I went into To Kill a Shadow blind; it was an adventure! Kiara is a fantastic main character, and she’s not messing around; she puts all the men in their place. She is heroic and a leader in her own way. Jude Maddox, the Hand of Death, is another fascinating character. Kiara and Jude's connection was palpable in this closed-door young adult romance. The only thing I wish was better was the overall world-building. This story felt like it took place in a generic fantasy world. I would have loved some more personalization to set it apart. That said, I still want to read book two to find out how the story ends!