Shadowfall

Immortals Descending #2

by Iris Foxglove

It is said the demon in the well will give you your heart's desire...for a price.

When Declan's prince and best friend, Arwyn, goes seeking the demon for himself, he surprises Declan by leaping into the demon’s well. But when Declan pulls him out, it isn't Arwyn he rescued, but a demon wearing his skin. No one believes Declan that Arwyn's soul has been corrupted by the shadow in the well, and with Arwyn taking up arms against the king's fleet by becoming a pirate, all that matters is stopping him.

When Arwyn offers him a terrible bargain, Declan agrees, hoping it will finally give him the truth about what happened to his prince...and a chance to find the man he'd loved since childhood.

But Arwyn isn’t a demon. He’s a god, and he is very, very good at knowing what people really want. He is convinced that for Declan, it isn't the prince who went into the water that has captivated him...but the shadow that came out of it.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, M M Romance, Adult, BDSM, Magic, Enemies To Lovers

344 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 24, 2023

About the author

Iris Foxglove is the shared pen name of Avon Gale (she/her) and Fae Loxley (he/him). Avon and Fae met in fandom in 2019, and began writing fanfiction together in 2020 during lockdown. They eventually decided to collaborate on original fantasy fiction, and haven't looked back since.

They write queer fantasy with an emphasis on biological imperative, natural power exchange dynamics, complex worldbuilding and unforgettable characters.

You can follow Iris on twitter @irisfoxglove, or sign up for Iris' newsletter: http://eepurl.com/hrhA6z

Iris also has a brand-new Patreon! https://www.patreon.com/irisfoxglove

Iris' Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...

You can also follow the authors individually on Twitter and Facebook:

Avon Gale
Twitter: https://twitter.com/avongalewrites
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/2p8hz4fv

Fae Loxley
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fae_loxley
Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/mrxt2fnn

Reviews

[Jewel · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

The more time I spend in this universe, the more I love it. Just wow.

I do have a couple questions though, where have all the wyverns gone and did Sunflower and Stella become bestie beasties? Also, considering where Sunflower was found...where do/did wyverns come from? How did he get there??

[Mir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Much better than the first book and I have nothing but good things to say and good feelings to feel.

I really enjoyed the plot and the characters and the romance. I especially enjoyed the sex scenes.

Who knew that a book about the God of Desire/Avarice would be so fantastic. I can’t even decide who I liked more, him or Declan.

There was action, humour, and more descriptive sex in this book that was missing from the first book, but most of all there was more relationship development and that’s truly what made this five stars compared to book one.

Lastly, even the writing was much improved. Far fewer sun on sentences and “floofy” dialogue. It was less of a detached writing style and far easier to read.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

4.25 stars

Shadowfall is book two in Iris Foxglove’s series Immortals Descending. This story focuses on Avarice, who goes by Arwyn in this story. In book one, the character is introduced as a god who is trapped in his Well, barred from leaving. People still cast precious items into his well hoping for wishes. But everything they have to offer turns to trash by the time it reaches him at the bottom of the Well. I thought Avarice was a tantalizing character. Skeletal in looks with paste-gem eyes and a rusty iron crown seemingly permanently affixed to his head, Avarice is flippant and dismissive. The first book also has a brief scene where Avarice/Arwyn and Declan are sailing on a pirate ship and I was so curious about how a regular human would fall for a god like Avarice. That’s where this whole book comes in; it explores how Arwyn and Declan come together.

The prologue of the book sets up the most tantalizing premise:

Read Camille’s review in its entirety here.

[Merrikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the authors.

This new series is probably my favorite, and it's no secret I fangirl this author so of course I was going to love this one. This book was fun, hot, and emotional, and I loved the enemies-to-lovers trope (which is hard to do well, I think -- you need a reason for your characters to get to the lovers despite the enemies, and I like how it was constructed here.) I also really enjoyed the D/s dynamics, which is what initially drew me to the author's (or authors', I suppose) work in the first place. I like how some of the books focus more on that aspect, some less, as it always fits the characters perfectly without trying to keep the same level in each book. This one had a high steam level too, and wow, it almost melted my kindle.

While Storm Front had more of an epic-fantasy feel to it, this one for sure earns the "romance" in fantasy romance. I also really appreciated the conflict resolution for the imperialistic king, which I found very fresh and innovative. I'd be shocked if this didn't end up their most popular book, it's a wonderful balance of fantasy, kink, heat, plot, character and emotions. If you're someone who likes your fantasy romance with a hearty dose of heat and banter and feelings, this one is for you. Can't wait for the next one!

[Siobhan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After adoring Storm Front, the first book in the Immortals Descending series from Iris Foxglove, I found myself eager for more of the world. I had fallen deep for both the characters and the universe, which left me with so many questions about what was to come. Thus, it should come as no surprise to know I jumped right into Shadowfall.

As with the first book in the series, Shadowfall was a book I could not put down. Just like the first book, it was another story that had me debating between a four-star and a five-star rating. With so much packed into this one and so many elements that kept me turning the pages, it certainly kept me hooked throughout. The only thing that had me opting to round my rating down was how quickly everything came together at the end. I adored the way things played out and how it linked with the development of the characters, but I do wish we had looked at things in a bit more depth. It was such a huge change for the world, and I feel the view we were given was a little on the limited side. That is not to say it was bad, simply that I wanted more. Maybe that is just me being greedy, but I do feel like things were not explored quite as much as they were in the first book.

All in all, this was a fabulous second book in the series. I am eager to see what book three brings and already have high hopes for how things will play out.

[Randi · Rating 5 out of 5]

rtc but it was fantastic

[Iris Foxglove]

The second Immortals Descending book, featuring Desire and his companion!

It is said the demon in the well will give you your heart's desire...for a price.

When Declan's prince and best friend, Arwyn, goes seeking the demon for himself...it isn't Arwyn that returns, merely a demon wearing his skin, something ancient and hungry staring out of his eyes. But no one believes Declan that Arwyn's soul has been corrupted by the thing in the well, and with Arwyn taking up arms against the king's fleet by becoming a pirate, all that matters is stopping him.

When Arwyn offers him a terrible bargain, Declan agrees, hoping it will finally give him the truth about what happened to his prince...and a chance to find the man he'd loved since childhood.

But Arwyn the demon is very, very good at knowing what people really want, and he's convinced that for Declan, it isn't the prince that went into the water that has captivated him...but the thing that came out of it.

January 2023

[J.L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like the previous book in this series, this one starts with a fascinating origin story. This time, it’s not the origin story of a god, but of the inciting event to his evolution. Foxglove kicks us off with lots of questions, then makes us work for answers that aren’t anything close to simple.

This story settles neatly into the enemies-to-lovers trope, but as usual, this author never follows a linear progression to Arwyn and Declan’s happily ever after. Once they start interacting directly (i.e., Declan becomes Arwyn’s prisoner), this story could be overwhelmingly angsty. However, these men are both way too bratty for that, and I thoroughly enjoyed their epic hate sex as much as Declan pretended not to. Even when secrets are revealed and elements of this story could have gone in the direction of heavy angst, Foxglove keeps moments poignant instead of overwrought.

The unexpected and heartbreaking truth revealed at the end of this story means yet another book in this world that led me to plenty of tears. The amazing world-building that evolves from this revelation once again blows me away in the face of these authors’ collective creativity. The character development that both main characters go through is fantastic, especially because each leads the other to become the best version of themselves rather than being the absolute reason for it. For too long, Avarice has believed themself to be the god of Greed. I love the eventual resolution of their characterization and found it more than satisfying, but I’d even have taken it a bit farther and argued that they are really the god of humanity itself.

Characters and timelines here cross over with the previous book in this series. Like Storm Front provides historical context for lands we’re familiar with from other stories in this world, Shadowfall does the same with an even more incredible reveal. Assigning deities to facets of life and making them integral aspects of historical events presents Foxglove with an interesting conundrum in this book, but they work out a clever way to avoid stepping on Ares’ toes with a traditional war.

I look forward to seeing Arwyn and Declan pop up in future stories and continue to be their delicious, bratty selves. Finally, this is very much a book for cat lovers, and not just for the way Foxglove presents the fantastical wyverns. Each book by these authors gets better and better, and I don’t regret supporting them and this incredible world.

Disclaimer: I received a digital review copy of this book from the authors.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolute perfection! This book was the perfect enemies to lovers pirate adventure starring the god of greed and a dragon (wyvern) rider out for revenge. Arwyn and Declan were such fun and interesting characters. I am surprised I liked Arwyn as much as I did (especially since I love Azaiah so much, who is essentially his opposite) but he was a fascinating and complex character to follow. I was never bored, and really loved the story from start to finish.

I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again: This author duo can do no wrong!!! So excited for the next book!

[tilda · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love them soo much 🔐🔐

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Declan is a good and loyal friend who follows his friend and prince Arwyn into a precarious place in an effort to save or rescue him. He sees the danger of the direction Arwyn was going in. When Arwyn decides to dance with a demon by jumping in the well, he that emerges is not he who went in. The journey Arwyn inhabited and Declan travel is filled with twists and turns and engaging as all get out. I have not read the first book in this series and that did not take away from my enjoyment of this story but I will read it now and re-read this story again and read on when other stories are published. Well written and satisfying as they do get their HEA and I got a good read.
I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my second read through, and of all the Iris Foxglove books, this one is by far my favorite for two reasons, Avarice himself & the king.
How she writes the manipulation of a people by a person in power is so incredibly important to me with how prevalent this is in the modern day. We are surrounded by people who, similarly to Declan, are manipulated into believing their ruler or government is doing what is best for them and cares for them, when they are actually blinded by greed. His arguments are so telling of how the manipulation works, and so so so parallel to how people have argued with me about minorities or those without power fight back.

"Pirates don't earn gold, they steal it," Declan said, but there was a hint of something in his voice, a lack of his
usual certainty.
"You're wrong about that," Arwyn said. "We trade goods, you know. We also transport food, only we aren't taking it from farmers and giving it to people who can't be bothered to grow their own. And I don't want to ruin your fanciful idea that all pirates are bloodthirsty thieves, but your king, my knight, thinks anyone who disagrees with him is a pirate. Piracy needn't involve cannons, stealing gold, and making sailors walk the plank. To your king, it can be as simple as wanting to have a say in the crops you grow on your land,”

"Look. I know he's not .. There are things wrong with the system, obvi-ously, but lawlessness isn't the answer."
"Lawlessness? My knight, do you know there's a rule, here on this very island where we are currently moored, that no one may incite violence or take another person without their consent?
Where was that rule for Captain Shrike, in the king's very home?"

"Your view of your kingdom and your king is like one of my paste jewels, Declan. It shines as brightly in the sun as a real gem, appears flawless as a dia-mond, but it isn't. It's easy to see the difference, if you look at it from the right angle. And you can certainly tell that it's all a lie when you realize how easy it is to break."

"Difficult to do, with your body hanging from a noose or your head on a spike."
"So much for not being lawless," Declan muttered.
"Would, say, Iola receive any different treatment from your king?"

And finally, Avarice… I don’t think I’ll be able to put into words how much i love the personification of greed. I love all of the gods but he is my favorite (Astra is in close second). But I love him and his pasty jewels. I love how the well itself and fountain symbolize greed just as much as he himself is greed and how the jewels turn into nothing of value once they reach him because that’s the essence of human greed.

Anyways love my babies maybe I’ll reread Astra’s book after this🥺

"Of all the wishes I've ever granted, you're my favorite," the shadow said, and when he kissed Declan, he tasted not the salt and brine of the Well but the crystal-clear water of a fountain, copper coins on sun-warmed tile. A wish made and a wish granted, a coin that wouldn't tarnish and a crown on his brow that was nothing but tarnish.
And a man who loved both, and always would.”

[Scatteredashes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge Iris Foxglove fan and think that their world building is insane and one of the best. This can definitely be read on it's own though it might spoil Storm Front if you're not familiar with Azaiah's story though there's not much overlap until the end. Avarice (Arwyn) is an interesting character and believes himself to be the God of Greed. However, I like how it wasn't quite that simple and the journey it took for him to remember the other aspects of himself. Delcan is on a revenge missing believing he can get his best friend/the prince he serves back. He's a bit naive and a bit going through life with the wool pulled over his eyes. The back and forth between these two characters was great and I loved their dialogue.

Now, I did think think about taking a star off because I do think that the attraction between them felt a bit rushed. It seemed like they were sniping at each other one second and then a flip switched and they were taking a tumble between the sheets. Now, some of that is due to the Dom/sub dynamics of the world (which are awesome and I love this additional layer to everything), however I also think I would've liked more waiting/edging to build up the tension. I decided to give it a full five stars anyways because Declan likes the shadow/almost monstrous side of Arwyn and I always love a good monster story.

There's quite a lot going on in this one and maybe some commentary on empires and people in powerful positions or maybe just humans' desires for more and it almost took away a bit from the romance which in reality didn't feel like a romance but more of a claiming. I think if you're looking for a traditional romance then you might be a bit disappointed though there is a HEA. I think the gods are too complex for that though and really enjoyed the story. I will say that it's probably not my favorite by them because I do agree that it's hard to get a good read on Avarice/Arwyn but I like the fight that Declan always gives him. It still felt like a story written by them and I am always happy to return to this universe. I also loved getting to know Leviathan and Astra more. Ares didn't really show up here but their story was hinted at in Storm Front and I think it may be next. I'm kind of intrigued to see if Astra shows up in their dreams as well and why he's been napping for sixteen years. The characters that Iris Foxglove dream up are complex and memorable and this one is no different.

[True Loveislovereview · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars. Step into the world with the most amazing fantasy creatures, sea dragons, wyverns, sirens, demons, gods, kings, and princes.

Declan was stolen as a baby and gifted to Prince Arwyn. They are inseparable but Arwyn has doubts about Declan’s freedom. Declan isn’t bothered by it, Arwyn is his best friend.
They are on their way to The Well, you can drop money and make a wish.
In short, Arwyn says goodbye and dives into the well. Even at thirteen, Declan the knight he is, wants to save him, dives after him, and pulls him out, only, it’s not Arwyn.
Then, we make a jump nine years further.

After the well, almost a decade ago, Prince Arwyn isn’t the same. He ran away and became a pirate,
Declan is convinced it wasn’t Arwyn he pulled out of the well and promised to return him to the well.
He can’t stand the shadow demon in Arwyn’s body, even when Arwyn says he’s the god of desire. God or Demon Declan will end him.

Well, it’s much more complicated than that. Looking at Arwyn and seeing the god of desire is almost impossible. Then there’s the big question why Arwyn dived into the water. Also, the question what are the god’s own desires.
There’s a person who wants power over everything and wants Arwyn’s divine power to get there.

The larger the story is, the more difficult it gets to narrow it down to a few head points. I hope I did right to the story. The whole fantasy concept is beautifully pictured and widely described.
For my pleasure the story was a bit too long and too slow, it asked a lot of my concentration.
Sometimes I really felt close to the main characters, but at times I just didn’t feel it and didn’t even like them. The romance felt a bit flat and the relationship was dragging. Still, it’s a hugely intriguing story and wonderfully written.
I admire these authors’ creative brains, this scenery was sublimely portrayed.

Read and reviewed for LoveBytes - LGBTQ bookreviews

[Teeny · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounding up because of that special bit about Leviathan's appendages in dragon form.

Now that's what I'm talking about!

Enemies to lovers done right with perfect push and pull, heat, chemistry and so much emotion, with scene stealing wyverns! Lovely D/s and kink elements here! Oh the heat of those two, especially at the humiliation/degradation scenes!

For all that Avarice thinks himself corrupted, he's first to give to good people what they want/need for, and if it comes with the added bonus of doing it for Declan, well that much the better.

Declan frustrated me a bit because he never really sat and think nor listen to Avarice, because if Avarice could have "stolen" a body to escape the Well why wait till Arwyn?

I was expecting a bit more angst TBH, especially given how Avarice saw himself, but I've have to content myself with the bit closer to the end. Which is where Declan also redeems himself for being a bit obtuse at the first half of the story before Lark spells it out for him!

Imma need a Xera x Lark novella of course and Leviathan's story please and thank you!!! I think next is Astra's story and from the excerpt I have to say I can't wait to see the world through his eyes!!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Lydia Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is your heart’s desire?

This book is an excellent return to form in this series. While I enjoyed the first book, it had some pacing struggles and relied heavily on the reader’s existing enjoyment of the universe this author’s stories are set in. Shadowfall does not have those problems, creating a compelling storyline where other knowledge gives Easter eggs but isn’t integral.

At its core, this is a story of unconditional love in its many forms. It asks questions like, if you love a monster, does that make you a monster yourself, or does it just make the monster yours? There are elements of the “touch him and die” trope, as well as hate/enemies to lovers that are not things I usually enjoy, but are done so well here I couldn’t help but be sucked in. Lots of weird spice (my favorite) with the usual biologically imperative kink flair that all these books share, always interrogating how uniquely the roles of dom and sub can be played.

The plot that exists behind the love story is also compelling, the fall of an empire and the survival of its citizens. There are evil characters you hate to understand the motives of, and lots of pirates who seem to be doing the right thing. Also, if you like cats, you need to pick up this book just for them, I promise.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Declan visited the well, where it is said the demon will give you your heart’s desire, he never expected Arwyn, his Prince and best friend, to throw himself in. What he rescued from the well was not Arwyn at all. Declan is sure it is the demon himself but no one believes him. Now Arwyn has decided to become a pirate and Declan vows to stop him and restore the real Arwyn. But nothing is ever as it appears as Declan soon discovers.

This is the second book in the Immortals Descending series. They just keep getting better and better. Arwyn and Declan are true enemies to lovers. The best part is that Declan never loses his snark. His conversations with Arwyn make for great reading. One thing they both are forced to face is the truth but that is not always easy. Hop on for ride with Iris Foxglove. It is quite a journey and you will be glad you did.

[Victoria Wilkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very different couple dynamic. Enemies to lovers and more biological Dom/sub kink focused.
I Arwyn- not the real one! Lol Avarice is charming, prickly, vulnerable and a Dom as well as a god! He has never wanted for anything only ever giving wishes. When he fancies it! The in fell Arwyn.. the real one.. and so our story begins.

Declan.. he’s a man in a mission. To send the imposter back and get his friend and first love returned to him…

But what happens when you want the one thing you shouldn’t?

These two and their banter and sexual chemistry was a fun read. I liked how they related and responded to each other.
if you like a man who is possessive- with a touch of god entitlement and vulnerability. This will be right up your street!

I love Iris Foxglove’s writing and story telling. ❤️

[Rinnie Lazarowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not secret that I’m huge fan of Iris Foxglove as it stands. This book is, as I’ve said about everyone I’ve read so far, is my favorite. I am beyond honored that I was given the opportunity to be an advanced reader. This is another beautiful and well written piece of this world they’ve built together with cameos and nods to past events in their other series and books. The story brought out so many emotions, I laughed endlessly, I cried, and I fell deeply in love with the characters of this book and not even just the main characters. I look forward to book 3 and to read about some of the new characters met in this book and to read about characters previously met from other books. Beautiful.

[Juniper · Rating 5 out of 5]

There’s a compelling blend here of world building, character development, romance, fantasy, kink, an immersive plot, and of course, plenty of fantasy elements. The writing is polished and easy to get caught up in, the characters have nuance and layers for days, and to say that there’s plenty of chemistry between the love interests, emotional and physical, is to undersell it somewhat. I’m a sucker for enemies-to-lovers, and the way the trope plays out here was *chefs kiss*. As someone who was already a fan of the world the authors have built here, I went into this book prepared to like it, and absolutely was not disappointed—well worth a read.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series but I might just love this one a tad bit more simply because nothing about the characters of Declan and Arwyn are what they initially seem. I don't want to give away anything, as you really do need to experience this one with no preconceptions, but let's just say that my feelings about both characters went through several changes throughout the book but the characters always remained true to themselves. They just kept revealing more and deeper facets of who they'd always really been. The author never missed a beat in depicting them in all their complexity and as in the first book, the world building is superb.

[Ave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. A fantastic read full of worldbuilding, gods, despots, and wyverns.

Reasons why everyone should read this book:
-an enemies-to-lovers romance between a pirate, who's secretly a god, and a pirate hunter
-overthrowing a despot by acting like a cat
-a godly found family
-wyverns who want to hoard their humans
-smoking hot sex scenes
-a love that lasts for centuries

This is definitely a book I will be rereading in the future. I eagerly await book 3, in which a god is in sore need of a spanking.

[Maria771 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Declan and Arwyn, it is the 2nd book in the Immortals Descending series. Please read the trigger warnings. I would suggest that you read the first book in the series, just makes it so much better. This is a beautiful creative written hate to love romance. The characters are complex and amazing. The world being build is absolutely fantastic. This action packed story will hook you from page one. Definitely recommended.

I received this book as an Arc and I am happily reviewing it voluntarily

[Kori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book!

I loved this book so much! A wonderful enemies to lovers story, where they continued to be jerks to each other, but in an affectionate way. You can definitely see the affection they have for each other under the snark.

The book was lighter than Stormfront, but that's not a bad thing at all!

The cameos by the other gods were often funny, but also provided another view for the two MCs that they needed. And all the cats? Just purrfect.

I can't wait for the rest of the series!

[Evie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

i was going to give this overall 4 stars because as much as i enjoyed the plot i found that the pacing was ever so slightly off in places and there are too many sex scenes for my liking, but after i got to the part where abortion/sterilisation/childfreedom was just casually inserted without anyone judging and the character being excited about it for herself? i want to give it all the stars out of spite towards all the books that handle this terribly, i'm grateful to the authors for including it

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So this is the second book in the series and a great addition. While not necessarily to read in order it’s probably best but the two books run simultaneously for a large part of the time. To be honest I wasn’t sure I would be able to root for Arwyn based on how he came about- no spoilers so I’ll leave it there. Arwyn definitely grew on me and I loved seeing his progression throughout the story as well. The world built here and the characters developed are fantastic and I can’t wait for more.

[Joscelyn Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadow and his Knight

After the glimpse of them in book one, I was so looking forward to their book, and it was even better than I expected. Declan and Arwyn absolutely fantastic characters, their delightfully contentious relationship had me reading well into the wee hours. I can't wait to see who finds their companion next.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

A demon lives in a well and they will give you your hearts desire but at a cost. He goes to the well before jumping into it but he will not reappear as themselves. The demon has taken over his body and only one person knows the truth. What is going to happen? Will the demon stay in the body? How will they deal with that? See just what is going to happen

[Janet Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shadowfall is the second in the Immortals Descending series. I had read Storm Front and was excited to read this one next. I loved this one almost as much as the first one. The world building continued to be top botch. There are so many elements in the story, pay attention. The relationships are complex and well done. Well written with addicting pacing!

[Batwoman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Iris Foxglove has done it again! They have once again hooked me on a book that I couldn’t put down! I loved reading Declan and Arwyn’s enemies to lovers relationship. And they are most definitely steamy! Their story left me wanting more. So now I can’t wait for the next book in this series. Very highly recommend!