Synopsis
Elspeth needs a monster. The monster might be her.
Elspeth Spindle needs more than luck to stay safe in the eerie, mist-locked kingdom of Blunder—she needs a monster. She calls him the Nightmare, an ancient, mercurial spirit trapped in her head. He protects her. He keeps her secrets.
But nothing comes for free, especially magic.
When Elspeth meets a mysterious highwayman on the forest road, her life takes a drastic turn. Thrust into a world of shadow and deception, she joins a dangerous quest to cure Blunder from the dark magic infecting it. And the highwayman? He just so happens to be the King’s nephew, Captain of the most dangerous men in Blunder…and guilty of high treason.
Together they must gather twelve Providence Cards—the keys to the cure. But as the stakes heighten and their undeniable attraction intensifies, Elspeth is forced to face her darkest secret yet: the Nightmare is slowly taking over her mind. And she might not be able to stop him.
Rating
★★★★★
Thoughts
Book number one in the Shepherd King series lived up to the hype! I’m glad so many of my bookish friends influenced me to read this book. This story just oozed magic and reminded me of so many magical bits from my own world—Tarot cards, Jabberwocky, Alfred Noyes, and dark fairytales—to name a few!
This hauntingly beautiful story is enchantingly immersive and poetic. It left me eager to find out how the duology ends in Two Twisted Crowns.
Edition
This stunning edition comes from FairyLoot. I think it perfectly captures the book’s dark magic.
Quote
“Nothing is free. Nothing is safe. Magic is love, but also, it’s hate. It comes at a cost. You’re found, and you’re lost. Magic is love, but also, it’s hate.”