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

Reviews tagging 'Cursing'

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

85 reviews

erinkellyreads's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

I think I'm torn on this one. I'd like to give it a 3.5, I think. I enjoyed reading it, and the tournament system was fun to read. I also don't know if I ever really came to love the characters? Except maybe poor Ibrahim. I'd like to learn more about the gods and how all that works. I'm going to read the second one. But I think I'm a little surprised after how much I've read people gush about this series.

((Also - and this is petty because I have read way too many vampire books and also all of Maas' work - I'm not a huge fan of winged vampires. Shapeshifting to have wings? Sure. Turning into animals a 'la the old myths? Of course. But... feather wings and bat wings? I dunno.))

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kymboh78's review

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adventurous dark mysterious tense 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

4.25

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zanazy's review

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adventurous challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

I found myself pleasantly surprised by the story. Oraya is the main female character and the story is told from her perspective. Raihn is the main male character who is mysterious from the very beginning and this drew me in. Vampires, humans, gods, and a competition to be the last one standing are all present, and there is a mystery to both Oraya and Raihn that kept me reading in suspense. I was dreading the conclusion based on the knowledge that only one could win, so I saved the last 10 chapters an extra day. In the end, I may have screamed, fell into silent shock, and currently still feel like I need to be a little stabby stabby with some characters.

Oraya is the adopted-human daughter of the reigning Vampire King, Vincent. In this world, there are three factions of vampires, and the Hiaj are currently on top since Vincent is a Hiaj. The other two factions are the Rishan who previously ruled and who Vincent overthrew in what is described as a bloody coup. The Bloodborn are the third faction who are cursed and set to live for shortened lifespans. As a human surrounded by vampires, Oraya has always been protected by her father, Vincent. He trains her to fight and kill, and it’s his idea for her to enter the Kejari, a bloody tournament that comes along once in a lifetime for Oraya. Vincent basically trains her to win so in the end, as her wish from the goddess, she can bind herself to him. Giving her power, but also giving him power too. Raihn is another contestant in the tournament, and they form an alliance, knowing they will eventually need to turn on each other as only one can win. While they are in the tournament, civil unrest is prevalent and King Vincent rains havoc for all the Rishan. As the tournament progresses, Oraya and Raihn become close, and although Oraya has always been told to guard her heart, it becomes harder to do after each trial. This culminates in the final trial, when the two fight each other and only one of them wins.

This was a unique vampire story that was not afraid to show that humans are the main food source for vampires. This led me to wonder how a human like Oraya has survived as long as she has which I hope to find out more in book 2. Oraya was cunning and smart when it came to her survival. When it came to knowledge, she was as naive as a prey would be in a world surrounded by predators. On a personal note, her name did not seem fitting and is my least favorite amongst all the other characters. Raihn is a complex and mysterious character who was both a white knight and dark knight throughout the story. Villain, enemy, friend, and

lover.

When Raihn and Oraya finally ally in the tournament, the story picks up pace and seemingly flies by. Until that point, the pace of the story is slow. Oraya often describes the world and building architecture in great detail which paints a vivid picture of her world and surroundings as you read. My favorite side character is Mische, Raihn’s friend and ally coming into the tournament, and she represents everything good in vampires. Vincent is a compelling character who loves his adopted daughter in his own twisted way. He is a mix of Daddy Warbucks from Annie and Wilson Fisk (Kingpin) from the Daredevil comics.

The ending…

I screamed when Oraya killed Raihn. At first, I thought Vincent used his powers to push her hand to kill him. I should have known it was Raihn pushing her to kill him. Even after she said he was dead, I was expecting him to wake up. Her wish… I was not expecting that. I assumed she’d ask for his life, or the goddess would see how much she loved him and gift him to her, but when Oraya wishes that Raihn had won instead… WOW. I do feel like an explanation is needed, as that would mean that she should be dead right? That he killed her? Then when Raihn immediately upon realizing what she’d done (which he realized super quick and asked no questions), tells the goddess he wants the Rishan restored, I went into another shock. I was not surprised to find out that he was an heir since Oraya focused on his scar a lot, but for him to do what he did once his mark showed up? HE KILLS VINCENT. It’s not even just that, but he kills Vincent in front of Oraya as she watches and tries to save her father. Cruel as he was, she thought of him as her father and Raihn knew that. It was too much. When Oraya gets the heir mark for the Hiaj and Raihn saves her life by telling everyone he will marry her, all my love for his character dies. He had previously told Oraya binding herself to Vincent was a dumb idea, and yet here he was doing it to her. She even calls him out for this later. APPLAUSE for Oraya here. I know he had to stop his people from killing her so he said what he said, but I cannot forgive him for saying he would marry Oraya and rape her like he assumes Vincent did to the previous Rishan queen, who we also know was Raihn’s first vampire love that he regrets not saving. And to top it off, he said he would plop up Vincent’s body so he would watch the wedding and I assume the subsequent bedding/rape. That whole dialogue went too far. Raihn eventually tells Oraya he said it to save her, but it’s a poor excuse for someone who loves her. Given Oraya’s past, which he knew about, and how she just watched him kill her father, I cannot imagine how you forgive or un break your heart from all of that. I love that Jesmine is Oraya’s army’s top commandant and survived, and that she called Oraya her queen. From the quick interaction they have, I got the sense that she will be able to help Oraya understand all that she is, and how powerful she always has been. I truly hope Oraya can stand on her own and reclaim her power, her title, and save her kingdom. I currently could care less if Raihn remains in the picture. He needs a major redemption in my eyes.

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vlpfeiffer's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.25

While I had a good time reading this, sometimes just out of morbid curiosity, the more I read books labeled Romantasy the more I realize they just aren’t up to my tastes.

Romantasy authors feel like they are trying to write YA while adding in a little more blood and ‘spice’ with an excuse to use the word ‘cock’. Personally I feel like there is not enough time to cram these two genres together correctly without losing a bit of the quality from both. Either the world building is rushed or the romance is rushed or BOTH.

Oraya had a lot of contradictory traits and it took me a while to like her, if I even do now, I’m not sure. Raihn was funny and had good dialogue, but he was also just a generic good looking guy with *gasp* a lot of secrets hiding who he really is. I liked the irony that the author labeled him ‘Pretty Trouble.’ Accurate.

I can see why a lot of people adore this genre and this book, but I just found myself saying ‘But Why?’ A good chunk of the time.

I’m a masochist though, and I’ll probably read the sequel.

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