đź’śMayhem and the Mortal by Shanora Williams-review tourđź’ś
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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 17, 2026
One mission. One curse. No escape.
Zaira doesn’t want a hero. She needs a weapon.
To save her sister from a soul-devouring curse, she has to cross The Shallows—a nightmare landscape of ruined magic, shifting paths, and vicious creatures that eat people alive.
Her guide? Thane Valkor: sorcerer, assassin, walking red flag. His name clears rooms. His magic kills quietly. And whatever he’s really after, it’s not salvation.
He promises to help. He might even mean it.
But Zaira knows better than to trust a liar with a blade and ice in his veins.
She just doesn’t have a choice.
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REVIEW:MAYHEM AND THE MORTAL is the first instalment in Shanora Williams’ adult, fantasy romance series focusing on mortal Zaira Quinlocke, and sorcerer/ assassin Thane Valkor.
Told from first person perspective (Zaira Quinlocke) MAYHEM AND THE MORTAL follows mortal female Zaira Quinlocke in the wake of the arrest and imprisonment of her sister Analla. Desperate to locate a magical crystal to free her sister, Zaira goes in search of a sorcerer for help, when she comes face to face with famed assassin Thane Valkor. Thane Valkor’s reputation precedes his introduction but Zaira needs to reach a place known as the Shallows,a place from which very few have ever returned. Only one man is willing to take Zaira to the Shallows, but Thane has his own reasons for travelling through H*ll. Along the way, the duo will meet an assortment of odd fellows, all with magical abilities, all willing to risk their lives for our story line heroine.
The world building is complex and detailed as Thane and Zaira embark on a journey from which they may never return. Beastials of all sorts, sorcerers, monsters and demons are but a few of the creatures Thane and Zaira meet along the way, many of whom are more dangerous than they could have ever imagined.
The relationship between Thane and Zaira begins as enemies, of a sorts. Thane doesn’t do friendships or relationships, and his reputation keeps everyone away. Every encounter with others, begins to push Thane closer to Zaira, as jealousy and betrayal are at the forefront of Thane’s mind but issues of trust are often the precipitating factor in the breakdown of a relationship, and Thane is about to betray the woman with whom he is falling in love. The $ex scenes are limited but passionate.
MAYHEM AND THE MORTAL is a slow building story of secrets and lies, power and magic, betrayal and vengeance, trust and forgiveness, acceptance and love. The premise is detailed,dramatic and intriguing but I struggled with the modern North American vernacular, language and text in a fantasy world castles, and horses are the main mode of housing and transportation. The characters are numerous, questionable, magical and determined; the romance is fated yet struggles in the face of trust and fear. MAYHEM AND THE MORTAL ends on a cliff hanger-you have been warned…and as I say this, I could not find any previous information that this was part of a series.
Copy supplied for review
Reviewed by Sandy
Shanora Williams is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author known for her versatile voice, diverse characters, and high-stakes stories. Whether grounded in reality, set in a world of magic, or immersed in suspense, her books explore connection, chaos, and emotions that linger long after the last page.
As a self-proclaimed “mood writer”, Shanora has never believed in boxing herself in. Her desire has always been to take risks and challenge herself. If a plot is relentlessly on her mind, she will try her hand at it.
When she isn’t writing, she’s deep in family life, binge-watching shows and movies, working out, gaming, or getting cozy with a book. She lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and three sons.
