When I submitted my application for an advance reader copy (ARC) of this book, I knew I already had two other ARCs on my schedule to read and review for their release within the next week. (The Call of Wind releases on Friday, August 29th and Isle of Ember releases Tuesday, September 2nd.) Still, that synopsis felt irresistible, so I found a way to fit everything in. This book was totally worth it.

This one will be coming out tomorrow on August 28th and is currently available for preorder (or purchase).

Summary:

Eighty years ago, when Nadi was a child, her whole family was massacred. Her uncle had dared to cross the locally-reigning vampire gang. They sent their enforcer, Raziel, to eliminate his loved ones: Nadi’s parents and siblings. Her entire life since has been spent in pursuit of her revenge. She’s spent the intervening time building her skills as a well-practiced assassin. Her fae ability to heal rapidly and her more unique ability to shapeshift certainly help. When she learns that a sacrificial human bride has been pledged to Raziel, she sees it for the opportunity that it is. She takes the woman’s place to get close to Raziel and his family.

Raziel, for his part, has grown into the weapon his family shaped him into. He’s talented at eliminating adversaries and sending messages as instructed. It was never his choice, but he doesn’t hate it. What he does hate is the tedium of his family’s dynamics and the tasks they demand of him. He’s bored of the dull humans and the fae who disgust him that he’s sent to deal with. They provide only brief entertainment before he disposes of them. He expects his new bride to be the same. After all, the marriage is only meant as a punishment for her father, and she won’t last long. However, when he meets her, she defies all his expectations.

My Thoughts:

I don’t usually gravitate toward mafia romances, but I do love vampire fiction. Getting the two in combination may turn out to have been an excellent gateway. It did heighten the vampire trope by adding another layer of danger. It was also a mix that worked very naturally. Vampire clans in fiction have long had similar behaviors and internal politics within their ranks as is common in mafia fiction. I also really enjoyed the combination of vampire and fae into the same romance story.

This is an impressive example of an enemies to lovers story. There’s true animosity in the beginning, and yet the progression of the relationship still makes sense. The attraction they begin to share is believable and also palpable. The buildup of tension is incredible, resulting in a payoff of really good dark romance spice. Do make sure to check trigger warnings down below on this one. It does get somewhat twisted.

I really liked that both partners in the main couple are morally gray. Neither one is corrupting the other here. Each has full agency over the major decisions around their moralities. Instead, they are recognizing their own proclivities in another and being drawn to that. As this is the first in a duology, I expect in the next book they will begin to encourage these tendencies more in each other. Truthfully, I’m already very excited to read the next. The way that this one ends, left me in denial that it was over. I kept turning the page like more paragraphs would magically appear, but instead I’m left waiting.

Content Warnings: Blood, Parent Loss, Death of Child, Trafficking, Graphic Depictions of Violence & Injuries, Graphic Sexual Content, Mentions of Sex Work, Slut Shaming, Kidnapping, Mutilations, Torture, Alcohol, Mentions of Drug Use, Corpse in Room, BDSM

After I Finished The Serpent’s Bride

After I finished all the ARCs I had in my queue that were publishing this week, I turned to my physical TBR pile. Right near the top was a book I borrowed from the library while much more optimistic about my reading speed. I’d already had to renew it once completely unopened and it’s creeping up on its new return deadline. Truthfully, it might need a second renewal before I finish it, but I’ve at least gotten it started now!

My next review will be for The Author’s Guide to Murder by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig, and Karen White.