It’s my stop on the book tour of In The Shadows by L.B. August. Thanks to ZooLoo’s Book Tours for allowing me to tag along!
Damned by gods and threaded by fates, two mortals must embrace the darkness to find their true destinies.
Lilith Clarke is supposed to be dead: murdered by the vicious King Oren, her blood staining a field of daisies. But death would have been merciful.
After years of having no name, she is finally given a title: Queen of Umbra. But it will cost her everything. Lily is now bound to King Asher, the most powerful and brutal shadow divinus in all of Omnia. Forced to rule in secret, she slowly loses herself to the darkness. She fears it will swallow her whole.
Until he arrives, tugging an ancient thread deep within her soul.
Theodore Kincaid seeks justice in Umbra but falls captive to his sworn enemy, the ruthless King Asher. Trapped in the kingdom that killed his beloved, his fate seems sealed until a chance encounter with the secret Queen of Umbra offers him an opportunity he can’t resist.
Theo and the Queen each believe that they are in full control, but neither is prepared for what the fates have in store.
Amidst a realm on the brink of chaos, two souls collide in a heart-wrenching tale of unveiling secrets, conquering the darkness, and igniting a love that could save or destroy.
In The Shadows is the first book in a new series filled with forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers, magical powers, fated mates, and political intrigue. It’s perfect for fans of The Serpent and the Wings of Night, Fourth Wing, The Cruel Prince, One Dark Window, and A Court of Thorns and Roses.
In The Shadows features mature content and themes that are not suitable for all audiences. Reader discretion is advised. For all content warnings, please visit L.B.’s Instagram.
The first book in a romantasy series, In The Shadows cured my book hangover from Fourth Wing and Iron Flame straight away! One of the things I love about fantasy is the world building, and this book excelled at that!
It’s a debut novel and one I can’t praise highly enough. It ticked all my boxes and then more. I loved every page of this book. The prologue was enough for me to know I was gonna be addicted to the book. Lily and Theo are the two main characters, and through them, L.B August sends them and the reader on a journey that’s as passionate as it is heartbreaking and uplifting as well.
I was in love with them both. They are so well made. We see the flaws that make them human, multi-layered, and complex. There are the characters that I love to hate, too. It was quite easy to hate them due to their behaviour!
I felt like I was on an emotional rollercoaster throughout. There are plenty of spicy scenes, too, which added an even deeper layer to the story. I was transfixed to this book. It has everything a romantasy reader needs.
I must mention that there are heavy issues in the book, and maybe you should check out the trigger warnings before reading it.
Everything from the prologue to the conclusion serves to break your heart, stamp on it, and then put it back together again. I have to say, I need book two and soon! Wow!
Book Links
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/195782512-in-the-shadows
Buy Links https://mybook.to/InTheShadows-zbt
L.B’s Bio
Born and raised in Ohio, where she still resides with her spouse, young child, and sweet senior dog, L.B. August’s most significant memories are Cedar Point and failing Hooked on Phonics (true story).
Thrill seeking and difficulty reading followed L.B. into adulthood until, in 2022, she discovered a genre that tapped into the excitement of escapism and world building while capturing her attention and turning her into a voracious reader of fantasy. As she devoured book after book, L.B. found herself desperately wanting to read more empowered female characters within the genre, so she set off to write her own.
Encouraged by her best friend, she wrote her debut novel, In The Shadows. Now she can be found hyper-fixating on new projects, downing copious amounts of black coffee, and pretending to be a corporate professional, all while crafting intricate, rich stories with captivating characters that she hopes will pass on her newfound passion for reading.
L.B’s Links
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/inkoffate
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 
Thank you so much for such an ace review x
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