It started with a very strong intriguing sentence.
However, it goes downward after that. 
I'm not a fan of the female MC portrayed in this story. She's a literal killer with no accountability, can't accept no, and giving super pick me girl vibe 😩 it doesn't look cool to me at all. I cringed so hard when she said "now, I see everyone's wearing purple gown, the colour I wore yesterday." Or "I intentionally taking my time so he doesn't think I'm really eager to meet him." ??????? Idk, for me this kind of girl is not the ones I befriend with 🥹 power hungry girl with daddy issue and unsolved jealousy toward her big sister (like her older sister was not malice or whatsoever, so I don't get what her problem is aside from she demands to be everyone's attention. Sis really thinks the world revolves around her.)
OH NOT TO MENTION HER FIRST KILL!!! She was told so cleverly hidden the body but the resolve and evidence are showing otherwise.

Another inconsistency was she literally murdered her first lover after he was 'done' with her, and in later part, she talked about sexual freedom and consent.... I mean if you consented with your first lover then you should move on and get a life.... 

The said shadow king conquerer 5 kingdoms for no reasons but somehow he rarely goes outside bcs afraid someone might kill him. Conquerors who didn't really go to the battlefield was not very appealing to me.

And we never saw what his power is. What's the function of all those shadows if he can't even catch a bandit? Got trapped in a brothel? Almost got trapped to drink a poison??? And I found lurking around and watching girls' bedroom is creepy

And "the villain" or the bandit in this story was told in Robin Hood way which make them less villain. Probably indeed the king should take care of his conquered realms?????


The lack of accountability for each character in this story is really what turned me down.

Idk maybe they're intended to be anti hero being villains all the way but without the cool stuffs??? Or some justification???

And the plot twist was somehow predictable.

It wasn't for me, but probably if you're looking for a book with:
- Kingdom scheme, laced with political intricts
- page turning
- Slow burn romance
- love balls and dresses and dances

Give this book a go.

Thanks for providing this book💖