Every Dark Shadow

An Epic Dark Fantasy Romance (Whispers of Dust & Darkness, Book 1)

By: Sarah Zimm

Narrated by: Shannon Parker Taing

Shadow & Bone meets ACOTAR with an epic quest in this dark fantasy romance about a magic realm on the brink of rebellion and the woman who must save it from a sinister king. Perfect for fans of books like One Dark Window, Mistborn, and A Darker Shade of Magic, as well as listeners who love high fantasy filled with curses, secrets, and betrayals.

In 1800s New York, Ophelia Dannan is suffocated by the vigilance of her watchful family. She craves freedom from their onerous farm, unaware that she is being hidden there from a sinister king of Magus—a realm where magic is slowly dying, enslaved to the monarchy.

A scholar, a smuggler, and a soldier have sworn to protect Ophelia from the armies that hunt the woman who's unlike anyone in the worlds. Driven by their own motivations, Rune, Hart, and Falcon shepherd her between realms, and time periods, in a perilous game of hide-and-seek, all the while stealing her memories, as if living in the dark will keep what's locked inside her safe.

But the four can’t outrun their enemies forever. As armies give chase across worlds and a dark force rises to further threaten the kingdom of Magus, loyalties, love, and sacred friendships unravel. To keep their kingdom, and each other, from falling into darkness, they will have to face the fears and feelings growing deep beneath the surface, and a powerful new enemy no one’s certain how to conquer.

©2023, 2024 Sarah Zimm (P)2025 Sarah Zimm

What a start to a series

I received an ALC of this book and it was so good.

Definitely going to have to read/listen to book 2.

Following Ophelia and her guards as they try and keep her hidden from the king

The story line was amazing. I loved the multi character views and the magic in this world. There was some twist I didn’t see coming and very intrigued to see how it’s continued.

UNDER HYPED

UNDERHYPED

If you wished Shadow and Bones had more romance then this book is exactly what you need.

The magic system and work in this book is very similar to Shadow & Bone which helped be understanding the world building very quickly but thats where the similarities end, This is by no means a cut and paste story and I love that. The influence is there but the Every Dark Shadows plot is uniquely its own.

I will not give spoilers but I will say all the MMCs are YUMMY!!!! This is NOT a why choose and at max it’s a very subtle love triangle. The MFC has feeling for more than one MMC but I didnt feel that tensions that a typical love triangle has that many people dont like. (I personally enjoy a love triangle)

The MFC is just trying to understand her feelings and the MCC are supportive of her. It’s a love triangle with all the feels and none of the annoyingness lol (new word)

I loved seeing how each MMC views out MFC (Ophelia ). I think the author had a unique way of giving us multi POVs ( I did think the multi POV aspect got a little lost in the audio verse. I figured it out easier as I read along on my Kindle but it only took my a chapter or two to understand)

The kindle edition has beautiful chapter art and the audio narrator did a decent job of representing the many characters.I do with the audio was a female/male duet but again that didn’t stop me from devouring this book in 24hours.

I will definitely be continuing on with the series. Next is book 1.5 The Darkweilder. It’s a novella on the villain? Hero? Love interest? Only time will tell.

I will say that I don’t think I’d be mad with any ( or all hehehehe again not a why choose but I support that too) Ophelia ending up with any of the male love interests so far in the story.P