Shadows of Winter

The Curse and the Crown, Book 1

By: Lindsay Buroker

Narrated by: Amanda Dolan

How could a visit to the kingdom's capital turn disastrous so quickly?

As a commoner, Kaylina Korbian's duty is to bow to aristocrats, avoid rabble-rousers, and call the haughty royal rangers "my lord"—especially the arrogant Vlerion of Havartaft.

Handsome, powerful, and a legendary swordsman, he's the last person you'd want to cross. Naturally, Kaylina irks him at their first meeting, and he arrests her.

Unbeknownst to her, the city is dealing with political strife and assassinations, and the rangers are on edge.

Kaylina must work with Vlerion to clear suspicion from her name, even as she unearths a dark secret about him that will either bind them together… or get her killed.

Shadows of Winter is a thrilling fantasy adventure perfect for fans of slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance.

©2024 Lindsay Buroker (P)2024 Podium Audio

Likeable Characters But…

I got so tired of hearing how attracted she was and how dangerous that was.

Once again

Lindsay has done it again in building a new world full of details and interesting characters that will capture you in its grip. I could not stop listening to this book even though I didn’t want it to end. Great character development and world building. I can’t wait until the next one.

I'm hooked

I was skeptical about this series, but I'm hooked. Lindsay Buroker has created another entertaining series with engaging characters. I can't wait for the next book.

Different from other Lindsay Buroker books

Different from other Lindsay Buroker books, Still entertaining and compelling. Definitely a good read. I’m ready for the next in the series.

Cozy, Cute Fantasy Romance with Loveable Characters

Overall I enjoyed this book, the storyline was interesting enough to keep me listening, and I am going to get listen to the sequel.

The characters were interesting, and the romance between the two a bit unexpected, but also, quite sweet. This was an overall pretty clean romance with very little to almost no spice. Thus, the characters spent time getting to know one another and allowing a relationship to develop over time, which I like. It's definitely slow-burn.

The mystery of the "cursed castle" - along with a plot where deception is rampant on all sides, with both the Monarchy and the rebels both being made out as the "bad guys" with mostly those who are supposed to protect the Kingdom and uphold the law being the most honest, save for some involved in this group they call "The Rangers"

I also enjoyed the mystical creatures in the book. They're unique, interesting and made me smile. or giggle a few times. Especially the "Taybari" (unsure if I spelled that correctly) - but their relationship with the female protagonist is adorable.

The female protagonist is likeable overall. she's realistically sure, yet unsure of herself. She also seems to attract bad luck at every turn. Her original task to set up a meadery with her brother is suddenly turned into the adventure of a lifetime, leaving the girl forced into joining these Rangers, before then being forced to run to attempt to prove her innocence of a false accusation.

It seems like one crazy thing after another happens to her, but she just goes with the flow, alimg with her brother, who is comically logical and intelligent.

The characters were all interesting and diverse. I look forward to seeing where this story goes from here.

I also enjoyed the narrator quite a bit. I think she did a really good job at making distinctive voices for each, without going overboard.

I recommend this read for those who enjoy more simple, sweet and cozy fantasy romances, rather than epic, and indepth fantasy stories.

The details

What I love about Lindsey Buroker is her ability to provide details that are used later to tie the story as it moves along.

Another Good One

Such a prolific writer. And what an imagination. Enjoyed the story and the characters. So often, the protagonist never develops and by the third book is still screwing up. Not with LB! Lessons are learned and I find myself rooting for the protagonist rather than wishing they would be killed off and put out of their misery. Well done.

The narrator was new to me and she did a good job. Pleasant voice and consistent characters.

AMAZING

This is one edge of your seat adventure!! I could not put it down Of course im not surprised. I have read ALL Lindsey’s books and i love them all but this series is definitely on the top for me but then so dragon gate and the dragon blood. But heritage of power i listen to that whole series twice love that one anyways you will love this one too!

"A Journey of Self-Discovery: A Captivating Start to an Intriguing Series"

I understand that crafting a story takes time—authors need to immerse themselves in the world they’re creating so readers can seamlessly fall into it. And it takes a truly gifted voice actor to bring that world to life, making you forget their voice entirely as the characters and their words leap off the page.

I’m not going to lie—I really want to hear the remaining three books in this series narrated. Of course, I had to check if more books existed, and thankfully they do. However, they haven’t been turned into audiobooks yet, and I know it’ll take time for the voice actor to bring those to life. I can’t wait for that to happen.

Yes, I know the stories are out there. Yes, I know the voice actor is still around. And yes, I’m trying to resist the temptation to buy the eBooks and read them myself, though I might cave—and even then, I’d still eagerly wait for the audiobooks.

This series is absolutely intriguing. The dynamics between the siblings and the ensemble cast are fascinating, with a level of psychological and therapeutic depth that I couldn’t help but notice. Whether or not the author intended it, the story speaks volumes about self-discovery and the journey to finding your true self.

This is just the beginning of the series, but it’s already so captivating. I’m excited to see where it goes.

Awesome!

New series, it’s a great new world and I can’t wait to get to the next couple of three books. Love your work, Lindsey!