Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
In a world where power is everything and cruelty is currency, a girl with nothing is forced to make choices with consequences that not even Fate can escape.

All I’ve ever done is dream of a way out.
From this town that bleeds anyone stupid enough to reach for the last blooms of hope withering on the vine.
From the dead-end future that stalks behind every corner, waiting for me in the shadows.
But no matter how hard I try, it won’t let me go.
Until one night, Fate gives me a choice. And I make a promise.
It’s my fault for believing that choice was anything other than a curse.

Unlike the demons of my upbringing, the ones in this place don’t lurk in the dark. They hide behind polite smiles and pretty words, waiting for me to blink. My naiveté is blood in the water to these Legacies built on bones and suffering.

So I do what I’ve always done: watch and learn. Learn and adapt. Adapt and survive. But when survival hinges on playing their games, my defiance is my doom:
I touch the untouchable Heir of House Ignis.
I scorn the Leviathan of House Aquae.
I defy the sentinel of House Aeris.
I deny the beast of House Terra.
I taunt the dragon prince.
I incite the arrogant vampire.

When the bill for my sins against the hierarchy of power comes due, the price nearly kills me. That is, until this ravenous, writhing… hunger… in my veins wakes with an insatiable thirst.

In a single moment, the balance tips.
The game is set.
The threads of Fate are spun.
And there’s no way out.

*****
Sacred Night is the first book in the new dark paranormal reverse harem series Blood Will Reign, featuring supernatural elements, non-human characters, and a main character with multiple love interests. This book contains explicit content and mature themes that may not be suitable for readers under the age of 18. A full list of content warnings can be found on the authors website. Reader discretion is strongly advised.
Read less

616 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 20, 2026

Loading...
Loading...

About the author

Zara Castle

2 books71 followers
Zara Castle is a bestselling dark fantasy and contemporary romance author from the Pacific Northwest. While she’s been reading all her life, she started writing her first novel in 2024. As an avid consumer of romantic fiction, she has read everything from fluffy fantasy to alien adventures. Her favorite color is the rainbow and she has a concerning obsession with quippy stickers.

Visit zaracastle.com or follow along @zaracastleauthor.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
353 (55%)
4 stars
205 (32%)
3 stars
59 (9%)
2 stars
8 (1%)
1 star
8 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
1,250 reviews11 followers
March 27, 2026
I struggled with the writing in chapter one. I get the sense that the writer was trying hard to hook readers through descriptive prose and imagery, and to be fair, there were some nice turns of phrases.
But the sentences were so long that I kept forgetting how they started by the time they got to the end.
I had to read some paragraphs multiple times in order to separate the point from all the extraneous details. For other readers having this issue, I would encourage you to keep going. From chapter two onwards, the writing is much more concise and understandable.

At times, I was really absorbed in the storyline and I see definite potential for this series to be something good. But the characters will need some major growth to get there.

At this point, I haven't really connected with them. The FMC has her good moments, but she's the type to strike first and call it self-defense. She immediately expects the worst from people and lashes out before they can hurt her first. And then she feels sorry for herself because nobody likes her. So many of her problems could've been avoided by just giving people a chance to show their intentions before going on offense.

The guys are the worst. I want to say that don't deserve the FMC, but instead, let's just say that no females should be burdoned with them. I don't know who originally came up with the idea that MMCs should be abusive and degrading towards their sex partners in order to demonstrate how differently they treat the FMC, but I would happily burn that fallacy with fire. It only demonstrates that your MMC hates women and thinks that they are beneath him.

Even the likeable MMC ended up disappointing me. And I can see one of my least favorite tropes coming from a mile away: Spare me.

I will continue with this series, but I hope to see some serious grovel in the next book.
Profile Image for Calli Doughty.
10 reviews1 follower
July 12, 2026
Sacred Night is a deeply emotional and captivating romance that draws you in with both its atmosphere and the intensity of its relationships. From the very beginning, there’s a quiet tension that builds into something powerful, making the love story feel earned rather than rushed.

What really stood out to me was the chemistry between the main characters. Their connection isn’t just surface-level attraction it’s layered with vulnerability, hesitation, and moments that feel incredibly real. The way their relationship develops feels natural, with each interaction adding depth and meaning. The emotional push and pull between them kept me fully invested, and the slower, more intentional pacing made every romantic moment hit harder.

The romance itself is both tender and intense. There are soft, intimate moments that make you pause and feel everything right alongside the characters, balanced with emotional conflict that raises the stakes. It’s the kind of love story that explores not just falling in love, but what it takes to stay, to trust, and to open yourself up to someone else.

The writing enhances all of this beautifully. The author creates a slightly haunting, almost dreamlike atmosphere that makes the romance feel even more immersive. It’s not just about what the characters say, but what they don’t say the tension, the longing, the quiet understanding between them.

Overall, Sacred Night is a moving and memorable romance. It’s perfect for readers who enjoy emotionally driven love stories with strong chemistry, meaningful character development, and a touch of intensity. This is one of those books that lingers with you long after you’ve finished it.
Profile Image for  ThatBookBratBethany.
235 reviews5 followers
March 24, 2026
Freaking Fantastic PNR Academy Why Choose!

I happened to come across a video of Zara Castle announcing her debut of Sacred Night way before there was even a title announced, and wow, I am so thankful for that. This book honestly took me by surprise with how much feeling it gave - there were many moments I choked on tears, and that does not happen to me often. Sacred Night provides us with a strong FMC who has had to learn to survive a tough world on her own, and then she is thrust into a world that turns everything she previously knew upside down, and she continues to do what she is good at...surviving.



The pacing and plot were well thought out, and I never felt bored or left in the dark. The writing was emotional and easy to follow, with clear world-building that never felt too drawn out or confusing. I love the banter and dark humor throughout the book, as it kept me entertained in a way that kept my mind from straying to random thoughts.



Our FMC is strong and honestly pretty funny too, but underneath her tough exterior, she just wants to be loved, and I want that for her with everything in me. I really feel for her and am so ready for her to continue growing in the next book. She is going to be freaking badass but not insufferable, I just know it. Ugh, I love to hate each MMC lol they all have their baggage (don't we all?) but they also each have 1 or 2 redeeming qualities that show throughout book one. I am honestly ready for them to chuck their issues and hearts at Nyx's feet & grovel, but I know it'll be a minute before that happens, most likely. She will make them earn it too, I just know it because it's clear she is not going to be a doormat. She knows her worth and honestly...slay queen.



Something that I noticed and really enjoyed is that our spicy moments are super descriptive and emotional. I could feel the yearning and heat and emotion rolling off our characters, and I love that. You don't often find spicy scenes that also drag you in emotionally, too, and these did just that, and I ATE IT UP!!! I will be recommending this book to everyone because it's a well-thought-out plot, with unique characters, and I really felt immersed in their world. Great job, Zara. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to read your book. I can feel the blood, sweat, tears, and heart that you poured into these pages, and I love it.
Profile Image for Sarah.
25 reviews1 follower
August 12, 2026
Me deciding to read this book was my mood reading tendencies at its finest. Like all it took was seeing one instagram post from the author, hesitating for 5 seconds cause I don't totally vibe with the cover art, and then saying ah what the hell maybe the book will prove me wrong.

I am here to report the book proved me wrong.

This story just hit so hard for me in every way possible. It had everything I love and would expect from the dark paranormal academy genre plus so so much more. I like my books dark and I can tell that this series will deliver, and break my heart in the process. My favorite part about the academy setting would probably be Nyx's mentor figure, Dr. Grandmaster of the Fourth Order Brandt, their dynamic was always a pleasure to read, and it helped highlight just how smart Nyx is and her thirst for knowledge, which I found to be a cool trait of hers.

Speaking of Nyx, I love how strong she is and that it is pretty much to the point of being a problem. It makes perfect sense for what I know of her history, I just hope to see her grow into accepting help when it's given, and realizing it's ok to need someone by your side (or multiple someones as the case may be).

The guys were great in my opinion, they each felt identifiable with their own flaws, traits, and personalities. Some of my favorite emotional moments were when they were being idiots to my girl, and the following fallout. It is all so deliciously complicated and it will feel so good to see them come out the other side later down the line. The burn level felt perfect for the story and the characters, it all felt natural and made sense especially when considering the supernatural influences like the demons.

I really like what we got to see of the magic system so far, it felt thought out and intentional. At first I was worried the elemental magic mixed with different types of supernaturals would make it hard for me to separate from Zodiac Academy, but I found that not to be the case and both systems stand perfectly on their own. I also loved the unique demon forms, felt very fresh.

All in all, this book left me curious and intrigued to learn more about a lot of things, such as more about the guys' trauma... I mean backstories, Nyx's origin and powers, what's up with the Nephilim, what the council wants, the list goes on and on. That being said I feel we got a great foundation for everything in this first instalment, leaving it as more of a " I wonder what happens next" rather than "I have no information about anything that just happened," which is exactly how I want to be feeling after finishing the first book in a new series. Looking forward to continuing this journey with these characters!
Profile Image for Chelsea Eckersley 🖤.
342 reviews
June 23, 2026
It took me a couple chapters to get into but WOW I really loved reading this. I’m in dire need of the next one right now!

I adored Nyx so much, she was so sassy and strong but so fragile. I just wanted to swaddle her in a blanket.

I don’t know what’s up with Ramsey but that one hurt a lot. He has some grovelling to do.

Thane is cool. I like him.

Killian is pissing me off.

Luther is probably my least favourite so far.

And Roth, the psychopath young Snape lookalike is my favourite!!!

Can’t wait to see how the second book plays out!

Profile Image for Courtney  Miller.
346 reviews7 followers
June 5, 2026
Deliciously Dark

The book starts off as a new author novel, but by 20% in you’re hooked. The rehashing of events from multiple POVs drops off, and you’re so into the story you don’t remember they happened.

Nyx is a complicated FMC. She has flaws but she’s not too stupid to live. The MMCs are all jackasses and begin as very one dimensional but do have potential.

Im mostly sad this is a new series and I have to wait to see what happens next.
213 reviews5 followers
March 22, 2026
Juicy

A bit slow to start, but then the magic kicks in its full power until the last page.
Nyx is an orphaned bartender living in a small town doing everything she can to escape the fate of being born and then dying in th at town.
On her 20th birthday, she comes of age and is 'escorted' to the magic academy.
If you like books by: J Bree, Erin R Flynn, Tessa Hale, Hannah Haze, Cassandra Featherstone, B.M Clemont and Katie May, then this is right up your alley.
Nyx is quippy, and so resilient she needs her own cheer squad. She has a great mentor, who gets her and is one of the few 'adults' without an ulterior motive. She picks up weirdo friends everywhere and her new cat familiar is the mvp
The mmc's all need therapy. Badly.
I really enjoyed this book and read it over a day.
Profile Image for Bridget.
5 reviews1 follower
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 20, 2026
love the banter and sass! I'm counting down till the 2nd book
Barely slept trying to devour this as fast as humanly possible
Profile Image for Cheyenne Rousseau.
1,560 reviews8 followers
June 1, 2026
If you’ve read my reviews before you know that I always preface it with do not read unless you want spoilers. But I will try not to spoil so much on this one.

I wanna start off by saying I really wanted to rate this five stars because it is a good book and I’m excited to see where it goes.

But I have some issues with the book itself. For example, we’re getting all of this information alongside the FMC , but we’re not actually learning what any of it means. I hate to reference another series, especially when reviewing another authors work but it’ll get my point of cross of what I mean by we’re getting information but we’re also not. If anyone’s ever read ZA by the twisted sisters then you’ll know in the first couple of books while the twins are learning about their world, we get in depth information in regards to Solaria and everything that goes on with it. The different Orders, their subclasses, powers, and all that jazz, enough to learn alongside Tory and Darcy.


In that same vein I feel as though we are getting the bare minimum of information in this book. We kind of just get dropped in this new world with this FMC and we don’t even see her in class. And I’m not saying that the series had to be heavily based on her classes, but being as this is a brand new world and she was human before she got dropped into this new world and situation. So, we needed the in-depth conversations about everything in her world. The Orders, Demons, The Councils, the school itself and what happens. Etc. etc. I hope in book two we learn more about this world and how it works. And I don’t know if it’s because the first book or not but I hope that’s the case.


Aside from that the other reason is because the beginning of the book is extremely dry. If you ever wondered what it’s like to be depressed in a way read the first chapter of this book. The town the FMC originates from is literally like a desolate ,deserted, no hope, nowhere town. I don’t know if that makes sense to you if it does great, if it doesn’t, I don’t know how else to explain it.

The story itself. Our FMC Nyx, she’s 20 years old, grew up human in a hole in the wall town called Lyden in Colorado. She’s talking about in the beginning of the book how her life’s going nowhere she wishes she could get out of that town. It’s so desolate no one has any hope and they all kind of just float around and get through. So like I said, depression, central innocence. When all of a sudden these two twin women come out out of nowhere and are complete polar opposites think about the sun and how radiant it is and then think about the night and how dark it is and essentially that’s the depiction for the twins. They drop on her that she’s not human that she has the ability to choose between basically the light and dark school and that nobody else has ever gotten that option because Fate chose for them, but they didn’t choose for her. And telling her magic’s real everything she ever thought she knew was a lie and it’s crazy. She thinks they’re nuts until they show her magic and they take her to the school of her choice.


That’s all I’m gonna say on the School situation itself what I would like to talk about is some of the other characters. From what we know from the author, the FMC will have 7MMC’s. We’ve only met six. Well, five technically you don’t need to the very last chapter. I don’t want to necessarily say it’s a heavily bully story because it’s really not in my opinion. Yes there’s some bullying, but the FMC takes herself out of the situation and keeps her herself. She does not trust easily. She doesn’t not like people. And she’s just always been on her own. So you see her throughout the book start letting people in only to not know by the end of it who really was on her side the entire time or who was trying to use her basically.


I don’t really wanna talk about the guys because I can’t really form an opinion on them since they’re so wishy-washy at the moment. I honestly would’ve told you around page like 500 that Ramsey was my favorite but by the end of the book I don’t know what happened to him. Killian is the same he wouldn’t have been my favorite necessarily, but he was the second one in the running for being with her if that makes sense. But the both of them by the end of the book completely flip and do a 180 and she’s confused and pissed because she thinks they just used her this whole time.


The other three have a lot going on that we’ve met. Their families are definitely completely jacked up. What bothers me so much is that the group of four guys: Thane, Luther, Killian and Roth. I’ll have varying degrees of feelings for her, and their parents are on the high council and some of them want her dead. Some of them want her contained and some of them just want to use her. And they know this and yet she’s navigating this whole world and they’re not even like telling her to not trust anybody. I mean, she made that assumption for herself after meeting all of them. It’s just disheartening for me because she’s so brand new to this world and literally has nobody. She has no family, no money no Nothing. And she honestly doesn’t know who to trust because people keep getting her to trust them and then completely destroying her in the end.


So I’ll say this if you wanna read this it’s a great book. I just wish those two things were different and I would absolutely read it and I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2. If you want to know, cliff notes version basically the FMC cannot trust a single living soul. Because like I said, they either want to use her, contain her, or kill her. Oh, and she’s the last of her kind that we know of.

I do recommend I just hope the author fixes those things in the next book
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Moonlit Nightingale.
8 reviews
August 16, 2026
Sacred Night by Zara Castle had me feeling absolutely everything. What an incredible debut!

In a world where power is everything and cruelty is currency, Nyx has spent her life dreaming of escape. When Fate finally offers her a choice, what appears to be freedom quickly begins to feel more like a curse. Surrounded by powerful supernatural heirs, dangerous legacies and monsters hiding behind charming smiles, Nyx must learn, adapt and survive—because one act of defiance could change the balance of power forever.

I connected with Nyx on a soul-deep level. Zara Castle created an FMC who is beautifully flawed, deeply relatable and unbelievably strong, even when she doesn’t recognize that strength in herself. Her life has been anything but easy, and this is definitely not an insta-love, sunshine-and-roses story. Nyx is forced to fight for herself in a world determined to use her, underestimate her and break her—and I was emotionally invested in every step of her journey.

This book somehow manages to be dark and emotionally devastating while also being genuinely funny. The humour arrives at exactly the right moments, giving you just enough time to breathe before the story reaches into your chest and squeezes your heart again. The chemistry between Nyx and the MMCs is incredible, and I loved that every relationship felt completely different. Each connection has its own tension, dynamic and emotional weight, making every interaction feel meaningful rather than interchangeable. The slow build makes the chemistry even more addictive and I am so ready to get my next fix with book 2!

A warning, though: Sacred Night can get very dark and emotional. Please check the content warnings before reading and protect your heart—because those MMCs are digging themselves into a very deep hole by the end of this book.

I’m going to need regret. I’m going to need begging. I’m going to need emotional devastation and men on their knees.
I expect nothing less than a top-tier grovel, Miss Castle!

Emotional, hilarious, dark and completely addictive, Sacred Night is a fantastic beginning to the Blood Will Reign series. Zara Castle has created a fascinating supernatural world, a heroine worth fighting for and a group of MMCs who are going to have a lot to answer for.
141 reviews7 followers
July 27, 2026
Gosh, I just love it when a book pops up you've never heard about and it instantly hooks you.

Sacred Night follows Nyx, who after spending her childhood in and out of care, finds herself celebrating her 20th birthday, in the bar she works, in the town she grew up in and never left, hoping one day she would finally escape.

As fate may have it, she then discovers that she is actually a witch, and had to attend a magical school where she will learn to develop and grow her skills. Unfortunately for her, it's a cut throat world among the witches, demons, vampires and shifters, and no one wants a powerless witch in their vicinity.

Nyx then catches the eyes of the heirs to the ancient magical houses, these men are arrogant, vicious and don't trust Nyx isn't out to ruin them.

I loved Nyx, she is sassy, funny and even though she has, and does throughout the book, suffer terribly, you can't keep her down, she endures and survives and it makes her so endearing, you will root for her the entire time.

Now, our MMCs are not only powerful, charismatic and sinfully hot, they are also ruthless, vicious and have no problem doing absolutely appalling things to people. My heart broke for Nyx, time and time again. We got some hints about our MMCs pasts, and I suspect, some of their issues also stem from trauma, so we can't write them off just yet, well apart from Ramsey, he definitely has some grovelling to do.

I am so excited to see where this story goes. It's funny, sweet, dark, spicy and completely captivating, if you like academic settings, multiple MMCs, magic, trauma and enemies to, well something, you 100% need to read this book.

I will now be pestering Zara weekly, for updates on book 2.
Profile Image for Melou.
145 reviews9 followers
August 19, 2026
What an amazing book! I finished in one sitting, had to continue even knowing book 2 isn't out yet.

I adore Nyx and her tenacity, her bravery, her steel. She just keeps getting up, getting harder, and keeps fighting. While not being perfect, making mistakes with the guys. It's annoying because you'll be screaming at her to "don't do it!!" and she does it. But she is only 20 yo and you make mistakes at that age.

The MMCs are... a 'special' lot.
I am starting to realise it rubs me the wrong way when an MMC wants to "break" the FMC to get her afterwards. It's just an unnecessary and overused character trait. But I didn't subtract that from my rating though. Everything else made up for it.
Ramsey is one of my fav even though I want to have words! Luckily his dragon has plenty and I love love love a dragon who calls out their human shell on their stupidity.
Thane is also a fav and there are plenty of heartbreaking scenes for him. I look forward to seeing more of his journey.
Luther .. I just really don't like the guy. No qualities to endear him.
Roth is also the same but different. Because we see more of him with the other guys so the layers to his character shoes better.

But my fav side characters go to Dr. Brandt, retired prof., and priestess Esme. They are always up for some fun and to mess with Nyx just to get her to lighten up and relax a bit. Which is much needed!

I honestly did not expect the book to end the way it did. Not that it was a major cliffhanger it just took some turns I hadn't seen coming. It was refreshing.

I am super excited for book 2 and see what comes next for Nyx with her powers, the clueless and idiotic guys, and Nyx's allies.
21 reviews
May 18, 2026
I’ll start by saying I saw this on my TikTok page and I have a deep mistrust of booktok, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good this was!

For starters I’m very thankful this book was like 600 pages because I could not put it down and it makes it worth waiting a year for the next to come out if it’s also going to be a long read. On that note, making 600 pages this interesting is such talent !

The plot is starting to really develop, the characters are thought out with their own interesting personalities and backstories, the political scene is explained in intricate detail, and the FMC is a complex character that is feisty and smart.

I really loved that instead of just having this FMC all of sudden get caught up everything the storyline takes you along learning the world at the same time as her. Somehow this book is incredibly detailed while not being boring to read said details and the writing is beautifully done. Zara writes these incredibly imaginative moments when the FMC is daydreaming and I actually enjoyed reading them. I honestly usually skip the day dream scenes in other books because it feels like the author is just trying to push a foreshadow moment but it wasn’t like that at all here.

Each of the MMC’s are unique and the buildup of the relationships is captivating! You really get to know each character and I’m genuinely rooting for all of them.

I am very excited for the next installment of this series in a way I haven’t been for a new book in a long time!

Profile Image for Olivia rogers.
27 reviews
August 15, 2026
Wow!

I read quite a few why choose books and this one was a five star for me.

Something this book had that many books in a university setting don’t normally have is a more realistic timeframe. This book took place over the course of an entire school year in book one. What I see most typically is the entire book one happening in the span of a few weeks and looking back on those events even when the story is good it is so unrealistic.

Something else I loved about this book was that the love interests weren’t falling in love immediately. Often with the “fated mates” trope you see the characters professing their love by the end of book one or most of the love Interest and I loved that this book didn’t have that. There is a huge difference between love and attraction and I think this book did a good job at showing that.

Overall I’m so excited for book two. I love that these characters are complex and have their own storylines that don’t just include the female main character. I love that she didn’t just wake up after having her powers awakened and have a complete personality shift where she suddenly knew how to handle her power and felt super confident in using it. Every character in this book is flawed in their own ways and it leaves room for growth through the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Only Page Turners.
133 reviews2 followers
March 27, 2026
Absolutely loved this Why Choose/RH romantasy book. It had all my favourite elements and tropes in this genre
- enemies to lovers
- slow burn
- fated mates but they are enemies
- spice but still a strong plot
- academy setting
- FMC has a great relatable inner monologue and isn't a pushover
- strong world building and lore - it's not overwhelming but it's clear it's been thought about and rules created for the different magic.
- shifters, witches, Vampires, gargoyles and more

I've been waiting to read this for ages, after seeing the author on TikTok and it did not disappoint!

I wish their was a bit more physical descriptions of characters (for example Ramsey - I know his face is scarred but im not sure what hair colour he has). Also I got a bit confused with all the heirs parents names (so id love a little family tree i could check in the back).

I would definitely recommend it for fans of Zodiac Academy, Her Vicious Beasts and The Bonds That Tie.
Profile Image for agata.
326 reviews
June 29, 2026
I need book two like right now!!

This was a great first birthday book in the series, I really want to see where the author will take us in the next books. I thought I knew who she would end up with but ending it with introducing this new character??? Color me intrigued.

Now, I really hope we will somehow kill the whole council or something in the next books. I think the politics here are the usual corrupted fantasy coded but honestly, it is satisfying to watch characters destroy them every time (could we insert them into our world some time?).

One thing that annoyed me was the chapters moving back in time to give us information from another perspective, I get the purpose of doing that but at least for me, it was ruining the pacing throughout the whole book. Closer to the end it worked better where the new pov would start exactly where the previous ended, and I think that’s a better way to go about it.
403 reviews5 followers
August 8, 2026
I am absolutely obsessed. This book was SO GOOD that I'm livid I can't just dive into book 2. I read the entire 600 pages in under 24 hours and actually fell asleep with my ereader still in my hand. Every character is so deep and their relationships are the best part. Also, this book is actually funny. I actually laughed out loud several times.

The plot is basically the same as most other magical academy books, but this one has so much world building and emotional depth. The author wasn't kidding with her content warning of intergenerational trauma. All the heirs have terrible parents and equally terrible coping mechanisms. Nyx is a phenomenal FMC. She is angry and fiesty, but she also learns how to be emotional with attempts at vulnerability. Her defiance was hilarious and my heart ached for her after hers got ripped out not once but twice.

This book was an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I gasped, I was angry. I love this book and I cannot wait for the next one!
75 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2026
obsessed 😍

I couldn’t put it down im absolutely obsessed with this book! I cant wait for book 2 but now im kinda hoping she has 6 mates and not 5! I love all of the characters! I cant wait to see how things progress with each of her mates. I feel bad for poor Ramsay pushing her away bc he thinks hes not good enough for her and she wont stick around. Same with luther. Poor thane keeps getting pushed away bc of others mistakes mostly killian. Now killian finally realizes how much he loves her and wants some with her after he caused so much damage trying to work through his issues. I have a feeling this ambrose if he is another mate will be just like killian. I cant wait for book 2 i hope we get a couple more books out of this series bc its so good! I will definitely be rereading this until the next one comes out! 🩷💜🩵💚💛💙🧡
Profile Image for Tracym.
73 reviews
April 1, 2026
I ate it up it's unique and pulls you in.

Just finished lastnight and dang these MMC's need to be on their knees. Killian you messed up puppy the whiplash. Thane your Leviathan has some explaining to do clicks, screeching, and unintelligible BS then bam. Luther I totally get it, but dang dude you asked for it. Ramsey oh you perfect dragon then you needle all the buttons to screw it all up. Roth you bully for no apparent reason. Now Ambrose going to blow in like a hurricane and vent because someone pissed in your wheaties. Nyx the work you have to do is astronomical you sweet little witch. The magic system is a good base and it gets explained as she is learning about it with the readers. For a first book the author did amazing it's characters are fleshed out and intresting you want to know what's made them this way. Well worth the read.
Profile Image for Nicketa Fox.
288 reviews1 follower
April 3, 2026
I received this book as an ARC.

This book was so well written that I can’t wait to see what book 2 brings!!

I loved the plot, pacing and world building. Aside from chapter 1 where I felt it was trying to hook us and was a bit wordy it was really well written.

I thought the FMC was so incredible. She was well written, strong, funny, and the inner monologue was great. She wasn’t a pushover, she wasn’t useless? If that makes sense. I felt like she kinda knew who she was and wasn’t going to let a bunch of people or hot guys walk all over her - which is what we want!!!

I would have liked a family tree at the beginning of the book because that got a wee bit confusing, and I wanted a bit more physical description for everyone.

Otherwise this was an enjoyable read. Definitely recommend it.
Profile Image for Yinet Lorenzo.
19 reviews
July 26, 2026
my favorite of the year

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Sacred Night completely pulled me in from the very first chapter. The world-building is dark, immersive, and full of mystery, and every chapter left me wanting more. The academy setting mixed with paranormal elements created the perfect atmosphere, and the tension kept building in the best way.

The characters are all unique and compelling, with incredible chemistry that made it impossible to choose a favorite. The romance, suspense, and unexpected twists had me hooked from start to finish. Zara Castle does an amazing job balancing action, emotion, and intrigue, making this a story that’s impossible to put down.

If you love dark paranormal romance, academy settings, reverse harem, and addictive slow-burn relationships, this is definitely a must-read. I can’t wait to dive into the next book in the series!
Profile Image for Cayla Haines.
15 reviews
August 16, 2026
I have been in such a book slump lately, It felt like everything I read wasn’t keeping me interested, I would get bored, a lot my favorite authors are having to push back book releases dates, due to health issues (which 100% support). So I’ve been a little down.

But let me tell you this book Sacred Night by @zaracastleauthor was just what I needed!

Five Star’s⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️! Chef’s Kiss 🤌🏻💋

It was the perfect mix of world building, suspense and spice! The wittiness and banter the FMC (Nyx) had, had me giggling and laughing out loud! I’ve been following Zara on Tick Tok when she first announced she was writing this book, and so I finally downloaded it, and best decision! Loved it! I can’t wait for Book 2 to come out in December!

🖤 Dark Paranormal Academy RH Romance
💔Bullies to Enemies to Lovers
🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
😈 demon/shifters/witches/gargoyles/vampires
✨✨Fated Soulmates
Profile Image for Lynne Gaudreau.
6 reviews
March 20, 2026
Loved It!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Reverse Harem
Mates
Enemies to Lovers
Second Chance
Forced Proximity
⚔️ crossing

This is the 1st book in the Blood Will Reign series.

Nyx didn’t have a good start in life. After meeting two people at work, she never thought they’d changed the course of her life. Nyx met 5/6 of her mates and boy do they have lots of grovelling to do. There’s quite a few times I was sitting at the edge of my seat while reading this.

This book was a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. I cried, then got pretty mad, but I was also happy? The book ended on somewhat of a cliffhanger though. It just heightened my impatience. I can’t wait to get my hands on book 2!
Profile Image for Haley.
148 reviews
April 1, 2026
The story had my complete attention as I love an overpowered character unaware of how powerful they're meant to be. It reminds me of an isekai anime where destiny places the main character with strong powers and now has to figure out what they're going to do with it. I love stories like that. I think the only thing that was slightly tough for me was remembering which guy was which when it came to their powers. I typically like a little more expository information to help me remember what each guy has in terms of power. I had to write down the guy's names and start matching them with the power to help me remember who was who. That might be a me thing where my brain is messy, but overall I enjoyed the book and I can't wait for the second one.
Profile Image for Ashley.
480 reviews12 followers
April 2, 2026
This was soo good!!! (If it wasn’t for my stupid migraines to hit me soo hard for the past week - and having to be an adult, I would have been done sooner)… I am sooo upset with Ramsey 😡 like WTF dude! What in Fate did his dad say to him?!?! And Killian 😖 and WTF dude! Why does he keep running - and I hope he SHOWS her and us what he was wanting too - to prove his feelings… I hope we get to see Roth and Thane get their fun times and get to just BE with her!!! Luther - I think he coming around - but again dude what tripped your murder switch!!! I can’t wait to meet the “other boys” and how all the “alphas” learn to play together 😏😉 and I can’t wait to see Nyx prove everyone wrong and becomes what she was always meant to be (of course my opinion)
Profile Image for Ana.
38 reviews
July 29, 2026
Sacred Night By is by far my favorite book of the Year! I’m giving it a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I absolutely loved this book and the plot, it was everything. It reminded me of (Losers by Harley Laroux) not the story but the feelings I got while reading that book and it was written amazingly I didn’t want to put it down and I can’t wait till I reread it. I loved all the characters but the MMC have my heart I couldn’t pick a favorite because they all are. 🖤 I’m super excited for the next book to come out, I already know it’s going to be Good!!! I also can’t stop thinking about how Ramsey did a 180 on her, I wonder what his parents said to him uhhh and the vampire I just can’t wait another year for it. Thanks for such an amazing book, I can’t wait to read more of your work!
Profile Image for Jade.
4 reviews
March 22, 2026
I devoured this book and now have the biggest book hangover 🖤

The story captivates you from the very beginning and immediately draws you in. Its magic system is remarkably original and meticulously explained, while the world-building is rich and immersive throughout.

Nyx is one hell of a fmc, she’s strong, resilient and takes no shit and the sass that comes out of her mouth is top tier (she’s fast becoming one of my top fmcs).

Ramsey Ramsey Ramey I don’t what to say about him except that my heart is broken for Nyx. To say I cried and don’t see that coming was an understatement.

December couldn’t come fast enough, I’m so excited for book 2 🖤🖤🖤
Profile Image for Marici.
434 reviews2 followers
July 1, 2026
5 stars because dialogues and overall writing are mature enough to keep me going. It doesn’t feel like they’re all in their early twenties, so that’s a plus. The world building was okay, and character development was done well.
That being said, some things did bother me. Like Killian and Ramsey having their infinite change of hearts - we don’t need that. I didn’t have the minimal patience with Luther, I think he’s just a jealous brute. Roth and Thane were pretty good, I quite liked their characters.
It feels like a long book because we get a lot of info dump, but I missed her friends and wish we had more chapters with them.
Profile Image for Emily B. Augustine .
72 reviews2 followers
July 14, 2026
WOW! I am a sucker for a solid paranormal RH, and Sacred Night did NOT disappoint. To say I’m obsessed with these characters is an understatement. Not only are they all witty and broken and guarded, they’re intense and emotional (and still broken). The tension is off the charts and the relationships between the different characters are all unique which adds to the story rather than take anything away from it.

This is quite the emotional roller coaster though so gird your loins and have your therapist on speed dial. Things get wild, and the cliff hanger will ruin your day (but like ruin me again pls?). This series is deliciously dark and I can’t wait for more! Prepare to be sick of me because I won’t be able to shut up about this one.

- Enemies to lovers
- Fated mates
- Spice & a strong plot
- Academy setting
- Strong FMC
- Strong world building and lore
- Shifters, witches, vampires & gargoyles
Profile Image for char.
14 reviews
July 18, 2026
The beginning took some time for me to go in to I felt it was slow kinda but once she gets in the academy it picks up.

It does have the same formula of “human girl isn’t really human and has go to the magical academy”

it’s a different take on that same formula. and makes it more alluring, little dark.

The fmc isn’t a weak girl she really goes through it. and doesn’t want anyone to feel sorry for her if that makes sense.. Girl just wants her free food and free education in peace.

All the mmcs have different personalities,

And ROTH!!! Roth……. Meowwww. Ahhhh)

-The ending tho YALL I SCREAM.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews