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Cover of What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

by Nicolle May

🌶️🌶️mild·Promises of the Marked #1
5.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.0 on Goodreads (1,521)

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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?

A morally gray shadow daddy, intense emotional angst, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance that leaves you craving the next book. The trauma healing arc is among the best in the genre.

Synopsis

Throne of Glass meets The Witcher and Once Upon a Time in this heart-wrenching, high fantasy romance packed with trauma healing, epic magic, and high-stakes rebellion. "What could be worse than death?" They made her kneel. So, she would see them burn... Alora—a Marked One—is bound to a fate of suffering. Therefore, when Lord Kaine takes her as his lady, life under his status and within his manor should have offered her everything—including safety. Except, in the darkness, Alora is a dying star, an explosion contained by his will and cruelty. Waiting for the day she’ll blaze a light so intense it would burn at the edges of shadow itself, she endures her destined torment. But outside his walls, evil terrorizes Elysian, and as the Savage Prince sets his attention on Alora next, the lines between monster and savior blur. Her desire for freedom becomes tainted, and a new price must be paid. With rumors of his cruelty, ruthlessness, and unrelenting power, Alora's trust is not easily earned. She can't help feeling like she's exchanged one monster for another—a lord for a prince. A betrothed for a shadow beast. Can Alora ever truly be free under those who have bound themselves to her? Or will her only escape sit masked in shadow? What Lies Within Masks & Shadows is the first book in a new series featuring a morally gray hero with powers of darkness, enemies-to-lovers, "traumance", banter, dark secrets, and captivating, action-packed adventure with slow burn romance. Welcome to the darkened world of Elysian. Welcome to What Lies Within Masks & Shadows. Authors Readers are encouraged to check the trigger warnings inside. This is an adult book that touches on very dark themes.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

A curator's note goes here with flavor that could spoil the plot.

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.

4.01 ★ (1.5k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

532 pages

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

2024

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

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.

No audiobook yet

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

Single Narrator (unspecified)

Narrator Count

Single

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
captive romancedark romanceforced proximityenemies to loversmonster romancehidden identity
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

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

darkintensebroodingangstymysteriousromantictense

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

darkatmosphericimmersiveemotional

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.'

forbidden desiremorally complextraumance

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

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

survivordeceptively deadlyreluctant chosen one

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

morally gray MMCpossessive alphadark/tortured soul

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.

enemies to loverstouch her and dieforbidden loveslow burnpush and pull

Spice Details 🌶️

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🌶️
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Spice Level 2

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

closed door / fade to blacktension / anticipationlonging glances

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

tensionlonging glancespossessive/protectiveeye contact intensity

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

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (12)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
domestic violencesexual assaultdeathemotional abusekidnappingtorturetraumaviolencecaptivitygriefstalkingpanic attacks
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

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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.

grimdark / dark fantasyfae realm / faerie courts

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.

manor house / estateprison / captivitywar front / rebellion

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

faeshadow beings / shadow faedemonsmonsters

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

ADHD repmental health repneurodivergent MC

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 deliveredobsessedferal brain activated

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

winter

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

at nightbedtime

Promises of the Marked

What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

#1 What Lies Within Masks & Shadows

What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

#2 What Lies Within Blood & Heirs

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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.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.532
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2024
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.01 ★ (1.5k)
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.

Promises of the Marked #1
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