The second installment in the Florentine series, THE SHADOW begins where THE RAVEN ends. Therefore, I do recommend reading THE RAVEN first.

William returns to Raven on her birthday bearing gifts. After weeks apart, their feelings for one another never waned, and the pair is quick to realize just how much they mean to each other. While these two are building their relationship, there is a traitor among William's principality. When breaches is security allow feral vampyres into the city, the bodies start showing up all around the city, Florence is now being looked at by the Curia; the religious group who if needed will exterminate the vampire population and any human connected to it.

When Raven's family friend and father figure, Father Kavanaugh, shows up in Florence to see her, she soon discovers the man who rescued her and her sister from their abusive stepfather is also a member of the Curia. Now Raven must decide between the two men she loves.

When Raven and her sister are kidnapped, William must find the traitor and dispose of them before any harm is done to Raven. But with the principality in upheaval, he realizes there are few people he can trust; even his most reliable alley has her own agenda.

THE SHADOW leans more onto William's background and the problems he is facing within his principality. Raven and William's relationship continues to flourish and their passion is intense. These two are tested by so many outside factors, yet they still stay true to each other. When one is threatened, they other protects.

Since reading the Gabriel Inferno series, Sylvain Reynard has been one of my favorite authors. With the Florentine series, his writing style still continues to amaze me. His writing flawlessly mixes some of the classic works like the writing of Dante and Sir Michael with the fine art of Boticelli's Primavera and the Birth of Venus in with modern day, which stirs up curiosity in his readers to seek out these classic works to learn more. The art history and Gothic influences make this unique paranormal world highly original and quite intriguing.