Heir of Shadows is the kind of dark academia romantasy that sinks its fangs into you—full of secrets, politics, and an elite academy with enough danger and drama to make your head spin (in the best way).

Marigold’s journey from blue-collar maid to shadow heir of the magical council was reminiscent of Harry Potter, and fun to read. The world-building? Chef’s kiss. Between necromantic, fire building, illusionary, and portal building bloodlines, magical school trials, and deadly alliances the stakes never let up. I genuinely enjoyed the Rocky Mountain setting of Wickem Academy, the political maneuvering, and the overall lore—it’s fast-paced, and full of potential. When it comes to the romance though.... I was expecting the "why choose" trope to shine. The three heirs' dynamic with Marigold felt a little rushed and emotionally under developed....especially the latest entanglement. It came out of nowhere, and made zero sense to the storyline. It would have made more sense at the beginning of the book.

Also, on a personal note, if I never have to read the words "taint", "folds", or "honey blonde' in this series again, it’ll still be too soon. Just… no. 😂 And, "taint" wasn't even used in an anatomical or sexual context. It was nearly every other word (or so it seemed) in the final chapters.

All that said, I’m definitely invested in where this story goes next. With a little editing and proofing for book two, I can see this series being an absolute hit. It has all the right elements. They just need to come together a bit more harmoniously.

This book was such a wild ride—in the best way! Heir of Shadows throws you into a dark, twisty world full of secrets, magic, and danger, and I honestly couldn’t stop reading. The main character is fierce, a little broken, and totally determined, which made her easy to root for. She’s got a complicated past and a powerful future ahead of her, and watching her grow into her strength was so satisfying.

There’s also plenty of steam and tension—if you like your fantasy with a side of spice, this definitely delivers. The romance is intense and messy (in a good way), and the whole story has that edge-of-your-seat vibe, like anything could happen next.

If you’re into dark fantasy with morally grey characters, forbidden powers, and a bit of heat, Heir of Shadows is absolutely worth diving into.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

This was my first book by Cali Mann, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it! Heir of Shadows gave me extremely strong Zodiac Academy vibes—with the magic, bullyish tendencies of heirs, academy setting, and broody love interests—which made it feel a little familiar, but in a okay way. While it wasn’t the most original story I’ve read, it was still incredibly entertaining, fast-paced, and kept me turning the pages. If you love magical schools with witches/ necromancers, secrets, and a touch of danger, this is definitely worth checking out!