Incandescence - Review

Book: Incandescence
Series: Shadowlight Book #1
Author: Elena Leman
Release Date: November 9th, 2020
Genre: Fantasy Romance/Metaphysical Fantasy

“In thousands of years of my astral travels, I’d never needed a companion. But he found a way to ingrain himself in my every brain cell, my every goosebump, my every trembling breath… His darkness is the answer to my light.”

Orobella is a cosmic wanderer, living borrowed lives in borrowed bodies. Her mission on planet Instaar is the same as always—collecting Crystals of Emotions while having as much fun as her new physical form allows, no strings attached. But once she meets the hypnotically mysterious Sambor, both her body and soul yearn for more. She makes him an offer he can’t refuse.

In the world where creatures of death and darkness drive men mad, emotional detachment has been Sambor’s greatest life achievement. As the future leader of the Lasota tribe and a spiritual tattoo artist, he can’t afford the luxury of mental weakness. Yet his meticulously constructed equilibrium is shaken up when an alluring nymph promises to save his baby sister, in exchange for a sacred Lasota tattoo. He can’t say no. Even if that means his demons will get the best of him.

Steeped in mysticism, elemental magic, and sensual vibrations, this romantic fantasy is more than a love story. It’s a journey through a soul.

CONTENT WARNING: This book contains graphic violence, sexual situations, physical abuse, and adult language.

Amount of sex – 3.5 / 5
How explicit are the sex scenes – 3.5 / 5
Story – 4 / 5
Overall – 4 /5

Incandescence is the first book in the Shadowlight series written by author Elena Leman. It tells the story of Orobella, who is a cosmic wanderer. She moves to different planets to collect crystals that possess various emotions. On each mission, she occupies a new body and is assigned a new guide to assist her.

The story begins with Orobella waking up to her guide, who happens to be a gecko that only she can see. As they walk around the Koliada festival looking for crystals, she sees a beautiful man tattooing a spiritual animal on a warrior. Orobella discovers that the tattoo artist’s name is Sambor, and she asks if he would tattoo her. These particular tattoos are only available to warriors or to whomever the Gods say is worthy. However, Sambor makes a deal to tattoo her, but only if she’d help teach his sister.

Sombor is a broody warrior, and at first glance, I thought they were such opposite characters. Orobella exudes sex appeal, and Sombor is more emotionally detached. However, their chemistry was pretty damg steamy!

Incandescence has a unique storyline, and it was full of many twists and turns. I definitely recommend adding it to your TBR list!

Voluntarily Reviewed a Gifted Copy

Elena Leman is a traveler, poet, English teacher, and the author of Happy Ever(ywhere) After and Shadowlight series. Her twelve years of expat life in Turkey, Costa Rica, Colombia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Italy, Brazil, and Portugal filled her imagination with magic, adventure, and a bit of drama–all the essential ingredients for a pageturner. Currently, she’s living in Lisbon, Portugal. When she’s not writing, you can catch her kicking the guts out of a punching bag, finding her zen in meditation, swaying her hips to kizomba beats, or… traveling some more.

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