Tired of female leads that are either clueless, broken, or otherwise inferior? Want one that's strong, independent, and anything but angelic?
Victory may be hard to love, but she tells it like it is and doesn't take guff from anybody. Being one of the most powerful people on her planet naturally brings about unwanted fame, but she uses her reputation for savagery and violence to keep everyone at bay. That is until circumstances force her to get to know Kreid better than she ever planned.
Kreid has decided to overthrow Dedrick, the sadistic ruler of Hentburn, and he needs Victory’s help to make it happen. Even though she refuses to get involved in his scheme, the more time she spends around him, the more torn she becomes.
Fortunately, due to the experiments of her genius best friend Penelope, another man has entered her life. Nate makes for a delightful distraction to the frustrations she suffers from dealing with Kreid. Will Nate end up stealing her heart or is he just what it takes to make Kreid realize what he is missing.
It was an alright read. It kind of felt like a first draft of a book and at times felt like it dragged on. I liked it enough to want to know what happens in the second book but I don’t think enough to read it myself. I really enjoyed learning about this world and the main character showed growth by the end of the book.
I’ll admit, I had never read dark fantasy before picking up this book, and I wasn’t sure if it would be my thing. But after finishing it, I can honestly say I was completely drawn in from start to finish.
This story opened my eyes to how exciting, emotional, and gripping dark fantasy can be.
Victory was easily my favorite part of the book. She isn’t soft or overly innocent, and she doesn’t pretend to be someone she’s not. She’s powerful, blunt, and unapologetically herself.
It was refreshing to read about a female lead who embraces her strength and reputation instead of running from it. She felt real, complex, and layered, which made her journey even more compelling.
The tension between Victory and Kreid was incredibly engaging. Their dynamic kept me hooked because there was so much conflict, hesitation, and emotional depth beneath the surface.
You could feel the push and pull between them, especially as Victory struggled with whether or not to trust him or get involved in his dangerous plans.
Nate added another interesting layer, giving Victory a different kind of connection and forcing her to confront her own feelings in ways she didn’t expect.
The world itself felt dark, intense, and immersive without being overwhelming for someone new to the genre like me. The stakes were high, the characters were morally complex, and nothing felt predictable. It made the story feel bold and exciting the entire time.
This book completely changed my perspective on dark fantasy. It was intense, emotional, and full of powerful characters, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. If you’ve never read dark fantasy before, this is a fantastic place to start.
Victory is not a typical science fiction novel, and that is part of its appeal.
Kaycee Rose builds a world where power shapes everything, from politics to relationships. The idea of zeniths, near-immortal beings whose strength determines influence and survival, feels fresh and thoughtfully developed. I appreciated how the story explores questions about justice, loyalty, and what love really means in a society that does not operate by our rules.
Victory herself is not written to be sweet or traditionally likable. She is sharp, cynical, and unapologetically ruthless. That makes her interesting. Her internal logic is consistent, and watching her navigate alliances, betrayals, and growing emotional vulnerability kept me invested. The tension with Kreid adds depth, and the political conflict with Dedrick raises the stakes in a meaningful way. The tournament storyline also gives the book structure and momentum.
The romance is intense and explicit, and the connection between power and intimacy is creatively handled. Readers should know that this is firmly adult in both violence and sexual content. It leans dark and morally complex rather than light or escapist.
At times the pacing slows during philosophical conversations, and Victory’s emotional distance can make it harder to connect with her immediately. Still, if you enjoy morally gray characters, layered worldbuilding, and sci-fi that is willing to explore uncomfortable ideas, this book delivers.
Overall, Victory is ambitious and different. It will not be for everyone, but for readers who appreciate darker, character-driven science fiction, it is a compelling read.
I won a copy of this book and I should've known just from the cover that it was going to be absolute crap. The sketch looks like something a seventh grader would draw. The writing is also intensely juvenile.
Absolutely no world building. The author has made up words for different creatures, weapons, etc. without any description of what those things look like.
The amount of misspellings and typos was incredibly distracting. I've read fanfiction better than this.
We learn absolutely nothing about these characters, other than that the FMC is strong. I felt zero attachment to the individuals, and there were absolutely no stakes that I gave a shit about.
I don't think I've ever given a book one star in my entire life. This was truly painful, and the only reason I finished it was because I often fall victim to the sunken cost fallacy.
TLDR: terrible world building, meandering plot that makes no sense, characters you won't care about, and was clearly never proofread
Victory takes you into a completely different galaxy where humans are the outsiders, which is a really interesting perspective. The author does a great job describing this alien world from the way beings communicate to the time differences and unique creatures. It feels imaginative and well thought out. At times, there are a lot of details that slow the pace and can feel a bit heavy, but the story still manages to stay engaging. With a mix of adventure, action, and a touch of romance, it’s an enjoyable read overall.
This book pulls you into a very unique and intense world right from the start. The main character is strong, unpredictable, and the story blends action, sci fi, and dark elements in an interesting way.
I liked how the writing keeps things moving while still building the characters and the world around them. It feels different from typical stories and keeps you curious about what will happen next.
If you enjoy bold, slightly dark and fast moving stories, this is definitely worth reading.
Fantastic, well-paced read with a darkly biting, funny, and truly powerful protagonist! Every author who writes a strong female character should read this book to see exactly how it's done, you'll fall in love with her point of view, her voice, and the way she faces her problems, both those in the world around her and those that she creates for herself. Highly recommended, give this one a chance!
This book completely pulled me in from the start. Victory is a strong, complex heroine who isn’t afraid to embrace her power, which made her incredibly refreshing to read about. The tension between the characters kept me hooked, and the dark, immersive world made the story feel intense and exciting. A fantastic read for anyone who enjoys dark fantasy with strong characters and emotional depth.
This book is a wonderful mix of romance and urban fantasy. The tension between Nate and Kreid is palpable, and Kreid's intensity in his plan to overthrow Dedrick makes you turn the pages at an alarming rate. Highly recommend