Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan audio for this audio arc!!

When I say that the first book The Shadows Between Us is one of my favorite books of all time its not a lie, so to have the chanced to read the sequel before publication I just about died.

This follows Alessandra’s sister Chrysantha’s story right where the first book left off, We hate Chrysantha in the first book so I was wondering how I would feel about her story arc, but let me tell you she did not disappoint. You find out why she is the way she is, and she is so determined and lovable. She’s such a feminist icon in my mind!

The love story had me on my toes the whole time, were we hating him or loving him or both!!

Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book as an ARC.
Following the first book, The Shadows Between Us, this book concentrates on the older sister, Chrysantha who married a man much older than her based on laws of the land that do not give women much choice. However, now that her younger sister Alessandra is queen, there are new edicts of the land that give women many more rights. Meanwhile, her late husband's estranged grandson is laying claim to the life Chrysantha has built for herself. He threatens to take away her freedoms by his claim, but there is so much more to him than meets the eye.
I absolutely enjoyed this romantasy for exposing laws and held beliefs that are still present in our society today that do not give women complete autonomy and freedoms that men have. Like the last book, both sisters are fierce and willing to stand up for themselves. While it took Chrysantha more time to stand up for herself, once she gets a taste of freedom, she is more willing to fight to keep it. This is a love story, a fantasy, and women's rights novel.

I will begin with saying I truly wanted this book to be a follow up from Alessandra and Kalaus. Instead this book brings about the story of Alessandra’s sister, Chrysantha Stathos.

Much like The Shadows between us, this book begins slowly. Causing this reader to take a bit of a pause but then remembering that once I’m past the slump that the real story will completely and utterly draw me in. Tricia Levenseller doesn’t disappoint with her ability to eloquently build a story that even when completed leaves you wanting more from her. In true fashion she has yet again made me wish to read another story with both sisters bring the star of the story.

This review is based on a Free ARC and I want to thank NetGalley, the publishers and Tricia Levenseller for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.

As sequels go this one held its own. I enjoyed the narrator, I found her infliction was the perfect touch to keep the lister interested. I highly recommend this series!

I really loved the first book and didn't realize that this book wouldn't be about Alessandra, but instead would focus on her sister. I enjoyed this audiobook immensely however, I did listen to the other book as an audiobook and wish the narrator would've changed Chrysantha's voice a bit because in my mind she sounded exactly the same as Alessandra's voice which threw me a bit because my brain wouldn't separate the sister's stories at the beginning. This narrator is great at making different voices for different characters so I feel like she easily could've done this but it probably wasn't even worried about for production (I won't be removing any stars for this as not everyone will use the audiobook and the review should be based off the story in my opinion).

The story was great, considering we knew that Chrysantha had already been married (because of Alessandra's story) to an older duke I wasn't really sure what her story would entail or how much of a twisty, turny plot could be provided for us but I loved the way it turned out! Plenty of twists and turns, plenty of "what's going to happen next?" moments.

I really loved that Chrysantha's character changed so much throughout the story, Alessandra didn't represent her sister very nicely in the first book and it was nice to get to know this character better, her side of her past and see how she developed throughout the story.

Tropes:
-found family
-enemies to lovers
-family reconciliation
-sisterly bonds
There are probably more, I don't usually catch on to all of them!

**This does have some relative spice that is age appropriate - closed door but hints as something more- it does reference sounds being made and if the whole house could hear them. Parents can decide off that if this book is appropriate for their child.
**There also is more gore then there was in the first book. Murder, including a relatively calm scene and a "tear them to pieces" scene.

I loved reading these books! I loved The Shadows Between Us the first time, and I loved it again, and The Darkness Within Us was just incredible! I loved being back in this world, and to get both sisters' stories was just so great! I couldn't get enought!

Reading The Shadows Between Us was so great, I've been meaning to reread it since I first read it. Now that we have a sequel, of course this was the perfect timing! Alessandra is not afraid to be herself, but she has to be careful to get around the rules of the land, which are more aligned for the males. Watching her with Kallias, who enjoyed who she was, was just great! I loved watching her fall in love, and change her plans to keep him alive, because their plotting together was just *chef's kiss*.

Chrysanthia is both very different, but very similar to Alessandra. She kept her brilliance and plotting hidden, so she could control her future, and she almost had it-if not for this wayward step-grandson coming in and mucking up her future.

I loved the pair of them, who are both so at odds, and kept getting in one another's way. That he actually listened to her concerns about why she didn't want to marry again, and the reasons behind that and spending time together, helping one another, yeah, I just loved it! And oh, where the story went, that was just so great to read!

I had a fantastic time reading these books and I can't wait to read more by Tricia Levenseller!

This story was well worth the wait!! It's been a bit since I've read a good true enemies to lovers and this did not disappoint.

I'm also in my audiobook era and the narration for this story was top notch!

Thank you to NetGalley, Feiwel & Friends, Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Young Listeners, Tricia Levenseller, and Caitlin Davies (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of The Darkness Within Us in exchange for an honest review.

While this novel is considered the second installment to The Shadows Between Us, it is more like a companion piece. In the first novel, the reader gets a bit of a glimpse of Chrysantha, the sister to Alessandra, a girl determined to marry the shadow King. The Darkness Within Us explores Chrysantha's story.

Chrysantha tried her best to marry an old man with no heirs so that her father may come into extra needed money and so that she may not have to be wedded long. A widow by her own means, Chrysantha inherits the duke's mansion and money, as he has no heirs. Perfect timing. His age wouldn't have anyone suspect foul play. She only had to play the witless girl until her scheme came to fruition.

Little does she expect an heir to show up, claiming all her lands and funds and aiming to send her away. She suspects a con, hiring a private investigator to sniff out the secrets that this "Duke" Eryx. Between balancing what she though to be her newly found freedom, getting rid of the proclaimed heir, and humoring her sister at their royal wedding, Chrysantha has a lot to take care of. In her digging, she finds that Eryx's secrets may be more than she expected, but certainly not more than she can chew.

I absolutely love Caitlin Davies' as the audio narrator. Davies brings Chrysantha's wit and witticism to life in the perfect way. It is just such enjoyment to listen to her embody Chrysantha's character. This was one of those books that is truly impossible to put down. Seeing what schemes Chrysantha will come up with next to maintain (or gain, or regain) her freedom is such a reading pleasure.

This novel is a fast-paced blend of female power and enemies-to-lovers romance (but just kidding because of Chrysantha's schemes, or is it real? the back and forth is endless!). With a Victorian era feel to it, this book is sure to enthrall lovers of Bridgeton and fans of powerful female leads. An exquisitely excellent novel.

Thanks to NetGalley for audio ARC of this book. If you have read the first book in this series, then you will love this sequel. This book follows the sister of Alessandra, Chrysantha, as see gains her freedom, and learns who she really is. The romance in the book is fun with a morally gray male lead. If you enjoy romance with morally gray charters, romance , and magic then you will enjoy this book.

I absolutely loved this redemption arc for the FMC! I read and loved The Shadows Between Us years ago and loved it, and this one did not disappoint! I honestly didn’t want it to end.

I’m doing something an early do and rounding up. Something I may adjust after sitting with it a few days. Will I recommend it? Sure, but to a specific group of people and it won’t be a book I remember to bring up.

I want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the Audio ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

First the narration. Overall ai enjoyed her. Not a 5 but definitely a solid 4 stars for Caitlin Davies. Her voice and pacing were very good. The lack of a star comes when she does other voices especially male voices. I actually laughed at one point and literally rolled my eyes. My husband who overheard a small part of commented on how ridiculous one of the males sounded. It did take me out of the story momentarily.

As for the book itself. The prose is a weird mix between a bit juvenile but then goes into the NA genre. But maybe that’s showing that the main character is a teen but in a very adult world.
The story was decent enough. It follows some basic tropes but it works. I will mention that I did not read book one in this series as I didn’t know it was a sequel when I requested it but it easily served as a stand alone book. You never felt like you were missing something.

I enjoyed the self discovery that Chrys goes on. Recognizing her own flaws and also presumptions she has made, particularly about her sister and her sisters relationship.

Chrys isn’t very likable. While she had been pretending to be a ditzy teen and now allowing her smarts show, you still see the whiny and incorrigible snot. The book is setting in a magical world but the magic system is disjointed and comes across as a throw in. You can’t take all the magic out and not change the heart of the book as it’s just not important. She could have used the magic parts (don’t want to give spoilers) as personifications of character flaws very easily but it just wasn’t executed well.

Also the world itself isn’t built. You would expect in an intended series that some good ground work would be laid but it’s not and moreover it comes across as someone who heard about facets of the Victorian age and threw them in but didn’t actually study it.

I guess the over arching feeling I have is that the book had a lot of promise but it seems rushed, especially at the end when it quickly gets thrown together and tied up neatly while earlier you have some repetitive things that get a bit frustrating.

I think I may have talked myself into the 3 star that it really fits but I’m still going to sit on it. I think you want to root for this book for some reason so I don’t want to unfairly dock it just because Goodreads is stuck in the last century and only having full stars to give!

The Darkness Within Us by Tricia Levenseller

Quick Summary: Chrysantha Stathos has emerged victorious in her carefully crafted charade. Concealing her ambitions beneath the facade of a beautiful, naive girl, she has ascended to the status of a wealthy duchess. With the passing of her elderly husband on the horizon, she anticipates finally attaining the freedom, wealth, and security she has long coveted.
She never expects to have a challenge to her wealth and status until a man claiming to be her estranged grandson, Eric, intends to usurp her inheritance. Her anguish grows when her younger sister, Alessandra, is the impending queen. She is determined to assert dominance and undermine Alessandra's joy at her sister's wedding. No matter the cost, Chrysantha remains resolute about eliminating Eric's claim on the inheritance so that she can be free.

I enjoyed the character of Chrysantha. She was smart and a survivor. She understands how to play the game in a world dominated by men. She was determined to win on her terms and get everything she wanted or what she believed was coming to her. Unfortunately, her experiences caused some of her reactions to be cold and calculating. She had warmth and kindness when interacting with the manor's staff but showed contentment when interacting with the wealthy. It added depth to her character. She resonated with me on several different levels. As for the grandson, Eric, I was intrigued by his actions at the story's beginning. He fell a little flat toward the end of the book. It might be because we only see the world through Chrysantha's point of view.

The Darkness Within Us is an enemy to the lovers' storyline. There are a few twists and one I did not see coming. I did not read The Shadow Between Us, the first book in this duology, so I walked into the story blind. I understood the storyline and could follow along without difficulty. The pace was not too slow and kept me interested throughout the book. The ending did feel rushed, and the climax was not as exciting as I had hoped. I would consider this book a YA Romantsy. There is plenty of spice alluded to, but not graphic. Overall, it was a good, light-hearted read exploring women's societal struggles.

The Shadows Between Us was my first Tricia Levenseller book and I ate. that. ish. UPPPP.

I loved it. The Slytherin love story. The fact that both characters are straight up bad people. The narrator. Five stars. In fact, I re-read it recently and still gave it 5 stars. I have gone on to consume everything TL has written and I love it each and every time. This book is no different.

Honestly, I was thrilled with a TSBU sequel, though I did wonder how she was going to make Chrysantha interesting after what we learn about her from book 1, but she did it! I was on board with Chrysantha from the drop. I was like okay, queen (or duchess) go off! Let's start killing people day 1! I live for this type of story.

Honestly, I am not even sure I read the plot summary of this book or if I just knew it was Chrysantha's story so I snatched it up...but I for sure thought this was going to be her falling in love with her best friend....a male servant. But no! Mad props to that. I love a male BFF whose friendship isn't contingent on anything else, and isn't like, oh I've been friendzoned WAAAAAH.

Eryx was a great counter point to her. Again, neither are great people. You root for them because they're both kind of awful and you want their awful scheming to keep going. But they're also scheming because of the cards they have been dealt. Chrysantha wants her freedom. And Eryx wants revenge...and some freedom as well. Unfortunately, they both have their eyes on the same freedom prize.

Here's where this book loses one star FOR ME. It's a shifter romance. It's straight up a SHIFTER. ROMANCE. And if you know anything about me, it's that I do not do creature romances. If something has horns or a tail or turns into anything that isn't straight up a human (shadow boys don't count) then it gives me the ick. So, again, this drops one star because dang I did not see that coming and dang was I disappointed. But that's because those are my preferences. There are tons of people who love shifter books and will throw 5 stars at this immediately. And I really want to. It has such TSBU vibes that I WANT to give it 5 stars, but the creature part just really ruins all of the romance for me, so for me it's a 4. I'm sorry TL, I love you so much but I just CAN'T get on board.

Anyway - can't wait to see what TL comes up with next. I will devour it like usual.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did! I honestly didn’t love the first book but this one blew it out of the water for me. I loved Chrisantha and Eryx! I listened to this all in one sitting and I truly enjoyed it! The narrator is great as well!

I will preface this by saying that I have not read the first in this series. That being said I don't feel that I missed information that was crucial to this novel.. I really liked this book and I thought that the characters were really well done and that their acr was good as far as the relationships between characters. I really really liked Chrysantha and her attitude. I thought that her inner monologue was hilarious. I will definitely be circling back to the first book.

While some may find them unlikable, I love how the Stathos sisters are cunning masterminds and are unapologetically themselves. These young women have had to claw and fight to gain agency and power in a world that views them merely as bargaining chips (their dad is a real piece of work). The tactics they employ to change the political landscape for young women are clever and the end result is quite satisfying. Levenseller’s stories are deliciously devious and prove that it’s more fun being a bit villainous.

This book is set The Shadows Between Us universe with some character cross-over, but like the first book, there isn’t much in the way of world building, which makes it a good pick for non-fantasy readers to wade into the genre. There are however, lots of fun, crafty vibes orchestrated by the obstinate, headstrong Chrysantha… and for me, it worked and was highly entertaining! I also really enjoyed the dream sequences and fight scenes.

The categorization of this book is a bit iffy for me as it straddles the line between Young Adult and New Adult. Chrysantha visits brothels, pays for paramours, discusses her conquests, and there’s a decent amount of innuendo. She is also sexually harassed by her decrepit late husband and other men during social gatherings. Because the sexual content isn’t fully fade to black and the door is left ajar, I’d say it’s firmly upper YA with being closer to NA.

I have listened to several audiobooks narrated by Caitlin Davies and she always does a phenomenal job bringing the stories to life and infusing extra emotion, humor, and sass, in the case of the Stathos sisters, into the dialogue. I listened to the audio of The Shadows Between Us and was delighted to see she was narrating the second book.

This was a fun reading experience and I relished being back in this world where morally gray characters abound, and I loved seeing the relationship between the Stathos sisters evolve and heal.

This was beautifully done! I've been wanting to get my hands on the physical of this but I'm so glad I listened to the audio first. The story was amazing and the narration was done so well. I loved the story line and plot. Also something I'd allow my daughter to read which is a double bonus!

I absolutely loved this book!! I was hooked from the beginning and ended up finishing the audio in less than 24 hours. Enemies to lovers is my favorite trope, and I loved the banter between the main characters. Chrysantha is complex in that she is awful toward some people (with her own reasons) and so kind and generous with others. I loved her character and am glad she has her redemption story after the Shadows Between Us. The mystery behind Eryx kept me engaged throughout the book, and I compulsively read this one just to figure out his secrets.

I read the Shadows Between Us four years ago, and Tricia Levenseller did a fantastic job of giving any backstory I couldn't remember so that I didn't feel lost at any point.

I listened to an ALC from Macmillan Audio on NetGalley and loved the narration.

Wow. I genuinely did not want this one to end!! Let me just start by saying that I absolutely loved ‘The Shadows Between Us’ and was a bit weary of a sequel... BUT, Tricia Levenseller did not let us down!!!

This book follows Chrysantha, Alessandra’s older sister, and takes place around where the first book left off. This book was able to shine a light on her POV and shows us a side of her that we did not see in the first book! She is such a fierce, determined, ruthless, independent, yet surprisingly kind and lovable character (not so unlike Alessandra herself).

The enemies to lovers trope in this book gave me serious whiplash (in the best way)! I did NOT think that I could ever come to love the MMC, but by the end of the book I was eating my words! This romance was chef's kiss!

This one is a must read. Release date is 7/9/24!!!

This book was AMAZING! I was worried to read this because The Shadows Between Us set the bar so high but I was blown away by how much I adored this book!

Chrysantha and Alessandra are two sides to the same coin: they are both ruthless, fierce, and determined. However, Chrysantha, as we discover, has taken a different approach to her strength by keeping it a secret. Finally, after years of playing the role as the “stupid one,” she has her freedom to be who she truly is… that is until Eryx arrives unexpectedly.

I loved these two! Both cunning and secretive, they don’t realize they need each other. This book was everything I didn’t know I needed and more! The writing style in this book keeps the story moving and truly captures Chrysantha’s personality and motives. Bonus points for the sister’s relationship development as well!

In my opinion, you could read both of these books as standalones, but they pair wonderfully together!

Thank you NetGalley and Tricia Levenseller for letting me devour this early!

Reviews posted to Goodreads 3/26 and @evelynlainebooks 3/27!