Where Shadows Lie by Allegra Pescatore

SPFBO6

The Chosen One Is Dead. Magic Is Going Haywire. Time Is Running Out. When the King of Lirin murders Elenor's brother during a failed coup attempt, she must choose between turning a blind eye to her people's suffering or joining the rebellion and helping bring down the tyrant king. There's only one problem--the king is her father. Helped along the way by a grouchy old doctor, a boisterous group of nobles, and a well-meaning assassin, Elenor is forced to dance between duty and defiance as she tries to save her kingdom. Meanwhile, from the rainy streets of Lirin to the scorching dunes of the Mondaer Desert, the ripples of her actions have inadvertently broken a chain of events five centuries in the making. Ancient forces move in the shadows, calling in debts and striking deals. A monster with a thousand faces fingers his knife, ready to kill, and a pair of fugitives run for their lives. Where Shadows Lie is a non-stop, epic fantasy ride featuring an lgbtq+ and disabled protagonist and filled with court intrigue, sizzling romance, adorable baby dragons, and the battle between oppression and freedom. Dive in and get swept away!

Adult • Fantasy/Court Intrigue • Fantasy/Steampunk, Gaslamp, and Flintlock • Fantasy/Epic and High • Diversity Representation/LGBTQ+ • Diversity Representation/Disability/Own Voices

CJDaley author

The cast of characters is incredibly diverse, and the narration doesn’t miss a beat with accents and personalities. There’s everything from Irish to Middle Eastern, and they’re all done well. I was super impressed and it was very enjoyable.

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SKaeth author

Fantastic, absolutely epic book with great disability rep and LGBTQ+ rep. Told through multiple PoVs, each necessary and interesting.