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A review by readingwithfefe
A Kingdom of Death and Despair: Whitney's Version by Whitney Dean
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
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
5.0
1st person/dual pov
Spice: 4.5/5
I wish I could better explain the vice grip this series has on my heart. This book takes us to the events immediately following the end of book two. Raven and Zeke are fighting their way back to each other with every fiber of their souls as well as fighting to keep their people safe. When a new threat enters the realm Raven and Zeke learn more about their pasts, who they are now, their bond, and what it all could mean for their future.
Obviously, if you’ve made it to this point of the series you know that these two have had quite a few hurdles thrown at them so far on top of being in the middle of a multitude of secrets. So why jump of a perfectly good moving train right? 😂 It just wouldn’t be “Zaven” without lots of tension and passion. Which is the first thing I loved about this particular book - the fighting and the making up. 😆 Because no one grovels without actually groveling quite like Zeke does. He just sort of tells you you’re no longer mad at him with these swoon worthy words and flirtatious personality then before you come to your senses bam - the ravaging begins! While I am a huge fan of these hot as sin makeup sessions I can’t lie I really do like the bickering between them lol! They both push each others buttons most of the time on purpose and if they know it will piss the other off it only entices them to do it more 99% of the time. Although with the making up they do I can’t say that I blame them cause I’d be doing the same thing in their shoes haha!
Another thing I loved was this big family they have created.From actual relatives to best friends, advisors, rulers of other kingdoms, and even some of the families living within the kingdom Raven and Zeke have both gone from being alone to surrounded by love, support, and friendship. The more they are there fighting alongside our duo the more we learn about them and the more we love them. I like how Whitney has taken a few of the characters that I was not fond of at first and slowly revealed pieces of them that buried their way into my heart. Now it feels like I’ve adored them from the very beginning and I’m just as invested in their happiness as I am Raven and Zeke’s.
As for the storyline well get ready to have a lot of your questions and/or theories answered - then to have new ones after those answers. 😂 BUT I will say this, I didn’t have near a many questions at the end of this book as I have the other two. Like I said there’s a lot that gets revealed throughout this book and even the tiniest piece is important. It’s all one big magical puzzle and I’m freaking hooked on figuring it all out. For me it made reading it so much more fun as I waited for the next puzzle piece to drop into place.
And of course I can’t not talk about the spice really quick. Because holy mackerel I thought there wouldn’t be as much spice in this one as there was the others. I mean the quantity is probably not quite as high but it’s not lacking in quantity department either lol. But that’s not even that important when the quality of the spice that is there is blazing! (Hehe see what I did there? I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. 🙈) Zeke has taken his obsessed self and gone feral when it comes to Raven’s body. And our girl is not complaining one bit. In fact she’s right there with him almost as feral as he his…almost. 😏 Whew, but there is this one scene towards the end of the book, and you’ll know it when you get to it trust me, but it will live rent free in my head for the rest of my days. It is scorching! Quite literally combusting with passion. 😆 I may or may not have read the scene over like 5 times before moving on because daddy Zeke came to play and my knees went MF WEAK! 🥵🥵🫠
Bless you for that Whitney… bless you. 🤌🏻👏🏻
Oh and Whitney has stated several times this book is darker tan the others. That is in no way an understatement because there are some things that broke my heart to read about. While it did not trigger me to read it there will be someone if not a few someone’s who possibly will be so make sure to go over the content warnings before reading.
So, did we end on another epic cliffhanger? Yupp - I was on the verge of screaming again. Even if I wasn’t quite as riled up as I was at the end of book two I was still pretty fired up over it lol.
Now am I going to go bonkers waiting for the next book? Why yes without a doubt
Is it going to be worth every single second of the wait? Absofrigginlutely!!!!
Spice: 4.5/5
I wish I could better explain the vice grip this series has on my heart. This book takes us to the events immediately following the end of book two. Raven and Zeke are fighting their way back to each other with every fiber of their souls as well as fighting to keep their people safe. When a new threat enters the realm Raven and Zeke learn more about their pasts, who they are now, their bond, and what it all could mean for their future.
Obviously, if you’ve made it to this point of the series you know that these two have had quite a few hurdles thrown at them so far on top of being in the middle of a multitude of secrets. So why jump of a perfectly good moving train right? 😂 It just wouldn’t be “Zaven” without lots of tension and passion. Which is the first thing I loved about this particular book - the fighting and the making up. 😆 Because no one grovels without actually groveling quite like Zeke does. He just sort of tells you you’re no longer mad at him with these swoon worthy words and flirtatious personality then before you come to your senses bam - the ravaging begins! While I am a huge fan of these hot as sin makeup sessions I can’t lie I really do like the bickering between them lol! They both push each others buttons most of the time on purpose and if they know it will piss the other off it only entices them to do it more 99% of the time. Although with the making up they do I can’t say that I blame them cause I’d be doing the same thing in their shoes haha!
Another thing I loved was this big family they have created.From actual relatives to best friends, advisors, rulers of other kingdoms, and even some of the families living within the kingdom Raven and Zeke have both gone from being alone to surrounded by love, support, and friendship. The more they are there fighting alongside our duo the more we learn about them and the more we love them. I like how Whitney has taken a few of the characters that I was not fond of at first and slowly revealed pieces of them that buried their way into my heart. Now it feels like I’ve adored them from the very beginning and I’m just as invested in their happiness as I am Raven and Zeke’s.
As for the storyline well get ready to have a lot of your questions and/or theories answered - then to have new ones after those answers. 😂 BUT I will say this, I didn’t have near a many questions at the end of this book as I have the other two. Like I said there’s a lot that gets revealed throughout this book and even the tiniest piece is important. It’s all one big magical puzzle and I’m freaking hooked on figuring it all out. For me it made reading it so much more fun as I waited for the next puzzle piece to drop into place.
And of course I can’t not talk about the spice really quick. Because holy mackerel I thought there wouldn’t be as much spice in this one as there was the others. I mean the quantity is probably not quite as high but it’s not lacking in quantity department either lol. But that’s not even that important when the quality of the spice that is there is blazing! (Hehe see what I did there? I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. 🙈) Zeke has taken his obsessed self and gone feral when it comes to Raven’s body. And our girl is not complaining one bit. In fact she’s right there with him almost as feral as he his…almost. 😏 Whew, but there is this one scene towards the end of the book, and you’ll know it when you get to it trust me, but it will live rent free in my head for the rest of my days. It is scorching! Quite literally combusting with passion. 😆 I may or may not have read the scene over like 5 times before moving on because daddy Zeke came to play and my knees went MF WEAK! 🥵🥵🫠
Bless you for that Whitney… bless you. 🤌🏻👏🏻
Oh and Whitney has stated several times this book is darker tan the others. That is in no way an understatement because there are some things that broke my heart to read about. While it did not trigger me to read it there will be someone if not a few someone’s who possibly will be so make sure to go over the content warnings before reading.
So, did we end on another epic cliffhanger? Yupp - I was on the verge of screaming again. Even if I wasn’t quite as riled up as I was at the end of book two I was still pretty fired up over it lol.
Now am I going to go bonkers waiting for the next book? Why yes without a doubt
Is it going to be worth every single second of the wait? Absofrigginlutely!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Death, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, and Grief