Title: The Shadows That ListenSeries: Angel Ruin #1
Pages: 399
Publication Date: Aug. 18, 2026
Publisher: ORBIT US
Genres: Fiction / Romance / Dystopia
Synopsis:
It's been five years since the world was brought to its knees by an immortal war. Daemons crawled from the depths of hell and the sky bled gold as the angels arrived. Humanity thought it was saved, but the angels did not come to protect us.
Amara is a human warrior working for the Angel Intelligence Agency. She spends her days searching for those who don't make it home after curfew. But when her boyfriend Jeremy goes missing, she decides to venture into the shadows to bring him back. Even if it means death.
Nathaniel is an archangel tasked with leading the destruction of humanity, for which he cares little. He doesn't have time to protect little humans running around in the dark, especially those who stab him in the stomach.
But Nathaniel and Amara will soon realise they share a foe, one that lurks in the shadows and stalks them from the skies. She might long to kill him, but Amara knows that having an angel at her side is the only way to find the man she loves.
The shadows lengthen. They listen. Who will survive the night?
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I absolutely loved The Shadows That Listen! It was such a unique blend of dystopian and romantasy, which was perfect for me because those are my two favorite genres. From the start, I was pulled into this bleak world where humans are caught between angels and daemons, and neither side is anything like I expected. I love that the author put a new twist on the typical angels vs. demons story! The angels in particular fascinated me because they aren’t presented as the obvious saviors you might expect them to be. I thought it was cleverly done and added an extra level of mystery and intrigue to the story.
The setting and atmosphere is dark, dangerous, and unsettling, especially once night falls. It really sets the tone for the rest of the story and heightens the suspense. This is a place where strict curfews are enforced to protect humans from the dangers that lurk in the night. People live their lives in fear, and the missing and dead are commonplace. There’s a constant feel of danger and tension, especially for Amara.
Amara was such a great protagonist, and her story is intense from start to finish. She’s a human warrior living in a world where angels and daemons have more power, and she relies on her instincts, determination, intelligence, and sheer stubbornness to survive. Her decision to search for her boyfriend Jeremy after he disappears is the catalyst for her actions, which is how she meets an unlikely (and swoon-worthy) ally.
Nathaniel is everything I love in a MMC and is basically everything Amara hates. lol Nathaniel is an archangel and, for Amara, he represents everything bad that happened to her world five years ago. Knowing what she and all the other people have suffered, it makes sense that she distrusts him, but the more time she spends with him, the more her opinion of him and some of his kind changes. I like how his character is slowly revealed over the course of the story, and how we get glimpses of something underneath his guarded and sometimes cold exterior. However, it’s clear Nathaniel is keeping secrets, and some of them are shocking. It’s interesting to see how he and Amara handle all the secrets and obstacles that stand between them.
And the romance! I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about it since Amara is technically looking for Jeremy, but I ended up loving it. Their first interactions had so much hostility and tension, especially since neither one is willing to back down or let their guard down. I really enjoyed watching their relationship slowly change as they traveled together and ended up having to rely on each other more and more. Theirs is definitely a slow-burning love story that builds through banter and chemistry-filled conversations, reluctant trust, and facing danger together (and saving each other). There are a few scenes that had me swooning and rooting for these two. I can’t wait to see where their story goes, especially after learning a few surprising twists that could change the trajectory of many relationships.
I went into The Shadows That Listen hoping for a good dystopian romantasy, and I got so much more than I expected! It was such an immersive and unique read. And those TWISTS. 😳 I did not see some of them coming at all. I love when a book can surprise me, and this one absolutely delivered. Plus, that ENDING?! I was so not prepared!
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
- hidden identity
- slow burn
“Perhaps monsters are born out of the heartbreak they endure.”
“I see a man who stares at me like I’ll quench his thirst. A man who looks at me like I’m the body of water he’s been hallucinating in the desert. Like I’m the deity he’s been praying to.”
My two fav genres are also dystopian and romantasy!! I’m always so hesitant to try out books with angels in them though because of the potential for overly religious content
Same! I didn’t feel that in this one, though.