Thanks to Entangled Publishing for sending me this ARC!

I absolutely loved the dystopian romantasy vibes of this story! The romance, action and mystery were all balanced perfectly.
The plot twist at the end...HELLO!? Never saw that coming! The world building was done so well and feels so large that it seems we could easily get a prequel, a sequel and maybe a novella or two.
Two things held this back from being a 5 star for me. First, I feel like the YA tag on it held it back a little. The romance could have been a touch spicier (like half a pepper spicier) and some more horror in the middle of the book to pick things up a bit would have been great!
And the second thing, every time it was "...she hissed" or "...he growled". She isn't a snake...he isn't a wolf, why did the author keep using those words? Hiss or hissed was used 44 times and growl or growled was used 40 times. I dunno know but that really irked me after a while.

Jude Maddox is nothing more than a broken man leading men who will die or break. He’s the Hand of Death, delivering death to the enemies of the king. He is Cold, detached, haunted… until he sees her

The other knights of the realm fear the mists and the beasts that haunt it. But not her, not Kiara Frey. She and the commander ignite each other, and when recruits and knights must enter the land of mists, she follows him.

There, evil will prey on their minds, and feast on their flesh. So give in… become the darkness.

I absolutely fell in love with this book. The characters are well rounded, they grow, and they develop. The plot and storyline are gripping, grabbing and sinking claws into your very soul. I’d never heard of this book, but when the opportunity to read it came up, I grabbed it. It truly is a delight! As a word of caution, there are scenes of death, and there is danger. There is an aspect of fantasy horror, so readers please be aware of this.

Very interesting start to the series, really enjoyed the dark, gloomy, grim vibes of the setting.

Kiara was a fun FMC to cheer on, excited to see what happens next!

I just finished reading “To Kill a Shadow” and I absolutely loved it! The story is incredibly gripping, with twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are so well-developed and relatable, making it easy to get lost in their world. Katherine Quinn’s writing style is both engaging and evocative, painting vivid pictures with her words. This book has made me a new fan of hers, and I can’t wait to read more of her work. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a thrilling and immersive read!

I am so late on reviewing this wonderful book, but I am here to say that I adored this so so much! This is my first book by Katherine Quiin and I truly can't wait for the sequel. Jude and Kiara are such great main characters - I loved learning both of their stories throughout the book and could feel the tension coming off the page! Those two had me at the end of my seat for the entire book - I went in blind and had no idea what to expect. There is nothing like getting that kind of hooked unexpectedly! I did like that the worldbuilding was easy to follow and I absolutely can't wait to see more in book 2. This easily became a favorite and I am glad we are getting closer to the sequel!

I loved this book! Everyone has some darkness in them, and I love how in this one, the characters controlled the darkness within them, until they chose to embrace it. The romance is slow burn and full of the most delicious tension and sarcasm. I can’t wait for the next book!

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.