TOWN OF SHADOWS
by: Jessica Scarlett
@thescarlettwriter

••I give 5 stars!⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📚-Book Release Date: July 1, 2025!-📚

~In Victorian London, magic earns you a noose... ✨Her magic is illegal. His lies are irresistible. And London’s most feared criminal is closer than either of them knows…

-TOWN OF SHADOWS, is a thrilling and captivating story that will capture and engage your full attention and carry you along for quite a puzzling suspenseful adventure through dazzling ballets, wild carnivals, and death-defying train rides. Filled precisely with sizzling tension, swoony romance, clever banter, fascinating and engaging characters, vivid details and descriptions, puzzles and riddles, great mystery, a dash of backstabbing, immaculate plot twists, and a gasping mind-blowing cliff hanger. Rest assured, that more is to come in a matter of months than years. My friends, this is such a unique and fantastic story set in the Victorian era (when gas lamps were most prevalent), but with MAGIC, and introduces fantastical elements into a historical timeline. It’s an incredible story that amazed me. I didn’t want to put this story down! This really is an intriguing clever story worth reading and soaking in completely. I am already for more to come! Well-done, @thescarlettwriter!📚💯👌❤️✨

“What if I didn’t want to be safe anymore? What if I wanted to be wild and adventurous like him? With him.”

•Content: magic, and magical creatures ish, some lies, a kidnapper on the loose, secrets betrayals, mentioning of a hand getting cut off and hangings-as a result of using magic, the word, “bloody,” slow-burn romance, light kisses only.

“I have been called a lot of things in my life,” I whispered. Her lips parted, and I felt my magic tiptoe in a circle around her, all on its own. “Man, thief, terror, saint, devil, and most recently, strange-but never a gentleman. I would beg you not to break that record.”

-I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

"For anyone who's always wished they had a little magic inside them.
You do."

#townofshadows
#thescarlettwriter
#allaboutthebestreads

4.25 ⭐️! I've been a little obsessed with books set in this time period lately, so I was so excited to have the honor of ARC reading this book!

Town of Shadows is a gritty, magical romp of a gaslamp fantasy. There's mystery, banter, cat-and-mouse games, roniantic tension, so many twists, and an ending that will leave your jaw on the floor.

The vibes: Enola Holmes, Caraval, The False Prince, A Curse so Dark and Lonely

I fell in love with all four POV characters, their backstories, their secrets, and their banter. (I think Ashley and Emmeline were my favorites, though). Don't be intimidated by the multiple POV's; they all held different pieces of the puzzle and fit really well in the story.

By the way, Ashley is the MALE main character, and I personally think his name is pretty cool. Not biased at all. ;)

I loved the creative magic system and how twisty the plot was - I may have been a little confused at times but I was so impressed by how things came together in the end (in a cliffhanger, mind you) and how off I was in my predictions 😆 Well done, Miss Scarlett, for your misdirection 👏🏼

Overall, I had such a fun time reading this one! It's book one in a series (I believe it's going to be a trilogy) and I'm eagerly awaiting book two. I have a feeling it's going to be even better than this one!

I have loved the historical romance books from Jessica Scarlett. This book is a little bit different as it is still a historical victorian era story, but it has some magic and fantasy elements. It is called a gaslamp fantasy. I didn’t know if I would be interested as I don’t read a lot of fantasy type books, but the story had so much going on. Mysteries to solve, adventures to explore, and a scientific journal to dissect. The characters are intricately described and have a lot of depth. The only thing I didn’t like is, it does end in cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the next book. I’m quite sure I will be rereading it before the next story comes out. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've read Town of Shadows by Jessica Scarlett as an arc. I got this in exchange for an honest review.

It was a great story where the FMC and MMC and all the other personages banter. I loved this bantering between them, gives it more of an interaction. Also the storyline is very strong.

It felt like I was watching some sort of a Sherlock Holmes movie, but with magic. I really loved it and I can't wait to get the sequel in my hands too!

It's mysterious, lovable, emotional ride that definitely earns a 5-star rating from me!

Town of Shadows by Jessica Scarlett
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 out of 5 stars)

Welcome to a version of Victorian London where magic isn’t just dangerous — it’s illegal. And damn, it’s atmospheric.

Town of Shadows pulled me in with its dark worldbuilding, and I was hooked from the very first page. It’s that perfect mix of eerie, elegant, and unpredictable. Magic exists, yes — but use it, and you’re as good as dead. That alone sets the tone: intense, secretive, and just the right amount of forbidden.

We follow Dorothy, a girl hiding her magic and herself, until her father is taken by a serial kidnapper known only as The Rook. That’s when she finally steps into the shadows and starts playing a dangerous game of riddles and masks with a certain charming illusionist — Ashley Gardner. And let me just say: their banter, their tension, and the way their story unfolds? Chef’s kiss. Every clue, every twist, every misdirection kept me turning pages way past my bedtime.

Now, heads up: this isn’t a single-POV story. If you’re someone who prefers to stick to just one or two perspectives, this might feel like a stretch. But for me? It worked. All those different motives, hidden agendas, and backstories made the world feel even more alive — and by the end, every piece came together in a really satisfying way.

The pacing is steady — not a breakneck rush, but never dragging either. It balances action and emotion so well, and I loved how the characters weren’t just “good” or “bad.” Everyone had a reason. And those reasons mattered.

Final thoughts:
If you like your magic forbidden, your heroes masked, and your worldbuilding dark but beautiful — Town of Shadows will absolutely hit the mark. Mysterious, emotional, a little bit twisted, and full of clever turns. A solid 5-star read for me.

•𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰•

{𝐒𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧: Book 1}

“𝙸𝚐𝚗𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚜.”

🪶 Release Date: July 1, 2025 🪶
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This was one of those books that instantly sucked me in as soon as I began reading! It was nothing short of an absolute work of art—filled with mystery, intrigue, and a modest dusting of romance. The magic was immensely intriguing and, ultimately, did the most to get me invested in this story. Everything—from the characters to the writing style of the book—worked together to create this masterpiece, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second book once it’s released because that ending was something else! 🤯

I cannot express enough just how much I LOVED this book! The characters were divine—especially a certain Mr. Ashley Gardner, with his endless charm 😏 I thoroughly enjoyed the wild adventure this book took me on with the characters, through the streets, over the rooftops, and deep into the underbelly of London, searching for the ever-elusive Rook and Samaritan! Dorothy was a fabulous FMC, and her involvement in her father’s experiments added such fun dimension to her character! Her first encounter with Ashley simply has to be noted because of how utterly delightful and comedic it was 🤭 This book had some of the BEST side characters as well—they worked so well with the MCs and, honestly, stole the show at times!

The ✨magic✨ was extraordinary! Jessica Scarlett did a fantastic job of creating one of the most fascinating magic systems I’ve ever read about! I loved how it was explained so well, yet it still left the readers with a sense of intrigue and wonder about its unknown intricacies. I found the aspect of it being illegal to use magic added such a fun twist to this story, upping the stakes that much more!
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I received a complimentary arc from NetGalley. All opinions expressed are purely my own.

Great little fantasy read if you're in a slump. This is well paced and the writing kept me hooked. If you are looking for a new fantasy read this is it. Please go check it out.

"Ignorance is bliss."
"I don't want bliss," I whispered back. "I want to be awake...With you."

Town of Shadows by Jessica Scarlett

I was intrigued from the first page and couldn't stop! After finishing, I just had to sit and process my feelings for a bit. What a rollercoaster that was! I also don't think I will sleep well until book 2 releases.
The vibes of this book were exactly what my heart, soul, and mind was craving. My favorite historical time period besides Regency to read about is Victorian London because of the spooky, mysterious, darkened streets. If Dread Penny Society series by Sarah M Eden, Every Hour Until Then by Gabrielle Meyer, and Caraval by Stephanie Garber had a baby, it would be this book. If you love the mysterious vibes of those books, but want some magic too, then look no further than the Slanted London series. 

I loved all of the POVs. Honestly, I usually don't like multiple POVs, but because Jessica organizes them by chapter, they are easy to understand and follow. It was fascinating to get each characters' perspective and I am here for it!

I loved all of the characters- Emmeline is quirky and lovable. Dorothy is fiercely determined and stubborn and so sooo smart. Miles is loyal and kind. Ashley is mysterious, also stubborn, and many other things.I think I saw myself in both Emme and Miles a touch-loyal and quirky. I really loved their POVs and getting to know them.

Woah, her uncle is a piece of work! But I love her Aunt Marie!

This book had the best plot twists, the best characters, the most unique magic system, a clear plot, riddles that were hard to solve. My heart was pounding so hard and I couldn't read this one fast enough. I found my new favorite genre in this book and couldn't get enough!
Masterfully done, Jessica! This book will be my new obsession!

Favorite Parts:
Miles and Ashley intro
Magic system
Magic experiment
Their meeting
Ballet
Carnival and knife throwing
Lacing up her dress
Button factory
The auction!
Riddles
All the plot twists and romance
SO many parts but if I listed them, they would spoil the book, so I won't do that!

Content Warnings:
Language: Mild-hell (used correctly several times), bloody (used several times)
Sexual Content: Closed-door: Mildly suggestive dialogue, seedy places, woman gets accosted, innuendos, passionate kissing (somewhat descriptive)
Violence/gore: Moderate- Talk of hangings, kidnappings, man is hanged and woman is burned (both happen in past and is mentioned briefly without gory details), suicide (mentioned as happening in the past), man’s hand gets cut off (includes blood), man is mentioned as getting shredded by bear’s claws, character gets beaten and his wounds are mildly described/mentioned, person is stabbed and the wound is described as bloody
Substance Use: Mentions of various forms of alcohol, opium (mentioned a few times), bars, smoking, characters drink Vodka
Prejudices: none
Religious Content: none
Other: gambling, mental health, magic

Book Info:
Series: Slanted London bk 1
Genre: Gaslamp Victorian Historical Romantasy
Romance Level: Closed door
Release Date: July 1, 2025
Publisher: Oliver Heber Books
POV: Multiple
Debut in this genre

Thank you to the Author and publisher for the review copy. All gushings and thoughts are my own.

Town of Shadows – Book Review

⭐ 5/5

✨ gaslamp fantasy
🔮 magic
💞 slow burn clean romance
🧠 witty banter
👥 bromance
💭 multiple POVs (don’t worry, it worked)

Okay, so I was so excited about this book! Ever since Jessica announced she was writing another book—and in a different genre—I’ve been eagerly waiting for it. I loved her Wycliffe Family series, and A Lily in Disguise is one of my favorite historical romance books.

Honestly, I was a little afraid it wouldn’t live up to my expectations. But I was not disappointed!

The book is set in Victorian-era London, in a society where some people, called Slanted, have magic. Even though having magic is permitted, using it is illegal. Our main character, Dorothy, is Slanted and doesn’t know how to control her powers, so she lives reclusively, afraid of being arrested.

Dorothy’s father, a scientist, ends up being kidnapped by a figure who haunts London known as The Rook. The story follows Dorothy’s journey to get him back. Along the way, she meets Ashley and discovers he might know something about The Samaritan—a vigilante who saves people from The Rook.

But Ashley isn’t willing to just hand over the information. Instead, he and Dorothy engage in a sort of game — all the while, the pull they feel for each other grows stronger.

The author did an amazing job with the genre shift! There’s just something about gaslamp fantasy... the atmosphere is so rich and immersive—it pulls you right into the story. I can’t wait for the sequel!

If you love bookstore meet-ups, magical places, circus adventures, and slow burn romance, make sure to check this book out!

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

At 18, Dorothy hasn't exactly gotten into trouble yet—but mostly because she stays home, hiding away with her experiments. She can’t control her magic, so keeping a low profile is her safest bet. Everything seems calm... until the day her father disappears—kidnapped by the Rook, a criminal known for driving his victims insane. Now Dorothy has no choice but to go after him. The problem? Only one person has ever gotten close to the Rook: a mysterious masked hero no one can find.
Ashley Gardner is a charming illusionist who moves effortlessly between high society and the magical underground. When Dorothy tracks him down, she realizes he knows more than he’s letting on—though he denies any connection to the masked hero or the Rook. But when she manages to get her hands on a crucial message Ashley desperately needs, everything changes.

Her only option? Cut a deal: she’ll give the note back if he gives her three clues that might lead her to the masked hero. What she doesn’t know is that Ashley has no intention of making it easy. In fact, the clues are nearly impossible to figure out. Sure, he has his own reasons for keeping her off the trail… but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating.

This journey to find the Rook is about to take Dorothy through dazzling performances, chaotic carnivals, and dangerous train rides—and the deeper she goes, the more tangled her feelings for the mysterious illusionist become.
From wild carnivals to elegant ballets and all kinds of adventures in between, Dorothy will have to pull out every trick she knows to solve Ashley’s impossible riddles—and figure out what to do about the feelings she’s starting to have for him. The Rook is closer than ever, and the masked hero isn’t who she thought he was. The race to save her father’s mind is coming to a head… but when the truth finally comes out, will Dorothy—and her heart—make it out in one piece?

Great return from Jessica Scarlett! This story has It all, adventures, magic, romance a charming
hero and a delightful heroine! Dorothy and Ashley has been the best characters I have read about in a while! And Jessica's personality is all over the book.
Can't wait to read the second book in this series!

Do not miss out on this one! This was my first book by Jessica Scarlett and it did not disappoint. I was hooked from the beginning. It was the perfect combination of fantasy, mystery and romance all set in historic London. I loved that the story was told through multiple view points. The twists and turns kept me guessing to the very end. The pacing and details were perfect. I really loved Dory. She grew so much throughout the story. Despite being constantly tested and pushed she never gave up. Overall such an enjoyable read. I can’t wait for book two! I was fortunate to receive an ARC of this book but all opinions are mine.

Wow there was so much to love about this book! It was Caravel meetings Clean Regency Romance and I was so here for it.
Although it started a little slow for me, once it picked up, I was turning the pages so fast to find out what would happen next. I read the last half in one sitting, no joke.
I loved all the main characters (I would argue that in many ways, there are 4 - Ashley, Dorothy, Miles, and Emmeline), and I loved how each had a very different yet interesting personality. At first, I thought I would get tired from switching perspectives of the characters, but it actually kept the story moving quickly and engaged me on a deeper level.
The development of the relationship between Ashley and Dorothy is so so good. I love how the author did not rush it and gave the characters time to evolve and learn each other.
I also love love love the relationship between Ashley and Miles! It is rare that I enjoy a relationship outside of the main romance the way I enjoyed the friendship between these two.
And the ending!! I did not see that coming. I need book 2 now!
Read for:
- The bakery scene
- Miles and Ashley's banter
- The armoire scene!
- Miles' endearing personality
- the fantastic world building
- compelling 4 main characters
- Ashley's complicated yet intriguing personality
- the scene in her room!
- the slow burn romance
- the twist at the end....WOW

Can't wait for book 2 to come out! I need answers to that ending!

Absolutely love this story. The world building was paced well, the characters lept off the page and the romance has tension in spades.

Jessica Scarlett's debut fantasy is a hit. I loved the magic and the danger around every corner. I do think the plot pacing felt a little slow at times but overall this book is fantasic.

For me, it's a NO.
While I did like this author's previous works, sadly, I cannot add this one to the list. It gets progressively darker, and there is no resolution. The book ends with "To Be Continued" which I find unfortunate at best. The underworld Necropolis, is particularly evil. "Fists pummeled me from every direction until the only thing keeping me upright was the lock-like grips garroting my arms. Pain radiated through my bones when their blows tore skin and stung the flesh beneath. I didn't know how long they went on. Too long to focus on something like counting. A copper tang filled my mouth."

I will say to the positive side, the author is well-written in style, grammar, and use of uncommon words.

I realize I am in the minority as people gravitate to magical worlds, but I was asked to give my HONEST opinion and provided with an eVersion prior to book release.
All thoughts/opinions are mine alone without expectation or compensation.

This book was a total surprise to me. I was not aware that this genre mix also contained romance, which is my least liked genre.

Set in Victorian London where magic is forbidden and can cost your life, a kidnapper called "The Rook" is roaming the streets. When Dorothy's father gets kidnapped by the rook, she is determined to find the samaritan who knows the rooks identity.

This book was a good mix of fantasy, romance, mystery, with puzzles and some sort of scavenger hunt. The writing was very engaging and especially in the first half I couldn't lay the book out of my hand. And the ending was also great and made me want to read the second book instantly.

As I can't give half stars, I rated it with 4. But it was more between 3.5 - 3.75 It fell a bit flat to me after the 60% mark. And the magic was a bit underdeveloped, I would have liked to know more, also about the background story. Why is magic forbidden? I assume the author is saving those mysteries for later as we get some more information(including great plot twists) at the end of the book. I also couldn't warm up with the main character Dorothy. She felt a bit naive to me and lacked some character depth.

I received a free ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holy moly, what a ride! Set in London in 1889, Town of Shadows by Jessica Scarlett is where historical fiction and magical fantasy collide in an immersive and unique (at least compared to what I normally read) story! This book grabbed me from the first chapter and held me until the final word. It is full of mysteries, codes, puzzles, and riddles. The dialogue was both witty and full of emotion and depth. The writing is fantastic, and the pacing felt just right. The plot kept me guessing, and don’t even get me started on the plot twist of a cliffhanger at the end! The characters – wow! Dorothy is intelligent and finding her strength and bravery. Ashley is charming but mysterious and haunted – there’s so much more to him than what’s on the surface. Tension and clean romance are present, but the story is so much more than that! The main side characters, Miles and Emmeline, have depth, and I’m excited to get more of their stories in the following book. Overall, Town of Shadows is an engaging and immersive book that I highly recommend!

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley/the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Oh, my heart!! That ending…goodness! I’m excited to see what happens because I waaaant to know! The slow burn romance with large doses of magic was wonderful! I wanted to read this book by the cover alone. But guys…the inside was super good too!The plot twists were awesome and I found the multiple POVs made it a really interesting read.

I really liked Jessica Scarlett’s regency romance stories but this…she can do historomantasy too!!! (Stole that from Jessica’s stories 😆) I’m super intrigued to read the next story and love a good heartbreak. This is one I’ll be reading again soon!

I received an ARC of this book and the only complaint I have about it is now I have to wait for the next book in the series!

(Apologies for the long winded review, if you're into it we should be friends lol).

Starting with the characters, we've got:

Dorothy, a girl with magic in a land where magic is forbidden(classic).

Ashley, the mysterious "gentleman" ;) who just so happens to be a genius(sigh).

Miles, Ashley’s intimidating—yet easily intimidated (iykyk)—best friend.

Emmeline, Dorothy’s reckless but fiercely loyal cousin(obsessed).

While each character gets a different amount of time on the page, Scarlett masterfully makes you care about every single one. It’s one thing to get readers invested in a protagonist—but it’s another thing entirely to make them root just as hard for the side characters. That alone is reason enough to recommend this book, but there is so much more to love.

The plot reads more like a historical romance than a traditional high fantasy—which makes sense, given it's a gaslamp fantasy. The focus is less on epic quests or sprawling magical conflicts, and more on character relationships, secrets, and slow-burning tension(the tension!) set against a rich, moody backdrop(exactly my cup of tea—I mean high fantasy is also my cup of tea, but that's beside the point).

The fantasy elements aren't lacking; they’re just woven in with a lighter touch, complementing the tone rather than dominating it.

Personally, I felt like Scarlett intentionally left the door wide open to the possibility of introducing a lot more worldbuilding and magical stuff. So I am super interested to see where she takes us in the next book!

I highly recommend this to anyone who loves a good character driven story, with a touch of romance and magic! 5 stars forever.

I enjoyed this book so much! Things I enjoyed:
- The author's writing style. Completely subjective I know what the way she writes makes my brain happy.
- The characters are well developed even the secondary characters. I was interested in all the POVs nit just the Main Female Character (MFC)
- The plot was equally as good! The action was nonstop yet at no point was character development scarificed!
- The ending is a nice mix of answers to some of the big questions we've had all book but also new threads to follow in Book 2 (Which I cannot wait for!)

This is one of those books that finishes and you just stare at the ceiling, trying to process everything. I felt like I needed to immediately read it again. Honestly, I probably will because it is just that good.

Things I loved about this book:
-The banter. Jessica Scarlett always delivers when it comes to banter, and this was no exception. There were several quips that had me laughing out loud and wanting to highlight whole conversations. I loved when Miles and Ashley were going back and forth. I'm a sucker for two guys just bantering for pages. Dorothy also brought her A game to put Ashley in his place.
-The Romance. It had the delicious slow burn with them fighting their attraction for each other. When stuff finally happens you squee, and then just a few chapters later, your jaw is dropping and begging for the next book.
-The Twists. I love books that keep me guessing. There were points in this book where I definitely thought I knew how it was going to work out, then things change completely. THEN CHANGE AGAIN! I felt like I needed a wall and red string just to try and figure out where things are going in this series but I am here for the ride.
-The world building. This was just a fun romp through Victorian England *with magic*. There was the pomp of the upper class along with a super magical seedy underbelly.

I have been a fan of Jessica Scarlett for a while and was excited for this new book. It's a complete genre change for her, but she really does shine. It feels like she has been writing historical/romance/fantasy for ever because this book is a perfect 5/5 for me.

I was able to get an early copy of this book. The only thing that makes me sad is I don't have more people to talk about it with, because I don't think I am going to be shutting up about this book for a while!