Book: Taken By Shadows by Genevieve Addison
Reviewed by Anonymous
Rating: 3.5/5
Firstly A huge thank you to Genevieve Addison for the opportunity to read Taken by Shadows as an ARC. I'm incredibly grateful to have been trusted with an early copy.
This book left me feeling a little conflicted.
I really enjoyed the world building, magic system and political intrigue in the book. I really enjoyed the ending and didnt see the final twist coming. Despite a few frustrations I would still be interested enough to pick up book 2 (when it comes out).
One of the book's greatest strengths was Genevieve Addison's writing. Her prose are genuinely beautiful. There were so many incredibly poetic lines that really stood out to me. I often found myself highlighting beautifuk quotes ans pausing to really take in the beauty of the words.
Apary from the writing Kaed was probably my favourite part of the book. While he didn't become a standout MMC for me, he had some of the most beautifully written lines I've read in a long time, and I found myself wishing there had been more scenes between him and Imogen.
Unfortunately, I never fully connected with Imogen. I struggled to relate to her inner monologue, and because the story is so closely tied to her perspective, I found it difficult to become completely invested. I also felt the pacing could have been stronger. There were moments where I wanted more plot progression. Some scenes felt repetitive rather than increasing the stakes.
That said, I think this series has a huge amount of potential. The foundations are there—a fascinating world, an intriguing magic system, and enough unanswered questions that I still want to see where the story goes next.
If you're looking for a traditional romantasy with political intrigue, beautiful prose, a unique magic system, and a slow-burn romance, I think this could be worth picking up.