Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie R. Wheadon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Romantic fantasy has court intrigue, lots of frank sex talk.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say the book offers an engaging story with a strong female lead and captivating romance, but many readers feel that it includes mature themes and content that may not be suitable for young teens, such as murder and sexual references. Overall, the writing style is praised, and while some appreciate the closure of certain scenes, others are uncomfortable with the intensity of the content for a young adult audience.
- engaging story
- strong female lead
- mature themes
- mixed feelings
- powerful romance
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In THE SHADOWS BETWEEN US, Alessandra, the often overlooked second daughter of a lord, is determined to win the heart of the king so that she can kill him and steal his kingdom. Her plans are off to a good start when she catches the king's attention at a palace ball and is asked to stay at court. Rumors fly about her the second she settles into her rooms, about her trendsetting dresses and her outspokenness. It's not long before the king asks to court her, but only as a ruse to appease his council. Since the assassination of his parents, he spends most of his time in shadow form, a kind of protection from attempts on his life. The shadows around him won't allow him to be close to anyone physically or emotionally -- and that's just one reason Alessandra's murder plot will be tough to carry out. The other reason: She's starting to have feelings for the king.
Is It Any Good?
Perfectly described as a "Slytherin romance" in the dedication, this palace-set fantasy is a playful love letter to ambitious and sexually empowered women who rarely get to be protagonists. Oh, and the protagonist in question is also an unrepentant murderer -- that, too. For the right mature reader, this is pure fun. The Shadows Between Us may seem to be promoting all the wrong values, but you'll find virtuous maidens and just rulers in plenty of other fantasy tomes. Just not this one. Even funnier perhaps is that there's a Robin Hood-type character on the loose and a righteous rebellion of peasants who are all squashed like insects.
The romance is as smoldering as you'd expect, except for the no-touching-the-king rule. The mythology behind this monarch's family curse isn't that well developed, but it draws out the romantic suspense splendidly. The last half of The Shadows Between Us flies by as readers wonder if this devious power couple will ever really find happiness together or if one of Alessandra's blood-soaked secrets will be her downfall. But again, this book delights in not following the rules, so readers are sure to be surprised by a few of the twists at the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about sexually empowered female characters in The Shadows Between Us and in other media. How often do they get to be the protagonists? What is their usual role in a story or on screen? Why do you think this is?
So many stories about kingdoms also focus on just rulers and the evils of being hungry for power. How does this story depart from that? Is it refreshing? Humorous? Alarming? All three?
Would you read more about characters like Alessandra and King Kallias? Do you prefer to read about characters you'd like to emulate?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Feiwel & Friends
- Publication date : February 25, 2020
- Number of pages : 336
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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