Reviews

Really amazing book.

I had to dock it 0.25 stars because the beginning felt dragging. I wasn't quite into it at first. However the story was really beautiful.

Maybe it's because I have daddy issues, but Oraya's relationship with her father stung and burned, in good and in bad. It was complex and hard. There were many secrets between them. So many things left unsaid. He wasn't a good person. But he was mostly a good dad. He did things to hurt her though, like keep her hertiage and family a secret. Then also destroying those she might have had left. What I am trying to say it was beautiful and brutal. I cried when he died. Mostly because of how Oraya felt and how it all unfolded. She chose her love over everything and anything and lost. She lost the only family she had, the only person who provided for her in her entire life. Vincent was her world. There was no one who protected her better. And in those moments, when she was witnessing her father die. Her frenzy of trying to stop it trying desperately to cling to the only safety she'd ever known (thinking and feeling Raihn's betrayal) and him slipping through her grasp. Only to be left in this world (now burning down) filled with dangers, vampires and no kingdom and no home, no safety, all alone. God it was gutwrenching.

Raihn's arc came out of left field for me. I tried to make many predictions through out but I never saw that coming. I still don't quite know how I feel about him. In the end he did show is teeth. He was ruthless. He took what he wanted. He is a very complex character. I find that I do like morally grey however this is bringing up a lot of emotion and anger in me. The forced marriage, the way he knows how to manipulate her. I just wish Oraya knocks him down a peg or few.

But I do like this trope of enemies to lovers to enemies. God I want Oraya to wreak havoc on Raihn's rule. I want Oraya to Turn and probably in the end of the next book she'll make the Coreati bond with him. So they'll be equal. But before then I really want Oraya to go full dark.

Honorable mentions, Ibrihim, I cannot let him go. He has a piece of my heart. I just cannot let that abuse slide it was terrible what was done to him. And how hard he fought.

I was completely off base with Jesmine. I thought she'd betray the Hiaj regime. Turns out she is loyal.

The spice was spicing. But man, the author really made us wait for it!

All of this story is just so finely woven together. It was a great read.

I am excited to see how long Oraya clings to that anger for Raihn's betrayal and for killing his father. I want to see her make Raihn kneel for her. I want that feminine rage, so badly!

Great read! Best of the month for me! Let's see if it will be among the best reads this year.

caitcoy's review against another edition

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adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is one of the few true romantasy titles that I've picked up and it was a bit of a mixed experience that overall I ended up enjoying more than I expected. The story follows Oraya, a human woman raised in the court of the Nightborn vampire king and whose only route to protection for herself and to help her adopted father is to win a competition full of vampires. The only options are to win or to die and Oraya is at a distinct disadvantage unless she can find some allies she won't mind betraying later.

When I initially started Serpent, I thought I might end up DNFing it in the first couple chapters. Broadbent's writing style tends a bit flowery and very dramatic, to the point that it made me think of some of the CW shows. That kind of style is just vaguely off-putting to me without some humor or intrigue to balance it. I also didn't find Oraya to be super likeable since she seemed like a standard, emotionally closed-off stabby FMC. Where it changed for me was the introduction of Raihn, a very snarky rival vampire who from his very entrance banters with Oraya and brings out some of the more interesting elements of her character. And then once the competition started ramping up, I found myself growing intrigued as well.

I also appreciated the way that Broadbent handled some of the relationships. Not just the obvious developing romance between Oraya and Raihn but also the toxic but loving relationship Oraya had with her father Vincent (earlier mentioned Nightborn king) and Raihn's friend who had her own history but was an interesting counterpoint to both main characters.

Overall, while Serpent itself isn't necessarily a new favorite, I had a really fun time with it and am intrigued to see where it goes in the second book of the duology. I really loved the banter between Oraya and Raihn and am curious to learn more about the vampire world that Broadbent created.

keanselmo's review against another edition

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dark tense medium-paced

3.75

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