Her connection with Vincent was simply emotional and heartbreaking, and aside from the romance, I think it was the thing I loved the most about this book. I also really really enjoyed the plot and writing in this book!! 🫶✨️ Carissa Broadbent's writing is my new favourite thing- her books are literally the perfect fantasy romances. LITERALLY HOW WAS THIS SO ADDICTIVE?! 🤭😩 I freaking DEVOURED this book i could not put it down. I swear she put something in this book bc i was addicted ✋️The plot was literally so interested- I loved all the action and the politics aspect was done really well. It made the world feel so well-developed while not being confusing. Raihn- One fit to be called king. He has two different roles- to be a leader to his subjects which requires him to make tough decisions and present an equally tough exterior; also to be a husband to not only a queen but his lover while desperately trying to make things up with her. I really liked how balanced his two sides were. He was so smitten by Oraya, and he actually shows that in his actions. We also get Raihn's POV in this book. Initially, I was resistant; as a general rule, I'm opposed to male first-person POV. But ultimately, this wasn't too bad - Oraya definitely still took centre stage, and his perspective (mostly) wasn't unbearably flowery.

Even though my friend spoiled) the ending of this, it was still so beautiful, agonizing and mesmerizing all at once watching Oraya practically beg for Raihn oh how the tables have turned and the way all of it tied together in the end, chefs kiss. Besides the thrilling plot, mesmerising and seductive romance I was just so fascinated by their world and how dangerously beautiful it is. I don't think I can ever get enough of them and their world. some would call what he did brainwashing (me? never 🤭). and the best part of this book, unquestionably, undoubtably Vincent and how his complex bond with Oraya was explored. how his past was explored. i loved his influence on her so much. 💘 Okay i kinda... love him?! RAIHN APOLOGIST OKAY ✋️ He is SUCH a good book bf- so obsessed with her? ✅️ Will burn the world down for her? ✅️ HOT? ✅️✅️ I also love how he's a brutal vampire and will kill for her, but then can also be so unexpectedly sweet 🤭🤭 And literally everytime he said "There she is" he had me SWOONINGGG 😩🤭🤌🦋 Before bedtime: Many people find that reading before bedtime helps them unwind and relax, which can promote better sleep.I mentioned it before, but Oraya’s feelings when it came to Vincent were conflicted too. She was grieving the loss of her father, but on the other hand, she started to realize just how much he lied to her and how much he controlled her and prevented her from achieving her full potential. She started to see that she’d been living in a cage, and she hated him because of that, making her grief even more intense at times. I love that this book showed that it is possible to grieve part of a relationship, while also being angry at the person, grief is not just one sad emotion that erases everything else, it’s a process and it’s messy. Maybe the king always knew his greatest love would be his ruination. Maybe he knew it the moment he met her."

Septimus - ”I don’t bite, dove. I promise.” I don’t think there was one moment where this man didn’t have a cigarillo in his hands lol. I love to love him and love to hate him. That’s all I’ll say, but Carissa, if you are listening, I need more of him please and thank you!!! Mische still more than has my entire heart. 💘 and with everything that went on in this book, all i'm going to say is - poor Mische. and 👀 i have so many questions with her omg.

During the day: If you have a flexible schedule, you may find it helpful to take breaks during the day to read a book. The best time to read a book depends on your personal schedule and preferences. Here are some suggestions: Afraid of you and what you could do to me. Afraid of the world that could kill you so easily. Afraid of myself, gifted with another fragile heart that I know I cannot keep. The action sequences were breathtaking. I was in complete awe with the way it was written and they were such powerful scenes. I could not put the book down towards the end. It was so intense, I got goosebumps. Let me touch you,” he rasped. And Goddess, yes, he was begging, every word desperate. “Let me feel you. Even though I don’t deserve you. Please.”

I liked anger. It was tangible and strong, and it made me feel powerful. But I felt anything but powerful when I was forced to recognize that Raihn— the man who had lied to me, imprisoned me, overthrown my kingdom, and murdered my father— genuinely cared for me. They argued and bantered like they did in the last book and their romance was angsty and emotional but they also fought side by side against the bloodborns. Of course it was love. What else could it be, for someone to see that much of you? To see so much beauty in the parts of someone that they hate in themselves?" there are approximately 1.010.300 words in the English Language, but I could never string enough words together to properly express how much I love Vincent the King of the Nightborn. 😭🙏Other than him being an entitled brat, there is nothing to say about him because Oraya is the actual villain here. Anyway. And there is even a surprise to her growth but I won’t talk about it. Just know that it was so amazing and unexpected! I'm in love with Raihn, he is charming, very handsome, protective, stubborn, sweet, and will do whatever it takes to protect Oraya. I loved that even though Raihn acted tough around other people, he was always so sweet and protective of Oraya. Raihn's character development was great, I enjoyed learning about his past through his perspective and watching him as he faced new challenges. The slower pace in this book allowed me to see our main characters grow as individuals and together as a couple. The author also put more focus on the world building here, which really helped to fill in the gaps about the setting and history of Obitraes.

i was desperate to have something to love. something to care about when i didn’t give a damn about myself.' In the nearer term, Slaying the Vampire Conqueror, a standalone full-length novel in the Crowns of Nyaxia world, is coming in just two weeks, if you need to ease your book hangover. ;) But I'll save all that rambling for another time. Waited what felt like forever for this to come out, and now I'm reeling that it is done until Spring/Summer of 2024! 😭 Need to gather how to even make words happen after this! RTC!I’ve been freaking out teachers and parents with mercilessly grim tales since I was roughly nine years old. Since then, my stories have gotten (slightly) less depressing and (hopefully a lot?) more readable. Today, I write fantasy novels with a heaping dose of badass ladies and a big pinch of romance. My books include the Valtain Preludes trilogy and the War of Lost Hearts series — with hopefully many more to come! With no trials to go through, the plot focuses a lot on the action and political side of the story, but it also gives us Oraya and Riahn's fans the thing we were left craving since the infamous end of The Serpent and the Wings of Night, which is, well...more Oraya and Riahn. Man oh man, did Carissa outshine herself once again. This book was so raw. Raw in the best way. There was so much tenderness, and love, but also so much hate and anger because of it.