"They've never found the body of the first and only boy who broke my heart.
And they never will."

This is a world where cunning, ambition, and villainy are rewarded. Alessandra is the overlooked second daughter. Because she cannot get married until her older sister does, she has been kept at home, unable to go to parties, so she's found ways to entertain herself (seduce boys, get expensive presents from them) while plotting to appeal herself to the Shadow King (whom she plans to kill after they're married, so she can seize power).

While the Shadow King is also known for his ruthlessness, Alessandra wins the prize for villainy. The Shadow King has struggled to work with his Council, which holds the true power until the king comes of age. In comparison, Alessandra is an expert at grasping people's weaknesses and manipulating people. She also solves with ease problems that the king has been struggling to solve. What brings them together, besides their shared ambitions and lack of hesitation to crush their enemies, is their growing ability, over the course of the novel, to confide in each other and trust each other to speak truthfully.

The woman shine in this book. While romance is a large plot in this book (and what gets events moving), just as much time is spent on Alessandra's growing friendship with other women in court. More specifically, on the issues women face: the double standard of sex and gender roles, marital conventions, proper ways of courting, insecurity and low self-esteem. While women do search for a husband in this book, I never felt like it was about the romance, but rather about women learning to be themselves and accept themselves.

While this is set in a fantasy world (with castles and royalty and nobles), it's set during a modern period. About midway through the book, guns and electricity come up. Furthermore, Alessandra and the Shadow King discuss changes to give women more power.

This is a book where the villains win. They look down on charitable deeds and pursue their own self interests. If even their own family members get in their way, they do not hesitate to cut off their family. The characters are flat and stay within their assigned roles. While Alessandra faces obstacles to her goal, other than her growing feelings for the Shadow King, she doesn't face complexities that force her to change inside or to view people with whom she disagrees in a new light. As a result, while she learns to love and trust again, she remains a villain to the end.

This fits with the theme of women accepting themselves and being themselves (something she's known from the beginning of the novel), and it's interesting to read a book from the perspective of a villainous character. But many of Alessandra's actions are self-serving. She gets away with murder; she manipulates and ruins people who did nothing to her because she has something to gain by doing so (and she didn't like these people anyways); she would have killed the Shadow King if she hadn't fallen in love with him. She doesn't struggle with the morality of such actions, or regret them. So, while this is an entertaining read, it's not a book that I would read again or purchase for a friend.

Additional facts:
- The story is told from in first person, present tense.
- Content: language, kissing, violence/killing, suggested sex scenes, talk of sex, nudity.

I loved this Slytherin romance! I loved the character development of both the Kallias and Alessandra, and the murder plot. I loved the story line and seeing Alessandra become the powerful woman she is (she was already powerful but I appreciated her getting recognition for that powerful!) I also enjoyed how Kallias also advocated for more women’s rights, we love a king that wants his people treated equally.

Kallias started as a boy who wanted to find his parents murderers, and was truly afraid but by the end he overcame those fears and managed to love Alessandra. Similarly, she went from “I can’t wait to murder him” to “I might actually love him” which was nice because I, for one, did not want him dead.

I will say that I wish the book was longer, I really enjoyed these characters and this world and wouldn’t mind more time in it. I think this will be the first Tricia Levenseller book I actually wanna read again!

Levenseller’s book is deliciously evil and intriguing. Alessandra has her plan in place to catch the attention of the Shadow King so she can marry him and then murder him. It’s a simple plan and she uses her considerable wiles to draw him in, as a spider lures its prey. But things go a bit off course when she finds others want to kill him first. That won’t do, at least until after she is crowned Queen.

King Kallias finds, for the first time, that he cannot resist this seductive and alluring woman new woman who ensnares him in her trap. Never has his interest been so piqued nor has he ever been so disarmed, as he finds himself in her presence. Her advice proves useful as she helps him thwart his enemies. Now the king grows ever more dependent on her advice and surprisingly, Alessandra finds she may be enjoying keeping him safe as the two grow ever closer.

Not only does Alessandra catch the attention of the King, but readers will be smitten by her cleverness, her astuteness and her determination. Yet ruling is a ruthless business and she doesn’t shy away from drastic measures. This stand-alone book is so appealing, it will leave readers wishing there was more to come for this delectable yet deadly pair.

I was so excited when I was approved for this title and even more excited when I started reading this book. This is not your typical damsel in distress heroine; oh no, this is your "I'm stronger-than-you-think-so-back-off" type of a heroine. She is aware of her beauty and wits, and unapologetically uses them to her advantage. I love how she comes up with an evil plan and executes it, but I must admit that I hated the ending. It was too predictable and (dare I say?) too sappy. Great story for the YA audience, especially girls who do not believe in their own beauty and wits. I will most definitely add this title to my classroom library. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this eARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

Wow. Be still my Slytherin heart! That was fantastic. I could not put this down!!!! This book had every thing; romance, murder, cunning and a sweet twist that I personally didn't see coming. One of my favorites this year.

Tricia surprised me with a dark and sultry standalone fantasy with no holds barred.

She wrapped feminism into a conservative society with a whodunnit mystery and an oh so sexy Shadow King. I was particularly impressed with her approach to healthy sexual content in a YA.

I knew from the moment I read the synopsis that I was going to enjoy this book, but I didn't know that I was going to love this book. From the first line to the final moments I. Was. Hooked. Levenseller is an author I've read before, and while I have liked her previous works, The Shadows Between Us might have solidified her as an auto buy author for me.

Alessandra is cunning, ruthless, sexually liberated, and a girl who doesn't take no for an answer. The Shadow King, Kallias, is secretive, powerful, and just as ambitious as Alessandra in his own ways. The dynamic between these two was electric! I'm someone who is a complete sucker for an enemies to lover trope and this is one of the most well written examples of that trope I can think of. They are both using each other for their own gain, but come together despite their initial reservations. Aside from the main characters there's a large cast of side characters who actually have their own arcs and purposes. I personally loved to see the arcs of Alessandra's female companions and how they go from trying to copy her to gain the King's fortune to becoming their own people and discovering love for themselves.

While I was pretty easily able to guess who the villains were I found the plot enjoyable, and Levenseller was actually able to pull off a pretty interesting plot twist. The pacing to me did feel a bit off at times with some plot points being glossed over and others taking almost too much time, but those are just minor complaints. I really enjoyed reading this book--I actually managed to finish it in about three hours--and while I'm dying to get more of these characters, I am so glad this is a stand alone. I'm so used to massive fantasy series that this book seems like a breath of fresh air in an over saturated market. I highly recommend The Shadows Between Us to fantasy fans.

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I loved this book! I saw The Shadows Between Us described as a romance between two Slytherins (I can't remember where - maybe here on Netgalley), and that's what drew me to it. It's also entirely accurate. Alessandra is a second born daughter with few rights. Her father is trying to marry her off, but she has her own plan - she'll seduce, marry, and then kill the king and take his kingdom. I loved Alessandra. She's pretty amoral - though she does care about her friends - but she's also funny - she can't stand a do-gooder member of court who has a crush on her in part because of his charitable deeds. Her relationship with the king is complicated (to say the least), and I really enjoyed how it developed. I've had trouble concentrating lately, but this book sucked me in and wouldn't let go.

Set in a fictional realm with very, very limited fantastical elements, The Shadows Between Us is Levenseller's steamiest book to date.

Alessandra, a Slytherin if there ever was one, sets off to the palace to woo the young king, to make him marry her, to murder him, and to steal his power. But her plans don't happen accordingly. Yes, she catches the prince's attention, but he only wants a fake relationship to appease the council. But as their honesty with one another burgeons into true friendship, ~feelings~ crop up. But as much as they want to touch one another and kiss each other, they can't.... The king is the only person in the six kingdoms with a power that allows him to be incorporeal as long as he isn't in the vicinity of someone he has touched. As such, if they touch, he is no longer safe from assassination. Is their love worth giving up that security? Is love worth Alessandra giving up her true passion for power? These two protagonists must grapple with life-altering questions before they make up their minds.

As far as teen romances go, this book is a 10 on the chaste-to-steamy scale! We get lots of great longing, feels, kissing scenes, touching scenes-- like you know that scene in the 2005 Pride and Prejudice where Mr. Darcy flexes his hand after helping Elizabeth up into the carriage? That. That longing permeates so much of the feels in this story, and Levenseller does it justice! I wanted Kallias to touch ME in these scenes! lol For those of you wondering, though, there is no sex on the page; they head to the bed, but then we skip to a new scene.

Additionally, I LOVE the antihero aspect of Alessandra! This tough-as-nails female protagonist who wants to scheme her way to royalty is not something we see in YA! In fact, I'd love to have the adult romance version of this story. It would totally be up my alley. :)

I’ve heard it said that this book is a Slytherin romance and I have to agree. I spent most of the book not liking the heroine. But on flip side I was holding out hope that something good was coming.

I was right.

We’re some parts predictable? Yes. Did I still like it? You bet!

The Shadows Between Us plays on court social climbing to bring an unique romance. Although both characters are put in situations where the reader is supposed to read them as going against the typical hero/heroine, I would have liked both to have been even more despicable. What starts off on the path of two deliciously devious characters playing a game with one another falls flat when romance suddenly improves their character.

I tried to read this book in both e-book, physical, and audio formats and none of the formats helped me enjoy the book at all. I hated the main character, I felt she was over the top and just detested her; she was bitchy and just horrible. I hated her so much I could not finish the book and don't even care to find spoilers to know what happened.

"I think that when you care enough for someone, you reach a point where it's far more painful not to have him at all than to have him risk losing him. You realize the risk is worth it. Because happiness, however short-lived, is always worth it."

I love this book!

This is the 4th book I've read from Tricia Levenseller and she has not failed me yet!

These protagonists are both shallow and conniving, they shouldn't even be called protagonists to begin with, but you can't help but root for them. I'm no Slytherin but I do appreciate how unapologetic the characters were. I also love that our FMC is bad ass, I mean, who doesn't?

"A woman's worth is not decided by what's between her legs but by what is in her mind"

One thing I always look into when reading a book from an author that I already love is a sort of formula to the characters and plot. While it's good to see another book come out from the author, I find it a turn off when they thrust the readers into a story with a different world building, different character names but having same character development and plot. I'm so glad I didn't experience that with this book. Like I said, this is the 4th book from Tricia that I've read and I appreciate that there is a big difference in stories, characters and plots from each book.

If I were rating this in any way objectively, it would probably be a 2 star book, because oh boy, is it bad. I can't tell you how many times I cringed or rolled my eyes heavenward and muttered, "I hate this book so much." Because I did. It's the pinnacle of YA fantasy mediocrity in so many ways. It's heavy-handed. Anachronistic. Unsubtle (god, the in-your-face sex-positive feminism alone). The love interest - the allegedly cool and villainous Shadow King - is milquetoast as fuck. He's your standard YA wish fulfillment fantasy. The dialogue is so, so, so unrealistic most of the time. The worldbuilding is nonexistent, the high fantasy setting basically serving as an excuse to have a king, a court, and pretty dresses.

But none of it matters, because this book was such a fun ride full of court intrigue. I had an absolute blast reading it. There's something about reading a book that knows how ridiculous it is and unabashedly embraces all its flaws with zero compunction. Alessandra is such an entertaining heroine to follow. She's an unabashed Slytherin who has no qualms about murdering people to get what she wants. She's beautiful and knows it. She loves pretty dresses. She doesn't care one whit about her servants or other people. It's kind of refreshing to read about a YA heroine who's such an awful person and revels in it.

The main bulk of the plot, besides the ~romance~, is a central mystery, as Alessandra and the Shadow King try to figure out who killed his parents and is trying to kill him. I have to say, I loved the twist, and I definitely did not see it coming in the slightest! But I had so much fun trying to figure it all out. The romance was...bland. The Vampire Diaries epigraph at the start of the book had me thinking the Shadow King was gonna be a high fantasy Damon Salvatore, but man, he is so very much Not That in any way, shape, or form. He doesn't measure up in the slightest.

I read this book in two days because I couldn't put it down, and I felt genuine joy and thrill while reading it, despite all the cringey moments I had to suffer through. If you're looking for a truly escapist, page-turning YA fantasy that won't require you to think too much, this is it.

You would think that at age 43, one would stop fangirling over smexy young adult couples. That seems to not be the case, however. As long as authors like Tricia Levenseller keep writing novels like The Shadows Between Us, I will keep fangirling and gushing and devouring such books as the book candy they are.

The Shadows Between Us truly is book candy. Not only did I fly through the story, but I finished it crushing on both Kallias and Alessandra. Kallias smolders with the best of them, and his vulnerability makes you want to comfort him. Meanwhile, Alessandra is my favorite type of heroine. She does not play by the rules. She lives the way she wants without apologies. Once again I’m left to wonder where such characters were when I was a teenager.

I also adore the feminist nature of the story. Alessandra spends the entire novel flouting the patriarchal rules, and we all need more examples of girls and women just not giving a fuck anymore about such rules. The only note of discord I found in the novel is the fact that while the story is very much all about equal rights between men and women, it is not very egalitarian. There exists a hierarchical society that Alessandra sees no need to change. After all, when one of the main characters is a king, there is bound to be class distinctions, and Alessandra wants to be queen not to get rid of servants but to get rid of harsh constraints against women and their rights.

I love The Shadows Between Us and its tremendous powers of escapism and diversion at a time when we so desperately need them. Alessandra is a formidable character; think Scarlett O’Hara without her inability to read people and without her selfishness. Kallias is mysterious and sensitive and all sorts of sexy. When they are together, the pages practically ignite. If this is an example of Ms. Levenseller’s other novels, I need to read her backlist immediately.

It's was okay. I was expecting more from this book. The synopses made me asked for this book, made me hooked for it, but it was so dumb sometimes.

The Shadows Between Us is a superbly fun read, I loved the premise, the characters, and the unique take on the genre.
Who wouldn’t want to read about a woman who plans to steal a kingdom for her own using only her intelligence, skills, seductive nature, and ambition. A woman against a conquering shadow king who trusts no one.
Alassandra is an absolute paradox and I loved her and despised her in equal measure. She is clever, driven, unashamed, and a totally badass. She is also conniving and ruthless bordering on tyrannical. she constantly kept me on my toes with her conflicting viewpoints. She is raw and beautiful and sees what she wants and takes it. Alassandra truly astounded me.
The romance was perfect, lots of build up and temptations and conflicting emotions swirling to create a dynamic attraction and connection.
Great twists and turns. Filled with intrigue and schemes to keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing till the end.
I loved a female character that was unashamed of her sexuality and treated the men of the story as they so often treat women.
It was such a wonderful experience to root for and follow the characters I would normally root against in most stories. This is such delightfully twisted read and I couldn’t get enough.

Thanks Netgalley for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I don’t know why I am surprised by how much I love this, Levenseller is amazing, the way she spins a tale is magical. I can’t wait for more! Definitely one I’d share with YA fans of Sarah J Maas.... love love loved this!

Who! I am a huge fan of Tricia Levenseller! I loved her previous books. This one is different! That isn’t to say it’s bad, but it’s certainly darker, and it has a certain gratuitous shock factor that, for me, made it harder to connect to the characters. Not for preteens in my opinion. This is on the older side of young adult. I will continue to read Ms. Levenseller’s books because of her clever characters.

I feel like with each book, Tricia Levenseller gets better and better. The Shadows Between Us was so much fun, I couldn’t put it down. The main character, Alessandra, was such a badass it was great reading from her perspective. I honestly wish this were part of a series just so I could see more of her with the king. I will definitely be on the lookout for whatever Levenseller brings out next, she is quickly becoming a new favorite author.