Thursday, July 16, 2020

The shadows between us by Tricia Levenseller

Lady Alessandra Stathos is beautiful, intelligent, determined to get what she wants - and deadly.  As a second daughter she must wait until her older sister is married off before she can join society and seek a husband of her own, but that hasn't stopped her from having dalliances with men in the privacy of the family estate.  The first boy she loved broke her heart and paid the ultimate price, a knife in his heart and a hidden grave.  After that first messy mistake Alessandra has learned how to control men through different means, blackmail is a wonderful thing.  There is one thing Alessandra wants more than anything, to be in control of her own destiny - to not be controlled by ancient laws and social controls that constrict her movements and her overall freedom.  

After years of finding creative ways to get her own way, Alessandra has come up with the perfect plan  to get all the power she desires.  She is going to marry the Shadow King and then kill him and take his power for herself.  It seems like a simple enough plan, but every eligible girl in the land is trying to attract his attention, and if they aren't then their parents are.  Alessandra knows she will have to be special to attract his attention, and she is going to use every skill at her disposal to get what she wants.  It is a simple plan, woo him, marry him, then kill him - but the best laid plans can come unstuck over the simplest things.  

Alessandra does indeed capture the attention of the Shadow King, but Kallias Maheras is not what she was expecting, and her game slowly comes unraveled as she learns more about him and the tragedy of his parents deaths.  Kallias is called the Shadow King because of the shadows that surround and protect him, the same shadows that protected his father - until they didn't.  As Alessandra slowly worms her way into his court she learns more about Kallias and why he is so guarded, and why so many people live permanently at court.  Each day she grows closer to the king and her goal, but each day also has an alarming effect on their relationship.  When the perfect opportunity arises to kill Kallias and get what she wants will Alessandra take it?

The shadows between us was a fantastic read full of secrets, magic, and strong characters.  Right from the start Alessandra was a powerful character who burst off the page with her determination to break out of the little box women in her kingdom were forced to live in.  She refused to be chaste and pure until her wedding, refused to be traded off on her fathers whim for a bride price she would never see, and she wasn't afraid to show her intelligence and cunning.  Kallias was a perfect counterbalance and compliment to Alessandra - wounded  by the past, untrusting and calculating, he was determined to protect himself no matter what the cost.  

The flow of the relationship between Alessandra and Kallias is what makes this book so special, it gave it realism and depth that is often missing in books with a similar vein.  The relationship is supported by a story that weaves together multiple strands to create a perfect whole - each of the characters has their piece of the story, and their piece of the drama.  Each of the characters also grows and develops, no one gets left behind or forgotten - and it is all too easy to forget that they are not real people.  This is a beautifully crafted story and a real treat for readers with a little something for everyone - drama, magic, mystery, and just a touch of romance.

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Reviewed by Brilla

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