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The Shadow of Polaris
When winter and spring coincide, darkness’ heir brings the light of truth and the fall of vanity. Only embers of life can destroy visions of death.
Following the accusation of her sister’s murder, five years ago, Elpis was sentenced to a life in the Tower outside of Ursae. Banished, far across the Northern Flatlands, to an eternity of unruly abuse and mind numbing isolation.
Now, broken and beaten, she receives an anonymous gift that will alter her fate forever. Haunted by nightmares of a malevolent goddess, Elpis must unravel the secret of an ancient prophecy and tame the shadows rising within her in order to take back her freedom.
With enemies at every turn, Elpis must choose her allies wisely, and learn that sometimes, freedom may come at a price.
Following the accusation of her sister’s murder, five years ago, Elpis was sentenced to a life in the Tower outside of Ursae. Banished, far across the Northern Flatlands, to an eternity of unruly abuse and mind numbing isolation.
Now, broken and beaten, she receives an anonymous gift that will alter her fate forever. Haunted by nightmares of a malevolent goddess, Elpis must unravel the secret of an ancient prophecy and tame the shadows rising within her in order to take back her freedom.
With enemies at every turn, Elpis must choose her allies wisely, and learn that sometimes, freedom may come at a price.
372 pages, Paperback
Published September 3, 2024
51 people are currently reading
724 people want to read
About the author
D.L. Houpt
7 books69 followersAs a mom of two littles, D.L. Houpt is used to the daily chaos. From a young age, she found herself escaping in the pages of novels. She loves writing stories, dreaming up magical worlds, and doom scrolling astrophysics videos that send her into an existential crisis. When she isn’t found typing up her new idea (most likely ignoring her husband to write), she’s in the garden with her daughter or enjoying a book with her son.
Engineer by day, she uses her writing as an outlet to uplift powerful women whether they be behind a computer monitor in an office or a shield on the battlefield
Engineer by day, she uses her writing as an outlet to uplift powerful women whether they be behind a computer monitor in an office or a shield on the battlefield
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
August 28, 2024
4.75 rounded up
The Shadow of Polaris is an epic adventure involving both the internal (emotions) and external as Elpis (FMC) navigates healing her emotional and physical scars while she and her companions travel and work to unravel an ancient prophecy - all whole Elpis is struggling to hold back the shadows within her during the day, and haunted by nightmares of a malevolent goddess at night. "With enemies at every turn, Elpis must choose her allies wisely, and learn that, sometimes, freedom may come at a price."
📖 Great plot - I found the storyline to be interesting and kept me captivated. It has unexpected twists and turns that you won't see coming. In ensuring I avoid spoilers, I don't want to say much more about the plot. Houpt does well with showing instead of telling.
✍️ Houpt's prose is really nice - descriptive without going into purple, while still engaging all of your senses. A lot of thought and heart went into this one, and it shows.
🗺 🔮 World building and magic system are well thought out. Houpt really does a great job here. The magic is well explained.
👥️ The characters are another area that I think Houpt excels with. They're beautifully nuanced and full of life with interesting backstories and captivating arcs. Their dialogue is realistic and reads as natural. All of these things results in a fully realized found family that I absolutely adore.
💞 The enemies-to-lovers romance is done so well! They're actual enemies, and watching their animosity evolve into adoration is thrilling to read. It's believable and you'll be rooting for them.
🌶 The was a small bit of spice and I thought it was well done and realistic. It's fade to black, which I think was a great choice for this book.
⏳️ The pacing was overall great, but it was a bit slower than I prefer initially. Once it got going, though, I breezed right through.
🧠 I loved the mental health rep! My heart was full with the relationship between Elpis and Frya. 💜 I love that we get a wolf companion 🐺, and appreciate the name choice and meaning - Arcturas.
It ends in a way that makes you excited for Book 2.
And that cover 😍
Thank you to @authordlhoupt and @blacksheepliterary for the opportunity to read this eARC. I'm choosing to provide this unbiased review.
The Shadow of Polaris is an epic adventure involving both the internal (emotions) and external as Elpis (FMC) navigates healing her emotional and physical scars while she and her companions travel and work to unravel an ancient prophecy - all whole Elpis is struggling to hold back the shadows within her during the day, and haunted by nightmares of a malevolent goddess at night. "With enemies at every turn, Elpis must choose her allies wisely, and learn that, sometimes, freedom may come at a price."
📖 Great plot - I found the storyline to be interesting and kept me captivated. It has unexpected twists and turns that you won't see coming. In ensuring I avoid spoilers, I don't want to say much more about the plot. Houpt does well with showing instead of telling.
✍️ Houpt's prose is really nice - descriptive without going into purple, while still engaging all of your senses. A lot of thought and heart went into this one, and it shows.
🗺 🔮 World building and magic system are well thought out. Houpt really does a great job here. The magic is well explained.
👥️ The characters are another area that I think Houpt excels with. They're beautifully nuanced and full of life with interesting backstories and captivating arcs. Their dialogue is realistic and reads as natural. All of these things results in a fully realized found family that I absolutely adore.
💞 The enemies-to-lovers romance is done so well! They're actual enemies, and watching their animosity evolve into adoration is thrilling to read. It's believable and you'll be rooting for them.
🌶 The was a small bit of spice and I thought it was well done and realistic. It's fade to black, which I think was a great choice for this book.
⏳️ The pacing was overall great, but it was a bit slower than I prefer initially. Once it got going, though, I breezed right through.
🧠 I loved the mental health rep! My heart was full with the relationship between Elpis and Frya. 💜 I love that we get a wolf companion 🐺, and appreciate the name choice and meaning - Arcturas.
It ends in a way that makes you excited for Book 2.
And that cover 😍
Thank you to @authordlhoupt and @blacksheepliterary for the opportunity to read this eARC. I'm choosing to provide this unbiased review.
June 17, 2024
*received an arc of the book from the author in exchange of an honest review*
/Overall reading: 4.5/5
Spice: 🌶️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
Animal/Mortal bonds
Greek Mythology
Morally Grey MMC
Morally Grey FMC
Cupid & Psyche Retelling
Enemies to Lovers
Words cannot explain how much I enjoyed this book. It was an emotional journey and more heartbreaking than I had anticipated. The story follows a strong FMC who has dealt with so much in her life, but still stands strong. From the beginning she struggles a lot but pushes through, and I loved that despite how everyone up to that point was harsh with her, she was still patient and kind to those who deserved it.
Plot wise, it’s been a while since a fantasy book really caught my attention for as long as this one did. The world building was perfectly detailed and easy enough to follow along with and it really helped me picture everything in my head.
A sudden rush of emotions escaped from that locked away piece of me, and I broke into hysterics. I had lost so much of myself during my imprisonment. I had become a stranger to my body. Now that I was free, I wanted to remember her. I hoped that one day, the empty carcass of flesh I’d become would swell back to life with the woman I used to be. I prayed that one day it wouldn’t be painful to think of her.
One of the things that I really enjoyed was how the author allowed small moments like this for Elpis to catch up with emotions. It wasn’t a small tear and it wasn’t just her stepping with others or drinking her feelings away. We were able to get honest thoughts from the FMC that truly described what was going on in her head and it helped me really connect with Elpis.
I cried when reading this scene, because I couldn’t help but compare myself to her, and I couldn’t help but think of anyone else who has been in a similar position. She had similar moments throughout the book, moments where any progress she made was shattered and she struggled to keep herself together. Anyone who did her wrong immediately went onto my shit list hahaha.
“Oh, my dear,” I spat, “you’ve broken a rule. Are you ready for your punishment?.”
If you are squeamish, keep in mind that the fighting/torture scenes can get very descriptive. It isn’t the worst I have read but it easily paints a picture on what is happening. I had a movie going on in my head and I was anticipating each scene as it occurred. I felt as if I was Elpis herself and I was on the edge of my seat cheering her on.
If you like FMCs that are strong this is your book. There were very few things that I wasn’t a fan of, but overall, I would defend the heck out of her. If you love FMCs that are quick to stab people, you would LOVE this book. The rage that is in this girl is honestly impressive, but she has great reasons for harboring those emotions. She is very morally grey, and her thoughts would suddenly get violent you couldn’t even expect it.
“I’m Rune.” He said, the brown of his eyes warming in the reflection of candlelight peaking through the window of a nearby home. Extending his hand towards me again,he hesitated and backed it away as Arcturas took a step towards him.>
“Okay, Rune. Have a nice night.” I said, turning to take my leave.
The relationship between the two MCs is the only reason I wouldn’t give the book a perfect review, and it’s mainly because of the MC. I don’t want to give out too much and spoil any plot twists, but the reconciliation between the two MCs wasn’t my favorite. It felt a bit out of character on the FMCs part, at least to me, so I didn’t like that.
Just as the quote above shows, Elpis is strong and used to her independence. She easily evaded this guy from the beginning. I LOVED that scene, but later let so many things slide just because of the connection that she has. When she first is upset over something that happened she stayed strong and made it very obvious to him that she was not going to forgive him for what happened, but eventually she fell back into bed with him. Realistically, I’m aware how emotions work and how love works in stories, but I really hoped that she wouldn’t have gotten together with him so soon. That's just personal preference though! So if you don’t mind how fast the characters get together you will enjoy the progression of their relationship.
This book does end on a cliffhanger! It isn’t abrupt, but it does leave it very open ended for the next book to come. If you don’t like books that end like this, I would hold off because you will have LOADS of questions by the time the book finally ends.
Overall, I loved this book! Fantasy is sometimes really hard for me to get into, but this was seamless and so easy to get into. I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader, so the author was getting my live reactions haha I kept getting mad at her and whenever I was emotional I would let her know.
/Overall reading: 4.5/5
Spice: 🌶️
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Characters: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotions: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes:
Animal/Mortal bonds
Greek Mythology
Morally Grey MMC
Morally Grey FMC
Cupid & Psyche Retelling
Enemies to Lovers
Words cannot explain how much I enjoyed this book. It was an emotional journey and more heartbreaking than I had anticipated. The story follows a strong FMC who has dealt with so much in her life, but still stands strong. From the beginning she struggles a lot but pushes through, and I loved that despite how everyone up to that point was harsh with her, she was still patient and kind to those who deserved it.
Plot wise, it’s been a while since a fantasy book really caught my attention for as long as this one did. The world building was perfectly detailed and easy enough to follow along with and it really helped me picture everything in my head.
A sudden rush of emotions escaped from that locked away piece of me, and I broke into hysterics. I had lost so much of myself during my imprisonment. I had become a stranger to my body. Now that I was free, I wanted to remember her. I hoped that one day, the empty carcass of flesh I’d become would swell back to life with the woman I used to be. I prayed that one day it wouldn’t be painful to think of her.
One of the things that I really enjoyed was how the author allowed small moments like this for Elpis to catch up with emotions. It wasn’t a small tear and it wasn’t just her stepping with others or drinking her feelings away. We were able to get honest thoughts from the FMC that truly described what was going on in her head and it helped me really connect with Elpis.
I cried when reading this scene, because I couldn’t help but compare myself to her, and I couldn’t help but think of anyone else who has been in a similar position. She had similar moments throughout the book, moments where any progress she made was shattered and she struggled to keep herself together. Anyone who did her wrong immediately went onto my shit list hahaha.
“Oh, my dear,” I spat, “you’ve broken a rule. Are you ready for your punishment?.”
If you are squeamish, keep in mind that the fighting/torture scenes can get very descriptive. It isn’t the worst I have read but it easily paints a picture on what is happening. I had a movie going on in my head and I was anticipating each scene as it occurred. I felt as if I was Elpis herself and I was on the edge of my seat cheering her on.
If you like FMCs that are strong this is your book. There were very few things that I wasn’t a fan of, but overall, I would defend the heck out of her. If you love FMCs that are quick to stab people, you would LOVE this book. The rage that is in this girl is honestly impressive, but she has great reasons for harboring those emotions. She is very morally grey, and her thoughts would suddenly get violent you couldn’t even expect it.
“I’m Rune.” He said, the brown of his eyes warming in the reflection of candlelight peaking through the window of a nearby home. Extending his hand towards me again,he hesitated and backed it away as Arcturas took a step towards him.>
“Okay, Rune. Have a nice night.” I said, turning to take my leave.
The relationship between the two MCs is the only reason I wouldn’t give the book a perfect review, and it’s mainly because of the MC. I don’t want to give out too much and spoil any plot twists, but the reconciliation between the two MCs wasn’t my favorite. It felt a bit out of character on the FMCs part, at least to me, so I didn’t like that.
Just as the quote above shows, Elpis is strong and used to her independence. She easily evaded this guy from the beginning. I LOVED that scene, but later let so many things slide just because of the connection that she has. When she first is upset over something that happened she stayed strong and made it very obvious to him that she was not going to forgive him for what happened, but eventually she fell back into bed with him. Realistically, I’m aware how emotions work and how love works in stories, but I really hoped that she wouldn’t have gotten together with him so soon. That's just personal preference though! So if you don’t mind how fast the characters get together you will enjoy the progression of their relationship.
This book does end on a cliffhanger! It isn’t abrupt, but it does leave it very open ended for the next book to come. If you don’t like books that end like this, I would hold off because you will have LOADS of questions by the time the book finally ends.
Overall, I loved this book! Fantasy is sometimes really hard for me to get into, but this was seamless and so easy to get into. I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader, so the author was getting my live reactions haha I kept getting mad at her and whenever I was emotional I would let her know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
“The Shadow of Polaris” is a story that suffers from poor pacing and an identity crisis. The first half of the book follows our main character, Elpis, as she escapes a life sentence of imprisonment in a tower and befriends a wolf pup along the way. She then finds a tough but friendly inn-keeper, and meets a cute guy and…that’s it for the next 150 pages. We read about Elpis peeling potatoes and getting scraps of information about her past and a prophecy, but other than that nothing really happens.
It isn’t until the second half of the book that things REALLY take a sharp turn including finding out that the cute guy, Rune, that Elpis was crushing on is actually the son of a goddess, he betrayed her to that goddess, and he also was in disguise and now looks completely different. Elpis then spends the next 20 pages declaring that she hates Rune/Aryx and will never trust him, goes back on that vow, and then decides to act like nothing ever happened and to make out with him.
All of the action that was missing in the first half of the book is now crammed into the second half, with new characters being introduced and sometimes never mentioned again every other chapter. Elpis can’t decide what she wants more, freedom or hot half-god sex with Aryx, so she constantly flip-flops her decisions and confuses everyone in the process, especially Aryx. There are battles and bargains made, there’s a falcon named Rah that does…something, I’m still not really sure. In the last part of the novel, we are also suddenly thrown into the Odyssey, and face characters like the Scylla and sirens (how many myth cultures is she going to throw in here???) There is a final battle, and we are left on a cliff-hanger, which is supposed to leave readers wanting to pick up the next book.
“The Shadow of Polaris” had the potential to be a great epic. Unfortunately, I think this book wanted to do too much at once, and ultimately ended up suffering as a result. The setting changed so much, from snow-covered Northern Flatlands to suddenly being in the Greek Isles, and I was left very confused as to how we ended up there (are all the countries/realms only 5 miles wide?) The author wants to set up Elpis as our heroine with an incredible amount of power, but never properly explains how her powers work (“the tingles”, that’s all I can remember). She also attempts to make Elpis a morally grey main character, but a true morally grey character has no regret. They do what they must, even at the cost of betraying others, because they stand strong in their convictions. Elpis will say something like “They must all die, they’re on the wrong side of this battle anyway”, go on a killing spree, and then wring her hands and go “What have I done??”, and this happens constantly. In my opinion, you can’t pat yourself on the back for being a villain, and then cry on the next page when people don’t like you for the atrocities you just committed.
Finally, a culmination of little offenses ended up solidifying this book for me at a 2 stars. There was a lot of modern vernacular used which didn’t fit the setting (I’m still scarred from Procyon calling Elpis “sweet cheeks”), the spicy scenes came at very strange times (either in front of people or right after a battle), and the constant body-checking and fat-shaming of Hela threw me off. I know that she’s a bad person, but is it really necessary to bring up her body rolls and overall corpulence every time she’s on the page?
The only saving grace of this book is Arcturas and Frya. They deserve their own buddy-adventure novella.
It isn’t until the second half of the book that things REALLY take a sharp turn including finding out that the cute guy, Rune, that Elpis was crushing on is actually the son of a goddess, he betrayed her to that goddess, and he also was in disguise and now looks completely different. Elpis then spends the next 20 pages declaring that she hates Rune/Aryx and will never trust him, goes back on that vow, and then decides to act like nothing ever happened and to make out with him.
All of the action that was missing in the first half of the book is now crammed into the second half, with new characters being introduced and sometimes never mentioned again every other chapter. Elpis can’t decide what she wants more, freedom or hot half-god sex with Aryx, so she constantly flip-flops her decisions and confuses everyone in the process, especially Aryx. There are battles and bargains made, there’s a falcon named Rah that does…something, I’m still not really sure. In the last part of the novel, we are also suddenly thrown into the Odyssey, and face characters like the Scylla and sirens (how many myth cultures is she going to throw in here???) There is a final battle, and we are left on a cliff-hanger, which is supposed to leave readers wanting to pick up the next book.
“The Shadow of Polaris” had the potential to be a great epic. Unfortunately, I think this book wanted to do too much at once, and ultimately ended up suffering as a result. The setting changed so much, from snow-covered Northern Flatlands to suddenly being in the Greek Isles, and I was left very confused as to how we ended up there (are all the countries/realms only 5 miles wide?) The author wants to set up Elpis as our heroine with an incredible amount of power, but never properly explains how her powers work (“the tingles”, that’s all I can remember). She also attempts to make Elpis a morally grey main character, but a true morally grey character has no regret. They do what they must, even at the cost of betraying others, because they stand strong in their convictions. Elpis will say something like “They must all die, they’re on the wrong side of this battle anyway”, go on a killing spree, and then wring her hands and go “What have I done??”, and this happens constantly. In my opinion, you can’t pat yourself on the back for being a villain, and then cry on the next page when people don’t like you for the atrocities you just committed.
Finally, a culmination of little offenses ended up solidifying this book for me at a 2 stars. There was a lot of modern vernacular used which didn’t fit the setting (I’m still scarred from Procyon calling Elpis “sweet cheeks”), the spicy scenes came at very strange times (either in front of people or right after a battle), and the constant body-checking and fat-shaming of Hela threw me off. I know that she’s a bad person, but is it really necessary to bring up her body rolls and overall corpulence every time she’s on the page?
The only saving grace of this book is Arcturas and Frya. They deserve their own buddy-adventure novella.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 9, 2024
3.75 stars
This is a fun, fast-paced read with some really interesting magic and a beautifully atmospheric world. The character growth of Elpis was really heartwarming and I loved seeing her journey from the darkest parts to the happy moments. I loved her protective wolf companion, he was definitely a highlight character of this book for me. One of the biggest plot twists at the halfway point made my jaw drop. That is completely opposite of where I thought this was going so hats off to the author for pulling off a twist like that without me guessing before it happened. The romance was really sweet and I liked the way he supported her while she healed from her past. I’m very interested to see where this series goes after how this ended.
This is a fun, fast-paced read with some really interesting magic and a beautifully atmospheric world. The character growth of Elpis was really heartwarming and I loved seeing her journey from the darkest parts to the happy moments. I loved her protective wolf companion, he was definitely a highlight character of this book for me. One of the biggest plot twists at the halfway point made my jaw drop. That is completely opposite of where I thought this was going so hats off to the author for pulling off a twist like that without me guessing before it happened. The romance was really sweet and I liked the way he supported her while she healed from her past. I’m very interested to see where this series goes after how this ended.
September 16, 2024
I received a copy of this book from the author and am honored to share this completely honest review!
The Shadow of Polaris is about Elpis, a morally grey, strong AF, and independent FMC.
Following Elpis' journey, some of her decisions felt abrupt at first. But, the more I read the more I understood her actions and the motivations behind them.
Arcturas is just incredible. She's a fearsome animal companion ready to protect her human at all costs.
Elpis' world is wonderfully built and the descriptive language used is incredibly immersive. The transitions can be smoother. I've seen the author's response to other reviews and her openess to constructive criticism, this makes me excited for book 2!
Overall, Elpis' story is exciting, heart-wrenching, and full of the element of surprise!
Tropes:
Morally Gray FMC
Strong FMC
Animal Companion
Betrayal
Mythical Creatures
War
Torture
He Falls First
The Shadow of Polaris is about Elpis, a morally grey, strong AF, and independent FMC.
Following Elpis' journey, some of her decisions felt abrupt at first. But, the more I read the more I understood her actions and the motivations behind them.
Arcturas is just incredible. She's a fearsome animal companion ready to protect her human at all costs.
Elpis' world is wonderfully built and the descriptive language used is incredibly immersive. The transitions can be smoother. I've seen the author's response to other reviews and her openess to constructive criticism, this makes me excited for book 2!
Overall, Elpis' story is exciting, heart-wrenching, and full of the element of surprise!
Tropes:
Morally Gray FMC
Strong FMC
Animal Companion
Betrayal
Mythical Creatures
War
Torture
He Falls First
August 19, 2024
*I received an eARC copy in exchange for an honest review *
Elpis is the sister of the most recent Queen of Ursae, who recently passed. As her 12 year old nephew takes the throne, she is thrust into imprisonment due to a wrongful allegation. Five years later, she finds a way to escape and has to try to find her freedom and her old self along the way.
Elpis was a really great, flawed FMC which was nice to see. She wasn’t naive or immature but may have been too hardened to the ways of the world to be flexible with forgiveness and trust. She quickly learns that she probably was right to be slow to trust as she experiences betrayal and hardship.
✨“If I help you. Promise me that when this is all over, I’ll never see you again. I’ve had enough treachery and deceit for a million lifetimes, and I don’t need anymore. I want the life I deserve. And I want nothing to do with you.”✨
As the story progresses, Elpis learns that just as others can hurt her, she can cause harm just the same. She struggles with these realizations and how to overcome her own reservations to meld and maintain relationships as she tries to fight for what’s right and what she believes in.
She has to do all of this while also coming to terms with the person she really is and the power and expectations that come with it.
The descriptors in this book were fantastic. I felt like I was being drawn into the world from page one as I was introduced to Elpis and the kingdom of Ursae. A lot of fantasy books make me feel like I’m trudging through mud or quicksand while trying to get through the world-building aspect but with this one, the author interspersed the world-building so that it flowed very well.
The absolute best character in this book was her wolf companion, Arcturas. She was a badass familiar and honestly was a huge part of the story line. I love when book characters have good animal companions so this just kept me extra engaged.
Overall, this book was amazing. Honestly, I have read over 150 books this year and it’s probably in the top 10. I can’t get over the world building and character development with the interspersed odes to mythology. I laughed and cried. And cried. And cried. But this book was worth every single tear. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for book 2. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next.
Elpis is the sister of the most recent Queen of Ursae, who recently passed. As her 12 year old nephew takes the throne, she is thrust into imprisonment due to a wrongful allegation. Five years later, she finds a way to escape and has to try to find her freedom and her old self along the way.
Elpis was a really great, flawed FMC which was nice to see. She wasn’t naive or immature but may have been too hardened to the ways of the world to be flexible with forgiveness and trust. She quickly learns that she probably was right to be slow to trust as she experiences betrayal and hardship.
✨“If I help you. Promise me that when this is all over, I’ll never see you again. I’ve had enough treachery and deceit for a million lifetimes, and I don’t need anymore. I want the life I deserve. And I want nothing to do with you.”✨
As the story progresses, Elpis learns that just as others can hurt her, she can cause harm just the same. She struggles with these realizations and how to overcome her own reservations to meld and maintain relationships as she tries to fight for what’s right and what she believes in.
She has to do all of this while also coming to terms with the person she really is and the power and expectations that come with it.
The descriptors in this book were fantastic. I felt like I was being drawn into the world from page one as I was introduced to Elpis and the kingdom of Ursae. A lot of fantasy books make me feel like I’m trudging through mud or quicksand while trying to get through the world-building aspect but with this one, the author interspersed the world-building so that it flowed very well.
The absolute best character in this book was her wolf companion, Arcturas. She was a badass familiar and honestly was a huge part of the story line. I love when book characters have good animal companions so this just kept me extra engaged.
Overall, this book was amazing. Honestly, I have read over 150 books this year and it’s probably in the top 10. I can’t get over the world building and character development with the interspersed odes to mythology. I laughed and cried. And cried. And cried. But this book was worth every single tear. I am on the edge of my seat waiting for book 2. I can’t wait to see where this story goes next.
September 8, 2024
"The Shadow of Polaris" is a dark, gritty fantasy that had everything I love—magic, betrayal, and a strong FMC. Elpis, trapped in a brutal prison for a crime she didn’t commit, slowly unravels the secrets of her past, and I couldn’t get enough of her journey from broken to badass. The Northern Flatlands? Totally chilling and atmospheric—perfect for the story’s tension.
It starts off a little slow, but once the twists kick in, it’s impossible to stop reading. The enemies-to-lovers tension and rich world-building had me obsessed, and even though it took a minute to get there, the payoff was totally worth it. Highly recommend if you’re into dark fantasy with complex characters and a revenge subplot!
It starts off a little slow, but once the twists kick in, it’s impossible to stop reading. The enemies-to-lovers tension and rich world-building had me obsessed, and even though it took a minute to get there, the payoff was totally worth it. Highly recommend if you’re into dark fantasy with complex characters and a revenge subplot!
July 7, 2025
I have mixed feelings about The Shadow of Polaris by D.L. Houpt. I really liked the idea of the story: the goddesses, the mythology, the whole setup, but it just didn’t hit me the way I hoped it would. I can’t exactly pinpoint why, but something about it just didn’t land right.
So, from the beginning: Elpis escapes the tower and goes on this mission. Then she accidentally bumps into Aryx, and he just accepts her immediately, like within three seconds. That part really confused me. I get that he was looking for her, but how did he know she was the one? There was barely any build-up, just instant recognition and trust.
Then comes the journey and the betrayal. I understand why that was included since it added a new element, but Elpis forgiving Aryx, then not, then forgiving him again, then hating him, it was exhausting. The push and pull between them was all over the place. One minute they’re kissing, the next she’s furious. It got confusing fast.
Then they go to the gods for help, and the gods just agree. No big deal, no real challenge or conflict. I expected a lot more there, maybe some trials or resistance, but it felt too easy.
And the sea beast fight should’ve been epic, but Elpis is half goddess and still chooses to fight with arrows. Why not use her powers? Why didn’t she even try? That felt like a missed opportunity.
Also, the wolf. The wolf is her entire life, and then Aryx dies and suddenly she’s almost killing the wolf for him? That part really threw me off. Her priorities didn’t seem to make sense anymore.
And her powers… She goes from not knowing she has them to suddenly using and embracing them like she’s been training all her life. That transformation wasn’t earned. There wasn’t enough development to make it feel believable.
By the end, almost everyone dies, but somehow they still win. I was left confused more than anything.
Overall, I did enjoy parts of it. The story had so much potential, and I really wanted to love it. But the inconsistency, rushed plot points, and emotional whiplash just made it hard to stay fully invested. I think I’d rate it 3.5 stars. There was something there, definitely, but it didn’t quite come together for me.
So, from the beginning: Elpis escapes the tower and goes on this mission. Then she accidentally bumps into Aryx, and he just accepts her immediately, like within three seconds. That part really confused me. I get that he was looking for her, but how did he know she was the one? There was barely any build-up, just instant recognition and trust.
Then comes the journey and the betrayal. I understand why that was included since it added a new element, but Elpis forgiving Aryx, then not, then forgiving him again, then hating him, it was exhausting. The push and pull between them was all over the place. One minute they’re kissing, the next she’s furious. It got confusing fast.
Then they go to the gods for help, and the gods just agree. No big deal, no real challenge or conflict. I expected a lot more there, maybe some trials or resistance, but it felt too easy.
And the sea beast fight should’ve been epic, but Elpis is half goddess and still chooses to fight with arrows. Why not use her powers? Why didn’t she even try? That felt like a missed opportunity.
Also, the wolf. The wolf is her entire life, and then Aryx dies and suddenly she’s almost killing the wolf for him? That part really threw me off. Her priorities didn’t seem to make sense anymore.
And her powers… She goes from not knowing she has them to suddenly using and embracing them like she’s been training all her life. That transformation wasn’t earned. There wasn’t enough development to make it feel believable.
By the end, almost everyone dies, but somehow they still win. I was left confused more than anything.
Overall, I did enjoy parts of it. The story had so much potential, and I really wanted to love it. But the inconsistency, rushed plot points, and emotional whiplash just made it hard to stay fully invested. I think I’d rate it 3.5 stars. There was something there, definitely, but it didn’t quite come together for me.
September 5, 2024
3.5⭐️ rounded to 4⭐️
Okay we’ve all heard of shadow daddies.. but what about shadow mommies?? 🤌
-Tortured but badass morally grey FMC
-Feminine rage
-Enemies to lovers
-Forced proximity
-Gods/Goddesses
-Betrayal
-Shadow mommy
-Low spice
-Animal companion
-Single POV
*some out of context spoilers! Proceed with caution*
Overall I enjoyed the idea of this book! It had a very strong plot point and I loved the concept and moving parts throughout. However I did feel the book really drug out in some parts, then moved way too fast in others. At times I was a little confused about what was going on and felt a bit lost and unsure of the importance of what was happening in that moment. Elpis was way too wishy washy for me… I get she was locked up for years, and maybe forgot how to interact with others lol… but she was so selfish! I hated how she treated Aryx (yes I get he betrayed her but one minute she’s jumping his bones then the next she’s betraying him too or just being a bitch). Then her going off the handle and killing half her crew 😵💫 idk she just really aggravated me! I hope there is some serious character growth on her part in the next book!
I think this was a strong debut and I’m interested to see what happens in the next book given how this one ended!
Okay we’ve all heard of shadow daddies.. but what about shadow mommies?? 🤌
-Tortured but badass morally grey FMC
-Feminine rage
-Enemies to lovers
-Forced proximity
-Gods/Goddesses
-Betrayal
-Shadow mommy
-Low spice
-Animal companion
-Single POV
*some out of context spoilers! Proceed with caution*
Overall I enjoyed the idea of this book! It had a very strong plot point and I loved the concept and moving parts throughout. However I did feel the book really drug out in some parts, then moved way too fast in others. At times I was a little confused about what was going on and felt a bit lost and unsure of the importance of what was happening in that moment. Elpis was way too wishy washy for me… I get she was locked up for years, and maybe forgot how to interact with others lol… but she was so selfish! I hated how she treated Aryx (yes I get he betrayed her but one minute she’s jumping his bones then the next she’s betraying him too or just being a bitch). Then her going off the handle and killing half her crew 😵💫 idk she just really aggravated me! I hope there is some serious character growth on her part in the next book!
I think this was a strong debut and I’m interested to see what happens in the next book given how this one ended!
June 19, 2025
**Disclaimer: I received a free ebook copy of the Shadow of Polaris and am giving an honest, unpaid review. Thank you to D.L. Houpt and team for allowing me to a be a part of this journey. I am eternally grateful.**
Alright. Where to begin?
I enjoyed this story very much and the plot twists had me reeling. I’m going to keep it as spoiler free as possible while giving my opinions.
I’m not the biggest fan of Elpis. I won’t say why and I know she had her reasons for doing the things that she did, but I think she’s reckless and selfish. Reckless can be good, but she’s too reckless. That being said, I’m hoping to see more character building in the second book. I’m looking forward to what I will consider her redemption arc in my eyes.
Arcturas is badass, of course. Loyal and a fierce companion.
Aryx. What can even say about him without saying spoilers? I love him, I’ll just say that.
And Tethys? She can eff off. I dislike her immensely (as was the intention, I’m sure).
Overall, four stars. I can’t wait to dive into book 2, The Stardust of Dawn!
Alright. Where to begin?
I enjoyed this story very much and the plot twists had me reeling. I’m going to keep it as spoiler free as possible while giving my opinions.
I’m not the biggest fan of Elpis. I won’t say why and I know she had her reasons for doing the things that she did, but I think she’s reckless and selfish. Reckless can be good, but she’s too reckless. That being said, I’m hoping to see more character building in the second book. I’m looking forward to what I will consider her redemption arc in my eyes.
Arcturas is badass, of course. Loyal and a fierce companion.
Aryx. What can even say about him without saying spoilers? I love him, I’ll just say that.
And Tethys? She can eff off. I dislike her immensely (as was the intention, I’m sure).
Overall, four stars. I can’t wait to dive into book 2, The Stardust of Dawn!
June 13, 2025
I am so glad I have the second book waiting for me in my kindle after finishing this!
Wow, what a journey D.L. Houpt took us on!
Exiled family member discovers her true identity after escaping imprisonment. A woman who only knows abuse & death is forced to face fate meeting allies along the way giving her the support & companionship she had always longed for.
This story had a strong FMC waking her true power, immortal gods, politics, war, a wolf companion, magic, untamed power, romance with a one horse trope - to name a few things.
I highly recommend reading this book & am looking forward to starting book number 2!
Thank you so much to D.L. Houpt for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this amazing story.
Wow, what a journey D.L. Houpt took us on!
Exiled family member discovers her true identity after escaping imprisonment. A woman who only knows abuse & death is forced to face fate meeting allies along the way giving her the support & companionship she had always longed for.
This story had a strong FMC waking her true power, immortal gods, politics, war, a wolf companion, magic, untamed power, romance with a one horse trope - to name a few things.
I highly recommend reading this book & am looking forward to starting book number 2!
Thank you so much to D.L. Houpt for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this amazing story.
July 3, 2025
There is just something about DL Houpt’s descriptive writing that draws you in, and puts you in a chokehold that doesn’t let go until the very last punctuation! I meannnn…. This story was a slow burning revelation of love, war, loss, magic, and betrayals! Elpis is full of anger and if she wasn’t before bloop now she is raging!!! Aryx with his own battles meets Elpis purposefully with some questionable intentions! I have never had another author create such a visceral reaction to their books and I am here for it all! 👏🏼
August 19, 2024
I would like to start off by saying that I have not cried this much during a book since reading KOA. Reader be warned! 🥹 I will try to keep the review and description to a minimum as to not spoil some major aspects of the book that are better left read.
Five years after being sentenced to life in a tower for the murder of her sister, Elpis receives an opportunity to start her life anew only to be haunted by a life changing prophecy and an evil goddess that wants her gone. While learning to tame the shadows rising within her, Elpis must set off on a journey for freedom while fighting off the different beings hunting her down each step of the way.
The Shadow of Polaris revolves widely around mythology and features magic, gods, creatures, and a Black Cat x Golden Retriever MC pairing. This story was written beautifully! The author was descriptive and brought to life the characters and creatures in a way that helped me visualize the chapters as I read through them. Elpis’ character development throughout the story was excellent. She went from hopelessness, to fear, rage, and strength in such a pivotal manner at each turning point. I felt invested in her journey and while I enjoyed the dynamic between her and the MMC, I loved the dynamic between Elpis and her Wolf companion, Arcturas, even more! Given that I have two husky’s that may be a biased opinion 😆
The ending leaves much to be expected for the continuation of the series as this is book 1 with a second in progress.
Releasing: 09/03/24
TW: Violence, Death, War, Grief
Spice: 🌶️
Five years after being sentenced to life in a tower for the murder of her sister, Elpis receives an opportunity to start her life anew only to be haunted by a life changing prophecy and an evil goddess that wants her gone. While learning to tame the shadows rising within her, Elpis must set off on a journey for freedom while fighting off the different beings hunting her down each step of the way.
The Shadow of Polaris revolves widely around mythology and features magic, gods, creatures, and a Black Cat x Golden Retriever MC pairing. This story was written beautifully! The author was descriptive and brought to life the characters and creatures in a way that helped me visualize the chapters as I read through them. Elpis’ character development throughout the story was excellent. She went from hopelessness, to fear, rage, and strength in such a pivotal manner at each turning point. I felt invested in her journey and while I enjoyed the dynamic between her and the MMC, I loved the dynamic between Elpis and her Wolf companion, Arcturas, even more! Given that I have two husky’s that may be a biased opinion 😆
The ending leaves much to be expected for the continuation of the series as this is book 1 with a second in progress.
Releasing: 09/03/24
TW: Violence, Death, War, Grief
Spice: 🌶️
August 26, 2024
It took me awhile to get into this but when it picked up, i couldn't put it down
January 8, 2025
This was fun and definitely had shocking moments that I was not expecting! For being the authors debut novel she did a wonderful job!
August 21, 2024
ARC Review
This story has a lot of action, twists, and reveals for 300 pages. The story would have benefitted from being a bit longer to make some of the story seem less choppy and given other aspects more details/explanation. The romance was a bit back and forth, but the main character has also never dealt with this kind of emotion before, not to mention the intensity of it. The lore and magic were intriguing and I look forward to diving more into them in future books. Elpis has room for growth as a person that I also look forward to seeing in future books. And Arcturus is just perfect. I love her. Same goes for Aryx. And Frya, of course.
I loved how the author was responsive to any questions from her street team, willing to explain concepts and ideas. It has been a lot of fun being part of her street team and I look forward to the next book.
This story has a lot of action, twists, and reveals for 300 pages. The story would have benefitted from being a bit longer to make some of the story seem less choppy and given other aspects more details/explanation. The romance was a bit back and forth, but the main character has also never dealt with this kind of emotion before, not to mention the intensity of it. The lore and magic were intriguing and I look forward to diving more into them in future books. Elpis has room for growth as a person that I also look forward to seeing in future books. And Arcturus is just perfect. I love her. Same goes for Aryx. And Frya, of course.
I loved how the author was responsive to any questions from her street team, willing to explain concepts and ideas. It has been a lot of fun being part of her street team and I look forward to the next book.
September 2, 2024
I loved everything, Elpis truly has been so much pain and suffering ,cruel abuse I don't want say too much cause the truths that came to light I wasn't quite expecting that .then the pup wolf arcturas she is just the best . Frya is a tough woman .I cried at the end. You will understand why when you read this beautiful book, I ugly cried .you need read this it's written so perfectly
May 19, 2024
2.5/5 ⭐️
I want to thank the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited if you would like to read it!!
I would describe this book as a fantasy with a touch of romance with plot twists, magic, Gods, and a wolfy animal companion that is precious.
It starts by our main character Elpis being banished after being convicted for her sister’s murder, and I was so intrigued starting off. I found myself caught off guard by multiple twists, and I really liked how the world building began.
This book has the bones for a really interesting and moving story. As a debut book, I feel it could have benefited from having an editor and some beta readers to help highlight and smooth some of the writing. It felt like I was reading an early draft, rather than a finished piece. The way it was written did feel clunky and disjointed, and I did have trouble getting into the book because of that. I had thoughts of DNF’ing throughout, but kept reading because I was curious how the story would progress.
Ultimately, I felt that this book and this story has so much potential, but I felt it needed adjustment to really move this story forward. I tend to opt for books with more world building and fluidity, so I may just not be the ideal audience for this book!
I would absolutely give this author another shot in the future, but I think editors and beta readers would make a huge impact on this story!!
I want to thank the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is currently available on Kindle Unlimited if you would like to read it!!
I would describe this book as a fantasy with a touch of romance with plot twists, magic, Gods, and a wolfy animal companion that is precious.
It starts by our main character Elpis being banished after being convicted for her sister’s murder, and I was so intrigued starting off. I found myself caught off guard by multiple twists, and I really liked how the world building began.
This book has the bones for a really interesting and moving story. As a debut book, I feel it could have benefited from having an editor and some beta readers to help highlight and smooth some of the writing. It felt like I was reading an early draft, rather than a finished piece. The way it was written did feel clunky and disjointed, and I did have trouble getting into the book because of that. I had thoughts of DNF’ing throughout, but kept reading because I was curious how the story would progress.
Ultimately, I felt that this book and this story has so much potential, but I felt it needed adjustment to really move this story forward. I tend to opt for books with more world building and fluidity, so I may just not be the ideal audience for this book!
I would absolutely give this author another shot in the future, but I think editors and beta readers would make a huge impact on this story!!
May 15, 2024
Overall, this fantasy romance had all the hallmarks of the genre; fantasy world and lore, conflict, secrets, hidden identities and of course, romance. I was enthralled with the characters and intrigued with the world building.
The story begins with Elpis, the sister of the queen who has just died. Within the first chapter, Elpis is sent away on the charge of killing her sister, the queen. The rest of the story follows Elpis as she endures her punishment and then subsequent escape. The rest of the story follows her as she attempts to find her freedom while also exploring some parts of her she didn't know existed.
The story started out great but as it went on but as it reached the "big reveal", the story became disjointed, choppy and somewhat rushed. The romance started off well but then all of a sudden went from 10% to 100% in just a few pages.
I got whiplash going from one conflict to another, one reveal to the next. Overall, the story has a lot of potential. I found myself a bit frustrated with how fast the story progressed halfway through. I didn't DNF because I was curious to know what else would be uncovered, but I definitely felt like I could have DNF'd at any point.
Being the first book of this author, I think she has immense potential and I would give her another try if she improved on some of the disjointed writing that was evident in this book.
The story begins with Elpis, the sister of the queen who has just died. Within the first chapter, Elpis is sent away on the charge of killing her sister, the queen. The rest of the story follows Elpis as she endures her punishment and then subsequent escape. The rest of the story follows her as she attempts to find her freedom while also exploring some parts of her she didn't know existed.
The story started out great but as it went on but as it reached the "big reveal", the story became disjointed, choppy and somewhat rushed. The romance started off well but then all of a sudden went from 10% to 100% in just a few pages.
I got whiplash going from one conflict to another, one reveal to the next. Overall, the story has a lot of potential. I found myself a bit frustrated with how fast the story progressed halfway through. I didn't DNF because I was curious to know what else would be uncovered, but I definitely felt like I could have DNF'd at any point.
Being the first book of this author, I think she has immense potential and I would give her another try if she improved on some of the disjointed writing that was evident in this book.
September 4, 2024
I want to start this review off by saying that the concept is really interesting! I loved the mental health representation! It’s a solid debut and I am so thankful for the opportunity to read and review this!
Tropes include:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🐺 Animal Companion
🩸 Morally Grey FMC
🖤 Greek Mythology
🐺 Feminine Rage
🩸 He Falls First
It wasn’t quite 4 stars for me, but close!
Elpis is traumatized after being wrongly accused of the Queen’s murder and sentenced to solitary confinement in a tower. She’s mercilessly beaten and over time loses all sense of her identity as she grows numb to her existence. A mysterious gift leads her on a path to freedom, but not without tragedy! She makes a lot of questionable choices and will frustrate you to no end. I believe there’s hope for her, though! I look forward to her character growth throughout the series.
The romance aspect isn’t a main focus here, but you will LOVE Aryx! He is the golden retriever MMC who is just as broken as the FMC, but he will do anything for Elpis. As a matter of fact, she’s a magnet for danger and he’s always the first one there to try and save her life. The way he can pull her back from darkness with just a kiss 😘 Their relationship was sweet for the most part, but it missed banter. Everything happened so quickly and it was a little difficult to grow attached to them as a couple.
There were times while I was reading where it felt like I missed pages or chapters. The transitioning was a little confusing and frequently threw me off. Once the action started to pick up, it was thrown at us left and right with almost no chance to process how or why it was happening. The pacing felt rushed there at the end.
Overall, this was a good story! The writing was very descriptive and I felt like I was in the world while reading it. I also enjoyed the Greek mythology aspect and especially loved the wolf companion, Arcturas. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book! That cliffhanger was a pleasant surprise and I’m not usually happy about those lol
Tropes include:
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🐺 Animal Companion
🩸 Morally Grey FMC
🖤 Greek Mythology
🐺 Feminine Rage
🩸 He Falls First
It wasn’t quite 4 stars for me, but close!
Elpis is traumatized after being wrongly accused of the Queen’s murder and sentenced to solitary confinement in a tower. She’s mercilessly beaten and over time loses all sense of her identity as she grows numb to her existence. A mysterious gift leads her on a path to freedom, but not without tragedy! She makes a lot of questionable choices and will frustrate you to no end. I believe there’s hope for her, though! I look forward to her character growth throughout the series.
The romance aspect isn’t a main focus here, but you will LOVE Aryx! He is the golden retriever MMC who is just as broken as the FMC, but he will do anything for Elpis. As a matter of fact, she’s a magnet for danger and he’s always the first one there to try and save her life. The way he can pull her back from darkness with just a kiss 😘 Their relationship was sweet for the most part, but it missed banter. Everything happened so quickly and it was a little difficult to grow attached to them as a couple.
There were times while I was reading where it felt like I missed pages or chapters. The transitioning was a little confusing and frequently threw me off. Once the action started to pick up, it was thrown at us left and right with almost no chance to process how or why it was happening. The pacing felt rushed there at the end.
Overall, this was a good story! The writing was very descriptive and I felt like I was in the world while reading it. I also enjoyed the Greek mythology aspect and especially loved the wolf companion, Arcturas. I’m excited to see what happens in the next book! That cliffhanger was a pleasant surprise and I’m not usually happy about those lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 22, 2024
✨ ARC REVIEW ✨
3 ⭐️
1.5 🌶
s-s-s-shadow.... mommy?
Thank you so much D.L. Houpt + Black Sheep Lit for giving me an ARC of TSoP (and I'm so sorry my review is late). The overall premise of the book felt really unique, and I love the concept of a strong, independent women building herself back up after suffering trauma. Elpis finds herself in a unique situation where she breaks herself out of prison and free from her abusers, and then has to figure out what to do next now that she's a fugitive on the run. Along her escape, she meets an orphaned wolf pup Acturas, whom she immediately bonds to and the 2 of them become literally inseparable. The first half of the book was truly an amazing and enjoyable read and I couldn't wait for what happened next on Elpis' journey...
(major spoilers so read at your own risk)
A couple of quotes I liked:
-“Don’t get in the way of an angry woman; she won’t hesitate to destroy you”
-“I like how quiet you get when your masculinity feels threatened”
-I was at a bar reading this part and I audibly snorted and the poor bartender looked at me like I was crazy.
Overall, again thank you so much D.L. Houpt and Black Sheep Lit for allowing me to ARC read The Shadow of Polaris. The first half of the book was truly captivating and remarkable, and I
3 ⭐️
1.5 🌶
s-s-s-shadow.... mommy?
Thank you so much D.L. Houpt + Black Sheep Lit for giving me an ARC of TSoP (and I'm so sorry my review is late). The overall premise of the book felt really unique, and I love the concept of a strong, independent women building herself back up after suffering trauma. Elpis finds herself in a unique situation where she breaks herself out of prison and free from her abusers, and then has to figure out what to do next now that she's a fugitive on the run. Along her escape, she meets an orphaned wolf pup Acturas, whom she immediately bonds to and the 2 of them become literally inseparable. The first half of the book was truly an amazing and enjoyable read and I couldn't wait for what happened next on Elpis' journey...
(major spoilers so read at your own risk)
A couple of quotes I liked:
-“Don’t get in the way of an angry woman; she won’t hesitate to destroy you”
-“I like how quiet you get when your masculinity feels threatened”
-I was at a bar reading this part and I audibly snorted and the poor bartender looked at me like I was crazy.
Overall, again thank you so much D.L. Houpt and Black Sheep Lit for allowing me to ARC read The Shadow of Polaris. The first half of the book was truly captivating and remarkable, and I
August 31, 2024
Trigger Warnings:
Suicide attempts/thoughts
Self harm
Spice: 🌶
Tropes:
Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
Animal companion
Morally gray FMC
Immortal gods
Mythology
Secret Identity
The Shadow of Polaris is told in the first person narrative of Elpis. She's been imprisoned for the murder of her sister, the Queen. Breaking free, Elpis hides out and befriends the local tavern keeper, who believes Elpis' truth. There, she discovers her true self, and a prophecy... and that she needs to take down a malevolent goddess.
Elpis is definitely morally grey. She self hates, she can hold a grudge, she turns on friends, and she has a demon with her. But, you find yourself cheering her on. You want her to get her happily ever, to finally be a peace. Does she get that? Well the book ends on a crazy cliffhanger!
I'm obsessed with Elpis' wolf, Arcturas. I want a pet wolf. She's loyal, she's cute, she's cuddly, she's deadly. No, I want to be Arcturas haha.
Aryx, our MMC. He's got a questionable past but he lives Elpis fiercely. Therefore, I'm rooting for you!
Overall, lots of world building in the first half, which I'm not complaining about. And a cliffhanger you're begging for book 2 for at the end!
Suicide attempts/thoughts
Self harm
Spice: 🌶
Tropes:
Friends to Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
Animal companion
Morally gray FMC
Immortal gods
Mythology
Secret Identity
The Shadow of Polaris is told in the first person narrative of Elpis. She's been imprisoned for the murder of her sister, the Queen. Breaking free, Elpis hides out and befriends the local tavern keeper, who believes Elpis' truth. There, she discovers her true self, and a prophecy... and that she needs to take down a malevolent goddess.
Elpis is definitely morally grey. She self hates, she can hold a grudge, she turns on friends, and she has a demon with her. But, you find yourself cheering her on. You want her to get her happily ever, to finally be a peace. Does she get that? Well the book ends on a crazy cliffhanger!
I'm obsessed with Elpis' wolf, Arcturas. I want a pet wolf. She's loyal, she's cute, she's cuddly, she's deadly. No, I want to be Arcturas haha.
Aryx, our MMC. He's got a questionable past but he lives Elpis fiercely. Therefore, I'm rooting for you!
Overall, lots of world building in the first half, which I'm not complaining about. And a cliffhanger you're begging for book 2 for at the end!
May 31, 2024
3✨
This book pulls you in and immerses you into a new world and you just can’t help but be intrigued. Elpis our badass morally grey FMC. And I LOVE a morally grey heroine/FMC. There’s a lot to relate to with Elpis and her struggles and also the love of her wolf, because who doesn’t love their companion? If you’re into fantasy, Greek mythology and folklore-ish vibes, I would say give it a read/try. The bones for this book are there and there’s so much potential to be uncovered. For a debut novel, it’s not bad but needs a little help. I agree with some reviews about needing an editor or at the very least, beta readers to smooth out some of the kinks. The pace is very choppy. Almost 0-100 real quick. DL has some beautiful writing, I can say that. Like I said so much potential to be had here! The connection between the FMC and MMC felt a bit forced to me and didn’t just flow like I would’ve loved to have seen. But let me kind of wrap this up by saying I STAN any author who shows light on mental health so big claps for that! Regardless I am excited to see what happens in the second book…I do hope there will be another. I would 100% give DL another shot and read her future book(s).
This book pulls you in and immerses you into a new world and you just can’t help but be intrigued. Elpis our badass morally grey FMC. And I LOVE a morally grey heroine/FMC. There’s a lot to relate to with Elpis and her struggles and also the love of her wolf, because who doesn’t love their companion? If you’re into fantasy, Greek mythology and folklore-ish vibes, I would say give it a read/try. The bones for this book are there and there’s so much potential to be uncovered. For a debut novel, it’s not bad but needs a little help. I agree with some reviews about needing an editor or at the very least, beta readers to smooth out some of the kinks. The pace is very choppy. Almost 0-100 real quick. DL has some beautiful writing, I can say that. Like I said so much potential to be had here! The connection between the FMC and MMC felt a bit forced to me and didn’t just flow like I would’ve loved to have seen. But let me kind of wrap this up by saying I STAN any author who shows light on mental health so big claps for that! Regardless I am excited to see what happens in the second book…I do hope there will be another. I would 100% give DL another shot and read her future book(s).
September 4, 2025
The Shadow of Polaris by D. L. Houpt wrecked me in all the best ways. This isn't your average fantasy, it’s darker, colder, rawer and so full of heart.
♡ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ♡
The Shadow of Polaris drops you into the frostbitten Northern Flatlands with Elpis, a morally grey ex-princess imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit. She’s broken. Bitter. Brilliant. I relate to these feelings because of my past experiences and I love Elpis for it. She is my strength. Isolated and haunted, with painful nightmares and memories. A mysterious gift arrives, and everything shifts. Elpis is forced to face not just ancient gods and rising shadows but her own guilt, anger, and terrifying potential.
“If I help you. Promise me that when this is all over, I’ll never see you again.”
That line? Elpis doesn’t want redemption. She wants distance. Safety. Control. And that’s exactly why her journey toward healing is so earned and deserving. Her bond with Arcturas, her giant wolf companion. Their relationship is honestly one of the most emotionally rewarding parts of the book, just loyalty so fierce it’ll punch you in the feelings. The burn in this slow burn is so hot, it will incinerate your insides and replace them with YEARNING. Aryx brings that delicious tension and swooning. He has to earn that intimacy after everything Elpis has endured.
The mythology is *chef's kiss*, the skies light up with auroras, the gods are both majestic and terrifying, and the prophecy? Oh, it turns the pages for you.
My Favorite Quote:
“When winter and spring coincide, darkness’s heir brings the light of truth and the fall of vanity. Only embers of life can destroy visions of death.”
By the end, I was wrecked and begging for Book 2: The Stardust of Dawn. If you're into fantasy that feels like a frost-covered trauma, myth, and emotional catharsis... then a badass heroine who learns she can both burn and heal, The Shadow of Polaris is worth every page. Just maybe bring tissues. And a wolf.
Art created by @indigowildcard & @niass_art ♡
♡ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 ♡
The Shadow of Polaris drops you into the frostbitten Northern Flatlands with Elpis, a morally grey ex-princess imprisoned for a crime she didn’t commit. She’s broken. Bitter. Brilliant. I relate to these feelings because of my past experiences and I love Elpis for it. She is my strength. Isolated and haunted, with painful nightmares and memories. A mysterious gift arrives, and everything shifts. Elpis is forced to face not just ancient gods and rising shadows but her own guilt, anger, and terrifying potential.
“If I help you. Promise me that when this is all over, I’ll never see you again.”
That line? Elpis doesn’t want redemption. She wants distance. Safety. Control. And that’s exactly why her journey toward healing is so earned and deserving. Her bond with Arcturas, her giant wolf companion. Their relationship is honestly one of the most emotionally rewarding parts of the book, just loyalty so fierce it’ll punch you in the feelings. The burn in this slow burn is so hot, it will incinerate your insides and replace them with YEARNING. Aryx brings that delicious tension and swooning. He has to earn that intimacy after everything Elpis has endured.
The mythology is *chef's kiss*, the skies light up with auroras, the gods are both majestic and terrifying, and the prophecy? Oh, it turns the pages for you.
My Favorite Quote:
“When winter and spring coincide, darkness’s heir brings the light of truth and the fall of vanity. Only embers of life can destroy visions of death.”
By the end, I was wrecked and begging for Book 2: The Stardust of Dawn. If you're into fantasy that feels like a frost-covered trauma, myth, and emotional catharsis... then a badass heroine who learns she can both burn and heal, The Shadow of Polaris is worth every page. Just maybe bring tissues. And a wolf.
Art created by @indigowildcard & @niass_art ♡
September 12, 2024
This was a great debut romantasy. I love an animal familiar and love it even more that it’s a wolf! The friends to enemies to lovers was very well done. The magic system is pretty unique and I loved the hidden power/secret identity trope here. I was also shocked that she killed off TWO pretty big characters and didn’t immediately bring them back to life like most other books I have read - both heartbreaking and a breath of fresh air, in my opinion. I’m excited to see where the story goes in book 2!
Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
Thank you to the author and R&R Book Tours for a gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!
January 4, 2025
the entire book was just her going back and forth over some guy that literally betrayed her 🙄 and then risked her life to try to take down his mom and save everyone, only to be told that she could bring him back after he died but she couldn’t kill his mom because they needed to venture on this journey together.
either be with him or don’t. do you want your freedom or do you wanna be with him? it was infuriating
other than that, the battle scenes, arcturas and frya made the entire book
almost dnf’d multiple times
either be with him or don’t. do you want your freedom or do you wanna be with him? it was infuriating
other than that, the battle scenes, arcturas and frya made the entire book
almost dnf’d multiple times
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2025
This book was amazing. I fell in love with Arcturus right off the bat and can see exactly why Elpis was so bonded to her. The morally grey FMC makes you feel for everything she's going through and makes you want to root for her while simultaneously wanting to strangle her every time she makes the wrong move. Aryx is the perfect counterpart to Elpis, he's completely smitten and would absolutely risk his life for her, he's the best guy she doesn't know she needs to have around. I absolutely can't wait for the rest of this series.
September 5, 2024
✨thank you to the author for providing me with an ARC copy of The Shadow of Polaris in exchange for an honest review✨
I can’t say enough good things about TSOP! The writing was so authentic and Ellis is the definition of a morally grey character! It was so nice to see the black cat/golden retriever personalities written into an ever changing story line. Just when you think you know everything, it will all change!
I HIGHLY recommend TSOP to anyone who reads Romantasy, loves authentically morally grey FMC’s, or loves mythology!
I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the series😍
I can’t say enough good things about TSOP! The writing was so authentic and Ellis is the definition of a morally grey character! It was so nice to see the black cat/golden retriever personalities written into an ever changing story line. Just when you think you know everything, it will all change!
I HIGHLY recommend TSOP to anyone who reads Romantasy, loves authentically morally grey FMC’s, or loves mythology!
I can’t wait to get my hands on the rest of the series😍
May 19, 2024
I honestly wasn't expecting this read to hit me as much as it did on an emotional level. One of my favorite parts was reading about the relationship between Elpis (FMC) and Arcturas (her wolf); it made me reflect on my own bonds with my dogs. While there's room for improvement, I really enjoyed this read and hope for a sequel!
August 23, 2024
I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH!! First off I just want to say Elpis has been through some stuff. This book had the plotwist, the betrayal, the history. The whole thing of there being different gods with stories was super cool. Also Arcturas her wolf companion so cutee <3
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
this book definitely has me hooked and I am now waiting for the sequel. I can tell this series will be amazing.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
thank you so much for the arc 🫶
some quotes: ----->
"My life in Ursae was over the secon I met you, Elpis. I'm coming with you "
"We've all been the villain inanother's story."
"I haven't gotten that far, Elpis. Right now, I'm focused on not falling to my death."
"Oarsman, we need full speed. If that catches us," I pointed out to the horizon,
"we're f*cked."
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
this book definitely has me hooked and I am now waiting for the sequel. I can tell this series will be amazing.
~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~
thank you so much for the arc 🫶
some quotes: ----->
"My life in Ursae was over the secon I met you, Elpis. I'm coming with you "
"We've all been the villain inanother's story."
"I haven't gotten that far, Elpis. Right now, I'm focused on not falling to my death."
"Oarsman, we need full speed. If that catches us," I pointed out to the horizon,
"we're f*cked."
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