Vow of the Shadow King picks up right where Bride of the Shadow King left off, and this one packs one heck of a punch. I loved the first book, but honestly, this one is even better than that one.

King Vor and Princess Faraine's story is one that I will be recommending to romantasy readers from now on. This story has it all: elves, cave dwellers, Tolls (Troldefolk), and there is mention of dragons, but none have appeared yet, maybe in the next book.

In this second book of the series, we learn much more about the God-given Gift bestowed upon Faraine when she was born. She is more powerful than anyone imagined, including herself. I loved watching her figure out how she could help King Vor and his people without regard for herself. If there is anyone worthy of the title Queen, it is Faraine.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Romantasy Reads, Paranormal Romances, Arranged Marriage Romances, Royalty Romances, Interspecies Romances, or Slow-Burn Romances.

Happy Reading!!!

Many thanks to Ace/Berkley for the digital review copy of Vow of the Shadow King, which is out today, January 14th, in its republished form - including new bonus material from Hael's perspective.

Like the first book, Vow of the Shadow King grabbed me and did not want to let go. I did find the pacing to be a bit slower this time around, as a lot of the book is clearly setting up for some big stuff in book three. However, there was some great tension between the MCs that gave the slow pacing a solid slow burn feeling.

I enjoyed seeing Vor and Faraine grow as characters. Both of them undergo some changes throughout the book, as a result of what they've been through in book one. Their relationship is strained, and that carries a lot of the suspense for the book.

The plot developed even greater stakes in this book, setting up for what's sure to be a big finish in the third book in the trilogy. I thought Mercedes did a nice job of building up the stakes and making us fear for the characters, giving just enough risk and danger to make it feel real even with the knowledge that a third book was on the horizon.

In all, Vow of the Shadow King is a solid sequel that develops on the first book, teaching us more about the world and our main characters. It left me eager to see what will happen next, and I can't wait to pick up book three! I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a good Romantasy with big stakes and a compelling world to explore.

What a great addition to the Bride of the Shadow King series! I loved this second book; it’s filled with tons of action and adventure, as well as tension and longing between Princess Faraine and King Vor. Each time I thought I had something figured out there would be a shift in the story and I would be surprised in some way. I absolutely love the angst-filled romance between Faraine and Vor. I can’t wait to read the book and find out what happens!

I'm not enjoying this series has much as I hoped I would. It's just missing something to hook me in as a reader. One thing I didn't like was the amount of angst that was in the plot,. it was a bit overdone. It just felt like it took over the story, and everything else fell to the side. I was also hoping that the chemistry between the two characters would have been developed a bit more, but the characters weren't together often enough to give their relationship any depth or make it believable. I'm also not the biggest fan of pinning, so when it's overdone, it's just a major turn-off for me.

There is potential in this story, but I felt it wasn't developed enough to make it a romantasy that stands out to me as a reader.

I was provided an ARC of this book via Netgalley for the rerelease of this book by Ace/Berkley in January 2025, however I do want to mention that I had previously purchased the kindle and audiobook versions of the series. As always all opinions expressed in my review are my own.

I loved the first book and immediately continued on with the series. This picks up where book 1 leaves off with Faraine and Vor at odds shortly after their marriage ceremony. Vor is naturally angry after having discovering that Faraine and her family have betrayed him. He chooses to keep Faraine more as a political prisoner than as his bride until he figures out what his next move is. He has to balance what to do about his own ailing kingdom in the wake of the betrayal and the blow to his own personal pride. Faraine on the other hand wants to actually try to salvage things with Vor, and help in any way that she can.

There is quite a bit of angst and tension in this installment as our main characters don't spend much time together developing their relationship. They do spend a good bit on their own personal development. Faraine spends time trying to figure out her magical abilities and explore as much of her new home as she can. Meanwhile Vor is trying to figure out how to save his home and workout his feelings for his new wife and the false pretenses in which they were married. They are both trying to balance duty and desire.

There is alot of set up for book 3 happening here, so don't be alarmed if all of your questions aren't answered. This does end with a cliffhanger and alot of things yet to be explained, but it all comes together in the next book. If you enjoyed book 1, like romantasy with a moderate amount of spice, political intrigue, and great worldbuilding give this series a chance. I really enjoyed the world and Faraine's unique abilities.

After the chaos of Bride of the Shadow King, I was eager to dive into Vow of the Shadow King. And wow, this book didn’t hold back—it’s an emotional rollercoaster full of heartbreak, tension, and a slow-burn romance that had me hooked.

The story dives deeper into Faraine and Vor’s tumultuous relationship, delivering a slow-burn romance tangled with heartbreak, betrayal, and the looming threat of a collapsing world. Picking up right where the first book left off, the story had me hooked from the very start as Faraine struggles to navigate life in the Shadow Realm. Trapped as a "guest" of her new husband, she's trying to salvage an alliance that could save her people. Vor, however, is still reeling from the betrayal and can barely stand to be in the same room as her—yet his feelings are anything but simple.

Faraine truly shines in this book. Her quiet strength and determination kept me rooting for her, especially when Vor's distrust and emotional walls made things downright frustrating. I loved watching her grow into her own, showing that she’s more than just the discarded princess everyone underestimated. And Vor… I kind of had a love-hate relationship with him in this one. His struggle between duty, hurt pride, and undeniable feelings for Faraine created a hot and cold attitude toward her that frustrated me at times even though his feelings made sense. I can't wait to see what happens between these two because their chemistry is fabulous, and they both deserve some happiness. Hopefully, they'll learn to communicate better with each other in the next book!

The writing is vivid and immersive, and like the first book, the stakes in this story are high—not just for Faraine and Vor's relationship but for the entire realm. And the side characters added so much depth, especially Hael, who is definitely my favorite. And that ending? My word! Sylvia Mercedes sure knows how to write a stunning cliffhanger!

I think die hard fans of book 1 will enjoy this enough because of the characters but if you want a plot, this isn't bringing it to you

Vow of the Shadow King by Sylvia Mercedes is a mesmerizing paranormal romance that immerses readers in a world of magic and fantasy. If you are seeking a high fantasy romance with compelling characters, expertly crafted romance, and a vividly detailed world, then this book is a must-read. It has quickly secured a spot in my top 5 favorite series of all time. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy literature.

I want to say a huge thank you to Berkley publishing for this ARC. In exchange for this ARC I am offering my honest review.

This series builds a unique fantasy world where the trolde civilization needs an alliance with the humans to save both their kingdoms. The characters go through a lot in these two books, but this fell flat for me. Both the romance and the plot was very erratic and repetitive throughout the whole story.

The book had a loose outline of the fantasy world to begin with, which I don't mind as long as the romance is the focus. This is also not the case as the romance felt very forced from the start, and was then riddled with miscommunication and distrust in this book. Whenever I thought there would be some real start to their romance, it was quickly ripped away from the reader.

This was frustrating for me since my expectations of this series were it being a fantasy romance. I would recommend this to someone that wants a more difficult read, in a sense where things do not work out quickly.

Vow of the Shadow King is the second book in the fantasy romance series by Sylvia Mercedes. It continues the story of Faraine and Vor’s romance and how Faraine can help save Vor’s cursed kingdom.

A note to readers, I haven’t read the first book, but I’m a fan of the troll king lore and would be willing to give it a try to see how Faraine and Vor ended up together.

So here’s the thing, not all books work out for every reader, and, unfortunately, Vow of the Shadow King wasn’t for me.

What didn’t work for me:
The writing. How the story was written felt as though a novice was telling the story. The cadence and rhythm wasn’t sound. It felt similar to that of an author still perfecting their craft. A work in progress.
What also didn't work for me was Vor and Faraine’s romance. There is clear tension between these two characters due to the big reveal and deception at the end of the first book. But the back and forth of “can I love her,” “can I trust her,” “will he love me,” “can we make this work,” is tiring after so many chapters of indecisiveness on both character’s parts. Also, after a rather unsettling scene where Vor nearly attacks Faraine, I questioned why Faraine would feel safe or want any type of relationship with Vor, even after he explained why he almost hurt her. It reminded me of the scene in chapter 17 in Kingdom of the Cursed by Kerri Maniscalco. There’s no reason to go into detail of what happens in that chapter or the chapter I’m referring to in Vow of the Shadow King, but I question when authors in fantasy write about sexual abuse in their novels when it isn’t the focus of the story. As readers, we know sexual abuse exits in the real world and is wrong. It’s when an author decides to include a chapter of sexual abuse, in their story, using those actions as a “teachable moment” (as in KOC) or “overtaken by a disease that almost caused the potential abuse” like we see in this novel, where I question why is this needed in the story and what purpose does it serve in the overarching plot? And I don’t have answers in either case. I personally feel like they could have been edited out of the stories all together.

Even though this one wasn’t for me, if you enjoy fantasy that features a cursed kingdom, a princess whose magic can save said kingdom, and a steamy romance between the two main characters, give this series a try.

Happy Reading ~ Cece

This is one of the best slow-burn, marriage of convenience, political fantasies I’ve read in a. WHIIIIIILE!!! The first book in this series was such a delight and I loved learning who characters were, the world, and the secrets of the gods-gifts and other magic sources. This book dove so much deeper into all of these areas, as well as giving a masterclass in the art of pining before getting to the beloved MY WIFEEEEEE. I have so many predictions swirling in my mind regarding the next book and I absolutely cannot wait to dive in!!!! And as an important aside, the spice still remaining minimal and touch-and-go made Vor and Farraine’s relationship and these moments 3000000% more impactful for me. Okay? Thank you!

2.5⭐️2.75🌶️

Second book
Romantasy
Dual POV
Slow burn
Unique Fae magic and lore
Mythical beasts
Politics

This book introduces a lot of new issues that weren’t foreshadowed in the first one, and it makes for a confusing read. It’s hard to stay engaged when it feels like the story has taken a sharp turn with little build-up, especially when so much foreshadowing was laid out in the previous book.

I also feel that the magic system—specifically how the fae races’ magic and their vows work—should have been explained earlier, especially in book one. The way it’s revealed only as it becomes relevant doesn’t really work for me. Had it been explored earlier, it could have added more tension and given us deeper insight into Vor’s perspective. The constant references to it in the plot felt like missed opportunities to show its significance, leaving the stakes feeling a bit hollow.

One thing that really bugged me was the portrayal of the MMC’s interactions with the female protagonist. It often feels like he treats her as fragile, almost as if she’s a delicate object that needs to be handled with care. This constant dynamic didn’t sit well with me—it felt overdone and took away from their connection.

Ultimately, I’m struggling to stay invested in this story. The magic system, plot, timeline, and character development all have weak points that make it hard to truly enjoy the series as I read. I was hoping for more consistency and depth, but right now, it just isn’t pulling me in.

I will not be continuing with this series

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

Very slow burn, if you enjoy that. These high stakes romantasy’s just make me feel impatient, but I’d still recommend for fans of the genre.

A treacherous bride.

A heartbroken groom.

Is their marriage over before it’s begun?


Vow of the Shadow King picks up Bride of the Shadow King left off and hits the ground running. From action to betrayal to the romance I was waiting for, Vow of the Shadow King definitely delivers and will leave you begging for more.

Vow of the Shadow King is a fantastic follow-up to Bride of the Shadow King and sets the stage for Heart of the Shadow King. The stakes are high and I for one, can not wait to see how everything will come together in the end.

This was a great continuation of the story and picks up right where the last one left off. There was so much tension at the end of the last book and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one to see how things turned out. The romance element of this book really worked. It flowed nicely and I think that the tension is still there between the characters. The romance felt natural and realistic (yes even though it’s fantasy), and I really enjoyed it a lot. The beginning of this one is on the slower side as things are building up, but the pacing picks up midway and then we’re off to the races and things move along at a nice clip. The slower beginning was not a deterring factor for me and actually helped suck me into the story. I have plenty of questions after reading this one and I am very excited for the next book to see how things wrap up.

If you’re looking for a really fun romantasy then you need to check this one out.

This had everything that I was looking for from the Bride of the Shadow King series, it felt like the same world and worked with the previous book that I read. Sylvia Mercedes was able to write a strong story and was engaged with what was happening to them. The romance element worked well and thought it worked well in this world and was glad it was so realistically done. I enjoyed getting back to this world and characters and had enjoyed the way Sylvia Mercedes wrote this.

Absolutely obsessed with this series!! I haven't felt so excited about a book in a while. I have been recommending this one to everyone I know

Okay this one was a bit slower to start than the first book, but eventually picks up about midway through. The slow burn is doing what it does best and slow burning the book away…. but I have a feeling once we burn we are going to get EVERYTHING!
Also I swear if book 3 doesn’t answer some of the billions of questions I have… we are going to have words Sylvia.

I enjoy this fantasy world and how this second book brings some insight into what is happening, though with more questions since there is a book 3. Looking forward to getting answers (a little disappointed I didn’t get book 3 as an ARC).

This book is a little slow. A lot of pages for not that many important events. Many paragraphs could have been cut: too much pining, not enough communication, repetitive missions. I do like how their feelings towards another builds, but the "non speaking plainly" is a bit annoying. Too much lust or magical connection, not enough love and trust.

I hate how the poison made the king react. Assault should never be in a book when it happens between a couple we are supposed to root for.

Best thing: I love the mothcats!

This is one of my favorite new trending authors. Also, the narrative of shadow king has been a trending theme/trope lately and this author rocked it with her own way of writing and make the concept her own. Very well done.