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The Shadow Kissed #1
Shadow Kissed
Some fates belong to the shadows…
Everyone at the guild is on high alert, but no one will tell Olivia why. She thought it was somehow tied to the death of her boyfriend, but the truth is far more grisly.
Darkness has come to the mortal kingdom.
Captured by a vampire named Sebastian, who insists he’s protecting her, she’s taken to the horrific City of Nightmares. As she fights to survive in a world where mortals are fed on or traded, Olivia must place her trust in Sebastian, if she hopes to survive. Can she escape the clutches of her bloody destiny, or will she succumb to the dark shadows?
Delve into the dark and delicious world of vampires and mortals in Shadow Kissed, a new adult fantasy romance by Rebecca L. Garcia!
Everyone at the guild is on high alert, but no one will tell Olivia why. She thought it was somehow tied to the death of her boyfriend, but the truth is far more grisly.
Darkness has come to the mortal kingdom.
Captured by a vampire named Sebastian, who insists he’s protecting her, she’s taken to the horrific City of Nightmares. As she fights to survive in a world where mortals are fed on or traded, Olivia must place her trust in Sebastian, if she hopes to survive. Can she escape the clutches of her bloody destiny, or will she succumb to the dark shadows?
Delve into the dark and delicious world of vampires and mortals in Shadow Kissed, a new adult fantasy romance by Rebecca L. Garcia!
299 pages, ebook
First published April 15, 2022
572 people are currently reading
6652 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca L. Garcia
20 books96 followersRebecca writes dark fantasy romance, usually with gothic elements and always with morally gray characters. Originally from England, she lives in Texas with her husband, and two sons. She loves anything with enemies to lovers, slow burn, and lots of angst.
Find out more about Rebecca and check out her books here:
Website: www.rebeccagarciabooks.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccalgarciabooks
Find out more about Rebecca and check out her books here:
Website: www.rebeccagarciabooks.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/rebeccalgarciabooks
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 421 reviews
June 24, 2024
This book is free on Amazon (Canada) today (06/24/2024). 🙂
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ “There is only one bed” trope
✅ Vampires
✅🆗 Fake dating
✅🆗 Politics and scheming
🆗 Characters
🆗 Writing
🆗 Predictable plot (and it feels all over the place at times)
🆗❌ Dialogues
🆗❌ “Slow burn” romance
2.5 stars… I was expecting more.
Fourteen days after the death of her boyfriend, Olivia is still trying to push through the overwhelming grief, when her city is attacked by vampires. Being the daughter of a powerful sorceress, and having some powers herself, Olivia must be protected at all costs. When the guild where Olivia is hiding is taken by vampires, Olivia is rescued, against all odds, by a vampire. The problem is that she is now stuck in his home as a “guest” when all she wants is to escape, find her mother and her best friend, and go home, as far away from the vampires as possible.
This book is a quick read, with a fast pace and a predictable plot. The ideas and tropes are there: fake dating, “there is only one bed”, enemies-to-lovers (kind of), a tentative at “found family” vibe, but I found the execution to be lacking. It’s almost as if the author wanted to put as many well-loved tropes as possible in the book, without taking the time to develop them properly. The writing is disjointed at times, and while I would have enjoyed this book as a teenager, as an adult, I found the romance weak and poorly developed, and the characters were bland and lacked depth.
The fact that the pace was fast left little room for character development and proper and detailed story building. The world-building could have been interesting if it had been more developed. Some information about the mythology and history was dropped here and there in the conversations, but besides the fact that Olivia lived in the Kingdom of Baldoria until she was captured and the fact that vampires live in another kingdom not too far away, we don’t know much about the world they live in. Olivia mentioned that there were 19 kingdoms, but we don’t know anything about those other kingdoms. The descriptions are scarce and vague and it could have happened anywhere really.
Olivia is an average main character. She does not change much in the book, she does not grow into her powers or become a stronger, more mature character. I found her to be juvenile (she’s only 19 yo) and delusional. She just met Sebastian and his friends (about 2 weeks ago), and she is already hoping that Sebastian's friend will help her escape their kingdom, even though it goes against Sebastian’s plan. She hopes that they will betray their friend whom they’ve known for years, just so they can help a human girl they met 2 weeks ago. Later in the book, she expects Sebastian to be on board with her changing the plan to suit her needs, and leaving him behind to be arrested or killed. I don’t know if that’s delusional or naïve, but either way, I found it weird that she would hope for that to happen. Overall, we are given information about Olivia, her feelings, and her state of mind, but it’s all telling and not showing, which made it hard for me to connect with her and be interested in what happened to her.
This book was described as a “New Adult sexy vampires” book, which is misleading in my opinion. There is no spice, and the main character really feels like a teenager more than an adult.
Olivia being a “guest” at Sebastian’s house could have been a good starting point for a hate-to-love relationship, but it fell short. The fact that they had to fake a relationship also offered plenty of opportunities for the author to create a more meaningful connection between them, but it did not really work out. Sebastian is a bland love interest, and Olivia decides to pretend that she does not hate him that much to trick him, but she ends up becoming “friends” with him after one or two weeks. There was no burning hatred or strong dislike (besides Olivia hating vampires in general), no sexual tension, or slow-built romance. Even the dialogues and “banter” (if it can be called banter) were stilted and awkward, instead of being entertaining and they did not help build chemistry between the two characters.
The romance definitely could have been better. It is described as a slow-burn romance, but I did not really feel the chemistry or sexual tension between Sebastian and Olivia. They had a few interactions, and their goals aligned for a while, but there was nothing “special” between them. The romantic feelings or attraction between them were hinted at with a few “light” comments or heavy stares, and the next thing we know is that they apparently are in love with each other.
At least it was a quick read, but I will not be reading the second book of this series.
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I received a copy of this book via NetGalley (thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op). All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ “There is only one bed” trope
✅ Vampires
✅🆗 Fake dating
✅🆗 Politics and scheming
🆗 Characters
🆗 Writing
🆗 Predictable plot (and it feels all over the place at times)
🆗❌ Dialogues
🆗❌ “Slow burn” romance
2.5 stars… I was expecting more.
Back before the vampires had broken the treaty we had in place, agreements were made between the mortal kingdoms and the vampire king. In exchange for them not attacking us, criminals of the highest order, those who were convicted of rape and murder, were sent to Sanmorte to be kept as prisoners by the vampires. Now, innocent men like the mortal below were forced to remain here, imprisoned and used as if they were nothing.
Fourteen days after the death of her boyfriend, Olivia is still trying to push through the overwhelming grief, when her city is attacked by vampires. Being the daughter of a powerful sorceress, and having some powers herself, Olivia must be protected at all costs. When the guild where Olivia is hiding is taken by vampires, Olivia is rescued, against all odds, by a vampire. The problem is that she is now stuck in his home as a “guest” when all she wants is to escape, find her mother and her best friend, and go home, as far away from the vampires as possible.
This book is a quick read, with a fast pace and a predictable plot. The ideas and tropes are there: fake dating, “there is only one bed”, enemies-to-lovers (kind of), a tentative at “found family” vibe, but I found the execution to be lacking. It’s almost as if the author wanted to put as many well-loved tropes as possible in the book, without taking the time to develop them properly. The writing is disjointed at times, and while I would have enjoyed this book as a teenager, as an adult, I found the romance weak and poorly developed, and the characters were bland and lacked depth.
We were descended from gods and mortals and valued by society. My mom was a perfect example of everything a sorceress should be – powerful and wise.
The fact that the pace was fast left little room for character development and proper and detailed story building. The world-building could have been interesting if it had been more developed. Some information about the mythology and history was dropped here and there in the conversations, but besides the fact that Olivia lived in the Kingdom of Baldoria until she was captured and the fact that vampires live in another kingdom not too far away, we don’t know much about the world they live in. Olivia mentioned that there were 19 kingdoms, but we don’t know anything about those other kingdoms. The descriptions are scarce and vague and it could have happened anywhere really.
In two weeks, I had somehow lost everyone I cared about. My mom always told me not to feel sorry for myself, and to keep getting back up when life throws punches, but I wasn’t as strong as her. Grief and pain had chipped what little resilience I had left in me.
Olivia is an average main character. She does not change much in the book, she does not grow into her powers or become a stronger, more mature character. I found her to be juvenile (she’s only 19 yo) and delusional. She just met Sebastian and his friends (about 2 weeks ago), and she is already hoping that Sebastian's friend will help her escape their kingdom, even though it goes against Sebastian’s plan. She hopes that they will betray their friend whom they’ve known for years, just so they can help a human girl they met 2 weeks ago. Later in the book, she expects Sebastian to be on board with her changing the plan to suit her needs, and leaving him behind to be arrested or killed. I don’t know if that’s delusional or naïve, but either way, I found it weird that she would hope for that to happen. Overall, we are given information about Olivia, her feelings, and her state of mind, but it’s all telling and not showing, which made it hard for me to connect with her and be interested in what happened to her.
Great, I was held captive by a temperamental vampire with anger issues. If I couldn’t beat them, I’d join them. I wasn’t going to find anyone by being a bitch or sulking in this room. No, I would play whatever weird part I was expected to in this house.
If Sebastian wanted me to be grateful, I would fake it. If he wanted me to join him for breakfast, then I’d go. I would do what I believed my mom would do. I would earn their trust and use that to get out of here.
This book was described as a “New Adult sexy vampires” book, which is misleading in my opinion. There is no spice, and the main character really feels like a teenager more than an adult.
Olivia being a “guest” at Sebastian’s house could have been a good starting point for a hate-to-love relationship, but it fell short. The fact that they had to fake a relationship also offered plenty of opportunities for the author to create a more meaningful connection between them, but it did not really work out. Sebastian is a bland love interest, and Olivia decides to pretend that she does not hate him that much to trick him, but she ends up becoming “friends” with him after one or two weeks. There was no burning hatred or strong dislike (besides Olivia hating vampires in general), no sexual tension, or slow-built romance. Even the dialogues and “banter” (if it can be called banter) were stilted and awkward, instead of being entertaining and they did not help build chemistry between the two characters.
“Are you going to tell me why I’m really here?” My voice quivered, and I sat on my hands to stop them from shaking. “Before you say it’s to protect me, I want to know why you’re protecting me. What is it you want from me? Because you monsters don’t do anything unless it’s for your own gain.”
“Is it not enough that I saved you before they killed you?” His voice deepened. “What makes you think I want anything from you? Be grateful, unless you’d rather I hand you over to the people I’m protecting you from. Then you can see what real monsters look like.”
The romance definitely could have been better. It is described as a slow-burn romance, but I did not really feel the chemistry or sexual tension between Sebastian and Olivia. They had a few interactions, and their goals aligned for a while, but there was nothing “special” between them. The romantic feelings or attraction between them were hinted at with a few “light” comments or heavy stares, and the next thing we know is that they apparently are in love with each other.
At least it was a quick read, but I will not be reading the second book of this series.
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March 29, 2022
A decent read. Expected it to be much better but was bit of a let down.
We have vampires, found family, slow burn romance (poorly done), fake dating and one bed trope. We also have the "Who did this to you" storyline (nicely done)👀
Spice- 1/5
Plot- 3/5
The plot is pretty good but the delivery is not well executed. There's very little world building done by the author which creates confusion and raises questions to which answers were rarely given. The way dialogues are written are basically info dump (a result of no world building) which was exhausting to read (in the first half). The pace of the whole book is super fast giving no space for character development or a proper story building.
The second half is certainly better than the first one. The pace from super fast goes to just fast (which in no way is big improvement) but the characters start to find their way into the plot.
Olivia, our main character is an empath and a sorceress. She didn't develop into a badass leader I was expecting her to be. I couldn't relate to her. She rarely took charge, we barely get to see any of her powers; basically weak.
Sebastian single handedly carried the book and despite that his character had very little development. Ever thought if Rhysand was a vampire and a pushover what would he be like? Sebastian. (BTW there's a City of Nightmares too👀).
The chemistry between the two is good but not amazing. .
The supporting characters come off as dull and with very little personality. The whole pacing of the book is so fast, I couldn't bond with the characters at all and even towards the end I didn't care at all.
The ending is pretty good but it's written in a very bland manner. Will I read the next one in the series? I'll just have to wait and see if it interests me. This book had A LOT of potential but it wasn't delivered right. The cover is dope, I'll give it that.
eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
We have vampires, found family, slow burn romance (poorly done), fake dating and one bed trope. We also have the "Who did this to you" storyline (nicely done)👀
Spice- 1/5
Plot- 3/5
The plot is pretty good but the delivery is not well executed. There's very little world building done by the author which creates confusion and raises questions to which answers were rarely given. The way dialogues are written are basically info dump (a result of no world building) which was exhausting to read (in the first half). The pace of the whole book is super fast giving no space for character development or a proper story building.
The second half is certainly better than the first one. The pace from super fast goes to just fast (which in no way is big improvement) but the characters start to find their way into the plot.
Olivia, our main character is an empath and a sorceress. She didn't develop into a badass leader I was expecting her to be. I couldn't relate to her. She rarely took charge, we barely get to see any of her powers; basically weak.
Sebastian single handedly carried the book and despite that his character had very little development. Ever thought if Rhysand was a vampire and a pushover what would he be like? Sebastian. (BTW there's a City of Nightmares too👀).
The chemistry between the two is good but not amazing. .
The supporting characters come off as dull and with very little personality. The whole pacing of the book is so fast, I couldn't bond with the characters at all and even towards the end I didn't care at all.
The ending is pretty good but it's written in a very bland manner. Will I read the next one in the series? I'll just have to wait and see if it interests me. This book had A LOT of potential but it wasn't delivered right. The cover is dope, I'll give it that.
eARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.
February 27, 2022
Vampires, excellent banter, found family, slow burn romance, only one bed, political intrigue, and fake dating… what more could you ask for? Very grateful for the opportunity to read this ARC and another amazing book written by Rebecca Garcia. Sooo excited for the next one, because that ending?!?! I need more of these fantastic characters!
October 18, 2022
slow burn ✔
fake dating ✔
found family ✔
vampires ✔
in theory great and I should love this
sadly, I couldn't get into it
fake dating ✔
found family ✔
vampires ✔
in theory great and I should love this
sadly, I couldn't get into it
August 13, 2022
“Would you prefer if we bottled blood and kept the mortals in stables and fields?”
“Are you comparing us to animals?”
His cheeks dimpled when he smirked.
✮✮✮✮✮
Olivia, sorceress, is never alone. She’s basically a prisoner in her own home, with her mum making sure a member of the Guild (the protectors of mortals) is with her at all times. One night, the alarm sounds and vampires are attacking the city. Mid-ambush a vampire grabs her from above and she awakes in the City of Nightmares. He claims to want to help her, but since when did vampires protect anyone? Olivia must trust him and his friends, but when the truth comes out, she wants to run.
Can I just say - CLIFFHANGER ALERT! I need book two of the trilogy in my life like now! This book was the perfect fantasy. The worlds were so real, the characters were to die for and it was page-turning until the very end! Except it’s not the end! Talk about driving me crazy. Rebecca really does know how to leave us wanting more! Also not sure if I’m Team Seb or Team Draven at this point…
Recommend for any fantasy and vampire lover! ⭐️
“Are you comparing us to animals?”
His cheeks dimpled when he smirked.
✮✮✮✮✮
Olivia, sorceress, is never alone. She’s basically a prisoner in her own home, with her mum making sure a member of the Guild (the protectors of mortals) is with her at all times. One night, the alarm sounds and vampires are attacking the city. Mid-ambush a vampire grabs her from above and she awakes in the City of Nightmares. He claims to want to help her, but since when did vampires protect anyone? Olivia must trust him and his friends, but when the truth comes out, she wants to run.
Can I just say - CLIFFHANGER ALERT! I need book two of the trilogy in my life like now! This book was the perfect fantasy. The worlds were so real, the characters were to die for and it was page-turning until the very end! Except it’s not the end! Talk about driving me crazy. Rebecca really does know how to leave us wanting more! Also not sure if I’m Team Seb or Team Draven at this point…
Recommend for any fantasy and vampire lover! ⭐️
March 21, 2022
Quite a simple story, but even still this was a fairly decent read.
Con: I wish that Shadow Kissed hadn't been pitched the way it was on NetGalley, i.e. New Adult sexy vampires. Why? Because there was no spice. Okay, there was ONE scene of heavy petting... And that's it. That's fine, of course, but please don't set the expectation because it will only lead to disappointment.
Pro: The love interest is quite cheeky and a total cinnamon roll (and he, not even at the very start, comes across as anything but).
Con: I struggled to picture the setting throughout the book because the descriptors are so sparse. I wished the author gave us more.
Pro: You can tell the author had loads of fun writing Seb's dialogue; it was loads of fun to read.
Con: In general, the writing could use more editing and tightening. There were sentences that would have been so much more impactful if they were written in active voice. Sentences where the same word is used twice (a massive personal gripe of mine). And, I wished the author did more showing and less telling. The FMC's depression for example. We're told a few times that she's depressed, and yet we almost never see it.
I hoped that this story might be something I could recommend as either a way for people to get over their War of Two Queen's hangovers or as an exciting start to a new series. I can't do either with my full chest, however, I do think this story will still hit the mark for some readers.
Con: I wish that Shadow Kissed hadn't been pitched the way it was on NetGalley, i.e. New Adult sexy vampires. Why? Because there was no spice. Okay, there was ONE scene of heavy petting... And that's it. That's fine, of course, but please don't set the expectation because it will only lead to disappointment.
Pro: The love interest is quite cheeky and a total cinnamon roll (and he, not even at the very start, comes across as anything but).
Con: I struggled to picture the setting throughout the book because the descriptors are so sparse. I wished the author gave us more.
Pro: You can tell the author had loads of fun writing Seb's dialogue; it was loads of fun to read.
Con: In general, the writing could use more editing and tightening. There were sentences that would have been so much more impactful if they were written in active voice. Sentences where the same word is used twice (a massive personal gripe of mine). And, I wished the author did more showing and less telling. The FMC's depression for example. We're told a few times that she's depressed, and yet we almost never see it.
I hoped that this story might be something I could recommend as either a way for people to get over their War of Two Queen's hangovers or as an exciting start to a new series. I can't do either with my full chest, however, I do think this story will still hit the mark for some readers.
June 9, 2022
First off a big thank you to Netgalley for giving me a digital copy of Shadow Kissed in exchange for an honest review.
Shadow Kissed invites readers into world full of vampires, deceit, and secrets. I have to admit, I usually am not a fan of vampire books but this one really changed my perspective.
"In two weeks, I had somehow lost everyone I cared about. My mom always told me not to feel sorry for myself, to keep getting back up when life throws punches, but I wasn't as strong as her. Grief and pain had chipped what little resilience I had left in me."
Shadow Kissed follows 19 year old Olivia: an empath, sorceress, and the daughter of a member of a Guild tasked with protecting mortals from vampires. However, when the vampires attack the Guild's stronghold looking for Olivia and her mom, Olivia is thrusted into a new and terrifying world she now must learn to navigate all on her own with the help of a very handsome, yet terrifying, vampire.
"You were meant to be the one who could heal my heart, not break it."
If you are in the mood for a slow burn, forced collaboration, enemies to lovers, one bed trope kind of book then look no further. This book really has it all. The banter between Sebastian and Olivia was golden and I really enjoyed all of their interactions with one another.
I didn't give this book 5 stars because it was still lacking in a couple of areas for me. It follows a very cliché route for the main character's story and the whole thing was very predictable. However, I did really enjoy the ending and look forward to reading the next book!
Shadow Kissed invites readers into world full of vampires, deceit, and secrets. I have to admit, I usually am not a fan of vampire books but this one really changed my perspective.
"In two weeks, I had somehow lost everyone I cared about. My mom always told me not to feel sorry for myself, to keep getting back up when life throws punches, but I wasn't as strong as her. Grief and pain had chipped what little resilience I had left in me."
Shadow Kissed follows 19 year old Olivia: an empath, sorceress, and the daughter of a member of a Guild tasked with protecting mortals from vampires. However, when the vampires attack the Guild's stronghold looking for Olivia and her mom, Olivia is thrusted into a new and terrifying world she now must learn to navigate all on her own with the help of a very handsome, yet terrifying, vampire.
"You were meant to be the one who could heal my heart, not break it."
If you are in the mood for a slow burn, forced collaboration, enemies to lovers, one bed trope kind of book then look no further. This book really has it all. The banter between Sebastian and Olivia was golden and I really enjoyed all of their interactions with one another.
I didn't give this book 5 stars because it was still lacking in a couple of areas for me. It follows a very cliché route for the main character's story and the whole thing was very predictable. However, I did really enjoy the ending and look forward to reading the next book!
March 19, 2022
"The last thing I wanted was to be in his arms, but in a world of darkness, he was my only ally."
✅ Fake dating
✅ Slow burn romance
✅ Only one bed
✅ Found family
✅ Political scheming
✅ Vampires with wings (!?)
I almost stopped reading after only a few pages, but I'm so glad I persevered. The first few chapters were very hard to get through, the remaining twenty flew. This is a quick paced, easy read that promises much more to come.
As if mourning the mysterious death of her boyfriend wasn't enough to be dealing with, Olivia finds herself whisked away to the City of Darkness following a vampire attack. Here, she must navigate blood dens, human auctions, and a royal castle to try save her best friend and mother - all while trying to figure out what the sexy Sebastian really wants from her.
The world the author has created is very interesting. However, it could have been much stronger. I found the premise of the world intriguing, but wasn't immersed in it. The story was also quite predictable, but very enjoyable. There's some nice banter between the characters and the plot moves quickly (with some of our favourite tropes!!!).
So while the story was 'simple', it was addictive. I've never downloaded a bonus chapter so fast (you can also do so by signing up for the author's newsletter). The way the story ends... the next book is going to be enthralling.
I'm praying for a fast release... and lots of smut.
✅ Fake dating
✅ Slow burn romance
✅ Only one bed
✅ Found family
✅ Political scheming
✅ Vampires with wings (!?)
I almost stopped reading after only a few pages, but I'm so glad I persevered. The first few chapters were very hard to get through, the remaining twenty flew. This is a quick paced, easy read that promises much more to come.
As if mourning the mysterious death of her boyfriend wasn't enough to be dealing with, Olivia finds herself whisked away to the City of Darkness following a vampire attack. Here, she must navigate blood dens, human auctions, and a royal castle to try save her best friend and mother - all while trying to figure out what the sexy Sebastian really wants from her.
The world the author has created is very interesting. However, it could have been much stronger. I found the premise of the world intriguing, but wasn't immersed in it. The story was also quite predictable, but very enjoyable. There's some nice banter between the characters and the plot moves quickly (with some of our favourite tropes!!!).
So while the story was 'simple', it was addictive. I've never downloaded a bonus chapter so fast (you can also do so by signing up for the author's newsletter). The way the story ends... the next book is going to be enthralling.
I'm praying for a fast release... and lots of smut.
March 18, 2022
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
I flew through this book and if you want a fast paced book chock full of some top tropes like fake-dating, enemies to lovers, one bed and forced proximity - this is for you!
I quite liked how the world wasn't real, but wasn't super high fantasy style either - it fit the characters and plot.
However, I did find the overall story SO predictable. Some things that I'm guessing were meant to be a plot twist were obvious pretty early on, and I don't think there's anything that really 'stands out' about the story or characters.
I flew through this book and if you want a fast paced book chock full of some top tropes like fake-dating, enemies to lovers, one bed and forced proximity - this is for you!
I quite liked how the world wasn't real, but wasn't super high fantasy style either - it fit the characters and plot.
However, I did find the overall story SO predictable. Some things that I'm guessing were meant to be a plot twist were obvious pretty early on, and I don't think there's anything that really 'stands out' about the story or characters.
April 21, 2024
3,5 🌟
Vampir konulu kitapları okumayı seviyorum bir de kanatları vardı. Kitabı sevdim devam ederim de ama 4 veresim de gelmedi bu konuyla daha da iyi yazılabilirdi bence. Çerezlik deriz ya öyle bir kitap olmuş. Tam bir giriş kitabıydı umarım devam kitaplarına 4 ya da 5 yıldız verebilirim. Ve kitabın 🌶 0.5 falan bence.😂 Devam kitaplarına saklamış yazar ki böylesi iyi slowburn severiz fantastikte.
Vampir konulu kitapları okumayı seviyorum bir de kanatları vardı. Kitabı sevdim devam ederim de ama 4 veresim de gelmedi bu konuyla daha da iyi yazılabilirdi bence. Çerezlik deriz ya öyle bir kitap olmuş. Tam bir giriş kitabıydı umarım devam kitaplarına 4 ya da 5 yıldız verebilirim. Ve kitabın 🌶 0.5 falan bence.😂 Devam kitaplarına saklamış yazar ki böylesi iyi slowburn severiz fantastikte.
dnf
March 21, 2022DNF @ 22%
The writing is too juvenile and the characters feel like caricatures of the roles they're meant to play. It feels like I can predict where this story is going, and even if I can't, I don't really care enough to stick around to find out.
The writing is too juvenile and the characters feel like caricatures of the roles they're meant to play. It feels like I can predict where this story is going, and even if I can't, I don't really care enough to stick around to find out.
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March 10, 2022
Uh, so I requested this eARC on a whim because I'm in the mood for vampires and I totally devoured this book. Like, I am exhausted and the cliffhanger?! WHAT!?
Full RTC when I actually get some sleep 😅
Full RTC when I actually get some sleep 😅
February 28, 2022
Wow! Excuse me while I go scream into my pillow cause I need book 2!!!
Rebecca has created yet another outstanding world! Something I found particularly interesting was that these vampires can fly! I have never heard of such a thing so kudos to you Rebecca! This book has so many badass characters that the whole I was just like dam! I'd also like to address that Sebastian is my man, love him! 😍 I highly recommend that you read this book not because it has flying vampires (but I mean that's also great too😄) but because Rebecca has written yet another outstanding series you won't regret reading!
Thank You Rebecca for the eARC!!!!
Rebecca has created yet another outstanding world! Something I found particularly interesting was that these vampires can fly! I have never heard of such a thing so kudos to you Rebecca! This book has so many badass characters that the whole I was just like dam! I'd also like to address that Sebastian is my man, love him! 😍 I highly recommend that you read this book not because it has flying vampires (but I mean that's also great too😄) but because Rebecca has written yet another outstanding series you won't regret reading!
Thank You Rebecca for the eARC!!!!
Want to read
February 25, 2022— NA Fantasy
— Fake Dating
— Slow Burn Romance
— Found Family
— Lost Royalty
— Vampires
— Epic Worldbuilding
— Fake Dating
— Slow Burn Romance
— Found Family
— Lost Royalty
— Vampires
— Epic Worldbuilding
October 22, 2023
Wow, what a treat! This book has it all...stellar world building, solid character development, and an original plot. There were a couple of inconsistencies and issues with pacing that hindered me from giving a 5 star rating, but I don't give out 4 stars very easily either. With that cliffhanger of an ending, I must read book 2 soon!! Thank you to the author for hosting a giveaway on Instagram. The special edition box set is absolutely stunning!
March 5, 2022
4.5 stars!
A dark world with a twist on your regular vampire lore and on top of that an urban fantasy and high fantasy mix!
I am in love with the world in this book, and that’s what really made it stand out to me, because it’s so unique!
.
The plot: I didn’t see where it was going, which is always a plus for me, because I love getting surprised and not knowing where a story is headed! I love a good court intrigue with so many variables that it’s impossible to see them before things go down!
.
The world: like I said above: WOW! We start off in Baldoria, they’re really modern and it pretty much starts off as an urban fantasy! Then we go to Sanmorte, and they felt really medieval to me. Which is actually also stated in the book, that Sanmorte is behind in technology. The mix of urban and high fantasy was so well done that half the time I forgot that Olivia is actually used to having a phone and everything! It’s also really dark and twisted, with scary monsters (both literally and metaphorically)!
.
The characters: I think Olivia is one of my new favourite heroines! I loved her character development and her finding herself again.
Sebastian is also right up my alley when it comes to book boyfriends! Dark, sad past and snarky, what else could I ask for?
And I can’t wait to see what the romance will be like!
Most of the side characters were fun and I loved hating some of them! Pretty sure that Kalos is my new favourite villain. New character I hate the most is Astor.
.
The writing: the pacing was good, the writing style was easy to read and super easy to get lost in! I forgot that I was reading! There’s always something happening and I liked that it’s a lot of show-don’t-tell!
A dark world with a twist on your regular vampire lore and on top of that an urban fantasy and high fantasy mix!
I am in love with the world in this book, and that’s what really made it stand out to me, because it’s so unique!
.
The plot: I didn’t see where it was going, which is always a plus for me, because I love getting surprised and not knowing where a story is headed! I love a good court intrigue with so many variables that it’s impossible to see them before things go down!
.
The world: like I said above: WOW! We start off in Baldoria, they’re really modern and it pretty much starts off as an urban fantasy! Then we go to Sanmorte, and they felt really medieval to me. Which is actually also stated in the book, that Sanmorte is behind in technology. The mix of urban and high fantasy was so well done that half the time I forgot that Olivia is actually used to having a phone and everything! It’s also really dark and twisted, with scary monsters (both literally and metaphorically)!
.
The characters: I think Olivia is one of my new favourite heroines! I loved her character development and her finding herself again.
Sebastian is also right up my alley when it comes to book boyfriends! Dark, sad past and snarky, what else could I ask for?
And I can’t wait to see what the romance will be like!
Most of the side characters were fun and I loved hating some of them! Pretty sure that Kalos is my new favourite villain. New character I hate the most is Astor.
.
The writing: the pacing was good, the writing style was easy to read and super easy to get lost in! I forgot that I was reading! There’s always something happening and I liked that it’s a lot of show-don’t-tell!
February 17, 2022
It feels like Rebecca Garcia's writing has matured a lot with this book.
This story let us dive into the live of Olivia after a rather brutal emotional shock. Her life is then turn upside down in a world where not everything or everyone are what they seem to be.
This is a story about mortals, magic beings called sorcerers and vampire in a world created by Gods. Through Olivia, we learn about the dynamics between the different species before being thrown on the vampire side of the fence.
The settings were dark with a touch of depression and betrayal that let the reader attempt to grab for the light with the characters. Most of the characters were pleasant in their own role, from the main character Olivia who tries to build herself back up to dark vampire Sebastian whose real goal we are left guessing. The characters painted as the antogonists are left mysterious enough by the first person narrative but we can sense their motives through Olivia's astute observations.
The books goes from strange places to strange places creating an aura of wonder as the world unfold in front of the reader eyes. It is enough traveling to sustain the plot while letting the characters' relationships grow as more and more characters become involved in the story.
The book also gives a nice visual of the places and action so that we can understand what is happening sometimes a bit faster than the main character.
It was a really nice read and I can't wait for the next book in this series, especially because the book ended with a sort of cliffhanger and that's really not my cup of tea.
This story let us dive into the live of Olivia after a rather brutal emotional shock. Her life is then turn upside down in a world where not everything or everyone are what they seem to be.
This is a story about mortals, magic beings called sorcerers and vampire in a world created by Gods. Through Olivia, we learn about the dynamics between the different species before being thrown on the vampire side of the fence.
The settings were dark with a touch of depression and betrayal that let the reader attempt to grab for the light with the characters. Most of the characters were pleasant in their own role, from the main character Olivia who tries to build herself back up to dark vampire Sebastian whose real goal we are left guessing. The characters painted as the antogonists are left mysterious enough by the first person narrative but we can sense their motives through Olivia's astute observations.
The books goes from strange places to strange places creating an aura of wonder as the world unfold in front of the reader eyes. It is enough traveling to sustain the plot while letting the characters' relationships grow as more and more characters become involved in the story.
The book also gives a nice visual of the places and action so that we can understand what is happening sometimes a bit faster than the main character.
It was a really nice read and I can't wait for the next book in this series, especially because the book ended with a sort of cliffhanger and that's really not my cup of tea.
March 19, 2022
All empath sorceress Olivia has ever known is that the guild are the good guys, and vampires are the enemy. She’s never had any reason to question their judgement, especially not after the death of her beloved boyfriend in the line of duty.
However, Olivia must reevaluate her priorities when vampires attack her city, her mom and best friend are enslaved, and she is rescued by a handsome yet irritating vampire named Sebastian.
Forced to ally with vampires in order to stay alive, Olivia must stay vigilant in order to protect herself from the many threats that she faces. But as she gets more deeply involved in the world of vampires, Olivia begins to question everything she’s ever been told.
Holy. Freaking. Cow. This book was complete and utter perfection! By creating this darkly addicting and beautifully lavish new fantasy world, Garcia has cemented herself as one of my absolute favorite fantasy authors. She made these characters spring off the page and right into my mind, and I loved every second of it!
The world building is spectacular. I loved her version of vampire lore, and I loved that the vampires and the sorcerers/sorceresses were at odds. The plot was fast paced, but it didn’t feel rushed either. And the twists and turns had me screaming!!!
Olivia. Her character growth over the course of the novel was astounding. She went from being a sheltered little girl to learning how to stand on her own two feet, which was amazing to watch unfold. Sebastian. He’s very guarded, and incredibly brooding. He has a lot of secrets, but I think there are reasons behind everything he does. I really enjoyed their banter as well!
Seriously, go read this book. I promise you, you won’t regret it!
However, Olivia must reevaluate her priorities when vampires attack her city, her mom and best friend are enslaved, and she is rescued by a handsome yet irritating vampire named Sebastian.
Forced to ally with vampires in order to stay alive, Olivia must stay vigilant in order to protect herself from the many threats that she faces. But as she gets more deeply involved in the world of vampires, Olivia begins to question everything she’s ever been told.
Holy. Freaking. Cow. This book was complete and utter perfection! By creating this darkly addicting and beautifully lavish new fantasy world, Garcia has cemented herself as one of my absolute favorite fantasy authors. She made these characters spring off the page and right into my mind, and I loved every second of it!
The world building is spectacular. I loved her version of vampire lore, and I loved that the vampires and the sorcerers/sorceresses were at odds. The plot was fast paced, but it didn’t feel rushed either. And the twists and turns had me screaming!!!
Olivia. Her character growth over the course of the novel was astounding. She went from being a sheltered little girl to learning how to stand on her own two feet, which was amazing to watch unfold. Sebastian. He’s very guarded, and incredibly brooding. He has a lot of secrets, but I think there are reasons behind everything he does. I really enjoyed their banter as well!
Seriously, go read this book. I promise you, you won’t regret it!
March 14, 2022
I had the honor of being part of Rebecca's beta read team for Shadow Kissed, and let me tell you- YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK.
No spoilers but the world Rebecca has created is unique, and Olivia's story is one riddled with action, angst, heartbreak and slow burn romance 🔥
Highly recommend!
No spoilers but the world Rebecca has created is unique, and Olivia's story is one riddled with action, angst, heartbreak and slow burn romance 🔥
Highly recommend!
July 4, 2023
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Shadow Kissed is the first book within the Marked by Blood series. In this, you will meet Olivia. Now she's not quite a witch but not quite a normal human either. Sure, her mother is a great sorceress, but Olivia is kind of meh in that department.
So, she's constantly under supervision and is rarely out in the world. Mostly because there's evil vampires running around and might try to kill her. Or something like that because her world is about to change after her guild is attacked... by you guess it: vampires.
Enter Sebastian. A very yummy vampire who saved her but also captured her at the same time. She's still in danger but from a very different group of vampires who were hunting her. So, she is kind of stuck with him and his friends. Sure, at first, she was very stubborn, and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and sarcasm between them. Seriously, it was my favorite part of the entire book.
Oh, and the fake relationship/engagement was adorable as well. I'm very excited for the next book because I want to see how it's all going to play out. Especially since she now knows who her father is, what happened to her mother, and what's exactly going to happen to her next. Again, she sort of knows but I'm not sure her dad is prepared for who she is going to want to actually marry.
In the end, I need more Sebastian and Olivia being together. Very happy that I got the chance to jump into this and can't wait to see how this series ends.
Shadow Kissed is the first book within the Marked by Blood series. In this, you will meet Olivia. Now she's not quite a witch but not quite a normal human either. Sure, her mother is a great sorceress, but Olivia is kind of meh in that department.
So, she's constantly under supervision and is rarely out in the world. Mostly because there's evil vampires running around and might try to kill her. Or something like that because her world is about to change after her guild is attacked... by you guess it: vampires.
Enter Sebastian. A very yummy vampire who saved her but also captured her at the same time. She's still in danger but from a very different group of vampires who were hunting her. So, she is kind of stuck with him and his friends. Sure, at first, she was very stubborn, and I thoroughly enjoyed the banter and sarcasm between them. Seriously, it was my favorite part of the entire book.
Oh, and the fake relationship/engagement was adorable as well. I'm very excited for the next book because I want to see how it's all going to play out. Especially since she now knows who her father is, what happened to her mother, and what's exactly going to happen to her next. Again, she sort of knows but I'm not sure her dad is prepared for who she is going to want to actually marry.
In the end, I need more Sebastian and Olivia being together. Very happy that I got the chance to jump into this and can't wait to see how this series ends.
March 15, 2022
this book was chefs kiss - brooding vampires, lost royalty, one bed, fake engagement, found family - some many amazing tropes rolled into one. i ate this book up!!
release date march 16th.
olivia is our main character who lives in the kingdom of baldoria. her city is under attack by vampires, and she’s taken away before she can be killed.
sebastian is the charming vampire who comes to her rescue, but she can’t figure out why. (also, fangs and wings.. cmon who wouldn’t want that). he’s keeping secrets from her, and she’s determined to figure them out.
i fell in love with this world!! the author does a great job at world building and giving us a good base for the first book. i cant wait to see how it develops in the next two books!
the characters ughh. erianna was my absolute fav. i would love love love to see more of her in the upcoming books. zach, erianna and seb are truly the meaning of found family - they make my heart ache.
from the beginning to the end, this book is packed with action, plot twist and angst. it was such a good introductory into a new trilogy and i highly recommend for anyone who enjoys fantasy and vampires!
** i received an e-arc of this book from the publishers at netgalley! all thoughts are my own
release date march 16th.
olivia is our main character who lives in the kingdom of baldoria. her city is under attack by vampires, and she’s taken away before she can be killed.
sebastian is the charming vampire who comes to her rescue, but she can’t figure out why. (also, fangs and wings.. cmon who wouldn’t want that). he’s keeping secrets from her, and she’s determined to figure them out.
i fell in love with this world!! the author does a great job at world building and giving us a good base for the first book. i cant wait to see how it develops in the next two books!
the characters ughh. erianna was my absolute fav. i would love love love to see more of her in the upcoming books. zach, erianna and seb are truly the meaning of found family - they make my heart ache.
from the beginning to the end, this book is packed with action, plot twist and angst. it was such a good introductory into a new trilogy and i highly recommend for anyone who enjoys fantasy and vampires!
** i received an e-arc of this book from the publishers at netgalley! all thoughts are my own
April 5, 2024
yüzeyseldi daha detaylı olabilitdi hiçbi karakterle bağ kuramadım dünya açıklansa daha iyi hissettirirdi lakinnn vampirler diye 4 verdim ben buyum işte bu kadarım
March 12, 2022
Betrayal and sacrifice bite deep in this uniquely seductive vampire tale.
Read
December 26, 2022Ben bu kitaba yorum yapamam ki, kıyamam ki... Ama kapağa bayıldım bak!
February 27, 2022
Shadow Kissed pulls you in from page one and holds you tight with Garcia’s fresh, sexy take on the chosen one trope. Vampires, slow burn romance worth waiting for, and one bed? Look no further! Five scintillating stars!
March 29, 2022
This book read a bit like the author had a bingo card of different well liked tropes and tried their hardest to check those boxes off and get all the bingos.
I've been itching for a good angsty vampire romance, so I desperately wanted to love this. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me. The writing was stilted and disjointed and there was little to no world building; the world we're in is barely described! Some details felt thrown in as an afterthought: like how the vampires have wings! I would be reading and then all of a sudden someone snaps their wings open and takes flight and I'm just like ?! where'd those come from?!
The plot was predictable, yet their scheme was a touch confusing, and the characters felt relatively juvenile and one dimensional. In retrospect, this felt like an unrefined version of the fantasy books I read in middle/high school.
All that said, the bonus chapter in Sebastian's POV sounded very promising. I think I would be interested in continuing this series in the future but it would not be at the top of my TBR.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've been itching for a good angsty vampire romance, so I desperately wanted to love this. Unfortunately, this fell flat for me. The writing was stilted and disjointed and there was little to no world building; the world we're in is barely described! Some details felt thrown in as an afterthought: like how the vampires have wings! I would be reading and then all of a sudden someone snaps their wings open and takes flight and I'm just like ?! where'd those come from?!
The plot was predictable, yet their scheme was a touch confusing, and the characters felt relatively juvenile and one dimensional. In retrospect, this felt like an unrefined version of the fantasy books I read in middle/high school.
All that said, the bonus chapter in Sebastian's POV sounded very promising. I think I would be interested in continuing this series in the future but it would not be at the top of my TBR.
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 13, 2022
The writing in this book is pretty rough, there's no connection with the characters and everything is going a mile a minute.
March 12, 2022
I was fortunate enough to receive an ARC of Shadow Kissed from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
4.5 STARS ✨✨✨✨
Let me start off by saying that this a book that you do not want to miss. It releases April 15th and I would strongly suggest pre-ordering it; Rebecca L. Garcia has created a fascinating new world full of kingdoms. We start off in one of the human kingdoms, Baldoria, and follow the ninteen-year-old sorcerer Olivia who, more or less has been hidden her whole life due to her abilities. In a sense, think Rapunzel. There are definitely some links to Rapunzel in this book if you add vampires and magic into the mix — I mean, who wouldn't want that?
The story starts at a point where Olivia is completely consumed by grief after the loss of her boyfriend, Astor, and, quite frankly, it doesn't get easier for her: we follow a whirlwind where Olivia is completely torn from everything that she knows and is thrown into truths that completely juxtapose everything she once stood for.
The plot twists are fantastic; at the beginning of the book especially, I kept trying to note down some guesses of how I thought things were going to go and I was completely wrong. The book does end on a cliffhanger, which will lead you desperate for book two, but more in a sense because you love the storyline and you want to see more from the characters that you've fallen in love with, rather than a 'Oh my god! Look what happened! I need answers' it ends on a cliffhanger, but I'd consider it a good cliffhanger to pick back up on instead of a soul destructing one (thanks for your kindness on that front, Rebecca!)
Another thing I loved about this book was the duality of the characters. As someone who is frequently on TikTok, I constantly hear the audio "No one bad is ever truly bad. And no one good is ever truly good." (which I just found out is from an episode of Loki, interesting) and that really is the case in Shadow Kissed. I don't want to spoil too much, but Olivia has to go through a process of learning that those who she has associated with comfort and security perhaps weren't the correct individuals to consider safe havens after all. From the main characters to the side characters, the author allowed us to have an insight in all of them which made them a lot more loveable.
I am so excited for book two. I wasn't able to put book one down and I cannot wait to see where Rebecca L. Garcia goes next. If you love these tropes, then Shadow Kissed is definitely for you:
• slow burn
• enemies to lovers
• fake relationship
• there was only one bed !!
• allusions to a soulmate trope in the world building
• royalty
• found family
4.5 STARS ✨✨✨✨
Let me start off by saying that this a book that you do not want to miss. It releases April 15th and I would strongly suggest pre-ordering it; Rebecca L. Garcia has created a fascinating new world full of kingdoms. We start off in one of the human kingdoms, Baldoria, and follow the ninteen-year-old sorcerer Olivia who, more or less has been hidden her whole life due to her abilities. In a sense, think Rapunzel. There are definitely some links to Rapunzel in this book if you add vampires and magic into the mix — I mean, who wouldn't want that?
The story starts at a point where Olivia is completely consumed by grief after the loss of her boyfriend, Astor, and, quite frankly, it doesn't get easier for her: we follow a whirlwind where Olivia is completely torn from everything that she knows and is thrown into truths that completely juxtapose everything she once stood for.
The plot twists are fantastic; at the beginning of the book especially, I kept trying to note down some guesses of how I thought things were going to go and I was completely wrong. The book does end on a cliffhanger, which will lead you desperate for book two, but more in a sense because you love the storyline and you want to see more from the characters that you've fallen in love with, rather than a 'Oh my god! Look what happened! I need answers' it ends on a cliffhanger, but I'd consider it a good cliffhanger to pick back up on instead of a soul destructing one (thanks for your kindness on that front, Rebecca!)
Another thing I loved about this book was the duality of the characters. As someone who is frequently on TikTok, I constantly hear the audio "No one bad is ever truly bad. And no one good is ever truly good." (which I just found out is from an episode of Loki, interesting) and that really is the case in Shadow Kissed. I don't want to spoil too much, but Olivia has to go through a process of learning that those who she has associated with comfort and security perhaps weren't the correct individuals to consider safe havens after all. From the main characters to the side characters, the author allowed us to have an insight in all of them which made them a lot more loveable.
I am so excited for book two. I wasn't able to put book one down and I cannot wait to see where Rebecca L. Garcia goes next. If you love these tropes, then Shadow Kissed is definitely for you:
• slow burn
• enemies to lovers
• fake relationship
• there was only one bed !!
• allusions to a soulmate trope in the world building
• royalty
• found family
March 16, 2022
Thanks to NetGalley, Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and Rebecca L. Garcia for providing me with an ARC of Shadow Kissed in exchange for an honest review!
''You can't fix something unless it's brought out into the open, and people often shy away from the ugly side of our nature.''
Olivia knows everyone at the guild is on high alert, but no one will tell her why.
Sometimes she wished she wasn't a sorceress, so she could live normally. The vampires and a far more terrifying creatures, known to suck souls from their victims, craves her sorceress magic. They want to use her ability to manipulate and influence other's emotions and energies.
But darkness is already here - in Baldoria.
Olivia gets taken by Sebastian and is being held in the City of Nightmares - the most dangerous place in the vampire kingdom. As she fights to survive in a world where mortals are nothing more than things to be fed on or traded. And once the truth of her upbringings comes out, Olivia realizes, the ones she loves have been shielding her from a fate far worse than death.
This was such a fun, easy and quick read! We have several jackpots here:
✔ Fake Dating
✔ Slow Burn Romance
✔ Found Family
✔ Lost Royalty
✔ Vampires can fly! Say what?
✔ ''Who did this to you?'' and ''There's only one bed.''
✔ Interesting worldbuilding
I can't really write more about this book, because it would be full with spoilers. And I don't want to ruin this story for you! :)
Olivia can't catch a break of being in the danger. She finds herself being literally and figuratively a prisoner at several occasions. She deals with grief and trauma, that affects her health and weakens her abilities. But with unlikely alliances, she tries to embrace her true self and is on a learning path to become healthier and stronger. She is not straight away badass MC, but she has her moments. Did I mentally high-fived Liv, when she kicked THAT person in the nuts? Yes, yes I did!
I enjoyed Olivia's interactions with sweet and compassioned warrior Erianna, stoic Zach and I absolutely wanted to learn more about the Master of Travel - Sebastian. I wish we learned more about the four gods.
I haven't read many vampire/mortal type of books (les forget Twilight please lol), but the world-building here was fresh and interesting. From cities to kingdoms and blood dens. The pacing for the story was fast, emotions were various and atmospheric scenes were easy to imagine.
There are twists and turns that you could already guess, but it doesn't affect whole plot.
By the way, Shadow Kissed ends with a cliffhanger!
''You can't fix something unless it's brought out into the open, and people often shy away from the ugly side of our nature.''
Olivia knows everyone at the guild is on high alert, but no one will tell her why.
Sometimes she wished she wasn't a sorceress, so she could live normally. The vampires and a far more terrifying creatures, known to suck souls from their victims, craves her sorceress magic. They want to use her ability to manipulate and influence other's emotions and energies.
But darkness is already here - in Baldoria.
Olivia gets taken by Sebastian and is being held in the City of Nightmares - the most dangerous place in the vampire kingdom. As she fights to survive in a world where mortals are nothing more than things to be fed on or traded. And once the truth of her upbringings comes out, Olivia realizes, the ones she loves have been shielding her from a fate far worse than death.
This was such a fun, easy and quick read! We have several jackpots here:
✔ Fake Dating
✔ Slow Burn Romance
✔ Found Family
✔ Lost Royalty
✔ Vampires can fly! Say what?
✔ ''Who did this to you?'' and ''There's only one bed.''
✔ Interesting worldbuilding
I can't really write more about this book, because it would be full with spoilers. And I don't want to ruin this story for you! :)
Olivia can't catch a break of being in the danger. She finds herself being literally and figuratively a prisoner at several occasions. She deals with grief and trauma, that affects her health and weakens her abilities. But with unlikely alliances, she tries to embrace her true self and is on a learning path to become healthier and stronger. She is not straight away badass MC, but she has her moments. Did I mentally high-fived Liv, when she kicked THAT person in the nuts? Yes, yes I did!
I enjoyed Olivia's interactions with sweet and compassioned warrior Erianna, stoic Zach and I absolutely wanted to learn more about the Master of Travel - Sebastian. I wish we learned more about the four gods.
I haven't read many vampire/mortal type of books (les forget Twilight please lol), but the world-building here was fresh and interesting. From cities to kingdoms and blood dens. The pacing for the story was fast, emotions were various and atmospheric scenes were easy to imagine.
There are twists and turns that you could already guess, but it doesn't affect whole plot.
By the way, Shadow Kissed ends with a cliffhanger!
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