Rain of Shadows and Endings Read Along Week One
Welcome to week one for our Read Along for Rain of Shadows and Endings by Melissa K. Roehrich. My goodness people, we are off to a raring start.
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First Impressions of Rain of Shadows and Endings
First of all, some context. I almost didn’t read this week, fully immersed in hormones and brain fog, and honestly, a bit of rage. Somehow, that worked really well with what’s happening in this book so far. It seems a bit cathartic.
We’ll allow it.
Okay, onto the story and these characters and this world in Rain of Shadows and Endings. So far, the treatment of our dear MFC, Tessa, is ridiculous. Essentially enslavement. A magical kind that will strip her of her will. But it doesn’t seem to be working.
And I LOVE this. I love a female lead with a mouth, with the impulsive attitude to talk back when she shouldn’t, to fight back even when her body is betraying her, of punishing the male lead because he doesn’t seem to understand what it means for her. Granted, it’s harder for men to understand this unless they’ve undergone some serious abuse.
Tessa Deserves Better
It does seem like Theon has been abused though, is still being abused, but in a different way. One that makes him seem like a monster. But I don’t think he really is. He’s just…entitled.
Lead to believe the wrong thing because no one allows the truth to be wildly known and accepted. These sources, the magical wells for these legacy demi-gods, are salves. Their free will taken magically. Whored out for business deals. Taken and punished at will.
Of course, no one is going to make that well known to those who have the potential to be selected as a source. And of course, Theon wouldn’t know that his source would feel this way. EVEN THOUGH SHE TOLD HIM SO.
His stubbornness is his current main weakness. It won’t allow him to see what is truly wrong with Tessa. I mean, not letting her have donuts? Seriously? Let her have one. The audacity.
Side note, food control is a very serious trigger for me. It riles me up like no other.
Theon’s father is a gigantic problem. And I foresee him getting far worse before his thread in the story gets better. Obviously, Theon wants to take control away from his father to do things his own way: a gentler and fairer way to be sure. Something we often see with our Shadow Daddy characters.
So much would be made better between Theon and Tessa if he just told her what was happening. What his plan is. What he’s fighting against. I don’t even know it all, and I’m already rooting for him, for her to help him, for them to get past the current betrayal under control.
Tessa having a straight forward task would help her come to terms a whole lot easier. Get away from the suffocation she’s currently feeling.
Character Development Thoughts
Speaking of, she definitely has claustrophobia, and I wonder where it stems from other than being stuffed away when punished. I have a feeling it’s going to be something deeper. We shall see though.
And Luka…I’m not sure how I feel about him, but he warmed up to me immediately, taking care of Tessa in spite of Theon’s botched attempts, trying to keep the Legacy in check, and understanding that breaking Tessa will not aid their plans.
I bet the plan will work better when they turn to her strengths instead. Her obstinance. I’m looking forward to it.
Week One Predictions
As always, there is so much more we could unpack, but I simply don’t have the time and space, but what comes next is going to be a whole lot, I’m already sure of it based on where we left off…with Theon vowing to be the monster she believes he is when he finds her.
We all know that will backfire.
Alright, let me know your thoughts in the comments below, and I will see you next week as we read up to Chapter 25.
Looking for your next fantasy romance obsession?
Grab our current featured Bound Blood by Ellis Hunger box before June closes out.
Until then, happy reading!
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