The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

An ambitious schemer sets her sights on a ruthless king—and the throne beside him. Charm, danger, and desire entwine as court intrigue turns romance into a game with razor-edged stakes. Dark, seductive, and deliciously cunning, The Shadows Between Us is a romance where power is the ultimate prize.

Have you read this book? Share what you liked (or didn’t) and get personalized recommendations.

Start or resume Shelf Talk

Love The Shadows Between Us but unsure what to read next?

These picks are popular with readers who enjoyed this book. Possible spoilers below.

In The Shadows Between Us, did you enjoy a cunning, morally gray heroine who schemes her way through court?

To Kill a Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

If you loved how Alessandra coolly plots to seduce and outmaneuver Kallias, you'll click with Lira, the siren princess nicknamed the Princes' Bane. In To Kill a Kingdom, Lira’s ruthless streak is tested when she’s stripped of her heart-stealing power and forced among humans, sparking a deadly game of manipulation with prince–pirate Elian. The same deliciously sharp edge you enjoyed—daggered smiles, calculated betrayals, and a lead who doesn’t apologize for her ambition—powers this romance and its twisty power plays.

In The Shadows Between Us, did you enjoy the ruthless court scheming and assassination plots?

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

You enjoyed watching Alessandra navigate jealous nobles, blackmail lists, and attempts on the Shadow King’s life. In The Cruel Prince, mortal Jude climbs the ladder of Faerie politics by outwitting deadly royals—especially the infuriating Prince Cardan. Poisoned goblets, masked revels, and backroom bargains give you that same hit of cutthroat court maneuvering you got from the palace intrigues surrounding Kallias’s shadow-guarded throne.

In The Shadows Between Us, did you enjoy the enemies-to-lovers romance between Alessandra and the Shadow King?

Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin

If the slow burn between Alessandra and Kallias—sparring in ballrooms, testing boundaries, then letting the walls fall—had you hooked, Serpent & Dove brings that same combustible chemistry. Lou, a foul-mouthed witch in hiding, is magically bound in marriage to Reid, a witch hunter. Their forced proximity, barbed banter, and grudging trust echo the way passion and power tangle in the Shadow King’s court, with kisses carrying as much danger as any dagger.

In The Shadows Between Us, did you enjoy the sharp banter and darkly funny narration?

Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones

Alessandra’s dry asides about murder, fashion, and manipulation lend The Shadows Between Us a wicked wit. Howl’s Moving Castle channels that same playful bite: Sophie (under a spiteful curse) barges into the home of the vain, slippery wizard Howl, and their bickering, bargains, and backhanded compliments spark constant laughter. If you delighted in the quips traded between Alessandra and Kallias between dances and assassination rumors, Howl and Sophie’s verbal fencing will charm you just as much.

In The Shadows Between Us, did you enjoy the quick, twisty pace with constant scheming?

The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen

From Alessandra’s opening vow to woo, wed, and kill, you got a rush of rapid moves—secret plots, sudden betrayals, and daring flirtations. The Bridge Kingdom matches that momentum: assassin-trained princess Lara marries King Aren to infiltrate his realm, only to be swept into a whirl of ambushes, covert missions, and dangerous seduction. If racing from one scheme to the next across ballrooms and balconies thrilled you, Lara’s knife-edged choices and breakneck turns will keep you up late.