October 7, 2025 • 34 mins
Jordan and Devonnie are back to bring you their most anticipated trope: Shadow Daddies. These are morally grey, brooding, possesive, weidlers of shadow magic who usually are only soft for the women they love. You've probably heard the term "shadow daddy" when readers describe popular characters like Xaden from Fourth Wing, Dorian Havilliard from Throne of Glass and Azriel from ACOTAR. But these MMC's are only the beginning to what a fictional man can do with their shadows.
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Episode Transcript
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Devonnie (00:02):
Welcome to Romance Recs where romance obsessed
besties sharing book recs brokendown by genres and tropes so you
can be sure you're gettingexactly what you want out of
your next read.
Hey guys, Dev here.
I am actually currently readinga bunch of books.
I'm listening to two, so I'mlistening to What Fury brings by
Tricia Levin seller.
And then I'm also listening toThe Damned by Harper L Woods.
(00:25):
Those are two alcs.
I'm very excited.
I know, I'm so sorry, Jordan,I'm so sorry.
But I did get a proof from thatalc, and I'm very excited.
I started the damned, but then Ikind of stopped because that
needs my full attention.
And since I'm also, I startedwhat Fury brings first.
I'm gonna pause.
Jordan (00:44):
Okay, And hi, I'm Jordan,
Devonnie (00:47):
Yeah.
Jordan (00:47):
I am currently listening to the Serpent and the Wolf by
Rebecca Robinson.
So good, and I'm listening tothe Complete Flirting with
Monsters series by Eva Chase.
Devonnie (00:59):
Do I know that one?
Oh, no.
I've read Eva Chase before.
I read her The Wonderland, thelike, yeah.
Okay.
That's why that's familiar.
Jordan (01:07):
and it's, good.
it's good.
It's just on a hinged enough, Iappreciate.
Devonnie (01:12):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think even Chase got someunhinged ones for sure.
Jordan (01:16):
And speaking of unhinged, what are we talking
about today?
Because the whole concept ispretty unhinged
Devonnie (01:23):
favorite.
Okay.
Today's episode is brought toyou by Shadow Daddies.
I am so excited to talk aboutShadow daddies.
I love love.
Shadow, jet, shadow, daddies.
And here's the thing, folks.
Real quick because, these arenot gonna be like super uber
popular shadow daddies.
We're not talking about Zaden.
(01:44):
I know.
Boohoo, cry me River.
Find someone else who has,they're
Jordan (01:48):
that will talk to you about that one.
Devonnie (01:49):
Plenty.
Yeah.
Like, and it's
Jordan (01:51):
Dorian Haard.
Devonnie (01:52):
No.
And Dorian is Daddy for real.
Like, I love, do I postpossession?
Dorian Prepos like no.
POS post possession.
Dorian, I love him down Bad.
Unfortunately, I'm not gonna betalking about him today.
You do.
You get what?
We're wanna introduce you tosome new shadow daddies.
Okay.
Jordan (02:12):
And I will say there's finding good shadow daddies.
For me, there are someprerequisites to earn that
title.
Just because shadows areinvolved doesn't always make you
daddy, and I'm gonna say,preface this with, I hate the
term daddy personally for meokay.
I hate it so much.
This is the only situation inwhich I personally will use
(02:37):
Daddy in this way.
I just, no judgment on others.
That's just for me.
But Shadow Daddy is it I willsay that the book I'm reading,
the Serpent and the Wolf isShadow Mommy.
Devonnie (02:49):
And we love that.
We do love that.
Jordan (02:53):
Love seeing a woman in a male dominated field.
It's
Devonnie (02:55):
right, right.
Women in stem or women inmorally gray.
I don't know, whatever.
One of the books I'm reading itshe's not a shadow mommy.
She hasn't really stepped intothat power, but she does have
shadows and she's a girl aswell.
So, okay.
I know at this time you'rewaiting for a quote from one of
our books, but I unfortunatelyam not gonna give you a quote.
I'm gonna give you a bit of arant.
The thing with me reading shadowdaddies and looking for shadow
(03:18):
daddies and scouring my previousreads, is that I do not have any
black shadow daddies.
Not one, not a one.
I'm really excited forDavenports.
Our vicious oaths, I think isthe name of the book.
It comes out next month becausethat's a black shadow daddy, but
(03:38):
I have not been able to findblack shadow daddies.
If you are listening and youhave like a mega list, you're
like, girl, where are youlooking?
Please let me know.
Please, I am begging you.
I just want to read some blackshadow daddies.
I would really
Jordan (03:53):
there's been a big attempt made to find
Devonnie (03:55):
Yes.
I'm trying so hard, like Idon't, the thing is, it's not, I
can't even tell you.
Oh, I've read some and they'vebeen bad.
I have not read a black shadow.
Daddy, I can't find them.
So please, if you know anywrecks please let me know.
And like I said, look out forany Davenports book in next
month.
I think it comes out October28th.
So yeah, that's exciting, butsad.
(04:19):
Boo.
Tomato.
Tomato we're the, yeah.
Jordan (04:25):
We've done this before.
I will give you a quote.
It's from an A LC that Ilistened to recently and I
absolutely loved it.
So here is a bonus rec from ourepisode.
Time.
'cause our last episode was darkacademia and then I found
(04:46):
another dark academia.
Oops.
So this is from Spellcaster byJaymin Eve.
Repeat after me.
We don't fuck Bad Boys.
Bell opened her mouth and thenslammed it shut.
Sorry.
I can't, my programming ispreventing me from lying and
it's just so, it's so fun.
Devonnie (05:07):
I love that.
She's like, no, I can't agree.
Jordan (05:09):
And I have one more just because it was just so fun and
the found family, and this wasamazing.
Murder or not?
Maybe you two should bang it outfirst.
Imagine the hate.
Fucking, that's way too fine awarlock to waste as a nemesis if
there's no hate.
Fucking, I mean, and isn't thatall we ever want when we read
these?
(05:29):
Yes.
Devonnie (05:30):
Yes.
Don't waste any warlocks.
Save the kingdom.
Write a warlock, or whatever itis that the people
Jordan (05:36):
Yeah.
Devonnie (05:37):
You know what I'm saying?
Jordan (05:38):
I mean, and I feel like we don't, even in enemies to
lovers, we don't see enoughgenuine hate fucking, Just don't
see that enough.
Devonnie (05:45):
Yeah.
Jordan (05:46):
It's a, anyways, that turned into a rant, But that's
fine.
Devonnie (05:50):
right When enemies to lovers before, when they get to
like the lovers part, they'rewell and truly actually lovers,
but we need to see more.
I hate you, you know, just alittle bit more.
Jordan (06:01):
Yeah.
Yummy.
Devonnie (06:03):
Okay.
So right like next.
My first rec, I'm sorry, I wastrying to decide I'm just gonna
mention this one.
So the Games, God's Play byAbigail Owen this is like a
Hades retelling the entireOlympus crew, if you know them,
you know, Zeus.
Deme all the people, right?
(06:23):
All of the gods.
It's one of those retellings ina modern city and there are
trials, there's champions,there's selecting the next God
king, essentially.
Hades is a shadow daddy.
Now I'm just quickly mentioninghim, just because Hades does not
use his shadows to his, to whatwe expect.
Of course, he uses them to beviolent, but even here's my
(06:45):
stipulation for shadow daddy.
His shadows need to be usedindiscriminately when killing,
like I am talking about, youtouch this woman the wrong way,
and now you're blown to SmithReeds by shadows.
You know what I'm saying?
Like, I need him to be soaggressive with this power.
And so e that and the like,shadow play.
Like, that's nice, but like forme, I really need the shadows to
(07:07):
be another character, to be likeworking overtime.
So in the games, got the games,gods play Hades, I feel like.
Need to turn it up a notch.
There is a book too.
Hopefully we'll see more shadowsin that one.
I just I need it a little bitmore, but if you are into, you
know, the whole Olympus vibe,then I think it's a pretty cool
(07:27):
one for you to read.
I really loved the challenges inthat one, so, yeah.
Jordan (07:33):
That's interesting because I have a rec from
Abigail Owen.
This one is the Liar's CrownDominion's.
Book one.
Okay, so this one wasinteresting and I have not read
book two yet just because I hadso many other things on my plate
that I had to get to.
I will get back to book twothough.
Because the tag of this is someshadows protect you, others will
(07:55):
kill you.
Is about, in this world, thiskingdom.
Every like generation or two,the next queen is born.
But what people don't know isthat the queen is always a twin
but they hide the second twin,and her only purpose is
(08:16):
basically to sacrifice herselffor her sister.
So she's a stand in, she's thebody.
Double in tricky situations orwhen contentions are high, or
like for public appearances,right, where there's a chance
that they could be harmed.
Or, if.
Assassination plot actuallycomes down on the actual queen.
(08:37):
No one will find out, and theother princess will take her
place.
So like this has been happeningfor generations.
And so this follows the hiddenPrincess.
The one that has been living insecret.
I mean, like they have, she hasa secret like closet room in her
sister's room where she stayssometimes when she's actually at
the castle.
(08:57):
Other times she goes to thisoutlying town.
I mean it's, there's portals, sothere is some magic.
It's, this is wild.
Okay.
what happens is their grandmathe queen dies and this king
from a neighboring kingdom.
This really shitty one.
Obviously he's
Devonnie (09:14):
Obviously as they are.
Jordan (09:16):
No, this one's actually horrible.
This is the actual horrible, badguy, not the like broody.
Oh, that's the bad guy.
This is like the actual asshole.
Devonnie (09:28):
Right
Jordan (09:28):
No,
Devonnie (09:29):
Bad.
Jordan (09:29):
like yeah, so bad.
He,
Devonnie (09:36):
My God, I'm so.
Jordan (09:42):
He sends a gift right?
To the new queen, but likesomething changes in her.
Anyways, there's all this weirdstuff.
I'm trying to even remember whathappens at the beginning to make
her leave.
anyways, so on the eve of thecoronation, switches out with
her sister, right?
But this shadow being kidnapsher, who he thinks is the new
(10:06):
queen.
And so he takes her by mistakebecause no one knows that
there's a body double.
She tries to escape him'cause heportals to this like very wild
realm.
I guess realm kingdom, they'reall in the same, it's not really
a realm.
I've been reading a lot of bookswith realms lately.
Excuse me.
So she tries to escape.
(10:26):
But through that different liesare uncovered hers and this
shadow rath that takes her.
So this like it.
I can't talk a lot about thisshadow daddy without revealing
the big secret
Devonnie (10:42):
Okay.
Jordan (10:43):
of this shadow.
And we're only scratching thesurface of him by the end of the
book.
But he can like shadows.
Lots of shadows
Devonnie (10:54):
Shadows
Jordan (10:54):
a lot.
There are a lot of shadows.
The political stability isinteresting, so this mysterious.
Man that takes her for a reason,right?
He has his own people that he'strying to take care of.
So there are altruistic reasons.
Now, this is the, oh, bad guy.
Oh yeah.
You're kidnapping her.
(11:15):
This is that one.
Okay.
so,
Devonnie (11:18):
Yeah, Oh no.
Don't kidnap me.
Jordan (11:21):
no.
Devonnie (11:21):
kidnap me.
Jordan (11:23):
the woods as I try to run away.
No.
Yeah, so it's good.
It's it's, yeah.
Lots of shadows.
And I need someone else to talkto me about the big reveal of
the shadows because it's one Ihaven't read and it is very
interesting and I wanna talklogistics, so.
Devonnie (11:44):
I actually need you to tell me about it.
I don't know if I'm gonna readthis, but now I'm actually
curious and I wanna find out.
Jordan (11:49):
Yeah.
after Yeah, we can do that.
Yep.
And it's a great romantic, so ifyou're looking for romantic with
something, it's, yeah.
Devonnie (11:55):
Yeah, I love that.
Okay.
My next Shadow Daddy wreck isgonna be Ray Knight from the
Nightfall Trilogy.
Maybe I've mentioned these twobefore.
I feel like I, I talk about theseries a lot, but I don't know
if I've spoken about them on thepodcast either way.
The Nightfall Trilogy is writtenby Chloe c Panda.
(12:15):
It is kind of like a.
Star cross lovers vibe.
There are gods and celestials,but there are also soulless or
vampires.
Everybody's pretty much fightingto keep the star maiden.
Astraya is a star maiden.
She is bonded to one person whois an absolute jerk.
(12:37):
We do not love him.
His gift is like lightning, andthen he's a celestial.
But then she ends up in aprecarious situation where our
brooding hero, Ray Knight, hasto save her.
And in doing so, they end upbonded.
So now that's her bonded, likethat's, you know, ride or die.
They're locked in this lifetogether.
(12:59):
Every time they get togetherthough, it causes earthquakes,
it causes.
Unforeseeable damage to theplanet because, yeah, no,
because they should not betogether.
So the actual gods do not wantthem together.
And
Jordan (13:13):
skipping Zodiac Academy.
Okay.
Devonnie (13:15):
yeah, they will literally, yes.
Oh yeah.
They'll literally break theplanet apart just to keep them
from being together.
That doesn't work clearly.
The reason why I am mentioningKnight.
So he has three different names.
Ray Knight is his given name.
That is the name I think hismother gave him.
Knight is what he goes by.
(13:38):
I think he feels morecomfortable with that name or
that's like what other peoplecall him.
And then his like alter ego.
The shadow daddy, part of him iscalled Knight's Death.
Now Ray Knight and Knight is oneperson.
I see them as one person.
Knight's death is a completelyseparate entity.
Knight's Death has his ownopinions he kills
(14:01):
indiscriminately
Jordan (14:02):
So, wait, this isn't the same character,
Devonnie (14:05):
it.
They're the same character, butyou know how your powers are
part of you.
Jordan (14:09):
a multiple personality.
So like when the powers comeout, he like, there's a shift,
Devonnie (14:14):
has to fight.
Yes, exactly.
Knight has to fight to regainpower from Knight's death.
Whenever Knight's death emerges,he's like always in the
subconscious.
And because of Knight's deathKnight has these like.
Overwhelming abilities.
He's feared because of just thedepravity that overtakes him
when he embraces this side ofhim.
(14:36):
I love that depravity.
I fear that Knight's death.
At first I was not sure how tofeel about
Jordan (14:41):
No, you were talking to us about
Devonnie (14:43):
yeah, I was.
I was like this, it's too muchlike, what's going on?
And then I saw like, it takes areally long time for Chloe to
show you night's deaths, likecuriosity as a being.
I don't wanna give too muchaway, but you really don't learn
as much about Knight Statseparately until you get to the
last book in the trilogy oother, throughout the other two
(15:06):
books.
He's literally just.
A part of the story, you don'tknow much about him.
You just know that whenever hetakes over, people are going to
die.
And that is my favorite thing.
He does have a little bit ofshadow
Jordan (15:17):
When everyone die.
Devonnie (15:19):
yeah, like honestly, I am telling you a shadow daddy
for me is someone who just like,there's no talking and that's
how Knight's death is like thisgifted.
Killer with no humanity.
I'm talking about Elena flippingoff the switch.
Steven, Stephan, flip, slip,flipping off the switch like no
humanity just dead behind theeyes.
(15:40):
Like, and you, there is noreasoning with that.
So if he doesn't like you, he'sjust going to kill you and he
does it like you.
You think you love a characterknight that doesn't care.
He's gone.
He's outta here.
And I really love that.
I think that's my favoritething.
I think of all the books that Imentioned, nights Death has the
most overwhelming shadow daddyqualities, like fast, like a
(16:05):
vampire.
Because he is one with theshadows, he can also portal or
step into the void so theshadows can make him travel.
The shadows can caress and besoft and, you know, for the
person he likes.
But yeah, for the most part, heis a shadow daddy.
Touch her and die vibes, whichis what I need my shadow daddies
to have.
(16:26):
And I also need the shadow, thereason I mention him too is
because I feel like the shadowsneed to have their own
personality as well.
Like, or just like bring anextra vibe to the story, which
knight step definitely embodies.
Jordan (16:40):
Yep.
Yeah, I under, I understand thatcompletely.
I know, I remember you messagingus about this one and I was so
intrigued, but I, when wemessage about it, we get random
bits and pieces,
Devonnie (16:52):
right.
Jordan (16:53):
I love hearing the whole reasoning.
Devonnie (16:56):
The group chat, because I'll just randomly pop
in, guys, guess what?
And then
Jordan (17:01):
Guess what Knight's Death did?
And I was like, I thought he wascalled something different.
Okay.
I don't understand, but thismakes sense now.
Okay.
Perfect.
All right, so for my secondfeature this is one I saw on
shelves for a long time and Iwas always curious about it, but
I never actually picked it upand I finally listened to it and
(17:22):
then I had just binged the wholething So this is a broken blade
is book one, and it's from theHalfling Saga by Melissa Blair.
I think I gave all these booksfive stars.
I loved them.
Devonnie (17:36):
Did you?
Jordan (17:37):
Yeah.
One of them I think maybe wasfour'cause it felt like too much
filler.
But I still loved the filler.
I don't, I think filler has aplace like I do.
Anyways, that's a whole notherthing.
This is technically, I think ya.
There is spice eventually, butit's not a driving factor,
right?
It's the bigger plot and storyand fantasy is a big part of it.
(17:58):
But this follows Kira.
She is an assassin.
She is a halfling.
She, in this kingdom, she isknown as the king's blade.
So there is this assassin's.
School and this whole Assassin'sGuild almost.
(18:22):
And she is number one.
Devonnie (18:25):
Period.
Jordan (18:26):
She is.
And, but what's heartbreaking isthey are there to work for the
king who has all but eliminatedall half links in all of the
kingdom.
And she is the one that has togo carry out this justice and
basically like kill her peopleand when I say kill her people,
(18:46):
I mean like entire families.
It doesn't matter how old oryoung, it doesn't matter who it
doesn't.
Like if he points his finger,she goes you obviously learn
more.
If I give this a five stars, I'mnot gonna give you someone
that's like actually heartless,I'm going to right.
Okay.
In book one, there's amysterious figure in the land
(19:07):
causing some trouble for theking he's called the shadow.
She is sent to hunt him down.
Okay.
She has to cross into magicallands of the Faye.
The king and the where she'sliving is all humans, right?
But this king has lived forhundreds and hundreds of years
and no one quite knows why.
'cause he is a human right?
(19:29):
But he is not aging anymore.
Devonnie (19:32):
Right.
Very shady.
Jordan (19:33):
So she heads into the magical lands of the Faye.
To hunt this shadow.
But she also kind of has tofigure out like who her real
enemy is.
She has to figure out where shewants to stand in things.
Is she gonna stand up for herpeople?
Is she gonna work undercover?
Is she find this shadow?
(19:54):
Is the shadow really?
It was so good, like thebackstories and learning about
these characters and the wayeverything unfolded.
I felt like the timing wasperfect.
I enjoyed the larger story of itall.
And you don't really get to theshadow of it until like you
(20:15):
learn, like obviously he'scalled the shadow, but you don't
get into the shadows, powersuntil at least book two I'd say,
and moving forward.
So, cause that's a part of thisperson's power.
It is his power.
And I don't wanna give all thesemysteries
Devonnie (20:30):
know.
Jordan (20:31):
You tried so hard not I know.
It's so good.
And this MMC and I can't eventell you who the MMC is, but he
is so good and I love him somuch.
And then there's a moment whenyou absolutely hate him and you
are.
Gutted.
I did not see this twist comingat all.
(20:51):
I thought the twist was goingthis direction, and then it took
me over here.
I one of the biggest likestomach drop moments that I've
ever read, so
Devonnie (21:02):
oh my gosh.
We love that.
We love a surprise and a big
Jordan (21:05):
Yeah, I love feeling sick from my, what I read.
Devonnie (21:10):
Me too.
It's the worst, but it's good.
'cause then you're looking atthe author like, Ooh, you got
me.
Jordan (21:15):
yeah, you got me invested.
So anyways sorry I can't talk alot about the shadows, but do
yourself a favor and go read aHalfling Saga and let me know
what you think.
Devonnie (21:24):
yeah.
I love that.
I, my next rec was actually is abook that or duet that I Duology
duet.
What are we
Jordan (21:35):
It's a book.
Devonnie (21:36):
Yeah.
Jordan (21:42):
I'm sorry, I,
Devonnie (21:43):
No, Dev, it's a box of cereal.
Like what?
I just please.
My uterus is like staging a coupin my body.
I just,
Jordan (21:53):
light some candles for Dev's uterus,
Devonnie (21:56):
please.
It is quite literally scramblingmy brain.
I cannot even think right.
It's a book.
Good grief.
What are we here talking about?
Eggs like, oh my God.
Oh, The series that I was goingto mention.
I have actually, I.
Mentioned so many times, but I'mgonna just quickly tell you guys
(22:19):
about it or convince you to readit.
The Shadow Born Duet by CarissaBroadband, it follows AAR Ari
and Misha Ier.
They are vampires.
It's in the Crowns of Axiaseries.
It's book, technically bookthree and four, but in the
universe it's like book five andsix, I think.
(22:40):
I really love this story.
Asar is.
Very much so the type of shadowdaddy who will obliterate you if
you try to keep him from Misha,nothing else.
You can provoke him.
You can bother him.
You can call him names, youcould attack him.
You can fight him if you so muchas grab Misha's, dainty little
(23:00):
wrist.
If she struggles to pull awayfrom you or says no and you
don't back off, AAR is goingjust absolutely crazy.
He's another shadow daddy who'salso a vampire.
So I don't know, maybe there's atheme.
Maybe.
I really enjoy vampire shadowdaddies.
I think that could be a thing.
(23:22):
He knows how, he knows hisgifts, he knows how to use them.
And there's also something,there is something about a
vampire biting you, right?
We know the bites.
Everybody's sticking to thetheme of a vampire bite causing
like arousal or deep feelings orlike.
I don't know, suppleness in thebody or whatever.
That followed by a little bit ofshadow work.
(23:46):
I mean, I personally don't knowwhat it feels like.
You know what I'm saying?
I've never come across a vampirelike, don't even ask me about
it.
But I'm just saying I can.
Only one can only imagine.
It's like taking CBD and thenlike playing with a toy.
I don't know, like just, anyway,so if that wasn't enough to go
(24:06):
get you to read the Shadow Born,duology Bike, Issa Broadband
babes, I don't know what else Igot for you.
Go read it them and you don'thave to read the first two to
read these or any other book,but it is.
Wildly helpful.
If you do.
Back to you, Jordan, your miyour mic is muted.
Jordan (24:27):
Could you not hear me yelling that whole time either?
God damn.
Devonnie (24:30):
no, I saw you.
Jordan (24:32):
I was, okay.
I'm sorry.
My mic was off you guys, becauseI literally, for the first time
in this whole entire goddamnpodcast, had to scream, had
tears in my eyes, and I had tostand up and walk away from
Devonnie (24:46):
She did.
I watched that.
I did.
I watched you walk away.
I watched you laugh.
Yes.
Jordan (24:51):
so sorry you missed my screaming.
Okay.
Because that would've reallyadded to it.
C, B, D, and a little.
Okay.
My, that's a
Devonnie (25:03):
that's not what you
Jordan (25:04):
that's a great segue because my whole, the entire
next rec feels like you have a,took a little c, b, d and played
with your toy
Devonnie (25:13):
Yeah.
Jordan (25:14):
because no man could ever do what this MC does.
I saved the.
Most depraved shadow daddy forlast.
Devonnie (25:25):
Yeah, I think so.
I didn't finish this book thatyou're about to talk about, I
think.
Jordan (25:29):
Holy shit.
Hellfire by Muriel Pomeroy.
Okay, this is book one I.
I softy enough book two becauseit got so intense.
I needed a break.
I just have not gone back yet,but it gets so intense.
But some of these scenes havelived with me for over a year,
(25:52):
like I'd say like a year and ahalf, maybe even two years now.
Devonnie (25:54):
Two.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Jordan (25:57):
Okay, so these are immortal creatures we're talking
about.
IA leaves.
She has to run and escape herhome realm, which she is from
the perpetual daylight homerealm of now I might butcher
these words, I'm gonna do mybest, eros.
(26:17):
It's like a divine, heavenlyequivalent, right?
But she is like covered inblood.
She has done things she has torun for her life this book is
Very heavy.
You need to read triggerwarnings before you read this
book.
I will say that right now.
So she escapes the realm, butshe ends up in the opposite
(26:38):
realm.
I forget what it's called.
But it's.
Dark.
So there's a lot of themes oflife and death, good and evil in
this.
Okay?
She makes a deal to be in thisnext realm.
She gives up her immortality andher powers, her power was light.
And she becomes immortal, right?
(26:59):
In a realm full of immortals.
So she makes a deal, she givesher soul in exchange for seven
days.
In the devil's realm, AK is theruler of the Nephilim, He sees
her as his new pet.
Okay.
So he wants to like.
Basically rub it in everyone'sface that he has this new little
(27:22):
pet.
This man's shadows.
Talk about killingindiscriminately.
Talk about fuckingindiscriminately in the dirtiest
filthiest ways.
Okay.
Lot of c nnc.
A lot of dubious consent.
I mean, Really well written.
(27:44):
I think the writing was reallygood.
Personally, I really enjoyedreading it.
It just got really dark, so thecontent was sometimes if it
becomes a lot and I need to takebreaks.
But the one scene, the one, Imean, a lot of scenes stuck with
me, but this one scene
Devonnie (28:01):
wonder if it's the same
Jordan (28:02):
probably they are at a party.
And I can't remember what thisman did that was so bad.
But he was so bad.
And so our MMC comes up och, Idon't know how you would
pronounce that necessarily, butbasically confronts the
situation, makes a big spectaclein the middle of this dance
floor crowded.
(28:22):
And he starts.
Fucking her with his shadowsholding her there while he's
slowly choking this other manout to death.
And he says, the only way he'lllive is if you come before he
dies in front of the whole Goddamn party.
And I'm not gonna tell you ifshe comes or not before he
Devonnie (28:45):
right.
Jordan (28:48):
But this man, oh wait, maybe he touched her because she
was dancing with him, right?
It was consensual.
It wasn't that he did anythingbad.
He touched what was his'causeshe's
Devonnie (28:57):
Yeah.
I think it was more like, heprobably told her, don't let
anyone touch you or something.
Or like,
Jordan (29:03):
dancing with him though.
I think she was trying to Findsome autonomy and then he's
like, fuck that.
You're my pet.
Your soul, literal soulliterally belongs to me.
Devonnie (29:11):
Right.
Jordan (29:12):
So fucked up.
Devonnie (29:14):
Yeah.
Jordan (29:14):
it, I was very dis disturbed.
Now, going back after the thingsI've read, I feel like I could
handle it better because when Iread that, I was like still
newer to Dark
Devonnie (29:22):
down.
Yeah.
I had to put the book out.
I was like, wait a minute.
In front of everybody, wait, andthe man
Jordan (29:28):
and you just start fucking her with your shadows.
Those shadows can do anything,let me tell you.
and they do everything.
They do anything and everything.
Devonnie (29:37):
Yeah.
He's probably the darkest, yeah,the darkest shadow daddy that
I've
Jordan (29:42):
Oh yeah.
Devonnie (29:43):
I think he, even with knight's death being the way he
is, even with Asar, I think hetakes the cake because he's
unhinged.
Jordan (29:53):
sexually.
Devonnie (29:54):
Yeah, right.
That's like a weapon for him.
Jordan (29:58):
And there's a lot of, there's a lot of sex in this.
Devonnie (30:00):
So much.
There's, I was tired.
I was like, good God.
Let her rest.
Please.
Jordan (30:07):
Oh,
Devonnie (30:07):
Yeah.
Jordan (30:08):
talk about lighting a candle for someone's uterus.
I mean, light a
Devonnie (30:11):
Right, right,
Jordan (30:12):
because she is
Devonnie (30:13):
right.
Jordan (30:13):
ooh, and she's practically mortal now.
She doesn't even have herpowers.
Just try to keep up with the Godof death.
Devonnie (30:18):
Right.
Poor thing I didn't
Jordan (30:21):
of her pussy.
RIP.
Devonnie (30:23):
The, yeah.
RIP for sure.
I need to look back into readingbook two'cause I want to see how
it ends.
I think Book two is the finalbook.
Right.
Jordan (30:31):
I'd have to double check.
I think so.
I, and I feel like Helfyre isone that you see around, at
least for a while.
We were seeing it around a lot,but I never, I didn't feel like
a lot of people actually readit.
I felt like
Devonnie (30:40):
Reddit.
Jordan (30:41):
Like here and there.
Devonnie (30:43):
Right.
Jordan (30:44):
I need to go back, but I'd have to reread from the
beginning'cause there's so muchlore.
So there is a lot of politicalintrigue and a lot of mystery
and so it's really cool thelarger books.
So like stepping back from allthe Sex and smut and I like,
there is a lot bigger picturehappening
Devonnie (30:59):
a lot of politics happening in the background.
Yeah.
Jordan (31:03):
I'd say not even in the background, it's happening in
tandem with.
Devonnie (31:08):
With everything else that's happening.
Yeah.
And it has a good bunch of likefound family characters too,
like a little ragtag crew.
So that's
Jordan (31:16):
Who?
Who are also fucking
Devonnie (31:18):
Yeah, all the time.
Everybody is, it's not just thetwo main characters at any given
point and they don't care.
Jordan (31:24):
That's fun.
Yeah.
Devonnie (31:25):
fire.
Jordan (31:27):
So that is, those are our shadow daddies and I just
special mentions of course welove the Draven Brothers from J
Bree bonds at Ty series.
That was probably the firstshadow daddies I read that did
fun things with their shadows,like North can get it.
Devonnie (31:51):
Yeah.
Jordan (31:52):
So, spark of the ever flame Luther.
Devonnie (31:55):
my baby Luther.
Like he's a shadow daddy of allshadow daddies for me.
Love him.
We love a evil shadow daddy withthe softest words for the woman
he loves.
Jordan (32:04):
I think quicksilver the shadow.
Devonnie (32:07):
Yeah.
Jordan (32:07):
Shadows.
Devonnie (32:08):
I'm trying to
Jordan (32:09):
That book did not stick in my brain.
Everyone loves it.
And that book, there's like, Idon't remember anything.
I don't remember anything, whichtells
Devonnie (32:16):
All I
Jordan (32:17):
that good for
Devonnie (32:18):
Right.
And I, yeah.
It doesn't stick in my brain.
All I remember is a pool ofquicksilver and I can't tell you
nothing else.
The only thing, while you weretalking about the human king
who's lived forever, I literallythought of Quicksilver because
that's the same vibe as theirqueen, but
Jordan (32:31):
about that.
I even forgot about that.
I remember the fox.
I remember the
Devonnie (32:36):
The cute little fox.
Jordan (32:37):
that's what I
Devonnie (32:38):
I don't remember the end.
Jordan (32:41):
Anyways, Also the, daddy what do they call him?
Daddy Nyx from Flesh and Fireseries by JL Armand Trout.
It's the prequel seriestechnically to from blood and
ash.
love him.
That's a but Daddy, I love himmoment and I really
Devonnie (33:00):
I feel like I've seen stuff about him, but I've never
read either.
Jordan (33:04):
God of death yep.
So if you have other, if youhave specifically, if you know
some really good.
Indie shadow daddies.
If you listen to this and you'relike, you didn't even mention my
favorite,
Devonnie (33:18):
Please tell me what
Jordan (33:19):
let us
Devonnie (33:20):
Let us know.
Jordan (33:21):
that's the be honestly, that's the best way to support
our pod is leave comments.
Please leave ratings,
Devonnie (33:28):
Yes.
Jordan (33:30):
wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to our
substack.
We're gonna have whole.
Mini episodes go out to oursubstack.
And it's so much fun.
But that's really how we cankeep going as a podcast, is by
subscribing, commenting,interacting with us.
Really helps us.
(33:51):
So any way you can,
Devonnie (33:54):
Please
Jordan (33:55):
But,
Devonnie (33:55):
all your favorite shadow daddies.
Jordan (33:58):
So make sure you're signed up to our substack,
Devonnie (34:00):
Follow us on
Jordan (34:01):
follow on its Instagram @romancerecspod and keep
listening.
Devonnie (34:07):
Yeah, we got another episode
Jordan (34:08):
yeah, and that one's gonna be, it's gonna be good.
It's gonna, we're gonna dive.
Devonnie (34:17):
I knew you weren't gonna say that.
I knew you were gonna say that.
You jerk.
I'll never lift that down.
If anybody can tell me whatepisode I said di even, I'll
give you$5.
Go comment it on the Instagrampage right now.
Bye.
Jordan (34:36):
Bye.
Enjoy your CBDs along with yourshadow daddies and personal
pleasure toys.
Have a great day.
Welcome to Romance Recs where romance obsessed
besties sharing book recs brokendown by genres and tropes so you
can be sure you're gettingexactly what you want out of
your next read.
Hey guys, Dev here.
I am actually currently readinga bunch of books.
I'm listening to two, so I'mlistening to What Fury brings by
Tricia Levin seller.
And then I'm also listening toThe Damned by Harper L Woods.
(00:25):
Those are two alcs.
I'm very excited.
I know, I'm so sorry, Jordan,I'm so sorry.
But I did get a proof from thatalc, and I'm very excited.
I started the damned, but then Ikind of stopped because that
needs my full attention.
And since I'm also, I startedwhat Fury brings first.
I'm gonna pause.
Jordan (00:44):
Okay, And hi, I'm Jordan,
Devonnie (00:47):
Yeah.
Jordan (00:47):
I am currently listening to the Serpent and the Wolf by
Rebecca Robinson.
So good, and I'm listening tothe Complete Flirting with
Monsters series by Eva Chase.
Devonnie (00:59):
Do I know that one?
Oh, no.
I've read Eva Chase before.
I read her The Wonderland, thelike, yeah.
Okay.
That's why that's familiar.
Jordan (01:07):
and it's, good.
it's good.
It's just on a hinged enough, Iappreciate.
Devonnie (01:12):
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think even Chase got someunhinged ones for sure.
Jordan (01:16):
And speaking of unhinged, what are we talking
about today?
Because the whole concept ispretty unhinged
Devonnie (01:23):
favorite.
Okay.
Today's episode is brought toyou by Shadow Daddies.
I am so excited to talk aboutShadow daddies.
I love love.
Shadow, jet, shadow, daddies.
And here's the thing, folks.
Real quick because, these arenot gonna be like super uber
popular shadow daddies.
We're not talking about Zaden.
(01:44):
I know.
Boohoo, cry me River.
Find someone else who has,they're
Jordan (01:48):
that will talk to you about that one.
Devonnie (01:49):
Plenty.
Yeah.
Like, and it's
Jordan (01:51):
Dorian Haard.
Devonnie (01:52):
No.
And Dorian is Daddy for real.
Like, I love, do I postpossession?
Dorian Prepos like no.
POS post possession.
Dorian, I love him down Bad.
Unfortunately, I'm not gonna betalking about him today.
You do.
You get what?
We're wanna introduce you tosome new shadow daddies.
Okay.
Jordan (02:12):
And I will say there's finding good shadow daddies.
For me, there are someprerequisites to earn that
title.
Just because shadows areinvolved doesn't always make you
daddy, and I'm gonna say,preface this with, I hate the
term daddy personally for meokay.
I hate it so much.
This is the only situation inwhich I personally will use
(02:37):
Daddy in this way.
I just, no judgment on others.
That's just for me.
But Shadow Daddy is it I willsay that the book I'm reading,
the Serpent and the Wolf isShadow Mommy.
Devonnie (02:49):
And we love that.
We do love that.
Jordan (02:53):
Love seeing a woman in a male dominated field.
It's
Devonnie (02:55):
right, right.
Women in stem or women inmorally gray.
I don't know, whatever.
One of the books I'm reading itshe's not a shadow mommy.
She hasn't really stepped intothat power, but she does have
shadows and she's a girl aswell.
So, okay.
I know at this time you'rewaiting for a quote from one of
our books, but I unfortunatelyam not gonna give you a quote.
I'm gonna give you a bit of arant.
The thing with me reading shadowdaddies and looking for shadow
(03:18):
daddies and scouring my previousreads, is that I do not have any
black shadow daddies.
Not one, not a one.
I'm really excited forDavenports.
Our vicious oaths, I think isthe name of the book.
It comes out next month becausethat's a black shadow daddy, but
(03:38):
I have not been able to findblack shadow daddies.
If you are listening and youhave like a mega list, you're
like, girl, where are youlooking?
Please let me know.
Please, I am begging you.
I just want to read some blackshadow daddies.
I would really
Jordan (03:53):
there's been a big attempt made to find
Devonnie (03:55):
Yes.
I'm trying so hard, like Idon't, the thing is, it's not, I
can't even tell you.
Oh, I've read some and they'vebeen bad.
I have not read a black shadow.
Daddy, I can't find them.
So please, if you know anywrecks please let me know.
And like I said, look out forany Davenports book in next
month.
I think it comes out October28th.
So yeah, that's exciting, butsad.
(04:19):
Boo.
Tomato.
Tomato we're the, yeah.
Jordan (04:25):
We've done this before.
I will give you a quote.
It's from an A LC that Ilistened to recently and I
absolutely loved it.
So here is a bonus rec from ourepisode.
Time.
'cause our last episode was darkacademia and then I found
(04:46):
another dark academia.
Oops.
So this is from Spellcaster byJaymin Eve.
Repeat after me.
We don't fuck Bad Boys.
Bell opened her mouth and thenslammed it shut.
Sorry.
I can't, my programming ispreventing me from lying and
it's just so, it's so fun.
Devonnie (05:07):
I love that.
She's like, no, I can't agree.
Jordan (05:09):
And I have one more just because it was just so fun and
the found family, and this wasamazing.
Murder or not?
Maybe you two should bang it outfirst.
Imagine the hate.
Fucking, that's way too fine awarlock to waste as a nemesis if
there's no hate.
Fucking, I mean, and isn't thatall we ever want when we read
these?
(05:29):
Yes.
Devonnie (05:30):
Yes.
Don't waste any warlocks.
Save the kingdom.
Write a warlock, or whatever itis that the people
Jordan (05:36):
Yeah.
Devonnie (05:37):
You know what I'm saying?
Jordan (05:38):
I mean, and I feel like we don't, even in enemies to
lovers, we don't see enoughgenuine hate fucking, Just don't
see that enough.
Devonnie (05:45):
Yeah.
Jordan (05:46):
It's a, anyways, that turned into a rant, But that's
fine.
Devonnie (05:50):
right When enemies to lovers before, when they get to
like the lovers part, they'rewell and truly actually lovers,
but we need to see more.
I hate you, you know, just alittle bit more.
Jordan (06:01):
Yeah.
Yummy.
Devonnie (06:03):
Okay.
So right like next.
My first rec, I'm sorry, I wastrying to decide I'm just gonna
mention this one.
So the Games, God's Play byAbigail Owen this is like a
Hades retelling the entireOlympus crew, if you know them,
you know, Zeus.
Deme all the people, right?
(06:23):
All of the gods.
It's one of those retellings ina modern city and there are
trials, there's champions,there's selecting the next God
king, essentially.
Hades is a shadow daddy.
Now I'm just quickly mentioninghim, just because Hades does not
use his shadows to his, to whatwe expect.
Of course, he uses them to beviolent, but even here's my
(06:45):
stipulation for shadow daddy.
His shadows need to be usedindiscriminately when killing,
like I am talking about, youtouch this woman the wrong way,
and now you're blown to SmithReeds by shadows.
You know what I'm saying?
Like, I need him to be soaggressive with this power.
And so e that and the like,shadow play.
Like, that's nice, but like forme, I really need the shadows to
(07:07):
be another character, to be likeworking overtime.
So in the games, got the games,gods play Hades, I feel like.
Need to turn it up a notch.
There is a book too.
Hopefully we'll see more shadowsin that one.
I just I need it a little bitmore, but if you are into, you
know, the whole Olympus vibe,then I think it's a pretty cool
(07:27):
one for you to read.
I really loved the challenges inthat one, so, yeah.
Jordan (07:33):
That's interesting because I have a rec from
Abigail Owen.
This one is the Liar's CrownDominion's.
Book one.
Okay, so this one wasinteresting and I have not read
book two yet just because I hadso many other things on my plate
that I had to get to.
I will get back to book twothough.
Because the tag of this is someshadows protect you, others will
(07:55):
kill you.
Is about, in this world, thiskingdom.
Every like generation or two,the next queen is born.
But what people don't know isthat the queen is always a twin
but they hide the second twin,and her only purpose is
(08:16):
basically to sacrifice herselffor her sister.
So she's a stand in, she's thebody.
Double in tricky situations orwhen contentions are high, or
like for public appearances,right, where there's a chance
that they could be harmed.
Or, if.
Assassination plot actuallycomes down on the actual queen.
(08:37):
No one will find out, and theother princess will take her
place.
So like this has been happeningfor generations.
And so this follows the hiddenPrincess.
The one that has been living insecret.
I mean, like they have, she hasa secret like closet room in her
sister's room where she stayssometimes when she's actually at
the castle.
(08:57):
Other times she goes to thisoutlying town.
I mean it's, there's portals, sothere is some magic.
It's, this is wild.
Okay.
what happens is their grandmathe queen dies and this king
from a neighboring kingdom.
This really shitty one.
Obviously he's
Devonnie (09:14):
Obviously as they are.
Jordan (09:16):
No, this one's actually horrible.
This is the actual horrible, badguy, not the like broody.
Oh, that's the bad guy.
This is like the actual asshole.
Devonnie (09:28):
Right
Jordan (09:28):
No,
Devonnie (09:29):
Bad.
Jordan (09:29):
like yeah, so bad.
He,
Devonnie (09:36):
My God, I'm so.
Jordan (09:42):
He sends a gift right?
To the new queen, but likesomething changes in her.
Anyways, there's all this weirdstuff.
I'm trying to even remember whathappens at the beginning to make
her leave.
anyways, so on the eve of thecoronation, switches out with
her sister, right?
But this shadow being kidnapsher, who he thinks is the new
(10:06):
queen.
And so he takes her by mistakebecause no one knows that
there's a body double.
She tries to escape him'cause heportals to this like very wild
realm.
I guess realm kingdom, they'reall in the same, it's not really
a realm.
I've been reading a lot of bookswith realms lately.
Excuse me.
So she tries to escape.
(10:26):
But through that different liesare uncovered hers and this
shadow rath that takes her.
So this like it.
I can't talk a lot about thisshadow daddy without revealing
the big secret
Devonnie (10:42):
Okay.
Jordan (10:43):
of this shadow.
And we're only scratching thesurface of him by the end of the
book.
But he can like shadows.
Lots of shadows
Devonnie (10:54):
Shadows
Jordan (10:54):
a lot.
There are a lot of shadows.
The political stability isinteresting, so this mysterious.
Man that takes her for a reason,right?
He has his own people that he'strying to take care of.
So there are altruistic reasons.
Now, this is the, oh, bad guy.
Oh yeah.
You're kidnapping her.
(11:15):
This is that one.
Okay.
so,
Devonnie (11:18):
Yeah, Oh no.
Don't kidnap me.
Jordan (11:21):
no.
Devonnie (11:21):
kidnap me.
Jordan (11:23):
the woods as I try to run away.
No.
Yeah, so it's good.
It's it's, yeah.
Lots of shadows.
And I need someone else to talkto me about the big reveal of
the shadows because it's one Ihaven't read and it is very
interesting and I wanna talklogistics, so.
Devonnie (11:44):
I actually need you to tell me about it.
I don't know if I'm gonna readthis, but now I'm actually
curious and I wanna find out.
Jordan (11:49):
Yeah.
after Yeah, we can do that.
Yep.
And it's a great romantic, so ifyou're looking for romantic with
something, it's, yeah.
Devonnie (11:55):
Yeah, I love that.
Okay.
My next Shadow Daddy wreck isgonna be Ray Knight from the
Nightfall Trilogy.
Maybe I've mentioned these twobefore.
I feel like I, I talk about theseries a lot, but I don't know
if I've spoken about them on thepodcast either way.
The Nightfall Trilogy is writtenby Chloe c Panda.
(12:15):
It is kind of like a.
Star cross lovers vibe.
There are gods and celestials,but there are also soulless or
vampires.
Everybody's pretty much fightingto keep the star maiden.
Astraya is a star maiden.
She is bonded to one person whois an absolute jerk.
(12:37):
We do not love him.
His gift is like lightning, andthen he's a celestial.
But then she ends up in aprecarious situation where our
brooding hero, Ray Knight, hasto save her.
And in doing so, they end upbonded.
So now that's her bonded, likethat's, you know, ride or die.
They're locked in this lifetogether.
(12:59):
Every time they get togetherthough, it causes earthquakes,
it causes.
Unforeseeable damage to theplanet because, yeah, no,
because they should not betogether.
So the actual gods do not wantthem together.
And
Jordan (13:13):
skipping Zodiac Academy.
Okay.
Devonnie (13:15):
yeah, they will literally, yes.
Oh yeah.
They'll literally break theplanet apart just to keep them
from being together.
That doesn't work clearly.
The reason why I am mentioningKnight.
So he has three different names.
Ray Knight is his given name.
That is the name I think hismother gave him.
Knight is what he goes by.
(13:38):
I think he feels morecomfortable with that name or
that's like what other peoplecall him.
And then his like alter ego.
The shadow daddy, part of him iscalled Knight's Death.
Now Ray Knight and Knight is oneperson.
I see them as one person.
Knight's death is a completelyseparate entity.
Knight's Death has his ownopinions he kills
(14:01):
indiscriminately
Jordan (14:02):
So, wait, this isn't the same character,
Devonnie (14:05):
it.
They're the same character, butyou know how your powers are
part of you.
Jordan (14:09):
a multiple personality.
So like when the powers comeout, he like, there's a shift,
Devonnie (14:14):
has to fight.
Yes, exactly.
Knight has to fight to regainpower from Knight's death.
Whenever Knight's death emerges,he's like always in the
subconscious.
And because of Knight's deathKnight has these like.
Overwhelming abilities.
He's feared because of just thedepravity that overtakes him
when he embraces this side ofhim.
(14:36):
I love that depravity.
I fear that Knight's death.
At first I was not sure how tofeel about
Jordan (14:41):
No, you were talking to us about
Devonnie (14:43):
yeah, I was.
I was like this, it's too muchlike, what's going on?
And then I saw like, it takes areally long time for Chloe to
show you night's deaths, likecuriosity as a being.
I don't wanna give too muchaway, but you really don't learn
as much about Knight Statseparately until you get to the
last book in the trilogy oother, throughout the other two
(15:06):
books.
He's literally just.
A part of the story, you don'tknow much about him.
You just know that whenever hetakes over, people are going to
die.
And that is my favorite thing.
He does have a little bit ofshadow
Jordan (15:17):
When everyone die.
Devonnie (15:19):
yeah, like honestly, I am telling you a shadow daddy
for me is someone who just like,there's no talking and that's
how Knight's death is like thisgifted.
Killer with no humanity.
I'm talking about Elena flippingoff the switch.
Steven, Stephan, flip, slip,flipping off the switch like no
humanity just dead behind theeyes.
(15:40):
Like, and you, there is noreasoning with that.
So if he doesn't like you, he'sjust going to kill you and he
does it like you.
You think you love a characterknight that doesn't care.
He's gone.
He's outta here.
And I really love that.
I think that's my favoritething.
I think of all the books that Imentioned, nights Death has the
most overwhelming shadow daddyqualities, like fast, like a
(16:05):
vampire.
Because he is one with theshadows, he can also portal or
step into the void so theshadows can make him travel.
The shadows can caress and besoft and, you know, for the
person he likes.
But yeah, for the most part, heis a shadow daddy.
Touch her and die vibes, whichis what I need my shadow daddies
to have.
(16:26):
And I also need the shadow, thereason I mention him too is
because I feel like the shadowsneed to have their own
personality as well.
Like, or just like bring anextra vibe to the story, which
knight step definitely embodies.
Jordan (16:40):
Yep.
Yeah, I under, I understand thatcompletely.
I know, I remember you messagingus about this one and I was so
intrigued, but I, when wemessage about it, we get random
bits and pieces,
Devonnie (16:52):
right.
Jordan (16:53):
I love hearing the whole reasoning.
Devonnie (16:56):
The group chat, because I'll just randomly pop
in, guys, guess what?
And then
Jordan (17:01):
Guess what Knight's Death did?
And I was like, I thought he wascalled something different.
Okay.
I don't understand, but thismakes sense now.
Okay.
Perfect.
All right, so for my secondfeature this is one I saw on
shelves for a long time and Iwas always curious about it, but
I never actually picked it upand I finally listened to it and
(17:22):
then I had just binged the wholething So this is a broken blade
is book one, and it's from theHalfling Saga by Melissa Blair.
I think I gave all these booksfive stars.
I loved them.
Devonnie (17:36):
Did you?
Jordan (17:37):
Yeah.
One of them I think maybe wasfour'cause it felt like too much
filler.
But I still loved the filler.
I don't, I think filler has aplace like I do.
Anyways, that's a whole notherthing.
This is technically, I think ya.
There is spice eventually, butit's not a driving factor,
right?
It's the bigger plot and storyand fantasy is a big part of it.
(17:58):
But this follows Kira.
She is an assassin.
She is a halfling.
She, in this kingdom, she isknown as the king's blade.
So there is this assassin's.
School and this whole Assassin'sGuild almost.
(18:22):
And she is number one.
Devonnie (18:25):
Period.
Jordan (18:26):
She is.
And, but what's heartbreaking isthey are there to work for the
king who has all but eliminatedall half links in all of the
kingdom.
And she is the one that has togo carry out this justice and
basically like kill her peopleand when I say kill her people,
(18:46):
I mean like entire families.
It doesn't matter how old oryoung, it doesn't matter who it
doesn't.
Like if he points his finger,she goes you obviously learn
more.
If I give this a five stars, I'mnot gonna give you someone
that's like actually heartless,I'm going to right.
Okay.
In book one, there's amysterious figure in the land
(19:07):
causing some trouble for theking he's called the shadow.
She is sent to hunt him down.
Okay.
She has to cross into magicallands of the Faye.
The king and the where she'sliving is all humans, right?
But this king has lived forhundreds and hundreds of years
and no one quite knows why.
'cause he is a human right?
(19:29):
But he is not aging anymore.
Devonnie (19:32):
Right.
Very shady.
Jordan (19:33):
So she heads into the magical lands of the Faye.
To hunt this shadow.
But she also kind of has tofigure out like who her real
enemy is.
She has to figure out where shewants to stand in things.
Is she gonna stand up for herpeople?
Is she gonna work undercover?
Is she find this shadow?
(19:54):
Is the shadow really?
It was so good, like thebackstories and learning about
these characters and the wayeverything unfolded.
I felt like the timing wasperfect.
I enjoyed the larger story of itall.
And you don't really get to theshadow of it until like you
(20:15):
learn, like obviously he'scalled the shadow, but you don't
get into the shadows, powersuntil at least book two I'd say,
and moving forward.
So, cause that's a part of thisperson's power.
It is his power.
And I don't wanna give all thesemysteries
Devonnie (20:30):
know.
Jordan (20:31):
You tried so hard not I know.
It's so good.
And this MMC and I can't eventell you who the MMC is, but he
is so good and I love him somuch.
And then there's a moment whenyou absolutely hate him and you
are.
Gutted.
I did not see this twist comingat all.
(20:51):
I thought the twist was goingthis direction, and then it took
me over here.
I one of the biggest likestomach drop moments that I've
ever read, so
Devonnie (21:02):
oh my gosh.
We love that.
We love a surprise and a big
Jordan (21:05):
Yeah, I love feeling sick from my, what I read.
Devonnie (21:10):
Me too.
It's the worst, but it's good.
'cause then you're looking atthe author like, Ooh, you got
me.
Jordan (21:15):
yeah, you got me invested.
So anyways sorry I can't talk alot about the shadows, but do
yourself a favor and go read aHalfling Saga and let me know
what you think.
Devonnie (21:24):
yeah.
I love that.
I, my next rec was actually is abook that or duet that I Duology
duet.
What are we
Jordan (21:35):
It's a book.
Devonnie (21:36):
Yeah.
Jordan (21:42):
I'm sorry, I,
Devonnie (21:43):
No, Dev, it's a box of cereal.
Like what?
I just please.
My uterus is like staging a coupin my body.
I just,
Jordan (21:53):
light some candles for Dev's uterus,
Devonnie (21:56):
please.
It is quite literally scramblingmy brain.
I cannot even think right.
It's a book.
Good grief.
What are we here talking about?
Eggs like, oh my God.
Oh, The series that I was goingto mention.
I have actually, I.
Mentioned so many times, but I'mgonna just quickly tell you guys
(22:19):
about it or convince you to readit.
The Shadow Born Duet by CarissaBroadband, it follows AAR Ari
and Misha Ier.
They are vampires.
It's in the Crowns of Axiaseries.
It's book, technically bookthree and four, but in the
universe it's like book five andsix, I think.
(22:40):
I really love this story.
Asar is.
Very much so the type of shadowdaddy who will obliterate you if
you try to keep him from Misha,nothing else.
You can provoke him.
You can bother him.
You can call him names, youcould attack him.
You can fight him if you so muchas grab Misha's, dainty little
(23:00):
wrist.
If she struggles to pull awayfrom you or says no and you
don't back off, AAR is goingjust absolutely crazy.
He's another shadow daddy who'salso a vampire.
So I don't know, maybe there's atheme.
Maybe.
I really enjoy vampire shadowdaddies.
I think that could be a thing.
(23:22):
He knows how, he knows hisgifts, he knows how to use them.
And there's also something,there is something about a
vampire biting you, right?
We know the bites.
Everybody's sticking to thetheme of a vampire bite causing
like arousal or deep feelings orlike.
I don't know, suppleness in thebody or whatever.
That followed by a little bit ofshadow work.
(23:46):
I mean, I personally don't knowwhat it feels like.
You know what I'm saying?
I've never come across a vampirelike, don't even ask me about
it.
But I'm just saying I can.
Only one can only imagine.
It's like taking CBD and thenlike playing with a toy.
I don't know, like just, anyway,so if that wasn't enough to go
(24:06):
get you to read the Shadow Born,duology Bike, Issa Broadband
babes, I don't know what else Igot for you.
Go read it them and you don'thave to read the first two to
read these or any other book,but it is.
Wildly helpful.
If you do.
Back to you, Jordan, your miyour mic is muted.
Jordan (24:27):
Could you not hear me yelling that whole time either?
God damn.
Devonnie (24:30):
no, I saw you.
Jordan (24:32):
I was, okay.
I'm sorry.
My mic was off you guys, becauseI literally, for the first time
in this whole entire goddamnpodcast, had to scream, had
tears in my eyes, and I had tostand up and walk away from
Devonnie (24:46):
She did.
I watched that.
I did.
I watched you walk away.
I watched you laugh.
Yes.
Jordan (24:51):
so sorry you missed my screaming.
Okay.
Because that would've reallyadded to it.
C, B, D, and a little.
Okay.
My, that's a
Devonnie (25:03):
that's not what you
Jordan (25:04):
that's a great segue because my whole, the entire
next rec feels like you have a,took a little c, b, d and played
with your toy
Devonnie (25:13):
Yeah.
Jordan (25:14):
because no man could ever do what this MC does.
I saved the.
Most depraved shadow daddy forlast.
Devonnie (25:25):
Yeah, I think so.
I didn't finish this book thatyou're about to talk about, I
think.
Jordan (25:29):
Holy shit.
Hellfire by Muriel Pomeroy.
Okay, this is book one I.
I softy enough book two becauseit got so intense.
I needed a break.
I just have not gone back yet,but it gets so intense.
But some of these scenes havelived with me for over a year,
(25:52):
like I'd say like a year and ahalf, maybe even two years now.
Devonnie (25:54):
Two.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Jordan (25:57):
Okay, so these are immortal creatures we're talking
about.
IA leaves.
She has to run and escape herhome realm, which she is from
the perpetual daylight homerealm of now I might butcher
these words, I'm gonna do mybest, eros.
(26:17):
It's like a divine, heavenlyequivalent, right?
But she is like covered inblood.
She has done things she has torun for her life this book is
Very heavy.
You need to read triggerwarnings before you read this
book.
I will say that right now.
So she escapes the realm, butshe ends up in the opposite
(26:38):
realm.
I forget what it's called.
But it's.
Dark.
So there's a lot of themes oflife and death, good and evil in
this.
Okay?
She makes a deal to be in thisnext realm.
She gives up her immortality andher powers, her power was light.
And she becomes immortal, right?
(26:59):
In a realm full of immortals.
So she makes a deal, she givesher soul in exchange for seven
days.
In the devil's realm, AK is theruler of the Nephilim, He sees
her as his new pet.
Okay.
So he wants to like.
Basically rub it in everyone'sface that he has this new little
(27:22):
pet.
This man's shadows.
Talk about killingindiscriminately.
Talk about fuckingindiscriminately in the dirtiest
filthiest ways.
Okay.
Lot of c nnc.
A lot of dubious consent.
I mean, Really well written.
(27:44):
I think the writing was reallygood.
Personally, I really enjoyedreading it.
It just got really dark, so thecontent was sometimes if it
becomes a lot and I need to takebreaks.
But the one scene, the one, Imean, a lot of scenes stuck with
me, but this one scene
Devonnie (28:01):
wonder if it's the same
Jordan (28:02):
probably they are at a party.
And I can't remember what thisman did that was so bad.
But he was so bad.
And so our MMC comes up och, Idon't know how you would
pronounce that necessarily, butbasically confronts the
situation, makes a big spectaclein the middle of this dance
floor crowded.
(28:22):
And he starts.
Fucking her with his shadowsholding her there while he's
slowly choking this other manout to death.
And he says, the only way he'lllive is if you come before he
dies in front of the whole Goddamn party.
And I'm not gonna tell you ifshe comes or not before he
Devonnie (28:45):
right.
Jordan (28:48):
But this man, oh wait, maybe he touched her because she
was dancing with him, right?
It was consensual.
It wasn't that he did anythingbad.
He touched what was his'causeshe's
Devonnie (28:57):
Yeah.
I think it was more like, heprobably told her, don't let
anyone touch you or something.
Or like,
Jordan (29:03):
dancing with him though.
I think she was trying to Findsome autonomy and then he's
like, fuck that.
You're my pet.
Your soul, literal soulliterally belongs to me.
Devonnie (29:11):
Right.
Jordan (29:12):
So fucked up.
Devonnie (29:14):
Yeah.
Jordan (29:14):
it, I was very dis disturbed.
Now, going back after the thingsI've read, I feel like I could
handle it better because when Iread that, I was like still
newer to Dark
Devonnie (29:22):
down.
Yeah.
I had to put the book out.
I was like, wait a minute.
In front of everybody, wait, andthe man
Jordan (29:28):
and you just start fucking her with your shadows.
Those shadows can do anything,let me tell you.
and they do everything.
They do anything and everything.
Devonnie (29:37):
Yeah.
He's probably the darkest, yeah,the darkest shadow daddy that
I've
Jordan (29:42):
Oh yeah.
Devonnie (29:43):
I think he, even with knight's death being the way he
is, even with Asar, I think hetakes the cake because he's
unhinged.
Jordan (29:53):
sexually.
Devonnie (29:54):
Yeah, right.
That's like a weapon for him.
Jordan (29:58):
And there's a lot of, there's a lot of sex in this.
Devonnie (30:00):
So much.
There's, I was tired.
I was like, good God.
Let her rest.
Please.
Jordan (30:07):
Oh,
Devonnie (30:07):
Yeah.
Jordan (30:08):
talk about lighting a candle for someone's uterus.
I mean, light a
Devonnie (30:11):
Right, right,
Jordan (30:12):
because she is
Devonnie (30:13):
right.
Jordan (30:13):
ooh, and she's practically mortal now.
She doesn't even have herpowers.
Just try to keep up with the Godof death.
Devonnie (30:18):
Right.
Poor thing I didn't
Jordan (30:21):
of her pussy.
RIP.
Devonnie (30:23):
The, yeah.
RIP for sure.
I need to look back into readingbook two'cause I want to see how
it ends.
I think Book two is the finalbook.
Right.
Jordan (30:31):
I'd have to double check.
I think so.
I, and I feel like Helfyre isone that you see around, at
least for a while.
We were seeing it around a lot,but I never, I didn't feel like
a lot of people actually readit.
I felt like
Devonnie (30:40):
Reddit.
Jordan (30:41):
Like here and there.
Devonnie (30:43):
Right.
Jordan (30:44):
I need to go back, but I'd have to reread from the
beginning'cause there's so muchlore.
So there is a lot of politicalintrigue and a lot of mystery
and so it's really cool thelarger books.
So like stepping back from allthe Sex and smut and I like,
there is a lot bigger picturehappening
Devonnie (30:59):
a lot of politics happening in the background.
Yeah.
Jordan (31:03):
I'd say not even in the background, it's happening in
tandem with.
Devonnie (31:08):
With everything else that's happening.
Yeah.
And it has a good bunch of likefound family characters too,
like a little ragtag crew.
So that's
Jordan (31:16):
Who?
Who are also fucking
Devonnie (31:18):
Yeah, all the time.
Everybody is, it's not just thetwo main characters at any given
point and they don't care.
Jordan (31:24):
That's fun.
Yeah.
Devonnie (31:25):
fire.
Jordan (31:27):
So that is, those are our shadow daddies and I just
special mentions of course welove the Draven Brothers from J
Bree bonds at Ty series.
That was probably the firstshadow daddies I read that did
fun things with their shadows,like North can get it.
Devonnie (31:51):
Yeah.
Jordan (31:52):
So, spark of the ever flame Luther.
Devonnie (31:55):
my baby Luther.
Like he's a shadow daddy of allshadow daddies for me.
Love him.
We love a evil shadow daddy withthe softest words for the woman
he loves.
Jordan (32:04):
I think quicksilver the shadow.
Devonnie (32:07):
Yeah.
Jordan (32:07):
Shadows.
Devonnie (32:08):
I'm trying to
Jordan (32:09):
That book did not stick in my brain.
Everyone loves it.
And that book, there's like, Idon't remember anything.
I don't remember anything, whichtells
Devonnie (32:16):
All I
Jordan (32:17):
that good for
Devonnie (32:18):
Right.
And I, yeah.
It doesn't stick in my brain.
All I remember is a pool ofquicksilver and I can't tell you
nothing else.
The only thing, while you weretalking about the human king
who's lived forever, I literallythought of Quicksilver because
that's the same vibe as theirqueen, but
Jordan (32:31):
about that.
I even forgot about that.
I remember the fox.
I remember the
Devonnie (32:36):
The cute little fox.
Jordan (32:37):
that's what I
Devonnie (32:38):
I don't remember the end.
Jordan (32:41):
Anyways, Also the, daddy what do they call him?
Daddy Nyx from Flesh and Fireseries by JL Armand Trout.
It's the prequel seriestechnically to from blood and
ash.
love him.
That's a but Daddy, I love himmoment and I really
Devonnie (33:00):
I feel like I've seen stuff about him, but I've never
read either.
Jordan (33:04):
God of death yep.
So if you have other, if youhave specifically, if you know
some really good.
Indie shadow daddies.
If you listen to this and you'relike, you didn't even mention my
favorite,
Devonnie (33:18):
Please tell me what
Jordan (33:19):
let us
Devonnie (33:20):
Let us know.
Jordan (33:21):
that's the be honestly, that's the best way to support
our pod is leave comments.
Please leave ratings,
Devonnie (33:28):
Yes.
Jordan (33:30):
wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to our
substack.
We're gonna have whole.
Mini episodes go out to oursubstack.
And it's so much fun.
But that's really how we cankeep going as a podcast, is by
subscribing, commenting,interacting with us.
Really helps us.
(33:51):
So any way you can,
Devonnie (33:54):
Please
Jordan (33:55):
But,
Devonnie (33:55):
all your favorite shadow daddies.
Jordan (33:58):
So make sure you're signed up to our substack,
Devonnie (34:00):
Follow us on
Jordan (34:01):
follow on its Instagram @romancerecspod and keep
listening.
Devonnie (34:07):
Yeah, we got another episode
Jordan (34:08):
yeah, and that one's gonna be, it's gonna be good.
It's gonna, we're gonna dive.
Devonnie (34:17):
I knew you weren't gonna say that.
I knew you were gonna say that.
You jerk.
I'll never lift that down.
If anybody can tell me whatepisode I said di even, I'll
give you$5.
Go comment it on the Instagrampage right now.
Bye.
Jordan (34:36):
Bye.
Enjoy your CBDs along with yourshadow daddies and personal
pleasure toys.
Have a great day.
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