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The Wicked Ones Duology #2
Sharpen Your Claws
Two years after Fearworn’s demise, the realms are safe, or rather, they are supposed to be.
After surviving the war against a cursed fae, William Vandervult, now a doctor at one of his family’s clinics, has a new list, and this one comprises his missing patients. The authorities claim he exaggerates the disappearances, and the mortal king cares more for throwing parties than investigating. William cannot possibly uncover the truth of this dark plot when the war haunts him so fiercely he cannot trust his mind.
Nicholas Darkmoon may have defeated the cursed fae focused on tearing the world asunder, but now he is destined to follow in those footsteps. Caught in a deal with his father, Nicholas hasn’t seen William for two long years. He is a rabid dog on a leash, wishing to be set free. When he inevitably reconnects with William, his obsession threatens to tear them apart, literally.
However, the only way to discover what has become of William’s missing patients and potentially stave off Nicholas’ fate is to work together. But William’s heart is not as sturdy as he needs it to be, and Nicholas’ mind shatters more every day. Being together may be what they desire, but it may also lead to their mutual destruction.
Sharpen Your Claws is an epic conclusion to The Wicked Ones duology full of second chances, regret, and everlasting love among our darkest moments.
After surviving the war against a cursed fae, William Vandervult, now a doctor at one of his family’s clinics, has a new list, and this one comprises his missing patients. The authorities claim he exaggerates the disappearances, and the mortal king cares more for throwing parties than investigating. William cannot possibly uncover the truth of this dark plot when the war haunts him so fiercely he cannot trust his mind.
Nicholas Darkmoon may have defeated the cursed fae focused on tearing the world asunder, but now he is destined to follow in those footsteps. Caught in a deal with his father, Nicholas hasn’t seen William for two long years. He is a rabid dog on a leash, wishing to be set free. When he inevitably reconnects with William, his obsession threatens to tear them apart, literally.
However, the only way to discover what has become of William’s missing patients and potentially stave off Nicholas’ fate is to work together. But William’s heart is not as sturdy as he needs it to be, and Nicholas’ mind shatters more every day. Being together may be what they desire, but it may also lead to their mutual destruction.
Sharpen Your Claws is an epic conclusion to The Wicked Ones duology full of second chances, regret, and everlasting love among our darkest moments.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 10, 2025
8 people are currently reading
154 people want to read
About the author
Twoony
31 books201 followersTwoony is an agender and asexual geek with a love for story telling in all forms; movies, comics, books, games, and more. They write YA and adult stories ranging from the always enjoyable teen rom-com to high fantasy romance. At the age of twelve, they posted their first story online and have been addicted to sharing ever since. Now, they are a self-published author with six works available on Amazon and nine available on tapas along with three comics.
Although Twoony graduated from California University of PA with a Bachelors in Graphics & Multimedia, their true passion has always been writing. After writing original novels and comics on sites like Tapas and Wattpad, amounting over 144k subscribers and 7m+ reads, they have managed to live the dream. Twoony creates fulltime, lives with three needy cats, and not enough bookshelves.
Although Twoony graduated from California University of PA with a Bachelors in Graphics & Multimedia, their true passion has always been writing. After writing original novels and comics on sites like Tapas and Wattpad, amounting over 144k subscribers and 7m+ reads, they have managed to live the dream. Twoony creates fulltime, lives with three needy cats, and not enough bookshelves.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
May 7, 2025
After crying over writing this for months, I'd like to say I'm proud of what I accomplished. Sequels are rough. They can feel like pulling out teeth. Not because there is nothing to say, but often because there is so much to say and finding what should be said is difficult, ensuring the story aligns well with the first, that the characters continue to change and grow. It's by far the most difficult part of writing for me, but I've made it, and I hope everyone loves these men as much as I do.
Thank you for supporting The Wicked Ones Duology!
Thank you for supporting The Wicked Ones Duology!
May 9, 2025
ARC Review
That was SO interesting and so fun, tense and emotional
I loved Nicholas in this we got so much development from him and the ensemble cast was a delight
An easy 5 star even if
I finished this with a massive smile on my face and an epilogue from POV was a wonderful choice
That was SO interesting and so fun, tense and emotional
I loved Nicholas in this we got so much development from him and the ensemble cast was a delight
An easy 5 star even if
I finished this with a massive smile on my face and an epilogue from POV was a wonderful choice
June 17, 2025
I got a copy via Booksprout, but am voluntarily leaving an honest review
Quick review, without any spoilers
This is a beautifully written book, with moments that had me wondering if we would get the happy ending we long for (we did!!). Beautiful representation of sexuality and gender, as well as how we process trauma- and how no one processes it the same way. This book does tackle some darker topics and the romance felt a bit lighter than the 1st book, but my gosh it was beautiful 🙂↕️
And like always, the next part will be filled with some spoilers and all over the place lol
This book picks up 2-3 years after book one ends and we’re quickly thrown into the how mentally exhausted and unwell they all are due to the war.
I loved how their (all of the main characters) trauma was explored, and how person dealt with it or in simpler terms: ignored it. The author does a beautiful job at showing how it’s emotionally breaks you down- I won’t say more because I find it difficult to really explain exactly how beautiful and vulnerable it was. We’re shown how deeply it has affected every character and how it shaped them to be who they are. And how that causes them to interact with others or even themselves.
The romance did feel a bit lighter compared to book one, but not once did it feel less important to the story. Love is quite literally what conquers all in this book. The love between William and Nicholas is what saves them both from drowning- love is what helps William and Charmaine learn to live again, even with the scars that they have. I love how family was an important part of the story. How Williams family showed their love and how it helped William see that he wasn’t hated for who he had to become- but instead that they’ll love him not matter what.
Also, I absolutely adore their little squad of hero’s lol. Charmaine and Evera’s romance was a beautiful addition, I loved reading little hints of their love here and there. I adore how Henry and Arden became friends who chase adventures. And how they all just interact in general. Everything between everyone felt very fun.
The villain part itself did feel a bit weak, but somehow not surprising? The way Fearworn came to be again was very silly and very fitting of a Fae lol.
And while I absolutely adored this book, there are just some things I cannot ignore. The ending felt very rushed- abruptly killing the villain and then everyone lived happily ever after. It’s like the author wanted to end this beautifully with a pretty little bow. And while the beautiful gift is overflowing with love, it’s also overflowing with all of my questions???
Are we supposed to ignore that Laurent was potentially helping Fearworn, or at least ignoring what was happening? While this can be answered by maybe he wanted another war. It just felt a bit unfinished? & what is going to become of Nicholas with his family now that he’s currently less shade and more fae? And now will things progress once his eyes start becoming more violet instead of the beautiful pink again? 😔
Alvina (?, Evera’s mother)- what becomes of her and their land after they defeat Fearworn? How does her mother feel about Evera becoming lovers with a human?
And on that note- why aren’t we shown how Nicholas meets Williams family?? 😭 I feel like the author kept hinting at a meeting, and that they would love him- but then we just skip forward 3 years and they all simply adore him? Which understandable bc who wouldn’t? But I would’ve loved to have seen how William’s family reacted to Nicolas, to Henry becoming besties with Arden (an unexpectedly adorable friendship), and to Charmaine having a fae lover??
So many questions, some that have easy answers and some that don’t. While I do understand why it’s difficult to just keep on adding towards a book that already has an end goal- I would’ve loved to have seen some more details of their love, whether it’s romantic, friendship or family.
While I do have all of these questions, it does not change how much I absolutely love this book. This book had me crying, laughing and feeling all giggly- while also helping me mentally bc of how amazing the author brought up what trauma does and how we don’t necessarily have to overcome it. We just have to continue living with these scars because it has shaped us into who we are- but we should never let these scars keep us from living on.
Quick review, without any spoilers
This is a beautifully written book, with moments that had me wondering if we would get the happy ending we long for (we did!!). Beautiful representation of sexuality and gender, as well as how we process trauma- and how no one processes it the same way. This book does tackle some darker topics and the romance felt a bit lighter than the 1st book, but my gosh it was beautiful 🙂↕️
And like always, the next part will be filled with some spoilers and all over the place lol
This book picks up 2-3 years after book one ends and we’re quickly thrown into the how mentally exhausted and unwell they all are due to the war.
I loved how their (all of the main characters) trauma was explored, and how person dealt with it or in simpler terms: ignored it. The author does a beautiful job at showing how it’s emotionally breaks you down- I won’t say more because I find it difficult to really explain exactly how beautiful and vulnerable it was. We’re shown how deeply it has affected every character and how it shaped them to be who they are. And how that causes them to interact with others or even themselves.
The romance did feel a bit lighter compared to book one, but not once did it feel less important to the story. Love is quite literally what conquers all in this book. The love between William and Nicholas is what saves them both from drowning- love is what helps William and Charmaine learn to live again, even with the scars that they have. I love how family was an important part of the story. How Williams family showed their love and how it helped William see that he wasn’t hated for who he had to become- but instead that they’ll love him not matter what.
Also, I absolutely adore their little squad of hero’s lol. Charmaine and Evera’s romance was a beautiful addition, I loved reading little hints of their love here and there. I adore how Henry and Arden became friends who chase adventures. And how they all just interact in general. Everything between everyone felt very fun.
The villain part itself did feel a bit weak, but somehow not surprising? The way Fearworn came to be again was very silly and very fitting of a Fae lol.
And while I absolutely adored this book, there are just some things I cannot ignore. The ending felt very rushed- abruptly killing the villain and then everyone lived happily ever after. It’s like the author wanted to end this beautifully with a pretty little bow. And while the beautiful gift is overflowing with love, it’s also overflowing with all of my questions???
Are we supposed to ignore that Laurent was potentially helping Fearworn, or at least ignoring what was happening? While this can be answered by maybe he wanted another war. It just felt a bit unfinished? & what is going to become of Nicholas with his family now that he’s currently less shade and more fae? And now will things progress once his eyes start becoming more violet instead of the beautiful pink again? 😔
Alvina (?, Evera’s mother)- what becomes of her and their land after they defeat Fearworn? How does her mother feel about Evera becoming lovers with a human?
And on that note- why aren’t we shown how Nicholas meets Williams family?? 😭 I feel like the author kept hinting at a meeting, and that they would love him- but then we just skip forward 3 years and they all simply adore him? Which understandable bc who wouldn’t? But I would’ve loved to have seen how William’s family reacted to Nicolas, to Henry becoming besties with Arden (an unexpectedly adorable friendship), and to Charmaine having a fae lover??
So many questions, some that have easy answers and some that don’t. While I do understand why it’s difficult to just keep on adding towards a book that already has an end goal- I would’ve loved to have seen some more details of their love, whether it’s romantic, friendship or family.
While I do have all of these questions, it does not change how much I absolutely love this book. This book had me crying, laughing and feeling all giggly- while also helping me mentally bc of how amazing the author brought up what trauma does and how we don’t necessarily have to overcome it. We just have to continue living with these scars because it has shaped us into who we are- but we should never let these scars keep us from living on.
May 8, 2025
I am blown away once again by Twoony.
Some time has passed since the end of book one, and the boys are both dealing with their own issues. I love the way trauma is explored in this series. Trauma is, for lack of a better word, versatile. Everyone experiences it, comes to terms with it, and handles it differently, even when going through the same thing. In this series, that is shown in great detail. I won’t say much as that would spoil the story, but I’m completely blown away (I know I said that already) by the way Twoony handles William, Nicholas, and Charmaine’s trauma. We get a deeper sense into who they are and how their trauma has shaped them, and continues to shape them. And it’s done in such a careful way. I definitely cried a few times while watching them struggle.
Now the world building. I say it all the time, but world building is one of my favorite parts of a fantasy book. The world of this story is so rich and beautiful. I loved exploring more of it, learning more of the fae and their upbringing. The descriptions just hit all of the senses. I could feel how much care was put into crafting it.
I truly did not want this story to end. It just drew me in and refused to let me go. So emotional and raw. While the first book really showed how ugly humans could be, this one dove into how beautiful they can be.
I received an advanced copy and this is my voluntary review.
Some time has passed since the end of book one, and the boys are both dealing with their own issues. I love the way trauma is explored in this series. Trauma is, for lack of a better word, versatile. Everyone experiences it, comes to terms with it, and handles it differently, even when going through the same thing. In this series, that is shown in great detail. I won’t say much as that would spoil the story, but I’m completely blown away (I know I said that already) by the way Twoony handles William, Nicholas, and Charmaine’s trauma. We get a deeper sense into who they are and how their trauma has shaped them, and continues to shape them. And it’s done in such a careful way. I definitely cried a few times while watching them struggle.
Now the world building. I say it all the time, but world building is one of my favorite parts of a fantasy book. The world of this story is so rich and beautiful. I loved exploring more of it, learning more of the fae and their upbringing. The descriptions just hit all of the senses. I could feel how much care was put into crafting it.
I truly did not want this story to end. It just drew me in and refused to let me go. So emotional and raw. While the first book really showed how ugly humans could be, this one dove into how beautiful they can be.
I received an advanced copy and this is my voluntary review.
June 16, 2025
This is Book 2 of the duology and takes place two years after Book 1 ended. William and Charmaine are struggling bad with PTSD. Nicholas is losing himself to his shade powers. Evera had a much bigger part in this story, and I loved her. Yes, she’s technically a thorn in the side of William and Nicholas’ HEA, but she wants to marry Nicholas as much as Nicholas wants to marry her – aka not at all. I hope that Charmaine and Evera have their own story, even just a novella because I’d love to see more of their interactions.
💜 They’re both morally grey
🩸 Enemies with benefits
💜 They’re both deadly
🩸 Obsessive love
💜 They’ll 🔪 for one another
🩸 I was made for you
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout.
💜 They’re both morally grey
🩸 Enemies with benefits
💜 They’re both deadly
🩸 Obsessive love
💜 They’ll 🔪 for one another
🩸 I was made for you
I received a free copy of this book from Booksprout.
July 1, 2025
Diría más bien 3.8⭐. No es un libro malo, tiene una trama entretenida y un final que me gustó, mi problema radica en que lo encontré menos emocionante que el primer libro. Tiene una trama más apagada y que a veces quiere abordar muchas cosas a la vez, tiene la maldición del segundo libro jajaja. Y me gustó mucho más el ritmo de la primera parte del libro.
De todas formas fue entretenido y quiero leer más de Twoony.
De todas formas fue entretenido y quiero leer más de Twoony.
July 1, 2025
too bad this is a duology😭 i need more of Nicholas and William
June 10, 2025
** Thank you so much to Twoony for the ARC **
“Sharpen your claws” is the second and last book from the “The Wicked ones” duology and it ends William and Nicholas’ journey to defeat the shadow forces for good.
In the first book, darkness has always followed Nicholas, his fate seems to not be kind to him or the ones he loves. He spends his life trying to rid himself of that end, one filled with death and loneliness. In this second book, Nicholas is starving for William. They haven’t seen each other for two years and while being apart, Nicholas’ state has only gotten worse. His darkness needs William to be fully himself and in control. In the previous book, Nicholas always found William and humans fascinating, since he is fae. But in “Sharpen your claws”, Nicholas is more disconnected from his kind and hoping to escape his fate to just be with William. Even though he is fae, he understands that it is William and the human world and their touch and emotions that make him feel good and safe.
Nicholas no longer carries the burden of ridding the world of evil, he is now on a mission to rid himself of the evil inside of him that promises to come out, the longer he stays away from William. In the first book, we are aware that Nicholas does not control his life, but after discovering that humans are not that bad and especially William, who gives him his heart, Nicholas in “Sharpen you claws” decides to be selfish and stop living his life for others and focus on his happiness.
William still struggled with the war’s aftermath. He still dreams of Nicholas, of the men he fought and all the images that still haunt him. Just like Nicholas, he was never able to move forward in his life, and now a medic, he lives through his work. Although William does not need Nicholas, the way Nicholas needs William, he is still bitter that Nicholas did not contact him for two years. After knowing the reason and with Nicholas pushing William to accept his apology, William realises there was never anyone else in his heart but Nicholas. Even fearing the darkness within Nicholas’ heart, William keeps by his side and wishes to face that darkness with him.
“Sharpen your claws” is a great ending to an incredible paranormal duology. This second book has more of a fantasy atmosphere that feels enchanted. William and Nicholas’ relationship is more mature now and the stakes are higher. They know they belong to each other and that they need to fight if they wish to be together. Also great representation of other queer characters, such as Henry, being asexual, Evera whom I believe may be bi/pan and Charmaine, we already know from book one, who is trans and maybe also pan/bi. I really loved that we had more than just MM relationships!
Despite it being June and Pride Month, you can read “The Wicked Ones” duology at any time of year. I have suggested this book to some friends because I think it is something that a lot of readers who love fantasy will also adore this. It is cute, spicy, it has adventure and also all the feelings!
“Sharpen your claws” is the second and last book from the “The Wicked ones” duology and it ends William and Nicholas’ journey to defeat the shadow forces for good.
In the first book, darkness has always followed Nicholas, his fate seems to not be kind to him or the ones he loves. He spends his life trying to rid himself of that end, one filled with death and loneliness. In this second book, Nicholas is starving for William. They haven’t seen each other for two years and while being apart, Nicholas’ state has only gotten worse. His darkness needs William to be fully himself and in control. In the previous book, Nicholas always found William and humans fascinating, since he is fae. But in “Sharpen your claws”, Nicholas is more disconnected from his kind and hoping to escape his fate to just be with William. Even though he is fae, he understands that it is William and the human world and their touch and emotions that make him feel good and safe.
Nicholas no longer carries the burden of ridding the world of evil, he is now on a mission to rid himself of the evil inside of him that promises to come out, the longer he stays away from William. In the first book, we are aware that Nicholas does not control his life, but after discovering that humans are not that bad and especially William, who gives him his heart, Nicholas in “Sharpen you claws” decides to be selfish and stop living his life for others and focus on his happiness.
William still struggled with the war’s aftermath. He still dreams of Nicholas, of the men he fought and all the images that still haunt him. Just like Nicholas, he was never able to move forward in his life, and now a medic, he lives through his work. Although William does not need Nicholas, the way Nicholas needs William, he is still bitter that Nicholas did not contact him for two years. After knowing the reason and with Nicholas pushing William to accept his apology, William realises there was never anyone else in his heart but Nicholas. Even fearing the darkness within Nicholas’ heart, William keeps by his side and wishes to face that darkness with him.
“Sharpen your claws” is a great ending to an incredible paranormal duology. This second book has more of a fantasy atmosphere that feels enchanted. William and Nicholas’ relationship is more mature now and the stakes are higher. They know they belong to each other and that they need to fight if they wish to be together. Also great representation of other queer characters, such as Henry, being asexual, Evera whom I believe may be bi/pan and Charmaine, we already know from book one, who is trans and maybe also pan/bi. I really loved that we had more than just MM relationships!
Despite it being June and Pride Month, you can read “The Wicked Ones” duology at any time of year. I have suggested this book to some friends because I think it is something that a lot of readers who love fantasy will also adore this. It is cute, spicy, it has adventure and also all the feelings!
May 10, 2025
I received an ARC copy, and I am SO glad to have been able to read this! The first book severely hurt my feelings (I cried at the ending) and I desperately needed to see how this ended. This book was just as wonderful and emotional as the first one, and the ending was perfect. This is going to be a lot of rambling thoughts, sorry in advice to anyone reading this and to Twoony lol. I adored this book, but my thoughts are not well put together.
Where to begin? I really enjoyed the character development in this one, and really enjoyed watching Nicholas over the course of the book. I just adore him and we got a lot of him this book.
I didn’t expect how this book started! Maybe I should have, but I didn’t. I loved it though.
Overall the characters and character development was great in this book. Nicholas and William of course, but also Charmaine (I adore her) and Evera. I wasn’t expecting to see so much of Evera, but I actually really enjoyed getting to know her. She had a lot more depth than I would have expected based on the first book and it was cool to see more of the fae and delve past the stereotypes of fae (stereotypes which are very well deserved!). . I also loved to see more of Nicholas’s family, and more of William’s. They were all well written and enjoyable, and it was just neat to learn more about everyone. They were well developed and 3D, and all the character relationships (romantic or otherwise) were handled well.
Plot wise I also had a great time. There was a mystery to solve, and I didn’t expect what was going on! It kept my interest the entire time and I never got bored, and I thought this book was paced really well. And we got to see more of Faerie! I LOVED that. I really really enjoy seeing different worlds, whether that’s realms or planets or anything else, and after Nicholas spoke of his home to William I was hoping we’d get to see it and we did, and it lived up to expectations. I had a great time (even if the characters maybe didn’t all the time lol).
And the ending. My heart! I was stressing during the ending, but I had a smile on my face for the whole epilogue. It being in like the first book ended was perfect, and the epilogue was so sweet and heartwarming for all the characters. I’m just so so happy to see how everyone is living their lives and how it ended. The characters went through so much over the course of both books and deserve their HEAs, and Twoony delivered.
I could probably ramble more, but will leave it there. Overall, the plot was great, characters and their development was wonderful, angst was top notch, hurt/comfort was perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for more from the epilogue. There were a couple typos that admittedly confused me a couple times, but not the end of the world and that can happen with ARCs. This got 5 stars and it’s on my favorites shelf. I am so so glad to have had a chance to read this ARC. I will think very fondly of Nicholas and William in the future and will definitely be telling more of my friends to read this.
Where to begin? I really enjoyed the character development in this one, and really enjoyed watching Nicholas over the course of the book. I just adore him and we got a lot of him this book.
I didn’t expect how this book started! Maybe I should have, but I didn’t. I loved it though.
Overall the characters and character development was great in this book. Nicholas and William of course, but also Charmaine (I adore her) and Evera. I wasn’t expecting to see so much of Evera, but I actually really enjoyed getting to know her. She had a lot more depth than I would have expected based on the first book and it was cool to see more of the fae and delve past the stereotypes of fae (stereotypes which are very well deserved!). . I also loved to see more of Nicholas’s family, and more of William’s. They were all well written and enjoyable, and it was just neat to learn more about everyone. They were well developed and 3D, and all the character relationships (romantic or otherwise) were handled well.
Plot wise I also had a great time. There was a mystery to solve, and I didn’t expect what was going on! It kept my interest the entire time and I never got bored, and I thought this book was paced really well. And we got to see more of Faerie! I LOVED that. I really really enjoy seeing different worlds, whether that’s realms or planets or anything else, and after Nicholas spoke of his home to William I was hoping we’d get to see it and we did, and it lived up to expectations. I had a great time (even if the characters maybe didn’t all the time lol).
And the ending. My heart! I was stressing during the ending, but I had a smile on my face for the whole epilogue. It being in like the first book ended was perfect, and the epilogue was so sweet and heartwarming for all the characters. I’m just so so happy to see how everyone is living their lives and how it ended. The characters went through so much over the course of both books and deserve their HEAs, and Twoony delivered.
I could probably ramble more, but will leave it there. Overall, the plot was great, characters and their development was wonderful, angst was top notch, hurt/comfort was perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for more from the epilogue. There were a couple typos that admittedly confused me a couple times, but not the end of the world and that can happen with ARCs. This got 5 stars and it’s on my favorites shelf. I am so so glad to have had a chance to read this ARC. I will think very fondly of Nicholas and William in the future and will definitely be telling more of my friends to read this.
July 15, 2025
4.4 rated down
Ahh, I was so glad to not have to wait too long for the second half of this duology!
I was a little surprised we time skip two years into the future, but at the same time, it makes sense. Nicholas had a job to do and William needed time to recover. I suppose if William knew the truth of what happened to Nicholas, he might have fought to be with him sooner instead of giving up.
But it all makes sense, them dealing with their own versions of PTSD, and loving how Charmaine was able to be her true self during those years and get closer to William and his family. I think Twoony did a fantastic job with handling post war PTSD and also the crumbling of Nicholas' mind and personality, weaving a balance that made us fearful for a proper happy ending. It wasn't just a simple descent into madness.
The overarching mystery that finally brings our two men together again was very interesting, and I do love that it led us to seeing more of Williams' family and see how they have loved and tried to evolve with him after "winning" the war. It's so heartfelt.
I also love the worldbuilding we get for the Fae realm, how weird and wild it is, where there's no obvious rules to reality and yet there's protocol. Also how whimsical it can be with how outright treacherous it is at the same time.
I have so many wonderful quotes that I fell in love with again, from romantic to philosophical to funny. Again, I indulged in reading this wanting to take my time with it even though I was eager for the happy ending that I believed to be there.
For the first half of the book, we're getting the gang back together and basically convincing William that he needs Nicholas, and that his fae lover isn't completely lost to the Shade. The second half, similar to the first book, is traveling. Traveling through to the fae realm and getting lost along the way and trying to find the heart of the mystery.
This is where the book falters and why I don't give this a full five stars. Like the first, the final confrontation scenes we get with not just the big bad but another antagonist felt very flat. Felt underwhelming and didn't have the satisfaction of finally getting over these antagonists. Some of it felt a little rushed, and the reasoning for the motivations didn't make sense. When it had to deal with Nicholas or William fighting their traumas and fighting *for* each other, it was great and worked well. But the actual fighting and climaxes seemed to just be there.
Also, I don't know why Charmaine had to be sidelined like she was, and was hoping for a little more with her. She was such a delight like in the first book, and I appreciate stories where we can see our couple having healthy (or in Nicholas' case sometimes not quite healthy) relationships and friendships outside their love interest, especially in MM stories. So yeah, I could've done with more of her being active in the story.
The final chapter and parallel to the first book's final chapter was so sweet and so wonderful to end on. The heartbreak I endured in the ending of Bare Your Teeth was fully soothed here.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The cover again excels! It parallels so wonderfully (and contrasts) to the first one, giving us a hint of what the book will show. Their hurt and devotion and love to each other and the *violet* with the small hint of magenta... Oh! Just perfectly encapsulates these two.
So, despite its flaws, this duology has been one of my favorite reads of all time and is very much in the top three of favorite queer novels. Thank you.
Ahh, I was so glad to not have to wait too long for the second half of this duology!
I was a little surprised we time skip two years into the future, but at the same time, it makes sense. Nicholas had a job to do and William needed time to recover. I suppose if William knew the truth of what happened to Nicholas, he might have fought to be with him sooner instead of giving up.
But it all makes sense, them dealing with their own versions of PTSD, and loving how Charmaine was able to be her true self during those years and get closer to William and his family. I think Twoony did a fantastic job with handling post war PTSD and also the crumbling of Nicholas' mind and personality, weaving a balance that made us fearful for a proper happy ending. It wasn't just a simple descent into madness.
The overarching mystery that finally brings our two men together again was very interesting, and I do love that it led us to seeing more of Williams' family and see how they have loved and tried to evolve with him after "winning" the war. It's so heartfelt.
I also love the worldbuilding we get for the Fae realm, how weird and wild it is, where there's no obvious rules to reality and yet there's protocol. Also how whimsical it can be with how outright treacherous it is at the same time.
I have so many wonderful quotes that I fell in love with again, from romantic to philosophical to funny. Again, I indulged in reading this wanting to take my time with it even though I was eager for the happy ending that I believed to be there.
For the first half of the book, we're getting the gang back together and basically convincing William that he needs Nicholas, and that his fae lover isn't completely lost to the Shade. The second half, similar to the first book, is traveling. Traveling through to the fae realm and getting lost along the way and trying to find the heart of the mystery.
This is where the book falters and why I don't give this a full five stars. Like the first, the final confrontation scenes we get with not just the big bad but another antagonist felt very flat. Felt underwhelming and didn't have the satisfaction of finally getting over these antagonists. Some of it felt a little rushed, and the reasoning for the motivations didn't make sense. When it had to deal with Nicholas or William fighting their traumas and fighting *for* each other, it was great and worked well. But the actual fighting and climaxes seemed to just be there.
Also, I don't know why Charmaine had to be sidelined like she was, and was hoping for a little more with her. She was such a delight like in the first book, and I appreciate stories where we can see our couple having healthy (or in Nicholas' case sometimes not quite healthy) relationships and friendships outside their love interest, especially in MM stories. So yeah, I could've done with more of her being active in the story.
The final chapter and parallel to the first book's final chapter was so sweet and so wonderful to end on. The heartbreak I endured in the ending of Bare Your Teeth was fully soothed here.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The cover again excels! It parallels so wonderfully (and contrasts) to the first one, giving us a hint of what the book will show. Their hurt and devotion and love to each other and the *violet* with the small hint of magenta... Oh! Just perfectly encapsulates these two.
So, despite its flaws, this duology has been one of my favorite reads of all time and is very much in the top three of favorite queer novels. Thank you.
August 3, 2025
Sharpen Your Claws is part two in the Wicked Ones duology by Twoony. The war is over. William and Charmaine have returned home, but little is back to normal. William has distanced himself from his family, dedicated to helping others left irreparably altered from the war. But something goes wrong. His patients start disappearing, and he will stop at nothing to find out why. It’s been two years since he’s seen Nicholas, who’s been trapped in a deal with his father to not see William. Their paths cross once again, and together they set out to save the missing patients and put things to right.
I really enjoyed book one and how war was depicted, and similarly I enjoyed how those affected by war are depicted here in the aftermath. It was great to see William and Nicholas reunite, even though they’ve both changed a little. We get to see them venture into Faerie, which was awesome to read about. I really enjoyed Twoony’s depiction of the fae in the first book and that traveled through to the second. The first half was great, really built the tension between William and Nicholas, and set up the issue of the missing patients. This is where it kind of slowed down for me, and didn’t pick back up for around 20-30%. The scenes through Faerie were some of my favorite, but the ending and resolution did feel a little rushed.
Overall, I think this duology is one of my favorite depictions of fae. I would recommend this to anyone that loves fae and folklore, especially the ruthlessness of fae. I enjoyed it. I have some other titles from Twoony on my kindle and I look forward to reading more from them.
I received a copy of this book through BookSprout and this is my honest review.
I really enjoyed book one and how war was depicted, and similarly I enjoyed how those affected by war are depicted here in the aftermath. It was great to see William and Nicholas reunite, even though they’ve both changed a little. We get to see them venture into Faerie, which was awesome to read about. I really enjoyed Twoony’s depiction of the fae in the first book and that traveled through to the second. The first half was great, really built the tension between William and Nicholas, and set up the issue of the missing patients. This is where it kind of slowed down for me, and didn’t pick back up for around 20-30%. The scenes through Faerie were some of my favorite, but the ending and resolution did feel a little rushed.
Overall, I think this duology is one of my favorite depictions of fae. I would recommend this to anyone that loves fae and folklore, especially the ruthlessness of fae. I enjoyed it. I have some other titles from Twoony on my kindle and I look forward to reading more from them.
I received a copy of this book through BookSprout and this is my honest review.
January 10, 2026
I loved the first book, and my love for the characters and the author's writing style remains firm in this book. But where the first book succeeded in many things, this book needed a lot more rounds of editing.
There are typos and change of phrases everywhere. In some instances they do in fact affect the plot. The fight with the red caps in faerie is a prime example because the original deal was stated as 'who ever falls from the circle first wins' but Twoony more so meant the opposite, which is later confirmed when Henry wins by being the last one standing inside the circle....
Additionally, the whole first half of this book was slow and super repetitive. There are a lot of growing pains expressed by characters (ptsd, gender conforming, shade powers, etc) that took up a lot space and rambled on across multiple chapters for but then disappear in the rising action. On top of this, the second half of this book became so rushed as it worked to fit in so much. It was the most exciting part of the book and had the first half not dragged on, it could have worked to explore more.
I'm also extremely sad that we did not get a moment of William meeting Nicolas's field of sunflowers, which was something I felt was almost foreshadowed to happen in the first book.
Overall, it just felt like the author was on a strict deadline and rushed to meet it with whatever draft this is. Had some more care been taken to clean up wording, character motives, and plot lines, I would have no doubt loved this book as much as the first if not more.
There are typos and change of phrases everywhere. In some instances they do in fact affect the plot. The fight with the red caps in faerie is a prime example because the original deal was stated as 'who ever falls from the circle first wins' but Twoony more so meant the opposite, which is later confirmed when Henry wins by being the last one standing inside the circle....
Additionally, the whole first half of this book was slow and super repetitive. There are a lot of growing pains expressed by characters (ptsd, gender conforming, shade powers, etc) that took up a lot space and rambled on across multiple chapters for but then disappear in the rising action. On top of this, the second half of this book became so rushed as it worked to fit in so much. It was the most exciting part of the book and had the first half not dragged on, it could have worked to explore more.
I'm also extremely sad that we did not get a moment of William meeting Nicolas's field of sunflowers, which was something I felt was almost foreshadowed to happen in the first book.
Overall, it just felt like the author was on a strict deadline and rushed to meet it with whatever draft this is. Had some more care been taken to clean up wording, character motives, and plot lines, I would have no doubt loved this book as much as the first if not more.
June 2, 2025
ARC Review!
Aww, this book was literally so pretty.
I cried real tears at some of the pages, but laughed just as hard at some of the silly lines they said.
I loved how Henry’s character grew so much, and how all the problems eventually mended themselves. Everyone got a chance to heal from their mistakes and their wounds.
That moment with William’s arm especially stood out the way it described how painful it can be when someone else makes a life-changing decision for you. It’s both a loss and a gain.
Charmaine and Evera are so freaking sweet. Theirs is the best relationship ever.
And Arden... oh god. Pure chaos. He’s only there for the fun, but it seems like even he’s been infected with the human emotions virus no matter how much he loathes it, lol.
The fight scenes were, to say the least, interesting. I did understand what was going on, but the drama was top-tier.
Nicholas and William’s very gay, very obvious relationship is just so beautiful.
“Trouble” and “My Wicked” those nicknames suit them so much.
I’m definitely adding at least three quotes from this book to my favorites, the writing is just so pretty.
Loved it!
Aww, this book was literally so pretty.
I cried real tears at some of the pages, but laughed just as hard at some of the silly lines they said.
I loved how Henry’s character grew so much, and how all the problems eventually mended themselves. Everyone got a chance to heal from their mistakes and their wounds.
That moment with William’s arm especially stood out the way it described how painful it can be when someone else makes a life-changing decision for you. It’s both a loss and a gain.
Charmaine and Evera are so freaking sweet. Theirs is the best relationship ever.
And Arden... oh god. Pure chaos. He’s only there for the fun, but it seems like even he’s been infected with the human emotions virus no matter how much he loathes it, lol.
The fight scenes were, to say the least, interesting. I did understand what was going on, but the drama was top-tier.
Nicholas and William’s very gay, very obvious relationship is just so beautiful.
“Trouble” and “My Wicked” those nicknames suit them so much.
I’m definitely adding at least three quotes from this book to my favorites, the writing is just so pretty.
Loved it!
May 15, 2025
I absolutely loved these two books—each for very different reasons. The first one is all about angst, darkness, and the slow, intense creation of a bond between the two main characters. But this second one? It hurt in the best and worst ways.
Between fae 's houses turned into matchmaking arenas, unhinged cultists, and ancient and cruel parents hell-bent on sabotaging any chance of peace between you and your sweet mortal boyfriend, this book managed to be both heartwarming and soul-crushing.
My poor, traumatized William and my endlessly lovable, attention-seeking Nicholas—they have my entire heart. And so do all the other characters. Charmaine, strong and sweet, stood out beautifully. Her and Evora’s storyline took me by surprise, but I ended up loving and appreciating their arc more than I ever expected.
And the rest of the Vandervault family? Pure chaos and charm. This book was a wild ride, a comforting hug, and a sucker punch—all at once. I adored it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Between fae 's houses turned into matchmaking arenas, unhinged cultists, and ancient and cruel parents hell-bent on sabotaging any chance of peace between you and your sweet mortal boyfriend, this book managed to be both heartwarming and soul-crushing.
My poor, traumatized William and my endlessly lovable, attention-seeking Nicholas—they have my entire heart. And so do all the other characters. Charmaine, strong and sweet, stood out beautifully. Her and Evora’s storyline took me by surprise, but I ended up loving and appreciating their arc more than I ever expected.
And the rest of the Vandervault family? Pure chaos and charm. This book was a wild ride, a comforting hug, and a sucker punch—all at once. I adored it.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 20, 2025
After reading the first book I was very excited about the second and it didn't disappoint. It was wonderful to have the main characters back along with some new ones that we had met very briefly before and could now get to know.
Two years have passed since the events in the last book and something's very wrong. They've all tried to move on but circumstances lead them back to each other. Perhaps the war isn't as over as they believed.
Nicholas is toxic and possessive and William is still just as in love with him as always but he doesn't just go along blindly, he does actually try to get through that. It was never the healthiest relationship but I still find myself rooting for these two broken people to find their way to each other.
It was great to explore different settings with time split between Terra (the mortal world) and Faerie. The creatures of Faerie are definitely not to be messed with.
I was pretty satisfied with the way it all wrapped up and how the dynamics of the various characters worked.
Two years have passed since the events in the last book and something's very wrong. They've all tried to move on but circumstances lead them back to each other. Perhaps the war isn't as over as they believed.
Nicholas is toxic and possessive and William is still just as in love with him as always but he doesn't just go along blindly, he does actually try to get through that. It was never the healthiest relationship but I still find myself rooting for these two broken people to find their way to each other.
It was great to explore different settings with time split between Terra (the mortal world) and Faerie. The creatures of Faerie are definitely not to be messed with.
I was pretty satisfied with the way it all wrapped up and how the dynamics of the various characters worked.
June 8, 2025
I love how perfectly imperfect the characters and situations are portrayed in this book. It has a HEA, of course, but the journey to get there is fraught with hardships and pain, and it’s beautifully portrayed. I’ve read all of Twoony’s books, and when the ARC opportunity came up, I grabbed a copy, and I leave my voluntary review. I recommend all of their books, because they’re honest, they’re real, the HEAs are fought for, and thoroughly earned. Each character is seen as an individual, and even the ones that I wanted to dislike, such as Evera, grow on you because you see them as a whole character, not simply as a flat villain. The heroes and villains alike have their moments, and it makes them more relatable, more realistic, and the overall story much more enjoyable, I highly recommend this book, and any story written by Twoony.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 7, 2025
Sharpen Your Claws is a gripping and emotional finale to The Wicked Ones duology. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down and ended up finishing it in one night, but who needs sleep anyways?
I really enjoyed the balance between the intense, heartfelt romance and the dark, twisty plot. I loved watching William and Nicholas find their way back to each other, even as everything around them threatened to fall apart. Their connection felt raw and real, and the emotional stakes were just as high as the external ones. Twoony once again managed
to write a story full of passion and hope, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I really enjoyed the balance between the intense, heartfelt romance and the dark, twisty plot. I loved watching William and Nicholas find their way back to each other, even as everything around them threatened to fall apart. Their connection felt raw and real, and the emotional stakes were just as high as the external ones. Twoony once again managed
to write a story full of passion and hope, and it kept me hooked from start to finish.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 7, 2025
I took a while writing this review because I have so many thoughts about this book that I wanted to try get right so I’m sorry for the delay!
Bare Your Teeth is a great enemies/reluctant allies to lovers set in wartime, and it’s great and I love it, but it’s sort of samey and doesn’t break much new ground in my opinion.
THIS BOOK HOWEVER, is an incredible exploration of what happens next, what happens when you survive the worst horrors and think your love betrayed you- what happens and how do you keep going? AND IT DOES IT SO WELL.
The world-building was also amazing and I LOVED how much the various locations in Faerie differed from each other!!
Huge thank you to Twoony and Booksprout for my ARC!
Bare Your Teeth is a great enemies/reluctant allies to lovers set in wartime, and it’s great and I love it, but it’s sort of samey and doesn’t break much new ground in my opinion.
THIS BOOK HOWEVER, is an incredible exploration of what happens next, what happens when you survive the worst horrors and think your love betrayed you- what happens and how do you keep going? AND IT DOES IT SO WELL.
The world-building was also amazing and I LOVED how much the various locations in Faerie differed from each other!!
Huge thank you to Twoony and Booksprout for my ARC!
June 17, 2025
Sharpen your claws is a very addictive MM paranormal fantasy romance . I was waiting for this book impatiently after reading book one. And author does not disappoint me. They way she desribed the character and kept them authentic was admirable.
The character , WOW, william AND Nicholas , they are so close to my heart.
Both are wicked and perfect for each other.
Storyline was really strong . The twist & turn will keep you on edge just like they did to me. I'm not going to spoil the ending to keep thing and story mysterious.
The writing style was good. Its written from the third person pov.
The character , WOW, william AND Nicholas , they are so close to my heart.
Both are wicked and perfect for each other.
Storyline was really strong . The twist & turn will keep you on edge just like they did to me. I'm not going to spoil the ending to keep thing and story mysterious.
The writing style was good. Its written from the third person pov.
June 17, 2025
Sharpen Your Claws brings Nicholas and William back together after two years apart—older, more scarred, and still tethered by love and longing. Nicholas is battling the darkness within, while William struggles with loss and the pain of being left behind. Their reunion is messy, magical, and full of heart, set against a backdrop of fae politics, ancient grudges, and queer joy. Emotional, angsty, and beautifully queer, this finale is a punch to the gut in the best way.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2025
Fae worldline has always been one of my most favorite ones, so it's pretty clear why I chose this book and I'm super glad this duology didn't disappoint me at all. The struggle in this book is carefully depicted, focusing on details and how people work and deal with their own issues.
And other than a good plot, can we point out how BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL the cover is? Both the books are like gems in my library.
Thank you, Twoony, for providing such amazing pieces to add to our collections.
And other than a good plot, can we point out how BREATHTAKINGLY BEAUTIFUL the cover is? Both the books are like gems in my library.
Thank you, Twoony, for providing such amazing pieces to add to our collections.
February 2, 2026
I loved the first book in this duology, and I loved this one just as much! Twoony is amazing at building these immersive worlds with magical and political systems that involve you emotionally. Favourite side character award, of course, goes to Charmaine. Overall, words struggle to describe the emotional damage this duology did to me. All I can say is if you like sad MM Romance with in-depth world and character building, you should check out this series! But be prepared, it's not an easy ride, but we'll get there in the end <3
June 8, 2025
Sharpen Your Claws is an amazing sequel to the Wicked Ones duology. We get to follow Nicholas and William two years after the war ended, both of them struggling with the aftermath and deals forged.
Especially William's PTSD and paranoia were wonderfully written, and so was Nicholas' growth and longing for a loving family. Generally, the topic of family and connection is a big one in Sharpen Your Claws, including getting to know Henry, one of William's brothers, better.
Also loved how important the topic of autonomy choice was, as well as dealing with disability. It's not something to simply ignore or fully treat away, but rather how to work with it every single day.
All over, after being afraid of reading Sharpen Your Claws after how much the first one destroyed me emotionally (especially the control Nicholas' father held over him), a very satisfying continuation.
Especially William's PTSD and paranoia were wonderfully written, and so was Nicholas' growth and longing for a loving family. Generally, the topic of family and connection is a big one in Sharpen Your Claws, including getting to know Henry, one of William's brothers, better.
Also loved how important the topic of autonomy choice was, as well as dealing with disability. It's not something to simply ignore or fully treat away, but rather how to work with it every single day.
All over, after being afraid of reading Sharpen Your Claws after how much the first one destroyed me emotionally (especially the control Nicholas' father held over him), a very satisfying continuation.
June 17, 2025
I was so worried for Nicholas and William in the beginning and whether they could be the great love we knew them to be. I loved all the characters in the duology, they created a beautiful story of friendship and family. I’m glad the baddie got his due and That everyone found their loves! I did so love that ending!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 18, 2025
The world building in Faerie was amazing, I was particularly impressed by the sentient castles. Nicholas and William were suffering terribly from all the traumas in the first book and then being separated in between. Nicholas, in particular, looked like potentially becoming a terrible danger to everyone. Most of the book felt as if their relationship was doomed, which made the ending all the more worthwhile.
May 17, 2025
ARC review!
A satisfying conclusion.
This story was a roller coaster of emotions that actually had me tearing up at parts. reading through how everyone was dealing with the aftermath of the war was so great and something that i want to happen more! in other series,' *much needed comfort with the hurt*
I'm so happy to have come across such a talented author🙏
A satisfying conclusion.
This story was a roller coaster of emotions that actually had me tearing up at parts. reading through how everyone was dealing with the aftermath of the war was so great and something that i want to happen more! in other series,' *much needed comfort with the hurt*
I'm so happy to have come across such a talented author🙏
May 19, 2025
This was a very emotional conclusion for William and Nicholas. The world building really showed us the brutal side of humanity. But then gave us a beautiful love story full of hurt, comfort and two men growing and changing alongside each other. I cried a few times along their journey but was so happy with how they grew, bonded and took care of each other.
June 17, 2025
I don't know why Twoonys books are not recognised as much as they should be. This was such a brilliant conclusion to this duology. As always a well written captivating storyline with such great characters and a plot that kept me riveted until the last page! Just brilliant!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 18, 2025
As always Twoony delivered a fantastic story !
Loved the characters development, and the realistic depiction of what it is to live with trauma and how different individual deal with it !
Great ending, bringing lot of emotions !.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Loved the characters development, and the realistic depiction of what it is to live with trauma and how different individual deal with it !
Great ending, bringing lot of emotions !.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 20, 2025
Even though this book actually handles trauma, PTSD and healing very well and is occasionally pretty dark, the love story in it is very beautiful and romantic. This book was actually a lot better than the first, as I felt that the story was better told, and it actually made the first part better as well. It is a really good, and very sweet and very spicy.
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