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Nissai #1
Nissai: An MM Prince x Barbarian Fantasy Slow Burn Royal Romance
"A nightingale doesn’t consort with a wolf, does it?"
What to expect:
MM Romance (Male/Male)Forced Marriage & Slow BurnUnequal Power DynamicsCulture ClashCourt Intrigue & PoliticsA prince without a throne or kingdom.
After the brutal conquest of his homeland by the barbarian general Valadrin, Nissai expected a life in exile. Instead, a fate worse than death awaits him.
The new king, desperate to legitimize his rule, demands marriage to a member of the fallen Tal dynasty. When Nissai’s sister escapes her fate, Valadrin makes a shocking Nissai himself will be his spouse.
Thrust back into a palace now teeming with enemies, Nissai must navigate his new, humiliating role. Forced to live alongside the usurper, he faces the scorn of the court and subjects. In a world ruled by brute force and tribal customs, Nissai must fight for survival and respect.
Content Warning &
This dark fantasy novel contains themes of loss of status, homophobia, and scenes intended for a mature audience (18+). Recommended for readers who enjoy complex relationships, power struggles, and stories of self-discovery against all odds.
What to expect:
MM Romance (Male/Male)Forced Marriage & Slow BurnUnequal Power DynamicsCulture ClashCourt Intrigue & PoliticsA prince without a throne or kingdom.
After the brutal conquest of his homeland by the barbarian general Valadrin, Nissai expected a life in exile. Instead, a fate worse than death awaits him.
The new king, desperate to legitimize his rule, demands marriage to a member of the fallen Tal dynasty. When Nissai’s sister escapes her fate, Valadrin makes a shocking Nissai himself will be his spouse.
Thrust back into a palace now teeming with enemies, Nissai must navigate his new, humiliating role. Forced to live alongside the usurper, he faces the scorn of the court and subjects. In a world ruled by brute force and tribal customs, Nissai must fight for survival and respect.
Content Warning &
This dark fantasy novel contains themes of loss of status, homophobia, and scenes intended for a mature audience (18+). Recommended for readers who enjoy complex relationships, power struggles, and stories of self-discovery against all odds.
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 19, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 9, 2025
Boy, do I love a forced marriage trope.
As a fan of slowburns, I was pretty pleased with the pacing of this. So many book claim to be slowburns and aren’t (honestly, who are these people that think a slowburn has them together before the last 3/4?). Then I got a bit worried that it would have a rushed ending.
It didn’t have a rushed ending, becuase it ends on a cliffhanger… which I was pretty sure was going to happen before I got to the end.
On the one hand, I’m super please because I love a multi-book slowburn and they seem hard to come by these days.
On the other hand, I do wish I had know before I started it that it was the first book in a series and ended on a cliffhanger.
Thankfully, book 2 was released not long after I finished this, and it looks like the rest of the series will be along shortly as well. Hooray!
As a fan of slowburns, I was pretty pleased with the pacing of this. So many book claim to be slowburns and aren’t (honestly, who are these people that think a slowburn has them together before the last 3/4?). Then I got a bit worried that it would have a rushed ending.
It didn’t have a rushed ending, becuase it ends on a cliffhanger… which I was pretty sure was going to happen before I got to the end.
On the one hand, I’m super please because I love a multi-book slowburn and they seem hard to come by these days.
On the other hand, I do wish I had know before I started it that it was the first book in a series and ended on a cliffhanger.
Thankfully, book 2 was released not long after I finished this, and it looks like the rest of the series will be along shortly as well. Hooray!
December 12, 2025
holy underrated- this had me hooked!!
"I think you are finally returning to yourself."
Nissai looked at Valadrin, not understanding.
"What, exactly, does that mean?"
"I don't know, but I am eager to find out."
"I think you are finally returning to yourself."
Nissai looked at Valadrin, not understanding.
"What, exactly, does that mean?"
"I don't know, but I am eager to find out."
July 7, 2026
Absolutely gripping! Can’t open book 2 quick enough!
April 3, 2026
It’s been years since I’ve read a book that actually makes me want to continue the series (which I had no idea this was)!
This is true slow burn romance. Nissai and Valadrin only start getting close towards the 90% mark. Even then, there’s still more relationship building promised.
This is true slow burn romance. Nissai and Valadrin only start getting close towards the 90% mark. Even then, there’s still more relationship building promised.
July 15, 2026
2.5
This book is one man's quest to become to most loved, benevolent and kind queen ever. He was always either handing out food to the Poor himself, or invention food vouchers, penning lovely letters to all allies, inviting servants to eat breakfast with him and just being so GOOD and so SELFLESS all the time I wanted to strangle him at the end. This is like a Princess Di reincarnation story but Princess Di surely wasn't as naive and fake.
Then the barbarian. Who is decidedly NO barbarian. When usurping a throne, you have one singular goal, and that is to kill the royal family so there is no chance they reclaim it. And barbarian here fails not only at this easy, simple task, no, he takes the heir to the throne as a husband.
They're both equally dumb maybe they deserve each other.
I'll probably read book 2 because I can't wait for the eunuch to die, because he has to be the most annoying, connoving bitch I have read about in a long time.
This book is one man's quest to become to most loved, benevolent and kind queen ever. He was always either handing out food to the Poor himself, or invention food vouchers, penning lovely letters to all allies, inviting servants to eat breakfast with him and just being so GOOD and so SELFLESS all the time I wanted to strangle him at the end. This is like a Princess Di reincarnation story but Princess Di surely wasn't as naive and fake.
Then the barbarian. Who is decidedly NO barbarian. When usurping a throne, you have one singular goal, and that is to kill the royal family so there is no chance they reclaim it. And barbarian here fails not only at this easy, simple task, no, he takes the heir to the throne as a husband.
They're both equally dumb maybe they deserve each other.
I'll probably read book 2 because I can't wait for the eunuch to die, because he has to be the most annoying, connoving bitch I have read about in a long time.
January 22, 2026
I loved this! This is catnip to me. I will very happily read this entire series in one go. I loved how character focused it was, loved how alive and lived in the world feels, loved the depth to the characters, loved getting to see court life for Nissa, loved the differences between the two cultures. I can’t wait to see these two continue to get closer. I have no complaints. I will say so far it’s not fantasy like it’s tagged as, but historical. I’m not bothered, but I do question if there’s going to be fantasy later or if it is a historical romance and not fantasy
April 22, 2026
amazing!
This was such a great read. Perfect breath of fresh air after a Dnf book. The pacing works beautifully throughout this book. Slow burn indeed. But it works beautifully for these characters and this setting. I loved Nissai as our main character. He has a mask to survive everything and everyone around him. It works well for him in this new political setting that he must survive. If you are looking for a good Prince and barbarian slow burn this is the book for you. I’m gonna run and read book two now.
This was such a great read. Perfect breath of fresh air after a Dnf book. The pacing works beautifully throughout this book. Slow burn indeed. But it works beautifully for these characters and this setting. I loved Nissai as our main character. He has a mask to survive everything and everyone around him. It works well for him in this new political setting that he must survive. If you are looking for a good Prince and barbarian slow burn this is the book for you. I’m gonna run and read book two now.
November 10, 2025
strange
I like the book so far but it is strange. I feel like it’s more of an open relationship kind of love. Nissai doesn’t mind Valadrin with concubines in order to produce heirs and Valadrin doesn’t mind Nissai if he would be with anyone else as long as he’s being safe. I do hope in the future books there is more possessiveness as I can’t imagine sharing in the long run as it ruins the whole romance aspect and feels more like a transaction.
I like the book so far but it is strange. I feel like it’s more of an open relationship kind of love. Nissai doesn’t mind Valadrin with concubines in order to produce heirs and Valadrin doesn’t mind Nissai if he would be with anyone else as long as he’s being safe. I do hope in the future books there is more possessiveness as I can’t imagine sharing in the long run as it ruins the whole romance aspect and feels more like a transaction.
January 2, 2026
Surprisingly good slowburn romance. Nothing weird or gross (refreshing.) ((Also it’s an actual slowburn.))
I admit I knocked off a star because the beginning felt a little silly with the sister. Almost like a farce. I am able to suspend a lot of disbelief though because I like Nissai.
I admit I knocked off a star because the beginning felt a little silly with the sister. Almost like a farce. I am able to suspend a lot of disbelief though because I like Nissai.
June 26, 2026
Enjoyed the historical nonfiction storyline. Nissai is very kind and sweet. Made it difficult to believe the heat between them. Was hoping there was more passion and suspense building to their relationship.
October 20, 2025
Sucked right in
I loved this book. The developing relationship between Nassai and Valarin is well done. Can't wait until the next book.
I loved this book. The developing relationship between Nassai and Valarin is well done. Can't wait until the next book.
May 9, 2026
I really enjoyed this series! It's very hard to sustain romantic tension between two LIs for multiple books, without annoying the shiz out of your readers, but Silencio manages it AND makes it delicious.
August 1, 2026
This was a series of five books and each book
somehow kept getting better. I honestly wish she had 50 more books because I don’t want to run out of Nissai and Valadrins story.
This story was so beautiful and so intriguing that I kept finding excuses to pick it back up. What really stood out to me, though, was how true every character stayed from beginning to end. No one suddenly became someone else just to fit the story. Every reaction, every decision, every emotion felt exactly like a real person would respond. The way she writes human emotions and relationships is just incredible. Nothing felt exaggerated or fake.
By the time I finished, I just sat there thinking, “Wow.” Not many books do that to me anymore.
If you’re on the fence about reading this one, just do it. You’re seriously missing out if you pass on it. This author is beyond talented, and I am desperate for Zorans books. I can’t wait to return to Nissa’s world. The push and pull, the angst at times and the delicious reconciliations. I only wished Val was a tad more asshole-ish at times because he forgave his Nissa too quickly. Oh sweet Dara! The wise warrior! That’s all I am going to say. I have never managed to not be bored or not skip a few pages in a series this long but this book you will not be able to blink! Ugh I wish I could reread it for the first time again. Ok Silencio, here I come for all your other books. I see you have written my fav genre the mafia series and 90% of books with mob themes disappoint me since most authors can’t capture the real dark brutality of that world and end up writing fluff silly pieces that make me want to gag. So far very few have done it with among them Voinov on top! But I have a feeling I am going to add to my list of FAV authors for the genre. 💕
somehow kept getting better. I honestly wish she had 50 more books because I don’t want to run out of Nissai and Valadrins story.
This story was so beautiful and so intriguing that I kept finding excuses to pick it back up. What really stood out to me, though, was how true every character stayed from beginning to end. No one suddenly became someone else just to fit the story. Every reaction, every decision, every emotion felt exactly like a real person would respond. The way she writes human emotions and relationships is just incredible. Nothing felt exaggerated or fake.
By the time I finished, I just sat there thinking, “Wow.” Not many books do that to me anymore.
If you’re on the fence about reading this one, just do it. You’re seriously missing out if you pass on it. This author is beyond talented, and I am desperate for Zorans books. I can’t wait to return to Nissa’s world. The push and pull, the angst at times and the delicious reconciliations. I only wished Val was a tad more asshole-ish at times because he forgave his Nissa too quickly. Oh sweet Dara! The wise warrior! That’s all I am going to say. I have never managed to not be bored or not skip a few pages in a series this long but this book you will not be able to blink! Ugh I wish I could reread it for the first time again. Ok Silencio, here I come for all your other books. I see you have written my fav genre the mafia series and 90% of books with mob themes disappoint me since most authors can’t capture the real dark brutality of that world and end up writing fluff silly pieces that make me want to gag. So far very few have done it with among them Voinov on top! But I have a feeling I am going to add to my list of FAV authors for the genre. 💕
August 13, 2026
Not a *bad* book, just not at all interesting as either a political intrigue or romance. I made myself read the first 25% then skipped around a bit until 50% before I began reading a bit more thoroughly again.
It's a slow burn, which I love, but the emotion that makes a slow burn worth the wait is not there at all.
Everything is from Nissai's perspective yet there's nothing to him... Even as I read his secret thoughts and emotions, I didn't feel like he had any depth. Everything was kind of tossed together which made him just okay rather than someone I wanted to care about.
Honestly, the fact that we see Val with his concubines/ hear about them while Nissai is so obviously unbothered made the attraction between them seem non-existent from Ni's end- not that I'm absolutely against the idea of a harem or concubine while the MCs are not together but having Nissai not care/not curious while Val was obviously hopeful about Nissai was not that well done imo. It's one thing to be clueless, it's quite another to not have any feelings and expect me to believe they've been secretly growing when they finally do show up. It was just... boring.
I was willing to see where this goes so I looked at the blurbs for the next two books and it looks like some (forced) angst is in play. I'm not into hot and cold relationships nor do I believe I'll *feel* deeply enough to enjoy whatever drama unfolds so this is where the series and I part ways.
It's a slow burn, which I love, but the emotion that makes a slow burn worth the wait is not there at all.
Everything is from Nissai's perspective yet there's nothing to him... Even as I read his secret thoughts and emotions, I didn't feel like he had any depth. Everything was kind of tossed together which made him just okay rather than someone I wanted to care about.
Honestly, the fact that we see Val with his concubines/ hear about them while Nissai is so obviously unbothered made the attraction between them seem non-existent from Ni's end- not that I'm absolutely against the idea of a harem or concubine while the MCs are not together but having Nissai not care/not curious while Val was obviously hopeful about Nissai was not that well done imo. It's one thing to be clueless, it's quite another to not have any feelings and expect me to believe they've been secretly growing when they finally do show up. It was just... boring.
I was willing to see where this goes so I looked at the blurbs for the next two books and it looks like some (forced) angst is in play. I'm not into hot and cold relationships nor do I believe I'll *feel* deeply enough to enjoy whatever drama unfolds so this is where the series and I part ways.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews