Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams ~ Book Review

 

Mayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams is now live!

One mission. One curse. No escape.

Zaira doesn't want a hero. She needs a weapon.

To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.

Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he's really after, it's not salvation.

He promises to help. He might even mean it.

But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.

She just doesn't have a choice.

Narrated by Joniece Abbott-Pratt

One mission. One curse. No escape.

Now, if that doesn't sound like a good time, I don't know what does. 😉

I have found myself reading more and more Romantasy's recently, and I'm loving it. I always prefered watching them in the movies or on TV rather than reading them, and I honestly don't know why, it could be because I rarely had time to sit and read one book that was over five hundred pages, like this one, because of my schedule, but now I don't mind slowing down and having it take longer to finish a book than it use to. Especially if I'm connecting with the characters and the wonderful fantasy world the author has created for us. In MAYHEM AND THE MORTAL, we have four loveable characters that are so different from one another, but they all have the same goal, each for a different reason, but that doesn't matter in their quest to get to The Shallows.

Zaira is in desperate need to save her sister, Analla, from a Dark Sorcerer, Seferin, who has put a curse on her and is slowly draining the life out of her. Her only hope is to hire a guide to help her make it to The Temple of Elphar, which is located in The Shallows, a place where no one has ever returned, and back alive. The only problem she has is that no one is willing to help, that is, until she meets Thane Valkor, a sorcerer, an assassin, and a huge walking red flag. I LOVE the bickering between these two characters. Thane is a character everyone is afraid of and clearly stays away from, but Zaira has no filter when it comes to him and sometimes says things she should probably keep to herself at times. But the girl does have a soft heart and cares for everyone, even the morally grey assassin.

I love the chemistry between Thane and Zaira, and the bonds that they make with Algar and his cute little pink dragon sidekick, Zephra, a childhood friend from Thane's past, as well as a manator, Rynthea, both of whom accompany them on their quest to The Shallows. Along the way, they are dealt with all sorts of obstacles that they must defeat, or they themselves will be the ones who die. Shanora's writing had me captivated, and I was holding my breath each time they found themselves in trouble. This little found family group of four all had each other's backs, but don't let that fool you; there were a ton of secrets and lies between them, too.

This was my first venture into Shanora Williams' fantasy world, and I'm here to stay. With this ending, I know there has to be more to come, and I cannot wait for it. I also checked out her backlist and was happy to see she has many more books, both fantasy and contemporary, for me to check out while I'm waiting.

I recommend this book to readers who enjoy Romantasy, Grumpy/Sunshine Romances, Found Family Romances, or anyone looking for a good book to lose themselves in for a while.

*𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒗𝒐𝒍𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑨𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒚 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒈, Nadine's Obsessed with Books**

Meet the Author:

Shanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her versatile voice, diverse characters, and high-stakes stories. Whether grounded in reality, set in a world of magic, or immersed in suspense, her books explore connection, chaos, and emotions that linger long after the last page.

As a self-proclaimed “mood writer”, Shanora has never believed in boxing herself in. Her desire has always been to take risks and challenge herself. If a plot is relentlessly on her mind, she will try her hand at it.

When she isn't writing, she's deep in family life, binge-watching shows and movies, working out, gaming, or getting cozy with a book. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband and three sons.

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