Book Details
Vow of the Shadow King
After her deception is discovered, Princess Faraine is trapped in the Shadow Realm and at the mercy of her new husband. She’s surrounded by enemies and far from any allies. Dissolving their marriage alliance would spell disaster for her people, not to mention break her heart.
With the instability in his realm growing daily, King Vor is more desperate than ever to find a solution. Only, it cannot involve his wife. At one time, he thought he might love her, but with his trust irrevocably shattered by her lie, he’s convinced their love cannot possibly flourish.
Circumstances require them to spend more time together, forcing Vor to determine what is truth and what is deceit between him and Faraine. He cannot deny the way his blood stirs in her presence. If their love is truly poisoned beyond recovery, why is there a flicker of hope in the darkness?
The Review
Vow of the Shadow King is the second book in the fantasy romance series by Sylvia Mercedes. It continues the story of Faraine and Vor’s romance and how Faraine can help save Vor’s cursed kingdom.
A note to readers, I haven’t read the first book, but I’m a fan of the troll king lore and would be willing to give it a try to see how Faraine and Vor ended up together.
So here’s the thing, not all books work out for every reader, and, unfortunately, Vow of the Shadow King wasn’t for me.
What didn’t work for me
- The writing.
- How the story was written felt as though a novice was telling the story. The cadence and rhythm wasn’t sound. It felt similar to that of an author still perfecting their craft. A work in progress.
- Vor and Faraine’s romance.
- There is clear tension between these two characters due to the big reveal and deception at the end of the first book. But the back and forth of “can I love her,” “can I trust her,” “will he love me,” “can we make this work,” is tiring after so many chapters of indecisiveness on both character’s parts.
- Also, after a rather unsettling scene where Vor nearly attacks Faraine, I questioned why Faraine would feel safe or want any type of relationship with Vor, even after he explained why he almost hurt her. It reminded me of the scene in chapter 17 in Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco. There’s no reason to go into detail of what happens in that chapter or the chapter I’m referring to in Vow of the Shadow King, but I question when authors in fantasy write about sexual abuse in their novels when it isn’t the focus of the story. As readers, we know sexual abuse exits in the real world and is wrong. It’s when an author decides to include a chapter of sexual abuse, in their story, using those actions as a “teachable moment” (as in KOC) or “overtaken by a disease that almost caused the potential abuse” like we see in this novel, where I question why is this needed in the story and what purpose does it serve in the overarching plot? And I don’t have answers in either case. I personally feel like they could have been edited out of the stories all together.
Even though this one wasn’t for me, if you enjoy fantasy that features a cursed kingdom, a princess whose magic can save said kingdom, and a steamy romance between the two main characters, give this series a try.
Happy Reading ~ Cece
RATING: 
– Adequately Inked
About the Author
Sylvia Mercedes makes her home in the idyllic North Carolina countryside with her handsome husband, numerous small children, and a menagerie of rescue cats and dogs. When she’s not writing she’s . . . okay, let’s be honest. When she’s not writing, she’s running around after her littles, cleaning up glitter, trying to plan healthy-ish meals, and wondering where she left her phone. In between, she reads a steady diet of fantasy novels.
publication details
| Pub Date | ISBN | Page Count | Publisher | Age Group | Source & Format | Review Posted Online |
| 14-Jan-25 | 978-0593952214 | 400 | Ace | Adult | NetGalley, Digital ARC | December 28, 2024 |
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Welcome Reader!
I’m Cecelia and I’m so glad you’re here! You’ll find honest reviews, book recommendations, along with other bookish essentials. So happy you stopped by!
– C
ABOUT THE CREATOR
CECE BECKMAN
Cece holds a Bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing from California State University, Long Beach. She lives in California with her husband and children. When she’s not reading or writing reviews she can be found wandering book aisles at local bookshops, drinking iced cold lattes with cold cream foam, or passing the time with her cats.
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