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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Before I begin I would like to thank NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio for the advance listening copy. All opinions are my own for this honest review.
Narration Style: 3rd person Dual POV, Solo Narration
Length: 8 hours
The Serpent’s Bride is kind of hard to explain. It's part dark romance, part romantasy, set in a modern mafia type setting. It's definitely...intriguing, but also at the same time a little murky. It’s got secrets, intrigue, hot mafia guys who also happen to be vampires, but also some fantasy settings with mentions of outskirts (of town), and guns. So all that to say, there is a lot going on, but it's also not always lacks some clarity within the story, but also the stakes regarding the character motivations.
As always, this is an ALC, so jumping into the audio book! Desireé Ketchum. Love her. This is a solo audio and for something like this that is told in 3rd person, but also through both POVs you need someone super strong in both perspectives, which is something that she is very strong at. She’s an absolute pro at voicing distinct characters, with clean, consistent delivery that’s easy to follow.
That said, this particular performance didn't really feel completely even, emotionally speaking, not because Desireé lacked skill, but because the material didn’t give her a whole lot to play in my opinion. Definitely the entire motivation for the FMC was revenge, but it felt lacking in emotional weight because she seemed to be driven purely by that hate, and seemed unconcerned by the stakes that were her death, more on that when I dive into the plot though. Performance wise, as a solo performance, she did brilliantly with the material.
Bookouture Audio did note that this was note that this was not the final audio, but I found that the production itself is rock solid. I found the transitions to be clear, the chapters were well-paced, and a narrator who knows how to guide the listener. I think there were only a few very minor blips, but overall very impressed and I'm sure that they will be fixed in the final (and tbh even if they weren't I barely noticed and it didn't cause any massive disturbance to the listening experience).
On to the story. Personally I did feel like the story pacing dragged at times. The plot didn’t really seem to move with enough urgency. For a book where the death of the FMC is a constantly looming threat, the stakes felt oddly... casual? Which made it harder to stay fully invested. She didn't seem particularly interested in her death either way, she had a concern with exacting her revenge, but even then she didn't really do anything to advance that either though.
I was really interested because it is a bit of a genre-blender: it's part vampire fantasy, part mafia drama, part contemporary world with cell phones and guns, but also where they reference "the outskirt towns" making it feel like it's back to a fantasy setting. I'm very visual, especially when listening to audiobooks and I don't have words on a page to help me make sense, but I couldn't truly pin down what this world looked like. So yea the world-building felt a little undercooked to me. I wanted more grounding in how this setting functions.
As far as character development is concerned, I found it to be very minimal, but it's something I can overlook that since it is the first book of a series. That being said, neither the FMC nor MMC seemed particularly driven to change or escape their circumstances, which made their moral greyness feel more passive than compelling. Both of them felt resigned to their fate.
It's got some spice, but I think it was a little under developed as well. There’s a spicy scene at the end, but it honestly felt just kind of tacked on. Like the author realized there hadn’t been enough heat and tossed it in to check a box. It wasn't a bad scene, but felt kind of contrived, like it came out of nowhere. There was no lead up to it, it was like BAM right into a BDSM scene because it's a dark romance it felt like it needed one.
To sum it up this book left me with some mixed feelings. As negative as this review might seem I swear I did actually like the book, I just really wish we'd had some more. It’s not a bad story by any means, and it definitely has promise for the future of the series (which I am excited to see how it develops after that cliffhanger of an ending. But it is also repetitive, emotionally detached at times, and unsure of what genre lane it wants to live in. I do also think audio-wise, as great as Desireé is this is a book that might have benefitted from a duet or even a dual narration setup to give more weight to the MMC's point of view.
As mentioned in the beginning, I received an ALC of this audiobook from NetGalley and Bookouture Audio in exchange for an honest review. Having said that, all thoughts are my own.
Narration Style: 3rd person Dual POV, Solo Narration
Length: 8 hours
The Serpent’s Bride is kind of hard to explain. It's part dark romance, part romantasy, set in a modern mafia type setting. It's definitely...intriguing, but also at the same time a little murky. It’s got secrets, intrigue, hot mafia guys who also happen to be vampires, but also some fantasy settings with mentions of outskirts (of town), and guns. So all that to say, there is a lot going on, but it's also not always lacks some clarity within the story, but also the stakes regarding the character motivations.
As always, this is an ALC, so jumping into the audio book! Desireé Ketchum. Love her. This is a solo audio and for something like this that is told in 3rd person, but also through both POVs you need someone super strong in both perspectives, which is something that she is very strong at. She’s an absolute pro at voicing distinct characters, with clean, consistent delivery that’s easy to follow.
That said, this particular performance didn't really feel completely even, emotionally speaking, not because Desireé lacked skill, but because the material didn’t give her a whole lot to play in my opinion. Definitely the entire motivation for the FMC was revenge, but it felt lacking in emotional weight because she seemed to be driven purely by that hate, and seemed unconcerned by the stakes that were her death, more on that when I dive into the plot though. Performance wise, as a solo performance, she did brilliantly with the material.
Bookouture Audio did note that this was note that this was not the final audio, but I found that the production itself is rock solid. I found the transitions to be clear, the chapters were well-paced, and a narrator who knows how to guide the listener. I think there were only a few very minor blips, but overall very impressed and I'm sure that they will be fixed in the final (and tbh even if they weren't I barely noticed and it didn't cause any massive disturbance to the listening experience).
On to the story. Personally I did feel like the story pacing dragged at times. The plot didn’t really seem to move with enough urgency. For a book where the death of the FMC is a constantly looming threat, the stakes felt oddly... casual? Which made it harder to stay fully invested. She didn't seem particularly interested in her death either way, she had a concern with exacting her revenge, but even then she didn't really do anything to advance that either though.
I was really interested because it is a bit of a genre-blender: it's part vampire fantasy, part mafia drama, part contemporary world with cell phones and guns, but also where they reference "the outskirt towns" making it feel like it's back to a fantasy setting. I'm very visual, especially when listening to audiobooks and I don't have words on a page to help me make sense, but I couldn't truly pin down what this world looked like. So yea the world-building felt a little undercooked to me. I wanted more grounding in how this setting functions.
As far as character development is concerned, I found it to be very minimal, but it's something I can overlook that since it is the first book of a series. That being said, neither the FMC nor MMC seemed particularly driven to change or escape their circumstances, which made their moral greyness feel more passive than compelling. Both of them felt resigned to their fate.
It's got some spice, but I think it was a little under developed as well. There’s a spicy scene at the end, but it honestly felt just kind of tacked on. Like the author realized there hadn’t been enough heat and tossed it in to check a box. It wasn't a bad scene, but felt kind of contrived, like it came out of nowhere. There was no lead up to it, it was like BAM right into a BDSM scene because it's a dark romance it felt like it needed one.
To sum it up this book left me with some mixed feelings. As negative as this review might seem I swear I did actually like the book, I just really wish we'd had some more. It’s not a bad story by any means, and it definitely has promise for the future of the series (which I am excited to see how it develops after that cliffhanger of an ending. But it is also repetitive, emotionally detached at times, and unsure of what genre lane it wants to live in. I do also think audio-wise, as great as Desireé is this is a book that might have benefitted from a duet or even a dual narration setup to give more weight to the MMC's point of view.
As mentioned in the beginning, I received an ALC of this audiobook from NetGalley and Bookouture Audio in exchange for an honest review. Having said that, all thoughts are my own.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The darkness held wonders, if you weren’t too afraid to see them.”
The Serpent’s Bride was dark, ruthless, and honestly such a fun ride.
Think vampire mafia vibes with morally grey characters who thrive in the chaos—definitely not one for the faint of heart.
The plot itself was pretty straightforward, but it kept me hooked with its steady pacing and short chapters. I flew through it because it was just so hard to put down!
If I had one wish, it’d be for more world-building. I’m so curious about the Wild, the fae, the vampires, and how the humans fit into it all—there’s so much potential there.
The romance? Deliciously messy.
That enemies-to-lovers tension and those burning stare added an extra spark, especially as they started catching feelings they weren’t ready for.
The spicy scenes were hotter than what I usually read—not too wild, but definitely turned up a notch.
And that ending? Chaos incoming!
I need to know what happens next with these two because things are about to get even more intense, I can feel it!
Overall, this was such an addictive dark fantasy romance.
It was my first read from this author, but definitely not my last. That cliffhanger got me good, and I’m 100% continuing the series.
It was my first read from this author, but definitely not my last. That cliffhanger got me good, and I’m 100% continuing the series.
Highly recommended if you’re into stories with marriage of convenience, enemies-to-lovers, vampire MMC x shifter fae assassin, mafia drama, and morally grey characters galore.
I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Death, Torture, Blood
Minor: Kidnapping
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I read this as an arc. This book definitely leaves you wanting more!
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
✨ Review: The Serpent’s Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley ✨
This book is dark in all the best ways. Both main characters are steeped in violence and vengeance, so I honestly couldn’t see how Kathryn Ann Kingsley was going to make a romance between them feel believable — and yet she absolutely does. The shift from sworn enemies to something infinitely more complicated but still mired with hate is seamless, true to their characters, and perfectly in line with the gritty world they inhabit.
At its core, this is Fae assassin x Vampire Mafia - Nadi has spent decades hunting the vampire who slaughtered her family, and she finally gets her chance when she goes undercover to kill him. She’s ruthless, morally black rather than grey, and utterly relentless in her pursuit. I loved her sharp edges — she does whatever it takes to achieve her goal, and it all feels consistent with who she is.
The tension between Nadi and Raziel is intoxicating. It’s reluctant, brutal, and all-consuming, with tiny fleeting flashes of trust and almost-tender moments that feel earned rather than softening their darkness. The shapeshifting element makes Nadi’s undercover mission even more compelling — Raziel expects one kind of woman, and Nadi, holding herself differently but looking identical, completely unsettles him in ways that work brilliantly for the story.
The worldbuilding is gripping - the political and environmental stakes in this dystopic land adds weight to the personal conflict and make the characters’ choices feel even more meaningful.
The pacing is perfect — smooth, compelling, and never dragging. The writing is dark and gritty, matching the tone flawlessly. And what surprised me most? How natural a “romance” between two extremely dark people could feel, without betraying their personalities or feeling forced.
I am already so excited for book 2 - may we hope it follows quickly as I want to read more!
If you love morally dark/black characters, brutal enemies-to-lovers dynamics, gritty worlds, and romance that doesn’t shy away from darkness, this book will hit all the right notes.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Nadi is a badass who wants revenge on her families killer. Raziel is a vampire who is a bit too cocky for his own good. When Nadi finds a way to get that revenge, she goes all in. After years and years of waiting it's finally time for her to get him back for everything he did to her family and all she went through after. What happens when you get a shapeshifter, a vampire, and the mafia all rolled up into one book?? This masterpiece. The cliffhanger at the end ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!! Already chomping at the bit to get my hands on the next book in this series.
The narrators chosen for this audio fit the characters perfectly!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to and review this audio.
The narrators chosen for this audio fit the characters perfectly!
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to listen to and review this audio.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The premise of this book was really intriguing and there were parts I found so interesting, but unfortunately the character development and their journey just didn’t do it for me. I love a morally grey MMC but when he does nothing to garner the FMC’s (and the reader’s) interest, it’s hard to root for them to be together. I did, however, think the narrator did a good job considering it was a solo narration.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Quantity of spice: 🌶️
Quality of spice: 🌶️.5
*There are two spicy scenes in The Serpent’s Bride. I’ve included the chapters at the bottom of this review. Please note they may be off because I listened to the ALC through NetGalley.*
Nadi has had a revenge plan to kill Raziel Nostrom for 80 years. Why? He killed her entire family. She is a shape shifting fae, so when the opportunity arises for her to take the place of Raziel’s soon to be wife, Monica, she takes it.
Raziel is a vampire and his entire family believes the fae to be the scum of the earth. They’ve basically fought them back to the underground & any time fae are mentioned, he has something very nasty to say about them.
Things I liked about this book:
• Vampires could have different abilities, so it wasn’t your typical “vampires suck blood and move fast” type book. The MMC could compel people to do his bidding, while the rest of his family had different abilities.
• The fae population thrived in the underground world they were forced to live in. The description of the underground sounded beautiful. I wish Nadi had gone down there in the present story so we had received more real time information.
Things I didn’t like about this book:
• Why was an over 200 year old vampire calling himself a boy? He was referred to as a boy and said on more than one occasion, “I’m trying to be a good boy.” Over 200 years old is a MAN.
• Nadi held onto this revenge plan/hatred of Raziel for 80 years, but then so quickly was simping for him simply for being attractive. He did nothing to make him likable or even remotely make her lust after him the way she did.
• Nadi spoke about killing Raziel the entire book but gave up MULTIPLE opportunities to do so. She was sleeping in the same bed as him ffs. She justified killing the people in her clan in pursuit of this plan to kill the entire Nostrom family, but the only people she actually managed to kill were her own family.
• On that note, Nadi killing her uncle. The point behind it made no sense AND THEN she proceeded to have sex with the man she HATES (and the “reason” she killed her uncle) in the room with his dead corpse!
• Raziel. We know why Nadi hates him & his family. But I’m thinking this whole time there would be some “ah ha he’s not so bad” moment to justify her attraction to him and maybe not make her feel so guilty for it? Instead he was just awful the entire time, talking about how he liked killing people and did it for fun.. and the only time he was nice to her was after they had sex. As I said above, I love a morally grey/dark MMC BUT I need that MMC to have some sort of redeeming quality to make me 1. Like him & 2. Make me understand why the FMC likes him.
I wanted to love this book because vampires and fae and revenge plots, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series. I just have no emotional connection to the characters to care enough 😩
Thank you for the ALC Second Sky, NetGalley, and The Nerd Fam! I really appreciate the early copy!
🌶️ Spicy Scenes 🌶️
1. Ch 19
2. Ch 25
Rating: ⭐️⭐️.5
Quantity of spice: 🌶️
Quality of spice: 🌶️.5
*There are two spicy scenes in The Serpent’s Bride. I’ve included the chapters at the bottom of this review. Please note they may be off because I listened to the ALC through NetGalley.*
Nadi has had a revenge plan to kill Raziel Nostrom for 80 years. Why? He killed her entire family. She is a shape shifting fae, so when the opportunity arises for her to take the place of Raziel’s soon to be wife, Monica, she takes it.
Raziel is a vampire and his entire family believes the fae to be the scum of the earth. They’ve basically fought them back to the underground & any time fae are mentioned, he has something very nasty to say about them.
Things I liked about this book:
• Vampires could have different abilities, so it wasn’t your typical “vampires suck blood and move fast” type book. The MMC could compel people to do his bidding, while the rest of his family had different abilities.
• The fae population thrived in the underground world they were forced to live in. The description of the underground sounded beautiful. I wish Nadi had gone down there in the present story so we had received more real time information.
Things I didn’t like about this book:
• Why was an over 200 year old vampire calling himself a boy? He was referred to as a boy and said on more than one occasion, “I’m trying to be a good boy.” Over 200 years old is a MAN.
• Nadi held onto this revenge plan/hatred of Raziel for 80 years, but then so quickly was simping for him simply for being attractive. He did nothing to make him likable or even remotely make her lust after him the way she did.
• Nadi spoke about killing Raziel the entire book but gave up MULTIPLE opportunities to do so. She was sleeping in the same bed as him ffs. She justified killing the people in her clan in pursuit of this plan to kill the entire Nostrom family, but the only people she actually managed to kill were her own family.
• On that note, Nadi killing her uncle. The point behind it made no sense AND THEN she proceeded to have sex with the man she HATES (and the “reason” she killed her uncle) in the room with his dead corpse!
• Raziel. We know why Nadi hates him & his family. But I’m thinking this whole time there would be some “ah ha he’s not so bad” moment to justify her attraction to him and maybe not make her feel so guilty for it? Instead he was just awful the entire time, talking about how he liked killing people and did it for fun.. and the only time he was nice to her was after they had sex. As I said above, I love a morally grey/dark MMC BUT I need that MMC to have some sort of redeeming quality to make me 1. Like him & 2. Make me understand why the FMC likes him.
I wanted to love this book because vampires and fae and revenge plots, but I don’t think I’ll be continuing with the series. I just have no emotional connection to the characters to care enough 😩
Thank you for the ALC Second Sky, NetGalley, and The Nerd Fam! I really appreciate the early copy!
🌶️ Spicy Scenes 🌶️
1. Ch 19
2. Ch 25
WHAT THE…!!! that is my reaction to the end, shocked and sooooo unexpected! i listened to this one on audio and it kept me engrossed the whole time, i really enjoyed the narrator and the storyline and now i want to read the next book ASAP! a fae assassin disguises herself as a mortal women to marry a vampire because this is the perfect opportunity for her to exact revenge…but yeah things definitely don’t go to plan and it was such a captivating story! from enemies to…i guess we will have to see where things head in book two, thank you to the nerd fam and netgalley for the ALC!
This was my first book by this author.
I found it was easy to read and the story was easy to follow.
This book has vampires and fae which I loved. Nadi is a fae woman, whose family was killed years ago by Raziel. She wants revenge, to end all of his family and him. Nadi shapeshifts into the human that Raziel was meant to marry. Then she has a way to get to the family.
I wish we had more world building, the world just felt a bit on the empty side, I wanted more.
I enjoyed Nadi and Raziel’s back and forth, the tension and the chemistry. But I felt that the “dark” element of this book was nonexistent, it’s more of a fantasy romance.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I really need the next book. That cliffhanger.
Narration:
The narrator did a fantastic job, I really enjoyed listening to her bring the story to life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky and Bookouture for my ALC!
I found it was easy to read and the story was easy to follow.
This book has vampires and fae which I loved. Nadi is a fae woman, whose family was killed years ago by Raziel. She wants revenge, to end all of his family and him. Nadi shapeshifts into the human that Raziel was meant to marry. Then she has a way to get to the family.
I wish we had more world building, the world just felt a bit on the empty side, I wanted more.
I enjoyed Nadi and Raziel’s back and forth, the tension and the chemistry. But I felt that the “dark” element of this book was nonexistent, it’s more of a fantasy romance.
Overall I really enjoyed this book and I really need the next book. That cliffhanger.
Narration:
The narrator did a fantastic job, I really enjoyed listening to her bring the story to life.
Thank you to NetGalley, Second Sky and Bookouture for my ALC!
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Rating: 4 stars
Wow! I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. I would not say that I typically enjoy dark romance, but I really enjoyed how this story was written. At no point did I feel like the elements were too dark - especially when it came to the spice. I appreciated that we got to start to scratch the surface of Raziel's character and why he has certain proclivities in his personal / "romantic life". I would want to see a continued development of understanding him further in the next book. As for Nadi, I found her to be a likable character. I really loved the tension and banter between her and Raziel.
I was not anticipating that ending AT ALL, and I believe that if Nadi & Raziel team up in the next book together, it will also be another entertaining read. I was also very happy with the page count, as this story is not very intensive on world building, but more focused on the central storyline. It's refreshing to not have a debut novel +400 pages without a large focus on world-building. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely read the sequel to see what happens next with Nadi & Raziel! Definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy mafia/peaky blinder's romance vibes with supernatural creatures!
Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publishing company for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
Wow! I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. I would not say that I typically enjoy dark romance, but I really enjoyed how this story was written. At no point did I feel like the elements were too dark - especially when it came to the spice. I appreciated that we got to start to scratch the surface of Raziel's character and why he has certain proclivities in his personal / "romantic life". I would want to see a continued development of understanding him further in the next book. As for Nadi, I found her to be a likable character. I really loved the tension and banter between her and Raziel.
I was not anticipating that ending AT ALL, and I believe that if Nadi & Raziel team up in the next book together, it will also be another entertaining read. I was also very happy with the page count, as this story is not very intensive on world building, but more focused on the central storyline. It's refreshing to not have a debut novel +400 pages without a large focus on world-building. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely read the sequel to see what happens next with Nadi & Raziel! Definitely recommend this book to readers who enjoy mafia/peaky blinder's romance vibes with supernatural creatures!
Thank you NetGalley, the author, and the publishing company for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received this book as an ARC from The Nerd Fam and Second Sky Books in exchange for an honest review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book was a very pleasant surprise! I listened to it in audiobook format, narrator Desireé Ketchum did an amazing job! I was enthralled since the first chapter, you really gave life to the story and I truly enjoyed it! This book straight up gave me “touch her and die” energy, mafia drama, AND vampire politics all in one. Kathryn Ann Kingsley basically said, “let’s mix enemies to lovers, an arranged marriage, and a morally gray power struggle” and then spiced it up with a morally gray FMC!!!!!!!!! fae shapeshifter bride who’s not here to play nice. Raziel? I hated how much I loved him but i loved the banter they had together. The tension had me screaming into my Kindle!
Spicy-wise this book is mostly all tension until about the last 30% of the book, but the tension in the first 60% is definitely worth the wait, and that 30% is gonna have you wide eyed and day dreaming just like me lmao
This book is dark, dangerous, and delicious, and that ending???? I hate the fact im gonna have to wait who knows how long to be able to know what happens next! The Serpent’s Bride is for anyone who likes their romance with sharp edges, loves morally gray characters, and a cliffhanger that will emotionally ruin you (in the best way).
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
This book was a very pleasant surprise! I listened to it in audiobook format, narrator Desireé Ketchum did an amazing job! I was enthralled since the first chapter, you really gave life to the story and I truly enjoyed it! This book straight up gave me “touch her and die” energy, mafia drama, AND vampire politics all in one. Kathryn Ann Kingsley basically said, “let’s mix enemies to lovers, an arranged marriage, and a morally gray power struggle” and then spiced it up with a morally gray FMC!!!!!!!!! fae shapeshifter bride who’s not here to play nice. Raziel? I hated how much I loved him but i loved the banter they had together. The tension had me screaming into my Kindle!
Spicy-wise this book is mostly all tension until about the last 30% of the book, but the tension in the first 60% is definitely worth the wait, and that 30% is gonna have you wide eyed and day dreaming just like me lmao
This book is dark, dangerous, and delicious, and that ending???? I hate the fact im gonna have to wait who knows how long to be able to know what happens next! The Serpent’s Bride is for anyone who likes their romance with sharp edges, loves morally gray characters, and a cliffhanger that will emotionally ruin you (in the best way).