House of Ice & Shadows

Myths & Outlaws #2

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

From #1 New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon comes an all new world unlike anything ever seen before…

TAKE BACK YOUR KINGDOM

Gisela Bloodthorn is trained to kill. Taken hostage when she was a young girl, she has spent her life enslaved as an assassin in the court of the Centaurs, where only the strongest survive.

Now, the Centaur queen has a final assignment for kill the queen’s enemies and Gisela will go free. Fail and the only person Gisela loves will be sacrificed.

But when she moves to assassinate her first target, the Outlaw, Dove Gan Athair. Gisela learns that the Outlaws aren’t what they seem. Nor are they easily slain.

Dove isn’t just a bastard elf. He has a secret that could tear the Thirteen Kingdoms apart and one he will kill to protect. And when he learns the truth about Gisela and her family, he knows that she is key to ending the Centaur-Unicorn war before it destroys everything.

But trust doesn’t come easy to either of them. If they can’t find common ground and fight their real enemy, both of them will lose everything and everyone they care for.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

386 pages, Paperback

First published February 17, 2026

About the author

Official Author site
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New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon is a regular at the #1 spot. With legions of fans known as Paladins (thousands of whom proudly sport tattoos from her series and who travel from all over the world to attend her appearances), her books are always snatched up as soon as they appear on store shelves. Since 2004, she had placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga and graphic novels. Her current series are: Dark-Hunters, Chronicles of Nick and The League, and her books are available in over 100 countries where eager fans impatiently wait for the next release. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures while Dark-Hunter is also being developed as a television series. Join her and her Paladins online at MySherrilyn.com and www.facebook.com/mysherrilyn

Fan Run International Sites:

Argentinian FB Page 

Fans de Sherrilyn Kenyon en Columbia 

Fans de Sherrilyn Kenyon en Chile 

Filipino Fans on FB 

France/French 

Italy/Italian 

Portugal 

Soy Fans de Sherrilyn Kenyon 

Dark-Hunter Spain 

Spanish

Reviews

[Joyffree · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Myths & Outlaws Series, and things are starting to get pretty wild!

Gisela is the queen's blade.
The perfect killing machine.
When Queen Meara offers her the one thing she desires most, her freedom, in exchange for “securing” and protecting the Apaswere, or Oath Keeper ,who holds the queen’s contract with Dash
She doesn't hesitate
But we all know it's not going to be that easy

Xaydin has sworn to hunt down and exterminate all Apaswere after one of them wrongly killed his father.
His current mission?
To find and dispose of the Apaswere carrying Dash’s contract.
Easy Peasy
Until Gisela crosses his path

This had so many “OMG, you have got to be kidding me" moments scattered among some of the best misleading breadcrumb trails.
Edge of your seat suspense
With twists you won't see coming
Detailed world-building
Missions within missions
Secrets that will change everything
Shifters and Magical creatures galore!
Banter
Dry humor
A five-star supporting cast of characters who, on numerous occasions, stole the scene
Villains who will give you a serious case of the icks
And don’t even get me started on the sexual tension between these two

This ends on a “happy enough for now.”
You know things are going to get FUBAR'd as we go
I need the next episode!!

[Alys Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars Just great. So many different twists and turns in this book. This series is really shaping up to become a great one in Kenyons books. Can’t wait for more to come. So many wonderful characters that need their own stories told.

I received an Advance Reading Copy for my honest review.

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always loved Kenyon’s books, and this did not disappoint. It’s the 2nd in a series and involves many fantasy creatures and a lot of different kingdoms. At first it was hard to follow how all the characters were connected. I didn’t read the first book so I don’t know if that would have helped. It moved along pretty quickly and didn’t have long drawn out parts. A very fun read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy S · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOUSE OF ICE AND SHADOWS is the second instalment in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s’ adult MYTHS & OUTLAWS dark, paranormal, fantasy romance series. This is assassin Gisela Bloodthorn, and Outlaw Xaydin’s story line. HOUSE OF ICE AND SHADOWS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.


Told from several omniscient third person perspectives including Gisela and Xaydin, HOUSE OF ICE AND SHADOWS follows Gisela Bloodthorn as she is ordered to k*ll, a task contracted by Queen Meara, an evil and dark centaur Queen who has enslaved our heroine for most of her life but on her travels, Gisela will meet Outlaw Xaydin and his half-brother Masakage, a powerful warlock in his own right. Together, the trio will set out on their journey but at odds when Gisela discovers Xaydin has been ordered to protect the man Gisela is being forced to k*ll. As Gisela and Xaydin begin to circle one another, Xaydin reveals his hatred towards all shifters, as Gisela struggles to hide her true identity in the face of lifelong secrets and lies.


The world building is detailed as Gisela and Xaydin traverse through the rugged train in search of their target. The numerous supernatural creature they will encounter grows exponentially as it will be revealed that many shifters have the ability to shift into any living creature they want.


The relationship between Gisela and Xaydin begins as a rescue, of a sorts, as Gisela is targeted upon her arrival . Believed to be human, Gisela is passing for something she is not, and when the truth is revealed, Xaydin battles between head and heart, aware of the true nature of our story line heroine. the $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.


There is a large ensemble cast of colorful, magical and supernatural characters including centaur Queen Meara; Xaydin’s half-brother Masakage, and sister Candara, and fellow Outlaw Ronan, as well as numerous centaurs, unicorns, ogres, shifters, and more. The requisite evil has many faces.


HOUSE OF ICE AND SHADOW is a story of secrets and lies, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, magic and the supernatural, acceptance and love. The character driven premise is detailed, dramatic and intriguing; the romance is fated; the characters are desperate and determined.


copy supplied for review

[Visionary Druid · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gisela Bloodthorn serves as the Centaur queen’s personal assassin. She is ordered to protect the demon holding the contract between her queen and the previous high king. Gisela is also tasked with eliminating any Outlaws she comes across. She encounters Xaydin, who helps her avoid unwanted notice in a foreign kingdom. Gisela learns they are pursuing the same demon but for different objectives. Will she be forced to fight Xaydin? Or will her true lineage cause them to remain enemies?

Xaydin Kazakh is a fallen half-troll prince and a member of the Outlaws. He is known as the Oathbreaker due to his vow to eliminate all apaswere. Xaydin searches for the demon holding the contract between the former High King and the Centaur Queen. When he sees Gisela struggling in his kingdom, he steps in to help her. Xaydin invites her to join him after discovering their shared goal. Can Xaydin and Gisela learn to trust another? Will he give her a reason to question her loyalty to her queen?

Gisela and Xaydin have much in common. They both have deep-seated trust issues. And they both have endured torture and abuse by the Centaur Queen’s hand. I like how Xaydin did not let Gisela’s parentage bother him, especially after learning that she too was a victim. He easily saw how different mother and daughter are.

I love how being around Xaydin and his brother caused Gisela to waver in her allegiance to her mother. They helped her see who the real monsters are in the Thirteen Kingdoms. And that she should not be ashamed of her lineage.

HOUSE OF ICE & SHADOWS is the second book in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s fantasy-romance series, MYTH & OUTLAWS. It is best to begin with the first book, HOUSE OF FIRE & MAGIC, before venturing into this one. It introduces the author’s new world – the different kingdoms, key players, and the conflicts in that the world. Dash, the hero from HoF&M, is mentioned frequently throughout the story. He and Tanis DO make an appearance.

I began this book during a very sad and stressful time. It helped distract my brain from worrying excessively over my injured dog (who sadly passed away). My thanks to Sherrilyn Kenyon for giving me that respite!

[Lisa Spofford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me a copy of this novel. I am voluntarily leaving this honest review. HOUSE OF ICE AND SHADOWS is the second book in the MYTHS & OUTLAWS series by Sherrilyn Kenyon. Trained assassin, Gisela, must kill her targets to gain her freedom, but meeting Prince Xaydin reveals secrets that could end the Centaur-Unicorn War in the thirteen kingdoms. This is a spicy, open door, third person, dual POV, fantasy romance with tropes like enemies to lovers, she is supposed to kill him, magic and mythical creatures, she’s a shifter and he hates them, they’ve been given conflicting assignments, shared childhood trauma, found family, and a war between their kingdoms. This followed a similar pattern to the first book and the author’s work in general. Both main characters and most of the secondary characters had experienced trauma in their childhoods which made them reluctant to trust and informed their opinions about people. The main characters romance seems hopeless due to their personal quests and backgrounds. Gisela and Xaydin were drawn to each other despite being mortal enemies and having conflicting goals. I loved reading as Gisela experiencing kindness and friendship for the first time in her life and blossomed with that experience. I loved Xaydin letting go of so many of his prejudices to let Gisela into his life. Both main characters grew by the end of the book. The author incorporated humor, banter, and heart into the story and the secondary characters were interesting and entertaining. The ending was very satisfying and the possible hints about the next book in the series were tantalizing. I recommend this book for readers who enjoy romantasy with an overarching story for the series.

[Rolé - Hooked By That Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two enemies become reluctant allies, then partners and lovers, in this exciting fantasy romance.

For all that Gisela was a cold-blooded assassin, who grew up without support and love, she had a refreshing kind of naïve way of looking at Xaydin and their adventures together. It was clear that she was starving for acceptance and affection, which was probably why she agreed to the precarious deal with Xaydin. I really liked her. She jumped into the mission with both feet and gave it her all. Gisela and Xaydin were super cute together and made a good team.

The battles in the middle were truly impressive and the victories were hard won. But towards the end it felt like everything fell into place a little too easily. Though, Gisela deserved a stress-free ending. I enjoyed the story overall and the pace was steady and fairly fast. Our heroes had more than one quest that brought them into contact with many different interesting creatures.

The author built an interesting world, with the expected political intrigue and power struggles. This is a fun series if you like fantasy romance with thrilling action and intriguing characters. I think it's better to read the books in order as the first book sets everything up nicely.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This review is also on Hooked By That Book.

[Cyrene Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second book in this series, we meet Gisela, who is actually an assassin for the Centaur court and her mother – the Queen Meara, even though that bit of tidbit has been kept secret from her people, maybe because of her “complete” parentage. The Queen offers Gisela her freedom for one final mission, to protect the apaswere who has the contract between her and Dash – the Unicorn King, as others have been sent to kill him to null the contract. The one sent to kill him is Xaydin, a Prince troll. Both of them will have to overcome their distrust of everyone to go on a journey together to find the apaswere.

This is truly Gisela’s and Xaydin’s story, but along the way we meet a fantastic supporting cast, and the banter is fun between Xaydin and his two siblings. Gisela will learn what family should have been. And yes, we will see Dash in this book, the main character from book one.

This book has a lot of everything. Danger, suspense, romance, spice, battle scenes and a whole slew of mythical beings from Mermaids to Trolls, to Unicorns and Shifters and Dragons and Centaurs, this book has a lot going on, but it all fits together so nicely. This book will not end on a cliffhanger, but the world remains, and I’m sure we will see all our characters turn up in future installments.

[Lena Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book in the Myths & Outlaws series. I don't think you have to read the first one to enjoy this book, but I'd recommend doing so. In the first book we met some of the Outlaws and in this one we get to really get to know a lot of them. Especially Xaydin, Masakage, and their sister Candara. (And I really hope Masakage and Candara get their own stories too.) Xaydin has been tasked with killing the Apaswere that holds the contract between King Dash and Queen Meara. Gisela has been tasked with protecting the same Apaswere and killing any Outlaws she meets. She's loyal to Queen Meara and he is loyal to King Dash. They should be enemies, but when they enter into their quest together, they realize that not everything is as it seems.

I love this world filled with unicorns and magic. And I love Xaydin's sarcastic humor. From the very beginning when he meets Gisela I could tell he was my favorite kind of hero.

This fantasy adventure romance is a page turner that you will not want to put down once you start reading it. I'm definitely looking forward to reading the next one in the series when it's available.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jimie · Rating 5 out of 5]

House of Ice and Shadows (Myths & Outlaws #2) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Sherrilyn Kenyon delivers another intense, emotional punch with House of Ice and Shadows, and I felt every second of Gisela and Xaydin’s journey.

This story is packed with pain, suffering, and hard-won growth, but it’s also deeply rooted in love and healing. Both characters carry heavy scars, and watching them fight through their pasts while learning to trust, to hope, and ultimately to love themselves was incredibly powerful. Their connection feels raw and earned, not easy or perfect , which makes it all the more beautiful.

I loved the theme of finding family in the darkest moments. The bonds formed throughout the story feel just as important as the romance, adding depth and heart to an already emotional ride.

From page one, the stakes are high. The pacing is relentless, the tension constant, and the action had my heart pounding. And that ending…. Completely gripping and left me desperate for more.

Kenyon knows how to balance darkness with hope, and this book proves it.

I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Naomi Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

House of Ice & Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon delivers a rich, imaginative fantasy filled with danger, loyalty, and unexpected alliances. Set against the fragile peace of an ancient treaty, the story follows Princess Gisela—both royal hostage and deadly assassin—and Xaydin, the infamous Oath Breaker, whose mission places him on a collision course with her fate. Their parallel journeys weave together with intensity, especially alongside Masakage, creating a layered tale of duty, identity, and trust. Kenyon builds a vivid world populated by shapeshifters, trolls, ogres, mermaids, and fae, each adding texture and intrigue. The quest to find the mysterious Apaswere creature keeps the stakes high and the pages turning. Complex, adventurous, and emotionally engaging, this book is a rewarding read for fantasy lovers who enjoy strong characters and intricate world-building.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Ice & Shadows by Sherrilyn Kenyon is book two of the new series, Myths & Outlaws. While the world building is excellent, I do wish I had started with book one, House of Fire and Magic. So I would suggest that to enhance your enjoyment of this second book. There are centaurs, dragons, trolls and so much more in this fantasy world with secrets, truth to be revealed, vengeful actions, and oppressive rulers to be overthrown. What more could you want.

Gisela Bloodthorn, assassin extraordinaire, has one final assignment. Of course, it does not go exactly as planned, nor does Gisela know the truth. After meeting Xaydin, it takes time to see if he will be enemy, friend or true love, by the end it is crystal clear. Sherrilyn Kenyon always give a great love story in her books.

[Deborah Spier · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story grabbed me from the first. I haven't read the first book in the series, but it wasn't necessary. There was no need for long, complicated world bulding either, as everything was understandable and fell into place without it. It was character and plot driven, so that the magical world gave the story dimension, rather than being dependent on it for interest. Saying almost anything about the plot will give away spoilers, so I'll just say that Gisela and Xaydin were exciting characters, both individually and as a couple. I really enjoyed both their love story and their adventures.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[dlfuller54 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed returning to the wonderful world building of Myths and Outlaws and the HEA of Gisela and Xaydin which was not an uneventful one. Their story is riddled with mayhem, magic adventure, misfortune that’s balanced with hope, friendship, found family, trust and eventually love. This story is fast faced with returning and new characters to add to your reading pleasure.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Danielle Bush · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back with the Myths and Outlaws series! If you're already a fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon, I think you'll find this series has all her trademark spice and snark, with a fun plot to tie it all together. We have Gisella and Xaydin, who had great chemistry, and the sassy banter between them had me laughing out loud. This series has been super fun so far, and I can't wait to see who the next couple is going to be and what they are going to be up to!

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gisele was raised to be an assassin by her cruel mother. She has shifting abilities that everyone hates. On a quest for her mother, she meets Xaydin, a prince who is part troll and has magic in his blood. He is traveling with his brother. He saves Gisele, and they find out that they are on opposing sides. But they form an alliance, and it turns into so much more. I really enjoyed the quest they were on, the shifting, danger, and unexpected love. It's a great fantasy.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Sherrilyn Kenyon's writing and the second book in this series is fabulous! You definitely need to read the first to understand all the intricacies of this series. The FMC and MMC are great and need more books in this series already. Literally cannot wait for the next book. Really like this world and am anxiously awaiting listening to the audiobook too. Read or listen to these books, they're different than Kenyon's usual books and I definitely highly recommend this series.

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was hooked on all Sherrilyn's books before and now I am hooked on this series! I love the creativity she puts in this book. The characters are strong and captivating! The bonds between them are what we would like in everyday life.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

I would give it 3.5 stars and would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a quick read and an interesting plot. While I wish it had explored more of the darker aspects of their professions the book was well written overall and entertaining. I think this was a good continuation of the series and look forward to reading the next one.

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunters world and whilst this is just the beginning of this new series I am already hooked in this fantasy world created by such an amazing storyteller.
So looking forward to where this journey takes me.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like fantasy then you’ll enjoy this book. The world building is intricate and immersive. The characters are diverse, complex and draw you into their lives and struggles. While this isn’t necessarily my cup of tea the story is very well done.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[LizJ. · Rating 4 out of 5]

House of Ice & Shadows Book 2 of Myths & Outlaws by Sherrilyn Kenyon is such an emotional and heart wrenching story but also shows healing and love. It's an exceptional storyline, great characters and worldbuilding. I enjoyed reading this story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandy Schleich · Rating 4 out of 5]

good

I really like Gisela And Xaydin. Gisela‘s mom is a real piece of work. She doesn’t care about anybody else but herself even her own daughter. After Gisela meets the outlaws, she realizes that they are not as bad as her mother made them out to be. Once Gisela got a taste of freedom. She did not want to go back to her mother‘s court. I really liked the end of this book and I will read the next book in the series if there is one.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great story filled with spice, humor, and intriguing characters. Sherrilyn Kenyon always writes interesting fancy stories that seems real and this one made feel as if I was experiencing it. It was a great story from beginning to end and I loved reading it.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy for more Sherilyn Kenyon!

Kenyon is one of my all-time favorite authors. She writes eloquently of unique, tortured souls, who have ttouble trusting after the abuse they've experienced. In creative landscapes filled with turmoil and treachery, they manage to find each other and learn to trust and love.

[Debra Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sherrilyn enchants once more

A truly engaging finish to Myths and Outlaws” As always Sherrilyn is the ultimate fantasy story teller with colourful characters you understand as they are so well developed as the story continues. I truly look forward to what’s to come next with the finale of this enticing world she has introduced.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This was a fast read that kept me turning pages. I will be watching for more books by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky Rolfes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kill to be loved

A queen’s assassin and a prince living for revenge; two who kill for or because of family. But killing doesn’t bring happiness or peace to these two damaged souls; only finding each other and discovering that love heals.

[Rowan Creech · Rating 5 out of 5]

This rollercoaster of a book was full of twists and turns. Its wonderful characters and intricate storylines kept me hooked from beginning to end, wanting more.