Book Review – Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa Roehrich

Book Summary – Spoiler Free

Tessa, our fiercely independent main character, lives a quiet, low-profile life—intentionally. She’s sharp-tongued, stubborn to a fault, and wants nothing more than to control her own fate. So when she’s unexpectedly chosen to become a Legacy’s Source—a magically bonded counterpart to a powerful bloodline heir—she doesn’t see it as an honor.

She sees it as a prison.

And honestly? She’s not wrong.

Torn from her friends and forced to live with the infuriatingly strategic and morally murky Theon (our MMC), Tessa’s world unravels. The bond doesn’t just tether them magically—it ties their thoughts, emotions, and fates. It’s invasive. It’s demeaning. What follows is an all-out emotional and psychological battle between two people who were bonded together by magic, not choice.

At the core of this story lies a dangerous assumption: both Tessa and Theon believe the other fully understands what the bond means. In truth, neither of them does. Their ignorance fuels distrust, resentment, and a series of devastating choices—because how can you fight for something when you don’t even know what it is?

Analysis & Opinion

This book grapples with control, identity, and power dynamics—and it does it through characters who are equally compelling and chaotic.

Tessa is a standout lead. She’s not here to play nice. She pushes back at every turn, and watching her fight for autonomy in a world built to strip it from her is both gutting and glorious. She doesn’t roll over and accept her role—she rages against it.

Theon is cunning, cool, and dangerously calculating. His goals? Overthrow his father. Use the bond to do it. But what he doesn’t account for is how much Tessa will change the game—and him.

Their dynamic is emotionally volatile, slow-burn, and built on forced proximity, mistrust, and undeniable tension. While yes, the bond forces intimacy, Roehrich doesn’t shy away from the ethical weight of that. It’s messy and uncomfortable—and that’s the point.

What I Loved:

• Tessa’s razor-edge resilience and refusal to be silenced
• The dark, tangled bond between her and Theon—equal parts painful and magnetic
• The inclusion of gods, vampires, fae, dragons—yes please to multi-creature politics
• The miscommunication theme that’s actually done right—it’s not petty; it’s systemic
• The dark tone—this book isn’t afraid to be brutal, so prepare your heart

What Didn’t Quite Work:

• The opening chapters are dense with world-building, which could overwhelm some readers
• A few side characters feel more like plot devices than people (though this may shift in book two)

Strengths:

• Complex emotional stakes
• Slow-burn enemies-to-lovers energy
• Worldbuilding that blends myth and magic
• Deep themes of control, identity, and resistance

Weaknesses:

• A heavy start that demands patience
• Some emotional scenes lean on repetition

Final Thoughts

This book is angsty as hell—in the best way. The emotional tension between Tessa and Theon? Off the charts. Every interaction feels like a spark waiting to ignite, and when it does? Yeah, it’s hot. The bond may not have been a choice, but the chemistry? Unavoidable. If you love morally gray men with schemes and sharp women who don’t give in without a fight, you’ll be absolutely obsessed.

Would I recommend it?
Absolutely. This book is a haunting, emotional ride—and it sets the stage for a series I’ll be obsessing over.

If you like:

• Forced bonds done with moral complexity
• Enemies-to-lovers that ache
• Emotionally fraught, power-imbalanced romance
• Dark fantasy with a morally gray edge
• Layered worldbuilding with fae, dragons, vampires, and gods

Then Rain of Shadow and Endings will hit every nerve in the best way.

This is not a lighthearted read. Check trigger warnings. It’s dark, intense, and at times uncomfortable—but it’s also deeply immersive and unflinchingly honest about control, trauma, and love born from survival rather than fate.

Recommended for 18+ readers who want romance served with blood, fire, and emotional scars.