A beautifully written, engaging dark academia romantasy that I enjoyed, even if I’m not entirely convinced the genre is for me!

I’m fairly certain “Shadowmire” was my first venture into dark academia romantasy, and while I didn’t find my new favorite genre, I can absolutely appreciate a well-written story! The writing was beautiful, the storyline was easy to follow, and there were enough unique elements to keep me invested.

We’ve got the familiar romantasy ingredients: hidden magic, secrets within the magical world, an insanely powerful FMC, and, of course, a love triangle. Was it somewhat predictable? Sure. But there were enough interesting additions to make it feel fresh and engaging.

Now, let’s talk about the audio! Dani Soleil (aka Ash Aarrestad) absolutely elevated the entire listening experience. Her performance was a standout, and she’s officially on my list of narrators I’ll be seeking out again! The full cast brought the story to life, making even the faster listening speeds surprisingly enjoyable.

And speaking of listening speeds… Y’ALL. 😂 I typically listen at 1.5–1.7x, but this one had me cranking it ALL THE WAY UP TO 2.7x! A personal first! Partly because I wanted the story to move quicker, partly because it’s longer than my usual listens, and partly because, somehow, nobody sounded like a chipmunk! 🐿️

Ultimately, “Shadowmire” was a solid listening experience with beautiful writing, intriguing magical secrets, and narration that truly shined. Even if dark academia romantasy doesn’t become my go-to genre, I’m glad I gave this one a chance!

📖 Shadowmire
✍️ Reaghan Quinn
🎙️ Dani Soleil, Ash Beverly, Noah Trent, Payton Briggs Anderson & Luke James
🎁 Books & Bloom PR
📅 11/10/26
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️