Vices and Virtues

by Alexis L. Menard

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

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

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

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

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

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

Audible Audio

Expected publication November 24, 2026

About the author

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

Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a unique world. Menard truly has a knack for creating an interesting setting and has fun ideas with world building and magic system. We have sun and night magic, reincarnation, necromancy, dual timelines in this book. Vices & Virtues is a standalone fantasy that has love through timelines with the cycle always repeating every 100 years. A fantasy that is achingly devastating and will hold you under its spell with ‘I love you in every timelines’ and will make you believe in soulmates! I haven't read House of Bane and Blood yet but I have recently read An Anatomy of Magic and it was interesting. Need to check out whatever else she has under her belt.


What’s it about?

The story is told through two time lines. One is in the past that focuses on Osric Hale, a morally complex character who is a thief and a con-man yet wants a life freed from his current circumstances. He lives in a world that is ruled by divine forces and accepts a job that involves going after the Sun King. His job goes wrong and he ends up caught in a much entangled web of corruption. He is given a choice and his actions lead to a catastrophic disaster where the world no longer has sunlight and everything goes dark. In the present timeline, Desiree is a witch who is looking to free her sister who is in servitude of the Night Queen. The world is still suffering from darkness even a decade later and is under Eternal Night. She knows that the natural cycle of day and night would save her sister and she is in dire need to correct this cycle. Desiree is a necromancer, a soul summoner, and resurrects a centuries old con-man to help defeat an evil god. She thinks Osric is the one responsible for the Sun Kings death but as they begin working together to restore the natural cycle, they uncover secrets about their pasts lives and loves in the process while trying to navigate the growing feeling between them.




I preordered the Allurial edition! It’s gorgeous. Check it out!

Will be featured on Allurial for December! Get your first deluxe addition for $9.99 here: https://www.allurial.com/refer/g7sai1...
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Many thanks to NetGalley, Forever/Grand Central Publishing and the author, Alexis L. Menard for and early ARC.

Publication dates: November 24, 2026

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Did this make me like a trope I usually hate?

Desiree Darrow is trying to end the eternal night to save her sister. To do so, she needs to resurrect an arrogant thief who died over 100 years prior.

Des is headstrong, loyal, and filled with indignation about the suffering and disparity surrounding her - and her incapability to do anything.
Osric is vain, snarky, flirty, and also loyal. Through a past and present, we see how Osric’s emotional backstory has resulted in Des’ current reality.

Osric spoke down their bond, consuming her body and mind.
I don't think you understand, angel. I could drink you dry, you're so succulent.
"Well," she breathed. "Every girl loves to be spoken to like a dessert.”

It is teasing and yearning and very addicting. It is a very satisfying standalone even if the ending felt slightly sudden and the fall out predictable.

The world building is let down for a focus on the relationship which is a shame as it seemed cool: an eternal darkness, corrupted souls, and monsters that attack in the dark. I never felt enlightened (lol) about the history and rules; and the monsters, despite the deadly danger, lacked a presence due to minimal descriptions and page time.

"Let me remind you, Des, that we
are very much together. I know your scent, your taste. Your spirit and mine dance together in our bones. You are bound to me and I to you in an arrangement more consecrated than any holy vow in this lifetime. So yes, you do belong to me, until death takes me once more. We belong to each other, and no one will threaten this bond we share. If that makes me possessive, then fine."

The writing is addicting, the plot changing between past and present well-balanced and fast-paced, and the romance, whilst instant in other timelines, matched the tone and tropes the author was aiming for.
3.5-3.75 stars.🌟

Physical arc gifted by Piatkus.

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[jas ♡ · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Review of advanced copy received from Netgalley

3.75 ⭐️

This book took me a long time to get into. I must have reread the first two pages thirty times just to have something else capture my attention. After reading Anatomy of Magic, I finally ended up making myself start this for real, and eventually, I did get into it.

I teetered between being bored and being engaged quite a bit throughout, though. I found myself more interested in the past timeline than the present, but I did enjoy both. Osric was great, despite his name. He truly carried the story.

One thing Alexis Menard is really good at is creating an interesting and unique world. I really liked the concept of a world stuck in an era of darkness and the conflict between the Sun King and the Night Queen. I have zero complaints about the world-building.

I spoiled the ending for myself when I started, as I often do, and at first, I really didn’t like how it ended. But the more I thought about it, it was very fitting and ending this book any other way wouldn’t really make any sense. I do wish we got a little more at the end though with Des and her man. Without saying what happens, I’ll just say there were things I wanted to find out about our couple’s happily-ever-after that were left kind of open.

There was a noticeable amount of typos and grammar issues (including the wrong you’re being used at one point) but I didn’t pay them much mind because this is an ARC and those things can be corrected before publication.

Overall, this is a good book. It isn’t my favorite in the genre, but it’s a strong story with compelling characters and definitely worth the read.

One thing that vaguely annoyed me was when Osric was saying things like “like I did before” and “make the right choice this time” and Des didn’t even briefly question those words? Like what?

And Basten, when I get my hands on you dude. It’s truly on sight.

. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁ ⟡ ݁ . ⊹ ₊ ݁.

thank you to the publisher for the arc ♡

[vxmpslibrary [back!!] · Rating 3 out of 5]

.3.25 stars.
- mini review.

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

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

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

Side eye. Just saying.

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

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

Thank you Netgalley for the earc!

[Stacy T · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

First, I have to give this cover its moment because the artwork is stunning! And the world inside is every bit as beautiful and easy to picture.

The story moves between the present that is trapped in night due to the death of the Sun King and a hundred years earlier, slowly revealing what led to his death while weaving together a beautiful story of love that reaches across time.

Desiree in the present and Marsal in the past are both fierce, strong women, but Osric was such a highlight for me. He has so much personality, and the more we learn about him, the more layers he has. I loved how much he brought to the story.

This does require some attention. It is not a book I could casually follow with half my brain occupied elsewhere, and some days, half a brain is all I have available. 😂 A few transitions felt abrupt, and there were moments when my attention wandered. Whether that was me or the story, I’m still not entirely sure, but something would quickly pull me back in and I would be completely engrossed again.

I couldn’t have told you exactly where I thought this was headed, but it still managed to take turns I didn’t expect. And while the ending leaves a little room for interpretation, it felt so fitting for these characters and the atmosphere of the story. I finished feeling like it ended exactly where it needed to.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

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

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

3.5 ⭐️ | 1.5🌶️

[Krissi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

Can I just say I pre-ordered the Allurial December pick for this and am 100% happy I did? I love a good slow burn romantasy with good banter, interesting political intrigue, a great plot, interesting characters, and this has it all! It also has a dual time-line where the main characters are fated across time and the author does this well. I would have liked to have seen more world building, but seeing as it is a standalone I can see why thr focus was more plot paced. Pacing was done well. I'm not one for spice, but there was not too much in the story and nothing crazy which was good. This is my first book by Menard and I can't wait to try more!

[Athena 💗 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can we get more fantasy standalones, please? It was so nice to finish this book and be able to close out a completed story.

I listened to Vices and Virtues on audio in tandem with the ebook. The voice narrators were pleasant to listen to and made for a cozy listening experience. The story is a duel timeline and I’m glad I had the ebook otherwise I would have been a little confused at first with the back and forth. I loved Osric Hale’s character, he was fun and had some really good one liners throughout the story. Osric and Desiree’s chemistry was pretty good and overall I enjoyed the story.

Thank you Hachette Audio and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an ALC and ARC of Vices and Virtues. I enjoyed the experience.

[kelseys.inthelibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

A breathtaking standalone romantasy that completely stole my heart.

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

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

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

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

[Gianmccall •(Kaz Brekker's Version)• · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

- Vices & Virtues by Alexis L. Menard.

𓂃˖˳·˖ ִֶָ ⋆☀️⋆ ִֶָ˖·˳˖𓂃 ִֶָ🌕

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

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

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


★｡+ﾟ☆ 🌑 ☆ﾟ+｡★


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

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

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

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

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

★

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

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

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

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

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


࿇ ══━━━━✥

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

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

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


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

5★/5


★｡+ﾟ☆ ☀️ ☆ﾟ+｡★


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

[Brittany Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars | Unique, Unforgettable and Utterly Unputdownable!
Every so often, a book comes along that feels genuinely special, and Vices and Virtues was absolutely one of those experiences for me!
I was completely captivated from beginning to end. This was such an original, imaginative and immersive story, and I loved how completely it drew me into its world. There is something wonderful about discovering a book that makes you excited to return to it at every opportunity, and this one was incredibly difficult to stop listening to.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the worldbuilding. The mythology, magic, divine politics and intricate fantasy elements were fascinating. I loved discovering the different layers of this world and seeing how everything gradually came together. The dual timelines, reincarnation and connections spanning lifetimes added even more intrigue and emotional depth to an already compelling story.
The characters, their relationships and the romance were equally captivating. I loved the chemistry, complicated histories and the way the romance was woven into the larger story.
What made this book particularly special, though, was the depth beneath the fantasy. I found its exploration of fate, free will, love, sacrifice and second chances genuinely powerful. The idea that we aren't necessarily destined to repeat the mistakes of the past, and that even seemingly inevitable cycles can be broken through our choices, resonated with me. I loved that beneath the magic and mythology were thought-provoking themes and messages that felt relevant to real life. They gave the story greater emotional weight and made the experience even more meaningful.
A huge amount of praise has to go to Alexis L. Menard. The creativity, imagination and thoughtfulness behind this book are incredible. Bringing together such rich mythology, intricate worldbuilding, compelling characters, captivating romance and meaningful themes into something that feels so distinctive is no small achievement. I genuinely loved what she created here.
The audiobook was equally impressive. Alex Raby and E.M. Wylde delivered excellent performances throughout, bringing the characters and their world vividly to life. Their narration complemented the atmosphere and storytelling beautifully, making an already captivating story even more immersive and enjoyable.
Overall, Vices and Virtues was everything I love about discovering an exceptional fantasy romance: an imaginative world, fascinating mythology, memorable characters, incredible chemistry and a story with genuine emotional and thematic depth.
A remarkable achievement from Alexis L. Menard and an unforgettable listening experience. An easy five stars from me, and one I would wholeheartedly recommend to romantasy lovers!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance listening copy (ALC) in exchange for my honest review.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and forever for the gifted arc!
First of all, I love that this was a standalone. It’s so nice getting a start to finish story in one book. The world was super interesting, although I did find some of the descriptions a bit confusing. This is a dual-timeline book, which I personally enjoy, but I know a lot of people don’t. I will say, this has an unconventional HEA, so I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending.
Dual timelines—Osric is in both timelines, but the FMC in the present timeline is Desiree, and the past timeline is Marsal. I think the “twist” related to that is super predictable, especially when taken into account with the prologue. I do, however, think Marsal was the stronger character. I think reincarnation stories can be tricky with not making one version of the character better/more interesting, but I did find Des to be a bit bland. I did really love her dynamic with her sister though. Osric was a 10/10–witty, interesting, and filthy. Being in both timelines, I do feel like there was more time to develop his character.
The plot was interesting, but I personally felt like it picked up around the halfway mark. It took me a while to get into this, but once I did, I was really into it!!

[Shannon Mungo · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Jaime Arkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A standalone romantasy?That alone earned this one some goodwill from me, and for the most part it delivered.

My favorite part was the dual timeline. Watching the past unfold alongside the present, and slowly piecing together how the world came to be the way it is now, was genuinely satisfying. It gave the story a sense of history and weight that I don't always get from the genre.

I liked the characters, though the romance leaned a bit instalove for my taste. To be fair, that's kind of baked into the premise: when your leads are reborn souls carrying connections from previous lives, an instant pull between them makes sense. It just meant I didn't get as much of the slow-building tension I usually love.

Overall, this kept me entertained and turning pages the whole way through, and I never felt tempted to put it down. That said, nothing about it really stood out enough to stick with me after I finished. A solid, enjoyable read, especially if you're craving a romantasy that wraps up in one book, but not one I'd call a standout.

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy for review

[Betül · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ That prologue hooked me!


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

I loved the MCs.

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


Overall, I really enjoyed this despite some flaws.

[Kristine · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

This book had lots of positives. For one thing, this is a stand alone and I am beginning to think that this is becoming a very rare occurrence. Secondly, I listened to the audio for this book and the narrators - Alex Raby and E.M. Wylde - did a wonderful job with their dual narration performance. As always, I wish it could have been done in duet narration, but the dual narration was done very well.

The storyline revolves around our FMC Desiree Darrow and her attempts to save her sister. Her sister is in service to the Night Queen and is basically a battery, charging the soul light that the kingdom uses to create light in a world where the sun has been locked away. Desiree is a soul summoner and believes if she can end the Eternal Night, her sister will be freed from her obligations.

In order to do this, she summons the soul (and body) of the man who killed the Sun King over 100 years ago. This story deals with fated mates, soul mates, forms of necromancy, and of course, magic. There is also a unique way that the dead, and their bones are dealt with - ways that allow the souls to return for another cycle, but also ways that can prevent the soul from ever returning. The Sun King's body was kept trapped in a way so that another could not rise to fill his throne, leaving nothing but endless night and no day.

MMC Osric Hale was the man who killed the Sun King but there were a lot of things that occurred that seems to be forgotten to history. When he is summoned back, things are VERY different from when he was alive. The two of them (Esti and Osric) quickly become a team. Osric tells Esti that he knows where the King's body is so that they can retrieve it and burn it in the Eternal Fire (the things that will release his soul). Unfortunately, there is a whole lot more going on and it is not going to be easy.

The storyline is told in dual timelines - we get to follow Osric in the last few days of his life 100 years ago - and we also get a "present" timeline that focuses on Esti and her journey with present Osric as they try to save her sister.

The story begins to unfold slowly as they both discover certain things that happened back then that no one knew about. Betrayals, hidden agendas, and as always, the crazy need for power. There is also something going on between the two of them and their bond. There is definitely a bond between them from Esti that is keeping Osric alive, but the bond is deeper than that. Did they know each other in a different life? Why is the pull between them so strong?

I really enjoyed this book. It was unique and compelling. The pacing though, was inconsistent as there were times when my interest was so strong and others when it seemed to lag - especially in the middle. But the last 25% makes up for all of that as the story seems to steamroll to the very end. All things are tied up and the circle is closed as we finally get ALL of the information on what is happening.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio | Forever for the opportunity to listen to and review this ALC. This book will be out for publication on November 24, 2026.

[Rando Mando Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Jess || Bettertobebookish · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Vices & Virtues is a romantic story of love and sacrifice across lifetimes, with genuinely funny writing, compelling characters, and a fascinating religious system.

I received this book as a widget email after reviewing The Thief and the Traitor Bride, and for a while, I wasn't planning on reading the ARC (though I did add it to my TBR for after release). It sounded interesting, but like a mash-up of familiar Romantasy tropes, which isn't usually my cup of tea. But the more I saw it, the more I wanted to give it a shot. And I am so glad I did!

Despite those familiar tropes, Alexis Menard manages to make them feel fun, engaging, and fresh. Her writing is genuinely funny, apparently enough for me to highlight ridiculous lines like "I can feel the breeze between my ass cheeks." The banter and teasing throughout were easily some of my favorite parts of the book.

And the prologue?! It was so achingly romantic for such a short passage that I was immediately invested. Before I'd even made it into the first chapter, I was texting my sister and best friend about it. I'm a sucker for doomed romance, star-crossed lovers, and soulmates. My Tristan and Isolde loving heart immediately locked in.

Osric Hale was easily my favorite character, especially in his past timeline POVs. He's sassy, flirtatious, and incredibly entertaining, but there's so much more to him than that. He felt distinct despite familiar romantasy MMC tropes. Beneath his charm, there's genuine complexity in his upbringing and how he became who he is. There's longing, grief, guilt... and of course the fear of repeating the past. After all, the cycle always repeats itself. Menard writes Osric's psychology so well and subtly that it sometimes caught me off guard between his sass. I also loved the contrast between his relationship with Marsal in the past and Desiree in the present. I did find the romantic pacing fast and a little abrupt at times, but I understood the emotional reasoning behind it. It did feel a bit rushed at times.

The worldbuilding was strong for such a romance forward story. Menard creates a complex, believable religious system built around devotion, immortality, reincarnation, and the exploitation of those who sustain the gods. There's a lot to unpack regarding religion as a means of control and the weaponization of the afterlife, as well as the greed of those in power. Individuals make bargains with gods for access to their power, and that devotion powers the gods and helps them stay immortal. People are judged by their vices and virtues, and the gods decide whether they get to reincarnate or if their bones will be preserved as a punishment. It's a well-constructed commentary of using the fear of the afterlife to control people in the present life. I would have loved more exploration of Moab, his thirteen witches, and some of the darker implications of this world, though.

The one thing that fell short for me was the storyline involving Desiree's sister. Although her sacrifice establishes the main conflict, I struggled to feel the emotional weight of her narrative. The consequences were there, but the sister herself often felt more like a plot device to bring Desiree and Osric together than someone whose impending death was driving the story. When she finally appears on the page, most of her conversations revolve around Desiree and Osric, even as her own health deteriorates. With so much of Desiree's motivation centered on saving her sister, I wanted that relationship to carry more emotional gravity. Instead, the second Osric enters the picture, he becomes the driving force behind her motivations, despite what she claims. I can understand it, but it just fell a little flat for me.

I also found the treatment of physical intimacy between the timelines a little unusual. The past relationship builds through romantic tension and emotional intimacy, but when Marsal and Osric finally get together, the scene moves past the moment almost immediately. Meanwhile, the present timeline is much more openly physical. It felt more romantic in the past, and more physical/lusty in the present. I don't mind either closed-door or open-door, but I think the difference is worth the mention for readers who have a preference either way.

By the end, I really enjoyed this book. It's a complex story to tell, particularly while keeping the romance at its center, and I think Menard did a good job. The yearning, the banter, the characters, and the beautiful way everything comes together in the end made this such an enjoyable read. I can easily see myself returning to it as a comfort read/palette cleanser.

For readers who love tragic, starcrossed romances, morally complicated gods, dual timelines, reincarnation, witty banter, and characters willing to sacrifice everything for the people they love.

I received a DRC on Netgalley from Forever.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

[Nancy Weiler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cried like a baby, this is an epic love story in a world divided by past and present, day and night. Absolutely phenomenal.

Desiree FMC has forbidden magic which she uses to resurrect a criminal, MMC Osric to understand why he killed the sun god. This world is purged into darkness ruled by the night queen. As we know day and night come by as the two together, and Desiree needs the day to come back in order to save her sister.

It took time to get into this book and it was a little confusing with the past and present chapters, as you’re understanding the current events with Desiree and also understanding the past with Osric and why he did what he did. However it was so cleverly done and my favourite standalone ever.

There is so much uniqueness to this story and the characters, elements of magic I’ve not read before which I found so exciting. The darkness is feared as creatures can come and harm you. (Made me feel a little bit like when you turn a light off and you run away from the dark) it’s tense, but beautiful.

This was a delicious slow burn and exactly how I love to read a slow burn, Alexis never disappoints in her writing and I love how different this was from the rest of her books.

Will absolutely recommend this book to anyone who loves an epic love story, forbidden magic, past/present, soul mates, quests/ journey.

Thank you so much Rachel Quin and With love for the ARC, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot express enough how much I love finding an amazing standalone fantasy book, and Vices and Virtues absolutely delivered! This story pulled at my heartstrings in all the right ways, and I loved every minute of it.

Alex Raby and E.M. Wylde did a fantastic job with the dual narration. As much as I typically love duet narration, I actually appreciated the dual style for this particular story. With Osric’s story unfolding in the past and Desiree’s taking place in the present, having distinct narrators made it so much easier to follow the different timelines. It was the perfect choice for this style of storytelling!

The worldbuilding was incredibly unique, exploring who deserves to be reincarnated, what makes a soul worthy of another chance, and just how far we're willing to go to save the people we love. I loved how the story balanced its emotional depth with witty banter and charming characters. It managed to tug at my heartstrings while still giving me plenty of moments to smile.

I highly recommend Vices and Virtues, especially if you're looking for an emotionally compelling standalone fantasy with memorable characters and a unique premise. This is absolutely a story I would love to revisit in the future!

Thank you to Alexis L. Menard, Hachette Audio and NetGalley for this ALC.

[Audiobooksgirlie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ⭐

I really enjoyed this one. There’s quite a bit of worldbuilding, and if you enjoy fantasy with political intrigue and mythology woven into the story, this is definitely worth your attention.

Alexis L. Menard created an intriguing world where the sun has disappeared and the kingdom has been trapped in darkness for over a century. I particularly enjoyed the political dynamics surrounding the gods and the mystery of the Cycle.

Desiree and Osric were interesting characters to follow. I loved the idea of resurrecting a centuries old con man to help save a kingdom. What could possibly go wrong?

I actually did an immersive read with this one, following along with the physical book while listening to the audiobook. With so much worldbuilding and political intrigue, I found that combining both formats made the experience even better.

Alex Raby and E.M. Wylde did a wonderful job bringing the characters to life. I enjoyed the different perspectives and how the narration complemented the story.

I also appreciated that the romance didn’t completely take over the plot. There’s an actual story here with plenty to unravel, which is something I always enjoy in romantasy.

Overall, a really good read with an intriguing premise and enough political intrigue to keep me interested throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Leanne ReadbyHer]

Thank you NetGalley for this ALC. Unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. DNF at 38%

At 38%, I still only had the vaguest idea of what was actually going on. I found the story quite confusing, struggled to follow the different threads and just couldn’t connect with the characters or the plot.

Now, this could absolutely be my menopause brain refusing to cooperate, but I genuinely couldn’t make sense of enough of the story to feel invested in it.

The audiobook narrators were lovely, so no complaints there! Perhaps this is one I’d have better luck with in print, where I could take my time and flick back when needed.

I can absolutely see the ambition behind the story, but sadly this one just wasn’t for me. I know plenty of readers are loving it, so please don’t let my experience put you off!

[Leanna · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

Alexis Menard is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. Everything I’ve read by her has felt fresh and wonderfully unique, and I love the worlds she creates.

Vices & Virtues was such a fun read. The world trapped in Eternal Night, where people have to secure light to survive, was such a fascinating concept. I also loved the dual timelines and how the past and present stories gradually came together. Des and Osric were easy to care about, and their story had me laughing, aching for them, and completely invested.

I flew through this book and loved every minute of it. If you haven’t read Alexis Menard yet, go read her books!

[Nat ~ Pitucareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4🌟 2🌶️

I am so very torn on how to rate this book. Lets start with the good!

The world is so interesting and unique. We have night and day which are devided by Gods who control it, these same Gods give people powers and so there is an interesting magic system. I loved the overall plot and premise of this story. I honestly would have been happy staying in this world for a whole 2nd book. This was dual timeline (which I know many dont love) and I found myself invested in both which was so fascinating!

Osric sort of carried the story for me. I wish he didn’t say Angel so much though. He is caring and passionate and can really carry his own. Marsal was so clever and smart i really enjoyed her character! Des I felt was good but i wanted more baddie energy from her. This was a slow burn and the wait is worth it.

So many side characters! Loved the sweet sister dynamic. Basten 👀. What actually happened with Thames?

Where things went wrong. I found myself confused at times whenever the Gods were mentioned. I never fully understood their relationship and what Moab did exactly 🤔. Also why the blood sucking? Unsure 😐. Although I appreciated the ending for the sake of a HEA it felt a tad bit convenient. I felt a few things were left unanswered.

Overall I would recommend this to others just know its not perfect but the story was so worth it.

💕Thank you to the publisher for my eARC

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

The prologue. Phew! It was written so beautifully and was so haunting I was convinced I was about to read a heartbreaking tale of two souls destined to find their way back to each other. In a way they did, just not in the way I imagined, I guess. Not to say I didn’t like the book because the concept was phenomenal but, I liked the way the past chapters were written more but the way the story was evolving better in the present. Maybe I’m being a little too harsh, or perhaps I’ve read enough fantasy to have developed very specific expectations, but I couldn’t help wanting a little more from a story with such an incredible concept.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher Forever ( grand central publishing ) for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Arie · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

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

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

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

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

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

[Risa · Rating 3 out of 5]

More specifically, I’d give this book 4 stars for the first half, and 2 stars for the second half.


There’s a lot to love about this book, and it has so much potential! But its execution unfortunately fell flat as the story went on.


The dark world building is chef’s kiss. It has so many elements that I love—warring gods, elemental magic, shadow monsters, an underworld of catacombs, con artists, and more.


I loved Osric Hale, at first. He started off as a charming, cheeky con artist, one of my favorite character types. Then half way through the book, he started preaching inspirational quotes that felt out of character for him and thus took me out of the story. The motivational lines he was spewing left and right were fine out of context, but in context it didn’t really match his cheeky banter and con-artist ways. Thus, it came across as the author speaking rather than the character, and more specifically like the author was writing quotes that she expected to be highlighted in a TikTok reel or featured on Goodreads.

It’s a shame, because before Osric lost his way as a character, I was really loving every aspect of him.


The dual timelines were also interesting at first. Then it became very clear that the past timeline was much stronger than the present timeline. Events would happen in the present, and yet the suspense faded away as the story went on. In the past, however, I liked seeing Osric and Marsal’s relationship develop, and it was much stronger than what Osric had with Desiree.


In regards to the plot, I absolutely loved it in the first half; I was hooked at the beginning, as it started off strong. Then the story started to go downhill in the second half, to where there was this weird inconsistency of the overall pacing; it felt too slow a lot of the time, while certain important scenes also felt rushed (and certain character moments weren’t fully fleshed out). It also got to a point where the characters’ plans felt almost too easy, in terms of everything either working out exactly as planned, or random attackers showing up out of the blue to knock someone down for a bit (and then everything working out in the end anyway). The stakes started to suffer because the suspense didn’t last long enough in each scene. After a while, it became clear that the characters would always be able to talk or fight their way out of any predicament, and it started to get boring and repetitive as the story went on.

Also, the story started to rely on several plot conveniences in the latter half of the book, which I found to be disappointing and annoying.

The last chapter was really great though—I loved that ending a lot!


Ultimately, I enjoyed my time reading this book for the most part. I’m just disappointed because it started out as a standout romantasy read, and ended as a pretty cliche story (which some people may like). I can see myself reading more books from this author in the future though, if the story interests me.





NOTES I TOOK WHILE READING:

⁃ The prologue with the man (I assume Osric) is compelling.

⁃ I liked both Osric and Desiree’s opening chapters as well. I don’t have much more to say other than the gritty underground dealings and maneuvers are the kind of story elements I love!

⁃ I also love the world building, where the gods control whether it’s day all the time or night all the time. I’m very intrigued!

⁃ Oh, and the writing is good and easy to follow too! So far so good after a strong, compelling opening!



⁃ 10% in and I’m calling it now: I bet Desiree was Marsal in the former life (ie soul reincarnate).

⁃ Oh! I wonder if the burned in the prologue belonged to Marsal, who is now Desiree?!

⁃ (I’m only guessing this because I know going in the “I’ll find you in every lifetime” is a theme of this book, like the author’s dedication to her husband and the prologue.)


⁃ So Des is “witch” and Osric is “Lich”… looks like the nicknames rhyme


⁃ So Osric has the power of fire after selling his soul to the Sun King. I’m not quite sure what the text means by he’ll be reborn on his Day and his side of the city…
⁃ Also, when he says all summoners sold their soul for the gift of their magic; so does that mean Des did too?


⁃ The explanation for the what the Aether god once did wasn’t clearly worded. However, I like the idea of the power of a god being passed down to the Inquisitor—that can only spell disaster.


⁃ 18%: I liked Osric’s past chapters up until this point: He finishes the job and sets the ship on fire. He goes back to save Marsal after she rushes in to get her crate. They are both arrested by the Inquisitor. The Inquisitor offers to pardon them if they can find the missing Sun King in forty days. (So it sounds like maybe Osric didn’t kill the king, he was just blamed for it.)


⁃ I liked the scene of Des trying to buy supplies from Gemma, onto for Gemma to drink all the water in front of her because she thinks Des is rich!

⁃ I will say though that having the village people scavenger for things like middle fingers and toilet seats for armor, and whatever Jane and Gemma intended to use Des’ body parts for, feels a bit dark for nothing more than shock value. I like dark vibes through.

⁃ 21%: Oh, so it seems Osric can now communicate with Des telepathically? A bit random, but I can believe it given they are connected from Des raising his soul earlier.


⁃ 23%: Aww, I like that scene of Osric distracting Des (whose foot was stuck in a hunter’s trap) with what I am assuming is a memeory of his, back when there was sunlight. I bet the woman is Marsal (who I’m willing to bet is who Des was in her prior lifetime).

⁃ So it appears that Osric has access to what Des is feeling and her mind to send her memories too, interesting!


⁃ So Osric admits to killing the Sun King, but says he didn’t break the world. It makes me wonder if the solution for getting rid of this eternal night is to kill the Night Queen!



⁃ I still like the dark vibes, like Osric living in the catacombs. And also Marsala living by the sea is a nice contrast.



⁃ 30% in: I’ve been enjoying this story up until this point. But now the details about the Lesser Nations controlling different things like the weather and secrets and more… it almost feels like too much, unnecessary for this already intriguing world.


⁃ Interesting that Marsal’s father was a Soul Sooner, like Des is today.


⁃ Oooh, I’m so scores that Osric, Marsal, Thames, and Basten are going to do a mini heist!

⁃ I also love that Osric will now be staying in Marsal’s extra bedroom.


⁃ 32% in: While I don’t dislike the scene where a wraith possesses Osric’s body, and we learn Des is a sister witch (“the last Aetherborn”)… It’s slowing down the pacing tremendously, and it’s reading like an info-dump through these paragraphs and paragraphs of history this wraith is spewing. I wish there was a more compelling way for Des to uncover all this.

⁃ How convenient that after giving paragraphs of history, the wraith didn’t have time to tell Des who Osric really is. It just feels predictable, whereas the book has been so compelling up until that scene.


⁃ 33% Yeah concisely Des’s soul is Marsal’s, and the lover she was freed by in the prologue was Osric!


⁃ 36%: Wait, when Osric gets his papers to get into the city, Des says they’re one step closer to “finding the king, saving the sister, and restarting the Cycle.” I didn’t realize they were looking for the King as well? I thought that was just in the past (Osric’s POV) timeline? (This is an ARC, so maybe that’s just a typo?)


⁃ 38%: While I like the idea of Osric’s crew using nicknames, I find it strange that the Inquisitor called him Hawk, and I think the barkeep might have as well… but it seemed like they knew he was Osric Hale as well? I don’t know, the Hawk codename just didn’t seem so secretive up until now.


⁃ 38%: So from what I gather, when you are reincarnated, you keep your powers you get from the god. But if you’re resurrected, you lost your powers from the god. I think?


⁃ Also, it appears Thames has shadow magic and Basten has electricity magic.


⁃ So it didn’t end up being much of a heist, but I appreciate that the manifest they were looking for was as taken by the High General before Osric could find it.


⁃ 39%: I’m sorry, but that’s random as hell. We went from Matteo wanting Marsal to just go home and forget about Andres, to Matteo asking for something in return from Marsal (sex presumably) now that she’s all alone. It’s literally a repeat of what we saw with Des’ opening chapter. (And even if Des and Marsal share a soul, it’s repetitive in a distracting way, and it’s clearly just giving Osric a reason to play the hero.)

⁃ Ugh I hate how this book is slowly starting to melt into an unoriginal romantasy… it’s started so strong. But I’ll keep the faith that it will get better later on.

⁃ Having said that, I like that the new plan is to try and track down Andres (who might be at this warehouse). It’s a good pivot. But then again, why are we assuming that Matteo didn’t lie to them?


⁃ 40%: Oof, Marsal traded Osric (Hawk) in exchange for Andres. That’s wild! But she said he should trust her—I can’t wait to see how she gets Osric out of this!

⁃ Yeesh, Valerie is not messing around with that hacksaw!


⁃ I think I missed why the warehouse exploded after they spoke to the Sun King (though I assume it was his fault?). It’s nice that Andreas sacrificed himself so Osric and Marsal could get away…but I’m not sure how believable it was, even if Andreas was beat up. I feel like characters are sacrificing themselves just so the main two can continue on, and it felt out of character for the tough guy Andreas has been up until now.


⁃ Ngl, I’m at 48% and I’ve been struggling for weeks to pick this book back up. A part of me loves it; another part of me is bored at times.


⁃ I’m now at 58%, in the middle of chapter 19. And I’m realizing that I much prefer the past timeline to the present timeline. The present timeline feels like they are just meandering around at this point.

⁃ Also, I love the banter between Osric and Marsal (and between Osric and Desiree in the beginning). However, it seems that suddenly Osric has become like a walking, talking motivational speaker, where he saves these really inspirational lines to the girls out of the blue, which feel out of character a lot of the time given he’s this charming, cheeky con artist. The lines themselves are great out of context; but it feels like the author is really hammering home and spelling out various messages through Osric’s inspirational dialogue. That is starting to take me out of the story.

⁃ But I do love the vibes—of course the gods and the magic and what not, but we’ve also now entered the catacombs. So this book really is for me in terms of the world building! I think we’re starting to lose the plot when it comes to the characters though, specifically in the present day timeline.


⁃ I’m also starting to get annoyed that we switch between timelines just as one timeline’s plot is getting interesting.



⁃ Ugh the pacing is really slowing down. Like I appreciate Osric fighting Ardun, but it felt unnecessary and like it was just so we could have a fight kind tending scene with Marsal in the catacombs.

⁃ I do like that the leader of the Underworld, Cress, using sign language. Love the rep!

⁃ I like the twist that Osric’s father is the High General. And now there’s apparently an assassination job for him, that Ardun got. (Fine, but also I feel like this is such a random subplot to introduce 2/3 into the book?)

⁃ Also, maybe it’s just me but I’ve been struggling to differentiate between the Inquisitor and the High General throughout most of this book. I now know they are two different people, but I don’t feel like either has really been fleshed out enough in terms of their role/purpose in this world.


⁃ Also love that rep that Des’ sisterhood boys and girls (when she asked if Osric has any siblings)!


⁃ Ooh so we learn in the present that the Inquistitor Bastien is Osric’s friend Basten, who became immortal thanks to Queen Caelen. And the Sun King’s body is no longer where Osric left it, so it seems that Basten was the one who removed it (in knowing where Osric hid it), and that’s why he then became immortal.

⁃ I will say that Des’ father having a secret entrance to the catacombs is random, and I’m still not sure how Osric knew that the house had it?

⁃ Also, how we went from Osric being pissed that the Sun King’s body is missing, to Osric and Des making out feels… like not the right time? They are now on a serious time crunch to find the body for the sake of Des’ sister and even just Des keeping the bond with Osric. But no, they just decide to make out and confess their feelings for each other in the catacombs…huh???


⁃ So Ardun appeared and killed the High General before Osric could free him. Fine… I wish Osric hadn’t trusted his father but fine. What bothers me though is that Osric just disposed of Ardun’s body, knowing he would wake up and tell Cress everything, rather than just killing him. Ardun has been nothing but trouble, and I don’t understand why someone like Osric, who was willing to shoot Ardun had his revolver’s gunpowder not been wet, wouldn’t kill him. It just doesn’t make sense.

⁃ Also, I can understand Osric’s hesitation either way killing his father (though I don’t think his reasoning for keeping him alive was explained well at all), I don’t think Osric’s backstory was explained well enough on page. Like yes his mother left him, and it seems his father let prostitutes stay in his mother’s old room. But I’m still not entirely sure why Osric despises his father so much and wants him dead? Like sure he’s a jerk I guess…but he seemed so passionate about how this man destroyed his left / made him Corrupt, but the reasons why didn’t come across clearly on the page.

⁃ As a result, the death of Osric’s father wasn’t as impactful to me as a reader as it could’ve been. (Like I think the High General showed up once to steal the manuscript before Osric and Marsal could get to it… but that was pretty much it? So the reader has no real ties to this man, and Osric’s history with this man also wasn’t fleshed out well enough for me to feel Osric’s conflicted feelings toward the guy.)



⁃ So Marsal’s parents created some moondrop flower that glows, so it’s like a magical light that doesn’t need a sol summoner. And that was on the ship. It’s interesting.


⁃ I’m at 75%, meaning I have a quarter left of this eARC. And I’m now curious to see how this standalone fantasy will wrap up, but I honestly feel like we spent like last 15-20% introducing new plot threads, rather than heading towards some resolutions.



⁃ That’s nice that Hamich took Osric’s last name. And bit convenient that they ran into Henry Hale, Hamich’s grandson, in the catacombs. And apparent Des’ father has been sending money to the rebellion, so they let her go once they gave her name. All too convenient, but a nice touch.


⁃ So Osric killed the Sun King (with the assist from Basten) out of fear the king would kill Marsal. Fine, but that scene was rather anti-climatic. It was far too easy for Osric, a sunborn, to kill his own god. Even if the sun king was weaker than usual.


⁃ So the Inquisitor is Moab, the Aether god. That explains why he lied and said Marsal didn’t have any powers. I like that.
⁃ What I don’t like is him using his dying breath to speak in riddles. If he really wanted Osric to save the world, he would be clear with him.


⁃ I’m confused. Did the Queen curse the Inquisitor’s body? So when Marsal tried to resurrect him, she died??
⁃ Also, what was the purpose of Marsal making it do Osric no longer served the Sun king? (And why the hell was it so easy to undo? And if Osric could undo his servitude, why couldn’t Marsal do the same?)

⁃ Wait—so the Queen didn’t know Marx was Moab? Then why was Marsal cursed???

⁃ Yeah… the scene of Marsal’s death was poorly written, unfortunately


⁃ Okay, so someone who is not the Queen poisoned Marsal. And I guess the Queen knew that, and let her die? It still feels convoluted.

⁃ Oof, dying in jail from starvation is brutal. Poor Osric.

⁃ Yes, of course Des and Marsal share a soul!
⁃ But I’m again confused. If one witch was saved from the Preservation, then what does that make Loren? What is the definition of a witch?


⁃ Oooh, it was Marsal who was poisoned, by Basten. Hence why she was sick. That was not clear at all? Until Inquisitor Basten admitted to it in the present timeline.


⁃ And Basten killed the Inquisitor. It seems Basten had been working with the night queen all this time.


⁃ Olay so Basten healed Des and tried to brag in with her to raise more sol summoners to serve Caleen or whatever. But surprise, there’s sol summoners who were not burned.
⁃ I don’t get that though—yes Caleen wants more people to commit to her, but wouldn’t she want the souls of people who already worship her to come back too? I don’t get it.


⁃ Very convenient that the Undercity has had this rebellion that is distracting the Queen’s guard. The plot conveniences in the latter half of this book are annoying.


⁃ I appreciate that Osric had Des break the bond between them because he’s not of this world. And Des raising the dead is cool… but I find it hard to believe she was able to raise so many dead people after her bond with Osric alone was draining her.

⁃ So Basten was locked in the crypt with a vial of poison, a nod to the fact that he poisoned Marsal. I like that in theory, but why did Osric have that vial on him? And didn’t Basten have lightning power, or dark powers (whatever he used to stab Des at the wedding)? Couldn’t he use that against Des to escape the crypt?

⁃ So the Spawn are the summoners that Caleen controls? Those who fled I guess…not quite sure what that means. Did she track them down and turn them into monsters?


⁃ I appreciate Loren stepping in to help Des. And I appreciate that Caleen turned off the fire so she wouldn’t burn. But I’m not sure how Des so easily realized that she was at the gate, just from looking at the half-moon and a symbol on the ground…
⁃ Honestly, a lot of the revelations/conclusions that characters make throughout the book seem out of left field.


⁃ So Des visits the Aether. Learns that both Caleen and Heli have passed over. And the day and night will go to the number 24 hours which is nice.
⁃ I’m confused. The gods kept souls from crossing over, where Moab could free them of their corruptions and they could be born again. But what about when the bodies were burned—didn’t souls come back then?


⁃ Okay, that ending was adorable! Three years later, Des runs into a painter at the market named Raven, who died for three whole minutes a few years ago. And he’s painted memories from Osric’s old life. And he called her an angel. That was so sweet, and I would love to read another book about Raven and Des falling in love!
⁃ (Also Des now living with her sister Loren and her beau Paedon is cute too!)


Final Thoughts

⁃ The first half of this book was excellent! I absolutely loved it, and I thought this would be an easy five star read for me! The world, the magic system, the characters—everything was working for me at the start of this book!

⁃ The second half had some glimmers of good moments, but was poorly executed overall. Certain scenes felt rushed, poorly explained, or just down right cliche. And the number of plot conveniences was overwhelming and annoying. The only exception was the last chapter; that was adorable.

⁃ I know this is a romantasy, but I felt like this book differentiated itself in the first half, and then fell into romantasy cliches in the second half. And that was such a bummer.