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Serving the Undying King
True love lasts a lifetime, but who is to say how long a lifetime may be?
Sylas Sarraze, the newly crowned Undying King, is on a destructive path that threatens to tear him and his country apart. Plagued by paranoia and haunted by enemy spies, his last hope lies with his first love, Foster Laywell.
A witch with a troubled past that he can't escape, Foster must risk everything for the first love he believed to have lost over a decade ago. But Sylas has changed since fate tore them apart, Foster’s ruinous secrets are catching up, and their reunion is nothing short of a catastrophe. Now working as Sylas’ personal attendant, can they find a way to expose their pasts and reconcile their present to save their future?
Regret and revenge, love and loss, secrets and paranoia, Foster and Sylas are about to test it all through an epic second chance romance that may lead to their grizzly ends.
Sylas Sarraze, the newly crowned Undying King, is on a destructive path that threatens to tear him and his country apart. Plagued by paranoia and haunted by enemy spies, his last hope lies with his first love, Foster Laywell.
A witch with a troubled past that he can't escape, Foster must risk everything for the first love he believed to have lost over a decade ago. But Sylas has changed since fate tore them apart, Foster’s ruinous secrets are catching up, and their reunion is nothing short of a catastrophe. Now working as Sylas’ personal attendant, can they find a way to expose their pasts and reconcile their present to save their future?
Regret and revenge, love and loss, secrets and paranoia, Foster and Sylas are about to test it all through an epic second chance romance that may lead to their grizzly ends.
477 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 7, 2026
About the author
Twoony
32 books244 followersTwoony is an agender and asexual geek with a love for storytelling. They write mostly adult stories ranging from the always enjoyable rom-com to fantasy romance. At the age of twelve, they posted their first story online and have been addicted to sharing ever since. Now, they are a self-published author with over a dozen stories published across major retailers and online platforms like the tapas app.
Although Twoony graduated from California University of PA with a Bachelors in Graphics & Multimedia, their true passion has always been writing. After writing original novels and comics on sites like Tapas and Wattpad, amounting over 144k subscribers and 7m+ reads, they have managed to live the dream. Twoony creates fulltime, lives with five needy cats, and not enough bookshelves.
Although Twoony graduated from California University of PA with a Bachelors in Graphics & Multimedia, their true passion has always been writing. After writing original novels and comics on sites like Tapas and Wattpad, amounting over 144k subscribers and 7m+ reads, they have managed to live the dream. Twoony creates fulltime, lives with five needy cats, and not enough bookshelves.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 15, 2026
This is a honest ARC review, received from the author.
While I was reading Serving the Undying King, I was debating with myself about the rating. I was between a 3.75 or a full 4 stars one, but with the ending I felt like this story is a 4 stars for me.
First of all, I adored the main characters and their romance. They both grew so much as characters and as partners! And I enjoyed being a witness of these journeys a lot. Both Foster and Sylas had their own arcs which were developed as the more political/"outside" plot progressed. I would say that the story has three defined parts, each with a central problem -or...stepping stone? A particular goal for our MCs' development - and a background problem that blended into the next one, until the final climax. I liked that detail a lot, and the develpoment and writing felt familiar and comforting in a way.
I enjoyed the banter too, definitely got the Merthur vibes.
Now, I will say that, for me, the best part was the middle one. Especially because of the villain. I won't go into details, but this is the part that explored the abusive relationships and the cult part the most, and with a lot of strength. The other two parts explore other themes that were just as important, though, like prejudice, racism (in this case, against witches), blind obedience, etc. I think that the ending was a good wrap up too, because there was the start of true change but not a fully inmediate one, so it did feel organic if a little fast.
On the other hand, there were some things that didn't fully work for me. Again, I don't know how much of this can be considered a spoiler, but . Another thing is that I felt like some info was kinda repeated and /or too direct, like a lot more "tell" than "show", which is a common issue I have with 1st person povs in genera (if you don't know me, I'm not the biggest fan of this kind of pov, but I can get used to it, and even love some voices in 1st person. This book landed on the former).
To finish, the side characters were nice, each had their own personality and they were supportive and fun to read, but for me, they were a little more support than full on characters, so I didn't feel too enthusiastic about them, as I feel for Foster and Sylas. The worldbuilding was nice, I liked the lore and the explanation about why people were so against witches, but it was not the priority. The foreshadowing was pretty direct, and , so those were all small details that didn't fully work for me.
But, overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It knows what it is and the author writes inner conflicts really well, and they created a sweet and mature ship I adored with all my heart. I would buy merchandise of both if I could. If you're a fan of romantasy and hot and spicy +18scenes/open door romance (is that correct?) with a shadow user vampire and a witch, this is a really good option.
Thank you so much to the author for giving me the opportunity to read Serving the Undying King!!!
While I was reading Serving the Undying King, I was debating with myself about the rating. I was between a 3.75 or a full 4 stars one, but with the ending I felt like this story is a 4 stars for me.
First of all, I adored the main characters and their romance. They both grew so much as characters and as partners! And I enjoyed being a witness of these journeys a lot. Both Foster and Sylas had their own arcs which were developed as the more political/"outside" plot progressed. I would say that the story has three defined parts, each with a central problem -or...stepping stone? A particular goal for our MCs' development - and a background problem that blended into the next one, until the final climax. I liked that detail a lot, and the develpoment and writing felt familiar and comforting in a way.
I enjoyed the banter too, definitely got the Merthur vibes.
Now, I will say that, for me, the best part was the middle one. Especially because of the villain. I won't go into details, but this is the part that explored the abusive relationships and the cult part the most, and with a lot of strength. The other two parts explore other themes that were just as important, though, like prejudice, racism (in this case, against witches), blind obedience, etc. I think that the ending was a good wrap up too, because there was the start of true change but not a fully inmediate one, so it did feel organic if a little fast.
On the other hand, there were some things that didn't fully work for me. Again, I don't know how much of this can be considered a spoiler, but . Another thing is that I felt like some info was kinda repeated and /or too direct, like a lot more "tell" than "show", which is a common issue I have with 1st person povs in genera (if you don't know me, I'm not the biggest fan of this kind of pov, but I can get used to it, and even love some voices in 1st person. This book landed on the former).
To finish, the side characters were nice, each had their own personality and they were supportive and fun to read, but for me, they were a little more support than full on characters, so I didn't feel too enthusiastic about them, as I feel for Foster and Sylas. The worldbuilding was nice, I liked the lore and the explanation about why people were so against witches, but it was not the priority. The foreshadowing was pretty direct, and , so those were all small details that didn't fully work for me.
But, overall, I had a lot of fun reading this book. It knows what it is and the author writes inner conflicts really well, and they created a sweet and mature ship I adored with all my heart. I would buy merchandise of both if I could. If you're a fan of romantasy and hot and spicy +18scenes/open door romance (is that correct?) with a shadow user vampire and a witch, this is a really good option.
Thank you so much to the author for giving me the opportunity to read Serving the Undying King!!!
July 17, 2026
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thoughts and Ratings
The World-building
I personally found the world-building to be okay. It's not the most glamorous creation, but it serves the story being told. Since a lot of the story has to do with the political state of the kingdoms, it was easier to get an idea of how the diverse world was ruled, their ruling systems, the outcasts or least favoured people, and many more. And I think that alone deserves a lot of praise.
The Characters
Now this one is tricky. I loved how distinct each character was from the others, and for the main characters, their personal developments as the story progressed. I especially loved Foster and Sylas’ banter, and how easily their conversations flowed, which made it a lot more believable that they were close in the past.
However, I would've loved to see more of Sylas' past, as he was a more (probably the most) interesting character. I would've loved to see how he interacted with his staff before Foster's entry back into his life because then we would've had something to compare his development to.
Also, I didn't care much for the side characters. They existed, they served their purpose, but they didn't do much else.
The Pacing and Tone
Now this was probably one of the main things to miss the mark personally.
The writing style also played a big part in this, but we'll get to that in a bit.
The story dragged on a lot of times, and when something new or exciting happened, it was a bit obvious to me how it would end (then again, I end up predicting plots too often…bad habit). The mundane slice of life moments and lengthy pining (mostly from Foster) covered more pages than the interesting action-packed ones, which I didn't like.
And I also wasn't a fan of how the characters sometimes spoke as though they were in a historic story, but the world they're in was leaning more modern. But that's just me being picky.
Finally, the Writing.
I'm not a huge fan of first person pov, and this one (like many), falls victim to “telling and not showing,” though it didn't bother me as much. Some memories or thoughts were repeated a little too often, which I didn't like, and coupled with the slow pacing, it made the story sometimes feel repetitive and dull. I think this book would've worked better if it were shorter. It would certainly have fixed the repetitiveness and duller moments.
Overview
I quite enjoyed Serving The Undying King, and I'm grateful to have received an arc. I think the author did well to tackle heavy themes like racism and prejudice, and created interesting characters.
In all, I rated it 3 stars, and would look forward to reading more works from Twoony.
If you're a fan of supernatural, paranormal, Vampire, Witch, Romantacy (that features steamy scenes), this might be a book for you.
Thanks again to the author for considering me as an arc reader ♡
Thoughts and Ratings
The World-building
I personally found the world-building to be okay. It's not the most glamorous creation, but it serves the story being told. Since a lot of the story has to do with the political state of the kingdoms, it was easier to get an idea of how the diverse world was ruled, their ruling systems, the outcasts or least favoured people, and many more. And I think that alone deserves a lot of praise.
The Characters
Now this one is tricky. I loved how distinct each character was from the others, and for the main characters, their personal developments as the story progressed. I especially loved Foster and Sylas’ banter, and how easily their conversations flowed, which made it a lot more believable that they were close in the past.
However, I would've loved to see more of Sylas' past, as he was a more (probably the most) interesting character. I would've loved to see how he interacted with his staff before Foster's entry back into his life because then we would've had something to compare his development to.
Also, I didn't care much for the side characters. They existed, they served their purpose, but they didn't do much else.
The Pacing and Tone
Now this was probably one of the main things to miss the mark personally.
The writing style also played a big part in this, but we'll get to that in a bit.
The story dragged on a lot of times, and when something new or exciting happened, it was a bit obvious to me how it would end (then again, I end up predicting plots too often…bad habit). The mundane slice of life moments and lengthy pining (mostly from Foster) covered more pages than the interesting action-packed ones, which I didn't like.
And I also wasn't a fan of how the characters sometimes spoke as though they were in a historic story, but the world they're in was leaning more modern. But that's just me being picky.
Finally, the Writing.
I'm not a huge fan of first person pov, and this one (like many), falls victim to “telling and not showing,” though it didn't bother me as much. Some memories or thoughts were repeated a little too often, which I didn't like, and coupled with the slow pacing, it made the story sometimes feel repetitive and dull. I think this book would've worked better if it were shorter. It would certainly have fixed the repetitiveness and duller moments.
Overview
I quite enjoyed Serving The Undying King, and I'm grateful to have received an arc. I think the author did well to tackle heavy themes like racism and prejudice, and created interesting characters.
In all, I rated it 3 stars, and would look forward to reading more works from Twoony.
If you're a fan of supernatural, paranormal, Vampire, Witch, Romantacy (that features steamy scenes), this might be a book for you.
Thanks again to the author for considering me as an arc reader ♡
July 9, 2026
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book, like many others by this author, is well-written. The worldbuilding is effortless and you immediately get pulled into the lore. I appreciate that it’s a standalone so I could go on a journey from beginning to end with no cliffhangers or loose ends.
On that note, I’ll be honest, I had a difficult time getting through this book simply because of the protagonist, Foster. I think I would’ve had a more enjoyable time had the entire book been from Sylas’ point of view. I’m empathetic naturally so I found it frustrating that I didn’t feel any emotional connection with Foster’s (figurative) demons. At one point I wondered if he was polyamorous and so I tried to suppress my biases as I read. But eventually I realized it wasn't amory, it was lust and loneliness. It could have been emotional. But it wasn't. So I felt nothing—even when that lust turned to betrayal. Cognitively I understood his feelings but I could only sympathize with detachment. I concluded that his flaws of emotional inconsistency, lack of focus and goals, and pinballing between insecurity and confidence exhausted and bothered me regardless. Foster's goals were indeterminable, his heart was chaotic and fickle. And even though he expressed care for the people around him, I didn’t feel that care; they felt like faceless flies on the wall as opposed to friends. Consequently, the romance between the side characters didn't make me feel anything either. All this made the story hard to read, because there were certainly layered plots going on, but framed through Foster's eyes, those plots seemed to disperse to background noise just when you thought they were going to be at the forefront.
On the other hand, Sylas's goals are clear. His emotions and desires are clear. His obstacles and inhibitions are clear. Periodically, scenes are repeated through Sylas's eyes and I would have found this unnecessary had Sylas's personality and personhood not made the plot and every character's motivations or emotions vivid and more interesting (sans Foster). I was more desperate to know Sylas' journey of escaping the fire, claiming the throne, and governing the kingdom than Foster's past relationship and regrets that were teased throughout the beginning. Sylas made me curious about his staff and their backstories and psychology. They were comrades, friends, people. He gave them dimension where Foster couldn't.
Reviews are just opinions at the end of the day. I don't think the issue lies with the writing or worldbuilding at all. I just think, subjectively, I couldn't enjoy this book because I couldn't enjoy, understand, or appreciate Foster as a narrator. However, for those with the patience to read past such a narrator, the plots and worldbuilding may be worth it.
On that note, I’ll be honest, I had a difficult time getting through this book simply because of the protagonist, Foster. I think I would’ve had a more enjoyable time had the entire book been from Sylas’ point of view. I’m empathetic naturally so I found it frustrating that I didn’t feel any emotional connection with Foster’s (figurative) demons. At one point I wondered if he was polyamorous and so I tried to suppress my biases as I read. But eventually I realized it wasn't amory, it was lust and loneliness. It could have been emotional. But it wasn't. So I felt nothing—even when that lust turned to betrayal. Cognitively I understood his feelings but I could only sympathize with detachment. I concluded that his flaws of emotional inconsistency, lack of focus and goals, and pinballing between insecurity and confidence exhausted and bothered me regardless. Foster's goals were indeterminable, his heart was chaotic and fickle. And even though he expressed care for the people around him, I didn’t feel that care; they felt like faceless flies on the wall as opposed to friends. Consequently, the romance between the side characters didn't make me feel anything either. All this made the story hard to read, because there were certainly layered plots going on, but framed through Foster's eyes, those plots seemed to disperse to background noise just when you thought they were going to be at the forefront.
On the other hand, Sylas's goals are clear. His emotions and desires are clear. His obstacles and inhibitions are clear. Periodically, scenes are repeated through Sylas's eyes and I would have found this unnecessary had Sylas's personality and personhood not made the plot and every character's motivations or emotions vivid and more interesting (sans Foster). I was more desperate to know Sylas' journey of escaping the fire, claiming the throne, and governing the kingdom than Foster's past relationship and regrets that were teased throughout the beginning. Sylas made me curious about his staff and their backstories and psychology. They were comrades, friends, people. He gave them dimension where Foster couldn't.
Reviews are just opinions at the end of the day. I don't think the issue lies with the writing or worldbuilding at all. I just think, subjectively, I couldn't enjoy this book because I couldn't enjoy, understand, or appreciate Foster as a narrator. However, for those with the patience to read past such a narrator, the plots and worldbuilding may be worth it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review 3/5 ⭐
Thank you Twoony for the eARC of Serving the Undying King.
I fear I had high expectations for this book, partially because I love Twoony's Verdant and was a huge Merlin fan back in the day (still am ofc). I do believe being a Merlin fan put me at a disadvantage because once you have a ship you have an image of how they are and preferences can be hard to look around.
This will be full of spoilers! Beware!
The book was a struggle for me, even if I enjoyed the banter between Foster and Sylas, their reluctance to admit anything and just full on snark. But oh how I did not enjoy Tristan's existence at all. I shouldn't say this but I was relieved when he turned out to be a bad guy and got written off. Because then Foster and Sylas could get together (biased from day one). Tristan's felt like a plot device to me, one I could've survived without it being romantic. Tristan felt put there only to indeed show that Foster couldn't fall for a decent guy and for no other reason. Had it been friendship only I don't think it would've bothered me as much and I think the betrayal would've made me feel for Foster more. In my head this part felt like it took up a whole lot of the book, but I think it's about a third? It just nagged at me.
The second half of the book, aka post Tristan (blessed times!), upped its pace so much it felt like there wasn't a break. Unless you count Foster and Sylas getting it on as a break, man did they get it on. The spice was well written and beautifully detailed. I do believe this is my first time reading shadow daddy spice. It was an experience.
I love how everything about Kain was handled, the introduction, the hints and then reveal and finally the end. Foster was a bit annoying about wanting to forgive the over Coven members, but at least Kain got what he deserved in the end. I actually got triggered at some instance, heart elevated in the less good way and to me that just speaks of how well written and felt Foster is as a character.
It does sound like I have mostly negative things to say, but honestly I did enjoy the book. It is a good book! Twoony writes well and the story is easy to follow. I'm just set in my ways when it comes to characters being compared to ships I have from fandoms. Like I said, it's a huge disadvantage and maybe I should avoid inspired/retellings of things I've been that obsessed with... Alas, Twoony I'll still read more of your work! You have no lost me!
Thank you Twoony for the eARC of Serving the Undying King.
I fear I had high expectations for this book, partially because I love Twoony's Verdant and was a huge Merlin fan back in the day (still am ofc). I do believe being a Merlin fan put me at a disadvantage because once you have a ship you have an image of how they are and preferences can be hard to look around.
This will be full of spoilers! Beware!
The book was a struggle for me, even if I enjoyed the banter between Foster and Sylas, their reluctance to admit anything and just full on snark. But oh how I did not enjoy Tristan's existence at all. I shouldn't say this but I was relieved when he turned out to be a bad guy and got written off. Because then Foster and Sylas could get together (biased from day one). Tristan's felt like a plot device to me, one I could've survived without it being romantic. Tristan felt put there only to indeed show that Foster couldn't fall for a decent guy and for no other reason. Had it been friendship only I don't think it would've bothered me as much and I think the betrayal would've made me feel for Foster more. In my head this part felt like it took up a whole lot of the book, but I think it's about a third? It just nagged at me.
The second half of the book, aka post Tristan (blessed times!), upped its pace so much it felt like there wasn't a break. Unless you count Foster and Sylas getting it on as a break, man did they get it on. The spice was well written and beautifully detailed. I do believe this is my first time reading shadow daddy spice. It was an experience.
I love how everything about Kain was handled, the introduction, the hints and then reveal and finally the end. Foster was a bit annoying about wanting to forgive the over Coven members, but at least Kain got what he deserved in the end. I actually got triggered at some instance, heart elevated in the less good way and to me that just speaks of how well written and felt Foster is as a character.
It does sound like I have mostly negative things to say, but honestly I did enjoy the book. It is a good book! Twoony writes well and the story is easy to follow. I'm just set in my ways when it comes to characters being compared to ships I have from fandoms. Like I said, it's a huge disadvantage and maybe I should avoid inspired/retellings of things I've been that obsessed with... Alas, Twoony I'll still read more of your work! You have no lost me!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
"Serving the Undying King" by Twoony is an M/M vampire/witch romance set in a fantastical world. There's a childhood friends to lovers storyline, a forbidden romance, buckets of angst, and never ending court politics.
The story follows Foster, a witch, as he's reunited with his childhood love: Sylas, a vampire and the king of a neighboring kingdom. But the reunion is far from butterflies and rainbows, there's hardship, politics, fears, and plenty of trauma for both of them to work through.
Ratings:
Overall: 4/5 hearts - This book is good. It's definitely worth a read if you love that king/servant dynamic with plenty of witty banter.
Peppers: 3/5 - Spice is moderate according to my personal scale. There's plenty of sexual tension, but actual open door scenes aren't super plentiful when compared to the page count.
Spice: 4/5 - The spice was great. I enjoyed each of the scenes and really liked the "Shadow-play" that made each scene a little more special.
Plot: 3/5
- Storyline: There's a lot in this story. There's a romance plot. A betrayal plot. A fight-for-the-throne plot. An escape-the-cultist plot. And even a magical mistake plot.
Now are all of these plots a bad thing? No, not necessarily. But for me? I feel like the book could have been half the length and focused on just one or two of these plot lines to put more heart and soul into them.
My attention and "f*cks to give" were spread very thin so I found it hard to really emotionally invest in anything happening.
- Characters: I adored the fact that both MCs were well developed. They had personalities, made good and bad decisions, and had plenty of flaws.
- Writing: The writing was good, but did suffer from choppiness in the early chapters. It did smooth out as the story went on.
Page Count: 555 (According to my Kindle)
Time to Read (Estimate): 10 hours
*This is an ARC review. I did receive a free copy of the book. However, this review is 100% honest and voluntary*
The story follows Foster, a witch, as he's reunited with his childhood love: Sylas, a vampire and the king of a neighboring kingdom. But the reunion is far from butterflies and rainbows, there's hardship, politics, fears, and plenty of trauma for both of them to work through.
Ratings:
Overall: 4/5 hearts - This book is good. It's definitely worth a read if you love that king/servant dynamic with plenty of witty banter.
Peppers: 3/5 - Spice is moderate according to my personal scale. There's plenty of sexual tension, but actual open door scenes aren't super plentiful when compared to the page count.
Spice: 4/5 - The spice was great. I enjoyed each of the scenes and really liked the "Shadow-play" that made each scene a little more special.
Plot: 3/5
- Storyline: There's a lot in this story. There's a romance plot. A betrayal plot. A fight-for-the-throne plot. An escape-the-cultist plot. And even a magical mistake plot.
Now are all of these plots a bad thing? No, not necessarily. But for me? I feel like the book could have been half the length and focused on just one or two of these plot lines to put more heart and soul into them.
My attention and "f*cks to give" were spread very thin so I found it hard to really emotionally invest in anything happening.
- Characters: I adored the fact that both MCs were well developed. They had personalities, made good and bad decisions, and had plenty of flaws.
- Writing: The writing was good, but did suffer from choppiness in the early chapters. It did smooth out as the story went on.
Page Count: 555 (According to my Kindle)
Time to Read (Estimate): 10 hours
*This is an ARC review. I did receive a free copy of the book. However, this review is 100% honest and voluntary*
July 7, 2026
I received an ARC of Serving the Undying King.
This book was an enjoyable read with compelling characters and beautiful prose. The two main characters were easily my favourite part of the book. Foster and Sylas were interesting both individually and together. I enjoyed reading about characters who have made morally questionable choices in the past (or are sometimes making them still) and are still haunted by them. Foster and Sylas’s banter was fun to read about and felt natural. Their chemistry was delightful and watching their relationship develop over the course of the novel was genuinely rewarding. I also appreciated the disability representation in this book. Foster’s illness remained a meaningful part of his life throughout the story and impacted the plot in interesting ways.
The supporting cast was enjoyable. Each of the characters played an important role in the narrative and helped make the world feel richer. They also showed what types of problems different kinds of fantasy races might encounter. I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding. The setting felt rich and interesting, and I liked that it brought together a variety of mythical creatures.
The antagonists were another highlight for me. I enjoyed that both main characters had personal connections to either of the story's two main villains, which made the conflicts feel much more emotionally charged. The villains themselves were compelling, and their relationships with the protagonists added another interesting layer to the story.
The writing was beautiful and I found the plot engaging. While I managed to predict some of the twists, I actually enjoyed that. I like being able to piece together clues before the reveal, and the story still kept me invested in what would happen next.
Overall, this was a strong read with memorable characters and an interesting plot.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
Happy release day to Serving the Undying King!
This book was an enjoyable read with compelling characters and beautiful prose. The two main characters were easily my favourite part of the book. Foster and Sylas were interesting both individually and together. I enjoyed reading about characters who have made morally questionable choices in the past (or are sometimes making them still) and are still haunted by them. Foster and Sylas’s banter was fun to read about and felt natural. Their chemistry was delightful and watching their relationship develop over the course of the novel was genuinely rewarding. I also appreciated the disability representation in this book. Foster’s illness remained a meaningful part of his life throughout the story and impacted the plot in interesting ways.
The supporting cast was enjoyable. Each of the characters played an important role in the narrative and helped make the world feel richer. They also showed what types of problems different kinds of fantasy races might encounter. I also really enjoyed the worldbuilding. The setting felt rich and interesting, and I liked that it brought together a variety of mythical creatures.
The antagonists were another highlight for me. I enjoyed that both main characters had personal connections to either of the story's two main villains, which made the conflicts feel much more emotionally charged. The villains themselves were compelling, and their relationships with the protagonists added another interesting layer to the story.
The writing was beautiful and I found the plot engaging. While I managed to predict some of the twists, I actually enjoyed that. I like being able to piece together clues before the reveal, and the story still kept me invested in what would happen next.
Overall, this was a strong read with memorable characters and an interesting plot.
Rating: 4/5 stars.
Happy release day to Serving the Undying King!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to Twoony for making the ebook of their upcoming release available for review. I appreciated the possibility of reading a book from them again – and an upcoming one nonetheless – so much.
I liked this book a lot. I enjoyed every moment and always read it with a kin interest. I love the fact that during the whole book I was like “why is Foster so much like me?”. The way he talks seems like me and I absolutely love how we both have an answer for everything 😂
Foster, our main character, is a witch living a vulgar lowlife after a past that left him marked: the death of his best friend and first love, the bonds he created with other witches, and a plague that killed his mom and hundred other people and left him with a terrible breathing disease.
Then, everything changes when he finds out that his first love is actually alive and ruling a country constantly in the threat of being attacked by his brother for the throne. This made Sylas change so much to the point he became highly paranoid and unable to trust even in the man that supported him after he ran away.
That’s where Foster enters: Foster is invited to become Sylas manservant and help Sylas before he loses himself totally in the cruelty and paranoia it took him to survive, reviving a love buried from time, but very much alive.
Foster being more stubborn than a king could, has always the last word and I honestly love that so much! Sylas never stood a chance!
As my overview, the story’s pacing is perfect for the type of book it is, tho I wished the author had gives us more scenes from their past in order to build a emotional connection to their bond and loss in the past. Certain scenes also were way too quick and needed more detail but I do also think this is not a big deal.
I loved Sylas and Foster romance and the buildup to it. And I love how the story so amazingly include so many disabled narratives and characters. From Fosters breathing disease that disables him but does not make him less capable to Kassi, a werewolf with only one arm but powerful, brave and a boss!!! Magic is briefly mentioned as a way to maybe cure both situations but in the end the characters thrive even with their disabilities and I find so important in fantasies book to not get rid of it by magic. It respects people with disabilities.
In general, this was a very enjoyable positive reading with a very interesting plot and moments. It talks about trauma, love, dedication, friendship and trust. It reminds us that we are not lost in our pain.
Overall, 4/5⭐️
I liked this book a lot. I enjoyed every moment and always read it with a kin interest. I love the fact that during the whole book I was like “why is Foster so much like me?”. The way he talks seems like me and I absolutely love how we both have an answer for everything 😂
Foster, our main character, is a witch living a vulgar lowlife after a past that left him marked: the death of his best friend and first love, the bonds he created with other witches, and a plague that killed his mom and hundred other people and left him with a terrible breathing disease.
Then, everything changes when he finds out that his first love is actually alive and ruling a country constantly in the threat of being attacked by his brother for the throne. This made Sylas change so much to the point he became highly paranoid and unable to trust even in the man that supported him after he ran away.
That’s where Foster enters: Foster is invited to become Sylas manservant and help Sylas before he loses himself totally in the cruelty and paranoia it took him to survive, reviving a love buried from time, but very much alive.
Foster being more stubborn than a king could, has always the last word and I honestly love that so much! Sylas never stood a chance!
As my overview, the story’s pacing is perfect for the type of book it is, tho I wished the author had gives us more scenes from their past in order to build a emotional connection to their bond and loss in the past. Certain scenes also were way too quick and needed more detail but I do also think this is not a big deal.
I loved Sylas and Foster romance and the buildup to it. And I love how the story so amazingly include so many disabled narratives and characters. From Fosters breathing disease that disables him but does not make him less capable to Kassi, a werewolf with only one arm but powerful, brave and a boss!!! Magic is briefly mentioned as a way to maybe cure both situations but in the end the characters thrive even with their disabilities and I find so important in fantasies book to not get rid of it by magic. It respects people with disabilities.
In general, this was a very enjoyable positive reading with a very interesting plot and moments. It talks about trauma, love, dedication, friendship and trust. It reminds us that we are not lost in our pain.
Overall, 4/5⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Author
I adore Twoony’s paranormal romances! I swear they just bring me immense joy. Twoony is one of those authors I will purchase no matter the platform in order to have them as backup when I need to read something that will make me smile. “Serving the Undying King” was no exception.
Sylas and Foster are exceptional together. Their banter, the way they have feelings for each other for years, and yet fate just seemed to push them apart. The world-building is really good, there’s a lot to uncover more if the author wants to, but overall you get the vibes and the scenario from the descriptions. I loved that this was a queernormative world, I love those, I mean, if we’re selling fantasy, might as well be in a world where being queer is not frown upon. The side characters all have their own thing going on, and some are really sweet, and I would love to read more about them.
Although this is a world where being queer is normal, the conflict arises with witches being cast aside, mostly with reason. Witches are seen as destructive, and Foster has done some pretty bad things in the past. Sylas is the king, and he’s also on a path to destruction. Foster offers a lot of opinions and points of view to Sylas when he’s trying to inflict fear in his people. Foster has a more humane approach to some things. He’s not innocent, but because he has done such bad things in the past, he allowed himself to grow and try to do better. While Sylas, inheriting a title he didn’t want, is haunted by paranoia and self-doubt. In Sylas, Foster sees just his first love, he knows the man, not the king, and that is what Sylas needs. He needs someone to be by his side, especially in dark times.
“Serving the undying king” is a lovely queer paranormal romance, it’s dark, gothic-vibe, steamy, and incredibly easy to read. I would say Twoony did it again, but I never had any question that the author could make me fall in love with the characters. It was lovely to read Foster and Sylas’s story.
Sylas and Foster are exceptional together. Their banter, the way they have feelings for each other for years, and yet fate just seemed to push them apart. The world-building is really good, there’s a lot to uncover more if the author wants to, but overall you get the vibes and the scenario from the descriptions. I loved that this was a queernormative world, I love those, I mean, if we’re selling fantasy, might as well be in a world where being queer is not frown upon. The side characters all have their own thing going on, and some are really sweet, and I would love to read more about them.
Although this is a world where being queer is normal, the conflict arises with witches being cast aside, mostly with reason. Witches are seen as destructive, and Foster has done some pretty bad things in the past. Sylas is the king, and he’s also on a path to destruction. Foster offers a lot of opinions and points of view to Sylas when he’s trying to inflict fear in his people. Foster has a more humane approach to some things. He’s not innocent, but because he has done such bad things in the past, he allowed himself to grow and try to do better. While Sylas, inheriting a title he didn’t want, is haunted by paranoia and self-doubt. In Sylas, Foster sees just his first love, he knows the man, not the king, and that is what Sylas needs. He needs someone to be by his side, especially in dark times.
“Serving the undying king” is a lovely queer paranormal romance, it’s dark, gothic-vibe, steamy, and incredibly easy to read. I would say Twoony did it again, but I never had any question that the author could make me fall in love with the characters. It was lovely to read Foster and Sylas’s story.
July 12, 2026
I received an ARC from the author, for which I am grateful.
I was never into Merlin, so I don't have any thoughts on its execution as a retelling/inspiration, so I am not judging anything based on that fact.
The book was okay regarding characters, story, and writing. Everything was, admittedly, predictable (such as who would be a traitor and how the events would go), and the primary POV character was a bit much at times. Foster could be a bit redundant, with his insistence on forgiveness (without enough shown to justify such a strong desire) and with his occasional "woe is me" attitude.
I found Sylas to be the more interesting POV, as his character and station were more interesting. Unfortunately, that was not explored in too much depth, but to be fair, the book was very action-packed, so there wasn't much time for any of that. I also did enjoy his trust issues and paranoia and how he coped with such a thing.
Overall, the book was fairly generic and was a bit boring at times, though it did get exciting later on.
I was never into Merlin, so I don't have any thoughts on its execution as a retelling/inspiration, so I am not judging anything based on that fact.
The book was okay regarding characters, story, and writing. Everything was, admittedly, predictable (such as who would be a traitor and how the events would go), and the primary POV character was a bit much at times. Foster could be a bit redundant, with his insistence on forgiveness (without enough shown to justify such a strong desire) and with his occasional "woe is me" attitude.
I found Sylas to be the more interesting POV, as his character and station were more interesting. Unfortunately, that was not explored in too much depth, but to be fair, the book was very action-packed, so there wasn't much time for any of that. I also did enjoy his trust issues and paranoia and how he coped with such a thing.
Overall, the book was fairly generic and was a bit boring at times, though it did get exciting later on.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Hi, author here!
Yes, I always rate my books. I worked hard on them and with all the crap going on concerning AI? Yeah, I think I will continue to give myself a little pat on the back wherever I can.
Serving the Undying King is a mm romantasy perfect for readers seeking a standalone to dive into between the long series. Merthur shippers, this one is for us, except with a HEA. I know that won't heal our hearts, but hey, nothing wrong with trying.
Thank you to everyone who support us queer authors. You are loved and appreciated. Regardless of how you feel about the book, thanks for giving me a chance!
Yes, I always rate my books. I worked hard on them and with all the crap going on concerning AI? Yeah, I think I will continue to give myself a little pat on the back wherever I can.
Serving the Undying King is a mm romantasy perfect for readers seeking a standalone to dive into between the long series. Merthur shippers, this one is for us, except with a HEA. I know that won't heal our hearts, but hey, nothing wrong with trying.
Thank you to everyone who support us queer authors. You are loved and appreciated. Regardless of how you feel about the book, thanks for giving me a chance!
Read
September 7, 2026Fabulous Fantasy
Fantastic characters, unbelievably beautiful imagery, unique storyline, and amazing dialogue are some of the things that had me hooked from start to finish. It may be a fantasy, but the lessons from this story are real. Respect those who are different from us, be kind to nature, don't judge by appearance, accept that love comes in many forms, are just a few of these little treasures that makes this story shine. It is clear that the writer has meticulously planned and perfectly executed the storyline. As always, the author exceeded my expectations.
Fantastic characters, unbelievably beautiful imagery, unique storyline, and amazing dialogue are some of the things that had me hooked from start to finish. It may be a fantasy, but the lessons from this story are real. Respect those who are different from us, be kind to nature, don't judge by appearance, accept that love comes in many forms, are just a few of these little treasures that makes this story shine. It is clear that the writer has meticulously planned and perfectly executed the storyline. As always, the author exceeded my expectations.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Serving the undying king Twoony
Mini Review
I absolutely adored the way Twoony writes. Nothing seems to strain them and they can easily weave tension, humour and epic world building.
Both the MMc were perfect Sylas with his Brooding, paranoid and protective nature was the pinnacle of Vampires. Foster is so trusting, traumatised and lovable (especially with his chubby rat butt).
I really hope we get further books in the series cause I want more!
Mini Review
I absolutely adored the way Twoony writes. Nothing seems to strain them and they can easily weave tension, humour and epic world building.
Both the MMc were perfect Sylas with his Brooding, paranoid and protective nature was the pinnacle of Vampires. Foster is so trusting, traumatised and lovable (especially with his chubby rat butt).
I really hope we get further books in the series cause I want more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is my first book by Twoony, and let me just say, the writing it amazing. The world building, the tension, the spice between Foster and Silas?! My god. *swoon*
Overall, I realty enjoyed this book and the story around them. Even though it may have felt daunting to read, but in the end, it was really worth it.
Overall, I realty enjoyed this book and the story around them. Even though it may have felt daunting to read, but in the end, it was really worth it.
June 25, 2026
2.75 - Overall, a decent fun time. A vampire king resisting being in love with his childhood best friend? Sold. The length definitely made it drag out a bit (~500 pgs). It could've been shorter and just as good. The MMC was mildy irritating - stubborn in a dumb way.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The writing style is really nice, and the descriptions of places and settings are wonderful as well.
The characters are quite well built. They have real depth to them, and we can see how they've built themselves up over time.
It's funny at times, scary and worrying at others, but most of all, it's enjoyable.
Recommended for anyone who likes fantasy romance with a dash of humor.
The characters are quite well built. They have real depth to them, and we can see how they've built themselves up over time.
It's funny at times, scary and worrying at others, but most of all, it's enjoyable.
Recommended for anyone who likes fantasy romance with a dash of humor.
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