Duskshade ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Madison Patershuk and Ebony Dobson have created an ambitious romantasy filled with portal magic, fae politics, prophecy and emotional character journeys. The premise immediately drew me in, especially the contrast between Ophelia’s scientific worldview and the chaos of being thrown into the dangerous realm of Fenraeis.
One of the strongest aspects of the book was the emotional intensity running throughout the story. Ophelia’s confusion, fear and gradual growth into her power felt immersive, and I appreciated the way the narrative explored identity, survival and mental health alongside the fantasy elements. The world itself was vivid and imaginative, with plenty of lore and intriguing magical concepts that romantasy readers will likely enjoy.
I also enjoyed the relationship dynamics and found family moments woven into the story. Kane brought the classic morally grey fantasy love interest energy that many readers of the genre look for, and there were several emotional and romantic moments that stood out well for me.
At times, I did find parts of the story difficult to follow, particularly where the lines between memory, hallucination and reality blurred together. Some plot elements and lore felt underexplained, which occasionally left me feeling a little disconnected from the wider story, and the pacing in the middle section slowed for me before picking up again toward the end.
That said, there is clearly a lot of passion, creativity and potential within this story, and I think readers who enjoy emotionally immersive romantasy with darker themes, fae worlds and character driven journeys will find plenty to appreciate here.
I wish both authors every success with Duskshade and future projects, and I’d be interested to see where they take their storytelling next. 📚✨

Thank you to the authors and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A devastating romance of epic proportion.

23 year old Ophelia lives a quiet life with her cat and here science lab in London. The hallucinations she’s dealt with her entire life grow worse, and she is suddenly thrown into a dangerous fae realm. She’s faced with intimidating fae, ancient creatures, and political unrest. This is an epic fantasy about identity, power, and survival, packed with shocking reveals and deeply emotional romance.

* High Fae
* Morally gray MMC
* “Are you hurt”
* “Touch her and die”
* Wound checking
* Prophecy
* Portal magic
* Animal/beast sidekicks
* Training and battle arcs
* Found family

There are two romances woven throughout the story, the second having wrecked me. The burn is criminally slow, and the yearning is visceral, devastating, and unmatched. The plot will hook you, but the slow-burn breadcrumbs will keep you. The ache is so impactful that you’ll be thinking of it long after you finish the book. The cliffhanger, however, had me confused and yelling!

Entering Fenraeis is like Alice dropping into Wonderland. The creatures are strange and stunning, and the landscape is bright and ethereal. Great care is given to extensive build of this world, being wildly immersive and imaginative. The magic system is layered, complex, and an essential driver of the plot. Fans of the Little Mermaid will love the underwater kingdom in the Aurelion Tides! The pacing slows in the middle but picks back up again in the last quarter of the book - I couldn't turn the page fast enough.

Many readers will resonate with Ophelia’s journey toward empowerment, especially after a life lacking self trust. While subtle, I appreciated how she longs to rediscover her fearless childhood self, long dampened by the struggle and insecurity of adulthood. There’s also a beautiful exploration of grief and how it can darken our world and turn us into people we don’t recognize - but also how we can thread our past and present grieving selves together to be someone even stronger.

Great choice for people who loved the evolution of Feyre’s romances in the ACOTAR series, or any romantasy reader looking for a new world to get lost in for a while. Some things remain unfinished or unanswered, leaving you begging for the next book. Thank you to Madison Patershuk & Ebony Dobson for the free advanced copy!

Hello thank you so much for letting me read this i really enjoyed resding this book i wanted more and could not stop from page 1 to the end i was hooked i would highly recommend thank you again