Queen of Wrath and Vengeance: House of Shadows Book One

by Ruby M. Darling

Vittoria

My death was only the beginning.
Just as our Unholy Mother has made me aware of attacks against my Queendom coming from foes we had long ago banished into The Veil; the attacks couldn't have come at a worst time.
I'm vulnerable, at my weakest with no one but my guards to take me underground to a location only they know of.
It's the only way to keep me, them, us... safe.
But when they get trapped down there with me... it changes everything.
Now, with the attacks coming from every direction, we're at war against time to find out who their leader is and what it is they want while trying to navigate a new life, love, new and old allies and worst of all, handling betrayal from those we thought closest to us.

The ultimate questions Who can we really trust? And was all of this worth it?

Genres: Why Choose, Dark, Dark Romance

356 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 4, 2024

About the author

Ruby Darling is a small town Texas Native that reads too much Dark Fantasy Romance and sleeps too little, which has probably caused her to be delusional enough to create a world of her own. She hopes you have a great time under the glamour and in the veil.

Reviews

[Spider888 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Got here from her name dropping her own book in Speak, what a badass.

Ok, I love that this has a bit of different tropes than usual. Older, closed off, wrathful FMC. MMCs who follow her around for centuries like puppies until they can convince her to mate and open herself to love. She’s the powerful queen, they are her guards.

But it also got repetitive and whiny in its characters. Focused too much on the inner drama and not quite enough on plot

[*-The Pink Dahlia -* · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ Plot: 4/5
🌶️ Spice: 5/5
📖 Genre: Dark Romance
🏞️ Setting: New Jersey, amongst other places
🗣️ POV: Multiple
🛏️ Tropes:
- ancient vampire FMC
- Mix of vampire and lycan MMC’s (5)
- FMC is experienced in life and a total badass
- Fated Mates
- FMC is hesitant to bond


Kinks:
Somnophilia
Age Gap??
Cockwarming
DP
Airtight
MF/ MFM/ MMFM / MMFMMM
Voyeurs

I went into this totally blind. It’s so under hyped in my opinion.

We get the story initially of Vittoria’s life just before she was turned. It then progresses to the stories of her guards. Each of them is hopelessly in love with their Queen. But she keeps them at arms length. Her calling (her heat) which arrives every 80 years is due, and she could be incapacitated for up to a year without (ahem) assistance.
The men take the choice out of her hands.

What follows is a story about learning to open up to love, learning to accommodate new people in your world, and being open to many, many new things in a life that was previously long but lackluster.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s official, I’ll read anything Ruby Darling puts out. I really love her writing style. AND she writes hands down the most comprehensive trigger warning list I have ever seen so read it closely before diving in! The way she brings harems together while showing the intricacies through the different POVs is really unique to her (and I read a ton of reverse harems). I came to this series after reading Speak and Stutter and was glad to see the deeply organized plot was also a characteristic in this series! All of the men truly work to make their queen happy and keep her safe — even when they have arguments it feels mature and makes sense! Don’t get me started on their relationship with Percy 🥹🥹. I’ve already tucked into book two!

[Books & Burnouts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Queen of Wrath & Vengence: House of Shadows Book #1!
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World building. Plot. Spice. Reverse harem. Reverse age gap. Fated mates. Ware/fae/vampyre. Multiple POV's. And it's all written by Ruby so you KNOW it's good! 👨🏻‍🍳🤌💋
.
🏷 #rubymdarling #spicybookrecs #whychooseromance #reverseharem #agegap #Kindle #KindleUnlimited #darkromancereads #darkromanceauthor #booktok #spicybooks

[Steve and Amy Levasseur · Rating 5 out of 5]

outstanding

Full of twists and turns and ups and downs- the why choose of vampires and shadows. Absolutely outstanding! The author does an amazing job of allowing the story to build and flow and that ending!

[April · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you just want some bow-chicka-wow-wow gang bang F-M-M-M-M smut, enjoy. DNF at 37% Was hoping for a plot. Yeah, there wasn't one. Just.... group sex and a bunch of porn-ish lines. >yawn<

[Hiba · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Too much fucking…no plot to be found anywhere

[Taylor Small · Rating 4 out of 5]

A gripping, emotionally charged read with strong characters and high stakes. The tension, angst, and slow-burn elements were especially well done, keeping me invested throughout. While a few moments felt slightly drawn out, the payoff made it worth it. A powerful installment that delivers on both emotion and intensity.