The Night Prince: Book One

The Night Prince #1

by X. Aratare

Best friends Declan and Finley’s normal lives ended the day the Leviathan broke through to Earth. Only the arrival of the Sun Elves–and their powerful King Aquilan–saved humanity and drove the Leviathan back into the Under Dark.

Now Declan, Finley and the rest of the survivors find themselves in a new world full of magic and danger where elves, dwarves and other high fantasy beings are real and their neighbors. Whether the humans or the high fantasy beings want it or not!

Working at a dwarven tavern, Declan wants to keep a low profile, but when he starts exhibiting dark powers no human should have, he draws the interest of the Sun King himself.

Aquilan, the Sun King, in turn finds himself captivated by the supposedly human young man, and determines to uncover the truth behind Declan’s powers, even if that truth makes Declan his enemy.

In turn, Finley desperately wants to be the first ever human to gain magical abilities. He finds an unlikely ally in this quest in the Sun King’s rakish best friend Lord Rhalyf. But is Rhalyf’s help born out of kindness for an underdog or because he has reasons of his own to stay close to Finley?

Whatever the answers, Declan, Finley, Aquilan and Rhalyf are running out of time to learn the truth, because in the dark the Leviathan wait…

This is a long serial that is divided into book-length segments. Every single one ends in a cliffhanger. We anticipate there being 9 volumes. This series will not be in KU, because it is on the Raythe Reign serial website.

Genres: Fantasy, M M Romance, Romantasy, Audiobook, Magic, Romance, LGBT

228 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

X. Aratare is the pseudonym for Raythe Reign's Gay(M/M) books.

Reviews

[Viki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually enjoy Aratare books, there's now something familiar and comfortably predictable about them (now that I understand the writing style I mean) but this is just might be too much for me.

I may be used to the constant cliffhangers, expect 9 books deal, but this series went surprisingly deep into high fantasy and it didn't do me any favours. There is so MUCH padding and ballast and explanations and flashbacks and just a generally a drag of a plot - I mean, this is the first book with a fairly normal novel length and all that happens in this book, pardon the "spoiler", is that they meet. Yup. We get a super long explanation about everything that happened and everyone involved while the humans are just chilling one afternoon in Declan's job and the elves are riding to the city and then they meet, talk and the end.

If you enjoy wading through detailed explanations and getting spoon-fed backstory on every corner, this might totally work for you - high fantasy is partially about world-building and you can consider this part of it if you squint just right.

I enjoyed the premise but it felt like a drag to get to the parts I actually liked so... let's try not to continue, eh?

[thunderlightning · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This book couldve been one of the top fantasy books ive ever read except for the pacing.

The world building, characters, conversations, chemistry is all top tier. The only problem is that there were soooo many unnecessary POVS and I also felt we didn’t get into the book.

I think we should’ve focused on Declan and the Sun King’s POV more. It was so frustrating to keep waiting for their turn.

Eitherway I feel like this was half a book. I wouldve loved to read maybe 3 of this series together. I hope the next book we dive into the plot while fleshing out the world building.

[Peter Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Fantasy Read.

This is one amazing fantasy story that I could not put down! I had to read it to the end and then I had to get to the next book 2. This author has an amazing mind that flows. The characters in this story are intriguing and they pull the reader along in their adventures at a break neck pace.
I really enjoyed reading this book and I hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
X. Aratare always writes a good story and I have bought many of her books.

[Jessalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. Because in my opinion that’s what this is, not a whole book in itself. It really does feel like an incomplete piece. So do be prepared for that.
That being said, I enjoyed what we have so far, the characters and the world building are quite interesting.

[Sabrina · Rating 2 out of 5]

first book by this author and I am not impressed.

Nothing happens. Truly. Nothing meaty and substantial happens.
There is also some POV from characters I absolutely do not care about.

Also, this says M/M cozy romance but I can't feel or see either the cozy nor the romance.

[Shonee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The voice acting is amazing. X.Aratare always knows how to bring the best out of an identity reveal/powers reveal trope.

X still has the propensity to have their MC's being a little stupid and taking ridiculous risks, but nothing

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not a fan of books that do POVs outside the two main character, which this one did. So DNF for me, sorry! It's me, not the book (though, I didn't get far into it to find out...).

[Megan]

DNF’d at 27%

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful start to a great series

I have loved this series on the website and am glad the books are finally coming out. Can't wait for the next one.