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Shadow and Smite
"I need to save my sister." —Zayne
A necromancer holds the strings to my sister's soul. By rescuing her, I'll save the Shadow Court.
I have a plan. It’s a longshot, but it is the best I have. I’ll draw the attention of undead Shades. The Shades, however, pursue someone else: Ayla, a beautiful fae I dismissed too quickly. Turns out, there's something special about her—I just don't know what it is.
“Soon, I’ll be a stowaway.” —Ayla
I’m on the run, fleeing to the Isles of Fae. As a part-fae bastard, I want to escape my past. Maybe I'll learn the truth of my heritage or find the Firewolf I see in my visions. I’m going. And nothing can derail me—at least until Zayne ruins everything.
Because of him, I am branded by Shades. Now a gray blemish grows on my chest. With time, it will bind my soul, kill me, and raise me as an undead. I didn’t escape just to be slain.
Zayne has a remedy, one he will share—if we save his sister from a necromancer.
My options are limited, and I join his quest. Only I have secrets, and I don’t trust him. Yet every time he heals my brand, he touches my bare skin. With his palm pressed to my heart, I’m drawn closer to him.
There’s no denying the fire between us. Or the obstacles. As my brand and feelings grow, I realize escape was a terrible plan.
The Isles of Fae are at stake in this epic adventure. Shadow and Smite is book one of four. This is a slow burn, steamy series featuring a single romantic couple.
A necromancer holds the strings to my sister's soul. By rescuing her, I'll save the Shadow Court.
I have a plan. It’s a longshot, but it is the best I have. I’ll draw the attention of undead Shades. The Shades, however, pursue someone else: Ayla, a beautiful fae I dismissed too quickly. Turns out, there's something special about her—I just don't know what it is.
“Soon, I’ll be a stowaway.” —Ayla
I’m on the run, fleeing to the Isles of Fae. As a part-fae bastard, I want to escape my past. Maybe I'll learn the truth of my heritage or find the Firewolf I see in my visions. I’m going. And nothing can derail me—at least until Zayne ruins everything.
Because of him, I am branded by Shades. Now a gray blemish grows on my chest. With time, it will bind my soul, kill me, and raise me as an undead. I didn’t escape just to be slain.
Zayne has a remedy, one he will share—if we save his sister from a necromancer.
My options are limited, and I join his quest. Only I have secrets, and I don’t trust him. Yet every time he heals my brand, he touches my bare skin. With his palm pressed to my heart, I’m drawn closer to him.
There’s no denying the fire between us. Or the obstacles. As my brand and feelings grow, I realize escape was a terrible plan.
The Isles of Fae are at stake in this epic adventure. Shadow and Smite is book one of four. This is a slow burn, steamy series featuring a single romantic couple.
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2022
About the author
Mel Braxton
17 books87 followersMel doesn't know what to do with reality, so she daydreams of fantastical places. With strong heroines, thrilling plots, and toe-curling romance, she captivates readers with her storytelling. She loves her family, especially Lulu the dog, who mistakenly believes Mel’s job is to be a professional puppy cuddler.
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August 7, 2026
ʚɞ shadow and smite by mel braxton ⋆.˚
⋆.˚ 7/8/26— 7/8/26
⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 84 of 2026 ── .✦
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:
thank you so so much to behind the pages and mel braxton for sending over the e-copies of this series in preparation for the release of book 3: sacrifice and salvation! 🤭🤍 all thoughts are uniquely my own <3
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
╰› (⭐2.5)
⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
── .✦ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
the plot of this one was incredibly fast-paced. i enjoyed the mission we followed our MCs on, and the world was pretty original and creative!
although, while reading this, i constantly felt like i was suffering from whiplash. i zoned out for 10 seconds, only to come back in and suddenly we're fighting in four elemental trials on the back of a giant turtle? like i thought we were JUST on a boat, sailing across the seas 😭 super chaotic plot, if that wasn't clear!!
but i can't deny that it did keep me entertained. i flew through this book, definitely aided by its short page count. i didn't have to use too much brain power to have an alright time reading this, and honestly, that's all you need sometimes 😭🙏
── .✦ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
i don't really have any particular feelings about ayla. she was okay, but the instalust she felt for zayne the MOMENT she laid eyes on him was kind of crazy. i was sitting there wondering if i accidentally read book 2 first, like DAMN! give each other a minute!! 😭
and because of the pacing, by the end of the book, they were fully devoted to each other - and ayla even says "i know we've only known each other for a couple of days..." HUH?? YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU TWO ARE HAVING SEPARATION ANXIETY AND WITHDRAWALS TO EACH OTHER AFTER SPENDING LESS THAN A WEEK TOGETHER?? 😶😶😶
zayne was kinda just meh. the little mini-twist about him was interesting, it did get me surprised! but his little powers were just kinda goofy. any power that requires you to sit completely vulnerable, in a "meditative-like state" in the middle of a battlefield is kinda dumb imo 😬 like you're telling me the only thing between you and an early grave is a dog and a magic-deficient woman? lord, i'm not religious, but i'd be saying my prayers 😭😭😭
eleanor gives me a bad vibe. i feel like she'll betray everybody in book 2/3 and take over the entire world with her gloom, or be corrupted by her power or smth. just a hunch 👀
── .✦ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
while i did read this entire book in one day, that is NOT to say the writing was good 😭 i was able to read this so quickly because of the sheer lack of substance in the writing style - it was like the author missed the lesson in grade 2 english when they taught "show, don't tell".
that sounds mean, but after finishing this book i can't picture any characters except those featured on the cover. i can't imagine anything in this world except for the firewolf, and that's because she was a really cute little puppy half the time 🫢 and i literally don't have a quote to put in this review because none of it stood out to me in a positive way 😭💔
also... some of the dialogue was super disjointed? it felt like a line had been deleted where it shouldn't have been. it was a little jarring and kind of confusing, but not a deal-breaker.
same deal with some of the onomatopoeia. i don't know if the word 'shake' is onomatopoeia, but it was used in a way that implied it was 🤔 some of the language used in the spicy scenes was also a little grimace-inducing. like there is no situation in which you should be using the word 'shimmy' while getting intimate with someone else. 😭
・・・・・
𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?
eh... if you're looking for something to binge in a day and not think too hard about, then sure. if you're looking for a fantasy with substance and a well-developed romance, then no.
・・・・・
— ᨳଓ . ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜʀᴏɴᴇꜱ
╰⪼ #𝟏 - shadow and smite [★ 2.5 ]
╰⪼ #𝟐 - secrets and starlight [★ ? ]
╰⪼ #𝟑 - sacrifice and salvation [★ ? ]
⋆.˚ 7/8/26— 7/8/26
⊱ ۫ ׅ book no. 84 of 2026 ── .✦
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
𑣲 ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ɪᴍᴘʀᴇꜱꜱɪᴏɴꜱ/ᴘʀᴇ-ʀᴇᴀᴅ:
thank you so so much to behind the pages and mel braxton for sending over the e-copies of this series in preparation for the release of book 3: sacrifice and salvation! 🤭🤍 all thoughts are uniquely my own <3
₊˚ ✧ ━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━ ✧ ₊˚
╰› (⭐2.5)
⋆.˚ ᴍʏ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛꜱ:
── .✦ 𝒑𝒍𝒐𝒕
the plot of this one was incredibly fast-paced. i enjoyed the mission we followed our MCs on, and the world was pretty original and creative!
although, while reading this, i constantly felt like i was suffering from whiplash. i zoned out for 10 seconds, only to come back in and suddenly we're fighting in four elemental trials on the back of a giant turtle? like i thought we were JUST on a boat, sailing across the seas 😭 super chaotic plot, if that wasn't clear!!
but i can't deny that it did keep me entertained. i flew through this book, definitely aided by its short page count. i didn't have to use too much brain power to have an alright time reading this, and honestly, that's all you need sometimes 😭🙏
── .✦ 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒔
i don't really have any particular feelings about ayla. she was okay, but the instalust she felt for zayne the MOMENT she laid eyes on him was kind of crazy. i was sitting there wondering if i accidentally read book 2 first, like DAMN! give each other a minute!! 😭
and because of the pacing, by the end of the book, they were fully devoted to each other - and ayla even says "i know we've only known each other for a couple of days..." HUH?? YOU'RE TELLING ME YOU TWO ARE HAVING SEPARATION ANXIETY AND WITHDRAWALS TO EACH OTHER AFTER SPENDING LESS THAN A WEEK TOGETHER?? 😶😶😶
zayne was kinda just meh. the little mini-twist about him was interesting, it did get me surprised! but his little powers were just kinda goofy. any power that requires you to sit completely vulnerable, in a "meditative-like state" in the middle of a battlefield is kinda dumb imo 😬 like you're telling me the only thing between you and an early grave is a dog and a magic-deficient woman? lord, i'm not religious, but i'd be saying my prayers 😭😭😭
eleanor gives me a bad vibe. i feel like she'll betray everybody in book 2/3 and take over the entire world with her gloom, or be corrupted by her power or smth. just a hunch 👀
── .✦ 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈
while i did read this entire book in one day, that is NOT to say the writing was good 😭 i was able to read this so quickly because of the sheer lack of substance in the writing style - it was like the author missed the lesson in grade 2 english when they taught "show, don't tell".
that sounds mean, but after finishing this book i can't picture any characters except those featured on the cover. i can't imagine anything in this world except for the firewolf, and that's because she was a really cute little puppy half the time 🫢 and i literally don't have a quote to put in this review because none of it stood out to me in a positive way 😭💔
also... some of the dialogue was super disjointed? it felt like a line had been deleted where it shouldn't have been. it was a little jarring and kind of confusing, but not a deal-breaker.
same deal with some of the onomatopoeia. i don't know if the word 'shake' is onomatopoeia, but it was used in a way that implied it was 🤔 some of the language used in the spicy scenes was also a little grimace-inducing. like there is no situation in which you should be using the word 'shimmy' while getting intimate with someone else. 😭
・・・・・
𑣲 ᴅᴏ ɪ ʀᴇᴄᴏᴍᴍᴇɴᴅ ᴛʜɪꜱ ʙᴏᴏᴋ?
eh... if you're looking for something to binge in a day and not think too hard about, then sure. if you're looking for a fantasy with substance and a well-developed romance, then no.
・・・・・
— ᨳଓ . ʙᴏᴜɴᴅ ʙʏ ᴛʜʀᴏɴᴇꜱ
╰⪼ #𝟏 - shadow and smite [★ 2.5 ]
╰⪼ #𝟐 - secrets and starlight [★ ? ]
╰⪼ #𝟑 - sacrifice and salvation [★ ? ]
August 9, 2026
This is a short, fast, fun little read with some genuinely interesting setup. The initial scenes with the Shades and Zayne's plan to save his sister pulled me in immediately. The two main characters are enjoyable and their support system characters add some fun background (platonic) relationships. The tropes are fun even though they're familiar.
That said, this has some real execution issues for me. The pacing is breakneck given the length and nothing (I mean nothing) gets to linger: travel, conflict, resolution, new plot element, repeat, often all within a few pages. The attraction is instant, which isn't my favorite trope, and there is a significant amount of telling rather than showing throughout. It all adds up to a story that feels very jarring and lacks the depth I wanted.
Still, easy to get into and enjoyable for what it is. A fun quick read with some fun tropes, even if it doesn't go very deep. And what a beautiful cover, right?
Thanks to the author and Behind the Pages PA. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
That said, this has some real execution issues for me. The pacing is breakneck given the length and nothing (I mean nothing) gets to linger: travel, conflict, resolution, new plot element, repeat, often all within a few pages. The attraction is instant, which isn't my favorite trope, and there is a significant amount of telling rather than showing throughout. It all adds up to a story that feels very jarring and lacks the depth I wanted.
Still, easy to get into and enjoyable for what it is. A fun quick read with some fun tropes, even if it doesn't go very deep. And what a beautiful cover, right?
Thanks to the author and Behind the Pages PA. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
August 26, 2026
4 Stars 💫
Thank you Behind the Pages PA for the review copy! 🧡
Shadow & Smite was a short, sweet, somewhat intense read that left me curious and wanting more of this intriguing fantasy world that Mel Braxton has created. Getting to follow Ayla, a fae bastard princess, and Zayne, a necromancer shadow prince, on their adventures to save Eleanor, Zayne's sister. This was such a unique story unlike anything I've read before. The underlying romantic tension between Zayne and Ayla? I'm interested in seeing how their relationship continues to grow and develop throughout the next two books! I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
Thank you Behind the Pages PA for the review copy! 🧡
Shadow & Smite was a short, sweet, somewhat intense read that left me curious and wanting more of this intriguing fantasy world that Mel Braxton has created. Getting to follow Ayla, a fae bastard princess, and Zayne, a necromancer shadow prince, on their adventures to save Eleanor, Zayne's sister. This was such a unique story unlike anything I've read before. The underlying romantic tension between Zayne and Ayla? I'm interested in seeing how their relationship continues to grow and develop throughout the next two books! I'm looking forward to the rest of this series!
July 9, 2026
this was a lot faster paced than i thought it was going to be (both in action and in romance). i really enjoyed the plot and the world we were placed in. i luuuurv me some worldbuilding with gods & goddesses and i do wish that it leaned more into that. i found it a little hard to get into the world itself, as there was a lot of references to events or locations that just weren't given enough explanation for the first book in a series. i also thought the romance was a little underwhelming - it was definitely more of an insta-lust-but-won't-act-on-it sort of thing. i'm typically a fan of more of a slow burn, but i genuinely really liked the MCs in this as individuals and can def see their relationship getting stronger in future books.
will def be reading the next book!
will def be reading the next book!
July 13, 2026
Shadow and Smite had so many elements that I usually loved—fae, shadow magic, dangerous quests, slow-burn romance, found family, and high-stakes adventure. 🖤✨ I genuinely enjoyed reading it, but I kept wishing it would pull me in just a little deeper.
Ayla’s story immediately caught my interest. 💙 As a half-fae, illegitimate princess who had spent her life running from a past she never asked for, she was easy to root for. She only wanted answers about her heritage and hoped the Isles of Fae would finally give her the fresh start she deserved. Instead, one encounter with the mysterious Shadow Prince, Zayne, changed everything. Suddenly she was marked by deadly Shades, carrying a curse that would eventually claim her soul unless she agreed to help him rescue his sister from a powerful necromancer. Their goals became intertwined, and so did their fates. 🌙⚔️
I really liked both Ayla and Zayne. 🥹 They were easy characters to care about, and I enjoyed uncovering their pasts little by little. Both carried heavy burdens, painful secrets, and responsibilities they never asked for, which made their journey together feel meaningful. Watching them slowly learn to trust one another became one of my favorite parts of the story. ❤️
The romance was definitely the highlight for me. 🖤 The slow burn worked well, and I loved how every healing scene brought them closer together. The chemistry was there from the beginning, but their emotional connection grew gradually, making every small moment feel rewarding. Their relationship felt like a safe place in the middle of all the danger, betrayal, and uncertainty. ✨
The world itself was interesting too. 🐺🧚 I loved the different magical creatures, the Shadow Court, the lore surrounding the Isles of Fae, and the hints of deeper mysteries waiting beneath the surface. There were so many fascinating ideas woven into the story that made me curious about what comes next.
That said, I struggled with the pacing. 📖 The beginning relied heavily on information dumping, and later parts felt like they circled around the same points without building enough momentum. Instead of constantly raising the tension, the story sometimes felt repetitive, which made it difficult for me to stay completely immersed.
I also felt like the plot remained a little surface level. There were so many fantastic concepts—political intrigue, hidden identities, magical curses, ancient powers, betrayals, and forgotten histories—but there simply wasn’t enough room to explore them as deeply as I wanted. I kept waiting for those emotional and world-building moments to hit harder. 💭
The writing itself was enjoyable overall, though it occasionally felt a little choppy. Because so many ideas were introduced within a relatively short page count, some scenes moved on before they had fully settled. I honestly think this story could have been even stronger if it had taken a little more time to let its world and characters breathe. 🌿
Even so, I still had a good time with this one. 💜 The characters were likable, the romance kept me invested, and the ending definitely left me curious enough to continue the series. I could easily see the potential growing with each book, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Ayla and Zayne’s journey leads next.
Perfect for readers who love:
🧚 Half-fae heroine
🌑 Shadow Prince
❤️ Slow-burn romance
⚔️ Forced quest
💀 Necromancers & undead magic
✨ Healing-touch romance
👑 Hidden royalty
🤝 Found family
🔥 “Who did this to you?” vibes
🌍 Epic fantasy adventure
🖤 Secrets & betrayals
💫 Dual POV romance
Thank you so much to Mel Braxton and Behind The Pages for the review opportunity. I’m grateful I had the chance to experience Ayla and Zayne’s story, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. 💕
Ayla’s story immediately caught my interest. 💙 As a half-fae, illegitimate princess who had spent her life running from a past she never asked for, she was easy to root for. She only wanted answers about her heritage and hoped the Isles of Fae would finally give her the fresh start she deserved. Instead, one encounter with the mysterious Shadow Prince, Zayne, changed everything. Suddenly she was marked by deadly Shades, carrying a curse that would eventually claim her soul unless she agreed to help him rescue his sister from a powerful necromancer. Their goals became intertwined, and so did their fates. 🌙⚔️
I really liked both Ayla and Zayne. 🥹 They were easy characters to care about, and I enjoyed uncovering their pasts little by little. Both carried heavy burdens, painful secrets, and responsibilities they never asked for, which made their journey together feel meaningful. Watching them slowly learn to trust one another became one of my favorite parts of the story. ❤️
The romance was definitely the highlight for me. 🖤 The slow burn worked well, and I loved how every healing scene brought them closer together. The chemistry was there from the beginning, but their emotional connection grew gradually, making every small moment feel rewarding. Their relationship felt like a safe place in the middle of all the danger, betrayal, and uncertainty. ✨
The world itself was interesting too. 🐺🧚 I loved the different magical creatures, the Shadow Court, the lore surrounding the Isles of Fae, and the hints of deeper mysteries waiting beneath the surface. There were so many fascinating ideas woven into the story that made me curious about what comes next.
That said, I struggled with the pacing. 📖 The beginning relied heavily on information dumping, and later parts felt like they circled around the same points without building enough momentum. Instead of constantly raising the tension, the story sometimes felt repetitive, which made it difficult for me to stay completely immersed.
I also felt like the plot remained a little surface level. There were so many fantastic concepts—political intrigue, hidden identities, magical curses, ancient powers, betrayals, and forgotten histories—but there simply wasn’t enough room to explore them as deeply as I wanted. I kept waiting for those emotional and world-building moments to hit harder. 💭
The writing itself was enjoyable overall, though it occasionally felt a little choppy. Because so many ideas were introduced within a relatively short page count, some scenes moved on before they had fully settled. I honestly think this story could have been even stronger if it had taken a little more time to let its world and characters breathe. 🌿
Even so, I still had a good time with this one. 💜 The characters were likable, the romance kept me invested, and the ending definitely left me curious enough to continue the series. I could easily see the potential growing with each book, and I’m looking forward to seeing where Ayla and Zayne’s journey leads next.
Perfect for readers who love:
🧚 Half-fae heroine
🌑 Shadow Prince
❤️ Slow-burn romance
⚔️ Forced quest
💀 Necromancers & undead magic
✨ Healing-touch romance
👑 Hidden royalty
🤝 Found family
🔥 “Who did this to you?” vibes
🌍 Epic fantasy adventure
🖤 Secrets & betrayals
💫 Dual POV romance
Thank you so much to Mel Braxton and Behind The Pages for the review opportunity. I’m grateful I had the chance to experience Ayla and Zayne’s story, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next. 💕
July 22, 2026
As a new to me author, I had no clue what to expect, I just loved the idea of necromancy and a half Fae. So imagine my surprise when I also discovered there was humour strewn within, unexpected and bark evoking. But to the characters...
An exciled prince, a bastard princess, secrets hidden by both, meet under duplicitous circumstances. He with a hair brain plan to save his sister, she to find her magic in the Fae Realm. Neither goes to plan. Since the Collapse, the shades have been growing in number, branding any they can and Zayne's sister, Eleanor was one such. He's a necromancer, but, because his entire court has been decimated, he's untrained, going by instinct, and he vows to save Eleanor and restore his court. Ayla, on the other hand, has escaped the confines of a cruel court, she might be a princess but she's half Fae and a bastard. And magicless too. Both were extremely likeable and, as more of their secrets surfaced, the more I liked them. Zayne in particular, he has so much resting on his shoulders, so much at stake yet he never loses sight of his goal, even with the crazy attraction he feels towards Ayla.
Ayla too feels like draw, and I really loved that she unapologetically is a shameless flirt. It's refreshing to see a FMC completely comfortable with her sexuality, no excuses. The magmatism, the sexual tension, high between Zayne and Ayla, threatens to overwhelm them, but heck, the shades keep putting a crimp in the works. And shoot, when the revelation that she might not be completely magicless hit her, her confusion and anguish is palpable. I desperately need to know why... how...who... I loved the side characters just as much as the MCs, Rhett and Vanessa were an absolute delight! Fun and charismatic, they sure as heck made me smile with their attitude. Oh and Zayne's twin, Eleanor, yeah.... I'm not certain about her... As considerable as Zayne is, she is cold, and, I think, calculating.
Shoo, there's actually a lot unfolding in this book, the pacing was fast, really fast, which was both a good thing and a slightly distracting one. The good was that it didn't let up for a sec, gluing me to them pages, the not so good, I could have done with a bit more time to process between scenes. At times I felt I was going from zero to sixty in a blink. Notwithstanding this, this read had me captivated from the start. Secrets slowly unfold, the action is was tense, the drama intense, heck, marked by shades and imminent death tense! Particularly cool was the bargaining, as was the alluding to gods who appear to have a hand in all the happenings.
This was a great foundation to a start of a series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Zayne and Ayla overcome all their challenges, personally and collectively. Off to read book 2....
An exciled prince, a bastard princess, secrets hidden by both, meet under duplicitous circumstances. He with a hair brain plan to save his sister, she to find her magic in the Fae Realm. Neither goes to plan. Since the Collapse, the shades have been growing in number, branding any they can and Zayne's sister, Eleanor was one such. He's a necromancer, but, because his entire court has been decimated, he's untrained, going by instinct, and he vows to save Eleanor and restore his court. Ayla, on the other hand, has escaped the confines of a cruel court, she might be a princess but she's half Fae and a bastard. And magicless too. Both were extremely likeable and, as more of their secrets surfaced, the more I liked them. Zayne in particular, he has so much resting on his shoulders, so much at stake yet he never loses sight of his goal, even with the crazy attraction he feels towards Ayla.
Ayla too feels like draw, and I really loved that she unapologetically is a shameless flirt. It's refreshing to see a FMC completely comfortable with her sexuality, no excuses. The magmatism, the sexual tension, high between Zayne and Ayla, threatens to overwhelm them, but heck, the shades keep putting a crimp in the works. And shoot, when the revelation that she might not be completely magicless hit her, her confusion and anguish is palpable. I desperately need to know why... how...who... I loved the side characters just as much as the MCs, Rhett and Vanessa were an absolute delight! Fun and charismatic, they sure as heck made me smile with their attitude. Oh and Zayne's twin, Eleanor, yeah.... I'm not certain about her... As considerable as Zayne is, she is cold, and, I think, calculating.
Shoo, there's actually a lot unfolding in this book, the pacing was fast, really fast, which was both a good thing and a slightly distracting one. The good was that it didn't let up for a sec, gluing me to them pages, the not so good, I could have done with a bit more time to process between scenes. At times I felt I was going from zero to sixty in a blink. Notwithstanding this, this read had me captivated from the start. Secrets slowly unfold, the action is was tense, the drama intense, heck, marked by shades and imminent death tense! Particularly cool was the bargaining, as was the alluding to gods who appear to have a hand in all the happenings.
This was a great foundation to a start of a series, and I'm looking forward to seeing how Zayne and Ayla overcome all their challenges, personally and collectively. Off to read book 2....
July 23, 2026
He would do anything to save his sister, and she just wants to escape her life and meet the other part of her history she’s never known.
You follow an MMC, whose sister has been marked by the shades brand, and to find her and save her, he plans to get marked himself. His path crosses with the part fae FMC, who has left her family behind to find out more about her fae side and any magic she may have along with this strange dream of a wolf she’s been having. They end up on a ship together headed for the fae isles, only his plan to gain the brand puts her in danger and when she burns brighter than he does, they choose to brand her instead. He must now bargain with her to get help locating his sister in exchange for helping her keep the brand from spreading and consuming her.
I really enjoyed getting the multiple POVs and seeing both sides of the chaos unfolding along this adventure. I also always love an animal companion so the firewolf was a fun addition to their traveling party. Of course there was also plenty of tension crackling between the FMC and MMC as they made their way in the journey and the brand forcing them to stay apart made it all the more pent up between them. The ending has me excited to see where the story goes next in the next book! Overall my rating 4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow an MMC, whose sister has been marked by the shades brand, and to find her and save her, he plans to get marked himself. His path crosses with the part fae FMC, who has left her family behind to find out more about her fae side and any magic she may have along with this strange dream of a wolf she’s been having. They end up on a ship together headed for the fae isles, only his plan to gain the brand puts her in danger and when she burns brighter than he does, they choose to brand her instead. He must now bargain with her to get help locating his sister in exchange for helping her keep the brand from spreading and consuming her.
I really enjoyed getting the multiple POVs and seeing both sides of the chaos unfolding along this adventure. I also always love an animal companion so the firewolf was a fun addition to their traveling party. Of course there was also plenty of tension crackling between the FMC and MMC as they made their way in the journey and the brand forcing them to stay apart made it all the more pent up between them. The ending has me excited to see where the story goes next in the next book! Overall my rating 4/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
June 14, 2025
Being half fae has never helped Ayla integrate; let's also add that she is the illegitimate eldest daughter of Queen Aveline of Valterra: jackpot, ladies and gentlemen💀
If we take into account why she is on the run from home and why she is forced to change ships so often to avoid being discovered... Yes, a rather difficult existence😶🌫️
In between these journeys, he meets him, Zayne - the Shadow Prince: she never expected to meet one of the few survivors of the catastrophe that befell his land; but there he is, charming, mysterious and a walking danger🙄
Through their various misadventures we will better understand both of their backgrounds and how they ended up in those less than pleasant situations...
Little by little we approach hidden truths for both Ayla and Zayne. Although, unfortunately, fate does not always go in their favour: through a series of unexpected challenges and revelations, our MCs will do their best to get to the root of the story, but not without leaving an indelible mark🔥
A twisted, steamy and overwhelmed story about betrayal, magic guides and found home🥺
The second volume of #boundbythronestrilogy will be releasing on June 21st, so stay tune for more updates😍
If we take into account why she is on the run from home and why she is forced to change ships so often to avoid being discovered... Yes, a rather difficult existence😶🌫️
In between these journeys, he meets him, Zayne - the Shadow Prince: she never expected to meet one of the few survivors of the catastrophe that befell his land; but there he is, charming, mysterious and a walking danger🙄
Through their various misadventures we will better understand both of their backgrounds and how they ended up in those less than pleasant situations...
Little by little we approach hidden truths for both Ayla and Zayne. Although, unfortunately, fate does not always go in their favour: through a series of unexpected challenges and revelations, our MCs will do their best to get to the root of the story, but not without leaving an indelible mark🔥
A twisted, steamy and overwhelmed story about betrayal, magic guides and found home🥺
The second volume of #boundbythronestrilogy will be releasing on June 21st, so stay tune for more updates😍
August 10, 2026
⛵ ARC Review 🐺
I loved this Romantasy quest book! An FMC who kind of doesn't believe in herself is someone I can root for. She hates that she needs Zayne to remove this brand, but when she feels - absolutely terrible without him around to heal it, she has to suck it up and help him - obstinately. So, when she finds out there's only one bed on his boat, she has to give in and it's hilarious and endearing and a situation where I'd probably act like Ayla. I love her!
There was so much action and with trials on this quest, which is one of my favorite things, there was adventure and new friends and really cool moments where these characters realized they did need to depend on each other to make it through.
Plus, there's an animal companion!! 🐺 I love an animal companion and one who can talk back to me - it's my favorite. Ninti is such an interesting character herself. She's not just an animal. She's something more - something crucial to Ayla's story and someone Ayla kind of, but didn't *really* know she needed.
If you like trials, magical coming of age, or forced proximity, you may like this book.
Triggers: Death, Violence
I loved this Romantasy quest book! An FMC who kind of doesn't believe in herself is someone I can root for. She hates that she needs Zayne to remove this brand, but when she feels - absolutely terrible without him around to heal it, she has to suck it up and help him - obstinately. So, when she finds out there's only one bed on his boat, she has to give in and it's hilarious and endearing and a situation where I'd probably act like Ayla. I love her!
There was so much action and with trials on this quest, which is one of my favorite things, there was adventure and new friends and really cool moments where these characters realized they did need to depend on each other to make it through.
Plus, there's an animal companion!! 🐺 I love an animal companion and one who can talk back to me - it's my favorite. Ninti is such an interesting character herself. She's not just an animal. She's something more - something crucial to Ayla's story and someone Ayla kind of, but didn't *really* know she needed.
If you like trials, magical coming of age, or forced proximity, you may like this book.
Triggers: Death, Violence
February 12, 2025
Strong start to the "Bound by Thrones" trilogy. Wasn't sure what to expect when I started, but it turned out to be a hidden gem.
3.75⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2.5🌶🌶🌶
Tropes
✅️Prince x Princess
✅️Hidden Identity
✅️Hidden Powers
✅Shadow Daddy/️Necromancer MMC
✅️Badass Half Fae FMC
✅️Wolf Sidekick
✅️Fae/Humans/Gods/Dieties
✅️Slow Burn
✅️Epic Quest
✅️Star-Crossed Lovers
✅️Court Intrigue
Triggers
☑️Loss of Loved One
☑️Death
☑️Violence
This trilogy has some potential. Necromancy always tickles my interest, so our Shadow Daddy MMC is pretty cool. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of how he is able to slip into The Underwolrd while using his powers.
What I enjoyed more is that the FMC is badass enough to hold her own and doesn't need to rely on the MMC. Not much of her power was discovered in the first book, so I am thoroughly intrigued to follow along with Ayla's journey...plus, who doesn't love a flaming wolf diety as a companion?
Lots of room for character development...and I am DYING to see more of Zayne and Ayla's bond grow. ❤️🔥
3.75⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
2.5🌶🌶🌶
Tropes
✅️Prince x Princess
✅️Hidden Identity
✅️Hidden Powers
✅Shadow Daddy/️Necromancer MMC
✅️Badass Half Fae FMC
✅️Wolf Sidekick
✅️Fae/Humans/Gods/Dieties
✅️Slow Burn
✅️Epic Quest
✅️Star-Crossed Lovers
✅️Court Intrigue
Triggers
☑️Loss of Loved One
☑️Death
☑️Violence
This trilogy has some potential. Necromancy always tickles my interest, so our Shadow Daddy MMC is pretty cool. I thoroughly enjoyed the description of how he is able to slip into The Underwolrd while using his powers.
What I enjoyed more is that the FMC is badass enough to hold her own and doesn't need to rely on the MMC. Not much of her power was discovered in the first book, so I am thoroughly intrigued to follow along with Ayla's journey...plus, who doesn't love a flaming wolf diety as a companion?
Lots of room for character development...and I am DYING to see more of Zayne and Ayla's bond grow. ❤️🔥
July 8, 2025
Shadow and Smite was a great start to what I’m expecting to be a faced paced action packed series, which I love. It is on the shorter side too which was great, I read this in a matter of days after being completely sucked in from the start.
It’s got a half fae-half human bastard princess FMC who is on the run from her past, and an MMC Prince and necromancer who is on a mission to save his sister from evil little monsters called shades who are trying to take over her body. After bumping into each other they decide to journey together to where sis is being held captive, and things get a little bit steamy as their connection towards each other grows. The evil they are fighting and the FMC’s dormant powers only scrape the surface and we are treated to a neat little hook at the end of the story hinting where the next book will take them.
If you are after a fun fast read and love faced past adventures, you should check this series out, I can’t wait to see where the next books take us!
It’s got a half fae-half human bastard princess FMC who is on the run from her past, and an MMC Prince and necromancer who is on a mission to save his sister from evil little monsters called shades who are trying to take over her body. After bumping into each other they decide to journey together to where sis is being held captive, and things get a little bit steamy as their connection towards each other grows. The evil they are fighting and the FMC’s dormant powers only scrape the surface and we are treated to a neat little hook at the end of the story hinting where the next book will take them.
If you are after a fun fast read and love faced past adventures, you should check this series out, I can’t wait to see where the next books take us!
August 17, 2022
First of all the book cover is absolutely stunning and sets the pace for this book perfectly!
So yes I decided to get this arc for the cover alone but that doesn’t shine the light away from the wonderful story telling and the great writing style this author has.
I love, love, love book maps.
I’m loving the dedication too!
I was hooked. The author did such a great job with world building and creating such interesting characters.
There is so much mystery surrounding Ayla and Zayne throughout the book.
A lot of detail went into this story and I loved Ayla and the gnomes 😱 especially the part with the tree.
I consumed this book within a matter of hours, I needed all the information straight away, it just couldn’t go into my brain quick enough.
This was a fantastic read and I can’t wait for more of this series. I bloody loved it!!
Highly and I mean highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy.
So yes I decided to get this arc for the cover alone but that doesn’t shine the light away from the wonderful story telling and the great writing style this author has.
I love, love, love book maps.
I’m loving the dedication too!
I was hooked. The author did such a great job with world building and creating such interesting characters.
There is so much mystery surrounding Ayla and Zayne throughout the book.
A lot of detail went into this story and I loved Ayla and the gnomes 😱 especially the part with the tree.
I consumed this book within a matter of hours, I needed all the information straight away, it just couldn’t go into my brain quick enough.
This was a fantastic read and I can’t wait for more of this series. I bloody loved it!!
Highly and I mean highly recommend this book to anyone who loves fantasy.
June 12, 2025
Shadow and Smite was such a fun read. We follow Ayla a half human- half fae who is on the run from something in her past. As she’s escaping, she runs into Zayne, a prince who wields shadows and death. He is after one thing, the ability to save his sister Eleanor from the Gloom that is overcoming the shadow isles. His plan was simple, use the Shades to track down Eleanor, except Ayla has brighter magic and now she’s the one who is branded.
Together, Zayne and Ayla must trust each other and themselves to fully overcome their pasts and to beat the gray general and the shades that are killing fae.
I had such a fun time reading this book, it was short and sweet but still had that tension between the characters of will they or won’t they kiss. I’m so excited for book 2!
Shadow daddies, dark necromancer magic, the cutest littlest fire companion ever and accidental mates, I mean what more could you want?!
Together, Zayne and Ayla must trust each other and themselves to fully overcome their pasts and to beat the gray general and the shades that are killing fae.
I had such a fun time reading this book, it was short and sweet but still had that tension between the characters of will they or won’t they kiss. I’m so excited for book 2!
Shadow daddies, dark necromancer magic, the cutest littlest fire companion ever and accidental mates, I mean what more could you want?!
June 22, 2025
Showed up for the steam, the shadow daddy and the redhead FMC and stayed for literallyyyy everything 🤤 I think because this book is on the shorter side I wasn’t expecting it to grip me so fiercely but I really fell in love with it. Ayla is an absolute force and I saw myself in her so often, not just in her strength but her vulnerability. The chemistry and banter between her and Zayne pulled me in so fast and I just adored them together. The emotional components beneath the story were beautiful and made the characters feel so real. There was a really sweet found family trope that I loved and made me wish the book was longer bc I wanted more of Rhett and Vanessa!! The world building felt expansive and immersive, and I’m excited to explore more of the court lore we got a taste of in this book. I absolutely devoured this steamy little snack (no one tell my boss i read most of it in a single shift) and cannot wait for more Ayla & Zayne 😍
July 29, 2022
This was a good read. It was quick and easy and an overall enjoyable time. I loved Ayla and her strength and determination. She took everything in stride and truly had great intentions behind all her actions.
I do wish the book had been longer. The romance felt a little rushed, and I feel like there wasn’t enough buildup. It felt a little like insta-love/insta-lust, which is typically not my cup of tea. I also think it would have been nice to learn more about Ayla’s family and backstory rather than the cursory details that were provided.
Overall, this is an exciting adventure story, and the fantasy world that is painted is pretty interesting. Hopefully, we can learn more about the world and magic system in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I do wish the book had been longer. The romance felt a little rushed, and I feel like there wasn’t enough buildup. It felt a little like insta-love/insta-lust, which is typically not my cup of tea. I also think it would have been nice to learn more about Ayla’s family and backstory rather than the cursory details that were provided.
Overall, this is an exciting adventure story, and the fantasy world that is painted is pretty interesting. Hopefully, we can learn more about the world and magic system in the future.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 9, 2025
Shadow and Smite
A fast-paced and exciting fantasy that was easy to get into. I enjoyed the overall story and loved the shorter chapters that allowed me to fly through this novel.
Ayla was a warrior who was charming and fierce. I enjoyed her determination and look forward to seeing more of her growth and strength in the up coming books.
Zayne was a noble shadow daddy set on doing his duty and the right thing. I loved his character and admired his loyalty and dedication.
Their relationship was a quick instalust kind of build. There wasn’t much spice but there was loads of sizzling tension!
Tropes of note in here were; fae romantasy, enemies to lovers vibe, quest, trials, animal companion, one bed, one ship, forced proximity, royalty, shadow daddy, necromancer, magical creatures, steamy tension, runaway princess, bond, she saves him, wound tending, and more!
A fast-paced and exciting fantasy that was easy to get into. I enjoyed the overall story and loved the shorter chapters that allowed me to fly through this novel.
Ayla was a warrior who was charming and fierce. I enjoyed her determination and look forward to seeing more of her growth and strength in the up coming books.
Zayne was a noble shadow daddy set on doing his duty and the right thing. I loved his character and admired his loyalty and dedication.
Their relationship was a quick instalust kind of build. There wasn’t much spice but there was loads of sizzling tension!
Tropes of note in here were; fae romantasy, enemies to lovers vibe, quest, trials, animal companion, one bed, one ship, forced proximity, royalty, shadow daddy, necromancer, magical creatures, steamy tension, runaway princess, bond, she saves him, wound tending, and more!
July 31, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️
This was my first book of Mel‘s and I really enjoyed it! Ayla was a fierce and courageous FMC. Zayne was a witty, determined, and protective MMC. Together, they made an excellent team on their quest to rescue Zayne‘s sister, Eleanor, and defeat the shades. The concept of the shades was unique and fascinating, and I found myself cheering on our MCs on their quest to defeat them. I loved the perspective into the shades that we received from Zayne‘s necromancy abilities, and feel that it helped me to connect better with the story. There was minimal spice in this one, but I did not feel that the story was lacking for it. I have a feeling we’ll get more spice in book two and I’m looking forward to it. Overall, this was a fun start to a trilogy and I’m excited to continue on to book two!
*Check TWs if needed.*
🌶️
This was my first book of Mel‘s and I really enjoyed it! Ayla was a fierce and courageous FMC. Zayne was a witty, determined, and protective MMC. Together, they made an excellent team on their quest to rescue Zayne‘s sister, Eleanor, and defeat the shades. The concept of the shades was unique and fascinating, and I found myself cheering on our MCs on their quest to defeat them. I loved the perspective into the shades that we received from Zayne‘s necromancy abilities, and feel that it helped me to connect better with the story. There was minimal spice in this one, but I did not feel that the story was lacking for it. I have a feeling we’ll get more spice in book two and I’m looking forward to it. Overall, this was a fun start to a trilogy and I’m excited to continue on to book two!
*Check TWs if needed.*
June 19, 2025
Such an amazing book. The way this started off with how Ayla met Zayne at the bar was great and I loved how Ayla inadvertently interfered with Zayne’s plan to go save his sister because of that. I love when the MCs are like oh nothing is going to happen, I don’t *actually* care about them but in reality they’re irrevocably connected. It was really great seeing Ayla learn about who she really is and connecting to her power. I absolutely LOVE Ninti and I need a lesser deity firewolf for myself. I think the idea of all the different deities is really interesting and Leodoras totally made me think of The Neverending Story. The reveal about Gloom was actually pretty heartbreaking and I hope Ayla and Zayne can save the day (and the Fae Isles) in the next book. This was low spice but the tension was incredible as was the banter.
August 3, 2026
There were parts, which I really enjoyed about the book. Two royals that meet having different objectives, and suddenly events force them to work together.
There were some moment between Ayla and Zayne, which I really enjoyed. Her being more special than she always thought and him wanting to save his sister, set the stage for an interesting journey.
While I enjoyed the fast pacing in some parts, it felt like important parts were missing and we I never fully connected to the characters. It was very obvious that there is so much more to Ayla and I wanted to learn more about here. The execution overall didn't fully succeed, but kept me interested enough in wanting to know how the story continues.
I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
There were some moment between Ayla and Zayne, which I really enjoyed. Her being more special than she always thought and him wanting to save his sister, set the stage for an interesting journey.
While I enjoyed the fast pacing in some parts, it felt like important parts were missing and we I never fully connected to the characters. It was very obvious that there is so much more to Ayla and I wanted to learn more about here. The execution overall didn't fully succeed, but kept me interested enough in wanting to know how the story continues.
I received a free copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 9, 2025
This is a good start to a series. The action and fantasy parts are what kept my interest while the romance part was a bit forgotten about. There is chemistry between the main characters but there isn’t much spice and the main focus was on family relations. I can see this evolving into a found family, shadow daddy adventure in the next book and I loved the world building in this one. Zain and Ayla are both strong characters that can hold their own in battle and evolved through the book. Unfortunately, it’s been 3 years since this book has been released and there is no sequel available yet which will be detrimental in keeping the readers interest in continuing the series.
June 16, 2025
This is a slow burn, steamy four book series.
🖤 Necromancy
🖤 Curses/Branding
🖤 Epic Quests
🖤 Royalty
🖤 Animal Diety Sidekick
🖤 Trials
Shadow and Smite focuses on our two MC's Ayla and Zayne. Alya has always been seen as an outcast, being half fae with no magical powers. She is currently on the run. After a chance encounter with Zayne, Prince of The Shadow Court she soon finds herself entangled and set out on an epic quest.
I really enjoyed the Elemental Trials and the edition of the Firewolf. I also can't wait to see where Mel takes Zayne and Alya's relationship goes.
thank you Mel and Behind the Pages for the gifted copy. My thoughts and review are my own.
🖤 Necromancy
🖤 Curses/Branding
🖤 Epic Quests
🖤 Royalty
🖤 Animal Diety Sidekick
🖤 Trials
Shadow and Smite focuses on our two MC's Ayla and Zayne. Alya has always been seen as an outcast, being half fae with no magical powers. She is currently on the run. After a chance encounter with Zayne, Prince of The Shadow Court she soon finds herself entangled and set out on an epic quest.
I really enjoyed the Elemental Trials and the edition of the Firewolf. I also can't wait to see where Mel takes Zayne and Alya's relationship goes.
thank you Mel and Behind the Pages for the gifted copy. My thoughts and review are my own.
July 26, 2026
Shadow and Smite
By Mel Braxton
⭐⭐⭐
"It was a easy read, I finished it in a few hours, it wasn't to bad enjoyable, interesting and full of magic, gods, and fae so right up my alley, the story is about Zayne and Ayla, Ayla is a half fae who has run away from home to look for her place amongst the isles of fae, and Zanye is a shadow prince who is trying to save his sister, they happen across each other and well the rest is... Well I don't want to spoil it, it was more character driven then story driven in my opinion and there's alot more to find out, it is a trilogy so at least there is more to find out. It wasn't my best read but it wasn't the worst."
By Mel Braxton
⭐⭐⭐
"It was a easy read, I finished it in a few hours, it wasn't to bad enjoyable, interesting and full of magic, gods, and fae so right up my alley, the story is about Zayne and Ayla, Ayla is a half fae who has run away from home to look for her place amongst the isles of fae, and Zanye is a shadow prince who is trying to save his sister, they happen across each other and well the rest is... Well I don't want to spoil it, it was more character driven then story driven in my opinion and there's alot more to find out, it is a trilogy so at least there is more to find out. It wasn't my best read but it wasn't the worst."
May 1, 2025
From lovable characters, unique world building interesting animal deities, good pacing and all our favorite tropes, Shadow and Smite is a romantasy to fall in love with.
I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Zayne and Ayla’s story as they journeyed across the perilous Fae Isles. Along the way they discover new allies, unearth secrets and betrayals, and unerringly grow closer. Both have different goals to accomplish but fate has thrust them together for better or worse and I can’t wait to see where their story takes them.
I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Zayne and Ayla’s story as they journeyed across the perilous Fae Isles. Along the way they discover new allies, unearth secrets and betrayals, and unerringly grow closer. Both have different goals to accomplish but fate has thrust them together for better or worse and I can’t wait to see where their story takes them.
July 9, 2026
I thought that this book was okay. The writing was fine. I did love the romance. The pacing was a little off. The beginning was too much info dumping. I did liked the characters and the romance between them. I also liked the different creatures within the book. I think that I will definitely read the next one in the series. I did think that the plot felt flat. I also think that the writing was a little choppy. I did liked the overall plot. Overall, a great story. I want to thank Behind Her Pages for giving me the book in exchange for a review.
August 8, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
I loved this book. I cannot believe the immersive world building and magic system Mel was able to fit into a 260 page book!
I am a sucker for dual point of view. I find it keeps me much more engaged knowing what both our main characters are thinking and feeling.
I loved this take on Fae having antlers and horns. I also enjoyed the different type of magic system and that necromancy was in this story.
I loved the story from start to finish and found the pacing to be just right. I cannot wait to continue this series!
August 21, 2022
I think that this was a good story. This is a first for me by this author, and I really enjoyed reading it. Ayla and Zayne worked well as a couple and I did enjoy the steamy scenes. I feel that it was well written and I will look for more from this writer. I Loved It!!! No Spoilers!
I Received an ARC from BookSirens and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review because I Choose to and Liked the Book!!!
I Received an ARC from BookSirens and I am Leaving this Totally Honest Review because I Choose to and Liked the Book!!!
April 19, 2025
Star Rating: 4⭐️
Spice Rating: 1🌶️
Format: E-book 📱
🌻🦋 My Review 🦋🌻
Gosh this book was so fun. From the start, the lore, the bastard princess & the exiled prince, their chemistry, their journey everything just grabs your attention!!
The world building, chefs kiss fantastic. This is such a good book. I can’t wait for book 2! I need to know what happens. Like does Ayla’s mother know she’s alive? Do they get the shards? Do they finally do it?
Spice Rating: 1🌶️
Format: E-book 📱
🌻🦋 My Review 🦋🌻
Gosh this book was so fun. From the start, the lore, the bastard princess & the exiled prince, their chemistry, their journey everything just grabs your attention!!
The world building, chefs kiss fantastic. This is such a good book. I can’t wait for book 2! I need to know what happens. Like does Ayla’s mother know she’s alive? Do they get the shards? Do they finally do it?
February 23, 2026
I really enjoyed the world building and magic system that this book started to develop, it just felt like too much was trying to be stated and created far too quickly. The events and situations within this one book could have very easily been developed and spread across multiple books in a series to allow deeper understanding. Even so, I liked the characters and how it was begun and will probably continue the series.
July 14, 2026
*Thank you to Behind the Pages and Mel Braxton for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest and authentic review - All opinions are my own.*
This was a good start for this trilogy!! I like the concept a lot!! The story felt very fast paced and only lasted a few days worth of timeline. The author did a great job packing a punch of plot into that timeframe!
I missed a bit of depth to add to the characters and the romance, but felt it was a good build up and set the stage for book two!!
This was a good start for this trilogy!! I like the concept a lot!! The story felt very fast paced and only lasted a few days worth of timeline. The author did a great job packing a punch of plot into that timeframe!
I missed a bit of depth to add to the characters and the romance, but felt it was a good build up and set the stage for book two!!
July 15, 2026
Thank you Behind the Pages and Mel Braxton for the gifted copy!
This story and characters have potential! It was a little insta-love of me which I’m okay with depending on the circumstances. I’m hoping we get more of an explanation in the next book that might make the relationship make more sense. I did like the magical elements and it definitely picked up in the second half of the book. I’m looking forward to continuing on with the series and see where the story goes from here!
This story and characters have potential! It was a little insta-love of me which I’m okay with depending on the circumstances. I’m hoping we get more of an explanation in the next book that might make the relationship make more sense. I did like the magical elements and it definitely picked up in the second half of the book. I’m looking forward to continuing on with the series and see where the story goes from here!
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