Rain of shadows and endings: Edizione italiana (The legacy series Vol. 1) (Italian Edition)
A masterpiece in fated mates and broken bonds world-building for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Amber V. Nicole, Kaylie Smith, and Rebecca Yarros, the first installment in Melissa K. Roehrich’s internationally bestselling Legacy Series is a contemporary dark romantasy set in a world forgotten by the gods, created for their descendants, roamed by dragons, served by Fae…and not so different from our own.
“No one writes emotional, immersive, beautiful chaos like Melissa Roehrich. If you love worlds you can practically touch and taste, angst that will have your heart pounding, and romance that will leave you breathless, Rain of Shadows and Endings will consume you from the beginning!” —LJ Andrews, bestselling author of The Ever Seas and Broken Souls and Bones
Out of all their creations, the gods favored their children the most. But with that favor came the fear that their Legacy would one day become too powerful . . .
A World the Gods Forgot
Devram is a realm hidden amongst the stars. The gods gave their Legacy the best of all the worlds, and then they left—having sworn to never return and to never interfere.
A Historical Event
Forced into a life of servitude, the Fae provide for the Legacy in more ways than one. Every five years, eligible Fae are gathered for the Selection and assigned to serve in one of the six Kingdoms. To be chosen as the personal Source for a Kingdom Heir is the greatest honor, and for the first time in millennia, all six Kingdoms have heirs choosing a Source. But their selections could tip the power balance a little too far.
A Chosen That Was Never Meant to Be
Tessalyn Asura was as forgotten as the realm. But when she finds herself the personal Source to the Heir of Endings, she winds up serving in the darkest Kingdom of them all. The secrets within the Arius Kingdom are meant to be learned and kept, but this was never the life she wanted. Fighting not only the fate thrust upon her, but the temptation to lose herself to desire, Tessa will do anything to escape her new destiny. Until she begins to realize that maybe their world isn’t as forgotten as they thought—and that maybe she’s the reason why.
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Community Reviews
Rain of Shadows and Endings has a blurb that made me excited for the dark romantasy. Powerful Fae, dragon shifters, dangerous court politics, and a heroine destined to challenge an oppressive magical hierarchy. Unfortunately, the writing buried nearly everything interesting beneath excessive prose, questionable character development, and a romance I found uncomfortable. Also, where were the dragons? I was promised dragon shifters!
In the realm of Devram, the Fae exist to serve the ruling Legacy who are descendants of the gods who use magical powers for their own benefit. Tessa, a rebellious Fae desperate to maintain her freedom, is selected as the personal Source of Theon, the ruthless Heir of Endings. Their forced magical bond places her at the center of a dangerous political struggle with secrets surrounding her extraordinary power threatening to unravel everything.
My biggest frustration was the storytelling itself. Tessa is supposedly the most powerful Fae in existence, but she spends a surprising amount of the book unconscious. Seriously, why is this woman always sleeping? She conveniently wakes just long enough to ask where she is before passing out again. Theon is left free to discuss court politics without her participation. It became such a repetitive narrative shortcut that I struggled to take her seriously.
The romance was equally disappointing. Theon claims to find Tessa's defiance irresistible, but their relationship lacks the interactions necessary to make that attraction believable. Tessa was too busy passing out to participate in any relationship building conversations. Theon's frequent sexual remarks and insistence that a wife should satisfy her husband only made matters worse. Tessa wants nothing to do with their forced arrangement and his advances feel invasive rather than seductive. I can appreciate a morally questionable love interest in dark romance, but I still need chemistry to root for the relationship.
The blatant misogyny throughout Devram also left a sour impression. Women are expected to obey, serve, and exist as extensions of powerful men. Such oppression might have been fascinating material for examining autonomy and rebellion through Tessa's resistance. Instead, the constant objectification became exhausting alongside a romance that seemed to reinforce those attitudes rather than meaningfully challenge them.
I wanted dragons, a formidable heroine, and a romance that swept me off my feet. I mostly got court politics, uncomfortable flirting, and a heroine who desperately needed another nap.
Pick up Rain of Shadows and Endings if you enjoy oppressive fantasy worlds, morally gray characters, and extensive court politics.
