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jordan_welch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Rape, War, Sexual assault, Cursing, Death of parent, Death, and Grief
paperbacksandsnacks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This book started off a little slow for me. I think because I loved the romance of the previous story I found it hard when they became enemies 🥲 and I had to wait for the love story to properly enter the building again. Although don’t get me wrong I loved the simmering tension underneath the hatred.
When this picked up about the 50% mark though my goodness. It did not stop. I loved the journey of self discovery in this book for Oraya. The way Raihn started uncovering details of her family and the connections she made were a great wrap up element of this duology. The friendships like the previous book were also beautiful, and honestly I just can’t fault the romance. The bond between Raihn and Oraya was gorgeous and made my heart so warm. The way he loved her and would do anything to see her succeed or happy. Honestly what a dreamy man.
Again, fight scenes though usually not my thing were executed well throughout this. I found myself holding my breath and getting really close to the page as I was so absorbed and anxious to see what would happen.
The ending too, I just adored it! I liked that there was still a bit of mystery and tension for us to read about in the other duologies (I hope). And I’m excited to read about some of the other side characters as the series as a whole progresses.
When this picked up about the 50% mark though my goodness. It did not stop. I loved the journey of self discovery in this book for Oraya. The way Raihn started uncovering details of her family and the connections she made were a great wrap up element of this duology. The friendships like the previous book were also beautiful, and honestly I just can’t fault the romance. The bond between Raihn and Oraya was gorgeous and made my heart so warm. The way he loved her and would do anything to see her succeed or happy. Honestly what a dreamy man.
Again, fight scenes though usually not my thing were executed well throughout this. I found myself holding my breath and getting really close to the page as I was so absorbed and anxious to see what would happen.
The ending too, I just adored it! I liked that there was still a bit of mystery and tension for us to read about in the other duologies (I hope). And I’m excited to read about some of the other side characters as the series as a whole progresses.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Death, War, Violence, Death of parent, and Slavery
ashbyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
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
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
nativeladybookwarrior's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Gore, and Violence
Moderate: Confinement and War
laurenanne_91's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
fast-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? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Violence
supadupapepperino's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault and Self harm
jas_thompson's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Torture
kenziekat's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Sexual content
Moderate: Murder, Blood, Slavery, and Physical abuse
Minor: Child abuse and Death of parent
rubisbooknook's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
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
It’s hard to explain all the feelings that this book made me feel because I felt so much! I completely lost myself in the world and the characters joy, fear, love, and pain all felt so real. And I had moments while reading where I absolutely SOBBED, which any reader will tell you is usually the sign of a great book.
I love both Raihn and Oraya and I’m so glad that this book showed their dual point of views because they were definitely both needed. They are one of my favorite fictional couples of all time now and this series has also definitely cemented itself in my list if all-time favorites!
I’m also really glad that I read Six Scorched Roses before starting this book because Vale and Lilith’s story was so relevant. If you’re thinking of moving onto this book after finishing book 1, stop and go back to Six Scorched Roses first, and then come back!
I’m so happy I read this book because I truly loved every moment of the experience, but I’m also sad it’s over cause I still need more. I’m looking forward to whenever the next duology in this series is finally released!
I love both Raihn and Oraya and I’m so glad that this book showed their dual point of views because they were definitely both needed. They are one of my favorite fictional couples of all time now and this series has also definitely cemented itself in my list if all-time favorites!
I’m also really glad that I read Six Scorched Roses before starting this book because Vale and Lilith’s story was so relevant. If you’re thinking of moving onto this book after finishing book 1, stop and go back to Six Scorched Roses first, and then come back!
I’m so happy I read this book because I truly loved every moment of the experience, but I’m also sad it’s over cause I still need more. I’m looking forward to whenever the next duology in this series is finally released!
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Blood, Violence, Death of parent, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief, Slavery, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, and Torture
princessofpages's review against another edition
4.25
I'd spend a lifetime at the tip of your blade, and it would have been worth it.
AGHHHH!! This book was so hard to write a review for because in many ways it is the perfect example of a sequel not quite living up to the sky-high expectations of the first book. The Serpent and the Wings of Night had me absolutely ENTHRALLED, GAGGED, DISTRESSED, FOAMING AT THE MOUTH... all the things. Without giving any spoilers, the ending of the first book set up this incredible enemies-to-lovers storyline that I was fully prepared to go feral for.
Unfortunately, the sequel didn't really deliver for me in terms of pacing or plotting. The first 35% was very slow and it was difficult to get a sense of the characters' motives once we were removed from the Kejari setting. Though I absolutely LOVED getting Raihn's backstory, it wasn't clear at almost any point WHY he was doing... basically anything he was doing. The entire Godblood storyline felt tired and patently uninteresting. Overall, the vibe of the entire first half was just *mild disappointment*.
All of these things had me prepped and ready to hit that 3-star review. EXCEPT.
EXCEPT. There were a few things this book did really well and I'm such a massive sucker for them that they made up for the plotting flaws.
1. The Complicated Father
I love reading about complicated father figures, the more details and emotional messiness and nuance and pain the better. Yes, I obviously have daddy issues. No, I don't want to talk about it. Oraya's exploration of her relationship with Vincent, coming to terms with who he was to her, and the resolution at the end? Had me choking, sobbing, retching. I tabbed so many moments that those sections are just annotations at this point. I'd read the entire series just for the Oraya/Vincent saga.
2. The Healing Arc
I'm beginning to fear that my favorite themes are revealing too much about me personally, but the dual POV was (imo) an amazing choice, and getting to see both Raihn and Oraya's sexual trauma and the way they were able to heal from it together really had me emotional and just generally elevated the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much even though it truly did NOT live up to the expectations of the first. As far as fantasy series wrap-ups go, it wasn't bad: I laughed, I kicked my feet, I cried (too much), and I experienced moderate anguish even though I wasn't once surprised. I call that a win. And cannot WAIT to devour the other novellas in this world!!
AGHHHH!! This book was so hard to write a review for because in many ways it is the perfect example of a sequel not quite living up to the sky-high expectations of the first book. The Serpent and the Wings of Night had me absolutely ENTHRALLED, GAGGED, DISTRESSED, FOAMING AT THE MOUTH... all the things. Without giving any spoilers, the ending of the first book set up this incredible enemies-to-lovers storyline that I was fully prepared to go feral for.
Unfortunately, the sequel didn't really deliver for me in terms of pacing or plotting. The first 35% was very slow and it was difficult to get a sense of the characters' motives once we were removed from the Kejari setting. Though I absolutely LOVED getting Raihn's backstory, it wasn't clear at almost any point WHY he was doing... basically anything he was doing. The entire Godblood storyline felt tired and patently uninteresting. Overall, the vibe of the entire first half was just *mild disappointment*.
All of these things had me prepped and ready to hit that 3-star review. EXCEPT.
EXCEPT. There were a few things this book did really well and I'm such a massive sucker for them that they made up for the plotting flaws.
1. The Complicated Father
I love reading about complicated father figures, the more details and emotional messiness and nuance and pain the better. Yes, I obviously have daddy issues. No, I don't want to talk about it. Oraya's exploration of her relationship with Vincent, coming to terms with who he was to her, and the resolution at the end? Had me choking, sobbing, retching. I tabbed so many moments that those sections are just annotations at this point. I'd read the entire series just for the Oraya/Vincent saga.
2. The Healing Arc
I'm beginning to fear that my favorite themes are revealing too much about me personally, but the dual POV was (imo) an amazing choice, and getting to see both Raihn and Oraya's sexual trauma and the way they were able to heal from it together really had me emotional and just generally elevated the story.
Overall, I enjoyed this book so much even though it truly did NOT live up to the expectations of the first. As far as fantasy series wrap-ups go, it wasn't bad: I laughed, I kicked my feet, I cried (too much), and I experienced moderate anguish even though I wasn't once surprised. I call that a win. And cannot WAIT to devour the other novellas in this world!!
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Violence, Slavery, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, and Torture