What do you think?
Shadows of the Nightwood #1
Shadows of the Nightwood
Hiding in plain sight has been Aurelia Brooke’s whole life. Despite her profession being banned by the Children of the Celestial Mothers, Aurelia covertly provides the oppressed women of Shadow’s Gate with choice, using her magical abilities surreptitiously. An act that is punishable by death. In the shadows of the Nightwood, she saves an injured fae man who remembers nothing of who he is or where he came from—whose existence breaches the walls of her guarded heart.
When a vengeful ex-lover reveals Aurelia’s secret, the Children of the Celestial Mothers descend upon her cottage, determined to string her up with the other women hanging from the village gate. Aurelia and her new fae companion, Forrest, escape to the Nightwood, where they pass through a portal into the fae realm. The Crystal Isle is ethereal and vibrant, but it also has many dark secrets.
Aurelia soon discovers that the fae and humans of the Citrine Court live in a tenuous coexistence, built upon a deeply unsettling centuries-old arrangement. When Aurelia questions the court’s authoritarian rule over its human subjects, it turns her from an unwelcome guest into a threat to the order and safety of the Citrine Court. As she struggles to navigate this new realm and the shifting dynamics of her relationship with Forrest, Aurelia must test the limits of her love and magic to survive.
When a vengeful ex-lover reveals Aurelia’s secret, the Children of the Celestial Mothers descend upon her cottage, determined to string her up with the other women hanging from the village gate. Aurelia and her new fae companion, Forrest, escape to the Nightwood, where they pass through a portal into the fae realm. The Crystal Isle is ethereal and vibrant, but it also has many dark secrets.
Aurelia soon discovers that the fae and humans of the Citrine Court live in a tenuous coexistence, built upon a deeply unsettling centuries-old arrangement. When Aurelia questions the court’s authoritarian rule over its human subjects, it turns her from an unwelcome guest into a threat to the order and safety of the Citrine Court. As she struggles to navigate this new realm and the shifting dynamics of her relationship with Forrest, Aurelia must test the limits of her love and magic to survive.
360 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Harper Isles
1 book27 followersHarper Isles is a health-care worker by day and a writer of romantic fantasies featuring feminine rage by night.
When she isn’t daydreaming about faraway realms and the resilient women who dare to change them, Harper can be found either binge-watching true crime documentaries, trying to spot orcas in Burrard Inlet, or making space for new books on her overflowing bookshelves.
Harper lives in North Vancouver, BC, with her husband and two cats. She hopes to one day devote all her time to creating magical spaces for readers to escape to.
When she isn’t daydreaming about faraway realms and the resilient women who dare to change them, Harper can be found either binge-watching true crime documentaries, trying to spot orcas in Burrard Inlet, or making space for new books on her overflowing bookshelves.
Harper lives in North Vancouver, BC, with her husband and two cats. She hopes to one day devote all her time to creating magical spaces for readers to escape to.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 7, 2026
3.75 stars
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review <3
A promising debut!
I enjoyed this story and the characters - The world was intriguing enough to peak my interest and draw me in. I appreciated the ambition to create a fantasy that's a blend of magic, danger, and some heavy and controversial real world issues. As someone who loves the ACOTAR series I could also see the inspiration drawn from it.
Aurelia is stuck in a world that doesn't accept her, or her affinity to heal and help others (especially women). Forrest mysteriously appears in the creepy and magical Nightwood, injured and with a serious case of amnesia. A cult led by controlling men is taking over the town, and the two escape via a portal to a fae realm. They end up in the Citrine Court, and Aurelia discovers dark secrets - some her own, and some of the fae realm.
It ended on a big cliffhanger, and I can definitely see the potential for this world and these characters to grow as the series continues. I can't wait to see where the author takes this story!
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review <3
A promising debut!
I enjoyed this story and the characters - The world was intriguing enough to peak my interest and draw me in. I appreciated the ambition to create a fantasy that's a blend of magic, danger, and some heavy and controversial real world issues. As someone who loves the ACOTAR series I could also see the inspiration drawn from it.
Aurelia is stuck in a world that doesn't accept her, or her affinity to heal and help others (especially women). Forrest mysteriously appears in the creepy and magical Nightwood, injured and with a serious case of amnesia. A cult led by controlling men is taking over the town, and the two escape via a portal to a fae realm. They end up in the Citrine Court, and Aurelia discovers dark secrets - some her own, and some of the fae realm.
It ended on a big cliffhanger, and I can definitely see the potential for this world and these characters to grow as the series continues. I can't wait to see where the author takes this story!
July 24, 2026
What a banger of a debut novel!
Have you ever picked up a book that found you at exactly the right time? This was that book for me.
I’ve been feeling burnt out from work, fertility treatments, caregiving… life. I’ve struggled to get into fantasy because my brain just hasn’t had the capacity for complex world building. But Shadows of the Nightwood was exactly what I needed. The world was immersive without being overwhelming, the build/intro of the different realms was spaced out, the magic system was easy to follow but still unique, and I was hooked from the very first chapter.
I found myself deeply relating to Aurelia. Her frustration, resilience, and the themes of women being overworked, underappreciated, and disconnected from their own bodies hit especially close to home. Watching her work to strengthen her magic (and actually see the results) was so satisfying!
Nocturna and Astra!!! I would protect those mountain cats with my life.
That ending, though… WHAT. A. CLIFFHANGER. I need book two immediately.
Have you ever picked up a book that found you at exactly the right time? This was that book for me.
I’ve been feeling burnt out from work, fertility treatments, caregiving… life. I’ve struggled to get into fantasy because my brain just hasn’t had the capacity for complex world building. But Shadows of the Nightwood was exactly what I needed. The world was immersive without being overwhelming, the build/intro of the different realms was spaced out, the magic system was easy to follow but still unique, and I was hooked from the very first chapter.
I found myself deeply relating to Aurelia. Her frustration, resilience, and the themes of women being overworked, underappreciated, and disconnected from their own bodies hit especially close to home. Watching her work to strengthen her magic (and actually see the results) was so satisfying!
Nocturna and Astra!!! I would protect those mountain cats with my life.
That ending, though… WHAT. A. CLIFFHANGER. I need book two immediately.
September 6, 2026
Fantastic read! Hooked me from the start. I was very invested in Aurelia's journey. That ending!! Omg. I need book 2 now
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews