Title: Rain of Shadows and Endings
Author: Melissa K. Roehrich
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: May 27, 2025
ISBN: 9781496760296
Synopsis:
Out of all their creations, the gods favored their children the most. But with that favor came the fear that their Legacy would one day become too powerful . . .The gods gave their Legacy the best of all the worlds, and then they left—having sworn to never return and to never interfere. Forced into a life of servitude, the Fae provide for the Legacy in more ways than one. Every five years, eligible Fae are gathered for the Selection and assigned to serve in one of the six Kingdoms. To be chosen as the personal Source for a Kingdom Heir is the greatest honor, and for the first time in millennia, all six Kingdoms have heirs choosing a Source. But their selections could tip the power balance a little too far.
Tessalyn Asura was as forgotten as the realm. But when she finds herself the personal Source to the Heir of Endings, she winds up serving in the darkest Kingdom of them all. The secrets within the Arius Kingdom are meant to be learned and kept, but this was never the life she wanted. Fighting not only the fate thrust upon her, but the temptation to lose herself to desire, Tessa will do anything to escape her new destiny. Until she begins to realize that maybe their world isn’t as forgotten as they thought—and that maybe she’s the reason why.
——
This series came across as highly rated and a masterful fated-mates romantasy story, but out of all of the amazing works coming out in recent years, this one has been a bit of a letdown in my opinion. This is the first book in a series but I can say with certainty that this is a series I will not be continuing, primarily because of the abuse and disrespectful treatment of the protagonist. What is praised as a popular romantasy trope is nothing more than normalized disrespect of personal autonomy and violence against the protagonist, with a relationship that boarders on Stockholm syndrome. I believe the intention is to romanticize the horrific treatment of Tessa and sweep the readers into a whirlwind relationship, but there was no chemistry, and utterly blatant abuse on the part of the MMC.
A dangerous and lethal male lead is typically appealing within this genre, however the legacy in this book are all about power, control, and domination, expecting blind subservience of Tessa and other fae like her. This world expects fae to exist only to serve the Legacy who are said to be children of the gods. As we learn, the fae are broken again and again while they are trained into their subservience, then are used and taken advantage of repeatedly once they are of age to come into their power and be essentially purchased by the Legacy kingdoms.
While I can see the intention is to establish a clear hierarchy in this world and convey the volatility of the society complete with indentured servitude of the fae race, most of the lead male characters show no understanding outside of the propaganda they’ve been taught. There is no real indication that they are growing or trying to be better than their corrupted upbringings The reader is meant to swoon at their power and might, but there are no redeeming qualities that convey a positive agenda or respectful outlook towards those deemed “lesser” than themselves.
While the book ends hinting at a more intriguing story to come, the characters themselves are profoundly unlikeable, leaving little desire to get to know them better, even if the plot is to improve in book two. I cannot say that I’d recommend this series, not when there are so many other series out there doing a similar trope in a more palatable way.
If you’ve enjoyed this series, I’d be curious to hear what you’ve liked—I’m always open to changing my mind!
Happy reading!
Worn Pages and Ink 