THE SHADOWS RULE ALL (Dominions, 3), by Abigail Owen, Entangled: Teen, Nov. 12, 2024, Hardcover, $20.99 young adult, ages 14 and up)
Two queens. A coalition of fighters. A dark evil poised to take over everything. Everything comes together in the final book in Abigail Owen’s Dominions trilogy, The Shadows Rule All.
King Eidolon has taken everything.
My throne, my Shadowraith, and even my kingdom. I am a queen with no one to rule, and a tattered army that’s not even mine. And hope is fading fast.
Now the shadows who once tormented Reven live within me, hissing and wheedling―and enticing me to betray my friends. Which could be deadly for us all. Because without the guy I fell for, without Reven, I am all shadows…and no light.
And the Alignment is almost upon us―the culmination of centuries that have fueled a vengeful king’s festering rage.
We’re outnumbered. We’re underpowered. And even if we could unleash the trapped goddesses, they would destroy the kingdom and everything in it. —Synopsis provided by Entangled Teen
As the third book in the Dominions series, The Shadows Rule All does not stand alone. In fact, it really should be read in conjunction with the first two books, The Liar’s Crown and The Stolen Throne.
The Shadows Rule All is part of a complex storyline that loses nuance when not read in quick succession. In fact, I wish that I had reread the other books just to refresh my memory.
Story once again centers around Meren and Reven. Once connected together as bondmates, they’re now separated by more than distance. It’s hard to say much more about the plot without giving too much away, but it’s a strong storyline.
Author Abigail Owen has created a vast world with an intricate magical system that reads almost cinematically. Owen has a strong sense of timing and her prose is accessible. The Shadows Rule All is fast-moving and a strong conclusion to her trilogy.
As with the previous books, The Shadow Rules All features moments of sexual tension and some pretty steamy scenes. It’s as close to graphic as you can get without being graphic, and would garner at least a PG13 rating.
The Dominions series is not for everyone. It’s not suitable for younger teens, but older teens and new adults will quickly get lost in the magic, mystery, action and romance.
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