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The Curse of Broken Shadows
An assassin, a powerful dagger, and a magic that shouldn’t exist.
Shadow magic is extinct. The Veil Worshippers who honor the shadow god’s wall are hunted for their artifacts, including the Veil shards that break off the wall in Valisea.
Brela vows to steal it all back. With the dagger of her people and a Veil shard embedded in her collarbone that has infected her with shadow-cursed magic, she is determined to keep her secrets or suffer a fate worse than death. That was a lot easier when the uptight and infuriatingly handsome Captain Cason Valkip wasn’t hunting her.
Cason has spent his entire life hiding—from the raids on Valisea, from his emotions, and from his multiple gods-blessed magics that everyone is afraid of… everyone except Brela. The chaotic, non-magic wielding assassin who drives him insane is also the only person who has never looked at his tainted magic without any ounce of fear. Which is why being forced to work with her to discover the source of the breaking wall sets his already uncontrollable fire magic ablaze.
With tension growing in the remaining kingdoms and mythical beasts threatening her at every turn, Brela’s secrets might not remain hidden for much longer. To survive, she will have to work with the one man who could burn her.
Because if shadow hell is released, no one will be safe.
For fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove series. Dive into this epic, enemies to lovers fantasy with magic, found family, and knives. Lots and lots of knives.
TW: This book contains explicit content and dark elements, including language, violence and torture, mature romantic scenes, and mentions of abuse.
Shadow magic is extinct. The Veil Worshippers who honor the shadow god’s wall are hunted for their artifacts, including the Veil shards that break off the wall in Valisea.
Brela vows to steal it all back. With the dagger of her people and a Veil shard embedded in her collarbone that has infected her with shadow-cursed magic, she is determined to keep her secrets or suffer a fate worse than death. That was a lot easier when the uptight and infuriatingly handsome Captain Cason Valkip wasn’t hunting her.
Cason has spent his entire life hiding—from the raids on Valisea, from his emotions, and from his multiple gods-blessed magics that everyone is afraid of… everyone except Brela. The chaotic, non-magic wielding assassin who drives him insane is also the only person who has never looked at his tainted magic without any ounce of fear. Which is why being forced to work with her to discover the source of the breaking wall sets his already uncontrollable fire magic ablaze.
With tension growing in the remaining kingdoms and mythical beasts threatening her at every turn, Brela’s secrets might not remain hidden for much longer. To survive, she will have to work with the one man who could burn her.
Because if shadow hell is released, no one will be safe.
For fans of Sarah J. Maas's Throne of Glass series, Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, and Shelby Mahurin's Serpent & Dove series. Dive into this epic, enemies to lovers fantasy with magic, found family, and knives. Lots and lots of knives.
TW: This book contains explicit content and dark elements, including language, violence and torture, mature romantic scenes, and mentions of abuse.
744 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 5, 2021
204 people are currently reading
4655 people want to read
About the author
Laura Winter
37 books202 followersLaura Winter is a passionate creator, minimalist, and van life dreamer. She's dedicated to writing character-driven stories with intricate plots that will keep you engaged until the last page. Explore new worlds, fall in love with characters, and enjoy an escape.
You can join her community at https://sendfox.com/laurawinter and never miss a new publication.
You can join her community at https://sendfox.com/laurawinter and never miss a new publication.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
December 30, 2021
Thank you to the author for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
I didn't realize this was a whole BRICK of a book until last month. Then I decided to take a whole month to read and savor it. Which was the best decision I could've made. If you enjoyed Celaena's character from Throne of Glass, then you'll love Brela.
The Curse of Broken Shadows is about a fantasy world where the kingdom of Valisea and it's shadow magic users have been almost completely wiped out. Brela is from Valisea, but hasn't been back in years. She's spent her time training and her guise as the Night Terror, a feared assassin, to find the enemies of Valisea. When she's captured by the Prince of Severina and his Captain, she's given the chance to be freed of her debts if she spies for the King. War is brewing and the wall that separates the human kingdoms from whatever is beyond it, is at risk of being destroyed.
This book is huge and it is definitely slower moving. That's not to say nothing happens, because there is action, though we don't always see how it will play out in the overarching plot immediately. A lot of the action in this book is setting up the world, the key players and understanding how things have been manipulated in history to get to where things are. If you like stories with a lot of world building and history, this is definitely for you.
There's also a super intense enemies to lovers relationship in this. If you like knife flirting, there's no other way to describe it, then you should definitely pick this up. Cason and Brela are like combining oil and fire. It was a beautiful mess and damn it was hot. I had so much fun with all of their banter and relationship development. I'm really curious to see how things will change/progress in the next book.
I also loved Brela's little found family of her, Elias and Farrah. These three were so sweet and this was definitely a queer-platonic relationship. I loved how these three were always there for each other. No matter what. I need more of them together. I loved how Farrah welcomed Serill, the Prince, into their circle. I really loved how inquisitive Serill is. He wants to be a good person so badly, and I think he's almost ready to take action to make things right again.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this one. I would love to see more characters of color and queer characters in future installments, but besides that I have very few complaints. There may have actually been some BIPOC characters, I am just absolutely terrible at what people look like and I remember zero physical descriptions except for Brela. Everyone else is a blob, I'm so sorry y'all.
CWs: Abandonment, blood, confinement, death, death of parent, fire, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, murder, mental illness (PTSD), sexual content, violence, vomit. Moderate: torture, past mentions of sexual assault, sexual violence and rape, past mentions of emotional and physical child abuse, misogyny, sexism.
I didn't realize this was a whole BRICK of a book until last month. Then I decided to take a whole month to read and savor it. Which was the best decision I could've made. If you enjoyed Celaena's character from Throne of Glass, then you'll love Brela.
The Curse of Broken Shadows is about a fantasy world where the kingdom of Valisea and it's shadow magic users have been almost completely wiped out. Brela is from Valisea, but hasn't been back in years. She's spent her time training and her guise as the Night Terror, a feared assassin, to find the enemies of Valisea. When she's captured by the Prince of Severina and his Captain, she's given the chance to be freed of her debts if she spies for the King. War is brewing and the wall that separates the human kingdoms from whatever is beyond it, is at risk of being destroyed.
This book is huge and it is definitely slower moving. That's not to say nothing happens, because there is action, though we don't always see how it will play out in the overarching plot immediately. A lot of the action in this book is setting up the world, the key players and understanding how things have been manipulated in history to get to where things are. If you like stories with a lot of world building and history, this is definitely for you.
There's also a super intense enemies to lovers relationship in this. If you like knife flirting, there's no other way to describe it, then you should definitely pick this up. Cason and Brela are like combining oil and fire. It was a beautiful mess and damn it was hot. I had so much fun with all of their banter and relationship development. I'm really curious to see how things will change/progress in the next book.
I also loved Brela's little found family of her, Elias and Farrah. These three were so sweet and this was definitely a queer-platonic relationship. I loved how these three were always there for each other. No matter what. I need more of them together. I loved how Farrah welcomed Serill, the Prince, into their circle. I really loved how inquisitive Serill is. He wants to be a good person so badly, and I think he's almost ready to take action to make things right again.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed this one. I would love to see more characters of color and queer characters in future installments, but besides that I have very few complaints. There may have actually been some BIPOC characters, I am just absolutely terrible at what people look like and I remember zero physical descriptions except for Brela. Everyone else is a blob, I'm so sorry y'all.
CWs: Abandonment, blood, confinement, death, death of parent, fire, genocide, grief, injury/injury detail, kidnapping, murder, mental illness (PTSD), sexual content, violence, vomit. Moderate: torture, past mentions of sexual assault, sexual violence and rape, past mentions of emotional and physical child abuse, misogyny, sexism.
October 6, 2021
Do you enjoy knife flirting? If you are thinking, what’s knife flirting and that sounds sexy—get this book.
Laura Winter has an amazing ability to create dialogue that not only feels natural but also makes you feel as if you’re listening in to their conversation in a tavern on a whole other world. Her use of descriptions brings you to another place filled with a complicated history, muddled with a dark past.
However, there are so many beautiful moments of companionship and love that give those ominous moments silver linings, giving the characters that much needed hope in order to persevere. Their bonds are unbreakable and it’s easy to see that nothing will destroy the love they have for one another.
There are many unforgettable characters and perspectives in this book. The main character, the sexy, witty, and five steps ahead of everyone else, Brela makes it hard for you to put down the book. From the first page, she hooks you. She has gone through so much pain and agony; it’s amazing that she doesn’t have a negative view on everything. Cason, Brelas enemy to lover, is as innocent and powerful as they come. And sweet, so sweet.
But my favorite character is Serill, born to inherit the throne, but without any real power, he isn’t taken seriously. But his devotion to his people runs deep. His goal is to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Everyone. He even collects the Shadow-kinds remnants to remember and honor them.
I can’t wait for Serill to be king. I hope we get to read about it.
All the characters come to life and the way Winter writes, she keeps you turning the pages. Hopefully, I'll be ARC reading the next book too, because I can't wait for it to come out!
I can’t emphasize this enough.
Get this book!
Laura Winter has an amazing ability to create dialogue that not only feels natural but also makes you feel as if you’re listening in to their conversation in a tavern on a whole other world. Her use of descriptions brings you to another place filled with a complicated history, muddled with a dark past.
However, there are so many beautiful moments of companionship and love that give those ominous moments silver linings, giving the characters that much needed hope in order to persevere. Their bonds are unbreakable and it’s easy to see that nothing will destroy the love they have for one another.
There are many unforgettable characters and perspectives in this book. The main character, the sexy, witty, and five steps ahead of everyone else, Brela makes it hard for you to put down the book. From the first page, she hooks you. She has gone through so much pain and agony; it’s amazing that she doesn’t have a negative view on everything. Cason, Brelas enemy to lover, is as innocent and powerful as they come. And sweet, so sweet.
But my favorite character is Serill, born to inherit the throne, but without any real power, he isn’t taken seriously. But his devotion to his people runs deep. His goal is to treat everyone with dignity and respect. Everyone. He even collects the Shadow-kinds remnants to remember and honor them.
I can’t wait for Serill to be king. I hope we get to read about it.
All the characters come to life and the way Winter writes, she keeps you turning the pages. Hopefully, I'll be ARC reading the next book too, because I can't wait for it to come out!
I can’t emphasize this enough.
Get this book!
October 5, 2021
This book is brilliant.
I want to preface and say that this review may sound out of proportion because of how much I am going to rave about this book, but I promise (pinky swear, from the bottom of my heart) that every word I type about this book is completely authentic and truthful.
To start, I quite literally stumbled across this book by luck on a Facebook page and its synopsis piqued my interest, so I wanted to give it a try despite its seemingly daunting 700+ page count. Now, I’m an avid Fantasy reader, so I knew going into it that it had a lot to live up to in my head. So, to expand on that, I want to build my credibility by saying I’ve read a lot of the same tropes over and over with similar plots and parallel worlds, so I would say my standards for a fantasy are pretty high.
Listen to me when I say, this book blew those standards out of the water.
First off, the writing. THE writing. I was so glued to this book that I read the entire brick in two days, and the only reason I stopped reading the first day is that my body physically could not read any longer and I fell asleep with the book on my chest. I have never in my life read a book with such seamless writing, there were no hiccups at all, and the writing was so intentional that every single word of those 700+ pages mattered. The book feels so natural to read and didn’t give me much of the “new fantasy book confusion” with the language, so it’s easy to grasp ( and get lost in) as well. The metaphors!!!! Literary elements decorate this book beautifully and tastefully and are SO well done. Some parts of the book border on poetic, especially when fire is symbolically involved (I may have highlighted all of them). As a current student, I feel as if I could write a multi-page paper illustrating how superb the literary aspects of this book were, and specifically, how it walked perfectly on the line of balancing too many/too few of these elements and how the elements enriched the story/plot the perfect amount.
Next, and quite possibly my favorite, are the characters. Each are incredibly well-developed with their own strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and complexities, with rich dialogue and explorations of atypical relationships with one another. This being said, although the literary aspects of the characters were so advanced and well-developed, what stuck out to me most were the ways in which the characters were developed (specifically regarding the women). This book, in my personal opinion, displays true feminism in regard to a fantasy storyline. The women are brilliant and badass, no doubt, but their femininity (which is sometimes compromised for strength or power) is seen as an absolute, uncompromising strength. Power and femininity are not seen as exclusionary, and I cannot express how much that means to me as a reader. That being said, I want to be clear that it doesn’t matter whether someone consists of more feminine traits or masculine traits (or adheres to any typical gender constructs), but the fact that gender and expression of gender does not serve as a weakness is the best representation of equality we can see or ask for in a fantasy novel, and is exactly what I’m so appreciative of. There’s casual mention of women in high-ranking positions (that are often seen as masculine in today’s society/in a typical fantasy environment), women in battle who are respected and equal with the men, and most of all, the physical descriptions of their beauty (i.e. how strong, visible muscles are valued and admired and serve to show the strength, drive, and dedication of the character rather than just serve as a physical descriptor of attractiveness). I noticed and appreciated all of the little ways in which Laura incorporated these aspects (and more!) into the story.
The plot itself is so rich. Although the book is long and there is a lot of said plot, the books never dwells on any specific scene/moment too long, so the pacing of the plot feels so natural. I was absolutely hooked on this storyline, it felt reading a perfected recipe of fantasy, adventure, romance, and mystery, and the lush descriptions and world building are just the cherry on top. I think the author did an incredible job of revealing just enough at the right time to keep you hooked but not frustrated, which is a hard job to do in a 700+ page novel. It was just beautifully done overall.
So that being said, I loved this novel. It’s undoubtedly one of my top fantasy reads.
I loved it so much, that I reached out to the author to do fan art for the story, which I had never done before (Seriously, I downloaded Procreate for it), and further reached out to the author to see if there was any other way I could support the novel.
Do I recommend this book? Absolutely. Please listen when I say, I was given this book to be an ARC reader, but that is not the reason I have two physical copies coming in the mail tomorrow.
I want to preface and say that this review may sound out of proportion because of how much I am going to rave about this book, but I promise (pinky swear, from the bottom of my heart) that every word I type about this book is completely authentic and truthful.
To start, I quite literally stumbled across this book by luck on a Facebook page and its synopsis piqued my interest, so I wanted to give it a try despite its seemingly daunting 700+ page count. Now, I’m an avid Fantasy reader, so I knew going into it that it had a lot to live up to in my head. So, to expand on that, I want to build my credibility by saying I’ve read a lot of the same tropes over and over with similar plots and parallel worlds, so I would say my standards for a fantasy are pretty high.
Listen to me when I say, this book blew those standards out of the water.
First off, the writing. THE writing. I was so glued to this book that I read the entire brick in two days, and the only reason I stopped reading the first day is that my body physically could not read any longer and I fell asleep with the book on my chest. I have never in my life read a book with such seamless writing, there were no hiccups at all, and the writing was so intentional that every single word of those 700+ pages mattered. The book feels so natural to read and didn’t give me much of the “new fantasy book confusion” with the language, so it’s easy to grasp ( and get lost in) as well. The metaphors!!!! Literary elements decorate this book beautifully and tastefully and are SO well done. Some parts of the book border on poetic, especially when fire is symbolically involved (I may have highlighted all of them). As a current student, I feel as if I could write a multi-page paper illustrating how superb the literary aspects of this book were, and specifically, how it walked perfectly on the line of balancing too many/too few of these elements and how the elements enriched the story/plot the perfect amount.
Next, and quite possibly my favorite, are the characters. Each are incredibly well-developed with their own strengths, weaknesses, flaws, and complexities, with rich dialogue and explorations of atypical relationships with one another. This being said, although the literary aspects of the characters were so advanced and well-developed, what stuck out to me most were the ways in which the characters were developed (specifically regarding the women). This book, in my personal opinion, displays true feminism in regard to a fantasy storyline. The women are brilliant and badass, no doubt, but their femininity (which is sometimes compromised for strength or power) is seen as an absolute, uncompromising strength. Power and femininity are not seen as exclusionary, and I cannot express how much that means to me as a reader. That being said, I want to be clear that it doesn’t matter whether someone consists of more feminine traits or masculine traits (or adheres to any typical gender constructs), but the fact that gender and expression of gender does not serve as a weakness is the best representation of equality we can see or ask for in a fantasy novel, and is exactly what I’m so appreciative of. There’s casual mention of women in high-ranking positions (that are often seen as masculine in today’s society/in a typical fantasy environment), women in battle who are respected and equal with the men, and most of all, the physical descriptions of their beauty (i.e. how strong, visible muscles are valued and admired and serve to show the strength, drive, and dedication of the character rather than just serve as a physical descriptor of attractiveness). I noticed and appreciated all of the little ways in which Laura incorporated these aspects (and more!) into the story.
The plot itself is so rich. Although the book is long and there is a lot of said plot, the books never dwells on any specific scene/moment too long, so the pacing of the plot feels so natural. I was absolutely hooked on this storyline, it felt reading a perfected recipe of fantasy, adventure, romance, and mystery, and the lush descriptions and world building are just the cherry on top. I think the author did an incredible job of revealing just enough at the right time to keep you hooked but not frustrated, which is a hard job to do in a 700+ page novel. It was just beautifully done overall.
So that being said, I loved this novel. It’s undoubtedly one of my top fantasy reads.
I loved it so much, that I reached out to the author to do fan art for the story, which I had never done before (Seriously, I downloaded Procreate for it), and further reached out to the author to see if there was any other way I could support the novel.
Do I recommend this book? Absolutely. Please listen when I say, I was given this book to be an ARC reader, but that is not the reason I have two physical copies coming in the mail tomorrow.
September 21, 2023
That. Was. Amazing. The writing was gorgeous. It flowed so beautifully. The characters were great. I loved the relationship between Brela, Farrah, and Elias. I also loved how those three grew close to Serill and Cason. I really hope the five of them form some found family group and get the love they all deserve. Despite its length, I never felt that the story was drawn out too long. It really was so perfectly done! I can’t wait to read the next one! Please read this book. It deserves all the hype!!
Want to read
September 30, 2021I've decided to DNF for now for a couple reasons. While this book is well-written and interesting, it seems to lack focus. I'm 100 pages in and am confused as to what the main plot point is supposed to be. There seems to be a lot of extra things going on that veer off into all sorts of tangents and it's making it a little bit of a chore to read. This book is nearly 800 pages long and if it's going to be like that it will take me way too long to finish at this rate. I wouldn't say not to read it, it's just not working for me at this time. It does have a TOG vibe which is neat. I do thank the author for letting me read an ARC copy.
October 20, 2021
I received an arc of The Curse of Broken Shadows by Laura Winter and wow I highly recommend this book! If you enjoy an epic journey full of adventure, fantasy, and romance then you will not be disappointed! The book flowed nicely and every character is well developed and beautifully written. Brela is a badass, knife-wielding assassin. Who has to keep her shadow magic hidden if she wants to stay alive. Cason is prince Serill’s guard who has a good heart and strong desire to do what is right. When Brela steals back an important artifact belonging to her people, Cason is determined to catch the thief. What happens when an uptight fire wielder and a smart mouthed assassin meet? A mix of fighting, adventure and sexy times. 😉 I cannot wait for the second book! I highly recommend checking this book out! Follow me on Instagram @annies_book_nook for more recommendations/reviews.
September 15, 2023
What a stunning read! It has all the elements I truly enjoy, love, friendship, intrigue, mystery and so much more. The intimacy and loyalty between Brela, Farrah and Elias is beautifully written, one can feel the love and fierce sense of family and protection they have for each other. Elias is more stoic, whilst Farrah is grounded and quick, both verbally as well as with her fighting skills. Brela is a dream character! So sassy, so spunky, so quick in the uptake, I loved her reactions and bantering. But as much as I like Brela's character, I personally found myself more drawn to Serril, compassionate, fair, and an overall delight. There's more to him than meets the eye, love him. Cason is the typical tormented soul, who is trying hard to keep his preconceived ideas of "the enemy" intact and it's wonderful reading how he questions himself, how he fights against his feelings. The storyline and plot is complex but flows brilliantly, at a steady pace, giving me the opportunity to savour each moment. The magical aspects are right up my alley and I enjoyed the fight scenes, even though they were pretty intense, they felt real. This book sucked me in from the very beginning and didn't let me go until the very end! It was a very long read but worth every second!
September 24, 2021
Imaginative, incredible, intelligent, intense, in-love, inspiring, interesting, intimate, intricate and inventive story telling and utterly irresistible. When you read this book and please you must! You will understand my need to start this review in this way. Honestly I loved it and this book is all these words and so much more. I hate comparing to another book but I always look for books similar to Sarah J Maas. Well, if you are a fan of her work like I am then you need to check this out. It’s got similar aspects but so fresh and new!
High fantasy with magic wielding characters and an amazing kick ass female lead!
Brela’s depth of character is perfection. She has got the biggest heart and looks for the best in people yet she has a streak of violence so dark it will shock you. Her thirst for vengeance runs deep but she would put her life on the line for the people she loves and she loves even deeper! Her belief that people can change drew me to her so much and honestly I think I have a girl crush on her. She has suffered so much in her life that it is almost impossible that her heart is so big.
Cason I am going to skip over! He is the leading man and I have issues but if I go into them I will reveal too much and spoil for you.
Her closest friends Elias and Farrah are beautiful souls too. This trio right here is friendship goals! The loyalty and love they have for each other is inspiring. (I can’t stop with these I words now)
Serill is the Prince and this man needs to be king like right now as his ethics and values are beautiful as he is charming and kind. He can also see the good in everyone and believes everyone should be treated equally, fairly and does not discriminate on class, magic ability, riches etc.
All of these characters together have such brilliant flirty banter that will leave you smiling at the page. A couple of times I realised I had a big goofy grin. Maybe a few tears too.
The villains wow they are dark dark dark! Some made my blood run cold.
The writing so so great that you feel you are these characters and are experiencing what they feel and go through. But what these villains do to Brela makes my blood boil and I want vengeance but I will have to wait until the next book! Arghh yes there is a bit of a cliffy. BUT dont let that stop you reading. This is epic high fantasy romance and one of the best I’ve read! I didn’t go over the story as the blurb explains it perfectly. But what I will tell you is you need to pick this book up. This gets an insanely incredible 5/5 stars from me. I was lucky to be part of Laura Winters ARC team and this is a completely non biased review. I will be begging her to be part of the team when the next book is out. But for now this is released on 5th October. I’m jealous you get to experience it for the first time. Time machine would come in handy right now. Book hangover commence.
High fantasy with magic wielding characters and an amazing kick ass female lead!
Brela’s depth of character is perfection. She has got the biggest heart and looks for the best in people yet she has a streak of violence so dark it will shock you. Her thirst for vengeance runs deep but she would put her life on the line for the people she loves and she loves even deeper! Her belief that people can change drew me to her so much and honestly I think I have a girl crush on her. She has suffered so much in her life that it is almost impossible that her heart is so big.
Cason I am going to skip over! He is the leading man and I have issues but if I go into them I will reveal too much and spoil for you.
Her closest friends Elias and Farrah are beautiful souls too. This trio right here is friendship goals! The loyalty and love they have for each other is inspiring. (I can’t stop with these I words now)
Serill is the Prince and this man needs to be king like right now as his ethics and values are beautiful as he is charming and kind. He can also see the good in everyone and believes everyone should be treated equally, fairly and does not discriminate on class, magic ability, riches etc.
All of these characters together have such brilliant flirty banter that will leave you smiling at the page. A couple of times I realised I had a big goofy grin. Maybe a few tears too.
The villains wow they are dark dark dark! Some made my blood run cold.
The writing so so great that you feel you are these characters and are experiencing what they feel and go through. But what these villains do to Brela makes my blood boil and I want vengeance but I will have to wait until the next book! Arghh yes there is a bit of a cliffy. BUT dont let that stop you reading. This is epic high fantasy romance and one of the best I’ve read! I didn’t go over the story as the blurb explains it perfectly. But what I will tell you is you need to pick this book up. This gets an insanely incredible 5/5 stars from me. I was lucky to be part of Laura Winters ARC team and this is a completely non biased review. I will be begging her to be part of the team when the next book is out. But for now this is released on 5th October. I’m jealous you get to experience it for the first time. Time machine would come in handy right now. Book hangover commence.
April 2, 2023
What a hidden gem. The Curse of Broken Shadows is a self-published Epic Fantasy novel about Brela, her boyfriend Elias, and their girlfriend Farrah. The polyamorous group of assassins find themselves in a bit of a mess when the prince of foreign land, and the captain of his guard, crosses their path. They must band together to get to the bottom of a mysterious military maneuver all while Brela hides who she really is. We have political machinations as well as a pretty diverse set of magical abilities. We get to see multiple foreign languages as well as a sign language used between the assassins. This was all around fun.
I feel like I pictured Jean Tannen from The Lies of Locke Lamora whenever Elias was on the page which just made me love him immediately. I don’t know if he was the inspiration at all, but Elias was a constant throughout the story for me to love. And that is kind of the point in this tome: for the readers to fall for the characters. I found them all pretty realistic and flawed as well as being gifted. I felt like I got to know most of the characters pretty equally despite this being about Brela and her relationship with Cason. I loved the magic system. I really hope we get to dive into more of it in the future. I also liked the dynamic between people gifted with one power and people gifted with multiple powers because it’s definitely something I could see develop over time. And it did a good job or showing that even within subgroups of people we could still have a hierarchy.
There was a little of Main Character Syndrome from Brela...but she’s the main character of the story so I think that might just be a me thing and not a book thing. I did like her and her abilities more towards the end of the novel when we got to see that everything didn’t actually come as easy to her as it seemed, that she had to struggle and fight and sometimes lose. And she hedged bets and made contingency plans for when her first ones don’t work. I guess I wish we just had a little more of that throughout the middle of the novel. I do wish we had more when it comes to descriptions of settings or the world at the beginning of the novel. But, look, I am who I am. I just read a 730 page novel and said there should be more. If it’s a good book, I could read a 1,200 page novel and say it should be longer. Take that one with a grain of salt.
Overall, I had so much fun reading this one and I’m glad I took a chance on a book I hadn’t heard a lot about. I think it’s a good read and well worth the time. I can’t wait for book two.
I feel like I pictured Jean Tannen from The Lies of Locke Lamora whenever Elias was on the page which just made me love him immediately. I don’t know if he was the inspiration at all, but Elias was a constant throughout the story for me to love. And that is kind of the point in this tome: for the readers to fall for the characters. I found them all pretty realistic and flawed as well as being gifted. I felt like I got to know most of the characters pretty equally despite this being about Brela and her relationship with Cason. I loved the magic system. I really hope we get to dive into more of it in the future. I also liked the dynamic between people gifted with one power and people gifted with multiple powers because it’s definitely something I could see develop over time. And it did a good job or showing that even within subgroups of people we could still have a hierarchy.
There was a little of Main Character Syndrome from Brela...but she’s the main character of the story so I think that might just be a me thing and not a book thing. I did like her and her abilities more towards the end of the novel when we got to see that everything didn’t actually come as easy to her as it seemed, that she had to struggle and fight and sometimes lose. And she hedged bets and made contingency plans for when her first ones don’t work. I guess I wish we just had a little more of that throughout the middle of the novel. I do wish we had more when it comes to descriptions of settings or the world at the beginning of the novel. But, look, I am who I am. I just read a 730 page novel and said there should be more. If it’s a good book, I could read a 1,200 page novel and say it should be longer. Take that one with a grain of salt.
Overall, I had so much fun reading this one and I’m glad I took a chance on a book I hadn’t heard a lot about. I think it’s a good read and well worth the time. I can’t wait for book two.
April 13, 2022
Hidden gem I’ve discovered this week, tbh I had this in my tbr for a while but I’ve been intimidated by the number of pages. Even though I like big books, especially high-fantasy ones, I’d hate to invest in something just to be disappointed in the end - and it happened a lot lately. So the fact I enjoyed this so much made it even better.
To me it felt like the book was divided into 3 obvious sections. The first chunk was setting the scene and introducing the key players and it had its own little mission. Then the middle part where it built their relationship, focusing on Case and Brela and then the shared history with Elias and Farrah as well as inputs from Serill. I felt like this part was filled with banter, shameless flirting, vulnerability and just simply connecting. The actual part of the plot and their main objective kind of dulled during that big section but truthfully I didn’t care. I’d be the first to admit that I completely enjoyed reading this because of the characters and their relationship even more so than the world building and the imminent danger to the five kingdoms. Then there was the last part where we went back to the mission and the aftermath.
The book did have epic fight scenes, magic and adventures which were really a bonus but slowly as I read I discovered the main concept to be accepting the person as they are despite their titles and what they are, therefore I felt like the book did a great job in that aspect even if it deviated a bit from the main adventure.
Brela was the life of the book, she’s sarcastic and wickedly smart and loyal. Cason’s character developed amazingly alongside hers and I loved that their bond grew from the fact they were both rejected by the world. The dynamic between all five of them was the best part, there were several POVs which gave us different pairings and it just added to the many layers of the book.
As for the world building and the magic system, I felt like there could have been more explanation to that (?) I understood the general concept but there seemed to be several branched affinities to each major one and I kind of got lost. It didn’t take away from the story much but I would have wanted to understand it more.
Overall I definitely enjoyed this and I can’t believe there’s a second book to come. I’m so rereading this when the time comes.
To me it felt like the book was divided into 3 obvious sections. The first chunk was setting the scene and introducing the key players and it had its own little mission. Then the middle part where it built their relationship, focusing on Case and Brela and then the shared history with Elias and Farrah as well as inputs from Serill. I felt like this part was filled with banter, shameless flirting, vulnerability and just simply connecting. The actual part of the plot and their main objective kind of dulled during that big section but truthfully I didn’t care. I’d be the first to admit that I completely enjoyed reading this because of the characters and their relationship even more so than the world building and the imminent danger to the five kingdoms. Then there was the last part where we went back to the mission and the aftermath.
The book did have epic fight scenes, magic and adventures which were really a bonus but slowly as I read I discovered the main concept to be accepting the person as they are despite their titles and what they are, therefore I felt like the book did a great job in that aspect even if it deviated a bit from the main adventure.
Brela was the life of the book, she’s sarcastic and wickedly smart and loyal. Cason’s character developed amazingly alongside hers and I loved that their bond grew from the fact they were both rejected by the world. The dynamic between all five of them was the best part, there were several POVs which gave us different pairings and it just added to the many layers of the book.
As for the world building and the magic system, I felt like there could have been more explanation to that (?) I understood the general concept but there seemed to be several branched affinities to each major one and I kind of got lost. It didn’t take away from the story much but I would have wanted to understand it more.
Overall I definitely enjoyed this and I can’t believe there’s a second book to come. I’m so rereading this when the time comes.
October 12, 2021
I absolutely loved this book and the story the author created!
The characters were perfect. Each having their own personality that molded perfectly into their friendships with each other. Their banter with one another and their jokes and bets made the characters come alive. Each person had their own histories and their own imperfections which was refreshing to read about.
Brela, Farrah and Elias have the most beautiful friendship I’ve ever read about. The support, trust and love they have in one another shone through the pages.
Then there is Brela and Cason, their relationship made my heart full. I rooted for them from the first second they were in each others company.
The characters were so exquisite and ran the show for me but on top of that the story is rich and full of action and suspense of what will happen next. Each part of the story made me want more, and I would recommend to any fantasy fans.
The characters were perfect. Each having their own personality that molded perfectly into their friendships with each other. Their banter with one another and their jokes and bets made the characters come alive. Each person had their own histories and their own imperfections which was refreshing to read about.
Brela, Farrah and Elias have the most beautiful friendship I’ve ever read about. The support, trust and love they have in one another shone through the pages.
Then there is Brela and Cason, their relationship made my heart full. I rooted for them from the first second they were in each others company.
The characters were so exquisite and ran the show for me but on top of that the story is rich and full of action and suspense of what will happen next. Each part of the story made me want more, and I would recommend to any fantasy fans.
March 22, 2023
This is a complicated one for me to review. I’d give it a 3.5 stars.
I’ll start with the positives. The world was fresh, very well built out, and super interesting. The premise is also one I’ve never read before, and was really compelling. I would absolutely recommend this book to someone looking to start a new fantasy series.
The negatives: first, I think this book really would’ve been bettered by being split into two books. There’s really two entirely separate stories. There was also quite a lot of repetition. Second, I didn’t actually particularly like any of the individual characters because they all read like caricatures. Like the author picked one defining characteristic for each and that was their only personality. Having said that, I think they worked well together and I liked them as a whole, I just got kind of tired reading their internal thoughts.
I’ll start with the positives. The world was fresh, very well built out, and super interesting. The premise is also one I’ve never read before, and was really compelling. I would absolutely recommend this book to someone looking to start a new fantasy series.
The negatives: first, I think this book really would’ve been bettered by being split into two books. There’s really two entirely separate stories. There was also quite a lot of repetition. Second, I didn’t actually particularly like any of the individual characters because they all read like caricatures. Like the author picked one defining characteristic for each and that was their only personality. Having said that, I think they worked well together and I liked them as a whole, I just got kind of tired reading their internal thoughts.
April 6, 2025
This was a wild ride and I was very much positively surprised by this. How is it I haven't heard of this author or these books before? So much was happening, and it is a thick book, I feel as though I've read two books and not just one. I really liked the premise of this story, the world building, how it was executed and all the characters involved. I loved the relationships developing between the main characters, their flirty banter, everyone's little nicknames for Cason, their chemistry (even though it was a tad too insta-lovey for my liking) and the character dynamics in general.
While it was highly enjoyable, it is not an easy read in a way because you've got to keep up and there are quite some complexities to the plot and I did very much like that. The ending almost killed me and I'm hoping to recover soon, as soon as I can get my hands on the second book, which I need desperately.
While it was highly enjoyable, it is not an easy read in a way because you've got to keep up and there are quite some complexities to the plot and I did very much like that. The ending almost killed me and I'm hoping to recover soon, as soon as I can get my hands on the second book, which I need desperately.
April 5, 2024
Thank you to the author for the eAudiobook!
Where do I even begin?
Brela is an assassin who can wield shadow magic. Cason is the captain of his Prince's guard, and is a fire/lightning wielder. They should be enemies, but are they?
Everything I want in a fantasy series. Themes of found family, romance, and friendship. Enemies to lovers! Not to mention magic! And shadow-wolves! Truth be told, it was the shadow puppy that drew me in but I'm glad it did because I'm HOOKED.
Narrator Michelle Ochitwa did wonderfully with all the voices. I was able to keep who was speaking apart even if it wasn't stated. Plus I love how fierce sounding she made Brela.
All around a favourite of 2024!
Where do I even begin?
Brela is an assassin who can wield shadow magic. Cason is the captain of his Prince's guard, and is a fire/lightning wielder. They should be enemies, but are they?
Everything I want in a fantasy series. Themes of found family, romance, and friendship. Enemies to lovers! Not to mention magic! And shadow-wolves! Truth be told, it was the shadow puppy that drew me in but I'm glad it did because I'm HOOKED.
Narrator Michelle Ochitwa did wonderfully with all the voices. I was able to keep who was speaking apart even if it wasn't stated. Plus I love how fierce sounding she made Brela.
All around a favourite of 2024!
September 9, 2021
I was lucky enough to be an arc reader and man I Absolutely loved reading this book. Brela is a badass and Cason is the brute I could not get enough… actually I love all the characters in this book flirting, fighting, magic, creatures. I strongly recommend this story and see it becoming a favorite for those who read it. It’s definitely become one of mine.
Some sexual content, rape, and murder.
Some sexual content, rape, and murder.
September 30, 2021
I loved this book! I thought it was brilliantly written and the characters!!! I found the way relationships bloomed between every character in this book absolutely phenomenal. I was in a little slump this month but this definitely pulled me out!
Brela and the gang did not disappoint!
I would 10/10 recommend this book it deserves all the love & these reviews are making me dive into a second read!
Thank you for allowing me an early copy 💖
Brela and the gang did not disappoint!
I would 10/10 recommend this book it deserves all the love & these reviews are making me dive into a second read!
Thank you for allowing me an early copy 💖
October 6, 2021
This was such an interesting and well written epic fantasy story. Filled with magic, adventure, mystery and intrigue, it keeps the reader entertained! I really enjoyed the way the author weaves in different elements of the story. The characters are all well portrayed and with interesting personalities. This action packed story moves at a good pace and is an entertaining read! I received a free copy of the book and this is my voluntary and honest review.
October 5, 2021
This book has all of my favorite things! A badass heroine who doesn't take crap from anyone, an enemies to lovers romance, witty banter, side characters that I care about, etc. Seriously, read this book! If you loved ACOTAR, you'll love this even more!
October 6, 2021
What a novel! You’ll quickly be swept into this amazing world after only the first few pages. I love the characters and their interactions. The author brings the characters to life in the most beautiful way. I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves magic.
September 8, 2021
This was a riveting book of love, war, and everything in-between. They characters were wonderful as well as the story and you can't just put it down. A very good book!
October 23, 2021
A first read from the Author- and I loved it! I got sucked in and enjoyed the story, characters and look forward to the second!
May 31, 2024
Holy shit, this book. Excuse me, I’ll be back when I have more coherent thoughts.
May 19, 2025
Purely amazing, near the end it got rushed unfortunately and it confused me a little
January 16, 2023
Really enjoyed this book, now to wait for book 2.
I don't wait well:(
I don't wait well:(
January 9, 2025
4.75/5
Okay, wow. This one surprised me with how much I loved it. For me, this was everything I wanted the first 3 TOG books to be. Don't come for me. I haven't finished that series but was underwhelmed by the first books. However, I thought The Curse of Broken Shadows gave me similar vibes as far as badass female assassin, magic and royalty, and long-lost leader of a persecuted kingdom but was more engaging and interesting. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book was the relationship between the main group of characters even with the prince and captain with them. Their banter and joking combined with their genuine connection and love for each other was fun to read. They were all also crafty with their plans and so skilled in combat with and without their magical abilities. Oh, did I not mention there were element wielders in this book? Yes, like in ATLA. This made combat scenes super interesting to read and kept me engaged throughout, wanting to know what happened next. Brela has hands-down become my favorite female assassin in a book. Her character is so complex with an intense and heartbreaking backstory. However, she is so witty and clever that I was constantly laughing to myself reading whatever she came up with in a scene. I am very intrigued to see her character continue to grow and develop into who she is meant to become in the next book. I think my only slight negative with the book was that the journey the group was on did begin to feel kind of long in the middle. But, I do think the author used this to add backstory and develop the characters, which was beneficial to the plot. The ending left me with a lot of questions, and I am so so excited to start the sequel to find out what happens! I will forever be recommending this one!
Update: Just finished the audiobook for my reread and it was just as fantastic as the first time I read this!!
Okay, wow. This one surprised me with how much I loved it. For me, this was everything I wanted the first 3 TOG books to be. Don't come for me. I haven't finished that series but was underwhelmed by the first books. However, I thought The Curse of Broken Shadows gave me similar vibes as far as badass female assassin, magic and royalty, and long-lost leader of a persecuted kingdom but was more engaging and interesting. One of the most enjoyable aspects of this book was the relationship between the main group of characters even with the prince and captain with them. Their banter and joking combined with their genuine connection and love for each other was fun to read. They were all also crafty with their plans and so skilled in combat with and without their magical abilities. Oh, did I not mention there were element wielders in this book? Yes, like in ATLA. This made combat scenes super interesting to read and kept me engaged throughout, wanting to know what happened next. Brela has hands-down become my favorite female assassin in a book. Her character is so complex with an intense and heartbreaking backstory. However, she is so witty and clever that I was constantly laughing to myself reading whatever she came up with in a scene. I am very intrigued to see her character continue to grow and develop into who she is meant to become in the next book. I think my only slight negative with the book was that the journey the group was on did begin to feel kind of long in the middle. But, I do think the author used this to add backstory and develop the characters, which was beneficial to the plot. The ending left me with a lot of questions, and I am so so excited to start the sequel to find out what happens! I will forever be recommending this one!
Update: Just finished the audiobook for my reread and it was just as fantastic as the first time I read this!!
December 18, 2021
This is a complicated one for me to review. On one hand, I really loved the characters. All five of the main characters were distinct and interesting and I loved their dynamic—though I wished at times we got a bit more of Brela’s friends and the prince.
That said, the pacing was slow and the book was quite long. There were several points I had to push myself through a part to keep going. Many of the character’s internal thoughts were very repetitive and could have been trimmed.
I’m actually still uncertain what the plot of the book was after finishing it—it feels more like a set up for the next book.
Brela was a fascinating character and I really enjoyed her. And I loved her found family as well.
I felt like Cason was really out of character at the end of this book and I just didn’t buy that’s how he’d react and it majorly made me dislike him.
Another issue I took was the abusive relationship of Ovir to Brela and the fact that she believed she brought it on herself and she deserved that. I was hoping by the end of the book one of the many characters would set her straight and tell her that is not acceptable and it’s not her fault, but they actually end up justifying his abuse (he trained her from a young age, it’s complicated) and she justifies it too! In fact, the scene with Ovir at the end was so cringe. Someone, somewhere should have called out how emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive he is. This was a huge red flag for me and really left me with a bad taste in my mouth for the book.
The ending was interesting and I like the idea of Brela being several steps ahead (as she often is.)
That said, the pacing was slow and the book was quite long. There were several points I had to push myself through a part to keep going. Many of the character’s internal thoughts were very repetitive and could have been trimmed.
I’m actually still uncertain what the plot of the book was after finishing it—it feels more like a set up for the next book.
Brela was a fascinating character and I really enjoyed her. And I loved her found family as well.
I felt like Cason was really out of character at the end of this book and I just didn’t buy that’s how he’d react and it majorly made me dislike him.
Another issue I took was the abusive relationship of Ovir to Brela and the fact that she believed she brought it on herself and she deserved that. I was hoping by the end of the book one of the many characters would set her straight and tell her that is not acceptable and it’s not her fault, but they actually end up justifying his abuse (he trained her from a young age, it’s complicated) and she justifies it too! In fact, the scene with Ovir at the end was so cringe. Someone, somewhere should have called out how emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive he is. This was a huge red flag for me and really left me with a bad taste in my mouth for the book.
The ending was interesting and I like the idea of Brela being several steps ahead (as she often is.)
November 17, 2023
The Curse of Broken Shadows was fantastic from beginning to end.
For me the characters are what especially stand out. Their relationships are complex and relatable. The characters have fun together and will make you laugh out loud. They also support each other and will make you hurt for them. They stand up for each other and fight for each other and will make you want to fight anyone who hurts them.
I thought the romance in the book was well developed and handled well. I definitely wanted these characters to get together and overcome the obstacles that would keep them apart. I appreciated that they helped each other with personal struggles and weaknesses and learned to see the strengths in the flaws. I also liked that there was very little relationship drama involving the other characters. There wasn't jealousy and pettiness from the other characters and I really liked that.
The characters are my favorite part of this book but the plot is definitely not lacking. It is exciting from the very beginning. Even though the plot is always moving and never drags, it also never feels rushed. The ending resolves in a way that is both satisfying but very much leaves you ready for more. Continued peril and unanswered questions will definitely have me picking up the second book on release day.
(Not gonna lie, Serill could stand on a box and roast Cason for 700 pages and I would still love it.)
For me the characters are what especially stand out. Their relationships are complex and relatable. The characters have fun together and will make you laugh out loud. They also support each other and will make you hurt for them. They stand up for each other and fight for each other and will make you want to fight anyone who hurts them.
I thought the romance in the book was well developed and handled well. I definitely wanted these characters to get together and overcome the obstacles that would keep them apart. I appreciated that they helped each other with personal struggles and weaknesses and learned to see the strengths in the flaws. I also liked that there was very little relationship drama involving the other characters. There wasn't jealousy and pettiness from the other characters and I really liked that.
The characters are my favorite part of this book but the plot is definitely not lacking. It is exciting from the very beginning. Even though the plot is always moving and never drags, it also never feels rushed. The ending resolves in a way that is both satisfying but very much leaves you ready for more. Continued peril and unanswered questions will definitely have me picking up the second book on release day.
(Not gonna lie, Serill could stand on a box and roast Cason for 700 pages and I would still love it.)
February 26, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Renowned assassin, thief, and spy Brela has a dozen secrets up her sleeve, the least of which could kill her in an instant. She harbors shadow magic, which was banned on pain of death years ago. The sole survivor of a condemned people, she has a plan that may very well kill her. That is, if the captain of the guard doesn’t kill her first. Sworn to hunt down any sympathizers of shadow magic, Cason Valkip is circling Brela with every passing day. But she couldn’t be farther from what he is expecting.
This was my first reverse harem book, and my second featuring a polyamorous relationship. Winter nailed everything about this book. It was so fun to read about a female protagonist who didn’t have to learn how to fight along the way—she already knew. She didn’t have to discover secrets about herself—she was centered in her identity. She didn’t need to change herself for the love interest—he could take her or leave her, and she didn’t mind either way. I haven’t heard any updates about when the next book is coming out, but I’ll be waiting when it does!
Content Warnings: violence, language, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual content
Renowned assassin, thief, and spy Brela has a dozen secrets up her sleeve, the least of which could kill her in an instant. She harbors shadow magic, which was banned on pain of death years ago. The sole survivor of a condemned people, she has a plan that may very well kill her. That is, if the captain of the guard doesn’t kill her first. Sworn to hunt down any sympathizers of shadow magic, Cason Valkip is circling Brela with every passing day. But she couldn’t be farther from what he is expecting.
This was my first reverse harem book, and my second featuring a polyamorous relationship. Winter nailed everything about this book. It was so fun to read about a female protagonist who didn’t have to learn how to fight along the way—she already knew. She didn’t have to discover secrets about herself—she was centered in her identity. She didn’t need to change herself for the love interest—he could take her or leave her, and she didn’t mind either way. I haven’t heard any updates about when the next book is coming out, but I’ll be waiting when it does!
Content Warnings: violence, language, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual content
October 1, 2025
I almost dnf’ed at 20% and I am so glad I didn’t because this ended up being one of my favorite reads of the year. I was initially really turned off by how many povs there are, and that it can occasionally be tricky to figure when it switches and to who, but ultimately it added a lot to the story and I really enjoyed all of the different perspectives and inner thoughts we got. The characters have so much depth and the romantasy was off the charts. My favorite part was actually how all of the characters’ relationships developed as friends. I was skeptical because this and the sequel are LONG but the pacing is perfect and there was just the right amount of detail and description. Genuinely I can’t believe more people haven’t read this book, I can’t recommend it enough. It is a romantasy dream
August 17, 2025
I TRIED
I tried so hard to get into this book, but had to call it quits by 10% because I constantly felt like I was missing something! There was no continuity, and while I understand the concept of the writer making inferences that require active reader engagement, these were too inferred and didn’t make sense. Not to mention the confusing magic systems, this book was written in like 2x’s speed. A basic magic system explanation would’ve gone a long way.
I tried so hard to get into this book, but had to call it quits by 10% because I constantly felt like I was missing something! There was no continuity, and while I understand the concept of the writer making inferences that require active reader engagement, these were too inferred and didn’t make sense. Not to mention the confusing magic systems, this book was written in like 2x’s speed. A basic magic system explanation would’ve gone a long way.
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