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!

Outstanding Storytelling! This intriguing tale is a perfect blend of fantasy and Victorian historical fiction. With mysterious characters and a setting so detailed and magical, it’s delightfully easy to be drawn into the shadows. And just when you think you know everything, the rules change. The ending is jaw-dropping; I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!

If you enjoy mystical, romantic stories without the smut, I highly recommend this book. Jessica Scarlet is a gold star author!

I received an early copy of the book. This is my opinion.

If you are looking for a fantasy novel with a blend of Victorian England then this is the book for you. Although practicing magic in this time period is often frowned upon and usually ends in serious consequences. On top of that there is a kidnapper on the loose and everytime a victim shows up they are insane. Overall this was a very exciting book to read. The characters were wonderful and the setting was just perfect.
The story starts with being introduced to our main character Dorothy St. James. Dorothy has the ability to use magic but unfortunately doesn't have any control over it. In order to keep herself getting arrested she locks herself in the house and spends her days doing science experiments. Things go pretty well with her plan until her father gets kidnapped.
She ends up teaming up with Ashley Gardner and has suspicions that he knows more than he lets on but flat out denies it. Knowing she won't find her father by arguing they put aside their differences and go about their work. Will she be able to find her father without everyone finding out about her magic.
I received an arc copy from Netgalley and all opinions are of my own.

If Arcane and Shadow & Bone had a romantic, long-lost cousin from London, then Town of Shadows by Jessica Scarlett might just be it.

Set in a vividly imagined, magic-laced version of Victorian London, this book captures the essence of fantasy and intrigue. Scarlett’s world-building is immersive, blending the gritty, mysterious atmosphere of gaslit streets with a compelling magical undercurrent.

One of the novel’s standout features is its romance, which is woven seamlessly into the narrative. Surprisingly, it is very well done. Though it’s a slow burn, the chemistry between the leads feels authentic, adding emotional depth without overshadowing the overarching plot.

Overall, Jessica Scarlett delivers a magical, romantic adventure that will delight fans of both fantasy and historical fiction. The writing is evocative without being overwrought, and the dialogue sparkles with wit. While it draws inspiration from popular fantasy series like Arcane and Shadow & Bone, Town of Shadows stands on its own with a unique voice.

If you’re looking for your next immersive read, Town of Shadows is well worth your time.

I'd like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to give a try.

At 50%, I have to ask: why. is. Ashley. playing games. while her grandfather is missing.

Our female lead's grandfather is taken by the Rook, and she believes our male lead (Ashley) knows who the vigilante who is out there rescuing those from the Rook is. When she approaches him, he sends her on some hide and seek, find the clues at an opera house performance instead of either asking her 'why' or telling her 'I'll see what I can do'.

There is also magic involved but the magic isn't very well developed and apparently in this world it's bad to either have it or use it.

It looked really good, but I'm going to have to stop here.