The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia Series)
The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia Series) - Carissa Broadbent
my review : ✮✮✮✮
I was totally consumed by this romantasy series (romance + fantasy). My fantasy reading is limited to the ACOTAR series and Fourth Wing, so I am a fantasy novice. After finishing this, I still think Fourth Wing is the perfect starter fantasy book; this book is quite a leap from that as it has significantly more world-building and fantastical elements. My absolute favorite fantasy series remains A Court of Thorns and Roses. If you also loved that series and are missing the world of Prythian, I think you will really enjoy the Crown of Nyxia Series.
This story follows Oraya, the adopted human daughter of a powerful vampire king. When we meet her, she is about to enter the Kejari, a Hunger Games-style trial where only one survives and wins the ultimate prize: a wish granted by Nyxia, the powerful goddess of death. Oriya knows the wish she’s always wanted to be granted and is prepared to stop at nothing to make it happen. As the trials begin, Oraya gains the attention of Raihn, a ruthless killer (who happens to be a total babe), they decide to forge an unlikely alliance.
I don’t know if this happens with all fantasy or if I’ve just been very spoiled by excellent stories, but I find it virtually impossible to think about anything else when submerged in another world. Book 1 follows the Hunger Games-style competition, and book 2 follows what happens next. There will be more books set in this world focused on other characters. This story is much more violent, graphic, and frankly scary (if you’re a baby like me) than Fourth Wing and ACOTAR. I had an issue following some of the world-building threads and had to do some re-reading, but that could be because my brain is not yet wired for fantasy. Many find book 2 slow, but I appreciated the character development and break from the carnage!
This book is steamy, and I freaking loved it. The romance and spice were undersold to me, which probably was a good thing because I was pleasantly surprised and felt like I DESERVED IT after reading so many battle scenes. This is not a B.R.A.D., and they really make you work for the romance, but the payoff is worth it! The slow burn was perfection.
The more fantasy I read, the more I realize I just love it. I find it hard to follow up otherworldly men with mere mortals, so on to some nonfiction next! My next fantasy series will be Blood & Ash, which I will pick up this fall!
This book will make you wish you had a vampire to kiss (at the very least 👀), so naturally, it’s best paired with @acouplecook’s Vampire Kiss!
you’ll love this book if you love:
ACOTAR
Fourth Wing
my favorite quote:
“I’ve lived through some injustices in the last couple of centuries. Seen some fucking travesties. But one of the biggest, Oraya, is that anyone taught you that you should become anything other than exactly what you are.”
