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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is probably more like 4.5 stars but realistically I never enjoy the sequels more than the first book- and far as fantasy sequels go this was def top tier
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I found myself really struggling to pay attention to this book. I think it had a lot to do with the narrators. It’s the same girl from the first book, who’s okay. However, the Raihn character’s voice sounded like a 50 year old smoker. I couldn’t stand it. I would’ve much preferred the girl to just read his part. The sec scenes were so annoying. Always not wanting it, but loving it. Ugh!
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Ashes Without Enough Fire
WARNING: May contain spoilers!
I wanted to love this sequel as much as “The Serpent & the Wings of Night”, but it didn’t quite land for me. Where the first book hooked me with intensity and emotional weight, this one often felt stretched, repetitive, and far too slow. The ingredients were there—romance, court intrigue, brutal battles—but the spark wasn’t as bright.
Oraya remains sharp and fierce, a queen navigating grief, rage, and impossible choices. Her voice still carries bite, but I found her arc frustratingly passive. The vengeance I was expecting never truly materialized, and while she shines in certain moments, much of her fire dimmed compared to book one.
Raihn is a tangle of contradictions: ruthless but tender, desperate but charming. His devotion and groveling made me swoon at times, but I struggled with how often the story bent in his favor. The interludes about his past love dragged his arc down and undercut the romance that should have been front and center.
The relationship of Oraya and Rhain is the centerpiece, but it’s also where I felt most conflicted. The angst, the banter, the moments of tenderness—they’re intoxicating. Their dance scene and battle scenes together were highlights. But repetition dulled the impact, and Oraya’s lack of follow-through on vengeance made their dynamic feel unbalanced. I wanted more fire, less circling.
Mische is the heartbeat of this world. Her warmth cuts through the darkness, and her loyalty makes her stand out. I smiled every time she appeared on the page, and her story hints at even more to come. Truly one of my favorites.
Slippery, menacing, and oddly magnetic: Septimus walks the line between villain and ally in a way that kept me hooked, even when the main conflict didn’t. He’s the kind of character who steals every scene he touches.
Vale & Lilith's imited page time left me craving so much more. Vale’s quiet loyalty and Lilith’s presence carried weight, even when they were only in the background. Glad they have an entire novella about them.
Even in death, Vincent dominates. His legacy, his contradictions, his brutal love for Oraya—all of it deepened the story in ways Raihn’s arc couldn’t match. Honestly, the emotional core of the book belongs to him.
This isn’t a bad book—it has grit, heart, and some beautiful moments—but compared to Serpent, it’s missing that addictive pull. The pacing drags, the villains lack depth, and too much convenience smooths over the plot. I’ll always adore this world, but this installment left me lukewarm rather than breathless. Worth the read, but not unforgettable.
I really enjoyed this for the most part. I already really liked Oraya from the last book but I related to her so much in this one. I thought her conflicting emotions on her relationship with both Vincent and Raihn were very well done. I liked how she couldn't decide whether she loved or hated her father for all his secrets. I am intimately familiar with the frustration of having questions you'll never get the answers to and having to just accept that you will never know the truth. It sucks. I also really liked the tension between Oraya and Raihn and how she like was fighting with herself over her feelings for him the whole book.
spoilers
My main complaint is that I'm really over the trope of the MMC dying or almost dying in a self-sacrificial way and then getting brought back to life anyway so that there can be a happily ever after. It was done twice in this series, and I almost wish Carissa would've just gone for it and let Raihn stay dead. Don't get me wrong, I really like Raihn, and it's rare that I actually like a book boyfriend. I think Slade Ravinger from Plated Prisoner is one of the only other ones I can think of that I actually like. But it cheapened his sacrifice to have him just magically resurrected twice by a goddess.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this book. It's the kind of drama and relationship dynamic that I'm very into. And I'm definitely looking forward to reading Mische's story in the next one!
spoilers
My main complaint is that I'm really over the trope of the MMC dying or almost dying in a self-sacrificial way and then getting brought back to life anyway so that there can be a happily ever after. It was done twice in this series, and I almost wish Carissa would've just gone for it and let Raihn stay dead. Don't get me wrong, I really like Raihn, and it's rare that I actually like a book boyfriend. I think Slade Ravinger from Plated Prisoner is one of the only other ones I can think of that I actually like. But it cheapened his sacrifice to have him just magically resurrected twice by a goddess.
Otherwise, I enjoyed this book. It's the kind of drama and relationship dynamic that I'm very into. And I'm definitely looking forward to reading Mische's story in the next one!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I thought the book was good. The story really drew me in. I could really empathize with Rhain and Oraya. I’m already curious to see whether the unanswered questions will be resolved in the next parts, even if the two of them won’t be the main characters anymore.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
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
❤️
adventurous
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:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
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:
Yes