This series is a pleasant surprise. It’s well written with captivating political dynamics, a badass FMC who is fighting for survival and power in a world that has always been ready to crush her, and also a beautiful love story of enemies to allies to friends to lovers. The story between Raihn and Oraya is beautiful ♥️ “Give me one honest thing” and “There she is” are my two new favorite lines. I was also so emotionally invested in Oraya’s relationship with Vincent and working through how much she loves her Father but all of the sadness and anger from all of the lies he told her and the complicated figure that he was. I enjoyed the first book more than the second but the second is really good too. Overall this is a new favorite series, I was gripped from the beginning to the very end, and would definitely recommend! Also will definitely be reading the next books in the series!

The Serpent & the Wings of Night is an absolute gem! From the moment I started reading, I was hooked by the intricate plot and well-crafted characters. The storyline is captivating, filled with twists and turns that kept me eagerly turning pages. The characters are deeply developed and easy to connect with, making their journeys all the more engaging. This book is a perfect blend of fantasy, intrigue, and emotion. If you’re a fan of rich world-building and compelling character arcs, you’ll love this book as much as I did. Highly recommend for any fantasy lover!

Carissa Broadbent's The Serpent and the Wings of Night is a thrilling, dark, and romantic masterpiece that feels like The Hunger Games and vampires combined into an exhilarating story. This book kept me on the edge of my seat with its twists and turns, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment. The novel's world-building is impeccable, seamlessly blending humans and vampires into a universe filled with intrigue and deceit. The plot revolves around intense trials and tournaments that add a layer of excitement and danger. The enemies-to-allies-to-lovers trope is executed brilliantly, with dual POVs that offer deep insights into the characters' motivations and emotions. The female main character (FMC) is wonderfully stabby, providing a refreshing take on a strong protagonist. Her journey from fierce competitor to a more nuanced character is compelling. The male main character (MMC) is both fierce and gentle, a perfect balance that enhances the romance's slow burn. The writing and pacing are spot on, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged throughout. Broadbent masterfully weaves themes of plotting and intrigue, making every chapter a new adventure. The ending took me by surprise, adding an extra layer of anticipation for the next book. In summary, The Serpent and the Wings of Night is a captivating blend of action, romance, and suspense, with well-crafted characters and a richly developed world. A must-read for fans of dark fantasy and thrilling romances.

I’ve long been drawn to vampire stories but sadly find myself frequently disappointed in many I’ve read. Not true of this one. The story grapples with dark themes beautifully. There’s a depth to the characters that makes them believable and draws you in. Looking forward to reading more.

I hadn’t even heard of this book when I was offered a review copy, but a few glowing reviews caught my attention and I agreed to read it. And I’m so glad I did! This was a wonderful surprise, a dark, dangerous, vampire tale with intricate world building, great characters and a little bit of spice. Even better, this is the first book in a series, and I’m so excited to see what comes next. Yes, there are some familiar tropes at work here, but I found the combination of all the different elements to work surprisingly well. If you love The Hunger Games or Buffy the Vampire Slayer, I guarantee you’ll find a lot to love in The Serpent & the Wings of Night. Oraya was only seven when her village was destroyed and her entire family killed. Plucked out of the wreckage by a vampire king named Vincent, Oraya has been living in the House of Night, one of three vampire factions in the land of Obitraes, for the last sixteen years. Vincent has raised her as his daughter, teaching her how to survive in a land ruled by vampires, and it turns out, preparing her to complete in a once-every-hundred-years competition called the Kejari. The Kejari is made up of five brutal trials, each one winnowing the contestants down until only two remain. Only one victor can be crowned at the end, though, and Oraya is determined to be the last one standing. The reward for victory is sweet: any wish you want, granted by the goddess Nyaxia. Oraya’s wish? To become a vampire herself and fight side by side with her father in the war against the Rishan, a rival vampire clan within the House of Night. But once the trials start, Oraya realizes it's going to be hard, if not impossible, to win. Luckily, she meets a vampire named Raihn who asks her to ally with him and his friend Mische. Oraya and Raihn work surprisingly well together and they become a formidable team against the other contestants. But, as Oraya must keep reminding herself, only one of them will survive the Kejari, and the more she gets to know Raihn, the less she wants to kill him. This is a lush, complex world, and the author does a very good job of introducing it in this first book, even though I’m certain she’s only scratched the surface. At first it was a little hard to keep everything straight. There are three main vampire “houses,” but within those there are smaller factions. Each house has its own types of power and magic derived from different gods, and the houses don’t usually intermingle with each other, although the Kejari is the exception, because vampires from each house are allowed to join the competition. And it isn’t just vampires in this world. Humans live among them, although they are mostly treated as servants or even food. Because Oraya is under the protection of a vampire king, she’s safer than most, but she still has to watch her back at all times. In addition to the competition plot, which is the main focus of the story, there’s a war brewing in the background that will most likely take on a bigger role in the next book. There’s a lot of Shakespearean drama and tragedy going on too. Vampires will kill their parents to take over as leader, and then they’ll kill their children so they can’t do the same to them. This isn’t a happy world by any means, but luckily there are bright spots in the plot. Which brings me to the characters. The focus of the story is the slow build relationship between Oraya and Raihn, an enemies-to-lovers romance that I thought was very well done. Oraya, who spends her free time stalking vampires and killing them, is horrified to find she's starting to like and respect one, especially when she discovers he’s one of the Rishan, her father’s enemy. Oraya has a prickly personality, which I quite loved, although she eventually starts to warm up to Raihn. But their banter was so much fun, charged with all sorts of emotions, and I loved how the author gave them time and space to get to know each other before (yup) hopping in bed together. There are a lot of great side characters as well. Mische is the sweetest vampire in the story, and her friendship with Raihn was wonderful. I was rooting for the three of them to be OK, but wow, some of the scenes in this book were so stressful! Vincent was an interesting character as well. I didn’t really like him in the beginning, but you can tell Oraya loves him, even if he’s the one who took her away from her home. I liked him less and less as the story went on, and by the end of the book I hated him, lol. Still, it was interesting to see Vincent and Oraya interact, even if I didn’t always understand her complicated feelings for him. As for the Kejari, it was thrilling and scary, and the trial scenes had me holding my breath, I was so worried about Oraya, Raihn and Mische. I loved that the actual trials felt different from other “fight to the death” stories I’ve read, although don’t worry, there’s plenty of bloodshed! As the end of the last trial approached, I started to get very nervous. After all, there’s only one winner, right? The author managed to completely surprise me with her ending, making me even more excited to read the second book, The Ashes & the Star Cursed-King. And I can’t say enough about Carissa Broadbent’s writing. Her prose breathes life into her characters, and her storytelling skills make this a must read for fans of vampire/fantasy romance.