The Whispering Fang

The War of Nine Kings #2

by Lili K. Buckley

"A dense and emotionally charged fantasy that’s heavy on longing and lore." —Kirkus Reviews
In the aftermath of the battle, Waenia Wyvarian is no longer a princess riding to war. She is its prize.
Taken by Luvian Veskar, the enemy she feared, Waenia is forced into a journey she never chose, one that draws her deeper into the man behind the war. Along the road to his hidden camp, hatred gives way to understanding. Fractured memories begin to stir of another world and another life, where she and Luvian were not enemies but something far more perilous. A past she cannot fully remember, yet cannot escape. Luvian is not what she believed, but neither is he safe.
Behind them, Darrion Rhoane follows her fading trail across the kingdom, racing against shifting armies, false paths, and a growing darkness.
The war changes when the Whispering Fang is found. In the hands of Malvaris Wyvarian, the dagger awakens a power tied to the Lystrians, a force that consumes and commands. As the king weakens and the throne falls under Malvaris’s control, Thiros begins to unravel from within. Villages fall silent. The dead do not stay dead. The truth about the Lystrians, their purpose and their hunger, comes to light.
At Luvian’s camp, alliances shift and truths surface that shake everything Waenia thought she knew. The past presses closer, revealing a bond neither of them chose to keep, yet neither was able to sever. Luvian struggles against it, torn between what he remembers and what he sees, as she stands beside another. One by one, the heirs of the Nine Kingdoms begin to converge around her in ways long foretold, each bringing their own motivations and secrets that complicate Waenia's journey. But with Malvaris rising and the Fang calling to the dark, Waenia can no longer return home as a daughter.
If she is to save her father and free Thiros from the blood tightening around its crown, she must choose a new path.
One that may cost her everything.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance

468 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2026

About the author

Lili K. Buckley is an Armenian-born author of epic fantasy whose work is shaped by a lifelong fascination with history, poetry, and the enduring power of memory. She published her first poem at the age of nine after spending much of her childhood immersed in Armenian and Russian classics, memorizing verses and imagining the lives of the kings, queens, and forgotten women who filled the pages of history. She studied Psychology and English at the ASPU before earning a Master's degree in Psychology from Harvard University. Her understanding of human behavior lends emotional depth and psychological nuance to her characters, while her lifelong fascination with history shapes the worlds they inhabit. Her novels explore power, identity, sacrifice, and the enduring weight of legacy, weaving intimate human stories into sweeping tales of war, myth, and destiny. She believes the finest fantasy does not escape history; it illuminates it, revealing timeless truths through imagined worlds. That philosophy lies at the heart of The War of Nine Kings series.

Reviews

[Beth]

Darkly Enchanting

The Whispering Fang by Lili K. Buckley is an absolute standout; rich and irresistibly gripping. This is the kind of fantasy that wraps around you; there are ancient secrets, and a heroine, Waenia Wyvarian, whose courage feels both fierce and deeply human.

Buckley’s worldbuilding is lush without ever dragging, and the tension she builds between danger, destiny, and the quiet pull of forbidden magic keeps the story humming with energy. The Whispering Fang itself is a brilliant creation; unsettling, mysterious, holding sway over life and death and woven into the plot with a deftness that makes every reveal land with satisfying weight.

The characters shine just as brightly. Waenia and Luvian's conflicting relationship feels layered, with both negative and positive emotional beats that hit with impact. I found myself savoring the quieter moments just as much as the high‑stakes ones.

It’s beautifully written and full of that spark that makes you want to stay up way too late reading. A fantastic five‑star read that leaves you hungry for whatever Buckley conjures next.

Thank you to Lili K. Buckley for this gorgeous paperback review copy! This is my review.

[lillian]

so, so, so lovely, and went by wayyyy too quickly!

the language is incredibly vivid and rich, which made it so easy to imagine myself right alongside the characters.

i especially loved how the book jumps between so many different characters’ points of view, which keeps the story moving quickly while still allowing me to understand and care about all of the main and supporting characters.

it was just funny enough to make me laugh to myself and just romantic enough to make me smile at the pages.

i absolutely adored this and cannot wait for book three!

[Danielle]

I'm giving 5 stars because I am 1000% invested and it was a wonderful book until the last page. THE YEARNING! So. Freaking. Perfect. I LOVE these characters and their unknown pasts. So much to uncover! But this ending!!!: So anticlimactic, learned nothing we didnt already know or suspect, my girl did exactly what she said she'd do. The book either needed to end a few chapters sooner or needed a few more chapters. Not a good ending point or a good cliffhanger. My actual thought upon finishing the book was "Ok..?" which is sad because it was otherwise SO GOOD!

[Colleen Maclennan]

Seeker of Forgiveness

My first fantasy read and I had a hard time with all the characters names, the kingdoms and the ancient ancestry . What was easier to decipher was that the main character Princess Waenia seemed to bewitched all the males but more importantly her heart sought peace and forgiveness. In the midst of darkness and evil she used her light to try to bring peace to kingdoms that harboured long grudges and only wanted revenge. Her dominance in a male world proved the great power , strength and wisdom a woman possesses. The fantasy component was complex but the underlying message was not.

[JS]

This second book was such a wild ride. I flew through it in the kind of unhealthy way where you keep saying “just one more chapter” and suddenly it’s 4 a.m. I loved the first book, but this one felt bigger, darker, and so much more thrilling. The adventure never slows down, the new characters are incredible, and the chemistry between everyone is really good. The plot moves so smoothly that you barely notice how deep you are until you’re completely consumed by it. And the writing is still gorgeous. Poetic without trying too hard, immersive in that way where you feel like you’re right there with them, in the tent, on the road, in the middle of the tension. Luvian is growing on me way more than I expected, which honestly feels dangerous. Darrion remains absolutely delicious. And Waenia? She walks into a room full of powerful men and somehow makes it very clear she’s the one truly in charge. Exactly the kind of FMC I love reading about.
Thank you for emotionally ruining me. Now I desperately need Book 3 because WOW.

[Suzy]

I really liked Gates of Thiros, but The Whispering Fang honestly pulled me in even more. The story gets so much bigger once the heirs start gathering around Waenia, and all the side characters actually feel important instead of just being there to fill scenes. Everyone has their own history and tension with each other, which made the world feel real. I also loved that the plot constantly felt like it was moving, every chapter revealed something. And somehow the emotional tension is even worse in this one. Waenia, Darrion, Luvian love triangle is amazing, the chemistry and tension is unbearable. I love Darrion’s character but I am team Luvian after this book, and can’t wait for book 3 to see how this works out. 6stars!

[Cyrus]

I picked up The Whispering Fang expecting a standard enemies-to-lovers fantasy, but it surprised me. The way Waenia goes from fearing Luvian as her captor to slowly uncovering fractured memories of another life between them had me genuinely hooked. The road journey felt tense and intimate, and I loved the slow unraveling of the whole Lystrian mystery those whispers and the dead not staying dead? Chilling. The subplot with Darrion racing behind them added a nice layer of urgency. My favorite part was when Waenia starts questioning everything she thought she knew about the war, and that final choice she has to make? Still thinking about it. A solid read for fantasy fans who enjoy complicated bonds and dark secrets.

[lola]

A fantastic sequel that expands the world in meaningful ways while never losing sight of its characters. I really enjoyed following Waenia, Darrion, and Luvian, each of them has a compelling, well-developed storyline, and I was completely invested in their journeys from start to finish. The blend of adventure, political drama, mystery, and romance kept the story moving at a great pace. I kept saying, “just one more chapter,” and then somehow ended up reading five more. The ending was especially satisfying, hitting all the right emotional notes while also leaving me excited to see what happens next. If you're a fan of epic fantasy or romantasy with rich world-building and memorable characters, I'd definitely recommend giving this one a try.

[Lucas Velasquez]

Gates of Thiros is an immersive fantasy that combines forbidden magic, political intrigue, romance, and the looming threat of war. Waenia’s struggle between the identity imposed upon her and the dangerous power awakening within her gives the story a strong emotional core.

The tension between Waenia and Darrion, alongside the threat posed by the God King Luvian Veskar, creates plenty of momentum and intrigue. With its themes of destiny, sacrifice, identity, and power, this is an engaging choice for readers who enjoy character-driven epic fantasy with romance and high stakes.

[Rhianna]

Lili, the ending. How could you do this to us 😭

I went into this book not really invested. But my goodness did it exceed all my expectations. This is a fantasy that deeply pulls you in. It has every element you could want. Ancient magic/beings, unbelievable creatures, current magic, lost love. Definitely looking forward to book 3.

[Helena]

The tension in this book is so good, the long rides, the banter, the feeling that everyone is hiding something. Waenia chained in Luvian’s camp and still acting like she’s the one in control was my favorite part.

[✨Mood Reader✨]

I was sold the second I read the before chapter. I am a sucker for hidden identities and forgotten memories. I cannot wait for the third book and to see how that all unravels further. Fully team Luvian, I was never really sold on Darrion and this sealed it for me. Read this series!!!

[Nancy]

Loved it! Well written and consuming.