Genres: NA Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fantasy | Release Date: 5 September 2024 | Series: The Lost Queen | Series Book: #1 | Pages: 321 | Publisher: Second Sky | Review
“The darkness had come to claim what it was owed.”
Jessica Thorne
Overview:
A huge thank you goes to Second Sky, Net Galley and the author for letting me read a copy of A Touch of Shadows! This stunning NA fantasy romance is a treasure trove of goodness: full of devastating magic, family secrets and epic battles between good and evil. So be honest with me glitterbugs, do you think anyone could pass that up?! Of course not! Now let’s give you an overview, shall we?
When Queen Aeryn sacrificed herself for her kingdom, the dark power of the Nox was shattered; only remnants of the shadow magic now linger in pockets of the world. But Wren has always been drawn to this darkness, despite the fact that if anyone found out, Wren would die. When Finn, both knight and a reluctant prince of the neighbouring Ilanthus kingdom, stumbles across the small town where Wren lives, he has no idea what’s about to unfold. Sworn to defeat the dark power of the Nox, his life is upended when it’s only thanks to Wren’s magic his life is saved against a common enemy. Can Finn and Wren find a way to trust each other in the face of enemy soldiers and a growing darkness? Will long-held secrets tear apart the very fabric of their lives? Is the kingdom of Asteroth about to fall?
Happiness Boost:
Oh glitterbugs, A Touch of Shadows has honestly been nothing short of perfection in my eyes! I raced through the pages of this fantasy romance, because I desperately needed to know if Wren would be okay. This tale is such a beautiful blend of plot and character, and I swear Jessica has hooked some kind of magical tether around my heart upon reading this book. And can we talk about the long lost love trope, with the potential for a second chance romance? I ate. This. Up.
When magic becomes an entity in and of itself? When you can *feel* the ancient world coming to life around you, with the veins of old magic and the darkwood colliding? I have been left breathless, glitterbugs. The way Jessica writes is exquisite, and I’m so invested in how a prophecy and opposing magic will upend the world as Wren and her loved ones know it. The magic in A Touch of Shadows is so unique, from the shadow kin to how magic affects Wren when she uses it. I won’t say more, because spoilers are never fun, but seriously… This fantasy romance is absolutely spellbinding. I need more. Let’s be honest, I need everything.
Not everything is as it seems within A Touch of Shadows, and I love that it’s only as the story goes on that certain truths come to light. You know you’re in for a great time when you look up from reading and it’s suddenly 3am! This beautiful tale binds the reader, heart and soul, to Wren and Finn’s journey. So will I now be adding everything Jessica has ever written to my TBR? Absolutely! And will I be getting physical copies of the books in this series as soon as I possibly can? Of course! This. Is. Flawless.
Downside:
This has been such a wonderful read, I have no downside!
Final Thoughts:
A Touch of Shadows by Jessica Thorne is an NA fantasy romance full of danger, family secrets and devastating magic. I have been thoroughly enchanted with this gorgeous tale, and honestly can’t wait to see what happens next! Love what you’ve heard from my review? Just click on either of the links below to pre-order yourself a copy! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can pre-order A Touch of Shadows via these links:
