The Rose in the Shadows

A young woman appears outside the palace of Athenia and is unleashing her magic. The mark on her chest proves, she is a Descendant of Hyrax, the God of dead. He is the most hated God and it was assumed that his line is extinguished. As she has no memory at all she takes the first name coming to her mind when interrogated. So Theodora is high over heals in with the ruthless court politics, trying to find out who she is, getting used to her magic, what the feelings are she has for the crown prince Clayton and most for all it seems like not everybody is happy to have the Descendant of Hyrax back as there are attempts on her. Wow, I never expected to like this book so much! It is a dark book and you should check the trigger warning if you can handle all in this book. I really enjoyed this writing, the dark atmosphere here and how myth about the Underworld is woven into this story. I like the idea of Descendants of Gods which have different powers and a Mark symbolizing their ancestors. The info provided here about the 6 High Gods and their wars is interesting. Also that there is a trail for ascending to the Council, what gets tested and that non is the same as it gets designed especially for the person is a great idea. I love that we get to know this world with Theodora. She has absolutely no memory who she is and is pushed into this world with its court politics. I really like her development during the story and the question, who she is, what power she has and what her dreams have to do with all of it. Reading how she forges friendships is well done as well as the feelings between her and the dragon crown prince Clayton. I really enjoy reading this slow burn between them. How both of them struggle with the roles they have to play and the forbidden feelings for each other is well done. The question who is after her and why is well woven into this story. The story has great twists. For me we have a great balance between history, magic, forging friendship, developing forbidden feelings, action and development of the characters. The cliffhanger is a mean one and I want to know how this continues and what will happen next. So for me a perfect start into this fantasy series!