What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadow-Stained
For her, it’s her late grandma’s legacy. For him, the mother of all black magic spoils, granting one demon the power of a God. Immortality.
When jaded Ruby falls victim to Demon Lord Drayvex’s viperous allure, she loses a sentient dark relic to his light fingers and appetite for power. Like calls to like. But when Drayvex himself loses the relic to a traitor to the throne, Ruby coerces him – the tyrant king with a soft spot for humanity – into helping her save her pokey old world village from becoming a ground zero of mass demonic carnage.
Both invested in reclaiming the relic, the one thing Ruby and Drayvex agree on is that it’s in the wrong hands. Co-existing in a volatile, hot-and-cold accord between predator and prey, to save the planet they both love for different reasons, they must become a formidable double-team in the face of an apocalyptic takeover. Now, the fate of both human and demon alike rests with a killer that walks between worlds, and a woman with a curse in her bloodline.
When jaded Ruby falls victim to Demon Lord Drayvex’s viperous allure, she loses a sentient dark relic to his light fingers and appetite for power. Like calls to like. But when Drayvex himself loses the relic to a traitor to the throne, Ruby coerces him – the tyrant king with a soft spot for humanity – into helping her save her pokey old world village from becoming a ground zero of mass demonic carnage.
Both invested in reclaiming the relic, the one thing Ruby and Drayvex agree on is that it’s in the wrong hands. Co-existing in a volatile, hot-and-cold accord between predator and prey, to save the planet they both love for different reasons, they must become a formidable double-team in the face of an apocalyptic takeover. Now, the fate of both human and demon alike rests with a killer that walks between worlds, and a woman with a curse in her bloodline.
- GenresFantasy
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 14, 2020
4 people are currently reading
564 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Hobbs
6 books70 followersRachel Hobbs lives in South West Wales, where she hibernates with her husband, daughter and bearded dragon. By day she is a dental nurse at a small local practice. By night, she writes.
Her debut novel SHADOW-STAINED is the first in a dark fantasy series for adults, inspired by her dark and peculiar experiences with narcolepsy and parasomnia. She's since subjugated her demons, and writes under the tenuous guise that they work for her.
Fuelled by an unhealthy amount of coffee, she writes about hard-boiled monsters with soft centres and things that go bump in the night.
Sign up to her mailing list and get the first two chapters of Shadow-Stained for FREE!
http://eepurl.com/gnZ1ab
Her debut novel SHADOW-STAINED is the first in a dark fantasy series for adults, inspired by her dark and peculiar experiences with narcolepsy and parasomnia. She's since subjugated her demons, and writes under the tenuous guise that they work for her.
Fuelled by an unhealthy amount of coffee, she writes about hard-boiled monsters with soft centres and things that go bump in the night.
Sign up to her mailing list and get the first two chapters of Shadow-Stained for FREE!
http://eepurl.com/gnZ1ab
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
April 10, 2020
"He was pure darkness, a devouring abyss. Darkness and light never truly touched. They created shadows when they tried, and this shadow-stained world was proof of their efforts."
Ruby Peyton is a city girl stuck living the country life. She lives with her mother in a small town called Crichton. Her grandmother passed away, but not without giving her a precious stone necklace that holds great power of immortality. And now, a demon lord is interested in this human girl; a pawn that insists on being a queen. Turns out there's more to this demon lord that meets the eye and when hell finally lets loose on planet Earth, Ruby will have to make a choice.
The debut novel, Shadow-Stained by Rachael Hobbs is the first in a dark fantasy series for adults. The novel started slow initially but it didn't drag. Although the character development is firm, the editing is a little bit lacking. I noticed more than five errors in the story which is not supposed to be. It was somewhat distracting.
I enjoyed the dialogues between Ruby and the demon lord Drayvex. Secondly, I love the way the author painted their emotions very convincingly. At some point, there were repetitions that were slightly unnecessary. I feel the book should be reduced further to make for a faster read.
I totally enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was well-written, entertaining and engrossing. Rachael is an awesome writer and storyteller and Shadow-Stained is a proof of that. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you are a fan of the dark fantasy genre, then I recommend this book for your enjoyment. But I warn you, if you are sensitive to profanity, violence, death and battle gore then you're advised to steer clear. Otherwise, get a copy for yourself when this book gets published on the 14th of April and trust me, you will enjoy every moment of your time with this amazing work.
I want to appreciate the author and Book Sirens for giving me this advance readers copy for free in exchange for my honest review.
Ruby Peyton is a city girl stuck living the country life. She lives with her mother in a small town called Crichton. Her grandmother passed away, but not without giving her a precious stone necklace that holds great power of immortality. And now, a demon lord is interested in this human girl; a pawn that insists on being a queen. Turns out there's more to this demon lord that meets the eye and when hell finally lets loose on planet Earth, Ruby will have to make a choice.
The debut novel, Shadow-Stained by Rachael Hobbs is the first in a dark fantasy series for adults. The novel started slow initially but it didn't drag. Although the character development is firm, the editing is a little bit lacking. I noticed more than five errors in the story which is not supposed to be. It was somewhat distracting.
I enjoyed the dialogues between Ruby and the demon lord Drayvex. Secondly, I love the way the author painted their emotions very convincingly. At some point, there were repetitions that were slightly unnecessary. I feel the book should be reduced further to make for a faster read.
I totally enjoyed this book from start to finish. It was well-written, entertaining and engrossing. Rachael is an awesome writer and storyteller and Shadow-Stained is a proof of that. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. If you are a fan of the dark fantasy genre, then I recommend this book for your enjoyment. But I warn you, if you are sensitive to profanity, violence, death and battle gore then you're advised to steer clear. Otherwise, get a copy for yourself when this book gets published on the 14th of April and trust me, you will enjoy every moment of your time with this amazing work.
I want to appreciate the author and Book Sirens for giving me this advance readers copy for free in exchange for my honest review.
July 14, 2021
3🌟 is my "neutral" rating and means I would recommend for fans of the genre
The Plot & Story: This is a paranormal adventure for adult readers, where a young woman and her stone of power inadvertently draw the attention of a demon lord. This escalates into a fullscale invasion of Earth and exciting battle of the most powerful demons in the realm. There is also this ongoing back and forth of whether or not the demon lord and girl will ever just get together already. I still am not sure on that point, I honestly thought it was going to be a paranormal romance (but it isn’t thankfully).
It’s an interesting and quickly moving story, I don’t read as much in this genre.
The characters: the demon, Drayvex, is everything. He is such a sociopath and total egomaniac but has a small amount of cinnamon-roll filling inside, and man does he HATE it! His dialogue and monologue, alongside the plot itself, carried the book for me. It helps that he has a darkly attractive human form.
Ruby is not a bad character but she has no fighting prowess at all, no clue what’s going on, and can’t defend herself. She wants to stay and fight demons even though she’s almost died multiple times and Drayvex has to keep rescuing her. I think I would have liked her more if she wasn’t so entirely helpless. Ruby is some kind of witch or cursed, or something, but the most paranormal thing that happened to her before Drayvex is that she is drawn to occult objects at garage sales? I would have liked to know what this is all hinting at, since it is known to other characters that she is special but the reader gets no indication as to why. Which means I’m reading book 2.
I really just want more Drayvex.
The side character demons created some funny moments as well. The lower level ones are not very smart, and sometimes created a three stooges feel. I loved the little chef demon 😍
The Worldbuilding: The descriptions of the demon world were very well done. I loved the twinkling red stars and red sands, as well as the description of the throne. I got small European village vibes from the time on Earth, with plenty of rain.
Misc: With a tad more to make me care for Ruby and one more round of edits, I would really enjoy this snarky duo. One thing I want to say is that Drayvex reminded me of the Monty Python skit “The Many Uses of the Word Fuck” – it’s a noun, an adverb, lol. In an adult novel this is fine and I did love his personality.
Overall I think it’s a solid debut, and I plan on reading the next in the series! Would recommend for fans of paranormal, demons, and snarky bad boy characters
The Plot & Story: This is a paranormal adventure for adult readers, where a young woman and her stone of power inadvertently draw the attention of a demon lord. This escalates into a fullscale invasion of Earth and exciting battle of the most powerful demons in the realm. There is also this ongoing back and forth of whether or not the demon lord and girl will ever just get together already. I still am not sure on that point, I honestly thought it was going to be a paranormal romance (but it isn’t thankfully).
It’s an interesting and quickly moving story, I don’t read as much in this genre.
The characters: the demon, Drayvex, is everything. He is such a sociopath and total egomaniac but has a small amount of cinnamon-roll filling inside, and man does he HATE it! His dialogue and monologue, alongside the plot itself, carried the book for me. It helps that he has a darkly attractive human form.
Ruby is not a bad character but she has no fighting prowess at all, no clue what’s going on, and can’t defend herself. She wants to stay and fight demons even though she’s almost died multiple times and Drayvex has to keep rescuing her. I think I would have liked her more if she wasn’t so entirely helpless. Ruby is some kind of witch or cursed, or something, but the most paranormal thing that happened to her before Drayvex is that she is drawn to occult objects at garage sales? I would have liked to know what this is all hinting at, since it is known to other characters that she is special but the reader gets no indication as to why. Which means I’m reading book 2.
I really just want more Drayvex.
The side character demons created some funny moments as well. The lower level ones are not very smart, and sometimes created a three stooges feel. I loved the little chef demon 😍
The Worldbuilding: The descriptions of the demon world were very well done. I loved the twinkling red stars and red sands, as well as the description of the throne. I got small European village vibes from the time on Earth, with plenty of rain.
Misc: With a tad more to make me care for Ruby and one more round of edits, I would really enjoy this snarky duo. One thing I want to say is that Drayvex reminded me of the Monty Python skit “The Many Uses of the Word Fuck” – it’s a noun, an adverb, lol. In an adult novel this is fine and I did love his personality.
Overall I think it’s a solid debut, and I plan on reading the next in the series! Would recommend for fans of paranormal, demons, and snarky bad boy characters
November 4, 2021
Shadow-Stained is not just my debut novel. It was also my saving grace, and for this reason alone, it will always be extra special to me.
Let me tell you a story of a girl who was plagued by monsters, and then saved by them.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Crazy
When I was a little girl, I used to see the devil in the walls. He would come out at night when I was tucked up in bed, and put the fear of God in me. I never questioned it. Seeing is believing when you’re five years old.
I’ve always known I was a little different. But my different reached wild new levels when I hit my teens. Looking back, everything happened just the way it was supposed to. Ask me back then, though, and I’d have told you that I was losing my mind.
You may have heard of narcolepsy. It’s a neurological disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sleep attacks. For me, it was the nameless demon that plagued me almost every waking hour, and I spent most of my school days in a fog that never lifted. I would fall asleep at random points throughout the day; while in lessons, on the school bus. I always fought it and I always lost.
It’s easy to look at the mopey child at the back of the class who never looks engaged and think, lazy. I get it. We were all in the dark back then. I probably would have had similar thoughts about myself had the shoe been on the other foot. But I will forever be grateful to this one teacher who would shuffle over mid lesson and give me a subtle nudge. Early night, she would say. It made all the difference to my day.
If narcolepsy was my daytime demon, then parasomnia hunted me at night. Night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep paralysis and hallucinations were what waited for me at the end of a long day of fighting sleep. It was a vicious cycle that seemed impossible to break. If I’d known half of what I know now about these monsters, it would have made them easier to slay. After all, to exorcise a demon, first you must know its name. But life is rarely that simple. And as such, they continued to make my life a living Hell throughout my entire teenage years; conspiring with each other like the best of friends.
It was easier, I think, to turn my problems into physical monsters. You can’t deal with what you can’t even grasp, and seeing them this way made them tangible things that I could try to fight.
A Shadow-Stained Saviour
By the time I was visited by demon number three, I was all but ready to give up on everything. But demon number three was not ready to give up on me. He started life as a voice in my head, a presence that was so clear and detached from my own self it was terrifying.
The voice would not be ignored. It would not be willed away. This demon wanted to be heard and by damn, he was going to be seen. Tired of fighting a losing battle, I gave him a voice, a name – and I wrote him into existence.
His name was Drayvex, and I had every intention of purging him after a paragraph. But the more I got to know him, the more hooked I became on this character and his world. The deeper I dug, the more I wanted to know. I’m sure that was his plan all along.
Writing from Drayvex’s point of view felt good. He was ruthless and cold. He was the Demon Lord that did exactly what he wanted, when he wanted. He became the thing I clung to, the demon that led me through my own personal Hell. He was the place where I would pour all of my darkness and pain and over time, I started to heal. Fiction became the therapy I so desperately needed. My problems were still my problems, but I was better equipped to deal with them. In other words, I was no longer hauling years of mental and emotional baggage around with me on a daily basis.
It was never meant to be a story. But on the day I felt able to read back through the disarray of pages, I saw it there. I caught a glimpse of it, and felt that spark ignite in my mind. And so, I created Ruby, the girl who would throw my demon’s perfect life into chaos. The girl who was just as lost as I was. If Drayvex was the amalgamation of all my worst moments combined, Ruby was the light at the end of the tunnel. The light to his darkness. They needed each other in ways they would never understand. And I needed them.
Let me tell you a story of a girl who was plagued by monsters, and then saved by them.
What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Crazy
When I was a little girl, I used to see the devil in the walls. He would come out at night when I was tucked up in bed, and put the fear of God in me. I never questioned it. Seeing is believing when you’re five years old.
I’ve always known I was a little different. But my different reached wild new levels when I hit my teens. Looking back, everything happened just the way it was supposed to. Ask me back then, though, and I’d have told you that I was losing my mind.
You may have heard of narcolepsy. It’s a neurological disorder that causes overwhelming daytime drowsiness and sleep attacks. For me, it was the nameless demon that plagued me almost every waking hour, and I spent most of my school days in a fog that never lifted. I would fall asleep at random points throughout the day; while in lessons, on the school bus. I always fought it and I always lost.
It’s easy to look at the mopey child at the back of the class who never looks engaged and think, lazy. I get it. We were all in the dark back then. I probably would have had similar thoughts about myself had the shoe been on the other foot. But I will forever be grateful to this one teacher who would shuffle over mid lesson and give me a subtle nudge. Early night, she would say. It made all the difference to my day.
If narcolepsy was my daytime demon, then parasomnia hunted me at night. Night terrors, sleepwalking, sleep paralysis and hallucinations were what waited for me at the end of a long day of fighting sleep. It was a vicious cycle that seemed impossible to break. If I’d known half of what I know now about these monsters, it would have made them easier to slay. After all, to exorcise a demon, first you must know its name. But life is rarely that simple. And as such, they continued to make my life a living Hell throughout my entire teenage years; conspiring with each other like the best of friends.
It was easier, I think, to turn my problems into physical monsters. You can’t deal with what you can’t even grasp, and seeing them this way made them tangible things that I could try to fight.
A Shadow-Stained Saviour
By the time I was visited by demon number three, I was all but ready to give up on everything. But demon number three was not ready to give up on me. He started life as a voice in my head, a presence that was so clear and detached from my own self it was terrifying.
The voice would not be ignored. It would not be willed away. This demon wanted to be heard and by damn, he was going to be seen. Tired of fighting a losing battle, I gave him a voice, a name – and I wrote him into existence.
His name was Drayvex, and I had every intention of purging him after a paragraph. But the more I got to know him, the more hooked I became on this character and his world. The deeper I dug, the more I wanted to know. I’m sure that was his plan all along.
Writing from Drayvex’s point of view felt good. He was ruthless and cold. He was the Demon Lord that did exactly what he wanted, when he wanted. He became the thing I clung to, the demon that led me through my own personal Hell. He was the place where I would pour all of my darkness and pain and over time, I started to heal. Fiction became the therapy I so desperately needed. My problems were still my problems, but I was better equipped to deal with them. In other words, I was no longer hauling years of mental and emotional baggage around with me on a daily basis.
It was never meant to be a story. But on the day I felt able to read back through the disarray of pages, I saw it there. I caught a glimpse of it, and felt that spark ignite in my mind. And so, I created Ruby, the girl who would throw my demon’s perfect life into chaos. The girl who was just as lost as I was. If Drayvex was the amalgamation of all my worst moments combined, Ruby was the light at the end of the tunnel. The light to his darkness. They needed each other in ways they would never understand. And I needed them.
January 26, 2021
Love the sarcasm!
Drayvex is an ass and I love him! It must be hard having such an ego and developing actual feelings after being a demon lord and then king for so long.
Loved Ruby too, and Interested in what the mildy confusing ending sparks for future books. Mildy confusing as in I think it’s supposed to be. So we can find out exactly what’s going on later.
Best thing is Ruby is actually afraid of the monsters.
She’s not overtly badass. And she’s largely relatable.
I’m giving this a five because I enjoyed it immensely!
It’s probably really a 4.5 though because I have minor gripes.
There are spaces where dialogue is separated by wordy paragraphs and when I read a response sometimes I had to look back and see what the response was to. I see it as a minor thing that is probably also somewhat subjective. Overall it could get a little wordy. Most of the time the wordiness is fine and shows off Hobbs’ gift for description and her strong vocabulary.
It was also advertised as being super dark. It’s dark, but I have read some things that were super gruesome and bloody over the past year and this still keeps things lighter in that regard. The gore on page is still very fantasy. Which is actually okay for me. But I was expecting it to be darker.
There was a point where I wished the plot HAD Gone darker. Maybe that will happen in the second one which I can’t wait to get!
Drayvex is an ass and I love him! It must be hard having such an ego and developing actual feelings after being a demon lord and then king for so long.
Loved Ruby too, and Interested in what the mildy confusing ending sparks for future books. Mildy confusing as in I think it’s supposed to be. So we can find out exactly what’s going on later.
Best thing is Ruby is actually afraid of the monsters.
She’s not overtly badass. And she’s largely relatable.
I’m giving this a five because I enjoyed it immensely!
It’s probably really a 4.5 though because I have minor gripes.
There are spaces where dialogue is separated by wordy paragraphs and when I read a response sometimes I had to look back and see what the response was to. I see it as a minor thing that is probably also somewhat subjective. Overall it could get a little wordy. Most of the time the wordiness is fine and shows off Hobbs’ gift for description and her strong vocabulary.
It was also advertised as being super dark. It’s dark, but I have read some things that were super gruesome and bloody over the past year and this still keeps things lighter in that regard. The gore on page is still very fantasy. Which is actually okay for me. But I was expecting it to be darker.
There was a point where I wished the plot HAD Gone darker. Maybe that will happen in the second one which I can’t wait to get!
December 6, 2020
I had heard so much about this book and I'm glad I finally got to read it! Ruby is an ordinary girl, but she owns a very special pendant which can offer demons unlimited power and immortality. Of course, she had no idea about that and doesn't suspect a thing when she meets a random stranger in a bar. He's in truth a demon, Lord Drayvex, ruler of a demon planet. His first goal is to steal the pendant and forget about the girl, but things get complicated and he slowly starts to grow feelings for her (not very normal for an evil demon!). I loved the descriptions of Drayvex planet, and I'm still thinking about those mountains made of translucent crystal, so beautiful! I'm looking forward to the next in the series, to see what happens with Ruby and Drayvex.
April 5, 2020
I received an advance review copy for free, so I am leaving this review. ( Through book sirens)
Ruby a human girl who lives in a Small town in Crichton where everyone knows each other and she has only been living there for two years. She inherited a necklace from her grandma after she died that has special powers but is written off as a fake but meant as sentimental more.
So she should wear it everyday of her life. Ruby runs into Drayvex who is hunting for this particular necklace. He becomes good friends with her. He is actually a Demon Lord. Who is a jerky smart ass. Who has alternative motives in general.
This book had a slight slow start to it but it became a rollercoaster tear jerker. Just wow I'm still tearing up.
Ruby a human girl who lives in a Small town in Crichton where everyone knows each other and she has only been living there for two years. She inherited a necklace from her grandma after she died that has special powers but is written off as a fake but meant as sentimental more.
So she should wear it everyday of her life. Ruby runs into Drayvex who is hunting for this particular necklace. He becomes good friends with her. He is actually a Demon Lord. Who is a jerky smart ass. Who has alternative motives in general.
This book had a slight slow start to it but it became a rollercoaster tear jerker. Just wow I'm still tearing up.
January 31, 2021
Wow, was this dark! And bloody. And gruesome... seriously gruesome. So yeah, I liked it!
Ruby is a somewhat sad, lonely young woman who made me a little crazy sometimes when she wouldn't just tell guys to piss off. But she was also pretty realistic for a girl her age, so I have to give the author props there.
Drayvex is a demon lord with no real conscience to speak of. He's dark and blatantly evil, yet I couldn't help but root for him. His attraction to Ruby is subtle, which was kind of nice. Not your typical "I was an evil dude until I met you, and now I just want to be a better man" storyline. He's a demon, and that isn't changing any time soon.
If you're looking for sweet romance, this isn't the book for you. But if you like uniquely dark stories that tease you with what could be, then you should definitely check this out. Well done, Hobbs.
Ruby is a somewhat sad, lonely young woman who made me a little crazy sometimes when she wouldn't just tell guys to piss off. But she was also pretty realistic for a girl her age, so I have to give the author props there.
Drayvex is a demon lord with no real conscience to speak of. He's dark and blatantly evil, yet I couldn't help but root for him. His attraction to Ruby is subtle, which was kind of nice. Not your typical "I was an evil dude until I met you, and now I just want to be a better man" storyline. He's a demon, and that isn't changing any time soon.
If you're looking for sweet romance, this isn't the book for you. But if you like uniquely dark stories that tease you with what could be, then you should definitely check this out. Well done, Hobbs.
April 10, 2020
I Received this book in exchange for an honest review
Shadow-Stained by Rachel Hobbs follows our main character Ruby as she tries to survive the demons trying to get her necklace and the boredom of a small village after moving from a large city. Ruby believes she was made for big things, big things that don't include moving to a small place in the middle of nowhere.
The necklace, The Lapis Vitae, was given to Ruby by her grandmother. Drayvex is a demon who wants it for himself. Ruby believes it's just an ordinary necklace, but Drayvex knows it's so much more and wants it urgently. Unfortunately for him, he can only take it if Ruby dies, or she gives it to him.
This is an enemy to loves romance which is something I'm not usually interested in, but it was amazing. The overall idea for this book was great. There were some sentences that sounded a bit awkward, but for the most part it was great.
I loved Ruby's attitude and Drayvex's bad boy persona. I totally recommend this book to people who love powerful main characters and good romances.
Shadow-Stained by Rachel Hobbs follows our main character Ruby as she tries to survive the demons trying to get her necklace and the boredom of a small village after moving from a large city. Ruby believes she was made for big things, big things that don't include moving to a small place in the middle of nowhere.
The necklace, The Lapis Vitae, was given to Ruby by her grandmother. Drayvex is a demon who wants it for himself. Ruby believes it's just an ordinary necklace, but Drayvex knows it's so much more and wants it urgently. Unfortunately for him, he can only take it if Ruby dies, or she gives it to him.
This is an enemy to loves romance which is something I'm not usually interested in, but it was amazing. The overall idea for this book was great. There were some sentences that sounded a bit awkward, but for the most part it was great.
I loved Ruby's attitude and Drayvex's bad boy persona. I totally recommend this book to people who love powerful main characters and good romances.
September 30, 2021
When I read the blurb of this book, I instantly thought of Lucifer on Netflix. I just finished the last season that time. That made me so excited to read Shadow Stained even though in my mind, I knew Lucifer would be too modern compared to it. In some way, I am right. Reading Shadow Stained didn’t give me that modern feel, which is what I expected. But on the other hand, it was a downside for the writing because the book is supposedly modern than how it’s portrayed. I was expecting a full blown fantasy but this is actually more paranormal, more urban. And the setting is not the medieval or magical world I was expecting. Sure the setting is fictional, but it’s modern enough. I mean they have phones and earphones.
Let me be clear, that’s not a criticism because it’s not necessarily bad. I didn’t really dig the setting so much but I don’t really have big issues with it. In fact I think, it’s just a me-thing. I just feel like sometimes, the author describes the setting in contrast to the vibe of the story. Like the village in the beginning. In my mind, I was envisioning a really old village, like the ones we see in medieval TV shows but based on the description, that’s not correct at all. I mean they have a cafe in that village. The vibe sounds like it’s really old but the description differs. So see, it’s a me-thing. It’s my fault that I envision different than wat is described.
It’s so weird I started with the setting in this review. Now, as for the characters. I think the characters, especially the main characters, are the best part of this book. I love Drayvex. He’s so sarcastic and egotistic, I love him so much. He’s so unapologetic for who he is, and I’m going to say this again – that is a very good quality in a fictional character. I also liked the development that his character underwent, although obviously there’s still a lot in his character.
Now, Ruby. She’s so relatable. She’s not trying to be a badass and just, you know, doing her best. She just does what she’s supposed to do in every situation. She’s even terrified of monsters, which is very uncommon in main characters these days. These days, all main characters are badasses and fight monsters with courage. Nothing wrong with that but it’s so refreshing to have Ruby.
I think both Drayvex and Ruby’s characters have sensible motivation in whatever they’re doing. I enjoyed it when they joined hands, working together, and yet never waiver in their own personal goals. That makes this book both a character-driven and plot-driven. The combination of two has always been my favorite. Another thing is, I wasn’t expecting Shadow Stained to be also emotional.
The story started with a bang. The author definitely knows how to have a hook in her book but it kind of slows down for a few chapters. But the pace picked up again once the stone was taken. Speaking of the stone…It’s not the most unique magical thing, which makes the whole magical system not so new as well. But that’s fine. I still liked it.When I read the blurb of this book, I instantly thought of Lucifer on Netflix. I just finished the last season that time. That made me so excited to read Shadow Stained even though in my mind, I knew Lucifer would be too modern compared to it. In some way, I am right. Reading Shadow Stained didn’t give me that modern feel, which is what I expected. But on the other hand, it was a downside for the writing because the book is supposedly modern than how it’s portrayed. I was expecting a full blown fantasy but this is actually more paranormal, more urban. And the setting is not the medieval or magical world I was expecting. Sure the setting is fictional, but it’s modern enough. I mean they have phones and earphones.
Let me be clear, that’s not a criticism because it’s not necessarily bad. I didn’t really dig the setting so much but I don’t really have big issues with it. In fact I think, it’s just a me-thing. I just feel like sometimes, the author describes the setting in contrast to the vibe of the story. Like the village in the beginning. In my mind, I was envisioning a really old village, like the ones we see in medieval TV shows but based on the description, that’s not correct at all. I mean they have a cafe in that village. The vibe sounds like it’s really old but the description differs. So see, it’s a me-thing. It’s my fault that I envision different than wat is described.
It’s so weird I started with the setting in this review. Now, as for the characters. I think the characters, especially the main characters, are the best part of this book. I love Drayvex. He’s so sarcastic and egotistic, I love him so much. He’s so unapologetic for who he is, and I’m going to say this again – that is a very good quality in a fictional character. I also liked the development that his character underwent, although obviously there’s still a lot in his character.
Now, Ruby. She’s so relatable. She’s not trying to be a badass and just, you know, doing her best. She just does what she’s supposed to do in every situation. She’s even terrified of monsters, which is very uncommon in main characters these days. These days, all main characters are badasses and fight monsters with courage. Nothing wrong with that but it’s so refreshing to have Ruby.
I think both Drayvex and Ruby’s characters have sensible motivation in whatever they’re doing. I enjoyed it when they joined hands, working together, and yet never waiver in their own personal goals. That makes this book both a character-driven and plot-driven. The combination of two has always been my favorite. Another thing is, I wasn’t expecting Shadow Stained to be also emotional.
The story started with a bang. The author definitely knows how to have a hook in her book but it kind of slows down for a few chapters. But the pace picked up again once the stone was taken. Speaking of the stone…It’s not the most unique magical thing, which makes the whole magical system not so new as well. But that’s fine. I still liked it.When I read the blurb of this book, I instantly thought of Lucifer on Netflix. I just finished the last season that time. That made me so excited to read Shadow Stained even though in my mind, I knew Lucifer would be too modern compared to it. In some way, I am right. Reading Shadow Stained didn’t give me that modern feel, which is what I expected. But on the other hand, it was a downside for the writing because the book is supposedly modern than how it’s portrayed. I was expecting a full blown fantasy but this is actually more paranormal, more urban. And the setting is not the medieval or magical world I was expecting. Sure the setting is fictional, but it’s modern enough. I mean they have phones and earphones.
Let me be clear, that’s not a criticism because it’s not necessarily bad. I didn’t really dig the setting so much but I don’t really have big issues with it. In fact I think, it’s just a me-thing. I just feel like sometimes, the author describes the setting in contrast to the vibe of the story. Like the village in the beginning. In my mind, I was envisioning a really old village, like the ones we see in medieval TV shows but based on the description, that’s not correct at all. I mean they have a cafe in that village. The vibe sounds like it’s really old but the description differs. So see, it’s a me-thing. It’s my fault that I envision different than wat is described.
It’s so weird I started with the setting in this review. Now, as for the characters. I think the characters, especially the main characters, are the best part of this book. I love Drayvex. He’s so sarcastic and egotistic, I love him so much. He’s so unapologetic for who he is, and I’m going to say this again – that is a very good quality in a fictional character. I also liked the development that his character underwent, although obviously there’s still a lot in his character.
Now, Ruby. She’s so relatable. She’s not trying to be a badass and just, you know, doing her best. She just does what she’s supposed to do in every situation. She’s even terrified of monsters, which is very uncommon in main characters these days. These days, all main characters are badasses and fight monsters with courage. Nothing wrong with that but it’s so refreshing to have Ruby.
I think both Drayvex and Ruby’s characters have sensible motivation in whatever they’re doing. I enjoyed it when they joined hands, working together, and yet never waiver in their own personal goals. That makes this book both a character-driven and plot-driven. The combination of two has always been my favorite. Another thing is, I wasn’t expecting Shadow Stained to be also emotional.
The story started with a bang. The author definitely knows how to have a hook in her book but it kind of slows down for a few chapters. But the pace picked up again once the stone was taken. Speaking of the stone…It’s not the most unique magical thing, which makes the whole magical system not so new as well. But that’s fine. I still liked it.
Like I said in my one-sentence review, this book gives me that classic feeling that I liked when reading a paranormal story. I love it.
Let me be clear, that’s not a criticism because it’s not necessarily bad. I didn’t really dig the setting so much but I don’t really have big issues with it. In fact I think, it’s just a me-thing. I just feel like sometimes, the author describes the setting in contrast to the vibe of the story. Like the village in the beginning. In my mind, I was envisioning a really old village, like the ones we see in medieval TV shows but based on the description, that’s not correct at all. I mean they have a cafe in that village. The vibe sounds like it’s really old but the description differs. So see, it’s a me-thing. It’s my fault that I envision different than wat is described.
It’s so weird I started with the setting in this review. Now, as for the characters. I think the characters, especially the main characters, are the best part of this book. I love Drayvex. He’s so sarcastic and egotistic, I love him so much. He’s so unapologetic for who he is, and I’m going to say this again – that is a very good quality in a fictional character. I also liked the development that his character underwent, although obviously there’s still a lot in his character.
Now, Ruby. She’s so relatable. She’s not trying to be a badass and just, you know, doing her best. She just does what she’s supposed to do in every situation. She’s even terrified of monsters, which is very uncommon in main characters these days. These days, all main characters are badasses and fight monsters with courage. Nothing wrong with that but it’s so refreshing to have Ruby.
I think both Drayvex and Ruby’s characters have sensible motivation in whatever they’re doing. I enjoyed it when they joined hands, working together, and yet never waiver in their own personal goals. That makes this book both a character-driven and plot-driven. The combination of two has always been my favorite. Another thing is, I wasn’t expecting Shadow Stained to be also emotional.
The story started with a bang. The author definitely knows how to have a hook in her book but it kind of slows down for a few chapters. But the pace picked up again once the stone was taken. Speaking of the stone…It’s not the most unique magical thing, which makes the whole magical system not so new as well. But that’s fine. I still liked it.When I read the blurb of this book, I instantly thought of Lucifer on Netflix. I just finished the last season that time. That made me so excited to read Shadow Stained even though in my mind, I knew Lucifer would be too modern compared to it. In some way, I am right. Reading Shadow Stained didn’t give me that modern feel, which is what I expected. But on the other hand, it was a downside for the writing because the book is supposedly modern than how it’s portrayed. I was expecting a full blown fantasy but this is actually more paranormal, more urban. And the setting is not the medieval or magical world I was expecting. Sure the setting is fictional, but it’s modern enough. I mean they have phones and earphones.
Let me be clear, that’s not a criticism because it’s not necessarily bad. I didn’t really dig the setting so much but I don’t really have big issues with it. In fact I think, it’s just a me-thing. I just feel like sometimes, the author describes the setting in contrast to the vibe of the story. Like the village in the beginning. In my mind, I was envisioning a really old village, like the ones we see in medieval TV shows but based on the description, that’s not correct at all. I mean they have a cafe in that village. The vibe sounds like it’s really old but the description differs. So see, it’s a me-thing. It’s my fault that I envision different than wat is described.
It’s so weird I started with the setting in this review. Now, as for the characters. I think the characters, especially the main characters, are the best part of this book. I love Drayvex. He’s so sarcastic and egotistic, I love him so much. He’s so unapologetic for who he is, and I’m going to say this again – that is a very good quality in a fictional character. I also liked the development that his character underwent, although obviously there’s still a lot in his character.
Now, Ruby. She’s so relatable. She’s not trying to be a badass and just, you know, doing her best. She just does what she’s supposed to do in every situation. She’s even terrified of monsters, which is very uncommon in main characters these days. These days, all main characters are badasses and fight monsters with courage. Nothing wrong with that but it’s so refreshing to have Ruby.
I think both Drayvex and Ruby’s characters have sensible motivation in whatever they’re doing. I enjoyed it when they joined hands, working together, and yet never waiver in their own personal goals. That makes this book both a character-driven and plot-driven. The combination of two has always been my favorite. Another thing is, I wasn’t expecting Shadow Stained to be also emotional.
The story started with a bang. The author definitely knows how to have a hook in her book but it kind of slows down for a few chapters. But the pace picked up again once the stone was taken. Speaking of the stone…It’s not the most unique magical thing, which makes the whole magical system not so new as well. But that’s fine. I still liked it.When I read the blurb of this book, I instantly thought of Lucifer on Netflix. I just finished the last season that time. That made me so excited to read Shadow Stained even though in my mind, I knew Lucifer would be too modern compared to it. In some way, I am right. Reading Shadow Stained didn’t give me that modern feel, which is what I expected. But on the other hand, it was a downside for the writing because the book is supposedly modern than how it’s portrayed. I was expecting a full blown fantasy but this is actually more paranormal, more urban. And the setting is not the medieval or magical world I was expecting. Sure the setting is fictional, but it’s modern enough. I mean they have phones and earphones.
Let me be clear, that’s not a criticism because it’s not necessarily bad. I didn’t really dig the setting so much but I don’t really have big issues with it. In fact I think, it’s just a me-thing. I just feel like sometimes, the author describes the setting in contrast to the vibe of the story. Like the village in the beginning. In my mind, I was envisioning a really old village, like the ones we see in medieval TV shows but based on the description, that’s not correct at all. I mean they have a cafe in that village. The vibe sounds like it’s really old but the description differs. So see, it’s a me-thing. It’s my fault that I envision different than wat is described.
It’s so weird I started with the setting in this review. Now, as for the characters. I think the characters, especially the main characters, are the best part of this book. I love Drayvex. He’s so sarcastic and egotistic, I love him so much. He’s so unapologetic for who he is, and I’m going to say this again – that is a very good quality in a fictional character. I also liked the development that his character underwent, although obviously there’s still a lot in his character.
Now, Ruby. She’s so relatable. She’s not trying to be a badass and just, you know, doing her best. She just does what she’s supposed to do in every situation. She’s even terrified of monsters, which is very uncommon in main characters these days. These days, all main characters are badasses and fight monsters with courage. Nothing wrong with that but it’s so refreshing to have Ruby.
I think both Drayvex and Ruby’s characters have sensible motivation in whatever they’re doing. I enjoyed it when they joined hands, working together, and yet never waiver in their own personal goals. That makes this book both a character-driven and plot-driven. The combination of two has always been my favorite. Another thing is, I wasn’t expecting Shadow Stained to be also emotional.
The story started with a bang. The author definitely knows how to have a hook in her book but it kind of slows down for a few chapters. But the pace picked up again once the stone was taken. Speaking of the stone…It’s not the most unique magical thing, which makes the whole magical system not so new as well. But that’s fine. I still liked it.
Like I said in my one-sentence review, this book gives me that classic feeling that I liked when reading a paranormal story. I love it.
November 4, 2021
Shadow-Stained is the first book in the Stones of Power series and marks the phenomenal literary debut of new author, Rachel Hobbs. It's a dark and engrossing fantasy that kept me engaged throughout the story. This is a well deserved 5-star novel for me.
The writing
Her style is fluid with an emphasis on show rather than tell (a skill I’m still struggling with), which is remarkable for a first-time author. Beautiful and vivid world-building, interesting and fresh mythology, plenty of mystery, and a healthy dose of sarcasm make for an engrossing read.
The characters
The characters she created despite being complete opposites have many layers and depths, and ultimately they meet in the shadows. Ruby is your run-of-the-mill city girl that, at first doesn’t stand out in any way. But when push comes to shove, she doesn’t cower in fear and she does her best to protect the ones she loves. But she’s only human, and sometimes her best is not enough.
Drayvex, on the other hand, is a demon-lord, the ruler of another planet who has no qualms laying waste to the human world if it suits his plan. There’s something about Ruby that he can’t shake that against all odds puts a dent into his evil persona.
Do not even for a moment imagine this is an instant love-story where the bad guy falls for the heroine and turns into a softie. No, the bad guy lies, deceives, and reluctantly saves the heroine after he puts her in mortal danger asking himself all along why he should bother.
For some reason, letting her die for his sins bothers him and he questions his own sanity when he feels the need to save her. Drayvex remains a badass demon until the end and Ruby learns that deception is sometimes necessary to save herself.
Ruby is stubborn but also incredibly human and prone to stupid mistakes. That doesn’t make her weak or simple, it makes her a believable character. Feeling empathy for the world-destroyer demon lord (that also saved her life multiple times, albeit she wouldn’t have been in danger if it hadn’t been for him) reminds us (and Drayvex) that she’s human.
The demon lord is impressed and annoyed with her kindness. Having been surrounded by evil for so long he doesn’t understand kindness and it fascinates him.
Read the full review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
The writing
Her style is fluid with an emphasis on show rather than tell (a skill I’m still struggling with), which is remarkable for a first-time author. Beautiful and vivid world-building, interesting and fresh mythology, plenty of mystery, and a healthy dose of sarcasm make for an engrossing read.
The characters
The characters she created despite being complete opposites have many layers and depths, and ultimately they meet in the shadows. Ruby is your run-of-the-mill city girl that, at first doesn’t stand out in any way. But when push comes to shove, she doesn’t cower in fear and she does her best to protect the ones she loves. But she’s only human, and sometimes her best is not enough.
Drayvex, on the other hand, is a demon-lord, the ruler of another planet who has no qualms laying waste to the human world if it suits his plan. There’s something about Ruby that he can’t shake that against all odds puts a dent into his evil persona.
Do not even for a moment imagine this is an instant love-story where the bad guy falls for the heroine and turns into a softie. No, the bad guy lies, deceives, and reluctantly saves the heroine after he puts her in mortal danger asking himself all along why he should bother.
For some reason, letting her die for his sins bothers him and he questions his own sanity when he feels the need to save her. Drayvex remains a badass demon until the end and Ruby learns that deception is sometimes necessary to save herself.
“He was pure darkness, a devouring abyss. And her light would never reach the bottom.”
Ruby is stubborn but also incredibly human and prone to stupid mistakes. That doesn’t make her weak or simple, it makes her a believable character. Feeling empathy for the world-destroyer demon lord (that also saved her life multiple times, albeit she wouldn’t have been in danger if it hadn’t been for him) reminds us (and Drayvex) that she’s human.
The demon lord is impressed and annoyed with her kindness. Having been surrounded by evil for so long he doesn’t understand kindness and it fascinates him.
Read the full review here: https://www.summonfantasy.com/book-re...
December 7, 2020
This book drew me in like the pull of a dark tide under a starlit night. Each chapter became more alluring and more difficult to put down. I am left longing to read more and anxiously awaiting the sequel.
Shadow Stained is author Rachel Hobbs' debut novel about a woman, Ruby, who is uprooted from her urban life and forced to move to the country with her injured mother. She’s having a hard time adjusting when she meets a mysterious stranger. Little does she know this stranger is the Demon Lord Drayvex who is stalking her for a sacred relic she carries. Intrigued and oddly drawn to this dark stranger, a bond forms and the two enemies find themselves engaged in a battle to save humankind as Drayvex battles his own inner demons around his burgeoning feelings for the human girl that could lead to his destruction.
The slow burn between Ruby and Drayvex is powerful and effective. I admit, it kept me hooked. Ruby is flawed and human. She is emotional and yet strong in her own quiet manner. At first Drayvex irked me. His arrogance, his invincibility- I understood he was a powerful demon lord, but in the first few chapters he came off as a one-dimensional character. But that changes, and it changes in a manner that I found quite beautiful. His vulnerability becomes apparent as his feelings for Ruby grow. The Beauty and the Beast dynamic between the two is timeless and I appreciate this spin on it: between human and demon.
I think one of Hobbs' great strong-points is in her world-building. The demon planet, Vekrodus, planet of shadows and darkness has a glowing demonic forest, a Sea of Blood, black crystalline mountains, red velveteen flowers, tentacle grass- there is so much detail and rich originality to this world, I felt instantly transported there. I felt similar during the scenes in Drayvex’s fortress, to where I was really disappointed (in a good way!) when Ruby returned to her own world.
I honestly had a difficult time with the beginning of the book. The colloquialisms and a fair amount of sticky writing - overly wordy - almost led me to shelve it. But the plot was fast-paced despite these things, and there was just enough to hook me and keep me reading. Then maybe a quarter of the way into the book both issues dissipated, and the story took over, pulling me right into the characters’ lives, their world, and all that they cared for. It really is a lovely dark story, and I’m so glad I stayed with it. Anxiously awaiting book 2.
Shadow Stained is author Rachel Hobbs' debut novel about a woman, Ruby, who is uprooted from her urban life and forced to move to the country with her injured mother. She’s having a hard time adjusting when she meets a mysterious stranger. Little does she know this stranger is the Demon Lord Drayvex who is stalking her for a sacred relic she carries. Intrigued and oddly drawn to this dark stranger, a bond forms and the two enemies find themselves engaged in a battle to save humankind as Drayvex battles his own inner demons around his burgeoning feelings for the human girl that could lead to his destruction.
The slow burn between Ruby and Drayvex is powerful and effective. I admit, it kept me hooked. Ruby is flawed and human. She is emotional and yet strong in her own quiet manner. At first Drayvex irked me. His arrogance, his invincibility- I understood he was a powerful demon lord, but in the first few chapters he came off as a one-dimensional character. But that changes, and it changes in a manner that I found quite beautiful. His vulnerability becomes apparent as his feelings for Ruby grow. The Beauty and the Beast dynamic between the two is timeless and I appreciate this spin on it: between human and demon.
I think one of Hobbs' great strong-points is in her world-building. The demon planet, Vekrodus, planet of shadows and darkness has a glowing demonic forest, a Sea of Blood, black crystalline mountains, red velveteen flowers, tentacle grass- there is so much detail and rich originality to this world, I felt instantly transported there. I felt similar during the scenes in Drayvex’s fortress, to where I was really disappointed (in a good way!) when Ruby returned to her own world.
I honestly had a difficult time with the beginning of the book. The colloquialisms and a fair amount of sticky writing - overly wordy - almost led me to shelve it. But the plot was fast-paced despite these things, and there was just enough to hook me and keep me reading. Then maybe a quarter of the way into the book both issues dissipated, and the story took over, pulling me right into the characters’ lives, their world, and all that they cared for. It really is a lovely dark story, and I’m so glad I stayed with it. Anxiously awaiting book 2.
April 18, 2020
Thank you, BookSirens, for an ARC of "Shadow-Stained" in return for an honest review.
Ms. Hobbs has kind of a cute idea for a fantasy novel - a diabolical update on the "beauty and the beast" myth in which the centuries-old Demon lord of a sunless planet falls for a plucky human girl. And there are little flashes of humor throughout "Shadow-Stained" as the wickedest creature in the universe confronts otherworldly menaces like he's a grumpy middle-manager dealing with minor inconveniences: "this fanged minion wasn't going to ruin his day" and the like. But encountering these droll bits is like stumbling across a wildflower after trudging over miles of tundra - lovely, but you've got to question the effort. I suspect Ms. Hobbs has read plenty of Victorian literature, since she abides by the 19th century practice of stuffing a sentence worth of action into three paragraphs. A character can't stumble and fall. They must trip over their feet, hurtle through space, stick their hands out in front of them in a feeble attempt to delay the inevitable, and then hit the earth with a resounding thud, as pain shudders through their limbs before they catch their breath, the earth grainy and clammy beneath their flesh. If you enjoy that kind of pedantry - and I realize some do - "Shadow-Stained," and the series which it initiates, will enthrall you. You'll also enjoy "Shadow-Stained" if you love boring heroines. Drayvex, the supernatural half of this odd couple, is a riot. Ruby, the mortal girl for whom he risks immortality and unlimited power, is kind of a simp, inclined to stamping her feet and pouting like Shirley Temple when things don't go her way ("Oh, you terrible, bloodthirsty, planet-ravaging demon! I hate you!"). Choosing between Ruby and omnipotence would be a no-brainer for most of us, but I guess that would make for a much shorter book.
Ms. Hobbs has kind of a cute idea for a fantasy novel - a diabolical update on the "beauty and the beast" myth in which the centuries-old Demon lord of a sunless planet falls for a plucky human girl. And there are little flashes of humor throughout "Shadow-Stained" as the wickedest creature in the universe confronts otherworldly menaces like he's a grumpy middle-manager dealing with minor inconveniences: "this fanged minion wasn't going to ruin his day" and the like. But encountering these droll bits is like stumbling across a wildflower after trudging over miles of tundra - lovely, but you've got to question the effort. I suspect Ms. Hobbs has read plenty of Victorian literature, since she abides by the 19th century practice of stuffing a sentence worth of action into three paragraphs. A character can't stumble and fall. They must trip over their feet, hurtle through space, stick their hands out in front of them in a feeble attempt to delay the inevitable, and then hit the earth with a resounding thud, as pain shudders through their limbs before they catch their breath, the earth grainy and clammy beneath their flesh. If you enjoy that kind of pedantry - and I realize some do - "Shadow-Stained," and the series which it initiates, will enthrall you. You'll also enjoy "Shadow-Stained" if you love boring heroines. Drayvex, the supernatural half of this odd couple, is a riot. Ruby, the mortal girl for whom he risks immortality and unlimited power, is kind of a simp, inclined to stamping her feet and pouting like Shirley Temple when things don't go her way ("Oh, you terrible, bloodthirsty, planet-ravaging demon! I hate you!"). Choosing between Ruby and omnipotence would be a no-brainer for most of us, but I guess that would make for a much shorter book.
March 16, 2020
Loved this adult PNR story. It starts following Ruby, who inherits what she thinks is a piece of costume jewelry from her deceased Gran, only to find its one of the most powerful demon artifacts known to demons!
The Demon Lord tracks it down, and lucky for Ruby, and against his better nature / judgement, the Demon Lord takes a shine to her, and decides to let her live. Unfortunately, this is just the start of her problems.
After the Demon Lord returns through the portal, he finds trouble brewing for himself on his own planet, from his underdog, Saydor, who wants a piece of the action. That's when Ruby decides to lend a helping hand (!) with deathly consequences.
After deals and double crosses, it all comes to a head with Planet Earth's fate hanging in the balance. Add to this lots of hot smouldering eyes and you may get a feel for where the novel is heading.
I loved the snarky interactions between the Demon Lord and Ruby, and most everyone else. If you like dry humour you'll love this. Some of the demon violence is a little heavy, so not for the faint hearted, but all around a super novel. I received an ARC of this novel without obligation.
The Demon Lord tracks it down, and lucky for Ruby, and against his better nature / judgement, the Demon Lord takes a shine to her, and decides to let her live. Unfortunately, this is just the start of her problems.
After the Demon Lord returns through the portal, he finds trouble brewing for himself on his own planet, from his underdog, Saydor, who wants a piece of the action. That's when Ruby decides to lend a helping hand (!) with deathly consequences.
After deals and double crosses, it all comes to a head with Planet Earth's fate hanging in the balance. Add to this lots of hot smouldering eyes and you may get a feel for where the novel is heading.
I loved the snarky interactions between the Demon Lord and Ruby, and most everyone else. If you like dry humour you'll love this. Some of the demon violence is a little heavy, so not for the faint hearted, but all around a super novel. I received an ARC of this novel without obligation.
January 31, 2021
Well, I'll start off by saying that while Shadow-Stained isn't one of those cutesy, romantic love stories, it's definitely worth your time! It's dark, full of gore, and beautifully written.
With a unique and super fast-paced plot, Hobbs dragged me into her world and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I must say, I was not a fan of Drayvex at first. In fact, I was well over halfway through the book before I started to think that maybe this power-driven, murderous demon had any redeeming qualities at all. That said, he really grew on me by the end. Exactly what he felt for Ruby, our protagonist, was confusing to readers as well as himself. I personally loved that. To see a demon struggling to figure himself out and make sense of the human feelings rising inside him was very fun!
One of the best parts about this book was the author's writing style. It kept me engaged and truly was a pleasure to read.
I highly recommend Shadow-Stained to anyone looking for a dark, exciting plot and characters that are flawed, yet beg to be rooted for all the same. 5/5 stars!
With a unique and super fast-paced plot, Hobbs dragged me into her world and I was thrilled to be a part of it. I must say, I was not a fan of Drayvex at first. In fact, I was well over halfway through the book before I started to think that maybe this power-driven, murderous demon had any redeeming qualities at all. That said, he really grew on me by the end. Exactly what he felt for Ruby, our protagonist, was confusing to readers as well as himself. I personally loved that. To see a demon struggling to figure himself out and make sense of the human feelings rising inside him was very fun!
One of the best parts about this book was the author's writing style. It kept me engaged and truly was a pleasure to read.
I highly recommend Shadow-Stained to anyone looking for a dark, exciting plot and characters that are flawed, yet beg to be rooted for all the same. 5/5 stars!
January 29, 2021
A thoroughly thrilling read! Ruby finds herself bored with life and wanting to return to the city, however, before she has a chance her life is turned upside down. When demon lord, Drayvex, enters her life nothing will ever be the same again. I absolutely loved this book. It was filled with demons, amazing description of magical worlds and Ruby was a badass character. It was interesting to see Drayvex develop feelings for Ruby whilst fighting his inner evil nature. A great read and I'm looking forward to the next one!
*I won this book in a giveaway, however my review is completely based on my own opinion*
*I won this book in a giveaway, however my review is completely based on my own opinion*
February 26, 2021
An excellent dark fantasy story with well developed characters, great world building, and plenty of action. Who would know there were so many ways to kill a demon? or annoy one! Ruby is a stubborn and sassy human who manages to get under the Demon Lord Drayvex's skin, and causes him all sort of problems. What more could you ask for in a demon riddled fantasy romp with a bit of romance thrown in. And it's the first book in a series.
A thoroughly enjoyable read that is well written and slowly draws you in as the story unfolds. Thank goodness there is more to come!
A thoroughly enjoyable read that is well written and slowly draws you in as the story unfolds. Thank goodness there is more to come!
July 28, 2022
(Actual rating: 4.5 stars)
Shadow-Stained is a unique take on the traditional paranormal romance!
Following Ruby as she meets the demon lord Drayvex, we watch from their alternating POV’s as they struggle with their odd relationship where none should exist. Ruby knows Drayvex is dangerous, and Drayvex knows he shouldn’t care at all for a human, but they keep being pulled back to each other no matter what.
The untraditional elements of this book kept me on my toes. I was never sure what was going to happen next and the ending had me dying for the next book to come out already!
Although Drayvex is a jerk and Ruby has no sense of self-preservation, I fell in love with both of their characters and I am so curious to see where the two of them end up.
I do have to add that there were a decent amount of errors that would jar me out of the story at times which is why I deducted half a star. If this was given another pass through by an editor it would be almost perfect!
But overall I did love this book and I’m genuinely looking forward to whatever Hobbs writes next!
Shadow-Stained is a unique take on the traditional paranormal romance!
Following Ruby as she meets the demon lord Drayvex, we watch from their alternating POV’s as they struggle with their odd relationship where none should exist. Ruby knows Drayvex is dangerous, and Drayvex knows he shouldn’t care at all for a human, but they keep being pulled back to each other no matter what.
The untraditional elements of this book kept me on my toes. I was never sure what was going to happen next and the ending had me dying for the next book to come out already!
Although Drayvex is a jerk and Ruby has no sense of self-preservation, I fell in love with both of their characters and I am so curious to see where the two of them end up.
I do have to add that there were a decent amount of errors that would jar me out of the story at times which is why I deducted half a star. If this was given another pass through by an editor it would be almost perfect!
But overall I did love this book and I’m genuinely looking forward to whatever Hobbs writes next!
October 4, 2020
Wow! I am in love! I do not usually read this genre. I just started to, but this book has seriously made me want so much more. It is so captivating. The action in this one starts fast. It jumps out and pulls you into this wonderfully crazy story about demons in this little town looking for this necklace held by an emotionally turmoiled and spiritually lost but unwittingly brave young woman. Then, it gets even better, as Drayvex enters the picture. The dialogue becomes so intense, complicated, and sensual. The imagery is spectacular and I really enjoyed the character development of the two main characters. I will be dreaming of Drayvex for sure.
December 16, 2020
This paranormal thriller plunges you into peril right off the bat and never lets up, and kept me guessing through the entire narrative. My heart hurt for Ruby, the protagonist, who is targeted and manipulated by demons, all who seek a family heirloom she's worn since her grandmother's death. The relationship between Ruby and Drayvex, the Demon Lord who originally sets out to simply take what he wants and destroy the girl that gets in his way, is downright delicious. Cannot wait to read more in this series!
April 29, 2020
This is a first for me – a paranormal romance review! Granted, I didn’t know SHADOW STAINED was a paranormal romance when I started reading – if I had known there’s an almost zero percent chance I would have picked it up – but actually, I’m kinda glad I did. And I know there’s some folks who read my reviews that do read a bunch in this genre and for you folks I think there’s a lot to like in this book.
Shadow-Stained is the very dark story of Ruby and Drayvex. Ruby is a city girl cooped up in the small town of Crichton, forced to move there after her mother suffers a debilitating injury in her former job as a police officer. She unwittingly attracts the attention of Drayvex, who recognises her necklace and family heirloom as a stone of power that protects the wearer from being harmed. Unfortunately for Ruby, Drayvex happens to be the king of the fucking underworld and wants nothing more than to obtain the stone to cement his rule over the rest of demonkind forevermore. This being a romance story, the two of them develop a connection that causes both of them some pretty drastic problems as the book progresses and a rival demon lord attempts to take control of the stone – and is willing to unleash all kinds of horrors to do it.
The first major disclaimer I’d start with is this is a dark book. It’s pretty twisted and fucked up in places, so if you’re looking for a fluffy, cutesy romance story this isn’t it. However, if you want to explore the darker side of relationships then this book is for you. I’ve described this story as a romance because that’s how it came across to me, but honestly this story subverts a lot of the conventions of the genre. I don’t read a lot of romance, but I think I’m right in thinking that generally you’re supposed to root for the folks to end up together after all their trials and tribulations. But I absolutely did not want Ruby and Drayvex to end up together. Drayvex is a fucking psychopath. Of course he is, he’s a demon. He doesn’t give a shit about Ruby at the start of the book, all he wants is her stone to grant him immortality in his megalomaniac thirst for power. He murders people. Frequently. In cold blood without a second thought, just for kicks. He treats her like shit for most of the book and actually exhibits the traits of an abuser quite a lot of the time. Honestly I thought he was detestable and I wanted Ruby to get as far away from him as possible.
I clearly got into the story and the characters much more than I expected to because I developed some quite strong feelings about them. I remember thinking to myself at one point that Ruby has a pretty severe case of Stockholm Syndrome and there were several instances where I literally shouted at Ruby for her (what seemed to an outsider looking in as) objectively terrible decisions. I don’t know if this was the author’s intention, but I frequently found myself thinking about people in abusive relationships who know their partner is hurting them but find themselves unable to leave regardless. Either because they love them despite the abuse, or think deep down there’s something redeemable that just needs to be brought to the surface, or any other number of reasons. Either way, this is the parallel I drew as Ruby and Drayvex’s relationship developed. It’s not healthy and I just wanted Ruby to walk away from it at every stage.
Despite not being the kind of thing I usually read, Shadow Stained is a very interesting book. It’s certainly not a standard paranormal romance story, and even though I’ve called it romance throughout this review I’m still a bit iffy on categorising it as such because it doesn’t conform to all those conventions. No spoilers, but the ending isn’t really a Happy Ever After and I spent the book actively rooting against the two main characters getting together. For me this is probably what made it interesting; if it was a bog standard Will They Won’t They But You Know In The End They Will type story I would have been bored out of my mind, but Rachel Hobbs offers up something different that, while definitely not for everyone (especially if you are looking for a nice HEA), upends the conventions and offers a lot to think about while telling an entertaining story.
Shadow-Stained is the very dark story of Ruby and Drayvex. Ruby is a city girl cooped up in the small town of Crichton, forced to move there after her mother suffers a debilitating injury in her former job as a police officer. She unwittingly attracts the attention of Drayvex, who recognises her necklace and family heirloom as a stone of power that protects the wearer from being harmed. Unfortunately for Ruby, Drayvex happens to be the king of the fucking underworld and wants nothing more than to obtain the stone to cement his rule over the rest of demonkind forevermore. This being a romance story, the two of them develop a connection that causes both of them some pretty drastic problems as the book progresses and a rival demon lord attempts to take control of the stone – and is willing to unleash all kinds of horrors to do it.
The first major disclaimer I’d start with is this is a dark book. It’s pretty twisted and fucked up in places, so if you’re looking for a fluffy, cutesy romance story this isn’t it. However, if you want to explore the darker side of relationships then this book is for you. I’ve described this story as a romance because that’s how it came across to me, but honestly this story subverts a lot of the conventions of the genre. I don’t read a lot of romance, but I think I’m right in thinking that generally you’re supposed to root for the folks to end up together after all their trials and tribulations. But I absolutely did not want Ruby and Drayvex to end up together. Drayvex is a fucking psychopath. Of course he is, he’s a demon. He doesn’t give a shit about Ruby at the start of the book, all he wants is her stone to grant him immortality in his megalomaniac thirst for power. He murders people. Frequently. In cold blood without a second thought, just for kicks. He treats her like shit for most of the book and actually exhibits the traits of an abuser quite a lot of the time. Honestly I thought he was detestable and I wanted Ruby to get as far away from him as possible.
I clearly got into the story and the characters much more than I expected to because I developed some quite strong feelings about them. I remember thinking to myself at one point that Ruby has a pretty severe case of Stockholm Syndrome and there were several instances where I literally shouted at Ruby for her (what seemed to an outsider looking in as) objectively terrible decisions. I don’t know if this was the author’s intention, but I frequently found myself thinking about people in abusive relationships who know their partner is hurting them but find themselves unable to leave regardless. Either because they love them despite the abuse, or think deep down there’s something redeemable that just needs to be brought to the surface, or any other number of reasons. Either way, this is the parallel I drew as Ruby and Drayvex’s relationship developed. It’s not healthy and I just wanted Ruby to walk away from it at every stage.
Despite not being the kind of thing I usually read, Shadow Stained is a very interesting book. It’s certainly not a standard paranormal romance story, and even though I’ve called it romance throughout this review I’m still a bit iffy on categorising it as such because it doesn’t conform to all those conventions. No spoilers, but the ending isn’t really a Happy Ever After and I spent the book actively rooting against the two main characters getting together. For me this is probably what made it interesting; if it was a bog standard Will They Won’t They But You Know In The End They Will type story I would have been bored out of my mind, but Rachel Hobbs offers up something different that, while definitely not for everyone (especially if you are looking for a nice HEA), upends the conventions and offers a lot to think about while telling an entertaining story.
October 7, 2021
Thank you to The Write Reads and Rachel Hobbs for my review copy, this in no way affects my opinion.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect heading into Shadow Stained as it has been a while since I have read a good paranormal romance book, and while I did have some issues with Shadow Stained, I did enjoy it and can't wait to see where the sequel will take the characters.
Shadow Stained is a split POV between our two main characters Ruby and Drayvax, and I definitely have a favourite POV. Within the book, we got to know Drayvax a lot better than we did Ruby, which led to me not having much of a connection with Ruby. Within Drayvax's POV, we got to see a lot more of his inward thoughts and the turmoil that he was going through, whereas Ruby's seemed quite a bit more superficial and only surface level. While there was the introduction of other characters, none of them really stuck around for very long, which meant that there wasn't much room for development of our two main characters outside relationships; I am hoping that some of the side characters become a bit more relevant and play a much bigger role in the next book.
The main issue that I had with Shadow Stained was the pacing; the action elements of the book, of which there were many, seemed to be over very quickly, and I couldn't really get a sense of what was going on because there wasn't enough description. But Rachel Hobbs would contrast this with almost draggy moments of text when the characters weren't doing anything, which would make me bored. I hope that this balance is a little better in the next one, so all of the book flows at one speed rather than two.
I had heard going into Shadow Stained that it was quite a descriptive paranormal romance that did not hold back on the gore, and I definitely agree with those thoughts. Rachel Hobbs does not hold back with the gore, and I think that is something that added to the book and the atmosphere. It almost made it more believable because while we are normally told that a love interest is brutal, we are never customarily shown it, so it made a nice change.
If you want a gory paranormal romance, I definitely suggest checking out Shadow Stained because it is worth sticking with it. I am intrigued as to where the sequel is going to go, especially after the events at the end of the book.
I wasn't quite sure what to expect heading into Shadow Stained as it has been a while since I have read a good paranormal romance book, and while I did have some issues with Shadow Stained, I did enjoy it and can't wait to see where the sequel will take the characters.
Shadow Stained is a split POV between our two main characters Ruby and Drayvax, and I definitely have a favourite POV. Within the book, we got to know Drayvax a lot better than we did Ruby, which led to me not having much of a connection with Ruby. Within Drayvax's POV, we got to see a lot more of his inward thoughts and the turmoil that he was going through, whereas Ruby's seemed quite a bit more superficial and only surface level. While there was the introduction of other characters, none of them really stuck around for very long, which meant that there wasn't much room for development of our two main characters outside relationships; I am hoping that some of the side characters become a bit more relevant and play a much bigger role in the next book.
The main issue that I had with Shadow Stained was the pacing; the action elements of the book, of which there were many, seemed to be over very quickly, and I couldn't really get a sense of what was going on because there wasn't enough description. But Rachel Hobbs would contrast this with almost draggy moments of text when the characters weren't doing anything, which would make me bored. I hope that this balance is a little better in the next one, so all of the book flows at one speed rather than two.
I had heard going into Shadow Stained that it was quite a descriptive paranormal romance that did not hold back on the gore, and I definitely agree with those thoughts. Rachel Hobbs does not hold back with the gore, and I think that is something that added to the book and the atmosphere. It almost made it more believable because while we are normally told that a love interest is brutal, we are never customarily shown it, so it made a nice change.
If you want a gory paranormal romance, I definitely suggest checking out Shadow Stained because it is worth sticking with it. I am intrigued as to where the sequel is going to go, especially after the events at the end of the book.
June 23, 2020
To me a book is about the both the plot and the characters and Rachel Hobbs has done right by both. Her debut novel Shadow-Stained is a slow burner into an inferno of emotions.
The plot is very simple Ruby is a normal girl who comes into possession of a power stone that grants immortality and suddenly turns her into a target for every demon with a god complex that wants ultimate power, she will need to team up with Drayvex the one Demon Lord who's ego matches the solar system to save Earth. Simple right?
Yet the author manages to weave a tale of intrigue and romance that has you rooting for the characters while at the same time you want to bash a certain demon lord in the face. I'm looking at you Drayvex.
It is a dark fantasy so if you're not into this kinds to themes you might not like this book that being said what I like most about the book is the interactions between Ruby and Drayvex they carry the story so well that you can't help but feel for them. Ruby doesn't let Drayvex ego and I'm master of the world obey me get to her and gives as good as she got while you can't help but enjoyed seeing how Drayvex changes through the course of the book due to this one little girl he can't figure out but wants to. She gets under his skin and even with all his powers he just can't help himself.
If you're looking for a wild ride of emotions and strong characters this is the book for you and I can't wait for the next one.
The plot is very simple Ruby is a normal girl who comes into possession of a power stone that grants immortality and suddenly turns her into a target for every demon with a god complex that wants ultimate power, she will need to team up with Drayvex the one Demon Lord who's ego matches the solar system to save Earth. Simple right?
Yet the author manages to weave a tale of intrigue and romance that has you rooting for the characters while at the same time you want to bash a certain demon lord in the face. I'm looking at you Drayvex.
It is a dark fantasy so if you're not into this kinds to themes you might not like this book that being said what I like most about the book is the interactions between Ruby and Drayvex they carry the story so well that you can't help but feel for them. Ruby doesn't let Drayvex ego and I'm master of the world obey me get to her and gives as good as she got while you can't help but enjoyed seeing how Drayvex changes through the course of the book due to this one little girl he can't figure out but wants to. She gets under his skin and even with all his powers he just can't help himself.
If you're looking for a wild ride of emotions and strong characters this is the book for you and I can't wait for the next one.
August 1, 2020
I'm a few chapters into the book so luckily I can't spoil too much. The basics are that Drayvex is a powerful demon lord and Ruby is a human that just so happens to have a necklace that will grant him unimaginable power. You can tell he's a very old Demon because well, he acts like one. He has this calm yet always annoyed persona that I actually find funny and endearing. I'm surprised how much I like Drayvex. When I started the book I didn't picture it as a romance but so far it seems like he likes Ruby, but probably the same way you take a liking to a particular ant, a fleeting feeling and it's almost sad. Luckily the author spills little bits of humor here and there and that to me makes all the difference. Something tells me that Ruby will not make things easy for him and makes him see things from a different perspective, but that's left to be seen. Overall I am truly enjoying the book and would highly recommend it if you're into dark-style fantasies with a bit of an edge. (I love dark MC's) There is no downside but I will say it has a somewhat slow pace at first, you read this with patience but it's picking up now. All right, I'm off to finish the book!
April 11, 2020
I recieved a copy of this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is a gripping fantasy novel featuring demons, magic, internal strife, a hint of romance and desperation. Ruby is a strong but unsure of herself young woman who finds herself in a world she barely believes is real. The twists and turns will keep you engulfed and entertained. I highly recommend this for any fan of demon based fantasy.
I found this book to be well written with a couple of well developed characters to follow. I really enjoyed the style of writing and thought that the author was pretty careful to keep the internal struggles straight while still keeping the story interesting and paced properly. The characters are well developed, the setting was clear and vivid.
I highly recommend this for any fan of demon based fantasy.
This is a gripping fantasy novel featuring demons, magic, internal strife, a hint of romance and desperation. Ruby is a strong but unsure of herself young woman who finds herself in a world she barely believes is real. The twists and turns will keep you engulfed and entertained. I highly recommend this for any fan of demon based fantasy.
I found this book to be well written with a couple of well developed characters to follow. I really enjoyed the style of writing and thought that the author was pretty careful to keep the internal struggles straight while still keeping the story interesting and paced properly. The characters are well developed, the setting was clear and vivid.
I highly recommend this for any fan of demon based fantasy.
March 14, 2022
3.75.
This is a tricky one to review as I am rather torn over it.
It's biggest strength is the fact that Drayvax, the duel lead, is genuinely a bad guy. He's the Lord of all the Demons and he behaves like it. This is rather refreshing in so many books where the bad character is suddenly and speedily redeemed and changes by the love of the female MC. His struggles over what Ruby made him consider and feel were dealt with very well, as it was believable that he would struggle to recognise those emotions.
Ruby, well, she was dislikabke, but not massively likeable either. I feel like we don't know her very well, as she spends the whole book terrorised. I am hoping she comes into her own a bit in the next book.
The over-arching plot is a bit meandering, but I definitely enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you this evil characters as your lead!
This is a tricky one to review as I am rather torn over it.
It's biggest strength is the fact that Drayvax, the duel lead, is genuinely a bad guy. He's the Lord of all the Demons and he behaves like it. This is rather refreshing in so many books where the bad character is suddenly and speedily redeemed and changes by the love of the female MC. His struggles over what Ruby made him consider and feel were dealt with very well, as it was believable that he would struggle to recognise those emotions.
Ruby, well, she was dislikabke, but not massively likeable either. I feel like we don't know her very well, as she spends the whole book terrorised. I am hoping she comes into her own a bit in the next book.
The over-arching plot is a bit meandering, but I definitely enjoyed this book and would recommend it if you this evil characters as your lead!
October 6, 2020
A Compelling Dark Fantasy:
Shadow Stained had well developed characters, a good pace and lots of twists and turns, which leaves you wanting more. The book is well written, with great dialogue and plenty of dry humour and wit.
I loved the chemistry between the brooding demon lord, Drayvex, and Ruby, the mortal girl with attitude. I had a love/hate relationship with Drayvex, sometimes I was rooting for him, and sometimes I wanted to punch him in the face. I especially liked the way that Ruby's appeal, eventually manages to get under the skin of the big bad demon lord to such an extent, that she starts to affect his self-absorbed demon self.
A great read, and looking forward to the next in the series.
Shadow Stained had well developed characters, a good pace and lots of twists and turns, which leaves you wanting more. The book is well written, with great dialogue and plenty of dry humour and wit.
I loved the chemistry between the brooding demon lord, Drayvex, and Ruby, the mortal girl with attitude. I had a love/hate relationship with Drayvex, sometimes I was rooting for him, and sometimes I wanted to punch him in the face. I especially liked the way that Ruby's appeal, eventually manages to get under the skin of the big bad demon lord to such an extent, that she starts to affect his self-absorbed demon self.
A great read, and looking forward to the next in the series.
April 11, 2020
⭐️ BOOK REVIEW ⭐️
Thank you to Rachel Hobbs for sending me this copy of her debut novel Shadow Stained. This is an adult fantasy demon based novel. It’s full of wit & dry humour which I loved. The story is well balanced and the characters are really well developed. There’s complex relationships and every character has a past or some deeper individual story. This is book one of a series and I know we will get more answers as we go along, I would have loved to know more about Dreyvax and his previous issues but I think this will come. It’s a really good stepping stone into a series, no cliffhanger ending but you know there’s more to come. Easy read, full of action, gore and adult language! I really enjoyed it!
Thank you to Rachel Hobbs for sending me this copy of her debut novel Shadow Stained. This is an adult fantasy demon based novel. It’s full of wit & dry humour which I loved. The story is well balanced and the characters are really well developed. There’s complex relationships and every character has a past or some deeper individual story. This is book one of a series and I know we will get more answers as we go along, I would have loved to know more about Dreyvax and his previous issues but I think this will come. It’s a really good stepping stone into a series, no cliffhanger ending but you know there’s more to come. Easy read, full of action, gore and adult language! I really enjoyed it!
February 23, 2021
A clever and beautifully written tale of Drayvex (a demon lord) and Ruby (a human), 'Shadow-Stained' is a masterpiece of contemporary fantasy which I thoroughly enjoyed.
The dialogue between Drayvex and Ruby (actually between Drayvex and everybody) is truly sublime at times, full of sarcasm and snark. The 'thinking out loud' we get is also exquisite.
Starting slowly and mysteriously, 'Shadow-Stained' quickly becomes a demonic romp which is as action-packed as it is entertaining. The sheer variety of demons featured and described is quite amazing, and some of the events are truly breathtaking.
A superb read from a clearly talented author!
The dialogue between Drayvex and Ruby (actually between Drayvex and everybody) is truly sublime at times, full of sarcasm and snark. The 'thinking out loud' we get is also exquisite.
Starting slowly and mysteriously, 'Shadow-Stained' quickly becomes a demonic romp which is as action-packed as it is entertaining. The sheer variety of demons featured and described is quite amazing, and some of the events are truly breathtaking.
A superb read from a clearly talented author!
July 27, 2020
Rachel sent me this book in exchange for an honest review and I was really pleased to discover another genre outside of my usual comfort zone! Shadow Stained is Rachel’s Debut Novel and it’s brilliant! The main characters are built up well with their persona’s clearly articulated throughout the book to provide a brilliant clash of personalities and emotions. The underlying story is strong as two worlds full of mystery and secret are explored. I would say that this book spans genres – there’s the underlying tone of romance but it’s also very much a dark fantasy with elements of horror as well.
July 29, 2020
A good debut novel that is packed with action and betrayal. Ruby finds herself the prey to a Demon Lord, Drayvex, who wants her family heirloom. This ‘Stone’ can give Drayvex immortally. Yet as he betrays Ruby he himself is betrayed by a traitor to his throne. Earth is in danger and Ruby must persuade Drayvex to help her.
There are so many twists and turns in this story. It is fast paced at the beginning and the end, however I wish this momentum had continued throughout the whole book. Having said that the characters are very well written and this is an enjoyable story. I look forward to finding out how the story continues.
There are so many twists and turns in this story. It is fast paced at the beginning and the end, however I wish this momentum had continued throughout the whole book. Having said that the characters are very well written and this is an enjoyable story. I look forward to finding out how the story continues.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews