4 Stars – Come for the cursed queen and fae drama, stay for the tortured Remnant with a sword and more emotional baggage than an airport carousel.

Okay, let’s not even pretend—this book grabbed me by the collar and said, “You’re not here for fluff, you’re here for blood-soaked redemption arcs and slow-burn angst so thick you could cut it with a dagger.” And I ate. it. up.

This is dark fantasy romance with teeth. Literally. Fangs, claws, curses, and deeply broken people trying to do right in a world that’s been shattered by the mistakes of its ruling class. The world of Faerie isn’t glitter and wings—it’s sharp, savage, and full of monsters, some of whom wear very pretty faces and whisper very pretty lies.

Let’s talk about our girl Ezra Solaire Dark—because what a name first of all—and what a character. She’s a legend, a war general, the last of the shadow fae, and so wrapped in guilt, trauma, and razor-wire vulnerability that you can’t help but root for her even when she’s emotionally shutting everyone out (and honestly? same). She’s the embodiment of “touch her and die,” but also “don’t touch me because I will emotionally implode.” LOVE.

Enter Emon, aka The Golden One. Aka the walking contradiction of sunshine-and-smirk shifter energy and deep emotional wreckage. He’s been hunting Ezra for a century (a century!), and now that he’s found her, he is not letting go—even if she keeps trying to stab him with both words and weapons. Their chemistry? 🔥 Slow-burn. Gritty. Painfully earned. Full of tension and tenderness and a million unsaid things that will absolutely make you scream into a pillow.

The plot? Twisted, epic, and full of murky morality. You’ll be dragged across wastelands, under oceans, and through political schemes that are more toxic than a dragon’s breath. Nothing is as it seems. Everyone’s hiding something. And the past? Refuses to stay buried.

Now, fair warning: this book goes dark. It doesn't pull punches—there are heavy themes, violence, and a brutal realism to the way trauma, survival, and vengeance are handled. But it’s also deeply human under the layers of magic and blood. These characters are aching for redemption, for healing, for something worth fighting for—and watching them try (and sometimes fail) is powerful.

Why 4 stars instead of 5?
Some pacing hiccups in the middle, and a few scenes that felt slightly overwritten or meandering, but nothing that dulled the emotional blade it was aiming for.

Shadows Lost is brutal, beautiful, and brimming with broken fae who refuse to bow to fate. If you like your fantasy with heavy trauma, slow-burn romance, found family vibes (the damaged variety), and the kind of world-building that feels as dangerous as it is dazzling—this one’s got you.

Just… maybe keep a glass of wine and a stress ball handy.

This was a fascinating opening chapter to the Remnant Archives series, it felt like the world had been going before we started reading and I enjoyed that. The dark fantasy romance concept was so well done and was hooked from the first page. I thought the characters had that feel that I was looking for and worked with the world that was built. B.K. Cavaleri wrote this in a way that was what I was wanting and left me wanting to read more in this world and from B.K. Cavaleri.

They say blood is thicker than water but this definitely isnt the case...

Im a lover of fae and warriers and romantic triangles but as it didnt rightly warn there are triggers which I did struggle to read. Im used to my happy bubble!

That said its GOT meets Acotar with quirky funny characters. I love the chapters from different perspective and find that most books may have the odd chapter but I love the fact the writing changed regularly to keep you on your toes.

Its straight into the action too no messing around here
It wasnt for me as it was quite dark but if you like dark I'd highly recommend

Great book- really sucks you in and leaves you snorting with laughter!

I really enjoyed the writing of this one! It had some really dark elements (some of which weren't my favorite- check the triggers), but it really sucked you in and made you want to watch Remnant rip everyone to shreds!

I loved all the characters and the found family they created! Everyone was hilarious and I felt like a part of the circle interacting with them. They all had such strong personalities and I can't wait to see what hijinks they get up to in the next couple books!

The author did a good job creating an entire world and got to showcase different areas of it: sort of haunted woods (um Weretrees are some of my new favorite creatures), Undersea, and other cities. I feel like the whole world was drawn out for me and I could picture it so vividly.

The characters struggle with such real issues and manage to build connections, while also still keeping the levity and sarcasm I like.

Also, Remnant? Hello new Shadow mommy. I hate that term, but she is such a bada$$ and wields her shadows so well.

Read if you love:
-Shadow wielding FMC
-Shifters
-Fated mates
-Touch her and d!e
-He falls first

Full disclaimer: this was a review from 2024, but seeing it was on Netgalley gave me the full excuse to reread some of my favorite parts and make sure to leave another amazing review for this book! I enjoyed it just as much this time!

✨Shadows Lost✨

“Do not f**k with my unicorn slippers, your majesty.”

Holy cow. In this first book of the Remnant Archives, @cavaleri.archive.author Immediately throws into the action and chaos of the repercussions of an evil queen, an exiled shadow fae, and a golden shifter king. It starts with a lot of questions, but hold tight: the answers come in the best way and at the right time!

We enter into a fae world of elemental, water, shadow, and shifter fae cursed with infertility and dying out. After the destruction of the queen who had been attempting to harvest for faelings, we follow the first person POVs of Remnant and Emon and their reluctant alliance to find out why their land is dying. So many questions. So many hidden identities. So much history that brings us to this moment. A bond. A child. A found family. A dark power that is unlike any they’ve seen before. Cavaleri wastes not a single moment in the pages. Each is action packed and intentional.

The relationship and romance in this book is just so precious in its protectiveness, its grace, and its support. The chosen family is faithful and utterly hilarious. It had me swooning and grinning the whole time and was a nice balance to the fierceness that is Shadows Lost.

Tropes you may find are fated mates with a twist, all kinds of fae, water dragon, hidden identities, he soothes her panic attacks, banter banter banter, medium spice, cinnamon roll MMC, shadow mommy FMC, shadow pets, chosen family, forced proximity, plot twists, he falls first and SO hard.

The ending was so good and I am diving immediately into book two!

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