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Silk and Steel #4
The Black Prince
In the war-torn rubble of the human world, can a rebel elf and a lost dragon prince find love, or will a dark threat tear them and their world apart forever?
A new land, a new court, a new king, but some things never change.
Broken in all ways, Akiem fled his life as the amethyst prince only to land at the mercy of the beautiful but deadly diamond king, Luceran.
Akiem knows dragons. He knows he’ll die today, tomorrow, whenever Luceran’s executioner brings down his axe, and maybe it’s all he deserves. He’s ready for death, craves it even, like he craves the elf with flame-red hair and a sly smile, the damn elf whose stolen kiss lit Akiem up in ways he didn’t know were possible.
Akiem doesn’t do males and he definitely doesn’t do elves. But some things do change.
Drifter, mercenary, lover — Zane is all those things. He’ll do almost anything for coin. But he doesn't do dragons and he definitely doesn’t do love.
It's not such a bad life for an elf. Better than the rest of his kin, living under the rule and whims of the dragon king, Luceran.
Working as a bodyguard in Bayston should have been quick coin in his pocket before moving on. But King Luceran has a new toy he parades at court. A dragon with eyes of gold and scales as black as night.
He probably shouldn’t have kissed him. Definitely should have killed him.
And now, moving on is the farthest thought from Zane's mind. Because Luceran's new toy is not like the other dragonkin. And maybe, just maybe, the terrible, beautiful beast has the key to freeing all the persecuted elves and unlocking Zane's restless heart.
Zane doesn't do love and he doesn't do dragons.
But with the arrival of the Black Prince, everything is about to change.
***
The Black Prince is part of the Silk & Steel world and takes place after events in Silk & Steel. It can be read as a standalone.
The publication date is temporary and likely to be brought forward to December 2019. The Black Prince will be in Kindle Unlimited on its release.
Please note: This novel contains a m/m love story and adult content. The Black Prince is intended for mature readers. Triggers: reference to past rape and the psychological aftermath, physical abuse, brief torture, self harm.
An MM Dark Fantasy.
A new land, a new court, a new king, but some things never change.
Broken in all ways, Akiem fled his life as the amethyst prince only to land at the mercy of the beautiful but deadly diamond king, Luceran.
Akiem knows dragons. He knows he’ll die today, tomorrow, whenever Luceran’s executioner brings down his axe, and maybe it’s all he deserves. He’s ready for death, craves it even, like he craves the elf with flame-red hair and a sly smile, the damn elf whose stolen kiss lit Akiem up in ways he didn’t know were possible.
Akiem doesn’t do males and he definitely doesn’t do elves. But some things do change.
Drifter, mercenary, lover — Zane is all those things. He’ll do almost anything for coin. But he doesn't do dragons and he definitely doesn’t do love.
It's not such a bad life for an elf. Better than the rest of his kin, living under the rule and whims of the dragon king, Luceran.
Working as a bodyguard in Bayston should have been quick coin in his pocket before moving on. But King Luceran has a new toy he parades at court. A dragon with eyes of gold and scales as black as night.
He probably shouldn’t have kissed him. Definitely should have killed him.
And now, moving on is the farthest thought from Zane's mind. Because Luceran's new toy is not like the other dragonkin. And maybe, just maybe, the terrible, beautiful beast has the key to freeing all the persecuted elves and unlocking Zane's restless heart.
Zane doesn't do love and he doesn't do dragons.
But with the arrival of the Black Prince, everything is about to change.
***
The Black Prince is part of the Silk & Steel world and takes place after events in Silk & Steel. It can be read as a standalone.
The publication date is temporary and likely to be brought forward to December 2019. The Black Prince will be in Kindle Unlimited on its release.
Please note: This novel contains a m/m love story and adult content. The Black Prince is intended for mature readers. Triggers: reference to past rape and the psychological aftermath, physical abuse, brief torture, self harm.
An MM Dark Fantasy.
Unknown Binding
First published November 16, 2019
253 people are currently reading
2008 people want to read
About the author
Ariana Nash
51 books2,241 followersBorn to wolves, Ariana Nash only ventures from the Cornish moors when the moon is fat and the night alive with myths and legends. She captures those myths in glass jars and returning home, weaves them into stories filled with forbidden desires, fantasy realms, and wicked delights.
Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Fantasy
#1 LGBT Fantasy Hot New Releases
#1 LGBT Horror Hot New Releases - for 3 months!
Join her Goodreads group here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Sign up to her newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/silk-steel
Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Fantasy
#1 LGBT Fantasy Hot New Releases
#1 LGBT Horror Hot New Releases - for 3 months!
Join her Goodreads group here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Sign up to her newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/silk-steel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
November 9, 2024
✅ Great redemption arc
✅ Sexual tension and smut
✅ Plot
✅ Pace
✅ Twists and betrayals
✅ Characters and character development
✅ Dragon-shifters and elves
✅ Redhead love interest (I have a weakness for redhead faes and elves)
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: torture, mentions of physical abuse, rape, slavery and incest
Well, Ariana Nash delivers. Again.
This was a reread and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first time around.
At the end of Blood & Ice, Eroan and Lysander believed Akiem to be dead, having been killed in the estuary by Dokul, but Akiem somehow managed to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and found himself washed up on the shores of the land that was previously called America. He quickly became the Diamond King’s new obsession. While he’s trying to navigate the jewels’ politics, heal from his trauma, and make sense of his emotions and desires, he meets Zane, a cocky and reckless elf, that he somehow can’t get out of his head or keep out of trouble.
This is Akiem's redemption after everything he did as one of the "villains" in the previous books, but it is also his journey towards healing and believing in his self-worth again after the trauma of spending his life under his mother's power and being abused later by Dokul. It's a story of lies, scheming, and love against all odds, of secrets and betrayal, and of two lonely (and broken in Akiem’s case) souls finding solace in each other.
We can see very clearly in this book how mentally fragile and vulnerable Akiem is after all the abuse he’s been through. How he thinks he deserves whatever dark fate is awaiting him, and how he struggles to find his place and purpose in this new land. Even once he found his new purpose of protecting the abused elves, he was clearly willing (and maybe hoping?) to die while fulfilling this purpose. I really liked the character evolution that we saw in Akiem in the last two books of the previous trilogy, so I was actually excited to read this book and see how he would deal with all his conflicting emotions. This book made me love Akiem even more. His pain was so palpable and bone-deep, I am really happy that he has "his Red elf" to bring some light into his life.
The whole relationship development between Akiem and Zane happens in only one book, contrary to Ariana Nash’s other series, but it was still very well done and didn’t feel like insta-love or insta-lust. Zane's energy, fierceness, and witty personality made him a great and complementary match for Akiem's dark mood and feelings of being worthless. His snarky humor and his desire to see the "real" Akiem and help him, even though he had a strong prejudice against dragons, made him all the more likable. Zane is not as complex as Akiem (or even Eroan or Lysander), but he still is a great character, and considering that he only had one book to shine, I think the author did a good job with him. He also has red hair so he gets extra points for that because I have a weakness for witty and feisty male characters with long red hair.
As in the previous books, this one is full of emotions, angst, action, scheming, and twists. I just couldn't stop reading it. The pace is good, the plot is also more similar to Silk & Steel; it's more about political games and scheming than an all-out war between dragons and elves. There is still fighting and action, but we also got to see the more cunning side of the jewel dragons. There is angst, some twists, and betrayals too (and who doesn't enjoy a betrayal every once in a while?) making this book hard to put down.
The Black Prince is a great book, and it was amazing to see Akiem finally find his purpose. I can't recommend this series enough. It is definitely one of my all-time favorite series, and I am sad to be done with it.
0.5 Sealed With a Kiss ⭐⭐⭐.5
1. Silk & Steel ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Iron & Fire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Blood & Ice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 Lost & Found ⭐⭐⭐
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✅ Sexual tension and smut
✅ Plot
✅ Pace
✅ Twists and betrayals
✅ Characters and character development
✅ Dragon-shifters and elves
✅ Redhead love interest (I have a weakness for redhead faes and elves)
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: torture, mentions of physical abuse, rape, slavery and incest
Well, Ariana Nash delivers. Again.
This was a reread and I think I enjoyed it even more than the first time around.
It looked like freedom, but Freedom was not a place. It wasn’t something that could be given or taken. It was a state of mind. Or so he assumed. He’d never had freedom to know it. His mind was a prison he couldn’t escape.
At the end of Blood & Ice, Eroan and Lysander believed Akiem to be dead, having been killed in the estuary by Dokul, but Akiem somehow managed to fly across the Atlantic Ocean and found himself washed up on the shores of the land that was previously called America. He quickly became the Diamond King’s new obsession. While he’s trying to navigate the jewels’ politics, heal from his trauma, and make sense of his emotions and desires, he meets Zane, a cocky and reckless elf, that he somehow can’t get out of his head or keep out of trouble.
He couldn't get enough of the paradox that was the Black Prince. Vicious and deadly on the one hand, protective and vulnerable on the other.
Denying he cared just delayed the inevitable. He’d denied himself many things his whole life. His attraction for males, the ability to think and fight for himself, the fact elves were as worthy of life as any dragon. That last one would get him killed quicker than the rest.
This is Akiem's redemption after everything he did as one of the "villains" in the previous books, but it is also his journey towards healing and believing in his self-worth again after the trauma of spending his life under his mother's power and being abused later by Dokul. It's a story of lies, scheming, and love against all odds, of secrets and betrayal, and of two lonely (and broken in Akiem’s case) souls finding solace in each other.
He’d been used his whole life, and now here too, by a worthless elf. Always someone’s bitch. Always someone’s toy. As a son, a prince, a pet. A fucking tool.
We can see very clearly in this book how mentally fragile and vulnerable Akiem is after all the abuse he’s been through. How he thinks he deserves whatever dark fate is awaiting him, and how he struggles to find his place and purpose in this new land. Even once he found his new purpose of protecting the abused elves, he was clearly willing (and maybe hoping?) to die while fulfilling this purpose. I really liked the character evolution that we saw in Akiem in the last two books of the previous trilogy, so I was actually excited to read this book and see how he would deal with all his conflicting emotions. This book made me love Akiem even more. His pain was so palpable and bone-deep, I am really happy that he has "his Red elf" to bring some light into his life.
Zane’s heart ached for this tortured dragon nobody had loved. Akiem didn’t need to say it; it was in his terrified touches, his fearful kisses, and the reverent way he stroked Zane’s cheek.
The whole relationship development between Akiem and Zane happens in only one book, contrary to Ariana Nash’s other series, but it was still very well done and didn’t feel like insta-love or insta-lust. Zane's energy, fierceness, and witty personality made him a great and complementary match for Akiem's dark mood and feelings of being worthless. His snarky humor and his desire to see the "real" Akiem and help him, even though he had a strong prejudice against dragons, made him all the more likable. Zane is not as complex as Akiem (or even Eroan or Lysander), but he still is a great character, and considering that he only had one book to shine, I think the author did a good job with him. He also has red hair so he gets extra points for that because I have a weakness for witty and feisty male characters with long red hair.
Even after everything he’d been through, when nobody else cared, Akiem fought on. Akiem made cowards of them all.
As in the previous books, this one is full of emotions, angst, action, scheming, and twists. I just couldn't stop reading it. The pace is good, the plot is also more similar to Silk & Steel; it's more about political games and scheming than an all-out war between dragons and elves. There is still fighting and action, but we also got to see the more cunning side of the jewel dragons. There is angst, some twists, and betrayals too (and who doesn't enjoy a betrayal every once in a while?) making this book hard to put down.
Denying he cared just delayed the inevitable. He’d denied himself many things his whole life. His attraction for males, the ability to think and fight for himself, the fact elves were as worthy of life as any dragon. That last one would get him killed quicker than the rest.
The Black Prince is a great book, and it was amazing to see Akiem finally find his purpose. I can't recommend this series enough. It is definitely one of my all-time favorite series, and I am sad to be done with it.
“You once asked me if I was looking for someone…I found him.”
0.5 Sealed With a Kiss ⭐⭐⭐.5
1. Silk & Steel ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
2. Iron & Fire ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Blood & Ice ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
3.5 Lost & Found ⭐⭐⭐
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November 26, 2020
4,5 'Black & Red' stars
Edit: My dreams came true!!!
Fucking diamonds in the sky!! That was intense! I mean, ok, I kind of knew what to expect but this story still blew me away. You can always count on Ariana Nash to give you a heart attack (or two) in her books. And I mean this in a very good way. And after the aforementioned heart attack, she will tear your heart into a million pieces, let you cry for some days, and then give you a scene so beautiful you will be a sobbing mess again but of pure joy this time. Yes, that's exactly how I felt reading this book and I can't thank Ariana enough for making an emotional wreck out of me.
At the end of Blood & Ice my heart shattered because of Akiem and this book was everything I needed to be able to put it back together. My Black Prince finally found his home, his calling, and most importantly, his elf. I couldn't be happier! (Wait, actually I could be but more about this later. Never mind, I'm happy and everything is right in this world again.)
After battling Dokul, Akiem crawled/ swam/ flew/ somehow managed to get to America. He wanted to escape, to get away but instead, he just exchanged one viscous king for another one. Luceran, the Diamond king, wants Akiem to submit to him. And even if he might act nice, he's a dragon to his core, cunning and manipulating like the rest of his kind.
Enter Zane, a mercenary elf with a wicked gleam in his eyes and a heart of gold. Zane, who doesn't do relationships and doesn't do dragons but finds himself drawn to a broken prince with an ocean of hurt in his eyes.
I loved the different setting in this book. Yes, dragons are still dragons, and elves are still elves but the whole dynamic between the two races is different. There's no Order here, no fight between metal and jeweled. And the relationship between a dragon and an elf is not such blasphemy as it was in the Old World. What I most liked about Akiem and Zane being together was how relaxed Zane was around Akiem. As if him being a dragon was not such a big thing.
They were so great together. Akiem all broody bastard persona and deathly stares and Zane with his devil may care attitude and damsel in distress syndrome. They truly couldn't be more different but that made them perfect together.
I tried not to but I couldn't exactly avoid comparing this book to the original trilogy. Because the story of this one happened in only one book, some things were a little rushed and not developed entirely. However, the story was so gripping and engaging that it didn't bother me. I was just so happy to see Akiem again and even more, finally seeing him shine. He was already an amazing character in the previous book but in this one... That was one hell of a badass upgrade.
I knew my baby had it in him, it's just that somepeople dragons need a little more time to get things sorted out. Or someone to inspire them. And Zane definitely inspired him. Alumn, I love this elf. He's like a male version of Seraph and that's all kinds of awesome. I mean, I loved Assassins of the Order in all their lethal glory but Zane was just so much more relatable with his all over the place personality. I totally get why Akiem fell for him so quickly.
And..... my review went again into unimaginable length, so let me just share one more preciously cute moment. I guess I'm as curious as these little elflings because I want to know that too!
At the beginning of my review, I said that there is one thing that could make me even happier. I desperately need a scene of Akiem and Lysander meeting again. I know I should be satisfied that both of them got their HEAs but I want some brother bonding between them. Preferably, I'd like a novel or at least a novella. But if Alumn won't answer my prayers then I promise I'll be thrilled with a tiny little story as well. ➡ Edit: If you wish something strong enough, it will come true, right? Well, it did in this case. We have a novella - Reunion!!
And now I'm going to search for chocolate or ice-cream or vodka because I'm leaving this fantastic world and I'm not yet ready to face reality. If you need me, I'm probably in some dark corner talking with myself about dragon magic and elven assassins and planning my re-read of this series. Wait, I already did that *grinning* yeah, you heard that right. It's already scheduled.
BR with my darling friend Melanie. Thank you for being with me on this wonderful adventure. We laughed, we cried and we had a fabulous time together! 😎🖤
In that moment, panting out purple flame, eyes burning bronze, Akiem had never seemed more kingly. Alumn, he was a monster, but he was Zane’s monster.
Edit: My dreams came true!!!
Fucking diamonds in the sky!! That was intense! I mean, ok, I kind of knew what to expect but this story still blew me away. You can always count on Ariana Nash to give you a heart attack (or two) in her books. And I mean this in a very good way. And after the aforementioned heart attack, she will tear your heart into a million pieces, let you cry for some days, and then give you a scene so beautiful you will be a sobbing mess again but of pure joy this time. Yes, that's exactly how I felt reading this book and I can't thank Ariana enough for making an emotional wreck out of me.
At the end of Blood & Ice my heart shattered because of Akiem and this book was everything I needed to be able to put it back together. My Black Prince finally found his home, his calling, and most importantly, his elf. I couldn't be happier! (
After battling Dokul, Akiem crawled/ swam/ flew/ somehow managed to get to America. He wanted to escape, to get away but instead, he just exchanged one viscous king for another one. Luceran, the Diamond king, wants Akiem to submit to him. And even if he might act nice, he's a dragon to his core, cunning and manipulating like the rest of his kind.
Enter Zane, a mercenary elf with a wicked gleam in his eyes and a heart of gold. Zane, who doesn't do relationships and doesn't do dragons but finds himself drawn to a broken prince with an ocean of hurt in his eyes.
How could Zane make him see that he didn’t need to die to prove he had earned the right to live? He’d been hurt for so long by so many that he didn’t know what it was to be loved.
I loved the different setting in this book. Yes, dragons are still dragons, and elves are still elves but the whole dynamic between the two races is different. There's no Order here, no fight between metal and jeweled. And the relationship between a dragon and an elf is not such blasphemy as it was in the Old World. What I most liked about Akiem and Zane being together was how relaxed Zane was around Akiem. As if him being a dragon was not such a big thing.
“I have to go back, so I either spend the day walking back or”—he gestured at Akiem—“you can get your dragon on and we’ll be there and back in an hour.”
“‘Get my dragon on’?”
He waved the same hand he’d gestured with and frowned at the ground. “Yah know, shift.”
They were so great together. Akiem all broody bastard persona and deathly stares and Zane with his devil may care attitude and damsel in distress syndrome. They truly couldn't be more different but that made them perfect together.
“I care about you too,” his elf said. A blush of heat warmed Zane’s cheeks, and it was all Akiem could do not to grab him and devour him in ways dragons did not normally devour elves.
Bronze eyes glowed in the mist. Zane’s breath caught. And then Akiem’s mouth slammed into his. He was all hardness and strength, but somehow also soft and precious.
I tried not to but I couldn't exactly avoid comparing this book to the original trilogy. Because the story of this one happened in only one book, some things were a little rushed and not developed entirely. However, the story was so gripping and engaging that it didn't bother me. I was just so happy to see Akiem again and even more, finally seeing him shine. He was already an amazing character in the previous book but in this one... That was one hell of a badass upgrade.
He was fucking Prince Akiem of the amethyst brood, and the world needed to remember he’d been bred to rule.
There were bigger dragons, brighter dragons, louder dragons, but Zane could believe there were few as vicious.
I knew my baby had it in him, it's just that some
The elf came alive against him, his mouth and body hungry. He tried to pull forward, to tempt Akiem in, but this… just this kiss… was enough. It was just… right.
And..... my review went again into unimaginable length, so let me just share one more preciously cute moment. I guess I'm as curious as these little elflings because I want to know that too!
She said something, her little hand still on his coat, and he smiled a softer smile meant for little elflings.
“What did she ask?”
“Where my coat goes when I shift.”
At the beginning of my review, I said that there is one thing that could make me even happier. I desperately need a scene of Akiem and Lysander meeting again. I know I should be satisfied that both of them got their HEAs but I want some brother bonding between them. Preferably, I'd like a novel or at least a novella. But if Alumn won't answer my prayers then I promise I'll be thrilled with a tiny little story as well. ➡ Edit: If you wish something strong enough, it will come true, right? Well, it did in this case. We have a novella - Reunion!!
And now I'm going to search for chocolate or ice-cream or vodka because I'm leaving this fantastic world and I'm not yet ready to face reality. If you need me, I'm probably in some dark corner talking with myself about dragon magic and elven assassins and planning my re-read of this series. Wait, I already did that *grinning* yeah, you heard that right. It's already scheduled.
“Is this love?” the Black Prince whispered.
“Yes.” Zane pulled him close, clasping his arms around him and holding on. “Yes,” he whispered against Akiem’s neck.
BR with my darling friend Melanie. Thank you for being with me on this wonderful adventure. We laughed, we cried and we had a fabulous time together! 😎🖤
December 8, 2021
4 stars.
✦ i really enjoyed this, although i do wish we got at least one more book with these two.
“it made his body ache when they were apart, as though Zane were the missing piece he’d been searching for his whole life.”
✦ it was so great to see Akiem’s full redemption arc. the way he started in this series and where he ended up in this… what a road. a bumpy one lol.
✦ Zane was so lively, easy to smile, flirty, wild, compassionate. very unlike Akiem. i guess you could say this is definitely an opposites attract dynamic.
“…he couldn’t get enough of the paradox that was the black prince. vicious and deadly on one hand, protective and vulnerable on the other.”
✦ it was so beautiful witnessing Akiem finally realise that he deserves love and happiness. he had been influenced by horrible dragons all his life, suffered under them, but now he’s finally found peace with Zane. 🖤
“Zane had helped him discover who he really was beneath a lifetime of fear and lies.”
✦ i’m definitely going to miss this series and all these characters. such a fun, twisty ride.
✦ i really enjoyed this, although i do wish we got at least one more book with these two.
“it made his body ache when they were apart, as though Zane were the missing piece he’d been searching for his whole life.”
✦ it was so great to see Akiem’s full redemption arc. the way he started in this series and where he ended up in this… what a road. a bumpy one lol.
✦ Zane was so lively, easy to smile, flirty, wild, compassionate. very unlike Akiem. i guess you could say this is definitely an opposites attract dynamic.
“…he couldn’t get enough of the paradox that was the black prince. vicious and deadly on one hand, protective and vulnerable on the other.”
✦ it was so beautiful witnessing Akiem finally realise that he deserves love and happiness. he had been influenced by horrible dragons all his life, suffered under them, but now he’s finally found peace with Zane. 🖤
“Zane had helped him discover who he really was beneath a lifetime of fear and lies.”
✦ i’m definitely going to miss this series and all these characters. such a fun, twisty ride.
Read
September 30, 2024UPDATE: 16th June. Akiem, the best dragon boi, is out now in Audio, read by Joel Leslie!
Troubled, distant, misunderstood. The villain of Silk & Steel, Akiem, has a story to tell.
This is his book.
Troubled, distant, misunderstood. The villain of Silk & Steel, Akiem, has a story to tell.
This is his book.
December 26, 2024
"Were you looking for someone?"
YEAH, I'M LOOKING FOR ARIANA NASH SO I CAN ASK THEM TO GIVE ME SOME TIPS ON HOW TO RECOVER FROM THIS SERIES??????
How do I say that I love this series with my whole soul, it was the wildest and most unhinged book adventure I've been on but also, I never recommend to anyone to read this series ever at the same time???
Akiem and Zane forever 🥹🖤❤️
I did think to myself at some point about 60% through "wow, this book is so much less unhinged than books 1-3. Akiem is definitely dealing with the after-math trauma of being r@ped, but other than that situation, it's pretty calm"
Narrator: the idiot had internal thoughts too soon, and forgot that NASH LIKES TO FUCKING MIC DROP TRAUMA ON US.... Because holy fuck, this one was a DOOZY. I was literally catching flies like this and buffering for 5 minutes:
Nash, babe, please..............
I JUST FUCKING FELL INLOVE WITH AKIEM???????!
I can't. I have loved you series, but please stop hurting all my book boyfriends.
WHAT A WILD RIDE. THANK YOU FOR THE GAY FUCKED UP GAME OF THRONES ARIANA NASH.
THANK YOU TO MY LOVE SARAH FOR INTRODUCING ME TO THESE BABY ANGELS
YEAH, I'M LOOKING FOR ARIANA NASH SO I CAN ASK THEM TO GIVE ME SOME TIPS ON HOW TO RECOVER FROM THIS SERIES??????
How do I say that I love this series with my whole soul, it was the wildest and most unhinged book adventure I've been on but also, I never recommend to anyone to read this series ever at the same time???
Akiem and Zane forever 🥹🖤❤️
I did think to myself at some point about 60% through "wow, this book is so much less unhinged than books 1-3. Akiem is definitely dealing with the after-math trauma of being r@ped, but other than that situation, it's pretty calm"
Narrator: the idiot had internal thoughts too soon, and forgot that NASH LIKES TO FUCKING MIC DROP TRAUMA ON US.... Because holy fuck, this one was a DOOZY. I was literally catching flies like this and buffering for 5 minutes:
Nash, babe, please..............
I JUST FUCKING FELL INLOVE WITH AKIEM???????!
I can't. I have loved you series, but please stop hurting all my book boyfriends.
WHAT A WILD RIDE. THANK YOU FOR THE GAY FUCKED UP GAME OF THRONES ARIANA NASH.
THANK YOU TO MY LOVE SARAH FOR INTRODUCING ME TO THESE BABY ANGELS
June 24, 2020
Silk & Steel series
Book 0.5 - Sealed With A Kiss
Book 1 - Silk & Steel
Book 2 - Iron & Fire
Book 3 - Blood & Ice
Book 3.5 - Lost & Found
Book 4 - The Black Prince
Update: 6/23/20
Even though the progression of the romantic relationship between Akiem and Zane felt a little rushed, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and it left a lasting impression on me so bumping this rating to 4.5 stars.
4 4.5 ‘were you looking for someone?’ ✨
“You like that, huh? The big-ass angry dragon likes nose scratches…
That’s it, huh? Now we have to leave this world? (I seem ungrateful considering we have gotten 4 full-length novels and 2 novellas in this world, but I don’t want to leave this gruesome yet beautiful world. Ever.)
He was fucking Prince Akiem of the amethyst brood, and the world needed to remember he’d been bred to rule.
The Black Prince is about Akiem, the amethyst black prince who features as the villain for much of the previous 3 books in this series. The events in the book are set after the end of the previous 3 books, so it is clearly described how vulnerable Akiem’s mental state is after being physically and mentally abused by Dokul, the late bronze leader. But it also shows how he develops over time and finds a place for himself in the world, the same world that used him as a tool his whole life.
He’d been used his whole life, and now here too, by a worthless elf. Always someone’s bitch. Always someone’s toy. As a son, a prince, a pet. A fucking tool.
This book picks up when Akiem washes up on the shores of North America and is immediately claimed by the land’s leader, Luceran. Under this new reign, he has to conform to new dynamics between elves and dragons, but it becomes difficult to do so give his recent experiences with elves and his captivity with Dokul. I knew Akiem’s book will be emotional given the suffering he has went through, some discussed in previous books and other disclosed in this book, but his pain still caught me off guard sometimes because it was so palpable and hard-hitting. I am so glad he found light in his life in the form of his ‘Red’ elf, Zane.
That was why Zane’s wretched heart had fallen for him. Even after everything he’d been through, when nobody else cared, Akiem fought on. Akiem made cowards of them all.
Zane was amazing and his energy and firecracker persona lit up the pages that this book wouldn’t be what it is without him. His fierce, bright, and witty personality clashed with Akiem’s brooding and dark personality so perfectly! But, the relationship between Akiem and Zane seems like it is doomed before it even starts. First because of their prejudices (for good reason) for each other’s races and the dynamics between the two races on this new land. And then because of the physical and mental abuse that Akiem has gone through over the years. It was so heart-wrenching to read how they struggled and overcame the barriers between them for a much deserved HEA.
Every time someone told him Akiem was dragon, it made him love him more. His big, beautiful black prince.
Overall, I loved this book as I knew I would because it is Akiem’s story of redemption and atonement. However, it wasn’t a perfect read for me because I felt that the relationship between Akiem and Zane wasn’t fleshed out enough and it progressed too fast. Nevertheless, it was great to be back in this world and, as always, the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.
“You once asked me if I was looking for someone…I found him.”
I highly recommend this series! It is one of my favorite series and I will cherish these characters for a long time to come.
Book 0.5 - Sealed With A Kiss
Book 1 - Silk & Steel
Book 2 - Iron & Fire
Book 3 - Blood & Ice
Book 3.5 - Lost & Found
Book 4 - The Black Prince
Update: 6/23/20
Even though the progression of the romantic relationship between Akiem and Zane felt a little rushed, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book and it left a lasting impression on me so bumping this rating to 4.5 stars.
“You like that, huh? The big-ass angry dragon likes nose scratches…
That’s it, huh? Now we have to leave this world? (I seem ungrateful considering we have gotten 4 full-length novels and 2 novellas in this world, but I don’t want to leave this gruesome yet beautiful world. Ever.)
He was fucking Prince Akiem of the amethyst brood, and the world needed to remember he’d been bred to rule.
The Black Prince is about Akiem, the amethyst black prince who features as the villain for much of the previous 3 books in this series. The events in the book are set after the end of the previous 3 books, so it is clearly described how vulnerable Akiem’s mental state is after being physically and mentally abused by Dokul, the late bronze leader. But it also shows how he develops over time and finds a place for himself in the world, the same world that used him as a tool his whole life.
He’d been used his whole life, and now here too, by a worthless elf. Always someone’s bitch. Always someone’s toy. As a son, a prince, a pet. A fucking tool.
This book picks up when Akiem washes up on the shores of North America and is immediately claimed by the land’s leader, Luceran. Under this new reign, he has to conform to new dynamics between elves and dragons, but it becomes difficult to do so give his recent experiences with elves and his captivity with Dokul. I knew Akiem’s book will be emotional given the suffering he has went through, some discussed in previous books and other disclosed in this book, but his pain still caught me off guard sometimes because it was so palpable and hard-hitting. I am so glad he found light in his life in the form of his ‘Red’ elf, Zane.
That was why Zane’s wretched heart had fallen for him. Even after everything he’d been through, when nobody else cared, Akiem fought on. Akiem made cowards of them all.
Zane was amazing and his energy and firecracker persona lit up the pages that this book wouldn’t be what it is without him. His fierce, bright, and witty personality clashed with Akiem’s brooding and dark personality so perfectly! But, the relationship between Akiem and Zane seems like it is doomed before it even starts. First because of their prejudices (for good reason) for each other’s races and the dynamics between the two races on this new land. And then because of the physical and mental abuse that Akiem has gone through over the years. It was so heart-wrenching to read how they struggled and overcame the barriers between them for a much deserved HEA.
Every time someone told him Akiem was dragon, it made him love him more. His big, beautiful black prince.
Overall, I loved this book as I knew I would because it is Akiem’s story of redemption and atonement. However, it wasn’t a perfect read for me because I felt that the relationship between Akiem and Zane wasn’t fleshed out enough and it progressed too fast. Nevertheless, it was great to be back in this world and, as always, the twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat.
“You once asked me if I was looking for someone…I found him.”
I highly recommend this series! It is one of my favorite series and I will cherish these characters for a long time to come.
August 17, 2021
The Black Prince, like the dark side, I digg.
I actually liked this dynamic more than the series, Erodan (I think that's his name), was a really hard character to like, it was a character that the story needed to get where it got, to freedom, but as a love interest he was shit, selfish and stubborn.
In here we have a different situation with different players, we have an Elf who hides behind a light facade all the pain he has, because of the oppression he lives with in the hands of dragons. And The Black Prince, better known as Akiem, Lyssander's brother, who had his own issues and his traumas, he actually lived those traumas more vividly than Lyssander did, so I felt for him a lot.
This one was in America, so the rules were different but the cruelty of the dragons remained. I loved to see Akiem grow and allowing himself to be who he really is and I loved that to him it didn't matter if Zane loved him, he wanted to be good period. Loved that.
Zane I liked a lot, he was loyal, fierce and understood Akiem from the start. I loved that even when he used him at the beginning, at the end they were a team and he never stopped believing in the goodness in Akiem, even if he is a dragon
Enjoyed this one. 😏🧡
I actually liked this dynamic more than the series, Erodan (I think that's his name), was a really hard character to like, it was a character that the story needed to get where it got, to freedom, but as a love interest he was shit, selfish and stubborn.
In here we have a different situation with different players, we have an Elf who hides behind a light facade all the pain he has, because of the oppression he lives with in the hands of dragons. And The Black Prince, better known as Akiem, Lyssander's brother, who had his own issues and his traumas, he actually lived those traumas more vividly than Lyssander did, so I felt for him a lot.
This one was in America, so the rules were different but the cruelty of the dragons remained. I loved to see Akiem grow and allowing himself to be who he really is and I loved that to him it didn't matter if Zane loved him, he wanted to be good period. Loved that.
Zane I liked a lot, he was loyal, fierce and understood Akiem from the start. I loved that even when he used him at the beginning, at the end they were a team and he never stopped believing in the goodness in Akiem, even if he is a dragon
Enjoyed this one. 😏🧡
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June 4, 2022
"You have a whole village out there who loves the Black Prince for all the good he's done." Zane wets his lips. "You have an elf here who loves him too." He took Akiem's hand and placed it over his heart, hoping Akiem could feel its racing beat. "It terrifies me." The dragon's eyes widened. "You terrify me, for a thousand reasons, but I'm not afraid you."
the dynamic between Akiem and Zane? i loved it.
i thought their romantic development was a bit rushed and, considering this is a standalone, i wished it was a duet or trilogy instead (the way Lysander and Eroan's story was), but i still adored them anyways. i loved their little moments. <3 one thing i was upset about was . 😭
seeing the way Akiem felt like he didn't deserve to live was so heartbreaking, but i thought his redemption arc was executed well—especially bc he was so different in the first two books of the series (proud, strong, cruel), compared to how he was in the previous book and this (vulnerable and broken) that you could tell he's realized his mistakes and lives with the guilt. i loved how Zane was such a flirt and how he didn't give up on Akiem bc Akiem definitely needed someone like him so i'm happy these two found each other. 🥺
p.s. my fav part was probably . 😌
the dynamic between Akiem and Zane? i loved it.
i thought their romantic development was a bit rushed and, considering this is a standalone, i wished it was a duet or trilogy instead (the way Lysander and Eroan's story was), but i still adored them anyways. i loved their little moments. <3 one thing i was upset about was . 😭
seeing the way Akiem felt like he didn't deserve to live was so heartbreaking, but i thought his redemption arc was executed well—especially bc he was so different in the first two books of the series (proud, strong, cruel), compared to how he was in the previous book and this (vulnerable and broken) that you could tell he's realized his mistakes and lives with the guilt. i loved how Zane was such a flirt and how he didn't give up on Akiem bc Akiem definitely needed someone like him so i'm happy these two found each other. 🥺
p.s. my fav part was probably . 😌
May 31, 2020
4 STARS!
So I wasn't sure what to expect from this book . . . for much of the Silk and Steel series, Akiem played the part of a wretched villain. And I hadn't fully forgiven him . . . but leave it to Ariana Nash to crush my heart and then reconstruct it against the odds. The woman knows romance, I tell you!
Plus, as usual, there were plenty of shocking plot twists to go around and keep the story moving at a nice clip.
I had to go with 4 stars, though, because in the last 30% or so, I felt like the events became a bit choppy and disconnected - but that was just the action sequences, not Akiem and Zane's relationship.
He couldn't get enough of the paradox that was the Black Prince. Vicious and deadly on the one hand, protective and vulnerable on the other.Another amazing addition to the series!
So I wasn't sure what to expect from this book . . . for much of the Silk and Steel series, Akiem played the part of a wretched villain. And I hadn't fully forgiven him . . . but leave it to Ariana Nash to crush my heart and then reconstruct it against the odds. The woman knows romance, I tell you!
"You're the only damn thing in this world I believe in."Plot: After fleeing England, Akiem washes up on the shores of North America, exhausted and close to death. He's taken in by the local ruler, Luceran, and begins a new life.
He was nothing here. Invisible.He drifts from day to day until he encounters Zane who injects some life back into him.
Part of him ached so badly to no longer be alone, but a large part recoiled deeper inside himself at the thought of intimacy of any kind.Zane is the complete opposite of Akiem; optimistic, principled, and loyal.
He had a face made for laughter and delight, not sadness.Gah! These two and their tortured, forbidden love! Everything was stacked against them from their very species (dragon and elf) to their traumatic pasts. They made for some great, heart-string pulling reading.
Zane's heart ached for this tortured dragon nobody had loved.I can't believe I'm saying this, but my heart bled for Akiem. Somehow the author completely won me over!
Plus, as usual, there were plenty of shocking plot twists to go around and keep the story moving at a nice clip.
I had to go with 4 stars, though, because in the last 30% or so, I felt like the events became a bit choppy and disconnected - but that was just the action sequences, not Akiem and Zane's relationship.
He was falling, losing himself and finding himself all at once.If you haven't read this series, get on it!!!! You won't be disappointed. Thank you, MONIQUE, for once again reading with me!
November 21, 2019
Even now, his dragon prince didn't realise how special he was.
GHARRRR!
Ariana Nash stomped me into the ground with the story of Akiem "You think you're not worth loving" and Zane "The bright star in Akiem's darkness". She tore into me, giving me false hope before cruelly snatching it all away again.
This tale of of love against the odds, of lies, betrayal and secrecy, of two broken souls finding light in the darkness and of a dragon and an elf is, quite simply, one of my favourite reads of the year. Maybe of forever.
In many ways, it had been easier when he had cared about nothing, but he wouldn't change it. Caring made him feel alive and true and strong.
Every line dripped with feeling, emotion flowed throughout the narrative, yet it never distracted nor detracted from the amazing, layered plot. Ariana Nash's writing is simply awe inspiring, the story gripping from the first lines to the last. The plot throwing you around like a fairground ride, first leading you in one direction before thrusting you rapidly into a different one.
Not only has this story left me with a huge book hangover, I don't even want to pick up another book. I don't want to sully the memory of an elf and his black dragon, don't want to let go of the emotions running through me, don't want to admit that they are just characters in a book.
I think I'm just going to rock quietly in a darkened corner, hugging my comfort blanket and dreaming of a bronze eyed dragon and his red haired elf.
It made his body ache when they were apart, as though Zane were the missing piece he'd been searching for his whole life.
How could Zane make him see that he didn't need to die to prove he had earned the right to live?
June 29, 2021
Elves, dragons, conflict, slow burn romance........what more do you need?
Ariana Nash delivers again 💕
ALL✨THE ✨STARS✨
Ariana Nash delivers again 💕
ALL✨THE ✨STARS✨
July 2, 2020
This one has more steam than the 3-book main series, just like the novella. But not enough steam to warrant a placement on my erotic-romance shelf. I was left... slightly wanting.
It has dark elements, but it isn't as "dark" as the main series, in terms of detailed torture, rape, etc. So I also wouldn't categorize it as dark-fantasy.
In a lot of ways it was a repeat of the main series in terms of certain plot elements, one or 2 surprises along the way, and MCs, while I like them, they did not measure up to the impressions of the MCs in the main series.
So in all ways, I feel this was a watered down version of what went on in the main series, just in a different geography, a different set of characters, etc.
I liked Akiem right away from the main series and I can spot the bad-good-guys a mile away. I LOVE the bad guys who are really good inside. But in many ways, he did not live up to my expectation. On purpose, his character is more subtle, more hidden, and he wears a constant mask. But the way the author wrote this, I feel there were some things that were out of character (see my notes), and some things not really explored or maybe not as in depth or not the way I would have envisioned them being explored.
The other MC, Zane, was a little man-whore who made about as much impression as Eoran did in the main series. Very diff characters, but my feelings about them are equal, as in, they are lesser to me than the central character, which is the Black Prince, hence the title.
I just think he kinda felt flat. Still entertaining. Still had me reading most of it, skimming just a bit. So 4 stars.
It has dark elements, but it isn't as "dark" as the main series, in terms of detailed torture, rape, etc. So I also wouldn't categorize it as dark-fantasy.
In a lot of ways it was a repeat of the main series in terms of certain plot elements, one or 2 surprises along the way, and MCs, while I like them, they did not measure up to the impressions of the MCs in the main series.
So in all ways, I feel this was a watered down version of what went on in the main series, just in a different geography, a different set of characters, etc.
I liked Akiem right away from the main series and I can spot the bad-good-guys a mile away. I LOVE the bad guys who are really good inside. But in many ways, he did not live up to my expectation. On purpose, his character is more subtle, more hidden, and he wears a constant mask. But the way the author wrote this, I feel there were some things that were out of character (see my notes), and some things not really explored or maybe not as in depth or not the way I would have envisioned them being explored.
The other MC, Zane, was a little man-whore who made about as much impression as Eoran did in the main series. Very diff characters, but my feelings about them are equal, as in, they are lesser to me than the central character, which is the Black Prince, hence the title.
I just think he kinda felt flat. Still entertaining. Still had me reading most of it, skimming just a bit. So 4 stars.
March 27, 2022
Audio - 4 Stars
Story - 4.5 Stars
I love how Ariana Nash writes the action scenes. I never feel confused. I'm left sitting at the edge of my seat and feeling breathless!
Story - 4.5 Stars
I love how Ariana Nash writes the action scenes. I never feel confused. I'm left sitting at the edge of my seat and feeling breathless!
September 17, 2020
4.5 Stars
The Black Prince can be summed up in one word - Redemption.
Up until late in the main series, Akiem was awful. Like his brother, he was abused all his life, but some of that abuse was hidden from view, making Akiem a master at hiding himself. We see glimpses of his true self toward the end of the main series, but we don't know how much of it was an act or just because he wanted vengeance on the Bronze. He was hard to read.
At the end of Blood & Ice, Akiem's fate is unknown. His brother, Lysander, and Lysander's elf lover Eroan suspect Akiem is dead. Apparently not, though. In desperation to run from the pain, Akiem flew across an ocean only to find himself at the whim of yet another dragon king determined to use him.
My heart almost didn't make it through this series, and The Black Prince almost killed me ded. Akiem...oh how did you manage to make me not hate you? Even worse, how did you make me love you?
Akiem discovered that no matter how far you run (or fly) you can't outrun yourself. Also, the path to redemption might very well kill you. But, Akeim does the right thing, even though he knows his chances of living through it all are slim. He sure didn't count on falling for smart-mouthed elf along the way.
Zane, along with other elves on this side of the pond, is very different from the elves where Akiem is from. They're more open and willing to accept a dragon in their midst. They're not at war, though maybe they should be. They're not as ruthless, but they need to be.
Akiem broke my heart into bitty bits, the more I learned about him, but he is so strong, and with Zane he becomes not just strong, but willing to use that strength for something other than his own gain. Love's a funny thing, yeah?
My only disappointment was that never once did Akeim mention his brother or the fact that his brother's lover is also an elf. He barely talks about his old life at all, actually, though he does finally talk about his twisted upbringing and the awful things Mommy Dearest did to punish him. Made me glad for her death all over again. We learn other things, too, that are beyond brutal.
The Black Prince is a fitting end to this series and as dark and brutal as it all was, I could not put it down. Damn.
The Black Prince can be summed up in one word - Redemption.
Up until late in the main series, Akiem was awful. Like his brother, he was abused all his life, but some of that abuse was hidden from view, making Akiem a master at hiding himself. We see glimpses of his true self toward the end of the main series, but we don't know how much of it was an act or just because he wanted vengeance on the Bronze. He was hard to read.
At the end of Blood & Ice, Akiem's fate is unknown. His brother, Lysander, and Lysander's elf lover Eroan suspect Akiem is dead. Apparently not, though. In desperation to run from the pain, Akiem flew across an ocean only to find himself at the whim of yet another dragon king determined to use him.
My heart almost didn't make it through this series, and The Black Prince almost killed me ded. Akiem...oh how did you manage to make me not hate you? Even worse, how did you make me love you?
Akiem discovered that no matter how far you run (or fly) you can't outrun yourself. Also, the path to redemption might very well kill you. But, Akeim does the right thing, even though he knows his chances of living through it all are slim. He sure didn't count on falling for smart-mouthed elf along the way.
Zane, along with other elves on this side of the pond, is very different from the elves where Akiem is from. They're more open and willing to accept a dragon in their midst. They're not at war, though maybe they should be. They're not as ruthless, but they need to be.
Akiem broke my heart into bitty bits, the more I learned about him, but he is so strong, and with Zane he becomes not just strong, but willing to use that strength for something other than his own gain. Love's a funny thing, yeah?
My only disappointment was that never once did Akeim mention his brother or the fact that his brother's lover is also an elf. He barely talks about his old life at all, actually, though he does finally talk about his twisted upbringing and the awful things Mommy Dearest did to punish him. Made me glad for her death all over again. We learn other things, too, that are beyond brutal.
The Black Prince is a fitting end to this series and as dark and brutal as it all was, I could not put it down. Damn.
December 31, 2019
4 Growly Stars!!!
I DEVOURED fast-paced and action-packed dragon/elf love story!!! This standalone novel set in the Silk & Steel universe follows Lysander’s brother, Akiem.
*Spoiler* Last we saw, Akiem was slashed and drowning in the muddy Thames estuary. Now we find him in the court of a beautiful diamond dragon king, far across the ocean from what was once England.
Broken, both in mind and body, Akiem finds himself drawn to a sassy elf. His urges towards males are ones he has been fighting for a long time and ones he considers WRONG..But it’s no use fighting them because the end of this fabulous book sees him and the elf in a solid HFN!!
Although we see two points of view here, Akiem’s and Zane’s (the elf), this is really the obsidian dragon’s story. His journey from a dragon ready to die to one who is worthy of living and loving is EXCEPTIONAL! 👏👏If you wanted to know more about Akiem after meeting him in the Silk & Steel trilogy, this book dishes out a lot of past secrets!!! Shocking secrets!! 😱😲
The chemistry between Zane and Akiem was in incendiary! Their scenes both tore at my heart and had me salivating. There is much more sex here than in previous books by Nash. There is also less brutality. But worry not lovers of the dark, Nash gives us vicious scenes aplenty and a non-con just for you!
This story could have easily been extended into a duology, and I almost wished it had been because I like Nash better when she takes her time as she did in the first two Silk & Steel books. As it was, we got a full story with twist after twist, bundled along with love, tenderness, brutality, and hurt.
I love seeing how the world lived across the pond in this post-apocalyptic world where dragons have taken over the earth and humans are all but extinct. It’s very different from the first three books and WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE BOOKS SET HERE! ARE YOU LISTENING ARIANA NASH?!
My rec? Although a standalone, this is more fun after the trilogy! Also, there are some serious spoilers if you haven’t read the first three books! So, go ahead and get started!
I DEVOURED fast-paced and action-packed dragon/elf love story!!! This standalone novel set in the Silk & Steel universe follows Lysander’s brother, Akiem.
*Spoiler* Last we saw, Akiem was slashed and drowning in the muddy Thames estuary. Now we find him in the court of a beautiful diamond dragon king, far across the ocean from what was once England.
Broken, both in mind and body, Akiem finds himself drawn to a sassy elf. His urges towards males are ones he has been fighting for a long time and ones he considers WRONG..But it’s no use fighting them because the end of this fabulous book sees him and the elf in a solid HFN!!
Although we see two points of view here, Akiem’s and Zane’s (the elf), this is really the obsidian dragon’s story. His journey from a dragon ready to die to one who is worthy of living and loving is EXCEPTIONAL! 👏👏If you wanted to know more about Akiem after meeting him in the Silk & Steel trilogy, this book dishes out a lot of past secrets!!! Shocking secrets!! 😱😲
The chemistry between Zane and Akiem was in incendiary! Their scenes both tore at my heart and had me salivating. There is much more sex here than in previous books by Nash. There is also less brutality. But worry not lovers of the dark, Nash gives us vicious scenes aplenty and a non-con just for you!
This story could have easily been extended into a duology, and I almost wished it had been because I like Nash better when she takes her time as she did in the first two Silk & Steel books. As it was, we got a full story with twist after twist, bundled along with love, tenderness, brutality, and hurt.
I love seeing how the world lived across the pond in this post-apocalyptic world where dragons have taken over the earth and humans are all but extinct. It’s very different from the first three books and WOULD LOVE TO SEE MORE BOOKS SET HERE! ARE YOU LISTENING ARIANA NASH?!
My rec? Although a standalone, this is more fun after the trilogy! Also, there are some serious spoilers if you haven’t read the first three books! So, go ahead and get started!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 8, 2021
I liked this wayyyy better than Silk and Steel.
I felt the connection between Akiem and Zayn. They were lovely together.
I adored both characters as well.
I still didn't like the fact that the MCs slept with other people on the beginning but I sucked it up because the rest if the plot was so good.
Also Joel Leslie was SPECTACULAR in his narration. As always❤
I felt the connection between Akiem and Zayn. They were lovely together.
I adored both characters as well.
I still didn't like the fact that the MCs slept with other people on the beginning but I sucked it up because the rest if the plot was so good.
Also Joel Leslie was SPECTACULAR in his narration. As always❤
November 25, 2019
Akiem aka The Black Price intrigued me from the start, long before there was even a hint that he’ll get his own book. He was, simply put, fascinating and I devoured every scene that featured him. Sure, he was an ass, but there was something compelling about him, an aura of mystery that I wanted to slice through to find the real Akiem hidden behind the mask of Elisandra’s perfect little princeling. Well, I got what I wanted with The Black Prince. The book was delicious! However, I would not recommend it to those faint of heart or expecting a nice, safe romance. Due to Akiem’s brutal past he’s severely damaged and experiences lots of flashbacks. The good thing is that his torture and rape are never described in detail; the implications are there and could be quite traumatic to certain readers.
You can enjoy The Black Prince even if you hadn’t read the Silk&Steel series, but it would greatly help in understanding Akiem if you’re familiar with his background. Also it would make you truly appreciate the irony of him falling for an elf. Boy, do I want to be able to tell Akiem of old all about his escapades with the cocky Zane :D Or even better telling it all to Lysander and Eroan. Lysander will probably think that someone brainwashed his brother! Joke aside a reunion between Elisandra’s sons would be one hell of a story, especially now that those two have a lot more in common than just being dragon princes. And Lysander might learn a thing or two from his older brother.
You can enjoy The Black Prince even if you hadn’t read the Silk&Steel series, but it would greatly help in understanding Akiem if you’re familiar with his background. Also it would make you truly appreciate the irony of him falling for an elf. Boy, do I want to be able to tell Akiem of old all about his escapades with the cocky Zane :D Or even better telling it all to Lysander and Eroan. Lysander will probably think that someone brainwashed his brother! Joke aside a reunion between Elisandra’s sons would be one hell of a story, especially now that those two have a lot more in common than just being dragon princes. And Lysander might learn a thing or two from his older brother.
August 2, 2020
I was definitely not Akiem’s biggest fan at the start of this book, but you could say I’m completely won over now that I’ve finished it!
January 24, 2022
Fuck! Now, i love akiem, too!!!
December 11, 2023
“But beneath all that, he had heart. ”
He roto un pedacito de mi corazón para dárselo a este libro. No sabía que me iba a gustar tanto, lo considero el mejor de toda la saga. Siento que eso dice mucho al respecto.
“Death didn’t talke long. Once in its grip, one rarely scaped. ”
Este es el spin-off de la saga Silk & Steel y se sitúa como la cuarta novela. La propia autora comenta que puede leerse independientemente de la saga principal. Obviamente estoy de acuerdo con ella, sin embargo, siento que la experiencia sería más placentera si ya has leído la saga principal, básicamente porque ya conoces el pasado de uno de los protagonistas.
“He lived with the cold, because it was all he deserved”.
Desde un punto de vista argumental no es nada del otro mundo, eso sí, destacar que no es tan toxico ni abusivo como el primero de la saga principal, cosa que agradezco. Además, Tiene buenos giros argumentales.
“He’d always tried to be something for someone else. He’d never tried to be himself. ”
El escenario un poco de lo mismo: nos sitúan en otro continente, le falta un poco de profundidad pero estoy contenta con el resultado.
“I only see darkness out there.”
El punto fuerte de esta historia es sin duda alguna los personajes. Menudo desarrollo y que intensidad. Por este motivo me saco el sombrero con ella, a pesar de que critique muchos los libros, sí que tengo vuelvo a admitir que me encanta su forma de escribir y de engancharme de mala manera con estos personajes que crea.
Gracias por este libro, Ariana Nash.
“Not everyone is out to hurt you, Akiem. ”
He roto un pedacito de mi corazón para dárselo a este libro. No sabía que me iba a gustar tanto, lo considero el mejor de toda la saga. Siento que eso dice mucho al respecto.
“Death didn’t talke long. Once in its grip, one rarely scaped. ”
Este es el spin-off de la saga Silk & Steel y se sitúa como la cuarta novela. La propia autora comenta que puede leerse independientemente de la saga principal. Obviamente estoy de acuerdo con ella, sin embargo, siento que la experiencia sería más placentera si ya has leído la saga principal, básicamente porque ya conoces el pasado de uno de los protagonistas.
“He lived with the cold, because it was all he deserved”.
Desde un punto de vista argumental no es nada del otro mundo, eso sí, destacar que no es tan toxico ni abusivo como el primero de la saga principal, cosa que agradezco. Además, Tiene buenos giros argumentales.
“He’d always tried to be something for someone else. He’d never tried to be himself. ”
El escenario un poco de lo mismo: nos sitúan en otro continente, le falta un poco de profundidad pero estoy contenta con el resultado.
“I only see darkness out there.”
El punto fuerte de esta historia es sin duda alguna los personajes. Menudo desarrollo y que intensidad. Por este motivo me saco el sombrero con ella, a pesar de que critique muchos los libros, sí que tengo vuelvo a admitir que me encanta su forma de escribir y de engancharme de mala manera con estos personajes que crea.
Gracias por este libro, Ariana Nash.
“Not everyone is out to hurt you, Akiem. ”
November 21, 2019
If you'd asked me at the beginning of the Silk & Steel series if I wanted to read a whole book about Lysander's brother Akiem the answer would have been a resounding no, but by the time I'd read Blood and Ice, I'd definitely changed my mind. Anyway, as you might have guessed from the title, The Black Prince picks up Akiem's story after the end of the original trilogy. It was a very broken version of Akiem that fled across the ocean trying to escape his past and what he found there was a world very different to the one he grew up in but once more it's a world where he has no control over his own life.
Akiem has caught the eye of the dragon Luceran and nobody tells the diamond king no and lives. All Akiem can do is try to find a place for himself in Luceran's court, he just wants to fit in and not draw too much attention to himself but that becomes increasingly difficult when the king's brother starts trying to draw him into a conspiracy. Mercenary Zane is an elf who drifts from one place to the next earning whatever cash he can along the way but when he discovers a secret he's horrified by the actions of one of his own people. Then his friend is abducted and Zane knows he'll do whatever it takes to mount a rescue, even if that does mean seducing the king's latest pet dragon.
I'm not going to say much more about the story so you'll just have to read the book for yourself. What I will say is that Ariana Nash is extremely good at making me care about characters that are flawed. We all saw Akiem do terrible things in previous books yet I found myself really feeling for him here and wanting him to find some kind of happiness. After all Akiem grew up with the same mother as Lysander and although he was the favoured son that doesn't mean his life was easy. He did terrible things just to survive but the difference is he feels guilt for what he's done, he's now trying to make amends for his previous actions and that makes it much easier to forgive him. Zane was another great character, someone who doesn't always make the right choices but who tries to do the right thing. He's seen a lot of suffering in his life but that hasn't jaded him past the point where he can see the good in others.
This story was a great addition to the Silk & Steel world. It's set in a different country so it can be read as a stand alone but I think you'll appreciate how far Akiem has come much more if you know his story from previous books. All of the other characters are totally new though and there are definitely some interesting ones there so I'm kind of hoping we might end up getting a few more stories set in this world.
Akiem has caught the eye of the dragon Luceran and nobody tells the diamond king no and lives. All Akiem can do is try to find a place for himself in Luceran's court, he just wants to fit in and not draw too much attention to himself but that becomes increasingly difficult when the king's brother starts trying to draw him into a conspiracy. Mercenary Zane is an elf who drifts from one place to the next earning whatever cash he can along the way but when he discovers a secret he's horrified by the actions of one of his own people. Then his friend is abducted and Zane knows he'll do whatever it takes to mount a rescue, even if that does mean seducing the king's latest pet dragon.
I'm not going to say much more about the story so you'll just have to read the book for yourself. What I will say is that Ariana Nash is extremely good at making me care about characters that are flawed. We all saw Akiem do terrible things in previous books yet I found myself really feeling for him here and wanting him to find some kind of happiness. After all Akiem grew up with the same mother as Lysander and although he was the favoured son that doesn't mean his life was easy. He did terrible things just to survive but the difference is he feels guilt for what he's done, he's now trying to make amends for his previous actions and that makes it much easier to forgive him. Zane was another great character, someone who doesn't always make the right choices but who tries to do the right thing. He's seen a lot of suffering in his life but that hasn't jaded him past the point where he can see the good in others.
This story was a great addition to the Silk & Steel world. It's set in a different country so it can be read as a stand alone but I think you'll appreciate how far Akiem has come much more if you know his story from previous books. All of the other characters are totally new though and there are definitely some interesting ones there so I'm kind of hoping we might end up getting a few more stories set in this world.
December 21, 2019
4.5
Akiem wasn't exactly the poster boy for jeweled dragons in the first 2 books of Silk & Steel but he was always the epitome of dragons as top predator, fierce, ruthless and strong. We got glimpses of his other side but they were short and few and easily ignored. Even after Dokul broke him, even after his near death experience he still held onto his believe in the dragon way of life.
At the start of this book we find him on the other side of the ocean. The first dragon known who crossed the Atlantic but his English experiences and the mindless elopement took its toll. He's only a shadow of his former self, only held together by his minds restraints, always at the edge to finally snap.
The situation in the land of the free is also a different one. The human race is completely extinct, the elven population is living in their destroyed cities and submitted to the rule of dragon kings. There is no real war, no elven assassins and no great metals, so it's no wonder the dragons are getting bored with their Morlock-like existence while Akiem finds himself the latest plaything of the diamond king.
“Are you looking for someone?”
No, Akiem doesn't but Zane finds him anyway; flirty, stubborn Zane; lively, protective Zane who doesn't do love but has a strong sense of what's right. There's an immediate attraction but it needs time to slip through their walls. Zane's aware that though it's Akiem who saves him time and again he needs to save the dragon as well while around them the game of the dragon king and his brutal brother comes to fruition and their world is drowned in fire.
Ariana Nash succeeds in making me love and care for a character who was quite dislikable in the previous books. She's showing what was always there while our focus was on Lysander and Eroan and moves with Zane a character at his side who couldn't be more different than Eroan. Zane sees Akiem and does what has to be done to make his dragon see himself.
To a certain degree this is my favorite book of the series. It's more of a piece, still dark but the despairing parts are in the past, while it's still deliciously slow-burn there is no back and forth between the elf and his dragon. The sex here is without kink but still hot and there is finally an antagonist who fits into the story. Everything together makes a gripping story which I probably will be revisiting somewhere in the future and not only because it's sadly the last book showing us the world after the dragon apokalypse.
Akiem wasn't exactly the poster boy for jeweled dragons in the first 2 books of Silk & Steel but he was always the epitome of dragons as top predator, fierce, ruthless and strong. We got glimpses of his other side but they were short and few and easily ignored. Even after Dokul broke him, even after his near death experience he still held onto his believe in the dragon way of life.
At the start of this book we find him on the other side of the ocean. The first dragon known who crossed the Atlantic but his English experiences and the mindless elopement took its toll. He's only a shadow of his former self, only held together by his minds restraints, always at the edge to finally snap.
The situation in the land of the free is also a different one. The human race is completely extinct, the elven population is living in their destroyed cities and submitted to the rule of dragon kings. There is no real war, no elven assassins and no great metals, so it's no wonder the dragons are getting bored with their Morlock-like existence while Akiem finds himself the latest plaything of the diamond king.
“Are you looking for someone?”
No, Akiem doesn't but Zane finds him anyway; flirty, stubborn Zane; lively, protective Zane who doesn't do love but has a strong sense of what's right. There's an immediate attraction but it needs time to slip through their walls. Zane's aware that though it's Akiem who saves him time and again he needs to save the dragon as well while around them the game of the dragon king and his brutal brother comes to fruition and their world is drowned in fire.
Ariana Nash succeeds in making me love and care for a character who was quite dislikable in the previous books. She's showing what was always there while our focus was on Lysander and Eroan and moves with Zane a character at his side who couldn't be more different than Eroan. Zane sees Akiem and does what has to be done to make his dragon see himself.
To a certain degree this is my favorite book of the series. It's more of a piece, still dark but the despairing parts are in the past, while it's still deliciously slow-burn there is no back and forth between the elf and his dragon. The sex here is without kink but still hot and there is finally an antagonist who fits into the story. Everything together makes a gripping story which I probably will be revisiting somewhere in the future and not only because it's sadly the last book showing us the world after the dragon apokalypse.
April 30, 2020
5✨
God. Okay. When Blood & Ice ended I was so-so on Akiem. I mean, he kind of redeemed himself by helping out, but he was still kind of a bit of a dick.
Now, I take it all back!
In The Black Prince we find that Akiem flew across the ocean after pretty much dying. He gets taken in by the dragon king of this land, Luceran, and becomes his pet at court. Immediately, your heart goes out to Akiem. He was used and abused by his mother, his brood, and Dokul; and now it seems as though more of the same is going to happen.
We get insight to Akiem's thoughts and feelings and my heart broke for him. He was taught to hate himself from a young age because of what he wanted and who he was. We learn more of his background in this book and my mouth actually made this shape at one point: 'o:'
Zane is everything Akiem is not: wild, adventurous, zany, and elf. But the two of them were perfect together and I loved how much they cared and how brutally honest their relationship was. It's not perfect, but there's love and it's so genuine.
Now I kind of wish I had a chance to Eroan/Lysander and Akiem/Zane meet. Maybe there's fanfiction out there somewhere. Heh.
P.S. I wish this was in audiobook format. I need it. Kthnx.
"You terrify me, for a thousand reasons, but I'm not afraid of you."
God. Okay. When Blood & Ice ended I was so-so on Akiem. I mean, he kind of redeemed himself by helping out, but he was still kind of a bit of a dick.
Now, I take it all back!
In The Black Prince we find that Akiem flew across the ocean after pretty much dying. He gets taken in by the dragon king of this land, Luceran, and becomes his pet at court. Immediately, your heart goes out to Akiem. He was used and abused by his mother, his brood, and Dokul; and now it seems as though more of the same is going to happen.
We get insight to Akiem's thoughts and feelings and my heart broke for him. He was taught to hate himself from a young age because of what he wanted and who he was. We learn more of his background in this book and my mouth actually made this shape at one point: 'o:'
Zane is everything Akiem is not: wild, adventurous, zany, and elf. But the two of them were perfect together and I loved how much they cared and how brutally honest their relationship was. It's not perfect, but there's love and it's so genuine.
Now I kind of wish I had a chance to Eroan/Lysander and Akiem/Zane meet. Maybe there's fanfiction out there somewhere. Heh.
P.S. I wish this was in audiobook format. I need it. Kthnx.
January 14, 2025
5 self indulgent stars
Yk what, hell yeah. I just wanted to feel something for a change and I've been reading too much straight books, so I did something about it. Also I really wanted something emotional and more character centered (too much plots recently for me), and I got exactly what I wanted and more. I gladly paid the price with my suffering (this was also quite nerve wracking, but I lived), and I was rewarded with this piece of literature featuring beloved bloody terrible dragons and reckless elves (with the writing style I realized I'm lowkey obsessed with, I was sucked in from literally page two). Both Akiem and Zane are so dear to me, I loved every second seeing them together (even when it wasn't the happiest), and I wanna thank them for great smut I personally enjoyed a lot, hehe. Their character development was also so good, just everything about this book was so appropriate according to it's length (page count). The plot twists, the drama, the romance, everything was so well balanced, which resulted in the rating, absolutely loved it. I'm so excited to read the novella that comes after this.
Yk what, hell yeah. I just wanted to feel something for a change and I've been reading too much straight books, so I did something about it. Also I really wanted something emotional and more character centered (too much plots recently for me), and I got exactly what I wanted and more. I gladly paid the price with my suffering (this was also quite nerve wracking, but I lived), and I was rewarded with this piece of literature featuring beloved bloody terrible dragons and reckless elves (with the writing style I realized I'm lowkey obsessed with, I was sucked in from literally page two). Both Akiem and Zane are so dear to me, I loved every second seeing them together (even when it wasn't the happiest), and I wanna thank them for great smut I personally enjoyed a lot, hehe. Their character development was also so good, just everything about this book was so appropriate according to it's length (page count). The plot twists, the drama, the romance, everything was so well balanced, which resulted in the rating, absolutely loved it. I'm so excited to read the novella that comes after this.
November 24, 2019
I just knew, I knew, Akiem was gonna break my poor heart as much as Lysander did in the Silk and Steel series. There was just something about him that made you want to look deeper. He showed glimpses of his true self in his brothers tale, but this one was all his own. His siblings weren't the only ones who suffered under his mother's wrath. Akiem was not spared her horrific way of mothering. It seemed all his life Akiem was a means to an end, ruthlessly used. Even Zane in the beginning of their " friendship" sought the same as others. That is until Zane saw something in him no one else had;
goodness.
Akiem just needed someone like Zane to coax it out.
Zane’s heart ached for this tortured dragon nobody had loved.
Their road was not an easy one, but knowing Ariana Nash's penchant for dark fantasy I didn't expect it to be. I went in prepared for heartbreak. I also made sure I started this on a day I knew I could finish it because another thing I have come to know with Nash's writing is that the hits keep on coming and betrayal is around every corner. This book was no different. Also did I mention the UST is off the charts?
Neither Zane nor Akiem have much experience with real feelings, if at all. Watching them navigate their new emotions was almost sweet at times. Zane constantly trying to convince himself he can't be falling in love with a dragon, while Akiem is at a loss what to even label his new feelings. As a dragon who has never known love or kindness, how would he know how to recognize it?
“Is this love?” the Black Prince whispered. Zane’s wrecked heart shattered. Akiem did not know what love was. But then, did Zane?.....
“Yes.” Zane pulled him close, clasping his arms around him and holding on. “Yes,” he whispered against Akiem’s neck.
We are left with a sort of HFN ending like as in The Silk and Steel series. They are solidly a couple and are both aware of their feelings for each other. The major hurdle has been overcome, but it is just one hurdle in what is likely to be many more. One thing we know for sure is that Akiem and Zane plan on jumping these future hurdles together.
Zane’s heart ached for this tortured dragon nobody had loved.
Their road was not an easy one, but knowing Ariana Nash's penchant for dark fantasy I didn't expect it to be. I went in prepared for heartbreak. I also made sure I started this on a day I knew I could finish it because another thing I have come to know with Nash's writing is that the hits keep on coming and betrayal is around every corner. This book was no different. Also did I mention the UST is off the charts?
Neither Zane nor Akiem have much experience with real feelings, if at all. Watching them navigate their new emotions was almost sweet at times. Zane constantly trying to convince himself he can't be falling in love with a dragon, while Akiem is at a loss what to even label his new feelings. As a dragon who has never known love or kindness, how would he know how to recognize it?
“Is this love?” the Black Prince whispered. Zane’s wrecked heart shattered. Akiem did not know what love was. But then, did Zane?.....
“Yes.” Zane pulled him close, clasping his arms around him and holding on. “Yes,” he whispered against Akiem’s neck.
We are left with a sort of HFN ending like as in The Silk and Steel series. They are solidly a couple and are both aware of their feelings for each other. The major hurdle has been overcome, but it is just one hurdle in what is likely to be many more. One thing we know for sure is that Akiem and Zane plan on jumping these future hurdles together.
November 18, 2019
Ariana Nash has done it again! Another awesome dragon/elf story!!
We met Akiem in the Silk & Steele series, but did not know nor understand him. When he washes up on America’s shores and is found by another dragon king, his life could have easily ended. Weak from a lifetime of abuse and war, Akiem is nowhere near the type of dragon or human that feels he deserves happiness. No matter how much he has faced, he has been programmed to think he is an abomination and his feelings are unnatural. Throw in a wild feisty elf named Zane who is a mercenary for hire just passing through and you are bound to get some interesting situations.
I do not wish to spoil this story but I loved it just as much as the Silk & Steel series. I love Akiem (now) and Zane and their story. Can’t wait for everyone to read it so they can find out how awesome it is! Love this world. Full of lots of big bad evil and brave, good characters who want to make the world a better place. And of course, lots of steamy scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat!!!
We met Akiem in the Silk & Steele series, but did not know nor understand him. When he washes up on America’s shores and is found by another dragon king, his life could have easily ended. Weak from a lifetime of abuse and war, Akiem is nowhere near the type of dragon or human that feels he deserves happiness. No matter how much he has faced, he has been programmed to think he is an abomination and his feelings are unnatural. Throw in a wild feisty elf named Zane who is a mercenary for hire just passing through and you are bound to get some interesting situations.
I do not wish to spoil this story but I loved it just as much as the Silk & Steel series. I love Akiem (now) and Zane and their story. Can’t wait for everyone to read it so they can find out how awesome it is! Love this world. Full of lots of big bad evil and brave, good characters who want to make the world a better place. And of course, lots of steamy scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat!!!
November 22, 2019
I loved the author’s other series Silk and Steel, but I did not like the character Akiem in the books. However, with this author’s skill with words, this book made me fall in love with him. Reading a book by this author is always a great experience, because this author has a wonderful way with words and romance. And, boy, is this book hot! As with all of her books, the author takes you on a wild ride of emotions: betrayal, hope, love, and despair. Both good and evil abound, and I loved every minute of the romance and the intrigue. Highly recommend! I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
February 5, 2020
Our poor dark prince can’t get a break. Akiem has survived his escape across hundreds of miles of ocean only to fall into the clutches of king Luceran once he reaches the shore on the verge of death. The book actually opens with Akiem watching an elf’s head roll across the floor from his seat next to Luceran, who had his brother behead the elf for stealing. Gotta give it to Ariana Nash for starting off with a bang!
Among the witnesses to the beheading is the stunning red-haired, green-eyed elf named Zane who thinks dragons are (in his words) “abusive assholes at the best of times and at the worst... fucking monsters.” (Sadly, a sentiment that Akiem would agree with.)
Yet, Zane can’t quite get the site of the black prince out of his head. When the two meet again by chance in the dark of night, both form plans to use each other for their own personal means. But somewhere along the way, Zane shows Akiem that he’s more than a monster and Akiem shows Zane the true meaning of sacrifice and honor.
This book has everything I love about the Silk and Steel series. You have a hot dragon prince trying to escape the obsession of manipulative and murderous rulers who discovers himself by falling in love with a sexy elf. What’s not to love?
Among the witnesses to the beheading is the stunning red-haired, green-eyed elf named Zane who thinks dragons are (in his words) “abusive assholes at the best of times and at the worst... fucking monsters.” (Sadly, a sentiment that Akiem would agree with.)
Yet, Zane can’t quite get the site of the black prince out of his head. When the two meet again by chance in the dark of night, both form plans to use each other for their own personal means. But somewhere along the way, Zane shows Akiem that he’s more than a monster and Akiem shows Zane the true meaning of sacrifice and honor.
This book has everything I love about the Silk and Steel series. You have a hot dragon prince trying to escape the obsession of manipulative and murderous rulers who discovers himself by falling in love with a sexy elf. What’s not to love?
July 21, 2022
Another addicting adventure into the world of dragons and elves. This time diving deep into Akiem’s story and the red-haired elf who snagged his Dragonheart or should I say set it free. I loved this, can’t wait to read the last book for the thrilling conclusion on AN’s Silk & Steel series.
April 24, 2020
Warnings: Rape, pedophilia, slavery, violence
My rating isn’t intended to be a mean two stars. The entertainment factor was great. I enjoyed reading this book - it’s a fun guilty pleasure read. But it’s not as good as the other Silk & Steel books, not by a long shot.
I thought Akiem would be a really good protagonist, very complex, and we’d get to see a lot of flashbacks and what have you – especially about his sister, since that was kind of a big deal in the series. But we didn’t get any past, and Akiem’s personality changed drastically between this book and Blood & Ice. He was like a watered-down Lysander, and that wasn’t fun at all. He just wasn’t the same character.
Zane had a clearly defined personality that set him apart from Eroan, which I appreciated, but the issue with him is that he just wasn’t developed enough. I don’t know if it’s because there wasn’t enough time, but his “change of heart” moment happens fairly quickly and out of nowhere. I mean, seeing is pretty serious, but he had been around for similar things before and didn’t care – there wasn’t a compelling enough reason for him to start caring now, and enough that he would intentionally pick a fight with a high-ranking dragon over it. He was supposed to have commitment and emotional issues, but we didn’t get to get into any of that.
Which leads into the plot. Way too rushed. There was just too much crammed together and not enough time to get into any kind of depth. I think there was enough of Akiem coming around to elves in the previous books to start something, but not have him throw himself in gung-ho like Lysander would have. I think maybe the issue should have been smaller-scale, like focusing simply on the relationship between Zane and Akiem, on Akiem slowly learning to not be racist, with flashbacks from Akiem’s past to better characterize him and also because that’s what is interesting about him. I feel like we didn’t need an issue on such a large scale; a smaller one would have given us time to develop Akiem as well as his relationship with Zane.
There’s a ton of sex in this book (and I would expect no less from Ariana Nash), but a lot of it doesn’t even happen between Zane and Akiem, and I found the sexual scenes between them to be just not as sexy as the Lysander/Eroan stuff in the previous books. Akiem and Zane didn’t have good chemistry. Nash is SO good at writing sexual tension, but it wasn’t good in this one. I felt more embarrassed than invested, and that’s no fun.
One thing I did really like was Luceran’s character. I found him very interesting for a villain. I am intrigued by the villain who is not outright brutish (like Clarion, who was a bland Dokul-type snore-fest) but alternates between ruthlessly manipulative and jarringly gentle. Before Akiem lost interest in Luceran, I actually found myself almost wanting them to work out as a couple and wanting Luceran to turn out to be “not so bad after all.” I think that kind of emphasizes the chemistry issue though – Akiem had more chemistry with the villain than with his designated love interest. Excellent work in crafting a compelling villain though – he even manipulated me!
This wasn’t terrible, but I can’t give it three stars because it’s not as good as the other books in the series. I am disappointed, but don’t get me wrong, it was still entertaining as hell. I’m left with an Ariana Nash void now. A fun read, just not as fun as it could have been.
My rating isn’t intended to be a mean two stars. The entertainment factor was great. I enjoyed reading this book - it’s a fun guilty pleasure read. But it’s not as good as the other Silk & Steel books, not by a long shot.
I thought Akiem would be a really good protagonist, very complex, and we’d get to see a lot of flashbacks and what have you – especially about his sister, since that was kind of a big deal in the series. But we didn’t get any past, and Akiem’s personality changed drastically between this book and Blood & Ice. He was like a watered-down Lysander, and that wasn’t fun at all. He just wasn’t the same character.
Zane had a clearly defined personality that set him apart from Eroan, which I appreciated, but the issue with him is that he just wasn’t developed enough. I don’t know if it’s because there wasn’t enough time, but his “change of heart” moment happens fairly quickly and out of nowhere. I mean, seeing is pretty serious, but he had been around for similar things before and didn’t care – there wasn’t a compelling enough reason for him to start caring now, and enough that he would intentionally pick a fight with a high-ranking dragon over it. He was supposed to have commitment and emotional issues, but we didn’t get to get into any of that.
Which leads into the plot. Way too rushed. There was just too much crammed together and not enough time to get into any kind of depth. I think there was enough of Akiem coming around to elves in the previous books to start something, but not have him throw himself in gung-ho like Lysander would have. I think maybe the issue should have been smaller-scale, like focusing simply on the relationship between Zane and Akiem, on Akiem slowly learning to not be racist, with flashbacks from Akiem’s past to better characterize him and also because that’s what is interesting about him. I feel like we didn’t need an issue on such a large scale; a smaller one would have given us time to develop Akiem as well as his relationship with Zane.
There’s a ton of sex in this book (and I would expect no less from Ariana Nash), but a lot of it doesn’t even happen between Zane and Akiem, and I found the sexual scenes between them to be just not as sexy as the Lysander/Eroan stuff in the previous books. Akiem and Zane didn’t have good chemistry. Nash is SO good at writing sexual tension, but it wasn’t good in this one. I felt more embarrassed than invested, and that’s no fun.
One thing I did really like was Luceran’s character. I found him very interesting for a villain. I am intrigued by the villain who is not outright brutish (like Clarion, who was a bland Dokul-type snore-fest) but alternates between ruthlessly manipulative and jarringly gentle. Before Akiem lost interest in Luceran, I actually found myself almost wanting them to work out as a couple and wanting Luceran to turn out to be “not so bad after all.” I think that kind of emphasizes the chemistry issue though – Akiem had more chemistry with the villain than with his designated love interest. Excellent work in crafting a compelling villain though – he even manipulated me!
This wasn’t terrible, but I can’t give it three stars because it’s not as good as the other books in the series. I am disappointed, but don’t get me wrong, it was still entertaining as hell. I’m left with an Ariana Nash void now. A fun read, just not as fun as it could have been.
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