Vices and Virtues

by Alexis L. Menard

The #BestofBookTok author of House of Bane and Blood is back with an original standalone romantasy where a witch resurrects a centuries-old con man to help defeat an evil god, only to uncover secrets about their own ill-fated past lives and . . . love.

The Cycle always repeats itself. Why would this one have a different ending?

The Past: Osric Hale lives, steals, and commits all his vices under the ruthless sun of Sol-Trabes. After completing corrupted contracts for good coin, he’s almost saved enough to pay for a new life somewhere else. When his last job goes wrong, he’s tasked with finding a missing Divine with a woman who hates him—or face eternity in a crypt. Everything changes when the job for a lifetime ends in the death of the Sun King. Osric loses his life, the woman he loves, and from his failure, the realm is left stuck in Night.

The Present: Desiree Darrow needs to end the Eternal Night to stop her sister from dying under service to the Night Queen. But to do this, she needs the help of a man who died over a hundred years ago. As a Soul Summoner, she raises Osric Hale from the dead to help her find the Sun King, set his soul free, and restart the Cycle. But old betrayals and secrets are resurrected with him, challenging the path ahead.

As the past and present converge, Des discovers a centuries-old connection between her and Osric, and an ancient evil that has endured just as long. The past repeats itself, but the Cycle must be broken. Desiree and Osric will have to face their greatest sacrifice yet to bring back the Sun.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Romance, Adult, Witches

Unknown Binding

Expected publication November 24, 2026

About the author

Alexis is a registered nurse based out of Louisiana where she lives with her husband, toddler, and two oversized dogs. She enjoys long walks through the Renaissance Fair, reading smutty romance into the dark hours of the night, and wine nights with her "Finer Things Club." She hopes to enrich the lives of her readers with worlds they can both escape in and take with them long after the final chapter.

Reviews

[vxmpslibrary [hiatus]]

.3.25 stars.
- mini review.

when I saw the premises I was soo hooked!! I find myself looking forward to the characters to know about their story more. The world building was fascinating and I did found myself in love with it. However idk how dumb I was that I didn't realise it was a STANDALONE even though it is so widely mentioned but yeah stupid me lol. The romance was kinda love at first sight and I liked the characters too. The ending however, I WANTED MORE! i cannot believe it ended so quickly.

🫧Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for this amazing arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Liana Gold]

I haven't read House of Bane and Blood yet but I have recently read An Anatomy of Magic and I wasn't a fan of it overall. I'm going to try Menard one more time. This is one of the contenders that will *most likely* be featured on Allurial in November.

A witch resurrects a centuries old con-man to help defeat an evil god. In the process, they will both uncover secrets about their past lives and love.



Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing and the author, Alexis L. Menard for and early ARC.

Publication dates: November 24, 2026

[Ashley]

"There is no lifetime where I wouldn't fall in love with you."

I LOVE Alexis L. Menard's mind! I thought this was really unique and the perfect fall read. The plot was strong and the storyline kept me really intrigued! I also loved the past and present tense in this!

I can genuinely say I love that this is also a standalone and we aren't left waiting for another book. Sometimes you just need that.

3.5 ⭐️ | 1.5🌶️

[Amelia]

The prologue. The damn prologue. Absolutely heartbreaking. So beautifully written. I’ve read almost every book by Alexis L. Menard and I go into them knowing that the writing itself will never disappoint me.

“Everything was alive and bright and beautiful. A perfect day to be executed.” Can I just say how in love I am with Osric. How much I feel for him and his story trough his dual timelines.

“Our evil against the kind who conceal their own behind virtuous robes.” It’s very hard for me to limit my quotes usage because I truly do not want to spoil anything of the story. I don’t even want to talk about the romance because, as a story of reincarnation and dual timelines, this is my absolute obsession. Nothing has more yearning to me than “together through every lifetime”. But what made this book absolutely special is how well the prose just elevated the story in itself. I am beyond impressed. I liked the author before but this particular book, something happened here. It’s so beautiful and heart wrenching and utterly addictive.

“Old enough to die for my realm and yet too young to drink. How does that make sense?”

Side eye. Just saying.

So it’s the next day. I finished this last night and I was a mess. I think I cried for the last 20%. The story was incredible. I honestly did not think I could feel this much from one book. The balance between world building, romance and action was flawless. If you read one book this fall, let it be this one. The payoff at the end was everything.

To me, it’s a masterpiece that I will think about over and over again. I wish there was more 😭

Thank you Netgalley for the earc!

[kelseys.inthelibrary]

A breathtaking standalone romantasy that completely stole my heart.

If you love stories with an 'I’ve loved you through lifetimes' vibe, reincarnation, soulmates, and gods meddling in mortal lives, this is it.

Our FMC is a necromancer who unknowingly brings her soulmate back from the dead, only to discover that their love has been caught in a cruel cycle. Lifetime after lifetime, the gods conspire to keep them apart.

The romance is beautifully written! I was completely invested in their love story and found myself rooting for them through every devastating twist. The emotional weight of their connection made this impossible to put down, and the ending left me in all my feels.

Heartbreakingly romantic, atmospheric, and full of longing, a gorgeous standalone that will transcend lifetimes. 😉 I loved every minute of it and highly recommend!

[Gianmccall •(Kaz Brekker's Version)•]

"𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅. 𝑺𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒔𝒑𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝑫𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒆𝒙𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒆𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒅: 𝒂 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔."

- Vices & Virtues by Alexis L. Menard.

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆☀️⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ🌕

Este es un libro que pasarán muchos años antes de que deje de pensar en él a diario 🥹✨

Y qué ganas tenía de por fin leer un libro de esta autora! Juro que todas sus historias están en mi lista de lecturas, porque se escuchan increíbles, así que cuando tuve la oportunidad de adquirir este arc en Netgalley, es que NO LO DUDÉ NI POR UN INSTANTE.

Muchas gracias a Forever Grand Central Publishing y a la autora por la copia e-arc!


★｡+ﾟ☆ 🌑 ☆ﾟ+｡★


𝐋𝐚 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚
࿇ ══━━━━✥ Hace 100 años, la noche eterna tuvo comienzo. El dios del Sol desapareció, y con él, el día y la luz.

Ahora, monstruos de sombra y odio plagan el mundo, y la diosa de la noche controla todo y a todos. Incluyendo a la hermana de Desiree Darrow, quien es una invocadora del Sol, y sólo el poder de aquellos como ella puede proteger a los demás de la oscuridad, aunque el gran precio sean sus propias vidas.

Desiree no permitirá ese destino para su hermana, por lo que cometerá un crimen impensable en nombre de acabar con la noche eterna: como invocadora de almas, debe resucitar a aquel que lo causó todo, la única persona que puede ayudarla con esta tarea imposible. Osric Hale, quién detuvo el Ciclo con la muerte del Rey Sol.

Pero un pasado los une a ambos, y con Osric, también vuelven a la vida antiguas traiciones y secretos que amenazan su objetivo. El Ciclo debe romperse, pero el sacrificio más grande aún está por venir.

✥━━━━══ ࿇ Para mí, el concepto de la trama fue precioso. Me tuvo intrigada, fascinada, aferrándome a cada página porque no quería que terminara. Es un libro único, standalone, que no pertenece a ninguna otra saga o ocurre en algún mundo ya creado por la autora anteriormente (hasta dónde sé) por lo que me sorprendió el nivel de detalle y complejidad. Todo se sentía bien explicado, desarrollado en los momentos que era más importante, incluyendo deidades muy involucradas en la historia, dos líneas temporales y dos perspectivas de narración diferentes. Fue completamente increíble.

★

𝐋𝐨𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐣𝐞𝐬
࿇ ══━━━━✥ Des y Osric son dos de los personajes más hermosos que he leído. Tienen una historia que te roba muchas lágrimas y suspiros capítulo tras capítulo.

𝐃𝐞𝐬 posee una habilidad poco común y muy temida. Como invocadora de almas, puede manipular la muerte, y este preciso don es lo que le da la única esperanza de salvar a su hermana, a quién ama como a nadie en el mundo. Pasó muchos años haciendo grandes sacrificios por amor (más de los que ella misma podría imaginar) en un mundo donde el mal acecha en cada rincón oscuro y el miedo es una normalidad. Es una persona valiente y determinada, pero que lleva un peso enorme sobre los hombros. Está acostumbrada a luchar sola...hasta que ya no lo está.

𝐎𝐬𝐫𝐢𝐜 es alguien que siempre tuvo un sueño toda su vida, pero las circunstancias que lo rodeaban lo llevaban más lejos cada ciclo de alcanzar un futuro diferente, y más cerca de lo peor que el mundo tenía para ofrecer. Como ladrón, asesino y criminal buscado, estaba seguro que no había nada más para él...hasta que llegó ella.
Y amarla le enseñó a ser fuerte, a pelear por algo real, y a creer en las esperanzas imposibles.

“𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔. 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒕𝒆. 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍.”

Estos dos juntos...dios, lo que me hicieron llorar. Llorar porque amé su amor y amé entender todo lo que ese amor significaba realmente, y me hicieron sentir tanto. Fue hermoso, y definitivamente serán de mis parejas favoritas de la vida porque no hay manera en que mire atrás alguna vez, recordando este libro y lo primero que me venga a la cabeza no sea todo lo maravilloso de ese romance.


࿇ ══━━━━✥

Este es el tipo de libro que me llevó a todo lo que experimenté emocionalmente cuando leí The Scattered Bones, Crown Of Serpents, Six Scorched Roses... historias tan poderosas que se quedaron conmigo por años y releerlas hace que mi corazón se sienta en casa.

Todo, desde la construcción de la fantasía hasta las frases que me marcaron (que fueron muchas, un montón) me dejó sin aliento y abrazando al libro como una boba por un largo rato porque cómo es posible que una historia sea así de bonita, así de especial.

Creo que en este punto decir que la recomiendo es medio redundante, pero hay que dejarlo en claro: LÉELA. Lo vale, al 100%.


"𝑵𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒆𝒔."

5★/5


★｡+ﾟ☆ ☀️ ☆ﾟ+｡★


P.d: (le hice playlist a este libro, y Leaves From The Vine de ATLA es la que más escuché mientras leía, porque aparentemente abuso de mi estabilidad emocional, y porque quedó perfecto con los personajes)

[Shannon Mungo]

Wow!!! Just wow!!! As someone who reads alot of fantasy/romantasy this one truly feels unique.

I stayed up all night reading this because it was so good, it sucked me and I just couldnt put it down.

This is one of the most romantic books I have read in a while! I loved every second of this book.

We get two timeliness, and the past definitely effects the future timeline and is stuff you need to know, but also want to know.

I am truly blown away by this book. With the amount of world building I cant believe this is a standalone...im also sad that its a standalone because I want more in this world.

I dont know what it is about her writing but it is so good and feels like poetry. She has a way that makes me see every detail of the world like im there with the charcters.

Omg the characters, I fell in love with them, so perfectly written.

If your looking for a dark romance standalone look no further, this is absolute perfection. I cant wait to see what she writes in the future.

If you cant tell by now, i loved every second of this book, and I cant wait to buy a physical copy!

[Mandy]

3.5⭐️ That prologue hooked me!


This world was very unique and the magic system was unlike anything I’ve read recently. Day and Night. I did get confused on the world building. I’m unsure if I ever understood it 😅

I loved the MCs.

I usually don’t mind alternating timelines and switching between past and present-but I did get confused a bunch and forgot if I was in the past or the present.


Overall, I really enjoyed this despite some flaws.

[Rando Mando Reads]

5 stars

The concept and the world in this book are so crazy and so unique. The world is ruled by darkness, and people literally have to buy and trade for light sources or risk being eaten alive by the spawn once night falls. Everything is controlled by gods, but the way people have to survive by constantly securing light made the whole thing feel almost dystopian to me. It was such a cool concept that the second I heard about it, I knew I had to get my hands on this ARC.

Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy because I am so glad I got to read this one early.

The dual timelines were done so well, and the characters in both were incredibly likable. I was emotionally invested almost immediately, and my heart just ached for them throughout the entire book. There is this constant feeling of waiting for everything to finally come together, and I had so many emotions along the way.

It was romantic, tragic, hopeful, mysterious, and just genuinely beautiful. I could not put it down, and I really did not want it to end.

That said, the last 15% was muddled as fuck.

There was so much happening so quickly that I genuinely had no idea what was going on at certain points. I was trying to keep up with reveals, mythology, timelines, and everything colliding at once, and some of the emotional impact got lost because I was too busy trying to understand what the hell was happening.

But even with that, I still can’t give this anything less than five stars. The rest of the book was that strong for me.

This was imaginative, emotional, beautifully written, and completely unlike anything else I’ve read recently. It is absolutely going to stick with me for a long time.

[Kendra]

A life of a broken cycle of Eternal Night where you’re forbidden to see the dawn or the sun. Souls bound to a Sun God. A vow that was broken between the Sun and Moon Gods now seeking to end the lunar cycle to bring back the Day.

Wow! I am speechless and stunned of how well this dark fantasy standalone that Alexis created that felt divine. Powerful and ancient with a broken cycle where souls will find each other in another lifetime. Reborn and free from a final vow. This story felt so fresh and unique!

I laughed, my heart ached, and I felt for these characters that Alexis created that wove together perfectly. She never disappoints when it comes to her storytelling and Vices & Virtues is worth staying up late for!

Des & Osric were bound for each other. More than just fate and their future, but they share a bond and obligation that you’ll learn between the dual timelines. They share blood drawn for each other. He drank from her flesh like it was a drug. Bending to her will. Giving him unwanted thoughts. The way he will speak to her down the bond while he drank from her was pure delicious and desirable. It had me kicking my feet in the air!

“If she wasn’t an angel, she was the envy of them.” 🥹

His laugh was inescapable to her meanwhile he found her laugh as a sign of freedom that made him feel warm. Her soul is bound to death. She’s just as corrupted as Osric which makes them a beautiful tragic pair.

“A monster he might be, but she had crafted him too exquisitely to not acknowledge he was objectively handsome from head to toe.”

I loved the details of necromancy and the resurrection of raising a soul to break this cycle, but it comes at a cost to bring back the Day. Like this quote killed me and made me love Osric so much more 😩 “Why should I care about their souls? No one cared about mine.” Literally so sad!

I’m sad that I finished this so fast and so grateful that Forever sent me the widget early! This story will hit you deep, feeling every beauty, the layered world building, experiencing where love hurts, the betrayal, and that everything comes at a cost. Beautifully done, Alexis! I can’t wait to see what you have in stores next! 🖤

[Arie]

Genuinely one of the best standalones I’ve ever consumed. The intricate world-building, nuanced political/religious system, and life-death cycles (reincarnation) were all so well thought out. It’s clear this story has been on the author’s heart for some time.

While I sometimes struggle with dual timelines, in the case of this story, it was 100% necessary and really added depth to the story. This is a page-turner, no doubt. The romance and plot move quickly, however, in the context of the before timeline, it all makes sense. I really loved how the author laid it out for us to piece together. Though things happen quickly, there is still time for plenty of yearning and witty banter.

Having raised our MMC from the dead, our FMC is forced to share a bond with him, allowing them to communicate and feel each other’s emotions through the bond. This also propels the romance into fast mode without making it feel rushed or forced.

This should absolutely be on your list of must-read standalones. It’s a heavy hitter that somehow manages to pack an incredibly complex spiritual system of corruption, devotion, and reincarnation, along with a deeply compelling love story, into one book. The ending was deeply moving and highly satisfying.

“There is no lifetime where I wouldn’t fall in love with you. I would know you no matter what face you wore, what body contained your soul. These earthly masks we wear could never hide you from me.”
🥹

[Betül]

**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**

3.5 stars

First of all, can we talk about this cover? It's absolutely gorgeous and was honestly what first drew me to this book.

The author created a really original world, and I was pretty hooked from the start. I enjoyed discovering more about the world and seeing how everything would develop. The story switches between the past and present quite a bit, which is something I'm usually not a huge fan of, but it worked well here. Both timelines felt important, and I liked seeing how they eventually connected.

There was plenty happening throughout the story, with a good mix of action, suspense, banter, and secrets. I liked Desiree and Osric individually and enjoyed their interactions, but the romance was where the book fell a little short for me. I understood the connection between them and what their love was supposed to mean, but I never really felt that epic love between them. I wanted a stronger emotional connection between them as a couple, especially considering how important their relationship is to the story.

I also really appreciated that this is a standalone. So many romantasy books nowadays are part of a duology or trilogy, and I'm not always a huge fan of that. It was nice getting a complete story in one book.

Overall, Vices and Virtues was an enjoyable and engaging read. I loved the originality of the world, and the action and suspense kept me interested. I just wish the romance had been stronger because that was the main thing missing for me.

[Em ☽✦ღ]

I really loved The Anatomy of Magic, so I went into Vices & Virtues with VERY high expectations, and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed!!! Alexis L. Menard is definitely becoming an author I’ll be keeping a close eye on.

I will admit I was a little wary of the whole soulmates across multiple lifetimes concept because it is something we’ve seen quite a few times in romantasy, and I wasn’t sure how fresh it could feel. But I actually really enjoyed the way it was approached here!!! The connection between Desiree and Osric, and the way their past and present lives slowly begin to overlap, gave the trope a much more intriguing edge than I was expecting. I particularly loved the way the two timelines worked together. Seeing Osric’s past life alongside Desiree’s present-day struggle to end the eternal night meant that every new piece of information about their history carried so much more weight. And the whole idea of the Cycle repeating itself, while Desiree is desperately trying to break it, had me completely invested in finding out whether they could actually change their fate.

I did have a few moments where I wanted a little more from certain aspects of the story, which is what ultimately kept this at four stars rather than five, but I was thoroughly entertained throughout. There is magic, gods, resurrection, ancient secrets, romance and enough twists around the Cycle to keep me turning the pages.

Overall, I had such a great time with this. If you enjoy romantasy with morally grey characters, ancient magic, forbidden connections and a world caught between divine forces, this is definitely worth picking up!!!

Thank you so much to Alexis L. Menard, Little, Brown, and NetGalley for the eARC! It was such a pleasure to read!!!

[Rachel]

✨ARC Review✨

Oh wow... this book. My heart feels full... but also incredibly hollow... UGH. I love and hate a bittersweet ending! I love that it is a standalone, but I also hate it!

"You were distracting me."
"I've been told I can be quite distracting, shall I keep distracting you, witch?"

"If you don't stop fretting over me, I'll get the wrong ideas, angel."

"I don't need to check when the views ahead of me are so stimulating."

"She is the half that makes me whole."

"Let me prove my devotion to you, angel."

"You are more convincing in the dark."
"As long as you don't regret me in the light."

OSRIC IS LITERALLY SAM FROM HOLES SAYING "I CAN FIX THAT". AND THAT IS ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT THAT MAN AND HOW MUCH I ADORE HIM IN THIS BOOK.

I was so pleasantly surprised by this book, it hooked me and kept me hooked to the very end. I loved it so much. I loved the world, magic, characters, found family, banter, yearning, devotion, the duel timeline, all of it. The only thing I didn't like is the bittersweet ending... but it's okay... it's more of a me thing... cause I just want him to be Osric (if you know you know).

I thought how the scenes were done, how they were written and the stage direction was thought out was so well done. Everything was so visual in my brain, and it was little subtle looks and moments and direction that just made it so charming. And that ending scene... how it was structured... perfection.

Overall I loved this. It's as simple as that. I loved our FMC and MMC and I loved their story, I loved how it all progressed, and I really loved the magic and world so much. A+. The end!

[whatrissread on TT | IG | YT]

Alexis L. Menard has such a beautiful, lyrical way of writing that feels effortless rather than performative. Every word feels intentional, but the prose never becomes so ornate that it takes away from the story.

I absolutely loved the FMC—she was incredibly likable, compelling, and easy to root for. And the MMC? The perfect combination of wit, banter, brawn and beauty, which is honestly a combination I will never complain about. And the nickname, Angel… I love!

What really stood out to me, though, was how unique the magic system was. The exploration of reincarnation and the afterlife was fascinating, and I loved how thoughtfully the religious and magical systems were woven into the world. Everything felt incredibly well fleshed out without ever becoming confusing or overwhelming.

The story itself was clear, cohesive, and beautifully paced, with everything coming together in a way that left me with no lingering questions. For a standalone romantic fantasy, this was incredibly satisfying.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ — beautifully written, imaginative, romantic, and completely immersive. An amazing standalone that gave me everything I want from a fantasy romance.

[Madison]

LOVE a dual timeline, and give me a story where they find each other in every lifetime and I am SOLD. The world-building in Vices & Virtues was so unique. A world stuck in endless night for 200 years plus the magic and mystery?! I was sat.

Desiree and Osric, MY BABIES. 🥹 Their banter was so good, and I loved watching their story unfold across the timelines. The prologue already had me emotional, and then that ENDING?! My heart.

the audacity of making this a STANDALONE?! I need MORE. More Desiree. More Osric. More banter. More EVERYTHING.

My favorite work of Alexis’ yet! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for blessing my eyes with an advanced copy.

[☆Laura☆]

3.5


Desiree Darrow haría cualquier cosa para salvar a su hermana, incluso despertar al hombre que podría ser responsable de la eterna oscuridad que cubre el mundo. Osric Hale murió hace cien años después de ser acusado de matar al dios del Sol y romper el Ciclo, pero Desiree cree que solo él puede ayudarla a recuperar la luz.

El problema es que Osric no quiere ayudarla y además, asegura que la historia que conoce sobre él no es verdad. Mientras buscan una forma de acabar con la oscuridad, Desiree descubrirá que detrás de la leyenda hay mucho más de lo que imaginaba y que su conexión con Osric podría ser más profunda de lo que imaginaba.

[Emily McQuilkin]

I’d give this 4.5! I really enjoyed this ARC. It was unique and special. A love across lifetimes. It was a story that you want to read slowly and savor because you don’t want it to end while simultaneously being unable to put it down!!

[Deirdre]

I received an eARC from Forever Publishing via NetGalley and this is my honest review.

- ☝️standalone
- ✌️dual POV
- ⏰dual timeline
- 🧟‍♂️soulmancy
- 🐦‍🔥reincarnation
- ❤️reluctant allies to lovers
- 🔥flirty sexual banter
- 🩸blood giving
- 💫soul mates
- 💕I’ll find you in every lifetime
- 🫂 forced proximity
- ❌betrayal

Alexis’ best book yet!!! The love story and all the quotes I highlighted ❤️❤️❤️❤️

This book was a perfectly paced standalone that kept me invested from beginning to end. This was a romance focused book set in a fantasy world with a complex magic system and rich world building. The story follows the same two main characters across two separate timelines, weaving together an emotional love story. The two timelines in this book had them start as reluctant allies that developed into lovers due to having to work together to solve a mystery and other big problems that were thrown their way. The forced proximity was on par!

This world was incredibly layered, unique, and changed overtime, while many pieces remained the same. The identity of the true antagonist shifted throughout the story and kept me guessing. There were meaningful sacrifices and heartbreaking losses. Alexis revealed answers at exactly the right pace, constantly leaving me with new questions and making it impossible to predict how everything would come together.

The story alternated between the MFC's POV in the present day and the MMC's POV 100 years earlier. Each chapter revealed just enough information before shifting timelines, creating a perfect balance of mystery and anticipation. I always wanted "just one more chapter."

One of my favorite parts early on was the banter between the MMC and his friends. I found myself laughing and smiling almost immediately. Alexis created such a believable group of friends who genuinely loved each other, constantly making questionable decisions, joking through dangerous situations, and somehow always finding a way out together. Their camaraderie added so much heart to the story.

The romance also stood out because of how refreshing the characters were. In the present timeline, the MFC immediately told the MMC exactly who she was and what she wanted from him. No manipulation, unnecessary secrets, games, or endless miscommunication, just honest, straightforward communication. It was such a welcome change from a trope that's become far too common in fantasy romance. I also appreciated the MMC's respect for the MFC. When he ended up with her knife, he simply gave it back instead of using it as an excuse to threaten or control her. That small moment said so much about his character. That said... there were definitely plenty of moments where I wanted to shake him and yell, "Just tell her already!" Overall, these MC’s were mature, which is what I crave in a book.

The worldbuilding deserves special recognition. It's becoming increasingly difficult to create something that feels genuinely original in fantasy and romantasy, but Alexis managed to do exactly that. While there are familiar tropes that many readers love, the overall world, magic, and mythology felt fresh and distinct. The plot had such a great mix of mystery, puzzles to solve, and hoops to jump through. It blended perfectly with the romance!

One aspect I thought was especially clever was that readers understood something about the relationship long before the MFC did. It would have been easy to think she should have figured everything out sooner or to become frustrated that the MMC wasn't being more direct. Instead, both choices made complete sense. Why would she immediately connect events spanning a century? She never believed in soul mates, why would she think that magically now? And from the MMC's perspective, he wanted her to have the chance to choose a life without after everything that had happened in their previous life together. No matter, they were drawn together, all of which created incredible tension. Watching him carefully navigate what he knew while she remained unaware had me completely invested.

One example that perfectly illustrated this occurred in the current timeline when they were being interviewed for temporary entry into the city. The MMC muttered that he never expected the MFC to wait for him after learning how many partners she'd had before they were together (in that lifetime), and commented that he wanted to hurt the people who touched what would always be his (her). On the surface, it sounded possessive. But as readers, we understood he's mourning the century they spent apart after his death and referring to their soulmate bond, not the fabricated backstory they're telling during the interview. Moments like this added so much emotional depth because readers understood the true meaning behind his words while the MFC did not.

Another highlight was the chemistry. I absolutely love flirty banter with plenty of sexual tension, and this book delivered consistently. Their interactions were playful, witty, and incredibly entertaining.

The relationship in the past timeline was equally satisfying. The MMC knew the MFC was hiding something significant... and simply accepted that she had her reasons. He respected her privacy instead of demanding answers. It was such a mature, refreshing dynamic.

I also loved that the past version of the MFC was never portrayed as a damsel in distress. She was powerful, capable, and more than willing to defend herself physically and verbally. As their relationship developed, she also showed meaningful emotional growth by recognizing that she'd been pushing him away, owning that behavior, and ultimately choosing to move their relationship forward herself. I loved watching that progression and I loved watching her take control (if you know what I mean!).

Overall, the romance was beautifully done. Seeing the same couple fall in love across two timelines gave the relationship more emotional weight and made every payoff that much more satisfying.

The twists kept coming throughout the second half of the book. One at around 63% completely caught me off guard. Then another at 66% shocked me all over again. I suspected something was coming, but not that. From that point on, the story kept unraveling one revelation after another, and I ended up reading the final 30% in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.

The ending was absolutely PERFECT. I finished the book with the biggest smile on my face.

I also appreciated one of the underlying themes. To me, the story explored the idea that people deserve the freedom to live according to their own values rather than having every aspect of their lives dictated by religion or other high-control systems. At the same time, it showed that living by personal choice doesn't mean living without morals or community. People can choose kindness, loyalty, sacrifice, and support one another because those are values they genuinely hold, not because they're being controlled. I found that message thoughtful and surprisingly powerful.

Critique:

My biggest critique is one I've mentioned in several reviews: repetitive phrasing. This book used variations of "licked my/his/her lips" over 20 times. After a while it became distracting. I really wish editors, alpha readers, or beta readers would flag repeated phrases like this before publication because they begin to pull me out of the story.

[Ally]

My rating: ★★★★☆ 4 stars!
a necromancer 🤝 a centuries-old con man 🤝 reincarnation 🤝 “wait… YOU’RE the person i’ve been looking for this whole time??”
okay but…“I’ll love you in every lifetime” is a trope that will apparently NEVER stop working on me.
EVER.
and then you add an evil god, eternal night, magic, past lives and a man who is basically a charming disaster???yeah. i was listening👀
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
what really pulled me into this was the whole idea of the Cycle.
the fact that these characters have lived, loved, lost and found each other across different lifetimes gave the romance this bittersweet feeling that i really enjoyed and i LOVED getting to see both the past and the present.
instead of just telling us that these two people have this deep connection, we actually get to experience pieces of their history and understand why their relationship matters so much.
Desiree was also such a fun FMC to follow.
she's dealing with SO much, especially with everything surrounding her sister and the Night Queen and i liked that her motivations weren't just “save the world because i'm the chosen one.” there was something much more personal driving her.
and Osric…sir😂
this man is a CON MAN, a thief and a professional troublemaker and somehow i still ended up completely invested in him.
he has that combination of charm, wit and “i probably shouldn't trust you but unfortunately you're very entertaining” energy that i am extremely susceptible to and their relationship???
the whole “we've found each other again, but we don't remember everything” aspect was probably my favorite part.
there's something so romantic AND tragic about loving someone across lifetimes and still somehow finding your way back to them.
like excuse me???who gave you permission to make me emotional about fictional soulmates???😭
i also really enjoyed the worldbuilding.
the eternal night, the gods, the magic system, reincarnation and the whole idea of the Cycle gave the story a really interesting foundation. it felt different enough from the usual romantasy worlds i've been reading lately and i especially liked the way the mythology was connected to the characters rather than feeling like background information.
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
BUT…i did have a few moments where i wanted MORE, especially with the worldbuilding and the relationship.
there is so much interesting lore here that i sometimes wished we had more time to sit with it and explore it. some things felt like they were moving pretty quickly, particularly when it came to the romance and the bigger reveals.
and there were a couple of moments where i was a little confused about the gods/magic and had to just keep reading until everything clicked into place.
but once things started coming together???OH.
the second half really picked up for me.
there were several reveals that genuinely caught me off guard and i found myself flying through the final stretch because i needed to know how everything was going to come together.
and honestly, that's probably what i appreciate most about this book.
even though i had a few things i wanted more of, it made me CARE.
i cared about Desiree about Osric and about whether they could break the Cycle and by the end, i was sitting there like…“okay fine. you got me”😭
. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.
overall, Vices and Virtues was a really enjoyable standalone romantasy with a unique premise, an interesting mythology and a romance built around one of my favorite concepts: finding the same person again and again, across lifetimes.
it wasn't perfect for me, but there was SO much here that worked and i especially loved the emotional idea behind the romance.
so if you like a necromancer FMC with morally questionable men, reincarnation, “i'll love you in every lifetime” with gods & magic, dual timelines and soulmates with a tragic history then you should definitely give this one a chance!

My final thoughts;
the universe: “you two are cursed to repeat this cycle forever.”
Desiree & Osric: “okay but what if we just fall in love again?”
me:yeah… that's the spirit. 😭🖤

Thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

[Grem Reeds]

An ARC was freely provided to me by Forever - thank you!

Menard is a new-to-me author, and I'm in already love. 😌 Vices and Virtues is two beautiful stories entwined in a masterful way, full of intriguing world building and lore, and a fascinating magic system. It's about love - familial, and romantic - letting go, and holding on. This is a standalone, afaik, but I would be SO down to revisit the world.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.25) | 🌶️ (1)

Please keep in mind that although ARCs don't often change much, if at all, before publishing, this review is based on pre-released content.

This has got to be one of my top 3 most highlighted books. Just one scroll from top to bottom of my highlights genuinely has my thumb cramping. When life gets in the way of my reading (rude), I often pause mid chapter or mid sentence. Usually I have to go back a couple paragraphs at the least, and sometimes even restart a whole chapter, no matter how long I'm gone. For this, I only had to re-read maybe… three sentences? I knew exactly where I was, what had happened, and where we were going. I'm honestly so impressed. 😅

I really enjoyed the writing in this. It’s done in a close third person, following two of the three(ish) main characters. The switch from past to present is done with almost every chapter; we follow Osric exclusively in the past, and Des mostly in the present. It lends so, so well to the characters, and gives us a solid sense of them.

Within the first 15% of the book I was enamored with Osric - just, so deeply in love with him as a person and character. Des’s perception of him through her own POV in the present was just the cherry on top. I didn’t even need it lmfao. Similarly, Des’s character felt strong. Her values, her goal of saving her sister, her perseverance in the face of - everything she learns. I have so much to say about that, but spoilers 😭

It isn’t just the main characters that are great, either. Every side character in this is sooo good. Even if they don’t have much on-page time, they feel like full people - not caricatures to move the story forward because the quest needed an NPC. Osric’s friends in particular made themselves so clear who they were immediately, and stayed so true to it. I’m such a sucker for consistent side characters!

Also, there's a specific side character that I can't name, who I adored, but figured they would be just that: there for a few scenes and a handful of mentions. They're later woven to be integral in the plot, and it was AMAZING. I had to pause reading, trying not to cry. I just. AAAHHHHH it was so GOOD!!!

I'm 50/50 on split timelines in books. When they're done well, I love them. Unfortunately, there are a lot of opportunities for them to feel off: the pacing being off, one timeline getting too much or not enough detail so it feels lopsided, and sometimes even overzealous cliffhangers that feel like they're there just to make you care about the next time the (past/present) comes around.

This. This was amazing. I haven't experienced split timelines done better, in any media, ever. I'm in ABSOLUTE awe. Like, yes, the cliffhangers when we switch timelines are cliffs. They're good, and they're done well for the story, pacing, and reader enjoyment. I ended up forgetting that the switch was going to happen. Eeeeevery time I felt like I was being RIPPED from the time I was SO engrossed in, I felt a pang - but then I was tossed into the other time where I was JUST AS EQUALLY INVESTED, so. It made a mess of my mind (and emotions) but in a REALLY great way. Like, "that hurt, more please" 😂

Vices and Virtues has a planned publication date of November 24 2026!

[katrina カトリーナ]

Thank you to NetGalley, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Alexis L. Menard for the ARC!!

Vices & Virtues is *sublime.*

Folks, if you're looking for your next five star rear or your next favorite standalone, look no further! Vices & Virtues by Alexis L. Menard made me rage, laugh, and cry over the course of its 496 pages. I came across Menard's social media describing the MMC as Flynn Rider inspired, and that the book is basically Drag Path by Twenty One Pilots. Yes to both. If that's your expectation? Add this to your TBR immediately, you'll love it.

The story follows Desiree Darrow on her quest to save her younger sister. What unfolds is a trek to face unfathomable horrors, defy (un)holy gods, and draw strength unlike any other in an endeavor spanning lifetimes. Because what else should any twenty-five year old FMC do when experiencing the consequences of imbalance and greed, sit idly by and not get a job at the library, research heavily, and go solve the world's problems?? Of course! The solution is dig out the skeletons in the closet (literally) to aid in your quest. It certainly helps if said skeleton is Osric Hale, possibly the most Corrupt crook of all time. Told through two timelines and a race against time, Des and Osric must act on one question: what lengths would you go to save those you care most about?

Standalones are a funny thing because you know that with the dwindling number of pages, especially towards the end, that something is gonna happen. With every reveal in the last 25% of the book, I was white knuckling my Kobo hoping it would all turn out for the better. Some additional elements I really enjoyed were just the moments after heightened tension or conflict, where the characters unpack what's just happened. How can you not love them? Especially when the MMC is literally talking to a bird in one scene (hey, as a certified bird nerd, I liked the very subtle bird theme around one such main character :,) ) In such a tense, plot driven, high stakes story, I’ve been pleasantly surprised to see how much these characters make me giggle. Truly not the experience I thought I was in for but the pacing that Menard uses is perfect.
Example:
“‘Can it wait until after cake? It would be a shame to make everyone sad and let the whole thing go to waste.’
‘Osric!’
‘What?’”

Quotes (i have 100+ highlights but here are some favs):
- "'Am I out of my league, or are you just out of mine, Osric Hale?'"

- He appreciated art at its finest, and she was a little masterpiece at the edge of his fingers.

- "There is not a thing you do in this house that goes unnoticed. I look for you in every room I enter, listen for your voice when it falls quiet, scent the trail of your perfume and trace it back to you like a bloody dog. I have the attention to detail of an experienced theif and a practiced assassin, and most importantly, I am a man with fucking eyes.'"

-"'There is no lifetime where I wouldn't fall in love with you. I would know you no matter what face you wore, what body contained your soul. These earthly masks we wear could never hide you from me.'"

- "'We can't change the world if we try to operate within the constraints of good and evil, right and wrong...'" (ima leave it at that bc this part is juicy!)

- Bonus: every time Osric uses "angel" in a sarcastic/teasing way

[Daniela M]

This is what I want out of Romantasy! This book had everything that I wanted, and it’s a standalone! Tropes that I HATE were in this book and I was eating them up because they were done so well. The execution was really top notch.

The sun king has been killed, the sun is no longer in the side. People with light magic are being hooked up to machinery and being drained of their life force to power artificial light throughout the city. Our FMC Desiree’s sister is one of these people. Worried that her sister will fall dead one day from being overworked, Desiree decides to use her power of necromancy to resurrect her world’s worst villain: the man who killed the sun king. Striking a bargain with our MMC, he will take her to the lost body of the sun king for her to resurrect, and she will take his body to a final resting place. However, not all is as it seems.

We have two timelines in this narrative: the present-day narrative with Des and Osric going to find the sun king’s body, and the past 100 years ago that led to Osric becoming the villain of everyone’s story and killing the sun king. Typically, with a duel timeline narrative one of the timelines can become a drag and take the reader out of the story, but I did not feel this way at all with this book. I was equally invested in both timelines and plots. The characters were handled so well, and I wanted to know what would happen next.

We even have an aphrodisiac trope in this book and I didn’t hate it! Who am I?! Now, I didn’t love it… but it didn’t make me roll my eyes, so progress! I think this is because of the way that it was handled. The aphrodisiac isn’t used as a crutch to force sexual tension onto these characters. There is already a lot of that coming naturally, and the aphrodisiac is a minor part of that. I believed in their love story and how these two could fall in love with one another because the characters had genuine chemistry.

One thing I will say though is that I had no idea what kind of world we are in. For the majority of this I’m thinking generic medieval Europe, but then we hear about guns, so then I’m thinking Victorian England? The world building was lacking in scenery a bit, but the storyline and magic was not. So, if you don’t need to be fully invested in the visuals of where you are, this isn’t a huge issue with the book.

Overall, this was a romantasy that I loved. I felt the character’s concerns and their love for one another. I was rooting for them, and I wanted to know what happened to them to make them the way they are. It’s not perfect; the relationship between the sisters could have been more fleshed out to make me believe in Des’s quest. But if we are going to base this off of the romance mostly, then this did a great job at building that.

Thank you NetGalley, Alexis Menard, and the publishers for the ARC!

[Gee]

From the first page, I was IN-VES-TED. Who are these people and what does this sacrifice mean? Is it love? Blind devotion? I needed to know! I have had several books by this author on my TBR for a few years now and never pulled the trigger on them, and after this book I think I might have to. Immediately.

I read a significant amount of romantasy, and I can honestly say this one balanced the unique epic fantasy world-building and sorta-slow-burn enemies-to-lovers storytelling beautifully. There is a dual timeline happening that weaves the story of how past events shaped their current state of affairs. I was so interested in the story of the gods and how their cycles and religious order worked, that every time more information was revealed about them I felt a genuine rush. The world-building and plot are truly unmatched.

As for the characters: they’re so easy to love. There is plenty of bantering, wit, sass, and cunning to go around. The tongue in cheek and underhand humor had me smirking to myself. Even when painted as the villain, you still want to root for them because they’re so charming and misunderstood. Not to mention the “I would literally kill for you in every lifetime”-esque swoony lines. Perfection.

I also loved how the notion of duality insinuated by the title is threaded throughout this book. Vices/virtues, good/evil, light/dark, sun/moon, witches/nulls, purity/corruption, life/death, villain/hero, king/queen, past/present, lies/truths, fate/choice, rebirth/stasis, etc. The duplicitous nature of everything in this kingdom was a brilliant undertone and once I noticed the trend, I started keeping a mental tally of all that I could find.

I was addicted and annoyed when real life kept getting in the way of me being able to sit down and fully immerse myself in this world without interruption. This is one of the few books that I actually wished was longer because I never wanted to leave the rich world that was created, so when I turned that last page I was sad because I knew my time there was over as this is a standalone.

Be sure to grab a copy when it’s released on November 24, 2026!

Thank you to Alexis L. Menard and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing this eARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Anastasia Jizelle]

A MASSIVE thank you to Netgalley, Alexis L. Menard, and Forever Publishing for this stunning experience of a book. I cried, I gasped, I had to take a moment, and I’m honestly at a loss for words.

“I found you in this cycle and I will find you in the next; Angel”

Let me just start by saying that the prologue got me hook, line, and sinker. It was haunting and perfectly set the scene for how grim and intense the rest of the book would be.

The book as a whole is incredibly written and features timeline jumps throughout the book; chapter to chapter. While sometimes timeline jumps can be jolting and feel pretty jarring to readers, however this book is the opposite. The swaps feel genuine and smooth, with a purpose and not just because the plot needs to continue. The twists and important details are masterfully entwined with details that make you feel like you’re there along with Des and Osric.

“Do I know you?”

Besides the suspenseful and intense plot following the destruction of the day and dictatorship of the night; there is a deep rooted religious corruption present throughout the plot. The gods themselves seek powers beyond what they possess; craving complete control and erasure of anything that stands in their way. Buying loyalty through providing safety and comfort to those that they themselves have stripped away all that they hold dear and need to survive. The glorified slavery present throughout this book is gutting and incredibly heart wrenching.

This book follows the intense battle between night and day as the reader is at the mercy of the swapping timelines that hold the answers to each other’s problems. It is a fascinating way to uncover the plot and I truly really enjoyed it.

Alexis L Menard is amazing at describing the world she builds through the book. You can feel the buildings, the heat, the cool, the catacombs. It is immersive and I would highly recommend reading this book; if only to experience the world of Sol Trabes.

Finally, Osric and Des are an incredible pair, from start to the bittersweet end. I cried… a lot. They start as begrudging partners in their quest and end up as something so much more dear and heartwarming.

This book has my heart and is definitely in one of my top reads for this year.

[Justina R]

The premise for Virtues & Vices sounded very cool and right up my alley, and it really was. The writing was beautiful, the setting was super imaginative, and the vibes of the realm were immaculate. I mean:
Dual timeline ✅️
Flirtatious banter across lifetimes ✅️
Soulmates ✅️
Magic ✅️
I really loved the characters! Osric was SO good. I loved everything he said, and his flirty banter with Des had me blushing A LOT. Des and Marsal were both badass ladies in very different ways. And although it took me a while to get into the lore (I'm new to fantasy), I thought the realm was very cool and clearly very thought out. It almost reminded me of how the districts were set up in The Hunger Games.
I'm also a sucker for a dual timeline and a cyclical romance, and this definitely delivered. There were some of the most romantic lines I've ever read, and I was bawling my eyes out during the last two chapters. The writing was so poetic and beautiful, and I genuinely needed to know what was going to happen. I really enjoyed the story as a whole.
That said, there were a few things that didn't quite work for me. I know the story is about death, rebirth, and soulmates, but the romance gave insta-love at times... but in a weird will they won't they kind of way. And because it took so long to get to the big reveal, some of the romance scenes especially felt rushed toward the end. I also felt like the villains were underused and almost irrelevant at times. And while I eventually got into the lore, I didn't always feel like I understood what all the terms meant. A glossary would have helped me at least lol.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It had beautiful writing, an imaginative world, great characters, and a romance that absolutely got me in my feelings. It just wasn't quite the execution I was hoping for. But special shout out to the ending, it was so perfectly done and I will be thinking about it for a while!
Thank you to Netgalley, Forever Publishing and the author for the ARC for my honest review.

[MichelleAriana]

2.75⭐️

The premise?? A witch resurrecting a centuries-old con man to stop an evil god while untangling their tragic past lives?? That is EVERYTHING I want in a romantasy. Sign me up, take my money, tattoo it on my arm.

And listen, the bones are gorgeous. Osric Hale as a character concept is so good it physically hurts; a thief with a heart he keeps trying to bury, dying because he failed the one person he loved, doomed to be unraveled by fate all over again? I was FERAL for the Past timeline.

Sol-Trabes as a setting has that lush, sun-scorched decadence that makes for incredible worldbuilding bones, and the Eternal Night hanging over everything gives the whole book this doom-laced, atmospheric dread I was obsessed with. Genuinely stunning worldbuilding, no notes.

But then the Present timeline happens and it just... doesn't hold up its half of the story. Desiree felt so thin compared to Osric. I wanted her grief over her sister to gut me the way Osric's backstory did. The pacing in the back half rushes the reincarnation reveal so hard that the emotional gut-punch it should've landed just kind of fizzled instead of wrecking me the way I needed it to. And the romance; which should've been the whole point; felt more told than earned. I wanted longing. I wanted devastation. I wanted to feel their centuries of tragic history in my bones. The chemistry between Desiree and Osric felt rushed into "fated past lives" territory before I was given a real reason to root for them as people meeting in the present, not just echoes of who they used to be. Instead I got a handful of scenes and then suddenly they're inlove.

I know spice was promised and the spice is there, technically, but even that felt disconnected from the emotional throughline instead of deepening it.

Unfortunately, this one didn't fully deliver what my whole heart was hoping for. 💔

A massive thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Vices and Virtues. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Kiersten Cassel]

As someone who reads a lot of fantasy and romantasy, this one felt especially unique. It completely pulled me in from the start, and I couldn’t put it down. I was hooked early on and constantly wanted to know what would happen next.

The concept of reincarnation, soulmates, gods interfering in mortal lives, and loving someone across multiple lifetimes was executed so well. Our FMC is a necromancer who unknowingly brings her soulmate back from the dead, only to discover their love is trapped in a cycle where the gods keep pulling them apart. I was rooting for them the entire time.

We also get two timelines, and I really liked how the past directly shaped the future. The past storyline added important context, but I was just as eager to see it unfold because I was so drawn into their story. Everything coming together was incredibly satisfying.

The romance was one of the strongest aspects for me. The longing and emotion between the two leads was consistently compelling, and I was completely absorbed in their relationship. I spent most of the book hoping they would finally catch a break and be happy.

I also really enjoyed the writing. Alexis Menard has a style that feels almost poetic at times, and the world felt vivid and easy to picture.

The world building was also impressive for a standalone. There is a lot of depth to it, and it honestly feels like there could be more stories set in this world. While I’m satisfied with what we got, I do wish there was more to explore.

The characters were another highlight. I connected with them easily and enjoyed following their journey throughout the book.

If you’re looking for a romantasy with reincarnation, soulmates, magic, gods, heartbreak, and a deeply emotional romance, I would definitely recommend this one. I loved it and was engaged throughout.

[Carissa]

I’m going to preface this review by stating.. I cried. Full-blown tears crying because you know inevitably fairly early on what has to happen but it’s still devastating when the moment comes.

I have adored Alexis Menard’s writing for some time now and was beyond thrilled to start Vices & Virtues. I fell in love with Osric and Desiree immediately. The more their story unfolded the more I fell in love with them, too. Their story goes back longer than either of them could’ve possibly imagined or known.

When I wasn’t reading about Des or Osric, I was thinking about them; when I was reading their story, I found myself trying to read faster to get to see what would happen next. I loved how realistic the story felt in Osric battling his feelings of who he knew versus who he is with currently — and subsequently, Des has to handle those feelings too. Her emotions are raw and aching. I found my heart hurting alongside hers as she tries to make sense of the man she’s falling for battling with his previous love.

The story balances so well between the plot and romance; I was able to follow along with ease and was engaged the entire time. As the story plays out and we learn how Osric and Des got in to their current lives, we learn of betrayals and gods who crave immortality. We learn about the monsters that hide in the dark and how they’ve come to be. Her sister played a bigger part than I had anticipated and I was happy to see her get some of the limelight since she’s so important to Des.

This is a rare case for me where I wish the book had been in two parts — I so desperately want to see how Osric and Des finish out their story together! I adored this with my entire being. (And I’m now aching to go reread some of Menard’s older works — she’s a brilliant writer!)

[Stephanie]

This is now an author to look out for in the future. She's given us a pretty good world with a decently fleshed out magic system. Not too many things seem to be left in the air lol even the bathrooms.

By the title you can tell this is xtian coded, and the story begs you to question if some vices are worth eternal misery, or if everyone should be given a second chance. I'm just going to focus on a few keys parts since other reviews went into detail about the main plot. To me the romance part feels forced as does the sharing of deep dark secrets. It's still a 4star read for me which is great since the highest I go is 5stars.

The way that souls are reincarnated or not in this world is new and interesting. We only get a small look into their world due to the quest at hand, and we get a look into the lives of the haves and have nots.

The two fmc's magic from the present and past is explained more as we go, so even though present fmc doesn't know much about her own magic at first we all get to learn more about it. Basically it looks like she can make vampires, but not?

The only negative thing I have to say is at the beginning when Osiric was escaping How he and his comrades escaped made no sense on a first read through. How I first imagined it was them up on a 7 story platform with the option of jump or slowly desiccate, but then you had a bird bite through their bonds? Then somehow they swung around and escaped? It gave The Road to El Dorado vibes but was hard to imagine with the way it was described. I feel like that one part needs some work. I'll try reading it again to see if it makes more sense, but that's my initial take on it.