Embrace of the Shade

Part 1 of The Berylian Key

By: Kayla Hansen, Amanda Muratoff

Narrated by: Austenne Grey

Length: 9 hrs and 4 mins

Publisher's summary

Amarie’s legendary magic could incinerate her enemies, but it’s her sword she trusts.

While running from the men who killed her family, she learns of an ancient text locked within the Great Library that might be the final key to understanding her curse. During the daring theft, a stranger inserts himself into her scheme. Kin’s roguish good looks and boundless charm threaten to distract her, but she has no intention of landing in the city jail.

Kin’s life, riddled with shadows and death, is as dark as his soul.

He embraces his power, given by a wicked master, but then he meets Amarie … She shatters the walls he’s built, piercing his solitude with vibrant light. But if she learns he hunts the power cursing her family, he will lose her forever.

Trusting him could risk her heart and her life, but it might be the only way to destroy the world’s most sinister evil. Unless Kin’s master finds her first …

©2019 Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Hansen (P)2019 Amanda Muratoff and Kayla Hansen

A hidden gem that was worth remaking

Male listener here,

I originally purchased the first two Pantracia audiobooks after speaking with Kayla at Comic Con years ago. While I like fantasy, romantic fantasy is not normally my genre, with the occasional exception. In spite of that, I was impressed enough with her sales pitch and 10 (now 13 and finished) book series to give them a shot. On first listen, I found the characters and story to be both charming and quirky enough to keep my interest. Lucky for me, they had the audiobooks redone with a new narrator who did a fantastic job at bringing the book to life for a second listen.

While the only other review at the time of writing this makes a couple points, namely the laundry list of tropes present in the book, I would argue that romantic fantasy as a genre thrives by playing on tropes as a bylaw. I think they've massively undersold this audiobook. I don't normally write reviews, but I also don't believe EotS belongs at the bottom of the 1 star trash heap.

I'll try to divide the review down into categories with a tl;dr at the end for those who just want a breakdown. Novel incoming:

Characters: 3.5/5
First and foremost, I found the characters, though occasionally frustrating, were crafted well enough. The authors managed to infuse them with enough depth to make them feel like unique characters with occasionally relatable struggles. Amarie is a slightly idealized FMC with magic powers and trust issues, while Kin is the edgy, mysterious, hot guy with a dark past. A match made in heaven, obviously. The supporting hero(in)es, dubious villains and other side characters all felt distinct in their motives and personalities that made them stand out from one another, which is a detail that many independent authors struggle with. I had trouble relating to some of the character's decisions at times, some of which periodically felt forced, but overall I enjoyed most of the characters.

Narration: 4/5
I'm not normally a fan of female narrators, who are a staple in romantic fantasy, but Austenne does a great job in her role. With only a few instances of monotone sections or struggling with deeper voices, she managed to keep them all distinct enough to differentiate between each character, while simultaneously breathing life into the text. Hearing the disgust, disbelief or the quickening of her rhythm of speech during key moments made the listening experience more enjoyable than I had expected. It was a good performance, marred only by a few nitpicks, and I look forward to the next Austenne/Pantracia collaboration.
Side note: As is tradition, this is a spicy book, with tasteful/meaningful sexual encounters. Thus, there is no satin curtain to pull or door to close, so do prepare yourself with headphones. Especially if you have curious roommates (ask me how I know).

Story: 4/5
Despite this not being my preferred genre, I found myself surprisingly engaged in the story. The narrative had a magnetic quality that kept me hooked, while also infrequently making me roll my eyes. Yet, I still wanted to see where the story would go next. It speaks volumes about the authors' ability to craft a compelling tale that transcends genre preferences.
Although the story does lack the polish of certain other authors, and despite this being their first novel, the authors' writing demonstrated a commendable level of skill and creativity, promising a lot of potential for the rest of the series and beyond. The ability to create a captivating story, especially within the challenging realm of fantasy, is a testament to both authors' storytelling capabilities.

Flow: 4/5
I didn't have too many issues with the pacing of the story, barring a few instances. As someone who regularly listens to 20-40 hour audiobooks, the 9 hour duration of this book felt like a blink. That being said, there were one or two moments in the book that were either painfully slow or far too quickly glossed over. Thankfully, the transitions from chapters or scenes seemed more or less, clear and easy to follow, so I rarely had trouble orienting myself. The sexual content, as mentioned above, is tasteful, doesn't drag on for overly long, and only present where it adds to the storytelling.

Tl;dr
Characters: 3.5/5
Narration: 4/5
Story: 4/5
Flow: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

In conclusion, Embrace of the Shade offers a delightful journey into a Romantic Fantasy world, filled with decent characters, great narration, and a compelling narrative. While a few frustrating moments may arise, the overall experience is one that I would recommend to both fans of the genre and those open to exploring new literary realms. Since discovering this series, I have recommended Pantracia to many friends and family members who went on to absolutely devour the paperbacks ahead of me, which only makes me look forward to the next installments more.

I'd give this a 4/5, but I'm going to tack on another star to counter balance the only other review at the moment. I hope in doing so that more people get a chance to listen to this hidden gem. In the vast tapestry of audiobook opinions, where a reviewer named “OnlyPaid ReviewsStay” resides in the realm of perpetual negativity, my 5-star encounter with Embrace of the Shade sparkles like an unexpected gem. While some may find comfort in paid up or downvote perspectives, my journey through Pantracia affirmed that true appreciation can't be bought. Amidst the shadows of cynicism, my review stands as a testament to the genuine magic woven into the fabric of this Romantic Fantasy. So, here's to embracing the authenticity of an unfiltered narrative and letting the stars shine without the need for a financial constellation. #UnpaidAndUnfiltered #GenuineAppreciation

The cringe is just too much for me.

Holy smokes this book was cringy. You hit every single stereotype in the market before chapter 10. Instant lust, hand holding, virginal damsel, cocky hero, and the god forsake miscommunication trope. I bought this book when it first came out and kept restarting and stopping before chapter 3. Now I know why. The cringe is just too much for me.