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Court of Midnight and Deception #3
The Queen's Crown
Since the day I was crowned Queen of the Night Court, someone has been trying to kill me. Yay, me!
Finding my would-be-killer has been last on my to do list for a long time—which should tell you what a dumpster fire my life has been. But I can’t ignore it anymore. Whoever is plotting against me is getting serious. If I don’t do something soon I might not survive their next attempt.
Normally, I’d count on Rigel—my consort, who also happens to be a deadly fae assassin—to have my back. But he’s been gone for two months, and when he finally returns he won’t say where he’s been. Great, that’s totally not sketchy.
To make matters worse, I love Rigel—and he doesn’t believe me when I tell him! How’s that for romance?
New to do list: catch my would-be killer and convince my own husband I love him. All in a day’s work for the Night Queen.
I knew I should have demanded a job description before I took on this queen gig…
Crown of Shadows is the final book in the Court of Midnight and Deception urban fantasy trilogy and is part of the Magiford Supernatural City world. It features fae, werewolves, vampires, and wizards. It’s packed with humor, adventure, and a sweet, slow burn romance between a reluctant fae queen and the assassin who tried to kill her.
Finding my would-be-killer has been last on my to do list for a long time—which should tell you what a dumpster fire my life has been. But I can’t ignore it anymore. Whoever is plotting against me is getting serious. If I don’t do something soon I might not survive their next attempt.
Normally, I’d count on Rigel—my consort, who also happens to be a deadly fae assassin—to have my back. But he’s been gone for two months, and when he finally returns he won’t say where he’s been. Great, that’s totally not sketchy.
To make matters worse, I love Rigel—and he doesn’t believe me when I tell him! How’s that for romance?
New to do list: catch my would-be killer and convince my own husband I love him. All in a day’s work for the Night Queen.
I knew I should have demanded a job description before I took on this queen gig…
Crown of Shadows is the final book in the Court of Midnight and Deception urban fantasy trilogy and is part of the Magiford Supernatural City world. It features fae, werewolves, vampires, and wizards. It’s packed with humor, adventure, and a sweet, slow burn romance between a reluctant fae queen and the assassin who tried to kill her.
356 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 15, 2021
About the author
K.M. Shea
119 books4,866 followersMy pen name is K. M. Shea, but my readers—I prefer to call them Champions—call me Kitty.
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
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VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
I love to write funny, clean stories with strong characters. Books like that are among my favorite to read so naturally I love writing stories like that as well. My philosophy is that life is tough, so books should be something that makes you relax and laugh!
VISIT MY FACEBOOK GROUP
https://www.facebook.com/groups/27090...
VISIT MY AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE
https://www.amazon.com/K-M-Shea/e/B00...
VISIT MY WEBSITE
https://kmshea.com/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 601 reviews
January 15, 2021
After screaming, sobbing, laughing, and yelling murder at the author, I have collected myself a bit to leave a more coherent review than Book 2's.
You know that feeling when you've finished a book or series and you just KNOW, even if you haven't dissected it, that it's going to remain a lifelong favorite read? Well I'm going to try and start the dissection here but that's basically my feelings for the Court of Midnight and Deception Trilogy.
It builds...it builds incredibly on its familial, friendship, and romantic tropes and makes them emotionally impactful in times where it matters. It develops the romance and makes us feel happy at all those moments (yes, even for unromantic me). It also worldbuilds, progresses the main plot, and almost kills us with its storytelling elements, and also has great balance of description. And best of all, the hero and heroine both develop in a way that doesn't make them lose themselves and feels satisfying to watch...(screaming at a fictional character is satisfying, right?) And it uses these relationships and people to reflect the brokenness of the problem around them...it just BUILDS upon itself, all of these elements.
I know some people felt the pacing was off in book 1 (namely a bit slow) and maybe it was...but it didn't WASTE anything it introduced. And also, just...personally, I loved it. A light but emotionally rocking read that made me laugh and smile and gasp in outrage and choke on my spit. It was just a satisfying read (and I'm probably not reaching too much when I say that the themes of forgiveness and friendship and honesty and deception were really thematic and kind of reflective of the real world in kind of surprising ways if you think about it. But I know Kitty wants to make us laugh and just LIVE through these characters...and she definitely accomplished that!)
This BOOK...I don't know....but this book ended in a perfect way and also really just goes to show how WELL Kitty can pull off complicated plot twists and shocking, maybe preditable reveals in a way that still impacts... Is she Fae herself?? The plot twists and misdirection and such amazing portrayal of fae wordsmithing....
Content: uh...a bit more on the romance and a bit of violence but that's it
You know that feeling when you've finished a book or series and you just KNOW, even if you haven't dissected it, that it's going to remain a lifelong favorite read? Well I'm going to try and start the dissection here but that's basically my feelings for the Court of Midnight and Deception Trilogy.
It builds...it builds incredibly on its familial, friendship, and romantic tropes and makes them emotionally impactful in times where it matters. It develops the romance and makes us feel happy at all those moments (yes, even for unromantic me). It also worldbuilds, progresses the main plot, and almost kills us with its storytelling elements, and also has great balance of description. And best of all, the hero and heroine both develop in a way that doesn't make them lose themselves and feels satisfying to watch...(screaming at a fictional character is satisfying, right?) And it uses these relationships and people to reflect the brokenness of the problem around them...it just BUILDS upon itself, all of these elements.
I know some people felt the pacing was off in book 1 (namely a bit slow) and maybe it was...but it didn't WASTE anything it introduced. And also, just...personally, I loved it. A light but emotionally rocking read that made me laugh and smile and gasp in outrage and choke on my spit. It was just a satisfying read (and I'm probably not reaching too much when I say that the themes of forgiveness and friendship and honesty and deception were really thematic and kind of reflective of the real world in kind of surprising ways if you think about it. But I know Kitty wants to make us laugh and just LIVE through these characters...and she definitely accomplished that!)
This BOOK...I don't know....but this book ended in a perfect way and also really just goes to show how WELL Kitty can pull off complicated plot twists and shocking, maybe preditable reveals in a way that still impacts... Is she Fae herself?? The plot twists and misdirection and such amazing portrayal of fae wordsmithing....
Content: uh...a bit more on the romance and a bit of violence but that's it
January 28, 2023
Oh my gosh what a perfect ending to this series! So excited for the Pack of Dawn and Destiny series! I love all the Magiford characters and hope we have more of them to come!
January 21, 2021
Nothing out of the ordinary happens. Like Hazel and Killian's book the real villain isn't shown, we have been strung along two series now where we are told that someone is pulling the strings of everything but yet there is no clue as to who it is, just a plot of a villainous villain who is too shy to show his/her self.
The pseudo-villain in this book was immediately obvious to me a few pages after they appeared on screen, I couldn't understand why it took three books for them to see who the person was. That turned out to not even be satisfactory.
I'll recommend this if you are looking for something with recycled lines to while away time.
The pseudo-villain in this book was immediately obvious to me a few pages after they appeared on screen, I couldn't understand why it took three books for them to see who the person was. That turned out to not even be satisfactory.
I'll recommend this if you are looking for something with recycled lines to while away time.
January 16, 2021
(4.5 stars) Answers - and wings 😉 - at last
The beginning of book 3 was a little puzzling to me because Leila was back to hating on Linus, when she seemed like she was beginning to warm up to him in book 2, & she's upset with Rigel because he won't say where he's been, but they know it's standard for him to "work" under a geas, so I'd have thought that would have been their first guess.
The book eventually smoothes those things out, though, and begins to untangle the mystery of who's trying to kill Leila. More importantly, Leila & Rigel stop dancing around it and admit their love for each other, lol
A *thoroughly* satisfying ending to another great Magiford series! Happy sighs. And I'm hoping that Jade - and perhaps Rime - is a hint at more installments ahead 🙏
The beginning of book 3 was a little puzzling to me because Leila was back to hating on Linus, when she seemed like she was beginning to warm up to him in book 2, & she's upset with Rigel because he won't say where he's been, but they know it's standard for him to "work" under a geas, so I'd have thought that would have been their first guess.
The book eventually smoothes those things out, though, and begins to untangle the mystery of who's trying to kill Leila. More importantly, Leila & Rigel stop dancing around it and admit their love for each other, lol
A *thoroughly* satisfying ending to another great Magiford series! Happy sighs. And I'm hoping that Jade - and perhaps Rime - is a hint at more installments ahead 🙏
April 23, 2024
Oh man, I just utterly loved the heck out of this ... and stayed up way too late last night finishing it.
I'll definitely re-read this again and again.
Re-read April 2024
I really love this series. I have to say, this author really has some of the most compelling FMCs, and Leila is near the top of the list. But I also love the story, the themes. It's inspiring, lovely, hopeful, uplifting - Leila finds her way through not by being the biggest badass on the field, but by being someone who inspires others to walk the path with her, and all together, they are unstoppable.
I also love that redemption is a strong theme of this particular trilogy. Several characters have been boxed into a life they don't love, choices they are unhappy with, but they find their way out of that trap. It is complex characterization that I really enjoy.
I'll definitely re-read this again and again.
Re-read April 2024
I really love this series. I have to say, this author really has some of the most compelling FMCs, and Leila is near the top of the list. But I also love the story, the themes. It's inspiring, lovely, hopeful, uplifting - Leila finds her way through not by being the biggest badass on the field, but by being someone who inspires others to walk the path with her, and all together, they are unstoppable.
I also love that redemption is a strong theme of this particular trilogy. Several characters have been boxed into a life they don't love, choices they are unhappy with, but they find their way out of that trap. It is complex characterization that I really enjoy.
January 15, 2021
A great way to wrap up Leila’s story.
What can I say? I’m a sucker for these characters. I enjoyed Hazel and Killian’s story so much that I wasn’t expecting to love this even more.
Leila is a great character that embodies a hopefulness you don’t often see in the modern UF heroine. She allows herself to be vulnerable and it allowed me to emotionally connect with her. I loved the Night Mares and all the other Fae creatures of the various Courts - oh, and Bagel too - as well as the tricky court politics that Leila had to navigate (Fell really is an a$$hat, isn’t he?). This added a lot of needed tension to the story.
I’m hoping that there will be a companion trilogy as there were a few threads left dangling, and let’s be honest, I just want to read more about Leila, Rigel, and their court.
In all, a great trilogy, but would highly recommend reading this after Hazel and Killian’s trilogy so you can get the most out of it.
4 stars ⭐️
What can I say? I’m a sucker for these characters. I enjoyed Hazel and Killian’s story so much that I wasn’t expecting to love this even more.
Leila is a great character that embodies a hopefulness you don’t often see in the modern UF heroine. She allows herself to be vulnerable and it allowed me to emotionally connect with her. I loved the Night Mares and all the other Fae creatures of the various Courts - oh, and Bagel too - as well as the tricky court politics that Leila had to navigate (Fell really is an a$$hat, isn’t he?). This added a lot of needed tension to the story.
I’m hoping that there will be a companion trilogy as there were a few threads left dangling, and let’s be honest, I just want to read more about Leila, Rigel, and their court.
In all, a great trilogy, but would highly recommend reading this after Hazel and Killian’s trilogy so you can get the most out of it.
4 stars ⭐️
January 20, 2021
I think this may be my favorite of the series, maybe because the romance was more front-and-center. I really enjoyed the whole series though, especially binge reading them altogether, it felt like one big book by time I finished. Great characters, fun setting and world-building, just an overall fun urban fantasy...romance! I again, liked the romance aspect in this last installment, it made all the waiting worth it! I'm looking to going back and reading the Magic Forged series now (which this series is a spin-off from).
Content
Romance: YES! KISSING! Still very clean!
Language: None
Violence: Mild, magical battles, nothing graphic
Content
Romance: YES! KISSING! Still very clean!
Language: None
Violence: Mild, magical battles, nothing graphic
October 23, 2022
5 stars // reread October 2022
A very satisfying conclusion to one of my all-time favorite series. *nudges you to go read it*
A very satisfying conclusion to one of my all-time favorite series. *nudges you to go read it*
January 6, 2024
I teared up at the end and when a book does that I know it did something right. A smashing, wonderful, funny yet heartbreaking and swoony end to a series I was afraid I wouldn’t like when I started reading book one but ended up loving!
Leila is still sassy and wonderful but I feel she matured into someone the fae really needed even though they and she wouldn’t admit it at first, haha. And with Rigel talk about a total about face! He went from a character as emotive as a block of wood to having such depth and uncertainty my heart ached for him and his struggles to see himself as worthy. Not to mention he and Leila are a swoony plus comedy gold couple, lol. And I will forever love the sledding scene and death by toboggan! 🤣🤣 (if you know you know)
The side characters all shine and have grown beautifully and I love how the whole Night Court has come to love and respect Leila so much, because the end scene where they show this love the most is the one that made me tear up but I can’t talk about it because it’s a massive spoiler! So just know it’s awesome and read the book for yourself to find out why. 😉
So while Hall of Blood and Mercy remains my top Magiford series so far, I loved Leila’s story so much and would highly recommend it, especially if you love fae but wish they would chill the heck out on all the backstabbing eventually. 😂
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a person killed themself with magic to avoid being caught (not shown)
Language: gosh darn; what the heck; what the; oh my gosh; dang it; gee; screwed up; dang; hell; hellhole; heck; holy cow
Violence: giant spiders attack characters (not detailed); fighting with weapons, magic, and hand to hand (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a girl is kidnapped; a person killed themself with magic to avoid being caught (not shown); in the past a character’s family wiped each other out; characters shoot other people in self defense
Sexual: a husband and wife sleep in bed together (nothing sexual); mild suggestive hints/comments; kissing (not detailed); a wife notices her husband’s ripped chest
Drug/Alcohol: spiders have poisonous, venomous goo
Other: magic; vampires, werewolves, fae, wizards and other magical creatures/beings; a character is an assassin
Leila is still sassy and wonderful but I feel she matured into someone the fae really needed even though they and she wouldn’t admit it at first, haha. And with Rigel talk about a total about face! He went from a character as emotive as a block of wood to having such depth and uncertainty my heart ached for him and his struggles to see himself as worthy. Not to mention he and Leila are a swoony plus comedy gold couple, lol. And I will forever love the sledding scene and death by toboggan! 🤣🤣 (if you know you know)
The side characters all shine and have grown beautifully and I love how the whole Night Court has come to love and respect Leila so much, because the end scene where they show this love the most is the one that made me tear up but I can’t talk about it because it’s a massive spoiler! So just know it’s awesome and read the book for yourself to find out why. 😉
So while Hall of Blood and Mercy remains my top Magiford series so far, I loved Leila’s story so much and would highly recommend it, especially if you love fae but wish they would chill the heck out on all the backstabbing eventually. 😂
‼️Content‼️
TRIGGER WARNING: a person killed themself with magic to avoid being caught (not shown)
Language: gosh darn; what the heck; what the; oh my gosh; dang it; gee; screwed up; dang; hell; hellhole; heck; holy cow
Violence: giant spiders attack characters (not detailed); fighting with weapons, magic, and hand to hand (not detailed); injuries and blood (not detailed); a girl is kidnapped; a person killed themself with magic to avoid being caught (not shown); in the past a character’s family wiped each other out; characters shoot other people in self defense
Sexual: a husband and wife sleep in bed together (nothing sexual); mild suggestive hints/comments; kissing (not detailed); a wife notices her husband’s ripped chest
Drug/Alcohol: spiders have poisonous, venomous goo
Other: magic; vampires, werewolves, fae, wizards and other magical creatures/beings; a character is an assassin
January 11, 2024
There are not enough stars for this book and for this whole series! K.M. Shea has been my favorite author for a long time, but this series still managed to blow me away! I ADORE Leila and Rigel and the whole urban fantasy world set up in these books! Seriously, Leila and Rigel are ADORABLE! So many FEELZ in this book!
This book is a stunning finale where some mysteries are finally revealed. There are still a few reveals and mysteries left, and I love how K.M. Shea is weaving all these little hints of a bigger picture in each of these connected series, yet leaving each series enough of a standalone series.
This book is a stunning finale where some mysteries are finally revealed. There are still a few reveals and mysteries left, and I love how K.M. Shea is weaving all these little hints of a bigger picture in each of these connected series, yet leaving each series enough of a standalone series.
March 17, 2025
Like most books by K.M. Shea, the twists are so obvious you'll start second guessing yourself. The good guys are all good. The bad guys are bad. Danger creeps in occasionally, but nothing seriously bad will ever happen.
I did appreciate that Leila (though powerful) had some serious limitations that stuck throughout the trilogy. She could easily have become a Mary Sue but she somehow escapes it.
The way things ended surprised me as I expected another books, but maybe we'll see these characters later in the series?
I did appreciate that Leila (though powerful) had some serious limitations that stuck throughout the trilogy. She could easily have become a Mary Sue but she somehow escapes it.
The way things ended surprised me as I expected another books, but maybe we'll see these characters later in the series?
January 20, 2021
hahaha..stayed up till 4 A.M. to finish this.
Was it worth it?
- Absotootley!!!
Words fail me..but I don't think there was anything in this book that I didn't love!
-and SO many little easter eggs of information, where do I start!?????
Solis?Those sketchy fae?The Fae Court?Fell??The Paragon???The ELVES!????
*audibly squeaks* Oh, I can't wait for the next series!!!!!!
Was it worth it?
- Absotootley!!!
Words fail me..but I don't think there was anything in this book that I didn't love!
-and SO many little easter eggs of information, where do I start!?????
Solis?Those sketchy fae?The Fae Court?Fell??The Paragon???The ELVES!????
*audibly squeaks* Oh, I can't wait for the next series!!!!!!
October 10, 2024
Talk about a finale! I’m at a loss for words for how much I’m loving Shea’s stories & world. Magiford, with all its weird, wacky, and bantering inhabitants, has my heart utterly. 💛 This final instalment is one of second chances, forgiveness, and the power of togetherness—so much so, I was teary over that last stand against the wards. 🥹 Highly recommend!
p.s. the audiobook is superb & the ending still made me cry 🥹
p.s. the audiobook is superb & the ending still made me cry 🥹
August 20, 2021
Oh my goodness, SUCH a finale to Leila's trilogy! We get to see so many seeds planted in the first two books come to fruition (and as a bonus, a couple of hilarious Killian and Hazel moments that arc back to their trilogy! Poor Elite Bellus; the Regional Council is going to be so much more interesting now 😁) I stayed up way too late reading The Queen's Crown, and cannot bring myself to regret it. So many emotional moments, from heartwrenching to hilarious to adorable. I will be rereading this one again and again.
Leila is truly one of my favorite of K.M. Shea's heroines: driven to help her people and the other courts even when they hated her, she's become a beacon of hope and inspired a level of cooperation that none of them could have imagined. And while she really struggled under the burden of Rigel and Lord Linus's perceived betrayals, the heart that caused her to feel betrayal so acutely ultimately helped her to respond with empathy instead of bitterness: with each betrayal, and especially by the time she was confronted by the one who had been orchestrating the mounting attacks on her, Leila was able to step outside of her own feelings to look deeper for the intentions and motivations of those who may have unknowingly or unwillingly hurt her.
And Rigel... Oh, he was written *so* well. His sincere inability to understand why Leila was upset was so much more believable, given what we learn of his background, than if he'd been apologetic at their first encounter. Their miscommunications made me so frustrated on their behalf, but made his gradual realizations and the growth of their relationship so beautiful.
The ensemble cast and their support of Leila was incredible, especially as her court united behind her! She's truly going to continue to be a powerful, positive force in the Magiford region moving forward, because she honestly cares about them all and they've learned to respect and love her for it.
I can't wait to catch glimpses of Leila, Rigel, and maybe some of the others (Chase and Chrys, pretty please?) whenever Kitty begins her next UF trilogy!
Leila is truly one of my favorite of K.M. Shea's heroines: driven to help her people and the other courts even when they hated her, she's become a beacon of hope and inspired a level of cooperation that none of them could have imagined. And while she really struggled under the burden of Rigel and Lord Linus's perceived betrayals, the heart that caused her to feel betrayal so acutely ultimately helped her to respond with empathy instead of bitterness: with each betrayal, and especially by the time she was confronted by the one who had been orchestrating the mounting attacks on her, Leila was able to step outside of her own feelings to look deeper for the intentions and motivations of those who may have unknowingly or unwillingly hurt her.
And Rigel... Oh, he was written *so* well. His sincere inability to understand why Leila was upset was so much more believable, given what we learn of his background, than if he'd been apologetic at their first encounter. Their miscommunications made me so frustrated on their behalf, but made his gradual realizations and the growth of their relationship so beautiful.
The ensemble cast and their support of Leila was incredible, especially as her court united behind her! She's truly going to continue to be a powerful, positive force in the Magiford region moving forward, because she honestly cares about them all and they've learned to respect and love her for it.
I can't wait to catch glimpses of Leila, Rigel, and maybe some of the others (Chase and Chrys, pretty please?) whenever Kitty begins her next UF trilogy!
January 16, 2021
So wholesome! ❤️
Here's a gif that appropriately captures the happy vibes this series gave mewhile simultaneously portraying the main couple accurately
This series gave me so many happy feelz and fun. I hope K. M. Shea isn't done with this world yet and we'll see more of these two in future spin-offs!
Here's a gif that appropriately captures the happy vibes this series gave me
This series gave me so many happy feelz and fun. I hope K. M. Shea isn't done with this world yet and we'll see more of these two in future spin-offs!
January 17, 2021
Night queen
Ugh... I wish it didn't have to end! I loved these characters and I'm so sad to see that it's all over, but what a ride ppl!! Idk if it was just me in the feels but this book ripped my heart out with everything that happened. I had a feeling that's who the bad guy was, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did without totally changing the integrity of one of my favorite characters! This read was done nicely! And I'm truly sad it's over
Ugh... I wish it didn't have to end! I loved these characters and I'm so sad to see that it's all over, but what a ride ppl!! Idk if it was just me in the feels but this book ripped my heart out with everything that happened. I had a feeling that's who the bad guy was, but I'm glad it worked out the way it did without totally changing the integrity of one of my favorite characters! This read was done nicely! And I'm truly sad it's over
June 17, 2022
Overall review for the trilogy
Crown of Shadows - 5 ☆
Crown of Moonlight - 3.5 ☆
The Queen's Crown - 4 ☆
Court of Midnight and Deception's motto: It's fine!
Half fae/human Leila is proud of her human heritage, her fae heritage not so much. There is just one slight problem with this, she is the new Fae Queen of the Night Court. The night mares have choosen her not only the two required but six there is no way she can get out of it.
Throughout the three books Leila has a lot to deal with. A court that is about to collapse. Having to pick a husband as the rules dictate it. Dealing with a court who hates her for her being only half Fae. Surviving several attempts on her life even one from her darling husband. Great meet cute if I do say so myself. Leila pulls off the impossible. She unites the Fae.
This series is bliming hilarious. I had a lot of fun. The author has created a unique story that intrigued me from the beginning. I cannot give it a full five stars as I guessed who was working against her.
I hope you as much fun as I did!
Crown of Shadows - 5 ☆
Crown of Moonlight - 3.5 ☆
The Queen's Crown - 4 ☆
Court of Midnight and Deception's motto: It's fine!
Half fae/human Leila is proud of her human heritage, her fae heritage not so much. There is just one slight problem with this, she is the new Fae Queen of the Night Court. The night mares have choosen her not only the two required but six there is no way she can get out of it.
Throughout the three books Leila has a lot to deal with. A court that is about to collapse. Having to pick a husband as the rules dictate it. Dealing with a court who hates her for her being only half Fae. Surviving several attempts on her life even one from her darling husband. Great meet cute if I do say so myself. Leila pulls off the impossible. She unites the Fae.
This series is bliming hilarious. I had a lot of fun. The author has created a unique story that intrigued me from the beginning. I cannot give it a full five stars as I guessed who was working against her.
I hope you as much fun as I did!
December 13, 2023
Wow! What else can I say? I have been reading Kitty's book for years and her books are always improving. This series, and especially this book, have shown how much Kitty has grown as an author. All of the mysterious happenstances were answered, which is quite rare. I usually am left feeling like there is something missing or something not answered in a series but this book answered all of my questions and more! There are some plot holes but those started with the Hall of Blood and Mercy story arc and will probably be filled in with the next planned series. It is interesting what we find out in this story arc though. I can't wait for the next books to find out more!
I love how this series doesn't focus on only the romance. It also focuses on other relationships to the MC. Leila grows exponentially with her own role, her magic, her relationship with her court, and her friends (even some enemies). She has more hilarious antics for her court and her friends to react to. Those definitely made me laugh! And there were times I teared up. (Can't talk about it without spoilers. Hehe.) I could go on and on but suffice to say that you cannot go wrong in reading this book or series.
Random thought...King Fell and Rupert seem to have similar (not exact) personalities to me. I wonder what would happen if the wizards adopted King Fell? Hmmm. The possibilities!
Fyi, this is the 3rd book in the Court of Midnight and Deception series and there is another series before this one called the Hall of Blood and Mercy. The Hall of Blood and Mercy books do not have to be read before this series but there is a lot of worldbuilding that explains more than this current one. This series is more focused on fae magic while the first series is more descriptive of all types of magic.
I love how this series doesn't focus on only the romance. It also focuses on other relationships to the MC. Leila grows exponentially with her own role, her magic, her relationship with her court, and her friends (even some enemies). She has more hilarious antics for her court and her friends to react to. Those definitely made me laugh! And there were times I teared up. (Can't talk about it without spoilers. Hehe.) I could go on and on but suffice to say that you cannot go wrong in reading this book or series.
Random thought...King Fell and Rupert seem to have similar (not exact) personalities to me. I wonder what would happen if the wizards adopted King Fell? Hmmm. The possibilities!
Fyi, this is the 3rd book in the Court of Midnight and Deception series and there is another series before this one called the Hall of Blood and Mercy. The Hall of Blood and Mercy books do not have to be read before this series but there is a lot of worldbuilding that explains more than this current one. This series is more focused on fae magic while the first series is more descriptive of all types of magic.
February 24, 2022
3.5⭐️
This series was a fun escape. I truly enjoy this author and this world is so inviting and imaginative. My biggest hang up with this author is she gets too wordy. I find myself skimming a lot and realizes I’m not missing much when I do. Also the romance for me was good but not great. It felt so one sided for so long. Can I also say that I wish I had Leila’s ability to forgive so easily?! What an amazing characteristic.
Over all a fun series.
This series was a fun escape. I truly enjoy this author and this world is so inviting and imaginative. My biggest hang up with this author is she gets too wordy. I find myself skimming a lot and realizes I’m not missing much when I do. Also the romance for me was good but not great. It felt so one sided for so long. Can I also say that I wish I had Leila’s ability to forgive so easily?! What an amazing characteristic.
Over all a fun series.
October 12, 2024
3.9/5
April 9, 2026
4 stars★★★★☆
☞ Trigger warnings: **contains spoilers** .
Court of Midnight and Deception reviews:
#1 Crown of Shadows: ★★★★★
#2 Crown of Moonlight: ★★★★★
#3 The Queen's Crown: ★★★★☆
First read: January 2021
Second read: February 2022
Rigel shrugged. “I tried to kill her, and she married me.”
Rigel dipped for two months and boy, I am as mad as Leila. How dare you leave her. I was so upset about her reaction and his lack of reaction. I wanted to rage with her.
What is understated in this book is Rigel's backstory. Rigel has a dark history that makes his emotional intelligence almost non-existant and makes you understand him better. I love that he opens up to Leila. I would be frustrated with his emotional withdrawing but Leila is a tornado and storms through most problems. She broke down his walls and now the bants are back! Love that more me.
The mystery of who is trying to assassinate her is solved and Leila does something unprecedented but forgives them. Her empathy and ability to forgive is unfathomable and I don't think I could forgive someone like she does. This is take two, act two of her forgiving people who have caused her havoc and pain.
I am so excited for a future book about her becoming an empress. I don't know if it will be a separate book but I am crossing my fingers!! EMPRESS LIELA. It has a great ring to it. Can you imagine!!
Would I recommend this book?
Definitely.
Will I re-read this book?
You bet.
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November 15, 2021
No resolution
There are fully 6 books that reference the crimes committed by a shadow organization that has unlimited access to elven artifacts/weapons and money. A group that has sought to destabilize most of the supernatural communities. This group facilitated the murder of Hazel Medeis’s parents and the coup on House Medeis. The same group provided assistance for attacks on the Drake Family, including the murder of Drake vampires, staff, and blood donors, and repeated assassination attempts of Killian Drake. The same shadow group then blackmail fae royalty, attempt to murder Leila and topple the Night Court. Who are they? The author doesn’t get around to it.
In fact, Haze, Killian, and Leila are more than happy to let the whole thing go. Hazel was able to defeat Mason and is completely uninterested in finding out who killed her parents. Maybe it was Mason. Maybe not. Oh, well. Similarly, Killian is fine brushing off the deaths of his vampires and attacks on himself and Hazel once he defeats Queen Nyte. They don’t care at all that someone else was involved behind the scenes. Leila and Rigel defeat two low-level offenders and equally decide that they really don’t care who was behind the attacks or why the Night Court was being targeted.
There are fully 6 books that reference the crimes committed by a shadow organization that has unlimited access to elven artifacts/weapons and money. A group that has sought to destabilize most of the supernatural communities. This group facilitated the murder of Hazel Medeis’s parents and the coup on House Medeis. The same group provided assistance for attacks on the Drake Family, including the murder of Drake vampires, staff, and blood donors, and repeated assassination attempts of Killian Drake. The same shadow group then blackmail fae royalty, attempt to murder Leila and topple the Night Court. Who are they? The author doesn’t get around to it.
In fact, Haze, Killian, and Leila are more than happy to let the whole thing go. Hazel was able to defeat Mason and is completely uninterested in finding out who killed her parents. Maybe it was Mason. Maybe not. Oh, well. Similarly, Killian is fine brushing off the deaths of his vampires and attacks on himself and Hazel once he defeats Queen Nyte. They don’t care at all that someone else was involved behind the scenes. Leila and Rigel defeat two low-level offenders and equally decide that they really don’t care who was behind the attacks or why the Night Court was being targeted.
February 24, 2021
A good wrap to the series. Things come to ahead as the MC gets more comfortable leading her court and interacting with the other kingdoms. The big confrontation was ok. The people really behind all the attacks are actually handled fairly easily. It seemed that things were more desperate right before the big bads were exposed.
I loved the creatures in the night court. They were cute in an ugly way. The Queen's interaction with them were funny and sweet. I also loved how Rigel ended up interacting with them too. The romance between the Queen and Rigel was slow to develop (three books) but it felt it should be like that given the circumstances and the characters of these two. Nothing steaming in this book but it was sweet.
Shea has created an interesting world and this is the second series set in it. I'm not sure if this is the last one she will set in this world but there are some revelations in this book that would be interesting to pursue in the future.
I loved the creatures in the night court. They were cute in an ugly way. The Queen's interaction with them were funny and sweet. I also loved how Rigel ended up interacting with them too. The romance between the Queen and Rigel was slow to develop (three books) but it felt it should be like that given the circumstances and the characters of these two. Nothing steaming in this book but it was sweet.
Shea has created an interesting world and this is the second series set in it. I'm not sure if this is the last one she will set in this world but there are some revelations in this book that would be interesting to pursue in the future.
February 7, 2022
Just finished this book ten minutes ago. Is it too early for a reread?
January 15, 2024
4.5/5.0
LOVED this trilogy. It isn’t anything deep or edgily nuanced or world changing. It is just all kinds of escapist fun and enjoyment.
And, I was RIGHT on who the villain was!! Actually that is the only thing that was just a bit of a disappointment, it seemed a bit too obvious. But, such a small thing for such entertaining reading enjoyment.
LOVED this trilogy. It isn’t anything deep or edgily nuanced or world changing. It is just all kinds of escapist fun and enjoyment.
And, I was RIGHT on who the villain was!! Actually that is the only thing that was just a bit of a disappointment, it seemed a bit too obvious. But, such a small thing for such entertaining reading enjoyment.
April 15, 2021
5/5 stars. This series will forever be in my heart. It is one of the best series I’ve ever read. RIGEL IS MY MAN.
December 11, 2021
Leila is still being attacked, Rigel left her and came back and won't answer what he was doing, and her realm is losing land. Nothing is looking up until she's able to help a few monarchs, make her court happy, and make everything fine.
This series, while a spin off, was good, but it has its flaws.
Here's what I didn't like: Rigel was forgettable in scenes, perhaps because maybe the author forgot he was around. He wasn't really fleshed out and the romance was forced. I have question why only the night court monarch is required to marry before crowning. Leila is a copy of Hazel. Everything was pointed out, like the story grabbed me by the nostrils and led me around by the nose as if I wasn't trusted to figure any of this out, even if it was pretty obvious from book 1 who might've hired Rigel. Wrong used words or really odd word choices. IG: I loped out of there fast *probably* should've been noped. I only ever think of animals loping. The editing felt rushed once again. While this story is finished, it still feels like there is a shadowy antagonist out there, and i'm a wee bit annoyed that I don't fully know why the Night Court was put through the wringer like this. It couldn't just be because of an open-ended bargain that has now been broken.
Here's what I liked: I like the story and the premise, and even though Leila has the same voice and personality and growth that Hazel has, it was still entertaining albeit predictable. The Night Court's new motto. Seeing Rigel's wings for the first time.
Overall, I skimmed a bit because I read back-to-back and a lot of the recap was unnecessary, but that doesn't mean all of it was extra fluff. Is this series skippable? Maybe, but if you liked the characters, then it's a good one to read. Do I regret reading it? Nah, I read it on KU, so there was no risk.
This series, while a spin off, was good, but it has its flaws.
Here's what I didn't like: Rigel was forgettable in scenes, perhaps because maybe the author forgot he was around. He wasn't really fleshed out and the romance was forced. I have question why only the night court monarch is required to marry before crowning. Leila is a copy of Hazel. Everything was pointed out, like the story grabbed me by the nostrils and led me around by the nose as if I wasn't trusted to figure any of this out, even if it was pretty obvious from book 1 who might've hired Rigel. Wrong used words or really odd word choices. IG: I loped out of there fast *probably* should've been noped. I only ever think of animals loping. The editing felt rushed once again. While this story is finished, it still feels like there is a shadowy antagonist out there, and i'm a wee bit annoyed that I don't fully know why the Night Court was put through the wringer like this. It couldn't just be because of an open-ended bargain that has now been broken.
Here's what I liked: I like the story and the premise, and even though Leila has the same voice and personality and growth that Hazel has, it was still entertaining albeit predictable. The Night Court's new motto. Seeing Rigel's wings for the first time.
Overall, I skimmed a bit because I read back-to-back and a lot of the recap was unnecessary, but that doesn't mean all of it was extra fluff. Is this series skippable? Maybe, but if you liked the characters, then it's a good one to read. Do I regret reading it? Nah, I read it on KU, so there was no risk.
February 18, 2022
Yes this came out today.
And yes, I read it in 3 hours
But on top of a 5-star rating, it has a rare achievement in that it made me MAKE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS while reading it and at one point I, honest to goodness, involuntarily squeaked.
It was an attempt to mask a scream/cackle of joy, but still.
UPDATE: It's been over 24 hours and I'm still randomly thinking about scenes and fangirling. It's oozed into my coffee drinking because today I ordered a drink for no other reason than because it was mentioned in the book (in one of my favorite scenes.) 10/10 would drink it again though. (A London Fog latte with honey and cinnamon.)
Re-read: !!! (Also its exactly two months to the day since I first read it, LOL)
Re-read: Was in a slump and skipped the first two books to read this one. (Will probably go back and re-read the others now...)
And yes, I read it in 3 hours
But on top of a 5-star rating, it has a rare achievement in that it made me MAKE FACIAL EXPRESSIONS while reading it and at one point I, honest to goodness, involuntarily squeaked.
It was an attempt to mask a scream/cackle of joy, but still.
UPDATE: It's been over 24 hours and I'm still randomly thinking about scenes and fangirling. It's oozed into my coffee drinking because today I ordered a drink for no other reason than because it was mentioned in the book (in one of my favorite scenes.) 10/10 would drink it again though. (A London Fog latte with honey and cinnamon.)
Re-read: !!! (Also its exactly two months to the day since I first read it, LOL)
Re-read: Was in a slump and skipped the first two books to read this one. (Will probably go back and re-read the others now...)
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