ettaviereads's Reviews (356)

3.5 ⭐️

Though this is a fairly short novel, the plot moves quickly. St Clair doesn’t spend time at the beginning of the book doing much world building like we would normally see in a fantasy novel but she artfully weaves the world building into the plot as things go.

A very adult approach to a modified Beauty and the Beast meets Rumpelstiltskin retelling, the two main characters lust after each other from the very beginning, though the FMC doesn’t want to lust after the MMC and the MMC makes commends after their initial romps that fuels the FMCs frustration with him and her drive to run away.

The first interlude and first few chapters were enough to hook me into the world of vampires, war, and Hunger Games-esque plot. Oraya’s character development through the novel is incredible! From the naïve young adult to a straight up badass who is strong AF and is able to use her “weaknesses” to her advantage, her ability to ensnare the reader into her storyline is incredible.

Then there’s Raihn, as a reader who likes a bad boy MMC with a shady/traumatic past, Broadbent crafted his character in such an eloquent way that keeps you interested in learning more and more of his story.

The climax to the end of the book had me wide eyed and shook with the two major plot twists on top of the million questions I now have about Oraya.

The 2nd book has been added to my TBR.

The plot twists, the romance, the world and character building in this book were absolutely amazing. It gave so much to the universe and I wish I had the next one available to read immediately.

I was not ready for the cliffhanger ending with all that extra tension, 10/10 for being way better than the first book.