Shadow Mage by Ava Marie Salinger
The Mage and His Brute Book 5
MM Fantasy Romance
November 10, 2026
🕯️ Enemies-to-Lovers
🕯️ Forbidden Romance
🕯️ Touch Him and Die
🕯️ Hurt/Comfort
🕯️ Class Difference
A mage in hiding. A Brute holding the line. And a truth that will change everything.
The Prince of Wales has vanished and all of England believes Duke Evander Ravenwood took him.
Hunted by the authorities and condemned in every newspaper in London, Evander has lost his name, his face, and the freedom to walk the streets in daylight. Finding the missing prince may be the only way to clear himself—but whoever orchestrated his downfall has been planning this for far longer than he realised.
While Evander searches for answers from the shadows, Viggo Stonewall is fighting a war of his own.
The Aristocratic Oversight Committee has seized control of the Arcane Division. People are disappearing without charge. And a seemingly innocent welfare census is recording the name and location of every thrall in London.
When the trail finally leads Evander and Viggo across the Irish Sea, they find themselves closing on an enemy who has been three moves ahead of them from the beginning—and whose plans reach far beyond one missing prince.
But Evander is still hiding a devastating truth from the man he loves.
And if Viggo discovers it before Evander can make things right, defeating their enemy may be the least of what they stand to lose.
Shadow Mage is the fifth book in Ava Marie Salinger’s bestselling MM historical fantasy romance series The Mage and His Brute, packed with heart-pounding intrigue, a romance forged in fire, and stakes that will leave readers breathless. Perfect for fans of historical fantasy and LGBTQ+ romance.
Start reading today with Kindle+ ⇒ https://getbook.at/TheMageAndHisBrute5
Shadow Mage by Ava Marie Salinger
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Evander, Duke of Ravenwood has been accused of aiding in the kidnapping of Prince Albert. Stripped of everything that made him the man he was. The Traitor Duke. He could live with no title, no respect, and no help from any source because of the danger. Yet through all this he still had allies. What he couldn’t do without was his Brute. Viggo was his touchstone, the love of his life, and his every reason for being. Evander realizes the Codex has totally bonded with him. No one understands the bond and no one wants it. Especially Viggo, he’s jealous!
The story was full of magic. I felt the author wanted to give the reader a taste of what magic, good and bad, could do to a society at large. Not wish granting as such, just unadulterated power to command.
This book, while had some action and some sweet times between Evander and Viggo, came across as low key for me. There’s hiding, intrigue, friends doing things they shouldn’t, and history revealed. Evander must share the biggest secret of all with Viggo. This book was definitely set up for Evander, his allies, and Nightshade to step in and save the world in the last book.
Off all the books in the series I think this one gives the most insight into the main players. It also seemed the easiest to read and understand.
Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.
About the Author:
Ava Marie Salinger is the romance pen name of an Amazon bestselling author with a passion for writing addictive tales. Known for her action-packed and thrilling urban fantasy novels, she has expanded her repertoire with the introduction of the M/M urban fantasy romance series Fallen Messengers.
Additionally, she has penned the scorching hot contemporary M/M romance series Nights and Twilight Falls as A.M. Salinger.
When not immersed in her writing, Ava can be found curating inspiring music playlists, indulging in her love for nature, marveling at the latest gadgets, and savoring Chinese cuisine.
Connect with Ava: https://linktr.ee/avamariesalingerauthor
