The Shadow Weave

Spell Weaver #2

by Annette Marie

Clio might be a nymph living in exile among humans. And she might possess the rare ability to mimic any magic she sees. And she might have just seriously ticked off the most powerful family of spell weavers in the Underworld.

But she is not in love with an incubus.

Lyre is the rebellious black sheep of said weaver family, and he's the only reason she survived her recent Underworld "vacation." He's also the sexiest thing she's ever seen. Together, they have to track down a catastrophically dangerous magic—a magic he created, she sort of stole, and they both lost—before his family gets their hands on it. And that means fighting alongside him in a desperate attempt to avert complete disaster.

But she is definitely not in love with him. At least, she's pretty sure she's not.

Mostly sure.
Maybe sure?
…Crap.

--
The Spell Weaver Trilogy:
The Night Realm
The Shadow Weave

Genres: Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Magic, Paranormal, Audiobook, Demons

316 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 12, 2018

About the author

Annette Marie is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the expansive urban fantasy series The Guild Codex, epic urban fantasy series Steel & Stone, and romantic fantasy trilogy Red Winter.

A 2015 Goodreads Choice Awards Finalist in Fantasy and an Amazon Charts Bestseller, Annette has sold over 2 million books. Her books have been translated into French, German, Polish, Ukrainian, and Russian, with readers coming back again and again for her addictive blend of fast-paced adventure, tantalizing forbidden romance, and unforgettable characters.

Annette lives in the frozen winter wasteland of Alberta, Canada (okay, it’s not quite that bad) with her husband and their furry minions of darkness. When not writing, she can be found elbow-deep in her garden or an art project while blissfully ignoring all adult responsibilities.

To find out more about Annette and her books, visit www.annettemarie.ca

Reviews

[Jen (jenslostinthepages) ♥Star-Crossed Book Blog♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

***4.5/5 Stars***

*Spoilers for The Night Realm, you can read my review for the previous book here.*

The Shadow Weave was a thrill of a ride and peril filled the pages. It made this book impossible to put down and I kept hoping that Lyre and Clio would catch a break. While that rarely seemed to happen, I still found lightness in so many different moments. Friendship, loyalty, love and laughter could be found within the pages and I absolutely loved that. So if you adore Urban Fantasy stories that keep you on the edge of your seat and has a romance laced throughout the pages, then this is definitely a series you have to check out!

Leaving the weapon embedded in his body, she stepped into his field of vision.
“How does it feel?” she hissed.
His eyes bulged. Blood bubbled from his mouth and he toppled over with the sword impaled in his back.

Clio and Lyre escaped from the Underworld. And they both had a common goal in place. To travel to the Overworld and get back the KLOC before it caused chaos and ruin in their worlds. And while they faced countless obstacles that at times seemed insurmountable, they were being hunted. I literally screamed out loud when I discovered who was hunting them. Ugh. And even then, I still kept hoping that there would be light at the end of their tunnel. But their lives were now brutal, so hold on because this story definitely gets intense.

He’d intended to release her immediately, but his arms tightened instead. Wrapped around her small frame, his cheek pressed against her hair and his eyes squeezed shut, he held her to him. For one brief moment, he allowed himself to acknowledge his pathetic relief that he wasn’t alone in this.
And how petrified he was of the moment when he’d have to face this new future on his own.

While horrific events kept unfolding, they discovered how much they relied on one another. Not only did they fight adversaries together, but they put their lives in each other's hands time and again. It was emotional and beautiful to watch. And through it all, a true friendship started to blossom. Even with that sexual tension between them. And it didn't matter that they were from different worlds or that they knew they shouldn't be together. They fit perfectly and the chemistry was impossible to ignore!

“So you’d rather pretend you don’t want me?” His hands slid around her waist then down over her backside. He pulled her hips hard into his and his mouth dropped closer again, lips brushing against hers as he spoke. “Because I don’t want to pretend anymore.”

So just like Clio, I found myself falling even harder for Lyre. But at the same time, my heart ached for him since he left his whole life behind. Thankfully he had Clio who he could count on, but even she was keeping secrets from him. Although with his quirky sense of humor and his ability to be extremely bold to Clio, he added so much light to their dire situation. And Lyre was such a charmer who was also perfect at the art of seduction......I love him so much! So I was extremely happy to see that Clio felt like his equal. She progressed so much since the beginning. Clio's fighting skills were admirable and she was officially kick ass. Together they were a sight to behold.

She should have been afraid. She should have been quaking with terror, but rage and anguish pumped through her veins.

The Shadow Weave was such a fabulous addition to the Spell Weaver Trilogy and I can't wait to see how the final book plays out! While I could have done with some shorter fight scenes, I still found myself enthralled with the story and I couldn't help but love these characters! And that ending?! Ohhhhhhhhh it was epic! It has me ecstatic to see what will happen next!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book, provided by the tour company. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

For more of my reviews, please visit:

[✶Rachelle✶ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

***I received an eARC in exchange for an honest review***


Annette Marie has done it again



Even in the middle of major slump, I utterly DEVOURED this book. And believe me, when I'm slumping so hard that I'm watching 20 episodes of anime a day (I LOVE YOU NATSU)...that's saying something.

The Shadow Weave is a direct sequel to the first book, The Night Realm. I didn't reread The Night Realm before starting The Shadow Weave, but there was a brief overview at the beginning of the book so I didn't feel too lost or confused. Some books have major info-dumps at the beginning of each book which can get super tedious when reading a series, but I did not feel like The Shadow Weave was like that.

I absolutely loved Lyre in the Steel and Stone series, and I'm so excited to get more of him in this series! There are some cameos from some major characters in Steel and Stone, and it was a lot of fun to see them as their younger selves. I love how the characters interact, and that everything flows so naturally. I get sucked into the story so easily, and it's so incredibly hard to come back to reality.

I'm docking half a star simply because this book does suffer a bit from middle book syndrome. The plot-line does a great job at moving, but there were still places where I felt like it dragged on a bit (mostly the Earth scenes...they didn't make it to the Overworld until about 50% of the way through). Overall though, this was a fantastic read, and I'm so happy that it's my first official book of 2018 =)
----------------

Saw this eARC in my inbox this morning and started it immediately! I can't think of a better way to end 2017 and start 2018 than by reading the newest from Annette Marie =)

[Mikky · Rating 4 out of 5]

August 19 2019 - My Full Review:

Originally posted at:


This trilogy and I have a rocky past. I'm, now, ashamed to admit that I DNFed this book in August 2018. I'm a mood reader, so the only justification I have for that act is that I probably just wasn't in the mood for a book like this and ended up taking it out on said book instead of figuring out what the actual problem was. Anywho, here we are at the finish line and I'm SO glad to say this was an amazing book the second time around!

Annette Marie's writing style and world-building does wonders for every book she writes. This one is no exception! I would love to be in her head when she comes up with these concepts and stories.

My prediction about Cleo in my review of the first book in this series came to pass. Cleo turned out to be a bad*ss in this story with a little help from Lyre, of course. She's finally found her potential and is using it to help those she believes needs it. I can't wait to see what she does in the conclusion to this trilogy.

Lyre was still not fully there. I know I can't expect him to be the same Lyre he was when the Steel & Stone series ended, but I kind of miss that Lyre. Is he slowly getting there? Yeah. Will I continue reading to find out how it all ends and subsequently starts the Steel & Stone Series? You bet!

The ending had me on the edge of my seat! I couldn't help but wonder what would have happened had Cleo told the king though. Would he have believed her and sent troops or would he have locked her up to keep her "safe" from the "danger" and "conspiracy" of it all? I guess we'll never know. On to the next book in the trilogy!

The Audio Book:

Both narrations were awesome! Even though I usually dislike male narrations I found this one to be bearable. Though be warned that I listened to this book while high on cold and cough medications so I could be mistaken. Due to my coughing fits every other minute I couldn't, for the life of me, tell you about the accents and tones for both narrators. I'm just glad I'm alive after that ordeal and that this book helped pass the time!
_________________________________________

August 11 2019 - Update: I’ve finally made my way through this book! Review coming soon!
_________________________________________
August 2018 - DNF At 2 hours and 5 minutes

I don't know why I couldn't get through this novel. I adore the Steel & Stone series and I was expecting to LOVE this trilogy because it's the backstory to Lyre, a character I'm really curious about. I've been pushing myself through this book for weeks now and it still isn't holding my attention.

[Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Review:
*I received an ecopy of this book from the author. This has not influenced my review.*

This book was so good. I loved it. So I'm just gonna jump right into all the things I loved about it!

I loved Clio. She was focused on their goal and smart and always trying to figure out what to do. She understood that they were in a life-or-death situation and therefore she would have to be ok with things she might not be ok with otherwise. But she was still that relatable, somewhat awkward, fumbling-through-situations girl. Like, I seriously would not have known what to do or say in the situations she was in (like how to barter with someone to be their guide to the Overworld), so it was realistic that she didn't either. Also she flirted with someone by telling him he was a skilled botanist, which was just too funny, and it actually worked lol. But she was also badass when she needed to be.

Of course I loved Lyre too. I'm still so happy we get to have his POV in this series. I loved learning more and him and his past, and that sharp edge to him that Clio constantly mentions definitely feels present in his POV, and I totally understand why now. I also felt terrible for him and felt his helplessness in the situation he was in. But he was still his super intelligent, skilled, smooth, able-to-think-on-his-feet self, despite all that.

I even loved Ash! I mean, I already loved him too, but seeing him through different eyes, seeing sides of him Piper never saw, was interesting.

Also, the magic in this series is incredible. The arrows, the weaves, the caste abilities, all of it. Annette Marie has the best descriptions of magic and whole magic system that I've ever read. I don't even normally like fight scenes, but love them in these books because the magic is just so amazing. And seeing Lyre and Ash fight each other was something else entirely.

I think is also my favorite version of incubi that I've ever read. Incubi magic is all about sex, so it seems like they would be weak and not very formidable, but they do have power, and that power is scary. Also, we finally got to see how it was that Ash learned he wasn't immune to incubus magic; I gotta say, it wasn't the hilarious, sexy moment I thought it would be, but I'm glad to have finally learned that story.

We even got to learn a bit about a new caste this time! And to see a bit more of some castes I was already familiar with, but from a different perspective, i.e. as an enemy rather than an ally. And boy, are they formidable when they're not on your side.

This book also had more action and a faster pace than the last one! I know I need to stop comparing this to Steel & Stone since they're different series despite having some of the same characters, but this one felt much more like that series than The Night Realm did. It had the same great level of action and plot and kind of just one bad thing happening after another but in a really organic way that kept me gripped. The only complaint I have is that a couple characters made some questionably bad decisions near the end, but with everything else in the book being so good, I wasn't too bothered.

This book was also less focused on romance than the previous one, it seemed, but the romance was definitely still there. When Clio explained about the plant, I swear I teared up <3 <3 <3

The writing was also great, although I'm not sure what age range to put this in. I don't know how old the characters are, but this doesn't quite feel like adult. It's a little too mature to just be called YA though. I'd say either upper YA or NA.

Ok, I think I've gushed enough. Overall, this book had great characters, incredible magic, lots of action, and I read it in two days because I didn't want to put it down!

Recommended For:
Fans of Book 1 in Annette Marie's Spell Weaver series. Anyone who likes new adult urban fantasy, incubi, romance, action, and lots of magic.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Spell Weaver series and while Annette Marie does a wonderful job of bringing the listener up to speed, I highly recommend listening to the series in order since the story and relationships build off the first book.

I am having fun listening to this series. The Shadow Weave picks up right where The Night Realm ended. Cleo and Lyre have escaped the Underworld. Lyre’s dad has issued a death warrant for them and they are hiding on Earth while they look to find a guide to the Overworld and Cleo’s home. They must retrieve his doomsday spell before it is used.

The tale that unfolds was not only action-packed with battles and betrayal, it also fleshed out Cleo and Lyre’s relationship. The two must learn to trust each other, and Cleo must show Lyre what she is capable of. Can she trust him when his magic includes his seduction magic?

Dangerous situations, near-death experiences and secondary characters added to this tightly woven tale. I was once again impressed with Marie’s storytelling.

Melissa Morgan and Tim Paige nailed the dual points of view and brought these characters and story to life. The two work well together and only enhanced my enjoyment of the story.

The tale ends on a cliffhanger and I cannot wait to listen to The Blood Curse. Perfect for fans of urban fantasy, magic and romantasy! This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Vanessa Gayle ⚔️ Fangirl Faction · Rating 5 out of 5]

12/31/2022: Reread. (Audiobook!)
10/23/2020: Reread! (Read to my son, Maddox.)
08/03/2020: Reread!
I am so glad that I decided to reread this series. There are so many details that I had forgotten about. I love how many of these details correlate with the Steel & Stone series. This prequel series gives such a broader view of this world and I love it so much. I love getting glimpses of Ash and Piper from years before the start of the Steel & Stone series. And getting to know Lyre better is glorious. I love how cleverly written this series is and how well it aligns with the Steel & Stone series.

This review MAY contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

This book lived up to every expectation that I had after finishing The Night Realm. Every part of me wants to shout from the rooftops how very much I adore this author! She is such a gifted storyteller!

The world-building is expanded upon when we get to experience another part of the Overworld. I really love all of the distinctions that Marie makes when describing the different realms. Each caste has its own architecture, landscape, and people and they all described so vividly. You can actually feel yourself walking in the main character's shoes and experiencing the world right along with them.

The plot is so epically put together that it almost boggles my mind. There is usually room for nitpicking pieces of the plot no matter whom the author it, but that is not the case with Marie's books. This one is no exception. She weaves the plot of this story like Lyre weaves his spells. Lyre is a master weaver, and so is Annette Marie. I love how seamless the plot is while being spellbinding at the same time. The reader just wants more, insatiably so.

This book is well rounded with the brilliant world-building, immaculate and compelling plot, and characters that you just want to immerse all of your senses with. Marie makes it so effortless to adore these characters. They feel so real. They have flaws and problems like everyone else, and at the same time the good parts about them shine through. The relationships that are forged are strong, a product of impeccable writing. The chemistry between the characters is tantalizing. It gives you all of the feels. So many that you are drowning in them. And on the plus side, those that have already read Marie's Steel & Stone series already have a foundation for a few of these characters so the writing in this series brings them even more to life.

Overall, this series will captivate you! Annette Marie is a must read author. She is such a writing queen! I can't recommend this series enough! If you are an urban fantasy fan that appreciates strong world-building, complex characters, and a riveting plot then read this. Read all of Marie's books! They will sweep you off of your feet and you will beg for more.

More reviews on my blog: Novel Nerd Faction

[Cheryl La Pa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely riveting! RTC...

[Fatima · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Annette like seriously I'd marry her if I could!!!

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Warning**
This book is extraordinarily addictive. It can cause failure to participate in many real life events and apathy towards anything outside of the book's world.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my opinion or review in any way

If ever there was an under hyped and under celebrated author, it's Annette Marie. Her books are ALWAYS a win for me - not a single one in publication has let me down to this date (for the record that's the publication date of this book). Now THAT'S impressive! And it obviously makes her one of my absolute favourite authors ever and one that I will try to force upon anyone who admits they know how to read words.

Shadow Weave is the second book in the Spell Weaver series which is actually a prequel series set in the Steel and Stone Universe. When I first picked up The Night Realm (book one of Spell Weaver) it was my first foray into this world and I was immediately hooked. Upon closing the last page of that ARC I opened Amazon and set about purchasing and reading every single book in the Steel and Stone Universe (including the companion novel) and now I can happily say that I'm up to date, in the know and in a state of bliss only ruined by the fact that I haven't got the yet unwritten third book in my hands AND that I cannot wait for Annette to begin work on the sequel series to Steel and Stone!

I absolutely cannot get enough of these gorgeous characters. Each one is so carefully built and nurtured and I love them all dearly.

Clio, our fairly naive and gentle nymph shows that she has a core of steel in this one, and while she can be resilient and tough, she is still being tempered and tested. She still displays all my favourite qualities of loyalty and bravery and determination and there's an added fierceness in this book that really made me fall even further in love with her and she's fast becoming one of my favourite book heroines.

Lyre, of course, is incredible. This beautiful incubus is amazingly complex in all of his motivations and actions and Annette Marie manages to convey his vulnerabilities without making him seem weak. As an incubus he's got all the caste qualities of being drop dead gorgeous and nearly irresistible (to anyone it may seem!) and while he doesn't have the sheer terrifying firepower of a stronger daemon caste, his cleverness and wits and learning get him through a lot of dangerous situations.

Ash was present yet again in this instalment and I just love seeing different aspects to his character from both Clio and Lyre's viewpoints.

I was also super thrilled to see some flashes of a young Piper!!! Gosh am I so glad I read S&S now although you can really enjoy these series in any order - you don't have to have read Steel and Stone to thoroughly enjoy these books.

As with every other Annette Marie book I just love the world and all the detail and how far into it we go. There are different realms, various daemon castes and magical abilities, fighting power, spells and weaves - it's pretty incredible and the action scenes! Wow. Annette Marie writes the best fights including physical choreography AND magical attacks and she manages to blend everything seamlessly. The fight between Ash and Lyre was just.... Wow. Possibly one of my favourite action scenes of ever!

I also love that we (finally!) got to hear the full recount of the Ash and Lyre incident where we found out that even Draconian males are not immune to incubus aphrodisia!!

Annette Marie has a distinct ability to somehow take a character who should be weak in their world - a human surrounded by powerful daemons or a weaker caste in a world full of fighters - and she shows that brute force and having incredible abilities is not necessarily the key to strength and effectiveness. I think this is such an amazing message and I always love reading about incredible events from normal people (or daemons).

I was being extraordinarily picky when I went down to four stars for this one. The problem being that it wasn't quite as captivating as the first book, possibly a little middle book syndrome? However it was very fast paced and I loved every minute of it... There's just not many places to go when it's not quite as good as the previous book and I rated that one 5 stars!

I totally recommend this series to anyone who stands still long enough to listen and if it is even remotely something that interests you, you need to pick up ALL THE ANNETTE MARIE BOOKS.

[Danielle (Life of a Literary Nerd) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Shadow Weave picks up right where The Night Realm left off. We follows Clio and Lyre after they’ve escaped from Asphodel and are determined to get back Lyre’s KLOC spell before it can be used to destroy all of their worlds. I just have such a love for urban fantasy and this world that Annette Marie has crafted. I really liked that we got more of Clio’s background, learning more about her pre-Earth life. It really added some depth to her character. Like her other books, The Shadow Weave is not short on action. The fight scenes are engaging and intense and feel like there are stakes. Each fight is hard fought and has consequences. I also really enjoyed the Easter Eggs we get to the Steel & Stone series - I LOVED seeing a young Piper and seeing the River Sytx again. I did think that some of the scene transitions were a little jarring. They weren’t as fluid as I would have liked - there was a bunch of location changes or micro time jumps that felt distinct. Overall I had a really fun time with this book and I can’t wait to see how everything wraps up in The Blood Curse!

I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Teigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I don't think I could ever not like the books in this series because any chance to revisit Lyre and his enigmatic backstory makes me all ecstatic. Ecstatic, but also feeling ominous... Clio's noticeable absence in the Steel & Stone series suggests that something terrible will inevitably befall her, and I can't imagine how Lyre will feel when he's in denial about his feelings.

It was only in the last 100 pages or so that the plot actually started to progress. Hence, the rating. In saying that, I still found myself entertained by the flurry of action and escape attempts throughout their journey to the Overworld. Annette Marie's writing is always highly engaging and versatile - she truly brought the serious, the emotional, the action, and the comical moments to beautiful life.

And with that ending, things are really about to go down in the next book.

[mith · Rating 4 out of 5]

you can find my review here as well! & my review for book one here!
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Give it up for my final book of 2017! What a way to end--the anticipated sequel from one of my favourite authors.

The Shadow Weave proved to be more than a promising sequel. It loved up to all of Marie's other work and included her signature action-packed fight scenes and swoony kisses. It's a sequel that will not disappoint you, especially if you adored The Night Realm.

It picks up a little ways after the first book's ending and continues on a steady pace. Clio and Lyre are both running from the reapers hunting them and chasing Eryx and the dangerous weapon he'd stolen from Lyre. They face off with old and new enemies alike and this book is just one dangerous scene after another. My poor babies can't get a break!

I more than adored The Shadow Weave. Marie's books all have this addictive quality to them, this easy readability, that makes it difficult to put it down for evem a second. This one is no exception and it hooked me from the first page and my attention hardly wavered after starting it.

One of my favourite things about this book was definitely the characters. I loved her in this book! There was a darker side to her that was just so intriguing to read about. I couldn't help but cheer her on in those scenes. Being a nymph, Clio isn't a natural fighter, but she becomes lethal when someone threatens her or Lyre. This part of her is incredibly fun to read and makes her that much more of a complex and admirable character.

And then there's Lyre, who truly shines as a main character in this series. I absolutely adore from his point of view, and I adore his sense of humour! Finding out more about his past in definitely a highlight of the Spell Weaver series. Lyre is so much more than the flirty character introduced in Chase the Dark and I feel Marie doesn't hold back with him. He faces a lot of trauma in this book and my heart just breaks for him, thinking about what he had to endure. I'm also glad that Marie didn't just forget what downplay any of that trauma in any way, instead having both characters recognise and overcome it.

The magic system in the Spell Weaver series is one of the most unique that I've ever read. I can't even begin to fathom the complications behind it, and it's clear that none of it is half-hearted. It's complex, the magic Lyre and Clio use, and definitely intriguing, adding all the more to the world Marie has created. Not only that, but also the different castes introduced in the series. Since we get to read about whole new castes and get more insight on others. the daemon world just keeps expaning and it's amazing reading about them and what they can do.

I know I didn't mention the romance yet... and that's because wow. I adore it. I love Clio and Lyre together, they're so cute, it's ridiculous. They're both aware of the situation they're in and what they feel for each other, and they're wonderful. It's clear that they would do anything to help and protect the other and I loved that cameraderie between them.

I cannot wait for the final book in this series! (Hell, I can't wait for anything Annette Marie writes.) I'm excited but also nervous for the finale and what it means for all the characters involved!

[Sara &#x1f338; · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gah! I know I say this in every review for this author but I LOVE her books!

The world building is brilliant and drags me in every time! I was especially glad to see some of the characters from the Steel & Stone series.

One thing that’s been in the back of my head whilst reading both The Night Realm and The Shadow Weave is what happens? If you’ve read the Steel & Stone series, you know that’s it’s set 5 years after this series takes place.. and we know Lyre is a main character in those books, so once again WHAT HAPPENED? Obviously, I know it’ll all be explained, but I’m impatient haha!

Another 5 star read from the author! Hopefully March comes around fast!

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, that was a roller coaster of emotions.
Before I start with this wonder of a book can I just say how ABSOLUTELY STOKED I am about ahving PIPER and ASH appear???? Granted, Ash has more of a role, which is completely understandable and I am totally in for because I want to know his backstory too. But having Piper just appear, at least for a couple of pages like ??? *be still my beating heart or you will burst out of my damn chest* Side note: I didn't realize how much younger Piper is than the rest of them, like it's not weird once their all older but it is interesting to see how their lives crossed before and where they were at. 12 year old Piper is just how I expected and can I just say I CAN'T FREAKING WAIT until they all meet again (which they have to don't burst my bubble) in the new series after Steel and Stone and Piper and Clio just hella bond and they just a happy four person family??????? To much to ask for? (Hope not). ALSO while I'm on it, knowing that Clio is not in the next series once I got over my fear of her dying (Pretty sure they make a vague reference to her in Steel and Stone implying she is still alive) I am not gonna be able to handle the heartbreak of them separating in the next book!!! Because love!! and my heart!!

Also, something you might not get at the moment without having read the original series is how many times you know Lyre already interacted with certain things before going on the adventure with Piper. Like !!makes so much sense!!. I cannot wait to reread the Steel and Stone for like the fifth time and have my eyes opened up.
Sorry for the exclamation points but I can't express enough my utter devotion and adoration for these books.

And damn, those character though. I love how Annette Marie evens out a lot of the power, like no one is super weak, and although some are clearly more powerful than others no one is like stupidly pathetic and you just want to lock them up in a hole somewhere so they don't hurt. Whenever there is a battle scene I always alternate between wanting to shout "Don't hurt my babies" and "Yaaassss... you go, look at my baby off to kill people" It is so interesting to watch Ash and Lyre fight knowing how it all turning out in Steel and Stone. I was simultaneously rooting for both and hoping they would stop fighting.

BECAUSE I can't hit on EVERYTHING I love, (aka Clio, Lyre, Ash, the character development, the plot, the writing, the everything) I will just put a blanket statement that says the following:

I can absolutely never have enough of this world and these characters, and it is a book I will continue to read over and over again without losing any magic.

[Amethyst Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

It. Was. So. Good. Seriously! I'm not a huge fan of books going backwards. This series takes place before Steel and Stone and I've already read S&S. Book 1 was good but there was a lot of story building. This book, however, was steady action and character building. I fell in love with Lyre and Clio. Can't wait to see what happens next!!!!! A must read!

[Cali Teer · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great way to kick off this new decade! I have yet to find a book of Annette Marie's that isn't completely amazing and thrilling and i don't think i ever will.

Lyre and Ashtaroth for EVER!!!

Clio is pretty cool too i guess.. but man, i will never get over the love i have for these men.

[LexiLikesLiterature · Rating 3 out of 5]

By Annette Marie
Narrated by Greg Templay and Melissa Moran

This was a great sequel. It's action packed and doesnt focus so much on the romance. Some interesting new characters are brought into the story with a 50/50 chance of being there to help or hinder the outlaws.

The fast pace of the story allows for a lot of ground to be covered. Clio seems halt in her mental development. She was betrayed in the first book and multiple times in this book. However, when they realize who is actually the "bad guy", she goes on and on about how it isn't possible.

Also, the whole virgin thing is annoying and doesnt make any sense. I've ranted about the use of virgins as a plot in previous reviews so I wont repeat myself again. Just know that I find it cliche and not needed to push this story forward.

I would have liked to see Clio behave more maturely during the last portion of the book. You cant be snarky, risking everything to rescue dudes you just met, and then go into little girl mode the moment stuff gets real. It just seemed like she took a step back instead of forward.

3 Stars 🌟🌟🌟- Good Book. I like the overall concept and it was delivered well. Most common ranking for a book I enjoyed and look forward to the next.

My notes while reading:

The bad guy threatens to count to 10, but actually counts down from 10 🤦🏽‍♀️ Oh brother🤣

Why not determine what's holding Ash to Haites and then try to help him fix it??? Then he will be free and might stay and help them.

If the magically folk took control of earth because humans were making weapons of mass destruction, is that not the same type of weapon Ash created with the KLOC?

If human numbers are low, why wouldn't more magical folk live on Earth instead of their home planets?

[The Girl with the Sagittarius Tattoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

2024 Reread Every bit as good as the first time I read it. Still 4 stars - the first novel was a smidge more entertaining, with Lyre and Clio getting to know each other and the evil inventions of Chrysalis. In this one the succubus club was particularly memorable, as was the titanic first clash between Ash and Lyre outside the underground magic market. Wow!

2019 First Read Clio and Lyre grow closer as they navigate the daemon hideouts of earth to make their way into the Overworld. The treachery within the Nereid family is revealed. Lyre's doomsday weapon is activated. Ash makes a life-changing decision.

[Petra Špirhanzlová · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good, I am speachless. It is an addictive read, the book kept me awake until 2 am, because I just couldnt stop reading. What I love on books from this author is the action. The fight sequences are excellent and make my heart beat faster than running a marathon. And the romance... I was swooning like and idiot. But don't get me wrong, it's not a stupid romance full of smut, it's a clever story with just the right amount of (forbidden) romance.
Next book is out in 3 months luckily, so I don't need to wait ages to know what is next.

[Katherine Paschal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in the Spell Weaver series picks up a few days after the events of book 1, with Clio completely betrayed and Lyre sacrificing his family to help her, making them both on the run from the powerful Daemon rulers. On top of that, the most dangerous invention that Lyre created has been stolen for a war in the overworld, but it must be retrieved before anyone can learn what it is really capable of. Time is running out quickly for the strange duo, and so many lived will be on the line.

Eeeek, baby Piper (aka 13 year old, but same difference!) I was so excited to see Piper, one of my all time favorite kick-butt female characters show up in this story, just as great as she is as an older teen! I will admit that I was really curious about the timeline and how The Spell Weaver series and the Steel & Stone series crossed (since there are big time character overlaps). Now I know that this series is set about 4ish years before Steel & Stone, which I was a little surprised by since my brain had made the assumption it was way before. I enjoyed the peeks into young Piper's personality and life, as well as how Clio interacted with her as well as the Demon Embassy. Ooh, and Ash. Any book with Ash will get 5 stars from me because I heart him!

The tension between Lyre and Clio is practically tangible and I wanted to just force them to be together regardless of hierarchy, rules, and whatever blah, blah they came up with... But, let's not forget that Lyre is a incubus, charming, lusty, flirty, with all women throwing themselves at him (the book pretty much starts with him casually seducing a random demon to get info- in the room he shares with Clio) Yeah, that sounds about right for Lyre. And then we have sweet, naive, glass-is-half-full Clio who still sees the good in the world and the people around her even after her best friend was murdered and she was betrayed. So, let's go with the opposite attracts theory since these two are so very opposite.

And yes, I did just spend a paragraph talking about romance while this book is no way shape and form a romance. Instead, it is very much so an Urban Fantasy which just so happens to be my favorite genre. Annette out did herself, which I thought was not possible, on the world she has created and expanded on as her series grows. Not only did we get a tour of the terror of the daemon realm, the changed version of the human world, but now we have learned so much about the over-realm where Annette's book had not ventured into before. I just love this world and how there are so many moving pieces and people that show up in the most unexpected of ways.

In case it was not apparent, I am such a total fan-girl for anything Annette writes and this was no exception. She created a fantastic world with great characters that I love and root for even when they are maybe not 100% honest and maybe daemonic, a plot that I was able to get lost in and be kept on my toes, as well as the most approachable writing style that just makes her worlds flow. For me, her books are pure magic and I know I will enjoy the adventure. I have no idea what will happen next to Lyre and Clio, but I can guess that that it will be intense, dangerous, exciting and awesome! Count me in for book 3.


​I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.25 stars

I'M SO GLAD I DIDN'T GIVE UP ON YOU, CLIO! She was so much more badass and mature in this book. I think that's a big part of the reason why I enjoyed "The Shadow Weave" more than "The Night Realm". Instead of being frustrated with Clio most of the time, I was cheering her on. She's still a flawed heroine, but her flaws in this book were easier for me to understand.

Lyre's still awesome and endearing, but I was relieved to see that even though he's powerful and clever, he wasn't always the one saving the day. I actually appreciated seeing him more vulnerable because he was not in familiar territory and had to fight more enemies. Those weaknesses made his resourcefulness and cunning stand out even more when he displayed them.

If you're an Ash and Piper fan, you'd be delighted with this installment too! Those two proved that they were already badasses years before their series.

Lastly, even though the first book had more action and suspense, I preferred the plot of book 2 because I found it less predictable. To elaborate without spoilers, some characters did certain things that surprised me in a good way. Also, even though there were less battle scenes, those fewer battle scenes were more exciting and satisfying than all the battle scenes combined in the first book!

[Amelia Płatek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,25 ⭐️

Dalej nie mogę zrozumieć dlaczego ta trylogia jest tak mało popularna w Polsce!

Inkub i nimfa!

Mają silne uczucia do siebie, ale nie wiedzą czy są prawdziwe czy to tylko magia Liry. A czuć taką chemię między nimi.

Podróżują między wymiarami, ale nie dopuścić do tego, aby została wykorzystana broń, która może zniszczyć wszystkie trzy wymiary. Łatwo nie jest.

Bohaterkę. Akcja. Stworzone świat. Wszystko jest super!

[Xia ✻.]

#1 The Night Realm ★★★★✩ / 4
#2 The Shadow Weave ★★★✩✩ / 3.5
#3 The Blood Curse -

Fun and easy to read. Maybe a little too long, tho.

[Anka · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 4.75

No to mi się podobało. Przecudowna akcja, która ani na moment nie zwalnia. Dużo magii, ucieczek, niezliczona ilość walki i piękne miejsca. Brakowało mi tylko trochę spokoju dla Liry i Clio. Poza tym i tak uwielbiam tą subtelność. Czym prędzej idę czytać dalej, bo rozrywka jest przednia.

[Cheyenne]

10 more days. I repeat, 10 more days. I am so extremely excited to read more about Clio and especially Lyre and all his secrets we've yet to discover

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God. I finished The Shadow Weave in only a day. A DAY?! Responsibilities, what's that? Oh, man, this was another page-turning masterpiece. Lyre is my favorite male character ever (sorry Rhys). And Clio, just wow. In the Night Realm it was hinted she was badass, but we mostly saw her clumsy and somewhat naive side. In the Shadow Weave however, we see her as this insanely badass, smart and loyal girl. I love her.

AND THE WORLD BUILDING. I MEAN YAAAAAAS. In S&S we learn a little about the Ryuijn territory and also the underworld. In this book we finally FINALLY get to venture more into the Overworld and god damn, it is big, beautiful and maybe somewhat scary. I've never read a bookseries with such a living and breathing world building.

Also, WE GET TO SEE SOME FAV S&S CHARACTERS UGH YES.

AND THE ROMANCE IS ON. The hormonal 20-year old I am, was very satisfied to see a little more detailed (maybe not a little) sexual action between Clio and Lyre and MY GOD. HOW AM I SUPPOSE TO DATE AFTER LYRE.

I know, I know. This review is a mess, but so is my head.

Well done, Annette Marie. Well done.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m just loving this series. Annette Marie’s writing is as ever thoughtful and engaging. I really liked the settings in this particular book. Along with the new daemons introduced, they felt particularly bustling, exotic and exciting. Without question though the stars of the show are Clio and Lyre. They’re fast becoming some of my favourite characters. All too often in books of this genre you find the feisty heroine with kick ass moves paired with the brooding/moody hero who has almost invincible power (and I love that!!!) but this pair are different. Dare I say it, but they’re really nice. Although both characters are in their own way unsure of themselves this actually feels like one of Annette Marie’s more mature relationships. They are considerate of each other and care about the other’s feelings and that’s really nice to see. It feels real! I can’t wait to see where this goes!

[Marika Muzsla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the book in 1 day. All I can say is WOW.
Seriously, I'm pretty speechless. (I'm never speechless.) She's definitely done it again. Annette Marie is most definitely a genius. Lyre and Clio are so bittersweet in such dire situations it's endearing. Lyre came SO close to becoming my favourite, but then our very favourite Draconian assassin swooped in and reminded me of my REAL love. 😂
But seriously, would recommend these books to everyone, which I do A LOT.
It took me 3 days to think of something to write because, well... she's a freaking genius.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d forgotten how addictive this series was! Right from the start, I was pulled into the action, with Lyre and Clio on the run from Hades reapers. It was fast-paced, there were lots of awesome fight scenes, and even more cute scenes between Lyre and Clio. Clio’s history was revealed more, like I’d hoped. Plus, some slightly younger Steel and Stone characters popped in, which made me very, very happy.

The ending left me hungry for more. It wasn’t very conclusive, so I’m sitting here nervously stewing in all the possibilities that could happen to my poor babies.

Overall, a great read. Light, not too long, but engaging and enjoyable nonetheless; I’d definitely recommend to any who enjoyed the first book.


I received a free copy of this book, which does not influence my review.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me hooked from the first page. It was action packed and just enough romance that had me glued to my kindle. Both Clio and Lyre are going through major character changes in this book and they are starting to figure out that they are stronger than their families led them to believe. And Ash. I know he isn't a main character in this series but I'm just stinking happy that he randomly pops up. I can't wait to see how Lyre, Clio, and Ash's stories will weave together. Very enjoyable book and I can't wait until the next installment!