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Duskshade
Not yet published
Expected 28 Jul 26698 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 28, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Duskshade scratched a very specific itch for me. I’m a sucker for the “Alice in Wonderland” trope, and this one delivers it with genuine effort. The world-building is thorough and thoughtful; the author takes the time to lay the groundwork so readers never feel lost or thrown into the deep end without a lifeline.
That said, the pacing does suffer at times. The same care that makes the world feel rich occasionally tips into over-explanation, and there were stretches that felt repetitive or leaned too heavily on telling rather than weaving information naturally into the story.
Ophelia’s growth, though, is one of the book’s real strengths. Her arc is well-depicted and felt earned by the end.
And the romance? Chef’s kiss. The yearning, the tension, the “touch her and die” vibes added so much to the reading experience. That alone kept me turning pages.
A heavier editorial pass would do this book a lot of good, but the ending landed for me and left me satisfied. If you love portal fantasy with slow-burn romantic tension, I’d recommend giving it a shot.
Duskshade scratched a very specific itch for me. I’m a sucker for the “Alice in Wonderland” trope, and this one delivers it with genuine effort. The world-building is thorough and thoughtful; the author takes the time to lay the groundwork so readers never feel lost or thrown into the deep end without a lifeline.
That said, the pacing does suffer at times. The same care that makes the world feel rich occasionally tips into over-explanation, and there were stretches that felt repetitive or leaned too heavily on telling rather than weaving information naturally into the story.
Ophelia’s growth, though, is one of the book’s real strengths. Her arc is well-depicted and felt earned by the end.
And the romance? Chef’s kiss. The yearning, the tension, the “touch her and die” vibes added so much to the reading experience. That alone kept me turning pages.
A heavier editorial pass would do this book a lot of good, but the ending landed for me and left me satisfied. If you love portal fantasy with slow-burn romantic tension, I’d recommend giving it a shot.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed this read. I really liked the plot. The writing was good. The pacing felt appropriate to me. I really enjoyed the characters.
ARC provided via Pen Pinery
https://penpinery.com
ARC provided via Pen Pinery
https://penpinery.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A devastating romance of epic proportion.
23 year old Ophelia lives a quiet life with her cat and here science lab in London. The hallucinations she’s dealt with her entire life grow worse, and she is suddenly thrown into a dangerous fae realm. She’s faced with intimidating fae, ancient creatures, and political unrest. This is an epic fantasy about identity, power, and survival, packed with shocking reveals and deeply emotional romance.
* High Fae
* Morally gray MMC
* “Are you hurt”
* “Touch her and die”
* Wound checking
* Prophecy
* Portal magic
* Animal/beast sidekicks
* Training and battle arcs
* Found family
There are two romances woven throughout the story, the second having wrecked me. The burn is criminally slow, and the yearning is visceral, devastating, and unmatched. The plot will hook you, but the slow-burn breadcrumbs will keep you. The ache is so impactful that you’ll be thinking of it long after you finish the book. The cliffhanger, however, had me confused and yelling!
Entering Fenraeis is like Alice dropping into Wonderland. The creatures are strange and stunning, and the landscape is bright and ethereal. Great care is given to extensive build of this world, being wildly immersive and imaginative. The magic system is layered, complex, and an essential driver of the plot. Fans of the Little Mermaid will love the underwater kingdom in the Aurelion Tides! The pacing slows in the middle but picks back up again in the last quarter of the book - I couldn't turn the page fast enough.
Many readers will resonate with Ophelia’s journey toward empowerment, especially after a life lacking self trust. While subtle, I appreciated how she longs to rediscover her fearless childhood self, long dampened by the struggle and insecurity of adulthood. There’s also a beautiful exploration of grief and how it can darken our world and turn us into people we don’t recognize - but also how we can thread our past and present grieving selves together to be someone even stronger.
Great choice for people who loved the evolution of Feyre’s romances in the ACOTAR series, or any romantasy reader looking for a new world to get lost in for a while. Some things remain unfinished or unanswered, leaving you begging for the next book. Thank you to Madison Patershuk & Ebony Dobson for the free advanced copy!
23 year old Ophelia lives a quiet life with her cat and here science lab in London. The hallucinations she’s dealt with her entire life grow worse, and she is suddenly thrown into a dangerous fae realm. She’s faced with intimidating fae, ancient creatures, and political unrest. This is an epic fantasy about identity, power, and survival, packed with shocking reveals and deeply emotional romance.
* High Fae
* Morally gray MMC
* “Are you hurt”
* “Touch her and die”
* Wound checking
* Prophecy
* Portal magic
* Animal/beast sidekicks
* Training and battle arcs
* Found family
There are two romances woven throughout the story, the second having wrecked me. The burn is criminally slow, and the yearning is visceral, devastating, and unmatched. The plot will hook you, but the slow-burn breadcrumbs will keep you. The ache is so impactful that you’ll be thinking of it long after you finish the book. The cliffhanger, however, had me confused and yelling!
Entering Fenraeis is like Alice dropping into Wonderland. The creatures are strange and stunning, and the landscape is bright and ethereal. Great care is given to extensive build of this world, being wildly immersive and imaginative. The magic system is layered, complex, and an essential driver of the plot. Fans of the Little Mermaid will love the underwater kingdom in the Aurelion Tides! The pacing slows in the middle but picks back up again in the last quarter of the book - I couldn't turn the page fast enough.
Many readers will resonate with Ophelia’s journey toward empowerment, especially after a life lacking self trust. While subtle, I appreciated how she longs to rediscover her fearless childhood self, long dampened by the struggle and insecurity of adulthood. There’s also a beautiful exploration of grief and how it can darken our world and turn us into people we don’t recognize - but also how we can thread our past and present grieving selves together to be someone even stronger.
Great choice for people who loved the evolution of Feyre’s romances in the ACOTAR series, or any romantasy reader looking for a new world to get lost in for a while. Some things remain unfinished or unanswered, leaving you begging for the next book. Thank you to Madison Patershuk & Ebony Dobson for the free advanced copy!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews