Promised Shadows

The Fate of Azala #1

by M.K. Ahearn

Rae is a skilled thief, willing to complete any job for the right price, that is until one job does not go according to plan. After coming face to face with a deadly and powerful prince, Rae has made a bargain that thrusts her into the center of palace life and fighting to save a kingdom she is not even sure she has much faith in. 
Gavriel is the Royal Prince of Apricus, set to rule the kingdom one day, that is if the shadows do not rise again and tear it apart, driving them into a never-ending darkness. Alongside his twin sister, Rory, and loyal friend, River, the three work tirelessly to find a solution that will end the shadows for good. Their prayers seem to be answered when they are forced into a bargain with a criminal: Rae.
Together the group races against time to locate a long lost ancient artifact that just might be the key to saving their kingdom. The only problem is after 17 years of hiding and building their forces, the shadows are also on the hunt and they are seeking revenge. Will the group be able to beat the odds and find a crown that may only exist in legends before it is too late?

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fiction, Romance, Amazon

352 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2023

About the author

MK Ahearn grew up in Massachusetts as one of three sisters. She now lives in Maryland with her husband and their three cats. She received her bachelor of arts in international relations and is now completing a master of professional studies in homeland security. When not writing or studying she can be found planning her next travel adventure.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shadow and light powers seems to be a recurring theme in my last reads, and I can't seem to have enough. This version is captivating, with a slow-burn romance and booming friendships that will leave you wanting more.

I'm always mesmerized by stories with memory loss, and this one is freshly new. I can't wait to see the new adventures of this powerful group of friends in book 2!

Many thanks to the author and Telepathy Booktours for the complimentary copy of this book as part of a book tour. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[BookinBritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Where there was light, there would be equal darkness. Where there was healing, there would also be death."

Get ready for one of your new favorite fantasies of 2023 ★★★★★!
Also, a new book boyfriend/girlfriend or two to fall in love with.
I received an ARC of "Promised Shadows" to read and give my honest thoughts/feedback on and I am so beyond happy that I did.

The last thing I'm sure Rae expected on a "job" was being forced to make a deal with Veena's handsome crowned prince and his best friend in order to protect her friends and help stop the Shadows from wreaking havoc and destruction once again across their kingdom. Under lock and key in the castle, she beings to work side by side with said prince whilst using her own magical background and skills in thievery to aid in saving Veena.

This book has some incredible world-building in a high fantasy environment without feeling overwhelming. The lore, characters, and magic involved are easy to keep up with and suck you in as the story builds and progresses. It was exactly the type of world I need to escape in to recover from a book hangover.

That ending was *chef's kiss* perfection and I could not put it down for that final action-packed hour!
Thank you MK, for sharing these beautiful characters and world!
I cannot wait to read more in book two.

[Alex L Criddle · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were several great ideas throughout this story and the characters had a lot of potential; however, the writing needed some work. A few passes with an editor and proofreader would have been beneficial. There was too much telling and not enough showing which left me wanting more from the characters and their relationships. I really appreciated the use of elemental powers and the twists at the end of the novel, but I think more foreshadowing, especially in regards to Rae, would have made that particular twist even more impactful. I was compelled to keep reading because I wanted to see what happened, so there was definitely a story there, the writing just needed to be refined.

[ReadTheRoom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so so lucky to receive this book in a beautiful PR package! From cover to cover this book had me wholly hooked and I read it in a day! The main character Rae is a witty, funny and independent woman who knows what she wants and will most definitely get it done her way. This book encapsulated a vibe and rhythm that I’ve only got from fantasy series such as A Court Of thorns and roses and Crescent City especially linking to the main character of Bryce Quinlan so if you’ve liked that I’d definitely recommend this book for you! Promised Shadows follows along the storyline of a thief and a prince with elemental powers fighting the fate of star crossed lovers destined to be together but can they..? With so much action in this story I was never bored and this is truly a fast paced delight. Be sure to add this to your tbr, I would love to hear your views on this book that has captured my imagination and heart!

[Danielle Brooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, fantastic. I received an e-arc and I can’t say how honored I am to be able to be part of this book from the very beginning.
Spoiler free, you will fall in love with the characters. The magic system is complete and made perfect sense. The plot is driven and the ending is perfect. Please please give this book and it’s writer the love they deserve.

[Nicole Platania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC of Promised Shadows!

From the beginning, this story felt like I was reading a dark fairytale. I can’t quite put my finger on why, but the prologue was especially captivating in that way.

And overall, the plot was so intriguing—I mean, with a thief turned ally to the royal family and a prince and princess who crave adventure and freedom, you’re already off to a great start. I’m always up for any book involving dark magic, but this one gave a unique twist with the quest to find the objects connected to the shadow powers.

With compelling characters and the beginnings of a forbidden love story, this was a strong debut and I’m excited to see what M.K. does next with the series!

I recommend this if you love:
🗡 found family
🗡 elemental magic
🗡 spice
🗡 shadow powers
🗡 wound tending
🗡 badass FMCs
🗡 ball scenes
🗡 self discovery
🗡 “I want you but I can’t”

[abookishbmw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for something to help ease my ACOTAR/CC hangover and Promised Shadows was just what I needed! With world building and beautiful magic system that sucks you in from the beginning without being too overwhelming I was hooked! I’m a sucker for the TV show Leverage so anytime I see a character that reminds me of Parker I NEED IT! Rae definitely gives me all the happy feelings and I think she’s my new book girlfriend…along with a new book boyfriend but he shall remain nameless. For now😏

This was my first time receiving an ARC and I could not have been blessed with a better book! M. K. thank you so much for trusting me with your book❤️

[Sabrina Fonseca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 1/5 stars for me…I was kinda very bored for the majority of it. I kinda predicted a lot and the romance didn’t hit for me. don’t get me wrong i liked some parts of it but ive gotta be honest…i practically skimmed the last few chapters to be done w it so 🤷🏻‍♀️ I’ll be moving on to another series

[Jade Imperial · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of “Promised Shadows” to read and review!

This is my first time getting to experience an arc copy and I’m so happy it was PS! At first, I was a little slow in starting but once I finally got to it, I’m amazed! I feel the story is AWESOME. The world building and little details really make you love the characters so much more. You don’t really find yourself getting LOST in the amount of details or world building which I sometimes find myself doing in other stories. The characters in this story are very relatable (minus the shadows—lol). I found myself wishing I was Rae a few times. May have something to do with a CERTAIN SOMEONE. **Swoon at the protective male**

I highly recommend everyone pick this up when it’s released! I know I’ll definitely get my own physical copy! Can’t wait to hear more from MK in the future. <3

[mafs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this ARC from the lovely author and I’m so glad I did!

In this book, we meet this group of people that have elemental powers and a selected few also have light or shadow abilities.
Romance is a subplot in it, but I felt like it made it so much better!
Super interesting concept! I absolutely loved it! I’m the kind of reader that notes as I read what I think might happen next or what the plot might be, and I absolutely loved being surprised! The plot has me super invested and I just want to read more and more of it!
I grew very attached to the characters, which made me smile and cry for them! (Which is great)

I felt in some parts of the book that something was amiss and things didn’t flow as nicely as they could, but it still kept me interested.
It ended with major cliffhanger and honestly I cannot wait to read the next book!

If you like fantasy books with a hint of romance and a lot of mystery/adventure I think you might like this! ❤️ Very easy to read as well!

[Air · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an e-ARC from the author through BookFunnel in exchange for an honest review!

ALRIGHT, I've been thinking of this review since I finished the book the other day. I think something the author did here was create a fantastic and loveable story with characters you can't help but relate to and enjoy the company of. It's not super lore driven but I think compared to other books this would be a breath of fresh air for people who want that punch of fantasy but don't necessarily enjoy feeling lost for half a book.

I don't want to spoil anything but our main character was such a contrast to some of the ones I've been reading recently, I think she's become a new favorite of mine. I also think everyone is most definitely going to enjoy the romance and our love interest for Rae. Gaveriel is going to be everyone's new favorite as well, I can't leave him out. All of the characters we've met so far are written so well you can't help but simply enjoy it.

So with that said, pre-orders are out now and it will be released right on the new year so everyone can kick off 2023 with a new and amazing read.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 !

Thank you to Equality Book Tours on Instagram for the opportunity to read and review this book. I loved the beautiful world-building and the elemental-based magic system. It was so intricate and I loved seeing how it played into the story. Rae was a badass main character. Seeing her figure out her way in the world, learning more about her past and unlocking new abilities was such a good time. I adored the characters and lore surrounding the artifacts we learn about in the book.

[Emily Ines · Rating 5 out of 5]

Arc Review:
Wooow. The blurb and videos made me instantly fall in love with the book. This is a great elemental magic and enemies to lovers book. The world building was great, not too little or too much, the details given where enough to capture and keep me reading. I always love a strong female MC, who has transformed their trauma and struggles into unbelievable strength. Gavriel seemed like a bit of an arrogant jerk at first but comes around as the story unfolds. So many questions are answered and so many more are made. It does end on a slight cliffhanger however it is placed nicely in order to progress to the next book. I do wish the writing was a bit less formal, not using contractions made it a little harder to read as I’m not used to it and made some of the conversations flow less smoothly. I am so glad I was able to get this e-arc however I will also be needing the beautiful paperback. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hand on this book and enjoy it as much as I did.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

No Spoilers! I had the honor to be chosen for my very first ARC read and let me tell you, this book DID NOT disappoint. There is a very clear plot, an amazing cast of characters, and some twists and turns—that you may or may not see coming. There is diversity in the characters, which I loved. You have all the best tropes: enemies to lovers, slow burn, found family, forced proximity, who hurt you. It also had a very easy magic system to understand. It’s similar enough to other stories to grab your attention but different enough that it makes you stay for the story. You first meet our main female lead, Rae, and she is soon thrown into a quest along the side of the crown prince, Gavriel. There is mystery, adventure, and romance is this debut novel. Can’t wait for the next book to come out!

[Racheal Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put this down. Read it in a couple of days.
I even read it while I was out for girls night at the bar, THATS how GOOD it was!
The author did an incredible job between the characters, world building, and plot.

Plus the ending is INCREDIBLE, I cannot wait for book two. Ill definitely be reading more by this author in the future. So glad TikTok let me stumble across you.

[MacKayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs to go pre-order this book rn! Enemies to lovers, AND elemental magic?! Does it get any better? The writing was immaculate, the magic system was stunning, and the characters were amazing. You'll fall in love with the book and the characters I guarantee! I'm so thankful for being able to be an ARC reader for M.K. Ahearn!

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review-
To start off, I think the author had a great idea with this book. It was fun and interesting with a pretty cool magic system.

Some of the elements of the book felt so rushed, while others felt too drawn out. I liked the plot twists, and felt like it was enough to keep the reader wondering what was going to happen next.

All in all, while I think the book could use some sprucing up, I do think it was a good read. I’d pick up the second one to see what happens next.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Found Family? Enemies to Lovers? Epic Quests? Sign me up!

If you are looking for a book that will take you on a journey with a slow unveiling of secrets and plot twists, this needs to be added to your TBR. I am honored to have received an ARC copy of Promised Shadows. It was a slow build at the beginning and reminded me of the first 200 pages of world building in House of Earth and Blood. However, I am so happy I decided to tag this book because when the events began to unfold, I went back and re-read some of the key aspects of this epic fantasy. I am SOO sad that it left me on a cliffhanger!! I need to know what happens next! The MCs stole my heart but there is a very enticing love story that gives all the LGBTQ that is awaiting to be unraveled.

[Alora · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fantastic! I love how it was written smoothly, the storyline was so amazing! I love the characters, how the author made this book just come to life. I definitely recommend this book to anyone that loves fantasy/romance!
I fell in love with this book. My first ever book I read as an ARC reader, I loved it!

[Robin Catluv · Rating 3 out of 5]

Promised Shadows by MK Ahearn

I got to recive an Arc copy of this book it took me a bit to get through it but here are some of my thoughts about it. Thanks for the opportunity to review.

I personally rated this book 3 out of 5 It is not a bad book The writing style is just not my cup of tea

First off, the world building in this story is interesting and very intriguing the magic system was interesting with people having various element based powers I hadn't seen that concept very often so I enjoyed that part.

Also any time powers were described I was happy to learn how far she would take it, though I felt that giving some people two seperate powers could be a bit overpowering. I was kinda fifty fifty on that part of it.

Another thing I really liked were the fight scenes, they were beautifully described and I felt like I could actually picture what was happening which can be hard for me sometimes so well done with that bit. It was also very entertaining to read the battle scenes from the opening Ambush in chapter 5 & 6 and the fight with the shadows in the temple they are definitely some of my favorite parts of the book.

Also the big fight scene in chapter 25 was amazing just all of them working together and the way their element worked together to defeat the shadows. Chefs kiss. Also Rae's big reveal was awesome though I wish she could have struggled with a bit of self loathing after hearing all the stories of shadows and their 'evil ways' it would have made the revelation hit harder. Yes we find out she knew about it but the fact that a whole bunch of people figured it out and yet we the audience had no clue till towards the end was a bit disappointing.

Another thing that disappointed me was her mystery dream girl. I wanted to get more development of that background before we found out her identity. I would have loved some interaction with the dream girl as she tries to remember who this girl really is. The reveal at the end would have hit me harder then.

I loved Rory and Rae's friendship. If this book was a movie it would pass the Bechdel test which is a win in my book. Female friendships are always something I love to see explored so thank you for that though I wish we had more Ezra I think that trio would have been amazing to read more about.

Now onto things I wasn't as huge a fan about. The writing style just wasn't my jam so I will put that up to personal preference and leave it at that others might enjoy MK's prose more than me. Though as a side note she did have a lot of repeating words less than a sentence later so that could get a bit hard to read.

Another aspect I felt could have been improved on was the dialogue. I had trouble seeing these characters talking like how they were at points and it felt clunky to me at points especially Gavriel and Rae's interactions. I just didn't really feel the chemistry if I'm being honest at least in the beginning. I wish more time was spent making him likable at the start. By the end I did like him more but he just wasn't super interesting to me as a love interest for Rae. Though I did find their spar at the beginning of chapter 16 cute I just wasn't a huge fan of Gavriel in general to be honest. I liked him a bit more as the story went on. I just felt he had way more to go to grow into a person that deserved Rae. Though I really appreciated that he asked for consent multiple times throughout their spicier interaction in chapter 22 and I liked their banter at the beginning of chapter 23


My first thought when Benji and River Interacted "please please let them be gay" and did I get my wish….. Yes!! We have gay people 4 chapters before the end but we got it!!

Great foreshadowing with Benji I knew something was a little bit off but didn't know what. That he was Ezra's spy was perfect.

Good Job with the king. He is perfectly horrible and a little rough with his dialogue. I think he should have taken longer to acquiesce to his son's demands with bringing Rory and such. Otherwise he was great at being awful. I did not like him at all so well done with that.

I do however feel like River and Gavriel's interactions and dialog was good so you win some you lose some.

All together it is a good book with an interesting world and story full of twists some more obvious than others. As well as some characters that I hope get more developed in the next book. It wasn't really for me but I am sure a lot of other people will find joy in it.

[Ashley Book.markedbyash · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

I received a physical arc for Promised Shadows, however this is my true opinion. I gave this book 5 stars. I read all types of genres but fantasy has my heart. Promised Shadows had everything and more when it comes to what you want in a fantasy read.
There is a romance sun plot but it’s not heavy.

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Elemental Magic (love love this aspect)
Slow burn
Forced proximity

In the beginning the king of Apricus who posses light magic was thought to have slaughtered all those who possess shadow magic. Rumors are that some survived and the shadows are stirring, and planning to take back the kingdom.

FMC Rae is a skilled for hire thief whom also can wield wind magic. She is hired for a job that related to the shadows stirring. The job goes wrong when the Royal Prince of Apricus (Gavriel) catches her while also on a similar job. He makes a deal with Rea. Help him find the shadow crown and he will not arrest her.

MMC Gavriel starts to fall for the thief Rae due to the fact that he has to work so closely with her.

Gavriel and Rae assemble a group to help find the ancient artifact; Gavriel’s twin sister Rory, River long time friend of the prince, and Rae’s best friend and coworker Erza. They must hurry to find the shadow crown which could be the very key to stopping the shadows for good or could also be their downfall if the shadows reach the crown first.

Along their journey the group faces battles, secrets, and love.


All of the characters in this book have some type of elemental magic. Some of the ones mentioned earth, fire, wind, and water.

I really really loved this book. The romance aspect is perfect. The Magic system is so beautifully created. The author describes everything so well you can picture every thing with clear detail. This will be a series. I will definitely be reading the next one.

[Rieka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters really pulled me in on this story! The magic system and the setting also pulled me in and made me feel like I was the Rae.I felt like all her struggles I was seeing through her eyes as they unfolded. I love a good book based on dark and light balance and found this one to be very unique and intriguing. Poor Rae gets "forced" to work with the royals who she's grown to hate without even meeting them due to the horrible actions of the evil king.

Not only does light and dark balance each other, I found that the characters were written to do the same thing. Rae would have never in a million years thought she'd build the friendship she does with Rory. Same with Gavriel and River. The plots twists throughout the book had me gasping each time I came across one and the end had me wanting more!

[izzy &#x1f4da; · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was able to read the ARC of this and I am so glad I did. This book was everything and more. I’ve been struggling to get into fantasy again but Promised shadows has solved my problems! The characters developed so well and there was a lot of depth to them.

The fight scenes. Oh my goodness. They were AMAZING. So descriptive and exciting. The plot line was well written and developed, I definitely didn’t see the plot twist coming!!

Gavriel and Rae are an excellent couple and I can’t wait to read more about them. Not a plot hole in sight and overall a very worthwhile read. The only thing I do have to say is the speech was a little formal in places but it evened out eventually.

100% recommend

[Lauren Lloyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg I absolutely loved this. The magic the fantasy and the characters. One of the best books I’ve read this year. Like who doesn’t love a dark and twisted fairytale with thieves and royals who seek adventure. Im so very grateful I received an arc copy and was able to read this story for the author, it is a masterpiece. The small details you’re given and the characters you get to know are so worth it. You get so lost in it and wish it was real. I wanted to be apart of the adventure and was wishing I was Rae. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at you need to read this. Make this adventure apart of your life for sure. Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to be apart of this.

[Alex Frohning · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Ahearn had strong characters with real faults and conflict that they struggled with. As a big fan of the fantasy genre and the tropes that come with it, Promised Shadows checked a lot of boxes for me.
My strongest critique would be that there's so much telling, and not enough showing. There are many instances where characters are telling the reader there thoughts, and then expressing them to other characters immediately afterwards. That is something that can always be improved upon with a continual honing of the craft, and I look forward to reading more of M.K. Ahearn's work!

[Meg Hall · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really fascinated by this story and really enjoyed reading this one. I loved all the different elemental magic, water, air, fire, earth. It's easily my favorite kind of magic. The second half of the book contained twists and turns, and I was so excited to be caught off guard. I did feel like the writing was a little wordy, which at times felt a little clunky to me. However, the story more than kept me engaged! The ending definitely feels unfinished and I will for sure be reading more of this series.

[Cherish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just thank booktok for bring me to this wonderful author. WOW- this book has taken over as my new favorite fantasy series! The ending left me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happens next, I cannot wait for the second one. The author did a great job at character building and making them very relatable. Get ready for Gavriel to be your new book boyfriend, hes amazing! I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a new fantasy/ romance to fall in love with!

[Dakota · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did really enjoy this book, the storyline was new and exciting I loved the take on the elemental powers. The only thing was it took a little while to capture my interest and I felt some things were rushed and kinda just thrown into the storyline to make things work. Overall I loved the enemies to lovers and very grateful to have been given this ARC

[Oksana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from a giveaway.

The story was quite good, though I predicted most of the plot twists. The characters were relatable and I wouldn't mind spending more time getting to know them. The depiction of trauma felt authentic.

The book could use another edit, some typos are still lurking throughout.

[Cassie Hollenbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was incredible! The story line was so good and the characters were so interesting! I hope there is a book two because I need more!!!! I cannot wait to read more books by you! Thank you for letting me arc this!