i was desperate to have something to love. something to care about when i didn’t give a damn about myself.' Lilith has been dying since the day she was born. But while she long ago came to terms with her own imminent death, the deaths of everyone she loves is an entirely different matter. As her town slowly withers in the clutches of a mysterious god-cursed illness, she takes matters into her own hands.

His act was meticulous. He embodied the role of conqueror king just as easily as he had embodied the role of human in the pub, and the role of bloodthirsty contestant, and the role of my lover, and the role of my kidnapper.While The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King is the end of Oraya and Raihn's core story, wrapping up the Nightborn Duet, there are still 6 books total in the core Crowns of Nyaxia series. With book 3, we'll be moving to a new spotlight character and spending more time in the House of Shadow. More news on this coming very soon!

I mean, I have to talk about Raihn and Oraya. Have to. 🥹 Favourite new characters, without a doubt. I loved this book, I didn't think it was quite as good as the first book though but only because I thought there was some redundant storylines, And the pacing could have been a little tighter in my opinion. While I didn't struggle to place a rating, I did struggle about whether or not to rate up or down and ultimately the answer was up and can be explained with one name, which I will get to later. But I also never highlighted a book as much as this one, so many beautiful quotes and the writing was stunning. The action scenes in these books are always heart pounding and expertly written. I also really loved the side characters and all the surprises we got from Oraya's past. AND THE LOVE STORY!!! GAH!!! 🫠And Vincent the father, who kept this little makeshift trinket I'd made him, right there with all his most precious possessions. Who had told me he loved me with his final breaths. Raihn. My downfall and my most valuable supporter. My weakness and my strength. My worst enemy and the greatest love I had ever known.' i’d spend a lifetime at the tip of your blade, and it would have been worth it.” when the enemies to lovers are still enemies to lovering>>>🫶🏽 This book butchered the build-up and the cliffhanger the first book provided. None of it mattered in this book. Such a waste. I'm in love with Raihn, he is charming, very handsome, protective, stubborn, sweet, and will do whatever it takes to protect Oraya. I loved that even though Raihn acted tough around other people, he was always so sweet and protective of Oraya. Raihn's character development was great, I enjoyed learning about his past through his perspective and watching him as he faced new challenges.

Septimus - ”I don’t bite, dove. I promise.” I don’t think there was one moment where this man didn’t have a cigarillo in his hands lol. I love to love him and love to hate him. That’s all I’ll say, but Carissa, if you are listening, I need more of him please and thank you!!! Maybe the king always knew that his greatest love would be his ruination. Maybe he knew it the moment he met her. I honestly don’t know what happened to Mische, she was completely stripped of any and all personality traits. She just popped then and there to smile and nothing else. We can take her scenes out of this book and nothing would change. I read the Serpent and the Wings of Night earlier this year and absolutely loved it and had really high hopes for this one- and it DEFINITELY lived up to them bc I freaking devoured this book 😩😩 It's not QUITE as good as the first one but it was still SUCH a good sequel 🤭🤭❤️❤️

some would call what he did brainwashing (me? never 🤭). and the best part of this book, unquestionably, undoubtably Vincent and how his complex bond with Oraya was explored. how his past was explored. i loved his influence on her so much. 💘 I hate you because I let you hurt me. I hate you because I grieved you. I hate you because I don’t.