IN THE SHADOW OF A HOAX is the second entry into Maci Aurora’s Fareview Fairytale series, and stands well enough on its own as to not be too confusing for readers who might jump into the books with this story. The second installment focuses on another of the Fairview siblings—Tarley, their headstrong, resourceful, and stubbornly independent sister. Living in the picturesque forested village of Sevens, they’re still beholden to Kaloma’s oppressive, sexist laws that make women the property of men. After striking back against a man who harassed her, Tarley escapes into the woods to evade capture and imprisonment and stumbles upon another man who’s been badly wounded after a fall into a ravine. While she nurses him back to health and the two grow closer, the man she knows as “Ollie” is actually Lachlan, the prince of the neighboring kingdom of Jast. When secrets begin to unravel and an assassination plot is uncovered, Tarley’s closely guarded heart becomes inexorably tied to the fate of their kingdoms.

At its heart, the book has an epic fairytale romance. There’s a delightful back-and-forth in Tarley and Lachlan’s burgeoning feelings for one another with Tarley determined not to give her heart to anyone while Lachlan must learn to temper his desires, considering the different power dynamics at play as a royal. And she certainly holds her own—putting him in his place several times, letting him remember the privilege he’s enjoyed that she hasn’t. The story is told from dual perspectives, with Lachlan hiding his true identity and Tarley’s distrust of most men coloring her experiences and strong-willed personality. The steamier romantic scenes they share are well-written and bring them closer together, exploring issues of trust and showing the contrast between Lachlan’s desire for Tarley to feel safe in his presence and the attitude of Kaloma men toward women’s pleasure.

Mostly character-driven, many twists in the plot—especially in the latter half of the novel—are influenced by the machinations of royals, and a layer of court intrigue, which features an attempted double assassination. The stakes become incredibly high for both kingdoms, and the way Tarley and Lachlan both deal with this as their romance is thrown directly at the center is beautifully rendered. The subtle change in the characters, their individual wants and desires for themselves and their respective homes offer an interesting conflict at each turn. Tarley never loses her agency through it all, in a place where women aren’t cherished for their sense of self. There is a lot of sensitive subject matter within the novel, which is to be expected when it’s set in a place like Kaloma. But it’s handled with care, and many characters point out the oppressive nature of their laws regarding women; Tarley herself challenges it regularly, and outsiders see it as misguided, abhorrent, and sexist.

The climactic battle scene does get a bit muddled when secrets are swiftly revealed, giving rise to new lore and new monsters, but overall it offers a satisfying conclusion. Other than the sense of place and Tarley and her sister’s affinity for prophetic visions as well, IN THE SHADOW OF A HOAX is light on magic and other fantastical elements, yet builds a vivid fictional setting. And while a few teasing plot points are left open-ended for exploration in future installments, the book wraps up pretty well in the end.

An epic fairytale romance that will leave an avid reader of this popular genre swooning, Maci Aurora’s IN THE SHADOW OF A HOAX is rife with character-driven drama, court intrigue, and a strong-willed protagonist at its center.

~Jessica Thomas for IndieReader