[ARC Review] Sanctuary of the Shadow by Aurora Ascher
Others fall for it.
For humans, Salizar’s is a place of mystery and wonder. For Harrow, it’s a place to hide from those who slaughtered her entire clan. A haven where she can disguise both her abilities and who she really is.
Until he arrives.
He has no recollection of who―or even what―he is. He only knows that he’s a monster, with wings and powerful abilities never seen before. But beneath the layers of rage and isolation, one glimpse into those inky black eyes reveals a soul that calls out to the loneliness in Harrow.
And so she chooses him.
She is drawn to the mystery of him, her unquenchable need for his kiss. And as powerful enemies align and conspire against them, Harrow knows their only hope is escape.
Now, with every secret she unlocks from his past, a shadow from her own whispers free―luring enemies who will stop at nothing to get their final revenge on Harrow. And she’s given them the perfect weapon…because her winged beast is not what he seems.
But maybe it’s time they finally learn―neither is she.
MY THOUGHTS: This adventure had me on the edge of my seat for the entire second half, with palpable chemistry between the two main characters.
I was initially drawn into this plot by the circus premise, but that is not what kept me intrigued by the plot. If you're looking for another Caraval, this book isn't it. The circus elements ended up being more of a feature character that faded into the background for most of the story, rather than a main focus. It ended up making this a very different story than I thought it would be, but I ended up really enjoying it all the same.
Ascher did such a fantastic job at characterization in this story. She created a character with no memories of his past yet made him dynamic and compelling. Even after each big reveal gave us more insight into Harrow's past, I was still clamoring for more of this wonderful anti-hero character.
While I absolutely loved Harrow, Raith, and Mal, I did end up wishing for a bit more out of the supporting characters. It seemed like everyone in Harrow's life followed the same pattern: act suspicious, do suspicious things, reveal true intentions, turn out to be helpful. I sort of expect that sneaky behavior from one secondary character, but having two huge people in Harrow's life basically act the same made me care less for one of these characters in particular.
For me, the draw of Sanctuary of the Shadow was definitely our two main characters. Harrow and Raith managed to be complex, even while Raith remained mysterious, and their connection was intimate and tangible. Their history played out beautifully as the past was uncovered, and I thought Ascher did a wonderful job at addressing the complexities of fate versus free will as well as the emotional toil of lovers to enemies to lovers.
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Release date: 1/9/24
Format: eARC
eARC provided via: NetGalley
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