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The Gates of Desire #1
Desire in the Shadows
She 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
Published June 3, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
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
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.
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
Review of advanced reader copy.
She was unfit to be trusted. She was all he wanted.
This book was a genuinely good time!
Aoife is on a quest for true love and through the power of desire and magic finds herself transported to the Kingdom of Shadows. Here she meets Shadach, a hot and mysterious morally grey tavern owner (who makes the best cocktails by the way) and finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.
What made this story stand out was the introduction to the god of lust (yes, please), and how the people of this kingdom worship both their god and each other with equal devotion and fervor. The spice takes about 200 pages to arrive but the slow burn sexual tension totally pays off. The anticipation had me chomping at the bit in the best possible way.
The most clever element of the story is how in this world shadows represent lies, and the twist is discovering that those lies actually contain truth.
My one frustration was the miscommunication being stretched a little longer than I would have liked. There were moments I wanted to shake both of them so they could wake up. However it ties up nicely in the end, although a bit too nicely perhaps. Felt like a fairytale ending for a unique storyline.
At its core this is a story about self-doubt, learned behavior, and the journey toward trusting your own inner wisdom while making very human mistakes along the way. As a therapist that arc hit differently for me. 🛋️
Overall, a fun, spicy, layered read with action, political intrigue, warring kingdoms and a love story you can get behind. Highly recommend!
She was unfit to be trusted. She was all he wanted.
This book was a genuinely good time!
Aoife is on a quest for true love and through the power of desire and magic finds herself transported to the Kingdom of Shadows. Here she meets Shadach, a hot and mysterious morally grey tavern owner (who makes the best cocktails by the way) and finds herself inexplicably drawn to him.
What made this story stand out was the introduction to the god of lust (yes, please), and how the people of this kingdom worship both their god and each other with equal devotion and fervor. The spice takes about 200 pages to arrive but the slow burn sexual tension totally pays off. The anticipation had me chomping at the bit in the best possible way.
The most clever element of the story is how in this world shadows represent lies, and the twist is discovering that those lies actually contain truth.
My one frustration was the miscommunication being stretched a little longer than I would have liked. There were moments I wanted to shake both of them so they could wake up. However it ties up nicely in the end, although a bit too nicely perhaps. Felt like a fairytale ending for a unique storyline.
At its core this is a story about self-doubt, learned behavior, and the journey toward trusting your own inner wisdom while making very human mistakes along the way. As a therapist that arc hit differently for me. 🛋️
Overall, a fun, spicy, layered read with action, political intrigue, warring kingdoms and a love story you can get behind. Highly recommend!
Review of advance copy
Desire in the Shadows was an easy 5-star read for me. From the very beginning, I found myself deeply connecting with the FMC, especially during the opening chapters, where she carries that heavy feeling of doing things simply because they are expected of her. That emotional mindset felt incredibly real and relatable in a way that pulled me into the story almost immediately.
Once the story really gets moving, it becomes incredibly difficult to put down. I found myself reading chapter after chapter because I genuinely needed to know what happened next.
The spice throughout the story felt especially well-balanced. It never came across as “spice for spice’s sake” because of the context Everly Easton builds around those moments. I really appreciated the emotional connection and relationship development surrounding them as well. The intimacy felt connected to both the characters and the world itself, which made those scenes feel more authentic.
The pacing overall was strong, keeping the story moving while still allowing space for character and relationship development along the way.
Overall, this was an emotionally engaging and addictive read that kept me invested from beginning to end, and I’m absolutely looking forward to continuing the series with the next book.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am sharing my honest thoughts voluntarily.
Once the story really gets moving, it becomes incredibly difficult to put down. I found myself reading chapter after chapter because I genuinely needed to know what happened next.
The spice throughout the story felt especially well-balanced. It never came across as “spice for spice’s sake” because of the context Everly Easton builds around those moments. I really appreciated the emotional connection and relationship development surrounding them as well. The intimacy felt connected to both the characters and the world itself, which made those scenes feel more authentic.
The pacing overall was strong, keeping the story moving while still allowing space for character and relationship development along the way.
Overall, this was an emotionally engaging and addictive read that kept me invested from beginning to end, and I’m absolutely looking forward to continuing the series with the next book.
I received an advance review copy of this book and am sharing my honest thoughts voluntarily.
June 3, 2026
~I received an ARC of Desire in the Shadows from the author through BookSirens, this is my honest review~
4 🌶️ 4 ⭐️
Desire in the Shadows was a fun book to read. It’s definitely a book for people who want to get right to the Spice.
Warning: The whole book is one big giant miscommunication trope so if you don’t like that trope you might not like this one. I usually am not too fond of that trope because it drives me crazy but the way this story is written made it understandable/necessary and didn’t drive me crazy at all.
The spice and tension are lovely. I do wish the magic of the gates had been explored/explained a bit more, especially the “true love” bit. Because the MMC and FMC and just leaned straight into without even knowing each other which felt sort of weird.. but that’s just me. I’m the type of reader that would’ve liked something a little more built up or explained. But again that’s just personal preference. Would also have liked to know more about the god himself.
This is only the first book though so maybe we’ll get more info in the next ones!
*edited to add that there IS a prequel book that seems like it will have more info on the magic of the gates/ the god and I will definitely be reading it :)*
4 🌶️ 4 ⭐️
Desire in the Shadows was a fun book to read. It’s definitely a book for people who want to get right to the Spice.
Warning: The whole book is one big giant miscommunication trope so if you don’t like that trope you might not like this one. I usually am not too fond of that trope because it drives me crazy but the way this story is written made it understandable/necessary and didn’t drive me crazy at all.
The spice and tension are lovely. I do wish the magic of the gates had been explored/explained a bit more, especially the “true love” bit. Because the MMC and FMC and just leaned straight into without even knowing each other which felt sort of weird.. but that’s just me. I’m the type of reader that would’ve liked something a little more built up or explained. But again that’s just personal preference. Would also have liked to know more about the god himself.
This is only the first book though so maybe we’ll get more info in the next ones!
*edited to add that there IS a prequel book that seems like it will have more info on the magic of the gates/ the god and I will definitely be reading it :)*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy
The concept and summary sounded very intriguing I couldn't wait to get into this read. However, I felt it was very lackluster. The book had so much heart, but too many things stuck out to me and made it a little bit of a difficult read.
That being said, It was still a very fun & new story type. It had so many aspects that I love, it was fast-paced, whimsy with adventure and spice.
My hold-ups: Parts of it felt childish, cringe (cheesy) or just poorly wrote. Many times there were jumps in time that felt big and stood out to me, which I didn't like, but at the same time I don't think it lacked any information. Just writing style, flow and choice of words didn't work for me.
I really enjoyed the over all premise and would still be interested in reading other works of the author to give at least another chance. But, this overall I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
I truly wish I had something different to say.
#ARC
That being said, It was still a very fun & new story type. It had so many aspects that I love, it was fast-paced, whimsy with adventure and spice.
My hold-ups: Parts of it felt childish, cringe (cheesy) or just poorly wrote. Many times there were jumps in time that felt big and stood out to me, which I didn't like, but at the same time I don't think it lacked any information. Just writing style, flow and choice of words didn't work for me.
I really enjoyed the over all premise and would still be interested in reading other works of the author to give at least another chance. But, this overall I wouldn't necessarily recommend.
I truly wish I had something different to say.
#ARC
June 25, 2026
I received this book as an advanced reader copy from the author for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.
This was such fun to read with immersive world building, heaps of spice and a decent, engaging plot.
The story centers around Aoife, a software engineer from Ireland who deeply dislikes her life and wants nothing more than to find her soulmate, and Shadach, a Halcin prince of sorts from the Kingdom of Shadows.
I found the concept of lies creating shadows unusual and really original. Shadach's abilities were a pleasant change from.normal magical systems. I enjoyed seeing both characters learn to trust their instincts more despite previous experiences. And I absolutely loved the use of basic incantation being the trigger to move Aoife from one world to another.
And, no word of a lie, this book was absolutely brimming with spice from almost the second Aoife meets Shadach. With that said, the plot held it's own nicely.
This was such fun to read with immersive world building, heaps of spice and a decent, engaging plot.
The story centers around Aoife, a software engineer from Ireland who deeply dislikes her life and wants nothing more than to find her soulmate, and Shadach, a Halcin prince of sorts from the Kingdom of Shadows.
I found the concept of lies creating shadows unusual and really original. Shadach's abilities were a pleasant change from.normal magical systems. I enjoyed seeing both characters learn to trust their instincts more despite previous experiences. And I absolutely loved the use of basic incantation being the trigger to move Aoife from one world to another.
And, no word of a lie, this book was absolutely brimming with spice from almost the second Aoife meets Shadach. With that said, the plot held it's own nicely.
June 6, 2026
Desire in the Shadows is a captivating fantasy romance filled with magic, destiny, danger, and plenty of chemistry. I was immediately intrigued by the unique premise, especially Shadach’s ability to see every lie spoken. It added an interesting layer to both the romance and the overall story.
Aoife and Shadach had great chemistry, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they navigated political intrigue, divine interference, and constant danger. The world-building was immersive, with gods, shadows, and hidden agendas creating plenty of twists along the way.
The story balances adventure, romance, and spice well, keeping the pages turning from beginning to end. If you enjoy fantasy romance with fated mates vibes, a protective hero, strong heroine, and a touch of mystery, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
Aoife and Shadach had great chemistry, and I enjoyed watching their relationship develop as they navigated political intrigue, divine interference, and constant danger. The world-building was immersive, with gods, shadows, and hidden agendas creating plenty of twists along the way.
The story balances adventure, romance, and spice well, keeping the pages turning from beginning to end. If you enjoy fantasy romance with fated mates vibes, a protective hero, strong heroine, and a touch of mystery, this is definitely one to add to your TBR.
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!
June 3, 2026
Absolutely loved this book. Could not get enough of it.
It could be that I immediately connected with the FMC being married to an Irish man from Dublin who is also in STEM.
Politics, Religion and Race all wrapped up in a fun yet addictive book.
The romance between the two main characters was annoying yet lovely. Trust is a big issue in this book, and it is good to see the way Efverly has written in, and the characters overcome it.
If I could say one negative, it would be that I need more of it. There is so much potential, and so many questions left unanswered
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
It could be that I immediately connected with the FMC being married to an Irish man from Dublin who is also in STEM.
Politics, Religion and Race all wrapped up in a fun yet addictive book.
The romance between the two main characters was annoying yet lovely. Trust is a big issue in this book, and it is good to see the way Efverly has written in, and the characters overcome it.
If I could say one negative, it would be that I need more of it. There is so much potential, and so many questions left unanswered
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.
June 11, 2026
Desire in the Shadows is a great story about trusting yourself and the easiness of being able to lie. The consequences of lying and telling the truth. The emotions that you go thru to get to HEA is devastatingly beautiful. I loved the way the MC's finally chose each other. This is a little slow in some places and was hard to get through at times. I am glad that I finished this. It is worth the struggle. Will be waiting for more.
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
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