We all love a classic Romantasy and this is one of them (extra points for being fast paced) ! A great start to the series, i really enjoyed liras journey and can't forget the enemies to lovers plot which is beloved by all. After this ending i need to read the second book ASAP

Thank you so much to the author and publisher for sending me an arc copy of this book. I really enjoyed reading this, it kept me hooked through out and I generally just had a great time reading it. I will definitely be picking it up on publishing day.

This book has the making of a great romantasy, it covers all of the known and loved tropes, it just hits a little off.

I'd love to see more information about the world, the visuals were lacking and I didn't feel fully immersed into the story.

Enjoyable 😊

I’ve been branching out towards romantasy books and this book was surprisingly captivating. I hear it resembles ACOTAR, which I have no read yet but I like the storyline and Tavish gives me “Touch her, you die” vibes so I’m all for it. I really like that Lira is not weak minded and gives it her all. Now i need to finish the rest of the books in the series to find out what happens!

I really wanted to like this book; from the description, it was right up my alley. However, I found it relied too heavily on tropes rather than actually fleshing out the story. If this book were reedited, it could be improved and have a different flow. However, for now, it's not my favourite, and it ends on a cliffhanger. 3 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Jen L Grey for the arc.

I was completely drawn in by the beautiful cover and a premise that promised something intriguing. The beginning was interesting—just enough to get me curious about the characters and the world. But by the time I hit the 25% mark, the pacing had noticeably slowed down. What felt like a single scenario was stretched across four chapters or more, and I found myself growing increasingly disengaged.

One major gripe was Tavish and his possessiveness. His obsession with making sure no one touched Lira felt incredibly over-the-top and, honestly, a bit off-putting. Instead of adding tension or depth to his character, it just made him seem unreasonable and controlling without enough justification.

By the time I reached 30%, I found myself struggling to stay invested. The story has potential, and I do plan to come back and finish it at some point—because I’m still curious where it’s all going—but unfortunately, today is not that day.

If you're someone who enjoys slow burns with heavy focus on character obsession and don’t mind a dragging pace, this might still work for you. But for now, this one's going on pause for me.

I feel like this needed another thorough round of editing. The dialogue felt very stilted and forced which created an awkward atmosphere more than anything else. The world building was pretty flat and basic as were the characters. There was no tension at all and the author didn’t let the audience piece things together, rather they did a lot of “telling”.

This was a decent book, but also very mediocre.

Everything about it was fine and I don't really have any complaints. The FMC has been living in the mortal world for years and has forgotten that she's a Fae Princess. As such, she has a lot of modern references (the wise Halsey) which could throw some people off, but after the beginning, it's based entirely in a fantasy realm.

The romance between the FMC and MMC is definitely a slow burn, nothing more than a little first base happens in this one, but I anticipate it will heat up in the next books.

I definitely still have some questions at the end of this and while I could be interested enough to read the other books in the series, I also have other things that I wish to read more.

Read if you love:
-Fated mates
-Enemy Fae
-Deadly trials
-Memory loss

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC. My thoughts are entirely my own.
Finish date: 6/15/24, Deluxe paperback release date: 6/24/25

Okay… so tell me why this book screamed ACOTAR from the first page?! We’ve got a Fae King of darkness (who sends dreams to his “mate”), a forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers tension, and the next book is literally called The Court of Thorns and Wings. Subtlety? Never heard of her.

Tavish, our broody king, had serious whiplash energy—one minute he’s threatening to kill Lira, the next he’s playing protective boyfriend with major “touch her and die” vibes. I loved his protectiveness, hated the emotional ping-pong.

As for Lira? Girl was kidnapped, told she was gonna die, and still couldn’t stop thirsting over her captor. Make it make sense. She grew on me though—she held her own in brutal trials against fae warriors with zero powers and never backed down. Respect.

The plot had potential but was vague AF. They kept saying Lira had to die… but didn’t bother explaining why until like, the last few chapters. And even then, I had questions. Couldn’t they just use some of her blood without going full murder?? Also… fae can’t lie? Then why was Eldrin out here lying like it’s his job?

Anyway. It was familiar, fun, and pretty easy to follow—solid for newer fantasy readers. Just don’t expect originality or deep world-building. I was entertained, but also mildly annoyed the entire time. So… yeah

Review Posted on:
-Amazon, Goodreads, Fable
-Posted on TikTok 06/17
-posted on Instagram 06/17
-posted on Youtube Short 06/17

Thanks for the ARC of The King of Frost and Shadows.

I thought this book had some really good things going for it and some interesting plot ideas but it didn't quite pull it all together. I thought the romance was a bit rushed and I didn't really feel the emotional connection between the characters. I also like a bit more gumption from the FMC. Maybe I am just in my feminine rage era but I don't like when they take everything that comes at them without questioning or a fight. Overall, it's a good story for those that like romantasy but it doesn't really stand out in what is already an oversaturated genre.

The King of the Frost and Shadows by Jen L. Grey is a fantasy romance with just the right amount of danger, magic, and slow-burn tension to keep you intrigued. The world-building is lush and immersive, and the fae elements add that touch of whimsy and darkness that fantasy lovers will appreciate. The main characters have chemistry, and there are some great moments of banter and emotional depth, but at times the pacing felt uneven, especially in the middle. A few plot points could’ve used more development, but overall, it’s a fun, escapist read with promise for the rest of the series. A solid pick if you’re in the mood for a little fae magic and a broody, mysterious king.

I really wasn’t impressed with this. It’s pretty close copy to CN Crawford’s Frost. I got bored pretty quickly.

If you’re looking for a fast paced romantasy that has slow burning tension and a morally gray shadow enemy/love interest this book is for you. Our FMC Lira is kidnapped from her life in the human world and transported to a land filled with fae and magic. She learns her captor is the king of these people and is demanding that she pay with her life for her parents crimes, but the issue is she doesn’t have any magic or wings like they say she should and her parents are humans? Or so she thinks. Turns out she’s the lost princess of the now enemy kingdom and has been lost for over a decade. Now she must work to regain her memories and powers in order to survive a set of trials while battling a tension between her and the enemy king. If you love a slow burning enemies to lovers with touch her and you die vibes this is for you!! review is 4.6/5 stars rounded up!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the gifted copy of this book. All opinions given are my own!

The Kingdom of Frost and Shadows kicks off a new fantasy romance series from Jen L. Grey, packed with court intrigue, enemies-to-lovers tension, and all the magic, secrets, and betrayal fans of the genre crave. If you’re a fan of ACOTAR or Throne of Glass, you’ll likely feel right at home here—though this book doesn’t quite reach the same narrative heights.

The story follows Aria, a strong-willed heroine with a mysterious past who finds herself caught between two powerful courts—and two dangerously compelling men. As she’s thrust into a world of ice, shadows, and political deception, she must navigate shifting alliances while unlocking her own hidden power.

Grey's writing is fast-paced and bingeable, and the worldbuilding—while not overly complex—gives enough to pull you in. The romance leans into familiar tropes: brooding fae males, forced proximity, and forbidden attraction. It's nothing groundbreaking, but it is fun. If you're in the mood for fantasy that reads quickly and leans into the spicy, dramatic side of things, this hits the mark.

Where it stumbles a bit is in character depth and predictability. Some plot points feel formulaic, and side characters don't get much development. Aria’s choices sometimes feel more reactive than strategic, and while the love interests are intriguing, they could use more emotional layering.

That said, the cliffhanger ending delivers the punch you’d expect, making it hard not to reach for the sequel.

Final thoughts: The Kingdom of Frost and Shadows is a solid start for fans of fast-paced romantic fantasy. It may not reinvent the genre, but it delivers plenty of addictive tropes, magical danger, and steamy tension to keep you hooked.

I loved this, finally a true morally grey fmc 😉

The world building was absolutely on point, although I couldn’t stop picture the ACOTAR world and characters. This one had enough to make it indifferent, but whenever I sense small similarities between 2 series’, I’m instantly back in that world 😂

This was a wild ride. Finding Lira and bringing her back was probably the dumbest thing Tavish has ever done. Or is it the best? He's torn between that decision as she is in his presence, but he makes it clear that his goal is to kill her to be break a barrier to save his people. When he realizes the connection between them and what it means, he has second thoughts.

This was full of twists and turns, and I couldn't put it down. That ending though! How very dare you!!

❄️ A romantasy cocktail: one part angst, two parts missed potential, shaken—not stirred—with tropes.

The premise had all the makings of a dramatic, swoony hit—an exiled Seelie princess, a morally grey Unseelie king with a thirst for vengeance, and a bond that blurs the line between duty and desire. I went in expecting a familiar fantasy romance ride, but even with my expectations tempered, this felt like a rough first draft of a story with promise.

Tavish, our brooding king, flips from “I’ll drain her blood” to “Touch her and die” in record time. And while I love a dramatic pivot as much as the next romantasy reader, the emotional pacing felt rushed and unearned. Lira’s arc was equally frustrating—her memory loss stalls the story’s momentum and keeps the reader just as in-the-dark as she is. Her kind and gentle demeanour doesn’t quite gel with the ruthless Seelie background we’re told she comes from, making her feel like a placeholder rather than a fleshed-out heroine.

The prose, sadly, didn’t help. Awkward phrasing, jarring modern slang (the word “super” stood out in all the wrong ways), and inconsistent reactions to Earth-based terms repeatedly pulled me out of the story. The chapter transitions were also clunky—many ending on dramatic cliffhangers that fizzled out by the very next paragraph. It’s a small thing, but it chipped away at the immersion.

And yet... I finished it quickly. The political intrigue had its hooks in me, and the worldbuilding—while occasionally muddled—had potential. Also, can we talk about the giant murder dog, Nightbane? Easily the best character in the book. Someone give him a spin-off.

Final thoughts: If you're here for a fast-paced romantasy full of familiar tropes and don’t mind some rough edges, this could scratch the itch. But if you're hoping for rich character work and refined prose, this one may leave you cold. With more polish and tighter pacing, future books in the series could shine brighter.

I liked the FMC and the worldbuilding around the castle. Overall an enjoyable read, I'm giving it three stars because I thought it was a little predictable and I like to be surprised. I will be continuing the series!

My heart…the author has done an amazing job at showing us what revenge can ruin. I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in the rest of the series. I have a feeling the author will make sure we feel every emotion we can through these books.
I highly recommend this book to readers who want Cruel Prince but adult vibes.

Summary in Brief

Tavish is the King of the Unseelie Fae, and Lira is the lost princess of the Seelie Fae. Tavish blames the Seelie for his parents’ deaths and the destruction of his kingdom. For revenge, he plans to kidnap Lira and spill her blood.

Genre + Plot

Tropes: Romantasy, Enemies to Lovers, Morally Grey MMC, Fated Mates, Villain Gets the Girl, One Bed, Touch Her and Die, Who Did This to You, Sick Bed, Political Intrigue, Cliffhanger

Listen, I knew what I was getting myself into with this book. Am I surprised it’s basically a more amateur version of ACOTAR or really any fated mates romantasy? No, I’m not. I wasn’t expecting groundbreaking plot points or romance here, and I think if you want to enjoy this book, that’s the attitude you need going in. That being said, there were definitely some cringe-worthy moments where it felt like the author was trying just a bit too hard to force certain tropes.

Our MMC, Tavish, is a very morally grey king, given that the Seelie destroyed his life. I’d want revenge too. However, it felt a bit sudden for him to start protecting Lira after bringing her to his kingdom. Basically, within the first couple of chapters, it’s full-on Touch Her and Die energy. He rules by fear, and of course his whole kingdom is like, “Wait, what is going on? Her family destroyed us, why are you protecting her?” Legit concerns, I’d say.

Lira was born a Seelie princess, but she was sent to Earth for the past twelve years for her protection after being betrothed to the Dragon Prince, much to her dismay. Upon returning to the Fae universe, it takes her a long time to regain her memories of her past, which was frustrating as a reader since you don’t really know what’s going on or what the full story is. Lira is, of course, acting differently from how people expect her to behave. She’s kind, considerate, strong, and forgiving. Not the ruthless Seelie Fae they were expecting.

Don’t forget the monster dog, Nightbane, who is in love with her because she’s the only one who ever showed him kindness. Nightbane was honestly my favorite part of the whole book.

The real thorn in this story is Tavish’s cousin, Eldrin. He’s obviously power-hungry and wants the throne, doing everything he can to make Lira miserable.

While reading this book, it honestly felt like how I would write a romantasy novel—and I’m not a great writer. Some sentences felt clunky and awkward. The author used the word “super” to describe things, which, for some reason, came across as lazy writing to me. She repeated certain phrases between characters, and the whole thing with Earth terms got a bit annoying. Lira would say an Earth term once and no one would react, but then another time she’d say something like “hell” or “angel,” and suddenly everyone was confused and throwing a fit. It just wasn’t consistent.

The chapter transitions were also clunky. For example, a chapter would end with something like, “She turned to walk away, but then heard something that made her blood run cold.” And the next chapter would immediately say what that thing was—but it wasn’t all that shocking or impactful. I think this whole book needed a lot more editing to tighten everything up. It has potential, but it needs more polish.

That said, I finished this book really quickly. I thought the plot and political intrigue were definitely interesting and kept my attention, and that ending was SUCH a cliffhanger.

Final Thoughts

Overall, although I liked the plot and read this quickly, there were some points about the writing that I couldn’t get past and that felt a bit lazy. With more editing, this could become a really great novel—the potential is there.