Title: A Taste of Shadows: A Fantasy Romance (Sunlight and Shadows Book 2)
Author: Sydney Winward
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Book Blurb:
The faintest sound of her voice can kill.
Lyyli Ives has lived her entire life in silence. Those who have heard her voice never live to tell the tale. When she accidentally nearly kills her sister, she is sent away to the only person who can help her—the Archmage at Darkest Star Arcane.
Lord Killian Graves’ life is falling apart. His mother is cursed into a deadly enchantment. His title and school are threatened to be stripped from him. But when a mysterious woman who doesn’t speak pleads for his help, he finds he cannot resist the allure of her beauty nor the mystery of her predicament.
However, a great evil is after the power she wields, threatening not only her life but the lives of everyone they love. Killian must save her from her fate. Or die trying.
My Review:
Her voice is deadly, so deadly that one whisper can kill. She never asked for this power but one man can help her if she has the strength to not open her mouth. Lyyli is cursed, or so she thinks. Her voice has the power to render death on anyone who hears it. One mistake can be deadly, or so she learns when she almost kills her own sister. She’s sent to Lord Killian and his school to help beings control their magic. He’s a powerful mage. Lyyli doesn’t know if he can help her as she feels she’s destined to be alone, helpless in her silence within the shadows of life. But he shows her there’s hope, that she doesn’t have to be alone. As they work closely together, she falls in love with him. Can she truly be in love even though she can’t speak? But there’s a great evil on the horizon and they want to capture her to use her power for malevolent purposes, destroying everything and everyone she holds dear. The only person who can save her is Lord Killian. Will he get to her in time, or will she succumb to her fate?
A Taste of Shadows is a riveting fantasy romance from start to finish. From the beginning, the premise captured my imagination. I cannot imagine how heartbreaking it would be to never use my voice, to never say I love you, to never be able to even whisper. It would be such a solitary life, even when surrounded by others. Lyyli is the embodiment of that kind of life. I connected with her right away. Her journey is fraught with conflict and is beautifully portrayed in the descriptive narration. One can’t help but want to help Lyyli. Lord Killian is such an intriguing character. He’s the perfect compliment to Lyyli, even though he has his own issues to work through. The magical academy was such fun as there were plenty of characters to meet and interact with. The plot moves at a wonderful pace with plenty of action, emotional tension, and romance. The ending is a cliffhanger, which I didn’t care for, but many readers won’t be too concerned with. Sydney Winward is a brilliant writer and, in this book, she shows off her world-building skills. She’ll transport you into her world and you’ll love every minute of it. If you’re a fantasy romance reader, you’ll want to read A Taste of Shadows. If you like your books fraught with drama, conflict, and emotion, you’ll want to read A Taste of Shadows. I can’t wait to read the next installment in this series.
My Rating: 5 stars
Buy it Now:
Nook https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-taste-of-shadows-sydney-winward/1140399987?ean=2940161021361
Author Biography:
Sydney Winward is a fantasy and paranormal romance author who dabbles in the occasional historical fiction. She loves building complex worlds filled with magic, strong characters, and emotional stories that can make you laugh and cry.
Sydney is the author of The Bloodborn Series, and when she’s not writing, she’s reading, thinking about stories, or going on adventures with her children. She lives in Utah with her husband, two amazing kids, and one stubborn fish.
Social Media Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SydneyWinward
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sydneyewinward
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneywinward
Website: https://sydneywinward.com/
Reviewed by: Mrs. N