What do you think?
Blood Will Reign #1
Sacred Night
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
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
About the author
Zara Castle
2 books91 followersZara 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.
Visit zaracastle.com or follow along @zaracastleauthor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 160 reviews
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.
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.
September 6, 2026
3.5 stars round up for the potential
This story started off a bit rocky. The first couple chapters were clunky, filled with frilly, unnecessary descriptions and focused on characters I’d imagine we’ll never see again. Unless these characters are going to be involved in the rest of the story, I don’t need the names and little tidbits of every single customer and every employee at the bar she works at. The first way-too-many pages are just her day to day life. Since this is not your average contemporary romance, I’m assuming once she finally goes to the new academy all of her past life will be irrelevant so why are we wasting so much time on it? This book could have started on chapter three, enjoyed the witty narrative, gotten an idea about her life before, and jumped right into what everyone is here to read about!
Putting that aside, I’m really loving where this story is going! Between the info dumps and run on paragraphs, the dialog was surprisingly witty and I couldn’t help but enjoy all the characters. I would sometimes get lost and lose interest when there would be another tangent trying to fit in all the world building and dynamics, but when it was just focused on Nyx and her trying to survive this new world and interact with all the characters, I was loving it. Unfortunately the momentum was always stunted by yet another big chunk of foundation building. Considering this is a series and we have a main character who is also learning all of this world along with us, it would have been more manageable to trickle all of the info in small doses blended into the story instead of basically pausing the story to give us like 10 pages worth (ok a bit of an exaggeration) of textbook info of this world.
Long ramblings short, this book has so much potential, it just needs a bit of editing; trimming off the unnecessary pages. To get back to what I did enjoy, there was so much to rave about.
This world does sound interesting. It feels like a fully developed world that exists outside of the FMC. There’s also a lot of interesting politics I’m excited to see expanded on.
I loved Nyx. She was the perfect blend of strong and cold, and kind and soft. I really enjoyed how there’s a direct connection from how she grew up and her experience at the academy, with how she acts and treats others. Every time she was colder or hesitant with others, I understood. And I respected that she respected herself enough to not let people walk all over her. Also I’m a sucker for a badass FMC who can put her money where her mouth is.
The MMCs are interesting too. They all have a unique and developed personality and the dynamics between them was fun to watch. My favourite was when Ramsey would interact with his dragon. It was surprisingly funny.
I’m really excited to see where this series goes. Teasing a new character as the end has me foaming at the mouth wanting to know more about them!
This story started off a bit rocky. The first couple chapters were clunky, filled with frilly, unnecessary descriptions and focused on characters I’d imagine we’ll never see again. Unless these characters are going to be involved in the rest of the story, I don’t need the names and little tidbits of every single customer and every employee at the bar she works at. The first way-too-many pages are just her day to day life. Since this is not your average contemporary romance, I’m assuming once she finally goes to the new academy all of her past life will be irrelevant so why are we wasting so much time on it? This book could have started on chapter three, enjoyed the witty narrative, gotten an idea about her life before, and jumped right into what everyone is here to read about!
Putting that aside, I’m really loving where this story is going! Between the info dumps and run on paragraphs, the dialog was surprisingly witty and I couldn’t help but enjoy all the characters. I would sometimes get lost and lose interest when there would be another tangent trying to fit in all the world building and dynamics, but when it was just focused on Nyx and her trying to survive this new world and interact with all the characters, I was loving it. Unfortunately the momentum was always stunted by yet another big chunk of foundation building. Considering this is a series and we have a main character who is also learning all of this world along with us, it would have been more manageable to trickle all of the info in small doses blended into the story instead of basically pausing the story to give us like 10 pages worth (ok a bit of an exaggeration) of textbook info of this world.
Long ramblings short, this book has so much potential, it just needs a bit of editing; trimming off the unnecessary pages. To get back to what I did enjoy, there was so much to rave about.
This world does sound interesting. It feels like a fully developed world that exists outside of the FMC. There’s also a lot of interesting politics I’m excited to see expanded on.
I loved Nyx. She was the perfect blend of strong and cold, and kind and soft. I really enjoyed how there’s a direct connection from how she grew up and her experience at the academy, with how she acts and treats others. Every time she was colder or hesitant with others, I understood. And I respected that she respected herself enough to not let people walk all over her. Also I’m a sucker for a badass FMC who can put her money where her mouth is.
The MMCs are interesting too. They all have a unique and developed personality and the dynamics between them was fun to watch. My favourite was when Ramsey would interact with his dragon. It was surprisingly funny.
I’m really excited to see where this series goes. Teasing a new character as the end has me foaming at the mouth wanting to know more about them!
March 29, 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.
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.
September 4, 2026
Dear Zara,
Fine! You convinced me to read your book but now you're in big trouble. Where is the next one, hmm??
Nyx is an orphan 20-year old that lives in a shitty town. One night two women visit her and inform her that "Congratulations! You are a witch! Please attend Hogw- I mean Dreadhurst. Oh, you don't have a choice btw".
So to Dreadhurst she goes. She attends class, gets bullied, makes some friends and of course gets to mingle with 5 powerful, damaged, hot men.
Worldbuilding: Good! A glossary would really help here. I got a little confused on the origin of every creature and who is considered Legacy, Heir and such. And I really need more info on all the magic creatures in the next books too. Like what types of shifters are there? What kind of magic does everyone have, etch. The magic system is a little confusing, mostly because there are two types of magic and some people have one type and others have both and it kinda doesn't correlate with what species you are but it kinda does? I don't know. I really need a glossary!
Plot: Good!! Typical academy setting, classes, info, bullies, hot men who want you but don't want to want you.
I have a comment here. Zara, if you read my review, I think it would be very interesting if you could write the same book but instead of the Dark Academy make Nyx choose the Light Academy. New love interests, new villains! Oh, that would be so good!
Romance: Yes, please!! Gimme!
Oh, also, I loved the dynamic of Thane and Roth. It's obvious they are both bi but they get together to make their pain go away and I loved that. I love me some MM but I hate when authors write it just for the sakes of their book being more spicy. Here, I loved it!
FMC: At first she got on my nerves. And then she reveals how badass she is. I have mentioned in previous reviews that for me, the most important aspect of an FMC is her intelligence. It's the worst when the reader knows who's bad and who's going to betray the FMC but somehow she has no clue. Here, we have an FMC that anticipates almost everything. She knows how to read people and I loved how she responds to their arrogance (council scene!). Also, I really like that she doesn't think with her vagina. I've read about FMCs that are reduced to horny teens when they meet the MMCs. But here we actually have someone with confidence and, above all, dignity.
MMCs: Gods, give me strength.
1. Roth, Heir of Ignis, Legacy of Wrath, cruel, has touch-aversion, extremely dominant, certified psychopath.
2. Thane (my poor baby), Heir of Aqua, Leviathan demon, submissive, sweetheart, gets high to control his demon.
3. Killian, Heir of Terra, werewolf, casanova, flirty, sunshine.
4. Luther, brother to the Heir of Aeris, gargoyle, grumpy, doesn't talk much, big wing span 😉
5. Ramsey, exiled dragon shifter, son of the Shifter King, reclusive, bitter, everyone is afraid of him.
6. Ambrose, teacher (new addition), hot vampire, captive to a wicked witch.
Everyone has mommy and daddy issues, and I love all of them.
Side characters: I have to say: Milo, we love you!
Villains: Oooh, yes. Motivated, will do anything to achieve their goals, need to be put in their places.
Overall: Where is my next book?
Fine! You convinced me to read your book but now you're in big trouble. Where is the next one, hmm??
Nyx is an orphan 20-year old that lives in a shitty town. One night two women visit her and inform her that "Congratulations! You are a witch! Please attend Hogw- I mean Dreadhurst. Oh, you don't have a choice btw".
So to Dreadhurst she goes. She attends class, gets bullied, makes some friends and of course gets to mingle with 5 powerful, damaged, hot men.
Worldbuilding: Good! A glossary would really help here. I got a little confused on the origin of every creature and who is considered Legacy, Heir and such. And I really need more info on all the magic creatures in the next books too. Like what types of shifters are there? What kind of magic does everyone have, etch. The magic system is a little confusing, mostly because there are two types of magic and some people have one type and others have both and it kinda doesn't correlate with what species you are but it kinda does? I don't know. I really need a glossary!
Plot: Good!! Typical academy setting, classes, info, bullies, hot men who want you but don't want to want you.
I have a comment here. Zara, if you read my review, I think it would be very interesting if you could write the same book but instead of the Dark Academy make Nyx choose the Light Academy. New love interests, new villains! Oh, that would be so good!
Romance: Yes, please!! Gimme!
Oh, also, I loved the dynamic of Thane and Roth. It's obvious they are both bi but they get together to make their pain go away and I loved that. I love me some MM but I hate when authors write it just for the sakes of their book being more spicy. Here, I loved it!
FMC: At first she got on my nerves. And then she reveals how badass she is. I have mentioned in previous reviews that for me, the most important aspect of an FMC is her intelligence. It's the worst when the reader knows who's bad and who's going to betray the FMC but somehow she has no clue. Here, we have an FMC that anticipates almost everything. She knows how to read people and I loved how she responds to their arrogance (council scene!). Also, I really like that she doesn't think with her vagina. I've read about FMCs that are reduced to horny teens when they meet the MMCs. But here we actually have someone with confidence and, above all, dignity.
MMCs: Gods, give me strength.
1. Roth, Heir of Ignis, Legacy of Wrath, cruel, has touch-aversion, extremely dominant, certified psychopath.
2. Thane (my poor baby), Heir of Aqua, Leviathan demon, submissive, sweetheart, gets high to control his demon.
3. Killian, Heir of Terra, werewolf, casanova, flirty, sunshine.
4. Luther, brother to the Heir of Aeris, gargoyle, grumpy, doesn't talk much, big wing span 😉
5. Ramsey, exiled dragon shifter, son of the Shifter King, reclusive, bitter, everyone is afraid of him.
6. Ambrose, teacher (new addition), hot vampire, captive to a wicked witch.
Everyone has mommy and daddy issues, and I love all of them.
Side characters: I have to say: Milo, we love you!
Villains: Oooh, yes. Motivated, will do anything to achieve their goals, need to be put in their places.
Overall: Where is my next book?
September 27, 2026
How do I summarize my absolute OBSESSION and NEED for this series to be completed like yesterday?!
I haven’t felt this kind of feeling since I read Her Vicious Beasts by EP Bali, a ROMAN EMPIRE SERIES.
Nyx is our FMC who honestly has had a rough start in life. The journey she goes through in this book WHEW.
We’ve got a plethora of MMCs that are all amazing (-ly traumatized) in their own way:
Roth (daddy?) really gives Xander x Scythe vibes imo. Seeing him navigate the challenges on this book just made me love him even more.
Killian, our loveable (traumatized) f-boy wolf shifter.
Luther the GARGOYLE shifter 👀👀👀
Thane, our overpowered baby who honestly suffers so much to control his demon 🥲
Ramsey, the exiled dragon shifter prince (his inner dragon & him have the BEST banter. I CACKLED)
Ambrose, our mysterious vampire that we meet at the end. I can’t wait to read more in book 2!
You NEED this on your TBR if you like:
- why choose (MMFMMMM)
- magical academy
- rejected mates vibes
- witches, vampires, dragon shifters, demons, gargoyles, fae
- he falls hard (his dragon falls first)
- elemental magic / unique magic system
- hilarious banter
- witty FMC
- book 1/4 released
I haven’t felt this kind of feeling since I read Her Vicious Beasts by EP Bali, a ROMAN EMPIRE SERIES.
Nyx is our FMC who honestly has had a rough start in life. The journey she goes through in this book WHEW.
We’ve got a plethora of MMCs that are all amazing (-ly traumatized) in their own way:
Roth (daddy?) really gives Xander x Scythe vibes imo. Seeing him navigate the challenges on this book just made me love him even more.
Killian, our loveable (traumatized) f-boy wolf shifter.
Luther the GARGOYLE shifter 👀👀👀
Thane, our overpowered baby who honestly suffers so much to control his demon 🥲
Ramsey, the exiled dragon shifter prince (his inner dragon & him have the BEST banter. I CACKLED)
Ambrose, our mysterious vampire that we meet at the end. I can’t wait to read more in book 2!
You NEED this on your TBR if you like:
- why choose (MMFMMMM)
- magical academy
- rejected mates vibes
- witches, vampires, dragon shifters, demons, gargoyles, fae
- he falls hard (his dragon falls first)
- elemental magic / unique magic system
- hilarious banter
- witty FMC
- book 1/4 released
September 1, 2026
It was a mix of all the things I love and the spice was magnificent. Kudos babe!
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.
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.
October 4, 2026
I loved it, and despite some flaws, I am totally invested. I’m looking forward to Book 2, which is due in Spring of 2027.
It’s the classic abused/impoverished/loner girl who is told she has magic and must go to a supernatural university trope. So, yeah, Harry Potter. I’ll probably never get tired of reading this story arc when it’s in the hands of an author who can put a good spin on it.
What I loved:
—Nyx, a FMC who is a poster child for furious non-compliance.
—How her powers are teased/revealed.
—All the lovers were appealing. Assholes, yeah, but with vulnerabilities that made them sympathetic.
—An Academia romance that felt more like a college and less like a free-for-all with no real classes. The author wasn’t afraid to get nerdy about Carl Sagan.
What didn’t work for me:
—It needed editing for clarity and some pruning.
—Lordy, the names and multiple power structures were so confusing I had to make a chart. Even after that I still had trouble telling two of the boys apart.
—Some of the power structures didn’t mesh well. The 4 elements AND the 7 deadly sins? Maybe it will make sense eventually.
—Chapters tell the story from different character’s points of view, but sometimes even then it was hard to figure out who was talking.
—I had to roll my eyes at the absurd reasons the boys had for blowing hot and cold. RH is always like that, but still. WTH, Ramsey???
—There are so many subplots that I think it will be hard to keep them from spinning out of control, and even harder to keep it to 2 books. Ex: an ominous conversation about dehumanization right out of Trump’s playbook comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere. I appreciated the anti-Trump message*, but it was 2/3 of the way in and introduced a class of creatures that had never been mentioned before. At all.
—Time/pacing is weird. At one point, after a major revelation, several months are skipped with very little explanation.
*To be clear, Trump isn’t mentioned by name. That would be weird.
It’s the classic abused/impoverished/loner girl who is told she has magic and must go to a supernatural university trope. So, yeah, Harry Potter. I’ll probably never get tired of reading this story arc when it’s in the hands of an author who can put a good spin on it.
What I loved:
—Nyx, a FMC who is a poster child for furious non-compliance.
—How her powers are teased/revealed.
—All the lovers were appealing. Assholes, yeah, but with vulnerabilities that made them sympathetic.
—An Academia romance that felt more like a college and less like a free-for-all with no real classes. The author wasn’t afraid to get nerdy about Carl Sagan.
What didn’t work for me:
—It needed editing for clarity and some pruning.
—Lordy, the names and multiple power structures were so confusing I had to make a chart. Even after that I still had trouble telling two of the boys apart.
—Some of the power structures didn’t mesh well. The 4 elements AND the 7 deadly sins? Maybe it will make sense eventually.
—Chapters tell the story from different character’s points of view, but sometimes even then it was hard to figure out who was talking.
—I had to roll my eyes at the absurd reasons the boys had for blowing hot and cold. RH is always like that, but still. WTH, Ramsey???
—There are so many subplots that I think it will be hard to keep them from spinning out of control, and even harder to keep it to 2 books. Ex: an ominous conversation about dehumanization right out of Trump’s playbook comes out of nowhere and goes nowhere. I appreciated the anti-Trump message*, but it was 2/3 of the way in and introduced a class of creatures that had never been mentioned before. At all.
—Time/pacing is weird. At one point, after a major revelation, several months are skipped with very little explanation.
*To be clear, Trump isn’t mentioned by name. That would be weird.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2026
*4.5 Stars*
Sacred Night by debut indie author Zara Castle is a paranormal why-choose NA romance that I scarfed down with reckless abandon. It’s “Small town trap” turned “Surprise! Magic and Fate are real! Pack your bags because classes start on Monday. P.S. You’re already behind, woefully unprepared, and will be at an academic, magical, social and financial disadvantage. Teehee.”
The bulk of this story takes place in an academy setting and contains bully elements. It unfolds from multiple POVs, which is helpful because every single one of the MMCs has a penchant for their own unique form of drama and emotional whiplash. To be fair, though — they’re each trotting around with a ridiculous amount of unpacked trauma while fielding external threats & pressure up the wazoo. I’d probably be a bit volatile, too, considering it doesn’t take much more than the brightness of an unexpected florescent light to make me snap.
Sacred Night is the first book in the Blood Will Reign series. I’m bracing myself for the emotional depth and darker themes that I detect on the horizon. I’m also crossing my fingers for monumentally epic groveling. I can’t wait to see Nyx step into her power and serve everyone a slice of humble pie.
Why-Choose paranormal romance fans of magical awakenings, unique & intricate magic systems, academy settings, supernatural species, Fate and bully romance with open door spice should add this to their TBR!
P.S. Nyx’s inner monologue was so good. The melancholy (especially in mirror scenes) was beautifully written. She also had hilarious moments with supremely top notch cultural references.
P.S.S. My humor betrayed me when I couldn’t stop picturing that scene from Dumb & Dumber every time Roth called Nyx “pretty bird”. Every. Single. Time.
Sacred Night by debut indie author Zara Castle is a paranormal why-choose NA romance that I scarfed down with reckless abandon. It’s “Small town trap” turned “Surprise! Magic and Fate are real! Pack your bags because classes start on Monday. P.S. You’re already behind, woefully unprepared, and will be at an academic, magical, social and financial disadvantage. Teehee.”
The bulk of this story takes place in an academy setting and contains bully elements. It unfolds from multiple POVs, which is helpful because every single one of the MMCs has a penchant for their own unique form of drama and emotional whiplash. To be fair, though — they’re each trotting around with a ridiculous amount of unpacked trauma while fielding external threats & pressure up the wazoo. I’d probably be a bit volatile, too, considering it doesn’t take much more than the brightness of an unexpected florescent light to make me snap.
Sacred Night is the first book in the Blood Will Reign series. I’m bracing myself for the emotional depth and darker themes that I detect on the horizon. I’m also crossing my fingers for monumentally epic groveling. I can’t wait to see Nyx step into her power and serve everyone a slice of humble pie.
Why-Choose paranormal romance fans of magical awakenings, unique & intricate magic systems, academy settings, supernatural species, Fate and bully romance with open door spice should add this to their TBR!
P.S. Nyx’s inner monologue was so good. The melancholy (especially in mirror scenes) was beautifully written. She also had hilarious moments with supremely top notch cultural references.
P.S.S. My humor betrayed me when I couldn’t stop picturing that scene from Dumb & Dumber every time Roth called Nyx “pretty bird”. Every. Single. Time.
August 11, 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!
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!
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!
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!
September 21, 2026
This one was 100% a mood read pick-up for me. I'm glad I started it though cause I loved it. Strong urge to make it 5 stars there were just some hangups for me but the vibes were there and I ate up this large book.
Nyx is our FMC who lives in a small, rough, going-nowhere town where nothing much happens… until two completely unfamiliar women show up and casually drop the whole “surprise, you’re a witch, magic is real, and you need to come with us” situation on her.
Nyx is understandably like… wtf, no.
She doesn’t exactly get a choice about entering the magical world, but she does get to choose between two schools, ultimately ending up at Darkhurst, a school for dark wielders tucked away in Maine, que the dark academy atmosphere. It gave me little pieces of other familiar reads but it definitely has its own feel, though, and I really enjoyed getting lost in this world.
We also have a whole collection of supernatural MMCs, which obviously didn’t hurt my interest.
The way the story unfolded didn’t feel rushed, and I liked getting to spend time with the characters and relationships.
That being said… I NEDEDED ANSWERS. 😂
There are quite a few info dumps throughout the book. I don’t mind learning about the magic and the world, but sometimes the explanations got a little too deep into the nitty gritty for me. I would have much rather had some of that information sprinkled throughout the story so we could spend more time on the things I actually wanted to know about. Like their relationships with each other, or the soul mates bond...because WHY introduce something that feels so important and then give me basically nothing about it?! 😭 By the end of this book I was genuinely frustrated that there were still so few answers.
I also really wanted to see more of Nyx's powers, there was a lot of telling about her learning them but not enouging showing. I felt like that side of the story could have been explored a lot more. There were little glimpses that had me wanting SO much more.
And the big test toward the end? Honestly… a little lackluster for me. I was expecting more.
Overall, the dark academy atmosphere, supernatural elements, and complicated relationships kept me hooked. The story pulled me in, and I really enjoyed watching everything unfold, even if I finished with approximately one million unanswered questions. 😂
I think that’s probably my biggest takeaway from book one: I am fully invested, but I need answers and more development in their relationships.
Nyx is our FMC who lives in a small, rough, going-nowhere town where nothing much happens… until two completely unfamiliar women show up and casually drop the whole “surprise, you’re a witch, magic is real, and you need to come with us” situation on her.
Nyx is understandably like… wtf, no.
She doesn’t exactly get a choice about entering the magical world, but she does get to choose between two schools, ultimately ending up at Darkhurst, a school for dark wielders tucked away in Maine, que the dark academy atmosphere. It gave me little pieces of other familiar reads but it definitely has its own feel, though, and I really enjoyed getting lost in this world.
We also have a whole collection of supernatural MMCs, which obviously didn’t hurt my interest.
The way the story unfolded didn’t feel rushed, and I liked getting to spend time with the characters and relationships.
That being said… I NEDEDED ANSWERS. 😂
There are quite a few info dumps throughout the book. I don’t mind learning about the magic and the world, but sometimes the explanations got a little too deep into the nitty gritty for me. I would have much rather had some of that information sprinkled throughout the story so we could spend more time on the things I actually wanted to know about. Like their relationships with each other, or the soul mates bond...because WHY introduce something that feels so important and then give me basically nothing about it?! 😭 By the end of this book I was genuinely frustrated that there were still so few answers.
I also really wanted to see more of Nyx's powers, there was a lot of telling about her learning them but not enouging showing. I felt like that side of the story could have been explored a lot more. There were little glimpses that had me wanting SO much more.
And the big test toward the end? Honestly… a little lackluster for me. I was expecting more.
Overall, the dark academy atmosphere, supernatural elements, and complicated relationships kept me hooked. The story pulled me in, and I really enjoyed watching everything unfold, even if I finished with approximately one million unanswered questions. 😂
I think that’s probably my biggest takeaway from book one: I am fully invested, but I need answers and more development in their relationships.
September 27, 2026
THIS WILL EASILY END OF BEING ONE OF MY TOP READS FOR 2026.
Book 2 comes out in December (hopefully) and the lack of chill that I will have until it ends up in my hot little hands, I apologize to the author in advance for how uncool I’m going to be.
Nyx has had a rough life, orphaned in a nowhere town, making ends meet as best she can, but still sometimes choosing to skip a meal in order to keep the lights on. Til shes recruited (let’s be real) kidnapped and told that shes a witch and she’s going to be enrolled in a paranormal equivalent of Ivy League school in order to learn her craft… that she never knew she had.
This world of witches and demons and shifters is controlled by ruling magical families that believe in producing the most powerful offspring, and it’s all a big grab for control as to who will end up on top.
We get:
- 6 MMCs
- fated mates
- bullies to enemies to lovers
- fantastic banter
- animal familiars
- delicious spice
- multi POV
The ending sets up so beautifully for the next book and I cannot wait to read more about these broken babies that have been THROUGH it and need to sort out their collective trauma to make it all work. Infinity stars.
Book 2 comes out in December (hopefully) and the lack of chill that I will have until it ends up in my hot little hands, I apologize to the author in advance for how uncool I’m going to be.
Nyx has had a rough life, orphaned in a nowhere town, making ends meet as best she can, but still sometimes choosing to skip a meal in order to keep the lights on. Til shes recruited (let’s be real) kidnapped and told that shes a witch and she’s going to be enrolled in a paranormal equivalent of Ivy League school in order to learn her craft… that she never knew she had.
This world of witches and demons and shifters is controlled by ruling magical families that believe in producing the most powerful offspring, and it’s all a big grab for control as to who will end up on top.
We get:
- 6 MMCs
- fated mates
- bullies to enemies to lovers
- fantastic banter
- animal familiars
- delicious spice
- multi POV
The ending sets up so beautifully for the next book and I cannot wait to read more about these broken babies that have been THROUGH it and need to sort out their collective trauma to make it all work. Infinity stars.
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.
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.
October 10, 2026
I really enjoyed the plot and pacing. The first chapter is hard to get through but still somehow hooked me. I did enjoy the book more the further I read. Some of my least favorite tropes with the bullying and yet somehow I kept reading it.
There is SA in it. And it is written like it is not SA so be warned. I’m really hoping it’s addressed eventually but I don’t think it is. It is very much in line with “she was asking for it.”
There is SA in it. And it is written like it is not SA so be warned. I’m really hoping it’s addressed eventually but I don’t think it is. It is very much in line with “she was asking for it.”
August 29, 2026
i’ll edit this when i have better words. right now all i can say is holy shit this might be my favorite book. i don’t give 5 stars often but zara, babe, you fucking did it.
August 30, 2026
WHY CHOOSE MUST READ!!
Very pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this and I am excited to read more.
It is definitely for fans of Bonds That Tie or Cursed Legacies. Academy, magic, forced proximity, world building, etc. I liked the unique aspects of the magic system, world building, and relationships.
I was unsure in the first few chapters but then I really became interested and eventually obsessed. I LOVE ROTH and want more of his backstory - his relationship with Thane was truly a highlight.
I think this is a great set-up for the series and I’m interested to see where the plot goes. I’m unsure where we are heading, but it drew me in so I will be reading the next when it comes out. This is definitely worth the hype of some other similar series.
Very pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this and I am excited to read more.
It is definitely for fans of Bonds That Tie or Cursed Legacies. Academy, magic, forced proximity, world building, etc. I liked the unique aspects of the magic system, world building, and relationships.
I was unsure in the first few chapters but then I really became interested and eventually obsessed. I LOVE ROTH and want more of his backstory - his relationship with Thane was truly a highlight.
I think this is a great set-up for the series and I’m interested to see where the plot goes. I’m unsure where we are heading, but it drew me in so I will be reading the next when it comes out. This is definitely worth the hype of some other similar series.
September 1, 2026
TL;DR: The guys are garbage. And I demand blood. 😅Read the full essay 👇🏾.
Sooooo, I inhaled Sacred Night with the exact same manic energy I had for Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee, but let’s get one thing straight: these MMCs aren’t "morally gray," they’re juvenile playground bullies and infuriating frauds. They posture about their suffocating power, yet let Mommy and Daddy push them around. Make it make sense.
Between the weird, convoluted poetic prose at the beginning that vanished into thin air, and underdeveloped side characters like Tori and Milo, my most glaring issue is the narrative inconsistencies with MMCs.
▿▿▿ 🐾
🩸🩸🩸
Which brings me to the inevitable groveling in the next installments. When authors write these harsh rejection tropes, they usually follow it up with some lame, hollow apologies and over-the-top romantic declarations. No thanks. I do not care about excuses wrapped up as "I had to be cruel to protect you" because the insults and trauma were real to Nyx.
My idea of groveling isn't a pathetic apology. Groveling without consequences is just begging, and I need retribution. An eye for an eye kind of unmaking. Until the scales are perfectly balanced and these guys face actual consequences for the mental damage they caused, I am holding a massive grudge.
🩸🩸🩸
Am I reading book 2 in March? Obviously. Serves me right for picking up an unfinished series.
Sooooo, I inhaled Sacred Night with the exact same manic energy I had for Blood Oath by Morgan B. Lee, but let’s get one thing straight: these MMCs aren’t "morally gray," they’re juvenile playground bullies and infuriating frauds. They posture about their suffocating power, yet let Mommy and Daddy push them around. Make it make sense.
Between the weird, convoluted poetic prose at the beginning that vanished into thin air, and underdeveloped side characters like Tori and Milo, my most glaring issue is the narrative inconsistencies with MMCs.
▿▿▿ 🐾
🩸🩸🩸
Which brings me to the inevitable groveling in the next installments. When authors write these harsh rejection tropes, they usually follow it up with some lame, hollow apologies and over-the-top romantic declarations. No thanks. I do not care about excuses wrapped up as "I had to be cruel to protect you" because the insults and trauma were real to Nyx.
My idea of groveling isn't a pathetic apology. Groveling without consequences is just begging, and I need retribution. An eye for an eye kind of unmaking. Until the scales are perfectly balanced and these guys face actual consequences for the mental damage they caused, I am holding a massive grudge.
🩸🩸🩸
Am I reading book 2 in March? Obviously. Serves me right for picking up an unfinished series.
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.
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.
August 27, 2026
A bit like Zodiac Academy from Temu if Darcy and Tory were one person and had multiple love interests. Killian is basically Seth and Caleb combined as well. And apparently, we also have a dragon shifter and vampire professor love interests. But it’s not bad.
Review of advance copy received from Author
love the banter and sass! I'm counting down till the 2nd book
Barely slept trying to devour this as fast as humanly possible
Barely slept trying to devour this as fast as humanly possible
May 25, 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
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.
September 25, 2026
Great Start—Now Give Me More Magic and Mayhem
This was a great first book, and I can absolutely see the potential for this series to become a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. The writing is strong and engaging, the characters are easy to get invested in, and there was enough intrigue throughout the story to keep me wanting to know what was really going on beneath the surface.
Nyx was incredibly relatable and easy to root for. She makes mistakes—especially when it comes to trusting the MMCs—but those mistakes felt believable rather than frustrating. As for the guys... they have some serious redeeming to do in book two. Right now, they're so focused on surviving their council-sitting parents and all the politics surrounding them that they can't seem to see beyond their own fear and self-preservation.
They've decided Nyx is either a threat or not worth their time, yet they keep coming back, playing hot and cold while doing some serious emotional damage along the way. Meanwhile, we're getting more and more hints that the power Nyx possesses could make her a serious asset to them if they would stop underestimating her long enough to actually recognize it. I have a feeling that particular mistake is eventually going to blow up spectacularly in their faces—and I am VERY much looking forward to it.
I also really enjoyed the breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story: little pieces of information about the world and its magic, the increasingly nefarious council members, the politics happening behind the scenes, and, of course, the academy's resident mean girls. Every new bit of scheming just made me more impatient for Nyx to finally come into her power and put some people firmly in their place.
My biggest hope for book two is that we get more. More detail about the world and its magic, more actual magic being used, and more action pushing the larger plot forward. I know we're going to circle back to that whole soulmate connection—and I definitely want to see where that goes—but I'm even more interested in seeing Nyx discover exactly what she's capable of.
Give our girl her confidence. Give her the answers she's been missing. Give her control over her power.
And then let her start kicking some serious butt.
A really promising start to the series, with plenty of room for the next book to turn this into a five-star series for me. I'm definitely continuing with book two.
This was a great first book, and I can absolutely see the potential for this series to become a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read for me. The writing is strong and engaging, the characters are easy to get invested in, and there was enough intrigue throughout the story to keep me wanting to know what was really going on beneath the surface.
Nyx was incredibly relatable and easy to root for. She makes mistakes—especially when it comes to trusting the MMCs—but those mistakes felt believable rather than frustrating. As for the guys... they have some serious redeeming to do in book two. Right now, they're so focused on surviving their council-sitting parents and all the politics surrounding them that they can't seem to see beyond their own fear and self-preservation.
They've decided Nyx is either a threat or not worth their time, yet they keep coming back, playing hot and cold while doing some serious emotional damage along the way. Meanwhile, we're getting more and more hints that the power Nyx possesses could make her a serious asset to them if they would stop underestimating her long enough to actually recognize it. I have a feeling that particular mistake is eventually going to blow up spectacularly in their faces—and I am VERY much looking forward to it.
I also really enjoyed the breadcrumbs scattered throughout the story: little pieces of information about the world and its magic, the increasingly nefarious council members, the politics happening behind the scenes, and, of course, the academy's resident mean girls. Every new bit of scheming just made me more impatient for Nyx to finally come into her power and put some people firmly in their place.
My biggest hope for book two is that we get more. More detail about the world and its magic, more actual magic being used, and more action pushing the larger plot forward. I know we're going to circle back to that whole soulmate connection—and I definitely want to see where that goes—but I'm even more interested in seeing Nyx discover exactly what she's capable of.
Give our girl her confidence. Give her the answers she's been missing. Give her control over her power.
And then let her start kicking some serious butt.
A really promising start to the series, with plenty of room for the next book to turn this into a five-star series for me. I'm definitely continuing with book two.
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.
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.
July 26, 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.
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.
September 5, 2026
4️⃣⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was so delicious that I finished it in one sitting and now I’m frothing at the mouth for part two.
If you want dark academia with elite banter and obsessive devotion, this is your book. The why choose element is perfection in this, with five distinctive MMCs that host a range of physicalities and emotional instabilities—it’s a feast for sure.
I can’t wait for the grovel that will come with the next part of the story.
A few caveats that prevented this from being a five-star read:
1) Editing; as in holy-shit-so-many-typos-and-punctuation-errors. There were some blatant spelling mistakes, missing words, and just a general untidiness that made me cringe.
2) Too many characters; I lost track about halfway through and decided to just let context rule my comprehension of the dialogue.
3) Modern references; aside from the multiple plot similarities, I could have done without the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings references. It kinda takes away from the otherworldly fantasy element.
4) AMARANTHA; just seems like a poor choice of name given the inevitable comparison it draws. To risk that judgement for a throwaway character seems naive.
5) Imbalanced POV; the fatal flaw of why-choose novels, because at running the risk of being TOO long, there’s just not enough time for everyone’s POV. This book however, could have benefited from better placement of those MMC chapters, especially after key events. Too often, one chapter ended and the next POV chapter went BACK in time to rehash the exact same event from another’s perspective. It messed with the flow of the story.
Otherwise, great book, had all the hooks I was craving and I can’t wait for the next!
This book was so delicious that I finished it in one sitting and now I’m frothing at the mouth for part two.
If you want dark academia with elite banter and obsessive devotion, this is your book. The why choose element is perfection in this, with five distinctive MMCs that host a range of physicalities and emotional instabilities—it’s a feast for sure.
I can’t wait for the grovel that will come with the next part of the story.
A few caveats that prevented this from being a five-star read:
1) Editing; as in holy-shit-so-many-typos-and-punctuation-errors. There were some blatant spelling mistakes, missing words, and just a general untidiness that made me cringe.
2) Too many characters; I lost track about halfway through and decided to just let context rule my comprehension of the dialogue.
3) Modern references; aside from the multiple plot similarities, I could have done without the Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings references. It kinda takes away from the otherworldly fantasy element.
4) AMARANTHA; just seems like a poor choice of name given the inevitable comparison it draws. To risk that judgement for a throwaway character seems naive.
5) Imbalanced POV; the fatal flaw of why-choose novels, because at running the risk of being TOO long, there’s just not enough time for everyone’s POV. This book however, could have benefited from better placement of those MMC chapters, especially after key events. Too often, one chapter ended and the next POV chapter went BACK in time to rehash the exact same event from another’s perspective. It messed with the flow of the story.
Otherwise, great book, had all the hooks I was craving and I can’t wait for the next!
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!
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!
September 8, 2026
2.5 🌶️
Um so this was fantastic. And severely underrated… 😲
This was a chonky book, and I honestly couldn’t put the book down!! My closest book comp that I can think of would be Zodiac Academy. If you enjoy ZA, but maybe want something a little darker - you need to pick this up!
It’s a bit of a slow-burn, especially for any romance, but it’s oh-so good! The tension is impeccable 👌🏻 And believe it or not, this book made me cry twice, which is a feat in itself…
Nyx is such an enjoyable FMC to read - I love her sarcasm and quick witted responses, as well as all her complexities. I can’t wait to keep reading and see where her story goes ❤️
Killian was a stand-out character for me, for obvious reasons. I have a feeling I know WTF happened with his character towards the end, but I’ll have to keep reading to have things confirmed, for sure!
Ramsey was also a stand-out for me, and I 100% know wtf happened to him to make him act the way he did. I have a sense! I love how complex his character is too, and I can’t wait for more from him.
Thane needs to cook a little bit more for me personally, as well as Luther. I’m sure they will have their moments in the upcoming book(s).
Roth… oh Roth… where do I even begin? He took a back seat for most of this book, I feel, and then—BAM his character got interesting again. I’m pretty sure his backstory will brutalize my heart… 💔
Overall, I highly recommend this hidden gem of a book! I can’t believe I have to wait until March for book two! Gah! Why do I always do this to myself???
Bravo Zara 👏🏻 That was 10/10!
Um so this was fantastic. And severely underrated… 😲
This was a chonky book, and I honestly couldn’t put the book down!! My closest book comp that I can think of would be Zodiac Academy. If you enjoy ZA, but maybe want something a little darker - you need to pick this up!
It’s a bit of a slow-burn, especially for any romance, but it’s oh-so good! The tension is impeccable 👌🏻 And believe it or not, this book made me cry twice, which is a feat in itself…
Nyx is such an enjoyable FMC to read - I love her sarcasm and quick witted responses, as well as all her complexities. I can’t wait to keep reading and see where her story goes ❤️
Killian was a stand-out character for me, for obvious reasons. I have a feeling I know WTF happened with his character towards the end, but I’ll have to keep reading to have things confirmed, for sure!
Ramsey was also a stand-out for me, and I 100% know wtf happened to him to make him act the way he did. I have a sense! I love how complex his character is too, and I can’t wait for more from him.
Thane needs to cook a little bit more for me personally, as well as Luther. I’m sure they will have their moments in the upcoming book(s).
Roth… oh Roth… where do I even begin? He took a back seat for most of this book, I feel, and then—BAM his character got interesting again. I’m pretty sure his backstory will brutalize my heart… 💔
Overall, I highly recommend this hidden gem of a book! I can’t believe I have to wait until March for book two! Gah! Why do I always do this to myself???
Bravo Zara 👏🏻 That was 10/10!
September 15, 2026
Oh man, did I ENJOY this book!!!!!! 10/10, will recommend to a friend.
Only after I took a breather after closing it, can I sit down and write something coherent (barely, but sure, let me think this is coherent, okay? Let me have this one.).
Things I loved:
🩸magical system
🩸banter
🩸where the story is going, albeit slowly
🩸all the main characters (incl. their backstories, even if some of them have done some asshole-y things - )
🩸how the POVs showed us the scene twice instead of just recounting it
🩸the banter
🩸the FMC is a character that reminds me of the FMC from my favorite comfort series, so maybe this will also become my favorite comfort series???
🩸did I say the banter?
🩸oh and how could I forget - the banter that had me cackling half the time (and the other half I was unfortunately stuck among other human beings at work or public transport, who would think me bat shit crazy if I just started randomly laughing)
Things I didn't enjoy as much:
🩸the info dumps at the beginning - I mean yeah it kinda worked, but still - this was the really boring part of the book which maybe could have been spread out more?
🩸could you believe that this book dared to only have like 600 pages? who does that?????
Midnight Bane being a December release is actually a Christmas miracle! ❤
Only after I took a breather after closing it, can I sit down and write something coherent (barely, but sure, let me think this is coherent, okay? Let me have this one.).
Things I loved:
🩸magical system
🩸banter
🩸where the story is going, albeit slowly
🩸all the main characters (incl. their backstories, even if some of them have done some asshole-y things - )
🩸how the POVs showed us the scene twice instead of just recounting it
🩸the banter
🩸the FMC is a character that reminds me of the FMC from my favorite comfort series, so maybe this will also become my favorite comfort series???
🩸did I say the banter?
🩸oh and how could I forget - the banter that had me cackling half the time (and the other half I was unfortunately stuck among other human beings at work or public transport, who would think me bat shit crazy if I just started randomly laughing)
Things I didn't enjoy as much:
🩸the info dumps at the beginning - I mean yeah it kinda worked, but still - this was the really boring part of the book which maybe could have been spread out more?
🩸could you believe that this book dared to only have like 600 pages? who does that?????
Midnight Bane being a December release is actually a Christmas miracle! ❤
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.
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.
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