theoriginal_b00k_nerd's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
🖤𝓗𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮 𝓸𝓯 𝓢𝓱𝓪𝓭𝓸𝔀𝓼 – 𝓡𝓸𝔂𝓪𝓵 𝓗𝓸𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓼 𝓢𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼 #2 - 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀🖤
Author: K.A. Linde
Couple: Kerrigan Argon & Fordham Ollivier
Tropes: dragons, fantasy romance, PNR, morally grey MMC, rebel FMC, fae/dragon/magic, shadow powers, slow burn, enemy to friends
Review: Kerrigan is back and ready to tackle the Shadow House in this book and man what an adventure it is. Fordham becomes a bugger player in this book and his ever changing feelings for Kerrigan drive him to claim her under his house name. This book is still more YA but does heat up as the two get closer!
Kerrigan is gaining traction as a rebellion sympathizer in this book and I loved seeing her become fiercer and more protective of the fellow half-fae in her kingdom. As she travels to Ford’s home we begin to see how rigid his families beliefs are. I loved seeing her stick it to his family and prove that she was no worse than them but actually better than they were. Her journey in this book is more about learning to connect with her dragon, and free the Shadow House from corrupt rule.
Ford starts to open up to Kerrigan in this book and I found his character to have the most growth in this book. I loved seeing him open up to her and come to depend on her steadfastness. I also loved how Ford had the desire to become a better ruler than his parents and wanted to bring his house to current times. Even though we do not get his POV, Ford’s journey in this book is intense since it is all about his viewpoints being challenged and him having to open up to others and ask for help.
This book introduces a ton of new characters that will play bigger roles in the series. Ford’s cousins and sisters are all villains in this book and try to sabotage his plans. I found the way Ford was able to figure out the betrayals to be maddening since it occurred too late but I did appreciate how he always trusted Kerrigan and never kept her out of the loop. This is the first book were the Red Coats and the Rebellion clash and ignite the war that’s been brewing and it is INTENSE. I am looking forward to how Kerrigan accepts her role in that final battle scene and moves on from the bloodshed to stop the Red Coats in the next books!
Rating: 10/10, Kerrigan and Fordham embark on another journey that brings them closer together!
kricketland's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
TITLE: House of Shadows
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
AUTHOR: K. A. Linde
TROPE: Enemies-to-Lovers, Slow Burn
TYPE: Series (Royal Houses Book 2)
POV: Third Person / Multiple POV
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
What to Expect:
👿 Enemies-to-Lovers
🤴 Dark Fae Prince
❤️ Slow Burn
🪄 Fae, Dragons & Magic
The tension builds as Kerrigan & Fordham return to the House of Shadows. Now that Kerrigan & Fordham are both officially in the Society and are dragon-bound, they will begin their year of Society training upon returning from the House of Shadows. Kerrigan finds nothing she expected in the House of Shadows; she knew how they treated humans and half-fae, and everything is wrong in this new world she finds herself in.
House of Shadows once again pulled me into the storyline and tension as Kerrigan had to navigate each obstacle thrown her way. I enjoyed the different potential love interests for both Kerrigan & and some of her friends, adding some angst to the storyline. I am easily pulled into this world and invested to see what happens in the next book in the series. I am giving a rating of 4 / 5 stars.
GENRE: Fantasy Romance
AUTHOR: K. A. Linde
TROPE: Enemies-to-Lovers, Slow Burn
TYPE: Series (Royal Houses Book 2)
POV: Third Person / Multiple POV
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
What to Expect:
👿 Enemies-to-Lovers
🤴 Dark Fae Prince
❤️ Slow Burn
🪄 Fae, Dragons & Magic
The tension builds as Kerrigan & Fordham return to the House of Shadows. Now that Kerrigan & Fordham are both officially in the Society and are dragon-bound, they will begin their year of Society training upon returning from the House of Shadows. Kerrigan finds nothing she expected in the House of Shadows; she knew how they treated humans and half-fae, and everything is wrong in this new world she finds herself in.
House of Shadows once again pulled me into the storyline and tension as Kerrigan had to navigate each obstacle thrown her way. I enjoyed the different potential love interests for both Kerrigan & and some of her friends, adding some angst to the storyline. I am easily pulled into this world and invested to see what happens in the next book in the series. I am giving a rating of 4 / 5 stars.
skyethereader's review
3.0
3.5 stars.
The sequel takes place right after book 1. I liked it but I thought parts of the plot was a little predictable. Minus half star for the ending. Cliffhangers aren't my thing. I am looking forward to the next book to see where the story will go!
The sequel takes place right after book 1. I liked it but I thought parts of the plot was a little predictable. Minus half star for the ending. Cliffhangers aren't my thing. I am looking forward to the next book to see where the story will go!
fryemomma05's review
5.0
This was the book I have waited all year for! I was beyond excited when it finally released! From the very first page I feel in love with this book! It captivated me and I couldn’t put it down until I had consumed the entire thing! This book deserve so much more than just 5 tiny stars!!!
milkteajeon's review
4.0
3.75; another solid instalment with lots of action! i felt like it would've benefited from a few tweaks in editing but was overall very engaging
i teared up a little at one particular moment between kerrigan and tieran
i teared up a little at one particular moment between kerrigan and tieran
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review
4.0
This author never fails to dissapoint, what ever genre she writes I fall in hearts eyes with it.
trish_beautifulchaosreviews's review
5.0
High fantasy is a challenge. Not only are you creating a world whole-cloth, but you also have to develop governmental systems, religious systems, traditions, legends, a history for this world, and so on. KA Linde has created a fantastic world of dragons and magic, and I was pulled in and could not put this book down. I had not read The House of Dragons, but I don't feel as though I walked into the middle of a story that I knew nothing about; no, I catapulted into Kerrigan's world and all the subterfuge and machinations that go on in the world. Kerrigan continually faces prejudice against humans and half-fae as she is half-fae, but she has risen far above that and is becoming the voice for the oppressed. This book is rich in story and characters and totally immerses you in their world. I have read my share of high fantasy like the Wheel of Time and Stormlight Archives, and KA Linde has created a world similar in that you feel like you are in the world with the characters.
Kerrigan is so real. She's struggling with her magic, her dragon, her feelings for Fordham, and so much more. We see her victories, large and small, and cheer her all along the way. I love her sass and willingness to stand up for herself and her friends. I love how she's growing in her magic, connection to her dragon, and influence. Ford is struggling, and we want him to get it figured out, but his world just keeps getting rocked by change and war. Much is coming for these two, and I cannot wait for the next book--however, I can wait. A story this rich takes time, and I look forward to the next chapter.
Kerrigan is so real. She's struggling with her magic, her dragon, her feelings for Fordham, and so much more. We see her victories, large and small, and cheer her all along the way. I love her sass and willingness to stand up for herself and her friends. I love how she's growing in her magic, connection to her dragon, and influence. Ford is struggling, and we want him to get it figured out, but his world just keeps getting rocked by change and war. Much is coming for these two, and I cannot wait for the next book--however, I can wait. A story this rich takes time, and I look forward to the next chapter.
belles_bookishlife's review
4.0
4.5. ok the first novel was good, this one was great!
The tension, the romance, the friendships, the betrayal. That twist at the end I honestly didn’t see coming at all. I can’t wait for the next book oh my lord. Also, I just wanna give Fordham a big ol hug
The tension, the romance, the friendships, the betrayal. That twist at the end I honestly didn’t see coming at all. I can’t wait for the next book oh my lord. Also, I just wanna give Fordham a big ol hug
creatingkristen's review
4.0
This book is full of romance, friendships, action, dragons, and plot twists! The story starts with Kerrigan and Fordham taking a trip to the magically imprisoned House of Shadows. Fordham struggles with who his family and people are and who he has become since he has come to know Kerrigan. Kerrigan tries to keep up with the constant political scheming within the House of Shadows and the hot and cold from her dark prince.
One of the best relationships in the book is between Kerrigan and her dragon! They struggle through Society training with their lack of bond, attempting to fake it while also taking out frustrations on one another. During the hard work, fear of failure, and many adventures along the way animosity turns into partnership and partnership turns into friendship. Kerrigan continues to display spirit magic abilities without having a teacher to assist her to master them, leading to some dangerous consequences for her.
As Kerrigan finds herself outed as the lost royal princess, some relationships are mended and others are broken. Dozen and Fordham may not be the only men fighting over Kerrigan anymore. As she navigates powerful men, Society training, a defective dragon bond, and dangerous magic, she must also keep her eye on the Red Masks as they continue to hunt humans and half-fae, and they might just be doing it from within the Society itself.
One of the best relationships in the book is between Kerrigan and her dragon! They struggle through Society training with their lack of bond, attempting to fake it while also taking out frustrations on one another. During the hard work, fear of failure, and many adventures along the way animosity turns into partnership and partnership turns into friendship. Kerrigan continues to display spirit magic abilities without having a teacher to assist her to master them, leading to some dangerous consequences for her.
As Kerrigan finds herself outed as the lost royal princess, some relationships are mended and others are broken. Dozen and Fordham may not be the only men fighting over Kerrigan anymore. As she navigates powerful men, Society training, a defective dragon bond, and dangerous magic, she must also keep her eye on the Red Masks as they continue to hunt humans and half-fae, and they might just be doing it from within the Society itself.