This book was so fun. I was sucked in right away and I could not put this book down. This story was fast paced and it was a fun adventure.

How to get me to like a book…. Put a girl in a male dominant space and have her kick all the … (edit to PG) … booty. I just love a girl who can be confident and heroic in her own right. Give her a knife and her wits and watch how far she can climb.
The world building isn’t quite there for me but with such a pool of dynamic characters, I almost didn’t care. I’ll definitely continue to book two and I’m just crossing all my fingers that the high stakes drama remains.
Thank you to Entangled Teen for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

I was really looking forward to this book, but unfortunately it wasn't for me. I just wasn't interested in the plot or the characters, I lost interest very early on. Unfortunately due to that, I wouldn't recommend it to other readers at this time.

My Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled: Teen for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Wow, this book blew me away! The beautiful cover caught my eye, but it was the intriguing plot that kept me hooked. From the get-go, I was pulled into the story, totally invested in the characters' lives and dying to know what would happen next. Seriously, I just couldn't put it down.

The main girl, Kiara, was a total boss. Right from the start, I was rooting for her, excited to see how she would tackle all the obstacles thrown her way. She's a real powerhouse. Then there's Jude, who's a bit of a mystery but in the best possible way. His past is just as interesting as I hoped it would be. Kiara and Jude together? They're one powerhouse couple.

The story had all the action, adventure, and lovey-dovey stuff I could ask for, with a few surprises thrown in for good measure. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat, nervously chewing my nails and worrying about what was going to happen next. The unique backdrop just made it all the more captivating.

I can't recommend this book enough. It's got everything - suspense, action, love, and amazing characters. I'm super excited for the next book in the series.

Katherine Quinn is an instant buy for me. Guaranteed every time to leave me speechless and wanting more. I 100% was NOT expecting the plot twist in this story. It is set up in the perfect way to make you THINK it’s going a certain way and then WAM! Nope you were wrong and Quinn is sitting there laughing at us, it’s fine. Quinn writes amazingly bada** fmc’s while still allowing for character growth throughout the series. Kiara is such a defender and protector of those around her who are in need of it. That being said, she still recognizes she has a lot to learn. Lastly, Quinn loves to kill people off so y’all try not to get too attached…

I was drawn to this book by the cover, which is exquisite. In a world with no sun, Kiara Frey is a lonely girl who spends her days training to swordfight with her uncle Micah and hanging around with her only friend, her brother Liam. When the army comes to recruit in her village, she is chosen over her brother by the mysterious Commander Maddox, the other POV in this dual-POV novel. They are drawn to each other from the start but it isn't until much later that we see how deep their connection goes. Found family, (weak) enemies to lovers. I would have enjoyed more background on the fantasy elements of the story, a lot of time was wasted on some of the background characters who didn't really ever become multidimensional. Not a stand alone, the ending is a cliffhanger.

I have a soft spot for dark fantasies, and one look at this cover had me taking advantage of the NetGalley widget sent by the publisher.

This is literally a dark land that hasn’t seen sunshine for years because of a curse, and the kingdom is on the verge of collapse. In an effort to save the kingdom, the king has sent numerous teams of knights into the misted shadows filled with nightmares, but it’s a death mission. Only Commander Jude Maddox, the Hand of Death, has survived. He’s now seeking new recruits for another mission. Fiery Kiara is defending her brother when she catches the attention of Jude. Females aren’t generally considered knight material, but because of her exceptional fighting skills Kiara is immediately chosen.

Jude’s tragic backstory broke my heart. If anyone deserves a happy ending, it’s this guy. Shunned in her village for a past event beyond her control, friends are lacking in Kiara’s life. She finally finds a supportive group in the knights, and their humorous banter added moments of levity to this dark story. Jake easily wins the award for best supporting character in my opinion.

If it’s not obvious from the description, insta-love is a prominent part of the plot. I grew a little weary of broody Jude’s this is happening/we can’t possibly back and forth regarding his and Kiara’s relationship. But again, I made allowances because he needs something good in his life. Just be prepared when it comes to the romance aspect.

The ending wasn’t what I’d hoped, but it came with surprises and an intriguing setup for the next book. Filled with plenty of action, shocking betrayals, and riveting world-building, I’d recommend this to fans of dark fantasy, feisty female main characters, and found family.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn was one of those books that I wanted to read, but the idea of doing so gave me pause. The word “horror” in the synopsis had me rethinking the book. Yet it still called to me. I am so glad I got over my fear. From the moment I started reading, I was engrossed and couldn't put the book down. In fact, I've re-read parts of it several times because it's so good.

50 years ago, the Realm of Asidia was cursed into darkness. For almost as long, the families of Asidia have been asked to sacrifice one of their children to The Calling. A day when the Knights of the Eternal Star go through the Realm collecting the chosen to train and eventually venture into the cursed lands of the Mist to try and end the curse of darkness. The families believe this to be a privilege and many have their children training since birth. On this day, Liam Frey is to leave his family in Cila and join the Brotherhood of the Knights which is a guaranteed death sentence due to his asthma. After a spur-of-the-moment action brings attention to her, 18-year-old Kiara Frey is ordered to take her brother’s place. A decision that’s unheard of as The Calling has only ever been for boys.

While in training, Kiara excels and shows great promise. In her, Jude Maddox, Commander of the Knights sees a better version of himself. They have an attraction that blooms into a friendship. And friendship isn’t really something either is used to having. Soon, King Cirian orders Maddox to gather a small group and return to the Mist, the same place Maddox lost all of his men to the year before. Maddox knows the recruits aren’t ready and that this is a mission they won’t return from but he has no choice.

To Kill a Shadow was a truly amazing read. I loved the characters of Kiara and Jude. In fact, my heart broke for Jude, while I was awed by Kiara’s fierce tenacity. The story is made up of several tropes (found family, grumpy/sunshine, enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and forbidden romance). It is also full of mystery, intrigue, suspense and betrayal. This was a wild ride that will leave you speechless. To Kill a Shadow is definitely a violent story and there are content/trigger warnings on Entangled’s website that you should be aware of. I know people always say that they can’t wait for the next book to come out. But I seriously will be on pins and needles waiting.

~ Favorite Quotes ~

“You can’t save everyone.”

“A good man is often the one who has known the most evil.”

“Hope is a powerful thing to have.”

“Some strengths do not lie in the physical.”

“Control is an illusion, something to make us feel grounded and in charge of our destinies.”

“Sometimes we have to give away pieces of ourselves to others we love, even if it hurts at the time.”

“Love is nothing if not sacrifice.”

“Books…They don’t lie or betray you.”

“History always has a way of repeating itself, no matter how hard we try to rewrite the story.”

“Knowledge had a way of altering one’s world.”

“No one can break me.”

“Love was acceptance.”

**Received a copy from the publisher and voluntarily reviewed it. Also personally purchased a hardcover copy.**

I love Katherine Quinn's writing. I read her previous trilogy and she always writes the best high stakes action scenes. Her world building is captivating and all the little details always amaze me. And that is something that is very much enjoyed in this book. I also found Jude and Kiara to be interesting characters. I felt like although they were main characters, they were still mysterious. Little pieces of them were revealed to the reader as the story progressed. I am not sure why but I didn't connect with this book as much as I would've liked to. I still liked it, it was a good read but nothing that had me at the edge of my seat. I definitely was along for the ride because I love the author and their writing style, but the story itself was just there.

I really enjoyed the first 85%. I didn’t hate the main female character which is rare for me. The plot was interesting, and the side characters added something. The banter was delightful. For some reason I thought it was a stand alone. Even so, the ending felt rushed and like a lot was thrown in. I might have ignored the rushed ending more if there wasn’t another book. I am still looking forward to reading the sequel.

This took me a bit longer than I wanted for me to get into it - but the ending has me dying for the sequel! I do think the writing style was a little too simple for me personally but it's YA and I'm not the target audience so this isn't actually a negative. I loved the found family trope used here, and I really enjoyed both POV characters (which is great cause there's usually one POV where I just don't care). I thought this was a standalone when I went in but I'm so happy to be wrong cause I really can't wait for more!

The water was ice cold as she dipped her toe into the current. She could hear the beast downstream and the screams of someone struggling. The darkness of the night obscured her vision, but she was determined to prove herself strong, no matter what obstacles got in her way.

To Kill a Shadow is a YA fantasy following Kiara (Ki), who is selected as a recruit for the famous Knights. We also follow Jude, who is the commander. The kingdom is cursed by a mist that is slowly killing everyone and they must stop it.

I wanted to love this book because the premise sounded so good. A fantasy with dark elements and an enemies to lovers plot? Sign me up! But it fell so flat and I was very disappointed. The character development was lacking, the world-building was minimal and led to a lot of confusion, the insta-lust between the main characters made me not interested in their relationship, and the found family aspect felt very forced. Nothing came together well for me in this one, which is sad because it has so much potential. I was not a fan.

A huge thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this title. I apologize I am still figuring out this website and didn't know I needed to send back some form of feedback. I never read the book. I don't think I even downloaded it. I apologize for sending back this feedback. Thank you for the opportunity. I hope to read it maybe later in the future.

Love it! I found the main characters had chemistry that you could feel through the page. I am a sucker for a he falls first trope! I would consider this book a young adult romantasy novel that would be a great read for both YA and adult book lovers. It was beautifully written and not predictable at all. I’m looking forward to reading more by Katherine Quinn.

I don’t received this ARC via NetGalley and Entangled Publishing, LLC, Entangled: Teen in exchange for an honest review.

I fell in love with this cover immediately, which Is what originally drew me in. I really tried to love this book, but the characters and writing just didn't draw me in.

Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! This is one enthralling, intense story by Katherine Quinn. There is so much going on, and the world-building is just superb. Chef’s kiss!

The FMC and MMC are layered and complex, and I loved getting to know them—though I know we are only getting started (with this series?) and grazed the surface with Kiara and Jude.

What surprised me the most about this book (because I have a tendency to go in blindly) was the eeriness of the setting and the well-paced plot. The writing is so well done that I could not put this book down. Cannot wait to read more!

#Fantasy #YA #Romance #ToKillaShadow #KatherineQuinn #Entangled #NetGalley

4.5 stars for this fantastic book!

I’m hooked!
I absolutely LOVED the concept of this book and can’t wait for the next one! It’s been a while since I read a closed door YA fantasy that had me gripped as much as this one was!

Read this book if you like:
-dual POV
-a cursed realm cast into darkness
-forbidden love
-forced proximity
-FOUND FAMILY!
-a pulse pounding mystery to solve
-gods and goddesses
-the things that go bump in the dark! 💀

I’ll be pushing this book on everyone for a while!

An incredibly fun read! The premise sounded so good, and I couldn't wait to devour it! Characters were very likable, and the world was so unique. Loved it! And the slow burn? *chefs kiss*.
Can't wait to read the next installment!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me an ARC of this story in return for an honest review!!

The sun has not been seen in 50 years, and with perpetual night, the land is failing and food is running out. The land covered is mist is said to house the answer to bringing the sun back, but it is filled with beasts and monsters, and the mist itself will play with your mind, turning you against your family and self. No one leaves the mist alive, and that’s why it is mandated that one person from every household join the Knights in an attempt to find the keys to unlocking the sun again.
After Kiara’s accident 10 years ago, she has been the pariah of her little town, but her brother (and best friend) has always stuck by her. She would do anything to save him, so when he is about to be chosen to enter the Knights, she shows she’s the better fighter. The commander, and Hand of Death hand picks her, the first woman to join in 100 years, to combat the most and bring back the sun. But when she inexplicably is drawn to the commander and learns his scars are not much different from her own, can she stay on the course to save the sun, thus saving the people she loves?

I REALLY wanted to love this book, I thought the premise was super cool and different. I loved the main character and thought she was pretty bad ass, but the writing and plot was like a really bad fever dream. Nothing was explained in a way that made sense, the history, the way the Knights worked, Kiara’s backstory, none of it was ever given in anything other than the most vague descriptions. I know Kiara’s scars and story was supposed to be this mystery to keep you guessing the entire book but when you’re only finding out 375 pages into a 420 page book it makes it very hard to stay interested and not frustrated. The connection and draw between Kiara and Jude is, again, poorly defined and there is no lead up or slowly becoming more aware of each other… it’s like BAM they can’t stay away… but oh well can’t do this… but come here… no go away. It was frustrating, to say the least. I liked Kiara as an individual character, although her selflessness also got annoying… and then I really liked Jude as a character but together they were just not working. The magic was pretty cool, and the last 50 pages or so were the best in the whole book, which made me rate it slightly higher than I was going to originally. I wish the whole book had more of that writing style throughout the entire thing. Unfortunately this book was just not for me and I’m probably not going to continue with this series. 2.25/5 stars.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review! Thank you Netgalley!

OKAY! This book took me by surprise! The premise seemed really interesting but I read this during a time when I had read several books that were slightly disappointing. BUT this surprised me! This is very well done and I'm so connected to the characters! I can't wait to see where this goes!