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The Heirs Of Elaerys #1
Of Shadow And Ember
"Vernon's Of Shadow and Ember is a bold new fantasy with an unforgettable cast of characters, a fierce plot, and swoon-worthy romance." -Casey L. Bond, author of House of Eclipses.
A fire princess, the scourge of vale, and a mate bond...
Elaerys was one step away from completing a peace treaty to end the war that spanned hundreds of years -- all it would take was Arianna mating with the heir of Vale, the enemy kingdom in the north.
Arianna, broken inside and out after an attack by a savage beast that escaped in the cover of darkness, agrees, but keeps her motivation a secret.
She leaves for Vale determined to hunt the beast that had torn her world apart, and she has no intention of giving her terrifying and hauntingly beautiful new mate her attention, let alone her heart.
Can Arianna hunt the beast while keeping her heart safe?
Aish protects the brave.
Buy now to enter the world of Elaerys!
"Of Shadow and Ember " is perfect for fans looking for their next fae fantasy with slow-burn, forbidden, enemies-to-lovers romance.
A fire princess, the scourge of vale, and a mate bond...
Elaerys was one step away from completing a peace treaty to end the war that spanned hundreds of years -- all it would take was Arianna mating with the heir of Vale, the enemy kingdom in the north.
Arianna, broken inside and out after an attack by a savage beast that escaped in the cover of darkness, agrees, but keeps her motivation a secret.
She leaves for Vale determined to hunt the beast that had torn her world apart, and she has no intention of giving her terrifying and hauntingly beautiful new mate her attention, let alone her heart.
Can Arianna hunt the beast while keeping her heart safe?
Aish protects the brave.
Buy now to enter the world of Elaerys!
"Of Shadow and Ember " is perfect for fans looking for their next fae fantasy with slow-burn, forbidden, enemies-to-lovers romance.
352 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2021
23 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Shana Vernon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
September 11, 2021
DNF at 50%.
This book has multiple perspectives (5 I believe) and they aren't easily differentiated from each other. If it wasn't for the name at the top of each chapter I would have had no idea who was speaking. All of their voices sounded identical.
I also thought the world-building was insufficient. While various parts of the world are named, they are not described well at all. I couldn't form a mental image of any part of the world and the timeline was unclear due to being mixed up between perspectives.
Overall, I just couldn't get into this book. My interest was never piqued, with the lack of description being a big factor. Apologies to the author for not finishing my ARC but I just didn't enjoy it and I'm unwilling to force myself through it at the moment.
Arc received in exchange for an honest review.
This book has multiple perspectives (5 I believe) and they aren't easily differentiated from each other. If it wasn't for the name at the top of each chapter I would have had no idea who was speaking. All of their voices sounded identical.
I also thought the world-building was insufficient. While various parts of the world are named, they are not described well at all. I couldn't form a mental image of any part of the world and the timeline was unclear due to being mixed up between perspectives.
Overall, I just couldn't get into this book. My interest was never piqued, with the lack of description being a big factor. Apologies to the author for not finishing my ARC but I just didn't enjoy it and I'm unwilling to force myself through it at the moment.
Arc received in exchange for an honest review.
August 19, 2021
I just finished this book, and I'm sitting here staring at my computer wondering how the hell I'm going to put all of my feels into a proper review. So if my thoughts seem jumbled, it's all Shana's fault.
Let's start with, if this adult-fantasy isn't on your TBR, add it, add it right now. Don't even finish reading, just go add it, or better yet go buy it. I'm telling you, you wont be disappointed.
This story is based around three sisters, princesses to be exact. Each one has their own independent voice, and story.
Calida is our first born, tragically in love with a servant girl, whom she wishes she could mate with everything in her heart. Unfortunately her duty is to mate with a powerful male and sire babies. So she does as she's meant to, even while her heart bleeds.
Zari is the lazy spare heir, the one who has no compass, and really no drive. She finds pleasure in all manors of flesh, and she's always down to party.
Arianna is the third-born, the lowest rank of her sisters. Trained and hardened in battle, prepped to take over their kingdoms armies. Tragedy strikes her hard, making her quest for vengeance. Never to open her heart again.
This story takes you on a wild ride of secrets, betrayal, lies, loss, and love. Each of their stories transforms and blossoms, but also feel entirely different from each other. Their struggles are different, their lives interwoven but completely separate from each other. I simply cannot wait for book two, the cliffhanger is brutal. But I have a feeling the ending will be worth it.
Let's start with, if this adult-fantasy isn't on your TBR, add it, add it right now. Don't even finish reading, just go add it, or better yet go buy it. I'm telling you, you wont be disappointed.
This story is based around three sisters, princesses to be exact. Each one has their own independent voice, and story.
Calida is our first born, tragically in love with a servant girl, whom she wishes she could mate with everything in her heart. Unfortunately her duty is to mate with a powerful male and sire babies. So she does as she's meant to, even while her heart bleeds.
Zari is the lazy spare heir, the one who has no compass, and really no drive. She finds pleasure in all manors of flesh, and she's always down to party.
Arianna is the third-born, the lowest rank of her sisters. Trained and hardened in battle, prepped to take over their kingdoms armies. Tragedy strikes her hard, making her quest for vengeance. Never to open her heart again.
This story takes you on a wild ride of secrets, betrayal, lies, loss, and love. Each of their stories transforms and blossoms, but also feel entirely different from each other. Their struggles are different, their lives interwoven but completely separate from each other. I simply cannot wait for book two, the cliffhanger is brutal. But I have a feeling the ending will be worth it.
September 4, 2021
Oooo man this was a wild one. The tropes, the twists, THE BAD ASS WOMEN! I loved this! I’m so hyped for the next one!
September 10, 2021
Of Shadow and Ember follows three princesses who need to come together to save their kingdom after it is invaded by dark and violent fae.
The female characters in this novel are all boss babes. My personal favourite was Arianna – a strong warrior with a broken heart. She oozed self-confidence and stuck to her personal values and morals. I didn’t connect as deeply with the other sisters but found all of them to be equally fascinating and fierce in their own right. They each had their own personal stories and backgrounds which were interesting to explore.
In terms of the story expect monsters, fae, romance, Sapphic relationships, royalty, fun banter, wonderful world building and betrayals to name a few aspects. Some of the tropes include enemies to lovers, arranged marriages and slow burn romances. This book had so much within it and Shana did a wonderful job of weaving it all together. It also felt like a quick read because I became invested immediately in its world and characters. It was fast paced in terms of action but took the time to really develop relationships between characters which I appreciated.
If you enjoy a bit of spice in your books then you will be happy to know Of Shadow and Ember brings the spice. It is definitely in the realm of adult fantasy so expect some saucy smut. There is so much steam and sexual tension. Oh my!
My only (slight) issue was with the multiple perspectives in this book as it felt like this sometimes watered it down. I did enjoy every POV though and found the several perspectives allowed for greater insights into the thoughts of each character such as Arianna’s mate. This wouldn’t have been as possible without the multiple POVs so I can let my slight issues slide.
Readers who enjoy Sarah J. Maas books, FBAA or the Folk of the Air trilogy are likely to love Of Shadow and Ember. If you enjoy books with strong female characters, sexy fae and steamy romances this will be right up your alley! Now I need to somehow wait patiently for the next book in the series which is really difficult because the book ended on such a cliff hanger!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was an absolute pleasure to read.
The female characters in this novel are all boss babes. My personal favourite was Arianna – a strong warrior with a broken heart. She oozed self-confidence and stuck to her personal values and morals. I didn’t connect as deeply with the other sisters but found all of them to be equally fascinating and fierce in their own right. They each had their own personal stories and backgrounds which were interesting to explore.
In terms of the story expect monsters, fae, romance, Sapphic relationships, royalty, fun banter, wonderful world building and betrayals to name a few aspects. Some of the tropes include enemies to lovers, arranged marriages and slow burn romances. This book had so much within it and Shana did a wonderful job of weaving it all together. It also felt like a quick read because I became invested immediately in its world and characters. It was fast paced in terms of action but took the time to really develop relationships between characters which I appreciated.
If you enjoy a bit of spice in your books then you will be happy to know Of Shadow and Ember brings the spice. It is definitely in the realm of adult fantasy so expect some saucy smut. There is so much steam and sexual tension. Oh my!
My only (slight) issue was with the multiple perspectives in this book as it felt like this sometimes watered it down. I did enjoy every POV though and found the several perspectives allowed for greater insights into the thoughts of each character such as Arianna’s mate. This wouldn’t have been as possible without the multiple POVs so I can let my slight issues slide.
Readers who enjoy Sarah J. Maas books, FBAA or the Folk of the Air trilogy are likely to love Of Shadow and Ember. If you enjoy books with strong female characters, sexy fae and steamy romances this will be right up your alley! Now I need to somehow wait patiently for the next book in the series which is really difficult because the book ended on such a cliff hanger!
Thank you to the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review. This was an absolute pleasure to read.
September 8, 2021
DNF at 36%
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. The POV changes were confusing with no indication other than the name at the top of the chapter. Each character sounded the same and I found myself having to go back and check whose POV I was supposed to be reading.
The characters were naive and frustrating and I didn’t connect to any of the characters that I met in the first 36% of the book.
This book was a miss for me, unfortunately.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. The POV changes were confusing with no indication other than the name at the top of the chapter. Each character sounded the same and I found myself having to go back and check whose POV I was supposed to be reading.
The characters were naive and frustrating and I didn’t connect to any of the characters that I met in the first 36% of the book.
This book was a miss for me, unfortunately.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review
September 12, 2021
Phewwwww!! What a wild ride! Of Shadows & Ember has multi-POV, 5 in total, but only 3 are MC’s that had a lasting voice throughout. 3 Princesses set about on 3 different paths. Of all of them, Arianna’s story was by far my favorite. I looked forward to each chapter with her in it, because that meant we got more time with her love interest.
I am definitely excited to see where the story goes, because there were things left open ended that I need answers for.
I am definitely excited to see where the story goes, because there were things left open ended that I need answers for.
August 18, 2021
I loved this book so much! Not only is there fantastic queer representation but each of the three main characters are equally likeable (which is hard to find in multiple POV books). Each sister is amazing in her own way, each romance is adorable in its own way, and there wasn’t a single chapter where I found myself bored.
This book has it all. Interesting world building, great characters, amazing plot, fantasy, sapphic relationships, badass females with magical powers, spice, royalty, betrayal, and some of my favorite tropes including but not limited to the “who did this to you?” trope. I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next for these sisters.
If you liked ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince and/or Throne of Glass, READ THIS BOOK!
This book has it all. Interesting world building, great characters, amazing plot, fantasy, sapphic relationships, badass females with magical powers, spice, royalty, betrayal, and some of my favorite tropes including but not limited to the “who did this to you?” trope. I absolutely cannot wait to see what comes next for these sisters.
If you liked ACOTAR, The Cruel Prince and/or Throne of Glass, READ THIS BOOK!
November 29, 2021
Strong plotline...Well-developed characters...Intricate world-building
Mystery...Intrigue...Betrayal...Fae...Magical Creatures...Duty...Political Entanglements...Siblings...Revenge...Deceit...Bonds...Love
Overall, the story was a good read. The switches between character POVs in each chapter was confusing for me. I almost felt as though I needed a character guide along the way. However, it's filled with many twists and turns to keep you intrigued.
Cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to wait on book 2.
Mystery...Intrigue...Betrayal...Fae...Magical Creatures...Duty...Political Entanglements...Siblings...Revenge...Deceit...Bonds...Love
Overall, the story was a good read. The switches between character POVs in each chapter was confusing for me. I almost felt as though I needed a character guide along the way. However, it's filled with many twists and turns to keep you intrigued.
Cliffhanger ending, so be prepared to wait on book 2.
August 30, 2021
***This review may contain (mild) spoilers***
Wow. I just finished reading Of Shadow and Ember and I can't quite get my thoughts in order after those final pages. Book two can't come quickly enough!!
OSAE follows the three heiresses of a desert kingdom as they each face the very different expectations of being a princess. Calida is the eldest and heir to the throne, with all of the responsibilities that entails, Zari is the spare and lives a life of luxury and boredom while waiting to see if she'll be needed, and Arianna is the youngest and has been trained as Sentinel, the kingdom's secret assassin who takes care of any threat under cover of darkness, so as not to spark war.
The kingdom is in a precarious position and in order to sign peace treaties with its neighbours, the two younger daughters are to be sent away to marry foreign heirs. But moments after Arianna, the only one trained for battle, has left, the kingdom is invaded by brutal fae from a kingdom long forgotten, the home of beasts that are responsible for the murder of Arianna's lover years earlier and whom she's on a warpath to seek revenge against. Except, she's on the other side of the world with no idea what's happening at home, while her sisters try to save their kingdom.
I loved all three of the sisters, but Arianna definitely became my favourite, with her total self-confidence and strong sense of what's right and wrong. She also had a wicked sense of humour and was a complete badass. The story is told from several POVs, including Arianna's new mate and one of the brutes who invaded the kingdom of Kalamia (although everything is not as it seems and there are secrets and truths that we discover through his internal monologue).
I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep track of who was who, but the author was able to set the scene in each change of POV so quickly and smoothly that I never found myself struggling to keep up. Even though the story was one of the most fast-paced I've read in ages. It swept me away and kept me turning the pages until the very last one, desperate to know what happened next in each POV.
There wasn't one POV that I found boring or didn't want to see at the top of the next chapter, if I had to choose a least favourite it would probably be Calida's, but that's only because being kept prisoner in your own castle isn't quite as exciting as adventuring on the high seas or being far from home in a kingdom with completely different values as you search for information on the beast that killed your lover - whilst also slowly falling for the man you've been sent to marry, despite his reputation as the Scourge of Vale.
The world building was fantastic, I loved discovering more about each place and the people who inhabited it, and the romance was a real slow burn in one case, and a sort of 'fated mates' irrepressible descent in another. The steamy scenes all took place after the 75% mark, which I really appreciated as I prefer to see the build up of tension towards a love scene, it feels more credible to me, so there was no insta-love here!
I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book if you like any of the following: fae, elemental magic, strong women (not just physically strong, these sisters are three very different types of strong), winged fae males, sexy shifters, arranged marriage, fated mates, sass, snark and banter, incredible world-building, excellent character development, a complex, fast-moving plot with lots of action, steamy romance with actual meaning, CLIFFHANGERS. Because I'm still reeling from that last chapter!!
It's perfect for fans of Crescent City, or anything by Sarah J. Maas really. Can book two be out now please??
Wow. I just finished reading Of Shadow and Ember and I can't quite get my thoughts in order after those final pages. Book two can't come quickly enough!!
OSAE follows the three heiresses of a desert kingdom as they each face the very different expectations of being a princess. Calida is the eldest and heir to the throne, with all of the responsibilities that entails, Zari is the spare and lives a life of luxury and boredom while waiting to see if she'll be needed, and Arianna is the youngest and has been trained as Sentinel, the kingdom's secret assassin who takes care of any threat under cover of darkness, so as not to spark war.
The kingdom is in a precarious position and in order to sign peace treaties with its neighbours, the two younger daughters are to be sent away to marry foreign heirs. But moments after Arianna, the only one trained for battle, has left, the kingdom is invaded by brutal fae from a kingdom long forgotten, the home of beasts that are responsible for the murder of Arianna's lover years earlier and whom she's on a warpath to seek revenge against. Except, she's on the other side of the world with no idea what's happening at home, while her sisters try to save their kingdom.
I loved all three of the sisters, but Arianna definitely became my favourite, with her total self-confidence and strong sense of what's right and wrong. She also had a wicked sense of humour and was a complete badass. The story is told from several POVs, including Arianna's new mate and one of the brutes who invaded the kingdom of Kalamia (although everything is not as it seems and there are secrets and truths that we discover through his internal monologue).
I was worried I wouldn't be able to keep track of who was who, but the author was able to set the scene in each change of POV so quickly and smoothly that I never found myself struggling to keep up. Even though the story was one of the most fast-paced I've read in ages. It swept me away and kept me turning the pages until the very last one, desperate to know what happened next in each POV.
There wasn't one POV that I found boring or didn't want to see at the top of the next chapter, if I had to choose a least favourite it would probably be Calida's, but that's only because being kept prisoner in your own castle isn't quite as exciting as adventuring on the high seas or being far from home in a kingdom with completely different values as you search for information on the beast that killed your lover - whilst also slowly falling for the man you've been sent to marry, despite his reputation as the Scourge of Vale.
The world building was fantastic, I loved discovering more about each place and the people who inhabited it, and the romance was a real slow burn in one case, and a sort of 'fated mates' irrepressible descent in another. The steamy scenes all took place after the 75% mark, which I really appreciated as I prefer to see the build up of tension towards a love scene, it feels more credible to me, so there was no insta-love here!
I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book if you like any of the following: fae, elemental magic, strong women (not just physically strong, these sisters are three very different types of strong), winged fae males, sexy shifters, arranged marriage, fated mates, sass, snark and banter, incredible world-building, excellent character development, a complex, fast-moving plot with lots of action, steamy romance with actual meaning, CLIFFHANGERS. Because I'm still reeling from that last chapter!!
It's perfect for fans of Crescent City, or anything by Sarah J. Maas really. Can book two be out now please??
March 7, 2022
I loved this book . Five stars all the way . The author out and asked me to review this book for her.
I was not sorry and was hooked from beginning.
I felt bad for Arianna in losing her true mate before they could be mated in the most disastrous way. Having to watch the one you love did when you can do nothing to stop it.
Arianna is the third in line for the kingdom and is instead the sentinel for her country until the title is ripped from her publicly and given to her cousin. All for the good of her country.
Her parents signed a treaty with surrounding territories agree to marry their two unwed heirs . Her sister goes to a neighboring territory and she goes to vale .
When she meets the heir she realizes he was the hooded stranger she met in town from her territory. The most beautiful male she has ever seen. Galvyn the true heir of vale.
They have instant chemistry and get along really well. They have been avoiding the king as he is brutal and not very forgiving.
There are politics going on that are not fully explained . An escalating argument with cliffhangers. Hoping it is explained in book 2
I was not sorry and was hooked from beginning.
I felt bad for Arianna in losing her true mate before they could be mated in the most disastrous way. Having to watch the one you love did when you can do nothing to stop it.
Arianna is the third in line for the kingdom and is instead the sentinel for her country until the title is ripped from her publicly and given to her cousin. All for the good of her country.
Her parents signed a treaty with surrounding territories agree to marry their two unwed heirs . Her sister goes to a neighboring territory and she goes to vale .
When she meets the heir she realizes he was the hooded stranger she met in town from her territory. The most beautiful male she has ever seen. Galvyn the true heir of vale.
They have instant chemistry and get along really well. They have been avoiding the king as he is brutal and not very forgiving.
There are politics going on that are not fully explained . An escalating argument with cliffhangers. Hoping it is explained in book 2
September 6, 2021
Thank you so much to Shana for providing me an E-Arc to review.
This book has multiple POV's which sometimes I struggle with, but I didn't with this book! The story follows 3 Fae Princesses - sisters whose lives are turned upside down in one night. Each sister is facing their own problems as well as trying to save their kingdom and find their way back to each other. The fae have magical abilities which they enhance by "mating" with other fae of equal or greater power to produce the strongest offspring. Mating is not the same as we know from our SJM books, its just a term used kind of like marriage. The eldest sister is to be married off to another kingdom for political and power game. The middle sister is the "spare heir" and doesn't really have any goal other than indulging in all the pleasures of being a princess. The youngest sister has been trained all her life to be "Sentinel" and command the armies of her kingdom. However "Aish" the god they worship has other ideas for their fates.
Sapphic representation, grief, betrayal, steam, love and loss this book has a bit of everything!
I did find that there were a couple of "easy" situations and things just happened without a real explanation, but it didn't take away anything from the book. There was a scene which I couldn't work out what had happened, but Shana explained it to me, not sure if that was just me being impatient or whether it would have all been made clear in book 2 anyway. The characters are all very likeable and there wasn't any that I wanted to skip their chapters. I feel like the next book is going to have me raging even more at certain characters, because they can't see what's happening behind their backs!
I read this book in one sitting, I just wanted more and more! Really good start to a new fantasy series!
This book has multiple POV's which sometimes I struggle with, but I didn't with this book! The story follows 3 Fae Princesses - sisters whose lives are turned upside down in one night. Each sister is facing their own problems as well as trying to save their kingdom and find their way back to each other. The fae have magical abilities which they enhance by "mating" with other fae of equal or greater power to produce the strongest offspring. Mating is not the same as we know from our SJM books, its just a term used kind of like marriage. The eldest sister is to be married off to another kingdom for political and power game. The middle sister is the "spare heir" and doesn't really have any goal other than indulging in all the pleasures of being a princess. The youngest sister has been trained all her life to be "Sentinel" and command the armies of her kingdom. However "Aish" the god they worship has other ideas for their fates.
Sapphic representation, grief, betrayal, steam, love and loss this book has a bit of everything!
I did find that there were a couple of "easy" situations and things just happened without a real explanation, but it didn't take away anything from the book. There was a scene which I couldn't work out what had happened, but Shana explained it to me, not sure if that was just me being impatient or whether it would have all been made clear in book 2 anyway. The characters are all very likeable and there wasn't any that I wanted to skip their chapters. I feel like the next book is going to have me raging even more at certain characters, because they can't see what's happening behind their backs!
I read this book in one sitting, I just wanted more and more! Really good start to a new fantasy series!
September 6, 2021
ARC Review ✨
I had the pleasure of receiving this in return for a honest review.
This gripped me from the first chapter. A strong start that captured me straight away, I loved the hook for this. The action kicks off immediately.
It was multi pov which I am not used to, but I found it easy to follow - the sisters voices were easy to distinguish for me.
And for my particular tastes - the ending is what makes a book memorable and my goodness was this a good one!
You know that reluctant feeling of finishing a book because you are loving it so much just being immersed? Yeah I got it with this book.
If you are looking for a gripping, sexy fantasy read with fiery sisters - this is for you.
I had the pleasure of receiving this in return for a honest review.
This gripped me from the first chapter. A strong start that captured me straight away, I loved the hook for this. The action kicks off immediately.
It was multi pov which I am not used to, but I found it easy to follow - the sisters voices were easy to distinguish for me.
And for my particular tastes - the ending is what makes a book memorable and my goodness was this a good one!
You know that reluctant feeling of finishing a book because you are loving it so much just being immersed? Yeah I got it with this book.
If you are looking for a gripping, sexy fantasy read with fiery sisters - this is for you.
April 21, 2022
Of Shadow and Ember (The Heirs of Elaerys Book 1) by Shana Vernon that I received through BookFunnel is a great book. Three sisters are torn apart by grief, centuries-long war and impossible choices. Survival is the only way forward to save their kingdom. They must unite with unlikely allies, find their way back to each other or be vanquished by their enemies. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend. This book is available on Amazon
August 23, 2021
Thanks given to Shana Vernon for the ARC provided in exchange for my honest review.
Of Shadow and Ember was an interesting read. The premise offers excitement and intrigue but ultimately fell a little short in its delivery. Despite this, Of Shadow and Ember is an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to follow up releases.
The three sisters make wonderful protagonists and it's always fun for us as readers to see things puzzling out in ways the characters can't. There was even a little character twist I didn't see coming but am so glad it happened! And that late book betrayal scene definitely hit me in the feels.
Personally though I didn't find the writing style super immersive, so I didn't *feel* the passing of time properly even though I knew (from explicit comments in the writing) that X time had passed. This also meant I found myself skimming the page a couple of times.
Of Shadow and Ember was an interesting read. The premise offers excitement and intrigue but ultimately fell a little short in its delivery. Despite this, Of Shadow and Ember is an enjoyable read and I'm looking forward to follow up releases.
The three sisters make wonderful protagonists and it's always fun for us as readers to see things puzzling out in ways the characters can't. There was even a little character twist I didn't see coming but am so glad it happened! And that late book betrayal scene definitely hit me in the feels.
Personally though I didn't find the writing style super immersive, so I didn't *feel* the passing of time properly even though I knew (from explicit comments in the writing) that X time had passed. This also meant I found myself skimming the page a couple of times.
August 23, 2021
I really enjoyed this one! A very different world to Shana's previous books, this one is more fantasy based and has a rich magical world. I really enjoyed all of the main characters and I love reading different points of view. Arianna is probably my favourite, the story starts with her experiencing a tragic loss and trying to find revenge and discover what happened. I love a good revenge story. Her magic is powerful and she's a very strong main character. She has two sisters who are torn apart by war, impossible choices and marriage. This tells the story of them trying to find their way back to each other and survive against their enemies. They make some interesting allies along the way and there is plenty of romance and action. This books has great diversity and representation which I love. Very fast paced and exciting, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait for the next one!
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August 28, 2021what a fabulous read!! ... cannot wait for more!
September 15, 2021
Check out my short review of: Of shadow and Ember on my blog boekensteeg
September 12, 2021
Of Shadow and Ember is a new adult/new adult fantasy novel from Shana Vernon. It follows the path of the three heirs to the kingdom of Kalamia as their kingdom falls. The princesses each carry the ability to manipulate fire to differing degrees and each are about to be faced with unforeseen dangers.
Arianna, the youngest of the princesses, is still nursing an old wound from the loss of the boy she loved. Her role as the secret Sentinel of her kingdom affords her the opportunity to sate her urge for vengeance against the beast who killed her love while serving her father and kingdom.
The eldest of the heirs, Calida, is about to fulfill her duty to the kingdom by marrying and producing her own heirs to secure an alliance with her husband’s lands. But to do so, she’s had to set aside the great love of her life—the beautiful maid Helia.
Second-born princess Zari is less inclined to practice her powers or hone her royal image than to experiment with her bedroom skills—and those of the gorgeous men and women available to her.
When the king of Kalamia makes a peace deal with the rulers of two neighboring nations, Arianna and Zari find themselves engaged to the male heirs of those lands. Within hours of Arianna being sent to her new home, Kalamia is invaded by long-forgotten beasts.
Of Shadow and Ember is told from multiple points of view including Calida, Zari, Arianna, as well as Fen (whose uncle killed his father and has kept Fen jailed and abused) and Galvyn (the male heir of Vale). Despite the number of POVs I found it quite easy to keep track of each character and I liked the pacing of the storytelling as it switched from one character’s perspective to the next. There is a lot going on—and in several locations—so it’s easy to follow when told from each character. And the changing POVs affords the opportunity to share nuances of each characters experience that enhance the journey for the reader. The pacing is swift, making this book a quick read.
There’s so much here as far as action and turning points, but there’s also lots of cleverly layered romance including some of the best tropes (enemies to lovers and slow-burn romance) and some down-right steamy sex scenes!
Shana Vernon has done a stellar job in building a complex world with a richly detailed history. Of Shadow and Ember has intrigue, betrayal, and romance in a world full of fae and other mystical creatures. This book is everything for those who love bad-ass female characters and stories with adventure and danger lurking with every turn of the page.
*I received an ARC of Of Shadow and Ember from the author in exchange for an honest review*
Arianna, the youngest of the princesses, is still nursing an old wound from the loss of the boy she loved. Her role as the secret Sentinel of her kingdom affords her the opportunity to sate her urge for vengeance against the beast who killed her love while serving her father and kingdom.
The eldest of the heirs, Calida, is about to fulfill her duty to the kingdom by marrying and producing her own heirs to secure an alliance with her husband’s lands. But to do so, she’s had to set aside the great love of her life—the beautiful maid Helia.
Second-born princess Zari is less inclined to practice her powers or hone her royal image than to experiment with her bedroom skills—and those of the gorgeous men and women available to her.
When the king of Kalamia makes a peace deal with the rulers of two neighboring nations, Arianna and Zari find themselves engaged to the male heirs of those lands. Within hours of Arianna being sent to her new home, Kalamia is invaded by long-forgotten beasts.
Of Shadow and Ember is told from multiple points of view including Calida, Zari, Arianna, as well as Fen (whose uncle killed his father and has kept Fen jailed and abused) and Galvyn (the male heir of Vale). Despite the number of POVs I found it quite easy to keep track of each character and I liked the pacing of the storytelling as it switched from one character’s perspective to the next. There is a lot going on—and in several locations—so it’s easy to follow when told from each character. And the changing POVs affords the opportunity to share nuances of each characters experience that enhance the journey for the reader. The pacing is swift, making this book a quick read.
There’s so much here as far as action and turning points, but there’s also lots of cleverly layered romance including some of the best tropes (enemies to lovers and slow-burn romance) and some down-right steamy sex scenes!
Shana Vernon has done a stellar job in building a complex world with a richly detailed history. Of Shadow and Ember has intrigue, betrayal, and romance in a world full of fae and other mystical creatures. This book is everything for those who love bad-ass female characters and stories with adventure and danger lurking with every turn of the page.
*I received an ARC of Of Shadow and Ember from the author in exchange for an honest review*
December 15, 2021
Who cannot love a story with fae???
Incredible worldbuilding, strong female characters in a world where most kingdoms treat women as they are nothing, along with hidden secrets for hundreds of years and a lot of heartbreak, sums up the book and I’m enthralled by it. The best part of the book is that it is from all the main characters' POV, you will not miss any action happening in their lives. Even if they are miles apart you’ll know what’s happening at every nook & corner and that makes a story easy to understand and relate to. At the same time, you might feel a little frustrated that secrets unveiled at one place, was needed for the other person in some other place.
I finished the book in around 15 hours and I completely devoured it. The story starts with such perfection that you’ll be left wanting more. I’m all for the Kingdom of ELAERYS, only Kalmia is one that treats their women right and makes them powerful, they are fire wielders. Calida, Zari, Arianna are sisters who have different types of fire magic and they have different fates to face. The ferocity in them is one and all, when faced with danger, stole my heart away. In due time I came to adore each character of the book. I want to write so much but that’ll only spoil it for you, but trust me this book is wow. It a worth read and that cliffhanger was only the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much left unsaid, unexplained, though I know what happened here and there the characters in the story still don’t know that, which makes it more interesting to see how things are going to go further in the next book.
Incredible worldbuilding, strong female characters in a world where most kingdoms treat women as they are nothing, along with hidden secrets for hundreds of years and a lot of heartbreak, sums up the book and I’m enthralled by it. The best part of the book is that it is from all the main characters' POV, you will not miss any action happening in their lives. Even if they are miles apart you’ll know what’s happening at every nook & corner and that makes a story easy to understand and relate to. At the same time, you might feel a little frustrated that secrets unveiled at one place, was needed for the other person in some other place.
I finished the book in around 15 hours and I completely devoured it. The story starts with such perfection that you’ll be left wanting more. I’m all for the Kingdom of ELAERYS, only Kalmia is one that treats their women right and makes them powerful, they are fire wielders. Calida, Zari, Arianna are sisters who have different types of fire magic and they have different fates to face. The ferocity in them is one and all, when faced with danger, stole my heart away. In due time I came to adore each character of the book. I want to write so much but that’ll only spoil it for you, but trust me this book is wow. It a worth read and that cliffhanger was only the tip of the iceberg. There’s so much left unsaid, unexplained, though I know what happened here and there the characters in the story still don’t know that, which makes it more interesting to see how things are going to go further in the next book.
September 2, 2022
This series has great potential. The plot of this first book is good and definitely kept me interested, but unfortunately the world building lacks definition. The differences in traditions, the culture shock, it lacked depth. It was as if the author was trying too hard but wasn’t actually settled on what the cultural differences would mean for traditions, rituals, language and behavior, not to mention relationships.
I also found it really jarring that the character descriptions threaded throughout clashed somehow. From the cover and the opening description, I got the impression the MC is a person of color, but how dark her skin is isn’t mentioned and then she’s blushing “pink” and “crimson” all the time. My brain simply couldn’t wrap around all the disjointed mess of the character descriptions. Arianna was not the only one.
I honestly think if the structure had been different, with a focus on one storyline and then the second and finally the third, each sister with her own part of the book, it would have probably flowed better and each Princess’ personality come across more clearly. As it is, the shifting perspectives from chapter to chapter left me confused quite often and they didn’t flow well.
I also found it really jarring that the character descriptions threaded throughout clashed somehow. From the cover and the opening description, I got the impression the MC is a person of color, but how dark her skin is isn’t mentioned and then she’s blushing “pink” and “crimson” all the time. My brain simply couldn’t wrap around all the disjointed mess of the character descriptions. Arianna was not the only one.
I honestly think if the structure had been different, with a focus on one storyline and then the second and finally the third, each sister with her own part of the book, it would have probably flowed better and each Princess’ personality come across more clearly. As it is, the shifting perspectives from chapter to chapter left me confused quite often and they didn’t flow well.
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February 27, 2022
🔥 You decide who you wish to be. No one else take that from you 🔥
🔥 Phewwwww!! What a wild ride! 😆Of Shadows & Ember has multi-POV, 5 in total 😳 and while I thought that would be confusing as I did this 6 day readalong it was so easy to follow along ☺️ I can easily rank all the characters from favourite all the way down because all the POVs were so distinct and the author was able to set the scene in each change of POV so quickly and smoothly 😍This story totally swept me away and kept me turning the pages until the very last one, desperate to know what happened next in each POV 😃 there was so much packed into the 352 pages of this book 🤯 fae, elemental magic, strong women (not just physically strong, these sisters are three very different types of strong), winged fae males, sexy shifters, arranged marriage, fated mates, sass, snark and banter, incredible world-building, excellent character development, a complex, fast-moving plot with lots of action, steamy romance with actual meaning, CLIFFHANGERS 🤯🤯 I loved this book so much and am so excited for book 2 coming out soon 😁😁
I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
🔥 Phewwwww!! What a wild ride! 😆Of Shadows & Ember has multi-POV, 5 in total 😳 and while I thought that would be confusing as I did this 6 day readalong it was so easy to follow along ☺️ I can easily rank all the characters from favourite all the way down because all the POVs were so distinct and the author was able to set the scene in each change of POV so quickly and smoothly 😍This story totally swept me away and kept me turning the pages until the very last one, desperate to know what happened next in each POV 😃 there was so much packed into the 352 pages of this book 🤯 fae, elemental magic, strong women (not just physically strong, these sisters are three very different types of strong), winged fae males, sexy shifters, arranged marriage, fated mates, sass, snark and banter, incredible world-building, excellent character development, a complex, fast-moving plot with lots of action, steamy romance with actual meaning, CLIFFHANGERS 🤯🤯 I loved this book so much and am so excited for book 2 coming out soon 😁😁
I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
September 7, 2021
Three sisters. Three destinies. Princesses Calida, Zari, and Arianna are all beautiful, powerful women, but each one has been sold off to other kingdoms in order to keep the peace. We have Calida, the heir, a fae princess suffering through a mate bond even though she loves another. Then there’s Zari, the spare, a fun loving beauty whose freedom has just been taken from her. Finally, there’s Arianna, the Sentinel, a warrior princess in her own right, whose just found out that she’s been sold into a mate bond with the crown prince of the most brutal kingdom there is. Each of these women had other plans for their lives, but must reevaluate when their worlds come crashing down around them.
WOW!!!! This is my first Shana Vernon book, but I know it won’t be my last! First of all, I love how confident the princesses were. They aren’t weak and simpering Fae dolls, oh no. These women know what they want and fight for it. The book had the perfect amount of action and romance. And that ending! I cannot wait for book 2!!!
WOW!!!! This is my first Shana Vernon book, but I know it won’t be my last! First of all, I love how confident the princesses were. They aren’t weak and simpering Fae dolls, oh no. These women know what they want and fight for it. The book had the perfect amount of action and romance. And that ending! I cannot wait for book 2!!!
September 6, 2021
A book set in a magical world with different types of fae which is so much fun and interesting to learn about. It also has a unique gripping plot line that intrigued me so much. Plus there are queer representations which I particularly liked. The heroines are three princesses that are forced to get separated from each other thus the beginning of a story about war, revenge, betrayal and love. Note that this is an adult high fantasy book. Arianna -the free spirited one- is definitely my fave character in this book. Her journey was definitely a difficult one but she’s a tough cookie and a force to be reckoned with.
The different races and their distinctive culture were thoroughly explained. There were also multiple POVs in this book which is quite interesting and I love reading books with different POVs. It’s always fun to know about the other characters’ thoughts and feelings. This book is a wonderful start to a series. There might be a lot of things that lacks a bit and others that need to be explained more but there’s still the next book so it’s absolutely fine. As always, the author writes the perfect cliffhanger with a major plot twist at the ending and now I’m freaking out because I need the sequel like right now.
The different races and their distinctive culture were thoroughly explained. There were also multiple POVs in this book which is quite interesting and I love reading books with different POVs. It’s always fun to know about the other characters’ thoughts and feelings. This book is a wonderful start to a series. There might be a lot of things that lacks a bit and others that need to be explained more but there’s still the next book so it’s absolutely fine. As always, the author writes the perfect cliffhanger with a major plot twist at the ending and now I’m freaking out because I need the sequel like right now.
September 18, 2021
Of Shadow and Ember is a good book. I was reading it at every chance that I got when I wasn't working or sleeping.
This book follows several royal fae and others in their points of view: Arianna, Calida, Zari, Galvyn and Fen. There is a prophecy that is told to Arianna by a seer that she knows well. She has been through terrible loss at her young age. While she was the youngest of the 3 sibling daughters, she never expected to be put in a position of power so she was to become the Sentinel, the sword for the crown and to protect their kingdom and train their soldiers.
This book has a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting. And one HUGE betrayal that I never saw coming. I can't wait to see how the second book in the series is! This is definitely for fans of fantasy, fae and romance.
This book follows several royal fae and others in their points of view: Arianna, Calida, Zari, Galvyn and Fen. There is a prophecy that is told to Arianna by a seer that she knows well. She has been through terrible loss at her young age. While she was the youngest of the 3 sibling daughters, she never expected to be put in a position of power so she was to become the Sentinel, the sword for the crown and to protect their kingdom and train their soldiers.
This book has a few twists and turns I wasn't expecting. And one HUGE betrayal that I never saw coming. I can't wait to see how the second book in the series is! This is definitely for fans of fantasy, fae and romance.
September 19, 2021
ARC Review 💫
Three princesses, separated for the sake of their kingdom unbeknown to the tragedy about to upheave them. They'll each find themselves broken and alone, each with a road ahead threaded with challenges that they've never faced before. Each princess broken, waiting for an opportunity to be remade stronger and find their destinies intertwined once again.
I'd like to start by saying I absolutely loved this story; it drew me in from the beginning and the instant action and I immediately found myself unable to put it down. The world which was built was vast and intriguing and the characters equally so. Arianna particularly stood out for me and I look forward to see what the future holds for her.
Loved and hated the twist at the end, leaving me hungry for more and impatiently waiting to see what Aish has in store for our princesses.
Three princesses, separated for the sake of their kingdom unbeknown to the tragedy about to upheave them. They'll each find themselves broken and alone, each with a road ahead threaded with challenges that they've never faced before. Each princess broken, waiting for an opportunity to be remade stronger and find their destinies intertwined once again.
I'd like to start by saying I absolutely loved this story; it drew me in from the beginning and the instant action and I immediately found myself unable to put it down. The world which was built was vast and intriguing and the characters equally so. Arianna particularly stood out for me and I look forward to see what the future holds for her.
Loved and hated the twist at the end, leaving me hungry for more and impatiently waiting to see what Aish has in store for our princesses.
July 14, 2022
Of Shadow and Ember is an action packed story of 3 princesses Arianna the strongest warrior who lost her intended mate to an unknown beast and then the future she thought was all planned out, Zari the middle and second heir who neglected her powers and learning what she needed finds help in the most unexpected person when the Castel is attacked and finds that her life can mean more qith the right help and some work and Calida the heir to the throne is mated to someone she does not want to be and learns that you must find strength to fight for what you want. This story is very well written and the character growth is amazing through the story as it rotates through all three girls and what is happening in each girl's life. I couldn't put it down and can't wait for book 2.
November 12, 2021
This book had me hooked since the very beginning. The storyline getting better every second that went through. Three sisters, three destinies, three stories, one big betrayal. I literally couldn’t put it down, I finished in two days, and that was only because I need it to go to work and get some sleep to be able to function, but if it was my choice I’ll had finished it in one sitting. If I need to pick a favorite, there’s not doubt in my mind that I’ll pick Arianna, her persona, her way to see the world, her courage, her sassiness, I love her. Now that cliffhanger killed me, I need book 2 to come out ASAP
July 21, 2022
This story has it all. Following the steps of not one but four princesses, a alpha son, a broken prince… this story has everything. Warriors, slavery, cultural and social diversity… name it and it is represented within these pages.
There are not enough words to describe how I feel about this cliffhanger ending. My tablet is very grateful it survived my WTF!!! rant as I found myself in disbelieve that there were no pages following. Sure, there is a chapter preview for the second book but I never read those, not wanting to torment myself more as I wait for the next book to come out. All I can say is I really really enjoyed this book and highly recommended it.
There are not enough words to describe how I feel about this cliffhanger ending. My tablet is very grateful it survived my WTF!!! rant as I found myself in disbelieve that there were no pages following. Sure, there is a chapter preview for the second book but I never read those, not wanting to torment myself more as I wait for the next book to come out. All I can say is I really really enjoyed this book and highly recommended it.
October 7, 2021
Great world building and follows 3 princess sisters that live in a country that respects women. Some have powers, and all are mated for business and additional treaty agreements. Not all are happy with the choices. The kingdom is threatened and the sisters will have to fight to save it. The most powerful sister doesn't know that her kingdom is in danger and the other 2 have to make alliances to help. The conflict is not resolved in this book so expecting a series to answer a lot of questions left in book 1. I liked the characters and the mystery.
December 12, 2021
This is the second book by Shana Vernon that I've read, and holy cow! This drew me in from the very beginning. How do I even begin to start describing how much I loved it? There are several points of view that we read from: Arianna, Zari, Calida, Fen, and Galvyn. Each and every point of view added so much depth to the story, and made all of the characters seem more real. While I love them all, Arianna is my favorite for a multitude of reasons, and without spoiling the book, I will only say that she is an extremely strong and powerful female lead. The three sisters, Arianna, Zari, and Calida are separated and each are trying to save their kingdom by going on their own quests and they are all epic. The love that emanates throughout the book is very touching. It leaves off on a cliffhanger and misunderstandings, and I cannot wait to dive into book 2!
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