From USA Today Bestselling Author Michelle Heard comes an action-packed Romantasy with scorching hot romance and breathtaking emotion that will keep you turning the pages.
A week before my eighteenth birthday, the guy I’m catching feelings for legit tosses me through a waterfall, only for me to find out everything I thought I knew is nothing but a lie.
My name is Alchera, and five years ago, my people wiped my memories and abandoned me at a waterfall so I’d learn what it’s like to be human. Turns out I have the destiny of saving humankind and a hotter-than-hell guardian to help me through the nightmare I have to face.
Adapting to a life of brutal training was not on my list of things to do after graduating. But the ten chosen ones depend on me, and I have no choice but to suck it up and do everything I’m told.
Trying to survive the new world I’ve been thrown into, I have to cope with my guardian, who can hear my every thought. Besides that, people are out to torture me for information about the visions I receive.
I’m not so sure I’m cut out for this.
Heard (author of God of Vengeance) delivers a pitch-perfect portal fantasy in the first of her Vaalbara series. When Jane mysteriously appears at age 13 beside a waterfall in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, she has no idea that she is actually Alchera, a princess from Vaalbara, “a planet clothed in its original splendor, just as when Earth took its first breath.” Now, at 17, she is living as an ordinary human named Jane, with no memories of Vaalbara, until her guardian, Raighne, comes to Earth to retrieve her, appearing as a new student at her high school, teenage heartthrob Ryan Jackson. (“Dear God, have mercy on my hormones,” muses Jane.) As the two grow close, Ryan/Raighne tells her of her true destiny and whisks her away to a new world—where Alchera is charged with saving ten chosen souls from Earth as the apocalypse begins. Lovers of romantic fantasy will quickly fall hard for Alchera and Raighne. As skillfully written by Heard, Alchera is by turns incredibly brave, sarcastic, and ultimately concerned chiefly with the ones she loves, including her guardian—to whom she is passionately attracted, though she doesn’t think he feels the same way. Gutsy, protective, and idealistic, Raighne is deeply in love with his charge and determined to save her from any pain, even at the cost of his own life. Once Alchera and Raighne realize that their passion is shared, Heard delivers a number of spicy love scenes designed for readers who like to leave the door to the bedroom open.
Heard has a distinct talent for world-building, and her fast-paced, surprise-filled, emotionally charged narrative is irresistible, rich in visions, fantastic detail, gushes of feeling, and the magic of waterfalls—all told in Alchera’s pleasingly direct voice and Raighne’s lightly loftier one. She bolsters her world with an engaging group of supporting characters. Readers may balk at the cliffhanger ending, but they’ll want to know what’s coming next in this author’s world.
Takeaway: Readers will eagerly devour this stellar romantic portal fantasy.
Comparable Titles: Hannah Levin’s The Treasured One, Roshani Choksho’s The Star-Touched Queen.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Visions and Shadows is an exciting fantasy romance set in the magical world of Vaalbara. The story follows Alchera who’s tasked with protecting ten chosen humans whose fate will determine the future of a new world. She’s not alone—her guardian, Raighne is by her side, and the two share a unique telepathic connection that only strengthens as they face danger together.
Their telepathic bond makes their connection feel deeper and more intense, and their relationship adds emotional weight to the action.
Fast-paced and full of surprises, Visions and Shadows offers a great mix of adventure, magic, and romance. Fans of fantasy and love stories with a twist won’t want to miss it.
Omg, I just finished the book, and I have to tell you that it was amazing! Beyond amazing, actually. The world-building, the characters, the intensity, and, oh, how it had my heart beating so fast. Michelle is an instant buy for me already but she has definitely shown off in this one. I wish I could give it 10 stars!!
I’m not a huge fantasy reader, but I’m so glad I took a chance on Visions & Shadows! From the very first page, Michelle Heard swept me into an action-packed, emotional journey that I couldn’t put down.
The story follows Alchera, a girl whose world is upended when she learns her past is a lie and her future holds the fate of humanity. Tossed into a brutal new reality, she faces relentless training, dangerous enemies, and a hotter-than-hell guardian who can hear her every thought. The twists and turns in her journey kept me on the edge of my seat, and the chemistry between her and her guardian added a perfect balance of tension and romance.
What truly stood out was Alchera’s emotional growth. Despite the high stakes and epic battles, her struggles with identity and destiny made her incredibly relatable. The chosen ones’ dynamic and their shared purpose added even more depth to the story.
If you’re looking for a romantasy with high stakes, breathtaking emotion, and unforgettable characters, this book is a must-read. Thank you to the Chasing Books PR Team and Michelle Heard for the advanced copy! Visions & Shadows releases December 9th, and it’s one of my favorite reads this year!
