CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, FANTASY, ROMANCE
ABOUT THE BOOK
AUTHOR: carissa broadbent
SERIES: crowns of nyaxia, book 1
GENRES: ROMANCE, FANTASY
PUBLISHER: bramble
PUBLISHING DATE: december 5, 2023
page count: 480
GOODREADS summary
My Thoughts:
As a vampire fanatic, author Carissa Broadbent’s “The Serpent & the Wings of Night” caught my attention with its reputation for bloodthirsty vampires, action, romance, and a battle to the death.
THE PLOT:
The plot was outstanding and honestly the strongest part of the book. Every chapter featured Oraya overcoming some obstacle, whether it be inner demons or actual demons. Yes, there are actual demons that come out of the wood work.
If you’re a “Hunger Games” fan like me you’ll appreciate the trope of a deadly competition in this new adult novel, especially with a main character who has obvious disadvantages. In the beginning, I didn’t know how Oraya, a human woman, was going supposed to defeat winged vampires with magical powers. Yet, with every obstacle, Oraya displays her badassery.
The slow burn romance aspect also moved the plot forward as the sexual tension between Oraya and Raihn simmered then boiled over. There was one particular scene that was so hot, I re-read three times.
THE SPICE LEVEL?
I GIVE IT 🌶🌶 FOR SPICE.
"I didn’t notice my lips had curled until his thumb moved, tracing the shape of that smile as if it was something worthy of reverence. “Are you going to kill me, Oraya?” I didn’t run. Didn’t move. Instead, I lay my palm flat against his chest. I surprised even myself when I replied, “Not tonight.”
Finally, the narrative of this story strongly reminds me of one of my favorite vampire action films, “Underworld,” and I couldn’t help but be completely absorbed in it. This is particularly evident in the scenes that portray Oraya’s complex relationship with her father, Vincent, the Nightborn vampire king. I absolutely adore when a father-daughter bond is depicted in fiction.
"Perhaps I didn’t share his blood, but I was his child in every other sense of the word, and he loved me the only way he knew how. At the edge of a blade."
THE CHARACTERS:
Oraya’s personal growth is truly fascinating. Throughout the majority of the novel, she battles with her own inner conflicts. She finds herself torn between being the cold, merciless killer her father shaped her to be and the compassionate human she believes lies deep within her. As this internal struggle reaches its breaking point, Oraya discovers her true self.
Raihn’s character development could benefit from some additional work. For some reason, he never quite feels like a fully fleshed-out individual. He appears too perfect, lacking in depth. Perhaps in the next installment, readers will have the opportunity to experience things from his perspective.
On the other hand, King Victor is the most captivating character. The duality of his persona as a loving father versus a ruthless vampire king truly ignites my curiosity. It was a truly engrossing read!
THE WRITING STYLE:
Unfortunately, the writing style was the weakest element of the novel. At times, Oraya’s dialogue felt excessively wordy and melodramatic. The extensive inner dialogue, in which she dwells on her unfortunate circumstances, could have been trimmed down.
Additionally, the author’s decision to intermittently incorporate flashbacks of Oraya’s past trauma momentarily detracted from the story. It would have been better suited as a prologue.
You can’t possibly go wrong with three of my favorite tropes: a slow burn romance, a vampire/human romance, and a deadly competition. I am completely invested in this story and will eagerly purchase the next installment, “The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King”, to see what awaits.
However, I do believe that more character development is needed for Raihn, and the excessive inner dialogue could’ve be trimmed. Fortunately, the compelling plot more than makes up for these minor shortcomings.
Have you had the chance to read this title? If so, I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS BOOK IF YOU LOVED…
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