What do you think?
Rate this book
Shadows #1
The Shadow Earl
B.R.A.G. Medallion Honouree, 2023 Global Book Awards Silver Medallist and 2023 Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medallist.
At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace.
Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo.
Finally, his friends – loyal and close as brothers – set out to search in person, determined to find him and bring him home.
Christian’s startling re-appearance at a grand ball hosted by his uncle, takes society by storm and fuels endless speculation.
Where has he been during these three missing years?
What happened to him? And more importantly, how did it happen?
Only one thing is clear.
The earl who left England five years ago, has returned a changed man.
A man with secrets.
At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace.
Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo.
Finally, his friends – loyal and close as brothers – set out to search in person, determined to find him and bring him home.
Christian’s startling re-appearance at a grand ball hosted by his uncle, takes society by storm and fuels endless speculation.
Where has he been during these three missing years?
What happened to him? And more importantly, how did it happen?
Only one thing is clear.
The earl who left England five years ago, has returned a changed man.
A man with secrets.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2023
86 people are currently reading
210 people want to read
About the author
Stella Riley
23 books447 followers Stella Riley lives in Kent, England. She enjoys theatre, travel and playing the harpsichord.
Her award-winning 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times!) is available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.
She is also the author of 6 books set in the 17th century: The Marigold Chain, A Splendid Defiance, The Black Madonna, Garland of Straw, The King's Falcon and Lords of Misrule.
All titles are available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Apple.
Rockliffe Book 6 - Cadenza - is the 2019 Readers' Favourite gold medallist for Historical Romance and also the 2021 Book Excellence Awards winner in the Romance category.
Her award-winning 7 book Rockliffe series (recommended in The Times!) is available in audio, narrated by Alex Wyndham.
She is also the author of 6 books set in the 17th century: The Marigold Chain, A Splendid Defiance, The Black Madonna, Garland of Straw, The King's Falcon and Lords of Misrule.
All titles are available from Amazon, Kobo, Barnes & Noble and Apple.
Rockliffe Book 6 - Cadenza - is the 2019 Readers' Favourite gold medallist for Historical Romance and also the 2021 Book Excellence Awards winner in the Romance category.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
March 8, 2024
I am going against the majority of reviews here...the book has a 4.29* rating. I didn't enjoy it. I found it missed so many opportunities to be a great read and it settled for a very tame telling of an Earl that was sold into slavery. There was no angst, no twists and the one BIG reveal of the damage done to him was underwhelming to me. It was bland, more a day in the life. The reader knew the couple would be reunited, why drag it out. I LOVED The Parfit Knight and gave it 4.5* so was very excited to read this book. Many characters from previous stories are included but they were just names with little action in the plot. Even as a revenge plot it was tepid. The characters seem to have very little nuance...they were either wonderfully patient or they were greedy and selfish. A character I did enjoy was Sophia's sister who was deaf and learned sign language and was a support to her sister. The rest of her family were just caricatures. Rate it 3*
Read
October 16, 2023Content Note: Islamophobia, human trafficking, PTSD.
Frankly, I couldn’t get past the Islamophobia.
The Shadow Earl is a story of friendship, perseverance, and enduring love. Just before returning home from his grand tour, Christian Selwyn, The Earl of Hazelmere, vanishes into thin air. Three years later, Christian unexpectedly reappears into society with one goal in mind: seek revenge against the man who orchestrated his disappearance.
This is difficult for me. Stella Riley penned some of my favorite historical romance novels. They remain my go-to comfort reads. However, I was appalled at the Islamophobic content in The Shadow Earl. The negative stereotype of Muslims in this book is insulting. In an age where bigoted policies, such as Muslim bans, expose vulnerable Muslims to harassment and hate crimes, it is imperative for art to denounce hate, not contribute to it. As a reader from a Muslim background, I was blindsided by the shocking material. In particular, Christian’s big revelation, what he judged as the most reprehensible and humiliating act perpetrated against him, is not only anticlimactic, but the entire scene is also disrespectful to the Muslim community. And to hear one of my favorite narrators deliver those lines…well, it was not pleasant!
It’s 2023! I implore authors to please consider your diverse readership before injecting insensitive content into your work. This is so disappointing!
Frankly, I couldn’t get past the Islamophobia.
The Shadow Earl is a story of friendship, perseverance, and enduring love. Just before returning home from his grand tour, Christian Selwyn, The Earl of Hazelmere, vanishes into thin air. Three years later, Christian unexpectedly reappears into society with one goal in mind: seek revenge against the man who orchestrated his disappearance.
This is difficult for me. Stella Riley penned some of my favorite historical romance novels. They remain my go-to comfort reads. However, I was appalled at the Islamophobic content in The Shadow Earl. The negative stereotype of Muslims in this book is insulting. In an age where bigoted policies, such as Muslim bans, expose vulnerable Muslims to harassment and hate crimes, it is imperative for art to denounce hate, not contribute to it. As a reader from a Muslim background, I was blindsided by the shocking material. In particular, Christian’s big revelation, what he judged as the most reprehensible and humiliating act perpetrated against him, is not only anticlimactic, but the entire scene is also disrespectful to the Muslim community. And to hear one of my favorite narrators deliver those lines…well, it was not pleasant!
It’s 2023! I implore authors to please consider your diverse readership before injecting insensitive content into your work. This is so disappointing!
July 20, 2023
4.5 stars
Who among us doesn't love a revenge plot?
Stella Riley is in fine form with this one. The plotting is tight, the story moves right along. Our new characters are a delightful group, plus we have the appearance of several characters from previous books.
The plot:
"At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace.
Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo.
Finally, his friends – loyal and close as brothers – set out to search in person, determined to find him and bring him home.
Christian’s startling re-appearance at a grand ball hosted by his uncle, takes society by storm and fuels endless speculation.
Where has he been during these three missing years?
What happened to him? And more importantly, how did it happen?
Only one thing is clear.
The earl who left England five years ago, has returned a changed man.
A man with secrets."
A wonderful story of true love, loyal friends, with a real acknowledgement of the psychological trauma Christian suffered. The difficulties he, Sophia, and his friends face as he tries to recover his equilibrium are explored and confronted. Keep the tissues handy, Riley puts her characters (and the reader) through the emotional wringer.
I hope this is the first in a new series; Christian's friends deserve their own stories.
Now I think I need to re-read the first Rockliffe books...
Who among us doesn't love a revenge plot?
Stella Riley is in fine form with this one. The plotting is tight, the story moves right along. Our new characters are a delightful group, plus we have the appearance of several characters from previous books.
The plot:
"At the end of his Grand Tour, somewhere between Athens and Constantinople, Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, vanished - seemingly without a trace.
Time passes. In London, his uncle and cousin move into his home … while his unofficial fiancée, Sophia, is left desolate and in limbo.
Finally, his friends – loyal and close as brothers – set out to search in person, determined to find him and bring him home.
Christian’s startling re-appearance at a grand ball hosted by his uncle, takes society by storm and fuels endless speculation.
Where has he been during these three missing years?
What happened to him? And more importantly, how did it happen?
Only one thing is clear.
The earl who left England five years ago, has returned a changed man.
A man with secrets."
A wonderful story of true love, loyal friends, with a real acknowledgement of the psychological trauma Christian suffered. The difficulties he, Sophia, and his friends face as he tries to recover his equilibrium are explored and confronted. Keep the tissues handy, Riley puts her characters (and the reader) through the emotional wringer.
I hope this is the first in a new series; Christian's friends deserve their own stories.
Now I think I need to re-read the first Rockliffe books...
July 27, 2023
Meh. 2.5 to 3 stars. A far cry from the early and glorious Stella Riley books!
August 29, 2023
Story B+
Narration by Alex Wyndham A-
The Shadow Earl returns the reader to the world of the Rockliffe series, and although Rockliffe doesn’t appear on page, he’s referred to several times and plays a minor but important role in the story. It isn’t essential to have read that series or the related Brandon Brothers series (the author does try to give a little background information) but some knowledge of previous events and how the characters fit together could be helpful.
In the prologue we meet Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, who is nearing the end of a two year Grand Tour. Christian has enjoyed the tour, being a naturally curious and intelligent young man, but he mostly agreed to it because the father of his unofficial fiancee, Sophia, felt they were too young to marry and wanted to make sure the bond between them would last. He was less thrilled to be saddled with his irritable cousin, Basil. In the opening scene Basil and Christian are arguing about continuing on to Constantinople, with Basil adamantly refusing. It’s finally settled that Christian will go on ahead and will meet Basil back in Italy in 6 weeks, but Christian never shows up in Italy and hasn’t been heard from for over three years.
It took very little time for Basil and his father Eustace to ensconce themselves in Christian’s London home and make free with his money. Christian’s group of loyal friends, however, have never given up hope and after previously sending people to search, two of them finally leave for Constantinople to begin their own search. Meanwhile a broken-hearted Sophie has been browbeaten by her family into finally accepting Basil’s proposal of marriage, which is going to be announced at a ball at the London house. During the ball Christian, flanked by his friends, makes a grand entrance to the shock of everyone assembled. In a private meeting with his uncle he tells them to vacate the premises within the week, but otherwise says very little about where he has been and what has happened to him.
While Christian has returned and seems in good physical health, he is obviously changed by the experience in ways his friends don’t understand. The “shadow earl” of the title refers to the various ways Christian has withdrawn into himself and is both a shadow of his former self, and full of shadows due to his ordeal. Ms. Riley paints a very accurate picture of what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it’s both beautifully written and heartbreaking. He’s uncomfortable in crowds and his emotions are uncharacteristically volatile, plus he no longer feels physical desire. He copes by trying to keep himself under rigid control, and is completely focused on getting revenge, which means keeping everyone who cares about him at arm’s length, especially Sophia.
Pacing-wise it feels like the book was roughly divided into three parts, not counting the prologue. There is the first part, which is the longest, when Christian returns and he and his friends are plotting revenge for what happened to him, then there is the second where the books pacing and tensions drop as he and Sophia figure out their relationship, and lastly the culmination of all the revenge planning as well as the denouement. While all the “parts” are well-written and enjoyable, the change of pacing in the middle feels just a little jarring. I feel like the romance could have been more seamlessly integrated into the revenge plotline. The other issue is the plethora of cameo's by characters from previous Stella Riley books that makes it confusing even for those of us who've read them all.
I first listened to Alex Wyndham narrating The Parfit Knight, the first of the Rockliffe series, and have enjoyed his narrations of Stella Riley’s books ever since. He has a wide range of character voices and is skillful with female voices, making them sound feminine without a falsetto. His narration of The Shadow Earl brings to life the wide range of emotions of the characters and he masterfully conveys the tensions and suspense of the plot. He does occasionally narrate in a sort of whisper-voice, and that brought the grade down just a tad. Another issue that perhaps isn't his fault is there were so many cameos and so many voices from previous books, and it seems Wyndham had some trouble keeping some their voices distinct. I had to rely on diolog tags at times to know who was speaking in some scenes.
Narration by Alex Wyndham A-
The Shadow Earl returns the reader to the world of the Rockliffe series, and although Rockliffe doesn’t appear on page, he’s referred to several times and plays a minor but important role in the story. It isn’t essential to have read that series or the related Brandon Brothers series (the author does try to give a little background information) but some knowledge of previous events and how the characters fit together could be helpful.
In the prologue we meet Christian Selwyn, the young Earl of Hazelmere, who is nearing the end of a two year Grand Tour. Christian has enjoyed the tour, being a naturally curious and intelligent young man, but he mostly agreed to it because the father of his unofficial fiancee, Sophia, felt they were too young to marry and wanted to make sure the bond between them would last. He was less thrilled to be saddled with his irritable cousin, Basil. In the opening scene Basil and Christian are arguing about continuing on to Constantinople, with Basil adamantly refusing. It’s finally settled that Christian will go on ahead and will meet Basil back in Italy in 6 weeks, but Christian never shows up in Italy and hasn’t been heard from for over three years.
It took very little time for Basil and his father Eustace to ensconce themselves in Christian’s London home and make free with his money. Christian’s group of loyal friends, however, have never given up hope and after previously sending people to search, two of them finally leave for Constantinople to begin their own search. Meanwhile a broken-hearted Sophie has been browbeaten by her family into finally accepting Basil’s proposal of marriage, which is going to be announced at a ball at the London house. During the ball Christian, flanked by his friends, makes a grand entrance to the shock of everyone assembled. In a private meeting with his uncle he tells them to vacate the premises within the week, but otherwise says very little about where he has been and what has happened to him.
While Christian has returned and seems in good physical health, he is obviously changed by the experience in ways his friends don’t understand. The “shadow earl” of the title refers to the various ways Christian has withdrawn into himself and is both a shadow of his former self, and full of shadows due to his ordeal. Ms. Riley paints a very accurate picture of what we now call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and it’s both beautifully written and heartbreaking. He’s uncomfortable in crowds and his emotions are uncharacteristically volatile, plus he no longer feels physical desire. He copes by trying to keep himself under rigid control, and is completely focused on getting revenge, which means keeping everyone who cares about him at arm’s length, especially Sophia.
Pacing-wise it feels like the book was roughly divided into three parts, not counting the prologue. There is the first part, which is the longest, when Christian returns and he and his friends are plotting revenge for what happened to him, then there is the second where the books pacing and tensions drop as he and Sophia figure out their relationship, and lastly the culmination of all the revenge planning as well as the denouement. While all the “parts” are well-written and enjoyable, the change of pacing in the middle feels just a little jarring. I feel like the romance could have been more seamlessly integrated into the revenge plotline. The other issue is the plethora of cameo's by characters from previous Stella Riley books that makes it confusing even for those of us who've read them all.
I first listened to Alex Wyndham narrating The Parfit Knight, the first of the Rockliffe series, and have enjoyed his narrations of Stella Riley’s books ever since. He has a wide range of character voices and is skillful with female voices, making them sound feminine without a falsetto. His narration of The Shadow Earl brings to life the wide range of emotions of the characters and he masterfully conveys the tensions and suspense of the plot. He does occasionally narrate in a sort of whisper-voice, and that brought the grade down just a tad. Another issue that perhaps isn't his fault is there were so many cameos and so many voices from previous books, and it seems Wyndham had some trouble keeping some their voices distinct. I had to rely on diolog tags at times to know who was speaking in some scenes.
August 20, 2023
How I love Stella Riley. I can’t even explain how happy her books make me feel. We went to a wonderful Mexican restaurant in San Antonio,TX last year. The decor was muted, not garish. The service was wonderful. My first margarita was on the table almost before I sat down. The food was excellent. We lingered for two hours over our meal. There was a family birthday party at the table next to us. Laughter, singing, beer, old folks, and babies. We finished with the best piece of chocolate cake I’ve ever eaten. Stella Riley’s books make me feel like that chocolate cake. They have heart and soul and love and beauty and passion and paintings. I just love them. Not to mention the gorgeous book covers. I’m a sucker for a great book cover. This one is perfect. I’m so excited for the start of a new series. Meanwhile, I think I need a reread marathon session.
December 16, 2023
The Shadow Earl is a heartwarming story of true love with the most amazing characters and intricately woven backstory. I simply loved it, and will most certainly be both reading it again, and listening to it again on audiobook.
Christian and Sophia have a truly beautiful love story that withstands the most dreadful of trials - and yet the reader always knows that they will come through somehow victorious. I honestly could not say that I loved one more than the other because both Christian and Sophia are characters that capture your heart immediately and that only becomes more true as their story is revealed. I love when he calls her Sophie Rose. And the epilogue is like icing on the cake!
All of Christian‘s friends are wonderful characters who we know from previous stories by Miss Riley and they add even more depth to the story.
Then there is Sophie’s sister, Julia, who is deaf and dumb and delightful. Will we hear more of her in the future along with Christian‘s friend Gerald?
I will just briefly say that Christian‘s cousin Basil is disgusting and despicable, and deserves the worst consequences.
I very highly recommend this book, as well as the audiobook which is narrated by the incomparable Alex Wyndham.
5+ stars
P.S. Two days later and it’s really hard to move on from this book!
Christian and Sophia have a truly beautiful love story that withstands the most dreadful of trials - and yet the reader always knows that they will come through somehow victorious. I honestly could not say that I loved one more than the other because both Christian and Sophia are characters that capture your heart immediately and that only becomes more true as their story is revealed. I love when he calls her Sophie Rose. And the epilogue is like icing on the cake!
All of Christian‘s friends are wonderful characters who we know from previous stories by Miss Riley and they add even more depth to the story.
Then there is Sophie’s sister, Julia, who is deaf and dumb and delightful. Will we hear more of her in the future along with Christian‘s friend Gerald?
I will just briefly say that Christian‘s cousin Basil is disgusting and despicable, and deserves the worst consequences.
I very highly recommend this book, as well as the audiobook which is narrated by the incomparable Alex Wyndham.
5+ stars
P.S. Two days later and it’s really hard to move on from this book!
July 17, 2023
Wonderful romance and great drama
As usual Stella Riley has created another wonderful tale. The Shadow Earl introduces Christian and Sophie to the reader. Her ability to create believable and real characters is unique in my opinion, she is easily the queen of period romance. Always incorporating extensive research on the time in question, creating a rounded reading experience.
Christian and his cousin Basil embark on the Grand Tour prior to him marrying Sophie however on finishing their travels, Christian wants to visit Turkey. Basil declines so Christian sets out alone. He is not seen again. Three years on Sophie is under pressure from her mama to marry Basil who appears to have embraced the role of Earl in the absence of his cousin. On the night of the nuptial announcement Christian reappears. And so the adventure begins. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, which hopefully will be the beginning of a new series. So many interesting characters I can't wait to hear their stories. If you read no other historical fiction I urge you give this author a look, no regrets I promise. Thank you Stella. Brava.
As usual Stella Riley has created another wonderful tale. The Shadow Earl introduces Christian and Sophie to the reader. Her ability to create believable and real characters is unique in my opinion, she is easily the queen of period romance. Always incorporating extensive research on the time in question, creating a rounded reading experience.
Christian and his cousin Basil embark on the Grand Tour prior to him marrying Sophie however on finishing their travels, Christian wants to visit Turkey. Basil declines so Christian sets out alone. He is not seen again. Three years on Sophie is under pressure from her mama to marry Basil who appears to have embraced the role of Earl in the absence of his cousin. On the night of the nuptial announcement Christian reappears. And so the adventure begins. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, which hopefully will be the beginning of a new series. So many interesting characters I can't wait to hear their stories. If you read no other historical fiction I urge you give this author a look, no regrets I promise. Thank you Stella. Brava.
August 21, 2023
I love this book. As always, Ms Riley has written a wonderful love story with relatable and engaging characters but as with her more recent stories, there are added elements that deepen and enrich our reading experience.
It is a compelling story and unquestionably a “page turner”. I found myself thinking about the characters and story at odd times during the day. While the central romance was entirely satisfying to read and enjoy, I found other aspects equally absorbing. I loved that we knew from the very beginning that this is a story of revenge. This storyline unfolded subtly at first and then gathered momentum as the novel progressed.
The use of slavery as a lynch pin for the story was interesting and it was most thought-provoking to see an educated, well-born Englishman in the position of slave. Because his character is so well drawn, we immediately relate to Christian (Kit) and empathise with the psychological pain and humiliation he suffers. We readily understand his desire to make his cousin pay for the breathtaking wickedness of his actions.
I really like the contrast between good and evil as depicted through the characters. On the dark side is Basil’s self-centred and self-serving nature where his jealousy, bitterness and sense of entitlement lead him to make a snap decision with no regard for the consequences. To a lesser extent, Eustace Selwyn’s venality and opportunism; Mrs Kelsall’s selfishness and overbearing nature and Gwendolin Kelsall’s whining self-absorption all illustrate the misery caused to others by putting oneself first.
On the other side are the love, kindness, support, and encouragement shown to Kit by Sophia and his friends. The importance of friendship is such a central theme in this story. I loved how Benedict, Anthony, Daniel, and Gerald all put Kit and his needs first and demonstrated their attachment to him in practical ways. They acted as one to protect him, to help him heal and re-find his place in society.
Sophia is my favourite character. She is a strong, resilient, loyal, and intelligent person who is the heart of the story. I love to see strong women shine in historical fiction, even as they conform to the customs of their society. Her calm strength, enduring love, altruistic friendship, and wisdom do so much to help Kit’s inner healing. I enjoyed seeing a relatively quick resolution to their romance and gaining a glimpse into the happy early days of their marriage which is clearly a formidable and equal partnership.
Kit’s torment and humiliation on his arrival in England and his visible efforts to control his anger and to maintain his composure were heartbreaking to read. It was therefore wonderful to watch the real Kit emerge: a loving, kind, thoughtful and generous person. Once he realised that he did love Sophia and could marry her, his care and concern for her was so moving. The way he helped Sophia’s family in their bereavement and the solution he found for Julia were just two examples of his character.
I think Ms Riley’s greatest talent is creating memorable characters that live on in our minds long after the story is over. I will certainly remember Kit and Sophia. Julia is another lovely character. Despite her disability, she is so positive and determined to make the most of. her life. Gerald and Daniel were also sheer delight.
As always, I enjoyed seeing so many friends from earlier novels going about their lives. The Winghams, Sarres, Brandons, Rainham and Alveston are incorporated in a very natural manner into the story and play cameo but impactful roles. They add depth and breadth and make you feel part of their society.
To conclude: this is a wonderful story. I was deeply moved by Kit’s struggle to heal and Sophia’s loving support and thoroughly captivated by the suspense of the story. However, it is the stark contrast between the effects of cold, selfish cruelty and warm, altruistic friendship that will remain with me at a deeper level. It is a testament to the outstanding quality of Ms Riley’s writing that her characters can have such a profound impact. I love this book and recommend all of Ms Riley’s works: they are all superb.
It is a compelling story and unquestionably a “page turner”. I found myself thinking about the characters and story at odd times during the day. While the central romance was entirely satisfying to read and enjoy, I found other aspects equally absorbing. I loved that we knew from the very beginning that this is a story of revenge. This storyline unfolded subtly at first and then gathered momentum as the novel progressed.
The use of slavery as a lynch pin for the story was interesting and it was most thought-provoking to see an educated, well-born Englishman in the position of slave. Because his character is so well drawn, we immediately relate to Christian (Kit) and empathise with the psychological pain and humiliation he suffers. We readily understand his desire to make his cousin pay for the breathtaking wickedness of his actions.
I really like the contrast between good and evil as depicted through the characters. On the dark side is Basil’s self-centred and self-serving nature where his jealousy, bitterness and sense of entitlement lead him to make a snap decision with no regard for the consequences. To a lesser extent, Eustace Selwyn’s venality and opportunism; Mrs Kelsall’s selfishness and overbearing nature and Gwendolin Kelsall’s whining self-absorption all illustrate the misery caused to others by putting oneself first.
On the other side are the love, kindness, support, and encouragement shown to Kit by Sophia and his friends. The importance of friendship is such a central theme in this story. I loved how Benedict, Anthony, Daniel, and Gerald all put Kit and his needs first and demonstrated their attachment to him in practical ways. They acted as one to protect him, to help him heal and re-find his place in society.
Sophia is my favourite character. She is a strong, resilient, loyal, and intelligent person who is the heart of the story. I love to see strong women shine in historical fiction, even as they conform to the customs of their society. Her calm strength, enduring love, altruistic friendship, and wisdom do so much to help Kit’s inner healing. I enjoyed seeing a relatively quick resolution to their romance and gaining a glimpse into the happy early days of their marriage which is clearly a formidable and equal partnership.
Kit’s torment and humiliation on his arrival in England and his visible efforts to control his anger and to maintain his composure were heartbreaking to read. It was therefore wonderful to watch the real Kit emerge: a loving, kind, thoughtful and generous person. Once he realised that he did love Sophia and could marry her, his care and concern for her was so moving. The way he helped Sophia’s family in their bereavement and the solution he found for Julia were just two examples of his character.
I think Ms Riley’s greatest talent is creating memorable characters that live on in our minds long after the story is over. I will certainly remember Kit and Sophia. Julia is another lovely character. Despite her disability, she is so positive and determined to make the most of. her life. Gerald and Daniel were also sheer delight.
As always, I enjoyed seeing so many friends from earlier novels going about their lives. The Winghams, Sarres, Brandons, Rainham and Alveston are incorporated in a very natural manner into the story and play cameo but impactful roles. They add depth and breadth and make you feel part of their society.
To conclude: this is a wonderful story. I was deeply moved by Kit’s struggle to heal and Sophia’s loving support and thoroughly captivated by the suspense of the story. However, it is the stark contrast between the effects of cold, selfish cruelty and warm, altruistic friendship that will remain with me at a deeper level. It is a testament to the outstanding quality of Ms Riley’s writing that her characters can have such a profound impact. I love this book and recommend all of Ms Riley’s works: they are all superb.
July 18, 2023
A Different Kind of Romance
Stella Riley is an author who rarely disappoints, and in her characters she gives of her best.
Christian and Sophia are superbly drawn characters and their personalities are delightfully complex.
Whilst this is a romance, the surrounding plot and sub-plots are both fascinating and intriguing, but what shines brightly throughout is the power of love. Such as the love of sisters who support each other, and the love of friends who will go to great lengths for each other.
I love this novel and highly recommend it to all.
Stella Riley is an author who rarely disappoints, and in her characters she gives of her best.
Christian and Sophia are superbly drawn characters and their personalities are delightfully complex.
Whilst this is a romance, the surrounding plot and sub-plots are both fascinating and intriguing, but what shines brightly throughout is the power of love. Such as the love of sisters who support each other, and the love of friends who will go to great lengths for each other.
I love this novel and highly recommend it to all.
July 17, 2023
Full of heart
How inspiring to see such rich friendship, love, and healing. This story is remarkable and tender, some events are heartbreaking, and some stories are waiting to be told (I hope). Some characters are somewhat comical like Sophie's mean spirited and poorly treated mother (reminds me of Mrs. Bennett). Some characters are so intriguing that they deserve their own stories (Julia). It was great to visit with old friends from both the Rockliffe and Brandon books. A well-told tale of love, loyalty, and healing.
How inspiring to see such rich friendship, love, and healing. This story is remarkable and tender, some events are heartbreaking, and some stories are waiting to be told (I hope). Some characters are somewhat comical like Sophie's mean spirited and poorly treated mother (reminds me of Mrs. Bennett). Some characters are so intriguing that they deserve their own stories (Julia). It was great to visit with old friends from both the Rockliffe and Brandon books. A well-told tale of love, loyalty, and healing.
July 17, 2023
Disappointed
It's difficult to believe the author of The Black Madonna and the Marigold chain etc wrote this book. Even though they owed more than a passing nod to Doroth Dunnett.
Lightweight from the story line to the character development. Can't recommend.
It's difficult to believe the author of The Black Madonna and the Marigold chain etc wrote this book. Even though they owed more than a passing nod to Doroth Dunnett.
Lightweight from the story line to the character development. Can't recommend.
November 1, 2023
Oh, I do love Stella Riley, and anything based around Rockcliffe, and the characters we know from that series, is just wonderful. This was definitely more plot-driven than many of her books, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.
April 4, 2024
Nice, not terrible trilling, despite being a revenge plot, it's a steady pace story, very well written that kept me engaged, not to know how the story ends but how they act until they get there.
August 1, 2024
I really struggled to finish this book. I adored the Rockcliffe series and it was almost as though this was a totally different author.
September 9, 2025
This was a compelling story about hope deferred, enduring love, betrayal, deliverance, reunion, and revenge. Contrary to a review about it that I’d read ahead of time, the romance didn’t drag on at all. It was a classic tale that reminded me a lot of “The Count of Monte Cristo”!
What I didn’t like as much was the occasional colorful language of the some of the characters, even though it sounded realistic to the situation. A skilled writer never needs to resort to this, and can still leave the impression of cursing without having to use profanity or taking the Lord’s name in vain. There was also a spiritual depth and perspective that was profoundly missing from much of the book, with no mention of any kind of faith in God, let alone relationship with Him at all. That I missed. I didn’t miss a preachy or religious agenda jammed into the story though, which I do find in a fair amount of Christian novels. The more than usual details pertaining to the marriage act compared to what one typically finds in a Christian publication, also made it quite clear that the author is probably NOT a Christian. 🥴🤷♀️Although I didn’t find this a “smutty” novel, and descriptions of sexual situations were tastefully done, in my opinion, less is more. I guess I find a “closed door romance” better, as the relationship building UP to what happens behind those doors👉 is the real deal that makes a great romance to me!
Alex Windham did a fantastic job narrating, and I actually liked the ending. Not a bad book- and I MIGHT even read/listen to another novel from this author, who still knows how to build strong characters, while weaving a suspenseful plot, one which keeps you on the edge of your seat for sure! On the “spicy” parts however, I might end up just fast forwarding! 😬🙄🫣
What I didn’t like as much was the occasional colorful language of the some of the characters, even though it sounded realistic to the situation. A skilled writer never needs to resort to this, and can still leave the impression of cursing without having to use profanity or taking the Lord’s name in vain. There was also a spiritual depth and perspective that was profoundly missing from much of the book, with no mention of any kind of faith in God, let alone relationship with Him at all. That I missed. I didn’t miss a preachy or religious agenda jammed into the story though, which I do find in a fair amount of Christian novels. The more than usual details pertaining to the marriage act compared to what one typically finds in a Christian publication, also made it quite clear that the author is probably NOT a Christian. 🥴🤷♀️Although I didn’t find this a “smutty” novel, and descriptions of sexual situations were tastefully done, in my opinion, less is more. I guess I find a “closed door romance” better, as the relationship building UP to what happens behind those doors👉 is the real deal that makes a great romance to me!
Alex Windham did a fantastic job narrating, and I actually liked the ending. Not a bad book- and I MIGHT even read/listen to another novel from this author, who still knows how to build strong characters, while weaving a suspenseful plot, one which keeps you on the edge of your seat for sure! On the “spicy” parts however, I might end up just fast forwarding! 😬🙄🫣
August 2, 2023
What I love about Stella Riley books is that you get a bit of adventure, a bit of mystery, and some romance, a blend of different things to keep it interesting. I also adore her no-nonsense heroines: the blurb for this one describes Sophia as 'desolate', I'm inclined to think that 'determined' is a much better description.
Maybe The Shadow Earl was slightly more of a traditional Regency Romance than some, perhaps parts of it were a little bit predictable, but overall it was fun with a happy ending. We all need some happy endings in our lives. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Sophie and Kit had a happy ending.
Not all the characters had a happy ending, and the reappearance of the secret MI5-alike department from earlier books was a joy, as well as a good way of sorting out the villain! All in all a good read, and hopefully the start of a new series.
Maybe The Shadow Earl was slightly more of a traditional Regency Romance than some, perhaps parts of it were a little bit predictable, but overall it was fun with a happy ending. We all need some happy endings in our lives. I don't think it's a spoiler to say that Sophie and Kit had a happy ending.
Not all the characters had a happy ending, and the reappearance of the secret MI5-alike department from earlier books was a joy, as well as a good way of sorting out the villain! All in all a good read, and hopefully the start of a new series.
September 8, 2023
Christian Selwyn, Earl of Hazelmere, disappears on his grand tour somewhere near Constantinople. Five years pass while his friends try to find out what happened. Meanwhile, his unofficial betrothed is under duress from her unlikeable family to forget him and marry his creepy cousin, who's been robbing the estate, along with his father.
This is such a great story as Christian struggles to fit back into his world, and Sophia tries to find the man she adored and still loves under the hard shell of the man who finally returns. The friends are wonderful, loyal people, and I hope they get their own stories. The villain is the worst and deserves everything he gets.
Stella Riley deserves more credit as a romance author. I've read all her books, often set in periods of history not generally used in romance stories. I can't wait for the next book.
This is such a great story as Christian struggles to fit back into his world, and Sophia tries to find the man she adored and still loves under the hard shell of the man who finally returns. The friends are wonderful, loyal people, and I hope they get their own stories. The villain is the worst and deserves everything he gets.
Stella Riley deserves more credit as a romance author. I've read all her books, often set in periods of history not generally used in romance stories. I can't wait for the next book.
October 31, 2023
Don’t Read This Book…!
Unless you have read at least one of Ms Riley’s previous historical romance series! Start with the Rockliffe.series. You HAVE TO!
Not that you won’t love and enjoy this on it’s own (I’m sure that it’s the beginning of yet another fabulous series), but it’s richer and even more enjoyable because this is peppered with cameos, which, because they’re interwoven so seamlessly, embraces us within the Stella Riley universe.
Christian has been absent from home for 5 years. 3 of those years were unscheduled. When he unexpectedly returns, fortuitously gate crashing a ball being held in his own home, to announce the betrothal of his fiancée to his cousin, this unravels a chain of events, which are psychological, emotional, and vengeful as a result!
Despite being a potentially grim story, Ms Riley has covered this scenario with wonderful insight
Unless you have read at least one of Ms Riley’s previous historical romance series! Start with the Rockliffe.series. You HAVE TO!
Not that you won’t love and enjoy this on it’s own (I’m sure that it’s the beginning of yet another fabulous series), but it’s richer and even more enjoyable because this is peppered with cameos, which, because they’re interwoven so seamlessly, embraces us within the Stella Riley universe.
Christian has been absent from home for 5 years. 3 of those years were unscheduled. When he unexpectedly returns, fortuitously gate crashing a ball being held in his own home, to announce the betrothal of his fiancée to his cousin, this unravels a chain of events, which are psychological, emotional, and vengeful as a result!
Despite being a potentially grim story, Ms Riley has covered this scenario with wonderful insight
August 13, 2023
Bravo
Once again Ms Riley delivers a story that enthralls. The cast of characters are full blooded, humanly flawed, dynamically intelligent or sublimely idiotic - in other words perfectly imperfect humans. Her story sucks you in and never lets you leave even after the last word. I love how characters you loved from previous works seamlessly present themselves throughout creating such an intimate universe. Please, please let there be stories ahead for Gerald, Daniel, Anthony & of course the Hawkridge boys! Anxiously awaiting your next book!
Once again Ms Riley delivers a story that enthralls. The cast of characters are full blooded, humanly flawed, dynamically intelligent or sublimely idiotic - in other words perfectly imperfect humans. Her story sucks you in and never lets you leave even after the last word. I love how characters you loved from previous works seamlessly present themselves throughout creating such an intimate universe. Please, please let there be stories ahead for Gerald, Daniel, Anthony & of course the Hawkridge boys! Anxiously awaiting your next book!
August 7, 2023
Highly recommend
I so appreciate this author’s work and every time I read a new book by her I want to reread all of them from the beginning. This story has a great plot and characters who really care about each other and of course the villain who is not redeemed thank goodness. Do yourself a favor and read her books but to really savor them start reading from the beginning Cavaliers and Roundheads era , then the Georgian Period , really wonderful stuff!
I so appreciate this author’s work and every time I read a new book by her I want to reread all of them from the beginning. This story has a great plot and characters who really care about each other and of course the villain who is not redeemed thank goodness. Do yourself a favor and read her books but to really savor them start reading from the beginning Cavaliers and Roundheads era , then the Georgian Period , really wonderful stuff!
July 19, 2023
Fabulous Read
loved the story always good to hear of old friends and how they are getting on, there were a lot of new ones and it did take me a while to get to know everyone. it may be my imagination but perhaps lacking a few of those one line witty lines I so enjoy
and because there were so many new faces character depth was limited
But still well worth the read
thank you
loved the story always good to hear of old friends and how they are getting on, there were a lot of new ones and it did take me a while to get to know everyone. it may be my imagination but perhaps lacking a few of those one line witty lines I so enjoy
and because there were so many new faces character depth was limited
But still well worth the read
thank you
December 7, 2023
Stella Riley is a great writer and that’s apparent in this book. I’m not a huge fan of romantic suspense, so for me, the book was a little long but I wouldn’t say there was filler or anything like that. I would also like to note that there are sexy times, which is not usual for this author, I was pleasantly surprised.
July 27, 2023
A fabulous page turner! this is a story of betrayal and love, of friendship and enmity, of heartbreaking sadness in parts but heartwarming happiness in others, it's a tale of of trauma, but also of healing. Filled with interesting well written characters, and a truly satisfying revenge plot, I loved The Shadow Earl from start to finish!
Christian "Kit" Selwyn, a popular, friendly man with a sunny disposition goes missing. When he makes a surprise return years later he's definitely not the same anymore. Haunted by his past trauma, Kit is someone who now has secrets and nightmares, who wonders if he can ever love again, a 'shadow' of his former self with new darker feelings of hate and revenge. Can he control it? can he ever heal? This is someone who is so relatable I felt teary at times, and I think Stella Riley did a brilliant job of capturing what someone with PTSD goes through. The issue is handled really well, especially in the Georgian setting. The support of Kit's friends and his fiancee is very touching. It's a very balanced story too, the romance/love story with Sophie is a sub-plot really, but it's beautiful, she's a great character and I loved her part. The strong bonds of real friendship of the non-romantic kind also shine through. Kit's friends and their antics are part heartwarming and part hilarious (Daniel in particular- I couldn't stop laughing! that duel is priceless!!) I also loved Sophie's family - especially Julia who totally deserves her own book (her mama and other sister are terrors but perfect for lightening the mood with some good comedy moments) I want to read more about all of them please Stella!! :D I won't add spoilers but I thought the way of dealing with the Villain was spot on perfect *is cheering!!!*
If this is your first Stella Riley book it reads great as a standalone novel, but if you're a fan of the Rockliffe series and the Brandon Brothers series like me, then you'll be happy to see cameos and mentions in this one too. I always enjoy how Stella weaves in events and characters from her other books who would've been around during the same time period and in the same places that the new story is set in (so it makes total sense for them to be mentioned or have a small part) without them stealing the show from the new characters.
Easily a 5 star read from me, The Shadow Earl is a fantastic story! Highly recommend it!
Christian "Kit" Selwyn, a popular, friendly man with a sunny disposition goes missing. When he makes a surprise return years later he's definitely not the same anymore. Haunted by his past trauma, Kit is someone who now has secrets and nightmares, who wonders if he can ever love again, a 'shadow' of his former self with new darker feelings of hate and revenge. Can he control it? can he ever heal? This is someone who is so relatable I felt teary at times, and I think Stella Riley did a brilliant job of capturing what someone with PTSD goes through. The issue is handled really well, especially in the Georgian setting. The support of Kit's friends and his fiancee is very touching. It's a very balanced story too, the romance/love story with Sophie is a sub-plot really, but it's beautiful, she's a great character and I loved her part. The strong bonds of real friendship of the non-romantic kind also shine through. Kit's friends and their antics are part heartwarming and part hilarious (Daniel in particular- I couldn't stop laughing! that duel is priceless!!) I also loved Sophie's family - especially Julia who totally deserves her own book (her mama and other sister are terrors but perfect for lightening the mood with some good comedy moments) I want to read more about all of them please Stella!! :D I won't add spoilers but I thought the way of dealing with the Villain was spot on perfect *is cheering!!!*
If this is your first Stella Riley book it reads great as a standalone novel, but if you're a fan of the Rockliffe series and the Brandon Brothers series like me, then you'll be happy to see cameos and mentions in this one too. I always enjoy how Stella weaves in events and characters from her other books who would've been around during the same time period and in the same places that the new story is set in (so it makes total sense for them to be mentioned or have a small part) without them stealing the show from the new characters.
Easily a 5 star read from me, The Shadow Earl is a fantastic story! Highly recommend it!
January 5, 2025
It pains me to give a Stella Riley book 3 stars, but this didn’t quite hit for me. As always the sense of setting is second to none, and Riley’s comedy in historical romance is pitch perfect; the ‘duel’ in this book is so clever and funny. The inclusion of a deaf character, Julie, is better handled disability rep than when Riley cured a heroine’s blindness in her earlier series. I also loved seeing my beloved Adrian and Caroline again along with the regular Rockliffe cast and a few other familiar faces.
Where this book falls down for me is in the characterisation. Everyone — *everyone* — except the villainous Basil and the FMC Sophie’s mother and sister is fundamentally a wonderful person, and the book felt plodding because of it. There are no miscommunications, and there’s very little introspection, since Christian has already realised where he’s struggling at the start of the book and Sophie is supportive no matter what. In her one moment of anger, he is extremely understanding. They fall quickly back in love. The villain is stupid and cowardly, so nowhere near a match for our heroes. And the denouement comes courtesy of Riley’s superheroic spies from her Brandon series, whose intervention pushes the whole thing into the fantastical. I always preferred Riley’s autocratic heroes facing off against their prickly heroines, but in this book we’re surrounded by couples in their happy-ever-after phase, and it felt like it seeped into Christian and Sophie’s romance even though it wasn’t completed yet.
I couldn’t help but feel that Meredith Duran has done this better with the story of Lord Lockwood in the Rules for the Reckless series, which has more or less the same premise. However, there are a lot of characters I’m more interested in than this book’s leads, and I will be picking up the next one to see if there’s a bit more drama in store next time.
A brief note here that this book involves the hero’s imprisonment in Turkey and attempts to convert him to Islam during that time. I agree with other reviews that this story did not have enough nuance to cover this well.
Where this book falls down for me is in the characterisation. Everyone — *everyone* — except the villainous Basil and the FMC Sophie’s mother and sister is fundamentally a wonderful person, and the book felt plodding because of it. There are no miscommunications, and there’s very little introspection, since Christian has already realised where he’s struggling at the start of the book and Sophie is supportive no matter what. In her one moment of anger, he is extremely understanding. They fall quickly back in love. The villain is stupid and cowardly, so nowhere near a match for our heroes. And the denouement comes courtesy of Riley’s superheroic spies from her Brandon series, whose intervention pushes the whole thing into the fantastical. I always preferred Riley’s autocratic heroes facing off against their prickly heroines, but in this book we’re surrounded by couples in their happy-ever-after phase, and it felt like it seeped into Christian and Sophie’s romance even though it wasn’t completed yet.
I couldn’t help but feel that Meredith Duran has done this better with the story of Lord Lockwood in the Rules for the Reckless series, which has more or less the same premise. However, there are a lot of characters I’m more interested in than this book’s leads, and I will be picking up the next one to see if there’s a bit more drama in store next time.
A brief note here that this book involves the hero’s imprisonment in Turkey and attempts to convert him to Islam during that time. I agree with other reviews that this story did not have enough nuance to cover this well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2023
The genre of historical romance is extremely popular with both readers and writers. But not many among the crowd of historical romance authors write well. To my delight, Stella Riley is one of those who could pen a decent historical romance. This was my first book by her, but it won't be my last. I already got another of her novels from Amazon.
Her story is low-key on both the sex aspect and the conflict aspect, and I like that. I like the light touch on the action part, combined with the profound emotions of the characters. I like that the protagonists are both good, sympathetic people, while the villain is a despicable worm and not too smart. I like the way the author builds tension and the detailed way she approaches resolution. In short, I consider this novel a darn good story.
On the other hand, the narrative could've used a better editor. Much better. As it is, the writing is borderline amateur. And I couldn't quite understand the hero's deep dark secrets. Especially after they were revealed: there was nothing there to be ashamed of. I don't know why he was.
But the overall impression was an enjoyable reading experience, and I'm looking forward to more of her stories.
Her story is low-key on both the sex aspect and the conflict aspect, and I like that. I like the light touch on the action part, combined with the profound emotions of the characters. I like that the protagonists are both good, sympathetic people, while the villain is a despicable worm and not too smart. I like the way the author builds tension and the detailed way she approaches resolution. In short, I consider this novel a darn good story.
On the other hand, the narrative could've used a better editor. Much better. As it is, the writing is borderline amateur. And I couldn't quite understand the hero's deep dark secrets. Especially after they were revealed: there was nothing there to be ashamed of. I don't know why he was.
But the overall impression was an enjoyable reading experience, and I'm looking forward to more of her stories.
September 5, 2025
Stella Riley writes engaging stories full of interesting people and situations. She can make each character come to life. this book does a great job of showing the love and romance between the main couple, she's one of the few writers whose side characters are interesting enough that I want to pick up their books. She also handled and addressed the traumatic situations that happened, especially to the main character instead of just brushing past them, anyway that seemed fairly realistic and healthy. What he went through affected him and also in turn affected those around him.
The steam and sensual situations are done tastefully.
I admired Sophie's dedication to Kit, and how when she was being pressured to accept an engagement to the cousin she wore black.
Also you really can't beat Alex Wyndham for narration.
The steam and sensual situations are done tastefully.
I admired Sophie's dedication to Kit, and how when she was being pressured to accept an engagement to the cousin she wore black.
Also you really can't beat Alex Wyndham for narration.
July 30, 2023
as a romance, it left me lukewarm (the fmc is just too perfect), but works better as revenge story, since that is what the majority of the page count is dedicated to. i liked the inclusion of a deaf character and a peek at deaf culture in london at the time. jane would have made a more compelling lead of her own book, imo.
not my favorite stella riley, but i did enjoy the brief glimpse of rockliffe, the love of my life
not my favorite stella riley, but i did enjoy the brief glimpse of rockliffe, the love of my life
July 20, 2023
Such an interesting spin off of this common trope
I appreciated the way the author demonstrated the affects of past trauma on the hero. Kudos also for the introduction of a deaf character. It was very interesting to read about how the deaf experienced life at this point in history. ...even if from a relatively wealthy family.
I found the heroine very sweet and loving and too perfect, even to the point of being fast friends with the heroes buddies. (I did appreciate the way she held off her mother, and cared about her sister who needed a champion.) I wish she'd had some flaws or personality quirks--unfortunately she was boring and forgettable, just another beautiful cipher of a character.
I appreciated the way the author demonstrated the affects of past trauma on the hero. Kudos also for the introduction of a deaf character. It was very interesting to read about how the deaf experienced life at this point in history. ...even if from a relatively wealthy family.
I found the heroine very sweet and loving and too perfect, even to the point of being fast friends with the heroes buddies. (I did appreciate the way she held off her mother, and cared about her sister who needed a champion.) I wish she'd had some flaws or personality quirks--unfortunately she was boring and forgettable, just another beautiful cipher of a character.
July 24, 2023
Excellant' historical novel
Wonderful kindle cover! Equally wonderfully written Georgian era story bringing in minor roles from the Rockliff series. Its always fun to see old friends. The first chapter is somewhat harrowing but then untangling all the different strings and putting them back together, the next chapters are very satisfying.
Wonderful kindle cover! Equally wonderfully written Georgian era story bringing in minor roles from the Rockliff series. Its always fun to see old friends. The first chapter is somewhat harrowing but then untangling all the different strings and putting them back together, the next chapters are very satisfying.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews