akmacreads's review against another edition
5.0
Amazing!!!
I’m usually not a huge fan of sequels cause they usually leave something lacking but holy crap this DID NOT disappoint! The new goal and plot twists in this book were amazing pages were turning and my jaw was on the floor more times than 1! The spice in this book makes the first book look like child’s play. Holy steam! I also love the found family story line of this book. I was completely captivated! On to book 3 ASAP!!
I’m usually not a huge fan of sequels cause they usually leave something lacking but holy crap this DID NOT disappoint! The new goal and plot twists in this book were amazing pages were turning and my jaw was on the floor more times than 1! The spice in this book makes the first book look like child’s play. Holy steam! I also love the found family story line of this book. I was completely captivated! On to book 3 ASAP!!
etidae's review against another edition
3.0
18+ paranormal romance rejected mates
This series is going strong. Still very entertaining interesting fun times read. I am listening to the audiobooks – it is the kind of series that you can just listen to while doing other things, meaning it doesn’t necessarily need your full focus in terms of world building and plot but still there is enough to keep you engaged.
3.5/5 stars
2/5 spice
– slow burn romance starts to get spicy in this book
– unknown powers and origins reveal
– Cliffhanger!
That cliffhanger! This is the second book in the series and the cliffhanger at the end will kill you but that’s why I keep thinking this series is why I’m not the best written it is totally binge worthy because I’m going to be listening to next one right away.
This series is going strong. Still very entertaining interesting fun times read. I am listening to the audiobooks – it is the kind of series that you can just listen to while doing other things, meaning it doesn’t necessarily need your full focus in terms of world building and plot but still there is enough to keep you engaged.
3.5/5 stars
2/5 spice
– slow burn romance starts to get spicy in this book
– unknown powers and origins reveal
– Cliffhanger!
That cliffhanger! This is the second book in the series and the cliffhanger at the end will kill you but that’s why I keep thinking this series is why I’m not the best written it is totally binge worthy because I’m going to be listening to next one right away.
tegan's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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? Yes
4.5
That ending though…
At some point, shadow kisses Mera and Mera tells angel this who explains that beings like shadow will only ever kiss their mates.
From this, Mera learns that shadow has a mate. Though this works slightly differently to her true mate bond with Torin. Shadow’s mate bond to Ixana is basically just an arranged marriage organised by their parents for political gain and the bond was never solidified- Shadow being betrayed before this ritual could take place.
Yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah, Mera bonds with her own mist like shadows inky, hers she names midnight and learns that midnight is from the top level mist and inky from the bottom so there is some tension there. The group, including angel, enter the shadow realm.
It all goes alright for a while till meras wolf comes out and goes wild, she’s then attacked and almost dies but shadow is able to save her. Not long after, they go to an old friend of shadows and finally get it on.
After this they are taken to the grey lands which once used to be lush and full of creation but now appears as a wasteland, the energy from the lands having been almost sucked dry. They were taken there by the queen who turns out to be ixana and she’s immediately giving off red flags and is carrying around shadows bloodstone, explaining that she has used her powers of illusion to establish and build her new kingdom.
There’s an annoying lovers quarrel where shadow basically pretends Mera is nothing to him to avoid raising suspicions from ixana and Mera does not take well to this.
Ixana explains her plans to get them to overthrow shadows sister, Cristell, and take their place as rulers over the realm. She explains that they will need to gather up an army of shadow creatures and head to the nexus which the group does, though they are all sus to ixana and know she’s up to something.
Upon arriving at the nexus, the life force of the realm where all creation occurs, Dannie is there and is revealed to be shadows mother and the mother of all creation, the first being of the shadow realm - made of the mists. She also reveals that she orchestrated Mera into existence, the same sort of being as her, explaining why she is able to control creatures etc. and explained that she destroyed meras first form, moving her energy into a shifter which is why Mera has the powers of both.
They chat a lot of shit and ixana leaves after hearing shadow and Mera have feelings for one another, a smile on her face.
Eventually the group realises she has gone and has taken meras army of creatures with her.
Mera then grows weak and starts to die as ixana kills off each of meras creatures as their powers tied when she bonded to each of them.
The group are able to get to her and the creatures in time though, stopping ixana and saving the remaining beasts before Mera dies.
Ixana reveals that Cristell was long dead and it was her that was behind Shadows betrayal all along, she has been draining the realm of its energy since he was exiled and had plans to become the new nexus and ruler of all realms by using the bloodstone in conjunction with maybe Lucien’s (idk, it’s the fae friend of shadows) sun stone thing that had been missing for centuries.
Book ends with shadow stepping up and moving into his full power, assisting Mera with saving her creatures and Mera knowing it is her destiny to restore the lands and care for the creatures of the realm. She heads back to the nexus in search of Dannie who may have died trying to save them and stop ixana and she finds her there, reborn. At first they’re all smiles but it soon becomes clear that this new Dannie isn’t keen on keeping Mera around if she could possibly overthrow her. Dannie then wipes meras memory and states she will do the same to shadow to restore the balance of the realm. She then sends Mera back to earth, possibly stripped of her shadow realm abilities and wakes up in Torins bed feeling hungover. She realises there are blank spots in her memory, going back to her first shift and Torin explains that they are true mates. <\spoiler>
Spoiler
Sparknotes: Mera has unlocked the shadow realm and her and Shadow prepare to enter to get his vengeance. The pair also continue to develop their bond.At some point, shadow kisses Mera and Mera tells angel this who explains that beings like shadow will only ever kiss their mates.
From this, Mera learns that shadow has a mate. Though this works slightly differently to her true mate bond with Torin. Shadow’s mate bond to Ixana is basically just an arranged marriage organised by their parents for political gain and the bond was never solidified- Shadow being betrayed before this ritual could take place.
Yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah, Mera bonds with her own mist like shadows inky, hers she names midnight and learns that midnight is from the top level mist and inky from the bottom so there is some tension there. The group, including angel, enter the shadow realm.
It all goes alright for a while till meras wolf comes out and goes wild, she’s then attacked and almost dies but shadow is able to save her. Not long after, they go to an old friend of shadows and finally get it on.
After this they are taken to the grey lands which once used to be lush and full of creation but now appears as a wasteland, the energy from the lands having been almost sucked dry. They were taken there by the queen who turns out to be ixana and she’s immediately giving off red flags and is carrying around shadows bloodstone, explaining that she has used her powers of illusion to establish and build her new kingdom.
There’s an annoying lovers quarrel where shadow basically pretends Mera is nothing to him to avoid raising suspicions from ixana and Mera does not take well to this.
Ixana explains her plans to get them to overthrow shadows sister, Cristell, and take their place as rulers over the realm. She explains that they will need to gather up an army of shadow creatures and head to the nexus which the group does, though they are all sus to ixana and know she’s up to something.
Upon arriving at the nexus, the life force of the realm where all creation occurs, Dannie is there and is revealed to be shadows mother and the mother of all creation, the first being of the shadow realm - made of the mists. She also reveals that she orchestrated Mera into existence, the same sort of being as her, explaining why she is able to control creatures etc. and explained that she destroyed meras first form, moving her energy into a shifter which is why Mera has the powers of both.
They chat a lot of shit and ixana leaves after hearing shadow and Mera have feelings for one another, a smile on her face.
Eventually the group realises she has gone and has taken meras army of creatures with her.
Mera then grows weak and starts to die as ixana kills off each of meras creatures as their powers tied when she bonded to each of them.
The group are able to get to her and the creatures in time though, stopping ixana and saving the remaining beasts before Mera dies.
Ixana reveals that Cristell was long dead and it was her that was behind Shadows betrayal all along, she has been draining the realm of its energy since he was exiled and had plans to become the new nexus and ruler of all realms by using the bloodstone in conjunction with maybe Lucien’s (idk, it’s the fae friend of shadows) sun stone thing that had been missing for centuries.
Book ends with shadow stepping up and moving into his full power, assisting Mera with saving her creatures and Mera knowing it is her destiny to restore the lands and care for the creatures of the realm. She heads back to the nexus in search of Dannie who may have died trying to save them and stop ixana and she finds her there, reborn. At first they’re all smiles but it soon becomes clear that this new Dannie isn’t keen on keeping Mera around if she could possibly overthrow her. Dannie then wipes meras memory and states she will do the same to shadow to restore the balance of the realm. She then sends Mera back to earth, possibly stripped of her shadow realm abilities and wakes up in Torins bed feeling hungover. She realises there are blank spots in her memory, going back to her first shift and Torin explains that they are true mates. <\spoiler>
holliemh15's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
sweetdream's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
tabitalk's review against another edition
5.0
5⭐️I loooved this one just as much as the first one. But the cliffhanger?
book_whispers's review against another edition
4.0
Review to come. Wow, this book—insane series—is waaaaaaay more than I had ever expected. Wow!
romancebibliograph's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
cliteratureandco's review against another edition
5.0
Shadowshine is back and it definitely got spicier in this book compared to the first book