A review by theshelfarchive
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent

adventurous dark emotional funny mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

I thoroughly enjoyed The Serpent and the Wings of Night—it was a gripping and captivating read! The dynamic between Oraya and Raihn was definitely a highlight for me. Their reverse grumpy x sunshine relationship was done so well, and I found myself drawn to how their contrasting personalities created such an engaging dynamic throughout the story. The chemistry between them felt real and it kept me eagerly turning the pages to see how their bond developed.

The plot twists towards the end completely threw me for a loop, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll impact the future of Oraya and Raihn’s relationship. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing how things evolve after that dramatic turn of events.

As for the writing style, I was pleasantly surprised by how lyrical and beautifully crafted it was. It flowed seamlessly and added so much depth to the story. This was my first Carissa Broadbent book, and I can say without a doubt that I’ll be checking out her other works. 

Now, I did have some mixed feelings about Oraya and Vincent's relationship, as well as Oraya herself. I found myself frustrated by how blindly she trusted Vincent, especially considering the many unanswered questions surrounding his motives. She never really pushed him for explanations, which left me feeling uneasy, even though I understand it was a result of her difficult past. Vincent repeatedly told her he'd never hurt her, but she never seemed to press him on why he saved her in the first place. There was a part of me that sympathised with her, though, given how she was raised in an environment where Vincent’s version of ‘love’ was all she knew. It made sense that she still felt a misplaced loyalty towards him, but it was still a bit hard to fully embrace.

All in all, The Serpent and the Wings of Night was a fantastic read, with strong characters, an intriguing plot, and some real emotional depth. I highly recommend it to fans of fantasy romance, and I’m eagerly awaiting the next book in the series. 
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