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Cover of A Touch of Poison (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2)

A Touch of Poison (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2)

by Clare Sager

🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate·Shadows of the Tenebris Court #2
5.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.0 on Goodreads (16,248)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You'll acquire a shadow daddy book boyfriend and experience the intense satisfaction of a slow-burn romance finally igniting amidst high-stakes political games.

Synopsis

In Elfhame, bargains are currency, lies are weapons, and your heart is your greatest weakness. Reeling from Bastian’s revelations, Kat wakes from her dire illness wanting nothing more than to sever all ties with the man who betrayed her. But fate has a different plan—she’s trapped in Elfhame, the fae realm where nothing is as it seems. And worse, she’s trapped with him, reliant on his touch to stave off a poison that threatens her very life. Thrust into the centre of Dusk and Dawn Courts, they must balance the two in order to maintain a delicate peace. But in a world where alliances are forged and shattered in a heartbeat, danger looms. A mysterious group infiltrates the city and spies whisper of an ancient artefact powerful enough to destroy an entire court. As enemies close in from all sides and attacks on the city escalate, Kat and Bastian must unearth deadly secrets and their own complicated feelings to survive—or risk a war to destroy faekind itself.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Clare Sager earns her "Queen of Edging" title here—this is slow burn at its most agonizing, with Kat dependent on Bastian's touch to survive a deadly poison while navigating fae court politics that could kill her just as fast. The shadow-daddy energy is unmatched, the knife play is chef's kiss, and the cliffhanger will make you want to throw your Kindle and immediately buy book three.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.98 ★ (16.2k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

716 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2023

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

Dual POV

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Sarah Sampino, Liam Price

Narrator Count

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
forced proximityhidden identitygames/trials romancefated matesonly one bedforbidden loveslow burntouch her and die
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseromanticsuspensefulseductivesecretiveatmosphericbroodingangstysteamy

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

atmosphericimmersivesharpbroodingedgy

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

fae courts and politicsforbidden desire

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

morally gray FMCsurvivorspy/thiefwarrior/fighter

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray MMCpossessive alphadark/tortured soulfae prince

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

slow burnmutual piningforbidden lovefated matestouch her and diepush and pullhe falls first

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
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Spice Level 3

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionateanimalistic / primalemotional / loving

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

praise kinkpossessive/protectivejealous/possessive during intimacybody worshipmarking hickeyssize difference focustensiontouch starvation

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

bonding/claiming/markingpossessivedominancechoking/breath playrough/aggressive intimacy
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This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (9)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencetortureemotional abusekidnappingmurdertraumabloodcaptivitywar
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World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

fae realm / faerie courtshigh fantasy

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

fae courtroyal court / palace

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

faeshadow beings / shadow fae

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

the angst deliveredtension finally satisfiedbook hangover incomingferal brain activated

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

at nightcozy evening

Shadows of the Tenebris Court

A Kiss of Iron (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #1)

#1 A Kiss of Iron (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #1)

A Touch of Poison (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2)

#2 A Touch of Poison (Shadows of the Tenebris Court, #2)

A Promise of Lies

#3 A Promise of Lies

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️🌶️moderate
PagesHow long the commitment is.716
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2023
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.98 ★ (16.2k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Shadows of the Tenebris Court #2
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