Oh, my god. That cliffhanger is CRIMINAL. 

Night Shade was a bit of a detour for me. I’ve been leaning heavily into fantasy lately, as contemporary fiction hasn’t grabbed me as much. But, WOW, did this book grab me and not let go. 

Ophelia is determined to get revenge on behalf of her parents. Their murder was covered up so thoroughly that it’s like they simply went missing. Now she’s taking the last lifeline she has—a free ride to a university her parents thoroughly warned her away from, and the site of their murder. Getting information on the man who helped carry out the hit and cover it up is all Ophelia can think about. So it’s rather unfortunate that upon her arrival, she immediately runs into the perpetrator’s obnoxiously attractive (and just obnoxious) son. But she should be more concerned by the fact that her new roommate keeps threatening her life, and that she seems to have a mysterious stalker determined to drive her insane. 

I. Am. Feral for the MMC in this one. He has an incredible morality despite being fundamentally morally grey in his goals, and he and the FMC are so perfect for each other. Their relationship builds in a way that actually feels natural, and their banter is truly top-notch. The book does have the sort of drama you’d find in a darker teen TV show, but it hits all the right notes. The location is unsettling, the lore of it eerie, and the cast of characters (read: fellow students) littered with the untrustworthy and untouchable children of the world’s elite and despicable. Simultaneously, these same people gain depth even in the periphery of the main characters. I’d have liked to see even more of them, but the chemistry between Ophelia and Alex is so good that I’m happy to focus my attention on them. 

Overall, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, if dark, read. It’s filled with romance and conspiracies and I cannot wait until the second book comes out. 

So many thanks to NetGalley and Zando for giving me a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!