Among Shadows

The Heir of Light and Dark #1

by Aline P. Mora

I LIED, I KILLED, AND NOW, I’VE LOST EVERYTHING.
THE ONLY THING LEFT IS FINDING OUT IF ANY OF IT WAS WORTH IT.

In a world where powerful men hold all the control and magic is the ultimate privilege, Aila grew up with two secrets: spy to a powerful man and the only wielder of Darkness! She was groomed to kill and to lie, and she learned, from a very young age, that her own power could become her weakness. But her latest mission will either force her to reveal herself or to betray her only friend!

For years, she enjoyed the luxury and safety of Niram’s palace, trading in secrets and whispers whilst keeping her own power hidden at all costs. But, as she crosses path with a mesmerizing captain and a brewing rebellion against the power she served her whole life, she will realize there is more forces at play than she ever imagined. And she will finally have to learn exactly what her power and herself are really worth.

As her whole world crumbles down and her secrets are revealed, Aila will need to face her own mentor or risk losing herself.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fiction, Adult, New Adult

365 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 19, 2021

About the author

Aline P. Mora is a passionate writer of the same strong and witty female leads that keep her hitched to a new book.

Growing up, she found some of her best friends and lived some of her best adventures inside the pages of a book. And, in time, she found solace in her own written word.

Now, after a decade of getting to know the most diverse type of people through her career in Marketing, Aline decided to follow her soul’s desire and dedicate herself to writing, wishing she can provide the same hope and joy that she found within her favourite books to all those that are brave enough to search for it.

To find out more, visit www.alinepmora.com or follow @alinepmora on Instagram.

Reviews

[Christine (myfictionaldays)]

Among Shadows is a new fantasy series by Aline P. Mora following a young orphan girl who’s working as an assassin undercover in the King’s palace. Raised by the spy master, Aila has spent all her life learning how to lie, kill, betray and run impossible errands. On top of that, she has a very dangerous secret to keep - her true powers of controlling Darkness. Infiltrating the palace as the niece of the king’s trusted advisor, she receives the opportunity to get closer to the Prince of Niram. However, little does she expect to get attracted to him. This puts her in a very difficult situation as she is torn between keeping him out of her “uncle’s” plans or using him to achieve her end tasks. And to make her life even more complicated, a mysterious captain crosses her path. One unfortunate night she finds herself in the heart of a murder - at the wrong time and the wrong place, which destroys everything she has worked for and forces her on the run. As the story unfolds, we get to see Aila grow as a character and become an even stronger female protagonist ready to defend what she believes is rightful.

Fast-paced, engaging and well-developed plot with witty and relatable characters which will make you easily fall in love. The fantasy world is full of mystery, magic and a prophesy promising a saviour who wields both dark and light. The author tells the story in such a way that every chapter keeps you on your toes eager to find out what’s going to happen next. Secrets are uncovered, unexpected betrayals and a great banter between the two love interests which made me giggle the whole time. Enemies to lovers in the early stages - we love to see it!

I would highly recommend this new series by Aline P. Mora to those of you who love Throne of Glass, These Hollow Vows, Gild and even Game of Thrones. It is such a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre and I am happy to say that it most definitely took me by surprise. Loved it.

I want to say thank you to MTMC Tours and the author Aline P. Mora for gifting me a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Emilia ☾✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is criminally underrated.

The story takes place in a fantasy world where each country is defined by one of the four elements. Aila, the female main character, on the other hand is capable of wielding Darkness. Thus, she has to hide her power, and instead works as a spy and assassin for the spymaster Ivo, pretending to be his niece at day. She is torn between the prince Aiden and unfortunate events at his court, only to find out where her power comes from and why Ivo found her as a five year old orphan …

First of all, the characters are great. Everyone has their own special trait, no one is particularly good or bad. So I was really hooked since the beginning, not only because Aila herself is very sympathetic with her sarcasm and nosy personality, but because the story itself is extremely interesting.

The book also features some sort of love triangle, and although I’m not the biggest fan of these, it’s handled greatly in the book.

There are several side characters that I also enjoyed to read about, most of all Ruby with her optimism and hopeful attitude, but I’m also ready to get to know more about them.

Fact is that this book left me with so many questions that I will read the next book as soon as possible.

(The book contains explicit descriptions of torture. Don’t read if you don’t feel comfortable with reading something like this.)

Tropes featured in the book:
- Morally grey fmc
- Found family
- Enemies to lovers
- Love triangle
- Forbidden love
- (Everything that makes a great romantasy book.)

4.25 / 5 🌟

[Rozanne Visagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲, 𝐈'𝐝 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐭, 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐢𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐥. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈 𝐟𝐞𝐥𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐭."

Among Shadows is the first book in The Heir of Light and Dark series and this Adult Fantasy is perfect for fans of Shadow and Bone. Alia was rescued as an orphan and trained to be an assassin, a secret weapon to wield. Harbouring a dangerous secret, the ability to wield darkness/shadows, Ivo uses Aila to his advantage, if she doesn't cooperate her life in the palace is on the line.
Alia has secret meetings with the prince but knows it can never be more than that, a secret. Her role as an assassin would bring danger to him.
One night Alia notices the arrival of an old guard, they seem to find themselves together at the oddest of times, is it a coincidence or not? Framed for a murder she didn't commit, Alia is on the run, all the while the darkness in her veins calls to be released.

I enjoyed this story and found the magic interesting. Mostly character driven, there are times when unexpected plot twists are dropped. The way Mora planned everything to the finest detail and executed it flawlessly had me in wonder of the story. Alia is faced with many challenges but we see her character develop and she embraces her true nature. The moment the title made sense, I was shocked! I did not see it coming.
There is a balance between the use of magic, Alia doesn't wield it all the time. She relies on her stealth as an assassin and uses weapons from time to time. Ruby is such a wonderful introduction to the story, I loved her character! There are flawed characters, romance, betrayal, self-discovery and friendship.

Be sure to check the TW since there are some scenes which include torture.

This book is perfect for readers who like the found family trope, readers who like their MC's to be assassins like Throne of Glass or have shadow magic like Shadow and Bone.

Thank you to MTMC Tours and the author for gifting me an electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sophie's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Remember even a moonless night remains dark for so long."

Aila is an orphan girl who’s a spy in the King’s palace. Instead of using the prince for information as she was tasked, she gets involved with him. Add in the mix hidden powers, a mysterious captain, secrets, betrayals, suspense, adventure and shocking twists and you have a great start of a new fantasy series!! 🤩😍

Wow this was so good you guys!! The internal conflict of our heroine, the romance, the twists.. I really enjoyed the writing style of this author and her characters were all very likeable and fascinating. I truly enjoyed this one and I can't wait to read more by this author and of course I can't wait to read the next book in the series and see how this story is going to unravel ❤️

[Thais • tata.lifepages • · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among Shadows is the first book in The Heir of light and Dark series, an adult dark fantasy written by a fellow Brazilian! I love it when I get to read books written by authors from my country.

The story follows Aila: an agile, beautiful and clever spy in the Kingdom of Fire. As Ivo’s adopted nice, a powerful and rich lord with close ties to the court who in reality is a master spy and conspirator, Aila is trained as his follower and protégé.

I found myself super intrigued by her high life at court! She juggles a hidden romance with the Prince and at the same time her life as a skilled spy, working for her uncle to uncover the net of enemies of the court: The Alliance. Aila also guards a dark secret... a hidden magical power that made the story even more captivating! She can summon the dark shadows in order to attack and conquer her goals in the Palace. Little by little she uncovers the truth about the Alliance; a Rebellions movement against the court, trying to fight against the experiments on the non-Wielders.

With a twist of events, her life changes completely and she embarks on a journey to find her true self, away from the court, from her uncle, from all the conspiracy. The worldbuilding is fantastic, I love the magic system and the descriptions are very well written! I am excited for more romance in the sequel (you guys know how much I love my romance tropes!). I enjoyed that Aila found true friends throughout this journey and a new objective in her life. She's a strong female character that not only fights for her friends but also for justice; a fair society.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy for review!

[✩₊*Shelby ⋆ ☾⋆ LiteraryFaery ⁺₊✧ · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed below are entirely my own.

This one took me totally by surprise!! I felt right at home in the world of this book. It’s very reminiscent of some of my favorites, i.e. Throne of Glass, but with its own uniquely original cast of characters and plotline!

Aila is exactly the kind of protagonist I love the most—ruthless undercover by night and fierce beauty queen amidst the royal kingdom. I found myself highlighting all the detailed descriptions of all her intricately designed outfits. As a cosplayer, this is something I relish in a fantasy novel for sure!

As for romance…GAH, some of my favorite tropes are present in this book and I’m obsessed. Right from the start, I immediately adored Aiden, the noble prince she has entirely captivated, but as soon as Flynn came onto the scene, I knew which pairing I shipped most strongly! This man is so swoonworthy I literally squealed every time he showed up to banter with Aila.

This is the type of story where even the side characters are rich in development. I especially loved Ruby!! I found Ivo to be especially sinister and the perfect source of conflict to drive the first half of the narrative. By the time I hit 50%, I could not put this one down!

With espionage missions, court intrigue, as well as capture and betrayal lurking around every corner, this book was nonstop fun for me!! Highly recommended for fans of new adult fantasy of epic proportions!

[Marilia Boniatti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book to read! If you like fantasy and complex settings, this is the book for you. Aila is a strong, intelligent female character with complex emotions, which I particularly loved. The other characters are well written, it's really easy to sympathize with them and to understand their points of view.
The plot is well developed and it leaves you wanting to read the next chapter. Everything that happens is important to either the story or for character/relationships' development, which really surprised me because this is a debut book. I did not expect this from a 1st time published author.
It was really hard for me to put this book down, and at the same time, I was sad that I was going to finish it too quickly. It had been a long time since a fantasy story had engaged me like that.
I'm in love with this book and cannot wait for the next one!

[Read, Read, No Sleep, Repeat · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know how sometimes a book just grabs your imagination and you can’t stop thinking about it long after you’ve finished it? Well Among Shadows by Aline P. Mora was that book for me.
 
It follows orphan Aila who is adopted by the King’s spy master Ivo as a young child and trained and raised as an assassin. But when Aila is sent to the palace as a courtier to gain information and secrets, she doesn't expect to fall for the very prince she was spying on. With Aila’s feelings for Prince Aiden growing, the appearance of a mysterious captain, and a brewing rebellion, she finds it harder to hide her dark powers and starts to question everything she has ever stood for. And when she is at the wrong place at the wrong time, her secrets are exposed and she must run for her life, unsure of whom to trust …
 
Every page is filled with intrigue, drama, angst, espionage, political wrangling, prophecy and magic. It’s very reminiscent of Throne of Glass and From Blood and Ash, but with a completely novel premise. The plot is multi-faceted with lots of parallel story lines and great world building, all of which were unravelled at a great pace to keep it simple and maintain my interest.
 
There are so many great characters in this book! I loved feisty, brave Aila who was humble and relatable despite the hand that life had dealt her. I really felt for her and there were a few moments that moved me to tears. I often find female assassin characters in books to be unlikeable and cocky, but this was not the case here.  
 
Prince Aiden was sweet and loveable and his relationship with Aila felt really authentic. My heart broke for them as there were so many obstacles in the way of their love. Having said that . . . the minute I was introduced to the mysterious, dark haired Captain Flynn Wheelan my loyalties quickly shifted! I do love a bad boy and Flynn was a perfect specimen of this. I really look forward to learning more about him in the next book.
 
Ruby was another of my favourite characters and her sunny disposition and warm personality was the perfect therapy for Aila. I loved seeing how Aila grew in her company, and learned to trust and embrace her powers.
 
Although this was book one in the series, the action was non-stop and I couldn’t put it down. It finished at a good point (and not on a horrible cliff hanger) but it left me longing for book two.
 
I’d recommend Among Shadows to all fantasy lovers who love well-crafted tales full of strong heroines, mysterious heroes, magic, drama and political intrigue.

Thanks to Between the Spine book tours for the review copy.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off with thinking Aline P Mora for sending me an ARC of this amazing book!!! I am so very grateful I got to follow these characters on their journey!! If you read no further into my review, just know that this book is wonderful, brilliant, magnificent, and all the other synonyms. “Among Shadows” is the perfect fantasy with magic, palaces, secrets, and deceptions! We start off by following our protagonist, Aila, and throughout the story, we discover sprinkles of her background, or lack thereof. This beautifully written tale is wrapped in mystery and magic, both dark and light, which will entrance the reader. I absolutely love how Aline P Mora brought the story together to capture the world of the Elemental Kingdoms and the deepness of these characters. The pacing of this story is amazing!! Aline does a terrific job at a difficult task of emphasizing a scene while keeping the readers intrigued and guessing. The characters in this book are beautifully developed with underlying backstories filled with betrayal, love, and lies. I read this book in two days because I could not set it down!! I definitely lost a lot of sleep but it was a thousand percent worth it for this incredible story. Aila herself was an amazing character with relatable thoughts, doubts, fears, hopes, and feelings. The side characters all fit perfectly in the story and extracted realistic reactions from Aila. The adventure, mystique, and brilliance of this book would draw anyone to the world. If you love fantasy, magic, mystery, or books at all, you will easily fall in love with Aline P Mora’s “Among Shadows” but be warned, you will not be able to set the book down until it is finished.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, Among Shadows took my breath away! This book is non-stop, and my heart pounded so hard throughout! 

I absolutely loved the intrigue and mystery wrapped around Alina! The character development in Among Shadows is amazing!

Among Shadows combines elements from two of my favorite books, Assassin’s Blade by Sarah Maas and Fireheart by Emma Hamm, creating a sassy assassin Alia and a magical rebellion. I highly recommend this book if you love Aelin from Throne of Glass or Lore from Fire Heart and enjoy new adult fantasy with a side of romance.

Thank you so much to Aline P Mora for sending a copy for review. I’m looking forward to reading the second book in The Heir of Light and Dark series!

“You should never feel silly for dreaming and wishing. I see a light in you, and I know you can do more… You can make a difference in many lives, if you dare.”

[OleanderDreams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two of my favorite character types are magic wielders and Spy/Asassins and the MC of Among Shadows, Aila, is both! I was thrilled about that.

The main plot was really good and there was just enough sprinkles of a romantic subplot that I was satisfied in that area too (I am one of those people that prefer romance of some kind in anything I read but don't HAVE to have to it enjoy a book but when it's there I'm like yesssss).

I enjoyed both the hero characters and the villian characters and I cannot wait to read book two and see where our characters end up and what happens along the way! Definitely recommend.

[Amanda McGraw · Rating 2 out of 5]

In an alternate universe, Dani Francis wrote Throne of Glass. She used the penname Aline Mora, and called the book Among Shadows. Unfortunately, this book has found its way into our universe.

[Eveline Oliveira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great debut! I’m usually not a fan of stories written in the first person, but this one is very well-written. Definitely going to read the sequel!

[Aline Gasparindo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good ! You feel all the emotions , the characters are well thought , the journey is a incredible , it’s a must 💓

[Marci Marciano · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! My favorite female caracter ever. Good narrative. If you’re seeking for a story to inspire and make you feel stronger and wanting better, go ahead!

[Cecilia Bonomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Amazing work from Aline in her first book.. such a page-turner I couldn’t put this down!! Aila, the protagonist, is a strong-willed woman that takes us through this compelling fantasy made of magic, mysteries, secrets and so much more with passion and wit. Aila’s powerful emotions will tie you to the book until the last page.
All the characters are well written and make you stick with it until the end; I really liked how Aline, the author, chapter after chapter manages to build the tension to keep you on the edge guessing and wondering what will happen next.
It has been quite a while since I was this engaged in a book, really well done to the author and I really can’t wait to read the next books of what I can tell is going to be an amazing saga!!

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book honestly has everything I ask for in a good fantasy.

Aila was raised a killer a spy she is the only wielder of dark magic. I loved her instantly because I related to her. The face she put on for people was so good and convincing but it just wasn't her.
This book was faced paced and the world building was super interesting and original. I loved the characters and friendships. Looking forward to book 2!!!

[Tanmaya Kamath · Rating 5 out of 5]

MC: Aila is exactly the type of protagonists I love to read about.. she's strong, bold, smart, witty and most important of all.. she has magic in her veins! She was an orphan child, made into a spy.. a little girl grown up believing the shadow magic she possessed was something dark and ugly, raised by the Spymaster, who was the only father figure she had!

Romance: I'd liked Aiden since the beginning.. he was actually the type of Prince girls would undoubtedly fall for.. handsome and powerful, yet righteous and kind-hearted and one who dreamt of a better world!! But I had a feeling there would be more.. and wasn't disappointed! In came Flynn with his golden eyes, dashing and charming and mysterious, and I knew who I'm gonna ship in this series! He was an instant favourite.. I loved their banter and kept waiting for his scenes.. and the way he calls Aila 'love'.. urghhh.. I love it!!! He reminded me of Klaus Mikaelson❤️❤️

Other Characters I Liked: This one's especially for Ruby! She was like sunshine and I loved her immediately.. she was genuine and so full of hope and warmth and positive vibes! Dara.. I shouldn't forget her.. because she was the one who really cared about Aila and in a way raised her!! Then there were Azer and Bren and Leon!! It was really nice to watch our girl find a semblance of a family with them.. especially Leon's nicknames for her and his witty remarks were funny and I enjoyed it all!

Overall, I really liked the book.. on more than one occasion, I found myself comparing the book with Throne of Glass, with Arobynn and Dorian and Aelin!! Though the plotline and casting is completely unique and original and so much intriguing.. it was a perfect combination of court intrigue, interesting plot twists, political drama, romance, prophecy and magic!! The characters were beautifully portrayed and it was really nice to watch Aila grow out of the life she was forced into living and find her own path and purpose! Ivo was a vile person and I didn't like him at all.. though I want to know his story! Aiden, my heart broke for him even when I saw him from Aila's POV, but reading his own one in the bonus chapter.. I felt really sad for him! It also showed exactly how wicked of a person Ivo was! To speak about Flynn, I think he's story is yet to come.. there's more to his character that's not revealed in this book and I hope to find exactly what that is, along with all the other questions, in the next book BLAZING SUNLIGHT that'd be launched on 24th Jan'2023! Can't wait to read it!❤️

Vibes & Tropes:
-Female spy/assassin
-Enemies to lovers
-Friends to enemies
-love triangle
-Strong and powerful FMC
-Mysterious MMC
-Elemental magic
-Meddling Gods
-Found family

[Denis Evangelista · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's really easy to forget that this is the first book by this amazing and promising author! Aline delivers so much on her first novel that it makes it impossible not to fall in love with the beautiful scenery, amazing locations, great lore and more importantly, extraordinary characters! I had the opportunity to be one of the Advanced Readers for this book and I can say, what a joy it was! The novel hits the right spots of character development and rich lore, which for me are the core elements for a great fantasy book. We can tell how much Aline has drunk on the fountains of great fantasy novels, anime and movies, but don't be mistaken, not a single word here is a rip-off. It is at the same time an ode to master pieces I have learned to love throughout my life, from Lord of The Rings, Narnia, Harry Potter, Naruto, Star Wars, Game of Thrones and so on, and also something more, something new! Our main character journey keeps you hooked on her flaws, quirks, mistakes, rage, kindness... Raw human feelings pour from every corner as you fall in love with Aila and how she questions herself and the world around her. It is a look inside of ourselves, our darkness and light that brings a familiarity, a closeness, a feeling of warmth through the eyes of a great main character. I can't stress enough how the character's humanity, both cruelty and love, hope and despair, and all the duality she brings to the story make it so compelling, so intriguing. A concept so simple, as light and darkness are heightened by the author here in a moving story, royal intrigue, religious questioning, which made me stop and think more than once and reflect deeply. I love that feeling in any fantasy novel! Among Shadows also brings a fresh take on the everlasting search for who we are, what is our purpose... with some great twists, secondary characters that you will love to hate (and also love!), doubt, not be sure of who is who. All of that while defying the status quo with matriarchal lore, moving away from all the male dominance that we still find out there and delivering a solid, moving and compassionate story that will enchant old readers like myself and the new ones out there! Don't think twice and check by yourself, you are in for an amazing treat! For myself, I'll just wait excitedly for the next installment of this series and see what else is out there for Aila and the vast universe that Aline brought to us!

[Maria Elena | pagesofmaria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Wow. This is a spectacular debut!

Among Shadows is the first book in the Adult Fantasy series, The Heir of Light and Dark. It follows Aila, a young woman with mysterious powers who is raised by the spymaster and brought into the castle as his niece. Acting the part of a proper lady of the court, Aila hides her magic and her true role. She also befriends Prince Aiden, but in the attempt to protect that friendship from her employer and savior who would like to exploit their connection, Aila unwittingly finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and is implicated in a murder she didn’t commit, thus unraveling everything she’d built within the castle’s walls.

This story has it all: great worldbuilding, an interesting plot, amazing characters, beautiful friendships and a dash of romance that I always like in my fantasy reads. Aila was an amazing character, strong-willed, brave, smart, and despite the hardships she’d faced in life she hasn’t forsaken kindness, which is what sparks her friendship with the orphan girl Ruby, who was easily one of my favorite characters right beside Aila. Another favorite was Prince Aiden. I try to convince myself not to get attached for reasons I will not disclose to avoid spoilers, but he seemed like my kind of character, and I hope that somehow he’ll remain true to himself. Cryptic right? I know, but it’s hard to keep things spoiler free.

The romance element was nice. There wasn’t a lot of it, but I do believe things will get intense with the rest of the series. There are two love interests that follow different tropes I love, though there’s no love triangle. Again, I can’t say why, how or who to avoid spoilers, but I’ll only say that I enjoy both love interests. I cannot wait to see how the story continues!

This is the perfect read for those who enjoy fantasy with great characters and beautiful friendships.

Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.

[Lunarbookwyrm aka Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Aline for providing me a copy of the book I appreciate it for an honest review. I would like to start by saying the world-building was really nice and it was great to explore the world of the Elemental Kingdoms of the Known World. It sounds like an amazing place to explore.

FMC

The heroine Aila was a complex character and it reminded me of Celaena from Throne of Glass. Aila did have her issues because of her upbringing, but it is quite understandable and she is learning a lot in this book about who to trust and who not to trust. So it takes a bit of time to warm up to, especially at the beginning of the book. She is sassy and she is fighting her own battles with the help of her newfound friends.


I guess I rated the book the way it is because I couldn't help but compare most of the scenes or the story to the Throne of Glass series, especially the torture scene. It was very similar. This is just my honest opinion because I loved that series so much and I won't spoil more about it. I do understand that this is an adult/new adult series and I thought that there should be a Trigger warning, especially for that scene. I have read a lot of dark fantasy books or fantasy books and usually, there is a trigger warning for scenes like that. I do appreciate authors who do give the heads up to readers that these dark themes are included in their book. It would be nice to have in a book, especially for those who aren't comfortable reading those types of scenes.

I know that this book is tagged as a fantasy/Epic Fantasy book and not gonna lie I did hope for a bit of romance. I did see a love interest for Aila, but I wasn't really feeling his presence that much, but to be fair it's the first book. I just am not a fan of the MMC and the other love interest can suck it sorry not sorry LOL! because he is a douche. I am mad.

Overall, I would say this book isn't for me. If you love These Hollowed Vows and the fast paced version of Throne of Glass you can give it a shot :D It does have its own story with its own magic system.

[SunReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

She lied, killed and spied for someone who, instead of her savior, turned out to be another lie in her life. Now she will have to face herself, her power and rebellion waiting outside.

If you like books that combine magic, beautiful palaces, royal intrigues and trickery, all described with a light pen, “Among shadows” is for you. It’s a journey of self-discovery, a tale of the price of love and power that can change the fate of an entire nation. I have to admit, this is a book with an atmosphere that will surely appeal to “Shadow and bone” fans.

Aila is a strong heroine who grew up in a male-dominated world, which made her both intelligent and cunning, but also easy to manipulate as she has never experienced true love and her definition of care is fluid and unclear. I found all characters easy to understand and like, even when I didn’t always agree with their choices.

I found myself being interested in all of the characters and I wish the author would explore their personalities and individual stories even more, the mention of which left me wanting more.

"Among Shadows" is just the first book in the series and debut at that, which you can see very clearly. It’s not perfect, sometimes even boring. It didn’t pull me in from the beginning, but it wasn’t bad either. I was quite indifferent throughout the story. I don’t think I will read the next book, though.

[Allthebooks (Lynette) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars (that half point taken away is for having to read the conclusion in book 2)

"Trigger Warning: This book contains explicit content and darker elements, including mature language, violence, torture and abusive relationships." from the Amazon title page.

This book had my undivided attention as soon as I started reading. The author took me on an epic adventure that had me in a chokehold throughout. It felt like a movie in my mind. The character development was done exceptionally well. I loved the main and side characters, because the heroes and villains were equally intriguing. This book was such a pleasure to experience, it was fascinating and riveting. The vivid writing only added depth to an already fantastic story.
I generally do not like cliffhangers, and this one was cliffhanger-ish. Even though I need to read book 2 to know the conclusion of the story, I still feel there is enough of a HFN in this first one that it was a satisfying read. I am positively psyched to read the next one (which is already out, so I'm starting right away).
This book is a must read if you love fantasy, really wonderful world and character building, mystery and magic, intrigue, action, adventure, intense drama and a morally grey and bada$$ FMC.

I won a physical copy of this book in an IG giveaway and this is a voluntary review.

[FainnaJuliya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Usually, when you pick up a book, it takes some time to immerse yourself into the world-building and get to know the characters. Somehow, the author was able to pick me up from this world and place me into the book as if I've lived there my whole life.

She wasted no time throwing us into the plot of the story but in a graceful way that doesn't make you feel lost or left out. It takes a lot of magic to achieve that.

You can never expect what happens next; the level of intrigue had me turning the pages so that I can resolve whatever mysteries were in the air. However, the build-up to the end where a majority of the mysteries were being unfolded, was not a letdown. Instead, I finished the book with my jaw dropped, searching for the release date of the next.

The MC? I would honestly say she's a personal favorite. I found myself loving her badass nature but you could see that she is human and has flaws in her demeanor that makes her that much more relatable.

If you haven't already, you need to pick this book up!

A definite 5 stars for me!

[Evelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you like Shadow and Bone? Do you like dark magic? Are your nemesis the strong, powerful and intelligent female characters? Do you like mysteries and secrets as well? If so, you need to read Among Shadows. I really love this story with all the plot development and the setting in this fantasy world. Not just the story good, but our protagonist, Alia is so brilliant too and this whole situation with magic is amazing. If I didn’t know that this is Aline's debut novel, I wouldn't believe it, because it’s so well-written, the locations and the scenes are brilliant and I felt like, I'm in a fast moving train and I don't want to get off at the next station. I need more! Oh and did I mention Among Shadows contains a beautiful map? No? Well, you know now. Literally this story is magnificent!!

[Bai Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. So much.

The world building was pretty solid, the storyline was intriguing with a nice pace, and the main character, Aila, was a strong, brave girl. A lot of what happened broke my heart, and Aila survived it. She’s a survivor, and it was such a good read. AND THE FRIENDS SHE MADE ALONG OF THE WAY. I’m sobbing. It felt like a found family (I’m sure it’ll really solidify that trope in the second one). I did find myself wishing for romance at times, but there was so much action that it was still entertaining (maybe romance in the sequel???). Either way, I’m ready for the next one!! I gotta find out what happens next in Aila’s story.

This is a story of hope. Perfect for those who love Throne of Glass, These Hollow Vows, Shadow & Bone, and Air Awakens!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a new adult fantasy filled with magic, spies, adventure, self discovery, betrayals, romance, and found family.

Things I loved:
- Alia, the main character, had steady development and growth throughout the novel. It was a great journey.
- The found family trope! I loved the friendships formed and banter between the characters.
- The world was interesting and there was a lot of action.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I’m looking forward to what the second one will bring! I’m hoping for some more romance.

Content/trigger warnings below:




⚠️ violence, death, death of parent, torture, emotional abuse, ptsd, mention of fire injury.

[Kate13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW.

I love the world building and ideas behind this story. I love jumping straight into the story, and this book does that.

Aila is a dynamic and like-able lead character. Her development and growth is great in this book, and I can't wait to see how she continues to grow in the coming books. Ruby was such a bright spot in a dark story, and I enjoyed her character.

Sometimes I feel like the villain or bad-guy is not evil or bad enough, but Ivo definitely is. His actions all make sense and kept me scared of seeing his name pop up.

If you're a fan of dark fantasy, you should definitely check this series out!

4.5 stars for me!

[Kate Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mini review:
4/5 ⭐️

This book pulled me in right from the start. I loved the world building, it was so easy to visualise the settings the author was writing about. I really loved the plot and following the journey of the main character. There were some great plot twists which made me want to keep turning the page. Overall, a great read which is perfect for fantasy lovers!

Favourite quote — ‘In the open pages of a book, I had found fierce friends, a loving family and unbiased wisdom’.

I would like to thank Between the Spines Tour for gifting this book to me!

[Tom Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoy intricate world-building this book is for you! The fantasy world is richly detailed and immersive. From the opulent tropical setting and palace to the brewing rebellion, every element feels meticulously crafted, making you feel like you're right there alongside Aila. Also, the plot is full of unexpected turns and shocking revelations. Aila's secrets and the complex relationships she navigates will keep you on the edge of your seat, eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.