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Villains & Virtues
Bound to Fall: Villains and Virtues
Celeste Delacroix’s sister is dead. This is unfortunate… sort of. But it’s also an opportunity to return to the realm of Eiren and begin anew—if noxscura will allow her.
Cursed with dark magic, living virtuously has always eluded Celeste, but she’s determined to right the wrongs she wrought in the sleepy village of Briarwyke and maybe even find her ever after, happiness unrequired and, as she sees it, undeserved. But darkness accompanies Celeste as keenly as clumsiness and shame, and when she accidentally releases a new evil on Briarwyke, she must find a divine source of magic to destroy it.
Sir Reeve, Holy Knight of Valcord, is one such divine source—not to mention incredibly handsome—and as luck would have it, already intent on vanquishing the evil that plagues Briarwyke. Unfortunately, he believes that evil to be a noxscura-wielding witch who has desecrated his faith’s Celeste herself. Abyss-bent on fulfilling his destiny, Reeve’s virtue and beliefs have never wavered because the world is simple, after all—there are those who are good, and those who are evil, and evil must be destroyed.
But what happens when a perceived evil requests assistance in defeating an even greater threat? Can Celeste and Reeve band together to save Briarwyke, or will their contempt for one another be their downfall?
Bound to Fall is a standalone spinoff of Villains & Virtues , a completed trilogy that follows the exploits of Damien and Amma. This book takes place in the spring, after the events of Villains & Virtues , and does contain spoilers for the series, including character death. However, Bound to Fall focuses on a new couple, Celeste and Reeve, who we did not meet in the original trilogy, and can be listened to as a standalone story.
Cursed with dark magic, living virtuously has always eluded Celeste, but she’s determined to right the wrongs she wrought in the sleepy village of Briarwyke and maybe even find her ever after, happiness unrequired and, as she sees it, undeserved. But darkness accompanies Celeste as keenly as clumsiness and shame, and when she accidentally releases a new evil on Briarwyke, she must find a divine source of magic to destroy it.
Sir Reeve, Holy Knight of Valcord, is one such divine source—not to mention incredibly handsome—and as luck would have it, already intent on vanquishing the evil that plagues Briarwyke. Unfortunately, he believes that evil to be a noxscura-wielding witch who has desecrated his faith’s Celeste herself. Abyss-bent on fulfilling his destiny, Reeve’s virtue and beliefs have never wavered because the world is simple, after all—there are those who are good, and those who are evil, and evil must be destroyed.
But what happens when a perceived evil requests assistance in defeating an even greater threat? Can Celeste and Reeve band together to save Briarwyke, or will their contempt for one another be their downfall?
Bound to Fall is a standalone spinoff of Villains & Virtues , a completed trilogy that follows the exploits of Damien and Amma. This book takes place in the spring, after the events of Villains & Virtues , and does contain spoilers for the series, including character death. However, Bound to Fall focuses on a new couple, Celeste and Reeve, who we did not meet in the original trilogy, and can be listened to as a standalone story.
Audible Audio
First published August 31, 2023
451 people are currently reading
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About the author
A.K. Caggiano
20 books1,585 followersAshley is an indie author who likes to write silly little stories that hopefully bring readers joy. She likes cats, guacamole, feminism, and the internet.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 492 reviews
September 9, 2023
this was a DELIGHTFUL standalone spinoff. Celeste is a sweet and soft (but not infuriatingly helpless) young woman trying to find herself, and Reeve is a sweet (if a bit too dedicated) honorable himbo on a quest. I love it when there's a virgin MMC bc we all know there are more than enough virgin FMCs in books and .
A.K. Caggiano is gifted at giving her characters full emotional journeys and can write relationships that organically evolve. Her worlds and stories are unique and imaginative, and her sense of humor never fails to give me a good chuckle.
not only did I love Celeste and Reeve's love story, but their own individual stories as somewhat lost souls just trying to find where they belong was touching. there's a tenderness to them that isn't seen often in adventurous fantasy - or even many other love stories.
i am SOOOOO excited there's a spinoff for Xander coming as well! please read the original Virtues & Villains trilogy if you haven't as well as these standalones!
A.K. Caggiano is gifted at giving her characters full emotional journeys and can write relationships that organically evolve. Her worlds and stories are unique and imaginative, and her sense of humor never fails to give me a good chuckle.
not only did I love Celeste and Reeve's love story, but their own individual stories as somewhat lost souls just trying to find where they belong was touching. there's a tenderness to them that isn't seen often in adventurous fantasy - or even many other love stories.
i am SOOOOO excited there's a spinoff for Xander coming as well! please read the original Virtues & Villains trilogy if you haven't as well as these standalones!
August 31, 2023
this is my fourth book by ak caggiano and at this point i’m convinced that she can do no wrong.
if you have not read the villains and virtues series, i highly recommend doing so before reading this book. since it is a spin off tale, you will get some mild spoilers and you will miss out on the world building of the villains and virtues series.
with that out of the way, let me tell you, i loved this book. the characters, the setting, and the plot were all phenomenal. this book fantasy romantic comedy that is all equal parts. it is so genuinely refreshing to read a book that is actually funny. a lot of books market themselves as “rom coms” but may not actually be funny. well i can 100% tell you that this book had me cackling. there are so many quotes i wish i could share in this review but i do not want to spoil the book for you.
the romance in this book is top tier. i am personally a sucker for slow burn and bound to fall delivered. additionally, the fantasy was so cozy but dark at the same time idk how else to describe it.
if you are not convinced by the above, let me explain it in other terms, i received this book as an arc so i already have a copy of it but as soon as the link is available for the physical copy, i will be purchasing.
thank you to ak caggiano and booksirens for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
if you have not read the villains and virtues series, i highly recommend doing so before reading this book. since it is a spin off tale, you will get some mild spoilers and you will miss out on the world building of the villains and virtues series.
with that out of the way, let me tell you, i loved this book. the characters, the setting, and the plot were all phenomenal. this book fantasy romantic comedy that is all equal parts. it is so genuinely refreshing to read a book that is actually funny. a lot of books market themselves as “rom coms” but may not actually be funny. well i can 100% tell you that this book had me cackling. there are so many quotes i wish i could share in this review but i do not want to spoil the book for you.
the romance in this book is top tier. i am personally a sucker for slow burn and bound to fall delivered. additionally, the fantasy was so cozy but dark at the same time idk how else to describe it.
if you are not convinced by the above, let me explain it in other terms, i received this book as an arc so i already have a copy of it but as soon as the link is available for the physical copy, i will be purchasing.
thank you to ak caggiano and booksirens for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.
November 23, 2024
This is my kind of Cozy Fantasy book, I think I even liked it better than the OG trilogy.
September 26, 2023
"She laid her hand on his chest. “You won’t be alone,” she assured him. “Wherever you go, you’ll belong there. Your heart could belong anywhere.”"
this book was so cute and good and i just love everything about this world so dearly that i could live in these words forever. celeste and reeve are so perfect and their stories were so interesting to read about– how different they are, but at the same time: how alike they truly were. they were both trying to find themselves amongst it all and how in the end they were able to find each other as well
these book relationships have set my standards so incredibly high that i'm immensely jealous i will never find a love like the ones written
ugh. i just love love
thank you a.k. caggiano for your brilliancy yet again ♡
this book was so cute and good and i just love everything about this world so dearly that i could live in these words forever. celeste and reeve are so perfect and their stories were so interesting to read about– how different they are, but at the same time: how alike they truly were. they were both trying to find themselves amongst it all and how in the end they were able to find each other as well
these book relationships have set my standards so incredibly high that i'm immensely jealous i will never find a love like the ones written
ugh. i just love love
thank you a.k. caggiano for your brilliancy yet again ♡
September 19, 2025
4.0 ★— I can always count on A.K. Caggiano to give me a romance featuring a man who is truly down bad, sprinkle in some fun lines, and wrap it all up in a quirky, slightly unserious fantasy story. This book was no exception.
I absolutely adored Celeste!
She’s genuinely sweet and kind, while still not being pushover. She has power, knows how to use it, and is not afraid to handle herself when things get difficult.
She meets Reeve and he’s everything. A Holy Knight, a certified beefcake, a total himbo, and a man that’s instantly down catastrophic for Celeste the moment he lays eyes on her.
He’s just such a softhearted guy, and immediately protective of her, which hits even harder once you learn about everything Celeste has been through.
Their romance is full with so much longing and pining! And even though they’re clearly attracted to each other from the start, it takes them a while to actually admit it. Caggiano really knows how to build sexual tension, and she does it so well, it did get a tiny bit frustrating at times. Celeste and Reeve have so many steamy and sweet moments where they’re almost giving in, but not quite.
When they finally do give in, it’s fantastic! The smut scenes are well written, and I have to say, Reeve being a virgin MMC was handled perfectly.
This is just a really lovely story about two absolute sweethearts slowly building trust and finding love.
With this being advertised as a Standalone, even though it technically is part of the Villains and Virtues series, I’d say it fulfills this promise well and didn’t give me any issues with getting into this book’s plot.
I myself have only read the first book in the series, and I had no trouble jumping into this one. That said, readers who are already familiar with Celeste and the wider world will probably get an extra layer of enjoyment!
I absolutely adored Celeste!
She’s genuinely sweet and kind, while still not being pushover. She has power, knows how to use it, and is not afraid to handle herself when things get difficult.
She meets Reeve and he’s everything. A Holy Knight, a certified beefcake, a total himbo, and a man that’s instantly down catastrophic for Celeste the moment he lays eyes on her.
He’s just such a softhearted guy, and immediately protective of her, which hits even harder once you learn about everything Celeste has been through.
Their romance is full with so much longing and pining! And even though they’re clearly attracted to each other from the start, it takes them a while to actually admit it. Caggiano really knows how to build sexual tension, and she does it so well, it did get a tiny bit frustrating at times. Celeste and Reeve have so many steamy and sweet moments where they’re almost giving in, but not quite.
When they finally do give in, it’s fantastic! The smut scenes are well written, and I have to say, Reeve being a virgin MMC was handled perfectly.
This is just a really lovely story about two absolute sweethearts slowly building trust and finding love.
With this being advertised as a Standalone, even though it technically is part of the Villains and Virtues series, I’d say it fulfills this promise well and didn’t give me any issues with getting into this book’s plot.
I myself have only read the first book in the series, and I had no trouble jumping into this one. That said, readers who are already familiar with Celeste and the wider world will probably get an extra layer of enjoyment!
September 2, 2023
"By all the jumping and singing crickets!" This book was delightful. I spent 3 days reading it because I didn't want it to end. 🥲💘 I'll definitely be purchasing a physical copy when it comes out.
Do you remember Celeste from the Villains & Virtues trilogy? The one who Xander abducted, but then released because she was making his lair a little too cheerful by doing things like baking and teaching the imps to sing? This book features her!
And now, because I don't write essay-format reviews well, please see my bullet point list below of what this book contains that might interest you. 🤸🏼♀️
• Sweet, anxious fmc with dark magic – she feels she's not worthy of love, but she so is!
• Golden retriever mmc with light magic – he's so kind that he doesn't squish spiders, he catches them and releases them outside.
• Shadow villain
• Baby wyvern companion
• Magical talking sword
• Humor that breaks the fourth wall
• Slow-burn romance (2 peppers 🌶🌶 on my personal spice scale, but please keep in mind I read a lot of smut, so something that seems more mild to me may be hothothot to someone else.)
• Enemies-ish to lovers, hurt/comfort, "who did this to you"
• And some things that I don't see that often in books – small breast rep, female masturbation (not explicit), a woman hiring sex workers (past mention, again not explicit), a sexually inexperienced but enthusiastic man (kinda explicit, hehe), and male grief rep (over remembering past events).
Thank you so much to A.K. Caggiano and BookSirens for the e-arc! It was a worthy trade for my eternal soul, undying love, and honest review. 😘
Do you remember Celeste from the Villains & Virtues trilogy? The one who Xander abducted, but then released because she was making his lair a little too cheerful by doing things like baking and teaching the imps to sing? This book features her!
And now, because I don't write essay-format reviews well, please see my bullet point list below of what this book contains that might interest you. 🤸🏼♀️
• Sweet, anxious fmc with dark magic – she feels she's not worthy of love, but she so is!
• Golden retriever mmc with light magic – he's so kind that he doesn't squish spiders, he catches them and releases them outside.
• Shadow villain
• Baby wyvern companion
• Magical talking sword
• Humor that breaks the fourth wall
• Slow-burn romance (2 peppers 🌶🌶 on my personal spice scale, but please keep in mind I read a lot of smut, so something that seems more mild to me may be hothothot to someone else.)
• Enemies-ish to lovers, hurt/comfort, "who did this to you"
• And some things that I don't see that often in books – small breast rep, female masturbation (not explicit), a woman hiring sex workers (past mention, again not explicit), a sexually inexperienced but enthusiastic man (kinda explicit, hehe), and male grief rep (over remembering past events).
Thank you so much to A.K. Caggiano and BookSirens for the e-arc! It was a worthy trade for my eternal soul, undying love, and honest review. 😘
September 12, 2023
"She could stab him for all he cared at the moment, as long as she was touching him."
Bound to Fall was charmingly hilarious, sweet, and addicting! After A. K. Caggiano announced this spinoff from the Villains & Virtues series, I knew I had to get my hands on it! This time the book follows Celeste, a nox-touched girl who is simply the sweetest 🥹 She's precious and I love her SO much. Reading about her and Reeve, our himbo MMC, was simply delightful and heartwarming. I love how patient Celeste is with Reeve due to his inexperience. They're meant to be together, truly. I love their tender love for one another. This book was beautiful in every way, from the patience and quiet acceptance Celeste has for Reeve, to the confidence Reeve has for Celeste. The side characters were a delight to read about as well, with Sid the sword providing some of the best commentary in this book. This book wouldn't be the same without him! I could seriously gush about this book all day if I'm being honest 😂
If you're looking for a light-hearted fantasy romance with comedic elements, then this is the book for you! I highly recommend it to any fantasy romance reader, if I'm being honest! I would also recommend you start the Villains & Virtues series for a better grasp of the worldbuilding 🩷
Bound to Fall was charmingly hilarious, sweet, and addicting! After A. K. Caggiano announced this spinoff from the Villains & Virtues series, I knew I had to get my hands on it! This time the book follows Celeste, a nox-touched girl who is simply the sweetest 🥹 She's precious and I love her SO much. Reading about her and Reeve, our himbo MMC, was simply delightful and heartwarming. I love how patient Celeste is with Reeve due to his inexperience. They're meant to be together, truly. I love their tender love for one another. This book was beautiful in every way, from the patience and quiet acceptance Celeste has for Reeve, to the confidence Reeve has for Celeste. The side characters were a delight to read about as well, with Sid the sword providing some of the best commentary in this book. This book wouldn't be the same without him! I could seriously gush about this book all day if I'm being honest 😂
If you're looking for a light-hearted fantasy romance with comedic elements, then this is the book for you! I highly recommend it to any fantasy romance reader, if I'm being honest! I would also recommend you start the Villains & Virtues series for a better grasp of the worldbuilding 🩷
April 11, 2025
a girl who’s never known love and a boy who gives it so freely. bound to fall in love 🥹 they are the most precious, sweetest, and purest couple. the holy knight and his not-so-evil witch <3
November 4, 2024
Bound to Fall by A.K. Caggiano is a standalone sequel set in the familiar world of the Villains and Virtues trilogy. It is a fun blend of romantasy, young adult, and Disney-fairy-tale parody. Caggiano created a story that is both familiar and unique enough to stand on its own two feet. It was an enjoyable fantasy tale that never took itself too seriously.
This book had a new lead in Celeste Delacroix, a sorceress struggling with dark magic who had returned to Briarwyke, her hometown, to start fresh after the death of her sister in the original trilogy. Celeste’s intentions to live a quiet life quickly went awry as she accidentally unleashed a sinister force upon the town. This twist of fate resulted in her needing the help of Sir Reeve, a Holy Knight of Valcord, known for his unwavering commitment to the cause of eradicating evil. Unfortunately, Reeve had a rather black-and-white view of morality and considered Celeste to be dangerous and evil due to her noxscura-infused magic!
The romance and relationship between Celeste and Reeve proved an enjoyable core for the story. They were opposites but definitely felt like a well matched couple when they had time to warm to each other. Celeste’s wit, pragmatism, and wry self-awareness clashed with Reeve’s righteousness and uptight sense of duty in a fun and often humorous way. Their partnership evolved over time as they reluctantly worked together to defeat the evil that plagued Briarwyke. Reeve showed positive character growth as he grappled with a more nuanced understanding of good and evil and Celeste learned to think more highly about herself. I quite enjoy the fact that the relationship helped both to develop positively!
I love the mix of romance, humor, adventure and the feel of this story being light parody of classic fairy tale tropes. Celeste’s journey to redeem herself and possibly find happiness without believing she deserves it gave the plot an emotional heartbeat while Reeve’s steadfast belief in his holy mission being challenged as he began to see beyond his narrow views of virtue was a positive thing for the story. The whole tale was light and fun and packed with plenty of romance, humour, and cute moments but there were some hints that this world could dark place at times. Which gave it a bit of an edge vs a traditional YA tale.
Bound to Fall did not aim for high stakes epic fantasy but it was a fun and entertaining read with its small scale stakes and character driven story.
All in all this was a fun tale. It lacked that something special to be a truly great read but I’ll read the next spinoff for sure. I actually really like the flip to the traditional romance format of a new lead couple in every book.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: This was performed by Ellen Quay and Seth Podowitz. I felt like both narrators did a good job. I’m still not a giant fan of duel narration when the production does not utilised consistent narration for all the dialogue regardless of which character is the POV lead. It feels like a waste of having multiple narrators.
This book had a new lead in Celeste Delacroix, a sorceress struggling with dark magic who had returned to Briarwyke, her hometown, to start fresh after the death of her sister in the original trilogy. Celeste’s intentions to live a quiet life quickly went awry as she accidentally unleashed a sinister force upon the town. This twist of fate resulted in her needing the help of Sir Reeve, a Holy Knight of Valcord, known for his unwavering commitment to the cause of eradicating evil. Unfortunately, Reeve had a rather black-and-white view of morality and considered Celeste to be dangerous and evil due to her noxscura-infused magic!
The romance and relationship between Celeste and Reeve proved an enjoyable core for the story. They were opposites but definitely felt like a well matched couple when they had time to warm to each other. Celeste’s wit, pragmatism, and wry self-awareness clashed with Reeve’s righteousness and uptight sense of duty in a fun and often humorous way. Their partnership evolved over time as they reluctantly worked together to defeat the evil that plagued Briarwyke. Reeve showed positive character growth as he grappled with a more nuanced understanding of good and evil and Celeste learned to think more highly about herself. I quite enjoy the fact that the relationship helped both to develop positively!
I love the mix of romance, humor, adventure and the feel of this story being light parody of classic fairy tale tropes. Celeste’s journey to redeem herself and possibly find happiness without believing she deserves it gave the plot an emotional heartbeat while Reeve’s steadfast belief in his holy mission being challenged as he began to see beyond his narrow views of virtue was a positive thing for the story. The whole tale was light and fun and packed with plenty of romance, humour, and cute moments but there were some hints that this world could dark place at times. Which gave it a bit of an edge vs a traditional YA tale.
Bound to Fall did not aim for high stakes epic fantasy but it was a fun and entertaining read with its small scale stakes and character driven story.
All in all this was a fun tale. It lacked that something special to be a truly great read but I’ll read the next spinoff for sure. I actually really like the flip to the traditional romance format of a new lead couple in every book.
Rating: 3 stars.
Audio Note: This was performed by Ellen Quay and Seth Podowitz. I felt like both narrators did a good job. I’m still not a giant fan of duel narration when the production does not utilised consistent narration for all the dialogue regardless of which character is the POV lead. It feels like a waste of having multiple narrators.
September 1, 2023
This was a delight to read. Reeve is my favorite holy himbo. His job is stab. A.K. Caggiano is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors with her blend of lovable characters, hilarious dialogue, and amazing details that I love as a fantasy reader. She truly masters an unique blend of elements that I can’t find in any other author! I had so much fun reading!! 5 stars!! (I was given an eARC from the author in exchange for an honest review.)
September 7, 2023
first of all of you haven’t read the Villians & Virtues trilogy - read them now!!!
these books are such a funny, lighthearted, fantasy romance that is definitely a breath of fresh air from other books
this standalone story in the Villians & Virtues world did not disappoint!! The MCs were so cute and funny and this story was such a fun read
these books are such a funny, lighthearted, fantasy romance that is definitely a breath of fresh air from other books
this standalone story in the Villians & Virtues world did not disappoint!! The MCs were so cute and funny and this story was such a fun read
September 24, 2023
This book was ADORABLE! The perfect macabre romantic fantasy that gets spicy at the end! If you are a fan of the villains in virtue series, by this author, then you will absolutely love this fourth book, which is a standalone romance!
maybe
September 12, 2023that COVER???????? MAMACITA
December 24, 2023
Fun? yes
would I enjoy a bit more plot or stakes? also yes
would I enjoy a bit more plot or stakes? also yes
November 4, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It isn’t as funny as the original series and they’re a lot of bittersweet moments and just sadness as the characters think on their trauma and lack of self-worth, but the couple is fantastic together.
Reece is a himbo, Celeste is a nice girl with “evil” magic who keeps trying to do good but makes mistakes. I adore them and want all the best for them.
Also cannot friggin WAIT for Xander’s book! It is gonna be unhinged 😂
Reece is a himbo, Celeste is a nice girl with “evil” magic who keeps trying to do good but makes mistakes. I adore them and want all the best for them.
Also cannot friggin WAIT for Xander’s book! It is gonna be unhinged 😂
May 1, 2025
3.5 ⭐️
I just love Caggiano’s writing and her characters and I especially love the audiobook narrator duo that does all of her books, they make the books for me. I will say that I was a little bored in the middle of this one because the actual plot of the story was lacking, but the characters are just so funny. I always laugh out loud when I listen to these books and have such a good time.
I just love Caggiano’s writing and her characters and I especially love the audiobook narrator duo that does all of her books, they make the books for me. I will say that I was a little bored in the middle of this one because the actual plot of the story was lacking, but the characters are just so funny. I always laugh out loud when I listen to these books and have such a good time.
January 5, 2024
Rounding up from 3.75!
I enjoyed this I just felt confused or misplaced in the story a bunch of times.
I will say the authors writings is exactly what I like - it can be beautiful but also funny but funny in a way that’s self aware and dry witty.
Also the romance was…sweet. I liked how Celeste and Reeve developed however you know how there are books written with 17 yr olds who could pass for 27 yr olds because they talk and act like 27 yr olds - this has the opposite problem. I think these characters are early mid twenties and could easily pass for 16 year olds.
I enjoyed this I just felt confused or misplaced in the story a bunch of times.
I will say the authors writings is exactly what I like - it can be beautiful but also funny but funny in a way that’s self aware and dry witty.
Also the romance was…sweet. I liked how Celeste and Reeve developed however you know how there are books written with 17 yr olds who could pass for 27 yr olds because they talk and act like 27 yr olds - this has the opposite problem. I think these characters are early mid twenties and could easily pass for 16 year olds.
September 1, 2023
Eek! I loved this book. I was so excited to revisit this world and follow along with a new couple. This book had a low stakes, cozy type of feel to it. Celeste is so gentle and kind, but she has had a rough and cruel past. Reeve is a holy knight, and a total golden retriever. So many cute moments and awkwardness between our two leads. There’s also a pet (yes, pet) baby wyvern!! I see there may be another spin-off and I’m equally excited to read that as well!!
October 30, 2024
This book would've been way sexier if Mr. Baddie Smoke Man would have hidden his extreme toxicness a bit better. FMC, slightly grating but I kind of liked her pitiful attitude. MMC, a cinnamon roll gone stale. Every time Celeste pined after him I was like... why? 2.5 stars, it's bad when I can't wait for a book to end.
Read
April 5, 2024This book firmly cemented the fact that I'll never be over Amma and Damien.
September 1, 2023
Earlier this year the Facebook gods (read: algorithms) began to grace (read: inundate) me with an abundance of ads for romance novels. With so much to chose from and so little time, it was hard to pick a series to dive in to. It was then that I came across an ad for Throne in the Dark, the first book in the Villains and Virtues series by A.K. Caggiano. In all honestly, I chose it because of the cover art which had a kind of graphic novel quality; dynamic, beautiful, and unique.
And I am so grateful I did!
Villains and Virtues has been one of my standout fantasy series of 2023! The writing is catchy and fun and reminds me of why I love the fantasy romance genre.
Bound to Fall returns us to the universe of V&V and the world of Eiren but this time following along with the trials of poor sweet Celeste, who was mentioned a few times in the earlier series, and whom I was definitely excited to learn more about.
What’s funny is that myself and several redditors assumed that a romance was lurking between the lines for Celeste and Xander, the morally dubious play-boy from the earlier series.
Instead, I am so glad the author decided to pair her with a “sunshine” MMC to contrast her “darkness.”
It is a bit hard for me to root for “himbo” MMCs as they are not usually my first choice but there was something so endearing about Reeve and his earnestness and fidelity, that made him utterly perfect for broken and uncertain Celeste. These two souls had such a lovely and swoon worthy journey!
This book continues the tradition of interesting magical systems, lovable found families, cute creatures, and meta humor!
Also I am not going to lie, I know the author said the villain was truly villainous in this book and he really was but he was also pretty sexy. There was definitely a Hexxus/Darkness amalgamation going on there that I did not mind lol (or maybe I just have Tim Curry on the brain).
Can’t wait to return to Eiren for more!
Thank you so much to A.K. Caggiano and BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
And I am so grateful I did!
Villains and Virtues has been one of my standout fantasy series of 2023! The writing is catchy and fun and reminds me of why I love the fantasy romance genre.
Bound to Fall returns us to the universe of V&V and the world of Eiren but this time following along with the trials of poor sweet Celeste, who was mentioned a few times in the earlier series, and whom I was definitely excited to learn more about.
What’s funny is that myself and several redditors assumed that a romance was lurking between the lines for Celeste and Xander, the morally dubious play-boy from the earlier series.
Instead, I am so glad the author decided to pair her with a “sunshine” MMC to contrast her “darkness.”
It is a bit hard for me to root for “himbo” MMCs as they are not usually my first choice but there was something so endearing about Reeve and his earnestness and fidelity, that made him utterly perfect for broken and uncertain Celeste. These two souls had such a lovely and swoon worthy journey!
This book continues the tradition of interesting magical systems, lovable found families, cute creatures, and meta humor!
Also I am not going to lie, I know the author said the villain was truly villainous in this book and he really was but he was also pretty sexy. There was definitely a Hexxus/Darkness amalgamation going on there that I did not mind lol (or maybe I just have Tim Curry on the brain).
Can’t wait to return to Eiren for more!
Thank you so much to A.K. Caggiano and BookSirens for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
September 1, 2023
*I received an ARC in exchange of my honest review*.
I had been in a huge reading slump in the beginning of the year, and the only reason I have been able to read again was thanks to Villains and Virtues. When I heard there was going to be a book around Celeste, a character briefly mentioned in the third book, I immediately requested an ARC (my first ever actually) and this book did not disappoint!
We follow Celeste, Delphine's sister from Villains and Virtuous, who returns to her sister's home after her death. She is Nox-touched, and contrary to her sister, is actually a nice person and hopes the villagers of Briarwyke we'll realize that. Unfortunately, she unknowingly released an evil being into the village and must now join forces with Reeve, a knight of Valcord who is very suspicious of her, to get rid of the mysterious force once and for all .
This was a very good read. Celeste still grapples with many issues due to her complicated relationship with Delphine but is able to brilliantly overcome them, and Stephen is just so fun! I have never read a virgin hero before, so this was a nice surprise 😌. But more than that, what I like about Caggiano is how every character in the book has a very distinctive voice. It was her strong point in Villains and Virtues, and we find it here again. Mister Geezer, Kori, Ima’riel and many more made this book very fun to read. Plus, I love her humour! I think I would have liked if it was a bit longer, but then I guess it wouldn't be called a spinoff.
And to top it all of, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE GETTING A BOOK ABOUT XANDER!!!! That sneak peek was sooo good, I can't wait!
All in all, I would definitely recommend, and if you haven't read Villains and Virtues yet, please do you won't regret it!
I had been in a huge reading slump in the beginning of the year, and the only reason I have been able to read again was thanks to Villains and Virtues. When I heard there was going to be a book around Celeste, a character briefly mentioned in the third book, I immediately requested an ARC (my first ever actually) and this book did not disappoint!
We follow Celeste, Delphine's sister from Villains and Virtuous, who returns to her sister's home after her death. She is Nox-touched, and contrary to her sister, is actually a nice person and hopes the villagers of Briarwyke we'll realize that. Unfortunately, she unknowingly released an evil being into the village and must now join forces with Reeve, a knight of Valcord who is very suspicious of her, to get rid of the mysterious force once and for all .
This was a very good read. Celeste still grapples with many issues due to her complicated relationship with Delphine but is able to brilliantly overcome them, and Stephen is just so fun! I have never read a virgin hero before, so this was a nice surprise 😌. But more than that, what I like about Caggiano is how every character in the book has a very distinctive voice. It was her strong point in Villains and Virtues, and we find it here again. Mister Geezer, Kori, Ima’riel and many more made this book very fun to read. Plus, I love her humour! I think I would have liked if it was a bit longer, but then I guess it wouldn't be called a spinoff.
And to top it all of, I CAN'T BELIEVE WE'RE GETTING A BOOK ABOUT XANDER!!!! That sneak peek was sooo good, I can't wait!
All in all, I would definitely recommend, and if you haven't read Villains and Virtues yet, please do you won't regret it!
December 7, 2023
This author’s writing and fantasy worldbuilding are so good, I just wish her heroines weren’t so meek and spineless. 😅
September 12, 2023
(ARC received from the Author)
THIS BOOK!! Look, I have mourned the fact that I’ll never experience a first read of Villains and Virtues again, and have told everyone who will listen that they MUST read it, but Bound to Fall was the perfect little side quest.
Celeste and Reeve are the cutest; Reeve is the ultimate good boy golden retriever, Celeste is a sad girl who is just looking for her place in the world, and that place just so happens to be in Reeves cosy little heart.
Bound to Fall, like Villains and Virtues continued with the same snort-worthy humour, cosy vibes, and mystery quest that I loved so much about the main series. This still remains my favourite series, and I was so excited to see Xandy will potentially be getting his own spin-off.
You could definitely read this without reading the core series, but don’t do yourself that disservice.
Some of the brilliant quotes:
“but she was lonely, and no one would know because it wasn’t like she were some character being written about in a book.”
“Both blew out long breaths they were quite aware they’d been holding”
“Obviously, an inn with more than one bed would have been an unacceptable choice for the night’s end.”
THIS BOOK!! Look, I have mourned the fact that I’ll never experience a first read of Villains and Virtues again, and have told everyone who will listen that they MUST read it, but Bound to Fall was the perfect little side quest.
Celeste and Reeve are the cutest; Reeve is the ultimate good boy golden retriever, Celeste is a sad girl who is just looking for her place in the world, and that place just so happens to be in Reeves cosy little heart.
Bound to Fall, like Villains and Virtues continued with the same snort-worthy humour, cosy vibes, and mystery quest that I loved so much about the main series. This still remains my favourite series, and I was so excited to see Xandy will potentially be getting his own spin-off.
You could definitely read this without reading the core series, but don’t do yourself that disservice.
Some of the brilliant quotes:
“but she was lonely, and no one would know because it wasn’t like she were some character being written about in a book.”
“Both blew out long breaths they were quite aware they’d been holding”
“Obviously, an inn with more than one bed would have been an unacceptable choice for the night’s end.”
May 12, 2025
4.5 ⭐️🥹
Didn’t expect to love this one more than the original trilogy. The dynamic between Celeste & Reeve was so good— very rarely do you see the MMC be the innocent & inexperienced character. Reeve’s character arc was great & Celeste had my heart!! Her sister made her feel so worthless and Reeve & Briarwyke made up for it all 🖤
Definitely adding this author to my favorites list!!
Didn’t expect to love this one more than the original trilogy. The dynamic between Celeste & Reeve was so good— very rarely do you see the MMC be the innocent & inexperienced character. Reeve’s character arc was great & Celeste had my heart!! Her sister made her feel so worthless and Reeve & Briarwyke made up for it all 🖤
Definitely adding this author to my favorites list!!
October 11, 2023
Exactly what i needed to help me in my hangover.
I enjoyed this tale and the pace it took. The characters and plot, the ups and downs. The author has a way of portraying her vision, and the finale product is pretty fun to read.
Also, it was very nice to comeback to Villains & Virtues universe!
I enjoyed this tale and the pace it took. The characters and plot, the ups and downs. The author has a way of portraying her vision, and the finale product is pretty fun to read.
Also, it was very nice to comeback to Villains & Virtues universe!
November 6, 2024
when he’s awkward and slightly insecure >>>>>>
but in all seriousness i’m really glad i stumbled across this book as it was kinda perfect? 4.5 stars for sure. i don’t think i’ve ever read anything like it so i’ll be sure to start reading more of this authors books
but in all seriousness i’m really glad i stumbled across this book as it was kinda perfect? 4.5 stars for sure. i don’t think i’ve ever read anything like it so i’ll be sure to start reading more of this authors books
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April 20, 2025DNF @ 12%
Damn… I have been really unlucky in the past few weeks. A lot of DNFs. 😢 I was so sure I’d love this book, but I didn’t vibe with this story at all. The pacing is terribly slow, and the overuse of telling doesn’t help. I think if you like character-driven books, and you’ve previously enjoyed one of the other books in this series, you may still like this one. Just not my cup of tea.
Damn… I have been really unlucky in the past few weeks. A lot of DNFs. 😢 I was so sure I’d love this book, but I didn’t vibe with this story at all. The pacing is terribly slow, and the overuse of telling doesn’t help. I think if you like character-driven books, and you’ve previously enjoyed one of the other books in this series, you may still like this one. Just not my cup of tea.
October 8, 2025
3.75
Not as good as Villains and Virtues, but all of these books are the equivalent of an airport romcom. Highly recommend the audiobooks!
Not as good as Villains and Virtues, but all of these books are the equivalent of an airport romcom. Highly recommend the audiobooks!
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