The Shadow I Walk With

by Ashlyn Seraphyne Valara

A forbidden love. A fallen angel. A war older than Heaven itself.
The Shadow I Walk With is a full-length dark paranormal romance that drips with tension, obsession, and secrets buried beneath sacred lies.

When Odessa—scarred by the foster system and haunted by truths she can’t explain—crosses paths with Azazel, she doesn’t know he’s been waiting for her across lifetimes. She only knows that the shadows feel safer than the light… and that something ancient is waking inside her.

As their bond deepens, Odessa is thrust into a secret war between the Watchers—exiled angels who chose love over obedience—and the Wardens, holy enforcers of a broken divine order. Bound by bloodline and prophecy, she holds the key to a truth the Throne has tried to erase. And Azazel? He would burn the heavens to keep her.

But some truths demand sacrifice.
Some love stories were never meant to stay in the light.

✨ Tropes

Forbidden love

Fallen angel x human

Reincarnated lovers

Found family

Hidden powers / destined mate

Possessive male lead

Spiritual awakening & dark prophecy

Tension over smut (slow burn, emotionally intense)

For readers who crave the darkly romantic, the mythic and the profane, The Shadow I Walk With is a descent into love, madness, and power—where Hell is not a punishment, but a choice.

⚠️ Trigger & Content
This novel contains mature themes that may be distressing to some readers. It

Childhood trauma / foster care neglect

Mentions of past emotional and physical abuse

PTSD and dissociation

Religious trauma / anti-organized religion themes

Supernatural violence

Magic and Witch references

Religion. Light v. Dark. Truth v. Lies. Tainted Divinity v. Forbidden Darkness

Possessive and obsessive love dynamics

Emotional manipulation attempts (non-abusive, but heavy)

Psychological horror elements & Kidnapping

Death and spiritual transformation

Power imbalance (angelic being x human, addressed in-story)

This story is intended for adult readers (18+) and explores dark romance, occult themes, and forbidden knowledge through a lens of emotional depth and reclamation.

438 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 21, 2025

Reviews

[Jessica Hoffmaster · Rating 4 out of 5]

The shadow I walk with 🐍


By Ashlyn seraphyne

Thank you for providing this amazing read. I absolutely loved it. this review is of my OWN OPINION 🖤 proceed with caution book baddie 😈

Such a unique story of love, revenge, and family. The FMC finds a family in her new place that’s she’s never truly had before, she can’t remember the truth about herself and her bonded Az, but finds out throughout the book. I loved that aspect of her having amnesia and not remembering and then finding out throughout the book about herself and also her story she missed. I absolutely loved the nicknames, my favorite was “little fox.” The spice was great and just pure love scenes. He has the most beautiful lines throughout the book describing his feelings for her and it was just so much eternal love he had for her. The ending had me on edge and then it was like oh wow !! I loved it !

🦊 nicknames
🦊 bonded mates
🦊 shadow daddy
🦊 only ever been her
🦊 fight scene
🦊 found family
🦊 his mouth 😍
🦊 spice


Azazel’s mouth 🥵🩷

“Her hands slide beneath my shirt, and where she touches, I burn. Her nails drag across my back. Not to hurt, but to mark. To tether. To own. Our souls don’t brush. They collide. Violent. Hungry. Fated.”

“Her soul fits into mine. Like it always belonged there. She is no longer just my Follow. She is my mate. My flame. My ruin — and my resurrection. “Mine,” I say. Not a question. Not a plea. A vow.”


“And if he lays a single hand on her—If he dares—I will burn Heaven down.”
(We love a man that would end it all for her, even heaven to ashes ! )

You absolutely need to add this one to your TBR! Such a great read and worth it every page ! 📄