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A Kingdom of Gods and Monsters
In a kingdom steeped in cruel traditions and buried magic, she will find that answers have a wicked way of waltzing with those who seek them.
Through a web of wits and luck, Mahena and the twins have slipped past the gates of the Scholar Kingdom. But with political unrest simmering within its walls, gaining the cooperation of the young Princess is a battle of its own.
When Fate comes knocking on your door, refusing her is a dance of devils even the strongest can only evade for so long.
For Princess Nepherym Vasselian, binding her soul to a demon to save her people was not enough to earn forgiveness; her defiance of The Cloak remains a stain on her name. But the shamed child is gone, replaced by a young woman willing to bleed for the knowledge of the dead and the crown she never sought to claim. Valàander is a realm forged by gods and monsters, and when the demon within her stirs in Mahena’s presence, it ignites a spark both dangerous and unexpected.
When Mahena is presented with the offer to save the Prince’s life in exchange for access to the libraries, her decision awakens darker events. With proof of her connection to magic unfolding and the little voice stirring dark thoughts in her mind and heart, fear of what she might truly be terrifies her—and yet she has never felt more alive. As her distrust of Fàaran grows, her connection with Emmerentia deepens, and visions of a mist-shrouded figure haunt her. But the game is shifting, and her missing memories might be the key to everything.
As hidden pasts unravel and buried truths rise to the surface, unlikely allies emerge from the shadows. But with an enemy hell-bent on claiming the world, how much time is left before darkness consumes them all?
Through a web of wits and luck, Mahena and the twins have slipped past the gates of the Scholar Kingdom. But with political unrest simmering within its walls, gaining the cooperation of the young Princess is a battle of its own.
When Fate comes knocking on your door, refusing her is a dance of devils even the strongest can only evade for so long.
For Princess Nepherym Vasselian, binding her soul to a demon to save her people was not enough to earn forgiveness; her defiance of The Cloak remains a stain on her name. But the shamed child is gone, replaced by a young woman willing to bleed for the knowledge of the dead and the crown she never sought to claim. Valàander is a realm forged by gods and monsters, and when the demon within her stirs in Mahena’s presence, it ignites a spark both dangerous and unexpected.
When Mahena is presented with the offer to save the Prince’s life in exchange for access to the libraries, her decision awakens darker events. With proof of her connection to magic unfolding and the little voice stirring dark thoughts in her mind and heart, fear of what she might truly be terrifies her—and yet she has never felt more alive. As her distrust of Fàaran grows, her connection with Emmerentia deepens, and visions of a mist-shrouded figure haunt her. But the game is shifting, and her missing memories might be the key to everything.
As hidden pasts unravel and buried truths rise to the surface, unlikely allies emerge from the shadows. But with an enemy hell-bent on claiming the world, how much time is left before darkness consumes them all?
- GenresFantasy
487 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 30, 2025
About the author
Viviene Noel
6 books25 followersViviene Noel is the Belgian author of the epic fantasy series A Curse of Blood and Power.
A lifetime of avid reading and an unbound imagination have fuelled her passion for storytelling from a young age. A Curse of Blood and Power was born from a distant dream, and years of world-building, storylines and character development made it into a reality. She is also a passionate traveler, which is a big inspiration in the creation of new worlds.
In her spare time from writing, Viviene enjoys collecting daggers, dancing, and climbing.
And always, always listening to villains playlists.
A lifetime of avid reading and an unbound imagination have fuelled her passion for storytelling from a young age. A Curse of Blood and Power was born from a distant dream, and years of world-building, storylines and character development made it into a reality. She is also a passionate traveler, which is a big inspiration in the creation of new worlds.
In her spare time from writing, Viviene enjoys collecting daggers, dancing, and climbing.
And always, always listening to villains playlists.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
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May 6, 2025DNF at 66%.
It was often slow and had pacing problems.
The story gains momentum and then skids to a stop. Like if an explosion were to happen, you wouldn’t find out what happened to the characters until 4 chapters later. The chapter immediately after the explosion cuts away to a completely different land.
I was disappointed because I really loved book 1 of this series. This one just didn’t do it for me.
*I am honored to have received a complimentary ARC of this book. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
It was often slow and had pacing problems.
The story gains momentum and then skids to a stop. Like if an explosion were to happen, you wouldn’t find out what happened to the characters until 4 chapters later. The chapter immediately after the explosion cuts away to a completely different land.
I was disappointed because I really loved book 1 of this series. This one just didn’t do it for me.
*I am honored to have received a complimentary ARC of this book. This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.
April 4, 2025
This sequel did not disappoint. If anything, it raised the stakes in all the best ways. The worldbuilding deepens, the politics get even more intricate and complex, and the dangers grew even more thrilling and engaging.
What I loved most, though, is how the character dynamics evolve. The slow burn romance continues to simmer (seriously, the tension is next-level), and the found family trope really comes into its own. These characters have been through so much together, and you feel it—there’s a real emotional weight to their relationships now that just pulled me through. That cliffhanger ending just KILLED ME and I NEED the third book YESTERDAY.
And the strong female characters? Still killing it. Nepherym’s strength in learning how to fulfil her role is amazing, and Mahena’s continued search for who she really is had me hooked, biting my nails to see if she’ll discover the truth about herself.
If you liked the first book, this one builds on everything that made it great and adds even more heart, depth, and drama. I’m already counting down to the next one.
What I loved most, though, is how the character dynamics evolve. The slow burn romance continues to simmer (seriously, the tension is next-level), and the found family trope really comes into its own. These characters have been through so much together, and you feel it—there’s a real emotional weight to their relationships now that just pulled me through. That cliffhanger ending just KILLED ME and I NEED the third book YESTERDAY.
And the strong female characters? Still killing it. Nepherym’s strength in learning how to fulfil her role is amazing, and Mahena’s continued search for who she really is had me hooked, biting my nails to see if she’ll discover the truth about herself.
If you liked the first book, this one builds on everything that made it great and adds even more heart, depth, and drama. I’m already counting down to the next one.
March 20, 2025
Now this has been a wonderful ride, and damn is the wait for the next book going to be excruciating. Such a well written work with great characters. One heck of an interesting plot line, with lots of hidden intricacies being woven together. Absolutely a must read series. Dear author, please feed this book dragon more hoardable joy.
Voluntary review of an ARC.
Voluntary review of an ARC.
May 20, 2025
The world-building in this story is first-class. I feel like there is so much to take in, like I can visualize everything. The author has created an amazing, compelling world to get lost in and so many charcaters that I love-I'm looking at you Hellion! Cannot wait for the next book. Fantastic work and Viviene deserves all the stars.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews