sent from the gods and oh what a fun introduction that is 😉
The emperor of the story has died and the next emperor is chosen by a messenger from the gods finding them. Shadach not only is a bartender but he is also a halcin which is looked down on by the people so he isn’t the ideal emperor. And isn’t what certain people wanted and that is how the story begins. Following the different journeys, exploring different places and having twists turns and betrayals along the way. Also adding shadows that are made when people lie and only so many people can actually see them.
The story is very character driven, aoife and shadach both have their own POVs with their own trust issues and thoughts on the different things that happen but it’s so interesting to read but also makes them relatable to the reader.
The books is so interesting with all the different aspects, going on throughout with the religion side with the gods and also the different races, and the shadow magic they have too.
It was a very addicting standalone which I was so interested in as it was so unique with how the story followed. The romance is really sweet and nice to watch even if they did have some idiot moments and not trust each other.
Absolutely incredible book really did enjoy this but the only thing that brought it down for me was the ending felt just that little bit rushed. I could have done with more pages to give more on the reunion but also more about how the story concludes and to be fair wanted a much longer epilogue to see how the different races are brought together. So basically I needed more pages as the book was just so good and addicting
I signed up straight for the newsletter after reading this
Review of advance copy
A Seductive Dance Between Fate, Power, and Forbidden Desire
Desire in the Shadows by Everly Easton pulled me in with its promise of dark romance and didn’t let go.
From the very beginning, there’s this intoxicating blend of danger and longing that lingers beneath every interaction. The story follows Aoife, who unknowingly steps into something far bigger—and far darker—than she ever intended, drawn into a world of gods, shadows, and power plays that feel as seductive as they are deadly. ()
What I loved most was the tension—both emotional and romantic. The connection between Aoife and Shadach feels immediate, intense, and layered with secrets. There’s that addictive push and pull: trust versus suspicion, desire versus danger. It’s the kind of dynamic that keeps you completely hooked, even when you know things are about to spiral.
The world itself adds so much to the experience. It’s dark, atmospheric, and filled with shifting loyalties and hidden motives. I really enjoyed how the story weaves together romance with political intrigue and supernatural elements—it gives the book a sense of scale without losing that intimate, character-driven core.
That said, this is a slower burn in places. Some moments lean heavily into world-building and setup, which slightly softened the pacing for me. But at the same time, it builds a richer foundation for the stakes and the emotional payoff.
Overall, this is a captivating, moody fantasy romance that balances spice with story, and danger with desire. It’s immersive, dramatic, and just the right amount of dark to keep you turning the pages.
Desire in the Shadows by Everly Easton pulled me in with its promise of dark romance and didn’t let go.
From the very beginning, there’s this intoxicating blend of danger and longing that lingers beneath every interaction. The story follows Aoife, who unknowingly steps into something far bigger—and far darker—than she ever intended, drawn into a world of gods, shadows, and power plays that feel as seductive as they are deadly. ()
What I loved most was the tension—both emotional and romantic. The connection between Aoife and Shadach feels immediate, intense, and layered with secrets. There’s that addictive push and pull: trust versus suspicion, desire versus danger. It’s the kind of dynamic that keeps you completely hooked, even when you know things are about to spiral.
The world itself adds so much to the experience. It’s dark, atmospheric, and filled with shifting loyalties and hidden motives. I really enjoyed how the story weaves together romance with political intrigue and supernatural elements—it gives the book a sense of scale without losing that intimate, character-driven core.
That said, this is a slower burn in places. Some moments lean heavily into world-building and setup, which slightly softened the pacing for me. But at the same time, it builds a richer foundation for the stakes and the emotional payoff.
Overall, this is a captivating, moody fantasy romance that balances spice with story, and danger with desire. It’s immersive, dramatic, and just the right amount of dark to keep you turning the pages.
Review of advance copy
This book was full of temptation, spice, lust, and was a tease from the beginning. (In the absolute best of ways!)
The plot/ story felt different and fresh. From the first page I was sucked in and finished so fast. I want more!!
I felt just as in love and the FMC and was angry with the MMC at times. I love a book that makes me really feel emotions where im reading with a scowl on my face cause I just cant believe it. Or smiling cause its so fun and cute. That is what this book did for me.
Fantastic read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
The plot/ story felt different and fresh. From the first page I was sucked in and finished so fast. I want more!!
I felt just as in love and the FMC and was angry with the MMC at times. I love a book that makes me really feel emotions where im reading with a scowl on my face cause I just cant believe it. Or smiling cause its so fun and cute. That is what this book did for me.
Fantastic read!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. I found it to have the right mix of love, lust, betrayal and angst. Love can conquer all.
For me, the author created a beautiful world not so different than our own. Her descriptions enabled me to picture the places and the characters in my mind while I read the book. Her writing even tugged on my emotions make smile when things went right and sad when things didn't. This is one book I'd gladly recommend to other readers.
Disclaimer
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
For me, the author created a beautiful world not so different than our own. Her descriptions enabled me to picture the places and the characters in my mind while I read the book. Her writing even tugged on my emotions make smile when things went right and sad when things didn't. This is one book I'd gladly recommend to other readers.
Disclaimer
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy
It was okay. I liked the kingdom and world but 70% and I was skipping through the smut. The back and forth between Aoife and Shadach was too much for me too. Otherwise, I liked the adventure that they go on and wanted more of that and world building in the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love the plot it was very interesting. I really enjoyed the book, characters and the world.
Review of advance copy
This is such a nice book!
The characters feel relatable and easy to root for !
I love the plot of the story and the spice is spicy but doesn't overtake the story
The side characters were interesting and I would love to hear more about some of them.
I hope this book gets the love it deserves when released
The characters feel relatable and easy to root for !
I love the plot of the story and the spice is spicy but doesn't overtake the story
The side characters were interesting and I would love to hear more about some of them.
I hope this book gets the love it deserves when released
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews