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Désormais membre de l'ordre des Faés de l'Ombre, Arianna est chargée de défendre l'Académie d'élite. Désormais, la sang-mêlé à moitié humaine joue un rôle essentiel face aux dangers qui menacent le monde. Le premier péril auquel elle doit faire face, c'est Baleros, son ancien maître gladiateur. Nourrissant des ambitions redoutables, il est prêt à tout pour s'emparer de la Clé des Mondes, un objet magique aux pouvoirs immenses. Et Baleros met Arianna devant un choix impossible : si elle ne livre pas le beau et ténébreux Ruadan qui détient la Clé des Mondes, il répandra la Peste noire et ravagera le monde. Et il n'hésitera pas non plus à révéler le secret d'Arianna, ce qui risquerait de sceller son destin et de lui être fatal...

246 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 1, 2023

3798 people are currently reading
10063 people want to read

About the author

C.N. Crawford

80 books8,783 followers
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C.N. Crawford are Wall Street Journal bestselling authors of romantasy books, including books with fae, demons, and magical academies.

We write fantasy romance, urban fantasy, and portal romance. Our books often include trials, banter, and enemies to lovers stories.

CN Crawford’s books are perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, K.F. Breene, and Laura Thalassa.

Note: We are actually two people--a former biologist (Nick) and a former school psychologist (Christine).








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5 stars
5,463 (38%)
4 stars
5,253 (37%)
3 stars
2,831 (20%)
2 stars
432 (3%)
1 star
54 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 491 reviews
October 17, 2023
"If I can't find and kill my oldest enemy in time, then it's the Black Death for everyone, and I’ll be back on the run once more."

Action packed from the opening pages. A great series. A wonderful book. Brilliant characters and an interesting plot. What more could you ask for!!!

The Plot

The adorable Arianna and Ruadan are the two main characters from the book series, in an 'enemies to lovers' story. Of course there is nothing new about that but I found myself rooting for both and fully invested in their relationship, because the chemistry and banter was there in abundance.

The added twist in this third book in the series is when Arianna's history and birthright are revealed. To us the female gladiator come warrior and protector was just that, but that's not all!!! The question is whether she will ever be right to reveal her true identity to everyone? I was saying 'no' so there!!!

When the pair come up against Baleros, the story and book moves to another level making this such a great dark fairy tale.

Review and Comments

This is one of the easier to read / light hearted fantasy series. Normally I have to spend time at the beginning of a fantasy book trying to remember the various names, characters, magic system, courts and kingdoms which can be daunting - read crescent city!!! However, this series is so easy to read and digest, you could take on a beach and watch the world go by while reading - ahh perfect.

The world building in this is very good, but is also very one dimensional - that said as a shorter book 200+ pages this is fine. However, if you compare to SJM and Sanderson nooks this is so much lighter as a read. When travelling and trying to unwind from a week away this was perfect. If you want more substance, a book that is multi layered, complex then this is not for you. Or read it when you want something lighter. Its a lovely story.

There is a book for every occasion!!!
Profile Image for Christina.
122 reviews4 followers
April 17, 2023
CHOOSE A LANE CRAWFORD! Why write three books about an incubus fae with wild sexual tension and fade to black?? I don’t understand!!
Profile Image for Lily.
261 reviews32 followers
December 3, 2018
I don't remember the last the last time I was so obsessed with a series.

The first installment had me hooked and each consecutive book just keeps getting better and better. This series was clearly planned out well and execution does it justice. I can't think of a single complaint. It's not deep deep, but it's perfect for what it is: a smart and enjoyable urban fantasy read.

1. Arianna is as amazing as ever. She's brave enough to wear her heart on her sleave and she's hilarious, but she also has a lot of self respect and knows when to be serious and careful. She's a great character to follow.

2. The romance with Ruadan made good progress. Perfect amount of tension and mystery on his part, and the pacing is spot on. It gets emotional :)

3. We are getting deeper into the world building and plot and it really holds up to all that I imagined from the first book. This area is where the series keeps improving for me.
Profile Image for S. ♈.
231 reviews67 followers
August 21, 2025
Just 3 words: what a mess 😂
On my way to read book 4 😎
Profile Image for Owen Oakley.
Author 8 books5 followers
May 19, 2019
A couple of things

The series is entertaining. I love these authors’ work but sometimes they will drown you with description. I found myself scanning just to get to the dialogue. A character asks a question or says something and there’s an entire page of monologue, place or person description, and feelings before you get to another character’s response. It’s too much. If you remove the fluff I swear you’ll have maybe A 100-110 page book. I like medium description that way I can fill in the world accordingly.

Also, I hate the repetition. If the mc says something in one paragraph don’t rephrase it a paragraph or page later, it’s annoying.

Love the plot but the mc at times can make you want to pull your hair out. One moment she’s wanting R. Then the next she’s rejecting him because of her secret that she could’ve told earlier because R didn’t harm her for it.

Last but not least, inconsistency were out the roof. That along was enough to make my eyes roll. Book 2 was inconsistent with things that book 1 stated. Just stay consistent.

I’m just happy I’m embarking on the final book but I’ll have to think they’re books in the future.
Profile Image for Taylor.
41 reviews
May 9, 2023
A great series…


BUT THEY FINALLY ARE “INTIMATE” (after 2.5 books!) AND WE GET NADA. LIKE NOT EVEN IF IT WAS GOOD OR NOT! Lol. Like literally “they boned”. So that was a let down, to be honest. So much build up of their attraction for each other over 2.5 books for nothing which made me sad.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jo.
177 reviews1 follower
April 1, 2023
2.5 ⭐️ I feel like this series is more YA than Adult and is really lacking . It has potential, but so many elements that I don’t like. I’ve officially had my fill and won’t continue with the fourth book.
Profile Image for Tara {finding feminist fiction}.
109 reviews21 followers
March 22, 2020
This series is the authors’ best, with many emotional story threads that leave you wanting answers and gettting them in a satisfying pace, with a funny, sharp lead who is no fool. I felt like there was more going on that had to do with the characters’ inner lives in this series than in the previous and they were all really satisfying additions and twists to the plot.

What’s annoying me though are the full blown, abrupt fade to black sex scenes. If I remember correctly that didn’t happen in any of their other series that connect to this one. Suddenly they are using such an abrupt cut you’re actually wondering if the characters even had sex or not. I find cuts like that kind of annoying in YA, but really annoying in adult fiction, especially when the story is literally about an incubus. I mean the Sweet Evil series was full blown YA and the sex or almost sex in that was less graphic in terms of the descriptions, but MORE graphic in that you were there for what happened and you were there for how it all played out. You knew where everyone stood in the moment — if it was a good experience, an awkward experience, an extremely romantic experience etc. This book was like, kissing, a little bit of touching and then bam cut to the next scene with no input on what happened. So weird since the story spends A LOT of time building up the sexual tension, also in the context of them having all of these trust issues between each other, so you literally have no idea how it went or what it was to either or them because they are on such obvious weird terms with each other each time they have sex. I hope the authors go back to writing normal sex scenes because this sudden chasteness definitely has left me confused about where these characters stand with each other, not to mention all of that tension being abruptly snuffed out.

Everything else is the authors at their peak though. They have so many emotional, interesting things happening at once all layered together that every bit of movement in the story gives you meaningful answer to something you really care about. Arianna is the best, I love her, and Ciarianna is one of my favorite concepts in a book ever. THAT is how you write a sincere, supportive female friendship. Two women going through a terrifying journey together who keep each other focused and show they are in this together by telling each other stories about how they will fucking graphically ruin their enemies as a joint, ruthless heroine named after both of them, who will rise again. YES.
Profile Image for Melanie Jakusz.
324 reviews11 followers
January 25, 2024
While I’ve had fun reading this series, the plot gets muddled down with all the ludicrousness. Blending in as roller skaters? My eyes are bleeding.

Also, was I just curtain scened????? TWICE?! What a devastating letdown.
Profile Image for Terry-ann.
721 reviews
December 23, 2018
When is the next book ?

When I tell you I am itching for the next book. I do not know what to do with myself while I wait.
I love the way the story develops.
I love Arianna/Liora and Ruadan. I cannot wait for the next book.
Profile Image for Chantelle Hanna.
78 reviews1 follower
March 4, 2023
The Frustration Mounts

I'm not even sure where to start..... And be warned, spoilers lie ahead. The first book was fantastic, with a strong female lead and one dark, silent, sexy-as-hell demi-God. The slow building sexual tension was well written. Book two started to get a little weary but still a page turner. This book just bogged down and became a real chore to read half way through. Ariana and "her secret" were really getting old. I really have a hard time with characters that literally become consumed by one aspect of their story and make ALL their decisions, as well as everyone else's. We get it. She's convinced Ruadan will see her as a mortal enemy if he discovers her secret yet he clearly loves her. Give the guy a little credit. She's literally ready to strike first and kill him, because she's so sure he'll hate her. Maybe if she trusted him, and didn't keep lying to him.... I almost gave up on the read. I finally had to skip ahead to read the last few pages to see if she was finally outed. The only saving grace throughout the book is Ariana's sharp sense of humor that did elicit some hardy chuckles despite the fact that I was really hating on her character as a whole. Despite many very hot sexual encounters, which mostly end in her shutting him down, despite the fact that she initiated them, their true first act of sex is entirely intimated and not at all written about! It’s literally dumbed down to one sentence… “I ripped his clothes off him, and we moved to the rhythm of the drum”. It’s the literary equivalent of a cold shower. Disappointing at best. On to book 4. Wish me luck.
Profile Image for Lynn.
920 reviews27 followers
February 10, 2024
Night and Death

Arianna and Ruadan are a good team, but they would be a better team if they could trust each other enough to share the important secrets that each are hiding. The fact that they are both only part fae is one secret, and of course Ruadan is a wraith but it turns out he is also a prince. Arianna has some idea what her other side might be and she hopes with all her heart that Ruadan doesn’t find out.

Arianna came out of the Institute and found a human arm with a note nailed to the door saying that London will be struck with the Black Death again if Ruadan doesn’t turn himself in to Baleros. Of course that must never happen, not even to save London since the World Key is part of Ruadan’s person and Baleros must never be given that power. They also know that Baleros has Ruadan’s mother that they had once thought was dead.

So Arianna, now an official Shadow Knight and once the greatest gladiator ever to grace the ring, and Ruadan the shadow wraith and Prince and now the Grand Master of the Institute must track the evil Baleros. They both have horrible history with Baleros and have their own reasons for wanting him dead, but now London in his the path of his darkness.

This is another wonderful and well told story, and each story could have been a stand alone, yet we’re always glad to find that there’s more. Solid five star with mild spice.
Profile Image for Laura Price.
316 reviews
June 5, 2023
Sigh. The main characters did not hook up until the third book…. Wtf…. Then the spicy scene cuts off! Sooooo, I was so focused on finding a series that was complete that I completely missed that this was YA 😆 Gonna skip the 4th one : /
Profile Image for Linda Sadler.
434 reviews3 followers
April 28, 2025
I love this series so much. I love the FMC with her strength and bravery. I love the MMC who doesn’t all try to take over everything. The slow burn, the spice, yum, yum. I can’t wait to dig into book 4 but not looking forward to the series ending.
Profile Image for Faeries& Dragons.
94 reviews8 followers
Read
April 6, 2025
DNF at 19%! Somehow it gotten even worse. This series is not for me but I hope someone else enjoys it!
Profile Image for Rebecca Churchill.
185 reviews197 followers
September 5, 2025
I am loooving this series! So fast paced and action packed - yet I feel so connected to all the characters!
Profile Image for Vannessa.
1,208 reviews25 followers
November 25, 2018
I received this book as an ARC from the authors, but this review is all my own!

I loved this series and this book definitely did not disappoint. The tension throughout kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through! Arianna and Ruadan have a huge task in front of them - kill Baleros before the deadline he has set or he will reveal Arianna's deepest secret to the world. This is the one thing that could completely destroy her world and her relationship with Ruadan. It is obvious that she is in love with him, but knows that there is no way she can give herself fully to him, because of who she really is. She believes she knows how he will react if he ever found out, so she goes to great lengths to prevent that from happening.

Baleros is amassing a huge army, one which must be destroyed or controlled, but Arianna has to get that control before Ruadan can and knowing that she needs to betray him a little, kills her! But it is between that and him finding out her secret!

This book was just brilliant - lots of action, heaps of tension, a bit of lusting and sexual tension too. I did love the ending and how Ruadan was towards Arianna. I think he may need to rethink his plan now!

Can't wait for the next book to find out where they go next!
Profile Image for Naia Pard.
Author 2 books103 followers
June 21, 2022

My only usable review regarding this installment is the the review for the first book .

Because I am writing this review months distance since I read the books I am warning you that I am working here with gaps in memory and just a vague impression of the main plot line that went through these books.

But what I can say for sure is that this book made me say ok, that`s enough for me and not continue with the four and final book in the installment.

Looking back, I think the premise of this book can be really good, but the execution was just half-way there.

Instagram\\my Blog\\

Profile Image for Mills.
1,870 reviews170 followers
August 3, 2023
As with the previous books, a few minor quibbles notwithstanding, brilliant good fun.

Quibbles:

- Americanisms: sweater, button-down, and hoboes. Not a major problem, just something that occasionally disconnected me from what was otherwise a rather interesting almost travelogue of London.

- The foreshadowing is a bit heavy-handed. I saw our protagonist's realisation about her past coming a book or so ago.

- At the end of chapter seven, "except I didn't know for what" should be "what for".

- "He kept me alone in a room by myself" is a tautology.

Delights:

- Strawberry jaffa cakes

- The flower crowns

- Flaming gutter bitch

- Love poems to a demonic Anne Boleyn. Eyes like a lovely pair of beetles. Cheeks like pink flowery petals made of skin. Breasts like two fleshy flotation devices. Etc.
Profile Image for Zimt.
227 reviews8 followers
July 10, 2019
Wow, really fast-paced. Everything happens in some hours. It is quite good for a detective story since Ari/Liora uses logic and is not running around headless. Coupled with the unique homorous situations and you have a really good fantasy. Also it is obvious now that the character development is thought through in advance. The characters and their relationships are continuously going forward. So, there is now frustation, Ruadan and Liora take just the right amount of time to get to know each other and learn to trust.
Profile Image for Lia.
487 reviews29 followers
November 11, 2023
I’m not sure if I consider this a solid 4, but I enjoyed it more than the last book (we are still trending positive here). Maybe 3.75?? And as far as the spice goes I didnt realize they don’t actually have any? 😂 I mean it’s on page but barely described. Not a huge deal to me but just putting that info out there if this is a deal breaker for anyone.

That said, the plot feels to be more fleshed out. We have a little mystery but a lot of revelations and an end goal. There’s tension and pining and it’s all forbidden and I’m hoping for a HEA 🤞
Profile Image for Amethyst Stone.
431 reviews4 followers
November 12, 2018
So this book is just fabulous!! I love Ari but she can be annoying with the whole “he’s going to kill me when he finds out” jazz. But Ruadan is amazing and I think he’s better than all that. This story takes you on a journey of discovery and hard lessons. It’s fun and the characters are lively! Please note that there will be some serious emotions happening one way or another. Be prepared but it’s worth it!!
Profile Image for Ash.
436 reviews28 followers
October 16, 2023
This book was non stop action. One chapter bled into another.
We finally get some secrets revealed. I’m still not sure what ruadan sees in our girl lol. And the fade to black was honestly disappointing. I’m fine with it in YA but these books have so much tension and explicit language used that it was honestly so weird to have fade to black.
I’m ready to finish this thing out with book 4
Profile Image for Dawn.
30 reviews
July 26, 2025
oh my days Arianna is a shadow knight and Rauden is master in this book we follow the love and lust that Arianna has for Rauden and the undeniable need to keep the truth from him even thought beloros is still alive and wants nothing more then to expose her true self to him as Adonis aka the horseman of death it inevitably happens and her truth is exposed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for JadeShea.
3,235 reviews60 followers
February 26, 2019
In this one, the heroines secrets may be coming out and she's doing her best to hide them even if it means making her look bad. She's doing her best, but things may now be out of her control.

This one was really good, and I enjoyed learning about the heroines history, although I will say it felt like she completely changed her personality and memories all of a sudden.
Profile Image for Ashley.
69 reviews
July 11, 2023
This book was good and I like that secrets finally came out but man it was a long ride to get there. Also fade to black when they finally hooked up? Ugh. The romantic tension was what was keeping me going. Still can’t wait until the fourth!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Celeste.
1,000 reviews59 followers
January 5, 2024
Great UBF PNR series

I really adore this series so far amd it just keeps getting better.

If you're in the mood for a fun sassy h who like fighting and some great world building and well fleshed out characters. Read this.
Profile Image for Char.
157 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2025
This one was a little more tedious than the last, with more of the overused tropes coming in. And things that were meant to be twists were irritatingly obvious to everyone apart from our supposedly smart main character. These books are just the right length to keep interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 491 reviews

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