The Shadows Between Us

by Tricia Levenseller

[Brittany]

Do I think this book was bad? No. Do I think this book was good? Also no. I have so many mixed feelings on this because it had so much potential. Some parts were beautifully crafted and detailed while others fell completely short.

The story jumps right into the thick of things. The main character - Alessandra - says she’s going to marry the king and kill him and next thing you know she is in the presence of the king. The whole beginning was just rushed and seemed very easy.

That seemed to be the whole nature of the book. Easy. Problems would be presented and solved quickly with what seemed like not much effort. It was lacking details throughout most of the scenes.

Some other ~mysteries~ were completely obvious so the drag out of them seemed unnecessary because most readers would know the answer without having to live through multiple chapters of “I wonder who the bandit is”

I think what most kept me reading was the hope that I would eventually like Alessandra as a character and I really don’t think I ever did. She is portrayed more as a villain throughout the majority of the book but in a brash, bitchy entitled way.

I did enjoy Kallias as a character though he wasn’t a very complex character. He’s portrayed at the very beginning as shadowy and mysterious but that isn’t the case as soon as he’s introduced into the main story. There could have been more mystery there -like an actual misunderstood villain is actually a good guy trope instead of a half assed attempt at it.

Now saying all of this did I still read the whole thing? Did I refuse to put it down because I wanted to know what happened next? Was I a little sad when it ended?

Yes on all accounts but I understand that stories can be addicting while not actually being that good in a lot of ways.

I will probably never read this book again but I don’t regret picking it up for an easy read.