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Dark Court Rising #1
Promise of Darkness
Princess. Tribute. Sacrifice. Is she the one prophesied to unite two warring Fae courts? Or the one bound to destroy them?
In a realm ruled by magic, the ruthless Queen of Thorns is determined to destroy her nemesis, the cursed Prince of Evernight.
With war brewing between the bitter enemies, the prince forces Queen Adaia to uphold an ancient treaty: she will send one of her daughters to his court as a political hostage for three months.
The queen insists it’s the perfect opportunity for Princess Iskvien to end the war before it begins. But one look into Thiago’s smoldering eyes and Vi knows she’s no assassin.
The more secrets she uncovers about the prince and his court, the more she begins to question her mother’s motives.
Who is the true enemy? The dark prince who threatens her heart? Or the ruthless queen who will stop at nothing to destroy him?
And when the curse threatens to shatter both courts, is her heart strong enough to break it?
A fairytale twist inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth.
In a realm ruled by magic, the ruthless Queen of Thorns is determined to destroy her nemesis, the cursed Prince of Evernight.
With war brewing between the bitter enemies, the prince forces Queen Adaia to uphold an ancient treaty: she will send one of her daughters to his court as a political hostage for three months.
The queen insists it’s the perfect opportunity for Princess Iskvien to end the war before it begins. But one look into Thiago’s smoldering eyes and Vi knows she’s no assassin.
The more secrets she uncovers about the prince and his court, the more she begins to question her mother’s motives.
Who is the true enemy? The dark prince who threatens her heart? Or the ruthless queen who will stop at nothing to destroy him?
And when the curse threatens to shatter both courts, is her heart strong enough to break it?
A fairytale twist inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth.
430 pages, ebook
First published September 17, 2019
715 people are currently reading
18301 people want to read
About the author
Bec McMaster
64 books3,463 followersKidnapped by a dread pirate when she was a child, USA Today Bestselling Author Bec McMaster was raised on myth and legend, and offered her younger siblings to the goblin king many a time. Unfortunately, he did not accept.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com
Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.
Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)
Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)
Where to start?
If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.
For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.
Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.
Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.
For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.
Now she writes epic fantasy romance with a dark and sexy twist, which is almost as much fun. She has a secret weakness for villainous heroes, wicked fae princes and dangerous vampires, though in all her daydreams, she’s the one rescuing them.
Bec lives happily-ever-after with her very own hero and princess-in-training in the wilds of Australia, where she can often be found drinking tea or plotting her next travel adventure.
Escape the ordinary at www.becmcmaster.com
Join Bec's mailing list at http://eepurl.com/F_LkD for all the latest news on releases, exclusive excerpts, cover reveals, and epilogues.
Newest Release: CROWN OF DARKNESS (Available now)
Next release: MASTER OF STORMS (Legends of the Storm #5--coming January, 2021)
Where to start?
If you want deliciously dark fae princes, then try Dark Court Rising or Court of Dreams.
For sexy dragon shifters, see Legends of the Storm.
Sorcery and magic?
Try the Dark Arts series.
Kick-bustle ladies-saving-the-day steampunk romance?
Then check out London Steampunk and the London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series.
For rocket-fuelled post-apocalyptic romance with a twist on the werewolf theme, then read the Burned Lands.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 702 reviews
March 4, 2021
“You are my light, Vi. You’re my breath, the beating of my heart, the smile on my lips.” He brings my hand to his mouth and presses a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the palm. “You’re the beacon I use to find my way back to land when the Darkness threatens to drag me under. You keep me whole. You make me laugh. You remind me of what I am and what I want to be.”
Promise of Darkness has been on my TBR for the longest time and after reading Heart of Fire, I knew instantly that this book was going to be amazing. I was not wrong! If you’re a sucker for Hades x Persephone retellings, you’ll love this one! The masterful storytelling and compelling romance is not one to be missed.
Iskvien ‘Vi’, Princess of Asturia was so easy to love! Her resilience and defiance against her bitch of a mother was absolutely brilliant. Even though she craves acceptance and love, she's not a pawn. And I loved that her fierceness was balanced with moments of vulnerability and kindness that came from a place of her inherent goodness. She definitely has her naïve moments, but it’s completely understandable in light of her past. Vi is definitely a friend I wouldn’t mind having in real life.
I didn’t think I could love another Bec McMaster hero as much as I loved Rurik from Heart of Fire – BOY WAS I WRONG. Thiago, Prince of Evernight officially owns my heart now. He’s sex on a stick – so suave and so charming, I COULDN'T RESIST HIM! I loved Thiago’s fierce love, unwavering loyalty, and faultless integrity. And men who only wear black? Um… YES PLEASE. 🖤 Honestly, Thiago has launched me into a pit of despair knowing that I’ll never meet a guy like him. I’m honestly so offended that Thiago doesn’t exist in real life… the sheer audacity.
The worst part of this entire affair may be the fact that even though he’s my worst nightmare, he looks like he stepped directly from my dreams.
I loved the slow burn romance between Vi and Thiago. It had depth and I feel like the author did a magnificent job in capturing the complexity of their situation. They both had reasons to be cautious and wary of each other, and they skirted around each other for the majority of the time, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the magical chemistry between the two. I loved Thiago’s complete and utter devotion to Vi! The way he puts her needs above his own while wooing her had me SWOONING AND FANGIRLING. And Vi was no air-head! I like that she didn’t act on her insta-attraction to him. Their relationship had the perfect among of angst and banter that kept me so entertained. At this point, I would literally commit murder for them.
“Here,” he says, setting foot upon them. “I’ll even go first, so you can stare at my ass the whole way.”
“How very thoughtful of you.”
McMaster is so talented at writing characters with depth. I loved reading about the Court of Evernight. Eris, Baylor, Finn and Thalia were so fun! I also loved Kyrian and his LIBRARY! A man with a library is a man after my own heart. I wish we had more glimpses of them but I’m sure they’ll make many more appearances in the books to come. (Can I just say, I ship whatever the hell is going on between Eris and Finn?)
The villain(s) of the story is/are very intriguing. There’s a lot of court intrigue that’ll keep you on your toes. It was very fun trying to figure seeing all the secrets and lies unfold! I also really enjoyed the depiction of the Seelie and Unseelie Court and how everything is sooo not black and white.
“Of course, they’re monsters,” he replies, with a bitter twist to his smile. “But are they the monsters we consider them to be? What are monsters, Vi?”
But of course, Promise of Darkness isn’t without faults. To be quite frank, this book does need an editor, some pronouns were mixed up. Also, if you don't like being kept in the dark for so long, you might find the story a bit frustrating. However, the ‘twist’ (and I use this term lightly) was very obvious, but I think perhaps that was intentional because there were so many other things to focus on anyways. I also wanted more sexy times… considering this was a slow burn romance, I was expecting more steam. But honestly, none of these things detracted from my reading experience. Normally, I’m very strict with my rating system but at this point I don’t even care because the sheer enjoyment this book brought me completely made up for any shortcomings.
If you’re in the mood for a fantasy romance with some kick-ass action, slow burn angst and a SEXY AF HERO, I highly recommend checking this book out. ✨✨✨
Rating: 4.5/5
⚜️ Note: ⚜️
I highly recommend reading the novella, Seduced by Darkness, as soon as you finish this book before jumping into book 2. The novella adds a whole lot of complexity to the storyline! You get to see more of Vi’s familial relationships (with her mom, Andraste and her step brother) and of course, there’s Thiago’s POV too! If that doesn’t intrigue you, there are also more sexy times in the novella. You’re welcome!
⚜️ More ramblings: ⚜️ (also low-key kind of a rant)
After perusing through some reviews, I kind of felt compelled to say this… (please don’t hate me, you’re completely entitled to your own opinion, and this is mine. If you disagree, that's fine, move on...)
As for the connections everyone seems to be making between Dark Court Rising and A Court of Thorns & Roses… I get it. LOL. Sure, you’d be blind not to notice the similarities, but I think at the end of the day, both series have their strengths and weaknesses. There are things in this series that worked better than the other, and vice versa. But I personally think both series are unique with different points of focus. Also, once you’ve read enough PNR, you’re bound to see similarities anyways. You can literally say the same thing with just about any other genre but that’s just my two cents, do what you will with it.
BUT MY POINT IS THIS: Please don’t go into this book a die-hard ACOTAR fan – ready to tear this book apart ! It’s rude. Why not review this book for what it is?
If you’ve made it this far, thanks for reading. You’re the best! Again, this is entirely my own opinion! Don’t @ me, I’m really sensitive and prone to crying... Thanks. 🥺🖤✨
January 7, 2024
4,5 'magical' stars
First read: 30 Dec 2019 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
Re-read: 28 Sep 2020 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
What a fantastic book! I admit I had my doubts but I worried for nothing. I loved it so much. The story, the worldbuilding, the characters, everything. I can't wait for book 2 to come out.
So, where to start? This was my first fae book and I was more than a little confused at the beginning. Not the book's fault, just my inability to follow all the new information. But if I can say so myself I know everything about Seelie and Unseelie courts now. You know me, obsessed with mythologies of any kind.
I wasn't thrilled with the heroine Iskvien, at first. She gave me too much YA vibes and I was afraid she would get on my nerves. But after a few chapters, she really grew on me. And I think it was a valid reason why she acted as she did at the beginning, so I let it go. She actually became a really great heroine. I loved that she is a strong, independent woman and a badass warrior but not in that special snowflake kind of way.
And then there's Thiago ❤❤❤ yes, you guessed that right. I'm completely taken by him. The moment he appeared on the scene, I knew I will love this book no matter what. He is everything you can desire in a hero. Mysterious, dangerous, alluring, deliciously sexy. You get the picture.
And even if he appeared as an anti-hero at first, he's a true hero to the bone. How he loves Vi and what he would do for her. I'm in love!
Thiago and Vi are such an amazing couple. And it's my favorite trope - enemies to lovers, so double yay!
They have sizzling chemistry. The banter, flirting, fighting, Vi trying not to admit her attraction and Thiago not letting her. I like that there's no insta-love. Their love story is really beautiful and touching. And Thiago can be such a romantic.
I really couldn't get enough of them. But I felt a little cheated on when all we got was fade to black sex scene. I mean, come on, you can't parade naked Thiago in front of my eyes, and then not let me see him in action. That's just rude. And all that after more than half of the book long, hot and, dirty foreplay... Either make it clean or scratch my itch. I expect better in the next book. I know McMaster can write scorching hot sex.
I have all the praise for the supporting cast too. And I need to see Eris and Finn together. Pretty please! They would make a great couple. Eris all hard edges and toughness and Finn the smooth talker. That's a winning combination. I'm really intrigued by Baylor and I hope we'll see more of Lysander in the future. And, of course, Kyrian. Le sigh! Can I cheat Thiago with Kyrian? Oh hell, I'm taking both of them 💘
Oh, I would defintely snuggle up to him. And so much more *grinning*
I really can't wait for the next book!! I'm so excited about what will happen next, now that we uncovered some secrets. And I'm looking forward to seeing more of Thiago and Vi together.
But the Old Ones merely wait. For they are immortal, and their memories long.
And they know…. That the prison walls are weakening.
First read: 30 Dec 2019 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
Re-read: 28 Sep 2020 ⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐
What a fantastic book! I admit I had my doubts but I worried for nothing. I loved it so much. The story, the worldbuilding, the characters, everything. I can't wait for book 2 to come out.
So, where to start? This was my first fae book and I was more than a little confused at the beginning. Not the book's fault, just my inability to follow all the new information. But if I can say so myself I know everything about Seelie and Unseelie courts now. You know me, obsessed with mythologies of any kind.
I wasn't thrilled with the heroine Iskvien, at first. She gave me too much YA vibes and I was afraid she would get on my nerves. But after a few chapters, she really grew on me. And I think it was a valid reason why she acted as she did at the beginning, so I let it go. She actually became a really great heroine. I loved that she is a strong, independent woman and a badass warrior but not in that special snowflake kind of way.
And then there's Thiago ❤❤❤ yes, you guessed that right. I'm completely taken by him. The moment he appeared on the scene, I knew I will love this book no matter what. He is everything you can desire in a hero. Mysterious, dangerous, alluring, deliciously sexy. You get the picture.
He has the face of a sinner. The body of a god. And the touch of a seducer.
And even if he appeared as an anti-hero at first, he's a true hero to the bone. How he loves Vi and what he would do for her. I'm in love!
He may be Unseelie. He may be a monster. But he’s my monster.
Thiago and Vi are such an amazing couple. And it's my favorite trope - enemies to lovers, so double yay!
“I don’t know what comes after ‘enemies.’”
“That’s easy.” His voice grows rough. “We kiss. We argue. We fall into bed. We fuck.”
They have sizzling chemistry. The banter, flirting, fighting, Vi trying not to admit her attraction and Thiago not letting her. I like that there's no insta-love. Their love story is really beautiful and touching. And Thiago can be such a romantic.
“You are my light, Vi. You’re my breath, the beating of my heart, the smile on my lips.” He brings my hand to his mouth and presses a hot, open-mouthed kiss to the palm. “You’re the beacon I use to find my way back to land when the Darkness threatens to drag me under. You keep me whole. You make me laugh. You remind me of what I am and what I want to be.”
I really couldn't get enough of them. But I felt a little cheated on when all we got was fade to black sex scene. I mean, come on, you can't parade naked Thiago in front of my eyes, and then not let me see him in action. That's just rude. And all that after more than half of the book long, hot and, dirty foreplay... Either make it clean or scratch my itch. I expect better in the next book. I know McMaster can write scorching hot sex.
“Don’t you dare stop.” I grab his wrist.
“No?” He bites at my lower lip, his thumb brushing back and forth over that seam, igniting a million nerves. “Then beg me, Vi. Beg me to shatter you. Beg me to break you. Beg me to make you scream.”
I have all the praise for the supporting cast too. And I need to see Eris and Finn together. Pretty please! They would make a great couple. Eris all hard edges and toughness and Finn the smooth talker. That's a winning combination. I'm really intrigued by Baylor and I hope we'll see more of Lysander in the future. And, of course, Kyrian. Le sigh! Can I cheat Thiago with Kyrian? Oh hell, I'm taking both of them 💘
Say what I like about Kyrian, but his library’s almost gorgeous enough to make a girl want to snuggle up to him.
Oh, I would defintely snuggle up to him. And so much more *grinning*
I really can't wait for the next book!! I'm so excited about what will happen next, now that we uncovered some secrets. And I'm looking forward to seeing more of Thiago and Vi together.
“You owe me a kiss,” he whispers.
“I owe you two. I’m fairly certain its past midnight.”
His smile melts me. “Well, I wasn’t counting, but I won’t say no.”
“Liar,” I breathe. “You’ve got a tally nailed to your bedroom wall.”
August 5, 2020
This was perhaps uncomfortably close to the plot for Sarah Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses series. Don't get me wrong, there are some major differences but here are the similarities:
- name of the city (Valerian vs Velaris)
- world building features different 'courts' that each have a leader with the strongest magical powers
- the romantic interest is one of those leaders and seemingly has the strongest powers out of all the leaders
- the romantic interest that has an inner circle of friends that are powerful but are misfits
- heroine finds herself torn between loyalty to two courts
- heroine eventually finds herself with
- plot features the threat of even stronger magical forces being released by an enemy
- plot features a magical creature that can conveniently answer questions
- there's a big 'reveal' like Chapter 54 in ACOMAF (though this one is considerably more obvious)
This isn't as good as the ACOTAR series, but it's not bad by any means. I'm not sure if I will continue on with this series when the next book comes out.
- name of the city (Valerian vs Velaris)
- world building features different 'courts' that each have a leader with the strongest magical powers
- the romantic interest is one of those leaders and seemingly has the strongest powers out of all the leaders
- the romantic interest that has an inner circle of friends that are powerful but are misfits
- heroine finds herself torn between loyalty to two courts
- heroine eventually finds herself with
- plot features the threat of even stronger magical forces being released by an enemy
- plot features a magical creature that can conveniently answer questions
- there's a big 'reveal' like Chapter 54 in ACOMAF (though this one is considerably more obvious)
This isn't as good as the ACOTAR series, but it's not bad by any means. I'm not sure if I will continue on with this series when the next book comes out.
July 13, 2022
Loved it!!! This was an epic read!
Thiago is my new book boyfriend. The way he loves Vi is so beautiful! He’s faithful, loyal, strong, and would do anything for her. Love him so so much!
This book had it all; intrigue, action, adventure, romance, suspense, magic. Its a great Fantasy Romance novel! I can’t wait for book 2.
Thiago is my new book boyfriend. The way he loves Vi is so beautiful! He’s faithful, loyal, strong, and would do anything for her. Love him so so much!
This book had it all; intrigue, action, adventure, romance, suspense, magic. Its a great Fantasy Romance novel! I can’t wait for book 2.
April 11, 2022
Promise of Darkness was enchanting and quickly stole my heart. From that first page I was addicted and it was impossible to put this book down. Especially since the world building was imaginative and rich. And the characters slowly became embedded into my heart. It was so easy to fall deeply in love with them and the world they lived in. So if you're a fan of romantic stories that involve fae, Jennifer L. Armentrout or Wendy Higgins, definitely add this one to your tbr.
As part of an ancient treaty, Princess Iskvien, was to be sent away as a political hostage. She was to live with Thiago, The Prince of Darkness, for three months. And it would be the perfect opportunity to murder him, since war had been looming between their two courts. Yet as it all unfolded, there was so much more to this story. It was inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth, so if you're familiar with that, you may have an idea where part of this story was going. But lies, betrayal, deceit, love, and friendship were splashed across the pages and I loved discovering what was truly going on. On top of it all, there was a curse that threatened the courts.
I absolutely loved Princess Iskvien, aka Vi! She was smart, resourceful and thought on her feet. And I loved that she made me smile, laugh and cheer her on. She could be so stubborn, so it was no surprise that she refused to take her current predicament lying down. I had so much respect for her and I loved watching her grow into someone who could be fierce and brave.
Then there was The Prince of Evernight, aka Thiago, who was addictive, patient and kind. He loved deeply and put his faith and trust into those close to him. Yet he could be so ruthless and dark. You could easily see how he earned his right to be his court's ruler. But when it came to Vi, we saw so many sides of him. Especially when he would protect her. And for reasons I can't say why, he was beyond tortured and suffered deeply. Thiago was the ultimate book boyfriend who was so easy to root for and love.
When Vi moved in with Thiago, she had no problems standing up to him. So each time they went toe to toe, you couldn't knock the smile off of my face since their antics and banter were smile inducing. And as they slowly started to spend more time with each other, I felt a connection between them. No matter how much Vi fought it, it was there. She also couldn't fight that so many of their moments together were laced with sexual tension. I found myself desperately wanting them to be so much more.
Within so many of the pages, secrets and lies filled the air. And those people, including Thiago, seemed to talk in riddles around and to Vi. At times I felt lost, just like her. But I quickly started to put all of the different clues together and I figured out the majority of the twists. It didn't alter my enjoyment of this book at all. There was still so many moving parts and unknowns to this story. It was impossible for Promise of Darkness not to enrapture my heart.
Promise of Darkness was magical and easily cast me in its spell. Especially when perilous moments flooded the pages and forced Thiago and Vi to work together. With political unrest and magic weaved into the story, I was fascinated with this world. OH and the side characters added so much to this story, how could I not love this book? So yes, I definitely recommend Promise of Darkness. I'll be counting down until I can dive into the next book of this series and discover the rest of this author's books too!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
The worst part of this entire affair may be the fact that even though he’s my worst nightmare, he looks like he stepped directly from my dreams.
As part of an ancient treaty, Princess Iskvien, was to be sent away as a political hostage. She was to live with Thiago, The Prince of Darkness, for three months. And it would be the perfect opportunity to murder him, since war had been looming between their two courts. Yet as it all unfolded, there was so much more to this story. It was inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth, so if you're familiar with that, you may have an idea where part of this story was going. But lies, betrayal, deceit, love, and friendship were splashed across the pages and I loved discovering what was truly going on. On top of it all, there was a curse that threatened the courts.
He’s the enemy of my people.
The prince who holds a blade to the throat of everyone I love.
A monster.
Except, he hasn’t hurt me. Not once.
I absolutely loved Princess Iskvien, aka Vi! She was smart, resourceful and thought on her feet. And I loved that she made me smile, laugh and cheer her on. She could be so stubborn, so it was no surprise that she refused to take her current predicament lying down. I had so much respect for her and I loved watching her grow into someone who could be fierce and brave.
Dangerous.
This is far too dangerous.
And yet, I could no more resist him, than I could pluck the moon from the sky with my fingers.
Then there was The Prince of Evernight, aka Thiago, who was addictive, patient and kind. He loved deeply and put his faith and trust into those close to him. Yet he could be so ruthless and dark. You could easily see how he earned his right to be his court's ruler. But when it came to Vi, we saw so many sides of him. Especially when he would protect her. And for reasons I can't say why, he was beyond tortured and suffered deeply. Thiago was the ultimate book boyfriend who was so easy to root for and love.
I want to forget he’s my enemy, I want to forget this is a game, forget everything but the sensation of those lips on my skin. Of all the challenges I’ve ever faced, this is the worst.
Because I don’t think one taste will ever be enough.
When Vi moved in with Thiago, she had no problems standing up to him. So each time they went toe to toe, you couldn't knock the smile off of my face since their antics and banter were smile inducing. And as they slowly started to spend more time with each other, I felt a connection between them. No matter how much Vi fought it, it was there. She also couldn't fight that so many of their moments together were laced with sexual tension. I found myself desperately wanting them to be so much more.
Dark shadows filled his eyes. "I can hold them off until you get back."
It’s a lie. I can see it in his eyes. But why would he lie to me? Why risk his life to protect mine? We’re enemies. None of this makes any sense.
Within so many of the pages, secrets and lies filled the air. And those people, including Thiago, seemed to talk in riddles around and to Vi. At times I felt lost, just like her. But I quickly started to put all of the different clues together and I figured out the majority of the twists. It didn't alter my enjoyment of this book at all. There was still so many moving parts and unknowns to this story. It was impossible for Promise of Darkness not to enrapture my heart.
“My life is yours, my heart, my soul. It always has been, from the second I saw you, curse you . If you want it, all you have to do is take it.”
My heart skips a beat.
“And if I don’t want it?” I whisper, glaring down at him.
Promise of Darkness was magical and easily cast me in its spell. Especially when perilous moments flooded the pages and forced Thiago and Vi to work together. With political unrest and magic weaved into the story, I was fascinated with this world. OH and the side characters added so much to this story, how could I not love this book? So yes, I definitely recommend Promise of Darkness. I'll be counting down until I can dive into the next book of this series and discover the rest of this author's books too!
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
For more of my reviews, please visit:
October 30, 2020
3.5 stars
Right, okay, more on that in a bit. Promise of Darkness was exactly what I expected it to be (which is good btw) - a fantasy romance, more romance than fantasy and very heavily influenced by Sarah J Maas (now, it's technically supposed to be Hades and Persephone retelling, and while if you really tried you could see some similarities, it was a lot more of just A Court of Mist and Fury in an alternate universe.) (although acomaf is also technically a Hedes and Pesephone retelling, but that's just digging too deep.) My point is, I enjoyed myself while reading this.
Iskvien "Vi"
I mean... I didn't mind her?? She was a perfectly acceptable heroine, just not anything *that* special. She paled in comparison to Thiago, but I didn't mind it that much because I just plainly enjoyed reading as much as possible about him.
So, yeah, she didn't have any bad qualities or anything, she was just a bit...bland.
Thiago Rhysand*
*Rhys is my favourite fictional man and I stand by my beliefs, so all of these comparisons are really compliments
I'll provide you with these quotes and let you draw your own conclusions.
PoD:
ACOMAF:
Thiago's first words to Vi:
Rhys's first words to Feyre:
PoD:
ACOMAF:
PoD:
ACOWAR:
A couple more quotes from this book that don't even need a comparison:
This is definitely the stongest part of this book, however I just couldn't stop myself from comapring it to acomaf.....again, and simply couldn't enjoy it as much.
I would say that the angst was there and it was my favourite part. That and the over the top proclamations of love. I liked Thiago and Vi's chemistry and conversations. I loved the whole 'it's us against the world' trope, as well.
The story started out with this HUGE info dump, to the point that for the first 15%, I had ABSOLUTELY no idea what was going on. I mean, we are told this entire world's history, all the different faerie races, all their wars and politics in the prologue.
The main 'mystery' in the first half of the book was extremely obvious, however, I kind of liked it, because it allowed me to appreciate the romance more through the very high levels of ✨angst✨. I also appreciate the fact the author didn't try to make it more of a mystery, because in a way it made more realistic.
Now, were the story or action and tension all that great overall? No, not, really. Partly because the world was a bit too camplicated for me and the characters a bit too many, but it was entertaining enough and I was able to enjoy the romance through it.
In conclusion, having just finished writing this review, I ask myself - did I actually enjoy this book and characters or did I just love finding the similarities between them and acomaf?
"My life is yours, my heart, my soul. It always has been, from the second I saw you, curse you. If you want it, all you have to do is take it."
Right, okay, more on that in a bit. Promise of Darkness was exactly what I expected it to be (which is good btw) - a fantasy romance, more romance than fantasy and very heavily influenced by Sarah J Maas (now, it's technically supposed to be Hades and Persephone retelling, and while if you really tried you could see some similarities, it was a lot more of just A Court of Mist and Fury in an alternate universe.) (although acomaf is also technically a Hedes and Pesephone retelling, but that's just digging too deep.) My point is, I enjoyed myself while reading this.
The Characters
Iskvien "Vi"
I mean... I didn't mind her?? She was a perfectly acceptable heroine, just not anything *that* special. She paled in comparison to Thiago, but I didn't mind it that much because I just plainly enjoyed reading as much as possible about him.
So, yeah, she didn't have any bad qualities or anything, she was just a bit...bland.
*Rhys is my favourite fictional man and I stand by my beliefs, so all of these comparisons are really compliments
I'll provide you with these quotes and let you draw your own conclusions.
PoD:
"Thiago, Prince of Evernight. Lord of Whispers and Lies. Master of Darkness."
ACOMAF:
"My mate. Death incarnate. Night triumphant."
Thiago's first words to Vi:
"I've been waiting for you."
Rhys's first words to Feyre:
"There you are. I've been looking for you."
PoD:
"'Til the stars burn into nothingness and the sun no longer rises, you are mine, and I am yours. Remember that: I would do anything for you."
ACOMAF:
“I was his and he was mine, and we were the beginning and middle and end. We were a song that had been sung from the very first ember of light in the world.”
PoD:
"He may be a monster. But he's my monster."
ACOWAR:
“I see all of you, Rhys. And there is not one part that I do not love with everything I am.”
A couple more quotes from this book that don't even need a comparison:
"...he purrs."
"...the black cloak eddying behind him isn't fabric, but a pair of batlike wings."
The Romance
"You belong to me, and I to you, until the moon falls from the sky and the tides no longer churn. Forever."
This is definitely the stongest part of this book, however I just couldn't stop myself from comapring it to acomaf.....again, and simply couldn't enjoy it as much.
I would say that the angst was there and it was my favourite part. That and the over the top proclamations of love. I liked Thiago and Vi's chemistry and conversations. I loved the whole 'it's us against the world' trope, as well.
The Story
"Don't leave me." His fingers twine with mine. "Not this time. Don't ever go."
The story started out with this HUGE info dump, to the point that for the first 15%, I had ABSOLUTELY no idea what was going on. I mean, we are told this entire world's history, all the different faerie races, all their wars and politics in the prologue.
The main 'mystery' in the first half of the book was extremely obvious, however, I kind of liked it, because it allowed me to appreciate the romance more through the very high levels of ✨angst✨. I also appreciate the fact the author didn't try to make it more of a mystery, because in a way it made more realistic.
Now, were the story or action and tension all that great overall? No, not, really. Partly because the world was a bit too camplicated for me and the characters a bit too many, but it was entertaining enough and I was able to enjoy the romance through it.
In conclusion, having just finished writing this review, I ask myself - did I actually enjoy this book and characters or did I just love finding the similarities between them and acomaf?
September 20, 2019
Bloody wow, I actually devoured this story in one sitting it was sheer brilliance from start to finish, I just couldn't put it down.
Imaginative and with such attention to detail Promise of darkness was the complete package and this just worked for me in every single way.
So this tale was inspired by the Greek myth of Hades and Persophone and set amid the intrigue of the Seelie and Unseelie courts.
Set against a rich fantasy backdrop this fae reimagining perfectly compliments the mythological legend and is a fascinating saga of secrets, half-truths and misdirection.
Promise Of Darkness is a fantasy romance and is the story of Thiago Prince of Evernight and Iskvien Princess of Thorns also the daughter of Thiago's enemy the cunning and cruel Queen of Thorns.
Iskvien or Vi to her friends as a gesture of peace between there Kingdoms is bartered away as a political prisoner to be the guest of the Prince of Evernight for three months.
But almost straight from the start, it is apparent to Vi that she is being kept in the dark and whatever game is currently afoot here she is last invited to play and the only participant without a full deck.
With no idea what her role in these proceedings might be or even what it may entail Vi is scrabbling around for the answers she is just not getting.
The unfolding mystery here hooked and enthralled me and at times this was just so bittersweet, extremely well written and the only thing that could have improved things for me here was maybe some of Thiago's POV.
Despite not getting a ringside seat into his thoughts the author has still managed to invest me in him I absolutely adored Thiago he was everything loyal, fierce, protective and so much more and all encased in a tragic backstory what's not to adore here.
Vi was another winner for me she was a combination of hungering desire needing acceptance and validation from her mother while still having a backbone of steel when it comes to the people she holds dear.
Her core strength is her innate goodness and how she has managed to retain this in her mother's court is anyone's guess.
This one was quite slow-burn in nature expertly building-up a sense of anticipation and ratcheting up the heat very subtlety.
This fit the narrative a treat and when things finally exploded I was definitely more than ready and panting right alongside our royal Princess.
I did kinda know roughly what we were heading towards to a point with this being a myth retelling and all so I did have the general gist of it but despite these things, this still felt just so fresh and magical in its execution.
A beautiful and at times tragic story of patience, love and fantasy that made me catch my breath with its brilliant simplicity.
Finally, this one concludes in an HFN but there is definite set-up for further book's here.
Listen to me gushing all over this but I really did love this a lot.
A brand new author for me, but one I will now definitely be checking out further stuff from as this really did bowl me over.
This one gets a massive thumbs up from me I recommend it highly.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Promise of Darkness (Dark Court Rising, #1).
Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com
October 14, 2019
A fairytale twist inspired by the Hades and Persephone myth.
wow, way to pull me in, blurb! Didn't leave me much choice with that one did ya?
I wanted to like this but I just didn't. The sexually charged banter throughout this whole book was the cringiest thing EVER. So cheesy. I felt embarrassed for the characters that they were given that dialogue. So much barf.
There was nothing subtle about this book. Everything was straightforward in your face. Didn't like that.
Also, the typos in here are insane. It's like the author wrote this at first with third person POV, then decided to change it to first person but she missed changing some of the references. It was really distracting and jars you out of the story and honestly that kind of crap is just plain sloppy.
On the plus side, I liked the fae elements in the story (I got very low key Fever world vibes at some points). Probably won't be reading the next one though, cuz I just don't care enough about this couple.
wow, way to pull me in, blurb! Didn't leave me much choice with that one did ya?
I wanted to like this but I just didn't. The sexually charged banter throughout this whole book was the cringiest thing EVER. So cheesy. I felt embarrassed for the characters that they were given that dialogue. So much barf.
There was nothing subtle about this book. Everything was straightforward in your face. Didn't like that.
Also, the typos in here are insane. It's like the author wrote this at first with third person POV, then decided to change it to first person but she missed changing some of the references. It was really distracting and jars you out of the story and honestly that kind of crap is just plain sloppy.
On the plus side, I liked the fae elements in the story (I got very low key Fever world vibes at some points). Probably won't be reading the next one though, cuz I just don't care enough about this couple.
October 18, 2025
mama is trash for some ✨shadow daddy fae romance ✨
“But the Old Ones merely wait.
For they are immortal, and their memories long.
And they know…. That the prison walls are weakening.”
***
“This is the worst fucking time for that bitch to be making her move,” he snarls.
“I’m sure she consulted her oracle,” Finn says”
***
“I knew it, and yet, the blow still staggers me.
I want to set the fucking world on fire.”
***
“Breathe, Vi. Think of kittens. Soft, fluffy kittens.’
Kittens?
What in the Underworld is he talking about?
But in the next second, I realize the flames are dying down.”
***
“Which is where you come in,” he says pointedly.
Eris glances at the sky, as if she’s praying directly to Maia. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I promise I won’t do it again.”
***
“A hand locks on my arm as I take a step toward the dais. “What do you intend to do?”
My gaze falls upon Blaedwyn’s sword where it’s propped against her throne. “I’m going to steal that bitch’s sword.”
“But the Old Ones merely wait.
For they are immortal, and their memories long.
And they know…. That the prison walls are weakening.”
***
“This is the worst fucking time for that bitch to be making her move,” he snarls.
“I’m sure she consulted her oracle,” Finn says”
***
“I knew it, and yet, the blow still staggers me.
I want to set the fucking world on fire.”
***
“Breathe, Vi. Think of kittens. Soft, fluffy kittens.’
Kittens?
What in the Underworld is he talking about?
But in the next second, I realize the flames are dying down.”
***
“Which is where you come in,” he says pointedly.
Eris glances at the sky, as if she’s praying directly to Maia. “I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but I promise I won’t do it again.”
***
“A hand locks on my arm as I take a step toward the dais. “What do you intend to do?”
My gaze falls upon Blaedwyn’s sword where it’s propped against her throne. “I’m going to steal that bitch’s sword.”
June 27, 2022
“You belong to me, and I to you, until the moon falls from the sky, and the tides no longer churns. Forever”.
Will McMaster STOP making me feel all mushy! 🔆
This was my very first introduction to McMaster and I swear I will for sure be coming back. Just look at that cover and tell me you can skip it!?
This Dane sure can’t!
I just happily embarked on this amazing journey with Vi, a Seelie princess and Thiago, a Prince with dark mysterious powers.
Vi has been traded by her Mother to the Prince of Evernight to be held hostage for 3 months as a part of a truce alliance between the ruling Seelie courts.
Vi? She is so not having it and by all that’s holy I loved her spark. Her stubborn and kind self.
Thiago? He has plans for her, and that twist just did me in.
It so complimented the story and gave me all the feels. Stunning and wildly imaginative is what it was and it’s exactly what I wish to see in a book.
Something so remarkable that I am glued to the pages. And this lovely start to the series sure gave me that and much more.
A story filled with hope, magic and adventure. Add sexy and strong characters and a captivating storyline and you have “Promise of Darkness”.
Read: 20/09/2020
1st rating: 5 stars
Genre/tropes: Fae/fantasy/magic/romance/action/adventure
Cover: 5 stars
POV’s: Single -1st person (Vi)
Will I recommend: Yes
Will McMaster STOP making me feel all mushy! 🔆
This was my very first introduction to McMaster and I swear I will for sure be coming back. Just look at that cover and tell me you can skip it!?
This Dane sure can’t!
I just happily embarked on this amazing journey with Vi, a Seelie princess and Thiago, a Prince with dark mysterious powers.
Vi has been traded by her Mother to the Prince of Evernight to be held hostage for 3 months as a part of a truce alliance between the ruling Seelie courts.
Vi? She is so not having it and by all that’s holy I loved her spark. Her stubborn and kind self.
Thiago? He has plans for her, and that twist just did me in.
It so complimented the story and gave me all the feels. Stunning and wildly imaginative is what it was and it’s exactly what I wish to see in a book.
Something so remarkable that I am glued to the pages. And this lovely start to the series sure gave me that and much more.
A story filled with hope, magic and adventure. Add sexy and strong characters and a captivating storyline and you have “Promise of Darkness”.
Read: 20/09/2020
1st rating: 5 stars
Genre/tropes: Fae/fantasy/magic/romance/action/adventure
Cover: 5 stars
POV’s: Single -1st person (Vi)
Will I recommend: Yes
Read
December 30, 2019DNF only a few chapters in. I’d give it 1 star but not going to rate it since I barely read much.
I read enough enough to know that it’s not for me. I couldn’t stand it. It’s too much like ACOTAR but not in a good way.
Thiago is completely Rhys it’s a ridiculous carbon copy. The first person pov of Iskvien is dull and obnoxious. Both characters are flat, there’s no buildup to their their insta-love. I felt nothing for the plot.
I read enough enough to know that it’s not for me. I couldn’t stand it. It’s too much like ACOTAR but not in a good way.
Thiago is completely Rhys it’s a ridiculous carbon copy. The first person pov of Iskvien is dull and obnoxious. Both characters are flat, there’s no buildup to their their insta-love. I felt nothing for the plot.
June 9, 2023
Finally finished this book. 😅 I mean it was pretty good , there’s not really much to say. I don’t think it’s very original and idk what it was about it but it was just so hard to give a f about picking it up and reading it. Over two weeks to get through a book I’d normally read in a day if that’s any indication. I’ll probably check out book 2.
September 26, 2019
**I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.**
Plot and Core Three
The story of Hades and Persephone is beloved throughout time, and I enjoy this version of it. The mixture of fae lore and Greek mythology for the plot is an interesting one. I also appreciate that there is an emphasis of the unfairness of Persephone not having a choice in her life. She is caught between two people, mother and suitor, and she is caught between two worlds. The mother and suitor bargain (sharing her on different months) and deceive (pomegranate from Hades in some versions, this version has a different type of deceit but from the mother) to settle Persephone’s future. Meanwhile, Persephone can be called a pawn and victim.
I am so glad that McMaster has taken steps to emphasize that Vi has the power to control her life. Vi has some nasty surprises revealed to her in this book and her destiny seems bleak, but she does not stand down. I love that she is assertive in figuring out what she needs to know and taking actions to find a solution for her problems.
Also, it is interesting to see the “Demeter” in this situation is Queen Adaia. Demeter has equal parts grief and anger in her reaction in losing her daughter. There is no doubt vengeance is a defining characteristic of her and she has punished people for the lost of her daughter. It is true here too with Queen Adaia seeking vengeance for losing her daughter – but not for love of her daughter, but for losing control of her daughter. Queen Adaia is definitely easy to hate here.
So our Prince of Darkness is sweet. We can fault Hades because he literally kidnaps Persephone, is her uncle, and in some versions, tricks her in staying with him. However, there is pretty much no fault in Thiago. He is the epitome of respectfulness and patience. I appreciate that McMaster has made sure to emphasize that he will always give Vi the choice, even if it is not in his favor. There is one line in the book that I find particularly intriguing where he says he feels blessed by the gods for being given to her. I find that phrasing unique because most of the times in romance books, it would be being thankful the gods for giving the girl to the guy. However, here, he gives himself to her and is grateful for that chance. He is endlessly patient and sweet with her, so it is hard NOT to love him.
It is safe to say that I 100% ship Vi and Thiago. I adore them so much.
Other Characters
I have enjoyed the other characters we have met at the court of Evernight. To put it shortly:
• Thalia is sweet and mischievous. I like her. I want to get to know more about her story and how “a witch stole her voice.” I vaguely hope this is going to be a retelling of The Little Mermaid. Anyway, I hope she gets her own book, especially to find out more on the saltkissed people.
• I absolutely love that one of the fiercest, most competent characters is a female. Eris has a tough, rude personality and she scares a lot of people, but she is surprisingly loyal to her friends. Give her a book too please!
• Finn is a goofball – I am sure we will get to know more about him later on.
• Baylor. I do not really know much about him, but I hope we get more plot lines about him and his brother.
Other Thoughts
This book has 1st person POV, only 1 perspective, while her other books usually have 3rd person POV with multi-perspectives. I have to admit that I usually prefer books with multi-perspectives, but I 100% understand why it has this format. The single perspective helps along the plot – with the heavy emphasis on secrecy, mysteries, and reveals.
On another note, I saw it coming with the 2 big reveals, but it was nonetheless entertaining to see how everything played out.
Final Thoughts
In general, I found this book series certainly different from McMaster’s other works, and I am happy to say that I am excited to see what is to come for this new series of hers.
4 stars
Things that you might want to know (WARNING: Spoilers below)
Happy/satisfying ending?
Love triangle? Cheating? Angst level?
Tears-worthy?
Humor?
Favorite scenes?
September 19, 2019
So crazy in love with the HEA couple! So mesmerized and captivated by this world! I honestly couldn't put this book down! Hight fantasy! High romance! Grabbed my heart, squeezed it tight and wouldn't let go! And then broke it into pieces. Loved the author's take on the Fae and the Unseelie and more.
What surprised me the most was I actually thought I wouldn't find anything new about this world. What was I thinking? I shouldn't have doubted one of my favorite authors, who always delivered 🙇🏽♀️
Prince of Evernight Thiago would give up his kingdom and his life for his love. Princess Iskvien would bargain and ready to destroy the world or let the world be destroyed for her love. I couldn't wait for the next book and the finale! The thought of all the battles to come would be driving me crazy while waiting!
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
What surprised me the most was I actually thought I wouldn't find anything new about this world. What was I thinking? I shouldn't have doubted one of my favorite authors, who always delivered 🙇🏽♀️
Prince of Evernight Thiago would give up his kingdom and his life for his love. Princess Iskvien would bargain and ready to destroy the world or let the world be destroyed for her love. I couldn't wait for the next book and the finale! The thought of all the battles to come would be driving me crazy while waiting!
Sharing one of my favorite scenes:
"I'll always come back to you. I'll always fall for you. 'Til the stars burn into nothingness and the sun no longer rises, you are mine, and I am yours. Remember that: I would do anything for you."
Even make this terrible bargain. I only hope he can forgive me one day.
"Forever, Vi," he promises, . . . "I'll be waiting for you."
December 26, 2019
Tried several times to continue reading this but I've finally thrown in the towel. Despite the promising first chapter, it quickly devolves into terrible cringey insta-lust between two uninteresting people.
And I'm not one to frown on insta-lust usually but that only works if the writing is actually good - you can't just have characters spouting cliches without first building the foundations on WHY we should care about them. There's just no tension or chemistry here, the heroine makes a deal with the hero early on that makes no sense and the result of that is the hero making all these supposedly seductive moves towards her that just ring really false because again, these characters just aren't acting in ways that make any logical sense.
It;s a huge disappointment, I can't believe this is the same author who wrote the deliciously steamy My Lady Quicksilver Now that book knew how to build up chemistry and stoke the tension between the leads, this one just falls incredibly flat in comparison.
And I'm not one to frown on insta-lust usually but that only works if the writing is actually good - you can't just have characters spouting cliches without first building the foundations on WHY we should care about them. There's just no tension or chemistry here, the heroine makes a deal with the hero early on that makes no sense and the result of that is the hero making all these supposedly seductive moves towards her that just ring really false because again, these characters just aren't acting in ways that make any logical sense.
It;s a huge disappointment, I can't believe this is the same author who wrote the deliciously steamy My Lady Quicksilver Now that book knew how to build up chemistry and stoke the tension between the leads, this one just falls incredibly flat in comparison.
September 21, 2020
3.5 Enjoyable Stars
Princess Iskvien (Vi) is the unfavoured sister forgotten unless she can be used by her cruel mother. When her mother casually trades her as an apparent good faith hostage to the deadly Prince of Evernight for a couple months without blinking, Iskvien slowly realises she is in the focal point of a web of lies, betrayal and deceit.
Wanted more intensity to simmer off the page.
Overall a good read, I'm curious to see what happens next, especially given the deal Iskvien made.
Freebie on amazon.
Princess Iskvien (Vi) is the unfavoured sister forgotten unless she can be used by her cruel mother. When her mother casually trades her as an apparent good faith hostage to the deadly Prince of Evernight for a couple months without blinking, Iskvien slowly realises she is in the focal point of a web of lies, betrayal and deceit.
Wanted more intensity to simmer off the page.
Overall a good read, I'm curious to see what happens next, especially given the deal Iskvien made.
Freebie on amazon.
March 28, 2022
4.5🌟
Loved it!!
Can't wait to read the next one...
Loved it!!
Can't wait to read the next one...
January 18, 2020
I read this book on new years eve. I mention that because I had thought -still do- that 2019 was the worst year for books. Almost all the books sucked IMO. Luckily this book was able to salvage it a little bit.
I really enjoyed it. I can't wait for book two.
I really enjoyed it. I can't wait for book two.
September 20, 2019
Cliffhanger-ish. The plot for this book was wrapped up nicely but a new challenge for these two is on the horizon for book 2. Which I can’t wait for.
What can I say about this book without giving anything away? This year I'm on a major fantasy wave this year. A Promise of Darkness fits in right here.
I love the world that has been built here I wasn't overwhelmed with the information given, the characters and realms, a slow trickle to build something truly beautiful, exciting and enticing. It sucked me in, and I really enjoyed it.
I really hope I get this right, five Seelie Kingdoms, three queens and two princes who have a very tentative alliance. The three Unseelie Kingdoms and the war that happened 500 hundred years ago to trap the old ones. The Unseelie & Seelie also have a tentative relationship and our main characters are pawns in this unpredictable game.
Our main characters Iskvien & Thiago are thrown together there are secrets that Vi must find out on her own, but she is in a position that she doesn’t know whom to trust. Is she to believe the lies that her mother has fed her? Or what Thiago a virtual stranger tries to tell her but can’t and what she overhears.
I haven't read a lot of books by Ms. McMaster but those I have read have been good and I am now considering reading more by this author.
All in all, I find it hard to rate this book because from start to finish I guessed the major twists. There are some minor turns that I didn't see coming but nevertheless it still irked me that it shouldn’t have been so obvious. I also had heroine issues she was just too naïve I wanted her to be a bit more kickarse. In the end I've decided to give it 3 stars. I really wanted to give it a higher rating, but I just can’t. Although it ticked all my boxes.
It is a strong start to an absolutely fantastic series and I really cannot wait for the second book to come out.
What can I say about this book without giving anything away? This year I'm on a major fantasy wave this year. A Promise of Darkness fits in right here.
I love the world that has been built here I wasn't overwhelmed with the information given, the characters and realms, a slow trickle to build something truly beautiful, exciting and enticing. It sucked me in, and I really enjoyed it.
I really hope I get this right, five Seelie Kingdoms, three queens and two princes who have a very tentative alliance. The three Unseelie Kingdoms and the war that happened 500 hundred years ago to trap the old ones. The Unseelie & Seelie also have a tentative relationship and our main characters are pawns in this unpredictable game.
Our main characters Iskvien & Thiago are thrown together there are secrets that Vi must find out on her own, but she is in a position that she doesn’t know whom to trust. Is she to believe the lies that her mother has fed her? Or what Thiago a virtual stranger tries to tell her but can’t and what she overhears.
I haven't read a lot of books by Ms. McMaster but those I have read have been good and I am now considering reading more by this author.
All in all, I find it hard to rate this book because from start to finish I guessed the major twists. There are some minor turns that I didn't see coming but nevertheless it still irked me that it shouldn’t have been so obvious. I also had heroine issues she was just too naïve I wanted her to be a bit more kickarse. In the end I've decided to give it 3 stars. I really wanted to give it a higher rating, but I just can’t. Although it ticked all my boxes.
It is a strong start to an absolutely fantastic series and I really cannot wait for the second book to come out.
September 23, 2019
Princess Iskvien has spent her whole life trying to please her mother Adaia, Queen of Thorns but her mother is ruthless and loves to torment her daughter and make her life miserable. Vi is still shocked when she finds out that her mother has agreed for her to spend three months as the Prince of Evernight's hostage though, she just never expected her mother to betray her quite so deeply. Vi is terrified of spending time in Thiago's court but the longer she spends there the less sense things start to make. Her mother has always talked about how vicious Thiago is but all the evidence points to him being a good leader that his people like and respect. Vi finds herself drawn to Thiago in unexpected ways but it's obvious that he is keeping secrets from her and the more she starts to unravel the mystery the harder it is to know who to trust.
Promise of Darkness is a fabulous start to Bec McMaster's new Dark Court Rising fantasy romance series. With hints of the tale of Hades and Persephone this is set in a dark world of fae where nothing is quite what it seems and nobody can be completely trusted. Vi is right in the middle of a large conspiracy and it's going to take everything she has to unravel what is really going on. With a great cast of characters and a wonderful slow build romance I didn't want to put this one down.
I had guessed one of the big twists but no matter how many times I thought I knew what would happen next Bec McMaster always found new ways to surprise me. Vi and Thiago have already had to face impossible odds but it's clear that things are going to get far more complicated for them as the series continues so I can't wait to see what else they're going to have to face. This series has definitely jumped to the top of my list and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
Promise of Darkness is a fabulous start to Bec McMaster's new Dark Court Rising fantasy romance series. With hints of the tale of Hades and Persephone this is set in a dark world of fae where nothing is quite what it seems and nobody can be completely trusted. Vi is right in the middle of a large conspiracy and it's going to take everything she has to unravel what is really going on. With a great cast of characters and a wonderful slow build romance I didn't want to put this one down.
I had guessed one of the big twists but no matter how many times I thought I knew what would happen next Bec McMaster always found new ways to surprise me. Vi and Thiago have already had to face impossible odds but it's clear that things are going to get far more complicated for them as the series continues so I can't wait to see what else they're going to have to face. This series has definitely jumped to the top of my list and I'll be eagerly awaiting the next instalment!
September 26, 2019
One of my favorite Paranormal Romance authors, Bec McMaster, has a brand new series out called Dark Court Rising. It’s a Fantasy Romance series but I do see some Paranormal elements in it as well. Just from the blurb, I was already intrigued by the storyline and so, I slotted some time out in my busy schedule to try and read this book in one sitting.
I have to admit, this was a marvelous decision on my part because I ended up devouring this book so quickly. One of the biggest changes that Bec has made with her writing with this series is that she has some first person narration. Normally, I prefer my Fantasy and Paranormal Romance books to be in third person, but the first person narration just made things a little easier to read and more fast paced. As a result, I do feel like things were kept exciting and moved along well.
Another one of the things that I like about Bec’s writing is that her characters are always so alluring to me. I especially like her heroes because they tend to have a darker feel to them. And with the twists and turns that this book has, it will definitely leave you feeling a little breathless after it all.
If you like Fae and Fantasy then I think you’re really going to like this book. There’s only one other series that I think tackles Fae beautifully and that’s KMM’s Fever series, but this Dark Court Rising series has some potential as well. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what McMaster has up her sleeve!
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July 10, 2021
Wavered between 3 stars and 4, but ultimately rounded down.
I'm currently feeling pretty under the weather thanks to some persistent headaches, but this was a nice, easy read which didn't tax my aching brain too much. Or at least, there are some vaguely confusing plotlines, but I found it easy to skim past them and get back to the meat of the story.
What is the meat of the story? It's Princess Iskvien, who's given to her family's enemy Prince Thiago for three months, then realises he's not the brute she's been led to believe. Those who hate OW drama and the dead ex trope, DON'T WORRY. It's not what you think.
In general, this book and the fantasy world and characters feel quite generic. I actually kept wondering at the beginning if I'd read this book before. I haven't - and that's not a dig at the similarities between this book and Sarah J. Maas. I don't actually think there are too many similarities, beyond Thiago and his band of brothers/Rhysand and his band of brothers.
TL;DR: Read this if you're looking for something to pass the time, with flashes of humour and a vaguely soothing plot. But don't expect to remember this in a week's time.
I'm currently feeling pretty under the weather thanks to some persistent headaches, but this was a nice, easy read which didn't tax my aching brain too much. Or at least, there are some vaguely confusing plotlines, but I found it easy to skim past them and get back to the meat of the story.
What is the meat of the story? It's Princess Iskvien, who's given to her family's enemy Prince Thiago for three months, then realises he's not the brute she's been led to believe. Those who hate OW drama and the dead ex trope, DON'T WORRY. It's not what you think.
In general, this book and the fantasy world and characters feel quite generic. I actually kept wondering at the beginning if I'd read this book before. I haven't - and that's not a dig at the similarities between this book and Sarah J. Maas. I don't actually think there are too many similarities, beyond Thiago and his band of brothers/Rhysand and his band of brothers.
TL;DR: Read this if you're looking for something to pass the time, with flashes of humour and a vaguely soothing plot. But don't expect to remember this in a week's time.
April 26, 2021
I loved this! If you're looking for a fantasy romance with a dark, broody hero who has been pining for the heroine for 13 years this is for you. During her annually required visits to his kingdom to keep peace between the Seelie and Unseelie courts Vi learns there is a curse on her that she must figure out how to break before time runs out.
March 12, 2020
3.75 stars
I can see why others have said this is like ACOTAR series:
- There’s the supposedly scary hot guy with the dark tattoos and dark wings and ruler of a Seelie district
- There’s a band of merrymen (and women) he’s surrounded with, who are likeable and show that our scary hot guy actually has a heart of gold and is just misunderstood
- They are all fae
- The h, Vi, feels unwanted and unloved by her family
- True love will break the curse/ or in this case remembering she loves him will.
The story started out ok...it was very easy to guess about the ‘wife’...I enjoyed all the fae aspects, you can tell the author did a lot of research on the topic.
But alas, the h, was annoying. I didn’t like her. Everyone else...even the evil baddies, had more personality. I just couldn’t understand what was so special about her that our H went out of his way for her 🤷♀️
It was the last quarter of the book where it became really enjoyable...Even when Vi, did stupid things ( she brought back one of the Old Ones and realised how it was not a good thing...yet went and did a bargain with another one). It got darker, edgier and definitely makes me want to read the next book.
I can see why others have said this is like ACOTAR series:
- There’s the supposedly scary hot guy with the dark tattoos and dark wings and ruler of a Seelie district
- There’s a band of merrymen (and women) he’s surrounded with, who are likeable and show that our scary hot guy actually has a heart of gold and is just misunderstood
- They are all fae
- The h, Vi, feels unwanted and unloved by her family
- True love will break the curse/ or in this case remembering she loves him will.
The story started out ok...it was very easy to guess about the ‘wife’...I enjoyed all the fae aspects, you can tell the author did a lot of research on the topic.
But alas, the h, was annoying. I didn’t like her. Everyone else...even the evil baddies, had more personality. I just couldn’t understand what was so special about her that our H went out of his way for her 🤷♀️
It was the last quarter of the book where it became really enjoyable...Even when Vi, did stupid things ( she brought back one of the Old Ones and realised how it was not a good thing...yet went and did a bargain with another one). It got darker, edgier and definitely makes me want to read the next book.
May 14, 2021
RTC ✨
December 11, 2021
🆗❌ World-building
🆗❌ Characters
❌ Romance and dialogues
❌ Plot
DNF at 28%
I wanted to like this book, I saw so many 4 stars and 5 stars reviews but I just can’t. It feels like a hasty rough copy where you cram all of your ideas together and you add things that make no sense just to (try to) add some sexual tension between the characters.
First, world-building is weak. The information is scattered through the book and many times I read something that was mentioned for the first time without any details or explanations and wondered if I should have known about it or if I missed a part somewhere (I had a lot of "what the hell is a ______ ?" or "Am I supposed to know who that is?" moments). The queens and the kingdoms are named (also some long-dead kings…), but I can’t remember any of their names and there is no map to help with the geography. Some kingdoms were ruined during the war (on which we have absolutely no information besides the fact that it was 500 years ago and very destructive, I am not even sure who was fighting against who)… All of these little details made it really difficult to appreciate the story.
The story also focuses a lot on Iskvien and Thiago’s relationship, to the point where almost every scene is about them interacting, and it is very straightforward and predictable. We know next to nothing about Iskvien and we have no clue about how she is feeling about her mother sending her away, what are her inner thoughts or what she plans on doing. Basically, she wakes up, something happens with Thiago, he flirts with her, she pushes him away while being attracted to him, then they go their separate way and she goes back to her room for the night. Then it starts again the day after. Mix into this a mystery involving Thiago’s wife who was murdered (or disappeared?) many years ago and some weird notes that Iskvien finds in the castle telling her to investigate and trust her instincts… There are parts that are missing from this story
I usually enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance, but in this case, it just fell short. The banter between them is cringy and always revolves around Thiago wanting to have sex with Iskvien, but I did not see the evolution of their sentiments at all. She hates him, but he seems attracted to her, he insults her, and she insults him back but still feels the butterflies in her stomach… She makes a stupid deal with him, stating that she owes him one kiss every day but she has no reason at all to strike this deal. No. Reason. It makes no sense that she would make this deal when he already said that he would not force her into anything.
The fact that I know nothing about both characters (because everything is centered on their interactions) is not helping either because I honestly do not care what happens to them or whether they end up together or not at this point. Also, Thiago has a really strong Rhys vibe, but sooooo dull and boring.
🆗❌ Characters
❌ Romance and dialogues
❌ Plot
DNF at 28%
I wanted to like this book, I saw so many 4 stars and 5 stars reviews but I just can’t. It feels like a hasty rough copy where you cram all of your ideas together and you add things that make no sense just to (try to) add some sexual tension between the characters.
First, world-building is weak. The information is scattered through the book and many times I read something that was mentioned for the first time without any details or explanations and wondered if I should have known about it or if I missed a part somewhere (I had a lot of "what the hell is a ______ ?" or "Am I supposed to know who that is?" moments). The queens and the kingdoms are named (also some long-dead kings…), but I can’t remember any of their names and there is no map to help with the geography. Some kingdoms were ruined during the war (on which we have absolutely no information besides the fact that it was 500 years ago and very destructive, I am not even sure who was fighting against who)… All of these little details made it really difficult to appreciate the story.
The story also focuses a lot on Iskvien and Thiago’s relationship, to the point where almost every scene is about them interacting, and it is very straightforward and predictable. We know next to nothing about Iskvien and we have no clue about how she is feeling about her mother sending her away, what are her inner thoughts or what she plans on doing. Basically, she wakes up, something happens with Thiago, he flirts with her, she pushes him away while being attracted to him, then they go their separate way and she goes back to her room for the night. Then it starts again the day after. Mix into this a mystery involving Thiago’s wife who was murdered (or disappeared?) many years ago and some weird notes that Iskvien finds in the castle telling her to investigate and trust her instincts… There are parts that are missing from this story
I usually enjoy an enemies-to-lovers romance, but in this case, it just fell short. The banter between them is cringy and always revolves around Thiago wanting to have sex with Iskvien, but I did not see the evolution of their sentiments at all. She hates him, but he seems attracted to her, he insults her, and she insults him back but still feels the butterflies in her stomach… She makes a stupid deal with him, stating that she owes him one kiss every day but she has no reason at all to strike this deal. No. Reason. It makes no sense that she would make this deal when he already said that he would not force her into anything.
The fact that I know nothing about both characters (because everything is centered on their interactions) is not helping either because I honestly do not care what happens to them or whether they end up together or not at this point. Also, Thiago has a really strong Rhys vibe, but sooooo dull and boring.
October 17, 2021
I surprisingly really enjoyed A Promise of Darkness! When I first started it, I was worried that it would be similar to ACOMAF, but A Promise of Darkness is definitely its own story. The story is told completely from the heroine’s first person perspective, which is the best format for this fantasy for reasons I won’t go into because of spoilers. I figured out the plot twist early on and it made the story that much more enjoyable to read because I was dying for the big revelation. I loved the fantasy world building and I loved the romance even more. It was a slow burn romance and the payoff was a little disappointing, but overall, I adore Vi and Thiago together.
I also loved the supporting characters!! I'm hoping maybe we'll get their own stories. I'm all for Eris x Finn and Thalia x Baylor. I should point out that A Promise of Darkness ends in a cliffhanger! There are many unresolved problems and also things that we still don’t know about Thiago that will carry over in the next two books. I can’t wait!!!
P.S. I hope the editing is improved for the next two books. There were a lot of typos and wrong pronouns. I think this is because the author originally wrote this book in third person and forgot to make a couple of changes before publishing. This is something an editor should have fixed.
Some notes for myself [contains spoilers]:
I also loved the supporting characters!! I'm hoping maybe we'll get their own stories. I'm all for Eris x Finn and Thalia x Baylor. I should point out that A Promise of Darkness ends in a cliffhanger! There are many unresolved problems and also things that we still don’t know about Thiago that will carry over in the next two books. I can’t wait!!!
P.S. I hope the editing is improved for the next two books. There were a lot of typos and wrong pronouns. I think this is because the author originally wrote this book in third person and forgot to make a couple of changes before publishing. This is something an editor should have fixed.
Some notes for myself [contains spoilers]:
January 2, 2020
DNF at 40%
I really wanted to like this book—partially because this was a buddy-read with my friend Nenia and partially because I just wanted the darkness promised in the title. Also some hot fae action, if I'm being honest.
Alas, here's another buddy-read I failed at. I started worrying that I wouldn't like this early on but forced myself to keep reading. My disinterest grew, and I told Nenia to go ahead and finish because I didn't think it was happening for me.
One thing I didn't like was the age of the main characters. Thiago is hundreds of years old, and I kept thinking Vi was sixteen. I think she's actually about twenty, but still, that's weird, and I'm not even one to complain about age gaps between immortal beings. I have my suspicions about spoilery things that may have to do with Vi's age, but since I didn't read that far, who knows. However, she keeps talking about how she learned so many traits from the deviousness and ruthlessness of her mother's court, and yet she displays none of these traits—like strategic thinking or tactics or even simple bargaining skills. So... what exactly did she learn?
This is a small thing, and YMMV, but there was a writing tic that jarred me every time I read it. The author tended to use contractions where it would be natural to do so in real life dialogue, but seemed weird in print. Examples:
- "Though the main tower's half-shattered" instead of "the main tower is half-shattered"
- "The movement's so familiar"
- "Everything's been made on a scale to both impress and threaten"
- "His shirt's unbuttoned halfway down his chest"
- "My sword's at my side"
You get the idea.
In her review, Nenia compares PROMISE OF DARKNESS to the works of Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, and Holly Black. And it makes a lot of sense that I didn't like this because I'm not a fan of those authors.
2 stars for the first 40%
I really wanted to like this book—partially because this was a buddy-read with my friend Nenia and partially because I just wanted the darkness promised in the title. Also some hot fae action, if I'm being honest.
Alas, here's another buddy-read I failed at. I started worrying that I wouldn't like this early on but forced myself to keep reading. My disinterest grew, and I told Nenia to go ahead and finish because I didn't think it was happening for me.
One thing I didn't like was the age of the main characters. Thiago is hundreds of years old, and I kept thinking Vi was sixteen. I think she's actually about twenty, but still, that's weird, and I'm not even one to complain about age gaps between immortal beings. I have my suspicions about spoilery things that may have to do with Vi's age, but since I didn't read that far, who knows. However, she keeps talking about how she learned so many traits from the deviousness and ruthlessness of her mother's court, and yet she displays none of these traits—like strategic thinking or tactics or even simple bargaining skills. So... what exactly did she learn?
This is a small thing, and YMMV, but there was a writing tic that jarred me every time I read it. The author tended to use contractions where it would be natural to do so in real life dialogue, but seemed weird in print. Examples:
- "Though the main tower's half-shattered" instead of "the main tower is half-shattered"
- "The movement's so familiar"
- "Everything's been made on a scale to both impress and threaten"
- "His shirt's unbuttoned halfway down his chest"
- "My sword's at my side"
You get the idea.
In her review, Nenia compares PROMISE OF DARKNESS to the works of Jeaniene Frost, Ilona Andrews, and Holly Black. And it makes a lot of sense that I didn't like this because I'm not a fan of those authors.
2 stars for the first 40%
December 1, 2019
Calls men males. Smarmy alpha male piece of shit who is immediately described as the sexiest sex. I hate books like this.
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