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Played by the Piper #1
The Sweetest Fiend
Not yet published
Expected 22 Sep 26 It’s time to pay the Piper.
Our world cracked open like an egg. Power burst out, and with it, nine monstrous Banes ready to destroy everything. The powerful Core fae finally slayed them all, but each Bane left a Plague to punish us.
But that’s not the only thing they left behind.
I’m half Bane, half fae, and wholly hated. Survival means enduring every vicious glare and cursed outbreak. Until one day, a Plague descends upon my city that means certain death.
Then he comes. The Pied Piper.
He rids my city of the Plague, but it comes at a cost. One hundred and thirty people are taken as payment. Including me.
I don’t know what he’s going to do to us, but I know I have to get home. My family’s lives depend on it. But the Piper won’t let me go, and something wicked stirs between us. The sweet scent in my veins beckons him, while the seductive lure of his magic sinks under my skin.
I have to escape before it’s too late. Because if I don’t, it’s not just my heart at risk…
But the entire world.
Note: Pied Piper reimagined. This dark fantasy is full of romance and secrets, with mature themes and explicit scenes only suitable for adults. This is book one of a duology.
Our world cracked open like an egg. Power burst out, and with it, nine monstrous Banes ready to destroy everything. The powerful Core fae finally slayed them all, but each Bane left a Plague to punish us.
But that’s not the only thing they left behind.
I’m half Bane, half fae, and wholly hated. Survival means enduring every vicious glare and cursed outbreak. Until one day, a Plague descends upon my city that means certain death.
Then he comes. The Pied Piper.
He rids my city of the Plague, but it comes at a cost. One hundred and thirty people are taken as payment. Including me.
I don’t know what he’s going to do to us, but I know I have to get home. My family’s lives depend on it. But the Piper won’t let me go, and something wicked stirs between us. The sweet scent in my veins beckons him, while the seductive lure of his magic sinks under my skin.
I have to escape before it’s too late. Because if I don’t, it’s not just my heart at risk…
But the entire world.
Note: Pied Piper reimagined. This dark fantasy is full of romance and secrets, with mature themes and explicit scenes only suitable for adults. This is book one of a duology.
480 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication September 22, 2026
About the author
Raven Kennedy
47 books23.4k followersRAVEN KENNEDY is an international bestseller, whose love for books pushed her into creating her own worlds. The Plated Prisoner Series, a dark fantasy romance, has sold in over twenty countries. It became a New York Times, USA Today, Sunday Times, and Spiegel bestseller, hit #1 in the Amazon store, and has sold over six million copies worldwide.
Her newest book, The Sweetest Fiend, is the first of a duology and will be released in September 2026. You can connect with Raven on her social media, and visit her website for more info.
Her newest book, The Sweetest Fiend, is the first of a duology and will be released in September 2026. You can connect with Raven on her social media, and visit her website for more info.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 518 reviews
August 17, 2026
Me reading the Sweetest Fiend:
If I could rate this book infinity stars, I would. ✨
Was I worried that Raven Kennedy wouldn’t be able to live up to the perfection that was The Plated Prisoner series, one of my favourite romantasy series? Absolutely. But honestly, within the first few chapters, I knew this was going to be a 5-star read.
This book gave me the exact same feeling I had when I was reading Gleam (book 3 of the PP series). IYKYK. There was just something about the story, the characters… I was HOOKED.
The world-building was phenomenal. It was woven into the story so seamlessly that I never once felt overwhelmed with information.
Now the characters, where do I even begin?
Esti was such a strong FMC to lead this book, and I was rooting for her the entire time.
And… the Pied Piper. *smirks*
That is all.
It is only fair that you meet that man yourself because this was me every single time he spoke:
Honestly, I don’t want to spoil anything because I absolutely loved going into this book with no idea what to expect and I would genuinely recommend doing the same.
The ONLY thing I will add is the banter. 11/10. No notes.
The push and pull between these characters was top-tier Raven Kennedy. The tension, the little moments, I ATE it all up. And even the side characters brought that extra comedic relief you need.
Overall, I loved this book. I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY.
And if you’re a Plated Prisoner fan… just read it. You’re welcome.
If I could rate this book infinity stars, I would. ✨
Was I worried that Raven Kennedy wouldn’t be able to live up to the perfection that was The Plated Prisoner series, one of my favourite romantasy series? Absolutely. But honestly, within the first few chapters, I knew this was going to be a 5-star read.
This book gave me the exact same feeling I had when I was reading Gleam (book 3 of the PP series). IYKYK. There was just something about the story, the characters… I was HOOKED.
The world-building was phenomenal. It was woven into the story so seamlessly that I never once felt overwhelmed with information.
Now the characters, where do I even begin?
Esti was such a strong FMC to lead this book, and I was rooting for her the entire time.
And… the Pied Piper. *smirks*
That is all.
It is only fair that you meet that man yourself because this was me every single time he spoke:
Honestly, I don’t want to spoil anything because I absolutely loved going into this book with no idea what to expect and I would genuinely recommend doing the same.
The ONLY thing I will add is the banter. 11/10. No notes.
The push and pull between these characters was top-tier Raven Kennedy. The tension, the little moments, I ATE it all up. And even the side characters brought that extra comedic relief you need.
Overall, I loved this book. I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY.
And if you’re a Plated Prisoner fan… just read it. You’re welcome.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
”𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒗𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕,” 𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒆𝒕𝒍𝒚.
𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘 𝒊𝒏. “𝑹𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?”
“𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚.”
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
i keep going back & forth on what i wanted to rate this book. the beginning was SO STRONG, i loved how stoic and intimidating Varrik was, i also loved the world building and how unique it all was. the tone was dark, with the different plagues and the struggle to survive.
all my issues started in the second half of the book, where everything went off the rails for the romance. Esti had always been mistrusting of Varrik, which was understandable but there wasn’t a smooth transition from “enemies to lovers” with them. it was a strange mix of lusty infatuation, although you could argue the romance itself was more of a slow burn? idk. it was actually quite jarring, especially since Varrik’s personality switched all over the place a million times.
i was getting 2nd hand embarrassment from how intense he was & all his corny innuendos, i liked him a lot more when he was broody & silent. Esti had been mistreated all her life for what she is, so her impulsivity and anger made sense to me. i just felt that she suddenly became more whiny as the book went on.
the plot had so much potential, but after a while we get random domestic moments with the characters.. instead of the urgency that they started the book with. i hope we get more of Conrad though, his personality was like a shining beacon when things got dull. the cliffhanger did make me curious to read the next one, but even then the decisions felt drastic there too.
➷ many thanks to NetGalley, the author, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
𝑴𝒚 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒔 𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒘 𝒊𝒏. “𝑹𝒆𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕?”
“𝑩𝒆𝒂𝒖𝒕𝒚.”
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒍𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖.”
i keep going back & forth on what i wanted to rate this book. the beginning was SO STRONG, i loved how stoic and intimidating Varrik was, i also loved the world building and how unique it all was. the tone was dark, with the different plagues and the struggle to survive.
all my issues started in the second half of the book, where everything went off the rails for the romance. Esti had always been mistrusting of Varrik, which was understandable but there wasn’t a smooth transition from “enemies to lovers” with them. it was a strange mix of lusty infatuation, although you could argue the romance itself was more of a slow burn? idk. it was actually quite jarring, especially since Varrik’s personality switched all over the place a million times.
i was getting 2nd hand embarrassment from how intense he was & all his corny innuendos, i liked him a lot more when he was broody & silent. Esti had been mistreated all her life for what she is, so her impulsivity and anger made sense to me. i just felt that she suddenly became more whiny as the book went on.
the plot had so much potential, but after a while we get random domestic moments with the characters.. instead of the urgency that they started the book with. i hope we get more of Conrad though, his personality was like a shining beacon when things got dull. the cliffhanger did make me curious to read the next one, but even then the decisions felt drastic there too.
➷ many thanks to NetGalley, the author, Avon and Harper Voyager for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.25 stars! will be back with a review but ate this UP!
Raven Kennedy... you are so sick for this.
I've said this before, but it's been really special watching her writing evolve from series to series. I've mostly read her longer works, and this genuinely feels like some of her strongest writing yet.
The prologue had me hooked immediately. It delivers so much lore and world-building without ever feeling overwhelming, and somehow it even had me a little emotional? It set the tone perfectly and made me immediately invested. I cared about this world before the story had even really started, which is honestly hard to do.
I also loved how the beginning was paced. It never felt rushed, but there also wasn't a single point where I was waiting for something to happen. Every chapter gave you a little more of the world, a little more of the characters, and just enough answers to keep you turning the page.
And the back and forth??
Esti and the Piper are both so unbelievably stubborn that every interaction feels like neither of them is willing to blink first. The banter was so much fun, the tension kept building, and watching two equally determined people slowly become something more was one of my favorite parts of the book. We love a rat man and a girl who sparkles tbh.
Also... only Raven Kennedy could take The Pied Piper and somehow make me want him?? A man running around playing a recorder, commanding rats, making pipe jokes should not work.
...and yet here we are.
There was one line pretty early on that immediately made me stop and think, "...Raven, don't you dare." If you've read her books before, you know exactly what I mean. She loves planting little breadcrumbs that don't seem important until they emotionally hurt your feelings later.
Turns out my instincts were right.
Now I need book two.
If I had one critique, I do wish the romance had just a little more room to breathe. Since I've mostly read Raven's longer series, I'm used to those relationships taking longer to unfold. But knowing this is a duology—and especially after that ending—it actually makes complete sense why the relationship develops the way it does.
One thing I'll always appreciate about Raven is that no one else is coming up with ideas like this. She doesn't just retell a fairytale—she completely reinvents it. Her writing can be beautiful one page, hilarious the next, and then have you anxious five pages later.
If you want a romantasy with banter, unique world-building, a fresh magic system, a morally questionable rat man you somehow end up rooting for... and an ending that's going to make you immediately ask when book two comes out...
...I'd absolutely recommend this one.
Raven Kennedy... you are so sick for this.
I've said this before, but it's been really special watching her writing evolve from series to series. I've mostly read her longer works, and this genuinely feels like some of her strongest writing yet.
The prologue had me hooked immediately. It delivers so much lore and world-building without ever feeling overwhelming, and somehow it even had me a little emotional? It set the tone perfectly and made me immediately invested. I cared about this world before the story had even really started, which is honestly hard to do.
I also loved how the beginning was paced. It never felt rushed, but there also wasn't a single point where I was waiting for something to happen. Every chapter gave you a little more of the world, a little more of the characters, and just enough answers to keep you turning the page.
And the back and forth??
Esti and the Piper are both so unbelievably stubborn that every interaction feels like neither of them is willing to blink first. The banter was so much fun, the tension kept building, and watching two equally determined people slowly become something more was one of my favorite parts of the book. We love a rat man and a girl who sparkles tbh.
Also... only Raven Kennedy could take The Pied Piper and somehow make me want him?? A man running around playing a recorder, commanding rats, making pipe jokes should not work.
...and yet here we are.
There was one line pretty early on that immediately made me stop and think, "...Raven, don't you dare." If you've read her books before, you know exactly what I mean. She loves planting little breadcrumbs that don't seem important until they emotionally hurt your feelings later.
Turns out my instincts were right.
Now I need book two.
If I had one critique, I do wish the romance had just a little more room to breathe. Since I've mostly read Raven's longer series, I'm used to those relationships taking longer to unfold. But knowing this is a duology—and especially after that ending—it actually makes complete sense why the relationship develops the way it does.
One thing I'll always appreciate about Raven is that no one else is coming up with ideas like this. She doesn't just retell a fairytale—she completely reinvents it. Her writing can be beautiful one page, hilarious the next, and then have you anxious five pages later.
If you want a romantasy with banter, unique world-building, a fresh magic system, a morally questionable rat man you somehow end up rooting for... and an ending that's going to make you immediately ask when book two comes out...
...I'd absolutely recommend this one.
July 31, 2026
4 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“You infuriate me, Piper.”
“You enrapture me, blight.”
Once again! Raven Kennedy delivers a unique loose reimagining in The Sweetest Fiend that lures you into its sinful melody and unfolds a decadent slowburn.
Set in a world marked by a devastating tragedy when terror ruptured from the earth and left its blight upon cities and their people, Esti is one of the many victims forced to carry the burden and shame of that terror—as she is a "Fiend", half-Fae and half-Bane, the living reminder that the monstrous Banes have not only left deadly plagues but also a tainted offspring.
Among the many cities tormented by plagues for years, Esti's city is faced with an even greater threat that is poised to bring nothing but further rot and ruin.
That is until a Pied Piper emerges and lulls the devastated city with his piercing music, and he ensnares its people, including Esti, within the eerie notes of his melody.
The question remains: is the Pied Piper meant to be an omen of salvation or damnation?
Reading through the perspective of a heroine forced to navigate a world that views her as an abomination and expects her to endure being treated as lesser, it just fills my heart with so much sorrow for Esti.
But even with fractured trust and living among a community that relentlessly rejects her and other Fiends, she remains remarkably resilient in the face of it all.
Raven excels at crafting unique lore and atmospheric world-building, the rot and ruin felt quite tangible to me. I can feel the dread and despair pound within every page.
As for the romance... it's a decadent yet scalding slowburn with tension stretched so taut it could have snapped and struck me.
Neither Esti nor the reader have any choice but surrender to the Piper's sinful allure and dangerous charm.
This is the first installment in a duology and I will be waiting with bated breath for the second one!
Thank you to HarperCollins/Avon Books for offering me an eARC in exchange for a review. Always grateful for such opportunity!
“You infuriate me, Piper.”
“You enrapture me, blight.”
Once again! Raven Kennedy delivers a unique loose reimagining in The Sweetest Fiend that lures you into its sinful melody and unfolds a decadent slowburn.
Set in a world marked by a devastating tragedy when terror ruptured from the earth and left its blight upon cities and their people, Esti is one of the many victims forced to carry the burden and shame of that terror—as she is a "Fiend", half-Fae and half-Bane, the living reminder that the monstrous Banes have not only left deadly plagues but also a tainted offspring.
Among the many cities tormented by plagues for years, Esti's city is faced with an even greater threat that is poised to bring nothing but further rot and ruin.
That is until a Pied Piper emerges and lulls the devastated city with his piercing music, and he ensnares its people, including Esti, within the eerie notes of his melody.
The question remains: is the Pied Piper meant to be an omen of salvation or damnation?
Reading through the perspective of a heroine forced to navigate a world that views her as an abomination and expects her to endure being treated as lesser, it just fills my heart with so much sorrow for Esti.
But even with fractured trust and living among a community that relentlessly rejects her and other Fiends, she remains remarkably resilient in the face of it all.
Raven excels at crafting unique lore and atmospheric world-building, the rot and ruin felt quite tangible to me. I can feel the dread and despair pound within every page.
As for the romance... it's a decadent yet scalding slowburn with tension stretched so taut it could have snapped and struck me.
Neither Esti nor the reader have any choice but surrender to the Piper's sinful allure and dangerous charm.
This is the first installment in a duology and I will be waiting with bated breath for the second one!
Thank you to HarperCollins/Avon Books for offering me an eARC in exchange for a review. Always grateful for such opportunity!
August 9, 2026
Thank you to Avon/Harper Collins for the ARC. I’m calling it, everyone is going to eat this up. This was refreshing. The magic system in this book is so unique and actually interesting which (in my opinion) is lacking in newer romantasy books. The world-building is a lot at times, but it’s not too dense and the lore is sprinkled throughout. It’s a lot more romance-forward than I was expecting, but I ended up having a lot of fun with it. I will NEVER see the Pied Piper the same again and I’m not mad about it at all. I enjoyed the ensemble of characters especially Aunt Lenna. I think it was adequately paced even if it is somehow equal parts insta-love and slow burn. The story itself is also great even though it ends on a brutal cliffhanger. The only thing that kept it from being 5 stars is the language used between the two main characters. It felt too modern and out of place which took me out of the story several times. Also, the one-liners were ridiculous. BUT DON’T WORRY, I CAN LOOK PAST IT. CAN’T WAIT FOR BOOK #2.
September 7, 2026
If you are looking for an audiobook rec, this is it. The audiobook is incredible. Especially loved the piper music element to it.
Raven has created such a cool fantasy with a piper and plagues and poison and rats 🐀 GIVE US MORE. This book had me hooked from the get go and the ending has just left me wanting so much more of this series 😍
Raven has created such a cool fantasy with a piper and plagues and poison and rats 🐀 GIVE US MORE. This book had me hooked from the get go and the ending has just left me wanting so much more of this series 😍
September 1, 2026
queen raven never misses!!! i knew i would love this after devouring the plated prisoner series.
the sweetest fiend was a complete breath of fresh air!!
this book was so fast paced i nearly read the whole thing in one sitting. i was completely immersed from page one and that’s because of how captivating raven’s writing is.
i absolutely loved esti from the beginning and was rooting for her the entire time.
the pied piper? SIR. he is so cheeky and flirty and i was obsessed with the banter between him and esti, he had me laughing so much!
”you’re irritating.”
“i’ll get you a salve.” looooool.
i also love that we got to see a more vulnerable side to him too.
”i’m glad i found you.”
“i’m glad you found me too.” 🥹
the ending had me GAGGED i was not expecting that at all and i am now desperate for book 2.
thank you so much to penguin michael joseph for an early review copy!!
also just to note that i’ve seen a couple of reviews complain that it didn’t feel like enemies to lovers, that’s because raven didn’t market it as that!! enemies to lovers isn’t a trope for this book. not every romantasy has to be enemies to lovers to be done well, pls🙄🙄🙄
the sweetest fiend was a complete breath of fresh air!!
this book was so fast paced i nearly read the whole thing in one sitting. i was completely immersed from page one and that’s because of how captivating raven’s writing is.
i absolutely loved esti from the beginning and was rooting for her the entire time.
the pied piper? SIR. he is so cheeky and flirty and i was obsessed with the banter between him and esti, he had me laughing so much!
”you’re irritating.”
“i’ll get you a salve.” looooool.
i also love that we got to see a more vulnerable side to him too.
”i’m glad i found you.”
“i’m glad you found me too.” 🥹
the ending had me GAGGED i was not expecting that at all and i am now desperate for book 2.
thank you so much to penguin michael joseph for an early review copy!!
also just to note that i’ve seen a couple of reviews complain that it didn’t feel like enemies to lovers, that’s because raven didn’t market it as that!! enemies to lovers isn’t a trope for this book. not every romantasy has to be enemies to lovers to be done well, pls🙄🙄🙄
June 23, 2026
"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒕𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝑷𝒊𝒑𝒆𝒓."
"𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕."
Have you ever wondered what would happen after a magical apocalyptic event? Well, get your bug zappers ready! And get ready to pay (your next book boyfriend) The Pied Piper!
“𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒑𝒊𝒑𝒆.” 😁🫣😂
The Sweetest Fiend by Raven Kennedy has been my most anticipated read of 2026 ever since it was first announced. I’m a huge fan of the Plated Prisoner series, and I still can’t believe I was lucky enough to get an eARC. (Thank you so much Raven Kennedy and Avon Books!)
I became engrossed and enamored with this world IMMEDIATELY. I love Raven Kennedy’s world building, and The Sweetest Fiend world is no exception. Without saying too much for spoilers I loved all of the characters, secrets, and plot twists and turns in this book (and that ending! 😮) - I can’t wait to find out what fate awaits Esti and the Piper in the next book.
For now, my biggest problem is which edition of The Sweetest Fiend I’ll choose to buy (or how many haha)!
🗯️So which edition are you buying of The Sweetest Fiend? Asking for a friend. 👀
Hell yeah. Raven Kennedy is back. Full review coming soon, but you’re going to want to add this one to your TBR!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book gave me so many conflicting feelings. Overall, the world building was very incredible, so unique! This aspect was by far my most favorite part.
The romance is where this book was lacking for me. It happened so fast, and it kind of comes out of nowhere. I wish this was not a duology so we could let this story cook longer. The premise is so good, and the Pied Piper story is SO INTRIGUING!!
Most things in this were really cool/so unique but it just felt a tad rushed.
HOWEVER- the premise was still so good, and in true Raven Kennedy fashion, the plot twist at the end was a doozy! I still really enjoyed this, and I cannot wait to get the second half of this story, because there’s a lot to recover from.
4 stars ⭐️
The romance is where this book was lacking for me. It happened so fast, and it kind of comes out of nowhere. I wish this was not a duology so we could let this story cook longer. The premise is so good, and the Pied Piper story is SO INTRIGUING!!
Most things in this were really cool/so unique but it just felt a tad rushed.
HOWEVER- the premise was still so good, and in true Raven Kennedy fashion, the plot twist at the end was a doozy! I still really enjoyed this, and I cannot wait to get the second half of this story, because there’s a lot to recover from.
4 stars ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Excuse me @ravenkennedybooks the banter! The Banter! I highlighted so many great lines and innuendos.
Our FMC is feisty and is not happy that she’s been “collected” by the Piper. Our MMC is broody and mysterious. There’s unique magic plus all the Romantasy vibes we love.
I don’t want to give away too much but just know that I’m FUMING at the ending. 😤
The special editions are amazing so definitely don’t skip on preorders if one of them catches your eye.
The Sweetest Fiend is out September 22 2026
Thank you to @avonbooks and @netgalley for my advanced reader copy! I devoured it and can’t wait for everyone to get their hands, ears and eyes on this new duology Played by the Piper from the author of The Played Prisoner Series.
Our FMC is feisty and is not happy that she’s been “collected” by the Piper. Our MMC is broody and mysterious. There’s unique magic plus all the Romantasy vibes we love.
I don’t want to give away too much but just know that I’m FUMING at the ending. 😤
The special editions are amazing so definitely don’t skip on preorders if one of them catches your eye.
The Sweetest Fiend is out September 22 2026
Thank you to @avonbooks and @netgalley for my advanced reader copy! I devoured it and can’t wait for everyone to get their hands, ears and eyes on this new duology Played by the Piper from the author of The Played Prisoner Series.
Want to Read
March 10, 2026Love her writing! So looking forward to this new duology! 💞
Want to Read
February 20, 2026Wow, now that’s news — we’re really looking forward to it
July 25, 2026
If you going to focused more on romance than plot why don’t make romance better. To say this was disappointing to me would be understatement.
July 12, 2026
I don’t know if I have the appropriate words to express my thoughts after finishing this book.
The ending just gutted me. I didn’t see any of that coming. I didn’t expect that to happen. I am not well.
I started this book in the midst of a horrible reading slump. Then, it took me a really long time to get through this book because the slump was weighing me down. I would just read a chapter or two at a time each day, slowly hitting 50% of the book. And then something just clicked at the second half of the book, and I read it all in one day. I don’t want to say it pulled me out of the slump, but it definitely drew me in to the point that I flew through the second half.
In terms of the romance, genuinely almost made me drop my star rating. To me, it felt very insta lust, and I was so scared we were going to fall into insta love territory. But ~certain events~ that take place at the end completely redeemed the romance for me. We definitely will be going in to book two with a new romance dynamic, and I know it’s going to be so good compared to book one. There wasn’t anything wrong with the romance by any means, it just didn’t quite match what I needed in my mood.
Now the plot is what is absolutely addicting in this book. Everything about it is so unique and unexpected. The story is so cool and not like anything I’ve read. Each time I thought I knew where the story was going, I was thrown through a loop. There’s two big twists that I really wasn’t expecting, one being at the end and one being around 50%. I really had a great time seeing the story unfold, learn more about the world, and see the dynamics between the characters play out.
Now back to the ending, wow. The ending cemented my desire to read book two. I was obviously going to read book two no matter what because it’s Raven Kennedy we’re talking about here, but the end left my jaw on the floor.
Some tropes in the story:
-captive x captor
-magical bonds
-hate to lust
-secret identities
-apocalyptic world
-forced proximity
Thank you so much to Avon Books for both a physical galley and an eARC of this book, and NetGalley for hosting the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.
The ending just gutted me. I didn’t see any of that coming. I didn’t expect that to happen. I am not well.
I started this book in the midst of a horrible reading slump. Then, it took me a really long time to get through this book because the slump was weighing me down. I would just read a chapter or two at a time each day, slowly hitting 50% of the book. And then something just clicked at the second half of the book, and I read it all in one day. I don’t want to say it pulled me out of the slump, but it definitely drew me in to the point that I flew through the second half.
In terms of the romance, genuinely almost made me drop my star rating. To me, it felt very insta lust, and I was so scared we were going to fall into insta love territory. But ~certain events~ that take place at the end completely redeemed the romance for me. We definitely will be going in to book two with a new romance dynamic, and I know it’s going to be so good compared to book one. There wasn’t anything wrong with the romance by any means, it just didn’t quite match what I needed in my mood.
Now the plot is what is absolutely addicting in this book. Everything about it is so unique and unexpected. The story is so cool and not like anything I’ve read. Each time I thought I knew where the story was going, I was thrown through a loop. There’s two big twists that I really wasn’t expecting, one being at the end and one being around 50%. I really had a great time seeing the story unfold, learn more about the world, and see the dynamics between the characters play out.
Now back to the ending, wow. The ending cemented my desire to read book two. I was obviously going to read book two no matter what because it’s Raven Kennedy we’re talking about here, but the end left my jaw on the floor.
Some tropes in the story:
-captive x captor
-magical bonds
-hate to lust
-secret identities
-apocalyptic world
-forced proximity
Thank you so much to Avon Books for both a physical galley and an eARC of this book, and NetGalley for hosting the eARC, in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you Avon + Harper Collins/Epic Tastemakers for the e-arc 🫶
💭: I loved this one! I was hooked from the prologue and I couldn’t put it down. The whole concept for the story was just so interesting. I liked learning about the different plagues that were wreaking havoc on the cities. The hierarchy in society was also interesting, with the Core Fae, fae, and fiends. The story behind how the Core Fae got their power was so unique! I really liked the FMC. She’s feisty and witty and loves her family dearly. I also thought one of her abilities was really cool! And wow, the Piper! I think I’ve found a new fav MMC. The banter was sooo well done in this book! I love a one tent/one horse trope and this book has both. He’ll have you swooning. I loved the ending and I cannot wait for the conclusion in book 2!
💭: I loved this one! I was hooked from the prologue and I couldn’t put it down. The whole concept for the story was just so interesting. I liked learning about the different plagues that were wreaking havoc on the cities. The hierarchy in society was also interesting, with the Core Fae, fae, and fiends. The story behind how the Core Fae got their power was so unique! I really liked the FMC. She’s feisty and witty and loves her family dearly. I also thought one of her abilities was really cool! And wow, the Piper! I think I’ve found a new fav MMC. The banter was sooo well done in this book! I love a one tent/one horse trope and this book has both. He’ll have you swooning. I loved the ending and I cannot wait for the conclusion in book 2!
July 3, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 | 🌶️.5
(ARC review) | Release date: September 22nd, 2026 ✨
“Friend or foe. Fiend or fae.” 👀
we love a man who can both play pipe + lay pipe 😏🪈
Featuring:
🙋🏻♀️ Single POV
🖤 Incomplete dark romantasy
🪈 Pied Piper re-telling with a twist
🌎 World ridden with plagues
🪢 Group kidnapping
🗣️ Top tier banter
☄️ Forced proximity
⛓️ Captive x captor romance
🤯 Plot twist / cliffhanger ending
In terms of the romance/spice - low on the scale! open door later in the story. the romance though? so good! captor x captive, with banter actually made me LOL.
Overall, Raven Kennedy is BACK!
the pied piper but hot? absolutely incredible. Raven Kennedy has such a gift for putting a creative twist on a retelling. from the very prologue I was hooked. between the complex characters, the hilarious banter, the poetic writing, and the dark + gritty setting… it was just fantastic. THIS is the kind of story that’ll live rent free in my head for the foreseeable future.
would I recommend? 1000% yes! but review trigger warnings first!
will I be reading the next book in the series? for sure!! literally NEED to know what’s next!
TLDR; book 1 of an incomplete romantasy duology, based upon ‘The Pied Piper’. post-apocalyptic world, group kidnapping, and hilarious banter. would DEFINITELY recommend!
HUGE thank you to Avon + NetGalley for the eARC! all thoughts and opinions are my own ✨
Series Rating:
- The Sweetest Fiend: 4.5⭐️, 1.5🌶️
(ARC review) | Release date: September 22nd, 2026 ✨
“Friend or foe. Fiend or fae.” 👀
we love a man who can both play pipe + lay pipe 😏🪈
Featuring:
🙋🏻♀️ Single POV
🖤 Incomplete dark romantasy
🪈 Pied Piper re-telling with a twist
🌎 World ridden with plagues
🪢 Group kidnapping
🗣️ Top tier banter
☄️ Forced proximity
⛓️ Captive x captor romance
🤯 Plot twist / cliffhanger ending
In terms of the romance/spice - low on the scale! open door later in the story. the romance though? so good! captor x captive, with banter actually made me LOL.
Overall, Raven Kennedy is BACK!
the pied piper but hot? absolutely incredible. Raven Kennedy has such a gift for putting a creative twist on a retelling. from the very prologue I was hooked. between the complex characters, the hilarious banter, the poetic writing, and the dark + gritty setting… it was just fantastic. THIS is the kind of story that’ll live rent free in my head for the foreseeable future.
would I recommend? 1000% yes! but review trigger warnings first!
will I be reading the next book in the series? for sure!! literally NEED to know what’s next!
TLDR; book 1 of an incomplete romantasy duology, based upon ‘The Pied Piper’. post-apocalyptic world, group kidnapping, and hilarious banter. would DEFINITELY recommend!
HUGE thank you to Avon + NetGalley for the eARC! all thoughts and opinions are my own ✨
Series Rating:
- The Sweetest Fiend: 4.5⭐️, 1.5🌶️
September 14, 2026
A new dark romantasy from Raven inspired by the Pied Piper folktale? Yeah I ate this UP. I’m somewhere between 3.5 and 4⭐️ for this one because I loved some things and thought others could be better.
Blurb:
Thirty years ago when the world cracked open, molten power poured across the realm, releasing nine monstrous Banes along with it. The fae who survived the cataclysm were granted special magic. These powerful abilities enabled them to defeat the Banes once and for all. But for each defeated Bane, one deadly plague was left behind, and so began the onslaught of the nine plagues.
Our FMC Esti is a fiend - half fae and half bane. Being part Bane means you’re hated and even blamed for the havoc the plagues have wreaked and the lives they’ve taken. When Esti’s city is suddenly bombarded with plagues, it seems all hope is lost and the city will be overtaken… until the legendary Pied Piper comes to their aid. But the Piper’s help comes at an unexpected cost and when he comes to collect, she finds herself handed over as payment.
Overall, I enjoyed this one but I think it’s important to mention that this is 1) very romance-forward and 2) has a lot of your typical romantasy tropes. The magic was fresh, the world building easily digestible, but the fantasy plot is more brewing in the background while the captive romance takes center stage.
That being said, the romance in this was PIPING HOT😮💨 (pun intended). The banter had me biting my fist, kicking my feet, grinning like a fool, you name it. Were there one too many pipe innuendos? Sure. While the banter could’ve been less redundant, I loved how our MCs knew how to push each other’s buttons and constantly rage-baited each other, creating the thickest tension. Raven is truly adept in the art of writing a steamy romance where the tension is so palpable. I do wish this had been a slower burn though, especially considering the fact that this is a captive romance.
I loved our FMC Esti - she’s kind, gracious, sweet, gentle-hearted. Our MMC was the perfect blend of dark, brooding, grumpy, and protective. He literally reminded me of that Josh Gad meme where he’s screaming “I’m trying to SAVE the WORLD from ANNIHILATION”. But my favorite character of this book BY FAR, was Conrad. Please give us more of him in book 2, I beg🧎🏻♀️
Now, the bomb dropped at the end I did not see coming and I’ll definitely be picking up book 2 for some answers. And if you were wondering, yes, this does indeed end on a massive cliffhanger.
Thank you so much to Avon for the ARC🫶🏼This one releases September 22nd, so mark your calendars all you dark romantasy lovers!!
What you’ll find:
✨captive romance
🎵banter & tension
✨fae & dark magic
🎵”who hurt you”
✨forced proximity
🎵only one horse/tent
Blurb:
Thirty years ago when the world cracked open, molten power poured across the realm, releasing nine monstrous Banes along with it. The fae who survived the cataclysm were granted special magic. These powerful abilities enabled them to defeat the Banes once and for all. But for each defeated Bane, one deadly plague was left behind, and so began the onslaught of the nine plagues.
Our FMC Esti is a fiend - half fae and half bane. Being part Bane means you’re hated and even blamed for the havoc the plagues have wreaked and the lives they’ve taken. When Esti’s city is suddenly bombarded with plagues, it seems all hope is lost and the city will be overtaken… until the legendary Pied Piper comes to their aid. But the Piper’s help comes at an unexpected cost and when he comes to collect, she finds herself handed over as payment.
Overall, I enjoyed this one but I think it’s important to mention that this is 1) very romance-forward and 2) has a lot of your typical romantasy tropes. The magic was fresh, the world building easily digestible, but the fantasy plot is more brewing in the background while the captive romance takes center stage.
That being said, the romance in this was PIPING HOT😮💨 (pun intended). The banter had me biting my fist, kicking my feet, grinning like a fool, you name it. Were there one too many pipe innuendos? Sure. While the banter could’ve been less redundant, I loved how our MCs knew how to push each other’s buttons and constantly rage-baited each other, creating the thickest tension. Raven is truly adept in the art of writing a steamy romance where the tension is so palpable. I do wish this had been a slower burn though, especially considering the fact that this is a captive romance.
I loved our FMC Esti - she’s kind, gracious, sweet, gentle-hearted. Our MMC was the perfect blend of dark, brooding, grumpy, and protective. He literally reminded me of that Josh Gad meme where he’s screaming “I’m trying to SAVE the WORLD from ANNIHILATION”. But my favorite character of this book BY FAR, was Conrad. Please give us more of him in book 2, I beg🧎🏻♀️
Now, the bomb dropped at the end I did not see coming and I’ll definitely be picking up book 2 for some answers. And if you were wondering, yes, this does indeed end on a massive cliffhanger.
Thank you so much to Avon for the ARC🫶🏼This one releases September 22nd, so mark your calendars all you dark romantasy lovers!!
What you’ll find:
✨captive romance
🎵banter & tension
✨fae & dark magic
🎵”who hurt you”
✨forced proximity
🎵only one horse/tent
August 25, 2026
This was the most addictive story I’ve read in a LONG time. It’s so bingeable, and I can already feel the book hangover setting in. This is a cancel your weekend plans kind of book.
This reads like a dark dystopian fairy tale, and I was so intrigued from the beginning. It’s dark, gritty, and somehow still manages to be a romantic love story about hope, connection, and saving the world? The genre crossing REALLY did it for me.
And I have to talk about how UNIQUE this story is because I genuinely don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it:
• Pied Piper retelling? Never heard of that before 🪈
• Rat man is sexy this time. Trust me. 😂
• Horned FMC 😈
• Fae magic originating from an apocalyptic event 🌎💥
• Unique types of magic (see point one 👀)
• NINE different plagues being central to the story
We start with our FMC being a working girly doing everything she can for her family while trying to survive a world that is literally tearing itself apart. Then she, and several hundred others from her city, are taken by the mysterious Pied Piper, and we have NO idea why.
And I could NOT put this down until I knew what was up with this guy. He is textbook morally grey, and the tension and banter between them had me laughing out loud. While she’s captive, I went through ALL the emotions. I was angry for her, devastated for her, and still…completely invested in the tension between them.
I also really loved her as a character. She’s incredibly resilient and fiercely devoted to her family. She’s definitely a rebel at her (nonexploding) core. She repeatedly chooses kindness towards others in this unjust, savage world. She chooses hope again and again.
Honestly, this book was just SO intriguing. I loved how it took familiar fairy-tale elements and dropped them into this apocalyptic, gritty world.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Raven Kennedy, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. ❤️🔥
This reads like a dark dystopian fairy tale, and I was so intrigued from the beginning. It’s dark, gritty, and somehow still manages to be a romantic love story about hope, connection, and saving the world? The genre crossing REALLY did it for me.
And I have to talk about how UNIQUE this story is because I genuinely don’t think I’ve read anything quite like it:
• Pied Piper retelling? Never heard of that before 🪈
• Rat man is sexy this time. Trust me. 😂
• Horned FMC 😈
• Fae magic originating from an apocalyptic event 🌎💥
• Unique types of magic (see point one 👀)
• NINE different plagues being central to the story
We start with our FMC being a working girly doing everything she can for her family while trying to survive a world that is literally tearing itself apart. Then she, and several hundred others from her city, are taken by the mysterious Pied Piper, and we have NO idea why.
And I could NOT put this down until I knew what was up with this guy. He is textbook morally grey, and the tension and banter between them had me laughing out loud. While she’s captive, I went through ALL the emotions. I was angry for her, devastated for her, and still…completely invested in the tension between them.
I also really loved her as a character. She’s incredibly resilient and fiercely devoted to her family. She’s definitely a rebel at her (nonexploding) core. She repeatedly chooses kindness towards others in this unjust, savage world. She chooses hope again and again.
Honestly, this book was just SO intriguing. I loved how it took familiar fairy-tale elements and dropped them into this apocalyptic, gritty world.
Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager, Raven Kennedy, and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. ❤️🔥
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
RAVEN ELIZABETH MARIE KENNEDY GET BACK HEREEEEEEEE RIGHT NOW ✋🏼😭
WHAT DO YOU MEANNNNNNNN!?????????????
my gods 😮💨 Raven Kennedy is truly such a talented author. the way she just launched us immediately into some fucked up shit so flawlessly 🤌🏼 and it never stops.
TSF just flowed so well and the banter? TOPPPPPP TIERRRRRRRR *chefs kiss* 🙂↕️
I am obsessed with the FMC 😍 gawd, I cannot wait for the next book 😮💨 she’s truly the definition of a bad ass in the making 😌 I love the way Raven writes these characters.
Now, the MMC? listen…..THE WAY I AM ABSOLUTELY FUCKING FERALLLLLLLLLLL FOR HIM! do you hear the cat in heat noises?? THATS ME 🥵
I am going to need every single edition of this series 😭
Thank you so much Avon & Harper Voyager, Netgalley & Raven Kennedy for the gifted earc 🫶🏼
WHAT DO YOU MEANNNNNNNN!?????????????
my gods 😮💨 Raven Kennedy is truly such a talented author. the way she just launched us immediately into some fucked up shit so flawlessly 🤌🏼 and it never stops.
TSF just flowed so well and the banter? TOPPPPPP TIERRRRRRRR *chefs kiss* 🙂↕️
I am obsessed with the FMC 😍 gawd, I cannot wait for the next book 😮💨 she’s truly the definition of a bad ass in the making 😌 I love the way Raven writes these characters.
Now, the MMC? listen…..THE WAY I AM ABSOLUTELY FUCKING FERALLLLLLLLLLL FOR HIM! do you hear the cat in heat noises?? THATS ME 🥵
I am going to need every single edition of this series 😭
Thank you so much Avon & Harper Voyager, Netgalley & Raven Kennedy for the gifted earc 🫶🏼
August 30, 2026
sooo there were things i loved about this, and things i didn’t.
i’ll start with the positives. world building was some of the best i’ve read in a while. so easy to follow, not info dumpy, and a perfect amount of showing not telling. this started with an amazing prologue that set the scene, and the first few chapters promised a thrilling and unique story. the fmc seemed competent and interesting.
enter the romance. that’s where it kinda fell flat for me. it felt soo formulaic. snarky fmc who is doing absolutely nothing to help her situation beyond being reckless? check. broody and stoic mmc who is flirty and soft with the fmc but nobody else? check. cringe nickname for the fmc? (blight?? really????) check. “enemies” that have an unexplainable attraction to each other that then transcends into falling in love way too quick? also check.
the banter and dynamic just felt like so many books i’ve read before. it’s such a shame because the story and world were super interesting. but since the middle chunk of this book was all romantic development, it did drag a bit. the ending was interesting i guess but also nothing new unfortunately.
i don’t think a book has to reinvent the wheel, but i do wish the romance was more refreshing. i will still read book 2 because im interested enough in the plot and it’s only a duology, but dang i’m bummed the romance was lame.
thank you Harper Collins Canada for the ARC!!
i’ll start with the positives. world building was some of the best i’ve read in a while. so easy to follow, not info dumpy, and a perfect amount of showing not telling. this started with an amazing prologue that set the scene, and the first few chapters promised a thrilling and unique story. the fmc seemed competent and interesting.
enter the romance. that’s where it kinda fell flat for me. it felt soo formulaic. snarky fmc who is doing absolutely nothing to help her situation beyond being reckless? check. broody and stoic mmc who is flirty and soft with the fmc but nobody else? check. cringe nickname for the fmc? (blight?? really????) check. “enemies” that have an unexplainable attraction to each other that then transcends into falling in love way too quick? also check.
the banter and dynamic just felt like so many books i’ve read before. it’s such a shame because the story and world were super interesting. but since the middle chunk of this book was all romantic development, it did drag a bit. the ending was interesting i guess but also nothing new unfortunately.
i don’t think a book has to reinvent the wheel, but i do wish the romance was more refreshing. i will still read book 2 because im interested enough in the plot and it’s only a duology, but dang i’m bummed the romance was lame.
thank you Harper Collins Canada for the ARC!!
August 5, 2026
This book was incredible. I’ve missed her writing so much. There was a lot of action, a lot of tension, a wholeeee lot of banter, and I loved every second of it. I really don’t think anyone else could make me so feral and foaming at the mouth for rat man like Raven Kennedy and her very impressive imagination lmao. And that plot twist at the end??! I can’t wait to see how the story unfolds in book 2 bc that was diabolical 😩
Thank you to Avon and the author for the arc 🖤
Thank you to Avon and the author for the arc 🖤
August 11, 2026
Unwell. Holy crap. Raven did it again. I ran out of annotation tabs and am staring at walls. She is the real posed piper in this! Luring me in and absolutely devoured this read in two days. Obsessed again! That cliffhanger destroyed me. I love the characters, the world building was so rich, the spice was off the charts and I need book 2 IMMEDIATELY to be ok again!
August 2, 2026
SIX STARS! Absolutely brilliant! Utterly consuming! I’m obsessed with the Rat Man!!
This book hooked me right from the prologue and never let me out of its clutches! I could NOT put it down! The world and how the Core fae got their powers was so unique. Then add to this the Pied Piper and the mystery surrounding him and why he is coming to collect and I was absolutely riveted!
The romance was sizzling! The push and pull between Varrik and Esti, his flirtatious and filthy comments, and their banter had me feral! I loved Varrik’s dominating personality and when he got territorial and jealous I was squealing! The wound care, the protectiveness, and the comfort scenes all had me swooning! I also loved Esti’s spunk and how she crawled under Varrik’s skin! Seriously, just absolutely amazing chemistry!!
And that freaking ending!! OMG! I did not see that coming at all! I’m praying the wait for book two is not long!
✨Captor/Captive
✨One horse/tent/bed
✨All the Banter!!!
✨Wound care
✨Forced proximity
All the thanks to Avon for the ARC!
This book hooked me right from the prologue and never let me out of its clutches! I could NOT put it down! The world and how the Core fae got their powers was so unique. Then add to this the Pied Piper and the mystery surrounding him and why he is coming to collect and I was absolutely riveted!
The romance was sizzling! The push and pull between Varrik and Esti, his flirtatious and filthy comments, and their banter had me feral! I loved Varrik’s dominating personality and when he got territorial and jealous I was squealing! The wound care, the protectiveness, and the comfort scenes all had me swooning! I also loved Esti’s spunk and how she crawled under Varrik’s skin! Seriously, just absolutely amazing chemistry!!
And that freaking ending!! OMG! I did not see that coming at all! I’m praying the wait for book two is not long!
✨Captor/Captive
✨One horse/tent/bed
✨All the Banter!!!
✨Wound care
✨Forced proximity
All the thanks to Avon for the ARC!
Want to Read
March 1, 2026This sounds AMAZING! I’m obsessed with Raven Kennedy’s writing and storytelling. I NEED this immediately!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I expected to love The Sweetest Fiend and yet it was even better than I could have hoped! Raven Kennedy is a master at creating swoony and moody romances, and this is not exception. The characters are layered, unique, and filled with emotional depth. Despite the moments of insta-love, the relationship was still believable as the characters fought through their attraction. The dystopian fantasy world is somewhat unique to the romantasy genre and was easy to fall into. Honestly, I can't believe that we have to wait for the next book since I flew through this one so quickly! I need the second one as soon as possible!
Read if you like...
🔥She hates him but he's kinda into it
🩸Power imbalances made right
🔥Villains trying to save the world since no one else is left
🩸She's kind and trusting and it doesn't make her weak
🔥Forced proximity (as in he forces it because he can't get her out of his head)
🩸Pied Pier retelling with a twist
🔥Tending to wounds but they're both stubborn about it
🩸One horse/bed/tent
🔥Great dialogue and heavily descriptive language
🩸She adopts a cat that immediately hates him
🔥Strong mother/daughter relationships
🩸Music as a force of magic
🔥Finding hope at the end of the world
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Read if you like...
🔥She hates him but he's kinda into it
🩸Power imbalances made right
🔥Villains trying to save the world since no one else is left
🩸She's kind and trusting and it doesn't make her weak
🔥Forced proximity (as in he forces it because he can't get her out of his head)
🩸Pied Pier retelling with a twist
🔥Tending to wounds but they're both stubborn about it
🩸One horse/bed/tent
🔥Great dialogue and heavily descriptive language
🩸She adopts a cat that immediately hates him
🔥Strong mother/daughter relationships
🩸Music as a force of magic
🔥Finding hope at the end of the world
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
August 4, 2026
📚 ARC Review
Releasing 9/22/26
This was amazing! The banter was bantering. The tension was tense and that twist came out of nowhere. I loved every bit of it!
Releasing 9/22/26
This was amazing! The banter was bantering. The tension was tense and that twist came out of nowhere. I loved every bit of it!
September 2, 2026
Looooved it! 4.5
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
9/6/26 Audio Review Update: Amazing duet narration! The voice actors brought this story to life in an incredible way! Read this immediately. I don’t care if you eyeball or audio just do it, now.
8/2/26 Updated Rating: 6⭐️ I can’t stop thinking about this book. 5 stars is not enough.
Raven Kennedy… only you could have me falling for the rat man. Why was he actually perfect? Because I fear I’m in love. He’s got every elite book boyfriend quality: confident, flirty, powerful, possessive, touch her and die energy… he brushes her hair… and, oh yeah, he kidnaps her. I’m sorry, but somehow it’s all incredibly hot.
The banter? Absolutely elite. The romance had me kicking my feet one minute and melting into a puddle the next. Raven knows how to write insane tension and chemistry.
The writing is flawless, with vivid, immersive world-building that feels completely fresh and unique. It’s effortless to get lost in. And the plot? It never lets up. There isn’t a single dull moment. I was just as invested in the twists and action as I was in the romance.
Can we also take a moment for Conrad? He completely stole every scene he was in. His outrageous, flirty commentary was everything and made the found family dynamic even better.
This is already shaping up to be one of my favorite duologies. I need the next book immediately. Raven Kennedy, you’re a genius.
Thank you Raven Kennedy and Avon for the ARC!
✨Dark Fantasy Romance
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Forced Proximity
✨Captive Romance
✨”Who Hurt You?”
✨Fae & Dark Magic
✨Deadly Plagues
✨Ultimate Banter
✨Found Family
✨Only One Bed… And Horse… And Tent!
🌶️🌶️
✨Low Spice
✨Slow Burn… but when it hits, it HITS👀
8/2/26 Updated Rating: 6⭐️ I can’t stop thinking about this book. 5 stars is not enough.
Raven Kennedy… only you could have me falling for the rat man. Why was he actually perfect? Because I fear I’m in love. He’s got every elite book boyfriend quality: confident, flirty, powerful, possessive, touch her and die energy… he brushes her hair… and, oh yeah, he kidnaps her. I’m sorry, but somehow it’s all incredibly hot.
The banter? Absolutely elite. The romance had me kicking my feet one minute and melting into a puddle the next. Raven knows how to write insane tension and chemistry.
The writing is flawless, with vivid, immersive world-building that feels completely fresh and unique. It’s effortless to get lost in. And the plot? It never lets up. There isn’t a single dull moment. I was just as invested in the twists and action as I was in the romance.
Can we also take a moment for Conrad? He completely stole every scene he was in. His outrageous, flirty commentary was everything and made the found family dynamic even better.
This is already shaping up to be one of my favorite duologies. I need the next book immediately. Raven Kennedy, you’re a genius.
Thank you Raven Kennedy and Avon for the ARC!
✨Dark Fantasy Romance
✨Enemies to Lovers
✨Forced Proximity
✨Captive Romance
✨”Who Hurt You?”
✨Fae & Dark Magic
✨Deadly Plagues
✨Ultimate Banter
✨Found Family
✨Only One Bed… And Horse… And Tent!
🌶️🌶️
✨Low Spice
✨Slow Burn… but when it hits, it HITS👀
September 5, 2026
Raven Kennedy, the woman that you are. First you had me falling in love with King Rot, and now you’ve made me obsessed with RAT MAN?! 🐀🪈😂
This was such a ridiculously fun, addictive read. A dark, dystopian Pied Piper retelling filled with plagues, fae, magic, captivity, forced proximity and some of the BEST banter. Esti is stubborn, fiery and absolutely refuses to make life easy for The Piper, which naturally means their interactions had me giggling and kicking my feet.
And The Piper?! Morally grey, possessive, infuriating, competent and very much giving “who is he to you?” energy. The one horse/bedroll/tent situations certainly did not hurt either 👀
I also loved how original the world felt. The plagues, the rats, the poisoned water, the magic and the darker fairy-tale atmosphere made this feel genuinely different from so much romantasy I’ve read lately.
And listening to it made the experience even better. Sean Masters is DREAMY as The Piper; that voice was frankly an unfair advantage and Isabelle Turner was fantastic as Esti, capturing all her fire and stubbornness. Their performances made the tension and banter hit perfectly 👌🏽
⭐️ 4.5 stars, and quite frankly I’m docking that half star because WHERE IS BOOK TWO?! That ending was criminal. I need answers. I need more Rat Man please Immediately 🐀🪈
Huge thank you to Libro.fm and Penguin Books for the ALC! 🎧✨
This was such a ridiculously fun, addictive read. A dark, dystopian Pied Piper retelling filled with plagues, fae, magic, captivity, forced proximity and some of the BEST banter. Esti is stubborn, fiery and absolutely refuses to make life easy for The Piper, which naturally means their interactions had me giggling and kicking my feet.
And The Piper?! Morally grey, possessive, infuriating, competent and very much giving “who is he to you?” energy. The one horse/bedroll/tent situations certainly did not hurt either 👀
I also loved how original the world felt. The plagues, the rats, the poisoned water, the magic and the darker fairy-tale atmosphere made this feel genuinely different from so much romantasy I’ve read lately.
And listening to it made the experience even better. Sean Masters is DREAMY as The Piper; that voice was frankly an unfair advantage and Isabelle Turner was fantastic as Esti, capturing all her fire and stubbornness. Their performances made the tension and banter hit perfectly 👌🏽
⭐️ 4.5 stars, and quite frankly I’m docking that half star because WHERE IS BOOK TWO?! That ending was criminal. I need answers. I need more Rat Man please Immediately 🐀🪈
Huge thank you to Libro.fm and Penguin Books for the ALC! 🎧✨
July 16, 2026
Star Rating: 4 🌟
Spice Rating: 2.75 🥵🔥
Thank you so much Raven and Avon for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🪈Forced Proximity
❤️🔥Captor/Captive Romance
🪈”Who Hurt You?”
❤️🔥Only One Bed… and Horse… and Tent!
🪈So. Much. BANTER!
Oh Raven… YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN 😩🫶🏼 YOU HAVE CREATED AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!! This book was such a highly anticipated release, as I loveeeedddd the Plated Prisoner series, so when an ARC copy of this showed up at my door… I IMMEDIATELY jumped into and devoured it in two days. I legitimately could not put it down!! And I do not say this lightly… but I think this one topped the plated prisoner for me 👀 like I thought this story was perfection from start to finish.
The gritty beginning really set a tone of the hardships that our FMC has faced all her life. It made us, as the reader, immediately root for her. And The Piper… omg immediately upon showing up their chemistry was out of control 🫦 their banter had me kicking my feet and needing to read the next chapter immediately (even tho I said just one more chapter 2 hours ago and ya girl needs sleep to survive) to see what happened next!! I couldn’t put this story down for the life of me 😩 now I have to wait for the second book and I am at a loss of what to do whilst I wait 😭 Raven if you need someone to read a early, early, EARLY copy of book two… I volunteer as tribute… cuz that ending 🤯
For more bookish content and reviews, please consider giving my bookstagram a follow💕
https://www.instagram.com/lovinmyshelf
Spice Rating: 2.75 🥵🔥
Thank you so much Raven and Avon for this gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🪈Forced Proximity
❤️🔥Captor/Captive Romance
🪈”Who Hurt You?”
❤️🔥Only One Bed… and Horse… and Tent!
🪈So. Much. BANTER!
Oh Raven… YOU’VE DONE IT AGAIN 😩🫶🏼 YOU HAVE CREATED AN ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE!! This book was such a highly anticipated release, as I loveeeedddd the Plated Prisoner series, so when an ARC copy of this showed up at my door… I IMMEDIATELY jumped into and devoured it in two days. I legitimately could not put it down!! And I do not say this lightly… but I think this one topped the plated prisoner for me 👀 like I thought this story was perfection from start to finish.
The gritty beginning really set a tone of the hardships that our FMC has faced all her life. It made us, as the reader, immediately root for her. And The Piper… omg immediately upon showing up their chemistry was out of control 🫦 their banter had me kicking my feet and needing to read the next chapter immediately (even tho I said just one more chapter 2 hours ago and ya girl needs sleep to survive) to see what happened next!! I couldn’t put this story down for the life of me 😩 now I have to wait for the second book and I am at a loss of what to do whilst I wait 😭 Raven if you need someone to read a early, early, EARLY copy of book two… I volunteer as tribute… cuz that ending 🤯
For more bookish content and reviews, please consider giving my bookstagram a follow💕
https://www.instagram.com/lovinmyshelf
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