What do you think?
Bound to Fire and Steel #2
Queen of Dreams
Three lovers with unbridled hope, uncanny dreams, and ancient powers join forces against the greatest evil in the world in a scorching fantasy by the authors of Consort of Fire.
Ash waited three thousand years for a consort who could break the Betrayer’s chains. Instead of one lover, he found Sachi and Zanya—the primordial powers that embody creation and destruction, reborn as humans. Now, his ancient enemy has returned to threaten everything he loves.
In the wake of her dazzling manifestation, Zanya seethes with magic and restless energy. Her command of the Endless Void will be a potent weapon in the coming war. To harness it, she’ll need to embrace the darkness within—but the scars of the past are holding her back.
Sachi’s unprecedented connection to the Dream deepens, leading her beyond the veil of reality…and into the heart of the Betrayer’s stronghold. Torn from her lovers, Sachi must use all her wit and cunning to survive the Betrayer’s treacherous court. Because he doesn’t simply want her. He covets the slumbering power she possesses—and plans to take it for his own.
Even if it ends their world.
Ash waited three thousand years for a consort who could break the Betrayer’s chains. Instead of one lover, he found Sachi and Zanya—the primordial powers that embody creation and destruction, reborn as humans. Now, his ancient enemy has returned to threaten everything he loves.
In the wake of her dazzling manifestation, Zanya seethes with magic and restless energy. Her command of the Endless Void will be a potent weapon in the coming war. To harness it, she’ll need to embrace the darkness within—but the scars of the past are holding her back.
Sachi’s unprecedented connection to the Dream deepens, leading her beyond the veil of reality…and into the heart of the Betrayer’s stronghold. Torn from her lovers, Sachi must use all her wit and cunning to survive the Betrayer’s treacherous court. Because he doesn’t simply want her. He covets the slumbering power she possesses—and plans to take it for his own.
Even if it ends their world.
411 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 6, 2024
About the author
Kit Rocha
70 books2,669 followersOnce upon a time, two best friends decided to write paranormal romance. And while that was awesome, they also sometimes wanted to write insanely dirty stuff that wasn’t paranormal at all. This is that stuff.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
Kit Rocha is the dystopian-erotic-romance writing alter-ego of writing duo Moira Rogers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
August 6, 2024
* happy release day! *
“So many lifetimes ago, the world promised me that I would never be alone again. I waited three thousand years for that promise to come true. And it was worth it.”
i was eagerly awaiting this sequel and was very invested in the advancement of Ash and Zanya’s dynamic specifically. Sachi is captured by the power hungry Sorin and with her absence there was space for Zanya to lean on Ash in a way she’s only ever done with Sachi. i wasn’t expecting this book to be so action packed, but im not complaining cause the battle scenes were so epic — im begging the author to give us more books in this world (i need more of Aleksi.. PLEASE!!) the steam was definitely hot and not just because of Ash’s dragon fire😮💨 .. it was just very satisfying to see the progress Zanya, Sachi and Ash have made as a unit. they’ve formed this sturdy bond and can finally feel safe and protected by one another cause even despite their “clashing” powers, they’re still stronger together.
⭇ many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
“So many lifetimes ago, the world promised me that I would never be alone again. I waited three thousand years for that promise to come true. And it was worth it.”
i was eagerly awaiting this sequel and was very invested in the advancement of Ash and Zanya’s dynamic specifically. Sachi is captured by the power hungry Sorin and with her absence there was space for Zanya to lean on Ash in a way she’s only ever done with Sachi. i wasn’t expecting this book to be so action packed, but im not complaining cause the battle scenes were so epic — im begging the author to give us more books in this world (i need more of Aleksi.. PLEASE!!) the steam was definitely hot and not just because of Ash’s dragon fire😮💨 .. it was just very satisfying to see the progress Zanya, Sachi and Ash have made as a unit. they’ve formed this sturdy bond and can finally feel safe and protected by one another cause even despite their “clashing” powers, they’re still stronger together.
⭇ many thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Publishing for the arc, all opinions are my own.
March 15, 2024
I was really impressed with the first book in this series and I am equally impressed with this one. The worldbuilding is done well, the magic is amazing and the action is great. The steamy scenes are long and intimate and leave little to the imagination. I think it's hard to mix fantasy and romance and have it done well, but I have to say, this one is a good mix.
While I do wish that Zanya and Ash were a little closer and had a more intimate relationship (not talking about sexual) I understand that Sachi will always be number one for Zanya and Ash. I do think she adds a lot to the relationship and they make it work well.
All in all I think this was a very satisfying conclusion to the series but could also be built upon in the future.
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Kit Rocha for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 8/6/24
While I do wish that Zanya and Ash were a little closer and had a more intimate relationship (not talking about sexual) I understand that Sachi will always be number one for Zanya and Ash. I do think she adds a lot to the relationship and they make it work well.
All in all I think this was a very satisfying conclusion to the series but could also be built upon in the future.
Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Kit Rocha for a copy of the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Pub Date: 8/6/24
January 11, 2026
Read this right after the first one and I was so happy to see more plot! Quite a difference between the first one. This had much higher stakes, includes an abduction which is always fun, an all out war, and was so entertaining to read. It also had some darker themes which I appreciated.
Spice was still spicing but this was much more plot-based. I honestly love this world and everyone in it.
Spice was still spicing but this was much more plot-based. I honestly love this world and everyone in it.
March 10, 2024
With Sachi imprisoned in the Betrayer's Court for most of the book, I expected Ash and Zanya relationship to develop so that they had a relationship outside of Sachi so that it didn't seem that Zanya was merely tolerating Ash for Sachi's sake.
Unfortunately, while they became somewhat closer, that didn't happen and while everything revolved around Sachi, it became evident that despite the revelations at the end of the first novel, Ash still thought of her as some sweet little girl that needs his protection and who can't handle herself and make her own decisions. Zanya while overprotective knows that Sachi can take care of herself and make her own decisions.
What really stuck out to me was the portrayal of Sachi, blonde haired, sweet tempered, a princess, adored by all in contrast to Zanya, the Endless Void, dark haired, dangerous, out of control, feared, a handmaid, makes staff nervous.
It made me uncomfortable that Zanya has no one and nothing outside of Sachi and even her relationship with Ash revolves mainly around Sachi. Sure, I get that Creation and Destruction are two halves of the same whole, bound together etc but everything Zanya has is through Sachi which is in no way healthy and not really addressed.
The plot was slightly disappointing with the Betrayer being an underwhelming villain and Gywnivra. the Stalker and the rest of the Betrayer's court being underutilised.
Many thanks to Montlake who provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately, while they became somewhat closer, that didn't happen and while everything revolved around Sachi, it became evident that despite the revelations at the end of the first novel, Ash still thought of her as some sweet little girl that needs his protection and who can't handle herself and make her own decisions. Zanya while overprotective knows that Sachi can take care of herself and make her own decisions.
What really stuck out to me was the portrayal of Sachi, blonde haired, sweet tempered, a princess, adored by all in contrast to Zanya, the Endless Void, dark haired, dangerous, out of control, feared, a handmaid, makes staff nervous.
It made me uncomfortable that Zanya has no one and nothing outside of Sachi and even her relationship with Ash revolves mainly around Sachi. Sure, I get that Creation and Destruction are two halves of the same whole, bound together etc but everything Zanya has is through Sachi which is in no way healthy and not really addressed.
The plot was slightly disappointing with the Betrayer being an underwhelming villain and Gywnivra. the Stalker and the rest of the Betrayer's court being underutilised.
Many thanks to Montlake who provided an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 12, 2024
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Queen of Dreams is the second book of the Bound to Fire and Steel series focused on the thruple of Ash, Sanci and Zanya. I'm not always a fan of threesome relationships, but I like the way this one was done, it completely worked for me. There is definitely more that could be done in this world if the authors choose but this book wraps up a lot of the threads and could be just a great duology. Sanci is the glue binding Ash and Zanya together, however they will need to find a way to love each other and come together even in her absence when she is kidnapped by the Destroyer if they are going to get her back.
I really enjoyed Consort of Fire, there was a new fantasy world to learn with interesting magic and magical being in it, along with a strong historic base the authors introduced. Add to that a lot of steamy scenes in-between all the traveling through the land while Sanci and Zanya figuring out how to kill Ash to save Sanci and it was a solid romantasy. But I think that Queen of Dreams flows a little better with was less time spent on the sex and more time spent on the actual story. Don't worry there are still a few really explicit and spicy scenes that take their time, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. I would say Bound to Fire upped it's game and the depth of the characters, plot and worldbuilding.
Zanya is learning how to handle her power and the newfound strength that has come with it. She doesn't trust herself and is afraid she could hurt Sanci if she can't learn to control it. Ash is trying to develop a relationship with Zanya as a lover, so he is not able to train her like he would another new born god. He will need to trust some of his court with his lover, if Zanya is going to come into her full potential. Sanci wants to help with all the upheaval in the country but has been sidelined for her protection. In a bid to help, she is accidentally captured to be in the betrayers court. She must use all the skill she was taught in order to get close to Ash and kill him, to save her Consort and the woman she loved since childhood. Sanci will need all of her power over the world of dreams to make this happen. One problem, sometimes you have to be on the verge of death to manifest into your full power and Sanci's journey is not easy and will leave some scars.
Ash and Zanya need to get ready, while it is hard to leave Sanci in the enemies' clutches, they must trust her to fight the battle she was trained for while they prepare for the fighting that will come when the right opportunity arises. Sorin, known as the betrayer, was awful and twisted. I liked how Sanci was able to maneuver in his court and the allies she was able to make by playing political games. There are more ways to fight than just the sword. The culminating battle at the end was epic in scope and the conclusion to the story very satisfying. I can see how we may get more books set in this world as there are definitely more stories that could easily be told. I for one would be interested in reading any of them.
Narration:
Victoria Mei, Caitlin Elizabeth and Will Thorne reprise their roles for each PoV in the story. Each did a great job of capturing the main voice of the character they were narrating. I think Will was absolutely perfect for the deep timber I assumed the Dragon would have and his voice was my favorite. Victoria and Caitlin also performed really well and were able to capture both the strength and the vulnerabilities of the characters they were playing. There wasn't a PoV that I didn't like or that didn't carry the story well.
Listen to a clip: HERE
Review copy was received from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 hearts
Queen of Dreams is the second book of the Bound to Fire and Steel series focused on the thruple of Ash, Sanci and Zanya. I'm not always a fan of threesome relationships, but I like the way this one was done, it completely worked for me. There is definitely more that could be done in this world if the authors choose but this book wraps up a lot of the threads and could be just a great duology. Sanci is the glue binding Ash and Zanya together, however they will need to find a way to love each other and come together even in her absence when she is kidnapped by the Destroyer if they are going to get her back.
I really enjoyed Consort of Fire, there was a new fantasy world to learn with interesting magic and magical being in it, along with a strong historic base the authors introduced. Add to that a lot of steamy scenes in-between all the traveling through the land while Sanci and Zanya figuring out how to kill Ash to save Sanci and it was a solid romantasy. But I think that Queen of Dreams flows a little better with was less time spent on the sex and more time spent on the actual story. Don't worry there are still a few really explicit and spicy scenes that take their time, but it doesn't overwhelm the story. I would say Bound to Fire upped it's game and the depth of the characters, plot and worldbuilding.
“So many lifetimes ago, the world promised me that I would never be alone again. I waited three thousand years for that promise to come true. And it was worth it.”
Zanya is learning how to handle her power and the newfound strength that has come with it. She doesn't trust herself and is afraid she could hurt Sanci if she can't learn to control it. Ash is trying to develop a relationship with Zanya as a lover, so he is not able to train her like he would another new born god. He will need to trust some of his court with his lover, if Zanya is going to come into her full potential. Sanci wants to help with all the upheaval in the country but has been sidelined for her protection. In a bid to help, she is accidentally captured to be in the betrayers court. She must use all the skill she was taught in order to get close to Ash and kill him, to save her Consort and the woman she loved since childhood. Sanci will need all of her power over the world of dreams to make this happen. One problem, sometimes you have to be on the verge of death to manifest into your full power and Sanci's journey is not easy and will leave some scars.
Ash and Zanya need to get ready, while it is hard to leave Sanci in the enemies' clutches, they must trust her to fight the battle she was trained for while they prepare for the fighting that will come when the right opportunity arises. Sorin, known as the betrayer, was awful and twisted. I liked how Sanci was able to maneuver in his court and the allies she was able to make by playing political games. There are more ways to fight than just the sword. The culminating battle at the end was epic in scope and the conclusion to the story very satisfying. I can see how we may get more books set in this world as there are definitely more stories that could easily be told. I for one would be interested in reading any of them.
Narration:
Victoria Mei, Caitlin Elizabeth and Will Thorne reprise their roles for each PoV in the story. Each did a great job of capturing the main voice of the character they were narrating. I think Will was absolutely perfect for the deep timber I assumed the Dragon would have and his voice was my favorite. Victoria and Caitlin also performed really well and were able to capture both the strength and the vulnerabilities of the characters they were playing. There wasn't a PoV that I didn't like or that didn't carry the story well.
Listen to a clip: HERE
August 9, 2024
4.5 stars. So freaking good! I might like it even more than book 1.
In general, I like reading about lovers/partners having to figure out how to work together. I thought the ways Ash, Sachi and Zanya negotiated their relationships one on one and as a triad was really interesting and satisfying. I also loved seeing both Sachi and Zanya come into their powers.
In general, I like reading about lovers/partners having to figure out how to work together. I thought the ways Ash, Sachi and Zanya negotiated their relationships one on one and as a triad was really interesting and satisfying. I also loved seeing both Sachi and Zanya come into their powers.
March 4, 2024
I received an ARC from NetGalley; my opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this duology from Kit Rocha, a steamy romantasy with a decent amount of (ecology-focused) worldbuilding, and a delightful romp going straight for the id (Zanya getting her new outfit gave 'Sailor Moon new transformation' vibe, and I mean that in a good way). I just have to admit the first book felt a little more daring, and I somehow thought the world was going to have more significance here, the way the magic and religion and visions worked in the first volume. It all fits together, but I would have liked a little bit more depth. But still: fun, from the beginning to the end, and a whole lot of well written sex, and I'll keep Rocha in mind for the next time I'm looking for this exact thing.
I really enjoyed this duology from Kit Rocha, a steamy romantasy with a decent amount of (ecology-focused) worldbuilding, and a delightful romp going straight for the id (Zanya getting her new outfit gave 'Sailor Moon new transformation' vibe, and I mean that in a good way). I just have to admit the first book felt a little more daring, and I somehow thought the world was going to have more significance here, the way the magic and religion and visions worked in the first volume. It all fits together, but I would have liked a little bit more depth. But still: fun, from the beginning to the end, and a whole lot of well written sex, and I'll keep Rocha in mind for the next time I'm looking for this exact thing.
August 20, 2024
4 Complete Fantasy Stars
✔️ Triple POVs (Sacchi x Ash x Zanya)
✔️ Set in a fantasy land with humans, gods as dragon shifters, wolf shifters, and witches
✔️ Open-door, romantasy (4/5 🌶️)
✔️ Tropes: Fated mates, prophecy to safe the world
❌ Part of a series, but cannot be read as a standalone
The was a banger of a conclusion to Ash, Sacchi, and Zanya’s story. In this part of the story, we see Zanya and Sacchi come into their full powers. They use them to confr ont their nemesis who wants to siphon the power of dreams to fuel his own power.
The construction of The Dream and the Endless Void are still a little confusing to me. It would have been more compelling to see Zanya and Sacchi have more agency in using these powers. Oftentimes, the powers felt like they were simply acting through those characters.
The triple POV works well — except a couple of occasions where the plot point gets repeated three times. There are only about three spicy scenes — but they are worth the wait!
✔️ Triple POVs (Sacchi x Ash x Zanya)
✔️ Set in a fantasy land with humans, gods as dragon shifters, wolf shifters, and witches
✔️ Open-door, romantasy (4/5 🌶️)
✔️ Tropes: Fated mates, prophecy to safe the world
❌ Part of a series, but cannot be read as a standalone
The was a banger of a conclusion to Ash, Sacchi, and Zanya’s story. In this part of the story, we see Zanya and Sacchi come into their full powers. They use them to confr ont their nemesis who wants to siphon the power of dreams to fuel his own power.
The construction of The Dream and the Endless Void are still a little confusing to me. It would have been more compelling to see Zanya and Sacchi have more agency in using these powers. Oftentimes, the powers felt like they were simply acting through those characters.
The triple POV works well — except a couple of occasions where the plot point gets repeated three times. There are only about three spicy scenes — but they are worth the wait!
August 8, 2024
Kit Rocha write such good books, I wish they would start writing faster again 🥲
July 5, 2024
If a main character in a triad is in another place for a big piece of the book, I expect that the other two are going to grow their relationship. It doesn’t have to be in a sexual way. I just need to see them forming a bond outside the other person.
This book was fine. The duet was interesting. It wasn’t as much as I wanted but I did enjoy it overall.
This book was fine. The duet was interesting. It wasn’t as much as I wanted but I did enjoy it overall.
March 10, 2024
With Sachi imprisoned in the Betrayer's Court for most of the book, I expected Ash and Zanya relationship to develop so that they had a relationship outside of Sachi so that it didn't seem that Zanya was merely tolerating Ash for Sachi's sake.
Unfortunately, while they became somewhat closer, that didn't happen and while everything revolved around Sachi, it became evident that despite the revelations at the end of the first novel, Ash still thought of her as some sweet little girl that needs his protection and who can't handle herself and make her own decisions. Zanya while overprotective knows that Sachi can take care of herself and make her own decisions.
What really stuck out to me was the portrayal of Sachi, blonde haired, sweet tempered, a princess, adored by all in contrast to Zanya, the Endless Void, dark haired, dangerous, out of control, feared, a handmaid, makes staff nervous.
It made me uncomfortable that Zanya has no one and nothing outside of Sachi and even her relationship with Ash revolves mainly around Sachi. Sure, I get that Creation and Destruction are two halves of the same whole, bound together etc but everything Zanya has is through Sachi which is in no way healthy and not really addressed.
The plot was slightly disappointing with the Betrayer being an underwhelming villain and Gywnivra. the Stalker and the rest of the Betrayer's court being underutilised.
Unfortunately, while they became somewhat closer, that didn't happen and while everything revolved around Sachi, it became evident that despite the revelations at the end of the first novel, Ash still thought of her as some sweet little girl that needs his protection and who can't handle herself and make her own decisions. Zanya while overprotective knows that Sachi can take care of herself and make her own decisions.
What really stuck out to me was the portrayal of Sachi, blonde haired, sweet tempered, a princess, adored by all in contrast to Zanya, the Endless Void, dark haired, dangerous, out of control, feared, a handmaid, makes staff nervous.
It made me uncomfortable that Zanya has no one and nothing outside of Sachi and even her relationship with Ash revolves mainly around Sachi. Sure, I get that Creation and Destruction are two halves of the same whole, bound together etc but everything Zanya has is through Sachi which is in no way healthy and not really addressed.
The plot was slightly disappointing with the Betrayer being an underwhelming villain and Gywnivra. the Stalker and the rest of the Betrayer's court being underutilised.
March 13, 2025
Not bad for what it is but also not very good? I shouldn't take it so seriously but even when I'm just trying to have a good time, this book leaves me with too many questions. Like did Sachi ever go back and talk to her little sister, the queen? What was the point of Sachi trying to infiltrate the empire?? All of the information she garners is already known by the Phoenix, so we end up learning absolutely nothing from her chapters. THEN all the training Sachi was tortured with in the past, we keep getting told about it but she doesn't actually DO ANYTHING. WHAT WAS THE POINT? She reveals her secret plot to the emperor after like four days of trying to scheme and find information, like pleeaaaaaaase I thought you were trained for this?!?!?
The first book was mostly smut and a little plot, which worked because the plot is pretty stupid. This one is more plot than smut which didn't work because the plot is pretty stupid.
The first book was mostly smut and a little plot, which worked because the plot is pretty stupid. This one is more plot than smut which didn't work because the plot is pretty stupid.
August 21, 2024
What an absolute ride! I can see this so clearly on the big screen. The build up, the battle at the end, the sexy sexy scenes. everythiiiing!
My favourite thing is seeing Sachi and Zanya coming into their power, see more clearly how they and Ash just fit as a trio. That while they are gods their vulnerabilities shine through. Loved how complex and engaging ever character was. We finally got to meet the Betrayer and hoo boy what a guy.
The secondary characters also have me so intrigued (hello Aleksei i see youuu) as they are so different and colourful in their own ways. I do hope we get to see more of the High Court because they were so fascinating to me.
Enjoyed this immensely!
My favourite thing is seeing Sachi and Zanya coming into their power, see more clearly how they and Ash just fit as a trio. That while they are gods their vulnerabilities shine through. Loved how complex and engaging ever character was. We finally got to meet the Betrayer and hoo boy what a guy.
The secondary characters also have me so intrigued (hello Aleksei i see youuu) as they are so different and colourful in their own ways. I do hope we get to see more of the High Court because they were so fascinating to me.
Enjoyed this immensely!
July 23, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!
"There's only one thing to remember [...] Sometimes the world needs monsters."
I LOVED "Consort of Fire" and was elated to be granted an ARC of "Queen of Dreams." Sachi, Zanya, and Ash are perfection. The character development across all three was executed so well and even the side characters felt so rich. The pacing is fantastic - at no point did I feel like it was a struggle to get through or that I felt the desire to glaze over details.
The 🌶️ parts were well-placed and didn't feel forced. I loved the peek inside each of their minds of their 🌶️ preferences - it felt genuine and gave us even more insight into each character.
I did feel that Zanya/Ash's relationship left something to be desired. With Sachi far away, it really opened an opportunity to develop that plot point. My hope was that Zanya and Ash could have grown closer during this period.
"There's only one thing to remember [...] Sometimes the world needs monsters."
I LOVED "Consort of Fire" and was elated to be granted an ARC of "Queen of Dreams." Sachi, Zanya, and Ash are perfection. The character development across all three was executed so well and even the side characters felt so rich. The pacing is fantastic - at no point did I feel like it was a struggle to get through or that I felt the desire to glaze over details.
The 🌶️ parts were well-placed and didn't feel forced. I loved the peek inside each of their minds of their 🌶️ preferences - it felt genuine and gave us even more insight into each character.
I did feel that Zanya/Ash's relationship left something to be desired. With Sachi far away, it really opened an opportunity to develop that plot point. My hope was that Zanya and Ash could have grown closer during this period.
March 29, 2024
It's deeply gratifying to read a book by a writing team who clearly understands the craft of writing. Story structure, themes, motivations, etc.They know their characters, and they know the situations to put them in to give them the growth that they need. This story was a series of correct decisions and mindful writing. You can feel the intentionality.
As an erotic romance, Queen of Dreams shines. Sex is never superfluous. It never feels tacked on. Like a song in a musical, sex happens and the height of emotion and serves to either move the story or the characters forward.
Zanya and Sachi, in particular, feel like fully realized characters. Good at their core, but messy and not always reliable narrators of their own experiences. It gives them a life that I often find lacking in romance.
I love these characters and the world that has been built for them. ♥️
Tropes: Growly grumpy (x2) + bratty sunshine, found families (ofc), Queen of Darkness/Queen of Light, dragon shifter lol.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
As an erotic romance, Queen of Dreams shines. Sex is never superfluous. It never feels tacked on. Like a song in a musical, sex happens and the height of emotion and serves to either move the story or the characters forward.
Zanya and Sachi, in particular, feel like fully realized characters. Good at their core, but messy and not always reliable narrators of their own experiences. It gives them a life that I often find lacking in romance.
I love these characters and the world that has been built for them. ♥️
Tropes: Growly grumpy (x2) + bratty sunshine, found families (ofc), Queen of Darkness/Queen of Light, dragon shifter lol.
ARC provided by NetGalley.
October 17, 2024
2.5/5
Absence doth make the heart grow fonder, although deprivation may be a better start to that refrain. A perfect opportunity delivered this work's prequel into my lap at the beginning of the year, and a perfect storm inflicted a three day power outage that contributed to my more than fond memories of what had originally been a three star read. Subsequent queer reads proved less lasting in my mind (as well as lacking in the recently published sequel department), so when this title started enticing its way across the borders of my mind in earnest, I'll admit to abusing my librarian powers a tad and magicking a copy onto the shelves. My problem, I suppose, is my inability to temper my literary expectations even in the realm of overt sexy times. This was less of an issue in the first book where the prime antagonist was interpersonal relationships, but as soon as the seat of action removed itself to a war between empires, I began paying closer attention to the quality of political machinations, world building, and overall plot development. Unfortunately, this is where the Marvel-ification of this duology really shows its weak points. Not only do most of the characters stand awkwardly around as pretty/badass set pieces with no real definition beyond a second of awesome acrobatics and/or insightful quips, major plot points that would necessitate a healthy dose of complex narrative development that doesn't completely rely on action are either cut short or saved from their own grand aspirations by anachronistic deus ex machinas. However. I just discovered that this series will be continued in another duology that focuses on a different set of characters within the world, and boy if I didn't do some rapid calculations as to when I would be able to put in a preorder. So, for all my grousing, something in this writing and world is working for me. And in the end, I could always use more practice with disentangling the 'guilty' from the 'pleasure'.
Absence doth make the heart grow fonder, although deprivation may be a better start to that refrain. A perfect opportunity delivered this work's prequel into my lap at the beginning of the year, and a perfect storm inflicted a three day power outage that contributed to my more than fond memories of what had originally been a three star read. Subsequent queer reads proved less lasting in my mind (as well as lacking in the recently published sequel department), so when this title started enticing its way across the borders of my mind in earnest, I'll admit to abusing my librarian powers a tad and magicking a copy onto the shelves. My problem, I suppose, is my inability to temper my literary expectations even in the realm of overt sexy times. This was less of an issue in the first book where the prime antagonist was interpersonal relationships, but as soon as the seat of action removed itself to a war between empires, I began paying closer attention to the quality of political machinations, world building, and overall plot development. Unfortunately, this is where the Marvel-ification of this duology really shows its weak points. Not only do most of the characters stand awkwardly around as pretty/badass set pieces with no real definition beyond a second of awesome acrobatics and/or insightful quips, major plot points that would necessitate a healthy dose of complex narrative development that doesn't completely rely on action are either cut short or saved from their own grand aspirations by anachronistic deus ex machinas. However. I just discovered that this series will be continued in another duology that focuses on a different set of characters within the world, and boy if I didn't do some rapid calculations as to when I would be able to put in a preorder. So, for all my grousing, something in this writing and world is working for me. And in the end, I could always use more practice with disentangling the 'guilty' from the 'pleasure'.
July 14, 2024
You guys. YOU GUYS. Ash and Sachi and Zanya coming together in book 1 was so ridiculously good that I didn't think anything could top it. BOY WAS I WRONG. Because Sachi hadn't come into her power yet when things went down in book 1 and this is one unstoppably amazing trio when they're ALL firing on all cylinders.
But it took time for Sachi to believe in herself enough to embrace what she is. It took time and a separation from the two people who love her most. Seeing as she was dropped into the middle of the Betrayer's empire with only her wits and her training to survive and bring about his downfall, things were rough for a while. Rough for her AND for Ash and Zanya.
And the Betrayer? He was...awful. He surrounded himself with a twisted family and hammered his plans for a brighter future into something that became unrecognizable. His quest for bigger, better, best stripped away everything good from his land and his people. In the end Sachi had to choice but to dig deep and find herself.
While Sachi is working from the inside (as best she could), Ash, Zanya, and the rest of the High Court were preparing for war. Zanya needs to learn to control her powers. Ash is making plans. They're all prepared to do whatever needs to be done to end the Betrayer's reign in any way necessary.
Gods, monsters, newly awakened power, a twisted mirror court, and three individuals who have to hold tight to all their trust and belief in one another if they want to succeed.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
But it took time for Sachi to believe in herself enough to embrace what she is. It took time and a separation from the two people who love her most. Seeing as she was dropped into the middle of the Betrayer's empire with only her wits and her training to survive and bring about his downfall, things were rough for a while. Rough for her AND for Ash and Zanya.
And the Betrayer? He was...awful. He surrounded himself with a twisted family and hammered his plans for a brighter future into something that became unrecognizable. His quest for bigger, better, best stripped away everything good from his land and his people. In the end Sachi had to choice but to dig deep and find herself.
While Sachi is working from the inside (as best she could), Ash, Zanya, and the rest of the High Court were preparing for war. Zanya needs to learn to control her powers. Ash is making plans. They're all prepared to do whatever needs to be done to end the Betrayer's reign in any way necessary.
Gods, monsters, newly awakened power, a twisted mirror court, and three individuals who have to hold tight to all their trust and belief in one another if they want to succeed.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
June 22, 2025
Absolute gold
By the end of book 1 our trio of lovers had ‘leveled up’ with Zanya coming into her godly powers. But it left a void (pun intended) within their dynamic, resulting in Sachi feeling useless in their battles; both to save the people of the Sheltered Lands and against the Betrayer. In her haste to be helpful she wanders right into the Betrayer’s trap and is whisked away to his twisted court. And this was where this book truly took wing!
Not only do we get to see Sachi’s skills as she infiltrates Sorin’s court, but we also see Zanya and Ash having to lean on each other to survive Sachi’s absence. The vulnerability and care these two predators take with one another’s hearts was endearing. Throughout book 1 Sachi was a sweet, steady presence but here we get to see her spine. Her ability to navigate the treachery of Sorin’s replacement ‘family,’ a twisted mockery of the High Court we adore, ensures that we readers know that it’s not just coming into her own godly powers which will make Sachi her lovers’ equal… it is the conviction of her soul to do what she must for the betterment of all.
The political machinations and action in the second half of this book were intense. And, like in book 1, the spice was on point! Fiery doesn’t even begin to do it justice.
By the end of book 1 our trio of lovers had ‘leveled up’ with Zanya coming into her godly powers. But it left a void (pun intended) within their dynamic, resulting in Sachi feeling useless in their battles; both to save the people of the Sheltered Lands and against the Betrayer. In her haste to be helpful she wanders right into the Betrayer’s trap and is whisked away to his twisted court. And this was where this book truly took wing!
Not only do we get to see Sachi’s skills as she infiltrates Sorin’s court, but we also see Zanya and Ash having to lean on each other to survive Sachi’s absence. The vulnerability and care these two predators take with one another’s hearts was endearing. Throughout book 1 Sachi was a sweet, steady presence but here we get to see her spine. Her ability to navigate the treachery of Sorin’s replacement ‘family,’ a twisted mockery of the High Court we adore, ensures that we readers know that it’s not just coming into her own godly powers which will make Sachi her lovers’ equal… it is the conviction of her soul to do what she must for the betterment of all.
The political machinations and action in the second half of this book were intense. And, like in book 1, the spice was on point! Fiery doesn’t even begin to do it justice.
August 7, 2024
*I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads*
I absolutely LOVED Consort of Fire, book 1 in the Bound to Fire and Steel series, and they do need to be read in order as book 2 is a continuation from the first. I promise you, this series doesn't disappoint!
As Zanya finds herself, Sachi is left drifting and trying to find her purpose. The gods all have their own gifts and Zanya is trying to learn how to wield her power, often clumsily but she's doing the best she can with what she has to work with. Ash is trying to keep the world together, avoiding any further confrontations with the Betrayer. To summarize, there is too much going on and something has to give!
I adore the growth that Zanya experiences, I find myself drawn to her and hoping everything finally "clicks". That's not to say she is more important than the other 2, not at all. All three have a lot to overcome, and are stronger together yet each have important roles to play.
Sachi really shines in this book (quite literally)! She is the embodiment of love and light, she is the perfect complement to Zanya's dark. When the time comes for Sachi to step up, she embraces the challenge with no fear!
Overall, I really enjoyed book 2 in the newest series by Kit Rocha (I love both books)! The story is unique, the characters are interesting, and the romance is different (and spicy). I don't want to say goodbye, I would really like to see how the court deals with the new, improved world!
I absolutely LOVED Consort of Fire, book 1 in the Bound to Fire and Steel series, and they do need to be read in order as book 2 is a continuation from the first. I promise you, this series doesn't disappoint!
As Zanya finds herself, Sachi is left drifting and trying to find her purpose. The gods all have their own gifts and Zanya is trying to learn how to wield her power, often clumsily but she's doing the best she can with what she has to work with. Ash is trying to keep the world together, avoiding any further confrontations with the Betrayer. To summarize, there is too much going on and something has to give!
I adore the growth that Zanya experiences, I find myself drawn to her and hoping everything finally "clicks". That's not to say she is more important than the other 2, not at all. All three have a lot to overcome, and are stronger together yet each have important roles to play.
Sachi really shines in this book (quite literally)! She is the embodiment of love and light, she is the perfect complement to Zanya's dark. When the time comes for Sachi to step up, she embraces the challenge with no fear!
Overall, I really enjoyed book 2 in the newest series by Kit Rocha (I love both books)! The story is unique, the characters are interesting, and the romance is different (and spicy). I don't want to say goodbye, I would really like to see how the court deals with the new, improved world!
August 6, 2024
I would like to thank NetGalley for giving me an audio-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Omg. I really enjoyed book 1, but this was so much better. Not only do we get some spicy spice -- and I do mean SPICY spice -- but we get an amazing development of the relationship between Ash, Sachi, and Zanya. The three of them are absolutely amazing together.
This one had so much more plot than book 1, so much more world building, action... this was everything. I loved watching Sachi come into her own as she takes on the Betrayer after being whisked away into his court. I loved watching Zanya open up and accept love. I loved watching Ash just absolutely dominate across the board.
And I'd like to take a moment to thank the audiobook narrators for doing such an amazing job. The performance was absolutely amazing and I was literally hooked from book 1 all the way through the end of this one.
Actual rating: 4.5⭐️
Omg. I really enjoyed book 1, but this was so much better. Not only do we get some spicy spice -- and I do mean SPICY spice -- but we get an amazing development of the relationship between Ash, Sachi, and Zanya. The three of them are absolutely amazing together.
This one had so much more plot than book 1, so much more world building, action... this was everything. I loved watching Sachi come into her own as she takes on the Betrayer after being whisked away into his court. I loved watching Zanya open up and accept love. I loved watching Ash just absolutely dominate across the board.
And I'd like to take a moment to thank the audiobook narrators for doing such an amazing job. The performance was absolutely amazing and I was literally hooked from book 1 all the way through the end of this one.
Actual rating: 4.5⭐️
October 20, 2024
I was surprised by the first book in this series and I even liked this one more. There was a bit more plot and character development in this sequel. This series is definitely very spicy in certain chapters, but it actually develops the plot and characters. It has a purpose, unlike a lot of other books where it feels like authors are just throwing it in there. So just make sure to read a quick summary of the plot and romance and make sure you know what you are getting into. If it is the right fit, you will likely find yourself speeding through the pages and not wanting to put the book down.
I did think there were a couple times the plot jumped quickly and I expected more build up; on the plus side that made it a very fast paced book. My final thought is I expected a bit more development of Zanya and Ash’s relationship in Sachi’s absence but that middle chunk felt rushed. Still recommend this series to readers who love a steamy romantasy!
I did think there were a couple times the plot jumped quickly and I expected more build up; on the plus side that made it a very fast paced book. My final thought is I expected a bit more development of Zanya and Ash’s relationship in Sachi’s absence but that middle chunk felt rushed. Still recommend this series to readers who love a steamy romantasy!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 22, 2024
I enjoyed book 1 (Consort of Fire) a lot so I had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint! We continue to explore the politics and relationships of the world - expanding to what "the builder/betrayer" has been up to. I love the way the relationship between Zanya, Sachi, and Ash grows as they navigate changes in Zanya and Sachi's powers. They have such emotional and deep moments and then POW the spice is hot hot hot. The ending battle was a bit long for me but I am also known to not love a bit battle scene.
If you love fantasy romance with From Blood and Ash vibes this is for you!
I also love the LGBTQ+ representation in both main and side characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author(s) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
If you love fantasy romance with From Blood and Ash vibes this is for you!
I also love the LGBTQ+ representation in both main and side characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author(s) for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Montlake for the arc. I loved this series. FFM romantasy is my jam and this was so good. I loved seeing Zanya and Ash's relationship grow and Sachi come into her power. This was fast paced and steamy, grounded in great characters and a rich world. I know some weren't a fan of the length of the last battle but I love a drawn out climax battle scene. I also appreciated that we got a longer denouement to address what happened and provide a last steamy scene. I'm sad to let this world go. This is definitely a series I'll be rereading and an author I will revisit. So happy I took a chance on a second book in series arc. I highly recommend.
September 6, 2024
I liked the concept of this book, but the story / writing never really drew me in. I was glad to see Sachi have a bit more of a personality in this one - the other characters fawn all over her, and I just don't see it. Everyone else is more interesting, but so much of this series is focused on her. I had a little bit of a hard time getting through this one, but it's not bad; it just didn't grab my attention.
August 13, 2024
I’ve really enjoyed this very steamy duology. If you are a fan of The Bridge Kingdom, but wished it had more magic and spice then this is perfect for you. The sequel isn’t as spicy as the first book, but it has more action and an epic ending. The narrators did an amazing job bringing the story and its spice to life.
November 12, 2025
fuck it, dragon smut time. these books are like if ACOTAR leaned into the weird magic sex stuff and also had consistent worldbuilding and character development. super readable, engaging, and fun! very silly but i had a good time.
August 9, 2024
Really enjoyed this! Seeing Sachi and Zanya grow into themselves especially. Sorin was an interesting but ultimately tragic villain, in that he could have been so much more. The writing kept my attention captive from start to finish. Excellent!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2024
Y’all are seriously sleeping on this duology one of the best romantasy I have ever read
October 20, 2025
Kudos to the authors for developing such an enthralling story with such endearing characters. I listened to the Audiobook and send a hearty "Bravo" to all the amazing voice actors who brought the characters to life! Looking forward to the spinoff book "Daughter of Tides."
August 12, 2024
This book was pretty disappointing.
I loved the first book. LOVED it. It was a 5-star on the first and second read. Beautiful writing, fascinating worldbuilding, and absolutely dripping with eroticism.
The second book feels…messy. Sort of unedited, like this was a first draft that I was not supposed to see. For instance, there are far more parts now where words are repeated over and over: "When she could breathe *again*, at least enough to gasp his name, he started all over *again.* He did it *again* and *again*" (emphasis mine). An editor usually catches this, but it happened enough throughout the book to make me feel like the prose flowed less well than it did in the first.
My second gripe is that there's no more sexual tension between Zanya and Ash. Like, at all. The last book sang with the delicious tension between them. They feel so uninterested in each other that when they finally have sex at the end of the book it seems like it didn't even have to happen, which is not a way I would usually feel about having waited for two characters to fully bone.
Speaking of boning, they are even more explicit in this book than they were in the first about the depth of the trauma that Sachi went through to become the perfect sexual object. We know from the first book she was frequently drugged, and that she particularly hates it. "Tell [the new ruler] about the men you brought in to *test* [Sachi]," Zanya demands of the Roquebarres at one point. Given that Sachi is explicitly stated to be 25, it's heavily implied that at least some of this happened when she was underage. But Sachi never grapples with this trauma in any specific or real way when it comes to her personal sexual relationships with Ash and Zanya. I think it feels particularly uncomfortable because they are so much more detailed about how horribly she was treated in this book, which makes me feel sort of weird about the first one in retrospect. The writing contains a lot of introspection, and the perspectives of all three characters, both things I really love. But she never spares a thought of "Well, it's fine that I want Ash, and I guess I'm over my years of grooming." Like, let me be clear: survivors deserve the freedom and space to want whoever they want to reclaim their sexuality for themselves, but she never seems to think of it at all. We are told she's highly traumatized but she never thinks about being traumatized at all, and thus it feels more like a sloppy piece of character building, which, as a survivor myself, I hate.
When it comes to what she was actually trained for, however, that's a different matter. Sachi says, “They made us into weapons, and I hate them for it. But it still feels good to use that power for my own purposes.” In this she says she's deciding to use her training as the perfect consort for her own goals, which is really interesting. It's an active thing and it's her decision to make, so I appreciated it a lot.
One last note on Sachi and trauma: she experiences a pretty huge shift towards the end of this book, and she has this really sweet scene with Zanya and Ash where she expresses that she is not the same anymore and thinks she probably never will be. They reassure her that they will love her anyway. I thought this was a really nice touch; things *have* changed, and how the two of them view her has been a major undercurrent running through the entire book, so I liked this bit of resolution for it.
Back to the writing and plotting. Every chapter starts the same way, which is with a single dramatic sentence. I see this kind of lazy shorthand used all the time. They didn't overuse it in the last book, so it's a bummer that they've resorted to it here. One of the reasons I loved the last book is that I truly did not know how it was going to end. All of the characters' motivations and the rules of the world were so clear and I, like the characters, could not imagine how things were going to work out, but the resolution still felt incredibly satisfying because I understood the world clearly. I did not get the same sense in this book. They tell you how the problem is going to be resolved through the whole book: Sachi is going to have to face a near death experience to come into her full powers. The climax is written so sloppily that even though that's exactly what happens, I'm not really entirely sure what *actually* happened. It's a big battle, which can be tough to write, especially with three POV characters. But they end up switching too often and not dedicating the time to each character that I felt like they really deserved. Sachi decides the fate of the antagonist with her power, but I did not understand that that is what had happened until several chapters later.
There are positive things here like there were in the last book. Critically, there's still no downplaying of the Zanya/Sachi relationship as less valid just because it's between two women. There's good nonbinary rep.
It's all the more disappointing because the first book knocked it out of the park so hard.
I loved the first book. LOVED it. It was a 5-star on the first and second read. Beautiful writing, fascinating worldbuilding, and absolutely dripping with eroticism.
The second book feels…messy. Sort of unedited, like this was a first draft that I was not supposed to see. For instance, there are far more parts now where words are repeated over and over: "When she could breathe *again*, at least enough to gasp his name, he started all over *again.* He did it *again* and *again*" (emphasis mine). An editor usually catches this, but it happened enough throughout the book to make me feel like the prose flowed less well than it did in the first.
My second gripe is that there's no more sexual tension between Zanya and Ash. Like, at all. The last book sang with the delicious tension between them. They feel so uninterested in each other that when they finally have sex at the end of the book it seems like it didn't even have to happen, which is not a way I would usually feel about having waited for two characters to fully bone.
Speaking of boning, they are even more explicit in this book than they were in the first about the depth of the trauma that Sachi went through to become the perfect sexual object. We know from the first book she was frequently drugged, and that she particularly hates it. "Tell [the new ruler] about the men you brought in to *test* [Sachi]," Zanya demands of the Roquebarres at one point. Given that Sachi is explicitly stated to be 25, it's heavily implied that at least some of this happened when she was underage. But Sachi never grapples with this trauma in any specific or real way when it comes to her personal sexual relationships with Ash and Zanya. I think it feels particularly uncomfortable because they are so much more detailed about how horribly she was treated in this book, which makes me feel sort of weird about the first one in retrospect. The writing contains a lot of introspection, and the perspectives of all three characters, both things I really love. But she never spares a thought of "Well, it's fine that I want Ash, and I guess I'm over my years of grooming." Like, let me be clear: survivors deserve the freedom and space to want whoever they want to reclaim their sexuality for themselves, but she never seems to think of it at all. We are told she's highly traumatized but she never thinks about being traumatized at all, and thus it feels more like a sloppy piece of character building, which, as a survivor myself, I hate.
When it comes to what she was actually trained for, however, that's a different matter. Sachi says, “They made us into weapons, and I hate them for it. But it still feels good to use that power for my own purposes.” In this she says she's deciding to use her training as the perfect consort for her own goals, which is really interesting. It's an active thing and it's her decision to make, so I appreciated it a lot.
One last note on Sachi and trauma: she experiences a pretty huge shift towards the end of this book, and she has this really sweet scene with Zanya and Ash where she expresses that she is not the same anymore and thinks she probably never will be. They reassure her that they will love her anyway. I thought this was a really nice touch; things *have* changed, and how the two of them view her has been a major undercurrent running through the entire book, so I liked this bit of resolution for it.
Back to the writing and plotting. Every chapter starts the same way, which is with a single dramatic sentence. I see this kind of lazy shorthand used all the time. They didn't overuse it in the last book, so it's a bummer that they've resorted to it here. One of the reasons I loved the last book is that I truly did not know how it was going to end. All of the characters' motivations and the rules of the world were so clear and I, like the characters, could not imagine how things were going to work out, but the resolution still felt incredibly satisfying because I understood the world clearly. I did not get the same sense in this book. They tell you how the problem is going to be resolved through the whole book: Sachi is going to have to face a near death experience to come into her full powers. The climax is written so sloppily that even though that's exactly what happens, I'm not really entirely sure what *actually* happened. It's a big battle, which can be tough to write, especially with three POV characters. But they end up switching too often and not dedicating the time to each character that I felt like they really deserved. Sachi decides the fate of the antagonist with her power, but I did not understand that that is what had happened until several chapters later.
There are positive things here like there were in the last book. Critically, there's still no downplaying of the Zanya/Sachi relationship as less valid just because it's between two women. There's good nonbinary rep.
It's all the more disappointing because the first book knocked it out of the park so hard.
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