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The Four Kingdoms #3
A Kingdom of Death and Despair
Once upon a time, there was a half-witch of three
who walked on the land where creatures roamed free.
Once upon a time, there was a prince of one
who danced with the waves under the sun.
Once upon a time, there was a prince of two
who hid amongst the shadows where fear only grew
But when time became impatient, a prophecy was conceived of twins born of darkness
who would live their lives aggrieved
but coupled with their misery was the answer all sought
but the question remained, which one would be left to rot?
who walked on the land where creatures roamed free.
Once upon a time, there was a prince of one
who danced with the waves under the sun.
Once upon a time, there was a prince of two
who hid amongst the shadows where fear only grew
But when time became impatient, a prophecy was conceived of twins born of darkness
who would live their lives aggrieved
but coupled with their misery was the answer all sought
but the question remained, which one would be left to rot?
524 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 17, 2023
73 people are currently reading
3304 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 81 reviews
July 1, 2023
D-E-V-O-U-R-E-D
verb: past tense: devoured; past participle: devoured
- to read quickly and eagerly.
Ex: "She spent her evenings devouring A Kingdom of Death & Despair by Whitney "
What are words? What are words to describe this book when it comes to DEVOURING a book that you CANNOT to stop reading. Even when you’re yelling Noooo! Or saying “oh crap oh crap oh crap?!” Bombarding the authors DMs or one of her fellow author friends who’s read it.
Wow. You guys are NOT ready for this. Before you go into it please please PLEASE read the TW. There are some very raw emotions that can and will be brought out in many readers. Please do not take it lightly when going into this book. The manner in which Whitney handles these were so tastefully done and is truthful in how one would deal with these emotions (at least I felt I would). Beyond that the rest of the book let me talk about…
Zeke oh sweet baby Zeke.. I just freaking adore him! His crazy possessiveness over our girl Raven is still there and the boundaries they push each other through this book shows how young they are in their relationship and growing to learn and know each other. But this does not diminish the love they have for one another. And if you read book 2 you know there’s an “I refuse to mention it and when it’s mentioned in this book I yell “I DONT WANT TO READ THAT” I will just say Zeke and Raven’s love is stronger than those words I refuse to acknowledge!
Whitney still sprinkles so much of the funny humor in there with our Sassy Raven, our favorite side characters and keeps us thinking that we’re good when we know deep down we’re not…. (I sent a lot of hyperventilating gifs to Whitney throughout reading this book!)
The adventures we take throughout this book are amazing and spellbinding, I will forever treasure this book as my favorite of the series. (Unless the next book becomes it 🤣)
Okay Whitney let’s finish book 4 ya? Skip that cute little stand alone you need to break up this darkness you wrote about 🤣 and give me my ANSWERS now.
Credit to the authors who spend months or even YEARS writing a book for a reader to gobble it up in a matter of days. I am sorry, not sorry?
verb: past tense: devoured; past participle: devoured
- to read quickly and eagerly.
Ex: "She spent her evenings devouring A Kingdom of Death & Despair by Whitney "
What are words? What are words to describe this book when it comes to DEVOURING a book that you CANNOT to stop reading. Even when you’re yelling Noooo! Or saying “oh crap oh crap oh crap?!” Bombarding the authors DMs or one of her fellow author friends who’s read it.
Wow. You guys are NOT ready for this. Before you go into it please please PLEASE read the TW. There are some very raw emotions that can and will be brought out in many readers. Please do not take it lightly when going into this book. The manner in which Whitney handles these were so tastefully done and is truthful in how one would deal with these emotions (at least I felt I would). Beyond that the rest of the book let me talk about…
Zeke oh sweet baby Zeke.. I just freaking adore him! His crazy possessiveness over our girl Raven is still there and the boundaries they push each other through this book shows how young they are in their relationship and growing to learn and know each other. But this does not diminish the love they have for one another. And if you read book 2 you know there’s an “I refuse to mention it and when it’s mentioned in this book I yell “I DONT WANT TO READ THAT” I will just say Zeke and Raven’s love is stronger than those words I refuse to acknowledge!
Whitney still sprinkles so much of the funny humor in there with our Sassy Raven, our favorite side characters and keeps us thinking that we’re good when we know deep down we’re not…. (I sent a lot of hyperventilating gifs to Whitney throughout reading this book!)
The adventures we take throughout this book are amazing and spellbinding, I will forever treasure this book as my favorite of the series. (Unless the next book becomes it 🤣)
Okay Whitney let’s finish book 4 ya? Skip that cute little stand alone you need to break up this darkness you wrote about 🤣 and give me my ANSWERS now.
Credit to the authors who spend months or even YEARS writing a book for a reader to gobble it up in a matter of days. I am sorry, not sorry?
June 28, 2023
4/5⭐️ 2/5🌶️
It’s no secret that Zaven is life. They breathe life into each other. But is it enough? There are forces at work that threaten to not only tear them apart, but destroy life as the everyone knows it.
AKODAD took me a bit to get into. But let me say once it gets going, it sucks you into a whole new world you THOUGHT you knew. My brain kicked into overdrive trying to figure everything out. Whitney definitely took magical beings we already know of and made them entirely her own.
The love that Zaven share and have shared throughout lifetimes is what I’d call a beautiful disaster. AKODAD is poetic tragedy at its finest. Can Raven and Zeke do what needs to be done in order to save the realm? What will it cost them? The road to happiness seems to be paved with sacrifice, bloodshed, and tears.
Favorite Quote: “I want to carve myself into every piece of you until the beat of your heart spells my name.”
It’s no secret that Zaven is life. They breathe life into each other. But is it enough? There are forces at work that threaten to not only tear them apart, but destroy life as the everyone knows it.
AKODAD took me a bit to get into. But let me say once it gets going, it sucks you into a whole new world you THOUGHT you knew. My brain kicked into overdrive trying to figure everything out. Whitney definitely took magical beings we already know of and made them entirely her own.
The love that Zaven share and have shared throughout lifetimes is what I’d call a beautiful disaster. AKODAD is poetic tragedy at its finest. Can Raven and Zeke do what needs to be done in order to save the realm? What will it cost them? The road to happiness seems to be paved with sacrifice, bloodshed, and tears.
Favorite Quote: “I want to carve myself into every piece of you until the beat of your heart spells my name.”
November 6, 2023
This book shattered my heart and soul, put it back together, and shattered it again. So many answers are given in this book, so much growth from our characters, so much love between them as well. Whitney did fantastic, yet again, creating a story where you can feel everything - the pain, the love, the betrayal, all of it. I am eagerly and anxiously awaiting the 4th book next year.
July 3, 2023
4.5⭐️
Zaven is life.
The first two books in this series were great, but this one really takes the series to a whole new level. We all love a good smut, but the darkness in this book and the trauma that the characters go through really bring the storyline and plot to the forefront and I just really fell in love with the twists and turns. The secondary characters really made a huge appearance and I love all of them so much.
Zeke finds raven in perosan after Cade drugs & kidnaps her, tries to rape her, and we find out from that trauma she loses her and zekes child. Miscarriage was a big part of this one *TW* and the trauma her and Zeke grow through is really a forefront of this and makes the storyline really in depth. It was written beautifully. Love, loss, and all the in between. Grief is a serious subject and Whitney did an amazing job.
The secondary characters became my whole heart in this! Losing Damiana and Isla was awful. Seeing how Baldwin, Edmund and Gisela mourned Damiana 😭 and isla truly loved raven like her own and proved it.
Jeanine turning into an undead was INSANE. I can’t wait to see what her story turns out to be. Her, river, Luca, and the family really love each other. I love how all these different types of species come together and the story of how raven and Zeke have come back in multiple lifetimes is beautiful. It’s very twilight / FBAA / ACOTAR like with the fae, vampires, undead, witches, etc. I love it. I can’t wait to see how the high king of fae (raven and rivers dad) comes to play and if Zeke kills him. There’s so much happening and I KNEW it was gonna be a cliffhanger 😭
RAVEN. WHY YOU DO THAT 🫠 she let Silas (her mate from a past life, leader of the undead) take her to his realm (The great) so they didn’t have to fight the war and lied to Zeke about it and I’m just DISTRAUGHT. I need book 4 immediately.
Zaven is life.
The first two books in this series were great, but this one really takes the series to a whole new level. We all love a good smut, but the darkness in this book and the trauma that the characters go through really bring the storyline and plot to the forefront and I just really fell in love with the twists and turns. The secondary characters really made a huge appearance and I love all of them so much.
Zeke finds raven in perosan after Cade drugs & kidnaps her, tries to rape her, and we find out from that trauma she loses her and zekes child. Miscarriage was a big part of this one *TW* and the trauma her and Zeke grow through is really a forefront of this and makes the storyline really in depth. It was written beautifully. Love, loss, and all the in between. Grief is a serious subject and Whitney did an amazing job.
The secondary characters became my whole heart in this! Losing Damiana and Isla was awful. Seeing how Baldwin, Edmund and Gisela mourned Damiana 😭 and isla truly loved raven like her own and proved it.
Jeanine turning into an undead was INSANE. I can’t wait to see what her story turns out to be. Her, river, Luca, and the family really love each other. I love how all these different types of species come together and the story of how raven and Zeke have come back in multiple lifetimes is beautiful. It’s very twilight / FBAA / ACOTAR like with the fae, vampires, undead, witches, etc. I love it. I can’t wait to see how the high king of fae (raven and rivers dad) comes to play and if Zeke kills him. There’s so much happening and I KNEW it was gonna be a cliffhanger 😭
RAVEN. WHY YOU DO THAT 🫠 she let Silas (her mate from a past life, leader of the undead) take her to his realm (The great) so they didn’t have to fight the war and lied to Zeke about it and I’m just DISTRAUGHT. I need book 4 immediately.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 2, 2023
I want to give it 10 out of 5, it is that good.
Single liner prologue is basically the thing that stole my heart away and then the chapter starts with Zeke, that too in a very poetic way, Whitney has definitely written it to mesmerize us. Three chapters in and I have already marked so many beautiful lines although they all are hurting. The lines are deep and connect to the soul, I keep falling in love deeper and deeper with every next line.
Whitney definitely knows how to make you LAUGH one second and then CRY the very next second. This book has bought a calmness to me. I don’t want to rush read it instead SAVOURED the story and took my time in absorbing all the words and emotions throughout. It’s like finding a fantasy world all over again where you can’t keep yourself away from the characters and you want the next dose full of them again at the very point where you finished it.
I love it when I know the facts but some of the characters don’t and in that case, I want to yell at them that they are doing something wrong because they don’t know things. It’s very frustrating. The entire book is full of suspense and thrill on what comes next. I was sitting on the edge the entire way and did not see a few things coming that have definitely BLOWN me for good. This series keeps on growing with every book that comes.
The characters have come a long way and they all have grown immensely in different ways. The banter, The threats thrown by Zeke every here and there is the life and I never want to part from this feeling. ZAVEN is for life. There is so much happening in every chapter that it feels like I lived that journey with all of them and that’s the feeling I want to have in every book I read but I don’t get to it in most of them.
The spice is as always too hot to handle because with Zaven it’s impossible to go plain. Jeanine is the best friend, sister, and solid pillar of the story, just like Luca. They both are superbly portrayed and I want to say a lot about the book and the characters but I have to refrain from it. So it’s best you go and grab it and read it to get the best experience.
Single liner prologue is basically the thing that stole my heart away and then the chapter starts with Zeke, that too in a very poetic way, Whitney has definitely written it to mesmerize us. Three chapters in and I have already marked so many beautiful lines although they all are hurting. The lines are deep and connect to the soul, I keep falling in love deeper and deeper with every next line.
Whitney definitely knows how to make you LAUGH one second and then CRY the very next second. This book has bought a calmness to me. I don’t want to rush read it instead SAVOURED the story and took my time in absorbing all the words and emotions throughout. It’s like finding a fantasy world all over again where you can’t keep yourself away from the characters and you want the next dose full of them again at the very point where you finished it.
I love it when I know the facts but some of the characters don’t and in that case, I want to yell at them that they are doing something wrong because they don’t know things. It’s very frustrating. The entire book is full of suspense and thrill on what comes next. I was sitting on the edge the entire way and did not see a few things coming that have definitely BLOWN me for good. This series keeps on growing with every book that comes.
The characters have come a long way and they all have grown immensely in different ways. The banter, The threats thrown by Zeke every here and there is the life and I never want to part from this feeling. ZAVEN is for life. There is so much happening in every chapter that it feels like I lived that journey with all of them and that’s the feeling I want to have in every book I read but I don’t get to it in most of them.
The spice is as always too hot to handle because with Zaven it’s impossible to go plain. Jeanine is the best friend, sister, and solid pillar of the story, just like Luca. They both are superbly portrayed and I want to say a lot about the book and the characters but I have to refrain from it. So it’s best you go and grab it and read it to get the best experience.
June 1, 2023
Once again, Author Whitney Dean, has given us a dark, warped whirlwind of a fantasy book packed full of plot twists and moments of utter disbelief. In book 3 of her series we continue to follow Raven and Zeke on their story. At the end of book 2, Cade, Raven’s former advisor and best friend drugs and kidnaps her and this is exactly where we begin this adventure.
Zeke and Raven face their first major separation since their marriage and in such a devastating betrayal. Raven is desperate to escape Cade while Zeke is hunting to reclaim his little demon. Crashing on the shore of a magical forest, Raven uses the forest to try to escape Cade and discovers her powers have the potential to grow even stronger and more dangerous. Will she be able to overcome the dark desire to shed blood?
The betrayal doesn’t end there. Mira continues to do anything and everything possible to conquer the 4 kingdoms, while River, Raven’s twin, is secretly orchestrating his own plan. With secrets and plans constantly being kept from Raven, she continues to lean closer to the darkness she holds. Will she be able to remain bright and cheerful or will she break and succumb to the darkness?
Follow along with the rest of us on this incredible series to find every betrayal, every discovery, every sweet and loving moment, and most importantly to discover if our beloved Zaven will remind whole
Zeke and Raven face their first major separation since their marriage and in such a devastating betrayal. Raven is desperate to escape Cade while Zeke is hunting to reclaim his little demon. Crashing on the shore of a magical forest, Raven uses the forest to try to escape Cade and discovers her powers have the potential to grow even stronger and more dangerous. Will she be able to overcome the dark desire to shed blood?
The betrayal doesn’t end there. Mira continues to do anything and everything possible to conquer the 4 kingdoms, while River, Raven’s twin, is secretly orchestrating his own plan. With secrets and plans constantly being kept from Raven, she continues to lean closer to the darkness she holds. Will she be able to remain bright and cheerful or will she break and succumb to the darkness?
Follow along with the rest of us on this incredible series to find every betrayal, every discovery, every sweet and loving moment, and most importantly to discover if our beloved Zaven will remind whole
November 8, 2023
First off…that dedication…I sobbed. Thank you Whitney and Raven.
Now onto the book, I was hooked from the very first book in this series, but as the story progressed I didn’t want the books to end. The world building has been amazing, but we got so much more in this book. So many questions answered, but also many still unknown. This cliffhanger was tough and I cannot wait for what happens next!
Now onto the book, I was hooked from the very first book in this series, but as the story progressed I didn’t want the books to end. The world building has been amazing, but we got so much more in this book. So many questions answered, but also many still unknown. This cliffhanger was tough and I cannot wait for what happens next!
July 12, 2023
I love Raven and Zeke so much. So much has happened in this book. It really took off and evolved into the wildly dark addictive fantasy that it is. I’m impressed by Whitney, the writing is exquisite as are the emotional connections of the characters
April 27, 2024
Finally. The shadow was release and I thought they have a chance to win. Only to be fooled by Raven. I knew she did it to give more time to Zeke. I saw the teaser. But I know he will find her. Omg I have to wait until next year?!! Why?!!!!
September 25, 2023
Ok the torture I just went through. The absolute pain. The story just rips you apart. I loved every second.
June 5, 2024
The cliffhanger!!! I can’t wait for the last book!!!
October 31, 2023
1st person/dual pov
Spice: 4.5/5
I wish I could better explain the vice grip this series has on my heart. This book takes us to the events immediately following the end of book two. Raven and Zeke are fighting their way back to each other with every fiber of their souls as well as fighting to keep their people safe. When a new threat enters the realm Raven and Zeke learn more about their pasts, who they are now, their bond, and what it all could mean for their future.
Obviously, if you’ve made it to this point of the series you know that these two have had quite a few hurdles thrown at them so far on top of being in the middle of a multitude of secrets. So why jump off a perfectly good moving train right? 😂 It just wouldn’t be “Zaven” without lots of tension and passion. Which is the first thing I loved about this particular book - the fighting and the making up. 😆 Because no one grovels without actually groveling quite like Zeke does. He just sort of tells you you’re no longer mad at him with these swoon-worthy words and flirtatious personality then before you come to your senses bam - the ravaging begins! While I am a huge fan of these hot-as-sin makeup sessions I can’t lie I really do like the bickering between them lol! They both push each other's buttons most of the time on purpose and if they know it will piss the other off it only entices them to do it more 99% of the time. Although with the making-up they do I can’t say that I blame them because I’d be doing the same thing in their shoes haha!
Another thing I loved was this big family they have created. From actual relatives to best friends, advisors, rulers of other kingdoms, and even some of the families living within the kingdom Raven and Zeke have both gone from being alone to surrounded by love, support, and friendship. The more they are there fighting alongside our duo the more we learn about them and the more we love them. I like how Whitney has taken a few of the characters that I was not fond of at first and slowly revealed pieces of them that buried their way into my heart. Now it feels like I’ve adored them from the very beginning and I’m just as invested in their happiness as I am in Raven and Zeke’s.
As for the storyline well get ready to have a lot of your questions and/or theories answered - then to have new ones after those answers. 😂 BUT I will say this, I didn’t have nearly as many questions at the end of this book as I have the other two. Like I said there’s a lot that gets revealed throughout this book and even the tiniest piece is important. It’s all one big magical puzzle and I’m freaking hooked on figuring it all out. For me, it made reading it so much more fun as I waited for the next puzzle piece to drop into place.
And of course, I can’t not talk about the spice really quick. Because holy mackerel I thought there wouldn’t be as much spice in this one as there was the others. I mean the quantity is probably not quite as high but it’s not lacking in the quantity department either lol. But that’s not even that important when the quality of the spice that is there is blazing! (Hehe see what I did there? I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. 🙈) Zeke has taken his obsessed self and gone feral when it comes to Raven’s body. And our girl is not complaining one bit. In fact, she’s right there with him almost as feral as he his…almost. 😏 Whew, but there is this one scene towards the end of the book, and you’ll know it when you get to it trust me, but it will live rent-free in my head for the rest of my days. It is scorching! Quite literally combusting with passion. 😆 I may or may not have read the scene over like 5 times before moving on because Daddy Zeke came to play and my knees went MF WEAK! 🥵🥵🫠
Bless you for that Whitney… bless you. 🤌🏻👏🏻
Oh, and Whitney has stated several times this book is darker than the others. That is in no way an understatement because there are some things that broke my heart to read about. While it did not trigger me to read it there will be someone if not a few someones who possibly will be so make sure to go over the content warnings before reading.
So, did we end on another epic cliffhanger? Yupp - I was on the verge of screaming again. Even if I wasn’t quite as riled up as I was at the end of book two I was still pretty fired up over it lol.
Now am I going to go bonkers waiting for the next book? Why yes without a doubt
Is it going to be worth every single second of the wait? Absofrigginlutely!!!!
Spice: 4.5/5
I wish I could better explain the vice grip this series has on my heart. This book takes us to the events immediately following the end of book two. Raven and Zeke are fighting their way back to each other with every fiber of their souls as well as fighting to keep their people safe. When a new threat enters the realm Raven and Zeke learn more about their pasts, who they are now, their bond, and what it all could mean for their future.
Obviously, if you’ve made it to this point of the series you know that these two have had quite a few hurdles thrown at them so far on top of being in the middle of a multitude of secrets. So why jump off a perfectly good moving train right? 😂 It just wouldn’t be “Zaven” without lots of tension and passion. Which is the first thing I loved about this particular book - the fighting and the making up. 😆 Because no one grovels without actually groveling quite like Zeke does. He just sort of tells you you’re no longer mad at him with these swoon-worthy words and flirtatious personality then before you come to your senses bam - the ravaging begins! While I am a huge fan of these hot-as-sin makeup sessions I can’t lie I really do like the bickering between them lol! They both push each other's buttons most of the time on purpose and if they know it will piss the other off it only entices them to do it more 99% of the time. Although with the making-up they do I can’t say that I blame them because I’d be doing the same thing in their shoes haha!
Another thing I loved was this big family they have created. From actual relatives to best friends, advisors, rulers of other kingdoms, and even some of the families living within the kingdom Raven and Zeke have both gone from being alone to surrounded by love, support, and friendship. The more they are there fighting alongside our duo the more we learn about them and the more we love them. I like how Whitney has taken a few of the characters that I was not fond of at first and slowly revealed pieces of them that buried their way into my heart. Now it feels like I’ve adored them from the very beginning and I’m just as invested in their happiness as I am in Raven and Zeke’s.
As for the storyline well get ready to have a lot of your questions and/or theories answered - then to have new ones after those answers. 😂 BUT I will say this, I didn’t have nearly as many questions at the end of this book as I have the other two. Like I said there’s a lot that gets revealed throughout this book and even the tiniest piece is important. It’s all one big magical puzzle and I’m freaking hooked on figuring it all out. For me, it made reading it so much more fun as I waited for the next puzzle piece to drop into place.
And of course, I can’t not talk about the spice really quick. Because holy mackerel I thought there wouldn’t be as much spice in this one as there was the others. I mean the quantity is probably not quite as high but it’s not lacking in the quantity department either lol. But that’s not even that important when the quality of the spice that is there is blazing! (Hehe see what I did there? I couldn’t pass that opportunity up. 🙈) Zeke has taken his obsessed self and gone feral when it comes to Raven’s body. And our girl is not complaining one bit. In fact, she’s right there with him almost as feral as he his…almost. 😏 Whew, but there is this one scene towards the end of the book, and you’ll know it when you get to it trust me, but it will live rent-free in my head for the rest of my days. It is scorching! Quite literally combusting with passion. 😆 I may or may not have read the scene over like 5 times before moving on because Daddy Zeke came to play and my knees went MF WEAK! 🥵🥵🫠
Bless you for that Whitney… bless you. 🤌🏻👏🏻
Oh, and Whitney has stated several times this book is darker than the others. That is in no way an understatement because there are some things that broke my heart to read about. While it did not trigger me to read it there will be someone if not a few someones who possibly will be so make sure to go over the content warnings before reading.
So, did we end on another epic cliffhanger? Yupp - I was on the verge of screaming again. Even if I wasn’t quite as riled up as I was at the end of book two I was still pretty fired up over it lol.
Now am I going to go bonkers waiting for the next book? Why yes without a doubt
Is it going to be worth every single second of the wait? Absofrigginlutely!!!!
June 26, 2023
....where do I even begin. Whitney absolutely ripped my heart out, put it back together, and then slowly tore it apart again. I thought Frost was a rollercoaster....but Despair takes 👏🏼 the 👏🏼 cake.
We pick up immediately where Frost left off, and immediately, you're on the verge of tears with the opening chapter. There is a LOT happening in this book. I hope you got your fill of spice in Frost because Zeke, Raven, and the whole crew get put through the f*cking ringer with this one.
You get a lot of questions from Fury & Frost answered in this, and it's quite the mind fuck. This book is much more plot driven than the first two, so make sure you read it slowly and really process what's happening 🫠
The way Whitney weaves a complex story full of depth and chaos without it being overwhelming is nothing short of magical. There are a lot of details here, but the book never felt overwhelming. (Well, your emotions are hella overwhelming, but it's totally worth it). I fell more in love with these characters than I thought possible. The way they support, love, fight, scream, and cheer each other on is beautiful to read and live through.
I could go on for DAYS about this book. Bottom line: surround yourself with tissues, caffeine, your pet/stuffed animal, and any other comfort things you need. Trust me. This is a book (like all other Whitney Dean books) that will stick with you forever. Especially that one scene at the end of chapter 65/beginning of ch 66 😉😉
We pick up immediately where Frost left off, and immediately, you're on the verge of tears with the opening chapter. There is a LOT happening in this book. I hope you got your fill of spice in Frost because Zeke, Raven, and the whole crew get put through the f*cking ringer with this one.
You get a lot of questions from Fury & Frost answered in this, and it's quite the mind fuck. This book is much more plot driven than the first two, so make sure you read it slowly and really process what's happening 🫠
The way Whitney weaves a complex story full of depth and chaos without it being overwhelming is nothing short of magical. There are a lot of details here, but the book never felt overwhelming. (Well, your emotions are hella overwhelming, but it's totally worth it). I fell more in love with these characters than I thought possible. The way they support, love, fight, scream, and cheer each other on is beautiful to read and live through.
I could go on for DAYS about this book. Bottom line: surround yourself with tissues, caffeine, your pet/stuffed animal, and any other comfort things you need. Trust me. This is a book (like all other Whitney Dean books) that will stick with you forever. Especially that one scene at the end of chapter 65/beginning of ch 66 😉😉
June 30, 2023
"Hope rises with the sun, Raven. And for as long as I've lived, the sun has always risen again."
Author, Whitney Dean, is a masterful storyteller. A Kingdom of Death and Despair has easily become my favorite book (so far) in this series. It has surpassed every single expectation and I am so excited to see Raven and Zeke's story continue in book four, A Kingdom of Shadow and Sacrifice. Make sure to pre-order your copy today because you won't want to miss it!
Okay, so diving into the the deep portion. Whitney Dean starts off the book with a powerful dedication: "For the ones who said no but couldn't fight back. Raven said no. She fought back. For you. For me."
Throughout this book, Raven and Zeke face challenges that no individuals should. Tons of important information and backstories are dropped on you which makes you never want to put down the book. Regardless of how long A Kingdom of Death and Despair seems, you will fly through this book.
💀Dual POV
💀Fated Mates
💀Fantasy Romance
💀Grumpy x Sunshine
Make sure to check out the trigger warnings before reading this book as it deals with a lot of darker themes.
Author, Whitney Dean, is a masterful storyteller. A Kingdom of Death and Despair has easily become my favorite book (so far) in this series. It has surpassed every single expectation and I am so excited to see Raven and Zeke's story continue in book four, A Kingdom of Shadow and Sacrifice. Make sure to pre-order your copy today because you won't want to miss it!
Okay, so diving into the the deep portion. Whitney Dean starts off the book with a powerful dedication: "For the ones who said no but couldn't fight back. Raven said no. She fought back. For you. For me."
Throughout this book, Raven and Zeke face challenges that no individuals should. Tons of important information and backstories are dropped on you which makes you never want to put down the book. Regardless of how long A Kingdom of Death and Despair seems, you will fly through this book.
💀Dual POV
💀Fated Mates
💀Fantasy Romance
💀Grumpy x Sunshine
Make sure to check out the trigger warnings before reading this book as it deals with a lot of darker themes.
October 26, 2023
Spoilers, so please read at your own risk. This review is for the trilogy as a whole. While I need to start with, I had no idea this series was unfinished. I thought KoDaD was the final book, but after getting to 70% on my ebook and with SO MUCH still unresolved, I realized my grave mistake. This series leaves on a cliffhanger. Throughout the whole three books, Raven and Zeke are madly obsessed with one another, yet they are constantly keeping secrets from the other, which kind of drove me crazy. I LOVED Cade. And I knew immediately when she first sees Zeke, that I would lose Cade. I wasn't sure if that would be in book 2 or 3, but it finally happened in this one, book 3. I have a lot of questions about Cade, I even messaged Whitney, hoping she sees it some day so I get my answers. Was his heart always Black? Did he truly love her, but with Zeke entering the picture and her going to him, did he lose sight of his light and go crazy? Or did he feel she OWED herself to him after him virtually taking care of her for 15 years. In the forest he told her she was never enough for him. Did he only say that because he knew he wasn't going to leave the forest alive, so he said ANYTHING he could to take a piece of her with him? He knew she always felt unworthy, is that why he said that? So when Zeke found her, he hoped even he couldn't piece her back together for choosing him instead? Obviously, Cade wasn't a good person, but I loved his character so much. I can't help it, but the little voice at the back of my head tells me Cade was delivered an unfair hand, and he suffered greatly for it. After all, he was pulled into this at a very young age, and was told to watch over her, he wasn't given an option to have a life outside of her growing up. *sigh* As for the supporting characters, I loved Edmund and Jeanine. And River and Luca. Whitney is good at writing strong, wonderful characters. And her world building was great too. I enjoyed Silas and Felix, and so I'm very eager for book 4 in The Great. I'm pretty upset that Raven kept this from Zeke though, they weren't supposed to make any decisions without the other, but I also understand why. If she hadn't bargained with Silas, they would not have won. And everybody would have died, and Silas would have brought her back through their bond. Obviously, it's inevitable that Silas will die in book 4. I hope we get a lot of tension, regular and sexual, from Raven and Silas in this last book. Don't rush this Whitney, I've seen too many books rush the ending, and I want the journey to be long and treacherous. Let us experience The Great and the Undead. I hope for at least 50-75% of the book to be her surrounded by the Undead. I can't wait.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2024
“You are my dream, Raven. I have no dreams that do not revolve wholly around you.”
This third book kept me on the edge of my seat all along ! It way heart-wrenching, soulful and compelling to keep reading Raven and Zeke’s story as they go through many new challenges.
What to expect
✨ Adult fantasy romance
✌🏻 Dual POV
🔥 Elemental magic
🧛 New creatures and lore
🌚 Morally grey characters
🗡️ Lethal MMC and chaotic FMC
💀 Touch her/him and die
💕 Found family
🌶️ Shadow play and a lot of spice
💔 Abduction, SA and PTSD
🤫 Miscommunication
"Find your fire again for this kingdom, my love. This is our home, and you are their queen." […]
“The brightness of that woman is gone," I whispered. "Will you still love who I
am now?"
This is pure agony and despair. Zeke’s emotions are so raw and potent, I cried my heart out 😭🫠 And Raven… our little demon has suffered like no one else and her hurting is devastating. She doesn’t know who she is anymore and with secrets being brought to light, she doesn’t know who to trust. She is lost and broken, and her pain keeps getting amplified day after day.
Her inner light has turned to dying embers.
As they both deal and heal from their loss and recent hardships, Raven and Zeke keep fighting for their dream of a happily ever after 🌌 when hope seems gone, they keep fighting with everything they have.
Zeke and Raven put the ass the sass and the sin in assassin 🔥🥵 I’m weak for shadow daddies and powerful badass women, and these two hold my heart in the palm of their hands 🫀
Special love for Jeannine. She is the best friend ever. She is honest and loyal to a fault and calls on everyone’s bullshit. And also for Luca 🫶🏻 I love how he instantly adopted Raven into his heart and considered her as a sister right away 🥹
Tears fell down my cheeks as all the goodness and lightness from our time together warmed my body. As the joy collided with our pain, it crafted a new version of us that would grow together.
As we stood together and created a new chapter of our life, I was grateful and sure of one thing: we would face any and all of it together.
As one, like it always should have been.
As it always would be.
This third book kept me on the edge of my seat all along ! It way heart-wrenching, soulful and compelling to keep reading Raven and Zeke’s story as they go through many new challenges.
What to expect
✨ Adult fantasy romance
✌🏻 Dual POV
🔥 Elemental magic
🧛 New creatures and lore
🌚 Morally grey characters
🗡️ Lethal MMC and chaotic FMC
💀 Touch her/him and die
💕 Found family
🌶️ Shadow play and a lot of spice
💔 Abduction, SA and PTSD
🤫 Miscommunication
"Find your fire again for this kingdom, my love. This is our home, and you are their queen." […]
“The brightness of that woman is gone," I whispered. "Will you still love who I
am now?"
This is pure agony and despair. Zeke’s emotions are so raw and potent, I cried my heart out 😭🫠 And Raven… our little demon has suffered like no one else and her hurting is devastating. She doesn’t know who she is anymore and with secrets being brought to light, she doesn’t know who to trust. She is lost and broken, and her pain keeps getting amplified day after day.
Her inner light has turned to dying embers.
As they both deal and heal from their loss and recent hardships, Raven and Zeke keep fighting for their dream of a happily ever after 🌌 when hope seems gone, they keep fighting with everything they have.
Zeke and Raven put the ass the sass and the sin in assassin 🔥🥵 I’m weak for shadow daddies and powerful badass women, and these two hold my heart in the palm of their hands 🫀
Special love for Jeannine. She is the best friend ever. She is honest and loyal to a fault and calls on everyone’s bullshit. And also for Luca 🫶🏻 I love how he instantly adopted Raven into his heart and considered her as a sister right away 🥹
Tears fell down my cheeks as all the goodness and lightness from our time together warmed my body. As the joy collided with our pain, it crafted a new version of us that would grow together.
As we stood together and created a new chapter of our life, I was grateful and sure of one thing: we would face any and all of it together.
As one, like it always should have been.
As it always would be.
October 15, 2023
If you want to have your heart ripped out in the
most beautifully tragic way, read this series!
Whitney really outdid herself with the emotional
devastation in this installment. Just thinking of
everything these characters have been through in
the last 3 books has me tearing up, ready to cry all
over again!
I have become so immensely attached to these characters. Zeke and Raven will forever hold a
special place in my heart. They really got put
through it in this book, and you can't help but feel
like you're right there with them the whole time.
Zeke and Raven continuously get put through the
worst things imaginable and still somehow come
out stronger. There was yet again some crazy plot
twists and we get more background and insight on
everything. The character development was so
wonderful. And in true Whitney fashion, we are left
with another devastating cliffhanger. I will be
impatiently waiting to find out what happens next
As heartwrenching as this emotional rollercoaster
was, I wouldn't have changed a single thing in this
story!
most beautifully tragic way, read this series!
Whitney really outdid herself with the emotional
devastation in this installment. Just thinking of
everything these characters have been through in
the last 3 books has me tearing up, ready to cry all
over again!
I have become so immensely attached to these characters. Zeke and Raven will forever hold a
special place in my heart. They really got put
through it in this book, and you can't help but feel
like you're right there with them the whole time.
Zeke and Raven continuously get put through the
worst things imaginable and still somehow come
out stronger. There was yet again some crazy plot
twists and we get more background and insight on
everything. The character development was so
wonderful. And in true Whitney fashion, we are left
with another devastating cliffhanger. I will be
impatiently waiting to find out what happens next
As heartwrenching as this emotional rollercoaster
was, I wouldn't have changed a single thing in this
story!
January 2, 2024
Book 3/4 reviews:
🥶❄️🍃🌱🔥❤️🔥🖤✨
SPOILERS BELOW
HOT DIGGITY DAMN I really enjoyed these last three books. I LOVED the growing relationship Raven finds with Zeke (another SPICY 🌶️ shadow daddy to add to the list). A great found family here (some by bonding with Zeke’s former ~partners, but we come to love Jeanine and Gisela nonetheless ✊🏼 River was a nice surprise and I do actually come to like him a little more by the end… still wary. Don’t even get me started on Cade 🤢 With that being said, I was frustrated with a few things that occurred over the first three books… here we go:
-A LOT of info happening in book 3, a lot of the vague answers we’ve had for the past 2 books really comes to light. Could’ve been a bit earlier in some of the info reveal, but it worked out well for the storyline to really sink its claws in. Witches, Vampires, Undead, and Fae oh my
-hated Cade from the jump??? Enough said
-I love Raven, I think she’s still coming into herself and her powers and has really overcome some serious life altering things, but holy hell the constant doubt on this girl. Raven’s immaturity at times was enough to make me want to scream. They would form a plan, only for her to say “fuck it! Let me try to endanger myself as much as possible so Zeke can prove his love” like they haven’t told each other millions of times that they’re endgame or if something minor happened, they both immediately doubt each other and assume the worst. I did love when Zeke would always find her, so again—works out well for the storyline and their past. By book 3, we do see a huge character development finally of them trusting each other (mostly)
-It took us three books to really find out about Zeke’s shadows. Something I feel like could’ve been introduced a bit earlier, but *good* nonetheless. Need him to step up the shadow game here in book 4
-finding out Raven and Zeke are twin flames >>>
-finding out Raven has a mate…and it isn’t Zeke?? <<< This really through me for a loop, because as much as I hated it, it really added another element (pun intended) to the story. *Enter Silas* *vomits*
-THE ENDING?????? What in the stupidest plan ever is this and keep Zeke out of the loop UGH. Knew in typical Raven fashion that she’d go off like this, but also knew what she had to do to give her people more time to prepare. I just don’t want Silas’ slimy mitts all over Zeke’s proper- I mean Raven🐦⬛
I’m excited to read book 4…need a release date in 2024 soon.
🥶❄️🍃🌱🔥❤️🔥🖤✨
SPOILERS BELOW
HOT DIGGITY DAMN I really enjoyed these last three books. I LOVED the growing relationship Raven finds with Zeke (another SPICY 🌶️ shadow daddy to add to the list). A great found family here (some by bonding with Zeke’s former ~partners, but we come to love Jeanine and Gisela nonetheless ✊🏼 River was a nice surprise and I do actually come to like him a little more by the end… still wary. Don’t even get me started on Cade 🤢 With that being said, I was frustrated with a few things that occurred over the first three books… here we go:
-A LOT of info happening in book 3, a lot of the vague answers we’ve had for the past 2 books really comes to light. Could’ve been a bit earlier in some of the info reveal, but it worked out well for the storyline to really sink its claws in. Witches, Vampires, Undead, and Fae oh my
-hated Cade from the jump??? Enough said
-I love Raven, I think she’s still coming into herself and her powers and has really overcome some serious life altering things, but holy hell the constant doubt on this girl. Raven’s immaturity at times was enough to make me want to scream. They would form a plan, only for her to say “fuck it! Let me try to endanger myself as much as possible so Zeke can prove his love” like they haven’t told each other millions of times that they’re endgame or if something minor happened, they both immediately doubt each other and assume the worst. I did love when Zeke would always find her, so again—works out well for the storyline and their past. By book 3, we do see a huge character development finally of them trusting each other (mostly)
-It took us three books to really find out about Zeke’s shadows. Something I feel like could’ve been introduced a bit earlier, but *good* nonetheless. Need him to step up the shadow game here in book 4
-finding out Raven and Zeke are twin flames >>>
-finding out Raven has a mate…and it isn’t Zeke?? <<< This really through me for a loop, because as much as I hated it, it really added another element (pun intended) to the story. *Enter Silas* *vomits*
-THE ENDING?????? What in the stupidest plan ever is this and keep Zeke out of the loop UGH. Knew in typical Raven fashion that she’d go off like this, but also knew what she had to do to give her people more time to prepare. I just don’t want Silas’ slimy mitts all over Zeke’s proper- I mean Raven🐦⬛
I’m excited to read book 4…need a release date in 2024 soon.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 28, 2023
🌟🌟🌟🌟/5 and 🌶🌶🌶/5
I feel like I should start with - Please check the trigger warnings. Much like the title implies this book is heavy. I mean at the end of I was like even more in love with this series but the path to get there is dark and heavy.
I will do my best to write a spoiler free review but when you are 3 books into the series it is hard to do. So if you haven’t read the first two books, A Kingdom of Flame and Fury & A Kingdom of Frost and Fear, read further with the knowledge that things may be spoiled.
I am still trying to pull together what exactly to say. Whitney did warn us that with the title alone that this book was doing to be dark. I guess I just didn’t expect it to be this dark and filled with despair. Honestly, at times the despair made it hard to move forward. I understand it but it was bordering on too much for me and only my love for Zaven made me press on.
So much comes to light in this book. I mean we learn the answer to so many questions that we had in book 1 and 2. I mean we don’t get ALL the answers and we certainly pile on more questions but I honestly felt like this is where the story really starts to weave itself together.
Raven and Zeke have been one of my favorite fantasy romance characters since the beginning and their love for each other, their story as it starts to truly unfold, and the sheer amount of stuff they have had to fight against…. Man. I just love them and I am gonna need someone to wrap them up in bubble wrap and just LEAVE THEM ALONE for a moment ok LOL.
In conclusion, I am happy I pushed through the despair in the book and got to experience this world again. I need book 4 now with some damn butterflies and rainbows like STAT lol.
Thank you to Phantom House Press for this arc in exchange for my honest unbiased review.
I feel like I should start with - Please check the trigger warnings. Much like the title implies this book is heavy. I mean at the end of I was like even more in love with this series but the path to get there is dark and heavy.
I will do my best to write a spoiler free review but when you are 3 books into the series it is hard to do. So if you haven’t read the first two books, A Kingdom of Flame and Fury & A Kingdom of Frost and Fear, read further with the knowledge that things may be spoiled.
I am still trying to pull together what exactly to say. Whitney did warn us that with the title alone that this book was doing to be dark. I guess I just didn’t expect it to be this dark and filled with despair. Honestly, at times the despair made it hard to move forward. I understand it but it was bordering on too much for me and only my love for Zaven made me press on.
So much comes to light in this book. I mean we learn the answer to so many questions that we had in book 1 and 2. I mean we don’t get ALL the answers and we certainly pile on more questions but I honestly felt like this is where the story really starts to weave itself together.
Raven and Zeke have been one of my favorite fantasy romance characters since the beginning and their love for each other, their story as it starts to truly unfold, and the sheer amount of stuff they have had to fight against…. Man. I just love them and I am gonna need someone to wrap them up in bubble wrap and just LEAVE THEM ALONE for a moment ok LOL.
In conclusion, I am happy I pushed through the despair in the book and got to experience this world again. I need book 4 now with some damn butterflies and rainbows like STAT lol.
Thank you to Phantom House Press for this arc in exchange for my honest unbiased review.
November 28, 2023
Please check TW- this book has serious themes that are not found in the first two installments.
This is the third book of a series- if you have not read the first two installments, please proceed with caution as there may be spoilers!
This book left me without words, but I’ll try my best to gather my thoughts here. Even though Whitney’s been warning us that this book was dark, I wasn’t expecting the level of tragedy and turmoil these characters experience within these pages. It’s heartbreaking and raw but the journey is also a beautiful one of healing and love. Zeke and Raven love each other more fiercely than any other characters I’ve experienced. The depths they will go to save each other is literally boundless.
We get SO much info in this book!! So many questions have been answered and missing info on backstory and kingdoms finally filled in. We had to wait 2 books for it but it’s SO WORTH THE WAIT 🙌🏻 I can’t wait to yell about some of these revelations with all of you once you read this one. It’s exciting stuff.
I have a new favorite character 😏 I won’t say who to avoid spoilers, but let the record state that I would do quite literally anything for this person. And I’m gonna need the art ASAP please and thanks 😅
I think if you’ve loved the first two books as much as I have, you’re in for an emotional ride but the payoff is worth it. These books have such a special place in my heart and I’m so honored to have been here cheering on Whitney since day one. I cannot wait to see what else is in that beautiful brain of yours! This book is phenomenal and your craft keeps getting better and better.
This is the third book of a series- if you have not read the first two installments, please proceed with caution as there may be spoilers!
This book left me without words, but I’ll try my best to gather my thoughts here. Even though Whitney’s been warning us that this book was dark, I wasn’t expecting the level of tragedy and turmoil these characters experience within these pages. It’s heartbreaking and raw but the journey is also a beautiful one of healing and love. Zeke and Raven love each other more fiercely than any other characters I’ve experienced. The depths they will go to save each other is literally boundless.
We get SO much info in this book!! So many questions have been answered and missing info on backstory and kingdoms finally filled in. We had to wait 2 books for it but it’s SO WORTH THE WAIT 🙌🏻 I can’t wait to yell about some of these revelations with all of you once you read this one. It’s exciting stuff.
I have a new favorite character 😏 I won’t say who to avoid spoilers, but let the record state that I would do quite literally anything for this person. And I’m gonna need the art ASAP please and thanks 😅
I think if you’ve loved the first two books as much as I have, you’re in for an emotional ride but the payoff is worth it. These books have such a special place in my heart and I’m so honored to have been here cheering on Whitney since day one. I cannot wait to see what else is in that beautiful brain of yours! This book is phenomenal and your craft keeps getting better and better.
July 17, 2023
“I want to carve myself into every piece of you until the beat of your heart spells my name.”
I‘ll try to be vague for this review because I don’t want to spoil the first two books. But y’all, A LOT happens in book 3 here. For one, I can clap and cheer because folks, we FINALLY receive some well deserved answers! From questions that have been burning away in my mind since like book 1! The beginning of this book is definitely dark, and I do recommend for y’all to check the TW. The relationship between our MC’s is definitely tested in this book. Like they’re a mess, but a beautiful disaster type of a mess. And let’s be honest, Zaven is endgame, so they will prevail! Additionally, our world gets A LOT bigger and we meet some new really interesting characters. And y’all, that ending, omg. Whitney was not holding back on the Despair part of “Death and Despair”! I swear this women gets off on making her fans squirm (still love you tho 😅).
In all seriousness, I really love how so many sensitive topics were approached in this book. One in particular being grief. Whitney approached it with a lot of care but also with the blatant reality of grief as well. It’s done really well. Along with our MC’s, our side characters roll with the punches. Moments of fantastic character development can be found throughout this series but this book made me fall for these character all the more.
If you didn’t know, I absolutely adore this series. These characters. This world! I love this story. This is book 3 to The Four Kingdoms series and I cannot recommend it more to all my fantasy romance readers out there! It’s certainly a journey but I promise it is so worth it! 🖤
I‘ll try to be vague for this review because I don’t want to spoil the first two books. But y’all, A LOT happens in book 3 here. For one, I can clap and cheer because folks, we FINALLY receive some well deserved answers! From questions that have been burning away in my mind since like book 1! The beginning of this book is definitely dark, and I do recommend for y’all to check the TW. The relationship between our MC’s is definitely tested in this book. Like they’re a mess, but a beautiful disaster type of a mess. And let’s be honest, Zaven is endgame, so they will prevail! Additionally, our world gets A LOT bigger and we meet some new really interesting characters. And y’all, that ending, omg. Whitney was not holding back on the Despair part of “Death and Despair”! I swear this women gets off on making her fans squirm (still love you tho 😅).
In all seriousness, I really love how so many sensitive topics were approached in this book. One in particular being grief. Whitney approached it with a lot of care but also with the blatant reality of grief as well. It’s done really well. Along with our MC’s, our side characters roll with the punches. Moments of fantastic character development can be found throughout this series but this book made me fall for these character all the more.
If you didn’t know, I absolutely adore this series. These characters. This world! I love this story. This is book 3 to The Four Kingdoms series and I cannot recommend it more to all my fantasy romance readers out there! It’s certainly a journey but I promise it is so worth it! 🖤
June 7, 2023
✨🖤 ARC REVIEW 🖤✨ spoiler free
If you enjoy reading books that give you a roller coaster of emotions, this is a book for you.
If you enjoy reading books where you fall in love with the side characters just as much as the main characters, this is a book for you.
If you enjoy books where the characters experience raw emotions and real life situations, this is a book for you.
Emotional. Action-Packed. Shocking.
Those are three words I would choose to describe A Kingdom of Death and Despair. This book really lived up to the title.
This is my favorite book by Whitney thus far. You can really see her growth as an author and the heart she puts into her writing.
We see a lot of character growth and development across the board in this book. We learn new secrets and motives. Some characters may even surprise you, and others, well, there’s just no surprise for why they are the way they are.
Whitney has also given us more world building in this book, and it’s filled with so much intrigue. I cannot wait to continue to learn more about this world.
The spice was HOT! While there isn’t as much as previous books, the scenes were delicious and satisfying (I need a Zeke in my life)
Overall. I give this book a 5/5 stars! I will add more to my review after it releases so I can avoid posting any spoilers.
FINAL NOTE: READ THIS SERIES!
If you enjoy reading books that give you a roller coaster of emotions, this is a book for you.
If you enjoy reading books where you fall in love with the side characters just as much as the main characters, this is a book for you.
If you enjoy books where the characters experience raw emotions and real life situations, this is a book for you.
Emotional. Action-Packed. Shocking.
Those are three words I would choose to describe A Kingdom of Death and Despair. This book really lived up to the title.
This is my favorite book by Whitney thus far. You can really see her growth as an author and the heart she puts into her writing.
We see a lot of character growth and development across the board in this book. We learn new secrets and motives. Some characters may even surprise you, and others, well, there’s just no surprise for why they are the way they are.
Whitney has also given us more world building in this book, and it’s filled with so much intrigue. I cannot wait to continue to learn more about this world.
The spice was HOT! While there isn’t as much as previous books, the scenes were delicious and satisfying (I need a Zeke in my life)
Overall. I give this book a 5/5 stars! I will add more to my review after it releases so I can avoid posting any spoilers.
FINAL NOTE: READ THIS SERIES!
Read
June 18, 2023Prepare to get your heart shattered, put back together again, and absolutely crushed in the end! This series is a very emotional journey for Raven and Zeke, and this one is a lot deeper and darker than the previous two. Spoilers for the last two books if you haven't read them!
At the end of book two, Raven is kidnapped by her former best friend and advisor, Cade. We pick up the story in Zeke's POV, trying to find Raven - and Raven is trying to escape. We follow Raven and Zeke throughout their journey, and I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions. It's so hard to watch characters make decisions that you feel are going to lead them into danger - but all you can do is watch on.
Raven is still sassy, Zeke is still ever protective and the side characters are so loveable (except.. for... some...).
If you love fated mates and a dual POV dark fantasy romance, then this is for you. The story really lives up to its name.
Please read the trigger warnings before you start this one (or the series!). This one is definitely darker than the rest. Thank you to Phantom House Press and Whitney for an advanced copy of this one.
At the end of book two, Raven is kidnapped by her former best friend and advisor, Cade. We pick up the story in Zeke's POV, trying to find Raven - and Raven is trying to escape. We follow Raven and Zeke throughout their journey, and I found myself on a rollercoaster of emotions. It's so hard to watch characters make decisions that you feel are going to lead them into danger - but all you can do is watch on.
Raven is still sassy, Zeke is still ever protective and the side characters are so loveable (except.. for... some...).
If you love fated mates and a dual POV dark fantasy romance, then this is for you. The story really lives up to its name.
Please read the trigger warnings before you start this one (or the series!). This one is definitely darker than the rest. Thank you to Phantom House Press and Whitney for an advanced copy of this one.
July 10, 2023
The author warns you that this is darker than the first two books and she is not kidding, so check the trigger warnings. It even gave me the sads and I have no soul.
Zeke continues to hide things from Raven constantly for absolutely no reason in order cause some slight bumps in the road for this couple who is obsessed with each other to an absolutely unhealthy extent. So far in this series all we've known is that there are witches and that some people possess magic, we are now introduced to the fae and some kind of vampire-adjacent creatures which is an odd thing to do when so deep into the third novel in your fantasy series but here we are. There's now like...3 different kinds of mating bonds? It's a bit confusing but after it was explained like 10 times I think I'm on board lol.
This book is almost 800 pages long and doesn't really need to be, there's kind of a lot of filler for a book where so much is already happening but there's enough going on to keep it moving I suppose. Though the same could really be said for the first (almost 600 pages) and second (almost 700 pages) books as well. We once again end on a cliffhanger so the author obviously knows how to get me to read the next unnecessarily long book.
Zeke continues to hide things from Raven constantly for absolutely no reason in order cause some slight bumps in the road for this couple who is obsessed with each other to an absolutely unhealthy extent. So far in this series all we've known is that there are witches and that some people possess magic, we are now introduced to the fae and some kind of vampire-adjacent creatures which is an odd thing to do when so deep into the third novel in your fantasy series but here we are. There's now like...3 different kinds of mating bonds? It's a bit confusing but after it was explained like 10 times I think I'm on board lol.
This book is almost 800 pages long and doesn't really need to be, there's kind of a lot of filler for a book where so much is already happening but there's enough going on to keep it moving I suppose. Though the same could really be said for the first (almost 600 pages) and second (almost 700 pages) books as well. We once again end on a cliffhanger so the author obviously knows how to get me to read the next unnecessarily long book.
August 9, 2023
The ending has me so excited for the next book.
Would I ever reread this one? Nah. Did I like it despite complaining about it below? Yes.
World building and information dumping gives you a headache
HOWEVER, the first 250 of this book (AKA Part one) -dragged- it is a constant pity party full of: I love you so much, then to crying, I hate you, I love you, over and over. It’s like watching toddlers have tantrums or something. Idk if this makes sense but I get Harry and Meghan vibes while reading them so I am extremely excited about the cliffhanger development.
The whole plot seems like nothing but trauma and therapy so far I am still reading. Like I get it but dang.. Move on already.
Part Two though? Awesome.
Spoiler below stop reading:
I am glad she has another mate. Probably because I want something new to happen in these books. It’s been the same teenage drama that gets fixed every five pages by sex.
Cades dead glad she finally realized it but so far it’s boring without him.
Her miscarriage lasts forever it seems I hate pregnancy tropes in books though
Ready for next book
Would I ever reread this one? Nah. Did I like it despite complaining about it below? Yes.
World building and information dumping gives you a headache
HOWEVER, the first 250 of this book (AKA Part one) -dragged- it is a constant pity party full of: I love you so much, then to crying, I hate you, I love you, over and over. It’s like watching toddlers have tantrums or something. Idk if this makes sense but I get Harry and Meghan vibes while reading them so I am extremely excited about the cliffhanger development.
The whole plot seems like nothing but trauma and therapy so far I am still reading. Like I get it but dang.. Move on already.
Part Two though? Awesome.
Spoiler below stop reading:
I am glad she has another mate. Probably because I want something new to happen in these books. It’s been the same teenage drama that gets fixed every five pages by sex.
Cades dead glad she finally realized it but so far it’s boring without him.
Her miscarriage lasts forever it seems I hate pregnancy tropes in books though
Ready for next book
October 24, 2023
I am absolutely gutted and crying…like I am usually not a cryer and tears are streaming down my face 😭
A Kingdom of Death and Despair picks back up right after A Kingdom of Frost and Fury with Raven being taken by Cade and Zeke on the hunt to find her. Honestly, these two cannot catch a break and as much as fate has put them together it seems to want to break them apart. This whole book is all about their growth as a couple but also as individuals. All the secrets that have been hiding are finally revealed…or are they?
Continue the journey of Raven and Zeke’s story in A Kingdom of Death and Despair to find out ☺️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Side Note - Extended TW:
If you are still reading this. The themes are much darker in this book and if you have suffered the loss of a child this will trigger. Emotionally, I connected so much with this story because I have experienced the loss Raven felt and the figuring out how to live with her partner Zeke in grief together with their loss is unfathomable. Whitney brought to life everything I ever felt but never verbalized. I know how taboo it still feels to speak about miscarriages but know you are not alone ❤️
A Kingdom of Death and Despair picks back up right after A Kingdom of Frost and Fury with Raven being taken by Cade and Zeke on the hunt to find her. Honestly, these two cannot catch a break and as much as fate has put them together it seems to want to break them apart. This whole book is all about their growth as a couple but also as individuals. All the secrets that have been hiding are finally revealed…or are they?
Continue the journey of Raven and Zeke’s story in A Kingdom of Death and Despair to find out ☺️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Side Note - Extended TW:
If you are still reading this. The themes are much darker in this book and if you have suffered the loss of a child this will trigger. Emotionally, I connected so much with this story because I have experienced the loss Raven felt and the figuring out how to live with her partner Zeke in grief together with their loss is unfathomable. Whitney brought to life everything I ever felt but never verbalized. I know how taboo it still feels to speak about miscarriages but know you are not alone ❤️
February 1, 2024
Finally the series starts to get good! The plot is moving forward at last, and we are breaking out of the endless cycle of repetitive scenes. This did not get a higher rating for me because I felt a very sensitive issue was handled poorly. More on that below. It's a bit of a spoiler so I want to bury it at the bottom of my review.
Here are a few reasons why you might consider picking it up:
-A FMC Witch Elemental Magic
-A MMC with empath abilities
-Political Intrigue
-Fated Mates who have loved each other in past lives
-Prophesy
-High Spice
-Extremely swoon-worthy lines
It didn't get a higher rating from me because:
-Not enough world building
-Repetitive scenes
-Modern slang in a fantasy setting
And then the spoiler item....
-The FMC suffers a miscarriage and that event is treated as another of their repetitive arguments which I felt was insensitive/inappropriate. I almost DNF-ed over it. Eventually, it was discussed again and given a gentler, more appropriate treatment, but that initial discussion was very insensitive in my opinion.
Here are a few reasons why you might consider picking it up:
-A FMC Witch Elemental Magic
-A MMC with empath abilities
-Political Intrigue
-Fated Mates who have loved each other in past lives
-Prophesy
-High Spice
-Extremely swoon-worthy lines
It didn't get a higher rating from me because:
-Not enough world building
-Repetitive scenes
-Modern slang in a fantasy setting
And then the spoiler item....
-The FMC suffers a miscarriage and that event is treated as another of their repetitive arguments which I felt was insensitive/inappropriate. I almost DNF-ed over it. Eventually, it was discussed again and given a gentler, more appropriate treatment, but that initial discussion was very insensitive in my opinion.
June 27, 2023
Happy Release day to @authorwhitneydean and A Kingdom of Death and Despair.
Ugh this series. You know how ACOTAR and TOG feel like part of your soul? That's this series for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I first picked up A Kingdom of Flame and Fury, but it has turned into so much more than a book or a series. These characters are so engrained in my heart, all their faults and failures and all their power and beauty.
Whitney freaking Dean! The way you have written this series. The way it has grown as the characters have grown is amazing. Every word is beautiful, haunting or heartbreaking. The amount of tears I have lost, and the amount of spots on pages permanently wrinkled by them is upwards of hundreds 😂 I loved book 3 the most so far, even with the pain it caused. I'm excited for book 4 but already heartbroken to say goodbye. 😭
I've got to come up with a Zaven tattoo idea. 🖤
Ugh this series. You know how ACOTAR and TOG feel like part of your soul? That's this series for me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I first picked up A Kingdom of Flame and Fury, but it has turned into so much more than a book or a series. These characters are so engrained in my heart, all their faults and failures and all their power and beauty.
Whitney freaking Dean! The way you have written this series. The way it has grown as the characters have grown is amazing. Every word is beautiful, haunting or heartbreaking. The amount of tears I have lost, and the amount of spots on pages permanently wrinkled by them is upwards of hundreds 😂 I loved book 3 the most so far, even with the pain it caused. I'm excited for book 4 but already heartbroken to say goodbye. 😭
I've got to come up with a Zaven tattoo idea. 🖤
July 7, 2023
Honestly, this is the worst book I have ever read in my life. A friend suggested it to me and I still haven't forgiven her. Zeke and Raven are not romantic - they're toxic. The only times they were tolerable were when they were apart. I pray to God a teenager doesn't read this and think this is what romance is supposed to be like because it's not. They're possessive, obsessive, and constantly either fighting or fucking, that is not healthy. That is abusive. The plot is also very strange and nonsensical, neither of them can make rational decisions or choices. I liked the side characters but they weren't in the book enough. Basically, the book is bad, the main love interests are toxic, and the only reason why I finished it was to see if it maybe got better - it did not. Also the choice Raven made in the end was the stupidest thing I ever read. I understand wanting to finish with a cliffhanger but the author could have done it way better. I want the time I wasted on this book back
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