4.5 ⭐

Awoken with no memory, Theadora Moore can only rely on the mark inked on her for answers. Thea learns her mark represents that she is the last Descendant of Hyrax, the God of the Dead, a house thought to be extinct. Thea becomes engrained in the politics of Athenia, destined to become a member of the Royal Council, and now has magical powers she must learn to control. With assassination attempts and threats from the Dragon king become common occurrences, she turns to Prince Clayton Vail, crown prince of the kingdom, for guidance. Will the prince ensure her survival or will he be her downfall?

I was incredibly impressed that this was Arcadia's debut novel as it is more than just a romantasy - it touches upon grief, PTSD, addiction, mental health, and shows readers that you are never truly powerless (even when you feel like you might be). Thea's strength of acknowledging her weaknesses and struggles while still pushing to do the right thing, carry on with her duties, and being the best version of herself is inspiring. I think we all face moments when we think the pressures of the world fall on our shoulders like Thea. This story shows that when you believe in yourself and confide in a support system, you are stronger than you could have ever imagined. Thea's resilience to oppressive authority and sticking up for her beliefs is admirable. I loved her character, especially how brave she was despite not knowing her past or her own strength.

Clay quickly stole a piece of my heart with his intentions, caring soul, and his complex backstory. The slow burn forbidden romance filled with yearning, subtle gestures to show affection, and heartbreaking twists had my soul aching. I am excited to see where their love story will go (and it best be in the right direction!). The secondary characters were all complex as well. Thea, alone in this new world, manages to surround herself with friends that become her family. There were many betrayals that occurred by the end of the book, and each one pierced new holes in my heart. I grew attached to many of Thea and Clay's friends in ways that I didn't expect. I wonder if and when the betrayers will be able to find a way back into Thea's life.

The world building was intricate, in a non overwhelming, digestible way. I love how elements of the lore are a play on Greek mythology. As the reader, it was fun learning about the world as Thea was learning the history and piecing together parts of her past.

Overall, I cannot wait to read the second installment in this series. This book is perfect for those that enjoy:
✨ slow burn romance
✨ interesting world building
✨ amnesia
✨ magic and shifters
✨ badass FMC
✨ royals and politics
✨ one bed

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Rose in the Shadows - Arcadia Rayne
5✨
I devoured this book, it had me hooked from page one! Usually I am not the biggest fan of protagonist with amnesia but here it really worked. The world building was great, the plot and characters amazing. The twists and turns just kept on coming and I am here for it. I adored our FMC, she is fierce, loyal, strong minded and gosh is she powerful. Clay is the perfect love interest, forbidden and protective. Her found family is great and they all have such nice chemistry. I can’t wait to dive into book 2 of this series and see what happens next! If you like the following,
🥀Forgotten past
🥀Powerful FMC
🥀Enemies to lovers
🥀Kingdoms and courts
🥀Found family
🥀Mythology
🥀Descendants of Gods
🥀Captive
🥀Dragons
this book is for you!
Thank you NetGalley and Arcadia for this ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily💕

I recently discovered "The Rose in the Shadows" when I requested an Advanced Reader Copy of its sequel, "The Crown of the Dark Prince". "The Rose in the Shadows" was a compelling and fast-paced read. I appreciated the elements of fantasy, court politics, and the mystery surrounding Thea, along with the theme of betrayal. From the outset, it was evident that this book would be difficult to put down, and I eagerly anticipated the second book. Although the ending was somewhat jarring, being able to dive right into "The Crown of the Dark Prince" eased the ending for me. Overall, I really enjoyed reading “The Rose in the Shadows” and look forward Rayne’s next works. 3.75 stars.

Okay wow! This book was so fascinating I’m so glad I got approved for both books so I can instantly continue on!!
I devoured this book wait no… is they a word that means more than devoured? If so I mean that.
The plot was fast paced and easy to follow full of fantasy, mystery and a whole lot of betrayal.
The romance aspect had me giggling and kicking my feet and I genuinely had to stop and put the book down at some parts(in the best way!)
This was one of the best Debut novels I’ve read in a WHILE

I really enjoyed this book. It took me about 59 pages to get into it but once I was, I was hooked! The book starts off jumping right into action and felt so lost, but eventually I caught up and started enjoying it. The characters have good banter. I really like the FMC- she reminds me of SJM’s ToG FMC Smart, cunning, and strong. A lot of books make the FMC seem like they all need rescuing, not this one, and I love it! I cant wait to read The Crown of the Dark Prince when it comes out!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and author Arcadia Rayne for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The publication date was last year and I am so glad I got to read it! My review on GoodReads has already been posted.

Wowwwww!! 😭❤️ this was such an intricate and fascinating book! Book 1 of this series was absolutely amazing!! My heart broke at different points for Thea and Clay, as well as the entire friend group, especially Iris. I really hope Iris can heal from all the things she endured emotionally. The world building was incredibly easy to follow. It made it super easy to picture Athenia in my mind.

While the plot, premise, and ideas do follow what most fantasy books are about (magic, forbidden love, a kingdom in need of a new ruler, a secret enemy, etc.) the author truly made Athenia and the characters stand out in its own unique world. The descriptions were stunning and I felt so connected to the characters!! I can’t wait to read the rest of the series! Hoping for a HEA for Thea and Clay 💓🤞

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.

3.75 rounded up
This was a unique take on a fantasy romance with a blend of mythology, mystery, court politics, witchcraft, and magic. There's a lot readers will love about this start to the series - the beginning of the story opens up with our main cast meeting each other in the thick of the action and the story is quite fast-paced at the beginning. The author did a great job of balancing not only developing the MMC and FMC but also making us care about the supporting cast. I can't quite put my finger on it but I felt it was a bit hard to connect with the main FMC at times... I felt her personality varied a bit throughout the book and she responded to things in ways I didn't expect her to so it kind of threw me off. The romance was secondary to the main overarching plot but readers will still get their fill of a slow burn and that reveal at the end will leave them begging for the second book.

This is a spoiler-free review!

I would first like to thank NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review. After suddenly appearing, Theadora Moore is found to be the last Descendant of Hyrax, and she is thrown into royal politics and attempts on her life. With no memory of who she is or how she ended up here, she must navigate life as a royal and tune into the magic that very much but a target on her back. Prince Clayton Vail is weary to trust this girl who has already caused an amount of destruction without intention, and he must determine if her presence at court will be one of distraction or duty.

The amnesia trope is something I have actually rarely come across - sure, there have been points in books where characters have lost their memories after being cursed or drinking potions, but I do not recall more than a few times where the lead has had no memory from the beginning. It creates such a unique challenge for not only the lead, but for the supporting characters who have to discover if Thea is able to be trusted. Watching her grow into herself and work to discover how she ended up with such a target on her back and searching for answers.

Clay's immediate mistrust of Thea is not unexpected - in fact, if he trusted her immediately, I would have been weary of Clay's reasoning abilities. As he continues to side eye her throughout the days and warn everyone within a hundred foot vicinity that she should not be so easily welcomed, we also see the longing gazes and beginnings of protectiveness towards her. I loved his character - I would not go as far to say that he is stand-offish, but rather as heir, he must be cautious on who he interacts with and opens up to. The bickering between Thea and Clay was definitely a highlight of this book, and truly showed how their relationship developed over time.

Thea may be a stranger to her own memories, but that does not hinder the way she interacts with those in court or her boldness when it comes to making a scene for the good of the people. She is strong-headed and often times it does have consequences, not only for herself, but for others. I do think a lot of the supporting characters do place a lot of strong feelings on her - she is incredibly new to the idea that she is a princess, and yet she is under scrutiny at every turn. That being said, supporting characters like Iris have been by her side essentially since the beginning, and you can tell that she does have a support system in place, no matter how small it is.

The action in this book is certainly captivating, and I found myself truly enjoying the intensity - it reminded me a lot of Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard in that regard. There were so many instances where I felt as though I could not turn the page fast enough - sure, there is world-building in the beginning, but even so, there is action right from the start. The author had a clear vision of what she wanted to convey with this story, and I appreciate the fact that she took the time to development side characters without sacrificing the main plot or Thea's development. Both Thea and Clay have such strong presences in this book, and are the main drawing point for me to continue reading this series and seeing where it goes. If you are looking for an adult fantasy to keep you on the edge of your seat, The Rose in the Shadows is definitely for you.

Started fast paced and action packed. Which hooked me in to continuing reading straight away… then couldn’t put it down!

Mystery, magic and more. The lead FMC has no memory and you are on a journey to find out more about her. She finds new friends and one is the unruly crown prince… but is he her enemy or friend?

🐉 Magic, gods, descendants and dragons with court politics thrown in for good measure. All the perfect ingredients for a fantasy novel!

‼️ Tropes - touch her and die, found family, only one room at the inn, romantancy, tension building, trials

Available for everyone from 11 April!

#TheRoseintheShadows #NetGalley #ARCRead #romantancyreads #booktok #bookstagram #booktokuk #booktokfyp #fyp #reading #fantasyreader #tbr #booklife #fantasyworld

Magic, mystery, and a prince who may or may not be trustworthy—what more could you ask for? The House of Hyrax sweeps you into a world of courtly intrigue, where danger lurks in the shadows and secrets whisper through the halls. With a dash of romance and a heroine bound by fate, this enchanting tale is one you won’t want to put down!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#TheRoseInTheShadows #NetGalley

First of all, I want to say thank you to NetGalley and publisher who accepted my request for this book and gave me opportunity to read it.

The book is really interesting, especially, if you love Greek Mythologies. Although, Rayne did some modification to the name of the Gods, that's still fun!

The story is written in first person POV. So, if you like that as well, this would be nice for you. The FMC (Thea) is strong and determined. The MMC (Clay) is so sweet beneath his "stern" mask. The friendship is really heartwarming, too. This book serves the found-family trope nicely!

Overall, I would say this book is a fantastic debut!

“The world began and ended with him.”

Listen. The Rose In The Shadows by Arcadia Rayne didn’t just grab me by the throat—it waltzed in, slapped me with emotional damage, and then whispered, “You’re welcome.” And honestly? I am thankful.

Let’s start with the character growth, because wow. These characters went through more development than my houseplants ever will. Emotional trauma? Check. Internal conflicts? Check. Glorious, satisfying arcs? Double check. I was so invested I almost started journaling their progress like a proud therapist.

And Clay? Don’t even get me started. That broody, beautifully broken, morally gray mess of a man wormed his way into my heart like a literary parasite and now I can’t function without him. He’s got layers, he’s got angst, he’s got smolder—and I’m over here wondering how to file fictional characters on my tax return as emotional dependents.

Arcadia Rayne, what gives you the right to write this well? How dare you make me care this much? I came for the fantasy and left with a full-blown obsession.

If you haven’t read this book yet, what are you doing? Go. Read it. Fall in love. Cry a little. Then come join me in the Clay Support Group—I’m president now.

This was such an amazing read! I can't believe it's a debut novel.
The rose in the shadows follows Thea, who wakes up with no memory if her past. As she slowly discovers herself and what she can do, she is thrown into a world of royalty where every wrong move has her under the threat of the wrath of the Dragon.
I loved this book so much. At first, I wasn't honestly too sure about it and whether I would enjoy it all that much, however, as the book continued, I found myself more and more engrossed in the plot. I read most of the book in one sitting- I just couldn't put it down!
I'm already so excited to find out what happens next, thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read this book, it was definitely one of the best I've read this year.
(As always, all opinions are my own)

Oh this was STUNNING!!! i highly recommend everyone read this gorgeous book.
It has the best slow burn enemies to lovers romance you could ask for. also the found family trope was beautiful throughout this book. This was perfect for anyone who was a fan of the percy jackson series. The twists and turns throughout this book had me hooked the whole time and I honestly wasn't able to guess what would happen next.

This was such a great book especially for a debut novel! There was so much found family and the slow burn was wonderful! The romance was definitely secondary to the book and the fantasy really was the main focus which I really enjoyed! I devoured this book within 24 hours because it was just so immersive and captivating. I'm excited to read the next book!

“Who did that, Thea?”His voice was like death, or at least the promise of it.

With a beginning that instantly snags you in and a pace that kept you entranced throughout the whole story, it's no wonder I got through 400+ pages so fast! I loved every character, and the word was beautifully built. There were moments that had my jaw dropping and had my feet absolutely kicking with giddy delight and this book has what I would define as the PERFECT "one bed" moment! 🥰
I anxiously await book 2!!

Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy for me to review!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The action starts at the very beginning of the book when the FMC seems to be attacking the city with a very powerful magic. After being subdued she wakes up with no memories of who she is and what she had done.
As it turns out she’s the last descendent of a God and she is thrown into the game of politics by being forced to represent her House by sitting on the council of Descendants.
The worldbuilding is very digestible and easy to follow. We learn about the world slowly throughout the book alongside the FMC as she learns about the world she’s ended up in.
I really liked the FMC, Thea. She could definitely be annoying at times but I understand why and her flaws are something that she is able to acknowledge and work on. She can be very indecisive at times but honestly I feel that she handles everything extremely well all things considered.
Clay is a great MMC who ended up being such a sweetheart. This is definitely a slow burn - a frustratingly slow burn forbidden romance. Clay and Thea struggle with balancing their happiness and their duty to their people.
The ending was amazing and I truly did not see it coming! Very excited to continue this story in book 2.

It took me a bit to get into it because the pacing was a bit off for me but the characters were ready to like so I was glad to keep going.
I liked Iris. She was a bright light in Thea's life.
I did have a hard time liking Ckay, he was rude and abrasive but as Thea got to know him we did too and you see there is more to him than you first thought.
The underlying plot was well done, we were kept in the dark for quite a while with a few red hearings.
I'm eager to see what happens next
Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy and these thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed this, it was easy to get into and read. I finished it in two days because I was pulled into the storyline and wanted to know how it was going to end. It does end on a slight cliff-hanger but luckily book two is out soon!

It was exciting learning about Thea and watching her adjust to the life she has been thrust into and getting to grips with her magic. I am a sucker for a found family storyline, I loved how Thea gets adopted into a friendship group and supported. I loved the twist on a Greek mythology retelling.

There is a romantic plotline in the book but it’s not the focus, I’m looking forward to seeing how this develops in book two. The plot twists were fun, nothing amazingly original, but sometimes you need a book where you can just leap into a fantasy world and be taken on an adventure without being confused by a huge new world and magic system.

I love a strong female character and that is definitely Thea, she has powerful magic, learns to fight, stands up for what she believes in. She does make mistakes and she learns from these. Do check the TW - there are references to violence, SA, death.

One issue I had with the story - I am not a fan of a love interest who sulks when a woman tells him ‘no’.
I was also a bit confused with the timeline because at the end of the book it references a year has passed but it only seemed like it had been a few months. This could just be me missing an important line though.

The installation of this series was simply delightful. It’s very adult Percy Jackson with a sprinkling of court politics and just a dash of a sizzling slowly burning forbidden romance.

We’re introduced to a heavily Greek inspired magical system that takes lovely nods to the Greek mythology we all know and love and twists into a beautifully original take turning the story into an immediate page turner. A romantasy isn’t a romantasy without a love interest and the one in this book ticks all the boxes for a great story.
A crown prince destined to marry for politics that’s descended from our protagonists rival bloodline so keeps his distance while simultaneously not being able to stay away, yes please!

I will most definitely be tuning into the rest of the series to see how this one ends. Thank you NetGalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


I have also submitted a review to Amazon, it is currently pending and will upload the link when it goes live.