The Serpent and the Wings of Night

I'm not finding myself very interested to pick om romantasy books and find it even harder to enjoy them when I do. I saw this on the library and decided to try ot as I have heard many good reviews on it but it wasn't really my thing. Interesting enough to read but not interested to continue with the series.

... love, understand, is sharper than any stake

My rating is based on how quickly I was drawn into this world and these characters. I found the book hard to put down. But, as soon as I finished the book, I started really thinking about Oraya's abilities and how 'WTH?' they were considering she's human. There are other things about the story that threw me off (temporarily, but never enough to distract me), like why were there trials in the first place? What's the story behind those?

I

love Mische!

I immediately jumped into book 2, [b:The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King|62335396|The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia, #2)|Carissa Broadbent|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1711665192l/62335396._SY75_.jpg|98148518]. I didn't want to lose any of the info I'd soaked up from this intro and that ending ... geez.

At some point I was like “okay when does this become hunger games fanfic” and I got to that point and was like “ope here it is!” and that’s sort of how I thought things were going to do until the end when I SCREAMED. Is it well written? Are there plot holes? Hell if I know I’m here for the drama bitches

The Characters were truly relatable and interesting and the writing was beautiful.

when i tell you the gasps the i gusped in the last few chapters. stunning world building, i could so easily picture every detail. spectacular example of show don’t tell

I think, most of all, I'm just having trouble with the constant need authors feel to make every book more dark than the last. I don't actually like getting attached to characters and then living their death through the main character's eyes. Or worse, their hands. I don't like being made to feel like I can trust a character and then cruelly getting my heart ripped out when I'm then betrayed.

Maybe the comfort to all of these pains comes in the second book, but I'm quickly running out of heart to give to romances that feel like war.

Maybe this was a bad read after The Cruel Prince trilogy.

I decided to pick up this book after hearing so many good things about it. I was especially in the mood for a story featuring vampires, and this book seemed like it would deliver exactly what I was looking for. And I wasn't disappointed.

This is a really well-written story that uses more and less popular tropes in the genre to create a really good story. The plot is attention-grabbing, the world created by the author is interesting, and the main characters fit it all perfectly. Carissa Broadbent's writing style makes the story easy to read without being overly simplistic. I appreciated that she avoided excessive drama most of the time. Although I'm not a huge fan of first-person narration, it didn't bother me much here. However, I still think third-person narration could have worked just as well.

The world-building in this book is intriguing and complex enough to be interesting but not so intricate that it requires intense concentration to understand. Broadbent skillfully combines well-known elements to create a world that feels both familiar and unique. This setting perfectly complements the story and is intricately linked to the plot, which I consider one of its strengths.

Oraya is a genuinely strong protagonist who acknowledges her weaknesses and seeks help when necessary. I also liked that Raihn doesn't overshadow her personality or constantly have to rescue her but treats her as an equal partner. Raihn might be a typical main character for this genre, but we get to know him quite well, which is a big plus. His more sensitive and protective side adds depth to his character. The author does a commendable job of showing how Oraya and Raihn gradually change, not just through their cooperation but also due to the demands of the competition they face. Their developing feelings also play a significant role in their evolution. Oraya's transformation is particularly well-portrayed without being overly spelled out by the author.

The plot was engaging overall, even though I'm not a huge fan of life-and-death competition scenarios where survival depends on defeating all opponents. This theme isn't particularly innovative, and the competition itself didn't offer anything new. However, the plot was still enjoyable because it allowed the characters' personalities and skills to shine. I enjoy vampire stories and always look forward to reading them, whether they involve traditional portrayals or more imaginative interpretations. In this book, the concept of different vampire races with various abilities and weaknesses was fascinating, even if it was a bit challenging to keep track of which group had which traits.

The pacing of the story was excellent. I appreciate fast-paced narratives, and this book certainly fits that description. There's always something happening, yet it doesn't feel rushed. The development of the relationship between the main characters is well-timed and believable. The book concludes with some dramatic events that left me with mixed feelings. I might have preferred a different direction, but this part of the story will continue in the next book, promising more drama. Unfortunately, I'm not particularly fond of drama and angst lately; I just want a good story.

Overall, this book deserves the positive reviews it has received. It's a solid entry in its genre with an engaging plot, good pacing, and a convincing romance. While I'm not a fan of the dramatic ending, I understand it's a popular trend to encourage readers to pick up the next book. I would have done so without that kind of cliffhanger. I definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a new romantic fantasy with vampires.