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House of Hyrax #1
The Rose in the Shadows
A forgotten past. A deadly magic. A prince she can't trust.
Theadora Moore has no memory of who she was, but her magic—and the mark on her chest—prove she’s the last Descendant of Hyrax, the God of the Dead.
Thrown into the ruthless world of court politics by Prince Clayton Vail, Thea becomes a target of dark forces who want her dead. With danger closing in and nowhere to turn, she’ll have to decide whether to trust the prince—or let her powers consume her.
In a palace full of secrets, survival is far from guaranteed.
The House of Hyrax series is an action-packed slow-burn romance filled with magic and political intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Red Queen.
Theadora Moore has no memory of who she was, but her magic—and the mark on her chest—prove she’s the last Descendant of Hyrax, the God of the Dead.
Thrown into the ruthless world of court politics by Prince Clayton Vail, Thea becomes a target of dark forces who want her dead. With danger closing in and nowhere to turn, she’ll have to decide whether to trust the prince—or let her powers consume her.
In a palace full of secrets, survival is far from guaranteed.
The House of Hyrax series is an action-packed slow-burn romance filled with magic and political intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Red Queen.
414 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2024
About the author
Arcadia Rayne
3 books76 followersArcadia Rayne is a fantasy romance author based in Boston, Massachusetts.
Originally from Baltimore, MD, Arcadia developed a passion for storytelling from a young age. After receiving her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland she went on to pursue a Master's and PhD at Boston University.
Arcadia is passionate about creating fantastical worlds with strong characters. She loves all the tropes. When she's not writing, Arcadia enjoys binging reality tv and crocheting.
Originally from Baltimore, MD, Arcadia developed a passion for storytelling from a young age. After receiving her Bachelors Degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland she went on to pursue a Master's and PhD at Boston University.
Arcadia is passionate about creating fantastical worlds with strong characters. She loves all the tropes. When she's not writing, Arcadia enjoys binging reality tv and crocheting.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
April 11, 2024
If you like From Blood and Ash and The Red Queen with a touch of Percy Jackson, then the chances you will like this are relatively high.
PLOT SUMMARY
In the realm of Athenia, a mysterious woman appears and starts attacking the kingdom. She is knocked unconscious and when she comes to, she does not remember anything. Interrogated relentlessly by the cold, calculative yet charming Crown Prince Clayton (Clay) Vail of House Zion, King of the Gods, who I may add can transform into a terrifying dragon, she chooses a random name Theadora (Thea).
It is discovered through a tattoo on her chest that she is a Descendant – someone who possesses the blood of one of the Gods in their bodies, giving them an advantage in speed and strength – of the House Hyrax, the God of the Underworld. The very last of her line, in fact, as House Hyrax was believed to have been extinct a while ago. The last known descendant is Zacharia Moore, so she goes by Thea Moore. She is presented to the court where Clayton’s father, aka the Dragon Vyncent, King of Athenia desires to use her as the means of bringing peace across the realms.
As Thea settles in and befriends many including Clay, her enemies are also closing in seeking her demise. As attempts on her life increase, so does her confusion. Who could be behind these plots? Can she ever abandon duty for love? And who is the stranger that frequents her dreams?
This is told from the first-person past-tense point of view of Theadora. The first and last chapters are told via Iris and Camilla respectively.
OVERALL OPINIONS
This was a great book. For a debut novel, Arcadia is deserving of the praise she receives! With plenty of magic, found family, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, angst, twists and betrayals, this story never failed to keep my interest. It had the perfect blend of unique characterisation, world-building and political intrigue, as well as delving into realistic issues of abuse, objectification and grief. A lot of the description was gorgeous and sophisticated.
The romance was a more secondary aspect to the novel and the fantasy itself takes the centre stage which, for me, I would have hoped for more of the former. My favourite scenes had to be the balcony scene, Clay picking out Thea’s dress, the ballroom and the shared bed.
<< Positives >>
🠚 Visually, the rose as a paragraph divider is such a gorgeous idea, and I love the chapter heading designs with different roses too.
🠚 I really enjoyed the mystery vibes of this story as Theadora tries to uncover who is behind the plots against her life. This had to be one of the best aspects of the story.
🠚 A very clever aspect of the book is the names of the Gods begin with the same letter as their Greek counterpart: Hyrax is equivalent to Hades God of the Underworld; Zion is equivalent to Zeus King of the Gods. It is also rather fitting and poetic that Thea is from the House of Hyrax God of the Dead, when the House has been “dead” for years, believed to be extinct.
🠚 I loved the characters, especially Thea, Clay and Iris. Theadora is a strong character and seeing her growth as a character was great to see: I cannot wait to see where her story takes us next! Clayton is a sweetheart beneath the hard exterior and I love the way he looks after Thea, escorts her, and opens up to her. It’s also really cool he likes mystery books. Iris is so lovely and considerate, but it was interesting to see the different more broken side of her later on in the story.
<< Negatives >>
🠚 It was incredible having all the different Houses, it really set the scene, however I would have liked a thorough list of the Houses/Gods and what their powers were so I could understand more clearly. There was probably around a handful out of a dozen that I actually knew what they did.
🠚 The same goes for the creatures. Nearly all mythical beings are mentioned in this book but do not actually feature, such as mermaids, werewolves etc. though hopefully they will feature in upcoming books as this is part of the House of Hydrax series.
🠚 I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twists at the end and one of the betrayals I did not see coming. The main twist unfortunately felt rather obvious and I was hoping it would not be them for that very reason. Changing it to someone else would have made it feel more realistic in my opinion.
FAV QUOTES
• in that moment, her fear met her memories, and together they held her in an iron grasp.
• It wasn’t hard to acknowledge that he was attractive, but attractive men weren't always trustworthy.
• The ballgown was ostentatious at best, atrocious in truth.
• “Strength is sometimes noticed, but weakness is never forgotten.”
• “The trials I go through are very different, Miss Moore, but do not make the mistake of assuming they are easy.”
• “Who did that, Thea?”His voice was like death, or at least the promise of it.
• All I could think of was how this man saw me. Clay saw me as a woman, not just a pawn or a princess. He saw me and he embraced who I was instead of what I represented.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Arcadia Rayne for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
I was a Descendant of House Hyrax. I was *the* Descendant of House Hyrax. And if someone was determined to end my line once and for all, I would not make it easy for them.[ Contains some spoilers ]
PLOT SUMMARY
In the realm of Athenia, a mysterious woman appears and starts attacking the kingdom. She is knocked unconscious and when she comes to, she does not remember anything. Interrogated relentlessly by the cold, calculative yet charming Crown Prince Clayton (Clay) Vail of House Zion, King of the Gods, who I may add can transform into a terrifying dragon, she chooses a random name Theadora (Thea).
It is discovered through a tattoo on her chest that she is a Descendant – someone who possesses the blood of one of the Gods in their bodies, giving them an advantage in speed and strength – of the House Hyrax, the God of the Underworld. The very last of her line, in fact, as House Hyrax was believed to have been extinct a while ago. The last known descendant is Zacharia Moore, so she goes by Thea Moore. She is presented to the court where Clayton’s father, aka the Dragon Vyncent, King of Athenia desires to use her as the means of bringing peace across the realms.
As Thea settles in and befriends many including Clay, her enemies are also closing in seeking her demise. As attempts on her life increase, so does her confusion. Who could be behind these plots? Can she ever abandon duty for love? And who is the stranger that frequents her dreams?
This is told from the first-person past-tense point of view of Theadora. The first and last chapters are told via Iris and Camilla respectively.
OVERALL OPINIONS
This was a great book. For a debut novel, Arcadia is deserving of the praise she receives! With plenty of magic, found family, enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, angst, twists and betrayals, this story never failed to keep my interest. It had the perfect blend of unique characterisation, world-building and political intrigue, as well as delving into realistic issues of abuse, objectification and grief. A lot of the description was gorgeous and sophisticated.
The romance was a more secondary aspect to the novel and the fantasy itself takes the centre stage which, for me, I would have hoped for more of the former. My favourite scenes had to be the balcony scene, Clay picking out Thea’s dress, the ballroom and the shared bed.
<< Positives >>
🠚 Visually, the rose as a paragraph divider is such a gorgeous idea, and I love the chapter heading designs with different roses too.
🠚 I really enjoyed the mystery vibes of this story as Theadora tries to uncover who is behind the plots against her life. This had to be one of the best aspects of the story.
🠚 A very clever aspect of the book is the names of the Gods begin with the same letter as their Greek counterpart: Hyrax is equivalent to Hades God of the Underworld; Zion is equivalent to Zeus King of the Gods. It is also rather fitting and poetic that Thea is from the House of Hyrax God of the Dead, when the House has been “dead” for years, believed to be extinct.
🠚 I loved the characters, especially Thea, Clay and Iris. Theadora is a strong character and seeing her growth as a character was great to see: I cannot wait to see where her story takes us next! Clayton is a sweetheart beneath the hard exterior and I love the way he looks after Thea, escorts her, and opens up to her. It’s also really cool he likes mystery books. Iris is so lovely and considerate, but it was interesting to see the different more broken side of her later on in the story.
<< Negatives >>
🠚 It was incredible having all the different Houses, it really set the scene, however I would have liked a thorough list of the Houses/Gods and what their powers were so I could understand more clearly. There was probably around a handful out of a dozen that I actually knew what they did.
🠚 The same goes for the creatures. Nearly all mythical beings are mentioned in this book but do not actually feature, such as mermaids, werewolves etc. though hopefully they will feature in upcoming books as this is part of the House of Hydrax series.
🠚 I thoroughly enjoyed the plot twists at the end and one of the betrayals I did not see coming. The main twist unfortunately felt rather obvious and I was hoping it would not be them for that very reason. Changing it to someone else would have made it feel more realistic in my opinion.
FAV QUOTES
• in that moment, her fear met her memories, and together they held her in an iron grasp.
• It wasn’t hard to acknowledge that he was attractive, but attractive men weren't always trustworthy.
• The ballgown was ostentatious at best, atrocious in truth.
• “Strength is sometimes noticed, but weakness is never forgotten.”
• “The trials I go through are very different, Miss Moore, but do not make the mistake of assuming they are easy.”
• “Who did that, Thea?”His voice was like death, or at least the promise of it.
• All I could think of was how this man saw me. Clay saw me as a woman, not just a pawn or a princess. He saw me and he embraced who I was instead of what I represented.
══════════ ⋆★⋆ ══════════
I am honoured to have been selected as an ARC reader for this book, and I’d like to thank Arcadia Rayne for the opportunity. This has not affected my opinion in any way.
August 16, 2024
I was lucky enough to be chosen as an ARC reader for The Rose in the Shadows and i am SO HAPPY that I was because this book was such an amazing read!! literally devoured it in 2 days. The plot was fast paced and full of fantasy, mystery, and betrayal. i was HOOKED from the prologue. the characters were very likeable (esp the MMC🤭) and well written. while there was a romance aspect, this book was definitely more of a fantasy than romantasy! there is a lot of mystery around the FMC which was really fun, but also made it a little difficult for me to connect to her as much as I would have liked. i found the ending a tad abrupt, but with that being said, i think it sets up the next book in this series for some AMAZING reveals. overall, it was a super fun read and i can’t wait for more 🫶🏼
December 15, 2024
(4.5/5) Just added this book to my list of "fantastic debuts I've read in 2024" ✍️✍️
If you love a romantasy book with a forbidden love (coupled with a SLOW burn), lost memories, court intrigue, and twists & betrayals—then this is the book for you!
What to expect:
🌹 Fantasy romance
🌹 Primarily 1st person, single POV
🌹 Lost memories
🌹 Forbidden love
🌹 Court intrigue
🌹 Slow burn
🌹 Dragon shifters
🌹 Found family
Available on KU ✨
I'm a sucker for a forbidden romance, so this book had me hooked! I love the dynamic between the FMC and MMC—the banter had me giggling & kicking my feet—along with the various side characters.
I also loved that our FMC is figuring out things as we do (since she lost her memories)—it added a layer of mystery and made the twists that much more surprising.
I will absolutely be continuing this series, especially after that ending!!
If you love a romantasy book with a forbidden love (coupled with a SLOW burn), lost memories, court intrigue, and twists & betrayals—then this is the book for you!
What to expect:
🌹 Fantasy romance
🌹 Primarily 1st person, single POV
🌹 Lost memories
🌹 Forbidden love
🌹 Court intrigue
🌹 Slow burn
🌹 Dragon shifters
🌹 Found family
Available on KU ✨
I'm a sucker for a forbidden romance, so this book had me hooked! I love the dynamic between the FMC and MMC—the banter had me giggling & kicking my feet—along with the various side characters.
I also loved that our FMC is figuring out things as we do (since she lost her memories)—it added a layer of mystery and made the twists that much more surprising.
I will absolutely be continuing this series, especially after that ending!!
September 9, 2024
Percy Jackson for adults
This book is INCREDIBLE. Arcadia gave me everything I needed as an adult Percy Jackson fan. This was a little sweet, a little spicy and a whole lot of fun, I can't wait to read her next book and definitely recommend this to anyone who loves mythology and witty banter!
This book is INCREDIBLE. Arcadia gave me everything I needed as an adult Percy Jackson fan. This was a little sweet, a little spicy and a whole lot of fun, I can't wait to read her next book and definitely recommend this to anyone who loves mythology and witty banter!
November 17, 2024
Okay WOW I LOVED THIS!!
If you’re looking for a greek mythology inspired fantasy (note: I truly mean inspired, not retelling!!), PICK THIS ONE!! We’ve got gods, witches, dragons, court politics—truly something for everyone.
Thea’s arc is what I wanted Auren’s to be in The Plated Prisoner series. And it’s very eldest daughter coded. She GOES THROUGH it in this book—from total amnesia, to people pleasing, to the trauma, to finding her own strength. I loved it and I love her.
The last 25% of the book is WILD and I’m itching for the second book already! Part of the twist was obvious to everyone except Thea (and it’s meant to be!), but everything else? Not so much. There is SO much action at the end of this, I started getting stressed out.
So…I’m going to need book 2 STAT, kthxbye.
If you’re looking for a greek mythology inspired fantasy (note: I truly mean inspired, not retelling!!), PICK THIS ONE!! We’ve got gods, witches, dragons, court politics—truly something for everyone.
Thea’s arc is what I wanted Auren’s to be in The Plated Prisoner series. And it’s very eldest daughter coded. She GOES THROUGH it in this book—from total amnesia, to people pleasing, to the trauma, to finding her own strength. I loved it and I love her.
The last 25% of the book is WILD and I’m itching for the second book already! Part of the twist was obvious to everyone except Thea (and it’s meant to be!), but everything else? Not so much. There is SO much action at the end of this, I started getting stressed out.
So…I’m going to need book 2 STAT, kthxbye.
July 15, 2024
The Rose in the Shadows
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy reader or looking for the perfect read to welcome you to the genre, TRITS is the pick for you! We follow Thea, a girl who wakes with no memory of who she is but with a mark that names her the last descendent of a powerful house. She must learn to use her powers and navigate court politics all without angering The Dragon who rules Athenia. Attacks on her life make her question who she really was before she woke up and conflicting feelings for The Dragon’s son make this a captivating read. You’ll be wishing for book 2 as you fly through the pages!
Read this book if you like:
-found family
-interesting magic structure
-court politics
-star crossed lovers
-slow burn romance
The Rose in the Shadows is OUT NOW with the prequel, To the Edge of Athenia releasing on August 22nd. If it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Review on Instagram
5/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
•••Spoiler free review below•••
Whether you’re a seasoned fantasy reader or looking for the perfect read to welcome you to the genre, TRITS is the pick for you! We follow Thea, a girl who wakes with no memory of who she is but with a mark that names her the last descendent of a powerful house. She must learn to use her powers and navigate court politics all without angering The Dragon who rules Athenia. Attacks on her life make her question who she really was before she woke up and conflicting feelings for The Dragon’s son make this a captivating read. You’ll be wishing for book 2 as you fly through the pages!
Read this book if you like:
-found family
-interesting magic structure
-court politics
-star crossed lovers
-slow burn romance
The Rose in the Shadows is OUT NOW with the prequel, To the Edge of Athenia releasing on August 22nd. If it's not already on your tbr, it should be!
.
.
Review on Instagram
March 21, 2024
Ladies and gentleman this book missed the mark…. because it EXCEEDED THE MARK!!! Talk about a unique book, world and plot! Also, did I mention there’s male dragon shifters… yup sign me up please! I love how unique the powers that were showcased in this book instead of the typical fire, wind and ice powers we see so often. If you are looking for a book that quite literally grabs you by the b@lls from page one and holds your attention, then this is the book for you. If you are looking for fun, relatable and lovable characters to follow and fall in love with… yup you guessed it, then this is the book for you. ALSO THE MULTIPLE (yes multiple) TWISTS HAD MY NECK DOING 360 TURNS LIKE AN OWL!!! My husband had to keep telling me to shush and stop putting him on edge from all the gasping and screaming because of all the TWIST!! Also, did I mention there’s gods mentioned heavily in this. Buckle up and enjoy the ride with this one because I was fully satisfied to the point that I need book 2 asap!! Have fun with Clayton and Thea ;)
February 19, 2024
First thoughts-
Well, I ended up finishing the book tonight because I just couldn’t put it down!
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this debut novel. I try to come into debut novels with a lot of grace cause first books tend to not be the authors best work, however, I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was!! The characters, world building, and lore. All easy to understand and follow along, without being too obscure or too detailed. I felt it was just right. I also thought the writing got better as the story progressed. Pacing was good and I didn’t feel like the book was too long or short. All in all, I was hooked and I’m excited to continue reading the story!
Tropes-
Ugh had so many good tropes! Enemies to lovers, who did this to you, one bed, amnesia, lost/last heir, political intrigue.
Summary of the story-
Our main female character arrives on the scene with and explosion of magic in the kingdom of Athenia. She causes destruction and death until she is knocked unconscious. She wakes in an infirmary with no memory of who she is, what she is and where she is. In this world we are dealing with gods and descendants. Each descendant has a mark signifying which house of god they descended from. Thea, the main character, is the last heir of the house of hyrax god of the underworld. We see her as she grapples with finding who she is, finding her confidence and strength as a princess and upcoming member of the council and how she firs in with kingdom politics. The story keeps you interested as there are murder attempts from a mysterious enemy.
Love interest-
Let’s talk about our love interest Clay! Omgggggg the tension and banter had me kicking and giggling. It gives us book girlies everything we want. Clay is the crown prince who is a dragon shifter. He and Thea do not get along at first but we all know that makes for great tension.
In conclusion, I was really wowed by this debut book. The story was intriguing and kept me hooked, made me fall in love with the characters, and has me foaming at the mouth for the next book!
Please be advised there are trigger warnings and dark themes.
Well, I ended up finishing the book tonight because I just couldn’t put it down!
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this debut novel. I try to come into debut novels with a lot of grace cause first books tend to not be the authors best work, however, I was pleasantly surprised at how good this was!! The characters, world building, and lore. All easy to understand and follow along, without being too obscure or too detailed. I felt it was just right. I also thought the writing got better as the story progressed. Pacing was good and I didn’t feel like the book was too long or short. All in all, I was hooked and I’m excited to continue reading the story!
Tropes-
Ugh had so many good tropes! Enemies to lovers, who did this to you, one bed, amnesia, lost/last heir, political intrigue.
Summary of the story-
Our main female character arrives on the scene with and explosion of magic in the kingdom of Athenia. She causes destruction and death until she is knocked unconscious. She wakes in an infirmary with no memory of who she is, what she is and where she is. In this world we are dealing with gods and descendants. Each descendant has a mark signifying which house of god they descended from. Thea, the main character, is the last heir of the house of hyrax god of the underworld. We see her as she grapples with finding who she is, finding her confidence and strength as a princess and upcoming member of the council and how she firs in with kingdom politics. The story keeps you interested as there are murder attempts from a mysterious enemy.
Love interest-
Let’s talk about our love interest Clay! Omgggggg the tension and banter had me kicking and giggling. It gives us book girlies everything we want. Clay is the crown prince who is a dragon shifter. He and Thea do not get along at first but we all know that makes for great tension.
In conclusion, I was really wowed by this debut book. The story was intriguing and kept me hooked, made me fall in love with the characters, and has me foaming at the mouth for the next book!
Please be advised there are trigger warnings and dark themes.
February 20, 2024
I was lucky to be chosen for an ARC copy of this debut novel and it did not disappoint! Honestly, I loved this book the action started immediately. I was addicted right away and couldn't put it down. I love that the action kept a good pace and there weren't many slow parts to this book.
The world building and character development were good and really easy to follow. This would be a good intro to fantasy for someone who hasn't read a fantasy book before. It's super easy to follow and captivating.
Of course it ends on a cliffhanger and leaves us all needing to know what happened! I love that there was a bonus chapter for the second book "The Crown of the Dark Prince". I can't wait to read it and find out what happens with Thea!.. and Clay ;)
The world building and character development were good and really easy to follow. This would be a good intro to fantasy for someone who hasn't read a fantasy book before. It's super easy to follow and captivating.
Of course it ends on a cliffhanger and leaves us all needing to know what happened! I love that there was a bonus chapter for the second book "The Crown of the Dark Prince". I can't wait to read it and find out what happens with Thea!.. and Clay ;)
February 20, 2024
I love how the book starts with Thea having no memory so that we go on the journey with her to find out who she is. Will she get her memories back?! How did she end up on that bridge?
There are a few villains in this book.. one that I did not suspect at all! The world building and descriptions of the characters are top notch. I’m excited for the next one.. this one is minimal spice but “spicier” is in the description for book two! I really can’t predict where the story will go which makes it that much more exciting for the next one!
There are a few villains in this book.. one that I did not suspect at all! The world building and descriptions of the characters are top notch. I’m excited for the next one.. this one is minimal spice but “spicier” is in the description for book two! I really can’t predict where the story will go which makes it that much more exciting for the next one!
March 3, 2024
This is my first ever ARC review and I’m honestly so glad it was this book! Never once was a bored or didn’t feel like reading. Right from the beginning it pulls you into this world with so many questions that you just want more! Thea is everything we need in a badass FMC! Finding her strength while also realizing what would be considered weaknesses aren’t always weaknesses. Currently need the second book because I cannot stop thinking about Athenia!
July 31, 2024
5 ⭐️ wow wow wow! I have been struggling to find a good romantasy book and this one DELIVERED! Or as the kids say…it ate 😂 I loved all the characters: the badass Thea, sweet but spicy Clay, Iris and her fierceness, Rankor and his humor, etc. I loved how easy it was to follow the world building and all the twists and turns! The ending 🤯 and now I have to wait 😫 to find out what happened. Also DRAGON SHIFTER. Need I say more? This book was addicting - I seriously couldn’t put it down. If you’re looking for a new romantasy book - do me a favor and pick this up ASAP
October 19, 2024
4.5 - ah i loved this!! Imagine just accidentally using powers you didn’t know you had and then forgetting your entire existence previous to that? Like what!? This was really good. I loved the magic system, and the tension between our two main characters 🔥 i would like book two now please lol
March 22, 2024
The intertwining of the gods and the dragons and the witches created quite a unique storyline. The main FMC is perfectly poised and insecure and brave at all the right moments. I didn't really feel the chemistry she was trying to portray between the FMC and the MMC, but I did love the wide variety of the cast of characters. I can't wait to see where the story goes in the next book.
September 21, 2024
I ate this up!! This is what I mean when I say I want an enemies to lovers. The yearning! The tension! Absolutely stunning. The magic + royalty system was so incredibly well-written and clearly very thought out. Thea is such a motivating main character and there is so much complexity within her.
March 29, 2024
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to Arcadia and her team for including me in the ARC experience. It has been a pleasure!
I would honestly give the book a rating of 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn’t allow for that and I believe 3 would be too low.
In her debut novel, Arcadia has created a world based loosely on Greek mythology, which was fairly easy to grasp the similarities as a reader (who admittedly knows a lot about the subject). She has created characters who are relatable and was able to elicit emotion about their well-being and the situations they were put into. I
It is clear that there is more to be revealed about this world, as well as the depth of the characters, as the series continues and I am looking forward to learning more about Thea and her world.
The book contains a good mix of fantasy elements without feeling as if there is too much to keep track of. There are fairly minor threads of romance, but I have a feeling that will change as the series progresses.
The House of Hyrax series is an action-packed slow-burn romance filled with magic and political intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Red Queen.
I would honestly give the book a rating of 3.5 stars, but Goodreads doesn’t allow for that and I believe 3 would be too low.
In her debut novel, Arcadia has created a world based loosely on Greek mythology, which was fairly easy to grasp the similarities as a reader (who admittedly knows a lot about the subject). She has created characters who are relatable and was able to elicit emotion about their well-being and the situations they were put into. I
It is clear that there is more to be revealed about this world, as well as the depth of the characters, as the series continues and I am looking forward to learning more about Thea and her world.
The book contains a good mix of fantasy elements without feeling as if there is too much to keep track of. There are fairly minor threads of romance, but I have a feeling that will change as the series progresses.
The House of Hyrax series is an action-packed slow-burn romance filled with magic and political intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and Red Queen.
April 13, 2024
When I first found out about this book I was so excited to read! It is a great start to a series and I cannot wait to read the next one already! If you want a book that will keep you guessing and have a bunch of unexpected twist but a Romantasy this one it for you!
Theodora doesn’t remember a single thing about her past, she doesn’t even know her real name. But she does have a mark that hasn’t been seen in a long time. The mark of Hyrax, and she seems to be the last know descendent of that house. But the mysteries of her past seem to haunt her and she is now in danger. But who is her real enemy?
If you love:
♥️Slow Burns
♥️Strong FMC
♥️Betrayals
♥️Magic
♥️Gods and Goddesses
♥️Angst
You need to check out this book!
Theodora doesn’t remember a single thing about her past, she doesn’t even know her real name. But she does have a mark that hasn’t been seen in a long time. The mark of Hyrax, and she seems to be the last know descendent of that house. But the mysteries of her past seem to haunt her and she is now in danger. But who is her real enemy?
If you love:
♥️Slow Burns
♥️Strong FMC
♥️Betrayals
♥️Magic
♥️Gods and Goddesses
♥️Angst
You need to check out this book!
March 17, 2024
OMG THIS BOOK!!!!!!!!! No joke I was so upset that the book was over. Arcadia’s writing style is soooo amazing and the character development is just unmatched. I feel like I am really watching the slow burn of the book. When I was reading this book I felt as through I was there with each character experiencing everything I was reading. This book had everything you could want and more. Not only did she develop a slow burn love interest the way it should be written but she gave plot twists, character development, emotion, and everything a good book needed. You NEED to pick up this book. I loved every bit of this book. I felt such a strong connection with these characters and when they struggled, went through battle, experienced pain/loss/frustration/etc. Pick this up if you love slow burn love stories, dragons, magical powers, long lost family, self discovery, jaw dropping plot twists, and good battle scenes. The main character Thea will make you fall in love with her; she is smart, outspoken, frustrating, and strong willed all at once. And CLAY IS A FUCKING DREAM!!!!! Why is this man not real! Clay is every book girls dream man, hands down my FAVORITE book boyfriend. I honestly cannot wait for the second book to come out. If you put any book on your TBR list PLSSSSS make it be this book and girl let me just say brace yourself. I hate spoilers so I don’t want to give anything away but the ending had my jaw on the ground and me gasping for air. Like I did not see it coming and I could not stop obsessing over this book.
February 19, 2024
Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice🌶️
Book description:
“The Descendants of Hyrax, God of the Dead, died out long ago. At least, that's what the Mortal Realm had thought until Theadora Moore showed up on the steps of the Athenian Palace without any memories of her past life, magic in her veins, and a mark on her chest that brands her the last living Descendant of Hyrax. Desperate to use her to ensure peace in his kingdom, Prince Clayton Vail forces her to play a role she doesn’t want at court. When mysterious attacks start happening at the castle, though, it becomes clear that not everyone is happy with the return of House Hyrax. If Thea wants to stay alive long enough to uncover the secrets of her past, she’s going to need to master her powers, navigate complicated politics, and figure out who to trust. In a castle filled with the children of the Gods... that might be easier said than done.”
My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book. It had me all in from the beginning. The characters were thoroughly explained. The story line flowed effortlessly IMO. I had a few WTF moments and I love that in a book!
If you like magical romantasy books with dragons, Look no further!
I was lucky enough to be sent this ARC from Arcadia Rayne. I was not disappointed and I can’t wait to read the next!
Spice🌶️
Book description:
“The Descendants of Hyrax, God of the Dead, died out long ago. At least, that's what the Mortal Realm had thought until Theadora Moore showed up on the steps of the Athenian Palace without any memories of her past life, magic in her veins, and a mark on her chest that brands her the last living Descendant of Hyrax. Desperate to use her to ensure peace in his kingdom, Prince Clayton Vail forces her to play a role she doesn’t want at court. When mysterious attacks start happening at the castle, though, it becomes clear that not everyone is happy with the return of House Hyrax. If Thea wants to stay alive long enough to uncover the secrets of her past, she’s going to need to master her powers, navigate complicated politics, and figure out who to trust. In a castle filled with the children of the Gods... that might be easier said than done.”
My thoughts:
I enjoyed this book. It had me all in from the beginning. The characters were thoroughly explained. The story line flowed effortlessly IMO. I had a few WTF moments and I love that in a book!
If you like magical romantasy books with dragons, Look no further!
I was lucky enough to be sent this ARC from Arcadia Rayne. I was not disappointed and I can’t wait to read the next!
February 20, 2024
Can I just say for my first ARC read YESSS!!! First things first trigger warnings need to be checked for those that need it. From the prologue I was like oh yes where is the popcorn. It’s a slow burn but a a good one. I love mythical things and this technically was my first one to read. Can I just say I am in love with the two main characters and their transformation from start to finish. I was so tired one night but I couldn’t stop reading it was to the point I think I fell asked for like 5 minutes woke up and continued lol. The last few chapters had my palms sweaty and no one else in my house existed. Man I’m ready for the next one!!!!! I loved this hopefully one day it will grace my tv screen ad well because it’s just a yes all over.!!!!
February 8, 2024
I am so grateful to have been able to read this book as an ARC. Trigger warnings at the start of any book, I am always thankful for.
I fell in love with this book. I got sucked into the story and the world building and I had to consume this book immediately. Arcadia does an amazing job at pulling the reader into the world and created characters that I was emotionally invested in.
The mythology is tangentially related to greek mythology but Arcadia put her own spin on the stories to make it exciting to learn more about Athenian mythology.
The slow burn had me combustable by the end of this first installment.
I will be telling anyone and everyone I know to read this book.
I fell in love with this book. I got sucked into the story and the world building and I had to consume this book immediately. Arcadia does an amazing job at pulling the reader into the world and created characters that I was emotionally invested in.
The mythology is tangentially related to greek mythology but Arcadia put her own spin on the stories to make it exciting to learn more about Athenian mythology.
The slow burn had me combustable by the end of this first installment.
I will be telling anyone and everyone I know to read this book.
August 29, 2024
I unfortunately was not a fan of this one.
There was not enough world building for me to fully understand and get into this world and the magic. I felt like everything was generalized and glazed over which created a disconnect from the plot and how the story progressed.
I feel the same way about the characters. No one really had a personality that stuck out to me. I often confused characters with others because they were so similarly portrayed. In my opinion, certain events (I won’t spoil) would have had more of an emotional impact had there been better character development. I did not feel an emotional connection to any one character.
The male love interest was genuinely disgusting. I don’t even want to go into it but he was THE WORST. The MMC and FMC also did not have any chemistry in my opinion so it wasn’t enjoyable to read their romance scenes.
I am giving one star because the writing was at least well done and there was at least somewhat of a flow to a story/plot.
I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series in the foreseeable future.
There are TW listed right at the beginning of the book as well so if you plan to read this book look out for that. The major ones being physical abuse and sexual assault
There was not enough world building for me to fully understand and get into this world and the magic. I felt like everything was generalized and glazed over which created a disconnect from the plot and how the story progressed.
I feel the same way about the characters. No one really had a personality that stuck out to me. I often confused characters with others because they were so similarly portrayed. In my opinion, certain events (I won’t spoil) would have had more of an emotional impact had there been better character development. I did not feel an emotional connection to any one character.
The male love interest was genuinely disgusting. I don’t even want to go into it but he was THE WORST. The MMC and FMC also did not have any chemistry in my opinion so it wasn’t enjoyable to read their romance scenes.
I am giving one star because the writing was at least well done and there was at least somewhat of a flow to a story/plot.
I don’t think I’ll be continuing this series in the foreseeable future.
There are TW listed right at the beginning of the book as well so if you plan to read this book look out for that. The major ones being physical abuse and sexual assault
February 20, 2024
5⭐️ I CAN'T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!
I was granted the amazing opportunity to be an ARC reader of this debut novel by Arcadia Rayne. This book is so beautifully written and every page keeps you pulled in. The Greek mythology, magic, adventure, mystery, romance, at every turn keeps you on your toes. The outcome was totally unexpected but very satisfying. The ending has the perfect cliff hanger causing you to beg for more! I'm excited to see where Arcadia Rayne takes these characters and what adventures await them in the next book!
I was granted the amazing opportunity to be an ARC reader of this debut novel by Arcadia Rayne. This book is so beautifully written and every page keeps you pulled in. The Greek mythology, magic, adventure, mystery, romance, at every turn keeps you on your toes. The outcome was totally unexpected but very satisfying. The ending has the perfect cliff hanger causing you to beg for more! I'm excited to see where Arcadia Rayne takes these characters and what adventures await them in the next book!
September 19, 2024
I actually really enjoyed this one! So for the first time ever I thought I’d give the assistive reader on kindle ago, it took a little to get used to hearing it. But once I got over the sound of the voice it was fine. I was able to listen while driving to work, while working my way through other books, so now I’m finally getting into the second book! The plot was very good! The character building was good! Everything describe very well I was able to vividly imagine what was going on. Loved the whole god elements, gave me a similar vibe when Percy Jackson which is another old love of mine
February 14, 2024
I am so happy to have received this book as an arc. This was a truly enjoyable read, I finished in two days!!
This was a slow burn 🔥 romance with high tension throughout. The banter / looks between Thea and Clay had me laughing at moments and building the anticipation in the next. This book was beautifully written and the cliffhanger ending was 🤯 and has me excited to read the next in this series.
If you love a
- slow burn romance
- Unique magic systems
- Strong FMC / MMC
- Dragons
- One bed
- Found family
This is a book you should read! ❤️💕🙌🏻
It does work through trauma in the book, so be sure to check trigger warnings *
This was a slow burn 🔥 romance with high tension throughout. The banter / looks between Thea and Clay had me laughing at moments and building the anticipation in the next. This book was beautifully written and the cliffhanger ending was 🤯 and has me excited to read the next in this series.
If you love a
- slow burn romance
- Unique magic systems
- Strong FMC / MMC
- Dragons
- One bed
- Found family
This is a book you should read! ❤️💕🙌🏻
It does work through trauma in the book, so be sure to check trigger warnings *
February 24, 2024
This book has elements of surprise, forbidden love, politics, wars and lots of magic. It's about a lady getting thrown into politics of the royals and falling in love with a prince from a different royal political house that is her rival. She ends up making friends with different people with different abilities(magically). She is strong headed and thinks she knows best but getting into lots of crazy situations. The end is a really big twist and isn't what you think would happen.
May 4, 2024
Aside from a few clunky, awkward lines I absolutely LOVED this!!! I need book two immediately.
I discovered this book through a TikTok back in late February that maybe 20 likes. I immediately preordered it then forgot about it. I got an email at midnight on the release date and was so confused as to how and when I had bought it because I was not following the author anywhere or marked it on here as “Want to Read”. I eventually figured it out and remembered seeing the video and all this to say I am so glad I decided to preorder :)
I discovered this book through a TikTok back in late February that maybe 20 likes. I immediately preordered it then forgot about it. I got an email at midnight on the release date and was so confused as to how and when I had bought it because I was not following the author anywhere or marked it on here as “Want to Read”. I eventually figured it out and remembered seeing the video and all this to say I am so glad I decided to preorder :)
February 20, 2024
I just finished reading this...and WOW! You have to pick it up when it comes out ✨️April 11th!✨️
This story had me hooked from beginning to end. The twists, betrayal, love interests... all of it was just amazing!
This book was a fresh twist on mythology and was the perfect start to this series. I can not wait to continue this story in the next book👀
This story had me hooked from beginning to end. The twists, betrayal, love interests... all of it was just amazing!
This book was a fresh twist on mythology and was the perfect start to this series. I can not wait to continue this story in the next book👀
February 8, 2024
I recieved an ARC of The Rose in the Shadows. Full review to come.
April 11, 2024
MMC is a dragon shifters… sign me up!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
If you’re looking for a book the will pull you in a choke hold and have you attention from start to finish, then this is the book for you!
This book does have some heavy influences with gods. One way we see this clear is with the houses and their magic! Instead of typical elemental powers, the powers characters got was from the house of gods they represented. However most gods had a couple strong powers so each descendent from a house could have any handful of powers and different levels of powers. The author did a great job on showcasing each of these power (especially those in FMCs inner circle) throughout this book!
The characters in this book were also relatable making them so easy to love. I can tell you a little something about each character that I loved. Don’t get me started on our MMC dragon shifting daddy 🥵 that man has my heart! I feel all the quotes I love from this book is from him.
All I can say is hold on to your seat, strap in, and get ready because that cliff hanger has me needing book 2 ASAP!!I
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
If you’re looking for a book the will pull you in a choke hold and have you attention from start to finish, then this is the book for you!
This book does have some heavy influences with gods. One way we see this clear is with the houses and their magic! Instead of typical elemental powers, the powers characters got was from the house of gods they represented. However most gods had a couple strong powers so each descendent from a house could have any handful of powers and different levels of powers. The author did a great job on showcasing each of these power (especially those in FMCs inner circle) throughout this book!
The characters in this book were also relatable making them so easy to love. I can tell you a little something about each character that I loved. Don’t get me started on our MMC dragon shifting daddy 🥵 that man has my heart! I feel all the quotes I love from this book is from him.
All I can say is hold on to your seat, strap in, and get ready because that cliff hanger has me needing book 2 ASAP!!I
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