I received a copy of Shadows and Sage by A. N. Payton from NetGalley. This fantasy romance book is the second book of the Eternal Alliances series. I was surprised by how much I liked reading the first book, Hellfire and Honey. So, I couldn’t wait to get a copy of this book. Natalie and Rayhan are characters who were introduced in the first book, but this story is more like a prequel sequel.
Natalie is a witch born and raised in wartime. The war between witches and vampires has raged on for years. Natalie is in the forest with her sister trying to forage ingredients for a potion to help their sick father. This is when vampires raid their village. Vampire Marshall Rayhan gives Natalie a choice after glimpsing her power. She chooses to go as a prisoner with him to save her sister. Rayhan is intrigued by what he has seen of Natalie’s powers and wants her to help him find his father’s killer.
Natalie is a powerful witch, but she does not know it. She goes along with Rayhan’s plan reluctantly, knowing she can’t do magic whenever she wants, but has no option. Rayhan and Natalie start understanding each other slowly and build a relationship with mutual respect and trust. Natalie is constantly worried about her father’s health and itching to get back to them. She doesn’t want to leave Rayhan either but knows there’s no future for them. She helps Rayhan to piece together the last days of his father’s life. Their romance is a slow burn, but it makes sense to the story.
Natalie and Rayhan realize that each has their baggage, and they accept each other the way they are, which is really well done. Natalie’s magic has been suppressed and slowly starts coming out, and Rayhan helps with it. She develops confidence and unravels her magic and her family secrets. Natalie’s character arc is executed nicely. Her struggle between trying to leave and wanting to stay is interesting to read. I loved how their romantic relationship worked, and the bit at the climax was shocking, but it works well for their story. Their romance has a forbidden aspect to it because witches and vampires are enemies and create challenges for them.
The pace of the novel is brisk, and it kept me hooked from the beginning. The story is a mixture of fantasy, romance, and murder mystery. Rayhan trying to solve his father’s murder with Natalie’s help is what starts bringing them together. Kaden, the vampire King, from the first book, also plays a part in this story. Similar to Hellfire and Honey, the world-building is intriguing, and it can also be read as a standalone if one wants. I kind of guessed who the murderer could be, but the way it is revealed was unexpected.
Shadows and Sage by A. N. Payton is a wonderful blend of romance, fantasy, adventure, and mystery. This book explores magic much more than the first book does, which adds depth to the fantasy element of the story. I enjoyed the character arcs, the romance, and the world this book creates. Rayhan and Natalie make you root for them as individuals as well as a couple. I can’t wait to read the next of the Eternal Alliances series.
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