Parents' Guide to

The Shadows Between Us

By Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Romantic fantasy has court intrigue, lots of frank sex talk.

Book Tricia Levenseller Romance 2020
The Shadows Between Us Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 13+

Based on 2 parent reviews

lbracken
lbracken Adult
September 12, 2020
age 12+

THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING!

I believe the original rating is a bit exaggerated, this story was wonderful and thrilling. The story was not at all inappropriate so I am confused where this website got its information. I would recommend this book to any child over the age of 12 because it does get a little violent but it is up to you if you think your child can handle it. This story had great role models and overall is a wonderful tale!

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
1 person found this helpful.
Faith V.
Faith V. Parent
March 22, 2023
age 14+

Amazingly Written Loved This Book From The Moment I Picked It Up To When I Closed It. *Spoilers*

I loved this book SO MUCH that I was hooked from the very first page and could not put it down I finished it in 2 days!! This will forever be on my favorites list. Now down to the iffy stuff. Sex. There was so much sex. From the very first 2 pages. Mostly speak of it and talk of having multiple bed partners etc; Alessandra gives off slut vibes in the beginning because of how many bedmates she has every night. but she does change. she meets the king and she falls in love. There are multiple plot twists one big one that especially had me angry but otherwise, the book was amazingly written. There is one kissing groping scene that takes place on a bed but kissing is it nothing more. But the next day they can't keep their hands off each other and end up having sex it's not very descriptive at all so I wouldn't rate this book 16 plus. There is very very little profanity the only cuss words are whore, hell, and damn if you can even count those. but I know some people are sensitive. There is violence. Alessandra is not really a lady that is flinchy when it comes to violence so there are multiple scenes of it. the first page speaks of how she killed one of her bedmates. later on, she stabs someone and watches several accounts of people being killed. So this book does have some iffy stuff but nothing I say a mature 14-year-old cannot handle. compared to what 14-year-olds are seeing nowadays maybe even younger I think this book is on the brighter side of things. I think some parents were overacting just a bit.
See all 2 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (16 ):

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

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate