Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Fantasy Romance
Length: 574 pages
Author: V.B> Lacey
Publisher: Self published
Release Date: January 28th, 2026
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Hades and Persephone meets Six of Crows in this dark fantasy romance standalone with dragons, shadow wielders, hate-to-love no spice romance, and an epic rebellion against their darkest foe. Not all prisons are made of stone.

For nineteen years, Nox Duma has been a pawn to the Veridian Empire’s most ruthless tyrant, a man who tortures his own kind with cruel magical experiments. Haunted by the sister still trapped under this tyrant’s control, Nox struggles to lead a secret rebellion—until a captured traitor falls into his hands, one who may hold the key to victory.

Once a spy and now Nox’s prisoner, all Devora wants is freedom. But when she discovers her dormant shadow-wielding magic could provide the perfect opportunity to spy on the enemy, she’s forced to decide where her loyalty truly lies.

As the rebellion makes its final stand, Nox and Devora’s uneasy alliance deepens into something neither expected. To survive, they must test the limits of trust, power, and love against a foe who can bend magic to his will. But in a world where failure means more than death, can they survive the darkness threatening to consume their empire?

Or will the shadows finally cage them once and for all?

From the Silence of the Shadows is the third book in a series of interconnected fantasy standalones. This book includes a summary of books 1 and 2, In the Wake of the Wicked (1) and Of the Curse or the Crown , for those who have not read them. While it is advised to read books 1 and 2 first, it’s not necessary. From the Silence of the Shadows follows a rebel dragon Shifter and the woman he’s taken as his prisoner for crimes against the empire as they both navigate loyalty, forgiveness, and the darkness of their pasts while battling an enemy who has taken their magic into his own hands. Perfect for lovers of Hades and Persephone, the Crowns of Nyaxia series by Carissa Broadbent, and the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo, this book is full of no spice enemies to lovers romance, epic quests and heists, plot twists, dragons, and a beautiful found family that will feel like your own.

Thank you Tantor Audio for the gifted audiobook.

GREAT READ.

I continually love coming back to V.B. Lacey’s books. I love that she writes closed door fantasy romances with heat and heart and that don’t come off silly. It is easy to recommend her books and it was fun to get to read this one as an audiobook! The audiobook narrators weren’t 100% my favorite but did grow on me. It was no where near bothersome enough to not be able to listen to the audiobook format.

I liked seeing more of the empire and Nox. I’ve been waiting to see his background and it did not disappoint. I loved his compassionate nature and how growly he was about all the things. The slow burn with Devora progressed well. Lacey does a good job creating a standalones that give genuine tension and wrap up big plots.

The pacing felt solid and the magic system unfolded without force. I loved seeing previous characters again and the moments between them too. It’s just a solid fantasy and I can’t wait for the last one!!

[Note: while a standalone these books really build on each other and should be read in order; I have read and enjoyed them all!]

Overall audience notes:

• Fantasy romance
• Language: low
• Romance: closed door
• Violence: high
• Content warnings: loss of life, kidnapping, non-consensual drugging, assault

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