About the Book:
Title: To Kill a Shadow
Author: Katherine Quinn
Series: Mistlands #1
Page Length: 448
Publication Date: Nov. 28, 2023
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Synopsis: Britannia meets The Mist ―with a touch of Evil Dead ―in this illusory fantasy horror about a kingdom left to darkness…
Jude Maddox knows nothing of love or even light. He knows only his grim duty as the Hand of Death, to lead the Knights of the Eternal Star into a land filled with nightmares and certain demise. It’s only when he sees her ―a young woman with wild, amber eyes who’s as fierce, defiant, and swift as the shadow beasts themselves―that he feels the warmth of life in his blood…
The other Knights may fear their lethal commander, with his hard, merciless demeanor. Outcast Kiara Frey sees only a leader, a man who knows how to survive. A man like her . But wanting him is as treacherous as the shadows themselves…and just as seductive.
With a kingdom on the verge of collapse, the Knights must now venture into the darkest heart of the land and uncover the secrets of the misted shadows, where evil will prey upon their minds and feast on their flesh.
It will betray their senses.
It will surpass their nightmares.
Most of them will die.
But they have no other choice. Because the only way to fight the darkness… is to become it .
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My Review:
I adore Katherine Quinn’s books, so I was beyond thrilled to get an arc of the first book in her new Mistlands series. To Kill a Shadow is a fantastic start to the series. It’s action-packed, immersive, and suspenseful with a well-paced and layered plot, dynamic characters, and a swoon-worthy love story that had my whole heart.
Quinn is an amazing storyteller, and I found myself quickly sucked into this bleak and harsh world and the characters who live in it. The story takes place in a world that has been plunged into darkness for the last fifty years, and Kiara is a young woman, the only woman, drafted to serve the kingdom by battling the mist and the monsters who live there. Kiara, with many other young men, goes through a grueling and perilous training led by an enigmatic and ruthless commander.
Kiara is a layered and compelling protagonist, as is Jude, the commander. She’s brave and skilled, and she’s a strong leader among the trainees. She stands out, and not just because she is the only woman soldier. Her quick thinking, training, and determination attract the attention of many, most of all Jude. He’s drawn to Kiara from the moment he meets her, which is the antithesis of what you’d expect from this ruthless and merciless commander. I love Jude and how protective he is. I’m all for the moody, broody MMC who falls first, and Jude delivers. He has a heartbreaking story, and I so wanted this man to find happiness. The story is told from both Jude’s and Kiara’s points of view, which adds depth and dimension to both characters.
The character development is balanced well with a quick-paced and action-filled plot. From the deadly and dangerous training to the journey into the Mist, the story is intense! And the world-building is as layered as the plot and characters. I found the world so interesting and horrifying, and the lore and history are engrossing. It’s definitely the kind of plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
There are a bunch of secondary characters that are great too, and there are major found family vibes going on with the other recruits. Kiara forms some strong relationships with her peers, and they go through A LOT together. Some parts are brutal and harsh, but it’s appropriate for the world they live in. My heart broke more than once when reading, and I was completely stunned by a couple of the twists and revelations. It’s the kind of book that takes you through myriad emotions, and once I started reading, I found it tough to put the book down. I had to know what happened next!
I thought this was a fantastic start to the series, and I can’t wait to find out what happens next because, man, some of the stuff that happened toward the end HURT MY HEART. I would absolutely recommend the book to readers who like YA romantasy. Thanks to Entangled Teen and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The romance.
- The characters.
- The fantasy elements.
- The worldbuilding.
- The plot.
Favorite Lines:
When wishes turn into reality, they never leave you feeling how you pictured.
Wounds healed, but lost honor wasn’t as easily mended.
All of our jagged pieces might not have fit together perfectly, but what a beautiful, disaterous mosaic we made.
Regret was the harshest of punishments.
Tropes:
- he falls first
- touch her and die
- found family
- dual pov
i struggle to get into a lot of these fantasy romances bc the tropes or plot aren’t what i usually enjoy but this one did catch my attention and I loved reading your thoughts on it!
Thanks! I’m a big romantasy fan.