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The Ancients' Bargain #4
From Ashen Breath
Everyone fears Anh. Quiet falls when she enters a room. Eyes lower in her presence. Even her name is spoken with dread. She is the most severe case of demonic bloodlust in the world, and her reputation was rightly earned in blood and pain.
But Eji doesn't treat her like everyone else. He bullies her into eating regularly, makes sure she takes her meds, and keeps her fits of rage contained when she loses control. As her head of security, he's with her constantly—always attentive to her every need. She chooses to ignore how he makes her heart flutter whenever he fusses over her. There's no way she could promise not to seriously injure him in one of her fits, and he deserves a partner who won't hurt him.
It seems like fate that Anh is saved one night from a Gar by a Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong. As it so happens, Phuong is a psychologist, and she claims she can help Anh control the demonic drive. There's just one catch: it's going to hurt.
But Eji doesn't treat her like everyone else. He bullies her into eating regularly, makes sure she takes her meds, and keeps her fits of rage contained when she loses control. As her head of security, he's with her constantly—always attentive to her every need. She chooses to ignore how he makes her heart flutter whenever he fusses over her. There's no way she could promise not to seriously injure him in one of her fits, and he deserves a partner who won't hurt him.
It seems like fate that Anh is saved one night from a Gar by a Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong. As it so happens, Phuong is a psychologist, and she claims she can help Anh control the demonic drive. There's just one catch: it's going to hurt.
- GenresPolyamory
546 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2024
5 people are currently reading
10 people want to read
About the author
V.T. Hoang
8 books21 followersLook who came to cry...
V. T. Hoang is a Viet trans man who writes queer romance that hurts, but he'll forever write happily ever afters.
V. T. Hoang is a Viet trans man who writes queer romance that hurts, but he'll forever write happily ever afters.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 21, 2025
This book really deserves a full review treatment, all four books do.
I'm super behind and very unmotivated lately, but I will come back to do it!
It is my new favorite series (and my new favorite trans author.) It's the first series that I've read each book without checking the pairings/combos.
For anyone interested in this series, here are the basic relationship setups:
• Book 1 - MM - siren & demon.
• Book 2 - FFM - siren & transfem vampire & wolf-shifter.
• Book 3 - MM - vampire & transmasc half-demon half-wolf.
• Book 4 - FFX - demon & half-wolf half-demon & NBi half-fae half-siren.
• Book 5 - FX
• Book 6 - FMX
Can't wait to read book 5 - out 21 December!
I'm super behind and very unmotivated lately, but I will come back to do it!
It is my new favorite series (and my new favorite trans author.) It's the first series that I've read each book without checking the pairings/combos.
For anyone interested in this series, here are the basic relationship setups:
• Book 1 - MM - siren & demon.
• Book 2 - FFM - siren & transfem vampire & wolf-shifter.
• Book 3 - MM - vampire & transmasc half-demon half-wolf.
• Book 4 - FFX - demon & half-wolf half-demon & NBi half-fae half-siren.
• Book 5 - FX
• Book 6 - FMX
Can't wait to read book 5 - out 21 December!
December 19, 2024
Loved this one, I can’t wait for more of this series!! The world building is really great, and I love that we get to see so much of the characters from the previous books.
Each book is so different while still maintaining the overarching storyline. The relationships always have internal conflicts as well as external, and they go together so well!
I also love all the different relationship styles and combinations we get!! That’s probably my favorite thing about this whole series.
Each book is so different while still maintaining the overarching storyline. The relationships always have internal conflicts as well as external, and they go together so well!
I also love all the different relationship styles and combinations we get!! That’s probably my favorite thing about this whole series.
January 24, 2025
First a disclaimer: I wouldn’t read this book as a standalone. I think you should read books 1-3 first, but at the very least book 3.
This story really starts to tie together the previous stories and MCs. There’s a lot of overlap, both in plot and characters.
There’s beginning of this book was amazing. I loved the tension, angst, and pining.
This book is FFX (demon & half demon half wolf shifter & nonbinary half fae half siren).
This story follows Anh (demon), Eji (half fae/half siren) and Phuong (half demon/half wolf). Anh is the daughter of Jian from book one. Anh has taken on a lot of the load leading the demon clan as her father stepped away some. She has an incredibly high demon drive to hunt and has a lot of trouble suppressing it. She’s on medication to try and help, but it’s causing her issues. Her struggle is often hard to read because she wants so badly to not have this constant fight with herself, but she can’t help it.
Eji is Anh’s right hand person and closest friend. He’s the first real look at the fae in this universe. Again, Hoàng has an interesting and unique spin on a common supernatural being that I adore. His devotion to Anh and how he anticipates her needs was amazing to read. The way he knew how to take care of her was heart warming.
These two had been circling around each other while pining for each other. Everyone around them could tell they were into each other, but they somehow missed all the signs themselves.
Enter Phuong.
Phuong is a professor and an all around badass. I love how she thinks outside the box for creative solutions to problems. She was such an intriguing character and enigmatic throughout. Every time I thought I had a grasp on her as a character, something else would be revealed.
Phuong comes up with an idea to potentially help Anh with her demon drive. The story morphs from Anh’s struggle to more of Phuong’s backstory. Phuong’s backstory is heartbreaking. It might be the most heartbreaking of the entire series thus far. The way Anh and Eji rallied around her was beautiful.
Even though poly books aren’t my favorite, Hoàng is able to draw me in and make me cheer for them all. The dynamics between all of them is so effortless.
What continues to be a favorite aspect of this series is the women. They’re diverse themselves, not just in identities, but in personalities. They’re all strong, just in different ways. So many authors rely on making women bitches to appear strong, but Hoàng doesn’t. It’s clear real effort goes into these characters.
After a certain point, I had some trouble connecting with the story. I still enjoyed it, but I struggled a bit.
But that plot twist!!!!! That was an epic and completely unexpected plot twist!!!
This story really starts to tie together the previous stories and MCs. There’s a lot of overlap, both in plot and characters.
There’s beginning of this book was amazing. I loved the tension, angst, and pining.
This book is FFX (demon & half demon half wolf shifter & nonbinary half fae half siren).
This story follows Anh (demon), Eji (half fae/half siren) and Phuong (half demon/half wolf). Anh is the daughter of Jian from book one. Anh has taken on a lot of the load leading the demon clan as her father stepped away some. She has an incredibly high demon drive to hunt and has a lot of trouble suppressing it. She’s on medication to try and help, but it’s causing her issues. Her struggle is often hard to read because she wants so badly to not have this constant fight with herself, but she can’t help it.
Eji is Anh’s right hand person and closest friend. He’s the first real look at the fae in this universe. Again, Hoàng has an interesting and unique spin on a common supernatural being that I adore. His devotion to Anh and how he anticipates her needs was amazing to read. The way he knew how to take care of her was heart warming.
These two had been circling around each other while pining for each other. Everyone around them could tell they were into each other, but they somehow missed all the signs themselves.
Enter Phuong.
Phuong is a professor and an all around badass. I love how she thinks outside the box for creative solutions to problems. She was such an intriguing character and enigmatic throughout. Every time I thought I had a grasp on her as a character, something else would be revealed.
Phuong comes up with an idea to potentially help Anh with her demon drive. The story morphs from Anh’s struggle to more of Phuong’s backstory. Phuong’s backstory is heartbreaking. It might be the most heartbreaking of the entire series thus far. The way Anh and Eji rallied around her was beautiful.
Even though poly books aren’t my favorite, Hoàng is able to draw me in and make me cheer for them all. The dynamics between all of them is so effortless.
What continues to be a favorite aspect of this series is the women. They’re diverse themselves, not just in identities, but in personalities. They’re all strong, just in different ways. So many authors rely on making women bitches to appear strong, but Hoàng doesn’t. It’s clear real effort goes into these characters.
After a certain point, I had some trouble connecting with the story. I still enjoyed it, but I struggled a bit.
But that plot twist!!!!! That was an epic and completely unexpected plot twist!!!
January 4, 2025
Go dance.
The hurt, the comfort!
And so the plot thickens – this book truly can't be read as a standalone which detracts from it a bit for me since the focus was less on the characters like it is in book 2 with Saoirse, Cas and Iza whose relationship was more solidly built up in their book. With Phuong spoiler .
I feel like I got to know these characters less than previous ones I guess?
All in all the found family was wonderful and I have already started Book 5 and am super interesting where all these loose ties are gonna end up!
NSFW infos
- demon who learns she can overcome her need to hunt by having pain inflicted on her
- half wolf-half demon who enjoys being a dominatrix
- fae with fluid sexuality who prefers to go by he/they whose sexual interest is linked to affection, learns he also likes to inflict pain
The hurt, the comfort!
And so the plot thickens – this book truly can't be read as a standalone which detracts from it a bit for me since the focus was less on the characters like it is in book 2 with Saoirse, Cas and Iza whose relationship was more solidly built up in their book. With Phuong spoiler .
I feel like I got to know these characters less than previous ones I guess?
All in all the found family was wonderful and I have already started Book 5 and am super interesting where all these loose ties are gonna end up!
NSFW infos
- demon who learns she can overcome her need to hunt by having pain inflicted on her
- half wolf-half demon who enjoys being a dominatrix
- fae with fluid sexuality who prefers to go by he/they whose sexual interest is linked to affection, learns he also likes to inflict pain
September 4, 2025
this is probably my favorite in the series so far! i loved how it explored the characters and gave space for them to process what was happening but also still move forward, have fun (iykyk), and heal. the pieces of plot all started connecting and it left me anxiously waiting for them to realize what was happening. i genuinely couldn’t put it down!
December 25, 2024
God I love this series so much. V.T. has such amazing character
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews