Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - The Serpent and the Wings of Night

Amazing brilliant wonderful. Am absolutely terrified and excited awaiting the rest of the series. I feel like the author could make this so incredible or tank the series pretty easily. Gave the nostalgia of 'hunger games like' plot but the joy of being introduced to a new world for the first time.

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ktkeps's review against another edition

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adventurous medium-paced

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

3.0

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taylasfootnotes's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

After what feels like millennia of supernatural narratives with, excuse the pun, no bite, along comes Indie Author, Carissa Broadbent with a tale that not only adds to the genre, but also feels like a homecoming for those of us who love (and grew up on) vampire romances.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first instalment of the Crowns of Nyaxia universe, which follows our main protagonists, Oraya and Raihn, as they compete in the Kejari, a legendary tournament held by the Goddess Nyaxia, the goddess of death.

Oraya, who is

half

human and was adopted by the Vampire King, Vincent, was raised to not be a cowering, little thing. She is a warrior in her own right, one that has mastered years of combat and weapons training through the thorough tutelage of her adoptive father. Her one goal? Win the Kejari and become the one thing she has ached to be her entire existence; to be independent and powerful enough to find her true family.

On the eve of the Kejari being announced, Oraya knows she is already at a disadvantage to her fellow contestants, all of whom are vampires from across the realm and from competing Houses. Oraya's strategy for winning these trials is simple, separate herself from the vampires and stay alive with the skills she's been taught. But after becoming injured in the first of the four trails, Oraya has no choice but accept a lucrative alliance with Raihn, an unusual vampire from an opposing House to her own and his happy-go-sunshine friend, Mische. Thus begins a fragile partnership between the three of them and as the nights go past, Oraya finds herself becoming comfortable with the eccentric ways of Mische and the toungue-in-cheek banter with Raihn.

Broadbent doesn't make the romance the key focal point in this story. There is no denying that the romance and the palpable tension between Oraya and Raihn is often toe-curlingly good, and when those moments appear, they are a much needed break from the darkness and struggle that Oraya is having to overcome in the trails as a human. The romance between these two characters shows a softer, neglected side of Oraya's character arc, as we begin to understand her complicated past with lovers and her upbringing with Vincent. There is one scene in particular that I absolutely loved between Raihn and Oraya and that is in the middle for the second trial. IYKYK.

The world building feels rich and lush, with every detail so painstakingly thought out. From the landscape, to the intricacies of each house and the world history. The plot and choices made by Broadbent's characters feel realistic as they move throughout the world. There wasn't a moment where I felt board or that it was predicable. Especially at turning point 2 in the book, I was pleasantly surprised that my theories were correct and the outcome at the end of the novel was both fitting and satisfying.

This has been my most favourite read of 2022. I am so thankful to have been given this recommendation through my Kindle Amazon library. No only has it given me a new author to thoroughly consume and enjoy, it has made me a reader of Carissa's work for life.

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swonders_'s review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional tense medium-paced

5.0

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