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House of Royals #5

House of Ravens

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Alivia has returned to Silent Bend, and the House of Conrath is stronger than it has been in centuries. She knows exactly who she is as a leader, and those that surround her are loyal—family willing to die for one another.

She will need each and every one of them, because an army has been building in the dark, biding its time, ready to break out into civil war. The tension between the Born and the Bitten could crumble the entire monarchy. It’s a revolution that may leave no survivors.

With an ancient key in hand, Alivia is about to unlock the final secrets to the Conrath legacy, and discover the answers to every question she’s had from the very beginning.

The truth isn’t always what it seems…

Unknown Binding

First published September 13, 2016

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723 people want to read

About the author

Keary Taylor

82 books2,103 followers
Keary Taylor is the USA TODAY bestselling author of over twenty novels. She grew up along the foothills of the Rocky Mountains where she started creating imaginary worlds and daring characters who always fell in love. She now splits her time between a tiny island in the Pacific Northwest and Utah, with her husband and their two children. She continues to have an overactive imagination that frequently keeps her up at night.

Please Note: Keary does not check Goodreads very often, so the best way to get in contact is directly through email: me@kearytaylor.com.

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5 stars
710 (48%)
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498 (34%)
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202 (13%)
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34 (2%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
Profile Image for Brittany.
1,299 reviews197 followers
June 10, 2019
4 Stars!



Ive been reading this series here and there since it began. If I was only rating this one book it would probably be a 3, but since it is the last book, overall I will give it 4 stars! It was a happy ending to a fun paranormal series! All my questions were answered and there were even a few twists I was not expecting.
Profile Image for Sweet and Salty Reviews by DD.
612 reviews239 followers
July 9, 2023
Sweet conclusion. Kind of expected a more aggressive cliff hanger leading into Elle’s story.

Definitely a huge fan! Will be continuing.

Warning…But if you are in the mood for some 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 this may not be the read for you.

Happy reading,
DD🥂
Profile Image for ❤️Court - Villains Do It Better❤️.
1,088 reviews774 followers
April 21, 2021
3 Stars

Probably the best book in the series, and that mainly has to do with the heroine being somewhat tolerable in this one, even though she was still annoying. The fight was a disappointment, transitions were still unrealistic, and the dialogue was still cheesy. But overall, it did entertain me, so there's that.
Profile Image for Kit (Metaphors and Moonlight).
973 reviews162 followers
June 27, 2017
3.5 Stars

Full Review:
*I received a free ecopy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*

This was another enjoyable book in the series with no major issues that I easily sped through in a day. And one of the things I liked most was sweet relationships Alivia had with her House members. The biggest message throughout this series has been that your family doesn't have to share your blood, that your family are the people who have your back, whether they're related to you or not. I loved Alivia's unique relationships with the people in her life and how touching they were.

Another great thing throughout all the books has been how imperfect all the characters were. They all had actual flaws to the point that sometimes they weren't very likeable, but in the end I was still rooting for them because they felt like real people.

This was also a nicely done ending. It wrapped up the important stuff without overdoing it and gave the characters, and thus also the readers, some happy moments after all the struggles they'd dealt with.

But the thing is, while this book was good, it felt kind of anticlimactic, especially considering it was the end of the series. I actually liked that the author didn't focus too much on the fight scenes and battles, but it seemed like not that much really happened, and the final showdown fell a little flat for me. It was all wrapped up a little too easily and quickly, I guess.

Alivia herself also fell a little flat for me. I loved her in Books 1 and 2, then she started changing for the worse in Book 3, then she was broken and realized how much she changed in Book 4, and then she started trying to be a better person in Book 5. But after being broken like that and trying to be a better person, she seemed more timid and unsure of herself. It was a realistic and well-done character arc, so I give props to the author for writing it well and taking that risk, but I personally loved Alivia more in the beginning and was disappointed that she never quite got back to being that person. But just because I didn't necessarily love the changes, that doesn't mean other readers won't because, as I said, it was still believable.

But although this wasn't my favorite of the five books, I do still recommend the series if it sounds like your kind of thing as it was well-written, character-driven, and gripping and had a very intricate and different take on vampires!

Recommended For:
Fans of Books 1-4 in Keary Taylor's House of Royals Series. Readers who like character growth, complicated relationships, chosen family, intrigue, and a different take on vampires.

Original Review @ Metaphors and Moonlight
Profile Image for Courtney.
1,976 reviews208 followers
September 14, 2016
Keary really knows how to keep us all guessing and on our toes with this series. And she doesn't let up in the final book either.

We are back in Silent Bend where everything began in House of Royals. Alivia has returned from her captivity by King Cyrus and is ready to start over with her House. However, she's got a lot to overcome.

"Let the war begin."

There was so much that went on this book that I absolutely love. And I so wish I could tell you but anything I say would give away too much of this book. I will say that things are finally revealed that we have been waiting for - who's behind the Bitten and why; what happened with her father, Henry; who and what Rath really is; and what the future holds for Alivia and her house.

"Even forever isn't going to be enough."

I get goosebumps over my skin just writing this review and thinking about everything that transpired in this book. Keary delivered one hell of an excellent finale in this series. She could have not done a better job.

And I am really hoping that some things Keary hinted at in this book means we might see a spinoff in the near future for a new book or even possibly a series. HINT HINT

This is a series I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend!!!
Profile Image for Janvi.
270 reviews47 followers
October 4, 2018
A happy ending! ;)
- Henry is alive.
- We finally know what Rath is.
- Liv and Ian.

But there was also sadness. Samuel, Lillian, Holland, Francessa, Rowan. I really felt it, man. I was literally cussing out Taylor for killing Samuel and Lillian. But it was fine. Not exactly, but ok.

The book was fantastic!!!
Profile Image for Andrea Salazar .
155 reviews
February 29, 2024
Good end

Great way to wrap everything up. I liked the epilogue but feel UT left us on a huge cliffhanger and so I'm a little frustrated for that part.
Profile Image for Lirana Reverie.
69 reviews
September 22, 2024
Wow! I really did not see this coming! Absolutely fantastic! Thank you for this good series Keary Taylor!
Profile Image for Amanda.
287 reviews
January 8, 2017
DNF at 40%. It seems like I'm a minority I don't think I can read this book anymore. The character flip flop around a lot, Keary kept reminding us how powerful a vampire is, how weak and fragile a human's body is. She also kept reminding us how rich and powerful Alivia is, and yet it seems like she's not doing anything important in the first half of the book. At the same time her character is very flat and emotional.

Also similar to the previous books, the story drags on and on and on which prompts me to finally stop torturing myself by reading this book.
Profile Image for Victoria (nocturnalintimacy).
2,256 reviews1 follower
June 21, 2022
Kindle Unlimited.

Since the series was available on Kindle Unlimited in an omnibus edition, I ended up reading these books back to back.

We get a resolution in this book, although there are still lots of possible directions for this world to grow with. I'm kind of disappointed in the Ian/Liv reunion. I was rooting for Raheem. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Minor grammatical errors.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Khanique McDaniel.
1,199 reviews36 followers
June 30, 2018
By itself, I would have given this novel 3 stars but as a whole and for what it represents, I gave it four. It was quite a ride and after reading the blurb for the next book in the series, it's safe to say this is us departing the POV of Alivia Ryan Conrath.

I feel like we were placed in the blender on the highest setting, especially whilst reading House of Judges, so imagine my surprise to find that what brewed for 12 years wrapped in 5 mins.
Did I believe the mastermind had a hand in all the supernatural? Yes ... but I never expected it to be THE hand.

The biggest surprise for me however was Lula, who could have unlocked and stopped this WHOLE thing before it even began but then weren't we all more invested in the Court's politics than what was happening in Silent Bend?

Speaking of said Court, King Cyrus makes a cameo that has teed us perfectly for the next book in the series and Ian Ward was once again MIA when it counted. I still can't get behind their romance! P.s .... still NO sex.

I hate inconsistencies and there were MANY! People forgetting things they said and already knew and rewritten histories that were either lies to begin with or forgotten by the author. Also, don't get me started on the Rath/Henry/Cora/Lula/Marlane situation of it all. Too many variables to process and they are thrown at us all at once as oppose to over the SIX novels we just read! It was too much in too little time, giving light to those inconsistencies.

All the trimmings of closing out a story were present and though we lost some Original House members, I found it to be fair.

I didn't feel as emotional as I did when Alivia was working in that strip joint in Roter Himmel. That either says a lot about me or about the connection I made with these characters, because I have found that this series will make you bias to Alivia despite her downfalls.

There is nothing more I would ask for except for more time. Somehow, after 6 novels, I feel like this is just the beginning.

The final battle was probably the biggest let down of this series. It lasted 10 minutes at most and culminate in the most tepid emotional reunion and we still don't know if they killed the mastermind or is storing her in a dungeon somewhere.

Still, I will give props where due and Keary Taylor has created a world where whether we are being guided by Alivia, Elle or King Cyrus, it's worth the read. Goodbye for now Silent Bend.
Profile Image for Jennifer Dale.
782 reviews15 followers
January 29, 2018
Most books start to slow down when it is coming to a close. Not this one. It continued to amazed me on how the author was able to pull so much from such as simple story line.

This whole book is based on who is the leader that is changing the humans to bitten; when will the war start? Is there someone in THE HOUSE that is dishonest and truly against them? and so SO much more.

I am sorry to say that my heart was tugged a little bit at the end. Which only means, death. I wasn't emotional but a sad frown was on my face. No more can be said on that....

Everything wrapped up nicely but there are still some gray areas that will leave you wanting more. The book does contain chapter one for book 6 (Elle story). I did read it and I cannot wait for the next craziness!

I will admit there was no sleep during this series; With that said, i am going to take a short break from this series and read a few light hearted, bantering style books. That way my mind will get some well needed rest and my clothes will get washed. LOL..

Enjoy! I recommend!
45 reviews
July 31, 2024
This series was great. If you love a good vampire series this is the one. The story starts off and goes straight through no mind boggling situations and confusing parts and ends great with no cliffhanger. One of the best I’ve read yet. Olivia moves to her father’s town where she inherits his fortune. She meets Rath, her father’s right hand man and companion. She also meets Ian under dire circumstances and starts a friendship that later turns into love. Elle is Ian’s sister who makes a potion that helps Olivia fight her new world. She meets jasmine and comes out on top of the situation presented to her. She then meets the king all while trying to establish the house of Conrath. She experiences life in a prison of the king and his horrible games. Then all while trying to fight the bitten she meets a man whom she’s longed to meet her entire life. Then the war breaks out and with allies from the kings world they fight to no end and after that … well get the series and read your ending your self you won’t regret it…
Profile Image for Kimberly.
53 reviews
January 20, 2017
This book did not disappoint! The last book in this series definitely tied up a bunch of loose ends. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. Here's my honest review, It's amazing and a MUST READ!! This whole series is a must read!!

Alivia is finally home and was trying to calm herself down after her month at Roter Himmel. She's not be able to slow down and relax however, she has to prepare for a war with the bitten. The war that she knows is brewing and is inevitable. So many more secrets! So much hurt, so much betrayal, so much happiness, so many things are all entwined in this book!!
I am sad to see this series be over.... But I did notice a couple small minor things that weren't fully closed off. Of course in my avid reader side I'm hoping and praying that these small things will lead to a sude book or even a sequel series... Would that just be awesome?! I think album not ready to leave Silent Bend or Alivia's life yet!!!
Profile Image for Corey Beth.
351 reviews3 followers
December 29, 2021
Worthy Ending

This book was worthy ending to an enjoyable series. Nothing happens herein that is truly unexpected, and it seemed to me that the battle parts were kind of glossed over, but in general it was a good story. Alivia gets her happily ever after while the author sets up another series focusing on Liv's daughter. One thing I just have to bring up is the scene near the end when Alivia & Ian go swimming in the Mississippi River. At least the part of the Mississippi River that I live near, is quite wide with dangerous currents that are known for sucking people & even small crafts underwater. And if you were foolish enough to swim, you certainly wouldn't open your eyes in that muddy water! But that's just a personal pet peeve. Overall the book was a decent wrap up of Alivia's story & the writing was good enough that I plan to read more by this author.
Profile Image for Amilee.
60 reviews1 follower
July 7, 2022
This is the best written book out of the five House of Royal books. The plot and story and still good and intriguing. The characters are better fleshed out. Even some twists I didn’t see coming.

I stuck through this series just find out the end of the story. Unfortunately, this story is apparently several series and not just this one. So this were still story lines left hanging. I wanted to know what happened, but wasn’t interested enough in reading more so I just looked up a couple of spoilers of what I was wondering and will be done now.

I applaud the author on creativity, fresh thinking and a good story line. I just wish the execution were a little better.

(I would have rated this book a 4 star if it had actually tied up loose ends and ended the series. Best book of the house of royals. Didn’t round up because of the unfinished business)
Profile Image for Michelle Fritz PA.
1,357 reviews99 followers
January 1, 2018
In total awe!!! What a conclusion to an epicly heart stopping, unbelievably moving, emotionally draining and hope inspiring series ♡♡♡ I cannot praise Ms. Taylor enough!! Her creativity and expressive settings, themes and overall plot were absolutely breathtaking in both the best and nail biting hold your breath kind of way♡ Liv is such a dynamic character who develops throughout the whole series. This book was filled with one huge surprise and the leading up to it gives you the chills! Prepare for your heart to race right along with your mind! We discover who controls the Bitten and it will leave you with one heck of a book hangover! This is one powerhouse addition to a mind bending tale! Finally we see the Ian that we dream of ♡♡♡ True love never was told in quite this way before!!!
1 review
January 2, 2018
Keary has done it again! The final culmination of Alivia's journey was one filled with built up tension and twists until it exploded in a satisfying finale. Alicia's character journey has been a long road, but she finally gets what she deserves in House of Ravens. It's not without sadness and heartache, as Keary weaves into the right spots, just when we think the characters can endure no more. It's wonderful to reach the end and attain closure for this mix of unique characters. The end leaves me wanting to continue with different characters in the Blood Descendants world. I hope Keary has much more in store for us!
Profile Image for Michele Evans.
1,213 reviews9 followers
February 26, 2019
Awesome awesome being to Liv and Ian’s story!!

This series is amazing and I am excited to continue reading to learn more about Ian’s sister Elle.

In this book, everything that has been leading up to the war finally comes to fruition and Liv and Ian finally take a huge step towards their future. Liv gains more family, both new and old, and the group learns of a secret that may save many lives while also risking the king’s wrath.

Addictive read and expertly written! Love Keary Taylor’s stories!!!
Profile Image for Brenda Davis.
260 reviews
April 13, 2024
shock and family ties are killer

From family ties to betrayal. You have to own your own destiny and let others live their own life. With loss clarity can be devastating. Bout with devastating consequences can come prosperity. This author has given all to this series. I hope all who read it enjoyed the ups and downs to HEA maybe…. lol. You have to read it from start to finish
Profile Image for Jessica Compton.
162 reviews
May 30, 2025
Overall a good series

I enjoyed this series in the Blood Descendants Universe. Taylor is a good author and story teller. I started this series with her newest Venom and Vengeance and devoured the two that have been released. Moved on to the Blood Rose Nights. This was my least favorite of them all so far. Not that it isn’t good, I just felt like it was longer than it needed to be.
287 reviews1 follower
February 18, 2018
I just enjoyed the hell out of this series.

The character development was excellent. Politics multilayered. Vamps sometimes brutal, blood and gore abound. Its good for the soul to read an action filled, emotionally provocative series with a fast moving cohesive plot. Keary Taylor did an excellent job!
Profile Image for Bre Smith.
Author 2 books9 followers
July 22, 2024
This was a great conclusion to the series! There was a lot of action in this one. Some great characters became casualties in the war against the bitten. And there was a HUGE plot twist. Also, I love Ian so much and that’s the end of this review lol. I am excited to start Elle’s books next.

🧛Vampires
👑Royals
🏘️Small Town

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Profile Image for Margaux Espinosa.
1,301 reviews21 followers
July 30, 2018
All the feels!

This book was a rollercoaster of action, emotion and closure. The ending was heart warming, poignant and dad all at once, then the epilogue threw me a curve ball! Can't wait to see what happens in the next installment of this series!
297 reviews
January 31, 2019
Really enjoyed this series

I received the first book in this series through email. Once I read the first book I bought the series, I enjoyed the authors way of writing. She captivated me, I have to say the series was well worth it.
Profile Image for Tia Christiana.
28 reviews
July 9, 2023
Good read!

Really enjoyed the ending to this. I was kinda shocked at who daphne turned out to be. I wasn’t shocked she was the cause, always gave the vibes.
Now I need to find out what happens with Rath.
Profile Image for Niamh ✨.
88 reviews8 followers
September 11, 2023
As much as I enjoyed this series, this part of Liv's story was a real drag. It took me a long time to want to pick up my kindle and finish it. A lot of this was unnecessary and could have been added into previous books as fillers.
7 reviews
December 10, 2016
GREAT SERIES

I think I have neglected my life as I have read these five books in a row. Jump in you won't be sorry!
Profile Image for Meredith Morgan.
123 reviews3 followers
June 6, 2017
I have just read all 5 of these books this weekend. The characters were all believable and the story was good. I just bought the first book but then had to get the other 4 so I could read them all.
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