A Secret Shared with Death: Gods from the Oblivion (2024)

I am very thankful that the author sent me an eARC of this book. The premise is very interesting, and it's not often romantic fantasy readers get a morally gray FMC with shadow magic.

While I enjoyed this book to an extent, I had a lot of issues surrounding the pacing. This may sound contradictory, but it felt like nothing and everything was happening at once. The book would feel slow in sections, and in those sections were scenes that were supposed to be exciting, but they fell short. Also, I would have liked a slower development of the romances. Isolde seemed too trusting of the main one to begin with.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I felt like this book had a lot of potential. Some concepts were genuinely intriguing, specially when it came to the death magic.

I finished this book out of sheer will. It contains everything that I dislike in the current romantasy space - underdeveloped romance (including its own shadow daddy), confusing world-building, a messy plot, and just generally bad writing.

So the FMC Isolde is supposed to be unlikeable, but maybe the book does too good of a job on this one. Her entire village is decimated by elves, and she’s going to get revenge. Aside from that, she has special hair, cool magic, and no other personality traits to be seen. This so-called village girl treats everyone else like garbage and walks around like she owns the place. It was very annoying and not particularly good storytelling. The plot was rushed and all over the place, and I had a hard time caring about anything that happened on the page. It was just a disappointing read that failed to reach the potential the ideas presented.

3.5/5

This is a story of Isolde's journey into a world of dark magic, revenge, and complicated relationships. Isolde's story opens with the elves burning her village in their search for her and things just escalate from there.

Isolde is a compelling protagonist, driven by her desire for revenge and her struggle to navigate the complex web of alliances and conflicts as everyone keeps information from her or lies to her. She grapples with the power within her, the people she is inexplicably drawn to, and the choices she must make to protect herself and those she cares about. She is flawed and intriguing and complex. She's not afraid to make hard choices or dangerous alliances to get what she wants. We support women's rights AND wrongs here.

Unfortunately, I really struggled to emotionally connect with the other characters, and the romantic aspects of the story felt somewhat lacking as a result. Plus, they're kind of assholes and mostly just use Isolde. Despite this, Isolde's journey remains captivating, and her determination to forge her own path amidst betrayal and uncertainty is commendable. As Isolde's journey continues, readers will undoubtedly be eager to see where her path leads next.

But I think that she should just run away and go live on a beach with Javaid.

Thanks to the author for this copy. This review is based on a complimentary pre-released copy and it is voluntary.

Isolde has found herself lost and angry after her village has been burnt to the ground by elves, but despite always feeling like the outcast growing up she knew she couldn’t just look the other way. So on her road to revenge, she comes across Death who decides to aid her in her plan and point her in the right direction to get the help she needs to learn to harness her powers.

This story is full of unexpected twists and court politics so beware. I do have to admit that I like the fact that you get a good sense of the characters and their backgrounds which made things easier to follow, but at the same time made me mad. 😅 Don’t get me wrong I love Isolde, but it’s the men who I have a bone to pick with except for Javaid (he’s the exception lol). I can’t wait for the next one! I’m intrigued to see where this story goes and how it’ll end.

I really liked the concept of this book and felt it was interesting and different. I loved getting to know Death and Isolde and was so interested in how their story would develop. There is a love triangle, and there is a lot of back and forth with each of the characters. I wish there was a little more chemistry there. The pacing felt a bit off at times. This book ends in a cliffhanger.

I read this book as part of the ARC team. I was instantly bewtiched by the world Ariella created and can't wait for the next book.

A Secret Shared with Death follows Isolde, a young woman with mysterious shadow powers, as she flees the burning of her village by elves. Lord Death, god of Hel, has been watching her since a young age and teams up with her to find someone to teach her how to wield her powers, which are strangely similar to his own. Isolde and Death are captivated with each other, but Death is hiding some seriously big secrets and important information from Isolde. Together with a demigod, Javaid, they travel to the fae lands. The fae king, Caspian, and Death have a complicated past, and their fascination with Isolde only serves to make things more tempestuous. As Isolde works on learning how to control her magic, her obsession with getting revenge on the elves who massacred her village becomes all-encompassing and she is willing to do whatever it takes, including breaking her own heart, in order to get it.

I found this story to be beautifully written. The world building was easy to follow and I was constantly on the edge of my seat trying to figure out everyone's motivations. Isolde was an excellent main character; I both loved her and found her relatable, but also hated her and wanted to shake her by her shoulders sometimes. Her character development and that of the MMCs was exceptionally well done. I love a misunderstood, broody MMC, so Death was right up my alley, especially since he's a shadow daddy and a god. I seriously can't wait to see where this series goes next, but I just hope Isolde is able to find peace and that her thirst for revenge doesn't destroy her.

If you're a fan of Throne of Glass, One Dark Window, The Crowns of Nyaxia, etc., I think you'll really love this book. Huge congrats to Ariella for writing such a phenomenal debut book.

A Secret Shared With Death is one of those rare romantasy books that can still surprise me. Whilst it’s still has the tropes we know and love (enemies-to-lovers and shadow magic being at the forefront here), the author did this in a way that kept me hooked and genuinely shocked when certain things were revealed in the book.

ASSWD follows Isolde as she seeks revenge on the Elves for destroying her home, with the help of The Lord of Death and the fae King. In order to do so, she has to face harsh truths about her heritage and learn to understand and control her powers.

Perhaps controversially, I hope the future books stay single POV, as Isolde is the first FMC I’ve read in a while that I wholeheartedly agree with her choices. She’s strong and does what it takes to survive - even if it means not always being wholly considerate of other’s feelings. I actually found myself loving being in the dark about others feelings/ the narrative being biased - it felt like a bit of a refreshing change.

All in all, ASSWD is an incredibly strong start for the Gods of Oblivion series and I’m excited for what’s to come.

Thanks to the author for sharing this ARC with me 💗

Isolde is the village outcast. Found abandoned in the forest as an infant and raised by adoptive parent who died soon after, she's spent most of her life alone. One night, she awakens to find her village being invaded by elves, with everyone she's ever known being burned alive inside their homes. Forced to flee, she is aided by Death, a god who she's only met a couple times but who feels familiar all the same. Once she learns that her village was destroyed because the king of elves is looking for a mage matching her description, Isolde journeys to the fae kingdom to learn how to harness her elusive powers. In order to avenge the humans who died, Isolde will have to decide what she cares about the most: love, truth, or revenge.

I received an ARC of this author's recent vampire novella "The Blood is Life" last year, which I really enjoyed, so I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of her debut novel, A Secret With Death. I enjoyed aspects of this book, but I'm sad to say I didn't love it. To sum it up, the relationships moved too quickly while the plot moved too slowly, which made it difficult for me to be invested in the FMC's decisions and motivations.

Things I liked:
- The initial mystery around who and what Isolde is
- Death's character
- The beginnings of found family/banter with Javaid
- Antihero FMC

Things I struggled with:
- Isolde's desire for revenge: I think this was the author's intention but as truths unravel, Isolde's desire for revenge feels misplaced. I'm all for a moral back FMC, but this fell short.
- Love triangle: I really like when the FMC could choose either MMC. However, it's clear from the beginning which MMC she loves and that the other is a means to an end.
- Pacing and flow: Personally, I felt that there was too much happening at the same time, especially around world building, which made the story feel a little unfocused.

Overall, I think readers who enjoy books about lost love, lost memories, and hidden identities will enjoy this book and series. Other themes include: morally grey, reincarnation, immortality, one horse, insta love, possessive/jealous MMCs, shadow mommy/daddy, political intrigue, deception, and more.

Thank you to the author, Ariella Isabella, for providing me with an eARC of A Secret With Death!

I picked up A Secret Shared with Death by Ariella Isabella with high hopes, drawn in by its promising premise and intriguing plot. However, as I delved into the pages, I found myself disappointed by its execution. The story held great potential, but it stumbled in its delivery. Plot holes littered the narrative, leaving me with unanswered questions and a sense of disconnect. Additionally, the world building felt lacking, failing to fully immerse me in the setting, and the relationships between characters felt underdeveloped and shallow. One of the biggest letdowns for me was the pacing of the story. It felt uneven and rushed in some parts, while dragging on in others, making it difficult to stay fully engaged throughout.

As someone who's drawn to complex antihero protagonists, I was eager to meet Isolde in A Secret Shared with Death. However, she left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. Unlike the compelling and morally grey protagonists I've enjoyed in the past, such as those in The Conqueror's Saga by Kiersten White, The Broken Empire series by Mark Lawrence or The Young Elites series by Marie Lu, Isolde fell short of this mark. Instead of being intriguingly flawed, she came across as highly unlikable. Her sense of false grandeur and naive impulsiveness made it difficult for me to connect with her. Isolde's tendency towards disruptive behavior and spontaneous mood swings, which sometimes bordered on what seemed like bipolar disorder, further distanced me from her character. Rather than feeling relatable, she came off as a naive girl who constantly ran her mouth without considering the consequences of her actions. What disappointed me the most was Isolde's lack of growth or self awareness throughout the story. Instead of owning up to her mistakes and learning from them, she seemed to expect others to bring her the redemption she desperately needed.

Malek, The Lord of Death, and Caspian, Lord of The Glass Court, didn't fare much better as love interests and main male characters in A Secret Shared with Death. Instead of being fully fleshed out characters, they felt more like plot devices driving the story forward. While I understand the author's intention to keep Malek's contribution to Isolde's powers mysterious to create suspense, it was predictable from the start.

The "Shadow Daddy" trope used with Malek made me cringe so hard, especially when he uttered "Good girl. I like it when you take commands" shortly after meeting Isolde. For those who are now thinking there will be more 'good girl' moment, let me stop you right now. There isn't any more. If this was done properly, it can be a huge turn on, but in this case, it unfortunately wasn't.

Caspian was your typical 'Your puss* is so good but you are a tiny female who cannot even fathom to wrap your head around the intricacies of politics (in this case, which was true) and must be protected at all costs' guy.

As for Caspian and Malek's attraction to Isolde, it was a conundrum to me. While Malek knew her true identity as Evlyn and Caspian sensed something about her to that effect, Isolde's character lacked distinctive traits beyond cursing, running her mouth despite the occasion or killing before thinking. Her tendency to act before thinking and her penchant for running her mouth didn't make her a particularly compelling or attractive character, leaving me puzzled as to why these male characters would be drawn to her beyond her superficial qualities. Yeah, well, Evlyn, I guess. There was no emotional connection among them or relationship growth. It was basically all over the place.

Isolde's thirst for revenge in A Secret Shared with Death felt somewhat out of place due to the lack of depth in her connection to her village. Throughout the story, Ariella didn't quite establish a strong bond between Isolde and her village or its inhabitants. While there were a couple of male characters who showed her kindness, the overall portrayal was one of isolation and misery, with the villagers mostly hating and fearing her. This made the drastic action of Silas, the Elf King, burning down the village seem unnecessary and illogical. If the goal was to find Isolde, it would have been way easier for the soldiers to simply inquire about her whereabouts, as someone in the village likely would have happily pointed them in her direction. The decision to burn down the village seemed counterproductive to the mission, risking Isolde's survival rather than aiding in her capture. I believe he wanted her alive, not roasted.

Isolde's reckless act of killing the elf emissary in A Secret Shared with Death was a frustrating moment for me. As an emissary, the elf held a significant diplomatic status, a representative of an entire nation or a race, and his death without consideration of the repercussions showcased Isolde's lack of foresight and political understanding. It was a rash decision that could easily be interpreted as an act of aggression and potentially lead to conflict between the Fae court, the one where she was a guest, I might add, and the Elves.

Moreover, Isolde's declaration about taking down Silas and Athalia felt hollow and unrealistic, highlighting her naive belief in her own capabilities. Without any tangible plan or political support, her words came off as empty bravado, emphasizing her false sense of grandeur. She was a nobody with no political backing or any sort of army behind her on her own. Her reliance on Caspian and Malek, who were driven by their own agendas rather than genuine support for her, only emphasized her vulnerability and lack of agency in the larger political landscape.

Isolde was whining throughout the book about how everyone was treating her like a human whor* in the Fae Court. But my darling Isolde, you indeed were the one who slept with their king only after a couple of interactions, used that in order to get what you wanted and killed an emissary of another Court, who they were trying to avoid a conflict with that would affect their entire nation. Can you blame them? You just dropped in out of nowhere, seduced their king and watched as he seemingly carried out your agenda to quench your misplaced need for vengeance for a village you didn't seem to care that much at all. You never tried to change their minds or give them a reason to see you any differently. Your go-to was 'If they stoop low, I am going to stoop lower.'

I could keep talking about it, but I think I've said enough. Overall, A Secret Shared with Death had potential, but it didn't live up to it. The execution was lacking in several areas, and it fell short of my expectations.

This is the first book in the Gods from Oblivion series, a new dark fantasy romance with gods, fae, elves and humans. This story focuses on a young woman with some unique magic that is bent on revenge for the burning of her village. Tropes include morally gray everyone, shadow mommy/daddy, political intrigue, one horse, betrayals, lost love, hidden identities, sass/banter, and a love triangle. There are dark elements to this story so please read the trigger warnings.

The Lovely: I loved how the FMC’s mystery slowly unravels over the course of the book among a LOT of twists and turns. I never stopped wanting to know what would happen or be discovered next and stayed up way too late reading. The ending wasn’t what I expected, but not in a bad way.

Also Lovely: I also loved the characters, morally gray as they are. The author brilliantly showed how the FMC related to the MMCs differently and how those relationships fit in with her ultimate goal of revenge. The FMC’s sass was *on point* and some of the relationship scenes straight up hurt. As in, my heart hurt for the characters.

Rating: 5/5 Stars 2/5 Flames

Recommendation: I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Even without a massive cliffhanger (there was a major twist at the end), my anticipation for book two is off the charts. There are so many open questions and I have no idea how some things will resolve. I’m certainly hoping for a bit of an angst/comfort reunion/reconciliation moment between a certain pair of characters. If you like dark romantasy with a twisty plot and morally gray characters I think you’d love this book.

ARC kindly provided by the author but all my thoughts are my own.

I was so happy to receive this arc of one of my most anticipated books. This is a story about a heroine who is not a hero. She is hellbent on revenge for her village burning down all while struggling to harness a power within her that she knows nothing about. Isolde cannot die and Death has taken a liking to her wanting to help her. He takes her to a fae king who also has ulterior motives and is taken with her. this is the start of an epic fantasy with a lot of court politics, using of each other to get what they want, etc.

I really loved the beginning and end of this. the middle was a lot of talking I will say with not much plot action. once they got to the fae kingdom and she's meant to train, you see that maybe twice. it was nice to have a love triangle that I actually felt genuinely confused on who she'd pick.

I really loved this overall and think it's in the same vein as books like Daughter of No Worlds where you have a larger cast of characters and a lot of slow political maneuvering and introspection based on Revenge. Again there are no real heroes in this story, just a lot of grief and anger, and desire. It's spicey without being overly spicy but very hot.

I received an e-ARC for this novel, my review contains my honest thoughts:

A Secret Shared with Death follows the story of Isolde, orphan and black sheep of her little small town. There's a magic writhing in her veins that even she can't begin to understand or control.

After what should be a life-ending experience, she comes face to face with Death himself. As it turns out, she and death have a lot more in common than she could have anticipated.

When her little town is ransacked and burned to the ground by the elves, all Isolde wants is revenge and she will seemingly stop at nothing to get it. On her quest for revenge, Isolde finds herself in the hands of Caspian, the fae king.

Torn between her desire for Death, her lust for Caspian, and her desperate need for revenge - Isolde must decide what is most important and what she is willing to do to get what she wants.

Spoilers:

Things I liked:
- plot twists! This book had some really great plot twists that I honestly didn't see coming. As the name implies, there are still a lot of unanswered questions and secrets that I am interested to see how they unfold.
- the world - while it felt a little overwhelming and confusing at times, the world with humans, fae, elves, gods etc. Is interesting and intriguing.
- the unlikable FMC - I love an opportunity for a story of growth and healing and I'm hoping this will head in that direction for Isolde.

Things I didn't like:
- the love triangle - to me, a good love triangle has you rooting for both interests and keeps you hanging on with the question of "who will he/she end up with?!". Unfortunately, there was just not enough to have me caring about either love interest. Isolde was practically in love with Death after spending about 1 week with him. And Caspian is kinda crazy and not in a good way. Both were giving insta-love which I don't typically enjoy.
- the pacing - while this book does not claim to be a slow burn, it just moved a little too fast for me to feel really invested in characters

Overall, I would probably continue the series after that cliffhanger because I'd like to get some answers and see where these characters go!

[I can't live without you by my side. We've always been together, and I don't know what to do without you]✨️

I say it, Caspian is my man, I repeat, he's mine!👀

I loved this book with all my heart.

Despite some passages where I got a bit lost, I'd recommend this book above all others!
I loved the characters, I loved the plot and the story. I loved Caspian and Isolde's need for revenge.
The bad luck and Death's act to save his beloved, at the end everything is perfect.

I finished the book as quickly as I started it!
The ending makes us want and need to jump on book two quickly!

But now I NEED to know. Is my man okay? I need answer!🫠

ℍ𝕠𝕨 𝕀 ℝ𝕖𝕒𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝔹𝕠𝕠𝕜: ARC E-Book
ℝ𝕠𝕞𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕖: High
ℙ𝕣𝕖𝕕𝕚𝕔𝕥𝕒𝕓𝕚𝕝𝕚𝕥𝕪: Low
𝔼𝕟𝕕𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕋𝕪𝕡𝕖: Cliff Hanger! With an extended epilogue 🤯
•
𝕋𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤 𝕠𝕟 𝕎𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕊𝕥𝕪𝕝𝕖: I loved the story but I did find at times I felt like I got a tad bored in between the hectic story moments. So the pacing was a little slow. But when sh*t hit the fan boy did it and I was hooked!
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℚ𝕦𝕠𝕥𝕖: “Fear was useless, but rage was a catalyst.“
&
“He was the God of Death, and I could not die. Talk about the f*cking irony.”
&
“Sometimes it’s the people who hurt us the most that turn out to be our greatest love.”
𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣: Chapter 28: Wildflowers 😉
𝔽𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖 ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕔𝕥𝕖𝕣: Isolde of Arramore: She goes THROUGH it and I felt for her so much. I loved seeing her grow throughout the story. Poor girls heart is so torn and she just wants revenge!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨: This was a great Romantasy story! I was hooked from the start! I love me a morally gray shadow daddy! I did feel at times it did drag a little bit the story, but it was worth it to get to the next plot point. I definitely think anybody that likes the Witcher would love this story. It definitely set up nicely for a while book #2 so I am very much looking forward to that!

”I fear that I am a mere mortal when you are near. Because the only thought I’ve had, the singular curiosity that has plagued me for so many nights, is what sound you’ll make when I finally taste your lips on mine.”

What an awesome start to this Romantasy series! I found the plot to be unique but have all the elements we love in our fantasy romances that emphasize our morally grey heroes. Both Isolde and Death really fascinate me. Isolde is a super complex character who would probably benefit from some intense therapy 😅 but she’s got a lot of baggage and a lot to work thru with her trauma. I adore Death. I so want to know more about him and I’m glad he remained mostly a mystery through the story. Enter Caspian. Now I don’t normally vibe with love triangles, but this one is complex and it did work for me. Isolde makes some questioning decisions that just make me want to shake her!! but dang does it add to the plot. Did I mention the spicy times?? 😮‍💨😮‍💨 oh yes 🌶️🌶️🌶️ I’m not sure how I’m supposed to wait for the next book after that cliffhanger, but I know it will be worth it to see where this story is going!

4.5 ⭐️

I absolutely loved this book and Isolde’s journey highly recommend.

From the start I instantly liked Isolde she is a strong fmc who isn’t afraid to speak her mind or care that she oversteps and speaks up with what she feels in certain situations. It’s so refreshing to see such a badass fmc. The chemistry between her and death is top tier and I loved their interactions and the spice between them was written exceptionally well.

There is another love interest that Isolde finds herself falling for and I love how well written the love story is. Isolde is a character that was never offered enough love growing up so when she finds herself getting attention from two very different males it’s hard for her not to fall for them knowing it is wrong to do in those moments.

The world building is easy to follow and understand which I really loved and the developing plot kept everything moving at a really good pace, the twists and turns some I didn’t see coming were so well done and I’m so excited to see what’s to come next after the that ending!

Thank you so much to the author for giving me an opportunity to read a arc this is a voluntary review of my honest thoughts.

If you are a fan of a unique love triangle, shadow mommy’s, one horse and so much more then this one is for you!

Isolde’s village and everyone in it is burnt to the ground and she is out for revenge when she runs into Death. Her magic doesn’t seem to want to call to her but something is lurking beneath her skin itching to get out.

Death guides her to a teacher to help understand and control her magic and although he tries to keep his distance he will do anything to protect her even if at arms length.

However, they end up in the fae kingdom led by Caspian and him and Death have a past. Isolde is left and with the hot and coldness of Death her mind is whirling. But Caspian does not hide his desires and wants Isolde all to himself.

Death keeps stumbling into her life and all Isolde wants is to be truly wanted for herself. With war on the horizon, the want for revenge and still learning her powers, Isolde doesn’t know who to trust or what feelings to lean into.

A devastating secret is revealed and soon they travel in search of a weapon to hopefully put a stop to the war but all is not what it seems and the ramifications could be deadly.

I enjoyed Isolde’s strength in this book, she is trying to harness her power all while dealing with those that are trying to use her but she is not so oblivious to that fact as those might think 😏

I received an ARC for this book, and although this is the first book of the authors that I’ve read, I was impressed!

The book follows Isolde, in her revenge era. She plans to kill some elves and is okay manipulating a literal God and a Fae King, to get her way. There’s a quote that I think describes this book perfectly, which is “I not only support women’s rights, but I also support women’s wrongs”.

I feel like every single character in this book is flawed and f*cked up. Which kinda works because it’s a love triangle with an obvious first choice (in my mind) but yet the triangle persists for political(???) reasons maybe???

There’s some spice, which I admit was some top tier smut 🥵🥵🥵

I enjoyed the authors world building, I felt like this was giving One Dark Window, or Daughter of No Worlds with the dark possession. It will be cool to see where that goes.

The reason I’m giving it 3 stars is because I’m usually not into love triangles, especially when it is thrown in our face that the fmc loves one of them and is just sad and using the other. But also the pacing was a bit slow, as in the book takes place in one location with not a lot of action for the majority of the book. I also think that the fmc kinda gets too power hungry and self-important in this book?? Like girl you just met Death and you’re giving him commands?? You just got to Fae land and you’re trying to command an army?? I felt bad for her, sure, but she is also very unhinged and if I was meeting her a few days ago, I would probably not take her unsolicited military advice because she is a literal teenager and is TRYING to learn her magic.

All in all, good book if you like high fantasy and tropes such as:
One horse
Shadow mommy and daddy
Love triangle
Immortal loves an average human girl (or so it seems)
Lost memories
Reincarnation/second chance

DNF 57% (1.5✨ como mucho)

Gracias a la autora por la ARC que me ha otorgado a cambio de una reseña honesta del libro.

Sinceramente, me iba a dejar en un bloqueo lector y he decidido dejarlo porque no podía más y a estas alturas del libro mi opinión sobre los personajes y la trama no iba a cambiar.

Los personajes, por lo que llevaba, me han parecido planos, aburridos y cansinos. MUY cansinos. La protagonista es ciega y sorda, porque las indirectas no las pilla, da bandazos muy grandes en su personalidad, hay veces que no le veía ningún sentido a lo que hacía.
Death o Mr soy un dios y puedo hacer lo que me venga en gana para los amigos, se cree una versión 2.0 del villano torturado, pero se queda en torturado y pesado. Y Caspian, pues oye, Mr soy el rey y soy el mejor y el más guapo y el más listo y el más poderoso y… (¿veis por donde voy?).
El único que se salva es un personaje secundario (el único que ha aparecido… no comments)

El triángulo amoroso que se da entre estos es la cosa más absurda que he leído en mucho tiempo. Es un slow burn (se meten mano en el 20% del libro y ya están comprometidos de por vida), con una protagonista badass (se comporta como una niña enamorada de un señor que ha conocido hace DOS DÍAS), con dos súper machos increíbles (hipócritas y chulos se queda corto) y con mucha acción (*las ganas de leer salieron del chat por puro aburrimiento*).

En fin, y ya hablando de la trama, si juntas ACOTAR (por los fae) con… no sé, un libro de decoración de interiores, tienes este libro.
(No hace falta describir cada habitación, cada parte del Castillo, cada color de ojos, y un largo etc de descripciones)

Prometía mucho, la vrd. Yo os juro que quería que me gustara. Pero la vida no es justa 💀

Repito que esta es mi reseña honesta que es lo que se me pedía a cambio del ejemplar.

I wasn't too sure what to expect going into this, the only thing I was sure of was that I did not want it to end. I took my sweet time reading this and I'm glad I did.
To try and remain as unbiased as I possibly could I had to try and forget who wrote this book throughout the week I spent reading this. I've read all of the author's previous works and loved every single word.

As we begin this tale we are introduced to Isolde (Iz-ald) and soon thereafter she is thrust into unspeakable tragedy (once again) and is left to ponder her next move.

In the aftermath our fmc runs into the god of death, who simply goes by Death. This is not the first time the two have met and it won't be the last. Soon thereafter the two become entwined in a way Isolde would never have guessed.
What ensues is a quest and a love story, or two...
I totally fell in love with the relationship between Death and Isolde and found myself wanting more and more between them. I'm strictly #TeamDeath.

I got annoyed when Isolde was introduced into the fae kingdom and started having more and more "conversations" and er-"situations" with Caspian, the fae king. Isolde really started to change when she arrived at this court. BUT soon a revelation throws everything for a loop in Isolde's life. This twist really got me because I did not expect it.

As the book progressed I realized this twist played a *huge* part in so many things. So while I was annoyed, it made sense later on in my opinion. I am mind blown with how Ariella Isabella planned this out and I couldn't be anymore excited to progress with the series. I have to know what happens next and where the ending left all the characters.

If you decide to read this (and you definitely should) you HAVE to remember that the female main character is a teenager who has had a very hard life so far. What she goes through shapes her into who she is when she is introduced to us and you also have to remember that she is not written to be a hero...I think that is something that is pretty obvious early on and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story. I felt like it was a blend of many of the romantasy stories out there with its own unique elements and twists. I liked Isolde A LOT and found myself resonating with her throughout this story.

Ultimately this book gets 4 out of 5 stars for me and you should definitely pick it up when it comes out in April!

Rating: 3.5✨
Spice: 2.5🌶

Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. Like always, this review is voluntary & honest.

Okay, let me start off with saying that I did enjoy this book. However, there were moments that also had me frustrated with the story and the characters. Starting off with what I enjoyed, the author's writing! I was really intrigued by the author's writing & the pacing of the story. I loved how we are constantly kept guessing with the secrets & the political intrigue between the different kingdoms & lands.

My overall favorite character was Death. That man made me fall in love at first sight & had me fanning myself and swooning constantly. I also loved his character & personality, as well as his motivations. I would protect him at all costs. On the other hand, we've got Isolde who I began the story with liking & supporting wholeheartedly. However, as the story progressed, I began to get frustrated with her need for revenge & her decisions & her overall repetition of bad decisions. It made it hard for her to be a likable character as the story progressed & I honestly found myself ending this first book with not supporting her & her actions. However, I see potential of character growth and I may continue on this journey to see how the development progresses.

Now this may be due to bias or preference, but I did not like Caspian. I found myself getting the ick when this man came up & I could not find myself intrigued by him. I also do not trust him, AT ALL. To avoid giving spoilers, I will leave it there.

Overall, I had mixed feelings on this book, but I did find myself enjoying a good part of it. I also love that there weren't any moments that were predictable, and the ending left me intruigued in what will occur in the future books. And just a reminder, reviews and reading tastes are wholly personal so if this book sounds like one you'd enjoy, I definitely recommend reading it!

ESP/ENG

Hasta el día de ayer 26 de mayo logre terminar este ARC. Un libro que se supone debería haber terminado antes de que se publicara (hace más de un mes). Esto muestra lo tanto que me atrapo el libro (nótese el sarcasmo).

No tenía muchas expectativas con el libro debido a que es una nueva autora. Pero si esperaba que me gustara o que le diera por lo menos tres estrellas. Nada paso. Tuve que forzarme a terminarlo porque no me gusta dejar libros sin terminar.

La historia traía una trama interesante con una protagonista que busca venganza contra aquellos que destruyeron su aldea y su búsqueda por controlar su poder. Sin embargo, termina trayéndonos un triangulo amoroso que nada que ver y una protagonista que cree que tiene la sartén por el mango. Además de una historia con una disque reencarnación que estaba de más.

Ninguno de los personajes me logro convencer. Ni la prota ni los intereses amorosos. No me importaba lo que les pasara.

Simplemente la historia no hizo el trabajo para mí.

---

As of yesterday, May 26th, I managed to finish this ARC. A book that I was supposed to have finished before it was published (over a month ago). This shows how much I got caught up in the book (note the sarcasm).

I didn't have high expectations with the book due to it being a new author. But I did expect to like it or give it at least three stars. Nothing happened. I had to force myself to finish it because I don't like to leave books unfinished.

The story brought an interesting plot with a protagonist seeking revenge against those who destroyed her village and her quest to control her power. However, it ends up bringing us a love triangle that has nothing to do and a protagonist who thinks she has the upper hand. In addition to a story with a reincarnation that was pointless.

None of the characters convinced me. Neither the main character nor the love interests. I didn't care what happened to them.

The story just didn't do the job for me.

If you’re expecting a romance book, this ain’t for you. This book is a true dark fantasy filled with violence, lies, political scheming, female rage, revenge plots, hate f*cking, magical creatures, heartbreak, ruthless gods, fae, elves, sirens, lost memories, magical wars, and a really complicated love triangle (#teamdeath).

Our Shadow Mommy, Isolde of Arramore is the living embodiment of female rage in this book. She’s on a mission to destroy the elf king that murdered her entire village and is willing to sacrifice everything to do so. Isolde is a complicated character, but I love her even when she’s making horrible decisions. She is so determined in getting revenge and retribution for her village and ensuring the humans of her world are safe that she repeatedly makes decisions that end up hurting her physically, emotionally, and mentally. There were so many times I wanted to reach inside the story and just shake the sh*t out of her and tell her to stop punishing herself. I would definitely categorize Isolde in the morally grey section of characters but inching closer to the dark grey/black section. This would definitely make a good villain origin story.

The two men in Isolde’s life are night and day. We’ve got Shadow Daddy Death and the fae king Caspian. Look, I will always root for Death in terms of being a love interest, especially when the other guy is blonde. The character of Death in this book is quite tragic, but didn’t (and still isn’t) handling things the right way. Just like men in real life there’s a real lack of meaningful communication going on. Our other love triangle participant is King Caspian, whom I hated upon introduction. His character reminds me of the golden boy jock in a small town that everyone worships and thinks is amazing, but in reality they’re actually quite douchey, possessive, abusive, and only do things that benefit them. I don’t like Caspian at all and don’t trust him.

I absolutely LOVED the fact that the Fae were actually creatures and not just crazy beautiful versions of humans. You really don’t see too much of that in books. Normally the fae are all beautiful supermodels, not actual creatures.

There’s more I’d like to discuss in my review but that would give away major spoilers and I’m not going to do that.

As far as things I didn’t like in the book…I wanted more Death and less Caspian.

What I’d like to see in book two: More Death, more Death & Isolde, more Death & ___ flashbacks, less to zero Caspian, more background on the gods and the overall belief system.

I really enjoyed this and can’t wait for book two. I’m so thankful I was chosen to receive an ARC of this book!

“Sometimes it’s the people who hurt us the most that turn out to be our greatest love.”

We’re getting ready to help launch A Secret Shared with Death on April 9th, and some of us were lucky enough to receive an advanced copy 😏
‌
📖: A Secret Shared with Death (Gods from the Oblivion #1)
🖊️: @‌author.ariella
🗓️: Expected Publication Date: April 9, 2024

Tropes & themes.
🔥Gods
🔥Demigods
🔥Fae
🔥Elves
🔥Man Eating Sirens
🔥Pirates
🔥Creatures

“I would steal it, tear it out with my teeth and nails until it was a finely sharpened weapon. Then I would burn Udemeer to the ground, and all of their Suntouchers would know what it felt like to be truly kissed by fire.”

After Isolde’s village is burned by the elves. She escapes and plans to get revenge.

Each time Isolde has lost someone near and dear to her. The Lord of Death always shows up. This time, he’s willing to help her.

Secrets, lies, and an obsessive king.

Isolde finds herself in a situation where she will make sacrifices to get her revenge.

With darkness and nightmares.

Will Isolde be able to play the game better than the Fae King? Can she put her feelings to the side to obtain her revenge?

“I’m trying to protect you! This entire time, I’ve just been trying to keep you safe.”

Find out in A Secret Shared with Death

The banter between her and Death was delicious! I loved the moments between them but Isolde learns that she can’t have everything.

The big twist I did not see coming!🤯 And that cliffhanger! I need the next book🔥. This book was so fast-paced with action, secrets, lust, and obsession.

You will find yourself captivated by the pages.

Thank you R & R Book Tours for allowing me to join this tour! As always, my review is my opinion and thoughts.

Tour organized by @‌rrbooktours
‌

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ Hot and Spicy

- magical world with shadow magic
- shadow MOMMY
- love triangle
- past life and reincarnation
- castles and dark creatures
- ‘who did this to you’ vibes
- good pacing

This book was a new take and a new storyline, which I deeply appreciated. I immediately latched on to Death, a gorgeous shadow daddy who is immensely powerful, and only SHE can touch him? Omg SOLD. The unexpected love triangle really was the star of this book, keeping me turning the pages and really sending me on a wild emotional roller coaster. I enjoyed the FMC, and was mildly annoyed with how headstrong she was, especially as she made blunder after blunder… until I read the Authors note at the end. That Ariella wanted her FMC to make all the wrong choices for all the wrong reasons, with a real character arc? Ok. I’m in love ❤️

Book Review:
Isolde is an orphaned woman who doesn’t feel like she fits in with the others of her village, purposefully living outside the village walls with little ties to anyone around her. She escapes a horrific attack and swears vengeance, only to run into more dangers on the road, including with the handsome and dark Death himself. Their connection is immediate, although his uptime plan for her is a secret - much to her annoyance. She needs a teacher for the dark magic that lives within her, whispering dark things and tempting her to give herself to it for ultimate power. When she travels to the Fae kingdom alongside a tutor and the shadowy Death, she’s faced with a handsome and dangerous King that she wants to use to her own ends. Revenge is her goal, but her heart is at war between a God, a King, and the looming darkness within her.

I’ve found a new obsession! I could not put this one down and have already recommended it to several people. I was hooked from the dedication: 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘖𝘹𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘨𝘪𝘳𝘭𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘷𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘴.

The world building and magic systems in this story were thorough and interesting. I love the combination of gods, fae, elves, and other species. The politics were intriguing and kept me on my toes. The banter between Isolde and Death was everything! I love that this is a real love triangle, although I know who I’m rooting for 😉

The author writes this in the acknowledgments, which explains everything I love about Isolde and sets this book apart from many fantasy romances: “𝘐𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘔𝘊 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴. 𝘐𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘰, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘴 𝘐’𝘮 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘦𝘥𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧.”

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲: fae, gods, elves, mages, & sirens; shadow magic, morally grey characters, love triangle, political manipulation & wars, revenge plot, unknown memories/identity

𝗪𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱? Yes, read now
𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗜 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗹? Yes, immediately

Thank you to the author and RR Book Tours for providing me a copy of this book. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

First off, thank you so freaking much for allowing me to be on the ARC team. This 👏🏼book👏🏼is👏🏼amazing👏🏼.

Easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and in my 𝙏𝙤𝙥 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙨 for the year.

𝓜𝔂 𝓣𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:
I honestly don’t know where to begin. My brain is on the verge of word vomiting my praise but I’m trying to keep this a coherent review. However, I make no promises for how it unfolds.

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙫𝙞𝙗𝙚𝙨, guys… are immaculate. It’s dark, it’s intense (literally and emotionally), but it’s also so real, raw, and has a depth that I was not expecting. It’s giving…Lord of the rings, adventure, quest, journey, shadow daddy, finding oneself, trauma, lost in the dark, power struggles, love, friendships (see where I’m going with the LOTR vibes?), 𝙝𝙤𝙩, 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙤𝙬-𝙬𝙞𝙚𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 meets shadow-wielding 𝙗𝙖𝙙𝙖𝙨𝙨 𝙁𝙈𝘾.

𝙎𝙚𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙨? Yes. 𝘽𝙚𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙨?? Absolutely. Am I 𝙊𝘽𝙎𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙀𝘿??? 1000%.

The characters are so much more than surface level and I feel like there is so much to explore in this new world. Speaking of world… the 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 is SO GOOD.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙀𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🖤God of Death (Aka: Shadow Daddy)
🤍Shadow Baddy (Our FMC)
✨Unique Shadow Magic
⚡️Gods & Monsters
🧝🏼‍♀️Fae / Elves / Sirens
❤️‍🔥Complicated Love Triangle
🐴One Horse Trope
🥵Did I say Shadow Daddy already? 😅

(𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨!)

⚠️𝙋𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩. 𝙇𝙤𝙩𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙤𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙗𝙚 𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚/𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙜𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜!⚠️

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book is jam packed and not necessarily in the good way. I think it easily could have been two books and I would have loved to see the first half expanded upon. Everything happens in this accelerated time frame that makes it hard to understand or justify some of the feelings and actions of our FMC, Isolde. She is impulsive, antagonistic, and at some moments, downright unlikeable. Our two main love interests are the God of Death and the fae king Caspian. Death is far too respectful and Caspian is a big ol walking red flag, and it was clear who she chose so it didn’t feel like a real love triangle.

In terms of the writing, it’s very on par for popular romantasy — lots of banter and cursing, instant sexual tension, inner monologue galore. There were some typos and inconsistencies that I’m sure will get caught before release date. I will say I got a little confused with formatting at times. Flashbacks and magic training sessions are both written in italics. I’m also not a fan of the strikethrough text.

All in all, I’m giving a 3 because I loved the ideas but the execution just fell a little short for me.

3⭐️3🌶️

3★

Thank you to the author for an ARC!

I thought the premises and concept of this book was very cool! I enjoyed the plot twists and the world-building of many creatures/gods. I enjoyed the mystery surrounding who and what Isolde is, and seeing Death as a character. But there were some things that fell short for me or I didn't enjoy.

1. Literally every character's intentions felt so misplaced and they were just using one another. Especially for the love triangle -- both men were terrible for Isolde, and she was equally stringing them along for her revenge plan (which felt a bit anti-hero rather than fighting for justice).
2. Speaking of the love triangle, it wasn't even much of a love triangle since her heart was set on one of them and clearly using the other for political purposes.
3. The pacing felt a bit wonky. It was fast at times and then slowed, and it took me quite a bit of time during some parts to get re-invested and continue.

Despite these, I think it's a good novel for anyone who enjoys lost love, revenge-bent FMC'S, good world-building, and a classic cliffhanger!

I rated this 4.5 ⭐️s

“ Until the stars burn out in the sky, and it’s just you and I left in this dark world. It’ll always be you.”

• We initially meet Isolde, who at first seems like a weaker and meek FMC, but she proves to be a force and a total badass. There MUCH more to her than you can even imagine. You also meet the God of Death and King Caspian. Both impressive MMCs in their own ways. The love triangle though, whew. What a ride.

• The fantasy aspects in this book are totally awesome. Between all the different species and creatures. It totally keeps you intrigued as to what’s going to happen next in this amazing world. Let me also say that the world descriptions are also super cool. I certainly wouldn’t want to go through the Veil. Is all I’m saying. And the magic? Yes, just yes.

• I’m interested to see what happens next! There will be more ☺️