To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn
To Kill a Shadow by Katherine Quinn is a new YA fantasy horror novel packed with action, suspense and a delicious romance.
Kiara Frey, a fierce young woman with a past that haunts her and fighting skills to compete with any warrior worth their salt, finds herself bound for the capital as a recruit for the Knights of the Eternal Star.
The kingdom is without a sun, the light vanishing from the world after the jealous lover of the sun goddess Raina stabbed her through the heart. At the bidding of the vicious King Cirian, the Knights venture into the dangerous and lethal mist and shadows that curse their lands in an attempt to find the keys that will restore the sun and lift the curse once and for all.
Jude Maddox, Hand of Death and commander of the Knights, finds himself with a new recruit as spunky and sharp as they come. As Jude and Kiara are forced together by circumstance, then perhaps by something more, it becomes apparent that in Kiara, Jude may finally have met his match.
Full of witty banter, found family and a strong helping of fantasy horror, To Kill a Shadow is a page-turner from start to finish.
Strong Heroine, Brooding Commander, Endearing Romance
I absolutely loved Kiara as a character. She’s a badass heroine, able to take down other recruits with precision and skill, and yet she also carries the weight of her secrets and her doubts. She trusts herself as a fighter but wrestles with how people will perceive her when they find out the truth of what she conceals behind the leather gloves that she always wears. She’s funny and clever, and the back-and-forth banter that she shares with Jude is incredibly endearing to read.
Similarly, I also enjoyed the narrative moments from Jude’s perspective. He too carries his past around, hiding parts of himself from those around him.
Getting to experience the unfolding of Kiara and Jude’s relationship, and the revelations that they share with each other, is really wonderful. These are two characters who are afraid of what others will think if they know the truth, and when faced with a counterpart who shares that mindset, there is a spark that ignites. Watching that spark kindle and burn brighter throughout this book kept me coming back for more!
Dark Horror, Fantasy Adventure, Beautiful Relationships
There is so much heart to To Kill a Shadow, despite the horror themes and moments of darkness and gore. Quinn has crafted a story about a kingdom in darkness, and people fighting their internal darkness, yet has still permeated that story with humor and beautiful relationships — both romantic and familial — in a way that creates a really moving story.
I loved the relationships that were forged over the course of the book, the bonds of trust and understanding that developed as experiences were shared and secrets revealed. These were fully human characters, in the best way possible.
To Kill a Shadow is a thrilling adventure from start to finish. If you love a book with a badass female protagonist, suspenseful fantasy horror, a handsome and brooding commander and just the right combination of enemies to lovers and forced proximity romance, then To Kill a Shadow is for you.
About Katherine Quinn:
Katherine Quinn is a fantasy romance author and poet. She graduated from the University of Central Florida with a degree in psychology. She resides in Houston, Texas with her husband and three children.
Her love for writing began after she read her first fantasy series, Song of the Lioness, by Tamora Pierce. After that, she wanted nothing more than to be a dagger-wielding heroine. Unfortunately, it’s frowned upon to give a child a dagger, so she settled on writing about daring adventures instead.
Coffee is her true love, and she believes anything can be fixed with Starbucks and dark humor.
