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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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 really liked this one.
It was different from what I'm used to with the whole raven thing.
It was a nice, fresh change for me.
I think the characters were very well thought out and had their "own distinctive voices".
But it's dark. The spice is dark. It involves pain, humiliation, a bit of knife play and more.
The past of some of the characters are very gruesome and horrible.
Got a hint of a why choose going on, but it's more of a "sharing is caring", so don’t go in to this, expecting a why choose.
The ending...didn’t not see that coming 👀 soooooo many questions! 🤯
It was different from what I'm used to with the whole raven thing.
It was a nice, fresh change for me.
I think the characters were very well thought out and had their "own distinctive voices".
But it's dark. The spice is dark. It involves pain, humiliation, a bit of knife play and more.
The past of some of the characters are very gruesome and horrible.
Got a hint of a why choose going on, but it's more of a "sharing is caring", so don’t go in to this, expecting a why choose.
The ending...didn’t not see that coming 👀 soooooo many questions! 🤯
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
While I understood the trigger warnings, I was very uncomfortable with some of the non-consensual aspects of this book. The plot didn't seem to grab me enough to look past my discomfort
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Feathers So Vicious is a dark fantasy romance and the opening installment in the Court of Ravens duology. The story follows Galantia, a young human woman caught in an uneasy, dangerous world where raven shifters vie for power and revenge. After her journey to a human-allied kingdom, she is kidnapped by two morally gray raven shifters—Malyr and Sebian—and becomes enmeshed in their political intrigue, secrets, and twisted desires. One offers her comfort and protection (Sebian), the other vengeful cruelty and dominance (Malyr). Galantia must navigate being a pawn in their games, betrayal, secrets, and darker forces pulling at her identity. Dark themes, violence, possible abuse, and moral ambiguity run throughout, and the book ends on a cliffhanger that makes clear the stakes will only get higher in the second part.
What I Liked
- Dark elements done with care: The book didn't shy away from harshness—violence, betrayal, trauma—but I appreciated that these were woven into the narrative, not just thrown in for shock. They give weight to the character motivations. Even though there were moments of non-consent, which were a bit difficult and jarring to read, they did add emotional complexity to the romantic storyline.
- The contrast between the romantic relationships: The tension between the two male leads (Malyr & Sebian) and how they differ in their treatment of Galantia creates a compelling dynamic. The push and pull—redemption vs revenge, kindness vs cruelty—adds flavor and keeps things from being one-note.
- Atmosphere & emotional tension: The brooding fantasy world, political intrigue, and morally grey characters give rise to emotional highs and lows that pulled me in. Scenes of betrayal or cruelty feel powerful (though sometimes uncomfortable).
- Character arcs (especially for the male leads): Both Malyr and Sebian are more than just antagonists/love interests. Their backstories, inner turmoil, and gradual reveals make them layered, so it’s possible to sympathize with or at least understand them, even though I didn't always condone everything they did.
What I Didn’t Like / What Fell Short
- Imbalance between romance vs plot: The romantic arcs / “romance moments” sometimes dominated or slowed the momentum, and the plot (political intrigue, world-building, etc.) feelt less evenly developed. There were long stretches where the focus was more on romantic dynamics, desire, and emotional tension—while the stakes in the external conflict sometimes lagged behind.
- Intensity of darker content: Some of the non-consensual scenes, coercion, or moments of abuse, occasionally felt overly intense, under-addressed, and possibly sensationalized.
- Pacing issues: Because of those heavy romance / emotional scenes, the plot felt like it dragged in places; in contrast, the final third of the book (or latter parts) picks up sharply. That juxtaposition made me feel like I was waiting for the “real” story to arrive.
- Galantia’s character sometimes underdeveloped in her emotional processing: While she grows, there are some places where her reactions or internal struggles could have been deeper or more consistently maintained given what she endures. It sometimes feels like she shifts from trauma to resilience too quickly or without enough reflection.
- Predictable plot twists:
I predicted that Galantia was going to be a white raven, the moment they were mentioned as well as Malyr's betrayal at the end. - Overuse of "hmm" in the dialogue: This was used 40 times, which seemed a bit excessive.
Romantic Arcs
There are basically two competing romantic dynamics:
- Sebian & Galantia — Sebian is more protective, offers tenderness, acts as a refuge for Galantia. Their interactions often feel safer and emotional, giving glimpses into what Galantia might hope for in a relationship built on trust. There is a redemptive arc here (or at least the promise of one), contrasted with his own demons.
- Malyr & Galantia — Malyr is darker, vindictive, hurt, cruel in many ways. His relationship with Galantia is full of torment, power imbalance, and manipulation. Yet, there are also moments where vulnerability shows, secrets reveal, and you see why Galantia is drawn to or affected by him despite the danger.
The contrast between the two—one offering healing, one offering challenge (or pain)—is one of the book’s strongest features. It allows for a “which desire do I follow” tension, rather than a simple good-vs-bad dichotomy.
Memorable Quotes:
" For every girl who can love a villain, so long as he’s handsome, hung, and good at groveling."
- One of the best dedications ever.
This book also brings to mind a lyric from the song Cursive by Voila - "When you were never fed love on a silver spoon you learn to lick it off knives, you do, you do". It's very fitting considering Galantia's emotional journey in the book, wanting nothing more than to be loved. Plus, she actually does lick a knife in the book.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Feathers So Vicious is a flawed but compelling dark fantasy romance. For someone who enjoys morally grey characters, intense emotional stakes, and darker romantic entanglements, there was much I appreciated. It captured me in its tension, the romance arcs, and the darker shades of relationships and power. However, that same strength could feel like a weakness depending on expectations. For readers who want more balanced plot vs romance, more emotional realism (especially in Galantia’s inner life), or lighter handling of trauma and abuse, this may sometimes be frustrating and uncomfortable. The pacing makes the first part of the book feel slower (romance-heavy, emotionally heavy) with the external plot catching up nearer the end. In my opinion, it got many things right (tone, romance contrast, emotional impact), but left room for improvement, especially in pacing, balance, and character emotional arcs.
Did I cry? No.
Formats: e-book (KU), audio (Audible)
This book also brings to mind a lyric from the song Cursive by Voila - "When you were never fed love on a silver spoon you learn to lick it off knives, you do, you do". It's very fitting considering Galantia's emotional journey in the book, wanting nothing more than to be loved. Plus, she actually does lick a knife in the book.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Feathers So Vicious is a flawed but compelling dark fantasy romance. For someone who enjoys morally grey characters, intense emotional stakes, and darker romantic entanglements, there was much I appreciated. It captured me in its tension, the romance arcs, and the darker shades of relationships and power. However, that same strength could feel like a weakness depending on expectations. For readers who want more balanced plot vs romance, more emotional realism (especially in Galantia’s inner life), or lighter handling of trauma and abuse, this may sometimes be frustrating and uncomfortable. The pacing makes the first part of the book feel slower (romance-heavy, emotionally heavy) with the external plot catching up nearer the end. In my opinion, it got many things right (tone, romance contrast, emotional impact), but left room for improvement, especially in pacing, balance, and character emotional arcs.
Did I cry? No.
Formats: e-book (KU), audio (Audible)
dark
emotional
Audio Book
I maybe would have liked reading better than audio but this was soo dark. Definitely check the warnings. Multiple mentions of rape and forced sexual encounters
I maybe would have liked reading better than audio but this was soo dark. Definitely check the warnings. Multiple mentions of rape and forced sexual encounters