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C.N. Crawford
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Court of Shadows (Shadow Fae Book 1) Kindle Edition

by C.N. Crawford (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 13,485 ratings
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Rags to riches is supposed to be a nice fantasy. Going from a cheap London hovel to an elite fae academy should be amazing, especially when it involves a medieval castle.

It's just a bit more complicated when we're training to be assassins--and I have to share a room with a terrifying, gorgeous shadow Fae known as the Wraith.

It starts when The Wraith hunts me down. Ruadan has taken a vow of silence to snuff out illegal magic– magic that I possess. He lets me live on one condition: I have to earn my place at the Court of the Shadow Fae. I'm a survivor. I think I can manage the competition.

Too bad the posh recruits have it in for me. All it takes is one slip up, and I'm out. And at the Court of the Shadow Fae, failure means death.





Too bad the posh recruits have it in for me. Worse, I'm forced to share a room with the silent Wraith, who is as sinister as he is hot. All it takes is one slip up, and I'm out. And at the Court of the Shadow Fae, failure means death.

This series is linked to the Sea Fae series but can be read in any order.
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  1. Book 1 of 10
    Shadow Fae
  2. Print length
    276 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    August 22, 2018
  6. File size
    4.2 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. I was scarred; I was beautiful, and I didn’t need to know what anyone else thought about the matter.
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  2. “I feel like there might have been an insult somewhere in there, but I can’t quite put my finger on it.”
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07GLLVX7V
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 22, 2018
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.2 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Book 1 of 10 ‏ : ‎ Shadow Fae
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 13,485 ratings

About the author

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C.N. Crawford

C.N. Crawford

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C.N. Crawford are Wall Street Journal bestselling authors of fantasy romance and urban fantasy--not one person but two. When they are not looking after their two energetic sons, they take turns writing drafts and revising.

Christine is from Lexington, Massachusetts and has had a lifelong interest in New England folklore--with a particular fondness for creepy old cemeteries. Nick spent his childhood reading fantasy and science fiction during Vermont's long winters, which have rendered him impervious to the cold.

In addition to writing fiction, we love to hear from our readers and can be reached in our facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/cncrawford/.

And, for early and discounted access to new novels, free stories, and more, join the email list at: http://www.cncrawford.com

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
13,485 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book engaging and unpredictable, with a strong female main character who is relatable and has chemistry with her male counterpart. The story moves quickly, with fantastic world-building and humor that makes them laugh out loud. They appreciate the book's pacing, with one customer noting it's easy to read for fantasy and romance lovers, while another describes it as a riveting introduction to a new world.

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158 customers mention "Readability"158 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as great from start to finish and a fun read that keeps them engaged.

"Loved this one! Caught my attention and gave me a good laugh, also the sexual tention build up was great!" Read more

"Ugh! I was hooked from the first page. Such a fun and intense read. I read it in a single day. I’m quite looking forward to the next book...." Read more

"...Ariana is a total beast! She was awesome from the get go. Her story is Sad but seeing...." Read more

"Fun quick read. Lots of unanswered questions but not a super serious book. Disappointed a little with ending. Will probably read next book" Read more

153 customers mention "Storyline"145 positive8 negative

Customers enjoy the storyline of the book, finding it engaging and full of adventure, with one customer particularly appreciating how it starts out.

"Loved this one! Caught my attention and gave me a good laugh, also the sexual tention build up was great!" Read more

"...The author was amazing at describing the characters and did not drag out the plot. 10/10 recommend" Read more

"...The female characters were hilarious, the setting and “world” was intriguing, and the storyline was interesting...." Read more

"...I find all of it deeply relatable with a spin that makes some of the harder topics palatable and even enjoyable at times, especially as you watch..." Read more

93 customers mention "Character development"86 positive7 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, particularly noting the strong female main character and the chemistry between the two protagonists, with one customer highlighting their snarky personalities.

"...She also made the female MC stubborn but not in the childish way...." Read more

"...The author was amazing at describing the characters and did not drag out the plot. 10/10 recommend" Read more

"...The female characters were hilarious, the setting and “world” was intriguing, and the storyline was interesting...." Read more

"...Crawford s ability to still portray emotion and reveal the character’s personality was clever...." Read more

70 customers mention "Pacing"66 positive4 negative

Customers enjoy the book's pacing, describing it as a good fast-paced read with easy-to-follow world building.

"...Reflection: This was a SUPER quick read...." Read more

"...I found that the characters in this are also well written, drawing you in and keeping you captive...." Read more

"...I think the writing is pretty good...." Read more

"...Everything about Crawford's writing style is easy and that extends to the ease and speed with which I slipped into this book...." Read more

63 customers mention "Humor"63 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the humor in the book, particularly its sarcasm and snark, with several mentioning they laugh out loud while reading.

"Loved this one! Caught my attention and gave me a good laugh, also the sexual tention build up was great!" Read more

"...The FMC is brash, carefree, and has a sarcastic sense of humor that I really appreciated...." Read more

"...humor, so this was very enjoyable. The MFC is also bold and sarcastic, yet also deeply caring while disturbingly flawed, yet not so much that..." Read more

"...I loved her inner dialogue, she was hilarious...." Read more

32 customers mention "World building"32 positive0 negative

Customers praise the world building in the book, describing it as fantastic and intriguing, with one customer noting it offers a fresh take on the Fae concept.

"...My biggest gripe is the plot. The idea was so promising but just fell short. I loved the setting and the “world” of the story...." Read more

"...all of it deeply relatable with a spin that makes some of the harder topics palatable and even enjoyable at times, especially as you watch these..." Read more

"...World building was good and I could picture it all. The seedy side of London, the cages and arena. The castle fae fortress...." Read more

"...It is so, so good. Great world building and characters. The enemies to maybe lovers some day is a great storyline...." Read more

17 customers mention "Strength"17 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the strength of the characters in the book, describing them as brave and resilient, with one customer noting how Arianna is strong-willed, and another mentioning how the characters have survived significant trials together.

"...They had depth and purpose in the story. The MC is so strong and not in an overdone way...." Read more

"...It was quick-paced with the objectives but slow and steady with the trials and the reasons for them...." Read more

"...Our heroine is beautiful and of strong will. And deep down a soft heart when it counts I’m really looking forward to the next book in the series." Read more

"...She is fierce and sassy and bold. He is silent, sulking, and mysterious. She has a well written inclusive backstory...." Read more

12 customers mention "Arianna love"12 positive0 negative

Customers love Arianna and the Wraith, with one customer describing her as a smart and calculating warrior queen, while another appreciates the unique magical creatures in the story.

"...Crawford always brings you characters you can’t help but love! Ariana is a total beast! She was awesome from the get go. Her story is Sad but seeing...." Read more

"...This had a good story line and a lot of action. Arianna is a badass and love seeing her kickass but seeing her be vulnerable by an act of kindness..." Read more

"...I dislike that. She was interesting and he was very interesting...." Read more

"...I love the world building, plot and especially characters. I enjoyed Arianna and Ruadan and can’t wait to see more and where the story takes us." Read more

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Catcher from the get go.
    Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Loved this one! Caught my attention and gave me a good laugh, also the sexual tention build up was great!
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  • RMPLIFT
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great start to the series
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Quick summary without spoilers (also kinda complicated)...

    Kinda a Dystopian style book with Humans v. Fae and each of the Faes fighting each other while a select group of Fae are Shadow workers aka Population control. The MC gets blackmailed and taken into the Shadow workers police force academy to prove she is worthy. Everyone can make it through but of course they all want to fight each other anyway. They must work with an advisor to learn their powers and complete the tasks. The MC used to be a gladiator/slave. Her old owner wants a key and is holding her bestie in a cage until she delivers the key. VERY LIGHT ROMANCE IN THIS BOOK

    Reflection:
    This was a SUPER quick read. I liked how different it was from a lot of Fae books, but I still found it one of those books that I didn't love but didn't hate. The banter/dialogue or attempt at (you get the joke once you read through) was decent. CN Crawford is notorious for creating extreme sexual tension between characters and then leaving it. She does just that. I really liked that she made the male an succubus (Fae who thrives off sexual energy). She makes it so he HAS to speak with his body language for a couple of reasons.

    Feminine Energy:
    What I loved in this book is that she didn't automatically have the woman fighting over men or hating other women because of men. Crawford has the women using their strengths to work together and annihilate the challenges. She also made the female MC stubborn but not in the childish way. In a way that she wouldn't back down to anyone bullying and manipulating her.

    Spice 1/5 - Heavy petting scenes, and in adult situations/brothel but nothing graphic

    Tropes:
    Grumpy/ Grumpy lead relationship
    Powerful Woman lead
    Fae
    Competition
    Academia
    Cliffhanger
    Touch her and die / Protective
    One person found this helpful
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  • Cmiller
    5.0 out of 5 stars Page flipper worthy
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I could not stop flipping pages, I stayed up till 4 am! The author was amazing at describing the characters and did not drag out the plot. 10/10 recommend
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  • Michelle
    3.0 out of 5 stars Funny female characters but plot is lacking.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    All of the female characters in this book are extremely enjoyable to read about. The FMC is brash, carefree, and has a sarcastic sense of humor that I really appreciated. The two side female characters were also funny to read about. Ciara says random and off-the-wall things and Melusine is so socially deaf it’s comical.

    The MMC was under developed and I finished the book wishing we got to know his character more. However the book is less than 300 pages so maybe we get to know him more in the next book in the series.

    My biggest gripe is the plot. The idea was so promising but just fell short. I loved the setting and the “world” of the story. I enjoyed the idea of our FMC going through trials where she must win or die, but I really felt like they were unrealistic. It makes more sense for the mentees and mentors to work together over the course of months with weeks of training between each trial. To automatically throw the contestants into back-to-back trials seemed very unlikely to me. The other thing that got on my nerves was the randomness of the sensuality between the FMC and the MMC. It was obvious sensual acts were thrown in just to push some element of “romance” into the story. For a character like the MMC, who is extremely standoffish, a slow burn with lots of denied tension would have made a lot more sense.

    Since I am a plot-first reader I am giving this book a 3/5. The female characters were hilarious, the setting and “world” was intriguing, and the storyline was interesting. Taking two stars off due to so many plot holes and underdevelopment.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • A.S.G.
    5.0 out of 5 stars hell that was a fun and hot read
    Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Ugh!
    I was hooked from the first page. Such a fun and intense read. I read it in a single day. I’m quite looking forward to the next book. There’s something quite wholesome about the series.
    The first book has a sort of raw yet beautiful way of portraying a woman who had undergone some serious trauma that begins to touch on and delve into. Not just that, I loved how different this was in that the main male character was SILENT almost the whole book! Crawford s ability to still portray emotion and reveal the character’s personality was clever.
    Despite Crawford’s tendency to showcase flaws and imperfections in a main character, I didn’t necessarily find anything that stood out as outright annoying with Arianna in this book. In truth, I feel I relate more to her than any other character Crawford has written while also admiring her for the things I find myself lacking. Arianna’s ability to accept her shortcomings was insightful and also humorous. Her method of dealing with issues is both impressive, comical at times, and also relatable in that she approaches problems with cunning and humor, but then Crawford adds in that violence, only it’s done almost in a funny way more often than not. I gotta say, I’m a fan of dark humor, so this was very enjoyable.
    The MFC is also bold and sarcastic, yet also deeply caring while disturbingly flawed, yet not so much that you dislike her. I mean, you really can’t help but like her.
    Her challenges are ones you find yourself sympathizing with.
    I found that the characters in this are also well written, drawing you in and keeping you captive.
    In all honesty, the way it all unfolds is told so well that you can’t help but open your heart to her, Ciara, as well as Melusine. Even Ruadan becomes quite likable. The whole journey to go from enemies to almost lovers really gets you to the point you want to board that ship. And I do love me a good enemies to lovers and am excited because this has promise.
    There’s so much to like about the story. There’s wittiness, sarcasm, dark humor which surrounds dark ugly aspects that show the world isn’t such a happy or carefree place while at the same time, you find goodness underneath it all in unexpected and surprising places. I find all of it deeply relatable with a spin that makes some of the harder topics palatable and even enjoyable at times, especially as you watch these flawed characters rise to the challenges set before them and grow as people.
    At least, that’s why I liked it.
    14 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Neptune Rising
    5.0 out of 5 stars Charming and Steamy!
    Reviewed in Canada on February 15, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I have read all 4 books in this series and couldn't put them down! I found the main character Arianna was incredibly charming (she runs through London kicking everyone's *** and drinking her whisky). The characters in this book are very endearing - each one bringing an element of the story somewhere surprising. There is a modernized twist to the books where the ancient fae world collides with the somewhat modernized human world. Arianna challenges it in many ways which will make you giggle (especially when she uses this twist to challenge steamy Ruadan). The magical aspect was unique and keeps you guessing until the end! Highly recommend.
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  • taynara leite da silva
    5.0 out of 5 stars Saga
    Reviewed in Brazil on June 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Eu amei o livro, a história me prendeu muito mas é uma pena a amazon não vender o livro fisico seja em portugues ou ingles. O único fisico que eu vi custa mais de 500 reais e eu não vi outros da saga pra vender. Se vendesse o fisico com preço justo eu compraria todos os 7
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  • The Chapter of Hope
    5.0 out of 5 stars I cannot recommend this book highly enough!
    Reviewed in Australia on March 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    CN Crawford can do no wrong in my eyes . I've loved everything I've read of hers so far. I think there are 10 books in this series but I started and finished this in a day - an 8 hour work day - so this isn't going to be a series that drags because the books are short and not at all sweet.

    Fun, engaging. hot, fae (and all sorts of otherwordly and mythological beings), magic, a badass, ex-gladiator FMC, a broody, shadow-wielding, silent MMC, a magical institute... just read it. It's bloody brilliant and I cannot wait to continue the series.
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  • Kyx
    5.0 out of 5 stars Urban Fantasy decisamente godibile
    Reviewed in Italy on August 13, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Due punti forti di questa autrice: un linguaggio comprensibile nonostante alcuni termini specifici, con un ritmo scorrevole e molte scene d'azione, personaggi accattivanti che si discostano a sufficienza dai clichè da non risultare troppo stereotipati.
    Conosciamo Arianna e la seguiamo in un turbolento incontro con i vigilantes che si occupano di eradicare da Londra tutti i supernaturals che vi si nascondono dopo l'Apocalisse. La sua controparte è un personaggio conosciuto come Wraith, silenzioso e letale, che la obbliga a lasciare dietro a sé la ritrovata libertà dopo la sua fuga dal precedente Master che l'ha formata come guerriera, e di cui porta addosso i segni delle violenze fisiche e psicologiche.
    In un valzer di segreti, world building e antichi dei che cercano di indirizzare l'operato dei fey, l'attrazione tra Arianna e il silenzioso Ruadan ci lascia non proprio con un cliffhanger, ma di certo con la curiosità di sapere cosa succederà nei libri successivi (il ciclo si compone di 4 volumi).
    Lo consiglio per gli amanti del genere.
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  • Dawn
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, Wow, Wow!!! probably some of C N Crawford’s best work to date.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 1, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, Wow, Wow!!! After the last series of books which were a fabulous series and probably some of C N Crawford’s best work to date I wasn’t expecting this new book to even compare in the slightest but how wrong I was!!!!! An amazing new heroine with some wonderful and diverse Characters plus cameo appearances of well-loved people from other books set in the same world. Yet again this book although set in the same worlds manages to capture the imagination in a new way and adds another dimension to a world that we already know and love, everything is easily visualised, and you are drawn in to the storey from the first few pages. I was hooked with the first book, drawn in even further with the second boo and an impatiently waiting for the third instalment. This is a series that I will happily read again when the next book comes out to maximise the enjoyment
    Report

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