What do you think?
Rate this book
Wings of Ink #2
Heart of Night
“I will find you. And if it takes a lifetime, I will find you.”
Ayna has just escaped death, only to crash head first into a new curse. This one is made by men.
Heart still bleeding, Ayna fights to keep strong. But how can she, when she is in the brutal hands of the very traitor who killed Myron? Especially when he is working with a man who has made it his mission to see her pay for her father’s crimes.
With her magic gone, Ayna is trapped and shipped off to her childhood world, where she uncovers plans at work that eclipse even Ephegos’s revenge—and an enemy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
If only Ayna knew that her king survived, she might cling to a brittle hope. But Myron is fighting his own battles in the search for his queen. Each one leads him a little closer to death’s door.
As they both plan their escape, they must make unlikely alliances and heart-wrecking choices—because this time, neither of them can rely on their magic to save them.
The curse on the Crows is broken, but all hope is lost. Will Ayna and Myron find each other and freedom, or will they end in a cage worse than death?
Full of intrigue, secrets, and heartbreak, Heart of Night is the second book in the sizzling epic romantic fantasy series, Wings of Ink and is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, and Beauty and the Beast.
Ayna has just escaped death, only to crash head first into a new curse. This one is made by men.
Heart still bleeding, Ayna fights to keep strong. But how can she, when she is in the brutal hands of the very traitor who killed Myron? Especially when he is working with a man who has made it his mission to see her pay for her father’s crimes.
With her magic gone, Ayna is trapped and shipped off to her childhood world, where she uncovers plans at work that eclipse even Ephegos’s revenge—and an enemy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants.
If only Ayna knew that her king survived, she might cling to a brittle hope. But Myron is fighting his own battles in the search for his queen. Each one leads him a little closer to death’s door.
As they both plan their escape, they must make unlikely alliances and heart-wrecking choices—because this time, neither of them can rely on their magic to save them.
The curse on the Crows is broken, but all hope is lost. Will Ayna and Myron find each other and freedom, or will they end in a cage worse than death?
Full of intrigue, secrets, and heartbreak, Heart of Night is the second book in the sizzling epic romantic fantasy series, Wings of Ink and is perfect for fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses, From Blood and Ash, and Beauty and the Beast.
444 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2024
1929 people are currently reading
3169 people want to read
About the author
Angelina J. Steffort
40 books1,206 followers"Chocolate fanatic, milk foam enthusiast and strict fan of the southern sting-ray. Writing is an unexpected career path for me."
Angelina J. Steffort is a bestselling, award-winning Austrian novelist, best known for her Wings series and her Shattered Kingdom series. With over twenty YA and adult fantasy and paranormal romance books under her belt, Angelina is far from done with inventing and exploring new worlds. That might have something to do with her passion for following the narrative of new characters and getting surprised by the twists they spin on her stories. Angelina has multiple educational backgrounds including engineering, business, music, and acting. Currently, Angelina lives in Vienna, Austria, with her husband and her son.
Find Angelina online: linktr.ee/ajsteffort
Subscribe to Angelina's newsletter: https://www.subscribepage.com/ajs_zon_nl
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews
June 5, 2024
No one is more disappointed than I am after rating the first book 5 stars.
Unfortunately, it's a lofty position to fall from, so I feel like I judged it far more harshly. Sorry...
After the cliffhanger of the last book, Ayna and Myron are separated and they navigate separate paths, each struggling with seemingly insurmountable odds. With Ayna stripped of her magic and Myron battling his way towards her, but despite the promising premise, this book didn’t quite deliver the same magic as its predecessor.
Most people are wary of "second-book syndrome", but I typically deeply enjoy the usual character growth in second novels. One of the major drawbacks for me in this was the lack of substantial character growth until the very end. In second books, I usually expect characters to evolve significantly, but Ayna and Myron's development felt stunted. The growth we do see is almost imperceptible, which was frustrating given the potential for deeper exploration of their characters. The separation of this beloved couple for a majority of the book further detracted from the story. Their dynamic was a highlight in the first book, and without it, the narrative felt FAR less engaging.
The pervasive bleakness of Ayna's situation overshadowed any MINIMAL moments of kindness or compassion, making the story feel monotonous and dreary. While the grim circumstances are understandable given the context, the relentless lack of hope or reprieve turned the reading experience into a slog. Even her allies hurt or drugged her. It wasn't just dark; it was monotonously so, which diminished the emotional impact for me.
Plot-wise, the book seemed to crawl. Instead of a compelling story arc, it felt like a series of minor events strung together, leading to a rather flat progression. This slow, almost stagnant pacing made it difficult to stay invested in the outcome. The motivations behind various plot points were often unclear, adding to a sense of confusion rather than intrigue. The villains, unfortunately, did not add much depth to the story either. They were disappointingly one-dimensional, lacking the subtlety and complexity that make antagonists truly memorable. Especially because they USED to be FRIENDS. They just felt overly simplistic, missing an opportunity to explore more nuanced conflicts.
Overall, Heart of Night didn't quite live up to the promise of the first book. The lack of character development, the dreary tone, and the sluggish plot made for a less than satisfying read. Fans of the series may still find moments to enjoy, but for me, this sequel fell flat. Here's hoping the next installment recaptures the magic and depth that made the first book shine.
I really appreciate the copy from the author. This is an honest and voluntary review.
Unfortunately, it's a lofty position to fall from, so I feel like I judged it far more harshly. Sorry...
After the cliffhanger of the last book, Ayna and Myron are separated and they navigate separate paths, each struggling with seemingly insurmountable odds. With Ayna stripped of her magic and Myron battling his way towards her, but despite the promising premise, this book didn’t quite deliver the same magic as its predecessor.
Most people are wary of "second-book syndrome", but I typically deeply enjoy the usual character growth in second novels. One of the major drawbacks for me in this was the lack of substantial character growth until the very end. In second books, I usually expect characters to evolve significantly, but Ayna and Myron's development felt stunted. The growth we do see is almost imperceptible, which was frustrating given the potential for deeper exploration of their characters. The separation of this beloved couple for a majority of the book further detracted from the story. Their dynamic was a highlight in the first book, and without it, the narrative felt FAR less engaging.
The pervasive bleakness of Ayna's situation overshadowed any MINIMAL moments of kindness or compassion, making the story feel monotonous and dreary. While the grim circumstances are understandable given the context, the relentless lack of hope or reprieve turned the reading experience into a slog. Even her allies hurt or drugged her. It wasn't just dark; it was monotonously so, which diminished the emotional impact for me.
Plot-wise, the book seemed to crawl. Instead of a compelling story arc, it felt like a series of minor events strung together, leading to a rather flat progression. This slow, almost stagnant pacing made it difficult to stay invested in the outcome. The motivations behind various plot points were often unclear, adding to a sense of confusion rather than intrigue. The villains, unfortunately, did not add much depth to the story either. They were disappointingly one-dimensional, lacking the subtlety and complexity that make antagonists truly memorable. Especially because they USED to be FRIENDS. They just felt overly simplistic, missing an opportunity to explore more nuanced conflicts.
Overall, Heart of Night didn't quite live up to the promise of the first book. The lack of character development, the dreary tone, and the sluggish plot made for a less than satisfying read. Fans of the series may still find moments to enjoy, but for me, this sequel fell flat. Here's hoping the next installment recaptures the magic and depth that made the first book shine.
I really appreciate the copy from the author. This is an honest and voluntary review.
June 3, 2024
This was a very disappointing read for me, the series started strongly but the flow from first book to the second felt completely off.
Where there had been a slow burn and build, we start this second book with the two characters apart. I struggled with the characters, who were they without each other, why so invested in each other? The plot was weak and I began to suspect I’d enjoyed the first book more for the slow burn than the characters or any character building that had happened. I don’t feel there was enough of that legwork done before separating the two characters. The supporting cast were not developed enough to provide any depth or dimension either.
That’s my thoughts for what they are worth. Disappointed reader who will likely not pick up the next book.
Where there had been a slow burn and build, we start this second book with the two characters apart. I struggled with the characters, who were they without each other, why so invested in each other? The plot was weak and I began to suspect I’d enjoyed the first book more for the slow burn than the characters or any character building that had happened. I don’t feel there was enough of that legwork done before separating the two characters. The supporting cast were not developed enough to provide any depth or dimension either.
That’s my thoughts for what they are worth. Disappointed reader who will likely not pick up the next book.
June 14, 2024
Can say with confidence that I will not be reading anymore from this series. This book dragged on too long, and I don’t think there needed to be more than two books to get this story across, as we ended right where we started, with no plot, or character growth.
I am disappointed because I did like the first book, but I cannot keep doing this back and forth thing where Ayna is always being held captive.
2 stars.
I am disappointed because I did like the first book, but I cannot keep doing this back and forth thing where Ayna is always being held captive.
2 stars.
June 4, 2024
This should have been two books. Not three.
July 31, 2024
Fast paced, swoony moments, steamy reunions, and unexpected revelations. I liked that this had bigger stakes than book 1, there are multiple villains to content with, political schemes, and secrets revealed. I liked the new allies Anya had, and how they worked together to form escape plans. Looking forward to book 3!
"If I were you I'd hand over the women he's ready to destroy the world for or he might let you live just long enough to see the rest of it crumble to pieces before he takes you out slowly and painfully"
"You bring me to life, Anya. Your presence alone makes every last part of me be the best version it can be"
"If I were you I'd hand over the women he's ready to destroy the world for or he might let you live just long enough to see the rest of it crumble to pieces before he takes you out slowly and painfully"
"You bring me to life, Anya. Your presence alone makes every last part of me be the best version it can be"
July 19, 2024
Listen just do yourself a favor and just skip to the third book (when it comes out) because they end up in the exact same position in the end of the book as they were when they started the book. Literally the same. Exact. Situation. There isn’t even character growth in the main characters worth reading the book for.
Side note: if you read fast and like drinking games, take a shot every time you read the word “russet” in the first third of the book.
Side note: if you read fast and like drinking games, take a shot every time you read the word “russet” in the first third of the book.
June 23, 2024
◦ I've received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ◦
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
The characters once again haven't disappointed in Heart of Night. It was really nice seeing some of the previous characters making an apparition and loved the growth the characters have had so far. And Ayna's transformation has been so amazing, loved that twist.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
I enjoyed getting all the details possible on their magic, it was definitely interesting learning even more on the crow's background and how this world looks like right now.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
The author once again didn't fail to make me feel so many emotions - a rollercoaster to be honest. It's been quite emotional at times but also quite shocking at other times. However, I didn't really enjoyed how this book ended. I felt that the event that happened at the end had been used already and I felt it was just a bit too much overuse on it and I was having another ending expectation. Other than that event the entire story was really captivating and kept me on my toes til the end.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
This time the story hasn't been that spicy but the scene that we've got I'd say is somewhere in between 3 spicy peppers, not overly, overly but not missing on details. The story did had some scenes that were quite impactful, they didn't trigger me but the scenes can be a bit hard for people that don't handle well blood scenes and/or abuse scenes.
Follow me on my bookventure:
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Always open to read and review more books🠇
Review Policy
⮞ 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 ⮜
The characters once again haven't disappointed in Heart of Night. It was really nice seeing some of the previous characters making an apparition and loved the growth the characters have had so far. And Ayna's transformation has been so amazing, loved that twist.
⮞ 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝-𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 ⮜
I enjoyed getting all the details possible on their magic, it was definitely interesting learning even more on the crow's background and how this world looks like right now.
⮞ 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝/𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞𝐝 ⮜
The author once again didn't fail to make me feel so many emotions - a rollercoaster to be honest. It's been quite emotional at times but also quite shocking at other times. However, I didn't really enjoyed how this book ended. I felt that the event that happened at the end had been used already and I felt it was just a bit too much overuse on it and I was having another ending expectation. Other than that event the entire story was really captivating and kept me on my toes til the end.
⮞ 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞/TW ⮜
This time the story hasn't been that spicy but the scene that we've got I'd say is somewhere in between 3 spicy peppers, not overly, overly but not missing on details. The story did had some scenes that were quite impactful, they didn't trigger me but the scenes can be a bit hard for people that don't handle well blood scenes and/or abuse scenes.
Follow me on my bookventure:
TikTok
Always open to read and review more books🠇
Review Policy
May 5, 2025
Possibly AI written or very badly edited.
The story, once you get past the overly dramatic damsel in distress beyond all reasoning, isn't bad. But I can't help but think this was written by AI and not edited. Either that or it was written in a language other than English and then someone tried to use Google translate.
One example, during an overly contrived battle, I think Ayne tried to make a statement that should have been a pivotal moment but what she blurted out was "I shall nothing."
There's a multitude of grammatical issues like this where the comments and sentence structure just doesn't make sense. The only time I ever see this is with AI written books or poorly translated copy.
I wanted to like the books but beyond the obvious issues already stated, the story gets very repetitive, which is another reason that points to AI. Again and again the protagonist is captured and manipulated. It's not even new scenarios. Each time she's captured, someone is trying to force her into a marriage. There comes a point where it really feels like we've been there, done that and bought the T-shirt so many times we have a new wardrobe.
I stopped reading halfway through the third book and I feel like that was being generous. I probably should have returned the first book after the first few chapters of confusing unrealistic situations that just didn't provide the suspension of disbelief you need to be transported into a story. So, I'm sorry but this series gets a thumbs down from me.👎 Two stars to whatever AI was used only because they tried to follow the three act plot. Badly, but an effort was made. I'm just not sure by who, or should I say what... because I'm not sure it's a human being.
The story, once you get past the overly dramatic damsel in distress beyond all reasoning, isn't bad. But I can't help but think this was written by AI and not edited. Either that or it was written in a language other than English and then someone tried to use Google translate.
One example, during an overly contrived battle, I think Ayne tried to make a statement that should have been a pivotal moment but what she blurted out was "I shall nothing."
There's a multitude of grammatical issues like this where the comments and sentence structure just doesn't make sense. The only time I ever see this is with AI written books or poorly translated copy.
I wanted to like the books but beyond the obvious issues already stated, the story gets very repetitive, which is another reason that points to AI. Again and again the protagonist is captured and manipulated. It's not even new scenarios. Each time she's captured, someone is trying to force her into a marriage. There comes a point where it really feels like we've been there, done that and bought the T-shirt so many times we have a new wardrobe.
I stopped reading halfway through the third book and I feel like that was being generous. I probably should have returned the first book after the first few chapters of confusing unrealistic situations that just didn't provide the suspension of disbelief you need to be transported into a story. So, I'm sorry but this series gets a thumbs down from me.👎 Two stars to whatever AI was used only because they tried to follow the three act plot. Badly, but an effort was made. I'm just not sure by who, or should I say what... because I'm not sure it's a human being.
October 14, 2024
Heart of night 4.5⭐️
“I received an arc of this book from the author for my honest review”
We dive right in where we left off in book one.
If your looking for a heart bandage after the cliffhanger in Wings of ink don’t expect one.
It was painful and heartbreaking, I felt so bad for Ayna and the things they all had to endure.
There was definitely more plot in book 2 which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are also new interesting personages that had really interesting character development. Myron is just beyond perfect, I could have had some more of him. I love Ayna but I did mis a bit off fighting abilities from her, I mean being a pirate one would think she’d be skilled with a knife or fists. There isn’t a lot of smut but it was hot 🔥, I hope there will be more of it during the next read.
The next (last?) book can’t come soon enough for me.
Heart of night will be available for public 31 May
“I received an arc of this book from the author for my honest review”
We dive right in where we left off in book one.
If your looking for a heart bandage after the cliffhanger in Wings of ink don’t expect one.
It was painful and heartbreaking, I felt so bad for Ayna and the things they all had to endure.
There was definitely more plot in book 2 which I thoroughly enjoyed. There are also new interesting personages that had really interesting character development. Myron is just beyond perfect, I could have had some more of him. I love Ayna but I did mis a bit off fighting abilities from her, I mean being a pirate one would think she’d be skilled with a knife or fists. There isn’t a lot of smut but it was hot 🔥, I hope there will be more of it during the next read.
The next (last?) book can’t come soon enough for me.
Heart of night will be available for public 31 May
June 1, 2024
The emotions this book put me through was a roller coaster! Upset, happy, furious, yelling at the book, elated, hopefull, frustration.
Heart of Night picks up where Wings of Ink left off after the big battle at the crows castle. Anya is once again a prisoner as she is taken away by Ephegos and believes she is just a mere human she cannot even muster her water power anymore. She aches for Myron, the crow king who won her heart. She wonders about her friends Royce and Clio.
She believes her husband, the crow king, is dead as the last thing she remembers is crying over his lifeless body. Now being held captive she is not only Ephegos' prisoner, but she feels weaker than she's ever been before. Very reminiscent of her captivity in the dungeon before she was sold to Myron.
Later she is taken to where Wings of Ink started back to Erina's kingdom. The road there was horrible, always sick, drugged, time lost. Little hope of escape.
Meanwhile, those she fears dead are not! Her beloved crow king is searching for her with the help of those few crows are still loyal to him rather than following Ephegos. Unfortunately, things take a turn when they believe they are upon where Anya is being held only to be captured themselves.
This book is absolutely a book where it feels like the bad guys are just winning every little thing. If you love seeing the bad guys get their way you are going to love this book. Where as me, I had to keep putting the book down because I would get so mad about what was going on I had to take breathers. This is why it took so long for me to get this book finished. BUT ITS STILL SUCH A GREAT STORY!!
I cannot wait to see what Claws of Death has in store. Will it be the final book? Will it leave on another crazy cliff hanger??
Heart of Night picks up where Wings of Ink left off after the big battle at the crows castle. Anya is once again a prisoner as she is taken away by Ephegos and believes she is just a mere human she cannot even muster her water power anymore. She aches for Myron, the crow king who won her heart. She wonders about her friends Royce and Clio.
She believes her husband, the crow king, is dead as the last thing she remembers is crying over his lifeless body. Now being held captive she is not only Ephegos' prisoner, but she feels weaker than she's ever been before. Very reminiscent of her captivity in the dungeon before she was sold to Myron.
Later she is taken to where Wings of Ink started back to Erina's kingdom. The road there was horrible, always sick, drugged, time lost. Little hope of escape.
Meanwhile, those she fears dead are not! Her beloved crow king is searching for her with the help of those few crows are still loyal to him rather than following Ephegos. Unfortunately, things take a turn when they believe they are upon where Anya is being held only to be captured themselves.
This book is absolutely a book where it feels like the bad guys are just winning every little thing. If you love seeing the bad guys get their way you are going to love this book. Where as me, I had to keep putting the book down because I would get so mad about what was going on I had to take breathers. This is why it took so long for me to get this book finished. BUT ITS STILL SUCH A GREAT STORY!!
I cannot wait to see what Claws of Death has in store. Will it be the final book? Will it leave on another crazy cliff hanger??
December 10, 2024
Heart of Night hurt my heart (a lot) as we follow Myron and Ayna as they’re apart after the brutal ending of book 1. I couldn’t wait for them to finally be reunited! The wait was torture, but it paid off. Through this process, we find new characters to both hate and love, and we get to see more of the world. I especially loved Kaira and loved the plot twist that involved her! I wish I could say more about it, but that would be a spoiler.
Most of all, there is a whole lot of political intrigue as Ayna finds out things about her family and her past that she wasn’t expecting at all—and frankly, neither was I! I was pleasantly surprised, and I’m also excited for my pirate Crow Queen.
For this second book I opted to listen to the audiobook, since it was available. I loved the narrators so much!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
Most of all, there is a whole lot of political intrigue as Ayna finds out things about her family and her past that she wasn’t expecting at all—and frankly, neither was I! I was pleasantly surprised, and I’m also excited for my pirate Crow Queen.
For this second book I opted to listen to the audiobook, since it was available. I loved the narrators so much!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a copy. Opinions are my own.
May 31, 2024
Angelina gives us book 2i in the Wings of Ink series and the magic continues! The story of Ayna, Myron, Royce and the rest of the group takes off from where we were left on book 1's wild cliffhanger. This book has so many twists and turns that you are afraid to put it down in case you miss something! Beautifully written with complex characters and plot twists that keep you on the edge of your seat and turning pages throughout. Dive into this wonderful book and see what happens on the way to another wicked cliffhanger, I loved reading this story and highly recommend the series! Don't miss out on this book!!
June 4, 2024
2.5⭐, rounding up because I loved the first book. The first book was charming because of Anya and Myron, and that is lacking for the majority of the sequel. I just couldn't get into the side characters as much attention was given to them. I unfortunately think I would have preferred a standalone first book with a HEA! And that ending - I feel like it just ended right where it started, without much plot development.
December 4, 2025
This story took everything I loved from the first book and made it deeper, darker, and more emotional. The friendships become stronger, almost like a chosen family built through pain and loyalty. The love that began in book one grows fuller here, but so do the lies quiet ones, heavy ones, the kind that change how you look at everyone. The fight for power only gets more dangerous, pulling the characters into choices that blur the line between right and wrong. The betrayals in this book feel personal, like losing someone you believed in. It’s intense, gripping, and full of moments that stay in your chest.
August 17, 2025
I found this book to be way too long and the story dragged on and on, but I’m too invested in finding out what happens to these characters to stop reading the series.
I did enjoy learning more about the connections between various characters and look forward to learning more about how they’re intertwined.
With that being said, I was left on another cliffhanger so I’m continuing on. 😅
I did enjoy learning more about the connections between various characters and look forward to learning more about how they’re intertwined.
With that being said, I was left on another cliffhanger so I’m continuing on. 😅
August 19, 2024
Fantastic!
This is book two in the series. There are so many things, found family, revenge, fated mates, magic, betrayal, love, disparate. This is an amazingly heartbreaking story and I can’t wait for a happily ever after. Hopefully.
This is book two in the series. There are so many things, found family, revenge, fated mates, magic, betrayal, love, disparate. This is an amazingly heartbreaking story and I can’t wait for a happily ever after. Hopefully.
January 4, 2026
I’ll start by saying that I listened to the audiobook version and my review is based on that and covers not only the first book but the first three books in the series.
Why all three in the same review?
BECAUSE THE THREE BOOKS ARE ALL THE FUCKING SAME!!
I’m going to address the narration before I get to anything else because I think good and bad narration can literally make or break a book.
There were two narrators for this series, one for Anya, one for Myron (which is a stupid and not at allllllll adequate fae crow king who is devastatingly handsome but more like “this is little lord Fauntleroy’s special friend type of a name). BOTH narrators were, frankly, terrible.
The problem was not actually that they were BAD. the problem was that they were BAD FOR THIS.
The woman sounded like she was reading something along the lines of Legally Blonde; every line read with a perpetually peppy twang that made it impossible to relate to the character at all.
The narrator reading for Myron on the other hand sounded like he was auditioning for the next reading of Inspector Morse and wasn’t able to sound like the super hot fae male Myron is described as being because he was busy putting on his trench coat and wellingtons.
So that’s the disaster of narrative choice covered and I’ll now move on to the actual story.
The actual story: It’s stupid. That’s pretty much the gist of it. The story is stupid. The characters are stupid. They all keep walking face first into the very obvious brick walls that are the traps set by the bad guys and just as the trap is being sprung they go oh do you think this could be a trap because I have this tingling feeling in my forehead from the brick wall I just walked straight into that this could be a trap. And at this point, …the end of book three for me…I’m pretty much ready to say y’all deserve to keep getting caught by the nufty human and his weird plucked chicken friend because you keep doing really dumb shit!
So why did I get all the way through 3 books if it’s that bad? First, I believe everyone deserves a second chance, even if that someone is an inanimate object. Second I thought for a moment there it was picking up so I went for a third round. And then I got to that point where I realised that these people are a bunch of idiots and apparently I am too because I’ve just wasted about 30 hours listening to three books where the exact same thing happens to the same bloody characters over and over again and I don’t actually give a shit.
One thing I feel like I need to bring up…because it, what…bothered me, I guess is the best way to put it. In the first book there is this weird exchange between Anya and Myron where she starts calling him “moron” and continues doing so off and on for the rest of the book. What bothers me about this is that it was utterly unnecessary. It made me think of the classic example of a low-brow high school bully, not the character Anya is supposed to be and that single thing kind of turned me off Anya from that moment on and as much as I may have wanted to like her or give a crap about her, I just didn’t.
Why all three in the same review?
BECAUSE THE THREE BOOKS ARE ALL THE FUCKING SAME!!
I’m going to address the narration before I get to anything else because I think good and bad narration can literally make or break a book.
There were two narrators for this series, one for Anya, one for Myron (which is a stupid and not at allllllll adequate fae crow king who is devastatingly handsome but more like “this is little lord Fauntleroy’s special friend type of a name). BOTH narrators were, frankly, terrible.
The problem was not actually that they were BAD. the problem was that they were BAD FOR THIS.
The woman sounded like she was reading something along the lines of Legally Blonde; every line read with a perpetually peppy twang that made it impossible to relate to the character at all.
The narrator reading for Myron on the other hand sounded like he was auditioning for the next reading of Inspector Morse and wasn’t able to sound like the super hot fae male Myron is described as being because he was busy putting on his trench coat and wellingtons.
So that’s the disaster of narrative choice covered and I’ll now move on to the actual story.
The actual story: It’s stupid. That’s pretty much the gist of it. The story is stupid. The characters are stupid. They all keep walking face first into the very obvious brick walls that are the traps set by the bad guys and just as the trap is being sprung they go oh do you think this could be a trap because I have this tingling feeling in my forehead from the brick wall I just walked straight into that this could be a trap. And at this point, …the end of book three for me…I’m pretty much ready to say y’all deserve to keep getting caught by the nufty human and his weird plucked chicken friend because you keep doing really dumb shit!
So why did I get all the way through 3 books if it’s that bad? First, I believe everyone deserves a second chance, even if that someone is an inanimate object. Second I thought for a moment there it was picking up so I went for a third round. And then I got to that point where I realised that these people are a bunch of idiots and apparently I am too because I’ve just wasted about 30 hours listening to three books where the exact same thing happens to the same bloody characters over and over again and I don’t actually give a shit.
One thing I feel like I need to bring up…because it, what…bothered me, I guess is the best way to put it. In the first book there is this weird exchange between Anya and Myron where she starts calling him “moron” and continues doing so off and on for the rest of the book. What bothers me about this is that it was utterly unnecessary. It made me think of the classic example of a low-brow high school bully, not the character Anya is supposed to be and that single thing kind of turned me off Anya from that moment on and as much as I may have wanted to like her or give a crap about her, I just didn’t.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2025
I’m a sucker for a fated mate reunion and that scene in the rain, beautiful!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2026
I want to give this a 3.8. So, really it is a good story but like I just find it tedious. I want to like it more than I do but I don't. The story amd world building is unique and I appreciate it greatly. I like the characters.
August 16, 2024
I fully came into this thinking it was a duet so was a bit shocked when there was another cliff hanger. But that is on me for not actually finding out. It was an entertaining read, I do like the world and characters, but felt we could have been in more places in this book. I will certainly come back for book 3 in November.
June 10, 2025
After being taken by Ephegos, Anya has to figure out her escape even when that seems impossible. The traitor he is, has joined ranks with the Flames in the name of revenge for his half sister. He keeps Ayna weak and isolated and starts involving old enemies. Ephegos takes her to the King of Tavras to strike a deal. I was pretty disappointed in how slowly this story progressed and after all that, we are exactly back where we started at the beginning of this book….
**************** SPOILERS ************
Ephegos and Erina have been concocting a poison that blocks magical abilities of the fairies. Erina wants Ayna as his Queen because she’s part of a long lost royal house and if they integrated, her line could never overthrow him. With the Crows being secluded to the Seeing forest, they’ve become stories and myths. No one knows she’s already wed to the King of Crows. He uses all the leverage possible to keep her under control. Including bringing in Myron, Royad, Silas, and Astorian (the fairy general) in for torture as his prisoners. They attempted to rescue Ayna but failed. Ayna finds any ally that might aid her escape including a half-flame, Kiara. Clio is also there, being taken with Ayna but then separated so she could be Ephegos test subject. They eventually escape but the 4 males in the dungeons are too weak to get out. So they bide their time and save their strength while Herinor goes in to save Myron. They all regain their strength and some powers before they go back for Royad and Clio’s mate. This time, Royad is being punished for their leaving and they don’t expect him to survive the torture. Ayna and Myron face down Ephegos and Katrijanov. It takes everything they have and they almost don’t make it were it not for Herinor who finally defies Ephegos and helps Myron even if his bargain forbids him from helping Ayna. So they get out but Ayna stays behind..
**************** SPOILERS ************
Ephegos and Erina have been concocting a poison that blocks magical abilities of the fairies. Erina wants Ayna as his Queen because she’s part of a long lost royal house and if they integrated, her line could never overthrow him. With the Crows being secluded to the Seeing forest, they’ve become stories and myths. No one knows she’s already wed to the King of Crows. He uses all the leverage possible to keep her under control. Including bringing in Myron, Royad, Silas, and Astorian (the fairy general) in for torture as his prisoners. They attempted to rescue Ayna but failed. Ayna finds any ally that might aid her escape including a half-flame, Kiara. Clio is also there, being taken with Ayna but then separated so she could be Ephegos test subject. They eventually escape but the 4 males in the dungeons are too weak to get out. So they bide their time and save their strength while Herinor goes in to save Myron. They all regain their strength and some powers before they go back for Royad and Clio’s mate. This time, Royad is being punished for their leaving and they don’t expect him to survive the torture. Ayna and Myron face down Ephegos and Katrijanov. It takes everything they have and they almost don’t make it were it not for Herinor who finally defies Ephegos and helps Myron even if his bargain forbids him from helping Ayna. So they get out but Ayna stays behind..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 28, 2025
This is the second book in this series and it takes off immediately from the end of the first book. Anya wakes up from the explosion at the Crow House and realizes that she is being held captive by a certain character that was a traitor in book 1. I don't want to mention his name because if you have not read book 1, then that is a MAJOR spoiler.
At this point, Anya had watched Myron die and is in a state of profound shock. She does not know though, what has happened to the other people she cares about (Clio, and Royad, etc) While she also realizes that she HAS been gifted some pretty strong magic, she is not able to access it. Everyone but Anya is aware of certain facts concerning who actually lived and who died in the battle as well as what the new Crow tattoo on her shoulder that just appeared might mean. The traitor then takes Anya to another location and things go from bad to worse.
Anya's back story dealt with the fact that in her home country, her father was executed for being a traitor to the realm. He had been a successful merchant and Anya has always felt responsible for his death. Why? Because she answered a question- one question - posed to her by the King's Guard regarding her father when she was a child. The answer she gave sealed his fate - but it wasn't truly her fault, she just answered that she saw her father loading his wagon on a particular morning. They would have found him guilty no matter what she answered. Her entire family was then branded as traitors and that is why she took off and became a pirate on the open seas - marauding and stealing from her countries ships over the coarse of many years - and vowed never to return. They were so good as a pirate crew that they had a reputation and were known throughout the land. Let's just say that when she is taken BACK to her home country and finds herself back in the same castle - dealing with the boy she used to play with as a child who is now the King -she is stunned. Come to find out, the traitor agreed to "sell" her to the now King, knowing that this was going to be a worse punishment than death. Of course, he is a vile, vile person who has all kinds of plans in the works and has been working with the new King on many, many awful projects (i.e. developing drugs to suppress magic, drugs to speed up healing time so that they can torture their test subjects more with less time to wait for them to recover, just really, really vile things). Okay, no more plot summary because things definitely start moving fast from there.
One thing that I know about myself is that I seem to have a hard time when things in storylines are bad, and continue to be bad for the FMC's or the MMC's without an end in sight. By bad, I mean when the MC's are being physically and emotionally hurt. Tortured. That's why, I think, that I have a harder time than most with the whole new "dark" romance genre and bully genres in general. To read about people being tortured and hurt over and over again, and to realize that things are only getting worse.....that's hard for me. I know, I know.... I'm a wimp. So for me, the middle portion of the book was hard. At this point, we have 6 people either being held and tortured against their will in the dungeon or locked rooms or drugged and watched while given certain responsibilities to ensure Anya complies. The reason for the drug injections and food poisoning is that is the only way humans could keep these shifters and fairies captive, AND, it also serves as leverage for certain prisoners to keep them in line. I could not wait for this part of the storyline to be over. Seriously.
The good thing though was that we start to learn some of the "whys". Why the King wants Anya in particular as a captive - and to eventually marry him. Why a certain Fey General teamed up with Myron to try to find and rescue their people. Why a certain Flame fey is willing to help Anya, even at the potential cost of being discovered. And most importantly, what the two Crow tattoos on the two particular individuals really means.
This book definitely did much better with the character development and we had several new characters added to the mix. The traitor character was downright AWFUL and very easy to seriously dislike, I'm using that phrase instead of the word I really want to use. The King is another arrogant, vile and sociopathic character. There is one character - a Crow -who entered into an agreement with the traitor. He is placed as Anya's personal bodyguard. This binding agreement, in the Crow culture, means he can not go against the terms of the agreement or it will kill him (it is magically binding). It was frustrating as all out when he tells Anya he is on her side, but them he tortures her and cuts her up with a knife, disrupts her escape plans by catching her and bringing her back, and continually drugs her,.......because he "has" to. UGH.
So, yep, this book was better than the first book, but there are still many things that took me out of the story. I have a serious issue when characters continually do things that just make you shake your head and ask, "why?" Like escaping, then going back in for whatever reason to the place you just left, even though you KNOW they are going to be waiting.....but I digress....
This book also ends in a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, it takes us right back to the situation that I found so unbearable in the earlier part of the book with the drugging and the hurting of certain characters. :(
I think I might take a break and get out of this world for a little bit before jumping back in with book 3. Apparently, there are going to be at least 4 books in this series, so I think I'll wait until book 4 comes out so that if there is another cliffhanger ending after book 3, I will not have to wait any time for the next book to come out.
At this point, Anya had watched Myron die and is in a state of profound shock. She does not know though, what has happened to the other people she cares about (Clio, and Royad, etc) While she also realizes that she HAS been gifted some pretty strong magic, she is not able to access it. Everyone but Anya is aware of certain facts concerning who actually lived and who died in the battle as well as what the new Crow tattoo on her shoulder that just appeared might mean. The traitor then takes Anya to another location and things go from bad to worse.
Anya's back story dealt with the fact that in her home country, her father was executed for being a traitor to the realm. He had been a successful merchant and Anya has always felt responsible for his death. Why? Because she answered a question- one question - posed to her by the King's Guard regarding her father when she was a child. The answer she gave sealed his fate - but it wasn't truly her fault, she just answered that she saw her father loading his wagon on a particular morning. They would have found him guilty no matter what she answered. Her entire family was then branded as traitors and that is why she took off and became a pirate on the open seas - marauding and stealing from her countries ships over the coarse of many years - and vowed never to return. They were so good as a pirate crew that they had a reputation and were known throughout the land. Let's just say that when she is taken BACK to her home country and finds herself back in the same castle - dealing with the boy she used to play with as a child who is now the King -she is stunned. Come to find out, the traitor agreed to "sell" her to the now King, knowing that this was going to be a worse punishment than death. Of course, he is a vile, vile person who has all kinds of plans in the works and has been working with the new King on many, many awful projects (i.e. developing drugs to suppress magic, drugs to speed up healing time so that they can torture their test subjects more with less time to wait for them to recover, just really, really vile things). Okay, no more plot summary because things definitely start moving fast from there.
One thing that I know about myself is that I seem to have a hard time when things in storylines are bad, and continue to be bad for the FMC's or the MMC's without an end in sight. By bad, I mean when the MC's are being physically and emotionally hurt. Tortured. That's why, I think, that I have a harder time than most with the whole new "dark" romance genre and bully genres in general. To read about people being tortured and hurt over and over again, and to realize that things are only getting worse.....that's hard for me. I know, I know.... I'm a wimp. So for me, the middle portion of the book was hard. At this point, we have 6 people either being held and tortured against their will in the dungeon or locked rooms or drugged and watched while given certain responsibilities to ensure Anya complies. The reason for the drug injections and food poisoning is that is the only way humans could keep these shifters and fairies captive, AND, it also serves as leverage for certain prisoners to keep them in line. I could not wait for this part of the storyline to be over. Seriously.
The good thing though was that we start to learn some of the "whys". Why the King wants Anya in particular as a captive - and to eventually marry him. Why a certain Fey General teamed up with Myron to try to find and rescue their people. Why a certain Flame fey is willing to help Anya, even at the potential cost of being discovered. And most importantly, what the two Crow tattoos on the two particular individuals really means.
This book definitely did much better with the character development and we had several new characters added to the mix. The traitor character was downright AWFUL and very easy to seriously dislike, I'm using that phrase instead of the word I really want to use. The King is another arrogant, vile and sociopathic character. There is one character - a Crow -who entered into an agreement with the traitor. He is placed as Anya's personal bodyguard. This binding agreement, in the Crow culture, means he can not go against the terms of the agreement or it will kill him (it is magically binding). It was frustrating as all out when he tells Anya he is on her side, but them he tortures her and cuts her up with a knife, disrupts her escape plans by catching her and bringing her back, and continually drugs her,.......because he "has" to. UGH.
So, yep, this book was better than the first book, but there are still many things that took me out of the story. I have a serious issue when characters continually do things that just make you shake your head and ask, "why?" Like escaping, then going back in for whatever reason to the place you just left, even though you KNOW they are going to be waiting.....but I digress....
This book also ends in a cliffhanger. Unfortunately, it takes us right back to the situation that I found so unbearable in the earlier part of the book with the drugging and the hurting of certain characters. :(
I think I might take a break and get out of this world for a little bit before jumping back in with book 3. Apparently, there are going to be at least 4 books in this series, so I think I'll wait until book 4 comes out so that if there is another cliffhanger ending after book 3, I will not have to wait any time for the next book to come out.
May 28, 2024
At the end of “Wings of Ink” the curse is broken but Myron is left without Ayna the woman who reached his heart and brought freedom to the Crows.
“Heart of Night” …. made my blood run cold.
A prison, no matter how gilded is a prison, still. A guard who smiles to your face then gives orders to have you tortured is an evil jailer, still. Ephegos’ had hidden behind friendship, swore he only wanted revenge for the death of his sister when he kidnapped Ayna. He lied. Underneath that smile was greed for power, fueled by evil. Pain was his dearest companion, as long as it was someone else’s agony. He would see to it that Ayna suffered every day. For though she believed Myron to be dead, he knew the truth, Myron lived and would suffer the agony of separation from his mate; the pain of knowing that she was in the hands of a traitor willing to kill to get what he so long coveted. In her painful belief of Myron’s death, Ayna wouldn’t let Ephegos win, she would somehow get free. In spite of the physical pain that Ephegos had his persecutor inflect upon her and the emotional agony of losing Myron that was tearing her up inside. She couldn’t allow his death to be meaningless. She would prove worthy of her mate. She had lost so many to death in her short life, her father, Ludelle, her first lover and the crew of the Wild Ray, she thought of as family. Executed by order of the King of Travas, carried out by the General of the prison in Travas. Without her magic, that Ephegos had somehow stolen from her, there was no escaping from him without outside assistance. She had to hang on, to plan, to endure.
So, when it came even though it came from an unexpected source it was to be accepted with trepidation. One who was bound by a promise tied with magic, the other in the form of a young female servant who could slip around unnoticed. Ayna was loath to trust either since one was inflecting physical torturous pain while the other fed her the poison that kept her magic from reaching her. However, hope, even the slightest bit, was something to hold on to.
As usual without knocking, Ephegos enters the room when she sees he has brought another. Though he shaved his head and mustache she would recognize him anywhere, The General. They were working together. The executioner of those she loved, the jailer who’d had her thrown in a dungeon for months before giving her to what she had hoped was to be her death, as the bride of the Crow King. So, there was more than simple revenge that Ephegos reached for. As the weeks passed, Ayna would learn more about his plan to rise in power, but what his “allies” didn’t know was that Ephegos wasn’t going to stop until he ruled over all the land, and the people, supernatural and human.
Finally, she had a reason to hope, she must find a way to escape. Forced to dress in finery and sit at the table and eat with her captor, across the table was the reason she had continued to fight death, Myron. Just knowing he was alive meant he loved her as she loved him. He’d risked everything to come for her. They would escape or they would die together. Ephegos, took great pleasure is seeing them so close, unable to touch, to communicate except with their eyes. He wanted Myron to know that his beloved wife was to be sold to the King of Tavras, a monster in human form. The man who had given the orders to have her father and the crew of the Wild Ray executed before her eyes. Somehow, she must escape, free Myron and those with him from the dungeons before Ephegos could sell her off.
Reading this tale made my blood run cold. My heart was breaking for Myron and Ayna, the loss of so many Crow Fae. My skin crawled whenever Ephegos walked on the pages. And I could see the blood rolling off the page as the words described Ayna’s torture. The thing that kept me reading was in part the same as Ayna the belief, the hope that Myron would come, and they would be together again. That Ephegos couldn’t, wouldn’t win. That somehow in the end the Puppeteer and his minions who had manipulated the Fire Fae, the Crows, the humans in battle and hatred towards each other would fall out in the end. But there was more to this. Why did the King want Ayna, a pirate, a traitor to the crown, the wife of the Crow King?
There may have been less physical presence of Myron in this tale, but he isn’t any less felt. The story drew me back to images of the of the dark ages, with its political strife, torture as a means of control, feudal Kings and rivalry. Where Kings and their ilk ruled by fear, intimidation, and the brutal force of the lackeys they paid to do their dirty work. I never thought I was a blood thirsty kind of person but by the end of this book I was back in the stands at the Colosseum screaming for the gladiators to spill the blood of their opponent. At the heart of this second book is the love, determination and loyalty that Myron and Ayna earned from others who would risk their very lives to help free them. So yes, it is dark, a bit savage, with a brief moment of romantic spice, characters that got caught up trusting the wrong person, but the strength of the love and belief in the need to right so many past wrongs make this a story I am so glad I didn’t miss. Myron, Ayna and their cohorts fought valiantly but still left us standing on a precipice at the end of this book. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I recommend this book. However, to truly understand the whole story start at the beginning with “The Fall of The Wild Ray,” then pick up with “Wings of Ink” before diving head long into “The Heart of Night,” while we sit on the edge waiting for “The Claws of Death”…..
“Heart of Night” …. made my blood run cold.
A prison, no matter how gilded is a prison, still. A guard who smiles to your face then gives orders to have you tortured is an evil jailer, still. Ephegos’ had hidden behind friendship, swore he only wanted revenge for the death of his sister when he kidnapped Ayna. He lied. Underneath that smile was greed for power, fueled by evil. Pain was his dearest companion, as long as it was someone else’s agony. He would see to it that Ayna suffered every day. For though she believed Myron to be dead, he knew the truth, Myron lived and would suffer the agony of separation from his mate; the pain of knowing that she was in the hands of a traitor willing to kill to get what he so long coveted. In her painful belief of Myron’s death, Ayna wouldn’t let Ephegos win, she would somehow get free. In spite of the physical pain that Ephegos had his persecutor inflect upon her and the emotional agony of losing Myron that was tearing her up inside. She couldn’t allow his death to be meaningless. She would prove worthy of her mate. She had lost so many to death in her short life, her father, Ludelle, her first lover and the crew of the Wild Ray, she thought of as family. Executed by order of the King of Travas, carried out by the General of the prison in Travas. Without her magic, that Ephegos had somehow stolen from her, there was no escaping from him without outside assistance. She had to hang on, to plan, to endure.
So, when it came even though it came from an unexpected source it was to be accepted with trepidation. One who was bound by a promise tied with magic, the other in the form of a young female servant who could slip around unnoticed. Ayna was loath to trust either since one was inflecting physical torturous pain while the other fed her the poison that kept her magic from reaching her. However, hope, even the slightest bit, was something to hold on to.
As usual without knocking, Ephegos enters the room when she sees he has brought another. Though he shaved his head and mustache she would recognize him anywhere, The General. They were working together. The executioner of those she loved, the jailer who’d had her thrown in a dungeon for months before giving her to what she had hoped was to be her death, as the bride of the Crow King. So, there was more than simple revenge that Ephegos reached for. As the weeks passed, Ayna would learn more about his plan to rise in power, but what his “allies” didn’t know was that Ephegos wasn’t going to stop until he ruled over all the land, and the people, supernatural and human.
Finally, she had a reason to hope, she must find a way to escape. Forced to dress in finery and sit at the table and eat with her captor, across the table was the reason she had continued to fight death, Myron. Just knowing he was alive meant he loved her as she loved him. He’d risked everything to come for her. They would escape or they would die together. Ephegos, took great pleasure is seeing them so close, unable to touch, to communicate except with their eyes. He wanted Myron to know that his beloved wife was to be sold to the King of Tavras, a monster in human form. The man who had given the orders to have her father and the crew of the Wild Ray executed before her eyes. Somehow, she must escape, free Myron and those with him from the dungeons before Ephegos could sell her off.
Reading this tale made my blood run cold. My heart was breaking for Myron and Ayna, the loss of so many Crow Fae. My skin crawled whenever Ephegos walked on the pages. And I could see the blood rolling off the page as the words described Ayna’s torture. The thing that kept me reading was in part the same as Ayna the belief, the hope that Myron would come, and they would be together again. That Ephegos couldn’t, wouldn’t win. That somehow in the end the Puppeteer and his minions who had manipulated the Fire Fae, the Crows, the humans in battle and hatred towards each other would fall out in the end. But there was more to this. Why did the King want Ayna, a pirate, a traitor to the crown, the wife of the Crow King?
There may have been less physical presence of Myron in this tale, but he isn’t any less felt. The story drew me back to images of the of the dark ages, with its political strife, torture as a means of control, feudal Kings and rivalry. Where Kings and their ilk ruled by fear, intimidation, and the brutal force of the lackeys they paid to do their dirty work. I never thought I was a blood thirsty kind of person but by the end of this book I was back in the stands at the Colosseum screaming for the gladiators to spill the blood of their opponent. At the heart of this second book is the love, determination and loyalty that Myron and Ayna earned from others who would risk their very lives to help free them. So yes, it is dark, a bit savage, with a brief moment of romantic spice, characters that got caught up trusting the wrong person, but the strength of the love and belief in the need to right so many past wrongs make this a story I am so glad I didn’t miss. Myron, Ayna and their cohorts fought valiantly but still left us standing on a precipice at the end of this book. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. I recommend this book. However, to truly understand the whole story start at the beginning with “The Fall of The Wild Ray,” then pick up with “Wings of Ink” before diving head long into “The Heart of Night,” while we sit on the edge waiting for “The Claws of Death”…..
August 3, 2024
I fell for an algorithm-generated recommendation, don’t make my mistake. The first book was not good, and while the second showed promise with a fantastic first paragraph (I literally thought “wow, that was better than the whole last book”), it quickly fell off to land even with the first. Unconvincing, repetitive writing, and character/emotional development is essentially stated versus revealing itself organically. I read a kindle version, and there were multiple typos - some of them so bad I had to reread things to figure out what was even intended.
I’m absolutely loath to leave bad reviews, as I really respect anyone willing to go out there and write a book, but these two were pretty bad.
I’m absolutely loath to leave bad reviews, as I really respect anyone willing to go out there and write a book, but these two were pretty bad.
December 27, 2024
Heart of Night was a great sequel, adding new elements to elevate this dark romantasy series that is perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash!
I personally found this installment to be a bit slower compared to the first book, but in no way was this a filler book. It offered the opportunity to spend more time with the characters, getting to know the familiar ones more, and also meeting new, interesting ones--both among the ranks of heroes and villains. In that regard, I really loved the deeper exploration of the political intrigue. Did it cause heartbreak? Absolutely. But it's worth it!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a physical copy for review. Opinions are my own.
I personally found this installment to be a bit slower compared to the first book, but in no way was this a filler book. It offered the opportunity to spend more time with the characters, getting to know the familiar ones more, and also meeting new, interesting ones--both among the ranks of heroes and villains. In that regard, I really loved the deeper exploration of the political intrigue. Did it cause heartbreak? Absolutely. But it's worth it!
Thank you to the author for gifting me a physical copy for review. Opinions are my own.
May 30, 2024
Angelina you're KILLING ME!!! My heart is pounding so strongly and so loudly, I swear it's going to leap out of my throat!!! In fact, I'm sure my neighbours can hear it! I have NEVER read a book more tense, intense or as dramatic as this one! This author knows exactly which strings to pull for her audience. Starting right from the very first chapter and a twist right off the bat! I nearly swallowed my tongue I sucked my breath in so fast! To say I loved it is an understatement! This is exceptional! I really love how this author turns up the anguish for the reader, the scenes building up stupendously with Myron and Ayna, those dreadful things being done to them, heck, it nearly gave me a heart attack! It is so full of raw emotions, both through the eyes of the characters as well as the reader, letting me, no, compelling me to feel emotions I never knew existed. The scenes have filled me to the brim, threatening to spill out, by the expert handling by the author, taking each character, infusing her special brand of magic in them, that they all stand out, they all excel, they all vie for my attention!
So let's talk characters.... starting with those that are integral to the plot, Erina, his true evil so expertly concealed, shows up snippet by snippet, he's so beautifully awful! Clio, who makes her appearance so unexpectedly, Clio who might be incapacitated but she's never down, always scheming and plotting, Herinor, an incredibly complex character, one who's easy to loathe but his predicament, the reason he does what he does, the anguish he feels by his actions, can only evoke feelings of sorrow in me, immense sympathy. Kaira, initially a guard, becomes so much more, she's smart, she's resourceful, she persistent, she's awesome and the further I read, I found myself liking her more and more. By the same token, I'm despising Ephegos by the second! There are many more, the likes of Tor and Royard and Syrus, all magnificent. The two MC's are outstanding! Crafted flawlessly flawed, there are few characters that can rivel them. As a character, Ayna is a special breed. Kidnapped , imprisoned, tortured, forced into a marriage she didn't want, she still holds firm, she still stands tall, she hangs in, against all odds, against everything thrown at her and still retains her gentle and loving heart, her compassion and caring. I love how vulnerably tough she is, I adore her need to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, her inquisitive mind, her all consuming love for Myron. Even when she's drugged into a stupor, even though she's getting weaker and weaker, her feisty nature rears up, preventing her from falling into utter despair, she never gives up, never stops looking for an opportunity to escape her torment. And Myron, well Myron is the best of the best! He's so controlled, he's so honourable, he's definitely not the evil that many think he is. I just adore him. His character is so beautifully complex, his love for Anya so profound, I feel it in my bones! His desperation to find Ayna is palpable, he'll do anything, face anything and anyone for her, to protect her. And he does, oh good golly does he ever! What he's subjected to, a witness to, would have broken a lesser man many times over. His strength comes from his love of Ayna, his love for his Crows. The way he loses it when he scents Ayna, when he sees her predicament, was both thrilling that the normally well contained and controlled Myron totally loses the plot and heartbreaking in it's potency of helplessness.I could write ten thousand words and still not be able to capture the beauty of his character. And the love, the passion between them can only be described as sublime!
This book gets more and more thrilling the further on I read. The pacing, as always, is excellent, nothing feels rushed, everything unfolds in a timely manner, full of raw emotions, full of action, full of intriguing events. The worldbuilding is second to none, building up so immensely, so vividly, so utterly full. I loved the twists, the revelations throughout the book, the breadcrumbs the authors scatters, and when we find out who Anya REALLY is, I was, like WOW! Those scenes in the throne room, the scenes in the dungeons, the scenes with Herinor, the scenes with Clio, yeah, OMG Brilliantly raw!!! Ms Steffort is a master at concealing things, giving up bit by bit, and then yanking it away so I have no idea HOW and WHERE she'll take the story next! This author knows exactly how to play for her audience, each note hitting at exactly the right moment, enthrallingly, captivatingly, enlightening . That final chapter, OMG that final chapter! I was panting, my breath ragged from the dramatic onslaught, I was urging the characters on, I WAS AN EMOTIONAL MESS!!!! I still am...I know I've said this a million times but good grief does this author get me hot and bothered, every single emotion tugged and manipulated! THIS! BOOK! IS! EXCEPTIONAL! A fine example of my emotional mess is captured to perfection by this utterance from Myron, I just melted into a puddle when I read this declaration: "I love you Wolayna Milevishja. I love you with everything I am. My dark Crow heart is yours until my last breath, be it moments from now when we walk through this door or millennia from now when the gods get bored with my presence in this world. I'm yours" Well geez, Myron has my undying devotion! This exceptional author, Angelina J Steffort has my undying devotion!
So let's talk characters.... starting with those that are integral to the plot, Erina, his true evil so expertly concealed, shows up snippet by snippet, he's so beautifully awful! Clio, who makes her appearance so unexpectedly, Clio who might be incapacitated but she's never down, always scheming and plotting, Herinor, an incredibly complex character, one who's easy to loathe but his predicament, the reason he does what he does, the anguish he feels by his actions, can only evoke feelings of sorrow in me, immense sympathy. Kaira, initially a guard, becomes so much more, she's smart, she's resourceful, she persistent, she's awesome and the further I read, I found myself liking her more and more. By the same token, I'm despising Ephegos by the second! There are many more, the likes of Tor and Royard and Syrus, all magnificent. The two MC's are outstanding! Crafted flawlessly flawed, there are few characters that can rivel them. As a character, Ayna is a special breed. Kidnapped , imprisoned, tortured, forced into a marriage she didn't want, she still holds firm, she still stands tall, she hangs in, against all odds, against everything thrown at her and still retains her gentle and loving heart, her compassion and caring. I love how vulnerably tough she is, I adore her need to put all the pieces of the puzzle together, her inquisitive mind, her all consuming love for Myron. Even when she's drugged into a stupor, even though she's getting weaker and weaker, her feisty nature rears up, preventing her from falling into utter despair, she never gives up, never stops looking for an opportunity to escape her torment. And Myron, well Myron is the best of the best! He's so controlled, he's so honourable, he's definitely not the evil that many think he is. I just adore him. His character is so beautifully complex, his love for Anya so profound, I feel it in my bones! His desperation to find Ayna is palpable, he'll do anything, face anything and anyone for her, to protect her. And he does, oh good golly does he ever! What he's subjected to, a witness to, would have broken a lesser man many times over. His strength comes from his love of Ayna, his love for his Crows. The way he loses it when he scents Ayna, when he sees her predicament, was both thrilling that the normally well contained and controlled Myron totally loses the plot and heartbreaking in it's potency of helplessness.I could write ten thousand words and still not be able to capture the beauty of his character. And the love, the passion between them can only be described as sublime!
This book gets more and more thrilling the further on I read. The pacing, as always, is excellent, nothing feels rushed, everything unfolds in a timely manner, full of raw emotions, full of action, full of intriguing events. The worldbuilding is second to none, building up so immensely, so vividly, so utterly full. I loved the twists, the revelations throughout the book, the breadcrumbs the authors scatters, and when we find out who Anya REALLY is, I was, like WOW! Those scenes in the throne room, the scenes in the dungeons, the scenes with Herinor, the scenes with Clio, yeah, OMG Brilliantly raw!!! Ms Steffort is a master at concealing things, giving up bit by bit, and then yanking it away so I have no idea HOW and WHERE she'll take the story next! This author knows exactly how to play for her audience, each note hitting at exactly the right moment, enthrallingly, captivatingly, enlightening . That final chapter, OMG that final chapter! I was panting, my breath ragged from the dramatic onslaught, I was urging the characters on, I WAS AN EMOTIONAL MESS!!!! I still am...I know I've said this a million times but good grief does this author get me hot and bothered, every single emotion tugged and manipulated! THIS! BOOK! IS! EXCEPTIONAL! A fine example of my emotional mess is captured to perfection by this utterance from Myron, I just melted into a puddle when I read this declaration: "I love you Wolayna Milevishja. I love you with everything I am. My dark Crow heart is yours until my last breath, be it moments from now when we walk through this door or millennia from now when the gods get bored with my presence in this world. I'm yours" Well geez, Myron has my undying devotion! This exceptional author, Angelina J Steffort has my undying devotion!
June 1, 2025
⭐⭐⭐
🌶️
I reread the first one again just to have the world and characters fresh in my mind and can I just say I’m beyond epically disappointed with this book.
I really wish the cliffhanger ending of the first book would have left the status of one or both of the MCs to question so that the reader felt more compelled to read if for no other reason than to know if they both made it out alive – ya know?
But it didn’t. You knew they were both alive. She was taken and he survived the blast – Love saved him by breaking the curse. She loved him. He allowed himself to be loved and loved her fiercely.
This book is their journey of survival to find and save one another.
There seems to be a plot developing with a double cross completely apart from the one the writer is letting you in on. I guess we shall see.
⚠️⚠️SPOILERS – CAUSE I NEED TO BITCH ABOUT THIS⚠️⚠️
🌶️
I reread the first one again just to have the world and characters fresh in my mind and can I just say I’m beyond epically disappointed with this book.
I really wish the cliffhanger ending of the first book would have left the status of one or both of the MCs to question so that the reader felt more compelled to read if for no other reason than to know if they both made it out alive – ya know?
But it didn’t. You knew they were both alive. She was taken and he survived the blast – Love saved him by breaking the curse. She loved him. He allowed himself to be loved and loved her fiercely.
This book is their journey of survival to find and save one another.
There seems to be a plot developing with a double cross completely apart from the one the writer is letting you in on. I guess we shall see.
⚠️⚠️SPOILERS – CAUSE I NEED TO BITCH ABOUT THIS⚠️⚠️
Displaying 1 - 30 of 252 reviews