LOVED THIS.

Oooo y’all know I’m a sucker for arranged marriages and I adored this one so dang much. I loved Konstantin and Suzana. They were incredible on their own and the chemistry between them was palpable.

I loved how strong Suzana was. And that all of the terrible hands she had been dealt didn’t deter her from being open to the softness and joy of a new path before her. I loved her ability to work with others and her resilient and tender nature was incredibly endearing.

And Konstantin?? A cinnamon roll of a Zupan who is also obsessed with his wife? Say less. I loved how he was balanced. Showing up to take down enemies when needed, and also working hard to show Suzana that he was a safe place to land. And when they both found comfort in each other I was a goner.

I love clearly well researched historicals and this was amazing. I felt like I was a part of this world, and learned a lot more about the time period and battles between vassals. There were betrayals and twists, perfectly scripted action scenes, and quiet moments of forgiveness and love. I loved all of the themes and care that went into the beautifully crafting of this story. I can’t wait for book two!

Overall audience notes:

Historical Fiction + Romance
Language: none
Romance: closed door between a married couple
Violence: moderate-high
Content Warnings: mentions of rape (recounted, not in detail, but definitely mentioned), miscarriage, loss of life, battle/war themes

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING!!

As a vassal to the Ottomans who have conquered their lands, Konstantin must meet the sultan's heavy demands. After catastrophic losses, the only way for Konstantin to save his people is to marry a wealthy bride, even if it means marrying a stranger.

Suzana never expected her groom to be so young, so kind, or so handsome and has hopes if not for love, then at least a better life than with her father.

But as Konstantin and Suzana seek to build a relationship, they are faced with danger from enemies on every side as well as ghosts from the past, and only together can they find the strength, faith and love to overcome all the obstacles in their way.

What you'll love:
Set in Balkans, 1373
Dual POV
Marriage of convenience
Rich history
Action and adventure
Sweet, sigh-worthy romance
Battle scenes
Found family
Protective yet gentle MMC
Honor and loyalty
"To me, you are everything."

I am completely and totally in love with this book! Words like captivating and breathtaking come to mind but I feel like they don't quite do this story justice.

The story gripped me from the first page and I was immersed in a time and place so far distant from my own and yet the story on the pages brought it to life. I truly cannot tell you which I enjoyed most, the action and suspense, the heartwarming scenes of family, or the stars-in-your-eyes marriage of convenience romance.

This is a story of family and friendship and faith, of finding the kind of love that heals your heart and fills your soul, and of holding on to hope even when the challenges seem to great to bear.

I am in love with the setting and these characters, and am so glad that there is another book yet to come in the series. I know it will find a spot on my favorites shelf right next to this one! If only I could give this book more than 5 stars because it deserves them all!

I received a complimentary copy but a positive review is not required.

TW/CW: <spoilers> intense battle scenes with injuries and death, physical abuse (past and off-page), implied intimacy between married couple but nothing on page besides kissing, rape (in past and no graphic details shared) <spoilers>

I thought this worked well as a historical fiction novel, it had a great overall feel to it and worked with what I was expecting. It had a great use of the time-period and I enjoyed how well everything worked with the story. The characters felt like they were supposed to be in that time-period. I thought A. L. Sowards has a great writing style and it left me wanting to read more from them. It uses the Ottoman empire perfectly and left me wanting to read more in this world and characters.

Confession time - I quite enjoy reading books by A.L. Sowards . Due to my love of their books I had high hopes for this book and I was not disappointed.
This book was entertaining , intriguing , suspenseful , romantic , and more .
It is set in the Balkans and Ottoman time periods. Konstantin a young ruler and Suzana, the daughter of a rich merchant are betrothed in an arranged marriage ceremony. Konstantin isn’t sure how he will pay he and his peoples taxes . The answer is given through marriage to Suzana. She is glad to get away from her abusive father . She thinks it cant be worse . Konatantin doesn’t want to marry but does it because he needs the money to help his people .
The story begins with an attempted assassination of Suzanna and it doesn’t stop with just one time . Time and time again her life is threatened . But who is doing the threatening ? I loved going on a journey with both main characters as they let down their guard in order to love and be loved . Such a beautifully written clean suspenseful romances. I will add it to my collection. Thank you to netgalley and shadow mountain publisher for a download in exchange for a review .

Another phenomenal historical fiction from A.L. Sowards. If you haven't read any of her books yet, I can't recommend them enough. Especially if you enjoy history, fabulous characters, and storylines that pull you in and don't let go even after the book is finished. Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

This is the first book in a new series. There is a prequel novella, After the Crescent Strike, that gives a little bit of backstory of the Ottoman Empire conquering the Serbs and what led to Konstantin becoming the current vassal of his region and in servitude to the Sultan. It's a fabulous read as well but does not have to be read prior to reading this one. But I recommend reading it because it was a fantastic book as well! I read it then quickly dove into my arc of this one! And let me tell you that as soon as I finished reading this book I was telling my book besties that I needed more!!! But now I'm going to be patient as I wait for the second book to release in January 2025. I'll just have to come back and read the prequel novella and this one while I wait! Definitely worth it!!!

Konstantin is a wonderful character. I loved his character arc. The struggles and stressors that he experiences and feels due to being the vassal (leader) of his people and trying to protect them, make sure there is money in their coffers-enough to care for his people and to pay tribute to the Sultan- and guiding his younger siblings in their roles as well. Imagine his surprise when his grandfather arranges a marriage with Suzana, the daughter of a wealthy merchant, to help Konstantin build up his coffers again.

Suzana and Konstantin are my favorite part of this book. Don't get me wrong, I loved the whole book, but their storyline together and the ups and downs that their budding relationship/marriage encounters was so well written. So many emotions that they go through due to their relationship, family, war, brigands, danger and so much more, will have you captivated while reading. I was hooked. And like I said previously, I need more! So much more with these two characters! But I'm very excited to see what the next book will bring and who's story we will watch develop and come to life in our imaginations thanks to the very talented writing of this author!

Beautifully written story about a powerful group of people and a powerful love story that will have you feeling all of the emotions and possibly shedding a few tears and most definitely cheering on these characters.

Content: Clean. This book does deal with an arranged marriage. There are some kisses and some off-page intimacy between a married couple but nothing graphic or in detail. It is a very sweet and clean love story. It does have some Christian fiction elements in it as the characters turn to God and pray to Him, trust Him to guide and direct and bless them. These elements are definitely what the people of the time period would have done. The book does have elements of war so there are battles and sword fights and death and blood. There is talk of pillaging as well and some mention of rape but not in graphic detail. There is mention some talk of PTSD for a couple characters but was written very well and in a sensitive manor. The author really did a great job of keeping this a clean read even with some of these more sensitive topics. I would let my teenagers read this book (I am pretty conservative in what I read and what I let them read).

I received a copy from the publisher, Shadow Mountain Publishing, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.

Happy Reading!!!

A. L. Sowards is the queen of historical fiction with the perfect amount of romance. She’s a genius at making history come alive, leap off the page, and suck you back into a thrilling and captivating story. This book is simply stunning! It has adventure, mystery, action, loyalty, betrayal, and romance. What more could you want in a medieval historical fiction novel?
From the very first page you are thrust into this intriguing story that grips your attention. The glorious amount of research for this book is felt in every detail and you really feel as if you’re truly there. You’re transported to a time of upheaval and unrest, in a far away land hundreds of years ago, with many different cultures and customs. It was truly impressive how well this book is written to make the reader feel like they are really in the middle of the story. This book not only has exceptional, and authentic, historical insights, but the fictional element is also done so well.
Konstantin and Suzana were phenomenal main characters. They felt so real with their struggles and triumphs, moments of sorrow and of joy, and their wants and desires. They’ve each been through horrible times in their lives, and yet they come together and are able to help each other and create something beautiful. I loved both of their arcs and how they changed and grew stronger throughout the story.
While this book does come with all the heaviness, suffering, and hardships lived by those during a time of war at this point in history, I never felt like those awful things took away from the story. Just like the characters come to realize, there is God’s hand in everything. The reality of life is that we would never appreciate the good if we never had the bad, and I thought this story taught that so well. The beautiful elements of faith and hope were the capstone to this incredible book.
Overall, this novel deserves way more than five stars. I loved it so much, I will definitely be rereading this book many times in the future.



Content:

Swearing/profanity: None
Religion: General Christian themes.
Romance: Kissing. Implied (off-page) intimacy between a married couple.
Violence: Extended battle scenes. Wartime pillaging. Threat and aftermath of pillage, with its associated rape and death. Wartime injuries to humans and animals.
Other: Alcohol abuse, PTSD, miscarriage, and a character with a backstory of sexual abuse.

This is a time of history I didn’t know very much about, and since I lived in Turkey for a year, I was eager to read it. I don’t enjoy reading about battles or blood and gore, but I learned so much about the Christian serbs and the rising Ottoman Empire, it was well worth it. The Glossary at the beginning of the book was extremely helpful and informative, and I appreciate the authors research and attention to detail. However, my favorite part of the book was the sweet love story. With all the deaths, sorrows, hardships, treachery, betrayal, and demands put upon the main character, the Zupan (leader) of Rivak, Konstantin, it’s amazing he hasn’t become hardened and still can maintain his faith, strength of character, hope, and kindness. It’s also surprising that the arranged marriage to Suzana, for the wealth she could provide, could flourish and grow as it did with the abused background she came from. But these two broken souls help each other become stronger through patience and love. The fact they could face so many hardships and come out strengthened and better for it, testifies of the power of love, forgiveness, and redemption. I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This gripping story had a fascinating backdrop from a historical perspective. The characters' struggles were vividly portrayed and the challenges they faced daunting, all of which made their eventual triumphs more rewarding for me as a reader. Overall, this book has a very compelling plot and I enjoyed the historical detail.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Beneath a Crescent Shadow by A. L. Sowards is a great historical fiction that is the first in a series: The Balkan Legends.

This is a book that takes me away from my comfort zone of English and Scottish history and takes to the mainland and to the Balkans and the lands within the Ottoman empire circa 1373. I have to be honest and admit that I do not know a ton about this era, so delving headfirst was the way I went about it.

I enjoyed the collection of defined terminology and the reference map up front to help me in this quest, and the historical context and backdrop that went along with the fictional narrative.

There was history, action, and romance. Konstantin and Suzana are great main characters and this book sets a great foundation for what is to come.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Shadow Mountain for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 6/4/24.

#BeneathaCrescentShadow #NetGalley

I was impressed by the details and descriptions in this novel. It was a story that was gripping and had me sitting on the edge of my seat. A novel set in the time of the Balkans and Ottoman time periods. Konstantin and Suzana are betrothed in an arranged marriage ceremony. Konstantin is young and left in charge of his people at an extreme cost with so many losses. Suzana has endured abuse from her father since her mother's death. He has been unkind and hurtful. Suzana is weary of her betrothed husband's family because she hasn't seen the love of a father. She fears that Konstantin will be as abusive or worse than her father. The battles in this novel are nail-biting worthy. I loved this book and the prequel 'After The Crescent Strike', which tells the back story and was also very well written. I can't wait to read the next book in this series. This is historical fiction at its best.

Absolutely captivating story about young love in a time of war.

Set during the Ottoman Empire's invasion into the Balkans, Konstantin and Suzana enter into an arranged marriage. As the leader of his failing kingdom Konstantin needs money and the only way to get that is through marrying Suzana. With her dowry they work together to make sure their people don't starve and have enough to keep them afloat.

From the first time they met Konstantin and Suzana fell in love. They knew the other would make their life complete but first they have to overcome many challenges, including multiple assasination attemps.

As Suzana learns the meaning of family and love, Konstantin is pulled away to fight the Sulatan's war, where he experiences a myriad of traumas that puts a strain on their developing relationship.

I cannot get over how emotionl this story was. Suzana comes from a background of abuse and just seeing her bloom in an enviroment of love and stability was gorgeous. And Konstantin's relationship with his family was so heartwarming. The extreme amount of grief his family has gone through is unimaginable, but his ability to see hope and love through it all was incredible.

I also found the action in this book extremely engaging. I was on the edge of my seat in all the battles and was so nervous!!! The conflict at the end was so scary and I had no idea how it was gonna go. Even though this book is set in a political landscape, I was glad there wasn't a huge amount of it and none of it was confusing.

All in all this book has been an incredible read and I cannot wait to read the next one!

A completely immersive and heartfelt historical fiction novel. I LOVED this!!

Book one of “The Balkan Legends” series follows Zupan Konstantin and Dama Suzana through many trials and tribulations.

Konstantin’s Zupa is on the edge of ruin, so when his grandfather suggests a betrothal to a woman with a large dowry, he simply can’t refuse.

With historical fiction, there is a fine line between fact and fiction, which the author has definitely mastered! The lexicon, syntax, and diction all fit the time period while still being easy to follow. Additionally, the historical context was there without being overwhelming!

Both Konstantin & suzanna are extremely likable characters. Konstantin’s unwavering honor and fierce loyalty made him easy to route for.

I love the family element to this novel and the development of new familial bonds. Additionally, the romance subplot developed nicely and was heartwarming.

I highly recommend reading this, even for those who are not the biggest fans of historical fiction. I cannot wait to see where book 2 will lead!

A huge thank you to Shadow Mountain publishing and NetGalley for this e-arc!!

Heavier on history than romance, A.L. Sowards' "Beneath a Crescent Shadow" is a compelling novel about the Ottoman Empire's expansion into the Balkans. Konstantin Miroslavević is young and inexperienced, yet is now a leader responsible for the well-being of many while paying tribute to his Ottoman rulers. An arranged marriage to Suzana Baldovinević brings him much-needed money for his many obligations. A known villain and a surprising traitor work to ensure Konstantin's downfall.

Sowards has done impeccable research on the Ottoman Empire and its leaders' demands of its subjects. This period of history comes alive under her talented pen. As a reader of Medieval Romance, the difference between Western and Eastern Europe is profound. Treachery, betrayal and violence were common to both, of course. The tax system is unusual, to say nothing of the demanded tribute money to the Sultan. While somewhat familiar with Eastern Orthodox marriage ceremonies and Medieval bedding customs(!), I found this book incredibly informative. Although this novel is not exceedingly religious, there are instances where the Christian God is mentioned. Like the flagellants of the period, many blamed their misfortune on their maker's displeasure. As the Turks were Saracens (Muslims), this is a pertinent distinction.

I read the novella "After the Crescent Strike" prior to this longer book; it gives some relevant background information. It's not strictly necessary, although I try to read series in order. The glossary at the beginning is essential, and quite welcome. Sowards gives a nod to the Ottomans' flag in the title.

I greatly enjoyed this book. It is not filled with unicorns and rainbows; they don't belong here. Sowards' prose is lovely. Characters are finely drawn, and this book is clean. However, due to the subject matter, there is some violence (including off screen rape), and some is rather graphically described. This is to be expected, as most books detailing battles of any war contain plenty. Another story is forthcoming, and I look forward to it.

Thanks to NetGalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing for an ARC of this riveting read.