Member Reviews

The Darkness Within Is was a fun read! Despite a lot of dark mystery in the plot, the story is really light and fun!

Chrysantha is full of righteous anger from page one, and that builds delightfully. Her tenuous family relationships and desire to be independent were relatable and felt very real. I definitely felt like I understood her well and liked her a lot.

The world is clearly a male-dominated one. I liked that despite their hatred of each other, both sisters were working around that in their own way. Honestly Chrysantha was the selfish one here. But the gender dynamics were a clear theme in the book and were presented well.

The pacing was consistent, and I think all the reveals happened exactly when they should have. The romance was well executed as well. As a reader, we could see the pining even as the characters were in denial. And he is so wonderfully possessive. I’m a sucker for the “who did this to you” trope.

The only real negative I have is that it felt like it wrapped up too quickly and easily in the end. Every relationship mended into an instant happily ever after. I like the ending, but it felt too easy.

Overall, it’s a solid 4-star read, and I will be following to read more from Ms. Levenseller in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGallet for the opportunity to read and review this book! All opinions are my own.

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🖤🗡️ The Darkness Within Us👑📚

SUMMARY:

Chrysantha Stathos has won. 
By hiding her intelligence and ambition behind the mask of a beautiful air-headed girl, she has become a wealthy duchess. And, once her elderly husband dies, she will have all the freedom, money, and safety she’s ever wanted.

Or so she thought. 
A man claiming to be the estranged grandson of Chrysantha’s lecherous late husband has turned up to steal her inheritance. To make matters worse, her little sister is going to be queen and is rubbing it in her face.

Chrysantha decides that the only thing to do is upstage Alessandra at her own wedding. And as for this grandson, he has to go. Never mind that he’s extremely handsome and secretive with mysterious powers . . . No, Chrysantha wants Eryx Demos dead, and in the end, a Stathos girl always gets what she wants.

REVIEW: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to ARC read one of my favorite authors!!!!

If I could give this book 10 stars I WOULD. ARE YOU KIDDING ME. I really went into this thinking, there is NO WAY Tricia Levenseller is gonna get me to like Chrysantha!!! But Miss Levenseller really knows how to Leven-SELL-er me on a character (haha get it?)

The Shadows Between Us was a great read, but this second novel was an absolute bang out of the park. I was captivated and emotionally invested, and the BANTER !!! The tension ugh it was beautifully written and I was devouring this book so fast.

Eryx *heart eyes* 🫶🏻 he knew how to piss a girl off, and Chrysantha knew how to put him in his place😏

I’m so happy with how each relationship played out in the book. It really felt like things tied together so nicely. I finished the book feeling giddy and relieved.

I will now be recommending this book to everyone I know. 😍🥰

🖤 enemies to lovers
🗡️ monster romance
🖤 lies/secrets
🗡️ touch her and 💀
🖤 morally grey main characters
🗡️ banter on banter on banter

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What a fun read.... If you're going to indulge in an oft used trop, enemies to lovers, this is the way to do it.
Chrysantha wants nothing more than to live her life on her own terms, but in her world, women are nothing more than a mean to an end... wives to produce heirs, daughters to be bartered and so on. Spending most of her life pretending to be a simpleton, in order to quietly manipulate those me in power around her, she finagles her way into a marriage with a wealthy, elderly duke with no heirs.
And she finds her happiness when his cruel, lecherous self dies.
Until his unknown grandson, Eryx Demos, shows up, with two valets who look more like bodyguards and a lot of his own secrets.
I loved getting to know Chrysantha, and came to adore her and the way the thrived as she lived on her own in her quiet manor house. I adored that she had that time, before Eryx's arrival and upheaval, to quietly find herself a little bit and indulge herself.
And then she gets a slow burning, enemy to lover story on top of it... this was an excellent read all around!

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What do you do in a world where marriage is more likely to be your Father's bargaining chip to gain wealth rather than secure a love match for his daughter?

Well, if you’re Chrysantha Stathos, you plot, plan, and scheme your way into marrying a lecherous but rich Duke who is not long for this world. After he dies and right as everything she ever wanted is within her grasp, his alleged grandson Eryx appears claiming the inheritance is rightfully his. And as if that weren’t bad enough her little sister is going to be a queen!

Not to be outdone, Chrysantha decides she’s going to upstage her sister at her wedding and use Eryx to do it. And if she just so happens to uncover something to blackmail Eryx with along the way, well then that’s just icing on the cake. The man has to go, no matter how alluring he might be…

After missing out on getting a physical ARC of this book at a convention (I was 22nd in line and they only had 21🥲) I submitted requests for the ARC and ALC of this book hoping for at least one request to be granted and to my surprise I received both!

I devoured the entire thing over a day, switching back and forth between the audiobook and ebook. I had fun listening to Eryx and Chrysantha’s story unfold, their banter was perfect for an enemies-to-lovers story! This book kept me hooked with its mixture of romance, intrigue, and character development.

This book could be read as a standalone because I haven’t read The Shadows Between Us yet and I understood perfectly what was going on! But since I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I do plan on reading it soon (after I catch up on all my ARCs for June 😆)

Audiobook review: I loved this narrator’s voice, it was just haughty enough to truly embody the character, she was the perfect Chrysantha!! Her pacing was just right for the flow of the story and I can’t wait to see what other novels she’s narrated so I can enjoy more of her performances!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and @Macmillan.Audio for allowing me to write an honest review of the ARC and ALC for The Darkness Within Us!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5


My review was posted on Goodreads and Instagram on 6/3/24.

I will post my review on Amazon on 7/9/24, it should be live within 48 hours.

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Tricia Levenseller can do no wrong. Seriously, everything she writes is so freaking good! I’ve been a fan of hers since Daughter of the Pirate King released and every book I read from her books me from the start.

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This was a fast paced, fun and entertaining read. It was easy to read and finished it in a day. The story was good for a YA fantasy, though I did find some parts to be a bit more mature for a YA audience, (sexual content).

If you liked the first book, you would for sure like this one as well. Definitely in romantasy genre. Not much adventure, but romance.





Thank you to MacMillan and Netgalley for this ARC in an exchange for an honest review.

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I just want to start off by giving a HUGE thanks to the publisher for accepting me for this e-ARC. This has been one of my most highly anticipated sequels!

I absolutely loved The Shadows Between Us and have reread it so many times (I actually want to again right now). So when I heard there would be a sequel, I was stoked!

However, I did have some things that hindered my enjoyment of reading this book. First off, it was incredibly hard to love Chrysantha. In the beginning of the book, she seemed brilliant but selfless and carefree and I loved reading that. Then the antagonist (and love interest) shows up so obviously things are tense. But since this is an enemies to lovers, I was hoping to see the progression of her warming up to him. Unfortunately we didn't really get that.

For the majority of the book Chrysantha is very self-righteous, entitled, and selfish. We didn't ever see soft moments from her that didn't involve her staff (which yay for treating your staff well, but who else?). Her need for reconciliation with her sister didn't feel genuine or heart warming. Instead it just felt like another ploy.

Again we really don't see her warming up to Eryx at all. It's as if for over 60% of the book they despise each other, then suddenly they are kissing and she's admitting she likes it, but then she's back to despising him? We only ever really saw her soften up in the last 80% and even then it was so small.

As well, Chrysantha seems very prideful. She could never seem to admit that she did wrong without somehow putting the blame onto someone else. Yes, I get it, she dealt with a lot from the men in her life. But accountability should still be taken from horrible things she chose to do.

This book felt less like character progression or plot and more like a social statement from the author. It didn't really have the romance and tension that I loved so much in the first book. Instead it seemed to mostly focus on the steam.

HOWEVER, after all that is said, this book was still very fun to read and binge. I loved Eryx character and I absolutely loved the dynamic between Nico, Kyros, and Chrysantha. It's a personal preference but I would have loved more descriptions of her outfits. It was also very fun to see Alessandra and Kallias again. At the end of the day, I easily binged this within 24 hours and will still give it a solid 4 stars. I do wish Chrysantha had more about her character that I could have loved and even respected.

Thank you again for approving me for the e-ARC!

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Thank You NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was amazing. I am a huge Romantasy fan and this book had me giggling and kicking my feet in bed. I could not put it down. I finished over a span of two days and immediately pre-ordered the special editions of both the prequel "The Shadows Between Us" (which I have not read yet but am eager to) and this amazing book debuting soon.

Crysantha Stathos is such a fiery and delightful female main character. I absolutely loved riding along the tug of war on her heart. She is the beautiful embodiment of grit, satire, whit, strength, and grace. I admire her and I loved watching her story unfold alongside Eryx Demos. The plot was so juicy and the slow burn enemies to lovers within the story hooked me in immediately. Crysantha and Eryx are dynamic but similar in a way and it makes for a story that will touch the deepest parts of your heart. I hope there will be a next to this book. I am not ready for this series to be over. I can't wait to read more.

If you are a Romantasy fan or a Sarah J. Maas reader, this is a must on your reading list. Can't wait to read Tricia Levenseller's other titles.

Summary: 5/5 Stars for me, Spice 2/10 (to be expected for young adult, but it DOES have some mild spice and heavy beautiful edge of your seat romance)

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I had mixed feelings about this book. On one hand the banter kept me engaged but on the other I think this book struggles to stay grounded. The regency atmosphere didn’t stay consistent between dialogue vs internal thoughts. There was many times that I thought our main female character felt as thought she was using modern speech when her dialogue was not the same. I loved the first book on this duology but even with this sequel, it was hard for me to find Chrysantha redeemable.

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This was a quick easy read but I’m not sure it was entirely for me. Both main characters were very unlikable. The female main character was rude and judgmental to pretty much everyone, even people she called her friends. And since the story is told in her perspective and she hates the male main character, it is no surprise that he is seen as incredibly unlikable as well. The FMC is constantly putting the MMC down and calling him stupid. It’s hard to switch from that mindset to seeing him as desirable in no time. I loved the sister aspect of this story though and really enjoyed their correspondence.

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I am in love with this book. Chrysantha was not at all what I expected, but I immediately fell in love with her. She had so much buried rage about the position of women in society, and she wielded herself as a weapon to undermine it. Her romantic arc was perfect, too. If you loved the shadows between us, you'll love this companion story.

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In a tale following Shadows Between Us, Chrysantha, Alessandra’s sister, navigates high society by feigning simplicity. Married off to an elderly man, she ends his mistreatment by suffocating him, only to encounter Eryx Demos, claiming to be her late husband’s grandson. As society dictates, Chrysantha must comply with Eryx’s schemes while unraveling his true identity, all while grappling with unexpected feelings. Despite occasional pacing issues, the story captivates with its character depth and world-building, eliciting sympathy for previously disliked characters. With mature themes, this book suits older young adult readers, particularly those fond of fantasy, paranormal fiction, mystery, and romance. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was a great sequel!

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I absolutely adored Shadows Between Us and was both excited and apprehensive that another stand alone on the same world would live up to it! I am beyond excited to report that it did live up to the predecessor.

This story follows Alessandra’s sister Chrysantha Stathos. The story starts as her wickedly brilliant plan to be a free and independent woman seems to have finally come to fruition, until a man foils her plans. The story then follows a cat and mouse enemies to lovers tale full of twists and turns, snark, humor and emotion.

Themes in this story that resonated consistently were women’s rights, feminism, consent and every humans ability to be inhuman at times.

I will be recommending this book to everyone!

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Overall, this was a fun and quick fantasy romance! I really appreciated seeing the development between Chrysantha and Alessandra as sisters. Chrysantha is not your average main character as she has some traits and aspirations akin to a villain in some stories. She wants what she wants, and she is not afraid to go and get it! I liked her more as the story went on and her initial beliefs were challenged. Eryx was a mysterious and interesting antagonist and love interest. The whole staff at the estate were great side characters. It gave me Downton Abbey vibes a bit, and I am a sucker for that show.

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I devoured this book from start to finish. The companion novel to this, "The Shadows Between Us", is one of my favorite books ever and is now a comfort read, and I'm not a big re-reader. This book is just as good, if not better. I feel like the main character in this book was actually more relatable then her sister in the first book, and were very easily likeable. I'm not a fan of enemies to lovers, but this one fleshed out in a way that felt more natural. My only dislike of the book is that I wish there was more. Hopeful that Levenseller decides to continue on in this universe, or at least in writing more and more *truly* morally grey character duos like this one and the previous, all with such a great sense of humor.

Disclaimer: I received a digital ARC of this from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

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LOVED IT!

This was such a delightful 2nd installment to this realm, this time featuring Allesandra's sister, Chrysantha. Although described as dimwitted in the first book by her sister, you will quickly learn that Chrysantha is no wilting flower. In fact, she is much more like her sister than she ever seems to realize. She became a wealthy (widowed) duchess by manipulating all the men around her to get one thing - freedom. When an heir shows up saying the house, fortune, and dukedom are his, she immediately sets out to challenge this claim. He is, of course, extremely handsome.

This book was delightfully chaotic, with so many twists and turns, and a strong FMC. The ending was a bit anticlimatic, but I still love a HEA. Highly recommend this one if you liked the first in the series!

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I absolutely ADORED "The Shadows Between Us," so I was practically feral in my desire to read this companion novel by one of my favorite authors, and IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT!

Chrysantha was a hated - with cause - side character in "The Shadows Between Us," and truthfully, I never came around to actually *liking* her in this novel, but despite that I was certainly rooting for her, and the romance between her and Eryx was absolutely delicious. The author did a great job of building the tension between the two - snipes, jabs, witty remarks a thin veneer for the simmering attraction building on both sides.

It was a delight to see Alessandra again and revisit her love story from the outside. The pacing was good, the world-building decent, and the character development well done. I recommend this book to anyone and everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this novel.

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THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING. I absolutely love this author and she did not disappoint with this one! Hands down 5 stars.

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I've not read The Shadows Between Us, but it didn't keep me from enjoying this sequel, The Darkness Within Us, by Tricia Levenseller. It took me a while to warm up to the characters as I hadn't met them earlier in the first book. Levenseller did a good job bringing me up to speed without it seeming like a recap. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone, but I will be going back and reading the first now.
Thanks, NetGalley and the publisher, for providing me with the ARC ebook I read and reviewed. All opinions are my own.

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Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy for an honest review!

I went into this book fairly blind. I very much enjoyed The Shadows Between Us and was really looking forward to the second book. When I started this one and realized it was from Chryantha’s POV I was worried because I was not a fan of hers in the first book. But, wow! The author proved me wrong! I ended up liking this book even more than the first. I was intrigued by the story line and loved the bits of magic. I found myself rooting for characters I thought I hated. I definitely recommend this book and it comes out in about a month! The physical book is gorgeous and I am absolutely going to need a copy for myself as a shelf trophy!

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