I’m waiting until book two comes out on audio before continuing with the series and book three is due out September 2023. I personally enjoyed the change in direction with the time line, I think it helped me digest and I appreciated that, however there were so many ends to go into book two with I felt a little left in the lurch, I mean, I guess it will make me get into book two, but there wasn't just one cliffie, we had a host of untied knots. I'm so tired of seeing men treat women terribly, feel lusty which chases their bad mood away, and cuddle up to the woman and then move on like nothing happened. With romance, court intrigue, lies and betrayals, action, twists, a great cast of characters and beautiful worldbuilding, Bride of the Shadow King is an enticing first instalment. It popped up once on booktok and I was immediately intrigued by the plot, so I ignored my endless TBR and dove straight into it.

And when she finally found someone who lessened that pain, who grounded her, who saw her for who she was and loved every part of her, she had to let him go. Mercedes crafts a beautiful subterranean Shadow-Under World for the troldfolk (trolls - but much more elegant and refined and advanced - I thought this twist is awesome!She's the author of the bestselling Venatrix Chronicles, The Scarred Mage of Roseward trilogy, and the romantic fantasy duology, Of Candlelight and Shadows. The only way this series will be redeemed is if Vor has to completely grovel and beg forgiveness from Faraine, and she had better make him work for it. I mean the common enemy between the main characters and why the arrangement came into play was because the fae are both of their enemies.

I'd say his terrible reaction is more of a betrayal to Faraine, and worse, because his reaction is all on him. With fantastic chemistry between the two protagonists, high stakes and plenty of mystery and intrigue, this was a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy romance.As someone who picked this up for the Fae aspect I wasn’t disappointed but be warned it’s not a full fledge Fae story.

Both characters battled their personal feelings against their royal obligations while trying to continue the facade one is leading, and that is always interesting to see played out in a story but it does murk up the consensual aspect between the characters. No missing or damaged pages, no tears, possible very minimal creasing, no underlining or highlighting of text, and no writing in the margins. I'm into it up to a certain point but what is it with paranormal and fantasy romances thinking it's ok for romance to be so, so, SO understated? The only way to secure such a force, is to bind himself through marriage with the beloved daughter of his rival king. I get very impatient, and just want to grab the characters heads and force them to speak and work their issues immediately.The world: This is my second time reading from this world, and in this is a different slice of it from my previous visit. A Thing happens that I felt came out of nowhere, was brutal and abrupt, and ultimately overshadowed the entirety of the rest of the book for me. Their chemistry was off the charts from the moment they first meet, and I genuinely liked how the similarities between two were explored —particularly when it came to their complex family relationships and feeling like they don’t belong. I don’t want to spoil it because if I have to label this review as a spoiler people won’t see it and be forewarned - as I wasn’t - that this book gets really disturbing out of nowhere. But of course, the pièce de résistance has to be the gorgeously angsty romance that we see grow between Faraine and Vor.

Vor was just✨💙✨💙He was initially feared due to being trolde (another aspect of this book which I absolutely LOVED as it was different to the usual fae etc. The younger Princess Ilsevel is the favored one for the union, beautiful and the pride of her Father, it's easy to see why she is selected. I liked that though Faraine is not a warrior, assassin, spy or other similar type, she is still a strong character. Sylvia Mercedes makes her home in the idyllic North Carolina countryside with her handsome husband, numerous small children, and the dynamic cat duo known as The Fluffy Brothers. I rather enjoyed this - a couple who are initially very attracted to each other, but have several legitimate obstacles in their way.

Sylvia Mercedes is one of the few authors where I know I'll love the start of a new series or edition to an existing one. I admit I was a bit frustrated at times when I wanted to know more about the characters or their stories, but as I know their are more books to come I know I have to learn patience. I went in expecting one story, and it both changed the type of story it was telling and offered me no conclusion to help me mitigate or manage the horror I felt reading it, so I’m out. I adored the slow burn romance, I love it when authors put the time and effort in to create wonderful characters and care enough not to rush it, but to want them to develop over time and we grow our connection to them as readers, as their blossoming relationship does.