Shadows of Thysia

by C.C. Martinez, Samantha Archuleta (Narrator), Rowan Whitlock (Narrator)

Eleni believed her toughest battle was the loss of her grandmother. But after she discovers a hidden box containing a mysterious necklace, a strange creature drags her from her Wyoming ranch into Thysia—a brutal world where power is branded into flesh and oaths are sealed with blood. Here, survival is key, loyalty becomes a weapon, and Eleni finds herself caught in the middle of it all. As death closes in, her mysterious necklace awakens, revealing itself to be an ancient relic with the power to reshape kingdoms—or destroy them.



Now trapped in this ruthless world on the brink of war, Eleni is forced into two blood-bound one with a man she cannot trust, and another with a man she can’t escape. As her ties to Thysia grow stronger, so do the bonds that link her fate to theirs. Torn between desire and betrayal, the home she lost and a destiny she never wanted, Eleni stands on the edge of two worlds. Both demand sacrifice. The question is, which one will she choose?

Genres: Audiobook, Fantasy, Romance

Audible Audio

Published May 28, 2026

About the author

I’m a fantasy author and emergency room nurse who believes the best stories come from survival, grief, and the moments that change us forever. My writing explores elemental magic, blood-bound loyalty, slow-burn romance, and characters forced to choose between their past and who they must become.

I write for readers who love immersive worlds, morally gray love interests, slow-burning romance, found family, and heroines who fight with both fury and heart.

Based in Austin, Texas, I split my time between the ER, my writing desk, running with my dogs, riding motorcycles, and convincing myself that one more dirty chai is absolutely necessary!

Reviews

[Joseandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.5/5


I had such a good time with Shadows of Thysia! This one pulled me in pretty quickly, and there was so much going on between the mystery, the tension, the political maneuvering, and all the secrets being uncovered. And honestly… the deception in this book! 😳

I really liked the characters, especially the female lead. I found myself really invested in her journey and the decisions she was forced to make as everything around her started to unravel. There were definitely moments where I was confused right along with her, but in a way that kept me wanting to know what was actually going on.

Every answer seemed to lead to another question, and I loved that feeling of constantly trying to piece everything together. The world-building was interesting without feeling like an information dump, and the tension kept building as the story went on. There were also a few moments that hit me right in the feels. 🥹

And that ending?! Excuse me?! 😂 I NEED to know what happens next. This definitely feels like a story that’s setting the stage for an even bigger second book, and I’m absolutely here for it.

The audiobook was a great way to experience this story. The narration really helped bring the characters and the more emotional moments to life, and I found myself completely pulled into the story while listening.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook ARC!

[Athena 💗 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Solid 3⭐️s.

The gorgeous cover caught my eye and the duet narration is what sealed the deal for me to give this a try. I also loved the fact that this was a debut novel from an indie author, it’s always exciting to be given the opportunity to discover new talent.

My first thoughts were that the audio production was very done well. Both narrators did a great job with range and their voices were pleasant to listen to. The first page grabbed my attention immediately and had me giggling at the author’s sense of humor. I loved the opening scene with Eleni as an ER nurse in the modern world. I was really interested in the story and was excited to sit back and relax to a fun portal fantasy. Things quickly started to slow down for me only a few chapters in and I had a hard time staying interested in the story. I feel like I struggled most with where the focus was on the writing. There was a lot of descriptive writing on things that didn’t seem to matter as much but then when it came to the characters I didn’t feel very connected to them. New characters were being introduced and then all just seemed to blend together. I would be interested to see if my opinion changed if I was to read this over listening to it.

Update: I wrote this review based off of my audiobook experience. While writing this I was curious to see if the writing was not good or if it was just how it was being read to me. I went back and read a couple of chapters in the ebook and I actually ended up reading enjoying the writing. I liked how there was a balance between lovely fantasy style writing and modern slang with a little snark.

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley and victory editing for giving me the opportunity to read this e-ARC in return for an honest review.

Shadows of Thysia is a stunning debut from C.C. Martinez, and I seriously need book two immediately because this was phenomenal and that ending.... ahhh! ✨

The story follows Eleni, a nurse who is transported from her home to the magical world of Thysia. We follow her through a journey of self-discovery, loss and romance. What makes this book stand out is how real the characters feel; they are beautifully flawed, and Martinez writes with pure emotion that is so relatable. I became so invested that I was literally shouting at the book over some of their decisions! 😲 The fantasy element takes centre stage with romance a sub-plot flowing throughout without overpowering.

I could not put this book down. The author absolutely tore my heart out with certain moments that had me in tears, that’s how much I cared. Between the strong world-building, clear magic systems, and lingering secrets, I was hooked. I also suspect there is more than meets the eye with one character in particular... 👀

I highly recommend picking this up, but be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster! 🎢

[Cris · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD!!! If you enjoyed the nightmare in one dark window and a sarcastically funny, snarky, strong FMC with really cool magic system that resembles avatar but with its own unique spin with a well done paced plot and story, you would love this! I can’t believe this was a debut novel! I’m seething for book 2 😭 I also really enjoyed that this wasn’t so heavy on the romance so fast, it evolves as you keep reading. I loved that this was more focused on our FMC and the grief of the loss of her grandmother and how she raised her to be resilient. This was a great introduction to the series and I can’t wait for what comes next!! Thank you to the author for sending me an ARC copy of this, I will absolutely be recommending this to so many other readers.

[BookishKB]

🖤⚔️ Shadows of Thysia ⚔️🖤

Full ARC Review to come!

❤️‍🔥 What to Expect
• Fantasy Romance
• Portal Fantasy
• Morally Gray MMCs
• Blood Bound Magic
• Ancient Relic
• Love Triangle
• Political Intrigue
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: May 28, 2026
Thank you to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the advanced listening copy.

[Courtney Pityer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadows of Thysia is a fabulous debut novel that will surely keep your attention from beginning to end. I for one wasn't expecting to fall deeply in love but I did and I am so glad I got the opportunity to get my hands on a early copy! The imagery of the scenes and characters were truly a wonderful element.

We are introduced to Eleni who works in Denver as a nurse and constantly in a routine and mundane cycle of her everyday life. Unfortunately her grandmother passes away. When she goes to clean out her grandmother's house she finds a hidden box containinga necklace. From there she is then transported to another world.

She ends up Transported to the world of Thysia. She then discovers that her necklace is an ancient relic with the power to do good or even evil. Will she have the strengh to do good for a kingdom she had no idea existed?

[⋆˚࿔ Luiza 𝜗𝜚˚⋆]

DNF @ 15%

The author killed the FMC’s horse (which had enough character development and distinct personality to make me believe he wouldn’t die) in the most gruesome, unnecessary way, and to me that’s the equivalent of an author killing the MC’s dog, so I won’t be continuing with this book.
I truly believe this should have been mentioned in the trigger warning section. We can forgive almost anything in a book, just don’t touch the pet. That’s like an universal rule (and if it’s not, it should be).

[Astrophel AKA Beeneedssleep · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an arc. All opinions are my own.

★ Rating: 2.5/5
Genre: Romantasy
Are There Gay People in this?*: ❌

Aw man, I really wanted to love this, but it didn't really work for me.

Narration: 4/5 - I LOVE duet narration! I think that that narration is so quintessentially straight romantasy. His voice is deep, and gruff, and a little mysterious, and she's chipper and sassy. Overall, the voices are lively, and fit the characters.

Characters: 2/5 - This was the biggest sticking point for me. I didn't like any of the characters, and I never felt particularly connected to them. Eleni can be so dumb sometimes, and both love interests were condescending and annoying.

Plot: 3/5 - It's fine. If you read a lot of romantasy, this plot style is par for the course. I don't really know how else to describe it, but like, if you know you know. I wished there was a little more depth, but overall I found the plot compelling enough to keep reading.

Romance: 2/5 - Maybe I would have been more invested in the romance if I liked the characters, but as it stands it felt forced to me. Though, I do think that's kind of intentional for plot reasons I won't spoil.

Worldbuilding: 3/5 - I am interested in the world, but I wish we got a little more natural worldbuilding. Everything comes in the form of people directly explaining things to Eleni, which makes sense in context, but isn't always compelling as a reader. I also feel like I still know very little about this world, but since it's the first in a series, I can give some leeway there.

Writing: 3/5 - For the most part I think the writing is competent, but it's not a style I personally enjoy. It's got that spunky/quirky flair I generally associate with older millenial/younger gen x authors. I do think some things were a little redundant (sometimes Eleni would learn something, and then immediately repeat it in her internal dialogue), but mostly it was just a preference misalignment.

Overall: I think there is a big audience for this book, who will absolutely adore it, even though I didn't.

* I count a book as including gay people if any of the main or secondary characters are implicitly or explicitly queer or trans. This does not necessarily mean the protagonist is queer or that there is a queer romance

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars | Favorite Fantasy Read of the Year! 🖤

I don't even know where to begin... Shadows of Thysia completely consumed me. If The Plated Prisoner series and The Bridge Kingdom had a baby, it would feel a lot like this. Portal fantasy, elemental magic, blood-bound bargains, slow-burn tension, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, a love triangle done right, and an axe-wielding FMC? Say less.

What surprised me most was how deeply the emotional side of the story hit. Eleni's grief over recently losing the grandmother who raised her felt incredibly real. As someone who was also raised by my grandma and recently lost her, those moments hit close to home and had me tearing up more than once. It gave the story so much heart. I'm also dying to see how the horses tie back into the story and what role her childhood best friend.. the hot country cop.. is going to play in everything.

The world-building was immersive without ever feeling overwhelming, and I somehow read this in one day because I physically could not put it down.

The blood-bound Shadow Daddy had me absolutely hooked. 😮‍💨🖤 Protective, morally gray, mysterious... Who is he really? There is no way he's just the King's Hound.

And my beloved golden retriever, aka "Chaol vibes," the first blood-oathed... 🤍🤍🤍😩

But I'm also low-key dying to see where the forced-fiancé/villain king storyline goes. I kept getting serious Aaron Warner vibes from him, and if C.C. Martinez is about to take us down a true villain-redemption, why choose route... I will gladly volunteer as tribute to have my heart completely wrecked. I have so many theories about where this is going, who everyone really is, and how all of their stories are connected.

The duet narration by Samantha Archuleta and Rowan Whitlock was absolute perfection. They brought every emotion, every ounce of tension, and every heartbreaking moment to life.

Now... what am I supposed to do while I wait for Rise of the Rift Blood?! 😭

I'm already manifesting an ALC for book two because I need it in my ears the second it's released. 🤞🎧

And can we please get C.C. Martinez to Romantasy Con 2027 with an entire table full of sprayed-edge special editions? My wallet is already prepared. 🖤📚

P.S. This is officially my favorite fantasy read of the year, and I have a feeling book two is going to absolutely destroy me in the best possible way. 💀🖤 Thank you Netgalley for this ALC!

[Ashley {_xamountofbooks} · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)

I'm always excited to see an ALC pop up with duet narration! I thought the narrators were good and I liked the elemental magic. I just didn't really connect to the characters or really feel the tension between either of the love interests.

[Ahana M Rao (Heart’s Content) · Rating 4 out of 5]

You can find this review of Shadows of Thysia on my blog, Heart’s Content!

The biggest most grateful shout out to Victoria Editing and the author for providing me with a complimentary audiobook in exchange for an honest review!

The cover of Shadows of Thysia is both immediately and undeniably eye catching and it is what initially drew me to the book. However, when I read the blurb, I found something intriguingly unique about the teasing glimpse into the world it granted us. So I did what I always do, I checked reviews of the book from other readers. The review that sold me was one that shared their general dislike for love triangles—hard relate, by the way—and how this book made it bearable somehow. Now, that’sintriguing!

There’s a tenor of vulnerability, regret and responsibility that is evident in the author’s writing from the very first scene; and it is the very personification of the FMC. Being our primary storyteller, feeling immediately compelled by the FMC’s story and life, paired with feeling an emotional connection with the author’s writing style were wonderful feelings to have. The central theme of the story—which happens to be somewhat of a portal fantasy—paired with the writing, inspires a good mix of thinking and feeling as we experience the world, calling in the readers to constantly question and explore choices and consequences of every action/decision made by the characters.

It’s always difficult to nail the exact perfect reaction/response a character can have when thrown in a situation as deeply discombobulating, unbelievable and dangerous as being transported to an unfamiliar world, but I feel Martinez has done a lovely job balancing all these elements by pitting them against the heavy stakes that, mostly call for immediate action rather than contemplation. A big part of an author’s job is writing a story that the reader buys into, and in that Martinez has definitely stood out with her debut romantasy. Additionally Martinez blesses us with a FMC that listens to her intuition and doesn’t, for the most part, recklessly make and take decisions. Thank you, God.

What makes Shadows of Thysia unique to me is the plot and world building. Given the nature of this series being, one, a fantasy and two, a portal fantasy and three, the first book in the series, it’s hard to separate these two primary elements without pulling apart the cohesive construction of the book. But as is always seen on this blog, we aim for the impossible, so I shall try to explain the two in isolation.

I think something to be kept in mind—something I tell myself too—is that the first book of any series is simply the first step into the world. Questions are what we will be left with. Questions, frustration and a desperate need to explanations. However, it’s often forgotten that that’s the role of book one. It is meant to intrigue, interest and entice. In congruence to that, you will see the plot of SoT present to the reader, several seemingly unconnected threads that dare you to pull on them to see where they lead. Be ready for the journey of chasing those answers as you learn about the world, its rules and people. What’s the role of the heroine in this new world? What is this new world? Why is the FMC here? Can she go back? How can she go back? So on and so forth. The more interesting questions come from the unique nature of the book, where the author has weaved a story that reads without seeming like a copy paste of themes/tropes that you’ve already read several times before. It’s a breath of fresh air and I cannot wait to see where the author is going to take us next!

The world building was both interesting and fairly uncomplicated to assimilate. This, I believe, is because the author takes familiar concepts and situates them together in ways you have never seen before. So, basically familiar concepts, seen under a novel lens. What was additionally interesting was that usually in books with portal fantasy as their theme, there will be something about the FMC’s choice of work/hobby that adds a lot of meaning and importance to their existence in the portal world. I personally loved that SoT doesn’t particularly lean into that familiar trope and instead explores this genre in different ways that make it equally enjoyable and entertaining!

The pace of this story was, in my opinion, even and steady. There’s so much emotion and events to process that perhaps it may even seem heavy at times, but I always found myself coming back to the audiobook no matter what and finding myself staying a little longer each time.

The last ten percent of this story truly threw me and I’m not sure what to do with all these feelings it has created inside me. It took everything I thought I knew about the characters or how this story would progress and threw it in the air. It left me with a lot of confusion, some anger and frustration. Shock, lots of that too.

Additionally, (did I already say this?) love triangle is not a trope I enjoy, however, there’s just something about how the author chose to tackle it in this story that definitely made it easy to read about for me.

There’s always something about a duet narration that adds so much depth, layer and nuance to an audiobook and the narrators of Shadows of Thysia do exactly that for the story; elevating the already well done writing into an experience that’s emotional in a way that has your heart squeezing, tense in a way that makes you sit at the edge of your seat and heartbreaking in a way that has the potential to leave you devastated. Both narrators bring their skill and experience and do a fantastic job of taking turns weaving the tapestry that is this world and I’m very excited to add them to my list of enjoyable narrators! The accents, the voices, the duet!! Bravo! Bravo!

Four stars! Happy happy reading! Please do check trigger warnings as always!

[Cosmic Reads Club · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting portal fantasy with a world that kept me curious, even if not every part of the journey worked equally well.

One thing this book made me realize is that I might actually be a fan of portal fantasy. This is the second book in that subgenre I’ve read, and I’ve really enjoyed the concept both times. I’ll definitely be looking for more books like this. The world itself was probably my favorite part. The four Houses, the magic, and the overall setting made for a story that was genuinely interesting to explore, and I always wanted to know what would happen next.

That said, there were quite a few smaller things that kept this from being a higher rating for me. Some parts of the story felt rushed, while others seemed to drag on longer than necessary. There were also a few moments where the logic behind certain decisions didn’t completely work for me. One example was how easily the FMC accepted certain situations and agreements. Considering how strong-willed she is otherwise, I found some of her choices difficult to understand. The love triangle also didn’t do much for me. It wasn’t bad, but it felt like a dynamic I’ve seen in many fantasy books before. The final additional POV also wasn’t something I personally needed.

Overall, though, I still enjoyed the book. The worldbuilding was imaginative, the premise was engaging, and despite my criticisms, I’m still interested in seeing where the series goes next.

4 stars. A promising portal fantasy with a fascinating world, even if the execution didn’t always live up to its ideas.

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author kinda pissed me off at the ending. I’m really not enjoying Romantasy. Why does the female main character always have to be written as a person who seems competent and capable until a man is involved then she makes the stupidest mistakes which cause people to suffer? And only then does she realize the errors of her ways and feels guilt and despair. Ugh! It’s so frustrating. Ok rant over…..

I gave it 4 stars because the actual world building was pretty cool. Throughout the novel there could have been 4 different men that could have been the love interest but by the end things become more clear. I liked the magic systems too. As the FMC uses her new found magic, I let go my frustration of her stupid mistakes and felt like vengeance finally has come to call but then more angst as another female character steps forth ready to make a stupid mistake again. It must be a requirement for Romantasy….. I’m still interested in book 3.

I received an early listening copy from NetGalley. I thought both narrators were terrific. This review is voluntary and 100% my own opinion.i

[Chelsea Tomedragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I had a blast with this one. It is not all fun and games though, some of these moments hit hard. 😭

The cover drew me in, but the female narrator captivated me, even when I had to dig deep into the trust the process based on things happening. I think she outshone her co-star a bit. The grief, confusion, and lack of knowledge led to some crazy situations.

Every new thing I learned only added to the mystery and growing list of questions. A great setup for the next book. The built in tension, rebellion, and political maneuvering was well delivered. Such an incredible balance of explanations and no situational awareness needed to make these life altering decisions. So much deception!

While I enjoyed this book, it does have some issues that could very well resolve themselves as the mysteries are revealed. And the way this one ended?! Book 2 is a NEED.

Thank you NetGalley, C. C. Martinez, and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this ALC!

[Bookish Coffee UK · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spoiler free

Oooooh not gonna lie but this is much better than I thought it would be, like I don't mean that in a bad way, but the blurb don't tell you it's gonna be an epic adventure..

I love the concept of this storyline and not gonna lie I wouldn't wanna be dragged into a different time / world without my bestie.. 😅

This was a great savagely brutal story and I'm eager for the next book please 🙏

[Donna Payton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first Fantasy with romance book and boy was I blow away with the story and its characters . It’s a real fast and easy read. I did not expect the ending at all and was very surprised. I am totally excited for her next book in this series.

[Kerri-louise Whitham Your_bookish_fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

**𝓝𝓞 𝓢𝓟𝓞𝓘𝓛𝓔𝓡𝓢**
⚜️𝔻𝕖𝕥𝕒𝕚𝕝𝕖𝕕 𝕣𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨 𝕠𝕗- Shadows of Thysia

𝐈 𝐚𝐦 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 netgalley 𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰, 𝐢𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐬 𝐢 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐦𝐲 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤.

⚜️ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕤-
* 🗣 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿s Samantha Archuleta and Rowan Whitlock ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ each
* 📚 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75 / 5
* 🌡️ 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 none yet, not really 🫑/ 5 -𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑐𝑘 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑚𝑦 𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑠 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑟𝑜𝑝𝑒𝑠
* Which books have I also given this same rating? (𝑠𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑚𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑦𝑙𝑒𝑜𝑓 𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛)
5⭐️ Fourth wing / Bound by inked flame / Anathama / The Lies of Lena / Of silver and Curses
4.5⭐️ Bitten / The Female / Quicksilver / Bride / Lights Out / A Bargain so Bloody
4⭐️ Spellcaster / One Dark Window / From Blood and Ash / Phantasma / Butcher & Blackbird
3⭐️We Who Will Die / The Wolf King / Daughter of No Worlds / The Ex Hex


⚜️𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕀𝕟𝕗𝕠:
* Genre- Fantasy
* 🎧 11 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀 35 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 (I 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚘𝚗 1.5 𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚎𝚍)
* 📖 402 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀
* 𝐹𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑠𝑜𝑛 𝗣𝗢𝗩 / #𝚍𝚞𝚎𝚝 𝚜𝚝𝚢𝚕𝚎 𝚗𝚊𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗
* 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲- April 14 2026
* 𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁 or 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 driven? 𝒜 ℳ𝒾𝓍
* 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗲 & 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗻𝗼- incomplete series book 1
* 𝗔𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 on 𝗞𝗨? ✅𝒴ℯ𝓈
* 𝗣𝗮𝗰𝗲- 𝓂ℯ𝒹𝒾𝓊𝓂
* 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲? ❌𝒮𝒶𝒹𝓁𝓎, 𝓃ℴ, 𝓃ℴ𝓉 𝓊𝓃𝒾𝓆𝓊ℯ ℯ𝓃ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽, 𝒾𝓉𝓈 𝓌ℯ𝓁𝓁 𝓌𝓇𝒾𝓉𝓉ℯ𝓃 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝒹𝒾𝒹𝓃𝓉 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓃𝒹 ℴ𝓊𝓉 ℯ𝓃ℴ𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒻ℴ𝓇 𝓂ℯ 𝓉ℴ 𝓇ℯ𝒸𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝒾𝓃 𝓈𝒶𝓎 6 𝓂ℴ𝓃𝓉𝒽𝓈 𝓉𝒾𝓂ℯ.
* 𝒟𝒾𝒹 𝒾 ℯ𝓃𝒿ℴ𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈?✅
* 𝒲𝒾𝓁𝓁 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓃ℯ𝓍𝓉 𝒷ℴℴ𝓀 𝒾𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓈ℯ𝓇𝒾ℯ𝓈?✅
* 𝒲ℴ𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝒾 𝓇ℯ𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝓎𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 ℯ𝓁𝓈ℯ 𝒷𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒽ℴ𝓇?✅
* 𝖂𝖍𝖔 𝖜𝖔𝖚𝖑𝖉 𝖎 𝖗𝖊𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖒𝖊𝖓𝖉 𝖙𝖍𝖎𝖘 𝖙𝖔? People who love a FMC that grows into her power and her ‘chosen one’ role along with enjoying a plot with many secrets and mysteries, mythical creatures and blood bonds!

⚜️𝕊ℙ𝔼ℂ𝕀𝔼𝕊 𝕀ℕ 𝕊𝕋𝕆ℝ𝕐:
💋𝐻𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑠
🧝‍♀️𝔽𝕒𝕖

⚜️𝕊𝕡𝕚𝕔𝕖 𝔽𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕤:
🔥𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧
😍IᑎՏTᗩ ᒪOᐯᗴ ᒪᑌᔕT
🙏𝐻𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡
💋𝒮𝓅𝒾𝒸ℯ 𝒾𝓃𝒸𝓇ℯ𝒶𝓈ℯ𝓈 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 ℯ𝒶𝒸𝒽 𝒷ℴℴ𝓀
🌡𝕐𝕖𝕒𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝔸𝕟𝕘𝕤𝕥, 𝕋𝕖𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕠𝕟
🔺 𝐿𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑙𝑒

⚜️𝕋ℝ𝕆ℙ𝔼𝕊
😈𝕊𝕖𝕔𝕣𝕖𝕥𝕤 & 𝔹𝕖𝕥𝕣𝕒𝕪𝕒𝕝𝕤
👑𝓡𝓸𝔂𝓪𝓵 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓰𝓾𝓮
🧬 𝐔𝐧𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠
🧸𝐹𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦
🤩Epic Side Characters
🍭𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕟𝕪 𝕍 𝔾𝕣𝕦𝕞𝕡𝕪
🧩𝑭𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒙𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒚
💈 ᗷᗩᑎTᗴᖇ
🧨𝕊𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕪 𝔽𝕄ℂ
🤬 Feminine Rage
🥊 Revenge
⏳𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬
💪chosen one
⌚𝔸-𝕙𝕠𝕝𝕖
👑Shadow Daddy

✨ 🪧Cliff Notes Version: ✨
I judged this on the cover and wasn’t going to read it, but I did anyway and I’m so darn glad I did! That cliff hanger left me hunting down the author to yell at her masochistic ways! The love triangle, secrets, blood pacts and history really made this story come alive!
Martinez doesn’t shy away from showing the cost of ambition and the weight of legacy, giving the story a depth that lingers long after the final page.

⚜️𝑺𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓, 𝑳𝑰𝑺𝑻𝑬𝑵 𝒕𝒐 𝒊𝒕?⚜️
(𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡𝑠 𝑏𝑒𝑠𝑡- 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑜𝑟 𝐴𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑜?) I recommend the audiobook very highly!

⚜️𝔸𝕦𝕕𝕚𝕠 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜 ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨:
The narrators did an excellent job of this book!
The male narrator in particular had a wonderful range and it was easy and clear to tell his characters apart! The accents and struggles, the emotions and inflections he exhibited truly made his characters come to life!
The female did a wonderful job also, she spoke with clarity in all her roles, again with brilliant accents and inflections. Sometimes I struggled to tell apart her internal thoughts from the spoken language but that my only criticism.

🌍 𝕎𝕠𝕣𝕝𝕕 𝕓𝕦𝕚𝕝𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘, 𝕨𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕡𝕒𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘:
First of all I would like to make a confession-
Normally I wouldn’t have picked this book up. I don’t really care for the cover and the blurb was interesting but it didn’t grab me. However, I had a gap in my time to fit an audiobook and this was available so I nabbed it. And I am so very glad I did!

I'm not a massive fan of characters from our world being taken to fantasy worlds... (my brain doesn’t find that believable… dragon shifters with 2 peens- fine, but portals… noooo! 🤷‍♀️🫣) BUT this is one of my few exceptions. It was done really well and I loved the dry humour that came out of it. Immediately, I was invested in Eleni and her story - working herself silly as a nurse, the harbouring guilt, the regrets, and the way she handled the death of her estranged grandmother all made her such a sympathetic heroine.

The world building was ok but some of it was done in quite a clunky way, and I’m really confused about what the developer has to do with this story? I feel that was completely unnecessary as it did nothing to the plot and just became another thing to get answers too.

The prose/writing style is immersive, lyrical, and razor-sharp, balancing suspense, action, and emotional tension. That tension is meticulously built, and the twists are as darkly shocking.

I really enjoyed the elemental magic system, and the different factions in play in Thysia. But I do wish we had more information on the war and the history to help us better connect and understand the world as it is now. This being said- I felt like the very naive FMC didn’t ask nearly enough questions to help educate herself or protect herself. It left me thinking she was annoying as a lead character rather than rooting for her

The FMC is dropped straight into a world she doesn’t understand, seeing things that shouldn’t exist, and is drawn straight into conflict. As the story develops she learns a bit more about herself, and the mystery of where she came from - although this is still largely unresolved due to the massive twist and cliffhanger the book ends on, and develops many questions about her family and their history.

As other reviewers have mentioned there were some small inconsistencies in Eleni’s character later on, as well as continuity errors, but all in all I found this to be a solid debut. There were so many intriguing info hints and plot teasers included that were left open by the end of the book that, while they definitely left me wanting more, also left me feeling a unfulfilled, as I had more confusion and questions about the world and the characters story by the end than I had had at the start.

Although I was disappointed by the lack of resolution of any of the major plot points by the end of this book, I was pulled in by the many mysteries we were offered (and there was a lot) blood contracts, secrets, betrayals, who’s loyalty truly lies where, is velorn sworn to silence and bound? Is there fated mate bods in this world? And on and on my mind races…

And that ending made me throw my headphones, snatch up my phone, hunt down the author on insta and give her a piece of my mind! Brutal is an understatement!!


🧝‍♂️ ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕤:
The characters are quite wonderful. They are flawed, cunning, and achingly human, navigating a world that demands sacrifice and punishes weakness. Their struggles, desires, and secrets are what makes them so relatable and easy to connect with and feel for- making every triumph, betrayal, and heartbreak hit like a dagger to the chest.

The FMC is Not too serious unless she needs to be, she’s compassionate, curious, and funny. However, Eleni’s attraction to both Ehlark and Velorn, and her initial interest in Cody, gave me the impression that her interests in men are a bit flighty, this is kind of explained away later in the book but it still didn’t sit right. Since our FMC seemingly shows interest in nearly every single man she interacts with, it made the romantic aspect feel unappealing, unimportant and flat.

Ehlark was a cutie and seemed so passionate and genuine and I’m hoping to see more of him in the next book- yes I know but I refuse to believe! And I’m defo hoping for someone to put a certain bunny boiler in her place too!

I don't care that our Verlon is a massive shadowy red flag... I need him to be the one, I’m hoping for a fated mate. But I’m also hoping for a why choose for her and her roaming eye too.

I did really like the mystery surrounding Velorn’s character. So many questions about his background, motivations, his secrets and to what extent he makes his own choices or is merely following orders, along with the contrasting personality traits that keep slipping through, is probably the main reason I am invested in the rest of the story to come!

😥 𝕎𝕙𝕪 𝕟𝕠 𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖 𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕣𝕤?
I didn’t understand why there was so much detail in the earth part of the story as it made me more confused, I’m hoping there is a reason to be revealed in book 2 but for now it’s a negative. I also didn’t like how flighty the FMC was, how she didn’t actually ask questions and then there are the said inconsistencies in her character.
Mostly though, it’s the lack of history, lore and answers that has me knocking stars off. The next book has the potential to be a 5 star though.


⏳ 𝕎𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕚 𝕣𝕖-𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕠𝕣 𝕣𝕖𝕔𝕠𝕞𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕕?
I’d re read as a catch up, and yes I will recommend.


𝐹𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑚𝑒 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑢𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠;

𝕋𝕚𝕜𝕋𝕠𝕜
https://www.tiktok.com/@your_bookish_...

IᑎՏTᗩ
https://www.instagram.com/your_bookis...

***********************

𝕄𝕪 ℝ𝕒𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕪𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕞𝕤:
⭐️ DNF

⭐️⭐️
I managed to finish it but it was rubbish. I won't keep a physical copy and won't recommend it, but  it's a shame as the plot could have made a good book in another author's hands

⭐️⭐️.5
It was OK. I wish I didn't start this one as it didn't do it for me as I struggled to read it. It had an interesting premise that fell flat but I had to see what happened in the end.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I don't regret reading it, and I will read the next one, but this one did have a few flaws. [These could be repetitive writing, gaps or plot holes, better character growth or world building, areas needing more detail]
Generally, the book lacked depth and became confusing. The plot resonated with me even though it annoyed me on the whole.

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I'm glad I read it. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to the right people, but I wanted more! Sadly, it's easily forgettable with a few issues I just couldn't overlook/get past.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Good book! I loved it, but... I needed more! I really did enjoy it, but it had a few parts that needed more detail or added history/background or lore. But that's because the story or characters were memorable, and the plot was strong with brilliant twists. I would re-read if I needed to catch up for the next book and would recommend.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Great book! I truly wish the story had been thought about more, or the author had been given more time as this book is so close to brilliance! I will likely read again and will definitely be recommending it to all!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! Absolutely amazing book! Well written with great characters and a plot so memorable that it will stay with me. I will definitely read this again, I will be recommending it and sharing it with the whole world! Also- I NEED A PHYSICAL COPY!

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🔥
This is my God level tier. The book must be perfectly memorable. Even after reading 50+ more books, I will remember character names and emotions along with the plot. If there is a special edition, then I need to own it! If there is a conversation on books- I'm talking about this!

 SPICE SCALE:
🌶️– segsual language and a little on-page action

🌶️🌶️– a lot of segsual language and some on-page open door action, may be occurring a couple of times

🌶️🌶️🌶️– a lot of explicit action and dirty talk, occurring frequently with 2/3 lurvers

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – super graphic and explicit, occurring 4 or more times, can be more grey and taboo themed.

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ – Kinks and Fet!shism, explicit and super graphic. It is likely to be tushy play, toys, playrooms, and more

[Chelsea Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldnt put this book down and ended up finishing it in less than a day. I loved the world building and the different spin on magic. I already cant wait for a second book!

[Margherita · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars. An absolutely fantastic portal fantasy! I recommend reading the physical/e-book over listening to the audiobook if possible.

An ER nurse grieving the loss of her grandmother is suddenly thrust into an unfamiliar world filled with magic and danger.

Thank you to NetGalley and C.C. Martinez for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book (e-book and audiobook).

I'm not one for contemporary fantasy, so when this story started in a modern setting, I was hesitant to continue. I'm so glad I did. Once Eleni is abruptly transported to Thysia, the atmosphere shifts into a rich, immersive fantasy world. Even her modern slang gradually dissipates, helping to ease the contrast between her voice and the setting.

Eleni meets some interesting characters on her quest to return home, forced into blood-bound connections with two of them and struggling to let her guard down with either one. But don't confuse this for a love triangle.

The elemental magic is giving Avatar The Last Airbender, but with a more mature tone. While Velorn's magic doesn't match Zuko's, I'm thinking his character might follow a similar arc.

The romance is subtle for now, but the clues are there! The sparks are there! I just know the good stuff is coming.

The ending surprised me a little and left me eager and anxious to see what happens next.

Lastly, I'm glad I was able to read the e-arc prior to listening to the audiobook because it wouldn't have had the same impact on me otherwise. I absolutely love the story! But the female narrator felt a little too young and the male narrator did not do Velorn justice. He sounded like a snooty, old "advisor to the king" type of character. He did a good job with Ehlark, though.

Overall, a great debut from this author! I can't wait to read more of this story!

[Tori Kamosa · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I won this book in an indie author Romantasy giveaway, and it’s a unique one indeed.

An ER nurse finds a mysterious necklace while going through her grandma’s room and is soon after “yeeted,” as Eleni would say, into another world we now know as Thysia. This FMC is by far one of the funniest I have come across to date. I love her sarcasm and quick witted quips, she seriously gives no fucks and I love that for her.

I did find that this book is heavy on the world building and not so much on action, which made it feel slow paced at times, but the premise is very interesting, so it should pay off. It kind of gives me Nordic Avatar the last Airbender vibes and I’m here for it.

I did think that Eleni was thirsty as hell. We liked Cowboy Cody, then of course Velorn is giving shadow daddy MMC vibes but he’s not a main focus so much as a dirty lil skulker most of the time, and then Ehlark who gave me Gale vibes but we obviously know that’s not going anywhere. IYKYK👀

To sum it up, there are a lot of unanswered questions that seem to be setting up for book 2 and a dirty little cliff hanger ending, but overall I think it’s a good set up for a series and a great debut. I really appreciate the author for sharing her story with me!

Be warned she’s going to rip your heart out a few times but then also put it back together after. 🙌🏼

[spiritmadeofstars · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for gifting me an audiobook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book starts with Eleni ignoring her grandmother's calls, who insists on her returning home for her birthday. Eleni is busy, a nurse, her relationship with her grandma seems distant and frayed. Only when she gets a call that her grandma passed away does she realize her mistake and returns home to deal with the aftermath. In a twist of fate, Eleni ends up sucked into a foreign place full of magic.

---
Story review
The book immediately sucked me in. I really enjoyed the small cottage on a ranch vibes at the beginning. They felt warm and familiar. So, when Eleni gets sucked into Thysia, the foreign world feels that much more dark and cold.

I found Thysia to be an interesting world, magic and blood pacts, long-lost relics, kingdoms at war. I think the author did a great job there. Usually, when a protagonist enters into a fantasy world, most readers want them to stay in the magical world. This time, I wanted Eleni to escape back home. I'm not sure what exactly made me feel this way, but as rare as it is for me, I wished she'd get back home to safety.

I found the "love triangle" aspect alright. Eleni says she's been in Thysia for a month near the end of the book, and since she has been imprisoned and then forced to stay with Velorn, I don't quite understand when any mutual feelings for Ehlark could have time to take shape. I know she sees him as something safe in this dangerous world, but I feel like the safety he offered was very short-lived.

I will personally always prefer the shadow vielding villain that very often turns out to be a good boy at heart, plus they also spent more time together, so. I'm curious to see where the romance part of the series leads in the next books.

There are many questions that need answering that I am very curious to find out about! I think this is a great start to a series. The first half of the book felt pretty slow paced. I was listening to the audiobook and after a while I looked at where I was - 40% and nothing that interesting had hapenned. But this also allowed us to get more familiar with the world and characters, so I do not see it as a negative.

The ending was pretty intense, so I cannot wait for the next book to come out!

---

About the audiobook
Uuuuuh, so I feel like I did not enjoy the book as much as I could have. I don't mean to be rude, but I really disliked the male narrator. I had looked at his other work and found his voice alright, but here... His voice and cadence of his speech made me immediately dislike every main male character (truth be told I only like his portrayal of the old Healer).

Why was he speaking like that? Why does Velorn sound like a slimier version of Severus Snape?

I contemplated not finishing the audiobook because of the male narrator, but I persevered and got used to him by the end. I tried my best to separate his portrayal from the book itself, because when I imagined myself reading the book and reading the character's words, I could see myself blushing and being interested in them. But his voice, I don't know...

I feel like an asshole typing this, but I wish they had either chosen someone else, or made some changes to the voice acting. It truly made me doubt every single male character and their intentions. And don't get me wrong. I don't need like a super husky manly-man deep voice for male characters. But something just did not sit right with me here. A spark was missing.

I think if the male narrator comes back, I'd rather skip the audiobook version.

---

Some spoiler thoughts
I was not expecting Ehlark to die at the end! What a punch to the gut. I did not trust the character completely, despite Eleni trusting him almost immediately. Something just felt off (probably the narrator, sorry). I wonder if with her new discovered powers she'll be able to bring him back? Revive him with her lighting or electricity or something.

I hope we get more info about Velorn in the next books. These dark characters are always the most interesting. I'm also REALLY curious to find out where grandma got the relics and what her role in Thysia's history is. Was grandma a badass? I have a feeling she was.

[Vanessa Borges · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get dragged through a portal and have your interest piqued as you’re introduced to a rich world of Magic Houses, elementals, and legends.

After growing up on a ranch with her grandmother, Eleni just wants to prove she can make a life for herself as a nurse in Denver. She loved her childhood, where she learned to care for horses, navigate the mountains, and how to survive in the wilderness. But her Gran doesn’t understand why she wants to celebrate her birthday with her friends instead of going home to the ranch. To avoid arguing, Eleni ignores her calls, burying herself in her work and studies. That is until she gets devastating news: her Gran is gone. Returning to the ranch, she tries to honour her grandmother’s memory and face some fears. It’s at the ranch that Eleni discovers her grandmother might have been keeping secrets from her. It’s at her grandmother’s graveside that she is suddenly transported into Thysia.

Before continuing, I have to say that this first part of the book feels so complete, rich with emotion, and packed with character development, I could have lived in it much longer. As a result, the unpredictable portal to Thysia was probably just as jarring for the reader as it was for Eleni, which was masterfully done.

Eleni isn’t where she was a moment ago, and where she is looks strange. The trees aren’t the right colour, the clothes the people wear are homespun and they keep saying weird things about “marks” and - did they just say magic? But that can’t be right, she needs to think rationally. All the while, Eleni is captured, imprisoned, and being sent to see a seer, whatever that is, who will determine her fate.

Along the way, she meets new friends, dangerous enemies, and learns about the history of the land, its people and that a war is approaching. Can she escape captivity and find a way back home without getting involved? But as she discovers more about this world, she also uncovers truths about herself. Maybe this world isn’t so bad after all, should she stay? She’s so confused! As she negotiates her safety and a way to go home, she gets connected with two men: one who gives her hope and one who keeps her trapped. She doesn’t know who to trust, but she knows she hates him. Velorn is a monster. Isn’t he?

This is clearly the start of a much larger, epic romantic fantasy. The world building and character development are excellent, and C.C. Martinez seamlessly seems to have weaved in elements of foreshadowing. This is an enemies to lovers (at least, that’s what I suspect), forced proximity, true slow burn story. Do not expect spice at all in Book 1. The buildup feels slow, intentional and entirely worth the wait. I anticipate plenty of angst, yearning, and when things finally come together, absolute electricity! I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of this series to see which of my predictions are correct.

The audiobook version features dual narration that felt so immersive that it brought the world to life. For readers looking to dive in, an ebook copy is available on kindle unlimited and includes a world map.

Trigger warnings: capture, enslavement (threatened). From the author: It includes violence, blood, occasional gore, vulgar language, emotional trauma, grief over the loss of loved ones, and moments of physical and psychological assault. Characters struggle with war, power imbalances, and moral gray zones.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this audiobook ARC for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

[Faiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows of Thysia by C.C. Martinez completely exceeded my expectations and left me desperately waiting for the next installment. For a debut novel, this was incredibly impressive, delivering an emotional, immersive fantasy adventure that grabbed hold of me from the very first chapter and refused to let go. And that ending?! 😱📖 I need answers immediately.

The story centers on Eleni, a nurse from Denver whose life has become defined by routine and responsibility. Following the loss of her grandmother, she discovers a mysterious necklace hidden among her grandmother's belongings, setting off a chain of events that changes everything. Suddenly, she's pulled into the world of Thysia—a place filled with magic, danger, secrets, and a destiny she never could have imagined. ✨🌙

What stood out most to me was how authentic the characters felt. Nobody is perfect, and that's exactly what made them so compelling. Eleni is strong without being invincible, brave while still carrying fears and doubts, and easy to connect with from the beginning. I became so emotionally invested in her journey that there were multiple moments where I found myself talking back to the book because of the choices being made. 😂❤️

The fantasy elements are unquestionably the driving force of the story. The magical world is richly developed, with fascinating lore, intriguing political dynamics, and a magic system that feels structured and purposeful. Every new revelation pulled me deeper into the mystery, and I constantly felt like there were hidden pieces waiting to be uncovered. There are also several characters whose motives seem far more complicated than they initially appear, which has me wildly theorizing about what comes next. 🔮👀

Although romance isn't the primary focus, it's woven naturally throughout the narrative and adds another layer of emotional depth. There were moments that hinted at multiple potential romantic possibilities for Eleni, making me curious to see where future books take those relationships. Nothing felt forced, and the balance between personal connections and the larger fantasy storyline was handled beautifully. ❤️⚔️

Emotionally, this book hit hard. There were scenes that genuinely broke my heart, and others that filled me with hope. Martinez isn't afraid to put the characters through difficult situations, and because they're written with such sincerity, those moments land with real impact. I laughed, worried, cheered, and even got teary-eyed more than once. 💔😭✨

I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Samantha Archuleta and Rowan Whitlock brought a tremendous amount of life to the story through their duet narration. Each character felt distinct, and their performances added extra emotion and atmosphere to an already engaging narrative. 🎧🌟

At times the story gave me the feeling of stepping into a portal fantasy adventure, but it quickly established its own identity through its unique world, captivating mythology, and memorable cast. Between the emotional character arcs, the magical intrigue, the dangerous secrets, and the unanswered questions, I was completely hooked.

If you enjoy fantasy filled with immersive world-building, compelling characters, emotional stakes, mysterious relics, and a heroine trying to navigate a world she never knew existed, Shadows of Thysia deserves a place on your TBR. C.C. Martinez has delivered a remarkable first novel, and I cannot wait to see where Eleni's story goes next. 📚✨🔥

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

Shadows of Thysia had an opening I really enjoyed. Meeting Eleni in her everyday life, following her grandmother’s death and her return to the ranch, felt like the beginning of a story I could have happily followed in its own right. The humour worked well, and there was a point where I actually double-checked the description because I wondered whether I had picked up the wrong book. That contemporary setting lulled me into a sense of familiarity, which made the shift into Thysia feel much closer to what Eleni herself was experiencing. I thought that transition was handled really well.

The worldbuilding was another strength. Learning about Thysia alongside Eleni gave the discoveries a natural place within the story. There was plenty to be interested in, and the blood contracts were a particularly compelling element. They felt powerful and added weight to the connections between the characters, although I would have liked more clarity around some of those relationships.

Where I struggled was with Eleni’s consistency. I connected with the character introduced at the beginning, but some of her later responses and behaviour didn’t quite feel in keeping with that person. There were decisions that felt intuitive and believable, followed by others that seemed random or frustrating. That made my investment in her uneven, because I couldn’t always follow how she had arrived at a particular choice.

I had a similarly mixed response to the romance. It wasn’t something I strongly disliked, but there were moments when it felt unnecessary, and some connections I expected to develop romantically went elsewhere. There was an uncertainty around the relationships that could have been interesting, but I wanted a stronger understanding of the connections themselves.

The pacing also needed more consistency. Some sections moved slowly before the story suddenly accelerated, and the shifts didn’t always feel balanced. I enjoyed piecing together the secrets, but increasingly those discoveries seemed to create further questions without resolving enough of what had already been introduced.

By the end, I wanted more payoff from the world, characters and mysteries the book had spent so much time establishing. Too much remained open, and the ending left me feeling unsatisfied. I don’t need every detail neatly explained, but I wanted a stronger sense that the central questions had been meaningfully addressed.

There were elements I enjoyed, particularly the opening, the introduction to Thysia and the blood contracts. However, the uneven pacing and characterisation, alongside the lack of resolution, kept it from becoming a more absorbing and satisfying read for me.

[Sasha Grojean · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for the eARC!
Rating 2.5 (rounded up to 3⭐)

This book starts off with us meeting Eleni, an ER nurse, when she gets the call that her estranged grandmother, the only family she has, has passed away in an accident. Immediately, I was already invested in Eleni and her story - the guilt, the regrets, and the way she handled the death all made her such a sympathetic heroine.

I really enjoyed the elemental magic system, and the different factions in play in the other world, Thysia. Our FMC is dropped straight into a world she doesn’t understand, seeing things that shouldn’t exist, and is rather immediately drawn into conflict. Throughout the book, she learns a bit more about herself, and the mystery of where she came from - although this is still largely unresolved due to the massive twist and cliffhanger the book ends on.

There were some small inconsistencies in Eleni’s character later on, as well as continuity errors, but all in all I found this to be a solid debut. There were so many interesting hints and teasers included that weren’t resolved or elaborated on by the end of the book that, while they definitely left me wanting more, also left me feeling a unfulfilled, as I had more confusion and questions about Thysia and Eleni’s story by the end than I had had at the start.

That said, some of the exposition and world building was done in quite a clunky way, with characters explicitly stating their intentions and reasons behind everyday situations in dialogue in a way that felt a bit unnatural.

I’m also personally not a fan of love triangles, and Eleni’s attraction to both Ehlark and Velorn, and her initial interest in Cody, gave me the impression that her interests in men are a bit flighty, although this is partially explained later in the book. Since our FMC seemingly shows interest in nearly every single man she interacts with, it made the romantic aspect feel a little bit flat to me, personally.

Although I was disappointed by the lack of resolution of any of the major plot points by the end of this book, which is clearly the first in a series, I did really like the mystery surrounding Velorn’s character. So many questions about his background, motivations, and to what extent he makes his own choices or is merely following orders, along with the contrasting personality traits that keep slipping through, is probably the main reason I am invested in the rest of the story to come!

All in all an interesting, if not technically sound, debut, which sets up the story for an intriguing sequel.

[Dragon Be Reading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadows of Thysia is a surprising debut from C.C. Martinez that dragged me in from the very first sentence. I'm not sure what exactly I was expecting from this book, but I ended up enjoying it immensely.

I was slightly hesitant as the start was a modern-day, contemporary setting, but that only truly set up how incredible the world of Thysia turned out to be. You were plunged into it the same way the FMC was, having to learn everything the same way she did, and it made it feel more real to me that way.

Speaking of the FMC, Eleni is something to behold. She's resourceful, full of wonderful snark and sass, and her career as an ER nurse makes it easy for her to care about the strangers around her despite her constant need to find a way home. I loved being in her head, knowing that how she thinks and feels about this crazy turn of events she's found herself plopped into is exactly how I'd hope to react to everything.

Let's be honest - I'd probably cry and somehow get myself killed by sitting on something sharp or poisonous.. or both.

The male characters she encounters and end up making alliances with are complex and intriguing. Both Ehlark and Velorn are puzzles that take time to unravel, one moreso than the other, and each has a full story to explore. Personally, I was far more interested in Velorn, but who doesn't love a dark, brooding guy who controls shadows, right?

The story itself is a wild ride, from start to finish.. or I should say cliffhanger. The theories and twists keep you guessing, and I, for one, have no idea which way I'm leaning. It definitely has me on the edge of my seat, wondering how and when Eleni will learn the truth, and what that ultimately means for her.

The exposition and info-gathering does feel somewhat heavy-handed at times, especially in the earlier chapters, which is understandable. A modern-day woman falls into a fantasy land where she knows absolutely nothing about its world, and the only way to gather information is to ask the questions directly. Some of it didn't feel natural, yet that didn't make the story any worse for it. My only other note: there is a pet death scene early on. I suspect this is something that will be pertinent later on in the series, yet I know many people would like to be aware before diving in.

Suffice to say, I'm hooked on Thysia, Eleni, and the entire mystery surrounding what she thought she knew before finding herself in a fantastical world she didn't know existed. I'm dying to read Rise of the Riftborn (book 2), and need to know when I can be portaled back to Thysia!

Thank you ever so much to the gracious C.C. Martinez for the physical ARC to a wonderful debut novel. This in no way influenced my review; these thoughts are my own.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eleni is an overworked nurse who finds herself at her Grandmother's ranch after her grandmother suddenly passes away. Feeling grief and guilt over their estranged relationship, Eleni is struggling to go back to normal, to find the motivation to fix the ranch and live like her grandmother would’ve wanted. But after finding a mysterious necklace and going through another loss (TW animal death), she finds herself transported into the world of Thysia, where magic is not only real, but entwined into the people and world, and now her. The necklace is a long-lost relic that will bring either peace or war to the people.
Tied to both sides of the war, between Ehlark the Earthshaker and Verlon the shadow-weaving Tracker, Eleni must find the strength to survive, and find her way home. But along the way, she’ll have to navigate betrayal, passion and blood contracts.


This book pleasantly surprised me! I honestly didn’t know what to expect, but I ended up being very intrigued by the plot, and it took no time at all to get through. It was definitely an easy read for me, (though it does deal with themes of loss and grief), nothing was too complex and it was fast paced. The only thing that brought the rating down was some parts of the dialogue and writing, which can be developed, but honestly, I think for a debut novel, the author has knocked it out of the park!

I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, and it was developing that way with Eleni being around the brooding, morally grey Verlon and then the heroic rebel Ehlark, so while the romance wasn’t my favourite part, I definitely loved Eleni as a character and the plot. I loved her passion for healing and the way the author wrote her experience with grief. Also, the way she handled the journey in this new world and how she developed new relationships and tried to deal with the responsibility of her new power.

The portal trope is one of my favs because of the Medoran Chronicles series, and honestly, I could see a bit of that in this book. If you liked that series and love some Avatar last air bender magic vibes mixed with vampire-like blood contracts. It was a very unique read, and I enjoyed learning about the world and look forward to the next book when we hopefully delve into the history a bit more! I look forward to seeing what C.C Martinez writes next and recommend you pick this one up if it seems like something you'd like!

3.5-4 stars

[High Lady of Delulu · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5
This was, unfortunately, a DNF for more than one reason.

I want to preface this by saying that Shadows of Thysia has an intriguing premise, alluring characters, whimsy balanced with darker aspects, and generally probably all the makings of a really good romantasy.



That being said, I think what made it the wrong read for me mostly comes down to two things: The pace and the writing.

Neither of those was bad!
But I personally also didn't find them all that great.


While it started off promising, the pace slowed down significantly almost immediately and by the time I reached the actual plot, the book had already lost more momentum than it could afford to. After that, I found myself drifting off and increasingly uninterested in characters that seemed like they should have made and deserved to make more of an impact.


As for the writing, this is absolutely a me thing in the sense that I know many people won't mind. But I do.
There were just too many sentences and phrases that looked correct upon first glance, only to fall short immediately after because they were simply wrong and/or made no sense. Just always slightly off, not enough to bother most, probably. But just enough to repeatedly yank me out of a story.

I didn't bother writing down the examples I came across but I think the one that had me give up was “The second I said it, it was a mistake”. I know what the author wants to say with it because I have context but I can't stop my brain from snagging onto these moments in an attempt to dissect and solve them.
Which, in combination with the pace, sadly left me rather uninterested in the characters.

Generally, though, the style was good and worked well for the story and I, personally, would likely have enjoyed the writing if it hadn't been for these mistakes.



So, again, I can see the potential, the arcs and tropes, the promising plot and arising character dynamics. And I assume that there will be plenty of readers who will love Shadows of Thysia for these aspects.
Even though, I unfortunately am not one of them.


To name one definitely positive aspect though: the narration was great and I will most likely keep an eye out for other books narrated by Samantha Archuleta and/or Rowan Whitlock.

--

Thank you to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and C.C. Martinez for an ALC of Shadows of Thysia

[Sheri MacQuarrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for the copy of Shadows of Thysia

Eleni is just your everyday nurse, working to make ends meet, when the loss of her grandmother brings her back to their ranch. There she discovers a hidden box with a unique necklace, and somehow finds herself transported into a new world full of elemental magic. Without magic of her own, she is held prisoner with other individuals unmarked by magic. When danger strikes, her necklace awakens and she learns it is a very powerful ancient magical relic that could shape or destroy kingdoms. Determined to get back to her world safely (and everything working against her), she find herself blood bound to two very different men, and potentially destined for far more than she ever imagined.

Eleni is a very grounded FMC; determined, compassionate, and sarcastic, but also very aware of her goals and able to think logically even when swept up in the chaos unravelling around her. While there’s romance in this one, it takes a backseat to the world building and plot, but it is so worth it to become immersed in their world. Everything feels very intentional, and there’s a lot that’s been mentioned that I feel will become more important in the next book. There were a few moments I wish we could have gotten more connection, relationship building, or general information, but I feel it will come into play in the next book and we have such a great set up for character growth, deeper connections, and a very well developed, intricate plot. I can’t wait for the next one!!

The audiobook is very well done, with duet narration by Samantha Archuleta and Rowan Whitlock. Samantha Archuleta does a fantastic job throughout, bringing the story to life with consistent pacing, clear speech, excellent intonation and character voices. Rowan Whitlock does a great job for the male characters too, but I do wish he chose a different voice specifically for Velorn because it just does not match the character in my head, and I found at times his speech felt distinctly slower than the female narrators (not bad, just mismatched to the pace around it since the female narrator is the primary narrator). Overall, a great listen and I can’t wait to see where the next book goes!

[KittyGrimm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received ALC of Shadows of Thysia by C.C. Martinez through NetGalley for an honest review.

The story follows Eleni, who has just lost her grandmother. She goes to her old home she used to share with her to arrange her burial and the aftermath. While in there she goes through the house,under her grandma’s bed, she finds a hidden floorboard, filled with items that she has never seen before. She ends up wearing one of the items, a strange necklace and soon after that, a portal opens which she gets pulled into. She falls into the mysterious kingdom of Thysia, a world filled with people with elemental magic and dangers she never even thought would be possible. Trapped in this ruthless world she ends up making two bloodbound contracts, a man she isn’t sure if she can trust, Ehlark and his enemy Verlon, a man she can’t escape.

Eleni is a strong female lead, with her own faults and you can read how she starts to grow as her own person, while still being a complicated woman, fighting to figure out what is wrong and right, should she follow her own want to return back to her own home or to stay and take part of something much bigger than just herself a fight that could determine the fate of whole Thysia.

Both MMCs are interesting in their own way, though we learn more about Ehlark than about Verlon.

Now to talk about the narrators in this audiobook. In my opinion Elani’s narrator, Samantha Archuleta fit perfectly bringing Elani alive for us listeners, showing the deep emotion of her struggles and determination. Ehlark and Verlon were both narrated by Rowan Whitlock and while I think his voice fit well for Verlon, I can't say the same about him fitting Ehlark's voice.

The story overall was interesting, characters and world building was well written, but the ending fell flat to me, especially because it wasn’t mentioned that this book is just the first book in a series and ended in a cliffhanger.

I will give this book 3 out of 5 stars, because it really has a lot of potential when thinking about the bigger scale of the story.