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Nightbane: Book Three of the Broken Kingdoms Books
“You willingly entered this gilded prison once more, Vrea Greenvass. Under the guise of marriage, of alliance, call it what you will. Don’t expect to be leaving any time soon.”
As the truth about Castil’s heritage slips out and her mother offers her an impossible choice, Vrea knows that she would do anything to protect him, as he would for her. Which means being forced to flee from those she once sided with in exchange for the one she now cares for, far more than anyone else. Risking the arduous journey across Niroula is one thing. But now as they enter the clutches of the King of Carylim, into Hawksmoor once again, their survival is solely dependent on how well they can play the game of war. A strategic contest of wits that has deadly consequences if they make the wrong move, including a plan cleverly devised by her brother, Teminos, to draw the true villain out. As their true feelings for each other float to the surface, new allies come to fruition and old enemies meet fates that belonged to them from the beginning.
As the truth about Castil’s heritage slips out and her mother offers her an impossible choice, Vrea knows that she would do anything to protect him, as he would for her. Which means being forced to flee from those she once sided with in exchange for the one she now cares for, far more than anyone else. Risking the arduous journey across Niroula is one thing. But now as they enter the clutches of the King of Carylim, into Hawksmoor once again, their survival is solely dependent on how well they can play the game of war. A strategic contest of wits that has deadly consequences if they make the wrong move, including a plan cleverly devised by her brother, Teminos, to draw the true villain out. As their true feelings for each other float to the surface, new allies come to fruition and old enemies meet fates that belonged to them from the beginning.
Unknown Binding
Published May 17, 2025
1 person is currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
E.D. Lee
18 books68 followersE. D. Lee is a gothic vampire from Ohio who became a self-published author. She started her career in writing with her fantasy romance duology, the Shadowfyre Duology. She has multiple series that are perfect for dark fantasy romance readers who enjoy spice. The Frosted Fae Series holds a special place in her heart and she continuously spreads her wings with standalone novels, new series and branching out into different categories for fantastic stories!
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
May 5, 2025
While this one lacked some of the action of the first two, it has some of the best moments of the series, if not the best! The way I gasped!
The writing style again swept me into the story. Castil will always hold my heart and Vrea's character growth is perfection.
I do wish it spent less time on the romance and more on the overarching plot, but Nightbane was a worthy conclusion to the series. I can't wait to read more of E.D. Lee's work!
The writing style again swept me into the story. Castil will always hold my heart and Vrea's character growth is perfection.
I do wish it spent less time on the romance and more on the overarching plot, but Nightbane was a worthy conclusion to the series. I can't wait to read more of E.D. Lee's work!
May 3, 2025
The final installment of The Broken Kingdoms trilogy, which did not disappoint. It ends the series with a nice neat bow and contains events and results this reader didn't fully expect. E. D. Lee has done it again.
April 23, 2025
Oh my gosh the way I once again devoured our girls book is an understatement! This was the final book in the broken kingdoms series and man can I say she knocked it out of the park once again. Now this book did once again destroy me and then put me back together all at once you just have a way of doing that so beautifully! Also two words: 3 weddings. What more can I say. This ending was the perfect way to wrap up the story and we saw some well deserved vengeance. Cas and Vrea’s story finally came to an ending but they handled everything they went through with grace and oooh Vrea is such a baddie with a sword. The ones whose have read know what I mean. 😏 needless to say don’t mess with Cas. 1000/1000 rating and I will never get over this series or these characters even the lovely brothers from both warring kingdoms ugh it was all perfection. Please if you get a chance go read this entire series and if you have go finish with this book you will not want to put it down and will still want more even when it’s over. Once again girl thank you for breaking my heart and putting it back together again. ❤️🔥❤️🔥
May 3, 2025
I had the absolute privilege to ARC read all 3 books in this trilogy and they have become some of my top reads for this year. Dare I say, E. D. Lee is now one of my new favourite authors?!
The relationship between Castil and Vrea has been so beautifully written. A true enemies to lovers (my favourite trope). From their hatred to their acceptance, along with the healing and the growth of their love, the emotions portrayed throughout feels so believable.
The war between the kingdoms has reached the point it needs to end and there's nothing V and C (with the help of some other key characters) wouldn't do to right the wrongs and fix what is broken.
The build up towards the dramatic conclusion had my heart gripped! I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I couldn't put this book down!
*This is a dark fantasy containing graphic adult material and sexual content. Check the trigger warnings before reading to ensure this book is right for you.
The relationship between Castil and Vrea has been so beautifully written. A true enemies to lovers (my favourite trope). From their hatred to their acceptance, along with the healing and the growth of their love, the emotions portrayed throughout feels so believable.
The war between the kingdoms has reached the point it needs to end and there's nothing V and C (with the help of some other key characters) wouldn't do to right the wrongs and fix what is broken.
The build up towards the dramatic conclusion had my heart gripped! I laughed, I cried, I cheered, I couldn't put this book down!
*This is a dark fantasy containing graphic adult material and sexual content. Check the trigger warnings before reading to ensure this book is right for you.
April 21, 2025
*Beta read*
This is the trilogy that got me back into reading and Nightbane is an amazing conclusion to this story. Vrea and Castil have just been favorite characters from Book 1.
You get everything in this book; secrets, death, swoon-worthy scenes, love, betrayal, poison, plots, romance. Just everything you would want in a dark fantasy romance.
I absolutely fell in love with Vrea and Castil all over again. The hardships they have to go through, the mutual respect??? I couldn't get over how much I loved their relationship, their interactions. And the spicy scenes were just *chef's kiss*.
Nightbane also answers questions we've all been asking from book 1 and those answers were heartbreaking and you just feel for the characters so much. And because these characters are just so easy to love, it makes you feel their heartbreak even more.
10/10 would recommend this book. It is the perfect conclusion to this trilogy and I am definitely going to reread and fall in love all over again.
This is the trilogy that got me back into reading and Nightbane is an amazing conclusion to this story. Vrea and Castil have just been favorite characters from Book 1.
You get everything in this book; secrets, death, swoon-worthy scenes, love, betrayal, poison, plots, romance. Just everything you would want in a dark fantasy romance.
I absolutely fell in love with Vrea and Castil all over again. The hardships they have to go through, the mutual respect??? I couldn't get over how much I loved their relationship, their interactions. And the spicy scenes were just *chef's kiss*.
Nightbane also answers questions we've all been asking from book 1 and those answers were heartbreaking and you just feel for the characters so much. And because these characters are just so easy to love, it makes you feel their heartbreak even more.
10/10 would recommend this book. It is the perfect conclusion to this trilogy and I am definitely going to reread and fall in love all over again.
April 23, 2025
I have absolutely loved this trilogy! It has been amazing and Nightbane is the perfect conclusion to this story. In this book you have; secrets, death, swoon-worthy scenes, romance and so much more! It is everything that a dark fantasy romance should be! I absolutely fell in love with Vrea! Nightbane also answers questions we've all been asking from book 1 and those answers just be prepared for the heartbreak! These characters are just so easy to love that it makes you feel their heartbreak even more.
May 19, 2025
The finale of the Broken Kingdom series brought everything to an amazing close. The itch for revenge is thoroughly scratched in all the right places. This book gets dark but the darkness explains why Castil does what he does. Castil has gone through so much. It was shocking to learn exactly what
The relationship between Vrea and Castil only gets stronger. I love their dynamic so much. I wish I could read this book and the series for the first time again. I loved learning more about each family and seeing how they changed by the end.
The relationship between Vrea and Castil only gets stronger. I love their dynamic so much. I wish I could read this book and the series for the first time again. I loved learning more about each family and seeing how they changed by the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2025
I loved the Broken Kingdoms series! While this wasn't my favorite of the series, it was a great ending for the story of Castil and Vrea. I had my questions answered and secrets that were kept came into light for the characters. E.D. Lee's beautiful writing made you feel what the characters were feeling and I was worried I was going to get my heart broken but so glad that I didn't!
May 23, 2025
I thought this was the perfect book in this trilogy! I loved getting to see the depth of the characters and the decisions they make to get to the end. I do wish we could see more of the new kingdom, but I thought everyone got what they deserved. I absolutely loved this whole story line and didn’t want to put it down!
May 30, 2025
Two kingdoms.
forced marriage.
A thousand secrets.
Betrayal runs thicker than blood in the end of this gripping trilogy where every alliance is a gamble-and love may be the most dangerous weapon of all.
Twists you won’t see coming.
Characters you’ll love, hate, and love to hate.
An author so brilliant, you’ll question everything .
If you crave deception, power plays, forbidden love, and jaw-dropping reveals—this trilogy is your next obsession.
You’ve been warned: once you finish this book, you will immediately want to re read
10/10! E.D. Lee is an absolute genius! I will read every book she writes.
forced marriage.
A thousand secrets.
Betrayal runs thicker than blood in the end of this gripping trilogy where every alliance is a gamble-and love may be the most dangerous weapon of all.
Twists you won’t see coming.
Characters you’ll love, hate, and love to hate.
An author so brilliant, you’ll question everything .
If you crave deception, power plays, forbidden love, and jaw-dropping reveals—this trilogy is your next obsession.
You’ve been warned: once you finish this book, you will immediately want to re read
10/10! E.D. Lee is an absolute genius! I will read every book she writes.
April 25, 2025
Survivor. Fighter. Lover. The epic conclusion of the Broken Kingdoms! Nightmare ended with Castil and Vrea arriving back in Hawksmore under the pretense of being married to one another, which was only the beginning to the end of this tale. The plots are more extensive, the emotions are deeper, and the dark deals are darker than you could imagine; this book is a page turner. Who will come out alive? Who can you trust? Who can you love? E. D. Lee does an amazing job of keeping you guessing what is going to happen next and the suspension will keep you saying ‘just one more chapter’ until you’re done with the book, and the ending is sure to satisfy.
May 12, 2025
I'm so sad this trilogy has come to an end. I feel like everyone ended up where they belong. I'm glad Castil & Vrea received the ending they deserved. I loved Orla and how her relationship with Vrea developed so much. I've never been so anxious for someone to drink poison so bad in my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 13, 2025
I received this book as an ARC for the purposes of an honest review.
An amazing ending to an amazing trilogy! The character development and world building are top tier. Castil and Vrea are some of the best I've read in a long time. Them and the rest of the cast are thought out very well, including the very minor characters (Amir IYKYK). The tension and political intrigue was some of the best I've read. E. D. Lee did a phenomenal job with these books. I will read everything this wonderful woman puts out in the future!
An amazing ending to an amazing trilogy! The character development and world building are top tier. Castil and Vrea are some of the best I've read in a long time. Them and the rest of the cast are thought out very well, including the very minor characters (Amir IYKYK). The tension and political intrigue was some of the best I've read. E. D. Lee did a phenomenal job with these books. I will read everything this wonderful woman puts out in the future!
May 14, 2025
E.D. Lee returns with a gripping tale of sacrifice, strategy, and simmering romance in Nightbane, a stunning installment filled with emotional complexity and razor-edged intrigue.
Vrea Greenvass once walked into a gilded cage under the illusion of alliance, but now she knows the stakes are far greater—and far more personal. With the truth of Castil’s lineage coming to light and her mother forcing an impossible choice upon her, Vrea finds herself doing the unthinkable: fleeing from the very people she once trusted to protect the man she can no longer deny she cares for.
Their journey across Niroula is perilous enough, but true danger awaits in Hawksmoor, under the iron gaze of the King of Carylim. Here, war is not only waged on battlefields but in whispered strategies and subtle moves in a deadly game of power. The line between survival and ruin grows thinner with each step, especially as Vrea’s own brother, Teminos, spins a web designed to expose the true enemy hiding in plain sight.
In the midst of mounting tensions, Vrea and Castil’s relationship deepens in beautifully tender and raw ways. Their love is forged not in fantasy, but in the crucible of war, duty, and sacrifice. With powerful new allies emerging and long-standing enemies meeting their fated end, Nightbane brings everything to a head in a satisfying storm of twists, reveals, and hard-won victories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A thrilling blend of romance, rebellion, and courtly cunning.
Vrea Greenvass once walked into a gilded cage under the illusion of alliance, but now she knows the stakes are far greater—and far more personal. With the truth of Castil’s lineage coming to light and her mother forcing an impossible choice upon her, Vrea finds herself doing the unthinkable: fleeing from the very people she once trusted to protect the man she can no longer deny she cares for.
Their journey across Niroula is perilous enough, but true danger awaits in Hawksmoor, under the iron gaze of the King of Carylim. Here, war is not only waged on battlefields but in whispered strategies and subtle moves in a deadly game of power. The line between survival and ruin grows thinner with each step, especially as Vrea’s own brother, Teminos, spins a web designed to expose the true enemy hiding in plain sight.
In the midst of mounting tensions, Vrea and Castil’s relationship deepens in beautifully tender and raw ways. Their love is forged not in fantasy, but in the crucible of war, duty, and sacrifice. With powerful new allies emerging and long-standing enemies meeting their fated end, Nightbane brings everything to a head in a satisfying storm of twists, reveals, and hard-won victories.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A thrilling blend of romance, rebellion, and courtly cunning.
May 8, 2025
For a full review:
https://literarystitchsociety.blogspo...
An intense, emotional conclusion to a trilogy that doesn't play by the usual fantasy rules. Nightbane is a slow-burn story of reckoning, where Vrea and Castil are forced to confront not just their enemies, but their families, their trauma, and themselves. The tension isn't driven by battles or twists, but by the emotional fallout of generational violence.
Castil’s transformation from reluctant heir to a man ready to burn everything down for peace was so satisfying, and Vrea’s choice to spare her mother gave a hopeful counterpoint. Their paths diverge but also mirror one another, and that contrast is what gives this final book so much weight. The resolution for side characters was equally strong—no one is left behind, and the world feels genuinely changed by the end.
Lee continues to challenge traditional fantasy tropes, offering a nuanced exploration of love, power, and legacy. It's not flashy or fast, but if you want dark fantasy with emotional depth, this series is a must.
https://literarystitchsociety.blogspo...
An intense, emotional conclusion to a trilogy that doesn't play by the usual fantasy rules. Nightbane is a slow-burn story of reckoning, where Vrea and Castil are forced to confront not just their enemies, but their families, their trauma, and themselves. The tension isn't driven by battles or twists, but by the emotional fallout of generational violence.
Castil’s transformation from reluctant heir to a man ready to burn everything down for peace was so satisfying, and Vrea’s choice to spare her mother gave a hopeful counterpoint. Their paths diverge but also mirror one another, and that contrast is what gives this final book so much weight. The resolution for side characters was equally strong—no one is left behind, and the world feels genuinely changed by the end.
Lee continues to challenge traditional fantasy tropes, offering a nuanced exploration of love, power, and legacy. It's not flashy or fast, but if you want dark fantasy with emotional depth, this series is a must.
July 21, 2025
Woah. This book WRECKED me. I think about this series probably, everyday. This was one of the best representations of trauma, and trauma response and healing I have ever seen from a MALE main character. E. D. Lee, WELL DONE. I am blown away by this series. And listen, it is DARK. The romance is not a dark romance type, it is a deep earned love type, but the rest of the book is dark. Check your trigger warnings for sure.
Castil is one of my all time favorite men I've ever read about. And Vrea is a walking nightmare- in a good way. They would both 100% burn the world down for each other.
I don't normally go here but the intimate scenes were well done in the sense that they talked about consent and trauma that affected it. It is explicit, so again check your triggers, but executed well, and again, I NEVER say that.
This is not some epic fantasy, it is politically/ character driven- man was it good. I think this series deserves all the hype and love!
Castil is one of my all time favorite men I've ever read about. And Vrea is a walking nightmare- in a good way. They would both 100% burn the world down for each other.
I don't normally go here but the intimate scenes were well done in the sense that they talked about consent and trauma that affected it. It is explicit, so again check your triggers, but executed well, and again, I NEVER say that.
This is not some epic fantasy, it is politically/ character driven- man was it good. I think this series deserves all the hype and love!
September 14, 2025
Oh the drama, it's so good! More secrets are spilled, and maybe some blood too. E.D. Lee wraps this story up with a spicy little bow and a dap or two of revenge.. or maybe a whole vat of it. Trust me, there are some moments you don't want to miss. READ IT.
May 27, 2025
The thrilling conclusion to the broken kingdoms series. Happy with Vrea and Castil’s ending. Loved the romance and trust that happened between them in this book. Would love more insight on how they change things for the better. As well as all the remaining siblings.
There was also a lot of build up to certain events that just kind of happen and then get glossed over. Would have liked to see more of the consequences/reactions to these events.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
There was also a lot of build up to certain events that just kind of happen and then get glossed over. Would have liked to see more of the consequences/reactions to these events.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews