What do you think?
Regicide and Roses
Not yet published
Expected 13 Oct 26He's her escape plan.
She's his prey.
Wraith, an infamous dark sorcerer on a mission to eliminate the royal bloodline, goes undercover as a dragon rider in the king’s army.
Meanwhile, Lavinia, the number one princess on Wraith’s hit list, is looking for any way out of the kingdom and her royal duty to marry.
And she knows just the cold and ruthless dragon rider to use in her escape…
Wraith reluctantly forms a temporary alliance with her, but when teasing and insults turn to banter and seduction, he questions whether he’ll be able to finish her in the end.
And if desire overcomes duty, he may lose his most prized possession of all—his status as one of the realm’s most fearsome and powerful sorcerers.
For gothic Romantasy readers who love when the MMC is absolutely suffering over her.
She's his prey.
Wraith, an infamous dark sorcerer on a mission to eliminate the royal bloodline, goes undercover as a dragon rider in the king’s army.
Meanwhile, Lavinia, the number one princess on Wraith’s hit list, is looking for any way out of the kingdom and her royal duty to marry.
And she knows just the cold and ruthless dragon rider to use in her escape…
Wraith reluctantly forms a temporary alliance with her, but when teasing and insults turn to banter and seduction, he questions whether he’ll be able to finish her in the end.
And if desire overcomes duty, he may lose his most prized possession of all—his status as one of the realm’s most fearsome and powerful sorcerers.
For gothic Romantasy readers who love when the MMC is absolutely suffering over her.
425 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 13, 2026
About the author
S.E. Nielsen
2 books133 followersS. E. Nielsen is a romantasy author in NW Indiana who loves all things whimsical, magical, and just a little bit creepy. She adores epic adventure and steamy romance that makes you swoon and lingers long after the last page. While her love of horror does come across on the page, her stories are mostly rooted in classic fantasy and lore with fresh twists, added heat, and empowered women. All of her stories are emotionally driven and graphic, both on the battlefield and in the bedroom.
When she's not writing, you can find her playing board games, or primitive camping with her friends and family. She prefers sunrises to sunsets, and thinks coffee tastes better in a cute cup.
S. E. writes for readers who love plot-driven fantasy romance, strong women who are allowed to be messy, and the angsty men who yearn for them.
When she's not writing, you can find her playing board games, or primitive camping with her friends and family. She prefers sunrises to sunsets, and thinks coffee tastes better in a cute cup.
S. E. writes for readers who love plot-driven fantasy romance, strong women who are allowed to be messy, and the angsty men who yearn for them.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from Author
I really enjoyed the world building in this story. Lavinia felt very relatable. She’s a princess, but I felt like a lot of her emotions were understandable. When she first met Wraith, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved all the sass!
I was living for the interactions between Lavinia and Wraith as the story progressed. The push and pull was so good! I loved how Wraith went from finding her annoying (also wanting to kill her) to not being able to keep his eyes off her. He was so aware of everything she did. The moments when she was talking to other men were so entertaining! He totally hated it!
The ending was straight up wild! That cliffhanger got me! I can’t wait to continue the series!
I really enjoyed the world building in this story. Lavinia felt very relatable. She’s a princess, but I felt like a lot of her emotions were understandable. When she first met Wraith, I was pleasantly surprised. I loved all the sass!
I was living for the interactions between Lavinia and Wraith as the story progressed. The push and pull was so good! I loved how Wraith went from finding her annoying (also wanting to kill her) to not being able to keep his eyes off her. He was so aware of everything she did. The moments when she was talking to other men were so entertaining! He totally hated it!
The ending was straight up wild! That cliffhanger got me! I can’t wait to continue the series!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was SUCH an easy, bingeable read.
Our FMC, Lavinia, is a princess who’s being forced into a marriage she wants absolutely nothing to do with. Naturally, her solution is to run away from her princess duties and start a whole new life.
Enter Wraith. He’s a dark sorcerer undercover as a dragon rider, and he’s actually been sent to assassinate the royal family including our FMC. Because apparently being forced into an arranged marriage wasn’t enough drama for one person.
Lavinia and Wraith make a bargain. He’ll help her escape if she helps him and his fellow sorcerers find the magical items they need. So now we’ve got a quest, magic, booby traps, creatures, dragons, dual dimensions and a very inconvenient case of the MMC catching feelings.
Honestly, this was just such a fun and easy read. I was flying through it and constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next. And that cliff hanging? Like what the actual f bomb was that?
Our FMC, Lavinia, is a princess who’s being forced into a marriage she wants absolutely nothing to do with. Naturally, her solution is to run away from her princess duties and start a whole new life.
Enter Wraith. He’s a dark sorcerer undercover as a dragon rider, and he’s actually been sent to assassinate the royal family including our FMC. Because apparently being forced into an arranged marriage wasn’t enough drama for one person.
Lavinia and Wraith make a bargain. He’ll help her escape if she helps him and his fellow sorcerers find the magical items they need. So now we’ve got a quest, magic, booby traps, creatures, dragons, dual dimensions and a very inconvenient case of the MMC catching feelings.
Honestly, this was just such a fun and easy read. I was flying through it and constantly wanting to know what was going to happen next. And that cliff hanging? Like what the actual f bomb was that?
September 27, 2026
First of all I would like to thank the Author for gifting me this ARC.
Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What an absolute blast of a read! Fast-paced, exciting, and wildly fun, Regicide and Roses by S.E. Nielsen delivers everything you could possibly want from a dark gothic romantasy including dragons!
This book launches the duology with a fantastic setup. We follow Wraith, an infamous dark sorcerer with a hit list, who goes undercover as a dragon rider to eliminate a royal bloodline. His target? Princess Lavinia. But Lavinia isn't just waiting around; she’s desperately searching for a way to escape her kingdom before her tyrannical father forced-marries her off to yet another power-hungry male. When Wraith shows up, she realizes he might just be her ticket out.
The dynamics between them are top-tier:
Reluctant Allies: They are forced to team up on a quest to hunt down a mystical treasure that benefits them both.
A Fresh Spin on the Damsel: Lavinia leans into the traditional damsel-in-distress trope at times, but she balances it with incredible bravery, resourcefulness, and independence. Best of all, she is so completely done with men, which makes the romantic tension elite.
Chef's Kiss Tropes: Forbidden love, hidden identity, forced proximity, reluctant yearning, and yes—the essential wound-tending scene.
Nielsen hits the sweet spot with the writing. The worldbuilding is detailed enough to feel grounded and interesting without ever bogging down the story. The side characters bring so much life and fantastic banter to the journey, keeping the energy high from start to finish.
This is a true plot-forward romantasy in the best way possible: the romance and the core quest are so intricately intertwined that if you removed one, the other would completely collapse. The ultimate question hovering over the whole story is will Wraith actually go through with killing her, or will falling for her cost him the very status he's been battling for. This story keeps you hooked until the final page.
If you love gothic vibes, slow-burn tension, dragon riding, and dark sorcerers with a secret agenda, do not sleep on this one!
Rating: 4.5 / 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
What an absolute blast of a read! Fast-paced, exciting, and wildly fun, Regicide and Roses by S.E. Nielsen delivers everything you could possibly want from a dark gothic romantasy including dragons!
This book launches the duology with a fantastic setup. We follow Wraith, an infamous dark sorcerer with a hit list, who goes undercover as a dragon rider to eliminate a royal bloodline. His target? Princess Lavinia. But Lavinia isn't just waiting around; she’s desperately searching for a way to escape her kingdom before her tyrannical father forced-marries her off to yet another power-hungry male. When Wraith shows up, she realizes he might just be her ticket out.
The dynamics between them are top-tier:
Reluctant Allies: They are forced to team up on a quest to hunt down a mystical treasure that benefits them both.
A Fresh Spin on the Damsel: Lavinia leans into the traditional damsel-in-distress trope at times, but she balances it with incredible bravery, resourcefulness, and independence. Best of all, she is so completely done with men, which makes the romantic tension elite.
Chef's Kiss Tropes: Forbidden love, hidden identity, forced proximity, reluctant yearning, and yes—the essential wound-tending scene.
Nielsen hits the sweet spot with the writing. The worldbuilding is detailed enough to feel grounded and interesting without ever bogging down the story. The side characters bring so much life and fantastic banter to the journey, keeping the energy high from start to finish.
This is a true plot-forward romantasy in the best way possible: the romance and the core quest are so intricately intertwined that if you removed one, the other would completely collapse. The ultimate question hovering over the whole story is will Wraith actually go through with killing her, or will falling for her cost him the very status he's been battling for. This story keeps you hooked until the final page.
If you love gothic vibes, slow-burn tension, dragon riding, and dark sorcerers with a secret agenda, do not sleep on this one!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Have you ever finished a book and the plot twist gets your so hard that you question everything you’ve just read? That was me after I finished this book but in the best way possible. This was a whirlwind of a book that had me flying through pages. It was so action packed, I was never bored and was hooked immediately!
‘Lavinia is a distraction. Bast will never let me live this down if he finds out I’ve been stabbed by a drunken nobleman with a fucking steak knife.’
He’s her escape plan. She’s her prey.
If this story we follow Wraith, a dark sorcerer and Lavinia, the princess. Wraith has been sent to kill Lavinia and he’s determined to see it through. Lavinia is determined to get away from her father’s influence, he wants to marry her off again, but she’s determined to use a dragon rider to help her escape. They create a temporary alliance, but insults and banter quickly turn to flirting and seductions. Can they both get what they want? Or will everything fall apart?
I absolutely loved Lavinia as a character, she’s feisty, knows what she wants, cares about her friend and isn’t going to back down. She was determined to escape her father no matter the danger. I really loved her friendship with her maid, but she’s mostly just her best friend.
I didn’t know that S.E. Nielsen had written a book before this one and I’m extremely excited to read it, I’ve already grabbed the audio and hopefully it can hold me off while desperately I wait for book 2 of this!
‘Lavinia is a distraction. Bast will never let me live this down if he finds out I’ve been stabbed by a drunken nobleman with a fucking steak knife.’
He’s her escape plan. She’s her prey.
If this story we follow Wraith, a dark sorcerer and Lavinia, the princess. Wraith has been sent to kill Lavinia and he’s determined to see it through. Lavinia is determined to get away from her father’s influence, he wants to marry her off again, but she’s determined to use a dragon rider to help her escape. They create a temporary alliance, but insults and banter quickly turn to flirting and seductions. Can they both get what they want? Or will everything fall apart?
I absolutely loved Lavinia as a character, she’s feisty, knows what she wants, cares about her friend and isn’t going to back down. She was determined to escape her father no matter the danger. I really loved her friendship with her maid, but she’s mostly just her best friend.
I didn’t know that S.E. Nielsen had written a book before this one and I’m extremely excited to read it, I’ve already grabbed the audio and hopefully it can hold me off while desperately I wait for book 2 of this!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Lavinia isn’t the typical princess. A princess doesn’t have a choice in the trajectory of her life but she’s determined to take control this time. She’s already been married off once by the cruel king, whose only concern is how he can benefit. And now he’s looking for a new husband for her, and she’ll do whatever it takes to not let that happen again.
I love that Lavinia has life experience (as much as a princess in a castle can have). She’s been married and widowed, she’s bold and stubborn, adventurous, and strong-willed with a sharp tongue. And she’s also the main victim of an undercover dark sorcerer, Wraith.
The tension and banter between these two are sharp and fun. I loved their characters separately and even more together. What makes Wraith a favorite MMC is that he’s not just dark, brutal, intelligent, a touch her and die guy. But he almost immediately sees something in Lavinia. And unlike many leads is dark fantasy/romantasy, he respects her, in a tough way. He respects her boundaries, her fears, her vulnerabilities. Neither of them is 1 dimensional, they both have baggage and backstories that keep them interesting.
The first 3/4 of the book was amazing. The last part of the book was a bit confusing and I kept feeling like I was missing something, not in a bad way. Maybe that is a set up for the next book. Because… the ending!
Not once did I expect that ending. It was such a twist that I had to read the last chapter over a few times. I’m still not sure. I was almost upset I didn’t have the 2nd book in front of me, because I need to know. It leaves us on a pretty cavernous cliffhanger. I’ll be impatiently waiting for book 2.
Excellent read!!!
Dark, gothic vibe, brooding, tension, dragon riding, dark sorcerers, witty banter, adventure, and twists.
Lavinia isn’t the typical princess. A princess doesn’t have a choice in the trajectory of her life but she’s determined to take control this time. She’s already been married off once by the cruel king, whose only concern is how he can benefit. And now he’s looking for a new husband for her, and she’ll do whatever it takes to not let that happen again.
I love that Lavinia has life experience (as much as a princess in a castle can have). She’s been married and widowed, she’s bold and stubborn, adventurous, and strong-willed with a sharp tongue. And she’s also the main victim of an undercover dark sorcerer, Wraith.
The tension and banter between these two are sharp and fun. I loved their characters separately and even more together. What makes Wraith a favorite MMC is that he’s not just dark, brutal, intelligent, a touch her and die guy. But he almost immediately sees something in Lavinia. And unlike many leads is dark fantasy/romantasy, he respects her, in a tough way. He respects her boundaries, her fears, her vulnerabilities. Neither of them is 1 dimensional, they both have baggage and backstories that keep them interesting.
The first 3/4 of the book was amazing. The last part of the book was a bit confusing and I kept feeling like I was missing something, not in a bad way. Maybe that is a set up for the next book. Because… the ending!
Not once did I expect that ending. It was such a twist that I had to read the last chapter over a few times. I’m still not sure. I was almost upset I didn’t have the 2nd book in front of me, because I need to know. It leaves us on a pretty cavernous cliffhanger. I’ll be impatiently waiting for book 2.
Excellent read!!!
Dark, gothic vibe, brooding, tension, dragon riding, dark sorcerers, witty banter, adventure, and twists.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This book had a little bit of everything and it was really fun. Good banter and tension. Great mix of plot and romance with a fun quest element.
Wraith is an infamous dark sorcerer masquerading as a dragon rider in the king's army, on a mission to destroy the king and his bloodline and fell an ancient beast. And Lavinia is the princess he's sworn to kill, who is trying to escape being used as a pawn in her father's games. To reach their goals, quickly realize they have to put aside their animosity and work together, and that's when things get complicated.
I loved their banter from the start. They are both witty and sharp tongued. The plot and world building were woven together really nicely so you learned the history as part of the quest. Aspects of their treasure hunt were giving me The Mummy or Indiana Jones vibes, where they were just annoying each other so much it might have ended in disaster.
And Wraith's powers of being able to walk through shadows and smoke were really cool. A nice take on a shadow daddy MMC.
I'm eager to see how things will play out in the next book!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC.
Wraith is an infamous dark sorcerer masquerading as a dragon rider in the king's army, on a mission to destroy the king and his bloodline and fell an ancient beast. And Lavinia is the princess he's sworn to kill, who is trying to escape being used as a pawn in her father's games. To reach their goals, quickly realize they have to put aside their animosity and work together, and that's when things get complicated.
I loved their banter from the start. They are both witty and sharp tongued. The plot and world building were woven together really nicely so you learned the history as part of the quest. Aspects of their treasure hunt were giving me The Mummy or Indiana Jones vibes, where they were just annoying each other so much it might have ended in disaster.
And Wraith's powers of being able to walk through shadows and smoke were really cool. A nice take on a shadow daddy MMC.
I'm eager to see how things will play out in the next book!
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted ARC.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Regicide And Roses had an interesting premise- dragon riders and a princess- but it didn't follow through on its execution.
First, I loved Wraith,the MMC. He alone gets a full star. He definitely had some soon-worthy moments in this book.
However, overall, the story needed more world building. I wanted more information on the nine, the magic system, and the lore behind the conflict in the story. Because at times the lack of world building made some of the plot points difficult to understand. Plus, when we get to the main battle, we don't get the POV of the soldiers fighting but from a spectator watching from the castle. This was very anti-climatic and disappointing.
Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC reader.
First, I loved Wraith,the MMC. He alone gets a full star. He definitely had some soon-worthy moments in this book.
However, overall, the story needed more world building. I wanted more information on the nine, the magic system, and the lore behind the conflict in the story. Because at times the lack of world building made some of the plot points difficult to understand. Plus, when we get to the main battle, we don't get the POV of the soldiers fighting but from a spectator watching from the castle. This was very anti-climatic and disappointing.
Thank you for choosing me to be an ARC reader.
October 1, 2026
Excuse me, author ma’am. What did you put in this book?
First, I need to rave about the worldbuilding, because it feels like it’s been a minute since I’ve read a book with worldbuilding this incredible. The magic, the history, the creatures, the different buildings, locations, and places—every piece felt real, tangible, and unique. Everything was explained in a way that just made it stick with me. It was easy to picture the world around the characters without ever feeling overwhelmed by details.
Plot and pacing… perfection. There was such a beautiful balance between emotionally charged scenes, action-packed scenes, and the calmer moments in between that built upon the story and bridged everything together.
Characters. Love. LOVE them.MMC, FMC, secondary characters, side characters, ALL characters—holy cow, there were SO many different people who added value to this story in completely different ways. And when things started popping off, I wasn’t just rooting for the main characters. I was rooting for everyone. I was invested in what happened to them and genuinely affected by the things they went through. I felt connected to more than just the MCs, and that felt so fresh and exciting.
The love. The family bonds. The friendships. I absolutely adored the relationship between the FMC and her brother. The older, protective brother dynamic was portrayed so perfectly and added another layer of depth to both the characters and the story.
Y’all know how I feel about FMCs in this genre, and let me just say… our girl Lavinia aka Vinnie (how cute is that nickname!!) is AWESOME. She’s feisty and a touch stubborn. She doesn’t listen or obey particularly well, and that usually comes back to bite her in the butt… but she’s also so incredibly relatable. OMG. I don’t think there was a single scene where I either rolled my eyes at her or growled in frustration.
And the banter, tension, and chemistry between her and the MMC?
Let’s talk about the MMC- Wraith. He is a dark, devious villain who is not really any of those things. And- this is reallswoon* Scrumptious. Absolutely delicious.
BE WARNED. This book ends on one HECK of a cliffhanger.
Like… I literally emailed the author and asked, “Is that seriously how the book ends?!” because I was left sitting there with my jaw on the floor, trying to flip to another page that simply did not exist.
I am OBSESSED with this story, these characters, this world, the writing, and the author. She has officially been added to my “If she writes it, I will read it” list.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
First, I need to rave about the worldbuilding, because it feels like it’s been a minute since I’ve read a book with worldbuilding this incredible. The magic, the history, the creatures, the different buildings, locations, and places—every piece felt real, tangible, and unique. Everything was explained in a way that just made it stick with me. It was easy to picture the world around the characters without ever feeling overwhelmed by details.
Plot and pacing… perfection. There was such a beautiful balance between emotionally charged scenes, action-packed scenes, and the calmer moments in between that built upon the story and bridged everything together.
Characters. Love. LOVE them.MMC, FMC, secondary characters, side characters, ALL characters—holy cow, there were SO many different people who added value to this story in completely different ways. And when things started popping off, I wasn’t just rooting for the main characters. I was rooting for everyone. I was invested in what happened to them and genuinely affected by the things they went through. I felt connected to more than just the MCs, and that felt so fresh and exciting.
The love. The family bonds. The friendships. I absolutely adored the relationship between the FMC and her brother. The older, protective brother dynamic was portrayed so perfectly and added another layer of depth to both the characters and the story.
Y’all know how I feel about FMCs in this genre, and let me just say… our girl Lavinia aka Vinnie (how cute is that nickname!!) is AWESOME. She’s feisty and a touch stubborn. She doesn’t listen or obey particularly well, and that usually comes back to bite her in the butt… but she’s also so incredibly relatable. OMG. I don’t think there was a single scene where I either rolled my eyes at her or growled in frustration.
And the banter, tension, and chemistry between her and the MMC?
Let’s talk about the MMC- Wraith. He is a dark, devious villain who is not really any of those things. And- this is reallswoon* Scrumptious. Absolutely delicious.
BE WARNED. This book ends on one HECK of a cliffhanger.
Like… I literally emailed the author and asked, “Is that seriously how the book ends?!” because I was left sitting there with my jaw on the floor, trying to flip to another page that simply did not exist.
I am OBSESSED with this story, these characters, this world, the writing, and the author. She has officially been added to my “If she writes it, I will read it” list.
Thank you to The Nerd Fam for the gifted book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The premise of this book really intrigued me. I thought the creepy aspects of the book were so well written and the world definitely was well thought out.
Lavinia, the FMC, definitely made some questionable choices throughout this book. I did like her banter with Wraith, there were moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet. When they were treasure hunting, it definitely was fun and interesting. The first treasure hunt was definitely my favorite. And I really liked the dynamic between Lavinia and her 'cat' Dart. He was a cutie and I love cats in books. There were also aspects to Lavinia's personality that had me questioning a lot of things. She for sure always wanted to get spicy with Wraith...at the most inopportune times.
Wraith, the MMC, is definitely an interesting character. His POVs were some of my favorite because his friendly banter with Bast had me just giggling. Wraith is kind of in a tough spot, there are a lot of things he wants and in order to get those things he needs to make a horrible choice. Deep down he is a softie and he really has the patience of an angel putting up with some of Lavinia's antics.
In my opinion, the star of the show was Bast. He deserves the best friend award. And he's funny. If there was a book just about him, I would totally read it.
Of course there were darker aspects to the story. Lavinia's father, the king, made you want to throw something at him. He was really despicable. I really did like Leo, Lavinia's brother, he was just trying to do his best. And of course there is an evil afoot and it doesn't really make an appearance until the last 60 pages or so. The last bit of the book was where a lot of the creep factor came in, which was enjoyable. The twist was definitely unexpected and horrifying. Some characters need an apology made to them for sure...
The ending was interesting and it definitely left you wondering just how bad it will get before the end. So there were definitely interesting aspects of the book but a lot of events left me just slightly confused.
Lavinia, the FMC, definitely made some questionable choices throughout this book. I did like her banter with Wraith, there were moments that had me giggling and kicking my feet. When they were treasure hunting, it definitely was fun and interesting. The first treasure hunt was definitely my favorite. And I really liked the dynamic between Lavinia and her 'cat' Dart. He was a cutie and I love cats in books. There were also aspects to Lavinia's personality that had me questioning a lot of things. She for sure always wanted to get spicy with Wraith...at the most inopportune times.
Wraith, the MMC, is definitely an interesting character. His POVs were some of my favorite because his friendly banter with Bast had me just giggling. Wraith is kind of in a tough spot, there are a lot of things he wants and in order to get those things he needs to make a horrible choice. Deep down he is a softie and he really has the patience of an angel putting up with some of Lavinia's antics.
In my opinion, the star of the show was Bast. He deserves the best friend award. And he's funny. If there was a book just about him, I would totally read it.
Of course there were darker aspects to the story. Lavinia's father, the king, made you want to throw something at him. He was really despicable. I really did like Leo, Lavinia's brother, he was just trying to do his best. And of course there is an evil afoot and it doesn't really make an appearance until the last 60 pages or so. The last bit of the book was where a lot of the creep factor came in, which was enjoyable. The twist was definitely unexpected and horrifying. Some characters need an apology made to them for sure...
The ending was interesting and it definitely left you wondering just how bad it will get before the end. So there were definitely interesting aspects of the book but a lot of events left me just slightly confused.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Welp, I loved that one! 🥀
4.5 stars, rounded up
It was refreshing to read a fantasy romance where the FMC isn’t magically a badass.
She’s a princess, and while she isn’t completely powerless, she isn’t the typical 'weakling picks up a sword, practices for a week, and then saves the entire world a month later' FMC either.
She has strength of character. She’s messy. She makes mistakes. She makes very human choices when there aren’t really any good choices to make. And I really, really liked that about her.
Regicide & Roses is a gritty, dark Regency-era fantasy romance with a hot blonde MMC in uniform, impossible choices, high stakes, magic, betrayal, AND DRAGONS.
Sooooo... yeah.... I ate it up.
Favorite highlights:
🥀 “We don’t have time for your flirtations or antics.”
“Flirtations? I find it hard to believe someone like you has ever been on the receiving end of flirtations.”
🥀 “Two things can be true at once.”
🥀 “I fear a slower fall that may cost me dearly.”
🥀 “Crawling under the table would ruin my moment.”
🥀 “Honestly, I’m surprised Lord Connolly left me alone with you so easily. I mean…have you seen me?”
🥀 “You told me I could come to you if I needed help. Here I am, on my knees, begging.”
🥀 “I would crawl for this man in treasonous, filthy ways. He’s ruined me, and I love and hate him for it.”
🥀 “Nothing frightens me more than the sound of my footsteps leaving her behind.”
🥀 “I kiss her temple and breathe her in as she slips through my fingers like sand. Those who say 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 with confidence haven’t tasted genuine anguish, because I fear forgetting more than anything. I pray the gods punish me with her memory the rest of my life, and I’m terrified how quickly I’ll question whether her eyes were green or blue.”
🥀 “A rose for any season.”
Thank you, SE Nielsen, for the opportunity to ARC read Regicide & Roses♡
Uhhhhhhh.... so about book 2...
I need it now, please & thank you♡
4.5 stars, rounded up
It was refreshing to read a fantasy romance where the FMC isn’t magically a badass.
She’s a princess, and while she isn’t completely powerless, she isn’t the typical 'weakling picks up a sword, practices for a week, and then saves the entire world a month later' FMC either.
She has strength of character. She’s messy. She makes mistakes. She makes very human choices when there aren’t really any good choices to make. And I really, really liked that about her.
Regicide & Roses is a gritty, dark Regency-era fantasy romance with a hot blonde MMC in uniform, impossible choices, high stakes, magic, betrayal, AND DRAGONS.
Sooooo... yeah.... I ate it up.
Favorite highlights:
🥀 “We don’t have time for your flirtations or antics.”
“Flirtations? I find it hard to believe someone like you has ever been on the receiving end of flirtations.”
🥀 “Two things can be true at once.”
🥀 “I fear a slower fall that may cost me dearly.”
🥀 “Crawling under the table would ruin my moment.”
🥀 “Honestly, I’m surprised Lord Connolly left me alone with you so easily. I mean…have you seen me?”
🥀 “You told me I could come to you if I needed help. Here I am, on my knees, begging.”
🥀 “I would crawl for this man in treasonous, filthy ways. He’s ruined me, and I love and hate him for it.”
🥀 “Nothing frightens me more than the sound of my footsteps leaving her behind.”
🥀 “I kiss her temple and breathe her in as she slips through my fingers like sand. Those who say 𝐼’𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑒𝑡 with confidence haven’t tasted genuine anguish, because I fear forgetting more than anything. I pray the gods punish me with her memory the rest of my life, and I’m terrified how quickly I’ll question whether her eyes were green or blue.”
🥀 “A rose for any season.”
Thank you, SE Nielsen, for the opportunity to ARC read Regicide & Roses♡
Uhhhhhhh.... so about book 2...
I need it now, please & thank you♡
September 26, 2026
Spoil Free Reviews
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Author: @senielsen.author
POV: Dual first person
Gene: Gothic Romantasy
Triggers: Gore, violence, domestic abuse, explicit sexual content, etc.
Read Time: 7 - 10 hours
Expected Publishing Date: 10/13/2026
I received an advance review copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
❤️ World Building: The world building was incredible! It was so well detailed without being overly detailed, which gave the book a faster pace. The magic system is still not fully built out in this book, but that fits within the story.
❤️ The Characters: The characters were amazing. Lavinia, our princess, is facing what many princesses have to face, an arranged marriage, and she wants to escape. In walks Wraith, our dark gloomy MMC. The characters were so complex, as were the side characters. I especially like Lavinia’s relationship with her brother, Leo, though it isn’t perfect, you can tell there is love between them.
❤️ The Story: The story was entertaining and kept me fully engaged. It made me feel ALL the emotions! It was so well developed and you could tell that a lot of thought went into this book. There are so many different aspects that make this story amazing, but it was that cliffhanger that left me wanting!
❤️🔥Overall: This is wonderful read, I’m going to sit over here and quietly wait for the next book, because a great book can’t be rushed, and I can tell this is going to be a great series.
Egret Facts: During mating season, this stately bird becomes even more decorated. A swath of skin from its beak to its eyes turns neon green. Long wispy plumes – the beauty of which almost brought about its demise – grow on its back and are raised during courting rituals. Known to be fearless, great egrets have at times been seen perched on top of alligators in subtropical and tropical climates. It turns out this relationship has benefits for both species. (source: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/h...)
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Author: @senielsen.author
POV: Dual first person
Gene: Gothic Romantasy
Triggers: Gore, violence, domestic abuse, explicit sexual content, etc.
Read Time: 7 - 10 hours
Expected Publishing Date: 10/13/2026
I received an advance review copy from the author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
❤️ World Building: The world building was incredible! It was so well detailed without being overly detailed, which gave the book a faster pace. The magic system is still not fully built out in this book, but that fits within the story.
❤️ The Characters: The characters were amazing. Lavinia, our princess, is facing what many princesses have to face, an arranged marriage, and she wants to escape. In walks Wraith, our dark gloomy MMC. The characters were so complex, as were the side characters. I especially like Lavinia’s relationship with her brother, Leo, though it isn’t perfect, you can tell there is love between them.
❤️ The Story: The story was entertaining and kept me fully engaged. It made me feel ALL the emotions! It was so well developed and you could tell that a lot of thought went into this book. There are so many different aspects that make this story amazing, but it was that cliffhanger that left me wanting!
❤️🔥Overall: This is wonderful read, I’m going to sit over here and quietly wait for the next book, because a great book can’t be rushed, and I can tell this is going to be a great series.
Egret Facts: During mating season, this stately bird becomes even more decorated. A swath of skin from its beak to its eyes turns neon green. Long wispy plumes – the beauty of which almost brought about its demise – grow on its back and are raised during courting rituals. Known to be fearless, great egrets have at times been seen perched on top of alligators in subtropical and tropical climates. It turns out this relationship has benefits for both species. (source: https://www.reconnectwithnature.org/h...)
October 5, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read Regicide and Roses as an ARC! 💕
This was such a cool and unique fantasy read, and I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere throughout. I think I went into this expecting a little more action and higher stakes, so the action scenes feeling quite rushed and few and far between did leave me wanting a bit more.
My favourite thing was definitely the magic system. It was unlike anything I’d read before, and I really enjoyed learning about it. I also loved the dragons and honestly would have loved to see much more of them and have them play a bigger role in the story!
The tomb raiding scenes were another highlight for me. They were really cool and had some great moments, although I did struggle to follow what was happening in certain parts and had to reread a few sections. Once I understood what was going on, though, I really enjoyed those scenes.
I also took a little while to warm up to Lavinia. I wasn’t a huge fan of her at the beginning, and I didn’t immediately connect with Wraith either, but I found him much more interesting as the story went on.
The ending was definitely a highlight for me! Finding out who Wraith really was was such a fun reveal, and I really enjoyed how everything came together towards the end. It made me look back at some of the earlier moments differently, and I loved that feeling of realising things had been right in front of me the whole time. Definitely one of my favourite parts of the book!
Overall, I enjoyed Regicide and Roses and thought it had some really interesting ideas, especially the magic system, dragons and the ending. I would have loved more lore, character development, action and dragons, but it was still a fun and cozy fantasy read.
Thank you again to the author for allowing me to read this ARC! 💗
Thank you so much to the author for the opportunity to read Regicide and Roses as an ARC! 💕
This was such a cool and unique fantasy read, and I really enjoyed the cozy atmosphere throughout. I think I went into this expecting a little more action and higher stakes, so the action scenes feeling quite rushed and few and far between did leave me wanting a bit more.
My favourite thing was definitely the magic system. It was unlike anything I’d read before, and I really enjoyed learning about it. I also loved the dragons and honestly would have loved to see much more of them and have them play a bigger role in the story!
The tomb raiding scenes were another highlight for me. They were really cool and had some great moments, although I did struggle to follow what was happening in certain parts and had to reread a few sections. Once I understood what was going on, though, I really enjoyed those scenes.
I also took a little while to warm up to Lavinia. I wasn’t a huge fan of her at the beginning, and I didn’t immediately connect with Wraith either, but I found him much more interesting as the story went on.
The ending was definitely a highlight for me! Finding out who Wraith really was was such a fun reveal, and I really enjoyed how everything came together towards the end. It made me look back at some of the earlier moments differently, and I loved that feeling of realising things had been right in front of me the whole time. Definitely one of my favourite parts of the book!
Overall, I enjoyed Regicide and Roses and thought it had some really interesting ideas, especially the magic system, dragons and the ending. I would have loved more lore, character development, action and dragons, but it was still a fun and cozy fantasy read.
Thank you again to the author for allowing me to read this ARC! 💗
Review of advance copy received from Author
Received this as an ARC from the Author.
This was such an easy, bingeable read. I really appreciated how straightforward the writing and world-building were…I never felt bogged down by excessive descriptions or information, and the story moved along quickly.
Wraith and Lavinia were definitely the highlight for me. I loved their banter and thought their slow-burn chemistry was really well done. I also enjoyed getting Wraith’s POV and watching him try to make sense of his feelings for Lavinia, especially considering his reputation as a morally gray character.
I really liked Lavinia as an FMC, too. She felt believable as a sheltered princess who has courage but doesn’t magically become an expert fighter overnight. I actually appreciated that she had limitations based on the life she had lived.
My biggest issue was that the second half felt rushed. We spent so much of the book building toward the main battle and when we finally got there, it felt surprisingly anticlimactic.
I also found myself wanting much more of Lavinia’s history! I want to know the history of her mother, her father, her grandmother, her magic, and even how she became a dragon rider when she was supposedly so sheltered. There were so many interesting pieces that I wish had been explored more. Hope for some answers in book two!! Honestly, I could have seen this working really well as a trilogy with more room for character and world development.
That said, I did binge this book, and the combination of fantasy, dragons, slow-burn romance, banter, and a good amount of spice made it a really enjoyable read. The big reveal at the end was a fun payoff, too.
Overall, a fun and fast-paced romantasy that left me curious about where the story goes next. I’ll definitely be picking up book two.
This was such an easy, bingeable read. I really appreciated how straightforward the writing and world-building were…I never felt bogged down by excessive descriptions or information, and the story moved along quickly.
Wraith and Lavinia were definitely the highlight for me. I loved their banter and thought their slow-burn chemistry was really well done. I also enjoyed getting Wraith’s POV and watching him try to make sense of his feelings for Lavinia, especially considering his reputation as a morally gray character.
I really liked Lavinia as an FMC, too. She felt believable as a sheltered princess who has courage but doesn’t magically become an expert fighter overnight. I actually appreciated that she had limitations based on the life she had lived.
My biggest issue was that the second half felt rushed. We spent so much of the book building toward the main battle and when we finally got there, it felt surprisingly anticlimactic.
I also found myself wanting much more of Lavinia’s history! I want to know the history of her mother, her father, her grandmother, her magic, and even how she became a dragon rider when she was supposedly so sheltered. There were so many interesting pieces that I wish had been explored more. Hope for some answers in book two!! Honestly, I could have seen this working really well as a trilogy with more room for character and world development.
That said, I did binge this book, and the combination of fantasy, dragons, slow-burn romance, banter, and a good amount of spice made it a really enjoyable read. The big reveal at the end was a fun payoff, too.
Overall, a fun and fast-paced romantasy that left me curious about where the story goes next. I’ll definitely be picking up book two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I want to thank the author for sending me an eARC. I had high expectations. Forbidden love, hidden identities, and betrayal? Say less. The description had me in a chokehold. It was everything I should have loved and more. Like Lavinia, I was entranced by Wraith’s existence. Wraith is a ruthless undercover dragon rider with a seemingly impossible task. He must annihilate the royal bloodline. The problem? Wraith finds himself hopelessly falling in love with his target. The marketing of this book is incredible. So, what went wrong? Let’s talk about it.
This book could have easily been a 4-star read for me. In fact, I was confident it would be. The writing in the first half? Beautiful. I was completely mesmerized. I could picture everything with ease. S.E. Nielsen did an incredible job painting the scenery. The pacing was moderate. I was in love with the story, the characters, and the endless banter. Halfway through the book, I found myself at an unexpected loss for words. The transitions between scenes became choppy. I was pleasantly confused. I found myself re-reading several chapters because I could not grasp what was happening. The pacing went from moderate to abrupt. As a result, everything felt off. I honestly don’t know how this transpired. Too much occurred in a short amount of time. I was completely enamored with this book until I wasn't.
Do I still recommend this book despite the flawed execution? Yes. I absolutely believe, without a doubt, that this book can be everything it is meant to be if the author took a step back and revised her work.
This book could have easily been a 4-star read for me. In fact, I was confident it would be. The writing in the first half? Beautiful. I was completely mesmerized. I could picture everything with ease. S.E. Nielsen did an incredible job painting the scenery. The pacing was moderate. I was in love with the story, the characters, and the endless banter. Halfway through the book, I found myself at an unexpected loss for words. The transitions between scenes became choppy. I was pleasantly confused. I found myself re-reading several chapters because I could not grasp what was happening. The pacing went from moderate to abrupt. As a result, everything felt off. I honestly don’t know how this transpired. Too much occurred in a short amount of time. I was completely enamored with this book until I wasn't.
Do I still recommend this book despite the flawed execution? Yes. I absolutely believe, without a doubt, that this book can be everything it is meant to be if the author took a step back and revised her work.
September 30, 2026
Thank you to the author and Nerd Fam for the fantastic ARC Read.
4.75⭐️ Forced marriage? Check. Enemies-to-lovers? Check. Dragons, magic, mythical creatures, treasure hunts, and top-tier chemistry? CHECK. 🐉🔥
Our FMC is a princess who’s being forced into a marriage she wants absolutely nothing to do with. So naturally, she comes up with a plan: find the legendary hidden treasure that everyone else thinks is nothing more than a myth, take the treasure, and run away from it all. 😂
Then she runs into a warrior who is also searching for the treasure with his friends. The two make a bargain to work together, and that’s when the fun really begins. Their banter and chemistry were so much fun to experience as they went from reluctant allies to something a whole lot more. 👀
The treasure hunt gave me major Indiana Jones vibes—with booby traps, danger, ancient secrets, and mythical creatures along the way.
And the MMC? Hello, Shadow Daddy… or should I call him Smoke Daddy? 🥵 He’s a powerful sorcerer with a dark, mysterious presence, a dangerous edge, and that whole I probably shouldn’t want him, but here we are vibe. Needless to say, I was very much invested. 😂🔥
The FMC is definitely clumsy 😂 but she has a strong will and refuses to back down. She may stumble her way through things, but she’s not letting anyone push her around.
Forced marriage + enemies-to-lovers + magic + dragons + treasure hunting? Yeah… I ate this one up. 🐉🔥
And that ending?! 😳 The book leaves you hanging, and now I’m sitting here impatiently waiting for Book 2 because I NEED to know what happens next!
4.75⭐️ Forced marriage? Check. Enemies-to-lovers? Check. Dragons, magic, mythical creatures, treasure hunts, and top-tier chemistry? CHECK. 🐉🔥
Our FMC is a princess who’s being forced into a marriage she wants absolutely nothing to do with. So naturally, she comes up with a plan: find the legendary hidden treasure that everyone else thinks is nothing more than a myth, take the treasure, and run away from it all. 😂
Then she runs into a warrior who is also searching for the treasure with his friends. The two make a bargain to work together, and that’s when the fun really begins. Their banter and chemistry were so much fun to experience as they went from reluctant allies to something a whole lot more. 👀
The treasure hunt gave me major Indiana Jones vibes—with booby traps, danger, ancient secrets, and mythical creatures along the way.
And the MMC? Hello, Shadow Daddy… or should I call him Smoke Daddy? 🥵 He’s a powerful sorcerer with a dark, mysterious presence, a dangerous edge, and that whole I probably shouldn’t want him, but here we are vibe. Needless to say, I was very much invested. 😂🔥
The FMC is definitely clumsy 😂 but she has a strong will and refuses to back down. She may stumble her way through things, but she’s not letting anyone push her around.
Forced marriage + enemies-to-lovers + magic + dragons + treasure hunting? Yeah… I ate this one up. 🐉🔥
And that ending?! 😳 The book leaves you hanging, and now I’m sitting here impatiently waiting for Book 2 because I NEED to know what happens next!
Review of advance copy received from Author
The first half of this book had me wondering whether I missed some sentences somewhere. Lavinia is another princess treated as a political commodity, but at least she has a charming brother. Then she gets caught up in Wraith and his friends’ machinations, whose goals remain unclear to her. I understood her desire for independence, but with so little knowledge and experience, some of her choices felt like a rather wild shot in the dark.
The world-building added a bit to my confusion. Though it is announced as a gothic setting. I constantly had to adapt my visualization of this world, with dragon riders meeting thermite and radiators.
Thankfully, the last part explains much, especially the magic system, which was genuinely interesting, with enough depth to make me want to understand more of how it all works.
Despite that, the story got me. Wraith and Lavinia’s dynamic and banter is great, especially as their escape plan becomes increasingly complicated. Wraith, with his sea salt and wood smoke scent, is exactly the kind of cold, ruthless sorcerer who makes questionable decisions considerably more entertaining.
There was also one particularly well-placed fuck-it moment that had me cheering. Sometimes a character just needs to stop thinking and commit to the chaos.
And then the book ends with Lavinia making another spectacularly reckless decision while Wraith is still very much fighting his own battles. Apparently, I’ve now reached the point where I can be a bit confused, have questions, and still immediately want the next book.
The world-building added a bit to my confusion. Though it is announced as a gothic setting. I constantly had to adapt my visualization of this world, with dragon riders meeting thermite and radiators.
Thankfully, the last part explains much, especially the magic system, which was genuinely interesting, with enough depth to make me want to understand more of how it all works.
Despite that, the story got me. Wraith and Lavinia’s dynamic and banter is great, especially as their escape plan becomes increasingly complicated. Wraith, with his sea salt and wood smoke scent, is exactly the kind of cold, ruthless sorcerer who makes questionable decisions considerably more entertaining.
There was also one particularly well-placed fuck-it moment that had me cheering. Sometimes a character just needs to stop thinking and commit to the chaos.
And then the book ends with Lavinia making another spectacularly reckless decision while Wraith is still very much fighting his own battles. Apparently, I’ve now reached the point where I can be a bit confused, have questions, and still immediately want the next book.
October 8, 2026
Who the hell is wraith? Omg that ending! The next book better be coming asap!
You follow the FMC Princess Lavinia, who would do almost anything to escape her royal responsibilities and not be forced by her father to be married again after narrowly escaping her first marriage. But as her morning period has passed and for some reason her kingdom desperately needs more money and an alliance, there’s nothing her or her brother can do to stop the king from marrying her off, even to a vile lord who won’t treat her well. In walks a dragon rider named Wraith who seems to have many secrets of his own, but offers her a deal to help him find some treasure in exchange for her freedom, only he’s not really looking for treasure and is really there to eliminate a beast threatening the kingdom and end her bloodline.
I loved the banter and tension between the pair that pulls them even closer together with the more time they spend together. Between the daring heist missions, terrifying creatures seeming to want them dead and a burning passion neither can ignore, I couldn’t put this book down! I felt so much for the FMC and how trapped in her own life she felt and how she really looked for any means of escape even if it meant trusting a man she barely knew. I also loved each of their close friends and how they were the sort of found family to rely on that they needed and Bast was one of my favorite sassy characters. Overall this was an exciting and fun read and I can’t wait for the next one! My rating 4.6/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
You follow the FMC Princess Lavinia, who would do almost anything to escape her royal responsibilities and not be forced by her father to be married again after narrowly escaping her first marriage. But as her morning period has passed and for some reason her kingdom desperately needs more money and an alliance, there’s nothing her or her brother can do to stop the king from marrying her off, even to a vile lord who won’t treat her well. In walks a dragon rider named Wraith who seems to have many secrets of his own, but offers her a deal to help him find some treasure in exchange for her freedom, only he’s not really looking for treasure and is really there to eliminate a beast threatening the kingdom and end her bloodline.
I loved the banter and tension between the pair that pulls them even closer together with the more time they spend together. Between the daring heist missions, terrifying creatures seeming to want them dead and a burning passion neither can ignore, I couldn’t put this book down! I felt so much for the FMC and how trapped in her own life she felt and how she really looked for any means of escape even if it meant trusting a man she barely knew. I also loved each of their close friends and how they were the sort of found family to rely on that they needed and Bast was one of my favorite sassy characters. Overall this was an exciting and fun read and I can’t wait for the next one! My rating 4.6/5!
Thanks to the author for the gifted copy, all opinions given are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
There are some books that consume me. They keep me up until the sun comes up. Regicide and Roses by S. E. Nielsen was one of them.
Our MMC Wraith is a dark sorcerer undercover as a dragon rider, sent to assassinate the princess, Lavinia. She desperately wants out of an arranged marriage that’s been planned for her and decides he’s going to help her. They form a temporary alliance. And then he catches feelings. BAD BAD.
We have banter, seduction, and yearning. A WHOLE lot of yearning. Wraith has it bad for his girl, and every time someone else looks at her, touches her, or brings her close to danger, it’s evident.
This story has it all! Treasure hunting, booby traps, magic, creatures, shifters, dragons, dual dimensions, and yes, SPICE. There were so many moments that made me laugh out loud (like Lavinia’s outfit for an adventure...when you read it, you’ll laugh too), and I loved that she wanted more than the royal life planned for her.
But Wraith falling for the woman he’s supposed to execute!? That was my favorite part. Talk about struggles.
I loved Wraith and Lavinia, and I’m ordering a physical copy because I need this one on my shelf. In the meantime, I am patiently waiting on book 2! 😁
Thank you to S. E. Nielsen for the eARC! And thank you to Grimm and Co! I initially signed up for the cover reveal through them, so I wouldn’t have heard of this story otherwise. 🫶
Our MMC Wraith is a dark sorcerer undercover as a dragon rider, sent to assassinate the princess, Lavinia. She desperately wants out of an arranged marriage that’s been planned for her and decides he’s going to help her. They form a temporary alliance. And then he catches feelings. BAD BAD.
We have banter, seduction, and yearning. A WHOLE lot of yearning. Wraith has it bad for his girl, and every time someone else looks at her, touches her, or brings her close to danger, it’s evident.
This story has it all! Treasure hunting, booby traps, magic, creatures, shifters, dragons, dual dimensions, and yes, SPICE. There were so many moments that made me laugh out loud (like Lavinia’s outfit for an adventure...when you read it, you’ll laugh too), and I loved that she wanted more than the royal life planned for her.
But Wraith falling for the woman he’s supposed to execute!? That was my favorite part. Talk about struggles.
I loved Wraith and Lavinia, and I’m ordering a physical copy because I need this one on my shelf. In the meantime, I am patiently waiting on book 2! 😁
Thank you to S. E. Nielsen for the eARC! And thank you to Grimm and Co! I initially signed up for the cover reveal through them, so I wouldn’t have heard of this story otherwise. 🫶
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off I want to say thank to the author S.E. Nielsen and team for this ARC. I received it in exchange for my honest review.
3.5 stars I rounded up.
I'm trying to figure out how to write this without spoilers. Overall I did like this story. I felt their was a lot of great ideas but almost to many? I spent the first half the of the story confused why the secret needed to be a secret and the kings purpose of it. What the 9 were. It was all very confusing. Felt like i needed a prologue of the war before or something for context. Lavinia (FMC) I felt is a very sassy and likeable. I enjoyed her alot. Yuna was a likeable character as well and a strong side character but it felt like she was all over the place with no explanation why weaving in and out of the story. The way one of the beast changes just seemed unnecessarily gruesome. I was confused why dragons had feathers and why some could talk to them and some couldn't. The intimate scenes were so oddly placed. I feel the story had so much potential but was trying almost to hard to be different than other romantasy novels. The ending I was just like okay? It wasn't really a cliffhanger that has me screaming for the next book but more of a that's how we want to finish that? Overall I would consider recommending it and I would consider reading book two but it's not at the top of my list.
3.5 stars I rounded up.
I'm trying to figure out how to write this without spoilers. Overall I did like this story. I felt their was a lot of great ideas but almost to many? I spent the first half the of the story confused why the secret needed to be a secret and the kings purpose of it. What the 9 were. It was all very confusing. Felt like i needed a prologue of the war before or something for context. Lavinia (FMC) I felt is a very sassy and likeable. I enjoyed her alot. Yuna was a likeable character as well and a strong side character but it felt like she was all over the place with no explanation why weaving in and out of the story. The way one of the beast changes just seemed unnecessarily gruesome. I was confused why dragons had feathers and why some could talk to them and some couldn't. The intimate scenes were so oddly placed. I feel the story had so much potential but was trying almost to hard to be different than other romantasy novels. The ending I was just like okay? It wasn't really a cliffhanger that has me screaming for the next book but more of a that's how we want to finish that? Overall I would consider recommending it and I would consider reading book two but it's not at the top of my list.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First of all I would like to thank the authors who gifted for gifting me this ARC.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
What a fun read this was! Fast paced, exciting, and an absolute load of fun. Regicide and Roses is the first book in a duology, and it pulled me along from the very beginning.
Wraith is an infamous dark sorcerer with one mission: eliminate a royal bloodline. To get close enough to do it, he goes undercover as a dragon rider. Lavinia, the princess on his hit list, has a very different goal escape her kingdom before her tyrannical father marries her off to yet another power hungry man. And Wraith might just be her way out.
The two end up teaming up to find a mystical treasure that could help them both, which is obviously a fantastic recipe for trouble when one of them is secretly supposed to kill the other. 😏 The big question is: will Wraith be able to carry out his mission, or will he lose everything he’s been fighting for?
I really enjoyed Lavinia. She is very much a damsel in distress at times, but she’s also brave, resourceful, and capable of taking matters into her own hands. She is also SO done with men, which made the slow-burn dynamic between her and Wraith even more entertaining. Watching their reluctant attraction and growing feelings develop while Wraith is hiding his true identity was deliciously frustrating in the best way.
The world-building is nicely done without slowing down the story, and this is definitely a plot-forward romantasy. The romance and the plot are so intertwined that if you removed either one, the whole story would fall apart. I also really enjoyed the side characters and the banter they brought to the story.
There’s plenty to enjoy here: gothic romance, forbidden love, slow-burn yearning, hidden identities, wound tending, danger, magic… and DRAGONS. Yes, there are dragons. 🐉
Overall, this was such an entertaining fantasy romance with a great setup for book two. I’m very curious to see where Wraith and Lavinia’s story goes next!
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
What a fun read this was! Fast paced, exciting, and an absolute load of fun. Regicide and Roses is the first book in a duology, and it pulled me along from the very beginning.
Wraith is an infamous dark sorcerer with one mission: eliminate a royal bloodline. To get close enough to do it, he goes undercover as a dragon rider. Lavinia, the princess on his hit list, has a very different goal escape her kingdom before her tyrannical father marries her off to yet another power hungry man. And Wraith might just be her way out.
The two end up teaming up to find a mystical treasure that could help them both, which is obviously a fantastic recipe for trouble when one of them is secretly supposed to kill the other. 😏 The big question is: will Wraith be able to carry out his mission, or will he lose everything he’s been fighting for?
I really enjoyed Lavinia. She is very much a damsel in distress at times, but she’s also brave, resourceful, and capable of taking matters into her own hands. She is also SO done with men, which made the slow-burn dynamic between her and Wraith even more entertaining. Watching their reluctant attraction and growing feelings develop while Wraith is hiding his true identity was deliciously frustrating in the best way.
The world-building is nicely done without slowing down the story, and this is definitely a plot-forward romantasy. The romance and the plot are so intertwined that if you removed either one, the whole story would fall apart. I also really enjoyed the side characters and the banter they brought to the story.
There’s plenty to enjoy here: gothic romance, forbidden love, slow-burn yearning, hidden identities, wound tending, danger, magic… and DRAGONS. Yes, there are dragons. 🐉
Overall, this was such an entertaining fantasy romance with a great setup for book two. I’m very curious to see where Wraith and Lavinia’s story goes next!
September 29, 2026
This book has a wonderful storyline and I really enjoyed reading it. Lots of political and romantic content. The romance between Wraith and Lavinia is amazing! It has the potential to be a great book, however, the writing and the way the book is put together is quite choppy. The way the chapters and some of the storyline is structured makes it really hard to follow. There were quite a few parts that I had to go back and re-read because they weren’t following what just happened in the chapter or didn’t make sense, like parts had been skipped out on. Also, there was so much hype around Erabus and him being a seemingly major plot point only for it to be like a single page fight with barely any action. For this being an ARC I’m not sure if it wasn’t edited or what but there are many errors throughout the book as well. I believe the book still needs some work but has the potential to be a wonderful read!! I’d still recommend reading! Also that cliffhanger??? I can’t wait for the second book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 rounded
THE BANTER. It bantered beautifully. Morally grey men, dragon riders, shadow-walkers, tomb raiding, political intrigues, loathing-to-lovers. This was so satisfying to read.
Plot: Lavinia is a looking for a way to run away from her princess duties to remarry. Wraith is part of a group of dark sorcerers and is undercover as a dragon rider in order to eliminate the royals. Lavinia & Wraith make a bargain that he'll help her escape if she helps them find the items they need.
Did I mention banter? The 2 MCs loathed each other and riled each other up and their banter was perfect. They had loathing and chemistry and affection and they were great together.
The magic in this was so cool. Drawing from things around you for power; side-stepping through shadows; dragon riding; what more could you want?
I also really enjoyed the tomb raiding. All the monsters and little puzzles were so fun. Plus it forced proximity, which im never going to complain about.
The supporting characters were wholesome and great and you made me cry, which was very rude.
Probably the only criticism is that in the second half some of the scenes felt disjointed and had me going back a paragraph or 2 to see if it was my comprehension or the book. Im just hoping this is because it was an ARC version and wont be there in the final edit.
Overall I had such a good time with this book. So much so about 100 pages in I knew Id want a trophy copy and went and ordered one 😅
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review
THE BANTER. It bantered beautifully. Morally grey men, dragon riders, shadow-walkers, tomb raiding, political intrigues, loathing-to-lovers. This was so satisfying to read.
Plot: Lavinia is a looking for a way to run away from her princess duties to remarry. Wraith is part of a group of dark sorcerers and is undercover as a dragon rider in order to eliminate the royals. Lavinia & Wraith make a bargain that he'll help her escape if she helps them find the items they need.
Did I mention banter? The 2 MCs loathed each other and riled each other up and their banter was perfect. They had loathing and chemistry and affection and they were great together.
The magic in this was so cool. Drawing from things around you for power; side-stepping through shadows; dragon riding; what more could you want?
I also really enjoyed the tomb raiding. All the monsters and little puzzles were so fun. Plus it forced proximity, which im never going to complain about.
The supporting characters were wholesome and great and you made me cry, which was very rude.
Probably the only criticism is that in the second half some of the scenes felt disjointed and had me going back a paragraph or 2 to see if it was my comprehension or the book. Im just hoping this is because it was an ARC version and wont be there in the final edit.
Overall I had such a good time with this book. So much so about 100 pages in I knew Id want a trophy copy and went and ordered one 😅
I received an advance review copy of this book and am leaving a voluntary review
Review of advance copy received from Author
reviewed from advance copy given by author
🌹 Regicide and Roses has ensnared my soul completely.
This book had so many fascinating elements woven throughout the story that genuinely kept me thinking and questioning what would come next. I loved the witty banter between our main characters, the yearning is 🤌🫠, and the relationships portrayed throughout the story added such a beautiful depth to the world.
And let me tell you… this book kept me on my toes.There were secrets, tension, magic, and just enough uncertainty to make me question where the story was going next. 🌙
Tropes & themes I loved:
🐉 Dragons & dragon riders
🌹 Forbidden romance
⚔️ Royal intrigue & dangerous secrets
🖤 Dark magic
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers tension
🌙 Hidden identities
🤌 Relentless yearning
✨ Witty banter
🌿 Complicated relationships
👑 Duty vs. desire
🗡️ Betrayal, power & freedom
This is book one of two, and after that ending… I am so excited to see what comes next. Give me the next installment immediately, please. 😭🌹
🌹 Regicide and Roses has ensnared my soul completely.
This book had so many fascinating elements woven throughout the story that genuinely kept me thinking and questioning what would come next. I loved the witty banter between our main characters, the yearning is 🤌🫠, and the relationships portrayed throughout the story added such a beautiful depth to the world.
And let me tell you… this book kept me on my toes.There were secrets, tension, magic, and just enough uncertainty to make me question where the story was going next. 🌙
Tropes & themes I loved:
🐉 Dragons & dragon riders
🌹 Forbidden romance
⚔️ Royal intrigue & dangerous secrets
🖤 Dark magic
🔥 Enemies-to-lovers tension
🌙 Hidden identities
🤌 Relentless yearning
✨ Witty banter
🌿 Complicated relationships
👑 Duty vs. desire
🗡️ Betrayal, power & freedom
This is book one of two, and after that ending… I am so excited to see what comes next. Give me the next installment immediately, please. 😭🌹
October 6, 2026
A huge thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced reader copy!
Tropes: forbidden love, slow burn, dark sorcerer x feisty princess, wound tending, dragons + gothic setting, he hates that he yearns for her, she’s so done with men
The blurb grabbed my attention immediately with its delicious promise of dark tropes, and as expected, I completely devoured this book!
Lavinia and Wraith are absolute perfection together, definitely enemies at first sight, and every single interaction between them drips chemistry. The tension? Absolutely mouth watering. But what really got me was the Wraith’s POV🫠 I completely adored diving inside the head of such a lethal sorcerer only to watch him get completely torn between his duty and his growing feelings for the Lavinia. Top tier romantasy gold imo!!
Without giving away any spoilers, the character arcs and how certain plot twists played out completely flipped my expectations, in the best way possible!
The ending?! The next book truly cannot come soon enough!
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯.”
Pub Date: 13 Oct 2026
Tropes: forbidden love, slow burn, dark sorcerer x feisty princess, wound tending, dragons + gothic setting, he hates that he yearns for her, she’s so done with men
The blurb grabbed my attention immediately with its delicious promise of dark tropes, and as expected, I completely devoured this book!
Lavinia and Wraith are absolute perfection together, definitely enemies at first sight, and every single interaction between them drips chemistry. The tension? Absolutely mouth watering. But what really got me was the Wraith’s POV🫠 I completely adored diving inside the head of such a lethal sorcerer only to watch him get completely torn between his duty and his growing feelings for the Lavinia. Top tier romantasy gold imo!!
Without giving away any spoilers, the character arcs and how certain plot twists played out completely flipped my expectations, in the best way possible!
The ending?! The next book truly cannot come soon enough!
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘢𝘳 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯.”
Pub Date: 13 Oct 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author
This one definitely makes you work for it in the beginning! There are A LOT of puzzle pieces being thrown at you, and it can be a little hard to follow along while everything comes together. But once you hit the end, things really start picking up as the FMC begins uncovering secrets and connecting all the dots.
The magic system was such an interesting part of this story, especially the use of different metals, smoke, and plants. It made the world feel unique and intriguing.
And let's talk about the banter and tension! Because 🔥 The MMC falling first is ALWAYS a favorite of mine, especially when he's trying so hard to hate her. Give me all that internal conflict and tension!
And of course, we can't forget her special black cat sidekick who brings a little extra snark to the mix. 🐈⬛ Honestly, what's a fantasy book without a little attitude from a cat?
A slower start, but definitely an ending that pulls you in and leaves you wanting more!
The magic system was such an interesting part of this story, especially the use of different metals, smoke, and plants. It made the world feel unique and intriguing.
And let's talk about the banter and tension! Because 🔥 The MMC falling first is ALWAYS a favorite of mine, especially when he's trying so hard to hate her. Give me all that internal conflict and tension!
And of course, we can't forget her special black cat sidekick who brings a little extra snark to the mix. 🐈⬛ Honestly, what's a fantasy book without a little attitude from a cat?
A slower start, but definitely an ending that pulls you in and leaves you wanting more!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you S. E. Nielsen for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC!
This was a fun and fast paced book! The world building was interesting and unique. There were times where I was confused about some plots which could be because the world building was woven into the story as it goes. So I’m hoping the next book will answer the questions and straighten out the story more.
Lavinia was a fierce FMC, but her decisions at a few places was a little irritating. I loved how she never backed down from what she wants and fiercely cares about the people she loves. Wraith was a fun character. I like how he was determined to get his goal achieved even though he struggled with his feelings for Lavinia. The romance between the two was great!
I look forward to the next book to know more about the ending!
This was a fun and fast paced book! The world building was interesting and unique. There were times where I was confused about some plots which could be because the world building was woven into the story as it goes. So I’m hoping the next book will answer the questions and straighten out the story more.
Lavinia was a fierce FMC, but her decisions at a few places was a little irritating. I loved how she never backed down from what she wants and fiercely cares about the people she loves. Wraith was a fun character. I like how he was determined to get his goal achieved even though he struggled with his feelings for Lavinia. The romance between the two was great!
I look forward to the next book to know more about the ending!
September 24, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I enjoyed this! Some things were a little confusing, but that’s partly because we didn’t spend 100 pages just world building. The world was built in the story, which I much prefer. Lavinia is your standard Romantasy FMC… In other words, she makes poor decisions often enough to irritate. No big surprises there. I like that Wraith is not conflicted about any of his moral misdeeds. He just owns them. He knows who he is and he doesn’t feel bad about it.
I think this book could have easily been five stars with a bit more editing and tightening things up. That said, it was an easy read. I enjoyed it and was eager to find out what was going to happen next.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
I think this book could have easily been five stars with a bit more editing and tightening things up. That said, it was an easy read. I enjoyed it and was eager to find out what was going to happen next.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the Nerd Fam for this gifted book. I immediately fell in love with this synopsis of this book, and knew that I needed to read it. It was full of all the tension, angst, and political intrigue that I love in a romantasy. While I overall enjoyed this story, at times I would get lost and have to rewind a few paragraphs. This was likely partially due to the fact I was so drawn into the story that I was up late reading, but it also felt like at times we were jumping scenes or into big reveals without clear transitions. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed this story and the ending has me waiting with bated breath for book two.
Read if you like:
🗡️romantasy
🗡️enemies to lovers
🗡️hidden identity
🗡️political intrigue
Read if you like:
🗡️romantasy
🗡️enemies to lovers
🗡️hidden identity
🗡️political intrigue
October 3, 2026
Thank you so much to the Nerd Fam & S.E. Nielsen for this awesome book. I felt like I was immersed in a gothic version of From Blood & Ash and I absolutely LOVED it. I could read pages upon pages of Lavinia & Wraith's banter and never get tired of it. I really liked the unique magic system and world-building in this book. It didn't feel forced and everything was "just the right amount", if that makes sense? But the cliffhanger... I'm gonna need that next book whenever it is ready to go, because I saw it coming and as soon as the bandaid was ripped off, it still burned 💔. Amazing start to this duology and I am eagerly waiting the next one. And I cannot wait to make a book cookie because this cover has been calling my name since I saw it 😍
October 6, 2026
Hilarious! Toe-curling tension & spice. The banter was LOL good…& I did. Many times. Every chapter was entertaining! I love a little pettiness! 😘
Wraith is just hilarious. He’s an arrogant ass with a sarcastic mouth but when he loves he loves completely.
Lavinia, a damsel she may be but she is brave & just as funny! I love a woman who knows what she wants & Dart? Probably my favorite character! 🖤
The MC’s end up being reluctant allies for very different reasons & while Lavinia still doesn’t quite know what she’s gotten herself into & Wraith definitely uses that to his advantage, their adventures are SO entertaining! That first spicy scene?? I think I have a new kink! 😘
The ending?! I thought I saw it coming…I did not! Looking forward to book two!
Wraith is just hilarious. He’s an arrogant ass with a sarcastic mouth but when he loves he loves completely.
Lavinia, a damsel she may be but she is brave & just as funny! I love a woman who knows what she wants & Dart? Probably my favorite character! 🖤
The MC’s end up being reluctant allies for very different reasons & while Lavinia still doesn’t quite know what she’s gotten herself into & Wraith definitely uses that to his advantage, their adventures are SO entertaining! That first spicy scene?? I think I have a new kink! 😘
The ending?! I thought I saw it coming…I did not! Looking forward to book two!
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