We Shall Not Bow

We Shall Not Bow is the first book in The Kingdom of Shattered Crowns and Shadowed Dreams series by Adaline Winters.

Synopsis

Disguised as our saviors, the Fae flooded into our world. Twenty years later, humanity is on the brink of extinction and Earth has become a magical playground for the Fae. ~ Luna ~

As the Dark Menace, I fight for the resistance and for my family who are struggling against the odds for survival. I’ve given them everything I have—my life, my heart, and my devotion. Until one terrible night they betray me and lead me into a trap and the arms of the enemy. Now I must learn to fight like the Fae, with deception and seduction.

~ Adriel ~

I must use everything I have to save Faery, but the odds are stacked against us until one fateful night when the Dark Menace falls into my path. She is an unexpected weapon I must own. She vows she’ll never bow to my command.

A war isn’t won by power alone but by strength of will.

Luna has her wits, Adriel has his power.

May the best creature win.

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Trigger Warnings & Tropes

Graphic violence

Graphic sexual content

Enemies to lovers

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Review

This book was incredible!

Absolutely obsessed with Luna, she is the perfect warrior badass FMC. She’s fierce and sassy, and just a straight-up goddess.

“A man who makes a woman kneel against her will is a weak-minded individual. You have no power over me unless I give it to you…I will never kneel willingly, never bow before you, never give you control. I told you before, Adriel, I would rather die.”

I loved the dynamic between Luna, Adriel, Idris, Ker and Michek. I definitely have been reading way too many reverse harems because I was waiting for spice between the other guys to happen. 😅 But Adriel and Luna were a perfect 'enemies to lovers.' They had amazing chemistry, and I loved Adriel trying to put up with the smart-mouthed Luna.

"I am your world now. You live, breathe, and sleep by my rule. You will crave my brand of destruction, Luna, even as it shatters you into a thousand pieces." "Perhaps you are right, Prince of Shadows, but be careful. My pieces are jagged like shards of glass and will slice you into ribbons. If I go down, so will you."

That cliffhanger! I'm dying to find out what happens next. I NEED book 2! Adaline Winters has created such an astounding world, and I need more of it.

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Notable Highlights

"You'll fall apart so beautifully, little wolf. I'll enjoy watching you struggle to put yourself together."

"You are the light, and he is the dark. You are the heart and he is the strength. You are drawn to each other because together, you are complete."

A man's strength isn't measured by how he commands a powerful woman to kneel at his feet, but the awe and respect she ignites within him.

"One, you don't want a gentleman or need a prince, you want a male that's capable of handling the fire in your veins that would burn lesser Fae to the ground. I will revel in your blazing heat and fan the embers in your soul until you scorch the earth."

Your innocence won't save you, not when your lurking monster longs to play with my demons. -Adriel

She's a drop of sunshine wrapped in a tsunami of wicked chaos.

"Is anyone going to address the elephant in the room? Or are we studiously ignoring the fact that Luna projected while conscious and sucked Adriel into her mind?" Michek asks as he folds his arms and stares at me like I'm an experiment gone wrong.

Brutal, powerful, and utterly feminine. I am the storm you didn't see coming. -Luna

"You're telling me I explode glitter every time I orgasm?"

My shadows are attracted to her light. They want to devour her purity, revel in her screams, and bask in her pleasure.

“I’m confused. Are we fighting or flirting?”