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The Phantom Noctis #1
The Phantom Noctis
"What’s the price of a life worth living? To be honest, I wouldn’t know. I chose to settle most of my debts in blood."
What happens when a cryptic letter from the Vampires she’d avoided for years lands on her doorstep, requesting her “elimination” services?
Lyssara Rowen spent most of her life bound to a tyrannical government, used as a pawn in their cruel games. After narrowly escaping their clutches, she spent years rebuilding her life in the refugee city of Amata. By day, she's the beloved local bakery owner. By night, she moonlights as a vigilante assassin, poisoning the enemies of her high-paying clients.
Her steady, quiet life is thrown into chaos when she receives a cryptic letter from the Drevarian Vampire Prince. Her rocky history with the Vampires is yet another secret she’d worked hard to bury. Terrified by the consequence of ignoring the summons, Lyssara embarks on a journey to settle the score with the ghosts of her past.
The Phantom Noctis is an immersive dark fantasy romance following two unlikely partners and their battle against an oppressive government. Their quest takes them on a harrowing adventure through complicated politics and overcoming trauma, all while navigating the steamy tension growing between them. Their journey is dark, romantic, and full of suspense and feminine rage.
What happens when a cryptic letter from the Vampires she’d avoided for years lands on her doorstep, requesting her “elimination” services?
Lyssara Rowen spent most of her life bound to a tyrannical government, used as a pawn in their cruel games. After narrowly escaping their clutches, she spent years rebuilding her life in the refugee city of Amata. By day, she's the beloved local bakery owner. By night, she moonlights as a vigilante assassin, poisoning the enemies of her high-paying clients.
Her steady, quiet life is thrown into chaos when she receives a cryptic letter from the Drevarian Vampire Prince. Her rocky history with the Vampires is yet another secret she’d worked hard to bury. Terrified by the consequence of ignoring the summons, Lyssara embarks on a journey to settle the score with the ghosts of her past.
The Phantom Noctis is an immersive dark fantasy romance following two unlikely partners and their battle against an oppressive government. Their quest takes them on a harrowing adventure through complicated politics and overcoming trauma, all while navigating the steamy tension growing between them. Their journey is dark, romantic, and full of suspense and feminine rage.
333 pages, Paperback
Published August 13, 2025
25 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 14, 2025
"If you apologize to me one more time, I will eat your heart."
Who we’ve got:
+ Lyssara Rowen, our female protagonist, a bubbly, brash, determined fae with a penchant for dark green, red meat, and poisoning evil men
+ Prince Kaius, Commander of the Guard, House of Styx, hot vampire extraordinaire and refreshingly *not* grumpy
As for my notes:
+ Lyssara's off-the-cuff “so get this right?” narration cracked me up; it feels so fresh and unique in a fantasy like this. It reads like we’re being told this absolutely insane story over drinks, which keeps the mood slightly less dark than this genre has a tendency to be.
+ Dahlia Jade loves a detail – shout out to what is a clear response to the romantasy genre's overall appalling lack of bathing. These characters are SHOWERING, and taking BATHS. We can be sexy, discover mysteries, and fight against an oppressive system while staying conscious of HYGIENE too okay?
+ The vibes are vibing and the magical hot creatures are hot. The burlesque club? Hot. The office? Hot. The training ring? *hot*.
+ "Little ghost" is perhaps the cutest nickname ever, HOWEVER I found Lys to be overly trusting of Kaius, and I still do not trust that man! I'm feeling over-protective of our FMC and don't yet fully buy their connection. I can't wait to be proven wrong by our pretty prince.
I choose my ARCs much more carefully these days, and I am so incredibly thankful to Dahlia Jade for sharing her jam-packed debut dark vampire fantasy with me before its release date this August!
TPN is the start of a series: it’s dense, exciting, and left me with a whole bunch of unanswered questions, many of which involve some forgotten side characters who I NEED to see more of
As someone who really enjoys getting lost in flowery, poetic language and purple-ing prose, I admit that I can sometimes feel a little disconnected from more no-nonsense writing. However it’s the clear description and fast-pacing that makes TPN perfect for readers looking for a thrilling fantasy that dives right into the central plot and rolls out the world-building over time instead of meandering around in it. I also think TPN’s setting will feel more immersive as it grows.
We’ve got dark romance, suspense, and plenty of feminine rage against not only those who wronged her but the entire government system that made our villains possible. I'm already so glad I pre-ordered a copy so I can give it another read when it comes out. It’s moody, vibey, and a puzzle of a story that I can't wait to see fine-tuned and fully fleshed out. < 3
Who we’ve got:
+ Lyssara Rowen, our female protagonist, a bubbly, brash, determined fae with a penchant for dark green, red meat, and poisoning evil men
+ Prince Kaius, Commander of the Guard, House of Styx, hot vampire extraordinaire and refreshingly *not* grumpy
As for my notes:
+ Lyssara's off-the-cuff “so get this right?” narration cracked me up; it feels so fresh and unique in a fantasy like this. It reads like we’re being told this absolutely insane story over drinks, which keeps the mood slightly less dark than this genre has a tendency to be.
+ Dahlia Jade loves a detail – shout out to what is a clear response to the romantasy genre's overall appalling lack of bathing. These characters are SHOWERING, and taking BATHS. We can be sexy, discover mysteries, and fight against an oppressive system while staying conscious of HYGIENE too okay?
+ The vibes are vibing and the magical hot creatures are hot. The burlesque club? Hot. The office? Hot. The training ring? *hot*.
+ "Little ghost" is perhaps the cutest nickname ever, HOWEVER I found Lys to be overly trusting of Kaius, and I still do not trust that man! I'm feeling over-protective of our FMC and don't yet fully buy their connection. I can't wait to be proven wrong by our pretty prince.
I choose my ARCs much more carefully these days, and I am so incredibly thankful to Dahlia Jade for sharing her jam-packed debut dark vampire fantasy with me before its release date this August!
TPN is the start of a series: it’s dense, exciting, and left me with a whole bunch of unanswered questions, many of which involve some forgotten side characters who I NEED to see more of
As someone who really enjoys getting lost in flowery, poetic language and purple-ing prose, I admit that I can sometimes feel a little disconnected from more no-nonsense writing. However it’s the clear description and fast-pacing that makes TPN perfect for readers looking for a thrilling fantasy that dives right into the central plot and rolls out the world-building over time instead of meandering around in it. I also think TPN’s setting will feel more immersive as it grows.
We’ve got dark romance, suspense, and plenty of feminine rage against not only those who wronged her but the entire government system that made our villains possible. I'm already so glad I pre-ordered a copy so I can give it another read when it comes out. It’s moody, vibey, and a puzzle of a story that I can't wait to see fine-tuned and fully fleshed out. < 3
June 14, 2025
Thank you to Dahlia Jade for providing me with a digital ARC! All thoughts are my own.
This is my first time ever reading and reviewing an ARC and all future ones will have a lot to live up to.
Okay, so I read a lot of fantasy and romantasy and this one did NOT disappoint. I was hooked from the beginning with the world-building and the badass FMC who loves chocolate croissants and steak as much as I do.
The story moved at a fast pace but still had the space for getting to know the characters and their backstories. I appreciated the queer rep and commentary on how people in power are only powerful because they steal from and tax other races/species.
I want to stress how much I LOVE a down bad MMC and our sweet bb Kaius is DOWN BAD CRYING AT THE GYM. I love how tenderly he cares for Lyssara, how he respects her boundaries, and how he never stifles her strength.
The FMC—she is a baking badass goddess and I want to be her when I grow up. I cannot wait for the next book and y’all better read this one.
This is my first time ever reading and reviewing an ARC and all future ones will have a lot to live up to.
Okay, so I read a lot of fantasy and romantasy and this one did NOT disappoint. I was hooked from the beginning with the world-building and the badass FMC who loves chocolate croissants and steak as much as I do.
The story moved at a fast pace but still had the space for getting to know the characters and their backstories. I appreciated the queer rep and commentary on how people in power are only powerful because they steal from and tax other races/species.
I want to stress how much I LOVE a down bad MMC and our sweet bb Kaius is DOWN BAD CRYING AT THE GYM. I love how tenderly he cares for Lyssara, how he respects her boundaries, and how he never stifles her strength.
The FMC—she is a baking badass goddess and I want to be her when I grow up. I cannot wait for the next book and y’all better read this one.
September 12, 2025
Here’s my review (will make a canva one later when I have more patience):
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 2 🌶️ 🌶️
Our FMC has lived a hard dangerous life but has finally found peace, until a letter from our MMC upends all! Our MMC clearly falls first and hard! They team up together take down the oligarchy that has taken over their society. A wonderful first installment from a debut author that will have you laughing and crying. There are times I wish there was even more detail and the pacing slowed so I could enjoy the world longer. the side characters and setting of this world were so lovable as well. There are strong female friendships, found family, and an ending that will make scream.
Every new layer introduced was well thought out.
wonderful diverse characters and overall just a super fun read. I was provided an e-arc read to salivate over and shed my tears with while i tried to write this review. I was in love with this!!!!! Please don’t miss out on this world! I am not only excited to see where this series goes, but watch this author grow and perfect her craft! Definitely someone to watch.
4 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. 2 🌶️ 🌶️
Our FMC has lived a hard dangerous life but has finally found peace, until a letter from our MMC upends all! Our MMC clearly falls first and hard! They team up together take down the oligarchy that has taken over their society. A wonderful first installment from a debut author that will have you laughing and crying. There are times I wish there was even more detail and the pacing slowed so I could enjoy the world longer. the side characters and setting of this world were so lovable as well. There are strong female friendships, found family, and an ending that will make scream.
Every new layer introduced was well thought out.
wonderful diverse characters and overall just a super fun read. I was provided an e-arc read to salivate over and shed my tears with while i tried to write this review. I was in love with this!!!!! Please don’t miss out on this world! I am not only excited to see where this series goes, but watch this author grow and perfect her craft! Definitely someone to watch.
July 30, 2025
So lucky to be an ARC reader 😘 Everything I love about Romantasy in under 300 pages, sign me up! I love the ode to ancient greek themes and am looking forward to continuing Lyssaras Revenge 😈 ! And any FMC obsessed with deep emerald color, long and luxurious baths, and can make a yummy croissant and then be a secret assassin is absolutely enthralling for me 🥐🥷
July 10, 2025
The Phantom Noctis has everything I LOVE in a book:
vampires, Fae, assassins, castles, immaculate vibes, fighting oppression and spicy scenes!
Our FMC assassin fights on despite the trauma of her past, killing only those who deserve it.
Our MMC has a plan to overcome the oppressors and needs a good assassin to help his cause.
Found family, feeding scenes and emotional healing all feature along the journey. I truly devoured this book.
This was my first ever ARC and it did not miss! Future ARCs have a lot to live up to.
vampires, Fae, assassins, castles, immaculate vibes, fighting oppression and spicy scenes!
Our FMC assassin fights on despite the trauma of her past, killing only those who deserve it.
Our MMC has a plan to overcome the oppressors and needs a good assassin to help his cause.
Found family, feeding scenes and emotional healing all feature along the journey. I truly devoured this book.
This was my first ever ARC and it did not miss! Future ARCs have a lot to live up to.
Read
February 6, 2026This is definitely a vibes read. I had a difficult time connecting with any of the characters. To me, Lyssara feels and behaves like a very young adult, but she is apparently like 150 years old (her age is mentioned, I just can't recall it specifically). Her inner dialogue tends to be more of an inner monologue and she flip flops between feeling good about something and feeling bad about something (I know this is vague, but it happens regarding quite a few topics, mainly how she feels about the mmc). Because of this, it doesn't really feel like there's much character growth happening.
Kaius is a fine mmc. We love an obsessed vampire, but his fascination with Lyssara is sort of random. He basically stalked her for a long time out of practicality and formed this idea of who/what she is. The result is that he knows a lot about her and what she's been through, but his obsession with her is based solely on facts about her rather than them growing together through their shared experiences. He's incredibly forward and flirty, which I do generally enjoy, but it just feels like he picked his favorite celebrity to love and got lucky in that she's willing to hang out with him and put up with his overt advances.
I wish we could've gotten to know the side characters a bit more. Lyssara leaves and worries about her best friend for about the amount of time it takes her to travel to her destination and then never mentions her again until she randomly decides to send a letter in the second half of the book. She then never mentions the friend or the letter again until the veeeeeeeery end. It's hard for me to care about a character I know literally nothing about and that the fmc isn't even spending time thinking about (literally I forgot the names of all Lyssara's friends we met in the first few chapters).
The prose and plot are both fairly straightforward and lack depth in my opinion. The world building is very show not tell, which isn't my personal preference.
I do want to touch on the feeding scenes since they are marketed so heavily. What I believe is meant to be the first feeding scene is incredibly sudden, with no context, and is completely nonconsensual. This wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't clearly a sexual experience that left Lyssara feeling shame and discomfort. It also felt like a way to manufacture conflict, since things were just going smoothly otherwise. The other feeding scenes are alright, though I do think they got a bit repetitive.
Thank you to Dahlia Jade for providing me with an e-arc of this book!
Kaius is a fine mmc. We love an obsessed vampire, but his fascination with Lyssara is sort of random. He basically stalked her for a long time out of practicality and formed this idea of who/what she is. The result is that he knows a lot about her and what she's been through, but his obsession with her is based solely on facts about her rather than them growing together through their shared experiences. He's incredibly forward and flirty, which I do generally enjoy, but it just feels like he picked his favorite celebrity to love and got lucky in that she's willing to hang out with him and put up with his overt advances.
I wish we could've gotten to know the side characters a bit more. Lyssara leaves and worries about her best friend for about the amount of time it takes her to travel to her destination and then never mentions her again until she randomly decides to send a letter in the second half of the book. She then never mentions the friend or the letter again until the veeeeeeeery end. It's hard for me to care about a character I know literally nothing about and that the fmc isn't even spending time thinking about (literally I forgot the names of all Lyssara's friends we met in the first few chapters).
The prose and plot are both fairly straightforward and lack depth in my opinion. The world building is very show not tell, which isn't my personal preference.
I do want to touch on the feeding scenes since they are marketed so heavily. What I believe is meant to be the first feeding scene is incredibly sudden, with no context, and is completely nonconsensual. This wouldn't have bothered me if it wasn't clearly a sexual experience that left Lyssara feeling shame and discomfort. It also felt like a way to manufacture conflict, since things were just going smoothly otherwise. The other feeding scenes are alright, though I do think they got a bit repetitive.
Thank you to Dahlia Jade for providing me with an e-arc of this book!
June 22, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed and was grateful to be able to ARC read this book. I found Lyssara SO relatable and I’m dying to live in her bathroom. KAIUS!!! I love that man. He is the sweetest bundle of green flags, truly. Anyway. Read this book. It’s a fun, fast-paced story with some very fun caricatures of some well-known but not well-liked individuals. I’ll probably add more coherent and helpful thoughts to this review at another time
June 12, 2025
I was hooked from the prologue. The story had this dark, dreamy vibe that I loved. 𝘈 𝘣𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘲𝘶𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦 & 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴 - 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘦! The characters felt real, relatable and raw, and the world was so well built and thought out that I could easily picture it in my mind.
One of those books that stays with you long after you finish. Highly recommend! 5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance copy. I believe ARCs are still open (as at June 12) if you want to join the team 🩸
One of those books that stays with you long after you finish. Highly recommend! 5 ⭐️
Thank you to the author for providing me with an advance copy. I believe ARCs are still open (as at June 12) if you want to join the team 🩸
June 10, 2025
If you’re looking for a story that is equal parts vibes and high-stakes please look no further. The Phantom Noctis pulled me into this world that felt so vivid and real from the prologue! Guys I don’t think I’ve ever been emotionally slapped in the face IN A PROLOGUE, ever. Yet here we are.
Our FMC Lyssara is so relatable (as if I were a fae lol) she is a strong, fierce baddie but also she’s just a girl! I can’t tell you how many times I annotated SAME. she just gets it, and I get her🥹 and the MMC, Kaius he’s actually just perfect. Vampire check Simp check Broody with dark curly hair check, check, check and the romance? Chefs. Kiss. It’s the kind of slow burn that is full of tension, angst and yearning!! ITS HOT AF.
But what I loved the most was how effortlessly the story balanced pure vibes with intensity. I was kicking my feet one minute, holding my breath the next!
TPN is an intoxicating blend of everything I love about fantasy romance! Witty and morally grey heroines (assassin fmc is always a ++!) SUPER lovable side characters, elemental magic, fae, vampires, witches, maybe even some dragon fire👁️👁️ and most importantly a tyranny that needs to be eliminated!
Hands down, five stars!! I will be anxiously holding my breath until book two comes out!
Our FMC Lyssara is so relatable (as if I were a fae lol) she is a strong, fierce baddie but also she’s just a girl! I can’t tell you how many times I annotated SAME. she just gets it, and I get her🥹 and the MMC, Kaius he’s actually just perfect. Vampire check Simp check Broody with dark curly hair check, check, check and the romance? Chefs. Kiss. It’s the kind of slow burn that is full of tension, angst and yearning!! ITS HOT AF.
But what I loved the most was how effortlessly the story balanced pure vibes with intensity. I was kicking my feet one minute, holding my breath the next!
TPN is an intoxicating blend of everything I love about fantasy romance! Witty and morally grey heroines (assassin fmc is always a ++!) SUPER lovable side characters, elemental magic, fae, vampires, witches, maybe even some dragon fire👁️👁️ and most importantly a tyranny that needs to be eliminated!
Hands down, five stars!! I will be anxiously holding my breath until book two comes out!
September 5, 2025
🖤 Vampires
✨️ Feminine Rage
🖤 *Obsessed* MMC
✨️ Relatable FMC
🖤 Overcoming Trauma
Okay, so I loved this.
Lyssara (fmc) is a 200-something (?) year-old fae assassin called The Phantom Noctis. She has endured a lot in her long life and wants to lie in her bathtub, eat chocolate croissants, and buy cute clothes. Honestly? Same. But unfortunately, life gets in the way of chocolate croissants, and that is where our story begins. Evil corporate scum humans want to take away the rights of her people and feed off their magic... and she is not having it.
Enter Kaius, a vampire who wants to make a deal that will stop said evil corporate scum humans from draining the life force from our magic wielders. He is also a little bit *obsessed* with our Phantom Noctis.
With a hot vampire burlesque club, Lyssara's constant zest for life despite the hardships she's endured, and a unique mix of an urban and medieval type fantasy setting, TPN is an exciting story throughout. It's short, fast-paced, and easy to digest.
Dahlia Jade writes with a unique voice, and while this book is highly descriptive, it is also streamlined, and the information is delivered in a kind of blunt, no-nonsense way. I enjoyed this delivery, it makes for a constantly compelling story.
I loved the characters: with our *just like the other girls* fmc, our cinnamon roll vampire, and an intriguing cast of side characters that I can't wait to learn more about. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, and with an overarching anticapitalist plotline, I can't wait to see where this story goes.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸 𝓽𝓸 𝓓𝓪𝓱𝓵𝓲𝓪 𝓙𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷.
~
"𝓤𝓷𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓵𝔂, 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝓷𝓮𝔀 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓮."
"𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓫 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽," 𝓗𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭, 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝔂𝓮𝓼. "𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓻 𝓼𝓸 𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻."
"𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭," 𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭, 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼. "𝓘𝓯 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓶."
✨️ Feminine Rage
🖤 *Obsessed* MMC
✨️ Relatable FMC
🖤 Overcoming Trauma
Okay, so I loved this.
Lyssara (fmc) is a 200-something (?) year-old fae assassin called The Phantom Noctis. She has endured a lot in her long life and wants to lie in her bathtub, eat chocolate croissants, and buy cute clothes. Honestly? Same. But unfortunately, life gets in the way of chocolate croissants, and that is where our story begins. Evil corporate scum humans want to take away the rights of her people and feed off their magic... and she is not having it.
Enter Kaius, a vampire who wants to make a deal that will stop said evil corporate scum humans from draining the life force from our magic wielders. He is also a little bit *obsessed* with our Phantom Noctis.
With a hot vampire burlesque club, Lyssara's constant zest for life despite the hardships she's endured, and a unique mix of an urban and medieval type fantasy setting, TPN is an exciting story throughout. It's short, fast-paced, and easy to digest.
Dahlia Jade writes with a unique voice, and while this book is highly descriptive, it is also streamlined, and the information is delivered in a kind of blunt, no-nonsense way. I enjoyed this delivery, it makes for a constantly compelling story.
I loved the characters: with our *just like the other girls* fmc, our cinnamon roll vampire, and an intriguing cast of side characters that I can't wait to learn more about. There were a few laugh-out-loud moments, and with an overarching anticapitalist plotline, I can't wait to see where this story goes.
𝓣𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓴 𝔂𝓸 𝓽𝓸 𝓓𝓪𝓱𝓵𝓲𝓪 𝓙𝓪𝓭𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓸𝓯 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐𝓵𝓵 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓭𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓬𝓸𝓷𝓽𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀 𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓶𝔂 𝓸𝔀𝓷.
~
"𝓤𝓷𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓽𝓾𝓷𝓪𝓽𝓮𝓵𝔂, 𝓘 𝓬𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭𝓷'𝓽 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮 𝓸𝓷 𝓷𝓮𝔀 𝓬𝓵𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓬𝓱𝓸𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓪𝓽𝓮 𝓬𝓻𝓸𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓽𝓼 𝓪𝓵𝓸𝓷𝓮."
"𝓨𝓸𝓾 𝓬𝓪𝓷 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓫 𝓶𝓮 𝓪𝓷𝔂𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓪𝓷𝓽," 𝓗𝓮 𝓼𝓪𝓲𝓭, 𝓹𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓹𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓸𝓷 𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓵𝓪𝓹 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓽𝓪𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓭𝓲𝓻𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓵𝔂 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓶𝔂 𝓮𝔂𝓮𝓼. "𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓷 𝓵𝓮𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓬𝓪𝓻 𝓼𝓸 𝓘'𝓵𝓵 𝓱𝓪𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓻𝓲𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝓸𝓷 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓷 𝓯𝓸𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻."
"𝓓𝓸𝓷'𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓮 𝓫𝓮 𝓪𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓶𝓮𝓭," 𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓭, 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓴𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓮 𝓯𝓻𝓸𝓶 𝓶𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓾𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼. "𝓘𝓯 𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓻𝓸𝓵𝓮𝓼 𝔀𝓮𝓻𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝓼𝓮𝓭, 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓷𝓼𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝓸𝓯 𝓶𝔂 𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓲𝓻𝓮 𝓯𝓸𝓻 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓼𝓱𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓼 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓶."
June 28, 2025
Thanks to Dahlia Jade for gifting me the ARC!
I had fun reading her debut novel, the Phantom Noctis. It was overall an easy read with an interesting world and a fast paced story.
The FMC, Lyssara, is a baker at day and an assassin at night. Her past holds trauma she clearly hasn't dealt with at the beginning of the story. I would loooove for this aspect to be further explored in book 2. With that said, I loved that she is confident in her skills and knows her worth, but also still has a lot of room for growth.
Kaius is not your typical dark and brooding MMC, which was a nice change. He is clearly fascinated (or shall I say obsessed?) with our FMC and I like how forward he is with her. Given the FMC's past, their relationship pace made sense to me, even though I would have loved the relationship and connection to be explored a bit deeper. But I think we are only at the beginning of it so there is room for them to explore and feel their feelings.
I didn't fully connect with most of the side characters as we didn't spend much time with each of them. I hope we see them more in book 2 as some of their backstories seem to be very interesting 👀
I was taken aback by *that* feeding scene as it happened out of nowhere, but my confusion probably reflects Lyssara's.
Overall, this book was a vibe and a promising start for the series!
I had fun reading her debut novel, the Phantom Noctis. It was overall an easy read with an interesting world and a fast paced story.
The FMC, Lyssara, is a baker at day and an assassin at night. Her past holds trauma she clearly hasn't dealt with at the beginning of the story. I would loooove for this aspect to be further explored in book 2. With that said, I loved that she is confident in her skills and knows her worth, but also still has a lot of room for growth.
Kaius is not your typical dark and brooding MMC, which was a nice change. He is clearly fascinated (or shall I say obsessed?) with our FMC and I like how forward he is with her. Given the FMC's past, their relationship pace made sense to me, even though I would have loved the relationship and connection to be explored a bit deeper. But I think we are only at the beginning of it so there is room for them to explore and feel their feelings.
I didn't fully connect with most of the side characters as we didn't spend much time with each of them. I hope we see them more in book 2 as some of their backstories seem to be very interesting 👀
I was taken aback by *that* feeding scene as it happened out of nowhere, but my confusion probably reflects Lyssara's.
Overall, this book was a vibe and a promising start for the series!
July 25, 2025
An incredibly detailed & immersive story of a Fae assassin contracted by a Vampire Prince to dismantle a tyrannical government. I loved every minute of it.
I adored both main characters, but especially Lyssara, our FMC. I love when a lead female character is a badass but doesn’t shy away from “feminine” things like pretty dresses, sweet treats, self care and has strong female friendships. She has a traumatic past and the way the trauma showed up was so realistic and relatable. She worked through each moment of anxiety or emotion instead of shoving it down in order to maintain a tough facade.
The setting is full of a complex, dark history and rich, romantic mythology that I honestly wanted more of.
The into to this world and our FMC makes for a slower start to the book which was honestly kind of a nice reprieve after a banger of a prologue.
The main plot really doesn’t get its legs until about 40-50%. After the halfway point, when the plot & romance picks up steam, I genuinely struggled to put this story down. I just needed to know what was going to happen next. The balance between plot and romance was perfect!!
A knockout debut novel!! I cannot wait to see what this author does next with this series and other future projects.
💘
Thank you, Dahlia Jade for providing me with a digital ARC. All thoughts & opinions in this review are genuine and my own!
I adored both main characters, but especially Lyssara, our FMC. I love when a lead female character is a badass but doesn’t shy away from “feminine” things like pretty dresses, sweet treats, self care and has strong female friendships. She has a traumatic past and the way the trauma showed up was so realistic and relatable. She worked through each moment of anxiety or emotion instead of shoving it down in order to maintain a tough facade.
The setting is full of a complex, dark history and rich, romantic mythology that I honestly wanted more of.
The into to this world and our FMC makes for a slower start to the book which was honestly kind of a nice reprieve after a banger of a prologue.
The main plot really doesn’t get its legs until about 40-50%. After the halfway point, when the plot & romance picks up steam, I genuinely struggled to put this story down. I just needed to know what was going to happen next. The balance between plot and romance was perfect!!
A knockout debut novel!! I cannot wait to see what this author does next with this series and other future projects.
💘
Thank you, Dahlia Jade for providing me with a digital ARC. All thoughts & opinions in this review are genuine and my own!
August 14, 2025
First, Thank you to Dahlia Jade for gifting me an e-ARC of this book!
Her debut novel, The Phantom Noctis, was definitely a vibe. Lyssara, the FMC, is a 200 year old Fae assassin who gets invited to take a high paying job by a hot Vampire prince named Kaius (MMC).
Lyssara is a relatively solid FMC, certainly with faults. I loved that she appreciates the finer things in life, has an appetite for delicious food, and is fiercely independent. Her background is riddled with trauma and it’s clear she hasn’t dealt with it. I am excited to see where further exploration of this goes in book two!
Kaius is an average MMC. He says all the right things, gives her a lil nickname, and is described as hot. My gripe with him is his interest in Lyssara seems rushed and doesn’t really start feeling natural until the end. I am looking forward to getting to know him more in book two as well.
I didn’t connect with any of the side characters which is one of my favorite parts of a book, but the focus wasn’t really on them, so I wasn’t overly bothered by it. Once again, intrigued to see where this goes in the next one!
The world building was pretty solid! It was a little hard to follow at some points and there were a lot of object descriptions. I think it could’ve been more immersive, as it fell a little flat for me. However, there were often times when the descriptions were great and made it easy for me to picture what the buildings and rooms and such may have looked like.
Overall, as stated earlier, this book is a vibe. If you enjoy a fast paced read, it’s definitely for you! For a debut novel, I think this was very solid and the series has a lot of potential!
Her debut novel, The Phantom Noctis, was definitely a vibe. Lyssara, the FMC, is a 200 year old Fae assassin who gets invited to take a high paying job by a hot Vampire prince named Kaius (MMC).
Lyssara is a relatively solid FMC, certainly with faults. I loved that she appreciates the finer things in life, has an appetite for delicious food, and is fiercely independent. Her background is riddled with trauma and it’s clear she hasn’t dealt with it. I am excited to see where further exploration of this goes in book two!
Kaius is an average MMC. He says all the right things, gives her a lil nickname, and is described as hot. My gripe with him is his interest in Lyssara seems rushed and doesn’t really start feeling natural until the end. I am looking forward to getting to know him more in book two as well.
I didn’t connect with any of the side characters which is one of my favorite parts of a book, but the focus wasn’t really on them, so I wasn’t overly bothered by it. Once again, intrigued to see where this goes in the next one!
The world building was pretty solid! It was a little hard to follow at some points and there were a lot of object descriptions. I think it could’ve been more immersive, as it fell a little flat for me. However, there were often times when the descriptions were great and made it easy for me to picture what the buildings and rooms and such may have looked like.
Overall, as stated earlier, this book is a vibe. If you enjoy a fast paced read, it’s definitely for you! For a debut novel, I think this was very solid and the series has a lot of potential!
June 15, 2025
I love this book so much and can’t wait for the next one!!
I’m in love with a vampire! Kaius is the Vampire Prince we all deserve! Night one he makes a dinner joke about biting her, and I fell. He’s potentially dangerous and funny, yes please! He’s the main male character who makes it clear the FMC is in charge 100%! Assuring her that she’s safe and can change the plans at any time.
Lyssara is a bad ass! She’s been through the worst and it’s only made her stronger! She’s a vigilante hero every world that’s being run by evil men needs! Even though she’s been beaten and broken down she still has empathy and wants to give people a chance to do the right thing! She’s my new favorite little ghost!
I’m in love with a vampire! Kaius is the Vampire Prince we all deserve! Night one he makes a dinner joke about biting her, and I fell. He’s potentially dangerous and funny, yes please! He’s the main male character who makes it clear the FMC is in charge 100%! Assuring her that she’s safe and can change the plans at any time.
Lyssara is a bad ass! She’s been through the worst and it’s only made her stronger! She’s a vigilante hero every world that’s being run by evil men needs! Even though she’s been beaten and broken down she still has empathy and wants to give people a chance to do the right thing! She’s my new favorite little ghost!
July 31, 2025
Thank you to the author for the ARC of Phantom Noctis!
Lyssara’s voice really stood out to me — direct, grounded, and shaped by her trauma in a way that felt real and refreshingly honest. And Kai? Not your typical broody MMC, which I loved. He’s open about his attraction for our FL and backs it up with consistent actions that build trust (we love a man who SHOWS he cares).
For a romantasy, the spice was well-balanced — enough to match the tone but not so much that it overshadowed the plot, which I appreciated as someone who doesn’t usually gravitate toward steamy reads. If anything, I just wish we’d had more time with the secondary characters; a slightly slower pace could’ve let the world and relationships breathe more.
Still, this is an incredibly strong start to a series, and I’m excited to see what’s next. Well done, Dahlia Jade!
Lyssara’s voice really stood out to me — direct, grounded, and shaped by her trauma in a way that felt real and refreshingly honest. And Kai? Not your typical broody MMC, which I loved. He’s open about his attraction for our FL and backs it up with consistent actions that build trust (we love a man who SHOWS he cares).
For a romantasy, the spice was well-balanced — enough to match the tone but not so much that it overshadowed the plot, which I appreciated as someone who doesn’t usually gravitate toward steamy reads. If anything, I just wish we’d had more time with the secondary characters; a slightly slower pace could’ve let the world and relationships breathe more.
Still, this is an incredibly strong start to a series, and I’m excited to see what’s next. Well done, Dahlia Jade!
September 10, 2025
I am usually not one for romantasy but this book has me reexamining that stance. Lyssaras story was really compelling and I couldn’t put it down. It’s got everything I love: chocolate croissants, sexy sex, leisurely baths and naps, and eating the rich. I also audibly gasped when there was a cool twist near the end!!! I already am foaming at the mouth for the follow up book and was not at all ready for it to end!
August 13, 2025
This book had vibes and vampires. After quite the prologue, the FMC Lyssara (who is a fae) is living her life and getting paid to be an assassin. The MMC Kaius (who is the vampire) summons her to his family home then hires her and the story takes off from there. The worldbuilding and issues in said world were pretty clear. I liked Kaius’ nickname for Lyssara and their chemistry was on point. I also appreciated the commitment to hygiene displayed in this book. I am excited to read what happens next.
Ps-check your triggers. Besides for the obvious vampire related stuff, there are some things in this book that are dark.
Ps-check your triggers. Besides for the obvious vampire related stuff, there are some things in this book that are dark.
August 4, 2025
DNF
I really struggled to read this book, and unfortunately couldn’t force myself to finish it. Connecting with the characters was extremely difficult. The dialogue between characters doesn’t flow great.
To top it all off, the MC, Lyssara, feels extremely childish, although she’s allegedly hundreds of years old.
I really struggled to read this book, and unfortunately couldn’t force myself to finish it. Connecting with the characters was extremely difficult. The dialogue between characters doesn’t flow great.
To top it all off, the MC, Lyssara, feels extremely childish, although she’s allegedly hundreds of years old.
July 26, 2025
Lyssara, an assassin who was held captive and forced to perpetrate terrible things against her will, uses her skills to make bad men pay for their sins after she is emancipated. Her talents are recognized by the vampire prince, Kaius, who asks for her services to take down the four human cardinals oppressing the land. She hesitantly teams up with him and cannot help but be drawn to him, however wary she is of his true motivations.
What I loved:
- The Eat The Rich Vibes
- An FMC who uses her dark talents for good
- Kaius being head over heels for Lyssara before even meeting her just by learning what she’s been through and how she has overcome it all.
- Lyssara is very self aware and actively working through her trauma and not only is determined to experience good things after her emancipation but also wants to make other people’s lives better.
Intriguing world building and politics with interesting twists on common magical systems
I definitely enjoyed the ride and I’m excited to see what comes next for these characters.
Thank you Dhalia Jade for providing me with an ARC copy to review.
What I loved:
- The Eat The Rich Vibes
- An FMC who uses her dark talents for good
- Kaius being head over heels for Lyssara before even meeting her just by learning what she’s been through and how she has overcome it all.
- Lyssara is very self aware and actively working through her trauma and not only is determined to experience good things after her emancipation but also wants to make other people’s lives better.
Intriguing world building and politics with interesting twists on common magical systems
I definitely enjoyed the ride and I’m excited to see what comes next for these characters.
Thank you Dhalia Jade for providing me with an ARC copy to review.
July 14, 2025
Firstly, I’d like to thank Dahlia Jade for blessing me the e-arc to read!
This debut could do really well, though personally, it doesn’t adhere to my tastes.
The story and world building is phenomenal. We learn early on about the different races, cities and governing bodies which is a very big part of the story - as both main characters are working to dismantling it. Although I do wish we could have learned more earlier on about the different fae magic in more detail, especially as Lyssandra seems to be a powerful one (this is just a personal preference)
The main character - Lyssara - did confuse me. Her behaviour and actions remind me of someone who is a younger person (maybe early 20’s). So to find out she’s around 200-ish and a trained assassin who has undergone brutal treatment and training didn’t reflect in her character.
The relationship with the love interest is also slightly confusing. When we first meet the Prince, it takes a day for her to let her guard down. Lyssara’s inner monologue constantly reminds the reader that she is staying on guard around Kaius but will then trust everything he says, moves into his mansion and attaches herself pretty quickly - especially for an assassin who was trained for a century. Not only that but Kaius’ character, although I adore him, seems kind of unfitting. He lays claim to her pretty quickly (even if it’s for protection purposes as he claims) but he seems far too attached too quickly and without reason.
I’d personally consider this a slow burn as although they connect pretty quickly, it’s more a back and forth of ‘I’m getting attached but this is wrong’. And this I adore! I love slow burn romances and when characters connect but they hold back as they are unsure of where the relationship stands.
The pacing of the plot is great too. We get a good chunk of Lyssara’s life before she’s summoned to the vampires for an assignment. Then we get to the best bit with meeting the flirty and handsome Kaius, where chaos ensues with the overthrowing a tyrant government, killing the cardinals and getting to the romance.
As a fantasy reader too - whether on purpose or coincidental- I enjoyed the first links to ACOTAR with the characters named Cassian and cardinal Archeron!
Overall, though I personally didn’t enjoy this book as much as I would have liked, I did read it pretty quick. It’s an easy read and there is lots of world building around races, government and such. The love interest is golden retriever vibes who seems obsessed with the main character. If you want a quick, easy read with a big world building experience then I’d recommend this book to read!
This debut could do really well, though personally, it doesn’t adhere to my tastes.
The story and world building is phenomenal. We learn early on about the different races, cities and governing bodies which is a very big part of the story - as both main characters are working to dismantling it. Although I do wish we could have learned more earlier on about the different fae magic in more detail, especially as Lyssandra seems to be a powerful one (this is just a personal preference)
The main character - Lyssara - did confuse me. Her behaviour and actions remind me of someone who is a younger person (maybe early 20’s). So to find out she’s around 200-ish and a trained assassin who has undergone brutal treatment and training didn’t reflect in her character.
The relationship with the love interest is also slightly confusing. When we first meet the Prince, it takes a day for her to let her guard down. Lyssara’s inner monologue constantly reminds the reader that she is staying on guard around Kaius but will then trust everything he says, moves into his mansion and attaches herself pretty quickly - especially for an assassin who was trained for a century. Not only that but Kaius’ character, although I adore him, seems kind of unfitting. He lays claim to her pretty quickly (even if it’s for protection purposes as he claims) but he seems far too attached too quickly and without reason.
I’d personally consider this a slow burn as although they connect pretty quickly, it’s more a back and forth of ‘I’m getting attached but this is wrong’. And this I adore! I love slow burn romances and when characters connect but they hold back as they are unsure of where the relationship stands.
The pacing of the plot is great too. We get a good chunk of Lyssara’s life before she’s summoned to the vampires for an assignment. Then we get to the best bit with meeting the flirty and handsome Kaius, where chaos ensues with the overthrowing a tyrant government, killing the cardinals and getting to the romance.
As a fantasy reader too - whether on purpose or coincidental- I enjoyed the first links to ACOTAR with the characters named Cassian and cardinal Archeron!
Overall, though I personally didn’t enjoy this book as much as I would have liked, I did read it pretty quick. It’s an easy read and there is lots of world building around races, government and such. The love interest is golden retriever vibes who seems obsessed with the main character. If you want a quick, easy read with a big world building experience then I’d recommend this book to read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2025
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC for this book and I had a lot of fun with it.
I took a little bit to get into the book, but I think that was my own fault as I was in a little more of a cozy vibe and had library holds keep coming up. But once I got a chance to actually get into it and into the meat of the story, I flew through it.
There's a lot of backstory and world building that is laid out early on, especially about the city of Amata, a magically modern city where our heroine runs a bakery—and has other shadowy pursuits that see her donning an assassin's outfit and bringing vengeance to those who abuse their power.
Lyssara's home is under the rule of an empire that has no qualms about using and killing the non-humans who populated the lands. Lyssara has her own history with the Nymesians that gives her both strengths and fears, and we see her dealing with the aftermath of her backstory several times with panic attacks. I enjoyed this, as I think it's realistic that someone who was imprisoned and forcibly recruited would have trauma — and when you are a Fae who lives hundreds of years, that trauma will linger and make a mark for decades.
I liked the friendship with Judas that developed, building loyalty out of a territorial and competitive start. And of course that friendship couldn't have happened without Kaius, Prince of the Drevaros Vampires, sending a letter to Lyssara that upended her sense of security and her entire life.
I appreciated how even once she met her shadow vampire she was still able to make other friendships, and felt comfortable enough to turn to Judas to check in during a rough patch.
Kaius knows more about Lys than she thinks, and yes, he likes what he sees. Despite some hiccups along the way, I loved Kaius being so tender yet so fiercely protective.
(Side note - can he be a shadow daddy if he's half her age? Is shadow daddy a state of mind (and power?)
I think so, especially with those tendrils of darkness, hoo boy.)
If you are looking for a new take on vampires and Fae, with guest appearances from witches and dragons, then this is definitely a book to dive into! The story set up well for the sequel without leaving me feeling like things were left unresolved or being an annoying cliffhanger that makes you throw the book/phone.
I took a little bit to get into the book, but I think that was my own fault as I was in a little more of a cozy vibe and had library holds keep coming up. But once I got a chance to actually get into it and into the meat of the story, I flew through it.
There's a lot of backstory and world building that is laid out early on, especially about the city of Amata, a magically modern city where our heroine runs a bakery—and has other shadowy pursuits that see her donning an assassin's outfit and bringing vengeance to those who abuse their power.
Lyssara's home is under the rule of an empire that has no qualms about using and killing the non-humans who populated the lands. Lyssara has her own history with the Nymesians that gives her both strengths and fears, and we see her dealing with the aftermath of her backstory several times with panic attacks. I enjoyed this, as I think it's realistic that someone who was imprisoned and forcibly recruited would have trauma — and when you are a Fae who lives hundreds of years, that trauma will linger and make a mark for decades.
I liked the friendship with Judas that developed, building loyalty out of a territorial and competitive start. And of course that friendship couldn't have happened without Kaius, Prince of the Drevaros Vampires, sending a letter to Lyssara that upended her sense of security and her entire life.
I appreciated how even once she met her shadow vampire she was still able to make other friendships, and felt comfortable enough to turn to Judas to check in during a rough patch.
Kaius knows more about Lys than she thinks, and yes, he likes what he sees. Despite some hiccups along the way, I loved Kaius being so tender yet so fiercely protective.
(Side note - can he be a shadow daddy if he's half her age? Is shadow daddy a state of mind (and power?)
I think so, especially with those tendrils of darkness, hoo boy.)
If you are looking for a new take on vampires and Fae, with guest appearances from witches and dragons, then this is definitely a book to dive into! The story set up well for the sequel without leaving me feeling like things were left unresolved or being an annoying cliffhanger that makes you throw the book/phone.
July 20, 2025
I received this as an ARC. 3.5 stars. The FMC's backstory is fascinating, both as a young person and during her captivity. (I'll say no more to avoid spoilers.) I love that the world has a mix of magical beings in it, both fae and vampires, etc, and their magics are all individual and unique. I do like that the story got going right from the start as well, without a lot of wasted time to get where we needed to go.
This book could have been stretched into two books with more time spent with various things. Not necessarily the beginning and establishment of the world/characters, but once the plot gets going and our main characters are together, maybe slowing down at that point to luxuriate in the fabric of this world and its people. I felt like we moved from plot point A to plot point B with head spinning speed, and I was very confused at several things that happened.
I'm probably addicted to enemies-to-lovers, but I felt like the FMC and MMC fell really easily into their relationship. Not every relationship needs to be contentious, though, but I would have loved for their getting-to-know-you dance to be expanded more. The spice, when it happened, was good, but again, brief.
When the FMC/MMC finally realized that they could link their magics, I also wanted to see more of this process on page. If they didn't do it correctly, there were consequences, but I was initially really confused by this, so I felt like that needed more exploration.
This was by far my favorite part of the story: how a fae and a vampire linking their magics might be the thing that saves the world. I just wish their relationship was as interesting as this part. I also confess to being bored with the FMC being the world's best assassin. Are there no healers or shop girls anywhere in these realms anymore? (That being said, the plot hinges on the FMC being that assassin, so if she weren't a hired killer, this story wouldn't exist.)
All of the pieces here have the potential to be wonderful. I think this her debut novel, and with how good the bones of this story are, I expect that her subsequent tales will be even better!
This book could have been stretched into two books with more time spent with various things. Not necessarily the beginning and establishment of the world/characters, but once the plot gets going and our main characters are together, maybe slowing down at that point to luxuriate in the fabric of this world and its people. I felt like we moved from plot point A to plot point B with head spinning speed, and I was very confused at several things that happened.
I'm probably addicted to enemies-to-lovers, but I felt like the FMC and MMC fell really easily into their relationship. Not every relationship needs to be contentious, though, but I would have loved for their getting-to-know-you dance to be expanded more. The spice, when it happened, was good, but again, brief.
When the FMC/MMC finally realized that they could link their magics, I also wanted to see more of this process on page. If they didn't do it correctly, there were consequences, but I was initially really confused by this, so I felt like that needed more exploration.
This was by far my favorite part of the story: how a fae and a vampire linking their magics might be the thing that saves the world. I just wish their relationship was as interesting as this part. I also confess to being bored with the FMC being the world's best assassin. Are there no healers or shop girls anywhere in these realms anymore? (That being said, the plot hinges on the FMC being that assassin, so if she weren't a hired killer, this story wouldn't exist.)
All of the pieces here have the potential to be wonderful. I think this her debut novel, and with how good the bones of this story are, I expect that her subsequent tales will be even better!
August 11, 2025
I love indie authors. Seeing their books journey from first announcement to cover reveal, synopsis, social media buzz and then finally ‘book birthday’ is a joy, and the combination of enthusiasm and nerves from authors is always challenging. Writing a book itself is hard; then working to convince the world that it’s worth the time to read is a whole added battle.
I was interested in ‘The Phantom Noctis’ from the first time I saw it on Instagram. Yes, it’s a vampire romantasy - so currently on-trend! - but the characters looked engaging, the plot fun and what clips I saw showed an appealing style.
When the book arrived in my Inbox, I was keen to dive in. Now to be writing this on the cusp of the book entering the world is fantastic as part of its creation!
Because this book absolutely is worthy. It’s fun, intense at times, and with a grounded consistency in its world-building, magic and relationships that I’ve found lacking in other (often much bigger) titles recently.
Lyssara is a great protagonist: a Strong Woman Warrior, but with such a tremendous sense of humour and regular life that I really felt like this could have been a cosy romance novel. Unfortunately it’s set in a country beset by tyranny; Lyssara’s traumatic past is revealed so vividly that I genuinely felt for her. This lady has battled her entire life, and her need for vengeance while dealing with her trauma is entirely understandable.
Her allies (of various species) are also hugely likeable, and towards the end I realized how invested I was, as it seemed one particularly important friend might have been killed offscreen!
Perhaps my only quibble is how very cartoonishly villainous the baddies are. We see little depth to their motivations, and while 'Fighting Fantasy N*zis' is entirely valid motivation, I'd have liked to see more shading there.
Ultimately the action flows well, the heist-style assassination plans are engaging, and the romance develops without forced drama (which I definitely appreciated). The story is also told entirely from Lyssara’s perspective, which is refreshing - the reader is left to guess the motivations of others as she does, and in these times of multiple POVs, it was good to anticipate what was happening across the wider canvas.
‘The Phantom Noctis’ shines brightly alongside its Traditionally-Published peers, and I’m absolutely looking forward to Part Two.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the author, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
I was interested in ‘The Phantom Noctis’ from the first time I saw it on Instagram. Yes, it’s a vampire romantasy - so currently on-trend! - but the characters looked engaging, the plot fun and what clips I saw showed an appealing style.
When the book arrived in my Inbox, I was keen to dive in. Now to be writing this on the cusp of the book entering the world is fantastic as part of its creation!
Because this book absolutely is worthy. It’s fun, intense at times, and with a grounded consistency in its world-building, magic and relationships that I’ve found lacking in other (often much bigger) titles recently.
Lyssara is a great protagonist: a Strong Woman Warrior, but with such a tremendous sense of humour and regular life that I really felt like this could have been a cosy romance novel. Unfortunately it’s set in a country beset by tyranny; Lyssara’s traumatic past is revealed so vividly that I genuinely felt for her. This lady has battled her entire life, and her need for vengeance while dealing with her trauma is entirely understandable.
Her allies (of various species) are also hugely likeable, and towards the end I realized how invested I was, as it seemed one particularly important friend might have been killed offscreen!
Perhaps my only quibble is how very cartoonishly villainous the baddies are. We see little depth to their motivations, and while 'Fighting Fantasy N*zis' is entirely valid motivation, I'd have liked to see more shading there.
Ultimately the action flows well, the heist-style assassination plans are engaging, and the romance develops without forced drama (which I definitely appreciated). The story is also told entirely from Lyssara’s perspective, which is refreshing - the reader is left to guess the motivations of others as she does, and in these times of multiple POVs, it was good to anticipate what was happening across the wider canvas.
‘The Phantom Noctis’ shines brightly alongside its Traditionally-Published peers, and I’m absolutely looking forward to Part Two.
I was kindly sent an early copy of this book by the author, but the above opinions are entirely my own.
July 18, 2025
The Phantom Noctis is a fun time! A fae assassin teams up with a vampire to take down the oligarchy. There are some fun, steamy scenes and tense action sequences. We love a down bad MMC.
Throughout the story, I had a hard time sensing the urgency/conflict, and when conflict did arise, it was resolved very neatly. The book ends on a kind of cliffhanger, but it's a problem that only arose in the last few pages of the book and with relatively little to do with the events of the book.
The relationship between the FMC and MMC progresses very quickly. I would have liked to see more dialogue between the two to actually see the development of their relationship. The MMC calls the FMC a cutesy nickname almost right away and with no context.
There was a lot of "telling" in terms relationship development (both romantic and between friends). For example: "[name] was growing on me, and in the short time we'd spent training together I'd realized how much I thoroughly enjoyed his company." I would like to see those training sessions! Let us see through action and words how that friendship blossomed. I also felt like there was quite a bit of info dumping for world building.
Overall, the book is a fun time. If you like relatively straightforward world building and some steamy scenes, this may be a good choice for you.
Thank you, Dahlia Jade, for an advance copy of this book.
Throughout the story, I had a hard time sensing the urgency/conflict, and when conflict did arise, it was resolved very neatly. The book ends on a kind of cliffhanger, but it's a problem that only arose in the last few pages of the book and with relatively little to do with the events of the book.
The relationship between the FMC and MMC progresses very quickly. I would have liked to see more dialogue between the two to actually see the development of their relationship. The MMC calls the FMC a cutesy nickname almost right away and with no context.
There was a lot of "telling" in terms relationship development (both romantic and between friends). For example: "[name] was growing on me, and in the short time we'd spent training together I'd realized how much I thoroughly enjoyed his company." I would like to see those training sessions! Let us see through action and words how that friendship blossomed. I also felt like there was quite a bit of info dumping for world building.
Overall, the book is a fun time. If you like relatively straightforward world building and some steamy scenes, this may be a good choice for you.
Thank you, Dahlia Jade, for an advance copy of this book.
August 17, 2025
📚✨ The Phantom Noctis by Dahlia Jade
⭐️4/5 | 🌶️2/5
As someone who loves getting lost in flowery, poetic language and purple-ing prose, I sometimes feel a little disconnected from more straightforward writing styles. But in this case, the clear descriptions and fast pacing are exactly what makes The Phantom Noctis shine. It dives right into the action, keeps you hooked, and layers in the world-building as the story unfolds—making it perfect for readers who want to be thrown headfirst into the thrill.
This book has it all: dark romance, suspense, assassins, vampires, Fae, castles, and immaculate moody vibes. Feminine rage pulses through the story—not just against those who wronged our FMC, but against the corrupt system that enabled the villains in the first place. And the romance? Deliciously dark with just the right edge.
Our FMC assassin fights relentlessly, taking out only those who deserve it, while our MMC schemes to dismantle oppression and needs her blade to succeed. Along the way we get found family moments, feeding scenes, and glimpses of emotional healing that made me devour this book in one sitting.
I’m already so glad I pre-ordered a copy so I can revisit it when it releases—it’s a moody, vibey puzzle of a story I can’t wait to see fully fleshed out.
✨ Reading Mood: broody, dark, and desperate for vengeance ✨
⭐️4/5 | 🌶️2/5
As someone who loves getting lost in flowery, poetic language and purple-ing prose, I sometimes feel a little disconnected from more straightforward writing styles. But in this case, the clear descriptions and fast pacing are exactly what makes The Phantom Noctis shine. It dives right into the action, keeps you hooked, and layers in the world-building as the story unfolds—making it perfect for readers who want to be thrown headfirst into the thrill.
This book has it all: dark romance, suspense, assassins, vampires, Fae, castles, and immaculate moody vibes. Feminine rage pulses through the story—not just against those who wronged our FMC, but against the corrupt system that enabled the villains in the first place. And the romance? Deliciously dark with just the right edge.
Our FMC assassin fights relentlessly, taking out only those who deserve it, while our MMC schemes to dismantle oppression and needs her blade to succeed. Along the way we get found family moments, feeding scenes, and glimpses of emotional healing that made me devour this book in one sitting.
I’m already so glad I pre-ordered a copy so I can revisit it when it releases—it’s a moody, vibey puzzle of a story I can’t wait to see fully fleshed out.
✨ Reading Mood: broody, dark, and desperate for vengeance ✨
June 28, 2025
Thanks Dahlia Jade for the ARC <3
The Phantom Noctis is the first book in this story, our FMC is a badass Fae with a very difficult past in the business of *eliminating*. She has been putting a band aid on her life until she receives a letter that forces her to step out of her comfort zone and face her past. In the process, she meets our handsome, confident and obsessed MMC who does not waste a single opportunity to let her know how he feel about her.
I enjoyed the amazing descriptions throughout the book, emphasizing the good taste of our FMC and her sassy personality.. Lyssara´s vibe is so fun (I´m sure she´s a millennial-Fae) that at some point the book feels as if you were talking to your BFF yapping about her more recent adventures.
I wish next book give us more about the side characters and I would love to read more her past.
✨Fast paced
✨Brat Vampire & Hot assassin Fae
✨On point descriptions
✨Confident&arrogant MMC
✨She loves reading and baking
✨Eat the rich vibes
✨In crescendo plot
“I would tear down this world in an instant and build you a new one if it meant I could feel the beat of your heart in sync with mine forever,”
The Phantom Noctis is the first book in this story, our FMC is a badass Fae with a very difficult past in the business of *eliminating*. She has been putting a band aid on her life until she receives a letter that forces her to step out of her comfort zone and face her past. In the process, she meets our handsome, confident and obsessed MMC who does not waste a single opportunity to let her know how he feel about her.
I enjoyed the amazing descriptions throughout the book, emphasizing the good taste of our FMC and her sassy personality.. Lyssara´s vibe is so fun (I´m sure she´s a millennial-Fae) that at some point the book feels as if you were talking to your BFF yapping about her more recent adventures.
I wish next book give us more about the side characters and I would love to read more her past.
✨Fast paced
✨Brat Vampire & Hot assassin Fae
✨On point descriptions
✨Confident&arrogant MMC
✨She loves reading and baking
✨Eat the rich vibes
✨In crescendo plot
“I would tear down this world in an instant and build you a new one if it meant I could feel the beat of your heart in sync with mine forever,”
August 16, 2025
WOW. Just WOW.
Secret identity. Missions. Vampire burlesque club. Biting. Vampires. Magic. Fae. Yummy yummy, delicious. Blood.
I am still recovering from this book, I was not expecting the book to unfold in the way it did. I honestly am going to reread this book when I have the time.
The female main character, Lyssara, has so many layers. She has a TRAGIC backstory and to see how far she came- even as the story progresses it’s phenomenal. Dahlia thought out her character so well, she is very well written and I’m inlove with her. She’s so strong, and so funny.
The male main character is Prince Kaius, Commander of the Guard and oh my heart. New book boyfriend UNLOCKED. He is also 10/10. He’s passionate, trusting and so down bad for Lyssara. Every step of the way he wants to help her, but sometimes he can’t help himself.
TPN is a fast paced, vampire Romantasy where vengeance is the plot. The banter is good, the tension is phenomenal, I love the world building. Definitely will reread, and recommend to friends.
Secret identity. Missions. Vampire burlesque club. Biting. Vampires. Magic. Fae. Yummy yummy, delicious. Blood.
I am still recovering from this book, I was not expecting the book to unfold in the way it did. I honestly am going to reread this book when I have the time.
The female main character, Lyssara, has so many layers. She has a TRAGIC backstory and to see how far she came- even as the story progresses it’s phenomenal. Dahlia thought out her character so well, she is very well written and I’m inlove with her. She’s so strong, and so funny.
The male main character is Prince Kaius, Commander of the Guard and oh my heart. New book boyfriend UNLOCKED. He is also 10/10. He’s passionate, trusting and so down bad for Lyssara. Every step of the way he wants to help her, but sometimes he can’t help himself.
TPN is a fast paced, vampire Romantasy where vengeance is the plot. The banter is good, the tension is phenomenal, I love the world building. Definitely will reread, and recommend to friends.
June 20, 2025
Once used by a tyrannical government as an assassin, Lyssara, a fae baker by day and poison vigilante by night, finds the Vampire Prince requesting her moonlighting services. The unlikely pair team up to begin to topple the oppressive government, while their relationship evolves into more than just a partnership.
The world that Dahlia has built in The Phantom Noctis completely hooked me and pulled me into this book. I wasn't the biggest fan of the exposition in the beginning, but it was needed for the story and world building, especially considering that this was a relatively tight and quick paced.
I love the characters, their relationships, and the unique take on magic. I fell head over heels for Kaius and enjoyed that he wasn't the typical morally grey shadow daddy. It felt great to see a FMC who didn't need to build up to being a warrior, and instead knew her worth, despite her haunting past.
I'll be waiting with excitement for the next part of their story.
The world that Dahlia has built in The Phantom Noctis completely hooked me and pulled me into this book. I wasn't the biggest fan of the exposition in the beginning, but it was needed for the story and world building, especially considering that this was a relatively tight and quick paced.
I love the characters, their relationships, and the unique take on magic. I fell head over heels for Kaius and enjoyed that he wasn't the typical morally grey shadow daddy. It felt great to see a FMC who didn't need to build up to being a warrior, and instead knew her worth, despite her haunting past.
I'll be waiting with excitement for the next part of their story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 23, 2025
Adding Kaius and Lyssara to my growing list of favorite book couples immediately. The first mention of the nickname "little ghost" fully locked me in for the ride that this book was. Fae, Vampires, magic, A REVOLUTION. Ugh this was fantastic.
Lyssara had gone through so much and is everything in what it means to be a survivor and a hero, while still experiencing the after effects of her trauma. The way Kaius guides her through the emotional trauma and supports her through this story while also building her confidence, trusting her judgment and strength in everything, and refusing to allow her to feel shame?? It had me so deep in my feels. He's officially my favorite vampire, I love him.
A little bit of spice, a little bit of gore, many heartfelt moments, and a sprinkle of action packed scenes?? 5 out of 5 stars, mad I have to wait a year for the next book to come out. Read this!
Thank you so much to the author for gifting me an ARC and the opportunity to read this.
Lyssara had gone through so much and is everything in what it means to be a survivor and a hero, while still experiencing the after effects of her trauma. The way Kaius guides her through the emotional trauma and supports her through this story while also building her confidence, trusting her judgment and strength in everything, and refusing to allow her to feel shame?? It had me so deep in my feels. He's officially my favorite vampire, I love him.
A little bit of spice, a little bit of gore, many heartfelt moments, and a sprinkle of action packed scenes?? 5 out of 5 stars, mad I have to wait a year for the next book to come out. Read this!
Thank you so much to the author for gifting me an ARC and the opportunity to read this.
December 8, 2025
This book is SO good!!
Honestly not every romantasy book needs drama, the main characters talked through their problems and quickly built a level of trust. As someone with anxiety I loved the representation. The FMC loves baths, reading and being her own person (which makes sense if you read it) after her traumas, she makes it a point to do things she loves.
Kaius was such a good book boyfriend. He took care of her, and sees her for everything she is and still accepts her. He’s not really morally grey at this point, just a great GREEN flag.
It was a slow ish burn, but the longing and tension was definitely there.
If you’re new to romantasy, or need a quick filler book or just a change of pace this is your book. It’s quick, easy to read while still giving you the feels and builds the fantasy.
I cannot wait for book 2!
Honestly not every romantasy book needs drama, the main characters talked through their problems and quickly built a level of trust. As someone with anxiety I loved the representation. The FMC loves baths, reading and being her own person (which makes sense if you read it) after her traumas, she makes it a point to do things she loves.
Kaius was such a good book boyfriend. He took care of her, and sees her for everything she is and still accepts her. He’s not really morally grey at this point, just a great GREEN flag.
It was a slow ish burn, but the longing and tension was definitely there.
If you’re new to romantasy, or need a quick filler book or just a change of pace this is your book. It’s quick, easy to read while still giving you the feels and builds the fantasy.
I cannot wait for book 2!
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