The Shadows Between Us

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

Alessandra has taken ‘fuck, marry, kill’ and made it her lifestyle. This woman not only knows how to play the game, but creates and enforces her own rules. Well.

The blurb for this book caught my eye. I absolutely love morally grey characters, so, I was excited to see the female main character described as villainous. After reading, I wouldn’t say Alessandra is a villain, so much as she’s someone who genuinely doesn’t give a damn about the opinions of most others.

There were a few moments (looking at you, cryptic child) that tore me away from the story and kept it from a 5 star rating, but overall, The Shadows Between Us had me eagerly awaiting the next scene.

From the beginning, Alessandra is a whirlwind of a character. She goes against nearly every expectation one would have for a lady in high society. She’s shown to be strategic, ambitious, and highly independent. It seems the only things stopping her from being content with the life she has are the societal rules everyone is subject to.

One thing Tricia Levenseller did undeniably right in this book is found family. From how most characters initially interacted with Alessandra, I was worried she would stay in the “doesn’t get along with anybody” box. Nope! The relationship between Alessandra, Rhoda, and Hestia brought me so much joy. The immediate “we’re friends now”. The scheming. Their heart-bearing moments. Just women supporting women. Fabulous!

Nearly every outfit described is absolutely gorgeous. The fact that I can’t have Alessandra create my wardrobe is honestly quite upsetting. She manages to make clothes that are attractive while still sounding sooooo comfortable. And some of the stuff Kallias wears? I wish I could see my partner in those outfits.

[BEGIN MINOR SPOILER] I’ve seen quite a few reviews criticize the author for not staying dead-set (pun intended) on the ‘kill’ part of Alessandra’s plan. To me, it shows character growth. Alessandra made that plan before she knew Kallias. When she assumed he was truly a tyrant king. After learning he would let her do nearly whatever the fuck she wants, would even agree with and help her, Alessandra abandons that part of the plan. Loving him isn’t completely changing the narrative, it’s taking a turn that wasn’t revealed as an option until we made it further down the path. [END MINOR SPOILER]