This is the kind of dark romantasy that grabs you by the throat and dares you to look away—and I loved every second of it. 4.5 stars 🌟
Kael, our MMC and court wizard, is deeply questionable in the best way. Villain-leaning? Absolutely. Morally gray? Without a doubt. Completely unhinged and obsessed? Oh yes. And honestly… I was here for it. Kael is terrifyingly powerful—turn-you-to-ash powerful—and the way he fixates on Evie is both unsettling and magnetic. He’s the kind of character who makes you think, I shouldn’t like this, while you’re already hopelessly invested 😏🔥
Evie is the perfect contrast to him. She’s meek, shy, uncertain of her place in the world—and yet quietly strong in ways that matter. She fears Kael, but she also wants him, and that tension between them is delicious. Watching Evie grow into herself, uncover her own strengths, and step into a role that matters was incredibly satisfying. She doesn’t need to be loud to be powerful, and I loved that.
The world-building adds real depth to the story. A land scarred by disease—one Kael has already torn apart in his quest to end it—now faces a new threat emerging from the mountain. Evie’s investigation into what’s coming drives the plot forward beautifully and proves that even the shyest characters can be brave when it counts.
Told from both perspectives, the story lets you truly feel for both Kael and Evie. You understand their pain, their loneliness, and their desperate need for peace—and for each other. By the end, I was fully rooting for them and absolutely cheering Kael on like, “Baby, if you need to strike them all down, do it… then come back and let the rest of that energy out elsewhere 😌😂”
Dark, emotional, obsessive, and utterly compelling—this book delivered everything I wanted from a dark romantasy.
✨ Thank you to V. M. Couture for trusting me with this story. ✨
I’ll be thinking about Kael for a long time. 🖤🔥