Eclipse of the Crown

Villains & Virtues #3

by A.K. Caggiano

Their destinies are irrevocably entangled, but will their bond be the realm’s undoing?

Damien and Amma have landed themselves in the midst of Yvlcon, the preeminent congregation of the vilest and most unscrupulous villains in existence. Once again amongst his peers, Damien’s moral growth is threatened just when he’s learning to be slightly less evil. Consequently, Amma finds her own virtue in peril when faced with so much temptation, namely in the form of a domineering blood mage she can’t—or doesn’t want—to say no to.

But a burgeoning romance is doused in the coldest of baths when the Grand Order of Dread commands Damien to once again face the swirling vortex of entropy that’s been hunting them all over the realm. The coming eclipse points to devastation and destruction, and there seems to be no avoiding annihilation, prophecy being, well, prophecy , after all.

But there’s an entire fortnight before the world is supposed to end, and surely that’s enough time to find some way around it, or to at least confess one’s devotion to the other before it all burns down around them.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Audiobook, Magic, Slow Burn

355 pages, Paperback

First published February 13, 2023

About the author

Ashley is an indie author who likes to write silly little stories that hopefully bring readers joy. She likes cats, guacamole, feminism, and the internet.

Reviews

[✨Julie✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

✩ 4 stars ✩

What to Expect:
➼ Slow Burn
➼ Mutual Pining
➼ Human x Half Demon Mage
➼ Magical Quest
➼ Opposites Attract
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Paranormal Creatures
➼ Fantasy Rom-Com
➼ Third & Final Book
➼ Duet Narration
➼ Dual Third Person POV

This series was so fun from start to finish! The first book was probably my favorite, but not by much! Amma is meant to be the “good” one out of the two MC’s, but Damien is such a softy for Amma. It’s adorable and so endearing! 🥰

In this installment, we get a glimpse into the demon realm, a cave full of goblins (that reminded me of the aliens inside the locker in Men In Black 😅), more backstory for Damien and his family, plus lots of other goofy happenings along the way with our MC’s. More importantly, the wait does finally pay off after that very long slow burn. I loved the ending so much! The author did a great job of tying up all the loose ends and giving our characters the HEA’s they deserved!

If you’re a fan of fantasy or rom-coms, you will adore this series! Highly recommend adding it to your TBR! 💗

✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼　 ҉ 　✼

Pre-read: Returning to work tomorrow after a week off and needed something fun to cheer me up. 😆

≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫

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[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars! Im obsessed!! This series is everything I want in adventure and romance. I’m so sad this series is over. But it was the perfect conclusion. This trilogy has quickly become a favorite, and I will definitely reread in the future. Amma and Damien are couple goals. I also didn’t expect to become to attached to imps! The tension and steam ramps up, even when it got frustrating at some points. I do love a good slowburn, so I can’t complain. Too much. Thank you to the author for an arc. I can’t wait to read her backlog as well as future books.

[stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Amma reached over and laid a hand atop one of his. “I know I’m not an oracle or anything, but it’s going to be okay.”
“How do you know?” It was the first time he’d spoken that evening, throat raw, but there was no bite to his voice.
Thunder rumbled out over the mountains, and she inched a little closer to him. “When I’m with you, I just feel like things will be okay, I guess.”"

i... want to cry. i loved this series so much and i loved the characters with my whole heart. i don't know how i will ever be expected to move on from something as extraordinary as these books were. what an amazing ending to amma and damien's story and what incredible, satisfying closure

i just want to erase my memory of having read these books so i can read them all over again for the very first time. i dreaded finishing this because i knew i would miss the feeling these books gave me. i just want to stay in this feeling forever but i'm so happy and so in love with every little thing that these books entailed

all the flowers and stars to the author 💖 thank you and your beautiful mind for writing these beautiful words that created a beautiful world and beautiful characters that will stick with me for a very long time

i miss amma and damien so bad already and it hasn't even been 10 minutes. i'm grieving for their love and their banter and the humor and the world itself. but i'm also very excited to see what a.k. caggiano cooks up next because i just know i'm going to devour her next book/series so quickly (including the standalone bound to fall which is definitely on my tbr now)

:,)

[♡Chee♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

From wanting to destroy to realm to saving it by giving everything you've got. Oh look how far my baby Damien have come 🤧

This one's seriously is my favorite among all the three books. Not only we got an end to the ~slow burn~ (albeit after some more slow burn), but Amma and Damien are got their happily ever after (they got engaged!!!). Damien's character development is seriously is the best one I've ever read. I especially loveeed the plot where Damien comes to terms with his love for Amma and truly understands the general concept of love 🥰. Oh and how i love my three babies Kaz, Katz & Quaz (I know they're imps but for some reason i can't help but picture them as bats lol). Everything got wrapped up nicely towards the end. Damien and Amma are as happy as they could ever be (again saying this but they're engaged!!!), Damien finally got his family back, and everyone i hated is de@d (🫢). As always the author won in the category of writing awe striking world building and fast-paces plus interesting and humorous sub-plot.
I can't express how happy and sad I'm at the same time that this series has ended. Sad i wont more of my fave fantasy, idiots-in-love couple, but def relieved to know they got their HEA. And Damien's love confession is one of the the best one I've read and literally had me in tears. 🥺

One of my favorite line of the said love confession:
"Even in this moment, feverish and ill and mind on the verge of being addled, he thought to whisper to her that, if he could love someone, it would be her."

Thanks to BookSirens for the ARC! :)

[Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

These books would have been much better (in my opinion) if the plot had remained a central focus of all three books.
Now, I understand the plot and the premise might end up being two totally different things, but having long sequences involving characters and events that have NOTHING to do with plot nor premise? That feels like you're just wasting my time.
In the first book, she spends twenty pages climbing a tree and killing a snake. Why? It never comes up again. In the second, they waste a lot of time in the winter court, and that entire sequence feels like pointless taunting, weak drama, and a character who literally is shoehorned in at the last second as a weak deus ex machina. What in the hell was the point of the goblins in this book? I just plain skipped about 20 pages some 40% into the book and missed NOTHING.

There is no point in having these long sequences without it contributing directly to the plot (which might have well be a far-flung memory at this point) or to the development of the characters. It goes beyond world building or "having an adventure" or even character development! It's wasting my time.


I am complaining about this so much because it hurts to see flaws in a story that is clearly excellent! ( If I didn't like the series, I wouldn't have bothered to write 5 paragraphs about why it engaged me.)

The characters are fantastic, and they, in fact, do develop quite beautifully. The world is interesting and well developed, the plot (when we can be bothered to focus on it) is really intriguing. I genuinely love this series and enthusiastically waited for the release of the third book. When it came out I devoured it! This series will stay with me for a long time in a good way. I love the writing, I love the style, I love so much about this book series! It hurts that it has such a glaring problem.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series bro.
THIS.
SERIES.
BRO.

I have read so many romance novels this year in a desperate search for something truly great- truly romantic. I read pride and prejudice and I have never experienced romance like that since. Until I read this series. It is an absolute pity that more people don't know about this series, as its better written than all the other, "amazing romances" I've been recommended from other platforms.

I am not going to take the time to recant the entire plot here, but I will take the time to give reasons I think everyone should read this book, and why its decidedly superior to all other romance novels.

1) There is 0 dubious consent.
its amazing that we live in a world where it's so hard to find a book about a relationship that doesn't have any kind of dubious consent. This is not to say that the book removes the sexy powerplay that everyone loves to find in these novels- very much the opposite! It's always fun, with ENTHUSIASTIC consent, and is always UNBELIEVABLY sexy.

2) When I say that this book is slow burn IT BURNS. SO. SLOW.
BUT IT NEVER GETS BORING! It's always exciting and the building of their love is slow and natural and you're along for the ride just as much as they are. It's deeply romantic and just absolutely heartwarming to experience the softening of these two characters towards each other.

3) The fantasy aspect is SUPER well written!
The world building is great, you never find yourself overly confused with the magic system but its not too simple, and the side characters and different kinds of creatures are an absolute delight!


I don't wanna write too much more- but I am HOPING I've sold someone on reading this book. It's so amazing and I want everyone to read it and tout their love for Damien and Amma from the roof tops just as much as I do.

I'll miss Damien and Amma so much < 3 this read was an absolute delight, and thank you to the author for giving me this wonderful, uplifting, hilarious experience. (and thanks to my friend, who recommended it to me post finals and brought me out of a reading slump- love u auntie!)

[Aleesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some completely ridiculous side quests going on in this book. To the point where what should have been a quick, fun, afternoon read turned into a 2-day slog through a bizarrely paced and ultimately uninspiring third installment that really didn't need to exist.

Perhaps that's because the actual PLOT doesn't take very long to resolve. This could have been a duology. I think it should have been a duology.

The initial uber-ridiculousness aside, this story has potential. It just needs some major editing. There are things that take place in this book that serve zero purpose, waste everybody's time, and ultimately aren't even that interesting or entertaining.

The characters are great. The romance is cute (albeit very frustrating when dragged out over 3 stories in which they get romantic but keep being interrupted by stupid, pointless things). There's even charm in the quirky comedy once you give yourself over to it. And there's some really great messages in here regarding consent and good vs. evil and being loved/being able to love.

I just wish we didn't have to chase so many rabbits before we finally got to the point.

If some of the pointless wandering had been trimmed down, this could easily have been a really cute, funny 5 star series for me. Alas.

[Mulva? · Rating 4 out of 5]

Total book hangover!!!
I devoured these books.The MM/FC were delightful. Their chemistry was spot on and a joy to read. My mouth hurt from all the smiling.
The author's writing is so clever and it was such a fun ride. The voices of each character were so well written I felt like I could actually hear how they should have sounded. Chapter titles were a hoot.
I want to read them all over again.

"Maybe I should have tried that back in the Sanctum."... "well thank darkness you didn't."
- yes, we're all glad you didn't.

ps. so.... is there going to be a spin off with Xander and how he's going to corrupt sweet little Pippa? I want to know what that little shit is up to....

[R. Raeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series was just so fun. I absolutely loved the slow burn and the banter and the humor was wittier than I’ll ever be.

[Annabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series now officially holds a special place in my heart.

Every once in a while, a book comes along that just nestles into your soul and becomes a small part of you. And this silly little story about a silly little villain and the silly little blonde that steals his heart is now a part of me.

Some may say this is a parody of the fantasy romance genre, but to me it’s more of a tongue-in-cheek love letter to it. The self awareness in the writing lends itself to some quirky yet hilarious jokes, but at its core it’s earnest and sweet and ends up having even deeper emotion than some more “serious” works.

The dedication in the first book really just says it all:

"For anyone who hasn’t yet had enough of silly love stories"

(This specific book is a 4.5 because the plot got a tiny bit convoluted and I wanted a tiny bit more from the ending, but that's being very nit-picky. As a whole, the series is perfection.)

[H.M. Skinner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Synopsis: Damien’s mission has gone wildly off course. His destiny was foretold years ago, and although he is meant to unleash destruction upon the realm, Ammas sunny disposition and kindness seem to have rubbed off on him and his dark machinations have taken on a significantly lighter hue. He can no longer deny that he is beginning to feel…things. Which shouldn’t be possible! And, as if an identity crisis isn’t enough, he and Amma are now trapped at Yvlcon, the annual villains and dark beings gathering, and the unspeakable evil that has been hunting Damien is encroaching on the realm. Damien’s newfound morality is tested, along with Ammas moral limits, as they fight for the realm, their destiny, and a love that redefines their world.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Review:

This is different than any other fantasy romance you will read. I truly believe that there is nothing else like this, that completely flips the script, while staying true to the themes that we all love so much. I have never read a series that I loved more than this one and I am so sad that it is over, but I could not have hoped for a more perfect ending.

The characters develop so beautifully throughout the series, and I love where they are in this novel and where they end up. The power and ferocity that Amma develops is so wonderful, but she never looses herself. The way that Damien is introduced to his true nature is so poetic, but riddled with so much sarcasm and good humor that I was laughing and crying and jumping for joy! His gentle and timid, self-conscious approach to learning to love was just perfect, so well written, and so sweet.
I loved the importance of prophecy that really came through in this book. The plot was meticulously laid out and there is not a single thread of this story left unfinished.
These books have such good humor, which is a huge part of why I love them. The comedic timing is exceptional, and there are a few fourth-wall breaks in this novel that had me in stitches (the chapter 16 reference was hilarious 😂).
I cannot recommend this book, series, and author highly enough. Consider this an absolute rave review!

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars, 2 spice!! Holy shit this book has a spice rating!!!

An exquisite finale in the Villains & Virtues trilogy - an epic fantasy romance with dry humour reminiscent of Terry Pratchett, the slowest, sweetest burn, and a heroine who discovers she’s willing to play the villain if it means she gets her man back.

The journey these characters have gone through has been such a joy to read. Every detour brought a new setting and hilarious side characters that helped propel their personal growth and forced them into situations that made them question their beliefs. Their feelings deepened and finally, finally, FINALLY came to fruition! Holy smokes, just call Ashley the Queen of Edging 🤣 Every interruption for 2.5 books felt organic but also they made me want to throw my kindle but the wait was worth it 🥵 It should come as no surprise that Damien has a dominant streak.

My favourite part though is how they affected each other. Damien softened for Amma and she grew some claws. It was so satisfying seeing him be kind or try asking politely for something 🥹 and then to see her stab first and ask questions later 😈 You could say they definitely rubbed off on each other 😉🤭

I am sad to see this series end but so thankful to have been on the ARC team. What a beautiful journey it’s been and it couldn’t have ended any more perfectly. 🥲❤️ I’ll be looking forward to the spin-off.

Thanks to the author & BookSirens for the ARC - all opinions are my own.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.99999

I loved this series. I just feel a little burned out because each book was about 100 pages too long.

The writing is hilarious, I was thoroughly entertained. This perhaps would have been a 5 star duology but I got reading fatigue at the end of each book and honestly I hate that.

I LOVE AK Caggiano's writing style though. I see she has several standalones so I will be adding those to my tbr you can count on THAT

[Kelspar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Initially, I really enjoyed this series. I thought it was a funny, satirical take on villains in romance. But it just dragggeedddddd the fuck on. Each book was over 400 pages and the whole series could have been done in one single book. I actually could have been totally okay with the ridiculous length if each book kept its humor and fresh take, but book 2 and 3 were just filler of nothing and just too similar. Same jokes repeated, same plot/problem structures, just got so boring. It just got watered down more and more as things went

A personal pet peeve, every single intimate conversation and kiss got interrupted every time. It was so annoying after the 20th fucking interruption. Then, when they do hook up the female narrator was so over the top it was disgusting! Doing like a fake porno voice???? Like it did not fit the tone! Almost three full books with basically zero sex or anything close to it (maybe one or two mild scenes with kissing and some sexy thoughts, that's literally it) and the narrator just decided to go hard when they finally hook up. It was ridiculous and jarring lol. Idk man, i think I was just really over this series by that time but it was so off putting lol.

I mean, I guess I did enjoy this series but I think that's because I enjoyed the first book and then wanted to know how things ended. Idk if I really recommend these, the audiobooks were fun I suppose if you want to give those a shot?

[Cee · Rating 5 out of 5]

New favorite series!! Gosh, I loved them so much. I loved so much about this series. I mean, the descriptions didn't always make sense or could feel like a slog to get through, but then BAM it would go back to being great and Damien would smirk or Amma would try seduce him and... and... honestly, it is like this series was written for me, I honestly love it that much.
Even the little 4th wall bending was done in a way I really enjoy-- just little winks to the reader or acknowledgement of tropes which made me giggle. There is also content that we learn in this last book that going back through the re-read will make everything even more interesting.

I'm seriously looking forward to Celeste's book. I've already downloaded it and plan on starting it as soon as I finish writing this review.

[Brend · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bureaucracy is the death of true evil but also its root.
Anyways, let's go to Yvlcon

[Ash · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am glad it is over. I really struggled to get through this book. It was getting too much for me to read - it needs to be edited like crazy. It took me 2 days to get through this but I felt like I was reading this one forever. The plot just didn't make sense, events were happening for no reason in random order one after the other for no particular reason.
My biggest issue is that it reads a lot like YA but there is like intense smut in this book. Like why do I feel like the characters are so much younger than they actually are, they felt more like teenagers rather than almost 30. Make it make sense.
I liked the initial premise but we reached somewhere quite different. It became superrrrr predictable, like I knew what was going to happen when a new thing or person happened. Like Gilead is going to be the main bad guy because it was hinted at so obviously. The author really thought the readers are stupid and need to be led to these conclusions very transparently.
I feel like that entire scene with Amma sitting on Damien's lap was almost an exact replica of the Court of Nightmares scene when Feyre and Rhysand did pretty much the same thing. Like why? There was absolutely no need for any of this.
I'm glad that I am done with this one, I skimmed through the last few chapters and that nonsense Oracle saying the answer is you to Damien was so stupid, I wanted to hit someone.

[Wicked Fox ✨️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eclipse of the Crown was such a satisfying conclusion to this trilogy. Reading that Amma and Damien have finally confessed their love for one another made me squeal. It was so, SO worth the wait for these two to finally admit just how much they love each other. The side characters (and new ones) are a delight as always. The twists and turns Eclipse of the Crown had me gasping and jaw-dropping at certain scenes. Wonderfully written as alway and I can't recommend this trilogy enough.

[Angel Bucci · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute best series of my life

I both could not wait for this and dreaded this ending but was blown away on all accounts. usually, the end of a beloved series comes with a deep deep emptiness and a feeling like i will never recover. and trust me, there’s a little bit of that there. but the overwhelming feeling is a sense of satisfaction and completion. my favorite characters have made it to the end of their story, and all is okay.

i have much to say and so i’m going to say it: caggiano is a master with words, humor, and the slow burn romance. and btw, that slow burn pays off in this one. as much as everyone begs for “spice” in their fantasy romance, i always err on the “less is more” mindset, especially because im often under or overwhelmed with the explicit content, feel that the scene does not do the couple justice or doesn’t adhere to their characterization, etc. NOT THE CASE HERE!!!!! Everything was unbelievably perfect, and Amma and Damien are forever burned into my mind as my favorite book couple of all time. they’ve grown so much and every little bit was worth it.

and i’ll scream it to the skies for the rest of my life; funniest series ever. i don’t know how it manages to be so incredibly meaningful, dark at times, painful, so heartachingly and disgustingly romantic that you just want to scream, and also HILARIOUS.

I love that this author can play with her characters and has a reflexivity in her books that doesn’t feel forced or self-deprecating. it’s just simply hilarious. so much is tied together in this last book and it’s done so prettily. i found myself starting to sweat and panic at the amount of % i had left towards the end but she pulls it off!!

thank you AK caggiano for bringing this beautiful world to life and for gifting us amma & damien. we didn’t deserve them!!!!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short review: Fucking brilliant. 11/10. Read this whole series ASAP.

Review with more words: Do you ever get to the last book in a series, that you just don’t want to end, so you procrastinate whilst you’re reading? This was one of those books. I didn’t want it to end. I persevered, I finished it, I loved it, I still wish it wasn’t over and done with though.

I have LOVED the entire Villains and Virtues series; It is also an absolute crime that this series is flying under the radar as much as it is too.

The world building in the series is so great, the plot is so well paced, vibrant, exciting and is wrapped up so nicely in this book; it is the perfect Grumpy and Sunshine, and the banter and humour is wicked and left me laughing to myself many, many times. The chemistry and slow burn romance between the main characters is perfection; the side characters are hilarious and entertaining (I even loved Xander, the jerk); It has epic quests; oracles who take hits from the mystical hash pipe for some prophecy and chill time; morally ambiguous characters; an evil council called GOoD, surprising plot twists; characters that for all their demonic blood, felt very human; demonic steeds who need some probiotics to address their rampant gassy expulsions; a goblin formerly known as ‘shithead’; and imp summoning that goes wrong because someone hasn’t been paying attention in their cthonic spelling classes…I could go on, but you should just read the series. They are all fucking brilliant.

This book is fucking brilliant. 11/10.

[My only criticism (yep, only one), is that we didn’t see more of Daddy Zag.]

And now i have ‘staring at the ceiling knowing that there will be no more misadventures of Damien and Amma’ to look forward to. Sigh.

[Liv Mcc · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book made me angry. Kaz is the best and only redeeming character. That is all

[nini. · Rating 4 out of 5]

final battle scene was a mess, but i'm obsessed anyways !!

[Jessica Ho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yall, this was so GOOD and such a devastatingly underrated series. Easily 5 stars!

[kevork_1989 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
Great end to the trilogy. Enjoyed this series. Was super fun. Really enjoyed the MCs and the development of their relationship. It was a MAJOR slow burn 😂😂😂.

[Olli_stay · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ What a fun ending to the series.

[Elena Rodríguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

“When the day is night, and the corners of the realms have fallen into rot, the hallowed son shall reléase the Harbinger of Destruction upon Earth again”.

Me gusta mucho el mundo y los personajes que ha creado la autora. Creo que la considero como una de los grandes descubrimientos del año. Sin embargo, esta tercera parte debido a una serie de circunstancias externas me han provocado un bloqueo, y por eso he tardado tanto en terminarlo. La rabia que me daba es que estaba en el 70% y una vez que me vuelto no he sentido esa chispa que sentí en el momento. Igual debería haberlo pospuesto para más adelante.

Lo recomiendo sin lugar a dudas.

[nikki | ཐི༏ཋྀ​​݁ ₊ ݁ . · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent and satisfying conclusion to the Villains and Virtues trilogy. A.K. Caggiano does a beautiful job wrapping up Amma and Damien's story with plenty of fun twists and turns (and well-built-up spice 😏). When I think back to where the story started in book 1, the character growth and development (esp between the two of them but also with side characters) is just *chef's kiss*.

Caggiano has solidified her place as an underrated fantasy wordsmith. I'm dying for Xander's spinoff, but I suppose I'll busy myself with some of her other series til then, oh dear 😄

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why am I so emotional that this is over? 😭

This book had nearly everything and the fact that it isn't more discussed is a crime. The world building is absolutely phenomenal. The characters were complex. And each topic, event and theme was handled with such humor while also retaining its gravity in situations that were serious.

I just can't gush about it enough honestly. And I seriously, desperately hope that this author gets the recognition that she deserves.

[Tree ✶.˚⟡ ࣪ ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

Not much happened this time until the very end. Kaz wasn’t there, but instead, we got too many sexual scenes. I missed the adventurous nature of the first two books and also felt that there were some lose ends. It was resolved too easily. I still adore these characters, however, I expected too much.

[slay · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one wasn't as sweet as the first two. I hated the first 20% of the book while they were at yvlcon. To be honest, I have no idea how the book ended. This person died, this person met the gods, this person had this spell, this person attacked, this person opened a portal.... it was quite messy.

I'm glad I have read this series, but this last book was quite disappointing