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The Virtue and the Vixen Volume One
Not yet published
Expected 29 May 26A doomed rescue. An irrevocable bond. A darkness centuries in the waiting.
Plunge into this haunting, tangled odyssey of a disgraced noble, a black widow, and the devastating secrets and chilling magic binding them.
Elloven Hawthorne flees for her life after murdering her noble husband and four of his friends. Never mind the reasons; no one will care. No one ever has.
When a mob seizes her carriage, Jesstin Skylark intervenes. She’s grateful—if confused—because he looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Then he shocks her with an invitation: an evening in the infamous village of vice, where he runs a tavern catering to illicit desires. She shouldn’t accept, but she does. What begins as a scandalous escape ends with Jesstin condemned to hang for a crime he didn’t commit.
Elloven exploits a legal loophole in a desperate bid to save him. There’s just one catch.
She must bind herself to him. For life.
The bond can’t be undone by magic—at least not magic from their world.
Convinced the answer lies in her ancestral lands, which have whispered to her for years, they set out for a place she’s never seen with a man who now wishes they’d never met.
But Jesstin has a secret. Two years ago, he murdered Elloven’s brother. And he carries a dark magic of his own: necromancy, though he doesn’t yet know the name for it.
None of this is coincidence. Every piece is part of a sinister design centuries in the making.
And the shadowed mountain necromancers have been patiently awaiting their arrival for a very, very long time…
The Virtue and the Vixen Volume 1 is a gothic, dark, romantic fantasy set in the Kingdom of the White Sea Universe, featuring a character first introduced in The Altruist and the Assassin, as well as one readers are meeting for the first time. It is the third and penultimate story in the Guardians Cycle of The Book of All Things.
The Book of All Things is a series of fantasy romance tales set in the vibrant, epic world first introduced by USA Today Bestselling Author Sarah M. Cradit in the Kingdom of the White Sea trilogy.
Plunge into this haunting, tangled odyssey of a disgraced noble, a black widow, and the devastating secrets and chilling magic binding them.
Elloven Hawthorne flees for her life after murdering her noble husband and four of his friends. Never mind the reasons; no one will care. No one ever has.
When a mob seizes her carriage, Jesstin Skylark intervenes. She’s grateful—if confused—because he looks like he’d rather be anywhere else.
Then he shocks her with an invitation: an evening in the infamous village of vice, where he runs a tavern catering to illicit desires. She shouldn’t accept, but she does. What begins as a scandalous escape ends with Jesstin condemned to hang for a crime he didn’t commit.
Elloven exploits a legal loophole in a desperate bid to save him. There’s just one catch.
She must bind herself to him. For life.
The bond can’t be undone by magic—at least not magic from their world.
Convinced the answer lies in her ancestral lands, which have whispered to her for years, they set out for a place she’s never seen with a man who now wishes they’d never met.
But Jesstin has a secret. Two years ago, he murdered Elloven’s brother. And he carries a dark magic of his own: necromancy, though he doesn’t yet know the name for it.
None of this is coincidence. Every piece is part of a sinister design centuries in the making.
And the shadowed mountain necromancers have been patiently awaiting their arrival for a very, very long time…
The Virtue and the Vixen Volume 1 is a gothic, dark, romantic fantasy set in the Kingdom of the White Sea Universe, featuring a character first introduced in The Altruist and the Assassin, as well as one readers are meeting for the first time. It is the third and penultimate story in the Guardians Cycle of The Book of All Things.
The Book of All Things is a series of fantasy romance tales set in the vibrant, epic world first introduced by USA Today Bestselling Author Sarah M. Cradit in the Kingdom of the White Sea trilogy.
361 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 29, 2026
About the author
Sarah M. Cradit
99 books900 followersSarah is the USA Today and International Bestselling Author of over forty contemporary and epic fantasy stories, and the creator of the Kingdom of the White Sea and Saga of Crimson & Clover universes.
Born a geek, Sarah spends her time crafting rich and multilayered worlds, obsessing over history, playing her retribution paladin (and sometimes destruction warlock), and settling provocative Tolkien debates, such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, she's been to over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration, and is always planning her next adventure.
Sarah and her husband live in a beautiful corner of SE Pennsylvania with their three tiny benevolent pug dictators.
Connect with Sarah:
sarahmcradit.com
Instagram: @sarahmcradit
Facebook: @sarahmcradit
Born a geek, Sarah spends her time crafting rich and multilayered worlds, obsessing over history, playing her retribution paladin (and sometimes destruction warlock), and settling provocative Tolkien debates, such as why the Great Eagles are not Gandalf's personal taxi service. Passionate about travel, she's been to over twenty countries collecting sparks of inspiration, and is always planning her next adventure.
Sarah and her husband live in a beautiful corner of SE Pennsylvania with their three tiny benevolent pug dictators.
Connect with Sarah:
sarahmcradit.com
Instagram: @sarahmcradit
Facebook: @sarahmcradit
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 7, 2026
The Virtue & the Vixen is the newest addition to The Book of Life’s interconnected standalone series. It’s also a direct sequel to The Altruist & the Assassin.
Volume 1 follows Jesstin & Elloven. I love both of them as main characters! Jesstin has his own moral code he follows as a way to stop himself from becoming his adoptive or biological father. Elloven just wants freedom, especially after her abusive marriage ends when she kills her husband. Elloven’s strength definitely shows up as she keeps doing her best to survive and create a life of her own.
I have a soft spot for marriage of convenience / unintentional bonds, so “the bonding to save you from death” moment that happens was definitely one of my favorite moments. It really sets up Elloven and Jesstin’s dynamic- she can’t let him die, so she sacrifices her newfound freedom BUT he doesn’t want to take her freedom away and he never asked to be saved. Their slowburn this book is really making me need part 2!
There’s also a pretty solid family / found family dynamic with Jesstin and his loved ones. Rhiain & Asterin & Sesto really are a great family / support group.
I’m really not sure how I feel about Taven, but he does make an interesting character. Sesto is great - he doesn’t let Jesstin get away with shutting people out and is a fun character!
This novel definitely has a little bit of everything, especially with the journey that takes the group to the fae-like lands of Elloven’s family / ancestors.
This is part 1, and it does end on a cliffhanger. But I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Many thanks to Sarah M. Cradit & Luna Blooms LLC for the eARC! I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the street team!
*Please Check out TW/CW as there are heavier themes and events in this - I’ve listed the author’s list below*
Volume 1 follows Jesstin & Elloven. I love both of them as main characters! Jesstin has his own moral code he follows as a way to stop himself from becoming his adoptive or biological father. Elloven just wants freedom, especially after her abusive marriage ends when she kills her husband. Elloven’s strength definitely shows up as she keeps doing her best to survive and create a life of her own.
I have a soft spot for marriage of convenience / unintentional bonds, so “the bonding to save you from death” moment that happens was definitely one of my favorite moments. It really sets up Elloven and Jesstin’s dynamic- she can’t let him die, so she sacrifices her newfound freedom BUT he doesn’t want to take her freedom away and he never asked to be saved. Their slowburn this book is really making me need part 2!
There’s also a pretty solid family / found family dynamic with Jesstin and his loved ones. Rhiain & Asterin & Sesto really are a great family / support group.
I’m really not sure how I feel about Taven, but he does make an interesting character. Sesto is great - he doesn’t let Jesstin get away with shutting people out and is a fun character!
This novel definitely has a little bit of everything, especially with the journey that takes the group to the fae-like lands of Elloven’s family / ancestors.
This is part 1, and it does end on a cliffhanger. But I cannot wait to see what happens next!
Many thanks to Sarah M. Cradit & Luna Blooms LLC for the eARC! I’m really grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the street team!
*Please Check out TW/CW as there are heavier themes and events in this - I’ve listed the author’s list below*
Review of advance copy received from Author
This interconnected series is a hard YES PLEASE! I have read and enjoyed each "segment" of different characters, unique and diverse, following them avidly, these books are unputdownable immersion! The hunger gnawing inside me could only be sated by devouring this book. From inception to conclusion, this was a riveting read. Ms Cradit takes storytelling to a new level. This book has it all in abundance, with prose that settles like a whisper in ones soul, each word a masterpiece. Forced marriage, unpredictable powers, hard hitting emotions, this complex and dark tale, of tortured souls, unique characters and an even more unique magic system, set around two characters shrouded with suspicion, reputations in tatters, severely compromised, locked by rumours and accusations, unfolds into an adventure of a lifetime. For them as well as for me. Angst, hidden truths, peer through every page, attaching to my heart, pulling all the strings taut. This dark tale is full of manipulative forces, even darker magic and midnight black intentions. A story this author had me gaping and gasping, one of beauty, countered with one of horror. Exceptionally riveting. The next installment can't come fast enough!
There are three vital characters in this book. Their lives are inter-entwined, all carry secrets, all are victims in one way or another. Ellovan, abused, tormented, for years at the hands of her husband, finally snaps, unleashing a force within her she has no idea how to control. She flees...but nowhere is safe, not even the sanctuary of her home. Gads did the author play my heart like a violin! I was ready to sweep in and carry Ellovan to safety. But there is no safety, she's being hunted to pay for her "crime". What she did was a fitting retribution for crimes done against HER! Her fear of her power, prompt her to travel to find her people, much to the dismay of her mother. Jesstin and she share many intimate moments, not the sexual kind but the heartfelt kind. I honestly was so in love with both of them, their banter and they understanding of each other was gorgeous. Ellovan's words to Jesstin, sum it up perfectly, "You look at me and see a woman who’s been abused and wounded. You see the scars.”
Jesstin, an outcast, drowns his greatest shame and secret in alcohol and women in the tavern he owns, but he cannot escape the spectre, once his friend, the brother of Ellovan, who met his end by Jesstin's hand. What Jesstin sees as a curse, turns out to be a gift. A gift coveted by others. My heart bled for him, his entire stance is a facade which he hides so well. He's bright, he's smart and in so much internal pain, it matters not for him whether he lives or dies. He's impetus, impulsive and reckless. Not with Ellovan though. Tasked with seeing her home safely, she has a profound effect on him. Jesstin is his own worse enemy, he's built a concrete wall around himself but even concrete can crack and oh my heck, the author took a chisel to break off piece by piece. I was agog at how Ms Cradit opened up all the characters, the depth she gave them, the emotions she infused in them, just wowza!
Then there's Tavern...The intrigue, the burning desire to know exactly what Taven is up to, was overtaking my senses, feeling pity for him alternated with my disgust for him and his manipulation. Delusional at best, crazy at worst, the voices in his head direct him. But... the author kept throwing me off, I felt as though I were battling against a storm, blown onto way, then the next. I honestly didn't know what to make of him, is he villain or victim, so expertly did Ms Cradit mask his character. But, in truth, I really really didn't like him! The fates of all three are bound in ways none could predict.
Meeting her father's people, her people, was illuminating, and entirely nothing like she'd envisaged. The revelations, the things she learns, are mind-blowing. It should have been a place to learn about her magic, who she really was, what she really was, but geez, a pit of vipers can't hold a candle to the inhabitants of Rivenholde! What incredible penmanship! My head was spinning, I had no idea where I'd land, I had no idea of what would happen, all I did know was that everyone had their own agenda...
And Ellovan, together with Jesstin were well and truly caught up in the lies, the deception, the manipulation. Lexsea and Ryquin, made my blood boil! And gentle, sweet Daire, made me weep.
It's virtually impossible to capture the essence of this book. There were so many nuances, there were so many layers, there was so much deception. Ms Cradit, superbly crafted an intricate plot and subtle nuances that took me by surprise, a lot! This is a very complex, layered read. It shines a light at the darkness that resides within, it weaves and spins a rawness of emotions. It offers hope and friendship, it's so well written, it's so compelling, each character has a story of their own and lordie do I need the next book, urgently!!!!
There are three vital characters in this book. Their lives are inter-entwined, all carry secrets, all are victims in one way or another. Ellovan, abused, tormented, for years at the hands of her husband, finally snaps, unleashing a force within her she has no idea how to control. She flees...but nowhere is safe, not even the sanctuary of her home. Gads did the author play my heart like a violin! I was ready to sweep in and carry Ellovan to safety. But there is no safety, she's being hunted to pay for her "crime". What she did was a fitting retribution for crimes done against HER! Her fear of her power, prompt her to travel to find her people, much to the dismay of her mother. Jesstin and she share many intimate moments, not the sexual kind but the heartfelt kind. I honestly was so in love with both of them, their banter and they understanding of each other was gorgeous. Ellovan's words to Jesstin, sum it up perfectly, "You look at me and see a woman who’s been abused and wounded. You see the scars.”
Jesstin, an outcast, drowns his greatest shame and secret in alcohol and women in the tavern he owns, but he cannot escape the spectre, once his friend, the brother of Ellovan, who met his end by Jesstin's hand. What Jesstin sees as a curse, turns out to be a gift. A gift coveted by others. My heart bled for him, his entire stance is a facade which he hides so well. He's bright, he's smart and in so much internal pain, it matters not for him whether he lives or dies. He's impetus, impulsive and reckless. Not with Ellovan though. Tasked with seeing her home safely, she has a profound effect on him. Jesstin is his own worse enemy, he's built a concrete wall around himself but even concrete can crack and oh my heck, the author took a chisel to break off piece by piece. I was agog at how Ms Cradit opened up all the characters, the depth she gave them, the emotions she infused in them, just wowza!
Then there's Tavern...The intrigue, the burning desire to know exactly what Taven is up to, was overtaking my senses, feeling pity for him alternated with my disgust for him and his manipulation. Delusional at best, crazy at worst, the voices in his head direct him. But... the author kept throwing me off, I felt as though I were battling against a storm, blown onto way, then the next. I honestly didn't know what to make of him, is he villain or victim, so expertly did Ms Cradit mask his character. But, in truth, I really really didn't like him! The fates of all three are bound in ways none could predict.
Meeting her father's people, her people, was illuminating, and entirely nothing like she'd envisaged. The revelations, the things she learns, are mind-blowing. It should have been a place to learn about her magic, who she really was, what she really was, but geez, a pit of vipers can't hold a candle to the inhabitants of Rivenholde! What incredible penmanship! My head was spinning, I had no idea where I'd land, I had no idea of what would happen, all I did know was that everyone had their own agenda...
And Ellovan, together with Jesstin were well and truly caught up in the lies, the deception, the manipulation. Lexsea and Ryquin, made my blood boil! And gentle, sweet Daire, made me weep.
It's virtually impossible to capture the essence of this book. There were so many nuances, there were so many layers, there was so much deception. Ms Cradit, superbly crafted an intricate plot and subtle nuances that took me by surprise, a lot! This is a very complex, layered read. It shines a light at the darkness that resides within, it weaves and spins a rawness of emotions. It offers hope and friendship, it's so well written, it's so compelling, each character has a story of their own and lordie do I need the next book, urgently!!!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Virtue and the Vixen is a third person two book duology set in the Guardians cycle of Sarah Cradit's Kingdom of the White Sea. The first book can be read as a standalone, but if you are like me, you'll love seeing Rhiain and Asterin again and want to revisit The Altruist and the Assassin. This will cause you to put down The Virtue and the Vixen for 3 days to relive Rhiain and Asterin's story and remind yourself who Jesstin is.
But I digress...
Cradit drops the reader right into the heart of Elloven's story. She's on the run after committing a shocking murder spree and her magic is really intriguing. I loved how Cradit dripped the details out through dialogue and discovery. Characters are introduced and we get to know them through the story, not a massive info dump. The magic system is chaotic and interesting and I liked the hints at a deeper lore.
I really appreciate how Cradit tells a story. Everything and everyone is fleshed out. The world exists and is believable. Cradit's world-building feels full and even if something pertaining to a world is not mentioned, you know Cradit has thought about it. The characters do things that are self-serving, but not all the time. Cradit really spends time developing characters and their motivations. There are no stock mustache-twirling villains and there's no throwaway scenes. The romantic moments are slow building and Elloven and Jesstin's slow fall into each other worked on multiple levels. And Taven might just be my favorite character. I love character growth in someone who's presented to be the antithesis of the protagonist.
Just a couple of things I struggled with that led me to not giving a full 5 stars. Jesstin's age of 19 is a struggle for me to believe. He's seen a lot and done a lot and I get that age works differently in fantastical settings. But I struggled to fully buy his jadedness. The other issue I had was the last third of the book. It was too many events shoved into a small time frame and it was almost overwhelming. I had to stop reading and go back a few times just to make sure that I understood the events.
And then that ending! You'll definitely want book 2 in your hot little hands immediately!
Thank you to Sarah Cradit for the arc for review purposes.
But I digress...
Cradit drops the reader right into the heart of Elloven's story. She's on the run after committing a shocking murder spree and her magic is really intriguing. I loved how Cradit dripped the details out through dialogue and discovery. Characters are introduced and we get to know them through the story, not a massive info dump. The magic system is chaotic and interesting and I liked the hints at a deeper lore.
I really appreciate how Cradit tells a story. Everything and everyone is fleshed out. The world exists and is believable. Cradit's world-building feels full and even if something pertaining to a world is not mentioned, you know Cradit has thought about it. The characters do things that are self-serving, but not all the time. Cradit really spends time developing characters and their motivations. There are no stock mustache-twirling villains and there's no throwaway scenes. The romantic moments are slow building and Elloven and Jesstin's slow fall into each other worked on multiple levels. And Taven might just be my favorite character. I love character growth in someone who's presented to be the antithesis of the protagonist.
Just a couple of things I struggled with that led me to not giving a full 5 stars. Jesstin's age of 19 is a struggle for me to believe. He's seen a lot and done a lot and I get that age works differently in fantastical settings. But I struggled to fully buy his jadedness. The other issue I had was the last third of the book. It was too many events shoved into a small time frame and it was almost overwhelming. I had to stop reading and go back a few times just to make sure that I understood the events.
And then that ending! You'll definitely want book 2 in your hot little hands immediately!
Thank you to Sarah Cradit for the arc for review purposes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am absolutely floored at the world building Cradit has put into this series - each book adds layers onto the world while somehow being unique and lush in its own right. The Vixen & the Virtue, so far, is no different. It was fun to reconnect with Rhiain and Asterin, they are some of my favourites in the series, and I'm happy we get Jesstin's story in this book! The journey to an intriguing new location, with new characters who have cool magic but don't seem fully trustworthy, along with the tension between Jesstin and Elloven (and Taven 😒) had me engrossed in the story the entire way. The tone of this book is a bit darker and a little haunting, which I am totally here for! Though, be sure to check content warnings. From Elloven and Jesstin's back stories, to how their fates meet and collide, the yearning and emotion, all the way to the twist at the end of part 1... The Vixen & the Virtue is gearing up to be utterly tragic in the best possible way. Whether you are after high fantasy world building, political intrigue, romance that conquers the odds, characters that grip you, are complex and have depth... The Book of All Things series has something for everyone! I can't recommend it enough.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I love returning to the White Kingdom for new stories and this one really had me on the edge of my seat. The tension, the danger, the intrigue and all the lies and deception made this into a great story.
.
Jesstin is a character with a lot of depth and so many hidden sides, even from himself at times that it was great to read the story from his perspective. I just want to wrap him in a blanket and tell him all will be fine.
Elloven is so strong, all the trauma she has endured broke my heart. Yet she continues on and has some great character development.
Taven is a terrible person. I could not care less if he lives or dies.
.
The plot was so full of lies and intrigue that I couldn't tell what happens next and there were so many twists and turns that had me spinning.
.
The ending of Volume 1 is quite sudden and I can't wait to see how this story continues!
.
I received an advanced copy by the author which I am so thankful for. This review is freely given and are my honest thoughts.
.
Jesstin is a character with a lot of depth and so many hidden sides, even from himself at times that it was great to read the story from his perspective. I just want to wrap him in a blanket and tell him all will be fine.
Elloven is so strong, all the trauma she has endured broke my heart. Yet she continues on and has some great character development.
Taven is a terrible person. I could not care less if he lives or dies.
.
The plot was so full of lies and intrigue that I couldn't tell what happens next and there were so many twists and turns that had me spinning.
.
The ending of Volume 1 is quite sudden and I can't wait to see how this story continues!
.
I received an advanced copy by the author which I am so thankful for. This review is freely given and are my honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am SO HAPPY to have been accepted to read an early copy of this as an ebook! I have loved Cradit from the first time I read Altruist and the Assassin back in 2021. And this completion of the trilogy is so far falling into perfect place. This one has really expanded the world and feels a lot less isolated than the first two. I love how different all of these books feel from each other but how they all relate to each other in small ways. I really abhor Taven, he's sooo gross and I hate how he can't see how yucky he is.
I feel like we could have delved a lot deeper into Elloven's past though with how traumatic it is!
I can't wait to see what Part 2 is going to bring, Part 1 ended on such a bang!
I feel like we could have delved a lot deeper into Elloven's past though with how traumatic it is!
I can't wait to see what Part 2 is going to bring, Part 1 ended on such a bang!
Review of advance copy received from Author
All the complex and heavy-hitting emotions in this first volume of the next installment in an overall interconnected series of dark fantasy at its best representation. This book is filled with all the angst, hidden secrets, and a unique magic system to hold the reader captive from beginning to end. At times, I was left holding my breath and other times I was shocked to my core with the revelations and obstacles set before the characters. Cradit never ceases to amaze me with her descriptive writing abilities. Can hardly wait for the next volume.
Review of advance copy received from Author
One thing about Sarah? She knows how to reel me in! I can’t get enough of her writing. This book was the perfect balance of action and romance. Elloven and Jess? Chefs kiss 😘😮💨and as always the magic 🪄 keeps you intrigued. If you haven’t started her catalog i recommend starting with “The claw and the Crowned”. 4.5 stars ⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
*The Virtue and the Vixen* is a gothic, dark fantasy romance that serves as the third and penultimate story in the **Guardians Cycle** of the broader *Book of All Things* series. Set in the Kingdom of the White Sea universe, the story is split into two volumes, both released in early 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh the complex ways Jesstin and Elloven's lives intersect has been deliciously woven throughout this first volume!
I absolutely love the tension, the pain, and the journey!
I absolutely love the tension, the pain, and the journey!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews