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4.48 AVERAGE
4.48 AVERAGE
I am absolutely obsessed with this book. It was so much fun! I am so impressed with the depth of world building and character development that Davenport managed to fit into this standalone novel.
This story had all the great elements of an enemies-to-lovers romantasy while still feeling very unique.The chemistry between Kadeesha and Malachi was so good! This book is definitely spicy but not at the expense of the story. It felt very well balanced. Kadeesha's struggles to overcome the misogyny of the Southern fae culture to be the leader and warrior she knew she could be were well done and relatable.
I would highly recommend this book to all lovers of romantasy!
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and N.E. Davenport for the ARC!
This story had all the great elements of an enemies-to-lovers romantasy while still feeling very unique.The chemistry between Kadeesha and Malachi was so good! This book is definitely spicy but not at the expense of the story. It felt very well balanced. Kadeesha's struggles to overcome the misogyny of the Southern fae culture to be the leader and warrior she knew she could be were well done and relatable.
I would highly recommend this book to all lovers of romantasy!
Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Voyager, and N.E. Davenport for the ARC!
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon & Harper Voyager for the arc đź’–
My favorite kind of FMC is the kind who doesn’t need you and will remind you of that. The kind who isn’t going to let the MMC handle her, but rather handle HIM. The kind with opinions and feelings that aren’t dainty, cute, and agreeable all the time.
Kadeesha is all of those things and more đź’–
I’m not normally a standalone girly, but Our Vicious Oaths packs so much into it that I didn’t feel lacking when I finished it. The world building hits hard from page one, the characters feel fleshed out and multidimensional.
This book has so many things I absolutely love:
- dual pov
- a fiercely strong fmc that can stand on her own BEFORE the mmc comes into the picture
- animal companions đź’–
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
I’d happily read another five books about these two đź’•đź¤
———
⚔️pre read 💖
ty to netgalley and Avon & Harper voyager for the arc!! I am so beyond excited to get started (aka as soon as I hit post I am running to my kindle)
My favorite kind of FMC is the kind who doesn’t need you and will remind you of that. The kind who isn’t going to let the MMC handle her, but rather handle HIM. The kind with opinions and feelings that aren’t dainty, cute, and agreeable all the time.
Kadeesha is all of those things and more đź’–
I’m not normally a standalone girly, but Our Vicious Oaths packs so much into it that I didn’t feel lacking when I finished it. The world building hits hard from page one, the characters feel fleshed out and multidimensional.
This book has so many things I absolutely love:
- dual pov
- a fiercely strong fmc that can stand on her own BEFORE the mmc comes into the picture
- animal companions đź’–
- enemies to lovers
- forced proximity
I’d happily read another five books about these two đź’•đź¤
———
⚔️pre read 💖
ty to netgalley and Avon & Harper voyager for the arc!! I am so beyond excited to get started (aka as soon as I hit post I am running to my kindle)
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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:
Complicated
If you are a fantasy romance reader, you know how difficult it is to find an incredibly well-written STAND ALONE book with the right balance of political intrigue, strong FMC, world-building, and character growth. And by difficult, I mean impossible.
Thank you to N.E. Davenport, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this phenomenal book!
This book is everything I could possibly want in a stand-alone fantasy romance and in under 600 pages. After following the author on Instagram, I was stoked by the opportunity to read fantasy by a Black author that takes place in a world without white folx. And Davenport did not disappoint.
Kadeesha - incredibly strong FMC, mind-linked to her kongamato (are these basically pteradactyls? https://www.genesispark.com/exhibits/evidence/cryptozoological/pterosaurs/kongamato/), knows what she wants and takes it. Has a found family in her Nkita sisters from all classes/castes.
Malachizrien - incredibly powerful, arrogant, morally gray MMC hell-bent on revenge and strategically using people to get what he wants. SHADOW DADDY.
Spice was 5/5 for me - comes into play often throughout the book but never feels forced. Other reviewers have mentioned that the 'smut scenes' didn't add to character development or plot but I wholeheartedly disagree. And it's kind of refreshing to see two people use each other to meet physical needs and the relationship develop more slowly - this seems more authentic to me than love at first sight.
Dual POV - couldn't have lived without it. You really get insight into how both characters are thinking, feeling, growing, resolving inner and outer turmoil.
I am probably going to re-read this book very soon.
Thank you to N.E. Davenport, NetGalley, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read and review this phenomenal book!
This book is everything I could possibly want in a stand-alone fantasy romance and in under 600 pages. After following the author on Instagram, I was stoked by the opportunity to read fantasy by a Black author that takes place in a world without white folx. And Davenport did not disappoint.
Kadeesha - incredibly strong FMC, mind-linked to her kongamato (are these basically pteradactyls? https://www.genesispark.com/exhibits/evidence/cryptozoological/pterosaurs/kongamato/), knows what she wants and takes it. Has a found family in her Nkita sisters from all classes/castes.
Malachizrien - incredibly powerful, arrogant, morally gray MMC hell-bent on revenge and strategically using people to get what he wants. SHADOW DADDY.
Spice was 5/5 for me - comes into play often throughout the book but never feels forced. Other reviewers have mentioned that the 'smut scenes' didn't add to character development or plot but I wholeheartedly disagree. And it's kind of refreshing to see two people use each other to meet physical needs and the relationship develop more slowly - this seems more authentic to me than love at first sight.
Dual POV - couldn't have lived without it. You really get insight into how both characters are thinking, feeling, growing, resolving inner and outer turmoil.
I am probably going to re-read this book very soon.
adventurous
emotional
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:
No
Oaths and promises and other pesky obligations...
In this glorious tale by Nia Davenport, we are introduced to a Nkita warrior princess named Kadeesha. Kadeesha is seen by her father as a capable warrior, but after all she is still just a princess and needs to marry. The way things tend to go between kingdoms, there is political tension and the easiest way to soothe those is to marry off ones daughter. Well, that's how things start, and then everything gets turned upside down...
Throughout the story we explore a rich kingdom(s) with fantastical creatures. Political intrigue and schemes - kissed with a mouth full of spice!
The two main characters have an interesting journey of overcoming things together, but their chemistry is undeniable.
If you are into fantasy and enjoy smut - do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
BECAUSE THAT THRONE! .. you will get the context later!
True fantasy fae warrior princess with animal companions and ..... spice !
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Avon Books for letting me ride along for this adventure!
In this glorious tale by Nia Davenport, we are introduced to a Nkita warrior princess named Kadeesha. Kadeesha is seen by her father as a capable warrior, but after all she is still just a princess and needs to marry. The way things tend to go between kingdoms, there is political tension and the easiest way to soothe those is to marry off ones daughter. Well, that's how things start, and then everything gets turned upside down...
Throughout the story we explore a rich kingdom(s) with fantastical creatures. Political intrigue and schemes - kissed with a mouth full of spice!
The two main characters have an interesting journey of overcoming things together, but their chemistry is undeniable.
If you are into fantasy and enjoy smut - do yourself a favor and pick this one up!
BECAUSE THAT THRONE! .. you will get the context later!
True fantasy fae warrior princess with animal companions and ..... spice !
Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Collins and Avon Books for letting me ride along for this adventure!
This was a fun romantasy - the story wasn’t anything game changing and I had a few complaints, but overall a solid read.
Full review to come after publication due to spoilers.
3/5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Full review to come after publication due to spoilers.
3/5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley, Avon, and Harper Voyager for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This is how you write an enemies-to-lovers story in a fantasy book. I want heat and harm, lust and love, chess and checkers—and this author delivered. They did an amazing job conveying all of the above. I especially enjoyed the battle scenes, the Black cast, and the found family each main character has. This book was brilliant, phenomenal, and every other adjective that conveys the same. I would give it infinite stars if I could.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
adventurous
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:
Yes
"A king must know his own power intimately if he is to weild it to maximum effect, and he must understand the extent of the havoc it can wreak if he is to wield it responsibly."
DNF @70%
The things I enjoyed:
DNF @70%
The things I enjoyed:
- The queer-normative world
- The lore surrounding fae and the overall worldbuilding. Everything that was given to us felt relevant and I enjoyed how it was interwoven into the plot.
- The politics
- How unapollegetically black everything was
- I usually hate dual pov, but I really enjoyed it here. The transitions felt smooth and even though this uses third person, the characters thought processes feel different and unique enough to them.
- The clear communication between the two leads, I appreciated how they just got to the point instead of having miscommunication
- Malachi and Kadeesha as characters and their interactions with their groups they worked closely with
What I wanted more of:
- I strongly agree with another review I saw mentioning wanting more lore surrounding Kongamatos. I also would've liked more interactions between Zahzah and Kadeesha.
While I understand the circumstances of the story had them seperated for a time, could their telepathy not work from such a distance? Overall, I wish the telepathic aspect was more touched upon.
The things I disliked:
- There isn't anything wrong with smut scenes but the context surrounding them weren't it for me.
Malachi and his Cadre (his group of soldiers he's close with) show up to Kadeeshas wedding in the beginning of the book and then watch as her father and at least two kids die. (Though they did save the other remaining two children) Yet she just can't help but sleep with him? - Another issue is that outside of the smut scenes there really isn't any "romance". The two characters feel lust for eachother, but you don't get that slow descent into the small things they like about eachother outside of that. We get like 2-3 good conversations between them and that's it. Anything they noticed about eachother was chalked up to "This makes me feel horny" instead of anything about their personalities or as people who are starting to like eachother over the course of the book.
- However, even with my critiques I still would've finished the book if it weren't for
the suprise pregnancy trope popping up at 70%. I think that within the context of the story and the prophecy given (especially with the misogyny and control held over the fmc because of it) does the story a disservice and felt out of left field for me.What is the point for having the fmc not want to have people only seeing her as a womb/being obessed with her potential to have a baby, pointing out that the mmc doesn't want kids right now, and that fae have a certain time period they can get pregnant, if you were just going to include pregnancy anyway? I feel like it would've been better to have the characters mutually decide to do this (to make it so the prophecy is still real), have the prophecy be fake and just a tool of misogyny, or just have parts of it be fake and other parts real.
Overall, I think that anyone looking for a black romantasy book will enjoy this! Especially if romantasy is your favorite genre. I also think that people who enjoy smuttier books will like this one, and people who like court intrigue.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Misogyny, Torture, Murder, Pregnancy, War
Minor: Child death, Self harm, Death of parent
adventurous
emotional
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