⭐ 2.75/5
🌶 1.5/5
 

This was probably the strongest installment in the series so far in terms of plot progression and character development. The story finally felt like it had some forward momentum, and I appreciated getting to know the characters a bit more deeply. 

That said, the reading experience was still bumpy. Numerous spelling and grammatical errors distracted from the flow, and there were several moments where transitions were so unclear that I had to reread sections multiple times—and still wasn’t sure what was happening. It often felt like pieces of the story were missing or poorly edited. 

Overall, I’d sum it up as: solid plot ideas, but the execution continues to fall short. I’ll likely keep going with the series, but my expectations remain tempered.

⭐ 2.5/5
 🌶 1.5/5 

While the overall storyline held some promise, the execution fell flat for me. If this book had been combined with the previous installment—and all the repetition trimmed away—it could’ve been a much tighter and more compelling 200-page read. As it stands, the pacing felt sluggish and the writing lacked the depth or polish needed to keep me fully engaged.

⭐ 2.5/5
🌶 1.5/5 spice 

This book had potential but ultimately didn’t land for me. The lack of world-building left the setting feeling hollow, and I found it difficult to stay grounded in the story. Characters seemed to change their beliefs or motivations from scene to scene without much explanation, making it hard to connect with or keep track of who’s who, where they’re from, or why they’re involved. That said, Waylon stood out as my favorite character—which honestly says a lot about the rest of the cast.

⭐ 4.75/5
 🌶 1.75/5

Carissa Broadbent may have just earned a spot on my list of favorite authors. This trilogy kept me fully engaged with its unpredictable twists and turns, offering just enough suspense to keep me on my toes without becoming overwhelming. I especially appreciated the strong female lead—she doesn’t simply ascend to royalty through a convenient twist of fate or forgotten lineage. Instead, her journey is grounded in genuine growth, internal conflict, and real emotional stakes. 

The characters feel fully realized, with authentic emotions and relatable struggles, which added depth to the story and made it feel refreshingly human. Broadbent’s writing is both immersive and well-crafted, striking a great balance between world-building, character development, and plot momentum.

⭐ 4.25/5
 🌶 1.75/5 

This book expands beautifully on the unique world introduced in the first book. The story is rich with intrigue, layered character development, and unexpected twists that kept me fully engaged. What stood out most was how it avoided falling into the predictable rhythms of typical fantasy-romance plots—it felt refreshingly original. Broadbent continues to build a dynamic world filled with tension and uncertainty, and I’m excited to see where the series goes next.

I went into this book with absolutely no information, and I was so pleasantly surprised by the writing, the storyline, the magic systems, and the dramatic buildup.

While the book is open door, I wouldn’t say that it’s overly spicy. There definitely is good tension and buildup until the scene but I think overall spice is still relatively low. 

It was decent. There was some plot, even if the mafia part seemed a little forced and out of place it wasn’t bad. The MMFM scenes were well written, the MM scenes as well but for such a long book it was missing character development 

This is an okay written, formula following book. The third act brake up wasn’t surprising, the characters were a bit one dimensional. But it was a fine quick read. 

I’m so happy I took a chance and read butcher and blackbird last year. This trilogy was the perfect blend of dark, creepy, and a little gross sometimes with comedy, romance, and sometimes a little bit of mystery. I absolutely loved this series. I’m so sad to see it over, but I am intrigued at the introduction made in the epilogue and to see where that goes in the future.

This book was so repetitive and so childish. I feel like there was no world building, there was no reason for me to like any of the characters, and while I understand, it was a bully romance I have no understanding of why they don’t like her other than she ran away. I was really hopeful with all of the higher reviews I just don’t know what everybody else sees in this book.