I was sort of on board until they killed off the sister and made the MCF take her place and her face. And as I haven’t finished the book, I’m not sure if that actually happened or if the princess just planned it to run away? I'm disappointed in that there wasn't any physical intimacy but also that what romance we get is boring and predictable. As I was reading this, I was invested in the story but at the 50% mark, and we're still dragging out the wedding negotiations with both lovelorn leads covering the same ground that was established in chapter two. We get it. Heroine wants to be with hero but is an outsider. Hero wants heroine but needs to marry the right daughter to have leverage over the king. Can we add on to this rather than repeat it in different ways? What. A. Finale. I laughed, I cried, I yelled and I cried some more. Mercedes truly has a way with words. She has the most beautiful and unique world building. I can’t get over how much I’ve fallen in love with Mythanar and I’m so sad to be leaving Vor and Faraine.

At some point, I was thinking I had accidentally skipped parts or missed another previous movie that made this movie even remotely make sense (and do let me know if that's the case, I know there is another movie with a similar topic of vampires in the Recommendation not sure if it's linked though). For fans of The Bridge Kingdom and A Deal with the Elf King, this sweeping tale of love and betrayal is equal blends sweet and spice.

Sylvia Mercedes

Reading this book made me feel like Bastian in "The Neverending Story." I was completely drawn into this incredible world! Sylvia Mercedes' writing engages the imagination so vividly, it's like a movie playing out in my mind. And this world, these characters, and their stories was an amazing rollercoaster of emotions! I loved it!

Excellent writing, full believable characterisations, and a world that you can feel beneath your feet and smell the air. The riveting story will stop you from ever wanting to lay this book down, but oooooh, Ms Mercedes, what a cruel ending! I can't wait for the next book. The truth is, I don't belong in Vor's world. And yet, to claim the heart of the Shadow King is to claim his world as my own. Am I ready? Am I strong enough?"

Editions

For those of you looking for your next adult fantasy romance series, with a bit of a slow burn for the first book, then this might just be what you are looking for. I rather enjoyed this - a couple who are initially very attracted to each other, but have several legitimate obstacles in their way. There's also some mystery and secrets and deception both at the personal level and in the overall worldbuilding/plot which makes me want to read the next book when it comes out. Are the sisters really dead? (I don’t necessarily think so - my rule in fiction is if a major character dies off screen, they’re not dead until we see a body) PDF / EPUB File Name: Heart_of_the_Shadow_King_-_Sylvia_Mercedes.pdf, Heart_of_the_Shadow_King_-_Sylvia_Mercedes.epub The twist: All I can say is, I better not have read what I thought I read. Miss Mercedes better fix some things in the second book and undo the terrible- lies, I'm sure it was just lies- or else I am going to be Put Out.

This book was spicier than previous books, which I didn't love, but more importantly it felt forced and awkward sometimes. A couple of the spicy scenes were just weird and made no sense. The entire blurb is misleading and factual incorrect to the story. “Faraine is not surprised that her sister is his choice”— I’m sorry, but did the person who wrote that even read/listen to the book? He wanted Faraine, she wanted him, he even told her as much in not so many words - SHE was the one who told him to choose her sister, of course there wouldn’t be any surprise there🤦🏻‍♀️. The same goes for the rest of the blurb, it’s inconsistent with what really happens in the book. The romance starts quite early in the book, and from that point, it is full of pinning until the end. It might appear to be a bit insta love, but both characters POV help understand the relationship development, and make you root for them. King Vor needs unity, he seeks a power from the above that is untrusted and unknown to his people. The only way to secure such a force, is to bind himself through marriage with the beloved daughter of his rival king. On the way to Beldroth Castle, Vor and Faraine have met in dangerous circumstances and are instantly drawn to each other. As required, they will forgo their own feelings and fulfil their royal duties. Faraine, however, is not that easy to forget. I'll leave the story there as I don't want to spoil your enjoyment. Needless to say, it has wonderful twists and turns that you don't expect, and such a poignant feeling of betrayal that it will break your heart then tear it out of your chest.If you like Fae, slow burn and Romantasies full of angst, this book is for you. It is also a good fit for people who enjoyed The bridge kingdom.

When war drags them apart, Vor and Faraine face the consequences of their choices. How can Vor lead those who have lost faith in him? Torn between honor and desire, he must decide where his heart truly lies: with his kingdom or his queen.

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We follow Vor and Faraine as one battles between his duty as king and husband while the other is plagued by feelings of weakness and belonging. While Vor is willing to do everything in his power to save his wife and his kingdom, Faraine is ready to do everything in her power to save her husband's kingdom.