Heir of Shadow

A Study in Shadows #3

by Sara C. Roethle

Witch blood. The idea haunts Lyssandra as she leaves her life with the Helius Order behind. She’ll move forward, if only to thwart her greatest enemy yet. Only the witches aren’t what she expects. They’re guarded, and scared.

Because someone is stealing their skins.

In danger once again, Lyss must solve the mystery of the skin-stealer, all while balancing her growing relationship with Asher, and her new role as her great uncle’s keeper.

Time is short. Eiric is free, and he has plans for Lyssandra. Plans that will mean the death of her vampire, and ruin for all.

Genres: Fantasy, Vampires, Romance, Paranormal, Romantasy, Witches, Magic

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 27, 2023

About the author

Sara C. Roethle is a Fantasy author and part-time unicorn. She enjoys writing character driven stories in various fantasy realms with elements of Celtic and Norse myth, humor, and metaphysical ponderings.

Her series include:

Tree of Ages
The Thief's Apprentice
The Moonstone Chronicles
Xoe Meyers
Bitter Ashes

Reviews

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

This series quite literally gets better and better with every book! It has also become a comfort read for me. Every time a new book comes out and I dive back into this world, it feels like coming home.

With every book there is such a variety of plot points that I enjoy and look forward to watching their depths unfold. From the beautiful friendships/found family, action packed battle scenes, murder mystery vibes, and the insane creatures that you would absolutely find in the Witcher world! Not to mention the romance and the spice that increases with each book is so perfectly done.

I strive to be like Lyssandra! She is such a badass and so sure of herself always. She has a hard exterior but deeply cares for others especially those she loves. And Asher can have my whole heart forever! I am fully obsessed with this vampire!

This ending had me so unwell and utterly speechless! I am so anxious about having to wait until January for the next book. Do yourself a favor and add this series to you TBR!!!!

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that it picks up right where the second book left off. Great character building in relationship building and the pace of the book with the plot was perfect as well. I loved the introduction of the witches and the fact that they had another hunting case while still focused on the overarching plot. The last few chapters I definitely did not see those betrayals and twists coming. Would definitely recommend this serious so far and I'm eagerly anticipating the final book next month

[Shaylene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wouldn't say that this was a completely amazing fantasy. It's a lot like The Witcher with Lyssandra being a hunter who hunts monsters and associates with other magical beings. However, I wouldn't go so far as to say that this measured up.

The biggest issue I had with this was the world building. There still wasn't a very clear picture of what the kingdom looked like. Like, was this just one big kingdom? Were there different cities within this kingdom? And how is everything like the Helius Order run? These were questions that I had that the story didn't have answers to. As well there was way more potential for some side characters to be more fleshed out but they were not.

I didn't like how Lyssandra's interaction with other characters play out. What I mean by this is a lot of background characters that she meets on her journey have a hidden agenda. This does not count the secondary characters such as her friends Tholdri or Stefain. Characters that Lyssandra tries to befriend seem to have ulterior motives, a trait that makes them not that trustworthy.

I understood the need for this as Lyssandra's whole storyline in the first two books was to solve some mysteries that intertwined with the overarching plot. In the mysteries, the reader of course tries to figure out who the culprit is and who to trust based on Lyssandra's interaction with them. Only, it seemed to me that everyone that Lyssandra meets not counting her friends is not trustworthy. An aspect that had me able to easily predict that no one besides her group of friends would stay loyal to her. And I didn't find this enjoyable.

All that being said, I found this to have some good development with Lyssandra's character arc and her relationship with Asher. I think the aspect that kept me reading was the intrigue in the mystery and the romance with Asher and Lyssandra. I wouldn't say that this was up there with my most favourite fantasy, but it was entertaining in it's own right.

Due to my urge to binge this series, I will have a more cohesive and bigger review for the last book. On to the next one for me!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUTSTANDING!!!

This is book three and every book ups its game. This one to me, has been the best one. The author has truly weaved a story of magnificence. The stakes continue to rise and the amount of betrayals and reveals has me catching my breath. I felt like I was right there with the characters. There's alot going on and I cannot wait to see how this is all going to end. Just WOW!!!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series continuation!

I have loved the A Study of Shadows Series since book 1! It is an exciting vampire fantasy series and each book has had a type of supernatural murder mystery that needs to be solved that helps progress the book further into the overall story arch.

Book three continues to follow Lyssandra, her friends and bonded vampire Asher as they work to take down the OG vampire Eiric. Their journey leads them to a hidden coven of witches where Lyssandra needs to prove herself by solving recent murders for them to teacher her about her new found magic all while also trying to find out why Eiric is after her.

I love that Lyssandra finally lets her walls fall for Asher. They have gone though so much to trust each other and although romance is not the big center point of the story it is sweet and I loved it.

In this book/series there is:
🩸vampires
🩸witches
🩸vampire hunters
🩸mates/bonds
🩸banter
🩸murder mystery
🩸found family
🩸secrets
🩸cliffhanger ending
🩸plot twists

Favorite quote:
“As I have told you before. If you go down, I go down. If you turn into a monster, then I will become a villain at your side. I will not lose you, Lyssandra.”

[Marisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s always some form of betrayal it has almost gotten predictable regardless I still enjoyed this one. I still wish we would get pov’s other than Lys (and we did but not till towards the end). I need to know what everyone is thinking 😭😆

[E.L. Irwin · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars. Yet another delicious tale as told by Sara Roethle. Also, I need the next book, like yesterday. Seriously. I’m desperate here…

[Sab :) · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Very minor and fairly insignificant spoilers*
Okay so I don’t leave reviews often, I just never find the time but I had to stop and take a minute for this one. And this is going to be a general take on the series so far as a whole as I’ve binged all three in the last few days. When I started book one I was hesitant. I’d attempted to start it two separate times before but had a bit of trouble getting into it and ended up picking other books up instead. In my Divine Rivals hangover I was just looking to pass the time and tried book one again. I was definitely more engaged as I made my way through, but I initially had trouble connecting with the characters, Lyssandra the most. Her motivations and actions felt one dimensional, and I struggled to truly empathize with and understand who she was and what emotions actually drove her beyond the revenge scheme we’re given initially. It felt a bit flat. I was told what she wanted, but for a bit it felt like there wasn’t much spit behind it. I felt I got of bit more in the second half of book one, and ended up finding the whole murder mystery plot in very entertaining. While I was still hesitant, it was enough to push me into book two, and boy am I glad I did cause this series just got better with each installment. I was able to understand and connect with Lyss much more from the start of the next book, and while I was already fond of Asher, it certainly cemented that. The more I read the more I regretted ever being disinterested in Lyssandra cause by book three I could confidently say I was attracted. I was invested and every twist, turn, and betrayal hurt me along with her. I often completely forgot I was reading and was happily immersed into this fanatical world. And by the moment in book three when she’s kills the final skin changer? Oh I could confidently say I ADORE Lyssandra. She’s everything I could have hoped for in a badass heroine and I’m so sorry I ever doubted her. I loved to see her develop as a character, while still remaining so unabashedly herself. And Asher? Don’t even get me started. He IS the blueprint. He has a every confidence in her, and while there’s not much (if anything) he values over her wellbeing, he never tried to get her to be something she isn’t. He loves her for exactly who she is, rough edges and all. The line "If you turn into a monster, then I will become a villain at your side.” was everything I needed. I love this man. So. Much. Nothing gets me like an extremely powerful, dangerous character being exceedingly gentle and tender. These books have catapulted their way into my top five of all time and I honestly feel they deserve so much more hype. This cliffhanger has destroyed me, and January simply cannot come fast enough. I want to see Lyss raise some hell, and the absolute rage we see from Asher in the epilogue is something I’m so excited to see play out. There’s not much I love more then two people who would burn the world down for each other. So in closing, please please PLEASE give this series a chance. It only goes upwards, and it brought me more joy then I’ve felt from a book in a while. Sara, thank you for the wonderful cast of characters I’ve grown to love, and I can’t wait to see what you do next.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Roethle has surpassed herself in this book, it is a riveting read, extremely dark and a real horror story and this is not because of the vampires, believe it or not they are the least scary lot in this book. Lyss travels with Tholdri, her hunter partner, and Cael and Asher the ancient vampires in search of the witches fortress high in the mountains. Lyss needs to find them to learn magic from them in order to kill Eiric, the ancient and very first vampire who had been released after many years entombed to keep others safe. Now he was out for vengeance on those who had trapped him for so many years and he needed Lyss to carry out his plan. Little did she know how long he had been planning his revenge down to the last detail and that she was working into his hands. She discovered the type of magic she could wield and that she was a Blackmire witch, a relative of Eiric, powerful if only she could release her magic. However this was not the only thing she discovered whilst at the fortress, her past was returning to haunt her as was her present surrounded by deaths of witches on a daily basis and in the most gruesome way possible. For a hunter like Lyss this was unacceptable and she vowed she would get to the bottom of these murders. This book is enough to give one nightmares, bloody and gruesome with witches, vampires and hunters forced to work together to vanquish the biggest threat to them all. The book is full of surprises and betrayals which keep taking unexpected turns to keep the reader fully immersed till the very end and what an ending! Phew onward to the next book please asap!

[Cinder]

DNF 10%

𝗚𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗘: 𝖥𝖺𝗇𝗍𝖺𝗌𝗒 𝖱𝗈𝗆𝖺𝗇𝖼𝖾
𝗧𝗬𝗣𝗘: 𝖲𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌
𝗔𝗚𝗘: 𝖭𝖾𝗐 𝖠𝖽𝗎𝗅𝗍
𝗦𝗔𝗙𝗘𝗧𝗬: 🟡
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦 / 𝗙𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘:
🧛 𝖵𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗂𝗋𝖾
🏹 𝖵𝖺𝗆𝗉𝗂𝗋𝖾 𝖧𝗎𝗇𝗍𝖾𝗋
❤️⚔️ 𝖤𝗇𝖾𝗆𝗂𝖾𝗌 𝗍𝗈 𝖫𝗈𝗏𝖾𝗋𝗌
💞⌛ 𝖲𝗅𝗈𝗐-𝖡𝗎𝗋𝗇
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗠𝗬 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:
Unfortunately, I just don't connect to the characters and the story is just too slow. The murder mysteries are annoying and stop the flow of the story instead of improving the pacing. The romance is really weak, and I don't care about the characters.
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝖶𝗂𝗅𝗅 𝖨 𝖼𝗈𝗇𝗍𝗂𝗇𝗎𝖾 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽𝗂𝗇𝗀 𝗍𝗁𝖾 𝗌𝖾𝗋𝗂𝖾𝗌? ❌
𝖶𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖺𝖽 𝗆𝗈𝗋𝖾 𝖻𝗒 𝗍𝗁𝗂𝗌 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋? ❔
𝖶𝗈𝗎𝗅𝖽 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝗈𝗆𝗆𝖾𝗇𝖽? ❔
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
𝗧𝗪 / 𝗖𝗪: blood, graphic violence, gore, suicide thoughts, grief, death of a loved one
✦•····························••····························•✦•····························••····························•✦
A Study in Shadows Series
𝟏. Reign of Night: 3.5⭐
𝟐. Blade of Demons: 3⭐
𝟑. Heir of Shadow: DNF

[Melanie Scarth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Getting darker...skin stealing monsters... FMC has pretty much resolved that she cannot live without her vampire, but still isn't falling all over him. Now in the hidden witches compound after finding out some pretty crazy news in the last book and she is still a normal person. She has power, allegedly, but she isn't all the sudden this amazing and powerful witch. She is struggling. I love this in books. Thank you Sara for not having her be this extraordinary powerful character after like 1 month of training. I always find that irritating!
This book just like the last one has some twists and turns which are not all together expected. The sexual situations are now full blown. Adult level. There are not very many, but they are descriptive enough I would not want my teens to read this. The ick factor and violence is pretty high.

[amandathebookworm 📚🪱 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another 3.5 - 3.75 ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 & rounding up in this series! This series is interesting enough to keep me going but I’m not obsessed with it. Pros & cons below 👇🏼

PROS
- Asher & Lyss’s relationship development continues to be my favorite part of this book.
- Asher is a scary ancient vampire green flag & I do in fact love him.
- The found family element is very interesting with a unique/different element than most
- The end made me sad! I DO NOT WANT THAT.

MIDS
- The expansion of the world is both interesting & kind of too rapid maybe? Books 1 & 2 felt like a slow roll into more creatures & background but this book felt like it sort of exploded all at once. I didn’t love it but didn’t hate it.

CONS
- Like I said I’m just not obsessed. I don’t think I’d be upset to quit the series here. Like I want to know but don’t NEED to know what happens, ya know?

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best of the 3 so far....

If Lyssandra was a better MFC, I could hive this 5 stars, but the persistence in her unwillingness to give in and feel what she feels and let go of her previous thinking is the most annoying thing I've ever endured in a story/series. It should not have taken to the end of Book 3 and the bond being broken for it to happen. Her bullheadedness caused her to lapse in other areas as well.

It would have been much better had their bond been a mate bond rather than a servant bond. The fact that it helped shield her from her magic as opposed to that just happening from her childhood trauma is another negating factor that detracts rather than adds to the story.

[book babe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series just keeps getting better & better! The author excels with character development, world building, magic systems, & plot! It was an absolute pleasure getting to know where the witches have been all this time & what Lys’s new discoveries mean for her. To unearthing family secrets, new self discoveries, & finding her place in an unforgiving world is incredible. I think a lot of people can find this novel relatable when trying to discover ones self, to determine what their purpose is, what they value, & what lines they would cross for those they love. I always have loved a morally grey anti-hero.

[Sandy Schleich · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like Lyssandra in this series. I like the fact that this book starts pretty much at the ending of the last book. Lyssandra, her vampire lover, her best friend, and her uncle travel together to find witches. When they find the witches fortress, they end up getting more than they bargained for. Murders are happening in the witches compound and Lyssandra is going to help solve the murders as long as they teach her magic. Lyssandra learn more about the type of magic that she has. I will definitely be reading the next book in this series. I listened to this book on Audible and it’s the same narrator as previous books in the series.

[Manuela Marchetti · Rating 3 out of 5]

nice story, good twists but feelings and emotions are flat

This is a good story, read the 3 books so far, but the main characters emotions and feelings are bit of a wet fish. For example, when the Lyss’s only family left is revealed working with the enemy, her reaction is not human - the default is to kill whatever does not align with her. The world is not black and white. Same when the feeling is passion or love - love scenes are quite flat and mechanical, almost forced. Good story if you have Kindle Unlimited, would not have bought otherwise.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

1st reading: It keeps getting better and better. I just wish we had a freaking MAP.
We learn so much more about Lyssandra's past and family background against a backdrop of horrific murders which she agrees to help solve - and all this while the threat of Eiric looms. As in the first two books, trust is a major issue; just when you (and Lyssandra) think you've figured out where people's loyalties lie, you discover you've been fooled.
The climax and lead-in to the fourth and final novel are very compelling, and I can't wait to find out how it all turns out.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

We actually have decent writing and story line 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻!!

Still- pretty shallow description writing and world building for a fantasy novel. I still can’t tell you what the world looks like besides some mires and now in our snowed in mountain.

We were introduced to a whole slew of new characters and finally uncovered Lyss’s grandfather’s plan. Still some twist and turns in the novel at the end.

Decent fight scene between the witches and vampires and ended on a huge cliffhanger. Thank goodness the series is finished and I can conclude my journey.

[Chrissy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So Glad I Read It!

I started out merely liking the Study in Shadows series, I tend to not have the patience for slow burn romance, but I'll make an exception for this one! It took until midway through book 3 to really see the intricate plot come together, and I absolutely love the deep relationships between all the characters. To sum it up, this has been one of the best action filled, slow burn romance, with some mystery thrown in series I've read all year, and I'm ecstatic to read book 4!

[Karen Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Getting those short POV's at the end of the book were EVERYTHING for me. I've been wanting an Asher POV and though we only got a little of it at the end it was just what I wanted.

The character development that Lyssandra has gone through has been slow but her view of Asher and their bond, the witches, her identity, and her past ...has been slowly developed in a very effective and real way. She has matured as the series has progressed and slowly we have seen more of Asher.. I just love him!!

I'm excited to read the culmination of this story with book 4.

[debturk1970_bookvibes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heir of Shadow: A Study in Shadows, Book 3
By: Sara C. Roethle
🎧 Audiobook Narrated By: Kim Bretton
Length: 10 hrs and 37 mins
📖 Ebook Read Using Kindle Unlimited

A wonderfully narrated audiobook. 🎧👏✨️

Shocks are uncovered about Lyss. Her past and bloodline are ancient. She's much more involved in the vampire war than anyone could have realised!👀

They turn to hidden witches for help and find murders that need solving. Asher and Lyss fall deeper for each other.😍

A battle is coming.💥

Debbie, 1970, UK

[Lara Stegman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Lyss and her merry band of hunters continues in this 3rd novel of the series. Discovering a hidden fortress in a desolate mountainscape, fighting off creatures of nightmares, it's all just a day in the life.
This series is very good with character and relationship development. Not a lot of the extra "fluff" that can be found in other series. The world building is pretty good too, as you can feel the cold of the ice room, as well as the heat of the flames licking at your proverbial boots.

[Mary Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

January Cannot Come Fast Enough!

What a book! There is so much I want to say but won't give spoilers, so here goes: Lyssandra and Asher's relationship explodes with emotion in a myriad of ways. Lyssandra is on a quest to learn of her past, with all kinds of obstacles. What she learns, wow! The is so much violence and betrayal in this story, but through it all the true friends of Lyssandra, especially Tholdri, remain firmly with her. The next book is sure to be riveting!

[Danielle Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

highly recommended series

Downloading book 4 now….such a good read!! My ADHD attention has been kept and I find myself not able to stop reading yet worrying if there will be another book to continue on once this one is finished. I’m totally invested in the love story between our main character and her vampire. Between the history of each species…. And I want to smack some of the characters that betrayed Lyss.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly really enjoying this series.

It's been a while since a series has captured my attention. The last time I read through a series this fast it was ACOTAR. That being said this is no ACOTAR but it is fresh in comparison to all the fae and 'shadow daddy' books that I've been reading. Even with the extremely sparse spicy. I like the story enough that it doesn't matter and the characters are compelling. Going into the fourth book now because fuck cliffhangers.

[Terri West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well things are definitely heating up between Asher and Lyss and we are finding out more about her past. Now that Lyssandra's true abilities have been revealed and Eiric is coming for her the tension in this tale has reached breaking point.
This series is a brilliant creation of fantasy with a romantic twist between a vampire and a hunter. I think I might be slightly in love with Asher. The ending has me rushing to download the last book.

[Stressca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not getting the 5 star ratings yall. The story is interesting but not ‘oh my god, I need to know what happens next’… wait, I have a word for this unputdownable. I put it down… a lot. Asher for a vampire is ‘tame’. How is an ancient vampire tame?! Lyss is so flawed and I loved that about her. She’s only redeemable in her friends. But it seems like a lot of waiting around for something to happen. It wasn’t paced well.

[Shelby Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heir of Shadow:
Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️
Whew I love these books because wow the story building, the characters, the fantasy and the heat. I enjoy Lysandra and Asher so much. I love their relationship and how it’s been building. Also I would read an entire book just about Tholdri. I can’t wait to read the next book. This book was very anticipated and devoured.

[ElfQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually had mixed feelings about this third book. Maybe because sometimes I felt like there was no character development for Asher or the fact that Lyssandra was a bit annoying in this book. Also the story felt like it was missing something to me. I didn’t feel that pull. Regardless it’s a 4 star read because I enjoyed parts like Tholdri,Marcus and Steifen.

[Sharon Hendrix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!!

This book is quite the thriller! So many new characters are introduced. Some we trust, some w don’t. And some we really dislike. But surprises are in store…and they’re not good ones.
Lyssandra ends up alone with her enemies after a great betrayal. But Asher is coming…
I can’t wait to read the 4th book to find out what happens!!