The Shadow Path

A Romantic Portal Fantasy (Shadowlands, Book 2)

By: Elizabeth Hunter

Narrated by: Ava Lucas

Carys Morgan is torn between two worlds.

One bright. The other shadow.

One familiar. The other filled with magic.

In one life, Carys is an assistant mythology professor in Northern California. In the Shadowlands, she’s a dragon rider with close ties to royals, fae, and powerful magic wielders. It’s not just differing worlds that Carys must navigate but the love of two very different men who wear the same beloved face.

When the Anglian king dies, Carys returns to the Shadowlands where a brittle peace accord threatens to crumble. As war looms and old gods begin to wake, Carys will have to choose between the two men vying for her heart and the two worlds that promise very different destinies.

Dragons, fae, and a fantasy world that is at once familiar and entirely unique—USA Today Bestselling Author Elizabeth Hunter is a master at her craft, unspooling complex worlds and characters into an addictive pause-resister you won’t be able to put down!

©2024 Recurve Press, LLC (P)2025 Recurve Press, LLC

A dragon rider caught between two worlds

🐉🌑 A dragon rider caught between two worlds, two identical men, and a war that refuses to stay quiet. 🌑🐉

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4/5)
Spice-meter: 🌶️🌶️☆☆☆ (2/5)
Audiobook: 🎧
Series: Shadowlands, Book 2 (must be read in order)
HEA: No cliffhanger

The Shadow Path picks up almost immediately after First Light, and it does exactly what a strong second book should do: it deepens the world, raises the stakes, and makes everything far more complicated. Elizabeth Hunter doesn’t ease you back into the Shadowlands. She drops you straight into political unrest, ancient magic, and emotional chaos, and then calmly dares you to keep up.

This is still very much a romantic portal fantasy at heart, but the tone has shifted. Where book one focused on discovery and wonder, this one leans into danger, loyalty, and consequences. The fairytale glow is still there, but now it’s wrapped in shadows, secrets, and the looming threat of war.

The Story

Carys Morgan is now fully split between two lives. In the human world, she has a career, responsibilities, and a sense of normalcy. In the Shadowlands, she is something else entirely: a dragon rider tied to royalty, fae politics, and powerful magic she’s only just beginning to understand.

When the Anglian king dies, Carys is pulled back into the Shadowlands to help maintain a fragile peace. But peace is already cracking. Old gods begin to stir, alliances shift, and forces far older than the kingdoms themselves start to wake. On top of all that, Carys is still caught between two men who share the same face but offer very different futures.

Every choice she makes pushes her closer to a destiny she may not be able to escape.

🎧 Narration

Narrated once again by Ava Lucas, who delivers a consistent and solid performance across both books. Her voice fits Carys well, balancing strength and vulnerability, and her steady delivery makes the complex world easy to follow. While the narration doesn’t dramatically elevate the story, it does provide a smooth, immersive listening experience that keeps you grounded in the Shadowlands.

What I Liked

✔️ A natural continuation that doesn’t feel like filler
✔️ Expanded lore, magic systems, and mythology
✔️ Dragons, fae, and ancient gods taking center stage
✔️ Higher emotional and political stakes
✔️ A heroine who grows without losing her core
✔️ Romance that adds tension without hijacking the plot

Tropes & Vibes

✔️ Portal Fantasy
✔️ Dragons & Fae
✔️ Political Intrigue
✔️ Love Triangle
✔️ Ancient Gods Awakening
✔️ Slow-Burn Romance
✔️ Parallel Worlds
✔️ High-Stakes Fantasy

Final Thoughts

The Shadow Path is exactly the kind of middle book you want in a fantasy series. It answers just enough questions to feel satisfying while opening even bigger ones that make you desperate for what comes next. The world is richer, the danger feels more real, and Carys’s journey is becoming something truly epic.

It’s not the explosive payoff yet, but it’s the kind of carefully built tension that makes a finale hit harder. If First Light pulled you into the Shadowlands, this one makes sure you stay there, completely hooked and waiting for the storm to break.

What a story!!!

As usual Elizabeth Hunter has written an excellent story that had me captivated. I am in love with the characters. And can not wait for more!!!

Characters and Shadowland

Ava did a fantastic job narrating this audiobook—the voices and emotion really brought the Shadowlands to life. The world-building is immersive, and it’s the kind of fantasy setting I’d genuinely love to see adapted into a movie someday.

My favorite characters were Cadell the dragon and Dru. Even though Dru isn’t a main character, his development throughout the story really stood out to me.

⚠️ Spoiler Alert ⚠️
The love triangle definitely got to me. At first I appreciated how protective Duncan was of Carys because it’s obvious he loves her, but over time it started to feel a bit smothering—like, let the girl breathe. Then again, I know some readers love a persistent and opinionated man.

Prince Lachlan still has my heart though. I’m firmly Team Lachlan and secretly hoping Carys changes her mind in the next book. I wish she had given him more time and a real chance. The reveal that Carys looks exactly like Lachlan’s beloved wife was wild and understandably made her question his feelings, but it still felt like Lachlan ultimately fell for Carys for who she truly is.

The second book was packed with action, which I loved because I’m definitely an action girlie