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Cycle of Calamity #3
The Midnight King
A king should know better than to make an enemy of his wife.
Hours after her wedding, Aurora stood over her husband with a blade to his throat. Desperate to slay his beasts before they doom her world, she made a reckless bargain—become a pawn to a despicable queen in exchange for royal status and an army. But even a princess’ tiara might not be enough to destroy the beasts her husband created.
Theron has been outplayed by his traitor bride. He should be furious that he’s returning home with an enemy army nipping at his heels, except he can’t fully hate the beautiful new wife who outwitted him. Convinced he can win Aurora back and turn her army around, Theron offers her something irresistible—help mastering her time magic.
Neither Aurora’s insolent soldiers nor her cunning husband can be fully trusted. Yet the closer she gets to Theron’s kingdom, the blurrier the line between friend and foe becomes. All Aurora knows for certain is that if she fails to master both her magic and her heart, the tragedies of history are doomed to repeat themselves.
Inspired by the Legend of Zelda, The Midnight King is the second epic fantasy romance novel in the Cycle of Calamity series. If you love time travel, court intrigue, and enemies to lovers romance, escape into The Midnight King.
Hours after her wedding, Aurora stood over her husband with a blade to his throat. Desperate to slay his beasts before they doom her world, she made a reckless bargain—become a pawn to a despicable queen in exchange for royal status and an army. But even a princess’ tiara might not be enough to destroy the beasts her husband created.
Theron has been outplayed by his traitor bride. He should be furious that he’s returning home with an enemy army nipping at his heels, except he can’t fully hate the beautiful new wife who outwitted him. Convinced he can win Aurora back and turn her army around, Theron offers her something irresistible—help mastering her time magic.
Neither Aurora’s insolent soldiers nor her cunning husband can be fully trusted. Yet the closer she gets to Theron’s kingdom, the blurrier the line between friend and foe becomes. All Aurora knows for certain is that if she fails to master both her magic and her heart, the tragedies of history are doomed to repeat themselves.
Inspired by the Legend of Zelda, The Midnight King is the second epic fantasy romance novel in the Cycle of Calamity series. If you love time travel, court intrigue, and enemies to lovers romance, escape into The Midnight King.
471 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 24, 2026
About the author
Elyse Thomson
8 books47 followersElyse Thomson writes steamy fantasy full of court intrigue, daring heroines, magical mayhem, swoon-worthy romances and worlds inspired by ancient history.
Elyse graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelors in History and Classics and currently resides in Canada's capital where you can find her binding antiquarian books, playing Dragon Age or snuggling with her husband or her neurotic terrier.
To learn more, check out her website or join her newsletter at:
https://elyse-thomson.square.site/new...
Elyse graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelors in History and Classics and currently resides in Canada's capital where you can find her binding antiquarian books, playing Dragon Age or snuggling with her husband or her neurotic terrier.
To learn more, check out her website or join her newsletter at:
https://elyse-thomson.square.site/new...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
June 25, 2026
I cannot breathe!
This books started off where we left off in the first book and you immediately pulled right back into the story. I loved that there was barely a pause before continuing with the story. I read both books back to back so I was very excited about that.
Everything about this book continued to grow. The world continued to evolves and deepen and grow as Elyse Thomson weaves her wonderful tapestry.
This story had me feeling so many emotions (that I had to just drop into Elyse's DM, because how could I not??) This story was a bit of a slow start for me, yes it was continuing from where we left off in the pervious book but Aurora, oh Aurora. She was a tad bit frustrating at the beginning, there were times that I didn't understand why she did what she did and what the purpose was. She finally got her trust issues under control and moved on buuuttt, she annoyed me a little bit at the beginning. She finally grew on me because she was...is the heart of this book and it couldn't be THIS BOOK without her!
Theron also needed to get his act together. But I believe he had the most growth in this book. He seemed to want to do the right thing and was trying to change and become better man, just as he was a good king. I loved reading his point of view and I do have to say, chapters 25-26, goddamn. (🥵🌶️) He has been officially added to my Book boyfriends list! I love that he was constantly wanting to do better once he realized that she was his fated and all that entailed. I really enjoyed that he was trying to go the lengths and trying to be better for her.
The ending... I did not breathe, think other than devour the words in front of me. Until my body said, hey we need to breathe. I loved the ending, it tied every theory I had together and I cannot wait for the next book!
This book will devour your soul and leave you wishing for more!!
Thank you Eylse Thomson so much for allowing me to read this ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
This books started off where we left off in the first book and you immediately pulled right back into the story. I loved that there was barely a pause before continuing with the story. I read both books back to back so I was very excited about that.
Everything about this book continued to grow. The world continued to evolves and deepen and grow as Elyse Thomson weaves her wonderful tapestry.
This story had me feeling so many emotions (that I had to just drop into Elyse's DM, because how could I not??) This story was a bit of a slow start for me, yes it was continuing from where we left off in the pervious book but Aurora, oh Aurora. She was a tad bit frustrating at the beginning, there were times that I didn't understand why she did what she did and what the purpose was. She finally got her trust issues under control and moved on buuuttt, she annoyed me a little bit at the beginning. She finally grew on me because she was...is the heart of this book and it couldn't be THIS BOOK without her!
Theron also needed to get his act together. But I believe he had the most growth in this book. He seemed to want to do the right thing and was trying to change and become better man, just as he was a good king. I loved reading his point of view and I do have to say, chapters 25-26, goddamn. (🥵🌶️) He has been officially added to my Book boyfriends list! I love that he was constantly wanting to do better once he realized that she was his fated and all that entailed. I really enjoyed that he was trying to go the lengths and trying to be better for her.
The ending... I did not breathe, think other than devour the words in front of me. Until my body said, hey we need to breathe. I loved the ending, it tied every theory I had together and I cannot wait for the next book!
This book will devour your soul and leave you wishing for more!!
Thank you Eylse Thomson so much for allowing me to read this ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 19, 2026
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
With each installment, the Cycles of Calamity series pulls me deeper into its world, and The Midnight King fully cemented my investment in the story.
The Midnight King takes time travel, shifting fate, gods, monsters, and political intrigue and turns each new reveal into another piece of a puzzle that always feels just out of reach. Every time I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another complication or possibility appeared.
Some twists I correctly predicted; the pieces fit together, and the reveals felt earned rather than shocking for the sake of being shocking. At the same time, there were plenty of developments I never saw coming. The balance between rewarding attentive readers and still delivering genuine surprises is one of the series’ greatest strengths. I spent much of the book theorizing about how events would unfold, whether certain problems would actually be resolved, and whether the story could realistically wrap up within the remaining pages.
The romance also takes a significant step forward. Theron remains my favorite character, though readers who prefer their morally gray heroes perpetually sharp-edged may find him softening throughout the story. While that isn’t always my preferred direction for a character, the progression made sense given everything these characters experience together, and the romance delivers for those invested in their relationship.
As an ARC reader, I did notice a handful of missing or incorrect words throughout my copy. However, these felt like standard pre-publication editing issues rather than anything that impacted my enjoyment of the story.
By the final chapters, the author was still introducing major revelations and new questions. While some answers finally emerge, many mysteries remain unresolved, and the last pages left me desperately wanting book four.
If you’ve enjoyed the first books in the series, The Midnight King absolutely delivers. If you’re here for layered fantasy, fate-driven mysteries, court intrigue, gods, monsters, and a romance woven into an increasingly complex world, this series continues to be one worth following.
With each installment, the Cycles of Calamity series pulls me deeper into its world, and The Midnight King fully cemented my investment in the story.
The Midnight King takes time travel, shifting fate, gods, monsters, and political intrigue and turns each new reveal into another piece of a puzzle that always feels just out of reach. Every time I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another complication or possibility appeared.
Some twists I correctly predicted; the pieces fit together, and the reveals felt earned rather than shocking for the sake of being shocking. At the same time, there were plenty of developments I never saw coming. The balance between rewarding attentive readers and still delivering genuine surprises is one of the series’ greatest strengths. I spent much of the book theorizing about how events would unfold, whether certain problems would actually be resolved, and whether the story could realistically wrap up within the remaining pages.
The romance also takes a significant step forward. Theron remains my favorite character, though readers who prefer their morally gray heroes perpetually sharp-edged may find him softening throughout the story. While that isn’t always my preferred direction for a character, the progression made sense given everything these characters experience together, and the romance delivers for those invested in their relationship.
As an ARC reader, I did notice a handful of missing or incorrect words throughout my copy. However, these felt like standard pre-publication editing issues rather than anything that impacted my enjoyment of the story.
By the final chapters, the author was still introducing major revelations and new questions. While some answers finally emerge, many mysteries remain unresolved, and the last pages left me desperately wanting book four.
If you’ve enjoyed the first books in the series, The Midnight King absolutely delivers. If you’re here for layered fantasy, fate-driven mysteries, court intrigue, gods, monsters, and a romance woven into an increasingly complex world, this series continues to be one worth following.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐ Overall Rating: 3.75 Stars
✨ The Vibe
Political fantasy romance filled with doomed love, court scheming, emotional frustration, fate-driven tragedy, and two people who desperately love each other but absolutely refuse to communicate properly for most of the book.
The angst? Present.
My patience during the miscommunication? Occasionally nonexistent.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Following the events of The Oracle of Dusk, Aurora and Theron are left dealing with betrayal, broken trust, political manipulation, and the looming threat of Drakon still hanging over everything.
As court politics intensify and enemies continue whispering poison into vulnerable ears, Aurora and Theron struggle to figure out whether their relationship can survive destiny, power, and their own inability to simply sit down and have one honest conversation.
Meanwhile, the world remains on the edge of destruction.
No pressure lol.
🖤 My Reading Experience
Overall, I genuinely had fun reading this book. I stayed entertained the entire time, and despite my frustrations, I still flew through it because I remain heavily invested in Aurora and Theron’s relationship and the overall fate of this world.
That said… this book definitely frustrated me more than the first one.
A very large portion of the story revolves around the miscommunication and mistrust between Aurora and Theron, and after a while, it started feeling repetitive. Every time Aurora seemed ready to open her heart back up to Theron or finally trust him again, someone would whisper something manipulative into her ear, and suddenly, we’d be dragged all the way back to square one again.
And unfortunately… it happened a lot.
At some point, I found myself wanting the story to finally move forward emotionally instead of constantly circling the same conflict over and over again.
Theron was still easily the highlight of the book for me. He honestly had the strongest character development overall, and I really enjoyed seeing him struggle between his role as king, his love for Aurora, and the emotional consequences of his past choices. He continues to be morally complicated, protective, frustrating, and deeply devoted in a way that makes him incredibly compelling to read about.
Aurora, however, frustrated me a bit more this time around. Her emotions and decisions sometimes felt very flip-floppy throughout the story, especially regarding Theron, and there were moments where I struggled to fully connect with her because of it.
The romance itself still has that addictive, emotionally doomed quality that made me enjoy the first book so much. You can genuinely feel that these two people love each other deeply, which honestly makes the constant miscommunication even more painful to sit through.
I also think this installment leaned much more heavily into court politics, royal responsibilities, and kingly duties than the first book. While I know those elements are important for the larger story, some of those sections dragged a little for me personally, and I occasionally found myself skimming parts of the political discussions.
💭 What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
My biggest issue was definitely the pacing of the emotional conflict versus the progression of the larger plot.
By the end of the book, I almost felt like I had emotionally ended up in the exact same place where the story started. Drakon is still alive, the high priestess is unfortunately still out there being insufferable, and while a lot technically happens throughout the story, it sometimes felt like the main plot barely moved forward because so much focus stayed on repairing — and then immediately damaging again — the relationship between Aurora and Theron.
I wanted a little more progression regarding the larger threat and the actual “save the world / slay the ancient evil” storyline.
Like… I am ready to fight the beast already. Please.
The emotional back-and-forth between the main characters also started losing impact because it happened so frequently. The constant cycle of:
- rebuilding trust,
- misunderstanding something,
- outside manipulation,
- emotional fallout,
- rebuilding trust again…
eventually became more exhausting than emotionally devastating for me.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Doomed Romance
- Lovers to Enemies-ish and Enemies to Lovers again
- Miscommunication
- Court Intrigue
- Protective MMC
- Morally Grey King
- Emotional Angst
💔 Emotional Impact
Emotional damage level: 3.5/5
Not because the book emotionally destroyed me in a heartbreaking way… but because Aurora and Theron refused to communicate properly, years were shaved off my lifespan.
👀 Who Should Read This?
If you enjoyed The Oracle of Dusk and love fantasy romance filled with angst, political tension, emotionally messy relationships, and fate-driven romance, you’ll probably still have a really good time with this sequel.
Especially if you enjoy:
- heavy romantic angst,
- court politics,
- emotionally doomed couples,
- morally grey kings,
- and relationship tension that constantly teeters between love and disaster.
🫶 Final Thoughts
Even though this book frustrated me more than the first one, I’m still undeniably invested in this series.
Theron continues to carry this story for me in many ways, the world itself remains interesting, and the romance is addictive enough that I need to know whether Aurora and Theron will ever actually get their happy ending.
So yes, despite all my complaints, I will absolutely be reading book three the second Elyse Thomson releases it.
And respectfully, I still hope that the high priestess gets humbled eventually.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Elyse Thomson for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
✨ The Vibe
Political fantasy romance filled with doomed love, court scheming, emotional frustration, fate-driven tragedy, and two people who desperately love each other but absolutely refuse to communicate properly for most of the book.
The angst? Present.
My patience during the miscommunication? Occasionally nonexistent.
📚 What the Book Is About (No Spoilers)
Following the events of The Oracle of Dusk, Aurora and Theron are left dealing with betrayal, broken trust, political manipulation, and the looming threat of Drakon still hanging over everything.
As court politics intensify and enemies continue whispering poison into vulnerable ears, Aurora and Theron struggle to figure out whether their relationship can survive destiny, power, and their own inability to simply sit down and have one honest conversation.
Meanwhile, the world remains on the edge of destruction.
No pressure lol.
🖤 My Reading Experience
Overall, I genuinely had fun reading this book. I stayed entertained the entire time, and despite my frustrations, I still flew through it because I remain heavily invested in Aurora and Theron’s relationship and the overall fate of this world.
That said… this book definitely frustrated me more than the first one.
A very large portion of the story revolves around the miscommunication and mistrust between Aurora and Theron, and after a while, it started feeling repetitive. Every time Aurora seemed ready to open her heart back up to Theron or finally trust him again, someone would whisper something manipulative into her ear, and suddenly, we’d be dragged all the way back to square one again.
And unfortunately… it happened a lot.
At some point, I found myself wanting the story to finally move forward emotionally instead of constantly circling the same conflict over and over again.
Theron was still easily the highlight of the book for me. He honestly had the strongest character development overall, and I really enjoyed seeing him struggle between his role as king, his love for Aurora, and the emotional consequences of his past choices. He continues to be morally complicated, protective, frustrating, and deeply devoted in a way that makes him incredibly compelling to read about.
Aurora, however, frustrated me a bit more this time around. Her emotions and decisions sometimes felt very flip-floppy throughout the story, especially regarding Theron, and there were moments where I struggled to fully connect with her because of it.
The romance itself still has that addictive, emotionally doomed quality that made me enjoy the first book so much. You can genuinely feel that these two people love each other deeply, which honestly makes the constant miscommunication even more painful to sit through.
I also think this installment leaned much more heavily into court politics, royal responsibilities, and kingly duties than the first book. While I know those elements are important for the larger story, some of those sections dragged a little for me personally, and I occasionally found myself skimming parts of the political discussions.
💭 What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
My biggest issue was definitely the pacing of the emotional conflict versus the progression of the larger plot.
By the end of the book, I almost felt like I had emotionally ended up in the exact same place where the story started. Drakon is still alive, the high priestess is unfortunately still out there being insufferable, and while a lot technically happens throughout the story, it sometimes felt like the main plot barely moved forward because so much focus stayed on repairing — and then immediately damaging again — the relationship between Aurora and Theron.
I wanted a little more progression regarding the larger threat and the actual “save the world / slay the ancient evil” storyline.
Like… I am ready to fight the beast already. Please.
The emotional back-and-forth between the main characters also started losing impact because it happened so frequently. The constant cycle of:
- rebuilding trust,
- misunderstanding something,
- outside manipulation,
- emotional fallout,
- rebuilding trust again…
eventually became more exhausting than emotionally devastating for me.
🔥 Tropes & Elements
- Doomed Romance
- Lovers to Enemies-ish and Enemies to Lovers again
- Miscommunication
- Court Intrigue
- Protective MMC
- Morally Grey King
- Emotional Angst
💔 Emotional Impact
Emotional damage level: 3.5/5
Not because the book emotionally destroyed me in a heartbreaking way… but because Aurora and Theron refused to communicate properly, years were shaved off my lifespan.
👀 Who Should Read This?
If you enjoyed The Oracle of Dusk and love fantasy romance filled with angst, political tension, emotionally messy relationships, and fate-driven romance, you’ll probably still have a really good time with this sequel.
Especially if you enjoy:
- heavy romantic angst,
- court politics,
- emotionally doomed couples,
- morally grey kings,
- and relationship tension that constantly teeters between love and disaster.
🫶 Final Thoughts
Even though this book frustrated me more than the first one, I’m still undeniably invested in this series.
Theron continues to carry this story for me in many ways, the world itself remains interesting, and the romance is addictive enough that I need to know whether Aurora and Theron will ever actually get their happy ending.
So yes, despite all my complaints, I will absolutely be reading book three the second Elyse Thomson releases it.
And respectfully, I still hope that the high priestess gets humbled eventually.
📢 Disclosure: Thank you to NetGalley and Elyse Thomson for providing an ARC. All opinions are my own.
July 15, 2026
4.25🌟
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED.
The ending of this book had my jaw on the floor, im honestly still recovering this was insane. This series just gets better and better.
I love our main characters so much even though the miscommunication in this book is a reason its not a 5 star for me, the reasons for them not communicating well is completely understandable.
I love how much Aurora has really grown in her strength; she is soft yet still strong that is my favorite type of fmc's. And Theron being so down bad is the highlight of my reading experience; Im inlove with that man.
WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED.
The ending of this book had my jaw on the floor, im honestly still recovering this was insane. This series just gets better and better.
I love our main characters so much even though the miscommunication in this book is a reason its not a 5 star for me, the reasons for them not communicating well is completely understandable.
I love how much Aurora has really grown in her strength; she is soft yet still strong that is my favorite type of fmc's. And Theron being so down bad is the highlight of my reading experience; Im inlove with that man.
September 7, 2026
I must admit, sequels tend to fall flat for me, so despite my excitement for this novel, I walked into it with a little trepidation. However, that worry was for naught, especially after I saw the dedication.
Midnight King proved that trend wrong and in all honesty is just as good if not better than Oracle of Dusk (I personally think it is better although I do find Aurora a bit frustrating in the first 2/3 of the book) . The stakes are far higher and just keep rising. It kept me completely engaged with every single page and salivating for more. It’s been years since I’ve read a series that has enraptured me so completely. If I could rate this more than 5 stars I would. This series is absolutely amazing and is truly far beyond what I dared to hope for. It has completely destroyed me and yet I’m desperate for the third book but also dreading it knowing that Aurora and Theron’s story will be coming to an end. I can only hope that the author will write some spinoff stories in this world (There is one available, The Starlight Princess, which is a prequel and is next on my list). I was convinced with Oracle of Dusk, but Midnight King has solidified for me that this is an author who I want to read everything she has written and will continue to write.
If you are looking for a time-travel fantasy romance with spice and fantastic banter and complicated morally gray characters and character development and complex plots full of political intrigue, please consider giving this series a chance! However, if you dislike miscommunication and/or manipulation tropes then this sequel might be a bit frustrating for you to read.
Also, if you aren’t into cliffhanger type endings, you might want to wait to read this series until the third book is published because oof, that ending… let’s just say I was very animated the last few chapters gasping and shouting and crying (not real tears but my heart was definitely shattering) and once the last word was read, I sat in stunned silence for several minutes. If you read Oracle of Dusk and thought that the ending was emotional, Midnight King is far, far worse in that aspect. I was absolutely devastated even though I had guessed the final events of Midnight King would eventually happen while reading Oracle of Dusk and had tried to mentally prepare myself for their inevitable occurrence but all that preparation was in vain. Nothing could have truly prepared me for that ending. I felt like I was not hanging off the cliff but had been shoved off the cliff and am currently rushing towards my demise. By the time, my shock had died down and I was done staring at the last page, My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not Okay” was blaring through my brain.
And now it’s time for the excruciating waiting game for the next installment.
Here’s to hoping when it’s time we’ll come out on the other side mostly intact.
I was provided an e-ARC copy of this book to review. The opinions stated here are mine alone. Thank you immensely to Elyse Thomson for sharing, I am eternally grateful to have stumbled across this story. Despite the fact that I finished the book before the release date, my review was posted late because I loved the book so much that I knew I needed physical copies of this series and I got distracted by re-reading it in its final published format. And even though this time I knew exactly how things would pan out, the ending was just as devastating the second time through.
Midnight King proved that trend wrong and in all honesty is just as good if not better than Oracle of Dusk (I personally think it is better although I do find Aurora a bit frustrating in the first 2/3 of the book) . The stakes are far higher and just keep rising. It kept me completely engaged with every single page and salivating for more. It’s been years since I’ve read a series that has enraptured me so completely. If I could rate this more than 5 stars I would. This series is absolutely amazing and is truly far beyond what I dared to hope for. It has completely destroyed me and yet I’m desperate for the third book but also dreading it knowing that Aurora and Theron’s story will be coming to an end. I can only hope that the author will write some spinoff stories in this world (There is one available, The Starlight Princess, which is a prequel and is next on my list). I was convinced with Oracle of Dusk, but Midnight King has solidified for me that this is an author who I want to read everything she has written and will continue to write.
If you are looking for a time-travel fantasy romance with spice and fantastic banter and complicated morally gray characters and character development and complex plots full of political intrigue, please consider giving this series a chance! However, if you dislike miscommunication and/or manipulation tropes then this sequel might be a bit frustrating for you to read.
Also, if you aren’t into cliffhanger type endings, you might want to wait to read this series until the third book is published because oof, that ending… let’s just say I was very animated the last few chapters gasping and shouting and crying (not real tears but my heart was definitely shattering) and once the last word was read, I sat in stunned silence for several minutes. If you read Oracle of Dusk and thought that the ending was emotional, Midnight King is far, far worse in that aspect. I was absolutely devastated even though I had guessed the final events of Midnight King would eventually happen while reading Oracle of Dusk and had tried to mentally prepare myself for their inevitable occurrence but all that preparation was in vain. Nothing could have truly prepared me for that ending. I felt like I was not hanging off the cliff but had been shoved off the cliff and am currently rushing towards my demise. By the time, my shock had died down and I was done staring at the last page, My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not Okay” was blaring through my brain.
And now it’s time for the excruciating waiting game for the next installment.
Here’s to hoping when it’s time we’ll come out on the other side mostly intact.
I was provided an e-ARC copy of this book to review. The opinions stated here are mine alone. Thank you immensely to Elyse Thomson for sharing, I am eternally grateful to have stumbled across this story. Despite the fact that I finished the book before the release date, my review was posted late because I loved the book so much that I knew I needed physical copies of this series and I got distracted by re-reading it in its final published format. And even though this time I knew exactly how things would pan out, the ending was just as devastating the second time through.
Review of advance copy
* Please note I received this book as an ARC -- Thank you to the Author and her team on allowing me to follow Aurora and Theron's journey so far!*
This book is a continuation from the Oracle of Dusk. In this book we see the development of Aurora and Theron's relationship and follow their quest to kill the Drakon and uncover the Priestess of Lies. If you enjoy quests seeking out one's destiny and/or knights of the round table-esque characters then I think this book would meet your expectations.
While I didn't love this book, there were moments that I enjoyed and I would continue reading the subsequent books from this series - because I am not a DNF-er (LOL) and I cannot leave a story without knowing the ending.
Here are my critiques and, ultimately, the reasons why this book didn't move me and didn't receive a higher rating:
- > 50% of the plot was focused around the miscommunication between the MMC and the FMC, taking away part of the overall plot/storyline and forcing me to be more aggravated whilst reading then enjoying the plot as it occured.
- it seemed that every time the FMC was about to open up her trust/heart to the MMC a villain would whisper in her ear and then we would be back again to square 1 of mistrust and miscommunication, scheming. I think this happened too many times for me to be engaged, and unfortunately the overall motivation for the FMC's journey and mission fell flat to me. Meaning, I believe Fae was the main reason for Aurora's need to fulfill her mission/fate, however, that friendship fell flat to me. Aurora swore her life basically to Fae and their friendship, yet the way it was written and introduced in the story made no sense to me. I think their relationship lacked depth and a more profound/moving storyline in order for me to "buy-into" Aurora's motivation for this whole journey to defeat the Drakon.
- A lot of the scenes felt choppy, I know the author expressed the Legend of Zelda as a motivation - and it does kind of read like a video game, while the overall story was interesting, it felt very superficial.
- I enjoyed Theron's character and felt he had the most character development out of everyone in this book. It just wasn't enough to lift the rest of the characters in my eyes.
-I enjoyed the ending and I think even though the plot twist was predictable to me the overall story ends at a good spot.
While this book is not one of my favorites nor did I enjoy the prose, the storyline is interesting enough for me to want to finish the series and find out how their story ends.
* For transparency -- I developed a spreadsheet with different weights for each category rating to develop an overall score. This is how everything is weighted:
📖 Storyline / Plot 15%
✍️ Prose & Writing Style 15%
💕 Romance Chemistry 15%
🌍 World-Building 15%
🎭 Character Development 10%
⚡ Pacing & Structure 10%
😮 Emotional Impact 20%
Total Score (rounded): 3/5 Stars.
This book is a continuation from the Oracle of Dusk. In this book we see the development of Aurora and Theron's relationship and follow their quest to kill the Drakon and uncover the Priestess of Lies. If you enjoy quests seeking out one's destiny and/or knights of the round table-esque characters then I think this book would meet your expectations.
While I didn't love this book, there were moments that I enjoyed and I would continue reading the subsequent books from this series - because I am not a DNF-er (LOL) and I cannot leave a story without knowing the ending.
Here are my critiques and, ultimately, the reasons why this book didn't move me and didn't receive a higher rating:
- > 50% of the plot was focused around the miscommunication between the MMC and the FMC, taking away part of the overall plot/storyline and forcing me to be more aggravated whilst reading then enjoying the plot as it occured.
- it seemed that every time the FMC was about to open up her trust/heart to the MMC a villain would whisper in her ear and then we would be back again to square 1 of mistrust and miscommunication, scheming. I think this happened too many times for me to be engaged, and unfortunately the overall motivation for the FMC's journey and mission fell flat to me. Meaning, I believe Fae was the main reason for Aurora's need to fulfill her mission/fate, however, that friendship fell flat to me. Aurora swore her life basically to Fae and their friendship, yet the way it was written and introduced in the story made no sense to me. I think their relationship lacked depth and a more profound/moving storyline in order for me to "buy-into" Aurora's motivation for this whole journey to defeat the Drakon.
- A lot of the scenes felt choppy, I know the author expressed the Legend of Zelda as a motivation - and it does kind of read like a video game, while the overall story was interesting, it felt very superficial.
- I enjoyed Theron's character and felt he had the most character development out of everyone in this book. It just wasn't enough to lift the rest of the characters in my eyes.
-I enjoyed the ending and I think even though the plot twist was predictable to me the overall story ends at a good spot.
While this book is not one of my favorites nor did I enjoy the prose, the storyline is interesting enough for me to want to finish the series and find out how their story ends.
* For transparency -- I developed a spreadsheet with different weights for each category rating to develop an overall score. This is how everything is weighted:
📖 Storyline / Plot 15%
✍️ Prose & Writing Style 15%
💕 Romance Chemistry 15%
🌍 World-Building 15%
🎭 Character Development 10%
⚡ Pacing & Structure 10%
😮 Emotional Impact 20%
Total Score (rounded): 3/5 Stars.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Midnight King was an emotional, frustrating, and thoroughly entertaining sequel that kept me turning pages from start to finish.
Picking up immediately after the events of The Oracle of Dusk, Aurora and Theron find themselves on opposite sides of a growing conflict, burdened by broken trust, political manipulation, and feelings neither of them can seem to escape. If the first book established the romance, this one puts it through absolute torture.
The strongest aspect of this book continues to be the relationship between Aurora and Theron. Their dynamic is filled with longing, betrayal, devotion, and enough emotional tension to keep me invested even when I wanted to shake both of them. Theron was easily the standout character for me. Watching him balance his responsibilities as king with his love for Aurora made for some of the book's most compelling moments.
That said, the constant cycle of mistrust and miscommunication occasionally became repetitive. Just when it felt like Aurora and Theron were finally making progress, another misunderstanding or manipulation would send them right back to square one. While their reactions were understandable given everything they've experienced, I did find myself wishing the emotional conflict would move forward a little faster.
I also enjoyed seeing the world expand beyond what we experienced in book one. The court politics, kingdom dynamics, and deeper exploration of the lore added weight to the larger story, even if some of the political discussions slowed the pacing for me at times.
What to Expect:
• Enemies-to-Lovers Marriage
• Court Intrigue
• Time Magic
• Political Fantasy
• Dual POV
• Emotional Angst
• Forced Proximity
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Betrayal & Secrets
And that ending? Absolutely devastating. Even when I suspected where certain pieces were heading, it still managed to leave me emotionally wrecked and desperately needing book three.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elyse Thomson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Midnight King was an emotional, frustrating, and thoroughly entertaining sequel that kept me turning pages from start to finish.
Picking up immediately after the events of The Oracle of Dusk, Aurora and Theron find themselves on opposite sides of a growing conflict, burdened by broken trust, political manipulation, and feelings neither of them can seem to escape. If the first book established the romance, this one puts it through absolute torture.
The strongest aspect of this book continues to be the relationship between Aurora and Theron. Their dynamic is filled with longing, betrayal, devotion, and enough emotional tension to keep me invested even when I wanted to shake both of them. Theron was easily the standout character for me. Watching him balance his responsibilities as king with his love for Aurora made for some of the book's most compelling moments.
That said, the constant cycle of mistrust and miscommunication occasionally became repetitive. Just when it felt like Aurora and Theron were finally making progress, another misunderstanding or manipulation would send them right back to square one. While their reactions were understandable given everything they've experienced, I did find myself wishing the emotional conflict would move forward a little faster.
I also enjoyed seeing the world expand beyond what we experienced in book one. The court politics, kingdom dynamics, and deeper exploration of the lore added weight to the larger story, even if some of the political discussions slowed the pacing for me at times.
What to Expect:
• Enemies-to-Lovers Marriage
• Court Intrigue
• Time Magic
• Political Fantasy
• Dual POV
• Emotional Angst
• Forced Proximity
• Slow-Burn Romance
• Betrayal & Secrets
And that ending? Absolutely devastating. Even when I suspected where certain pieces were heading, it still managed to leave me emotionally wrecked and desperately needing book three.
Thank you to NetGalley and Elyse Thomson for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Midnight King by Elyse Thomson is a strong and engaging read that blends atmosphere, character tension, and a steady narrative pace. From the start, the book creates a sense of intrigue that carries through most of the story, making it easy to stay invested.
One of the book’s main strengths is its tone. Thomson builds a mood that feels consistent and deliberate, with a darker edge that suits the story well. The setting and overall atmosphere are clearly considered, and they add weight to key moments without overwhelming the narrative. There is a good balance between description and movement, which helps keep the story grounded.
The characters are another highlight. While not all of them are deeply developed, the central figures are written with enough detail to feel real. Their motivations are understandable, and the relationships between them carry emotional weight. Dialogue flows naturally and contributes to both characterization and pacing.
The plot itself is engaging, though not without some predictability. Certain developments can be anticipated, especially as the story progresses, but the execution is solid enough to keep those moments satisfying. The pacing is generally steady, with enough momentum to avoid dragging, though there are a few sections where the story could have been tightened.
At times, the book holds back on pushing its ideas further. There are moments where deeper exploration of themes or character dynamics would have added more impact. Expanding on those elements could elevate the story from engaging to more memorable.
Overall, The Midnight King is a well-crafted and enjoyable read. It may not break new ground, but it delivers a consistent and satisfying experience with a strong sense of atmosphere and character focus. Readers who enjoy immersive storytelling with a slightly darker tone will likely find it worth the time.
One of the book’s main strengths is its tone. Thomson builds a mood that feels consistent and deliberate, with a darker edge that suits the story well. The setting and overall atmosphere are clearly considered, and they add weight to key moments without overwhelming the narrative. There is a good balance between description and movement, which helps keep the story grounded.
The characters are another highlight. While not all of them are deeply developed, the central figures are written with enough detail to feel real. Their motivations are understandable, and the relationships between them carry emotional weight. Dialogue flows naturally and contributes to both characterization and pacing.
The plot itself is engaging, though not without some predictability. Certain developments can be anticipated, especially as the story progresses, but the execution is solid enough to keep those moments satisfying. The pacing is generally steady, with enough momentum to avoid dragging, though there are a few sections where the story could have been tightened.
At times, the book holds back on pushing its ideas further. There are moments where deeper exploration of themes or character dynamics would have added more impact. Expanding on those elements could elevate the story from engaging to more memorable.
Overall, The Midnight King is a well-crafted and enjoyable read. It may not break new ground, but it delivers a consistent and satisfying experience with a strong sense of atmosphere and character focus. Readers who enjoy immersive storytelling with a slightly darker tone will likely find it worth the time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Firstly, I am reading this series in reverse. Why? Because I got both books at the same time (The Oracle of Dusk and The Midnight King) and I started reading The Midnight King by accident. I couldn't put it down! So will I read The Oracle of Dust as a prequel after this? Why yes, yes I shall.
The Midnight king is everything I love about a good novel. It hoists you up by your eyebrows, throws you around a bit, suspends you upside down until your brain rattles, sets you down gently with a cup of tea and a biscuit, then smashes your chair out from under you with a sledgehammer. Perfect
You've seen the blurb no doubt, and my take on it is; Aurora and Theron were the match made in heaven, until they weren't, but despite being slapped in the face by a betrayal the size of Moby Dick, Theron is still deeply in love with Aurora and is determined to win back her heart.
Throughout this book I was in a constant state of incredulity, disbelief and roaring for the two erstwhile lovers to just sort themselves out! This, I loved, that I was so invested in the will they/ won't they that I actually had to put the book down on more than one occasion and in the absence of a table to flup, threw my arms up in sheer exasperation. Yet I had to keep going back, because I was hooked in.
Not only were the machinations and nisdemeanours of our FMC & MMC keeping us rapt, but mix in a healthy dose of time travel, a well thought out magic system and court politicking and I was utterly mesmerised
I absolutely loved this book and I look forward to reading The Oracle of Dusk. I am pretty confident in saying that The Midnight King can be read as a standalone, but I am also confident that a duology is even more powerful
** Edit Oh my life! a third also! YES!
Thank you to the author for this wholly entertaining ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
The Midnight king is everything I love about a good novel. It hoists you up by your eyebrows, throws you around a bit, suspends you upside down until your brain rattles, sets you down gently with a cup of tea and a biscuit, then smashes your chair out from under you with a sledgehammer. Perfect
You've seen the blurb no doubt, and my take on it is; Aurora and Theron were the match made in heaven, until they weren't, but despite being slapped in the face by a betrayal the size of Moby Dick, Theron is still deeply in love with Aurora and is determined to win back her heart.
Throughout this book I was in a constant state of incredulity, disbelief and roaring for the two erstwhile lovers to just sort themselves out! This, I loved, that I was so invested in the will they/ won't they that I actually had to put the book down on more than one occasion and in the absence of a table to flup, threw my arms up in sheer exasperation. Yet I had to keep going back, because I was hooked in.
Not only were the machinations and nisdemeanours of our FMC & MMC keeping us rapt, but mix in a healthy dose of time travel, a well thought out magic system and court politicking and I was utterly mesmerised
I absolutely loved this book and I look forward to reading The Oracle of Dusk. I am pretty confident in saying that The Midnight King can be read as a standalone, but I am also confident that a duology is even more powerful
** Edit Oh my life! a third also! YES!
Thank you to the author for this wholly entertaining ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A sequel that for me completely outshines the first with its emotional devastation, escalating stakes, and the constant tension between trust and betrayal.
The Midnight King starts immediately after The Oracle of Dust, which obviously set the stage for the larger plot. In the morning after the wedding and Aurora turning the tables on Theron with a blade at his throat. Now heading toward Aureum with Aurora’s deeply questionable allies, the story thrives on the constant push and pull between them. Every time one of them thinks they are finally making progress, the other somehow makes everything worse again. This is sometimes frustrating, and especially Aurora grated a bit on my nerves. Nevertheless both their reasonings feel completely understandable.
The dual POVs work wonderfully here, especially as Theron slowly comes to accept the extent of Aurora’s magic and his inner torment between his being a good king and a good man. Their relationship never takes the easy route, which made the tension all the more satisfying. Beyond the romance, the world-building and lore expand beautifully, giving the larger story arc far more weight and depth.
There are also a few unexpectedly spicy scenes, which for my taste could have been toned down a bit, though easily skippable if that is not your thing.
And then that ending. I suspected certain developments and it still emotionally destroyed me. I finished this book speechless and immediately searched frantically for the release date of book three. May I wish for a HEA, a lot of answers and the utter destruction of a certain high priestess!
For me 4.5 stars rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Midnight King starts immediately after The Oracle of Dust, which obviously set the stage for the larger plot. In the morning after the wedding and Aurora turning the tables on Theron with a blade at his throat. Now heading toward Aureum with Aurora’s deeply questionable allies, the story thrives on the constant push and pull between them. Every time one of them thinks they are finally making progress, the other somehow makes everything worse again. This is sometimes frustrating, and especially Aurora grated a bit on my nerves. Nevertheless both their reasonings feel completely understandable.
The dual POVs work wonderfully here, especially as Theron slowly comes to accept the extent of Aurora’s magic and his inner torment between his being a good king and a good man. Their relationship never takes the easy route, which made the tension all the more satisfying. Beyond the romance, the world-building and lore expand beautifully, giving the larger story arc far more weight and depth.
There are also a few unexpectedly spicy scenes, which for my taste could have been toned down a bit, though easily skippable if that is not your thing.
And then that ending. I suspected certain developments and it still emotionally destroyed me. I finished this book speechless and immediately searched frantically for the release date of book three. May I wish for a HEA, a lot of answers and the utter destruction of a certain high priestess!
For me 4.5 stars rounded up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Midnight King by Elyse Thomson
Pub Date: 24 June 2026
The Midnight King is an epic fantasy romance packed with political intrigue, powerful magic, betrayal, and a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance that keeps the pages turning.
Aurora is a heroine driven by duty and determination, willing to risk everything to save her world, even if it means betraying the man she has just married. Her complicated relationship with Theron forms the emotional heart of the story, creating plenty of tension as loyalties shift and hidden truths come to light. What begins as distrust and deception gradually develops into something far more compelling, making their journey both captivating and emotionally rewarding.
The world-building is rich and immersive, blending court politics, time magic, ancient conflicts, and looming danger into a story that feels grand in scope while remaining character-focused. The time-travel elements add an intriguing layer to the plot, while the constant uncertainty over who can truly be trusted keeps the suspense high throughout.
Fans of fantasy romance will appreciate the combination of magic, destiny, and forbidden attraction, while readers who enjoy strong heroines and morally complex heroes will find plenty to love here. The chemistry between Aurora and Theron simmers beneath every interaction, making their evolving relationship one of the strongest aspects of the novel.
A compelling sequel that expands the world of the Cycle of Calamity series while delivering action, romance, and emotional depth in equal measure.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Pub Date: 24 June 2026
The Midnight King is an epic fantasy romance packed with political intrigue, powerful magic, betrayal, and a slow-burning enemies-to-lovers romance that keeps the pages turning.
Aurora is a heroine driven by duty and determination, willing to risk everything to save her world, even if it means betraying the man she has just married. Her complicated relationship with Theron forms the emotional heart of the story, creating plenty of tension as loyalties shift and hidden truths come to light. What begins as distrust and deception gradually develops into something far more compelling, making their journey both captivating and emotionally rewarding.
The world-building is rich and immersive, blending court politics, time magic, ancient conflicts, and looming danger into a story that feels grand in scope while remaining character-focused. The time-travel elements add an intriguing layer to the plot, while the constant uncertainty over who can truly be trusted keeps the suspense high throughout.
Fans of fantasy romance will appreciate the combination of magic, destiny, and forbidden attraction, while readers who enjoy strong heroines and morally complex heroes will find plenty to love here. The chemistry between Aurora and Theron simmers beneath every interaction, making their evolving relationship one of the strongest aspects of the novel.
A compelling sequel that expands the world of the Cycle of Calamity series while delivering action, romance, and emotional depth in equal measure.
Rating: 4.5/5 Stars
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Tropes: Married Enemies to Lovers, Reincarnated Fated Mates, 3ft Height Difference, Epic Grovelling, F. A. F. O., Court Intrigue, Brat Taming, Primal Chase, Time Travel.
The Blurb: Aurora's bargain might have won her a crown and an army, but neither will help her resist her traitorous heart—or her husband's seductions. She should hate him for his betrayal, but the closer they get to his kingdom, the blurrier the line between friend and foe becomes.
In the second book of the Cycle of Calamity series, we find Aurora back trying to end the future events before they even begin, and she will do whatever it takes to make that happen and protect those she loves. It takes us a while and a lot of miscommunication to get to her having a strong relationship with her husband, but when we do finally get there, it is SO GOOD. It's quite the ride, and that ending....what an absolute twist! I did kind of guess it before it happened but it didn't spoil any of the story getting there, I just had a feeling that's how it was going to go. I'm super excited to read the next book and see how this progresses.
I love Aurora. She's tough and so smart, and her joy over artifacts and the world in general is just so refreshing to me. Sometimes I wanted to give her a little shake to knock some sense into her, but that's so real life and I feel like it was so well written to make me have those type of feelings throughout the book. And the spice? It was SPICING. 4/5⭐, 4/5🌶️
The Blurb: Aurora's bargain might have won her a crown and an army, but neither will help her resist her traitorous heart—or her husband's seductions. She should hate him for his betrayal, but the closer they get to his kingdom, the blurrier the line between friend and foe becomes.
In the second book of the Cycle of Calamity series, we find Aurora back trying to end the future events before they even begin, and she will do whatever it takes to make that happen and protect those she loves. It takes us a while and a lot of miscommunication to get to her having a strong relationship with her husband, but when we do finally get there, it is SO GOOD. It's quite the ride, and that ending....what an absolute twist! I did kind of guess it before it happened but it didn't spoil any of the story getting there, I just had a feeling that's how it was going to go. I'm super excited to read the next book and see how this progresses.
I love Aurora. She's tough and so smart, and her joy over artifacts and the world in general is just so refreshing to me. Sometimes I wanted to give her a little shake to knock some sense into her, but that's so real life and I feel like it was so well written to make me have those type of feelings throughout the book. And the spice? It was SPICING. 4/5⭐, 4/5🌶️
June 24, 2026
I’m dead. Deceased. Done for. I knew where this was headed from the start - even if I didn’t know how the journey would get us there - yet I was still unprepared for how much it would hurt. That ending is like a super saiyan punch to the heart. There are so many little clues sprinkled throughout the book, and now I really want to do a reread of Oracle of Dusk to see if I can find more there.
Getting to the ending was a fun ride! There is some impressive use of the miscommunication trope for the first chunk of the story. I might have wanted to slap some heads because they were just so damn stubborn! It’s not my favorite trope, but even then, I was completely hooked. The resulting bratty behavior (on both sides really) was actually kind of amusing and the “hate to want you” vibes were SO good.
We get a little less interaction with some of the supporting characters since the focus is on Aurora and Theron’s crumbling relationship, but we still get a good dose of the friends I love. It feels like there is less “action” in Midnight King, but it’s because the battles are more related to scheming and outmaneuvering. It’s basically a high stakes chess game and the political intrigue is fun to follow. I promise you will get the epic action too….and it will hurt you.
Thank you so much for this ARC opportunity! Now I just need to get my hands on The Dragon of Dawn so I can put myself out of this misery 😆
Getting to the ending was a fun ride! There is some impressive use of the miscommunication trope for the first chunk of the story. I might have wanted to slap some heads because they were just so damn stubborn! It’s not my favorite trope, but even then, I was completely hooked. The resulting bratty behavior (on both sides really) was actually kind of amusing and the “hate to want you” vibes were SO good.
We get a little less interaction with some of the supporting characters since the focus is on Aurora and Theron’s crumbling relationship, but we still get a good dose of the friends I love. It feels like there is less “action” in Midnight King, but it’s because the battles are more related to scheming and outmaneuvering. It’s basically a high stakes chess game and the political intrigue is fun to follow. I promise you will get the epic action too….and it will hurt you.
Thank you so much for this ARC opportunity! Now I just need to get my hands on The Dragon of Dawn so I can put myself out of this misery 😆
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this book as an ARC -- Thank you to the Author and her team for allowing me to follow Aurora and Theron's journey.
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 4/5
This book was on my mind all day, and I almost didn't sleep last night trying to finish it.
I love this series so much. This delivered on the tension and built up to the twist at the end in ways that had me racing to get to the next chapter. I knew since the first book what was to happen, I mean, the words and sayings were so similar, and the Legend of Zelda inspirations are there. I by no means think that it's a rip-off, but if you know one, then you know what's going to happen, and that just made each scene between the two main characters that much more heartbreaking. We, the readers, know what's going to happen, and it's bittersweet to experience the happiness only to know it's fleeting. The pacing in this book was much better than the last one. We get to see inside the characters' heads a bit more to actually understand what's going on with them and why they make the choices they do.
Even knowing the ending the twist of how it was to happen still got me.
I'm so mad at myself for having read this so early, and I don't know how long I have to wait until book three, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be there, sat and devouring it on release day!
Rating: 5/5
Spice: 4/5
This book was on my mind all day, and I almost didn't sleep last night trying to finish it.
I love this series so much. This delivered on the tension and built up to the twist at the end in ways that had me racing to get to the next chapter. I knew since the first book what was to happen, I mean, the words and sayings were so similar, and the Legend of Zelda inspirations are there. I by no means think that it's a rip-off, but if you know one, then you know what's going to happen, and that just made each scene between the two main characters that much more heartbreaking. We, the readers, know what's going to happen, and it's bittersweet to experience the happiness only to know it's fleeting. The pacing in this book was much better than the last one. We get to see inside the characters' heads a bit more to actually understand what's going on with them and why they make the choices they do.
Even knowing the ending the twist of how it was to happen still got me.
I'm so mad at myself for having read this so early, and I don't know how long I have to wait until book three, but you can bet your bottom dollar that I will be there, sat and devouring it on release day!
June 28, 2026
I was already obsessed with The Oracle Of Dusk, but The Midnight King was everything I wanted from this series and more. The politics. The betrayals. The romance. The DRAMA. I couldn't help but devour this book in a few days, and it's no short read.
The characters, Aurora & Theron, are absolute perfection, and I love them so much that I found myself unable to stop reading every moment of the day until I knew what happened. I'm so glad I was able to read these 2 books back-to-back because the story feels so much more complete now. I thought I knew where the plot was going, given the hints along the way, but I was so wrong! That ending was both expected and surprising, and it broke my heart once more. The author is incredible at writing characters you cant help but love / hate with a passion, and I now consider myself a huge fan.
The one thing that drew back from an overall amazing read was all the lack of/miscommunication, which could have prevented many of the conflicts between characters. But if that's what I needed to sit through to get this amazing story, I'm not even mad.
If you're into fantasy that immerses you to the point that you to forget about reality for a little while, give this series a try. It's unputdownable.
✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
The characters, Aurora & Theron, are absolute perfection, and I love them so much that I found myself unable to stop reading every moment of the day until I knew what happened. I'm so glad I was able to read these 2 books back-to-back because the story feels so much more complete now. I thought I knew where the plot was going, given the hints along the way, but I was so wrong! That ending was both expected and surprising, and it broke my heart once more. The author is incredible at writing characters you cant help but love / hate with a passion, and I now consider myself a huge fan.
The one thing that drew back from an overall amazing read was all the lack of/miscommunication, which could have prevented many of the conflicts between characters. But if that's what I needed to sit through to get this amazing story, I'm not even mad.
If you're into fantasy that immerses you to the point that you to forget about reality for a little while, give this series a try. It's unputdownable.
✨ Disclaimer ✨ I received a free copy of this book and this is my honest review.
June 14, 2026
NetGalley ARC Review
Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:
This story is a continuation of the Oracle of Dusk and follows Aurora and Theron as they proceed in their quest to slay Drakon, regain control of their kingdom, and develop their relationship.
Immediately following the events of the Oracle of Dusk, Aurora and Theron are left to pick up the pieces of their relationship as both characters feel betrayed by each other. Desperate to slay Drakon, Aurora has made a reckless bargain with the supposed high priestess of knowledge, ultimately ensnaring herself in the high priestess's own agenda. Now, both Aurora and Theron must overcome their feelings of betrayal to work together and save Trisia from Batea's beasts.
Personal Review:
I really think that in the last few books, the author has really grown as a writer. I appreciate how there has been less overly dramatic speech, and how the scenes are far more descriptive.
Plot wise- I think that the story is interesting. Again, I’m very intrigued by the temples, goddesses, triad, and high priestesses. I like the overall pacing of the story, and this novel definitely does not feel as rushed as the last book.
However, something that really bothered me throughout the book was the plot's overreliance on miscommunication. It was just very frustrating and pointless, and I think that it tries to heighten tensions and ultimately fails.
As for the smut- it was good. There was definitely build-up and sexual tension throughout the novel, and the scenes themselves are compelling and steamy.
Overall, the story was great, and I love seeing this author grow!
Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:
This story is a continuation of the Oracle of Dusk and follows Aurora and Theron as they proceed in their quest to slay Drakon, regain control of their kingdom, and develop their relationship.
Immediately following the events of the Oracle of Dusk, Aurora and Theron are left to pick up the pieces of their relationship as both characters feel betrayed by each other. Desperate to slay Drakon, Aurora has made a reckless bargain with the supposed high priestess of knowledge, ultimately ensnaring herself in the high priestess's own agenda. Now, both Aurora and Theron must overcome their feelings of betrayal to work together and save Trisia from Batea's beasts.
Personal Review:
I really think that in the last few books, the author has really grown as a writer. I appreciate how there has been less overly dramatic speech, and how the scenes are far more descriptive.
Plot wise- I think that the story is interesting. Again, I’m very intrigued by the temples, goddesses, triad, and high priestesses. I like the overall pacing of the story, and this novel definitely does not feel as rushed as the last book.
However, something that really bothered me throughout the book was the plot's overreliance on miscommunication. It was just very frustrating and pointless, and I think that it tries to heighten tensions and ultimately fails.
As for the smut- it was good. There was definitely build-up and sexual tension throughout the novel, and the scenes themselves are compelling and steamy.
Overall, the story was great, and I love seeing this author grow!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this arc. Here is my honest review.
Oh my goodness. This book had such a grip on me. I was completely unable to put it down. Goodbye responsibilities, hello staying up way too late to finish because I had to know what happened next.
Book 2, The Midnight King, was a fantastic continuation from where we left off in book 1. We had more immersive world building, more lore, more in-depth look at characters, and even finally started getting some questions answered!
Theron, one of my new favorite MMCs. He's protective, stubborn, and loyal. His little flirty comments had me giggling and kicking my feet. I adored the way he let our FMC know EXACTLY just how much she means to him.
Aurora, girl the communication tho. Just talk to him. Explain how you feel! This drove me nuts through some of the book but the payout made it worth it! She definitely knows what she wants and won't let anyone tell her no.
Now that cliffhanger, ma'am. How can you leave us like that? Im too impatient to find out what happens next!
Im rating this book 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5.
I will definitely be recommending it and keeping an eye out for the next installment!
Oh my goodness. This book had such a grip on me. I was completely unable to put it down. Goodbye responsibilities, hello staying up way too late to finish because I had to know what happened next.
Book 2, The Midnight King, was a fantastic continuation from where we left off in book 1. We had more immersive world building, more lore, more in-depth look at characters, and even finally started getting some questions answered!
Theron, one of my new favorite MMCs. He's protective, stubborn, and loyal. His little flirty comments had me giggling and kicking my feet. I adored the way he let our FMC know EXACTLY just how much she means to him.
Aurora, girl the communication tho. Just talk to him. Explain how you feel! This drove me nuts through some of the book but the payout made it worth it! She definitely knows what she wants and won't let anyone tell her no.
Now that cliffhanger, ma'am. How can you leave us like that? Im too impatient to find out what happens next!
Im rating this book 4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5.
I will definitely be recommending it and keeping an eye out for the next installment!
June 29, 2026
Elyse Thomson is fast becoming one of my instant read authors. I loved The Oracle of Dusk (book one in this series) so much and when it left off on a super twisty surprise ending, I could not wait to get my hands on this one. The Midnight King was just as fantastic and the ending had me ready to beg for book 3.
The Midnight King picks up right where The Oracle of Dusk leaves off and continues to bring the drama, romance and action. Aurora and Theron are one of those couples that you want to shake and beg to GET IT TOGETHER ALREADY. The will they, won’t they, back and forth was borderline frustrating but the slow burn was so fun and the payoff was so, so good. These two are as spicy as they get- and the banter is top notch.
The ending was a little predictable because the foreshadowing has been consistent throughout both books but even though I saw it coming, I was still completely devastated for these characters. I need to read their happy ending (please let there be a happy ending) to heal the emotional damage caused by this book 😂
The tropes are awesome- there’s political intrigue, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, fated mates, epic groveling and some really 🔥 spicy scenes. I loved this book with all my heart.
The Midnight King picks up right where The Oracle of Dusk leaves off and continues to bring the drama, romance and action. Aurora and Theron are one of those couples that you want to shake and beg to GET IT TOGETHER ALREADY. The will they, won’t they, back and forth was borderline frustrating but the slow burn was so fun and the payoff was so, so good. These two are as spicy as they get- and the banter is top notch.
The ending was a little predictable because the foreshadowing has been consistent throughout both books but even though I saw it coming, I was still completely devastated for these characters. I need to read their happy ending (please let there be a happy ending) to heal the emotional damage caused by this book 😂
The tropes are awesome- there’s political intrigue, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, fated mates, epic groveling and some really 🔥 spicy scenes. I loved this book with all my heart.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This second book in the Cycle of Calamity series picks up where the first one finished, with Aurora facing heartache and betrayal when she finds out that Theron has deceived her and is actually responsible for the creation of Drakon, the very monster that destroyed her homeland……..
The story is set in the world of Trisia where the Goddesses of Knowledge, Passion and Justice make up the Divine Triad responsible for protecting Trisia. There’s also the Sinister Triad, Lies, Death and Vengeance, the goddesses held responsible for the cycles of chaos and calamity. As before, the world building continues to be excellent and the ideas for the different kinds of magic are also intriguing.
I loved this story, and in my opinion the multiple POVs work beautifully for getting across the constant miscommunication which causes so many issues between Aurora and Theron’s relationship. At times you want to give them both a good shake to make them see sense, but then you’d miss out on the building tension which is such a big part of their story.
As for the ending, I can’t wait for the next book in this series, what a cliffhanger 🐈⬛
The story is set in the world of Trisia where the Goddesses of Knowledge, Passion and Justice make up the Divine Triad responsible for protecting Trisia. There’s also the Sinister Triad, Lies, Death and Vengeance, the goddesses held responsible for the cycles of chaos and calamity. As before, the world building continues to be excellent and the ideas for the different kinds of magic are also intriguing.
I loved this story, and in my opinion the multiple POVs work beautifully for getting across the constant miscommunication which causes so many issues between Aurora and Theron’s relationship. At times you want to give them both a good shake to make them see sense, but then you’d miss out on the building tension which is such a big part of their story.
As for the ending, I can’t wait for the next book in this series, what a cliffhanger 🐈⬛
Review of advance copy received from Author
"A King should know better than to make an enemy of his wife."
3.75/5 stars (rounding up to 4.
This book is a continuation of the Cycle of Calamity series, which I do recommend and will be reviewing later.
Despite this being a continuation, the world building gets even better in this book, which surprised me as most books have fully established their worlds in the previous book.
Each twist and turn had me guessing what was going to happen next. Sometimes, I was right, but most of the time, I was only half right. (Okay. Okay, most of the time, I was not right....)
Aurora is still developing as a character and learning her time magic, so her character growth feels natural, if at time I was annoyed by her. Her struggle of doing what she knows and believes is right, and her growing attraction for her new husband is highly entertaining and makes her feel more real to me.
Theron is a very complex man, but seeing the story from his POV too makes me feel for him a little as he tries to do what's best, not only for him, but for his Kingdom, while trying to win over his reluctant Bride.
The only reason that I didn't rate this higher is because of one thing that seems to be becoming more and more a problem: miscommunication or lack thereof between our two love interests.
So many times, the conflict could have been easily resolved if Aurora and Theron had just talked to each other and were truthful. But I guess it wouldn't be a good story otherwise.
This story is very much inspired by Legend of Zelda, and I spent most of the time finding the similarities and what was obviously inspired by it, that I had to go back and reread a few parts. (Oops!)
Other than my minor beef with lack of communication, I did enjoy the story, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next! (Darn you cliffhangers!)
3.75/5 stars (rounding up to 4.
This book is a continuation of the Cycle of Calamity series, which I do recommend and will be reviewing later.
Despite this being a continuation, the world building gets even better in this book, which surprised me as most books have fully established their worlds in the previous book.
Each twist and turn had me guessing what was going to happen next. Sometimes, I was right, but most of the time, I was only half right. (Okay. Okay, most of the time, I was not right....)
Aurora is still developing as a character and learning her time magic, so her character growth feels natural, if at time I was annoyed by her. Her struggle of doing what she knows and believes is right, and her growing attraction for her new husband is highly entertaining and makes her feel more real to me.
Theron is a very complex man, but seeing the story from his POV too makes me feel for him a little as he tries to do what's best, not only for him, but for his Kingdom, while trying to win over his reluctant Bride.
The only reason that I didn't rate this higher is because of one thing that seems to be becoming more and more a problem: miscommunication or lack thereof between our two love interests.
So many times, the conflict could have been easily resolved if Aurora and Theron had just talked to each other and were truthful. But I guess it wouldn't be a good story otherwise.
This story is very much inspired by Legend of Zelda, and I spent most of the time finding the similarities and what was obviously inspired by it, that I had to go back and reread a few parts. (Oops!)
Other than my minor beef with lack of communication, I did enjoy the story, and I can't wait to see what's going to happen next! (Darn you cliffhangers!)
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Midnight King by is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue that kept me invested from beginning to end. Picking up where the first book left off, the story raises the stakes with more court drama, dangerous alliances, and emotional tension between Aurora and Theron. Their relationship is wonderfully complicated, balancing mistrust, attraction, and genuine growth in a way that feels engaging and believable.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its rich world-building. The time magic, looming threats, and layered conflicts add depth to the story while keeping the plot moving at a steady pace. I especially enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers dynamic and the way both main characters are forced to confront difficult choices that shape their futures.
At times, the pacing slowed in the middle, and I would have loved a bit more development for some of the side characters, but the strong character arcs and compelling romance more than made up for it.
Overall, The Midnight King is an entertaining and emotional fantasy romance that delivers intrigue, magic, and plenty of heart. ✨📚
The Midnight King by is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and political intrigue that kept me invested from beginning to end. Picking up where the first book left off, the story raises the stakes with more court drama, dangerous alliances, and emotional tension between Aurora and Theron. Their relationship is wonderfully complicated, balancing mistrust, attraction, and genuine growth in a way that feels engaging and believable.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is its rich world-building. The time magic, looming threats, and layered conflicts add depth to the story while keeping the plot moving at a steady pace. I especially enjoyed the enemies-to-lovers dynamic and the way both main characters are forced to confront difficult choices that shape their futures.
At times, the pacing slowed in the middle, and I would have loved a bit more development for some of the side characters, but the strong character arcs and compelling romance more than made up for it.
Overall, The Midnight King is an entertaining and emotional fantasy romance that delivers intrigue, magic, and plenty of heart. ✨📚
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for a gifted copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Midnight King is book 2 in the Cycle of Calamity series and is an epic fantasy romance inspired by the Legend of Zelda. It took me a little while to remember what happened in book 1, but then it all came flooding back and made me appreciate this even more! I love book 2 just as much as I love book 1. The world building continues to be immersive, and the magic system is creative and unique. I loved getting to experience it in action, like I was there witnessing it myself. Theron and Aurora have a complicated relationship, and I loved getting to watch it all unfold. And can I just point out Chapter 25 – ohhh myyy! I loved how I couldn’t predict what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing. I loved how the story unfolded and although some questions were answered, more were raised and I’m excited to see where it goes next.
If you love epic fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, court intrigue, time magic, forced proximity, betrayals & secrets, and spice then I recommend checking out this series.
The Midnight King is book 2 in the Cycle of Calamity series and is an epic fantasy romance inspired by the Legend of Zelda. It took me a little while to remember what happened in book 1, but then it all came flooding back and made me appreciate this even more! I love book 2 just as much as I love book 1. The world building continues to be immersive, and the magic system is creative and unique. I loved getting to experience it in action, like I was there witnessing it myself. Theron and Aurora have a complicated relationship, and I loved getting to watch it all unfold. And can I just point out Chapter 25 – ohhh myyy! I loved how I couldn’t predict what was going to happen next. There were so many twists and turns that kept me guessing. I loved how the story unfolded and although some questions were answered, more were raised and I’m excited to see where it goes next.
If you love epic fantasy romance, enemies to lovers, court intrigue, time magic, forced proximity, betrayals & secrets, and spice then I recommend checking out this series.
June 25, 2026
This delivers political fantacy romance intrigue, powerful magic, betrayal and enemies to lovers dynamic that keeps the pages turning. Picking up right where the first book left off, the stakes are higher wiht intense court drama, dangerous alliances, and rising emotional tension between Theron and Aurora.
The world building continues to shine. The time magic, temples, goddesses, triad, priestesses add such rich layers to the story, making the world feel immersive and alive. I also appreciated the pacing felt more blance, allowing the plot to unfold without feeling rushed.
That said, the biggest frustration for me was the heavy reliance on miscomunication. Whatching two characters who clearly love each other continuously fail to comumunicate became emotionally exhausting at time. I'm not a fan of miscomunication trope, it's a bummer for me and made it harder to fully connect with the characters and their relationship.
Overall, though the story is undeniable engaging filled with doomed love, fate driven tragedy and courtly scheming that keeps you hooked.
Thank you to the author for the eARC, this is my honest review.
The world building continues to shine. The time magic, temples, goddesses, triad, priestesses add such rich layers to the story, making the world feel immersive and alive. I also appreciated the pacing felt more blance, allowing the plot to unfold without feeling rushed.
That said, the biggest frustration for me was the heavy reliance on miscomunication. Whatching two characters who clearly love each other continuously fail to comumunicate became emotionally exhausting at time. I'm not a fan of miscomunication trope, it's a bummer for me and made it harder to fully connect with the characters and their relationship.
Overall, though the story is undeniable engaging filled with doomed love, fate driven tragedy and courtly scheming that keeps you hooked.
Thank you to the author for the eARC, this is my honest review.
July 10, 2026
This one starts right where the last one ended. Aurora is not a happy person, which is understandable. Her husband kept something important from her despite knowing how much it meant to her. That is not a good start to a marriage, and her keeping her distance is something I can understand. She has an important role and a mission to fulfil, and she made that clear from the beginning. Watching him not trust her and refuse to believe her was heartbreaking.
On top of that, we get a lot of political scheming and, sadly, Aurora being used as a means to an end. It was one of the things that made me root for her. All she wanted was to prevent millions from dying. Someone looking out for her was all I was hoping for.
The premise of the book promised a lot, and while it delivered on many of those promises, there were also moments that felt a bit dragging. The constant back and forth between Aurora and Theron felt a bit overused. When he finally believed her and stepped up, it felt somewhat overdue and not as satisfying as I had hoped it would be. The ending sets the stage for what's to come and keeps me interested.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
On top of that, we get a lot of political scheming and, sadly, Aurora being used as a means to an end. It was one of the things that made me root for her. All she wanted was to prevent millions from dying. Someone looking out for her was all I was hoping for.
The premise of the book promised a lot, and while it delivered on many of those promises, there were also moments that felt a bit dragging. The constant back and forth between Aurora and Theron felt a bit overused. When he finally believed her and stepped up, it felt somewhat overdue and not as satisfying as I had hoped it would be. The ending sets the stage for what's to come and keeps me interested.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tropes: Epic Romantasy, Legend of Zelda meets Outlander, Time Travel, Lovers to Enemies to Lovers, Court Intrigue, Stubborn Characters, Fated Mates, Epic Groveling, 3ft Height Difference, He Falls First, King of Red Flags x Scholar, Touch Her & ☠️, Plot Twists, Cliffhanger!
Quotes: "I want to be by your side. In all things. In this lifetime. In the next. Until the stars fade and the tapestry unravels.”
Review No Spoilers: Follows immediately after the events in the first book The Oracle of Dusk; opens on the heels of a massive, heart shattering betrayal. Aurora discovers a dark truth her new husband kept hidden. He is the creator of the very monster that destroyed her homeland, the exact beast she has sworn an oath to hunt down and kill. Now bound to a "King of Red Flags" who hid his catastrophic past, Aurora is forced to navigate a treacherous court. She must master her growing time magic and protect her heart while trying to change the timeline. Ultimately, she fights to ensure that the devastating tragedies of history do not repeat themselves.
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Quotes: "I want to be by your side. In all things. In this lifetime. In the next. Until the stars fade and the tapestry unravels.”
Review No Spoilers: Follows immediately after the events in the first book The Oracle of Dusk; opens on the heels of a massive, heart shattering betrayal. Aurora discovers a dark truth her new husband kept hidden. He is the creator of the very monster that destroyed her homeland, the exact beast she has sworn an oath to hunt down and kill. Now bound to a "King of Red Flags" who hid his catastrophic past, Aurora is forced to navigate a treacherous court. She must master her growing time magic and protect her heart while trying to change the timeline. Ultimately, she fights to ensure that the devastating tragedies of history do not repeat themselves.
Review: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
June 4, 2026
The Midnight King was such an entertaining read. The dark atmosphere, high stakes, and simmering tension kept me turning pages well into the night. I loved how the story balanced action, romance, and intrigue while continuing to expand the world in ways that kept me invested.
The chemistry between the characters was strong, and I found myself rooting for them even when everything seemed stacked against them. There is quite a bit of the misunderstanding trope inside of this as well, so just know that going in because I know a lot of people do not like that theme. While there were a few moments where I wanted a little more depth and development, the overall story was engaging enough that it never pulled me out of the experience.
If you’re a fan of dark fantasy romance with dangerous magic, compelling characters, and plenty of twists, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Tropes: Dark Fantasy Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Touch Her and Die, Forced Proximity, Fated Connections, Found Family
4 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
The chemistry between the characters was strong, and I found myself rooting for them even when everything seemed stacked against them. There is quite a bit of the misunderstanding trope inside of this as well, so just know that going in because I know a lot of people do not like that theme. While there were a few moments where I wanted a little more depth and development, the overall story was engaging enough that it never pulled me out of the experience.
If you’re a fan of dark fantasy romance with dangerous magic, compelling characters, and plenty of twists, this one is definitely worth picking up.
Tropes: Dark Fantasy Romance, Enemies to Lovers, Touch Her and Die, Forced Proximity, Fated Connections, Found Family
4 ⭐️ 2.5 🌶️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received an ARC of The Midnight King by Elyse Thompson in exchange for an honest review.
This was a strong sequel that successfully builds on the foundation established in the first book. The stakes felt higher, the world expanded in interesting ways, and I enjoyed seeing the story continue to unfold.
One of the highlights for me was the character development. The characters felt more established, and I appreciated getting to spend more time with them as they navigated increasingly difficult challenges. The larger plot also continued to develop, providing answers while introducing new questions that kept me invested.
There were a few moments where the pacing slowed, but overall I found the story engaging and easy to stay immersed in. The ending left me curious about what comes next and eager to continue the series.
Overall, The Midnight King is a solid continuation of the Cycle of Calamity series and a satisfying fantasy read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This was a strong sequel that successfully builds on the foundation established in the first book. The stakes felt higher, the world expanded in interesting ways, and I enjoyed seeing the story continue to unfold.
One of the highlights for me was the character development. The characters felt more established, and I appreciated getting to spend more time with them as they navigated increasingly difficult challenges. The larger plot also continued to develop, providing answers while introducing new questions that kept me invested.
There were a few moments where the pacing slowed, but overall I found the story engaging and easy to stay immersed in. The ending left me curious about what comes next and eager to continue the series.
Overall, The Midnight King is a solid continuation of the Cycle of Calamity series and a satisfying fantasy read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 29, 2026
The Midnight King expands the Cycle of Calamity series by diving deeper into court politics, royal responsibility, and the weight of leadership. I really appreciated how much the world opened up in this installment, especially through the political landscape and the time travel elements, which added even more depth and raised the stakes for the story.
This book definitely leans more into political strategy than action, and I found myself becoming invested in the shifting alliances and power struggles within the court. The worldbuilding is ambitious and thoughtfully developed, making the larger story feel even more layered.
That said, the slower pacing occasionally made it harder for me to stay fully engaged, and I found the repeated miscommunication between the main characters a little frustrating at times. While it created tension, I was hoping for more forward momentum in both the relationship and the overall plot.
Overall, I think The Midnight King will especially appeal to readers who enjoy court driven fantasy with intricate political systems, time travel, and a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance where the tension comes from duty, strategy, and conflicting loyalties rather than constant action.
This book definitely leans more into political strategy than action, and I found myself becoming invested in the shifting alliances and power struggles within the court. The worldbuilding is ambitious and thoughtfully developed, making the larger story feel even more layered.
That said, the slower pacing occasionally made it harder for me to stay fully engaged, and I found the repeated miscommunication between the main characters a little frustrating at times. While it created tension, I was hoping for more forward momentum in both the relationship and the overall plot.
Overall, I think The Midnight King will especially appeal to readers who enjoy court driven fantasy with intricate political systems, time travel, and a slow-burn enemies to lovers romance where the tension comes from duty, strategy, and conflicting loyalties rather than constant action.
June 29, 2026
ARC review!
The Midnight King is the second book in the Cycle of Calamity series and picks up right where we left off in the first book, with our protagonists Aurora and Theron.
I must say that this may be better than the first book, and I said that the first book was in my top five reads for this year. Aurora and Theron's relationship is written so imamcuately and the tension is done so well, I was constantly thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. The Court intrigue and politics is boldy set at a level 10, and the race to stop the end of the world twists and turns the plot into something that feels like a high.
This book does end on a cliffhanger, and I am so desperate to continue the series, please just inject this into my veins.
I shall yearningly wait for the third book.
The Midnight King is the second book in the Cycle of Calamity series and picks up right where we left off in the first book, with our protagonists Aurora and Theron.
I must say that this may be better than the first book, and I said that the first book was in my top five reads for this year. Aurora and Theron's relationship is written so imamcuately and the tension is done so well, I was constantly thinking about this book when I wasn't reading it. The Court intrigue and politics is boldy set at a level 10, and the race to stop the end of the world twists and turns the plot into something that feels like a high.
This book does end on a cliffhanger, and I am so desperate to continue the series, please just inject this into my veins.
I shall yearningly wait for the third book.
July 6, 2026
Have you ever screamed at a book to tell the characters to get over it and tell each other how they feel?
Cause I have, its this book, this book broke me in so many ways that I had to keep reading to build the pieces back up again. Aurora, you have some serious trust issues and hopefully you are able to work on them because Theron doesn't deserve that. He is too precious for words and his character arc deserve for you to stay and stay loyal to him. I want to shake you so bad and you are a fictional character.
Theron, learn to communicate lovey. you have progressed so much, just a little more <3
There is a lot of court politics, morally grey kings, lots of romantic Angst and emotionally doomed couples.
You will enjoy this book but you will be raging before you finish and be waiting for book 3 to come along.
Elyse keep 'em coming cause I think we are all invested now.
Cause I have, its this book, this book broke me in so many ways that I had to keep reading to build the pieces back up again. Aurora, you have some serious trust issues and hopefully you are able to work on them because Theron doesn't deserve that. He is too precious for words and his character arc deserve for you to stay and stay loyal to him. I want to shake you so bad and you are a fictional character.
Theron, learn to communicate lovey. you have progressed so much, just a little more <3
There is a lot of court politics, morally grey kings, lots of romantic Angst and emotionally doomed couples.
You will enjoy this book but you will be raging before you finish and be waiting for book 3 to come along.
Elyse keep 'em coming cause I think we are all invested now.
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