The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller is a magical romance series with political intrigue and strong-willed, morally ambiguous characters. The main character is Alessandra, and she wants to take over the kingdom for herself. So then she decides to woo the Shadow King, kill him, and take over as queen. That’s her plan. She’s also doing some shady things in the past.
Alessandra talks about killing the first boy she loved because he decided he didn’t love her anymore. She didn’t ever pay any repercussions for it. Throughout the story, she gets caught up in her past activities. So, she had several sexual partners, which is what she wanted to do. Moreover, she’s proud of it. The problem is that she did this without getting in trouble with her father, which is that she would blackmail all the guys she was sleeping with and not say anything.
Alessandra gets in trouble for killing her former lover, the only guy she ever loved, and the king finds out. You’ve thought this whole book that she’s going to get found out and get thrown in jail for it, and he laughs about it. Books like The Shadows Between Us feature fantasy romance that’s passionate, unpredictable, and threaded with danger and secrets. Such romances keep the heart racing and pages turning.
These stories will captivate you if you enjoy plots filled with court politics, power struggles, and strategic maneuverings. Many such books have strong, ambitious female protagonists who defy societal norms, inspiring and empowering readers.
10 Books Like The Shadows Between Us (Magical Romance)
“The Shadows Between Us” is a thrilling and subversive addition to the fantasy genre. Alessandra is an ambitious female protagonist. It’s an enemies-to-lovers story, standalone, and there is no follow-up or prequel. So it feels like there is a beginning, a middle end, and nowhere else you could go with the story. What should You read if you like The Shadows Between Us?
I will discuss 10 fantasy romance books similar to The Shadows Between Us. These novels offer beautiful, atmospheric writing that can transport you to different worlds, immersing the reading experience. Let’s go!
| Name | Key Focus | Tropes |
|---|---|---|
| A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas | A young huntress becomes involved in faerie politics, curses, and unexpected romance. | Beauty and the Beast Retelling, Fae Realm, Enemies-to-Lovers, Mortal in a Magical World, Mysterious Benefactor, Tortured Hero, Strong Female Protagonist, Political Intrigue, Cursed Characters, Hidden Powers, Seasonal Courts, Sacrifice for Love, Dark Secrets, Redemption Arc, Love Triangle, Interspecies Romance, Trials and Challenges, Court Politics, Slow-Burn Romance, Heroine’s Transformation. |
| Midnight Sun by Stephenie Meyer | Edward Cullen’s perspective on his tumultuous romance with Bella Swan in the “Twilight” saga. | Alternate POV, Vampire Protagonist, Forbidden Love, High School Setting, Mind Reading, Immortality, Protective Lover, Predator and Prey Dynamics, Human and Supernatural Relationship, Tortured Hero, Family of Choice, Vegetarian Vampire, Age Difference, Small Town Secrets, Paranormal Romance, Internal Conflict, Love at First Sight, Enemies Within, Brooding Hero, Century-Old Teenager. |
| Ash Princess by Laura Sebastian | A dethroned princess faces court politics and rebellion to reclaim her kingdom. | Dethroned Royalty, Captive Princess, Court Politics, Revenge Plot, Love Triangle, Resistance Movement, Hidden Identity, Cruel Rulers, Psychological Torture, Forbidden Romance, Betrayal and Loyalty, Rebellion, Colonialism Allegory, Cultural Erasure, Morally Grey Characters, Power Dynamics, Rituals and Traditions, Underestimated Protagonist, Personal Growth, Inner Strength. |
| Furyborn by Claire Legrand | Two fiercely independent women, centuries apart, are bound by a prophecy and power. | Dual Timelines, Prophesied Heroines, Elemental Magic, Dark Prophecy, Kingdoms in Peril, Forbidden Magic, Complex Morality, Love Triangle, Power and Ambition, Rebellion Against Tyranny, Royal Intrigue, Trials and Challenges, Assassin Antagonists, Angels and Demons, Loss of Innocence, Strong Female Leads, Hidden Lineage, Friends to Lovers, Betrayal, Destiny and Free Will. |
| A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas | Feyre struggles war and alliances to reclaim her world from looming darkness. | War and Strategy, Fae Courts, Love and Sacrifice, Redemption Arc, Allies Turned Enemies, Power Dynamics, Magic and Might, Shape-shifting, Hidden Agendas, Tortured Souls, Undercover Missions, Family Ties, Rivalries, Battle of Wits, Unexpected Alliances, Ancient Evils, Romantic Tensions, Secrets and Revelations, Heroic Resolve, Supernatural Creatures, Power of Unity. |
| Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin | Feyre struggles with war and alliances to reclaim her world from looming darkness. | Witches vs. Church, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forced Marriage, Dual Perspectives, Hidden Identity, Magic and Religion, Forbidden Romance, Power Struggles, Societal Prejudices, Witch Hunts, Strong Female Lead, Morally Grey Characters, Brotherhood of Witch Hunters, Sacrifice and Duty, Dark Secrets, Redemption and Acceptance, Rebellion Against Orthodoxy, Cultural Tensions, Unexpected Alliances, Personal Growth. |
| Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan | A cleric, a prince, and a rogue form an unlikely alliance in a war-torn land of magic and gods. | Dark Magic, Gods and Mortals, War-Torn Kingdom, Forbidden Romances, Blood Rituals, Rebel Groups, Morally Ambiguous Characters, Dual Narratives, Power and Sacrifice, Hidden Agendas, Divine Intervention, Heretic vs. Orthodoxy, Cultural Tensions, Transformation Arcs, Power Dynamics, Secret Heritage, Magic Systems, Betrayals and Alliances, Inner Struggles, Mystical Prophecies. |
| The Cruel Prince by Holly Black | A mortal girl battles for power and belonging in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. | Mortal in Faerie Land, Sibling Rivalries, Court Politics, Enemies-to-Lovers, Bullying and Revenge, Power Struggles, Betrayals, Dark Fairy Tales, Ambition and Aspiration, Toxic Relationships, Schemes and Manipulations, Hidden Lineage, Brutal Lessons, Loyalty and Deception, Twisted Morality, Supernatural Beings, Trials of Courage, Forbidden Attraction, Alliances and Double-Crosses. |
| From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout | A maiden chosen for a sacred duty grapples with dark secrets and forbidden love in a world of gods and vampires. | Chosen One, Forbidden Love, Hidden Identity, Fantasy World, Royal Intrigue, Supernatural Threats, Prophecies, Sacrifices, Dark Secrets, Loyalty and Betrayal, Strong Female Protagonist, Magic and Mythology, Redemption Arc, Dangerous Desires, Protective Hero, Court Politics, Trials and Tests, Power Struggles, Slow-Burn Romance, Intricate World-Building. |
| An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson | A maiden chosen for a sacred duty grapples with dark secrets and forbidden love in a world of gods and vampires. | Art and Magic, Faerie World, Forbidden Emotions, Enchanted Romance, Court Intrigue, Magical Curses, Adventure and Peril, Love and Danger, Hidden Truths, Mystical Journeys, Artistic Protagonist, Faerie Royalty, Seasonal Courts, Treacherous Bargains, Captivating Beauty, Artistic Creation, Dark Folklore, Cross-Realm Relationships, Dangerous Creatures, Painter and Muse Dynamic. |
1. A Court of Thorns and Roses
This is the first book in a new fantasy series, and this particular book is a Beauty and the Beast retelling. However, the other books in the series will be retellings of different stories. Like The Shadows Between Us, this book takes place in a world where fairies and humans coexist. Although not friendly, there is a wall separating their two worlds, and on the human side of the wall, there is Feyre. She’s our main character, and she takes care of her father and two older sisters by hunting for games and stuff in the woods.
One day, she kills a wolf who happens to be a fairy. Although she doesn’t know it at the time, she suspects it, but she doesn’t know it by killing this fairy. She ends up breaking a treaty between the mortal and the fake realms. So, a fairy comes to take her away for a living thing, and the story goes on from there.
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Average Rating: 4.7/5
Category: Fairy Tales, Romantic Fantasy
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
2. Midnight Sun
Midnight Sun is the fifth book in The Twilight Saga series. This book retells the first book in the Twilight series, but it’s from Edward’s perspective. We get a lot of scenes that are the same as they were in the first book. There’s a lot of dramatic stuff where Edward spends pages talking about how he could murder everybody and how great Bella Swan is. It’s two hundred additional pages of Edward being a dramatic person and masochistic. So you could technically read this without reading the rest of the series.
Edward isn’t a real character. He’s the idealized version of what Bella wants in a man or a romantic partner. Because of that, when you shift the focus away from Bella, you lose a lot of Twilight’s charm. She makes questionable decisions. Edward’s not the best person, but it’s all about her and what she wants. Edward is a horrible human because he’s not a human being. So, Stephanie Meyer does make a point of showing Edward to be non-human. This book is for people who love The Shadows Between Us or want to know everything about the characters who love to make fun of it.
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Category: Vampire Fiction & Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
3. Ash Princess
This book follows a girl named Theodosia, the heir to the throne of a conquered kingdom. The Kaiser conquered her kingdom and killed the rest of her family. They killed many of her people but chose to keep her alive to use her against her people. If her people try to rebel or have riots, they publicly whip her. When we first meet our main character, she’s a very broken individual. She has had her own identity essentially beaten out of her. In addition, she’s extremely submissive to the Kaiser because she wants to avoid punishment.
Due to some fairly disturbing things that happen at the beginning of the book, Theodosia opens her eyes and realizes that she’s done being this puppet used. Moreover, she wants to do what she can to finally stop it and possibly free the people under the Kaiser’s rule. The entire book is in the first person from a single point of view, similar to The Shadows Between Us.
Author: Laura Sebastian
Average Rating: 4.6/5
Category: Epic Fantasy Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
4. Furyborn
This is the first book in a new white fantasy trilogy, and it follows two main characters in two timelines in the same fantasy world. One is real and has been hiding the fact for her entire life that she has access to all seven elemental abilities in this world. Usually, people only have access to one, but she has all seven.
So when some assassins try to kill one of her best friends, who happens to be the crown prince, she uses her abilities to save him. But she has to go through all of these trials to prove that she might be this prophesied sun queen who is there to save them. These trials are very dangerous, and she must go through all this to prove herself.
A thousand years after that, we follow Eliana, a bounty hunter working for the Empire, which is the evil government in place now. Her story takes place a thousand years after Rachel’s story, so the real story is this fairy tale, and that world doesn’t feel real to Eliana. So she’s been working for the Empire to keep her family safe, even though she knows and recognizes that the Empire and the people who work for her are not good people.
Through a series of events, she has to team up with a rebel captain, and she discovers that the Empire is even more evil than she thought it was. Like The Shadows Between Us, seven different types of elemental magic are tied to a particular saint controlling that element. There are angels, but they’re not the angels we’re used to seeing.
Author: Claire Legrand
Average Rating: 4.5/5
Category: Dark Fantasy & Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle
5. A Court of Wings and Ruin
This is the third book in the Court of Thorns and Roses trilogy. The world-building at this point is pretty well established, but there are a few things added to this book and different courts that we get to experience. Most characters were established in previous books but are built here as The Shadows Between Us. The most surprising thing from this book is Tamblin. His character development is pretty spectacular.
You will love Feyre as a protagonist. Many things are starting to be explored in this book, and it wasn’t wrapped up enough. By the beginning of the book, she’s already grown into the most wonderful, brave woman we always knew she could be. The author develops the characters in the series so intricately that you can almost feel what the characters are feeling. Almost all the characters we meet in the series are brought together for the final battle.
The reintroduction of the characters brought back many emotions, most resentment. However, we have known and loved some teary reunions and resolutions between characters over the past three books. By the end of the book and the war, Feyre found true love and confidence in herself. Its thrilling and fantastical novel allowed me to follow the journeys of the flourishing archer on sisters Sarah, Elaine, and Nesta. Although the book was left open-ended, the author clarified that these tremendous characters would return.
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Average Rating: 4.8/5
Category: Action & Adventure Fantasy Romance
Available: Audiobook | Paperback | Hardcover | Kindle | Audio CD
6. Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin
Set in a world divided between witches and church witch-hunters, the book revolves around the unexpected union of Lou, a witch in hiding, and Reid, a sworn witch-hunter. The narrative offers a rich exploration of love, identity, and sacrifice. The enemies-to-lovers trope is masterfully executed, ensuring readers are invested in the protagonists’ evolving relationship. The detailed world-building and religious undertones add depth and dimension to the storyline. The duality of magic, its beauty and destructiveness, is a core theme, making the narrative even more intriguing.
7. Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
This is a tale of a gothic world caught in a centuries-long war between countries and their belief systems, with characters trying to uphold or change their fate. This book showcases dark, lush storytelling combined with morally gray characters. The blend of Slavic folklore, forbidden romance, and blood magic offers an enthralling reading experience. The narrative touches upon the power dynamics between gods, saints, and their followers, creating political and personal intrigue layers.
8. The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Jude, a mortal, is thrust into the deadly politics of the faerie world when her parents are murdered, and their killer raises her. Black excels in creating a captivating faerie realm filled with treachery, power struggles, and complicated relationships. Jude’s resilience and cunning in struggling in this world make her a standout protagonist. The exploration of love, loyalty, and deception is profound, making it a must-read for fans of dark fantasy.
9. From Blood and Ash by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Poppy, the Maiden, lives a sheltered life until she’s thrown into the world’s complexities when secrets start unraveling around her. With a blend of romance, action, and fantasy, Armentrout presents a gripping and emotionally resonant tale. The world-building is intricate, with lore, prophecies, and ancient traditions shaping characters’ choices. From a sheltered figure to a warrior, Poppy’s character development is both compelling and satisfying.
10. An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Isobel, a talented mortal portrait artist, gets entangled in faerie politics when she paints sorrow in the eyes of Rook, a faerie prince. The book stands out for its beautiful prose and vibrant descriptions of the faerie world. The portrayal of art, emotions, and humanity’s essence juxtaposed against the faeries’ immortality and their yearning for human experiences is heartwarming. The romance is both sweet and intense, making it a delightful read.
All these books offer dark romances, political intrigue, and characters who face treacherous waters, making them excellent choices for fans of “The Shadows Between Us.” Each of them, in their unique way, delves deep into themes of power, love, betrayal, and resilience.
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