Unkindness of Crimson Ravens

by Arya Sloane

A dozen humans were at the mercy of the devil's creatures, their throats were on display before sharp teeth pierced their smooth skin.

Caught in the middle of political intrigues, Cordelia’s only wish is to spare her siblings the gruesome fate of royal life that she suffered firsthand. But the task becomes nearly impossible when the princess finds herself at the Bloodlake Castle among creatures she’s sworn to hate.
The creatures that waged war against humankind; the very creature that she has now become.
A vampire.
Far from the palace’s sheltered walls, Cordelia discovers her Kingdom is plagued by dangers she could never dream existed.
Trapped in the middle of an impending war she knew nothing about, and an arrogant, sinister vampire—Francis, Cordelia must learn to trust her enemies to spare the lives of her loved ones.

Little does she know… Royals are not the only ones keeping secrets.

Genres: Vampires, Paranormal, Paranormal Romance, Dark, Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Dark Fantasy

300 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 7, 2025

Reviews

[Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow where do I even begin. I was lucky enough to receive this ARC and oh boy did I eat it up.

Okay first off, I absolutely love the way the author wrote this book. The dialogue and scene setting flowed perfectly, I truly felt like I was in the book.

Second, Cordelia & Francis rocked my world. I love how Cordelia has such a gracefulness about her, but when she gets pissed, she gets PISSED. Now onto Francis.. BOOM SHAKALAKA YES LAAAWD his banter is top tier. After Cordelia got a taste of his blood, I felt like I needed to as well 😮‍💨🩸

Also.. plot twists galore in the last half of this book?? I felt like I was reading sarah j Maas with how much shit went down in the last 20 pages. Also IT DOES END ON A HUGE CLIFFHANGER!!!!!! (I’ll be patiently waiting for the next book)

Overall, this satisfied my sexy vampire fix, as well as drug me into a crazy plot I wasn’t expecting. Read this damn book!!! To close it out, I leave you with this quote:
“If you despise me so much, then why did you kiss me?”

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW WOW WOW

—————————-

You’re going to want to read this. It’s one heck of a debut, and lucky you, it comes out real soon. Vampires, dark gothic fantasy, some very tasty revenge, and surprising twists! If that doesn’t get you then how about this: Arya illustrated the cover herself AND there’s even more beautiful character art on her IG.

Cordelia is wielding a longsword (swoon) as the HBIC and she’s ready to fight. Francis is a smug asshole dreamboat who knows it, and is willing to throw down for his delightful found family (Florence is such a sunshine sweetheart and I will fight Roxanne for her). Francis and Cordelia have very interesting chemistry. It’s kind of enemies to lovers, definitely forced proximity though. Later with these two though, lemme tell you, whew 😮‍💨

Of course, I need to mention the real main character, Silver the cat.

Again, thank you so much Arya Sloane for the ARC! I can’t wait to see how this story continues and I’m patiently waiting for that caramel fudge recipe 😆

Also, the Queen was (is?) about to catch these hands fr 😤

[Kiara Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not even sure where to begin! I absolutely love how quickly everything takes off, though at times I found myself double-checking to make sure I didn’t miss anything, since the timeline moves so fast. At first, Francis was a bit annoying, but he really grew on me, and by the end, I couldn’t help but love him. His awareness of Cordelia is everything!!! Speaking of Cordelia, the pain and trauma she experiences through her perspective is gut-wrenching. She’s been through so much, but her resilience is inspiring, she's an absolute badass! I love how quickly she steps into her new role, even though it's so far from the life she’s known. The side characters were amazing too, and they complement both Francis and Cordelia so well throughout the story. The plot twists completely blew my mind, I honestly didn’t see any of them coming! I was on the edge of my seat, eager to see how everything plays out, and I’m wishing the book was longer because I just can't get enough!

[Deandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

~Arc Review~
🌟🌟🌟🌟

A sweeping gothic romance that takes you on a dark journey of love and power. Cordelia, once a princess in line for a throne now turned vampire must adjusted to her new reality, she has found herself entangled in a world where politics are played on a stage far grander than any royal court. Navigating her new path will be difficult and family bonds will be tested in this gripping story.

I love the gothic vampire vibes! Definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. And the cliffhanger will leave you wanting for more!

[Brittany Goldman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

This story dives straight into the action, introducing Cordelia’s transformation and her challenges early on. While this fast-paced beginning is engaging, I found myself wishing for a bit more exposition to better understand Cordelia’s upbringing and relationships with her mother & siblings before the plot takes off. This additional context could have added greater emotional weight to her motivations, decisions, and twists that happened later on in the story.

The world-building gave us interesting elements, but certain details felt under-explored. For instance, why do they pray to The Moon? More on Florence’s backstory and why does she react strongly in certain moments or situations? More depth in some of these areas would have enriched the narrative and heightened the stakes.

That said, Unkindness of Crimson Ravens is an entertaining read with plenty of intriguing content, dynamics and characters. Cordelia & Francis have a slow burn, enemies to lovers dynamic with fun banter that romance fans will enjoy. The political intrigue adds an exciting layer of tension to the story.

Overall this was a quick and enjoyable read, but I found myself wanting more development to deepen my connections to the characters and their journeys.

[Teahlyn Seeger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a beautiful, gothic vampire story?? Look no further!! Unkindness if Crimson Ravens gets the job done!! It painted a picture of a kingdom with vampires and humans mostly living in harmony with political intrigue.

I love a story with found family and the crew of misfit vampires was perfect. While the story is from one POV, you see the side characters personalities shine. It makes me want a prequel of them all coming together!

While the topical vampire lore is there, it has some tweaks that make it different from other vampire stories. I kept looking and hypothesizing over who the big bad betrayer was but I was way off!! The twist at the end caught me completely by surprise. Cordelia is such complex character and I loved seeing her come into her own skin. I’m excited to see what she does next! Thank you for the gift of reading this story early!

[Manuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

" If you despise me so much, why did you kiss me?"
Wow wow wow, let's start off by saying I am a sucker for a story about vampires.
This story follows Cordelia who is caught in the middle between the vampires and humans political intrigues.
I really loved how fierce and witty Cordelia was throughout the whole book. Her strong loyalty for her siblings and her desire to be the best version of herself.
Although, let's be honest. The true star was Silver the cat.
But man, did that ending leave on such a huge cliffhanger! I look forward to seeing Cordelia's revenge arc in the next book!

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured this book! I really latched onto the characters and loved the found family that featured throughout this story. At first I wasn’t sure if I would connect with Cordelia but her heartbreak, rage, and strength were so beautifully written and I loved watching her find connection with Francis and the other supporting characters. I loved the twist at the end and I can’t wait for the next installment!

[Lindsay Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fresh, intriguing take on the vampire genre that I very much enjoyed. The political intrigue, the interplay between vampiric factions and humans, and the unique world-building all made for a super compelling read.

That said, a few moments of modern terminology—like hearing "totally" in dialogue—occasionally pulled me out of the story. It felt a bit out of place in the otherwise immersive world. However, this minor issue didn’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the story.

The ending left me eager for more, and I’m excited to see the world and its dynamics further explored in the next installment. If you love vampire tales with a twist and complex politics, give this one a try!

I'm so grateful to Arya Sloane for letting me read this in advance, it was so good!

[Lilithya · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at first, I didn't expect to be thrown immediately into the action. I loved the initial suspensful spooky setting.

It took me a while to get a grasp of everything that was happening and the political intrigue but once I did, I was blown away.

I loved the take on the wordlbuilding and vampire's lore and I wish to see more.

I adored the FMC and wish to learn more about her and her family after that ending.

[Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

First and foremost, thank you Arya for the ARC!

Unkindness of Crimson Ravens is an exciting, dark vampire fantasy that packs a punch with its twists and turns, especially in the final chapters. Arya Sloane has created a compelling world filled with intrigue, and the mystery surrounding the characters kept me hooked.

The main relationship between our FMC and MMC, Cordelia and Francis (great picks for names, I might add!), has a lot of potential. However, I didn’t quite feel the full depth of the "enemies to lovers" trope. There’s chemistry—100%—but the emotional shift between them felt a little rushed. I would have loved to see more development in that aspect.

There were moments when the writing felt a bit disjointed, but the plot kept moving, and the twists more than made up for it, especially toward the end.

Overall, Unkindness of Crimson Ravens is a solid debut with some rough edges that could be polished in future books. I’m very interested to see where this series goes and will definitely be following along!!

[౨ৎ kiwi ౨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love vampires!!! This book was amazing and I love seeing the authors post about it. That’s what made me pick it up and read it and it definitely served. I love Francis and his sarcasm 😂 my only thing about the book is the ending!! I need to know what happens after and if there’s a second book coming out.

[Alyssa Estep · Rating 5 out of 5]

During the Crimson War, the King and future King died on the battlefield. The Queen took over as the regent of the land never to marry. The next-in-line heir was required to fit into a mold to one day rule the kingdom.

The future queen Cordelia was required to show no emotion and marry a man for alliance between the future Duke and her kingdom. He was a disgusting ruthless man who took pleasure in making her feel less than him and abusing her. She wasn't allowed to object, her mother would never allow that but behind closed doors she loathed the man, and he brought fear to her everyday life.

During a ball she was required to go to she met eyes with someone mysterious. This mysterious man would set the tone for how her life would drastically change. Attacked in the middle of the night in the cemetery, she is rescued by Francis the man from the previous night, and brought to his castle. Realizing who he was and what she become she wished it was all a bad dream. As she accepts her new role as a vampire, her feelings betray her, realizing quickly that not everything is as it seems. Her feelings for Francis are more than just feelings, he hides a crushing secret from her that could change their relationship forever. She must attempt to protect her kingdom from the evil lurching in the shadows while also protecting her heart from the man who caught her attention on that fateful night.

I didn't just read Unkindness of Crimson Ravens; I was sucked into the story literally. I finished reading this book (300) pages in 2 hours. I couldn't put it down, I was so intrigued by Francis and Cordelia's relationship that I had to know what would become of them, and let me tell you, a whirlwind at its finest. While their relationship was developing and changing, there were secrets so well hidden in the background you had no idea what was coming. I was so distraught at the ending that I read it at least three times and pondered how I could go about my night with that abrupt ending.

Arya Sloane has created a story with such detail and immersive storytelling that I was blown away when the book ended. If I say a second book would be a want I would be lying, I need the second book similar to my lungs needing air. I have to know the outcome of what transpired and what will happen between Francis and Cordelia. When I say that this was one of the best ARCs, I have read I truly mean it. I would say add this to your TBR, but this book is too good to be in limbo while you dwindle your list down. You need to go out purchase this book and immerse yourself in the spectacular world-building created by the author and you will understand exactly how special this vampire romance truly is.

[Emily Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first want to thank Arya Sloane for allowing me to be an ARC review for her debut novel!!🐦‍⬛🩸
4.25⭐️

What a fun read! The vampire Diaries x Reign aesthetic (and I ate that up!) This is my first vampire novel, and it did not disappoint! This novel kept a steady pace and kept me intrigued the whole time- it’s VERY rare for me to be hooked after only reading one chapter (this has only happened with Fourth Wing and ACOMAF) and I absolutely could not put this down! As easy as it was for me to start this book, it was nearly impossible for me to put it down after the half way mark. The plot was plotting, haha! And even down to the last 3% of the book the twists are unraveling (the cliffhanger is crazy!) The writing also progressively got better throughout the book, however I did find the FMC asked a lot of questions to herself and it was quite repetitive at times, but that is a stylistic choice and absolutely not a deal breaker! I also had a bit of trouble with the romance in the beginning of the novel- the jump from enemies to ‘friends’ seemed a bit rushed in my opinion.

⚠️⚠️SPOILERS ahead, please do not continue if you haven’t read this novel!⚠️⚠️

that ending??? you’ve got to be kidding. i can’t predict a twist to save my life but caleb is cordelia’s brother!!! if you saw that coming you’re absolutely lying. and i’m confused with the ending- did the gang know caleb was working with kane? did caleb tell them she was in the royal dungeon? why is she in the royal dungeon???? how is the bitch queen involved? (and why did i get a semblance of pity for her in the hunting cabin). i refuse to believe sandra is dead and the other siblings, that’s literally so cruel and sick and twisted. im really curious how much information francis, roxanne, and florence are hiding. and Charolette might as well be my daughter because she’s just the most precious bean!!! only staying with Cordelia after the attempted kidnapping made my heart burst🥺 i also need to talk about francis letting cordelia be in control after he tried to put his hand in her hair😭😭 he was so gentle UGH!!! just so many questions and no one to talk to about them💀

[Lacey Kintz · Rating 4 out of 5]

🌹 First off, I want to thank Arya Sloane for allowing me access to this ARC. 🌹

⭐⭐⭐⭐ 3.75 STARS for me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Unkindness of Crimson Ravens is a vampire novel set in a uniquely interesting world where a slow-burning romance is the main focus, sharing equal time with our FMC's self-loathing and doubt, and a healthy dose of the found family aspect.

I did come to enjoy the characters quite a bit but the first to really snag my investment was the sunshine girl herself, Florence.

At first Francis and Cordelia’s banter seemed more petty than anything, not really founded upon anything that might make them enemies save for his being a vampire. It, at times, felt as if they were cast in the roles of enemies-to-lovers and weren't allowed to grow beyond that for a good while regardless of the things happening around them that might have allowed them to find common ground.
Perhaps the writing seems a bit young despite it's more mature themes at times; though there are some really good moments where you can tell the author really enjoyed writing where the words are more poetic and the scenes become more dynamic and intense. I really loved those more descriptive and romantic moments deeper into the story. They were a high point.
I will say that felt as if, for a long time, there was nothing really happening save for the passing of time. Around 40% the book really started picking up - but it got particularly interesting at around 70% and I feel that its plot really came into its own then.

⭐💔 The ending is twisty and punches you right in the feels, leaving us off with a cliffhanger that has me already itching for the next installment. 💔⭐

[El Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ 1.5🌶
I loved this book.
It was a fast and easy read. I enjoyed the distinct and diverse characters, the queer representation, and the romance. The romance was slow-burn enemies to lovers and absolutely beautiful. The spice in this book is minimal. However, it is displayed in the most beautiful way when the FMC finally breaks through her barrier, holding her back from acting on her desires. I was absolutely MOVED by the scene when we finally see that barrier broken.
The author handled incredibly dark and difficult subject matter with wonderful finesse and tact. I didn't expect to feel so emotional during the spicy scene when it finally unfolded, but it was just so beautiful and moving.
This book is a wonderfully fresh approach to a world in which vampires not only exist but are KNOWN to exist. Unkindness of Crimson Ravens perfectly captured a gothic-romantic world of vampires, royal politics, dark romance, found family, betrayal, heartbreak, and inner strength.
The only thing I wished to know more of was the history behind the past wars and political battles that led to current events and I would have loved to better understand the side characters and their back stories in order to connect with them a bit more intimately.
Overall, the book was incredibly enjoyable and consuming. The final 20-30 pages were absolutely insane as one plot twist played into another and another, and the cliffhanger this book leaves us with left me absolutely gasping. I had to snap my Kindle case shut and stare at the wall the remainder of my night. Absolutely epic.
I can't wait to see how this story unfolds in future books. This is definitely a world I want to get lost in again, and I NEED to know what happens next.

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review, and whew, what a ride it’s been! I could NOT put this book down. Every time I tried to step away, I’d think, “I’ll stop after this chapter,” but I just had to know what happened next.

The rage of the FMC felt so raw and real, and the FMC’s emotions were incredibly relatable. Her struggles and vulnerabilities made her journey all the more compelling. I can’t wait to see how much stronger she becomes—because wow, has she endured a lot. Her revenge arc? I couldn’t help but feel proud of her.

The side characters were a delightful addition to the story, enhancing the narrative without overshadowing the main plot and tying the story together. I would absolutely read spin-offs about any of them. Normally, if side characters are boring, I have no problem skipping, but that wasn’t the case here. Francis, in particular, stole my heart. His development and growing tenderness toward Cordelia as the story progressed were beautifully done and hope to see more this in the future.

And let’s talk about that plot twist! I can usually smell plot twists from a mile away, but this one genuinely caught me off guard, there was some parts that I could see but mostly I was shocked. I’m still reeling from it and can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

A huge thanks to Ayra Sloane for providing me with an ARC copy of this book. I’m so grateful for the opportunity and am eagerly anticipating her future works!

[⋆｡‧˚ʚ Chantal ɞ˚‧｡⋆ · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝘈 𝘥𝘰𝘻𝘦𝘯 𝘩𝘶𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘥𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘭'𝘴 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘺 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘱 𝘵𝘦𝘦𝘵𝘩 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘴𝘮𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘩 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯. 🩸

𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 :

The writing style is pretty simple, and I wished the author would use different synonyms for certain words. (This book was giving like early high school essay. Idk how to explain it 😂 Well, I suppose I'm trying to say it's not my ideal style.)

I liked the plot of this book and the characters were likeable.

Cordelia (our FMC) really grew from beginning to end (and speaking of the end, she's about to enter her Revenge Era 👀). Francis (our MMC) was everything you'd wish for in a man <3

They had a bit of enemies to lovers thing going on, but not too heavy on the enemies; it was more like he was annoying her and at some point they grew close.
(BUT he did reveal something that made her feel betrayed, so idk how she's gonna feel about him now)

I think my favorite part was the blood drinking between the couple 🥴 and then they *duck noise* each other. It was a well written 🌶️ scene. On a scale of spice it would be a 2.75. I'd say it was more lovemaking 😌

Some areas were predictable, but I did find myself gasping when certain things were revealed.

Also, the death at the end felt so sudden. I wish it was drawn out, or at the very least let her turn—it would've been interesting to see her as a vampire.

Overall I'd give this a 3.75/5

[Fatima · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, thank you so much to the author! I'm grateful to have been an ACR! Arya is lovely herself! She responded patiently to my DMs. I encourage you to follow her Instagram.

I finished the book in about a week. It wasn't hate reading or intense love but like a roller coaster you don't get a headache from. I don't know if that makes sense. The world-building and characters were decent, but I wish we got more from Cordelia's family. I didn't feel much toward the end death scene because of the little family screentime we got. Perhaps some in-scene backstory would have created more of a connection to her father and brother. Like a prologue of the day, Cordelia heard of their death and her comforting her sister, perhaps?

The other characters who are more prominent in the book are excellently fleshed out. I love my sapphic side couples, so…. Anyway, due to the vampires being fleshed out more, the plot twist toward the end was excellent. A small minor complaint is the overuse of adjectives like “crimson” and “treasonous.” The amount of times Cordelia describes her mind or hand or body as treasonous is criminal. It's funny but takes me out of the scene.

Now on to Cordelia and Francis, their banter was great. It reminded me of Elena and Damon somewhat! Cordelia herself is a great heroine. I didn't find myself cringing. I loved her anger and her happiness. 

I encourage you to try the book for yourself and support the author!

[Tara Bright · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been itching for a good, gothic vampire read and this is definitely that! This debut introduces us to Cordelia, the FMC and sole POV, as she finds out her marriage will be a politically motivated one, and with the man who has traumatized her, no less. An unrepentant mother, who is also Queen, is merciless and determined to see the union follow through.

Cordelia can’t wallow for too long, as a trip to the cemetery to visit her lost family leads to an attack that changes everything. Finding herself on the side of the enemy, she must navigate through her new reality, while the dashing vampire who saved her tries to break through her ice.

This book has a ton of political intrigue and is very twisty-turny with its revelations. It’s a very low-spice story, but a slow burn all the way there. Francis is a great MMC, flirty and sarcastic, but also protective and as gentle as Cordelia needs. Cordelia has been through a lot and that has shaped how she handles herself. She comes off as cold and aloof, but gradually finds a spot in her new found family.

The last third of the book picks up a LOT plot-wise. So much is revealed, while leaving more questions in their place. It looks like the second book is going to start off with a bang, and I’m looking forward to it! Thank you for the early chance to read this!

[Karlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review - I ATE this book up!!

Cordelia is a sheltered royal who knows nothing but a life of misery and pain. After a particularly awful night she is forced, or rather gifted, a reality she believed impossible. The book is exclusively from her POV as she goes through her journey in her new reality as she tries to heal from her past and discover who she can and can't trust and the secrets of not only the royals but those who she grows to love and trust.

I love Francis and how he appears out of nowhere all the time, literally made me kick my feet and giggle with his attitude and comments. Also the cat doesn't have much of a purpose but I love him and I love that his name is Silver. Also the Ravens, nice touch... Iykyk. This is a romance that is heavyyy on the tension and suspense which I love and how it plays out is perfect for her backstory and is done very well. My biggest critique is the last couple of chapters were veryyy fast paced and i don't entirely understand how everything happened or played out. This could be intentional as I think this is set up for a book 2 but I would like more information about how people ended up where they ended up / found where people were.

[Danni Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unkindness of Crimson Ravens
By Arya Sloane

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶

🖤 Vampire Romance
🥀 🩸 Play
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🥀 Political Intrigue
🖤 Found Family
🥀 Touch her and 💀
🖤 Strong FMC
🥀 Slow Burn


This. Book. Is. Incredible!

This follows the story of Cordelia (the FMC), a princess who is stuck about to be f0rced to marry a horrible man, when she is bitten by someone unknown and turned into a vampire.
At the time she has been found by Francis (the MMC) and tall dark and handsome but infuriating vampire who has taken her back to his home in another castle where she meets his found family.
All together they overcome her unease with her new found vampirism, along with battling it out against wurdulacs (a vampire army set on overthrowing the royals and humans), facing her family, uncovering some twisted secrets that can change everything, and of course there is the incredible slow burn 🔥 😍

This book keeps you enraptured so much so that you finish it without realising how quickly you have gone through it, and it leaves you with a cliffhanger so you are left (im)patiently waiting for the next book.

Arya you have done a downright amazing job with this masterpiece of a debut novel, I seriously could not put it down!

Unkindness of Crimson Ravens releases January 7th 😘🖤

[Madyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️

Where does one begin when discussing this book. A huge thank to the author for giving me an ARC of this book!

For starters the let’s all thank Arya Sloane for writing the man the myth and the masterpiece that is FRANCIS. It’s been a since I swooned over a fictional character as much as I did him. The yearning, the banter had me gnawing on the bars of my enclosure.

And Miss Cordelia the wonderful woman that you are 🙂‍↕️. From the start I knew she was going to be a fav of mine. From her no nonsense “I’m literally a princess” attitude to her kind and bleeding heart, she is everything I needed in an FMC

Now as far as the actual story, top tier. I was a bit skeptical of the unreliable narrator trope because it’s something I’m not too familiar with but when I tell you, during certain plot twists I was either jumping around my room or pacing the floor. The writing style is very atmospheric and reminds me of “One Dark Window” for how easy it is to be transported into the story along with excellent pacing.

Overall this book is one that blew my socks out of the freaking water and I will patiently be waiting for the second book🙂‍↕️

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, one heck of a debut from Arya Sloane. I wonder if Arya is a fan of One Tree Hill? Lucas' book is titled An Unkindness of Ravens, and everytime I read this title i think of OTH.
Cordelia, a royal princess and heir to her throne, is dealing with the aftermath of the war between her kingdom and Vampires, which left her grieving the deaths of her dad and her older brother. After her mom announced her forced betrothal to a great alliance for the kingdom, but horrible guy, she is unwillingly turned into her kingdoms worst enemy(vampire) or so she thought. Now she cannot return home due to the fact she will likely be killed on the spot. She has to deal with grieving her old self and learning about her new self and about what she is becoming. This is with the help of a group of Vampires who eventually become her new family.
The last 10% of this book took several twist and turns, with most of them I didn't see coming. It ends of a cliffhanger with a promise of revenge.
This is a vampire romance. It's a slow burn, with not alot of steam.
I cannot wait for the next book, to see how Cordelia's story continues.

[Jessica Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️‍🔥ARC review

5⭐️! Unkindness of Crimson Ravens is a slow burn, somewhat enemies to lovers, vampire romance.

I absolutely fell in love with this book! The banter between Cordelia and Francis is amazing, Cordelia has so much character growth throughout the book and becomes quite the badass, she goes from being under her abuse mother’s thumb and being SA by her betrothed to being a confident outspoken vampire!

Francis is such a gentleman, mostly 😂 he’s a bit rough around the edges at first but over time he gains a soft spot for Cordelia, never pushing her past her limits and respecting her past issues with intimacy by letting her be in control.

I’d say this is a mature YA, some graphic depictions and 1 spicy scenes that was a 🌶️/5, I got sucked in to this book and fell in love with the stories and characters! This story ends on a HUGE cliff hanger and I will be impatiently awaiting the next book so please hurry! 😂


Thank you for allowing me to be apart of your arc team, this book is amazing!

[Chii ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Author for the ARC! I’m excited for your future work!

I felt like I never really knew what I should have been expecting because there were many twists. I do feel like the pacing was slow at the beginning and then picked up at about 40% of the way through. The writing here felt juvenile at some points but then also had really strong moments where you could tell the author had a fun time writing those scenes. Francis and Cordelia’s banter felt petty to me which of course, I did love as well and every time I read their exchanges I couldn’t help but chuckle a little bit. So, I loved their relationship. This novel is set for a book two, with everything at the end wrapping up rather quickly. I do have questions and want answers but I feel like they’ll play out with what the ending gave us. If there is a book two in the books, I may come around to pick it up so I can get my answers.

Perfect if you want to get back into vampire romance, found family, and twists & turns. Do remember to check your trigger/content warnings before hand.

3.75, rounded up.

[Kristen’s Literary Lair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cordelia is a princess, trapped in a miserable life, expected to make a more miserable marriage to secure an alliance. She is compliant, only to ensure that her beloved siblings do not share her fate.

On the night of an elaborate party, Cordelia, seeking to escape, wanders out alone. What awaits her in the woods is nothing she could ever imagine…

When she wakes, she is surrounded by mysterious strangers in another castle that is not her own. Bloodlake Castle is inhabited by vampires, and Cordelia is shocked to learn that she is one of them.

As she lives away from her home, she begins to find out about the horrors and injustices that plague the kingdom she once knew and loved. A war is on the horizon, and Cordelia must decide whom she can trust.

I enjoyed this ARC as it was a fresh take on vampires! I thought it was well written and to be honest I read it very quickly. It is a perfect spooky read for a cold winter night.

Thanks so much to the author for an ARC in exchange for a review!

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're craving a dark gothic fantasy with rich political intrigue between vampires and humans, Unkindness of Crimson Ravens is for you. Cordelia's character is complex, and written with many layers to her. Her portrayal allows us readers to connect with her on a deeper level, from her struggles, desires, and vulnerabilities, she's someone you could relate to.

While the enemies-to-lovers dynamic holds potential, it was there, but surface level. I'd love to see more of that development. Nevertheless, Francis is witty and sarcastic, yet grows a tender spot with Cordelia.

The atmospheric richness of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens had me hooked, as I love all things gothic lit. The world-building is intricate, and the twists and turns build the plot but also immerse us in an unpredictable world.

The cliffhanger though! It had me craving for more. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

A huge thank you to Arya for the ARC, I can't wait to read more!

[Kassidy Gordon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Arya Sloane for providing me with an ARC of Unkindness of Crimson Ravens!

This book has such a unique concept. So many books I’ve read lately have been copy & past— that’s not the case for his one! This kept me intrigued and wanting to read more.

One draw back for me was the romance between the two main characters. I’m unsure if it was just me, but I didn’t feel any real connection between them. Also, Francis saying “aye” so often definitely gave me the ick. I literally pictured him as the Flying Dutchman from SpongeBob…

Also, there were some sentences in the book that were just not natural (at least for U.S. English). The couple of times I came across these I was pulled out of the story and found myself analyzing the sentence structure to see if it was grammatically correct.

I’m excited for book 2 and really hoping we get more of Charolette!

[Breathe.dont.panic · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might need to be a part of your life if you enjoy books with vampires, gothic romance, morally grey characters, politics and intrigue.

We all know by now my love of all things gothic and morally grey, so it couldn’t be helped when I saw the details of this book. An Unkindness of Crimson Ravens checks all the boxes for a gothic vampire romance, there is a dark ominous vibe draped over the whole story that gives that perfect eerie feel I always love. You can feel all through the book there’s something you and the FMC are missing and it made me mad and also so intrigued at what it could be. The whole book rounded off perfectly in my opinion and I loved the way the whole flow of it went.

I liked the banter between Cordelia and Francis and the relationship between the side characters as well. And the cat - we always love the cat.