Inno di Vendetta e Gloria (Cronache Arcane Vol. 3)

by Alexandra Rei, Elena Fe Art (Illustrator)

2025,

Dylan Greeves è la Papessa dell’Ordine degli Arcani.
Un titolo sacro, un destino imposto, un compito ben più grande di quello che si aspettava.
Mentre il mondo attende che guidi la rinascita degli Arcani, Dylan è sola, spezzata e confusa.
E il silenzio degli dèi si fa assordante.

Ma l’Inferno non
Asmodeus e gli altri dei Infernali hanno scelto sette nuovi Apostoli e li hanno armati di odio. Uno a uno, gli Arcani iniziano a morire prima ancora di risvegliarsi. L’Ordine si sgretola. La fede vacilla. E Dylan capisce che nessuno dal piano celestiale verrà a salvarli.

In mezzo al caos che la minaccia degli Apostoli, la ricerca dell’Imperatore si trasforma in una corsa contro il tempo.
Chi è davvero William Valois, il ragazzo che compare nei sogni di Dylan come una fiamma familiare? Perché il suo nome è legato a un potere che potrebbe distruggere ogni cosa?

Nel cuore della guerra sacra tra inferno e cielo, tra dei capricciosi, magia sacra e legami antichi, Dylan dovrà servire il destino che le è stato imposto da martire o diventare un mostro e distruggere tutto.


Per chi crede ancora nella possibilità di scegliere sé stessi, anche contro gli dèi.


Trigger warnings: lutto, autolesionismo, ideazione suicidaria, abuso emotivo, possessione, violenza, guerra, trauma spirituale.

Genres: Fantasy

598 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 2, 2025

Reviews

[Matilde · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always with an ARC, I must first and foremost thank the author for placing their trust in me to review their book ahead of time ❤️ Even more so, I feel this thankfulness towards the Arcana Wars Series, for it was the first book that plunged me into this world of ARC Reading ❤️ So a huge thank you to Alexandra for asking me to ARC for FOBAD and for letting me ARC for OODAR and now HOVAG ❤️

This book was once again an epic tale of the predestined fate of a group of humans that find themselves chained to battle in place of the gods that chose them... With an urban modern setting, where the previous books were of a more older one, we now have a world that is so ours and we are so much more connected with our High Pristess and Arcana because of it! We have the amazing banter and argue between a group that should be cohesive and as one, and that so delights us as readers! But we have more on this book, that sounds to me as a finale for the Arcana Wars, the moment of truth, where we discover the whys behind the awakening of these knights and the war between the gods they are forced to fight in their stead! And we face this alongside Dylan, as she is made and remade, broken and reforged through the challenges she and her Hand face!
With a beautiful tale of sacrifice and honour, this was an amazing story! It's an amazing book, once again, that I so highly recommend! ❤️

PS: You can read this book as a standalone, but as with OODAR, I highly recommend reading the previous books as you will feel and know the story of Arcana even more deeply and enjoy each detail every bit more!

[Nicola Frasier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I was BLOWN AWAY by this book. A cross Between Arcane and Shadow Hunters. The world building, the characters, the unique magic system was all five stars for me. I went through so many emotions reading this and connected to all the characters; it was a thrilling journey! Thank you for reminding me of the reason I started requesting ARCs! I craved something different and this delivered.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

“I do know this, you won’t find the answers to who you are in someone else. Not even someone you love. You’ll have to come to terms with the deepest part of yourself. And accept it.”

Reborn as the High Priestess, Dylan is thrust into a divine war - without the one thing every Priestess before her had: a connection to her God. Powerless, isolated, and hunted, she must rely on dangerous alliances and fractured faith to survive. When the long-lost Emperor Arcana returns, he’s nothing like the soulmate she was promised - and everything she was warned against. With a kingdom on the brink and her heart at war with itself, Dylan must decide; burn and rise again from the ashes to end this war once and for all, or fall into the darkness.

Firstly, the magic system in this is so unique and complex despite being set in present day. Every Arcanum is from the Tarot-based God’s who chose their Arcana to wield it if proven worthy. The war felt like a metaphor for the current state of our world; the political corruption, division of humanity and loss of morals. I couldn’t help connecting the two and wishing for a better world just like Dylan does.

This was a story of self discovery and overcoming your doubts. Dylan was a ‘live now think later’ kinda girl. Impulsive but loyal. Her strength was from her love for the other Arcanum. Her inner battle with not feeling good enough, whilst learning to listen to her intuition - even if it opposed the Arcanum traditions - was constant throughout. I loved that she learned she was enough as she is and her own person separate from her Arcanum.

“Every time I see you you do something so crazy or incredible that I fall in love. Again. And I hate, hate all of it. Because you deserve something real…”

Eventhough the book was labelled as a romance, this is very much a modern fantasy with love interests. I did crave for more, but after the ending I think this book was better as it; the history of the God’s and magic system at the forefront was necessary. Saying that, I did love the twists from the romance that we did get and not giving spoilers away but opinions changed! I guess I’ll always fall for the broody ‘who did this to you’ MMC though😮‍💨

Cannot recommend this book enough. If you’re a lover of modern fantasy with a unique magic system and lots of twists and emotional healing? Then this is for you.

What’s included:
🔮 Unique magic system
💫 Star Crossed Lovers
🔮 Reluctant chosen one
💫 Love versus duty
🔮 Fated but doomed
💫 Dark Academy Vibes
🔮 Enemies from Within
💫 Gods and Monsters
🔮 Redemption and sacrifice

[youisapronoun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many thanks to Tales & Teacups and the author for providing an ARC of this book. This is my first ever ARC so I’m really thankful for this.

I have to admit, I jumped straight into this book without reading the first two books because I was so excited to dive in. While that was thrilling, it also made it a bit hard to follow at times. The story felt like a lot of information at once. And I guess that’s ok since this is can be read as a standalone.

The premise is really great for me, and the magic system is unique, which I loved. Most characters are great especially Ercole, though Lucrece and Vesper just weren’t my vibe. and they made me DNF as early as 24%. And if I’m not mistaken, they’re 20 years old but I felt like their actions are a little juvenile. I also think the story could use fewer exclamation points. Showing emotions through descriptions might have made the story feel more natural.

But all in all, Dylan’s journey looks promising, and fans of the series will definitely enjoy it. If you want something new, you should definitely check this out.

[Raegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always really found the magic system in this series interesting and I thought it was amazing how the whole world expanded in this book to bring the series to a close. It really helped to understand the background of the arcana and why they came in the first place, while also wrapping up the series nicely. I really enjoyed the complex characters in this, how everybody had likable moments as well as unlikeable moments, making them feel like real people. Overall, I would recommend this series as a whole! I think that it’s incredible what authors can come up with, especially in debut series!

Thank you so much to Alexandra for the opportunity to have a first look at every book in this series! I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to read every book as an ARC and I’m so grateful for it! 🫶🏻

[LeshaD Mylene · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ARC read from Tales & Teacups. Thank you for the opportunity to review this book. This book was high fantasy... a lot of characters, a mishmash of too many fantasy genres (fae, werewolves, vampires, gods, demi-gods--- it's all in there) for me to keep up with. While the writing was good, and the characters made sense, I felt disoriented instead of interested. It became too difficult to keep track of the story line and what was going on when. I unfortunately had to DNF at 20%. That being said, if you are a reader who enjoys high fantasy and mashups, then you may enjoy this book. The writing was good and I could tell that a lot of thought was put into the characters and their struggles. But it was just not for me.

[bookishpadawan · Rating 3 out of 5]

▸Star-crossed lovers
▸Enemies from within
▸Unique magic system
▸Multiple magical races (fae, vampires, werewolf)
▸Dark academy vibes
▸Dreambound connection
▸Twin flames
▸Fated but doomed
▸Reflected pain
▸Divine bond
▸Heaven vs hell
▸Sacred order in ruin
▸The beast with soul
▸Love vs duty
▸Faith crisis

💖💖Thank you to Alexandra Rei for including me again on her ARC team, all opinions are my own💖💖

"So, the gods are trying to awaken their Arcana, but someone is eliminating them before we can bring them to sacred ground,"

This final book is about Dylan, the High Priestess and Her Hand, who must face a lot of circumstances in the upcoming sacred war: saving the awakening Arcanas before they are hunted and killed by the apostles of hell, finding the emperor Arcanum whose whereabouts are still unknown, and finding out who the traitor is among the arcana.

I like the story. It's engaging, and it keeps us invested to keep reading. the pacing is fast from the start, and the plot is good, it's not confusing even though they move from one place to another, it's full of battles that take us on a thrilling ride. in this book, the story is more complex, and we're presented with the origin' story of why there's always Arcanas awakened and why there's always a cycle of sacred war. Dylan tries to stop the cycle of sacred war forever, even though she has to fight the gods and sacrifice many lives. and I tell you, so many deads here.

The universe created by El has put you in the same situations since the beginning of time. Again and again and again. Until you learned to react and think differently. Old habits don't open new doors, remember that.

This book was also easy to read, especially if you've read the previous two books. worldbuilding is also well described. I enjoyed the premise of this book, it's just that—maybe because my expectations were high...because the preceding books were wonderful...it's just that I found it difficult to finish this book. I dislike the characters, like most of them, especially our main character, the High Priestess Dylan. I mean, in the previous books, the High Priestess always had their own characters: Violante with her strength and Lena with her gentleness, but how about Dylan? Just plain. if that was the author's goal to make the reincarnated high priestess more plain, weak, and characterless over time, then she did hit the mark. It's hard for me to like this character. she's not strong even though she's been training as a high priestess since childhood. she's not gentle and doesn't stand out. instead, she's been saved by her Hand so many times I can't count how many times she passed out? 5 or more? and Dylan seems very hasty, impulsive, indecisive when it comes to decisions...I don't know why for me the characters here act like a group of teenagers😢 and what about the romance? here we go~

"I wonder if things would have been different if I haven't asked Vesper to cut the thread that bound" I murmur, freeing myself of that small burden.
The Emperor shrugs. "I don't think so. You keep calling him Axel, but he's Sethlan. You would have chosen him every time. The Emperor's Arcanum is nothing but a faded, mortal reflection of him."
I shake my head, a lump in my throat. "I wish you had stopped me from severing the bond."

Oh, girl...you're the one who's really demanding to severe the bond immediately, right?

I feel sorry for William that he had a fate as The Emperor, that he had to deal with Dylan. He deserved better. Dylan was sooo impatient to severe her fated bond with William just because of an insta-lust with a werewolf. I don't even want to talk about the romance. Or maybe this book wasn't for me I'm sorry😭 it's a shame because I really liked the previous books, maybe my expectations were too high😭

but please, my experience while reading this book may be different from yours. If you're into an epic fantasy with a unique magic system, this book is worth reading!✨

[Naia Sterne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ci sono fantasy che parlano di vendetta.
Poi c’è Inno di Vendetta e Gloria di Alexandra Rei, che prende la vendetta, la veste con un mantello svolazzante, le mette una colonna sonora epica in sottofondo e le dice: “Adesso vai e fai più danni possibili.” E lei obbedisce.

Questo terzo capitolo della saga dell’Arcana War può essere letto come standalone, si, come con i precedenti, ma è un po’ come presentarsi a una guerra sacra senza aver letto il briefing: tecnicamente puoi farlo, ma all’inizio ti sentiresti come se tutti sapessero qualcosa che tu hai perso per strada.

Il worldbuilding è denso, stratificato, pieno di ordini antichi, divinità silenziose, cicli di reincarnazioni e guerre che si ripetono “again and again and again” finché qualcuno non trova il coraggio (o la follia) di spezzarle. E qui entra in scena Dylan, l’Alta Sacerdotessa scelta da El, il padre di tutti gli dèi, che però ha un piccolo dettaglio problematico: il suo dio non le parla. Mai. Mentre gli altri Arcani hanno poteri chiari, ruoli definiti e identità scolpite nel marmo del destino, lei si ritrova con un terzo del potere delle sue predecessore e una montagna di aspettative sulle spalle. Violante era forza, Lena era dolcezza… e Dylan? Dylan è dubbio, insicurezza, impulsività e una quantità sorprendente di svenimenti. È meno “eroina invincibile” e più “dramma ambulante con responsabilità cosmiche”. Eppure è proprio questo che la rende interessante: non è l’Alta Sacerdotessa perfetta, è quella che si chiede continuamente se merita di esserlo.

Il problema è che nel frattempo deve salvare gli Arcani risvegliati prima che vengano massacrati dagli Apostoli infernali, trovare l’Imperatore scomparso, scoprire chi è il traditore e, già che c’è, decidere se spezzare o meno un legame predestinato dagli dèi per inseguire un’attrazione che definire impulsiva è un complimento. Le scelte qui non sono mai misurate: se esiste l’opzione più complicata, dolorosa e potenzialmente devastante… verrà scelta con convinzione assoluta. Sempre.

Il romance si inserisce in questo caos con zero intenzione di essere rassicurante. Non è zuccheroso, non è lineare, e spesso ti viene voglia di entrare nella pagina e urlare “parlatevi!” mentre i protagonisti si fissano intensamente circondati da macerie emotive e letterali. Ma metà del fascino sta proprio lì, in quella tensione trattenuta che brucia più delle battaglie. E di battaglie ce ne sono tante: arene letali, scontri sanguinosi, sacrifici che fanno male (sì, preparatevi a diverse morti), rivelazioni sul ciclo eterno della guerra sacra e sull’origine degli Arcani che ampliano ancora di più l’orizzonte della saga.

La magia, legata agli Arcani e alle carte, è una delle cose più affascinanti: originale, simbolica, quasi rituale. Il conflitto non è solo celeste contro infernale, ma morale contro vendetta, destino contro scelta. Dylan arriva a chiedersi se, per spezzare il ciclo, sia disposta a diventare lei stessa il mostro. E qui il libro alza davvero la posta: non bisogna temere il mostro, ma ciò che lo ha creato.

C’è una riflessione costante sul dolore che chiede di essere sentito, sul perdono che concediamo agli altri ma non a noi stessi, sulla possibilità di scegliere diversamente anche quando il mondo ti spinge a ripetere sempre gli stessi errori. Non è una lettura tranquilla, né sempre facile da seguire se non si ha familiarità con l’universo precedente, e a volte l’intensità emotiva è talmente spinta che sembra di stare in una telenovela fantasy con dèi vendicativi e cavalieri benedetti. Ma è coerente con se stessa, grandiosa, viscerale, piena di pathos e drammi gloriosi.

Se amate i fantasy romantici dove i sentimenti sono grandi quanto le guerre, dove nessuno prende decisioni tranquille e dove la vendetta ha sempre un prezzo da pagare, questo libro vi travolgerà come una valanga. E sì, forse vi farà anche arrabbiare. Ma di quelle arrabbiature che vi tengono incollati fino all’ultima pagina.

ps. se io ho imparato una cosa dai libri di Alexandra, è che se ho un personaggio preferito... lei mi farà soffrire.

[neeshreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Spice: 🌶️/5

Where fantasy meets tarot – Hymn of Vengeance and Glory is a NA Urban Fantasy interconnected standalone, and the final book (book 3) in the Arcana Wars series.

Alexandra Rei has blown me away and I have a new favorite book in the series! Each book in the Arcana Wars series is unique, and the stories just kept getting better and better! I was lucky enough to get to Beta read book 3 and I could not put this one down any time I tried to find a good “stopping point.” Having read books 1 & 2, I was familiar with the gods and their Arcana Knights, which are based on tarot cards, but I was still appreciative of the refresher with the introduction of the gods in the beginning. From there, we hit the ground running with world-building (things aren’t looking so hot with an interplanar war on the horizon) and meeting our FMC and High Priestess, Dylan Greeves.

🗡️Arcana Knights
✨️Star-Crossed Lovers
🖤Reluctant Chosen One
✨️Dreambound Connection
🔥Twin Flames
✨️Divine Bond
⚔️Ancient Gods Bestowing Some of Their Power
✨️Sacred Order in Ruin
🪓Fated but Doomed
✨️Enemies from Within
🐺The Beast with a Soul
✨️Redemption Through Pain
🛡️Love vs. Duty
✨️Sacred War: Heaven vs. Hell (& Hell’s Apostles are Thirsty for 🩸)
🌑Vampires/Faes/Werewolves
✨️Sacrifice for the Greater Good

Dylan is bestowed a sacred title and destiny she never asked for – bonded to a god who has never spoken to her. While the world waits with bated breath for her to lead the rebirth of the Arcana, Dylan feels adrift and alone.

While her god may be silent, Hell has not remained silent – Asmodeus, one of the most powerful Infernal Princes, has chosen a new Apostle and armed him with immense hatred.

Arcana are being slaughtered before they can awaken, the Order is collapsing, faith is crumbling and no one is coming to save them. It’s now a desperate race to search for the Emperor, the most powerful Arcanum and who’s meant to lead.

All the while, a man haunts Dylan’s dreams like a familiar flame – William Valois. Who is he and why is his name tied to a force that could destroy everything?

With the final sacred war between Heaven and Hell commencing, Dylan must make a choice: obey a divine will that has never protected her, or become the heretic who burns the world in order to save it.

Hymn of Vengeance and Glory brought the action with epic battles, fight scenes, and unique abilities of the gods, their knights, and the Apostles. I loved all of the action that progressed the plot, which was relatively fast-paced. With this final installment, we really got to know the members of the Hand supporting the High Priestess, more so than any of the other books in the series. I liked that not every character was “perfect” and that each knight had flaws that influenced their actions and interactions with others – I’m a sucker for some good character growth and a “coming into their own” moment.

Be prepared to buckle up with this one because you are in for a wild ride exploring different planes and there are going to be plot twists you won’t be able to see coming! When I had an idea of how I thought things would go? I was wrong and I couldn’t predict how things would end.

I also really enjoyed Dylan as High Priestess. She was a character experiencing extreme emotional turmoil – struggling to deal with being bound by duty and a situation she had no say/choice in made her feelings very relatable. I liked that she was angry, and at times impulsive, because she showed her humanity although she was bestowed with this immense power and essentially the fate of the mundanes in her hands. I think Dylan always wanted to do what was best for the world even if she didn’t know how to make that happen, and when she figured out what had to be done, she made the toughest calls imaginable.

If you’re looking for a NA Urban Fantasy read, I urge you to check this series out!

[Stress Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥️🪓🔥Hymn of Vengeance and Glory ARC Review 🔥🐺♥️

He was born from darkness. She was chosen by a dying god. Together, they could end the world - or save it.

When the gods fall silent, she becomes their last voice - and their greatest threat.

🫵🏼 This is for you if you:
• enjoy a mix of large scale conflict in your romantasy
• appreciate heavier themes in books
• enjoy (and not triggered by) darker content
• like your romantasy to be roughly equal parts fantasy and romance (with heavier themes)
• love a good fated mates/twin flames

📖 When the gods fall silent, the world begins to burn. Dylan Greeves never wanted to be High Priestess of the Arcana Order - but with the heavens mute and the realm unraveling, her choices are gone. Cursed by visions, bound by divine duty, and haunted by a forbidden bond with a man she was sworn to destroy, Dylan must lead what's left of the faithful into the storm. As ancient powers stir and demons rise, vengeance and salvation blur. To save her world - and her soul - she'll have to decide whether faith is worth more than freedom... or if love can defy even the gods.

✍🏼 I find the writing to be clear and appreciate that while we get rich descriptions, the writing doesn't veer into lyrical or purple.

I particularly enjoyed their banter and found it to read as natural.

Some may not like the very occasional modern language (I remember "fanboy" in particular being used once). It's a modern, urban fantasy, so after an initial double check of the timeline, as both previous books took place in the past, this wasn't an issue for me.

⏳Pacing is pretty good, but if you aren't a fan of deep, multi-faceted lore, this could feel too slow for you.

🗺️ This is a well built and explained world. Being book 3 in an interconnected standalone, the groundwork has previously been laid and this book moreso expands and enhances the world. It's rich with history and lore, and truly expansive. Even with this, it was still a book I really enjoyed and thus the 4 star rating.

You know how sometimes when reading fantasy you can't help but see the similarities in their world and ours? That was me with this book.

🔮 The groundwork for the magic development and explanation occurs in previous iterations, with this further expanding and enriching. Rei does well with making this an interconnected standalone series (same with world-building) - giving enough that it stands on its own without boring those that read the previous books.

👥 We get a diverse and inclusive cast in this story of self-discovery, overcoming your doubts, and listening to your intuition.

💖 No spoilers but I really enjoyed the twin flames Rei gives us. The sacrifice and honor - just chef's kiss.

🌶️ Well executed and in service to the characters and their arcs in the story.

📑 Why I didn't quite love it: It's a bit too expansive for my current brain. If I had read it a year ago, or in a year from now, I feel like I may have had an easier time keeping everyone and everything straight in my head. I feel like fae, werewolves, vampires, gods, and demi-gods was just too much for my current brain to keep up with.

📚 If you liked: The Kingdom of the Wicked (Kerri Maniscalco), Feathers So Vicious (Liv Zander), A Forbidden Alchemy (Stacey McEwen), To Charm A Dark Prince (Kathryn A Kingsley), or Heart of Shadows (Lisa Edmonds), then I think you'd like this.

Thank you to @ Alexandra Rei for the opportunity to read this eARC. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own

[Daniele Pepe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non so cosa sia successo all'autrice quando ha deciso di scrivere quest'ultimo libro della trilogia (che mi auguro davvero non sia l'ultimo, ma la conclusione della storia fa presagire ben altro, purtroppo). E sinceramente non voglio nemmeno starci a pensare, perché la crescita professionale di Alexandra Rei nella stesura di questa saga è stata FE NO ME NA LE.
Questo volume ha una complessità e profondità che nulla tolgono ai volumi precedenti, ma sono peculiari della storia che va a raccontare; è davvero stupefacente come l'autrice sia riuscita a creare tre trame differenti che portano all'attenzione del lettore temi diversi ogni volta, con altrettanti personaggi da scoprire. Il libro sembra un labirinto che si intreccia e complica sempre di più man mano che si procede con la lettura, ma la penna fresca e senza fronzoli di Alexandra Rei guida il lettore verso i momenti della trama in cui gli intrecci si sciolgono e iniziano ad acquistare un senso; è abile soprattutto nel rendere la situazione complessa e interessante al tempo stesso, in modo tale che chi legge non si stufa e vuole solo macinare pagine su pagine.
Credo che ci meritiamo davvero una protagonista come Dylan Greeves, allo stesso modo in cui ci meritiamo di impazzire e arrabbiarci verso tutti coloro che le voltano le spalle o la ostacolano; in questo romanzo c'è la vera definizione di come Eroe e Antagonista siano le due facce della stessa medaglia che serve a noi lettori per interfacciarci coi diversi aspetti della realtà. Ed è tutto ancora più potente dati i temi che il libro porta alla nostra attenzione: la possibilità di continuare a fare le nostre scelte anche quando il mondo intero cerca di trasformarci in persone che noi non riconosciamo, l'accettare le responsabilità che queste scelte ci getteranno addosso, il vivere ogni nostra emozione senza reprimerne alcuna perché tutte meritano di essere vissute e meritano la possibilità di insegnarci qualcosa con il loro sfogo.
Questo libro è un vero gioiellino del panorama fantasy indipendente italiano.
I personaggi sono unici e indimenticabili, sempre caratterizzati in maniera da essere immediatamente riconoscibili; la trama mostra sempre cose nuove di quel mondo che, dopo due romanzi, credevamo di aver conosciuto fino in fondo e invece ci accorgiamo di non aver esplorato nemmeno in superficie. Gli eventi mi si sono impressi nella mente come le immagini di un film.
Posso solo muovere un preghiera ad Alexandra in primis, e a El e a tutti i suoi figli in secundis, per chiederle di scrivere altri libri, a questo punto credo di aver sviluppato una sorta di dipendenza.

[Dezirani Sahu · Rating 4 out of 5]

HOVAG is the 3rd interconnected standalone book in the arcana war series which tells about ancient orders of knights choosen by the gods with the divine order of serving the mankind and protecting the high pristess.The story follows Dylan - the High Priestess choosen by EI - the father of all gods for the scared war. A destiny she had never asked for, a God who had never spoken to her, And the power that was given to her was also so weak that it made question on her identity. In such situation, how will she fight this war, gain the trust of other arcanas, rise above the weight of a burden bestowed upon her by the divine at her awakening? Will she be able to fulfill her bond predestined by God with the Emperor Arcanaum? And what if she falls in love with someone else in the midst of all this? So, It's not just about the eternal war between the celestial and infernal planes but about the internal war between morality and vengeance.
And that's where I started to love it more not just because of fantasy but for the rationality.

The characters were well written and well developed, I loved their banter, it made me chuckle many a time. The writing style was beautiful, poetic and engaging and the mystery of Emperor Arcanum hold the grip. The death of Regina and Xander made me so emotional and the sacrifice of Alma, Dante and Theo's father was praiseworthy and the way Dylan chose to be a monster to put an end to this scared war was absolutely noteworthy. Imagine, self-imposed punishment through guilt, bearing the weight of murder, and living with the burden of conscience - isn't this a heavy load to carry? Yet, that girl had persevered, relying solely on her own. So, one shouldn't fear the monster rather what made them a monster, fear about that and this was the crux of this book.

No one want to experience the suffering so we don't want to feel it but we forget that we can't heal from what we refuse to feel and pain demands to be felt. And sometimes we forgive others but when it comes to us, we becomes harsh to ourselves but we must know that even people like us deserve a happy ending we just need to accept that and forgive ourselves. These two must needed reminder were the wholesome of the book which I loved the most.

If you love dark visceral fantasy story or emotional read then you must read it.

[Lara · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, I'd like to thank both LoveNotes and Alexandra Rei for trusting me with an ARC of this book. As a first time arc reader, this has meant a lot to me.

This is the first book by the author that I've read, an though I personalllike to start series in the order the books were published, I was so invested by the time I read the premise that I just wanted to dive straight in. As someone who absolute LOVES Tarot, and reading about magic, I was hooked.

At the beginning of the story, I'm not gonna lie, I was SO lost, I didn't understand who was supposed to be the Arcanum of who, to the point I had to grab a piece of paper an write that information down. But that's not on the author, it was on me because I was studying for finals and my brain was not working properly to process the amount of information. As for the magic system, it wasn't hard to understand in the slightest, I did like how it added a lot of things, while explaining them through Dylan's pov.

I also loved how "young" the characters were, because they made mistakes that were easy to relate to when given their ages. Even if, at times I didn't completely agree with them, it was easy to understand their motives and reasonings. And I specially felt a deep connection with Dylan, and all her insecurities, I felt like she was really relatable, flaws and all.

But the moment I fell in love with her character was when she had to make certain calls that I know no one else would've made. She was the perfect mix of emotional and strong, and really enjoyed reading from her pov.

This book was action packed, but it never felt rushed for me. if anything, I believeeverything was explained in depth, or at least good enough for readers to understand. The battles were epic, and had me on the edge of my seat, with my anxiety through the roof, and rooting for Dylan and the members of the Hand who were supportive of the High Priestess.

And as for the plot twists, I kid you not, my heart was being squeezed inside my ribs pretty often, sometimes leaving me on the verge of tears (because, yes, I am a reader who cries for everything).

I think if you enjoy high-fantasy books, and learning about new magic systems, this is the PERFECT book, and am looking forward to reading more from Alexandra. <3

[Hecate91 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Per chi crede ancora nella possibilità di scegliere sé stessi, anche contro gli dèi"

Siamo nel 2025 a Saint Denis e Dylan Greevs è la Papessa dell'ordine degli Arcani.
Un grande compito, gravoso, impegnativo per una sola persona che si trova a sentirsi sola, confusa e spezzata nell'anima.
Inoltre il silenzio degli Dei pesa sulle sue spalle.
All'inferno, invece, Asmodeus si prepara ad una nuova battaglia tramite sette Apostoli.
Gli Arcani crollano uno ad uno ancora prima del risveglio e la fede dell'ordine vacilla perché sanno che nessuno, dal cielo, arriverà a salvarli.
Nel frattempo, in tutto questo caos, si risveglia l'Arcano dell'imperatore...figura importante insieme a quello della Papessa.
Chi sarà? E riuscirà Dylan a salvarlo?
Riuscirà a ritrovare se stessa o soccomberà al suo destino?
Lo scoprirete solo leggendo questa storia magica quasi epica ❤️

Chiedo scusa a Alexandra Rei per averla fatta attendere parecchio tempo e la ringrazio per la fiducia, che ha riposto in me, affidandomi la sua creatura in anteprima.
Ho comprato gli altri libri, della saga, ma non li ho ancora letti...sono partita da qui perché la saga lo permette e perché Dylan mi ha chiamata a gran voce .
Prima di leggerlo ho estratto il mio Arcano ed è uscita lei...la Papessa...destino? Sicuramente si.
Fatto stà che il personaggio di Dylan mi è stato cucito addosso ed è una cosa che mi è successa pochissime volte nella mia vita da lettrice.
Adoro gli Arcani e i personaggi sono tanti ma descrivono perfettamente il loro ruolo e non si possono dimenticare.
Lo stile di scrittura è affascinante, coinvolgente, ti trasporta in questo mondo tra l'incanto e la realtà.
I temi trattati ti coinvolgono emotivamente suscitandoti emozioni estremamente reali e vive.
Ringrazio Sara Cremini per avermi consigliata e faccio lo stesso con voi perché l'ho amato tanto ❤️
In questa mia ultima, ma non meno importante, recensione dell'anno vorrei ricordarvi di sostenere sempre gli autori emergenti perché queste storie sono importanti tanto quanto quelle di autori famosi.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when we thought this world couldn't get more epic and the stakes couldn't get any higher - Alexandra Rei gives us Hymn of Vengeance and Glory ✨️

Hymn of Vengeance of Glory is the third book of the Arcana Wars series. However each book can be read as a standalone. This fantasy series has the most interesting and innovative world building that reels us in right from the get-go every time. This instalment gave us Aracana warriors, gods, wendigos, werewolves, vampires, demons and so much more! Its the only series we've read where your first job is to pick a tarot card from a choice of gods and Arcana heroes to take along with you for the ride. We find that so fun!

What we loved about Hymn of Vengeance and Glory:

✨️ Alexandra's world building and character development has improved over the series. There is so much going on in this book but you never feel bogged down in details or trapped in exposition scene after exposition scene.

✨️ Links and callbacks to previous books characters and events. Drawing all the books together and giving more weight and meaning to the stakes in this story.

✨️ Exploration of free will - in previous books our main characters have almost accepted their fate from the gods without question. In this story our characters challenge and question what the gods from them and what it means for them if they relinquish free will. Conversely, what path they would take if they severe links with their gods and have free will.

✨️ The needs of the many outweighs the needs of the few - this popped into our mind many times during this read. Our main characters have to make some very harrowing decisions and actions to save the day. What cost does such a choice take and what's the effect on one's soul? Is such a choice worth making if it saves more lives than it takes?

As always we never wish to give too much away however its safe to say we enjoyed this book.

[Emma Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩷 Blurb -
☄️🪓Hymn of Vengeance and Glory 🔥🐺
is an NA Urban Romantasy, standalone, book 3 in the Arcana Wars series.
2025, Dylan Greeves is the High Priestess of the Arcana Order.
A sacred title. A destiny she never asked for. A god who has never spoken to her.
While the world waits for her to lead the rebirth of the Arcana, Dylan is lost—fractured, uncertain, and alone.
And the silence of the gods is deafening.
But Hell does not remain silent. Asmodeus, one of the most powerful Infernal Princes, has chosen a new Apostle—and armed him with hatred.
One by one, the Arcana are being slaughtered before they can awaken. The Order is collapsing. Faith is crumbling.
And Dylan is starting to understand that no one is coming to save them.
Amid the chaos, the search for the Emperor—the most powerful Arcanum, the one meant to lead—becomes a desperate race.
Who is William Valois, the man who haunts Dylan’s dreams like a familiar flame?
And why is his name tied to a force that could burn everything to the ground?
As the final sacred war ignites between the Heaven and the Hell, Dylan must obey a divine will that never protected her… or become the heretic who sets the world on fire to save it?
💙 Review -
Even though I hadn't read the other books in the series, I still enjoyed the story and soon understood what was going on. I really enjoyed the author's writing style and I found myself getting swept away with the characters. There were also plenty of twists and turns that kept me entertained and guessing until the end. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Tales & Teacups, the author and publisher for my arc ebook copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Trina · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Book Review: Hymn of Vengeance and Glory by Alexandra Rei. Thank you for choosing me as an ARC reader in exchange for an honest review! This book is set to release on October 2, 2025.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 /5

Recommendation: If you’re into dense, lore-heavy high fantasy where the plot takes off immediately, Hymn of Vengeance and Glory will absolutely pull you in. Definite yes for if you’re a reader who doesn’t mind being dropped headfirst into a world that expects you to keep up—and who enjoys layered history, politics, and (same team) power struggles.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Emotional Damage: ☠️☠️☠️ /5

Originality : 🖊️🖊️🖊️🖊️ /5

Writing: 🥀🥀🥀/5

Likes: This book is rich with history and worldbuilding, almost like peeling back centuries of lore. The knights’ powers, the multiple planes, and the complexity of the story gave me “fantasy Avengers Civil War” type vibes. Once you get a grip on the world, the plot is both fascinating and engaging. Personally I didn’t get to that point until about 60% into the book, but the payoff was worth it.

Dislikes: As much as I loved the world building like I mentioned above, this is one of the few standalone books where I wish it could expand out into a series. There is so much that could be covered. Also not really a flaw, but more of a personal preference. I know this was not written as a romantasy. I get it, I promise. But for a story centered on themes of fate, choice, and a romantic bond-like relationship, I wanted more emotional depth and impact from the romantic love triangle subplot. I wanted to hurt.

═══⊹⊱≼≽⊰⊹═══

Genre: High Fantasy / Epic Fantasy

Tropes: Dense worldbuilding, multiple planes, knight powers, fate vs free will, found family, political intrigue, magic hierarchy, hidden backstories.

[Lara Loves Lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This third book in The Arcana Wars is a NA Urban Romantasy set in the present time. The world building centers around the major arcana cards of the tarot which are an order of knights awakened by the gods to protect humanity. Dylan Greeves is the High Priestess, a duty she didn’t want and doesn’t feel suited for since her powers are not as strong as her predecessors and her own god, El, does not speak to her. The order itself is falling apart while Asmodeus, one of the Infernal Princes, is literally preparing to release hell on earth, and the most powerful arcana, The Emperor is missing.

Dylan’s character is troubled, lost and confused. Her struggles with fulfilling her responsibilities and understanding her own needs creates the main internal conflict in the story. As Dylan begins to understand that she must depend on her own strength and not someone else’s or a god’s, she grows into her version of a High Priestess and lets go of the expectations, resentment and need to please others that had been holding her back, becoming a strong, independent woman who is the heroine of her own story. Reminding me of the Hero’s journey, I found Dylan relatable and her struggles ones that we all experience as we enter adulthood.

I love that the author uses the tarot as inspiration for her world building and although intricate, she gives you a handbook in the front for the Arcana Knightd and a list in the back with the Arcana names and their god for ease of reference. This well written and moving coming of age story focuses on a young woman learning to embrace and become her authentic self. If you enjoy tropes such as star crossed lovers, love vs duty, heaven vs hell and a heroine experiencing a faith crisis who rises to redemption, then this is a must read!

[Nica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ma iniziamo dall'inizio: questo libro fa parte della saga legata agli arcani, e sarebbe il terzo (una specie di sequel di Faida di Sangue e Tenebra) ma essendo tutti autoconclusivi si possono leggere anche separatamente senza problemi. (Certo ci sono egli easter eggs ma niente che rovini la lettura).

Devo ammetterlo: Inno di Vendetta e Gloria mi ha sorpreso molto positivamente. Sapevo che mi sarebbe piaciuto, ma non mi ero aspettata così tanto. È stato veramente un bel tuffo in questo mondo.

Penso che da una parte ciò che ha aiutato è stata l'ambientazione ai giorni nostri, che toglie le problematiche che avevano i precedenti riguardanti il lessico usato e contesto, visto che erano ambientati nei secoli scorsi).

Dall'altra questo è un bel mattoncino che mi ha tenuta incollata alle pagine. Avvengono molti fatti e l'azione è la chiave principale che fa andare avanti il tutto. Vediamo nuovi nemici che sono all'altezza delle aspettative e un grande compito finale da portare a termine.

Ho amato i personaggi, alcune volte magari non condividevo le loro scelte, ma ci sono alcuni che hanno ottenuto la mia stima (si Goro, parlo di te).

Un'altra cosa che ho apprezzato è il fatto che la parte fantasy prevalg su tutto il resto. Certo, c'è pure una parte romance, ma non ha tirato su di sè la coperta. Ero curiosa però di capire anche la dinamica dei protagonisti siccome si sapeva che sarebbe stato un triangolo ma dall'altra anche il fatto che La Papessa e L'Imperatore sono predestinati a stare insieme. Non sono rimasta delusa dalla scelta che è stata fatta.

Per concludere: leggetelo!

[Carti cu Sclipici · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn’t ease you in—it throws you straight into action. Even in the first two chapters there’s so much happening that it almost feels overwhelming, but in a good way. I loved that it’s full of magic, intrigue, and mystery. The Arena challenge stood out for me: on the surface it looks like a game, but the danger is real, and I liked how the characters managed to fight as a team despite the tensions between them.

Dylan really worked for me as a protagonist. At the beginning she feels weak and unprepared, even though she has powers. She doesn’t know how to use them and often struggles with feelings of inadequacy. That vulnerability made her more human, and I liked that her motivation isn’t selfish—she wants strength to protect the others, not for her own sake. Seeing that progress slowly build is something I always appreciate.

Another thing I enjoyed was the sense of found family. The Arcana genuinely care for her and protect her, even when she doubts herself. It gave me that comforting feeling of loyalty and belonging. On the other hand, Katrina… I honestly couldn’t stand her. It’s been a while since I disliked a character this much, which probably means she’s written exactly to get that reaction.

The worldbuilding is dense, with a lot of names and events to follow, so at times it can feel a little much. But if you like being pulled into a rich, layered universe where tension never really lets up, this book is worth it.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. This review reflects my honest thoughts.

[babelbuecher (Aurora) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allora devo premettere che si tratta del terzo volume della saga degli arcani nonostante siano più o meno tutti autoconclusivi.

❗️POSSIBILI SPOILER ❗️

A differenza dei libri precedenti, questo è ambientato ai giorni nostri e il mondo degli arcani, che nei libri precedenti era guidato da splendore e tradizioni, si trova in un momento di profondo cambiamento…quasi decadenza: le antiche tradizioni traballano, le gerarchie vengono messe in discussione e la papessa non riesce a sbloccare a pieno i suoi poteri.
Se non bastasse gli dei infernali cercano vendetta risvegliando anche loro dei guerrieri da usare per raggiungere i loro scopi.

Dylan, la protagonista, è un po’ un “reluctant hero” che si sente in colpa per ciò che è accaduto a suo padre, per il fatto che il suo dio non le parla, perché non riesce ad accedere completamente e ha paura di non essere all’altezza del ruolo che le è stato imposto, deludendo le aspettative degli altri membri dell’ordine. Lei l’ho trovata molto umana, sbaglia più volte ma alla fine si sacrifica, prendendo scelte anche moralmente ambigue, per il bene superiore.

Mi è piaciuto il fatto che l’amore eterno tra papessa e imperatore venga messo in discussione e, sebbene, le storie d’amore piacciono a tutti, credo che il loro finale sia perfetto per non snaturare i personaggi.

L’unica critica che mi viene da fare riguarda il ritmo del romanzo che mi è parso un po’ troppo veloce se considerato tutte le cose che accadono. Detto questo è un libro molto scorrevole che ha messo a dura prova il mio sonno😅.

[Julianne Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of battles, losses, impossible choices, love, mistakes, regrets, and many emotions.
The magic system was fun with having Arcana Knights vs Apostles. All with power from the gods, but the Apostles are from the gods who rebelled against the father of all gods.

The High Priestess, Dylan, cannot speak with her God like the other Arcanum can. She questions her purpose and her adequacy. She is supposed to lead, but how can she when her own God won't speak to her and she has 1/3 the power past priestesses have had. It's her journey of discovering her true worth in a world wrought with vampires, werewolves and other half demons due to the god of lies corruption.

She comes upon some impossible questions to answer because when it's all over, is she willing to sacrifice everything to save the humans from the influence of the gods?
There are quite the philosophical questions asked that make you, the reader, also ponder.

It was confusing at first because, even though this book acts as a standalone, the world continues from the other books. It took me a while to get into it and know who were gifted powers from what God and what those powers did. The author does a good job of switching the names of the people (ex: Ercole) with their names given them from the power of the God (ex: Heirophant Arcanum) so you got to know who was who pretty fast.

It was a fun story with plenty of twists and the perfect amount of action and high stakes.

[Shelves_by_sim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was much longer than it's predecessors and I think that because of this, it provided the perfect conclusion for this series. Again, I just love this story so much, the worldbuilding is intricate and unique, a magic system based on cards and a god that is linked back to each one. I always love that even though these books can technically be read as a standalone, there is extensive history regarding the past High Priestesses and even the gods!

Colour me surprised that I adore these books so much because they actually have a reincarnation trope which is not my favorite BUT I love how it's done in this world, because it's both Emporer and High Priestess, not just one of them! Therefore they are completely new characters and even though the duties and fate of the Arcanum are always the same, each generation gets there own awakenings for their own impeding sacred wars.

This one has some really cool features, I love that we got more of the demons in general, the infernal plane, the dream and fae realms. The Apostles were a great plot twist and I loved them as villains! I am so glad we got more of Azazel in this one and that Asmodeus is a very prominent character throughout! There is alot of mystery regarding Dylan's place as the high priestess and so much of this story absolutely blew me away! This one is more of a high fantasy world with romantic subplot which I really enjoyed too!

[Lauren Penner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vibes: Tarot Arcana meets Shadow hunters meets supernatural creatures meets divine war.

This is my fav book in the Arcana Wars series. They are standalones in a connected world so you don’t necessarily have to read the first two books but I think it makes the story more immersive.

The Arcana really come to life. I love all the little details and personality traits the characters have that show how deeply the author understands Tarot.

I really liked the FMC, Dylan. I found her insecurities of not being good enough as High Priestess to be really relatable.

The sacred weapons in this series are just so cool! I loved the character art depicting them.

The plot twists really caught me off guard and the last quarter of the book absolutely took me for a ride. I wasn’t sure what was going to happen. Such a good read!

Fav tropes:
✨Star-crossed lovers
❤️‍🔥Twin flames
⚖️Angels vs Demons
🧛Vampires
🐺Werewolves
💭Dream connections
🛡️Cool af weapons

Fav quotes:
“Lonelier than a Hermit, more isolated than the Devil, more vigorous than the Force and more enigmatic than Justice, what is the High Priestess really?”

“Prayers are not always meant to be answered. In your suffering, you have the greatest freedom a god could grant you. You will find the answers within yourself.”

Thank you Alexandra Rei for the gifted eARC!!

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

💫 thank you to love notes pr for the copy! 💫

i had a fun time with this book! dylan was an extremely sympathetic fmc & i really believed she felt the weight of her role, i rooted for her when others doubted her & cheered when she claimed a victory.

the supporting characters in dylan's arcana were also really fun, i especially loved vesper, who's wit & down to earth attitude balanced dylan's self doubt & fear of letting people down.

the world building was also great, i loved seeing the different locations; from the fairy realm to saint denis, each place had a different vibe & i would feel excited when i knew a new setting was coming up.

however, i was a disappointed by the romance, given how much of the description of the book was dedicated to the tropes featured. i found this aspect to be the least compelling part as it felt rushed in certain areas & again, based on the description of the book i thought there would be more of it. i feel like if this was promoted as more of a fantasy adventure i would probably like it a little more!

overall though, the tarot inspiration for the magic system was really fun & the relationships between the gods & their chosen were really compelling, so i'd recommend checking this out!

[Chelsea Dwinell · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I would like to say thanks you to Tales & Teacups and Alexandria Rei for providing an ARC of this book. This is my first ARC review and could not have wished for a better entry into ARCs.

I have not read the other two books in the series and was worried that even though they were separate stories, there would be tie ins I would not understand. That was not the case and reading the third novel in the series has made me want to go back to read the first two.

I was not prepared to immediately start in on the action and did feel a bit lost in the beginning, but by a few chapters in I was hooked and couldn’t stop reading. I was intimidated by the underlying lore of the tarot, as I have only dabbled in that space, but it was artfully handled as to not overwhelm the story as a whole.

I have a hard time reading books as I tend to be know what is going to happen in the story. That was not the case here! I was surprised by multiple character arcs as well as the ending.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a story filled with well thought out lore and diverse individualistic characters that will leave you wanting more.

[Aida Rivero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hymn of Vengeance and Glory is book number three in the Arcana wars series. Although it is considered a standalone, I would still recommend that you read the first two books before reading this one as it will help you understand a little bit more about the series.

This book is a dark fantasy that involves gods and demons. You have Dylan who is a high priestess on the Arcana order. In reading this book you will go through a plethora of emotions. You will be captivated by this storyline and unique magical world portrayed in today’s current world. The authors unique character development will have you you follow Dylan through a thrilling journey full of both magical and dangerous endeavors. Dylan must face tough decisions and learn to trust despite isolation and fractured faith. She must prove herself worthy despite the inner battle with self-doubt and thinking she is not good enough. The author does a beautiful job in captivating the reader to follow the said journey and feel immersed in the storyline. This was definitely a book worth reading.

10 out of 10 would recommend this book to family and friends.

[Il finale di Freya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raga l'ho finita... Ho finito la saga 😭
Vi giuro che non so neanche cosa dirvi. Aver finito la saga mi ha lasciato con un vuoto che non si può esprimere. Prima Violante e Sebastian, poi Lena e Gabriel e adesso soffro anche Dylan e William. MA COME SI FA?!

Ha dato la chiusura perfetta alla saga. Nonostante siano stand-alone, sono tutti collegati quindi io vi consiglierò per sempre la lettura di tutte e tre i volumi, anche perché vi perdereste tutte le reference che mi hanno strappato l'anima, appallottolata, calciata lontana e poi perse nel nulla.

Si evince dalle mie parole quanto io sia serena nello scrivere queste parole, non sono ASSOLUTAMENTE fuori di testa per le Cronache arcane. PER NIENTE.

Come scrivevo anche nelle altre recensioni la scrittura è talmente scorrevole che non sembra di leggere tutte quelle pagine. Io mi sono resa della stazza di questo ultimo volume solo quando ho comprato il cartaceo e l'ho messo accanto ai primi due... vi dico solo che è la somma dei primi due messi insieme. Doppia razione di goduria!
E poi cosa non è successo!

L'idea di fondo e la trama sono la cosa che invidierò per sempre all'autrice - invidia sana si intende -. Non riesco a concepire come possa aver creato mondi, personaggi, dimensioni e guerre mettendoli insieme come se facesse la cosa più facile del mondo.
Io la trovo geniale! Riesco a dire solo questo. Non trovo altre parole che possano descrivere al meglio quello che Alexandra crea nei suoi libri.

Parliamo però di quanto sia stata subdola in questo volume: FARMI RILEGGERE NOMI E MOMENTI DEI VECCHI LIBRI È STATA LA COSA PIÙ CATTIVA CHE POTESSI FARE. E io soffro i diari delle sibille come se avessi perso un braccio! Immagina quando mi sono ritrovata spalmato in giro il nome di Violante, o quando mi hai fatto ricordato quanto io sia sotto un treno per Lena e Gabriel (i migliori a parer mio 😏).

Toni sensazionalistici a parte: la chiusura perfetta per una saga come questa. Non avrei cambiato una sillaba...
insomma...
forse una sillaba o due le avrei cambiate, ma questa è una conversazione che sarete pront* ad affrontare quando avrete letto la saga. Solo allora capirete di cosa sto parlando. Ma non temete: riserva anche belle sorprese!

Chiudiamo così, quindi, l'ultima recensione delle cronache arcane: con l'amaro in bocca per una fine che avrei sperato arrivasse il più tardi possibile e con il cuore in pace per il finale che ho avuto.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hymn of Vengeance and Glory by Alexandra Rei is the third book in the series, and although it can technically be read as a standalone, that’s what I did and I ended up feeling a little lost at times. The worldbuilding is rich and full of history, relationships, and magic systems that were clearly developed in the earlier books, so starting here made it harder to connect with the characters or fully understand what was at stake.

Even so, Alexandra Rei’s writing is vivid and immersive, and once I settled in, I enjoyed the dramatic tension and emotional weight of the story. There are some intense action scenes and a few really beautiful moments that kept me turning the pages. I just found myself wishing I had read the previous books first so I could appreciate the character arcs and political threads running through the story.

Overall, it’s a solid read with strong writing and interesting worldbuilding, but be ready for some confusion if you decide to start with this book like I did.

[_aly_books_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Inno di vendetta e gloria" è il terzo capitolo della saga
Cronache Arcane e, come tutti gli altri libri, all'inizio troviamo le divinità e la spiegazione degli Arcani. Segue lo stile dei primi due romanzi, ma è ambientato nell'epoca moderna, con però delle visite ad altri piani: il piano fatato e il piano demoniaco. Il racconto si sviluppa dal punto di vista di Dylan, la papessa di quest'epoca; attraverso i suoi occhi ci porta nelle sue avventure, nei suoi sentimenti ed emozioni, ma ci porta anche nelle avventure degli altri Arcani.
Dylan mostra le sue emozioni e fragilità in vari momenti, come quando viene messo in dubbio il suo essere la papessa o il senso di non essere giusta nel ruolo di papessa, e con il rapporto praticamente inesistente con William. Tutto sommato, è stato un bel (ultimo) viaggio nel mondo degli Arcani. La lettura risulta fluida e coinvolgente, e gli avvenimenti e le emozioni sono ben descritti nei dettagli.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This can be read as a stand alone, but reading the 2 previous books is definitely an asset. This has a beautiful poetic prose.

This is such a unique and complex magic system. The Arcana Knights are based on Tarot. There is a lot going on, fae, vampires, werewolves, gods, demigods and humans. It is a lot to keep straight sometimes. I did have to go back and re read a couple of chapters and I picked up and a few things I missed.

Amazing character growth.
Dylan’s struggle with her self doubt, almost an imposter syndrome, was relatable. I loved seeing her lean into her rage sometimes and deal with the consequences later.

That being said, this is NA, so me being twice the characters ages gave me pause a few times. I had to keep in mind their limited experiences.

Tropes
🌌 Star‑Crossed Lovers
💤 Dreambound Connection
🔥 Twin Flames
💔 Fated but Doomed
🪞 Reflected Pain
🪄 Divine Bond
🪓 Arcana Knights