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Eternal Night #2
A Deal with Darkness
Before the Eternal Night or the Huntress, there was a deal with darkness.
Isoldra Maan is drowning in debt—specifically 250 souls deep. For the last five years she has been working off her payment to the Lord of Lost Souls and notoriously depraved fallen god,Haalarcus. But when a dark power awakens and a heretic rises in the barren fields of Helencort, the divines strike a deal with the Dark Lord in exchange for her services. Isoldra is forced to partner with a self-righteous watcher, who fills her with as much irritation as he does forbidden desire, to track down this evil and deliver it to the gods.
With a series of plagues threatening to tear apart the world, Isoldra is forced to choose between the one who holds her heart and the one who claims her soul. But when even death is not the end, how far will she go to save them all?
Isoldra Maan is drowning in debt—specifically 250 souls deep. For the last five years she has been working off her payment to the Lord of Lost Souls and notoriously depraved fallen god,Haalarcus. But when a dark power awakens and a heretic rises in the barren fields of Helencort, the divines strike a deal with the Dark Lord in exchange for her services. Isoldra is forced to partner with a self-righteous watcher, who fills her with as much irritation as he does forbidden desire, to track down this evil and deliver it to the gods.
With a series of plagues threatening to tear apart the world, Isoldra is forced to choose between the one who holds her heart and the one who claims her soul. But when even death is not the end, how far will she go to save them all?
Unknown Binding
Published November 10, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 8, 2023
“A Deal with Darkness” is the second book of this series, however, it can be read as a standalone as it takes place before the events in the first book.
Read full review in the 2023 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2023 March issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 21, 2022
Enjoyable
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed reading this PNR. The story told about Isoldra, the FMC, who made a deal with a dark god, Haalarcus, becoming his Hound. The storyline flows smoothly even if at some time the writing is a bit hesitant and some parts lack of development. Anyway, it's a nice book😊
There was an interesting twist at some point about her love interest.
The development of the relationship between the MC was ambivalent and not very clear. We understand later in the book what is really happening here. It was a bit confusing.
The world building is promising and I hope there will be more books in order to discover more about it.
The end was confusing and I don't really understand what about it is🧐 A sequel???
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I enjoyed reading this PNR. The story told about Isoldra, the FMC, who made a deal with a dark god, Haalarcus, becoming his Hound. The storyline flows smoothly even if at some time the writing is a bit hesitant and some parts lack of development. Anyway, it's a nice book😊
There was an interesting twist at some point about her love interest.
The development of the relationship between the MC was ambivalent and not very clear. We understand later in the book what is really happening here. It was a bit confusing.
The world building is promising and I hope there will be more books in order to discover more about it.
The end was confusing and I don't really understand what about it is🧐 A sequel???
November 21, 2022
“Soulmates aren’t found, they are made.”
This is the second book in this series, but you don’t have to read the first book because this one can be read as a standalone just fine.
It has a very strong start, with a strong badass heroine trying to gain her freedom by collecting souls for the Dark Lord.
The first few chapters are very interesting, I love the interaction between the female MC (Isoldra) and the Dark Lord (Haal) with their bantering and flirting.
The plot is quite simple with twists that quite surprised me. Although there are some twist that I guessed before the big reveal but it doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of reading this book.
However, I wish the pacing of the story was slowed down in order to give rooms for some things to be explored and more developed.
I also didn’t agree with the love triangle trope in the story, the attraction between Isoldra and the new character felt weird and too rushed.
Overall, I still got to enjoy the book although I really wish the pace was slower and the book is a bit longer which I hope we’ll get from the next book.
I hope there will be another book because that small cliff-hanger at the end really intrigued me. Things are far from over, another villain is still on the loose and I can’t wait for what the characters will do to defeat the villain.
Actual rating: 3.5⭐
I received an advanced review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second book in this series, but you don’t have to read the first book because this one can be read as a standalone just fine.
It has a very strong start, with a strong badass heroine trying to gain her freedom by collecting souls for the Dark Lord.
The first few chapters are very interesting, I love the interaction between the female MC (Isoldra) and the Dark Lord (Haal) with their bantering and flirting.
The plot is quite simple with twists that quite surprised me. Although there are some twist that I guessed before the big reveal but it doesn’t lessen my enjoyment of reading this book.
However, I wish the pacing of the story was slowed down in order to give rooms for some things to be explored and more developed.
I also didn’t agree with the love triangle trope in the story, the attraction between Isoldra and the new character felt weird and too rushed.
Overall, I still got to enjoy the book although I really wish the pace was slower and the book is a bit longer which I hope we’ll get from the next book.
I hope there will be another book because that small cliff-hanger at the end really intrigued me. Things are far from over, another villain is still on the loose and I can’t wait for what the characters will do to defeat the villain.
Actual rating: 3.5⭐
I received an advanced review copy for free from Book Sirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
October 4, 2022
“Because there is no freedom without sacrifice, there is no reward without suffering. It is a balance I’ve tried to teach the mortal world since the beginning of creation , so that they would understand why good things should be cherished and valued. We are always a moment away from things we love being stripped away, but that doesn’t mean we stop loving them. It doesn’t mean we stop fighting for them. Everyone here has paid a price, that’s how I know my souls will not back down from a fight. They know their worth, and they won’t hesitate to take back what is rightfully theirs.”
Entertaining story indeed ! Full RTC ✨
Entertaining story indeed ! Full RTC ✨
November 19, 2022
I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Another five star read from Alexis!
I love that this book offers some more insight into the world that was seen in a night of wings and starlight because I was desperate for more, but I also love that it is its own story and very different in vibes.
From the first chapter I was drawn in because I loved the concept, but better yet - the characters were instantly intriguing.
As always her writing is amazing and easy to read and I can’t recommend this enough to anyone wanting a fantasy romance with a dark and moody vibe, gods, powers, and deals and bargains.
Another five star read from Alexis!
I love that this book offers some more insight into the world that was seen in a night of wings and starlight because I was desperate for more, but I also love that it is its own story and very different in vibes.
From the first chapter I was drawn in because I loved the concept, but better yet - the characters were instantly intriguing.
As always her writing is amazing and easy to read and I can’t recommend this enough to anyone wanting a fantasy romance with a dark and moody vibe, gods, powers, and deals and bargains.
January 13, 2024
4.5/5
Wonderfully fun dark romantasy with a snarky FMC and a villainous MMC. The plot was fun with twists and turns.
Wonderfully fun dark romantasy with a snarky FMC and a villainous MMC. The plot was fun with twists and turns.
June 28, 2024
This was a lot better than the first one
October 16, 2022
3.5 stars
Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Initial Thoughts
As someone who read the ARC for book one in this series and found that it had a lot of potential, I decided to return to this world. Again, I feel what Menard is attempting with the Eternal Night is something very clever, as both books had intriguing premises. However, A Deal with Darkness lost its footing along the way for me.
What's great about this book?
- The start of this world was brilliant. The intrigue, the banter between Haal and Isoldra was exciting. I loved the concept of their bargain and that she hunted souls for him to get her freedom. I wished this plotline had held the forefront a little longer. As a character, Haal is amazing, and I loved his endless taunting and powers. He's very complimentary to Isoldra's recklessness with how suave and calm and collected he comes across as.
- Isoldra is a good leading protagonist. Although the storyline rushed her at times and lessened the expected growth I had for her, I liked how consistent she was to protect those she cared about. I really appreciated her desire to help women who were in undesirable situations, and how this continued to be a theme - both in showing the payoff for her efforts and the desire to work alongside empowered women such as Pinna and Sam.
- The plot twist of her gifts' origins was interesting, and I would have liked to develop it more and see it grow. How Issy used her Hound abilities was intriguing to me, especially with how skilled she was. In the end, that paid off for her in the final scenes with the main antagonist.
- The spice was well done, as I've come to anticipate by this author.
Things I didn't quite enjoy
- The book went from 0 to 100 quickly, and I found the pacing threw off any chance for situations to marinate enough to make sense. One minute we have Haal and Issy, and then we're adding in Evander, only for that whole situation to keep punching back and forth. I didn't get the connection between the Watcher and Issy at all. Friendship, perhaps, but there was definitely not enough room for any romantic relationship to even blossom. The concept of the love triangle was rather weak, and I am glad it wasn't a main story arc.
- Because of the faster pace, events piled on top of each other. I felt like I knew the situation with the plagues was important, but one minute they were doing one thing, the next they were 500 miles in another direction doing something else, and it muddled what the fight was for everyone involved. It was rather disconcerting and I believe the entire storyline could have benefitted better by not having so much of the watcher element (considering the Watchers are a direct link to book 1, I understand there needed to be some aspect of them in this, and I did like the return of familiar faces) and would have been better if Haal and his Hound had stayed at the forefront further. The plot device to separate them, whilst at the time clever, definitely weakened the voice Issy had started with.
- Even though I liked the romance, it was rushed in amongst everything else compared to the building tension in the beginning that I adored. I am satisfied with who Issy ended up with and how she came into her final power, but I would have preferred more depth to how that played out.
Final thoughts
I feel like if the pacing of this book had slowed down enough to develop more vital moments, I would have greatly enjoyed this.
Thank you to the author for a copy of this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
Initial Thoughts
As someone who read the ARC for book one in this series and found that it had a lot of potential, I decided to return to this world. Again, I feel what Menard is attempting with the Eternal Night is something very clever, as both books had intriguing premises. However, A Deal with Darkness lost its footing along the way for me.
What's great about this book?
- The start of this world was brilliant. The intrigue, the banter between Haal and Isoldra was exciting. I loved the concept of their bargain and that she hunted souls for him to get her freedom. I wished this plotline had held the forefront a little longer. As a character, Haal is amazing, and I loved his endless taunting and powers. He's very complimentary to Isoldra's recklessness with how suave and calm and collected he comes across as.
- Isoldra is a good leading protagonist. Although the storyline rushed her at times and lessened the expected growth I had for her, I liked how consistent she was to protect those she cared about. I really appreciated her desire to help women who were in undesirable situations, and how this continued to be a theme - both in showing the payoff for her efforts and the desire to work alongside empowered women such as Pinna and Sam.
- The plot twist of her gifts' origins was interesting, and I would have liked to develop it more and see it grow. How Issy used her Hound abilities was intriguing to me, especially with how skilled she was. In the end, that paid off for her in the final scenes with the main antagonist.
- The spice was well done, as I've come to anticipate by this author.
Things I didn't quite enjoy
- The book went from 0 to 100 quickly, and I found the pacing threw off any chance for situations to marinate enough to make sense. One minute we have Haal and Issy, and then we're adding in Evander, only for that whole situation to keep punching back and forth. I didn't get the connection between the Watcher and Issy at all. Friendship, perhaps, but there was definitely not enough room for any romantic relationship to even blossom. The concept of the love triangle was rather weak, and I am glad it wasn't a main story arc.
- Because of the faster pace, events piled on top of each other. I felt like I knew the situation with the plagues was important, but one minute they were doing one thing, the next they were 500 miles in another direction doing something else, and it muddled what the fight was for everyone involved. It was rather disconcerting and I believe the entire storyline could have benefitted better by not having so much of the watcher element (considering the Watchers are a direct link to book 1, I understand there needed to be some aspect of them in this, and I did like the return of familiar faces) and would have been better if Haal and his Hound had stayed at the forefront further. The plot device to separate them, whilst at the time clever, definitely weakened the voice Issy had started with.
- Even though I liked the romance, it was rushed in amongst everything else compared to the building tension in the beginning that I adored. I am satisfied with who Issy ended up with and how she came into her final power, but I would have preferred more depth to how that played out.
Final thoughts
I feel like if the pacing of this book had slowed down enough to develop more vital moments, I would have greatly enjoyed this.
November 13, 2022
I want to start off by saying thank you to Alexis L. Menard for giving me an arc in exchange for a honest review. All thoughts are my own.
I have been waiting to go back to Valdihr ever since I read A Night Of Wings and Starlight! A Deal With Darkness was so worth the wait! This time we get to see Valdihr in all its begging to be explored glory, long before A Night Of Wings and Starlight. We get a really good insight into how things were before the eternal night.
It was a breeze settling back into Valdihr. This world is so interesting to me. There is so much to explore and yet I still feel like you wouldn’t uncover all it has to offer. Even in plain sight I feel as if it's coated in shadows hiding so many secrets that've been buried. Another thing that was nice to see was how it operated before the eternal night and how things are vastly different from before and after that.
I was really drawn to our main character Isoldra from the moment she showed up. Isoldra was a really complex character. When first introduced she is very callous and prickly. As the story progresses you really see why she is so complex and why she is such a layered character. You begin to understand why she is so standoffish towards people and also why she keeps everyone at an arm's length. She has so much courage and strength but she is very insecure about herself and her relationships with people. She cares for others from afar and she likes to keep it that way for a reason. She is terrified of rejection but she is not afraid to stand up for herself and others she thinks deserve it. I enjoyed seeing her character development and seeing her let people in and begin to have friendships.
The chemistry and dynamic between the character’s was off the charts. It only enriches the story further. This story had me loving certain characters and wanting to strangle others. You can really feel the emotional connections between the characters which really helps deliver the emotional tone during the story. I enjoy banter and this banter was perfectly pitched. It was a treat to see a couple returning characters from book one. Getting to see more insight of Evander’s personality was really nice. I’ve been so curious about him since a night of wings and starlight. It shed some light on a few things.
What an adventure this book was! I highly recommend this series to anyone who's in need of a great story and adventure! I can tell you I can't wait for the next one!
I have been waiting to go back to Valdihr ever since I read A Night Of Wings and Starlight! A Deal With Darkness was so worth the wait! This time we get to see Valdihr in all its begging to be explored glory, long before A Night Of Wings and Starlight. We get a really good insight into how things were before the eternal night.
It was a breeze settling back into Valdihr. This world is so interesting to me. There is so much to explore and yet I still feel like you wouldn’t uncover all it has to offer. Even in plain sight I feel as if it's coated in shadows hiding so many secrets that've been buried. Another thing that was nice to see was how it operated before the eternal night and how things are vastly different from before and after that.
I was really drawn to our main character Isoldra from the moment she showed up. Isoldra was a really complex character. When first introduced she is very callous and prickly. As the story progresses you really see why she is so complex and why she is such a layered character. You begin to understand why she is so standoffish towards people and also why she keeps everyone at an arm's length. She has so much courage and strength but she is very insecure about herself and her relationships with people. She cares for others from afar and she likes to keep it that way for a reason. She is terrified of rejection but she is not afraid to stand up for herself and others she thinks deserve it. I enjoyed seeing her character development and seeing her let people in and begin to have friendships.
The chemistry and dynamic between the character’s was off the charts. It only enriches the story further. This story had me loving certain characters and wanting to strangle others. You can really feel the emotional connections between the characters which really helps deliver the emotional tone during the story. I enjoy banter and this banter was perfectly pitched. It was a treat to see a couple returning characters from book one. Getting to see more insight of Evander’s personality was really nice. I’ve been so curious about him since a night of wings and starlight. It shed some light on a few things.
What an adventure this book was! I highly recommend this series to anyone who's in need of a great story and adventure! I can tell you I can't wait for the next one!
November 21, 2022
“I never asked you to save me,” I muttered.
“You never have to. I always will.”
A Night of Wings and Starlight was a heart pounding, gripping series debut and I knew I would pick up any book Alexis L Menard put out after finishing it. I normally set my expectations a little lower with sequels, but dare I say I loved A Deal with Darkness more?
+ Life Debt
+ Forbidden Love
+ Fiesty FMC
+ Mild Love Triangle (but with clear decision)
+ Secret Identity
“Because I would hope, if I died before escaping Haal’s service and my soul found retribution for its actions, that someone would pray for mine.”
Issy is a well rounded, flawed but intriguing FMC and I loved every interaction she had with other characters. She might have been bound to do Haal's bidding which involved killed many people and that should have "tainted" her soul, but she is an incredibly pure and selfless being. She always wanted to help others, especially women that had been in her position. It was hard not to find pieces of myself in her with my own history.
Evander I started out with a severe dislike for, and I swear it wasn't the whole thing I have against blonde. His general attitude rubbed me the wrong way. I loved Issy being her genuine self and standing up for herself and challenging his beliefs. Also, can we pause for a moment to totally fangirl over those cameos/secondary characters from the first book?
Haal. The show stealer. Haal had my entire heart from the first page he was on. The relationship between Haal and Issy is so easy going and their banter had me both squealing and laughing. When the action escalates, my heart was in my throat every time. The way this man would sacrifice everything. This. This is the ideal man.
The Dark Lord lowered his chin and glowered at the winged man still lightly clutching my throat. His gaze transformed from powerful to possessive, and I didn’t know which was more menacing. “Release her,” he demanded, a warning heavy in his tone.
A Deal with Darkness also gave us more of the Circle. There's major events that happen in this that are in or directly impact A Night of Wings and Starlight, but you can definitely read this first. You'll just have more context and understanding before.
There is a small "Twilight love triangle" sort of situation for 30%, as I had seen mentioned and was weary of, but you know who her heart belongs to the entire time. You know which couple is endgame and it was so reassuring.
I’m here, Fairest. Always and eternally.
“You never have to. I always will.”
A Night of Wings and Starlight was a heart pounding, gripping series debut and I knew I would pick up any book Alexis L Menard put out after finishing it. I normally set my expectations a little lower with sequels, but dare I say I loved A Deal with Darkness more?
+ Life Debt
+ Forbidden Love
+ Fiesty FMC
+ Mild Love Triangle (but with clear decision)
+ Secret Identity
“Because I would hope, if I died before escaping Haal’s service and my soul found retribution for its actions, that someone would pray for mine.”
Issy is a well rounded, flawed but intriguing FMC and I loved every interaction she had with other characters. She might have been bound to do Haal's bidding which involved killed many people and that should have "tainted" her soul, but she is an incredibly pure and selfless being. She always wanted to help others, especially women that had been in her position. It was hard not to find pieces of myself in her with my own history.
Evander I started out with a severe dislike for, and I swear it wasn't the whole thing I have against blonde. His general attitude rubbed me the wrong way. I loved Issy being her genuine self and standing up for herself and challenging his beliefs. Also, can we pause for a moment to totally fangirl over those cameos/secondary characters from the first book?
Haal. The show stealer. Haal had my entire heart from the first page he was on. The relationship between Haal and Issy is so easy going and their banter had me both squealing and laughing. When the action escalates, my heart was in my throat every time. The way this man would sacrifice everything. This. This is the ideal man.
The Dark Lord lowered his chin and glowered at the winged man still lightly clutching my throat. His gaze transformed from powerful to possessive, and I didn’t know which was more menacing. “Release her,” he demanded, a warning heavy in his tone.
A Deal with Darkness also gave us more of the Circle. There's major events that happen in this that are in or directly impact A Night of Wings and Starlight, but you can definitely read this first. You'll just have more context and understanding before.
There is a small "Twilight love triangle" sort of situation for 30%, as I had seen mentioned and was weary of, but you know who her heart belongs to the entire time. You know which couple is endgame and it was so reassuring.
I’m here, Fairest. Always and eternally.
October 21, 2022
Gosh, I LOVE this book! This is probably my favorite book by Alexis yet, and I love ALL her books!
This is the second book in the Eternal Night series, but a prequel to the first one. In this one we meet Isoldra, or Issy, who is called the Hound. She made a deal to save her brother with Haalarcus, and now works for the Dark Lord, or Dark One, Haalarcus. She is basically his assassin killing those who hurt women, and collects their souls for Haal. One day, he gets an offer from a semi-divine, a Watcher, and Haal tells Issy if she does this job, he will release her from their deal. So, of course she takes him up on that offer, not realizing how tough this job may actually be.
I loved reading this prequel and learning even more about this world and the gods of the world and why they seem to have abandoned humans. We learn a lot about the history. The world building in here is wonderful, and I love when an author does such a good job of not only world building, but also character building.
Speaking of character building....I love Issy and Haal! Those two work so so well together, and I loved every moment of them together. Haal is just dark, mysterious and delectable, and Issy is morally grey, but has such a huge heart and literally does anything for those she even cares a little bit about, which you really see in this book! You also meet the Watchers and some of the gods in here, and a certain Watcher that we may know...
The romance is wonderful as well! I almost thought it would turn into a love triangle, but the way the romance is played in this book is well done. Issy has gone through a lot in her life, and is still going through a lot, so emotions run high, and you can see how her feelings get a little confused. But I love how she works through it in her mind and we are there with her seeing how she thinks and feels and figures out who is the one she needs in her life. I would say there are points that it is steamy in this book, but I love the slow burn in this story and how the relationship gets to the point it does at the end of the book.
I love love this book! I highly recommend it! Thank you to Alexis for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is the second book in the Eternal Night series, but a prequel to the first one. In this one we meet Isoldra, or Issy, who is called the Hound. She made a deal to save her brother with Haalarcus, and now works for the Dark Lord, or Dark One, Haalarcus. She is basically his assassin killing those who hurt women, and collects their souls for Haal. One day, he gets an offer from a semi-divine, a Watcher, and Haal tells Issy if she does this job, he will release her from their deal. So, of course she takes him up on that offer, not realizing how tough this job may actually be.
I loved reading this prequel and learning even more about this world and the gods of the world and why they seem to have abandoned humans. We learn a lot about the history. The world building in here is wonderful, and I love when an author does such a good job of not only world building, but also character building.
Speaking of character building....I love Issy and Haal! Those two work so so well together, and I loved every moment of them together. Haal is just dark, mysterious and delectable, and Issy is morally grey, but has such a huge heart and literally does anything for those she even cares a little bit about, which you really see in this book! You also meet the Watchers and some of the gods in here, and a certain Watcher that we may know...
The romance is wonderful as well! I almost thought it would turn into a love triangle, but the way the romance is played in this book is well done. Issy has gone through a lot in her life, and is still going through a lot, so emotions run high, and you can see how her feelings get a little confused. But I love how she works through it in her mind and we are there with her seeing how she thinks and feels and figures out who is the one she needs in her life. I would say there are points that it is steamy in this book, but I love the slow burn in this story and how the relationship gets to the point it does at the end of the book.
I love love this book! I highly recommend it! Thank you to Alexis for the free digital copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 28, 2022
• Single POV
• M/F
• Snarky, independent MC
• Everyone is alive, even after death
• No fated mates, no rejected mates theme
“Do you not believe I could make you happy?”
The idea made a genuine laugh spill from my chest. “People like me don’t get happy endings, Haal.”
This is such a smart, sexy story, filled with gods, their angels and nephilim, and then there is Issolde. I don’t know what to make of her. Told from her point of view, I don’t know whether to scoff at her snark or fangirl over her. She is definitely a take-no-prisoners kind of girl when she wants to be.
The scene:
Long ago the kings on earth wanted to have free will over their kingdoms, and the gods granted that. Unfortunately, now that the cities are being ravaged by one of the most terrifying evils, the gods are unable to act. While Issolde may only be human, she still has people to protect and too much altruism to ignore the destruction. She is willing to die (twice) for love. Yes, this story is a testiment to love’s power to save the world, but it is told so well that I don’t mind how trite that sounds.
Three major characters:
Haal— similar to Lucifer, cast out of the heavens. “You smell like the heavens. A scent I have missed terribly.” I think he represents Hades.
Issolde—Hound for Haal, after making a deal to kill someone, she is obligated to fetch 500 souls for Haal. Tricked into a deal. Would you trade 245 compliments for a night of sin with a fallen god? Although the misty touches and obvious attraction does have its merits….”I’ve never been one to please the divines before, so why should I start now?”
Evander—the Divine raven figure of the god of sun and sand, Arran. He smells like fire and wood smoke. An angel, a Watcher.
The romance:
The love is strong in this one. “You can’t expect me not to get aroused when you fashioned me weapons from the bones of your enemy.” Hmm, hey, hubby, can I trade the flowers and chocolates for knives carved from the bones of your enemies? No? Come on…
Seriously, though, there are two men in her life: Haal, the god of shadows and death, and Evander, whom she meets later. I was surprised by who she eventually chose, but I loved the insecurity of not knowing for a while.
• M/F
• Snarky, independent MC
• Everyone is alive, even after death
• No fated mates, no rejected mates theme
“Do you not believe I could make you happy?”
The idea made a genuine laugh spill from my chest. “People like me don’t get happy endings, Haal.”
This is such a smart, sexy story, filled with gods, their angels and nephilim, and then there is Issolde. I don’t know what to make of her. Told from her point of view, I don’t know whether to scoff at her snark or fangirl over her. She is definitely a take-no-prisoners kind of girl when she wants to be.
The scene:
Long ago the kings on earth wanted to have free will over their kingdoms, and the gods granted that. Unfortunately, now that the cities are being ravaged by one of the most terrifying evils, the gods are unable to act. While Issolde may only be human, she still has people to protect and too much altruism to ignore the destruction. She is willing to die (twice) for love. Yes, this story is a testiment to love’s power to save the world, but it is told so well that I don’t mind how trite that sounds.
Three major characters:
Haal— similar to Lucifer, cast out of the heavens. “You smell like the heavens. A scent I have missed terribly.” I think he represents Hades.
Issolde—Hound for Haal, after making a deal to kill someone, she is obligated to fetch 500 souls for Haal. Tricked into a deal. Would you trade 245 compliments for a night of sin with a fallen god? Although the misty touches and obvious attraction does have its merits….”I’ve never been one to please the divines before, so why should I start now?”
Evander—the Divine raven figure of the god of sun and sand, Arran. He smells like fire and wood smoke. An angel, a Watcher.
The romance:
The love is strong in this one. “You can’t expect me not to get aroused when you fashioned me weapons from the bones of your enemy.” Hmm, hey, hubby, can I trade the flowers and chocolates for knives carved from the bones of your enemies? No? Come on…
Seriously, though, there are two men in her life: Haal, the god of shadows and death, and Evander, whom she meets later. I was surprised by who she eventually chose, but I loved the insecurity of not knowing for a while.
December 22, 2022
A Deal With Darkness is set 200 years before the first book in the series, A Night of Wings and Starlight. We follow Isoldra Maan, who is the Hound — a powerful warrior who takes souls for Haalacrus, a fallen god and the Lord of Lost Souls. She struck a bargain with him to protect her family, and he offers her a contract with a divine that will end their bargain and give her freedom back. But it ends up being a lot harder than expected, with the whole world under threat.
While this can be read as a stand-alone, I definitely recommend reading A Night of Wings and Starlight first. I really enjoyed it so I was really excited to go back to Valdihr and find out how the curse of permanent night happened!
Just like Ayra, Isoldra is an amazing female character who takes no nonsense from anyone. She is a skilled warrior and has a strong moral code. She escaped from an abusive partner and so now many of the jobs she takes from Haalacrus (or Hal) are to rescue other women in a similar situation. I really loved that about this book — it felt very empowering.
The romance between Hal and Issy is brilliant. It's a fantastic love-hate relationship, with lots of banter and flirting, and the first few chapters where we see them together were definitely my favourites. However, I wasn't really a fan of the love triangle — to me it felt a little forced and very rushed. As with the first book, this book is only about 250 pages so there is definitely space for further development and more space for this to breathe.
There are some familiar faces here too. Evander was briefly in the first book and plays a bigger role here, so I enjoyed learning more about him here. It was also fun to see Azriel again!
Like the first book, I really loved the world building here. It's an exciting and intriguing world that feels very original. The story is fast-paced, with enough twists and developments to keep me interested throughout the book. I really loved that this was set as a prequel to the first book, giving it an interesting angle. Coupled with the great characters this is a really fun fantasy read. I can't get enough of this series and I am excited for the next one in the series!
While this can be read as a stand-alone, I definitely recommend reading A Night of Wings and Starlight first. I really enjoyed it so I was really excited to go back to Valdihr and find out how the curse of permanent night happened!
Just like Ayra, Isoldra is an amazing female character who takes no nonsense from anyone. She is a skilled warrior and has a strong moral code. She escaped from an abusive partner and so now many of the jobs she takes from Haalacrus (or Hal) are to rescue other women in a similar situation. I really loved that about this book — it felt very empowering.
The romance between Hal and Issy is brilliant. It's a fantastic love-hate relationship, with lots of banter and flirting, and the first few chapters where we see them together were definitely my favourites. However, I wasn't really a fan of the love triangle — to me it felt a little forced and very rushed. As with the first book, this book is only about 250 pages so there is definitely space for further development and more space for this to breathe.
There are some familiar faces here too. Evander was briefly in the first book and plays a bigger role here, so I enjoyed learning more about him here. It was also fun to see Azriel again!
Like the first book, I really loved the world building here. It's an exciting and intriguing world that feels very original. The story is fast-paced, with enough twists and developments to keep me interested throughout the book. I really loved that this was set as a prequel to the first book, giving it an interesting angle. Coupled with the great characters this is a really fun fantasy read. I can't get enough of this series and I am excited for the next one in the series!
December 7, 2022
Alright be warned: there are going to be some light spoilers in this review, but nothing too major.
This book drew me in quickly. It gave enough that I wasn't totally confused about the world we were in, but left enough out that it was intriguing. Issy is an interesting character right off the bat. In general, Issy is flawed and prideful and utterly uncharming. She also has a life and a history that clearly informs her decisions and she's quick-witted and brave. She's not particularly likable at times, but I love her. She's also hurt and driven by anger at times and if there's 1 thing about me, it's that I love an angry woman.
I was impressed how quickly I was compelled to root for Issy and Haal. There was some great teasing and back and forth between them. But then he shows her someone that she helped and it's so soft and tender and that balance is everything. I'm obsessed with the way he gives up control when they start getting intimate as well. I literally have a few notes in all caps when that started I had so many feelings.
There's a little love triangle situation that feels very classic YA to me (Peeta and Gale vibes at times, honestly). It is over pretty fast- part of me actually wishes it was more drawn out, but another part knows that I actually do somewhat appreciate Issy knowing what she wants.
I do want to note that there are things I didn't love about this book. There are places the writing feels more polished than others. there are some writing choices or wording that I don't love. The whole soulbonding thing also came out of nowhere so I didn't love that...maybe a mention of it earlier would have made it better for me? And the epilogue is just not needed. Just do sneak peek of next book instead.
I found myself excited to pick this book back up again any time I put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and getting to know this world and these characters. I would absolutely recommend it and read more of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This book drew me in quickly. It gave enough that I wasn't totally confused about the world we were in, but left enough out that it was intriguing. Issy is an interesting character right off the bat. In general, Issy is flawed and prideful and utterly uncharming. She also has a life and a history that clearly informs her decisions and she's quick-witted and brave. She's not particularly likable at times, but I love her. She's also hurt and driven by anger at times and if there's 1 thing about me, it's that I love an angry woman.
I was impressed how quickly I was compelled to root for Issy and Haal. There was some great teasing and back and forth between them. But then he shows her someone that she helped and it's so soft and tender and that balance is everything. I'm obsessed with the way he gives up control when they start getting intimate as well. I literally have a few notes in all caps when that started I had so many feelings.
There's a little love triangle situation that feels very classic YA to me (Peeta and Gale vibes at times, honestly). It is over pretty fast- part of me actually wishes it was more drawn out, but another part knows that I actually do somewhat appreciate Issy knowing what she wants.
I do want to note that there are things I didn't love about this book. There are places the writing feels more polished than others. there are some writing choices or wording that I don't love. The whole soulbonding thing also came out of nowhere so I didn't love that...maybe a mention of it earlier would have made it better for me? And the epilogue is just not needed. Just do sneak peek of next book instead.
I found myself excited to pick this book back up again any time I put it down. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and getting to know this world and these characters. I would absolutely recommend it and read more of the series!
I received an advance review copy for free from BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 11, 2022
💜A Deal With Darkness💜
"Because there is no freedom without sacrifice, there is no reward without suffering."
A Deal With Darkness is the second novel in @alexislmenard fantasy series, Eternal Night. However, Its a prequel to A Night of Wings and Starlight, and is set 200 years prior to the first book. So you don’t need to have read the first book. I haven’t read ANOWAS, but after finishing this one I am eager to pick it up and see how the two books are connected.
"And then the world around us burned."
Isoldra Maan made a deal with the Lord of Lost Souls to protect her family. For five years Issy had been his Hound, reaping dark souls to slowly pay off her debt. Until a plague rips across the nation and Isoldra must then decide who she should follow, even in death there is still work to be done and sides to choose.
"I wasn't a monster. I was a Hound. Though, the line between the two was starting to blur."
The world building in the book is truly fascinating and I loved the mixing of gods, humans, and divine beings as it really expanded the world building. Isoldra is such a strong, fierce and loveable main character and I really enjoyed how Evander and Haal both compliment and challenge her.
Now the romance is definitely a slow burn, but the storyline and characters development throughout the book makes it soo worth the wait!
“This was no longer about deals or my freedom - it was about choices. This was about the realm and it’s people…”
💜New Adult Fantasy
💜Magic
💜Gods
💜Soul mates
💜Badass FMC
💜Slow burn
💜Hades and Persephone vibes
"We are always a moment away from things we love being stripped away, but that doesn't mean we stop loving them."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. And this book did not disappoint. ADWD is out today!!
"Because there is no freedom without sacrifice, there is no reward without suffering."
A Deal With Darkness is the second novel in @alexislmenard fantasy series, Eternal Night. However, Its a prequel to A Night of Wings and Starlight, and is set 200 years prior to the first book. So you don’t need to have read the first book. I haven’t read ANOWAS, but after finishing this one I am eager to pick it up and see how the two books are connected.
"And then the world around us burned."
Isoldra Maan made a deal with the Lord of Lost Souls to protect her family. For five years Issy had been his Hound, reaping dark souls to slowly pay off her debt. Until a plague rips across the nation and Isoldra must then decide who she should follow, even in death there is still work to be done and sides to choose.
"I wasn't a monster. I was a Hound. Though, the line between the two was starting to blur."
The world building in the book is truly fascinating and I loved the mixing of gods, humans, and divine beings as it really expanded the world building. Isoldra is such a strong, fierce and loveable main character and I really enjoyed how Evander and Haal both compliment and challenge her.
Now the romance is definitely a slow burn, but the storyline and characters development throughout the book makes it soo worth the wait!
“This was no longer about deals or my freedom - it was about choices. This was about the realm and it’s people…”
💜New Adult Fantasy
💜Magic
💜Gods
💜Soul mates
💜Badass FMC
💜Slow burn
💜Hades and Persephone vibes
"We are always a moment away from things we love being stripped away, but that doesn't mean we stop loving them."
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I was lucky enough to receive an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. And this book did not disappoint. ADWD is out today!!
December 21, 2022
Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝔸 𝔻𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤
Eternal Night Book Two
𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗟. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱
Romantic Fantasy
284 pages
Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
Isoldra is a Hound for the Lord of Lost Souls, owing him over two hundred souls to earn her freedom. She finds this Lord, Haalarcus, to be more than she thought he could be. When she is in the process of her job as a Hound, Haalarcus puts himself in danger to save Isoldra. Now she must figure out what’s happened to him. She is left working with the divine, including a watcher named Evander. They must find and stop a heretic who is threatening them with plagues. Can Haalarcus and their world be saved?
Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
A Deal with Darkness is a fabulously written romantic fantasy with adventure and a slow-burn love between Isoldra and one lucky fella. It is the second in a series, and I recommend reading the first one before jumping into this one.
The characters really stand out! Isoldra is brave beyond what most are capable of. She knows herself well and doesn’t let her emotions take over. Haalarcus is supposed to be dark, but he is also sexy and treats Isoldra well. Of course, he has the body and looks you would imagine the Lord of Lost Souls would have. Evander started off rubbing me the wrong way, but I slowly changed my mind. All three are a treat to read about and picture in your mind as the story unfurls.
The plot evolves as these characters keep the excitement flowing. I love the unexpected in books, and this one delivers for sure. A Deal with Darkness is a delightful mix of love, different realms, the divine, fantasy, good, and evil. It is one of those books you don’t want to put down.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for providing this ebook for me to read and review.
~Read more reviews at Latishaslowkeylife.com
𝔸 𝔻𝕖𝕒𝕝 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝔻𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕤𝕤
Eternal Night Book Two
𝗔𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘀 𝗟. 𝗠𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗿𝗱
Romantic Fantasy
284 pages
Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
Isoldra is a Hound for the Lord of Lost Souls, owing him over two hundred souls to earn her freedom. She finds this Lord, Haalarcus, to be more than she thought he could be. When she is in the process of her job as a Hound, Haalarcus puts himself in danger to save Isoldra. Now she must figure out what’s happened to him. She is left working with the divine, including a watcher named Evander. They must find and stop a heretic who is threatening them with plagues. Can Haalarcus and their world be saved?
Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
A Deal with Darkness is a fabulously written romantic fantasy with adventure and a slow-burn love between Isoldra and one lucky fella. It is the second in a series, and I recommend reading the first one before jumping into this one.
The characters really stand out! Isoldra is brave beyond what most are capable of. She knows herself well and doesn’t let her emotions take over. Haalarcus is supposed to be dark, but he is also sexy and treats Isoldra well. Of course, he has the body and looks you would imagine the Lord of Lost Souls would have. Evander started off rubbing me the wrong way, but I slowly changed my mind. All three are a treat to read about and picture in your mind as the story unfurls.
The plot evolves as these characters keep the excitement flowing. I love the unexpected in books, and this one delivers for sure. A Deal with Darkness is a delightful mix of love, different realms, the divine, fantasy, good, and evil. It is one of those books you don’t want to put down.
Thank you to R&R Book Tours and the author for providing this ebook for me to read and review.
~Read more reviews at Latishaslowkeylife.com
October 6, 2022
3.5✨
Okey, estaba emocionada por leer éste libro, volver a éste mundo, porque éste libro es el segundo de una serie, pero es como una precuela, muchos años antes de A night of wings and starlight (ese libro me encanta) 🤎y bueno, me gustó pero no lo suficiente, pasaron cosas que no me gustó (y estoy triste) 🤧pero quitando eso estuvo muy interesante, eso sí, los personajes me gustaron mucho, los protagonistas que son Isoldra y Haalarcus, los amé,💗y cuando salió mi hombre Azriel (el protagonista del libro 1) ESTABA TOTALMENTE FELIZ, lo extrañé, y me encantó que saliera, el libro es como una novela, porque no tiene mucho texto, así que se lee rápido, eso me gustó, y también el final, omg me dejó con ganas de más, ya quiero saber que pasará, y espero que el siguiente me guste mucho.💓
• review eng:
Ok, I was excited to read this book, to come back to this world, because this book is the second in a series, but it's like a prequel, many years before A night of wings and starlight (I love that book)🤎and well, I I liked it but not enough, things happened that I didn't like (and I'm sad)🤧but removing that, it was very interesting,I liked the characters a lot, the protagonists who are Isoldra and Haalarcus, I loved them💗, and when my man Azriel came out (the protagonist of book 1) I WAS TOTALLY HAPPY, I miss him, and I loved that it came out, the book is like a novel, because it doesn't have much text, so it reads quickly, I liked that, and also the ending, omg left me wanting more, I already want to know what will happen, and I hope that I like the next one very much.💓
Thanks Alexis for the arc✨
Okey, estaba emocionada por leer éste libro, volver a éste mundo, porque éste libro es el segundo de una serie, pero es como una precuela, muchos años antes de A night of wings and starlight (ese libro me encanta) 🤎y bueno, me gustó pero no lo suficiente, pasaron cosas que no me gustó (y estoy triste) 🤧pero quitando eso estuvo muy interesante, eso sí, los personajes me gustaron mucho, los protagonistas que son Isoldra y Haalarcus, los amé,💗y cuando salió mi hombre Azriel (el protagonista del libro 1) ESTABA TOTALMENTE FELIZ, lo extrañé, y me encantó que saliera, el libro es como una novela, porque no tiene mucho texto, así que se lee rápido, eso me gustó, y también el final, omg me dejó con ganas de más, ya quiero saber que pasará, y espero que el siguiente me guste mucho.💓
• review eng:
Ok, I was excited to read this book, to come back to this world, because this book is the second in a series, but it's like a prequel, many years before A night of wings and starlight (I love that book)🤎and well, I I liked it but not enough, things happened that I didn't like (and I'm sad)🤧but removing that, it was very interesting,I liked the characters a lot, the protagonists who are Isoldra and Haalarcus, I loved them💗, and when my man Azriel came out (the protagonist of book 1) I WAS TOTALLY HAPPY, I miss him, and I loved that it came out, the book is like a novel, because it doesn't have much text, so it reads quickly, I liked that, and also the ending, omg left me wanting more, I already want to know what will happen, and I hope that I like the next one very much.💓
Thanks Alexis for the arc✨
October 29, 2022
A Deal with Darkness by Alexis L Menard is the second book in her series, Eternal Night. It is actually a prequel to the first book and is set 200 years prior!
Our main character, Isoldra Maan, sold her soul to the Lord of Lost Souls. In order to gain her freedom, she needs to collect souls to pay off her debt, and effectively becomes an assassin. However, she finally has the opportunity to work with a band of Watchers to rid herself of the debt immediately, together with her moniker ‘the Hound’.
Issy is such a fierce and loving main character, even when it seems that everyone and everything is working against her.
I loved delving more into this world and learning the history to what we see in A Night of Wings and Starlight!
The romance is definitely a slow burn (but it is worth it in the end!). I think the character development we see from Issy and Evander is really well done and makes sense when you think about the characters’ backgrounds and their goals. Issy and Haal’s relationship is super intriguing and I absolutely love where it lands in the end. I really hope that we get to see more of them, because their dynamic with the rest of the Gods is interesting.
I absolutely love Alexis’ writing! It is so intriguing and I really feel like I know her main characters, through their thoughts and feels and understanding why they make the choices they make. I totally recommend that you pick up any of her books if you love fantasy romance!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author, Alexis L Menard, however all opinions are my own.
Our main character, Isoldra Maan, sold her soul to the Lord of Lost Souls. In order to gain her freedom, she needs to collect souls to pay off her debt, and effectively becomes an assassin. However, she finally has the opportunity to work with a band of Watchers to rid herself of the debt immediately, together with her moniker ‘the Hound’.
Issy is such a fierce and loving main character, even when it seems that everyone and everything is working against her.
I loved delving more into this world and learning the history to what we see in A Night of Wings and Starlight!
The romance is definitely a slow burn (but it is worth it in the end!). I think the character development we see from Issy and Evander is really well done and makes sense when you think about the characters’ backgrounds and their goals. Issy and Haal’s relationship is super intriguing and I absolutely love where it lands in the end. I really hope that we get to see more of them, because their dynamic with the rest of the Gods is interesting.
I absolutely love Alexis’ writing! It is so intriguing and I really feel like I know her main characters, through their thoughts and feels and understanding why they make the choices they make. I totally recommend that you pick up any of her books if you love fantasy romance!
I received an advanced copy of this book from the author, Alexis L Menard, however all opinions are my own.
December 24, 2022
Alexis has captivated me, yet again, with her amazing writing style. I have been fortunate enough to ARC read for Alexis with all three of her books.
It all started with A Night of Wings and Starlight. Book one of the Eternal Night Series.
Also, if you enjoy Norse mythology you should check out The Last Daughter by Alexis! (This is a fan favorite!)
As most of you know, I absolutely adore her work!
A Deal With Darkness takes us back to Valdihr once again.
I LOVE Issy and Haal. While I did enjoy her brief "relationship" with Evander, ultimately, I rooted for her and Haal the whole time.
Omg the blast of nostalgia I got when a couple of characters from A Night of Wings and Starlight entered the story, it really struck me in the soul.
I just simply can't get enough of this series!
Valdihr is a perfectly created fantasy world that I look forward to visiting over and over again. This book features a mix of romance, gods, winged men, a kick-ass FMC, and a deliciously dark lord.
Issy is an amazing MC. She will do anything for the people she cares about, damn the consequences. Haal is a bit hard around the edges, but cares deeply for Issy and I love that about him. The banter between the two characters is a little love/hate, mixed with a dash of comedy.
And boy am I here for it!!!
I really appreciate the character growth throughout the story, and the small cliffhanger we are left with...(chef's kiss 😘)
It all started with A Night of Wings and Starlight. Book one of the Eternal Night Series.
Also, if you enjoy Norse mythology you should check out The Last Daughter by Alexis! (This is a fan favorite!)
As most of you know, I absolutely adore her work!
A Deal With Darkness takes us back to Valdihr once again.
I LOVE Issy and Haal. While I did enjoy her brief "relationship" with Evander, ultimately, I rooted for her and Haal the whole time.
Omg the blast of nostalgia I got when a couple of characters from A Night of Wings and Starlight entered the story, it really struck me in the soul.
I just simply can't get enough of this series!
Valdihr is a perfectly created fantasy world that I look forward to visiting over and over again. This book features a mix of romance, gods, winged men, a kick-ass FMC, and a deliciously dark lord.
Issy is an amazing MC. She will do anything for the people she cares about, damn the consequences. Haal is a bit hard around the edges, but cares deeply for Issy and I love that about him. The banter between the two characters is a little love/hate, mixed with a dash of comedy.
And boy am I here for it!!!
I really appreciate the character growth throughout the story, and the small cliffhanger we are left with...(chef's kiss 😘)
October 17, 2022
*i received this as an ARC. This is my honest review*
"And then the world around us burned."
Giving us more of this beautiful world, Alexis brings us to a time before the eternal night. The sun still shines, the kingdoms still stand, there is no Queen ruling them all.
There is a Dark Lord, and his beautiful Hound. There are Watchers and Gods. There's love, death, sacrifice, reaping, and a world to be saved.
Isoldra made a deal with the Dark Lord, and for five years has been his Hound, reaping dark souls and slowly paying off her debt. When a great evil threatens her world, Isoldra is forced to team up with a grouchy Watcher to keep the world from falling apart.
This is a slow burn, with multiple chiseled men. We have family secrets, a badass MC who doesn't need you or anyone else to fight her battles, truly horrible ex-boyfriends, and thick sexual tension.
I loved this story. I loved all the little pieces we get that fit into book one. The backstory for certain winged characters is so enjoyable. I want to go back and reread the first one so I can have all those little "what?! No way!" moments. I love the way Alexis writes; enthralling and captivating and lovely. I care about these characters, I want them to get their happy endings.
*This is not a cliffhanger ending! No fear!
*Out this November
"And then the world around us burned."
Giving us more of this beautiful world, Alexis brings us to a time before the eternal night. The sun still shines, the kingdoms still stand, there is no Queen ruling them all.
There is a Dark Lord, and his beautiful Hound. There are Watchers and Gods. There's love, death, sacrifice, reaping, and a world to be saved.
Isoldra made a deal with the Dark Lord, and for five years has been his Hound, reaping dark souls and slowly paying off her debt. When a great evil threatens her world, Isoldra is forced to team up with a grouchy Watcher to keep the world from falling apart.
This is a slow burn, with multiple chiseled men. We have family secrets, a badass MC who doesn't need you or anyone else to fight her battles, truly horrible ex-boyfriends, and thick sexual tension.
I loved this story. I loved all the little pieces we get that fit into book one. The backstory for certain winged characters is so enjoyable. I want to go back and reread the first one so I can have all those little "what?! No way!" moments. I love the way Alexis writes; enthralling and captivating and lovely. I care about these characters, I want them to get their happy endings.
*This is not a cliffhanger ending! No fear!
*Out this November
October 26, 2022
"Because there is no freedom without sacrifice, there is no reward without suffering."
"We are always a moment away from things we love being stripped away, but that doesn't mean we stop loving them."
A Deal with Darkness is a story about how Valdihr came to be in A Night of Wings and Starlight or at least leading to it. The book was set 200 years ago and can be read without reading ANoWaS. As someone who has read ANoWas, it was nice to see some Azriel because I love him.
The book follows Isoldra’s POV, who is a total badass with all her fierceness and devotion. She will protect those she loves, even if it means dying. She is a character who knows herself; I love seeing her in action.
Haalarcus, Lord of Lost Souls also known as Haal or Issy’s favorite Dark Lord . Can I say that I adored Haal and his devotion to Issy ♡ I love the interaction between Haal and Issy.
As for Evander, I admit he was a total judgmental prick, but I started liking his little quirks, so I hope he gets his own story.
Thank you, Alexis, for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ♡
"We are always a moment away from things we love being stripped away, but that doesn't mean we stop loving them."
A Deal with Darkness is a story about how Valdihr came to be in A Night of Wings and Starlight or at least leading to it. The book was set 200 years ago and can be read without reading ANoWaS. As someone who has read ANoWas, it was nice to see some Azriel because I love him.
The book follows Isoldra’s POV, who is a total badass with all her fierceness and devotion. She will protect those she loves, even if it means dying. She is a character who knows herself; I love seeing her in action.
Haalarcus, Lord of Lost Souls also known as Haal or Issy’s favorite Dark Lord . Can I say that I adored Haal and his devotion to Issy ♡ I love the interaction between Haal and Issy.
As for Evander, I admit he was a total judgmental prick, but I started liking his little quirks, so I hope he gets his own story.
Thank you, Alexis, for an eARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review ♡
October 16, 2022
Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book. A few spots left me wanting for more - more detail, more history, more plot - but those parts were fairly few between.
I’m hoping in the next book, we get more follow up on Evander - I loved his character but felt his parts were a bit glossed over, especially with the somewhat large role his character played in the tension/crossroads of the story.
Isoldra was a strong but broken MC who I found to be so relatable. She’s who I want to be when I finally find myself as a character in a fantasy book. Badass, found a way to channel her past into constructive energy, and with the Dark Lord wrapped around her finger, what else could a girl want?
One last part I should’ve clarified for myself before reading is the timeline of this book, which I believe takes place earlier in time than the previous book rather than after
Overall, I’m excited to read book three!
I’m hoping in the next book, we get more follow up on Evander - I loved his character but felt his parts were a bit glossed over, especially with the somewhat large role his character played in the tension/crossroads of the story.
Isoldra was a strong but broken MC who I found to be so relatable. She’s who I want to be when I finally find myself as a character in a fantasy book. Badass, found a way to channel her past into constructive energy, and with the Dark Lord wrapped around her finger, what else could a girl want?
One last part I should’ve clarified for myself before reading is the timeline of this book, which I believe takes place earlier in time than the previous book rather than after
Overall, I’m excited to read book three!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 29, 2022
Fantastic prequel
Ok i will admit that i was a little confused reading book 2 in this series since some of the characters were the same in book 1 but they were different. Then i realized it was a prequel, and then it made complete sense! Lol
This story is about Issy and the Fallen god, Haalarcus. Issy made a deal with Haal years ago to save her brother and now serves as his Hound retrieving should for him. There is a plague hitting the kingdoms and Issy has to work with the Watchers to find out who is causing them and blaming the good gods.
This story is amazing and takes Issy thru danger, death, rebirth and more to save Haal who is really her soulmate. I loved the Watchers in this book... getting to see Evander care about a mortal and Azriel before he meets his soulmate.
I love this series and am looking forward to the next book!
I received an ARC for my honest review!
Ok i will admit that i was a little confused reading book 2 in this series since some of the characters were the same in book 1 but they were different. Then i realized it was a prequel, and then it made complete sense! Lol
This story is about Issy and the Fallen god, Haalarcus. Issy made a deal with Haal years ago to save her brother and now serves as his Hound retrieving should for him. There is a plague hitting the kingdoms and Issy has to work with the Watchers to find out who is causing them and blaming the good gods.
This story is amazing and takes Issy thru danger, death, rebirth and more to save Haal who is really her soulmate. I loved the Watchers in this book... getting to see Evander care about a mortal and Azriel before he meets his soulmate.
I love this series and am looking forward to the next book!
I received an ARC for my honest review!
December 21, 2022
✨A Deal With Darkness✨ by @alexislmenard
🗡️This is book two in the Eternal Night Series (but can be read as a standalone).
🗡️Dark Romantic Fantasy
🗡️Check out my favorite quotes in the reel above. And grab your copy from the link in my bio!
✨First of all, Alexis has written 3 books, with book four on its way! And I have been sucked into her world building and her characters since the very beginning. A Deal With Darkness is the 2nd book in her Eternal Night series, with A Night of Wings and Starlight being book one.
The minute you open this book, you feel the shadows, the darkness, and the vulnerability of her characters. Isoldra Maan is under the control of the Lord of Lost Souls, Haalarcus. And she's been under his control for the past 5 years, reaping souls for him in exchange for saving her brothers life. She has taken on the nickname, the Hound, as is known all around the kingdoms as one of the best assassins. Helping women who strike a bargain with Haal to escape abuse from their lovers by beheading, stabbing, or killing the men, anyway she can.
Haal and Isoldra have started to drift together, both questioning if this could be more than a dark lord/hound relationship. But right as they are about to explore that possibility, the world is ripped apart (literally) and Haal is taken.
Isoldra teams up with watchers, big, strong, winged, men, to try and save the kingdoms and bring Haal back. There is a ton of surprises that come out about her, Haal, her family and the gods while on her rescue mission. Secrets that make her question everything, including who she is and what she is capable of.
A Deal With Darkness has:
🌑Love Triangles
🌑Murder
🌑Gods and Goddesses
Lore
🌑"The horse is too slow and you must cuddle into my chest while I fly us"
🌑Friends to Lovers
🌑Slow Burn
🌑Bargains and Loopholes
🌑Life changing secrets
✨Another day, another badass FMC written by the wonderful human that is Alexis. I can't wait until book three in this series is released!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
🗡️This is book two in the Eternal Night Series (but can be read as a standalone).
🗡️Dark Romantic Fantasy
🗡️Check out my favorite quotes in the reel above. And grab your copy from the link in my bio!
✨First of all, Alexis has written 3 books, with book four on its way! And I have been sucked into her world building and her characters since the very beginning. A Deal With Darkness is the 2nd book in her Eternal Night series, with A Night of Wings and Starlight being book one.
The minute you open this book, you feel the shadows, the darkness, and the vulnerability of her characters. Isoldra Maan is under the control of the Lord of Lost Souls, Haalarcus. And she's been under his control for the past 5 years, reaping souls for him in exchange for saving her brothers life. She has taken on the nickname, the Hound, as is known all around the kingdoms as one of the best assassins. Helping women who strike a bargain with Haal to escape abuse from their lovers by beheading, stabbing, or killing the men, anyway she can.
Haal and Isoldra have started to drift together, both questioning if this could be more than a dark lord/hound relationship. But right as they are about to explore that possibility, the world is ripped apart (literally) and Haal is taken.
Isoldra teams up with watchers, big, strong, winged, men, to try and save the kingdoms and bring Haal back. There is a ton of surprises that come out about her, Haal, her family and the gods while on her rescue mission. Secrets that make her question everything, including who she is and what she is capable of.
A Deal With Darkness has:
🌑Love Triangles
🌑Murder
🌑Gods and Goddesses
Lore
🌑"The horse is too slow and you must cuddle into my chest while I fly us"
🌑Friends to Lovers
🌑Slow Burn
🌑Bargains and Loopholes
🌑Life changing secrets
✨Another day, another badass FMC written by the wonderful human that is Alexis. I can't wait until book three in this series is released!
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
December 15, 2022
Once again, I'm torn. I loved the beginning of this book and the ending, but the middle felt too rushed in some parts and too slow in others. So, I'm going with 3.5⭐s rounded up to 4⭐s because that's how math works.
The idea of a god using a mortal to collect souls for him was intriguing and unique. I loved that Haal cherry-picked missions for her. I also really loved the part about Haal using mothers in his militia because they will do anything to protect their own.
I loved the relationship between Issy and Haal at the beginning of the book. Their banter was great. I was glad that Issy didn't give in to his advances and tried to keep him at arm's length.
Then the Watchers were added, and while I love the Watchers, I didn't really think they played much of a role in this book. The love triangle wasn't super convincing.
I would have liked a little more world-building, too, but all-in-all, it was a good book, and I wonder if there will be more stories in this series.
The idea of a god using a mortal to collect souls for him was intriguing and unique. I loved that Haal cherry-picked missions for her. I also really loved the part about Haal using mothers in his militia because they will do anything to protect their own.
I loved the relationship between Issy and Haal at the beginning of the book. Their banter was great. I was glad that Issy didn't give in to his advances and tried to keep him at arm's length.
Then the Watchers were added, and while I love the Watchers, I didn't really think they played much of a role in this book. The love triangle wasn't super convincing.
I would have liked a little more world-building, too, but all-in-all, it was a good book, and I wonder if there will be more stories in this series.
December 23, 2022
I'm excited to share a fantastic dark fantasy romance, A Deal with Darkness! It's a great story about forbidden love and enemies-to-lovers tropes. The book focuses on great fantasy world-building that is described beautifully. Although it's the second book of the series, you don't need to read the first book (A Night of Wings and Starlight) before A Deal with Darkness, as they are standalone stories.
I fell in love with the MC, Isoldra, as she is rough around the edges and has great skills in roasting others that were entertaining to read. Isoldra is an amazing character who is capable of handling herself and is the knight in shining armor for her Lord of Darkness, Haalarcus.
Haalarcus is such a heartthrob with his cunning and flirtatious personality. the banter between him and Isoldra was so fun to read. The growing romance between Isoldra and Haalarcrus was both heartwarming and spicy 🔥
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy/romance, great world-building, and badass female MCs!
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️.5/5
I fell in love with the MC, Isoldra, as she is rough around the edges and has great skills in roasting others that were entertaining to read. Isoldra is an amazing character who is capable of handling herself and is the knight in shining armor for her Lord of Darkness, Haalarcus.
Haalarcus is such a heartthrob with his cunning and flirtatious personality. the banter between him and Isoldra was so fun to read. The growing romance between Isoldra and Haalarcrus was both heartwarming and spicy 🔥
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of dark fantasy/romance, great world-building, and badass female MCs!
Rating:⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
Spice:🌶️🌶️.5/5
January 7, 2023
This book had amazing world building, that left me wanting more as soon as I finished reading it!
It was full of powers, gods, banter and flirting, interesting interactions, surprising plot twists and awesome spice. 😏
I loved the whole vibe of deal with the dark lord, not so much the love triangle.. And I was shocked at who the fmc chose eventually but enjoyed my read so much!
The heroine was a strong badass who kept me in a stomach knot from laughing and stressing, and the cliffhanger chocked me.
I think this would have been perfect if it had been a little bit slower in pace to give me more space to understand what was happening, but aside from that, it's all good!
I completely recommend, although I haven't read the first book but this one I'm told happens before that one, and can be read as a standalone, so give it a try!
Thank you to @rrbooktours and @alexislmenard for providing me with an ecopy for reviewing!
It was full of powers, gods, banter and flirting, interesting interactions, surprising plot twists and awesome spice. 😏
I loved the whole vibe of deal with the dark lord, not so much the love triangle.. And I was shocked at who the fmc chose eventually but enjoyed my read so much!
The heroine was a strong badass who kept me in a stomach knot from laughing and stressing, and the cliffhanger chocked me.
I think this would have been perfect if it had been a little bit slower in pace to give me more space to understand what was happening, but aside from that, it's all good!
I completely recommend, although I haven't read the first book but this one I'm told happens before that one, and can be read as a standalone, so give it a try!
Thank you to @rrbooktours and @alexislmenard for providing me with an ecopy for reviewing!
October 25, 2022
“This was no longer about deals or my freedom - it was about choices. This was about the realm and it’s people…”
A Deal With Darkness is the second book in the Eternal Night series, but honestly could be read first. We dive back in time before the world was frozen in night, and learn more about Valdihr and the Gods.
Again, Alexis has given us a strong, empowered, female main character. Isoldra embraces her darker side, letting the Hound step out when needed to get the job done. Haalarcus is cunning, yet sweet, and his darkness complements Isoldra perfectly.
There are many connections to A Night of Wings and Starlight for readers savvy enough to find them, and an absorbing storyline featuring a small handful of our favourite characters. M
——
Thank you Alexis Menard for the review copy of this book.
A Deal With Darkness is the second book in the Eternal Night series, but honestly could be read first. We dive back in time before the world was frozen in night, and learn more about Valdihr and the Gods.
Again, Alexis has given us a strong, empowered, female main character. Isoldra embraces her darker side, letting the Hound step out when needed to get the job done. Haalarcus is cunning, yet sweet, and his darkness complements Isoldra perfectly.
There are many connections to A Night of Wings and Starlight for readers savvy enough to find them, and an absorbing storyline featuring a small handful of our favourite characters. M
——
Thank you Alexis Menard for the review copy of this book.
November 7, 2022
Owing 250 souls to be set free, Isoldra Maan has her work cut out for her. Answering to the Haalarcus, the Lord of Lost Souls, she works tirelessly to recover souls as the Hound. The usual order of things changes when the divines step in, asking for help to conquer the source of a scourge on the land. As she works closer with Haal, Issy finds she’s growing feelings for him, despite his hold on her soul.
I LOVED this book. Second in the Eternal Night series, this story takes place before the first book. You get a sense of the world’s history and why things are the way they are in book 1.
Isoldra is a driven FMC with uncanny tracking abilities. Haal is the Lord of Darkness but also a strong protective sort. Yet the divine Evander comes out with some unexpected compassion and surprises us all. There’s so much great character development that happens in this story.
This is a great read with slow burn romance. A highly recommended fantasy romance story!
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
I LOVED this book. Second in the Eternal Night series, this story takes place before the first book. You get a sense of the world’s history and why things are the way they are in book 1.
Isoldra is a driven FMC with uncanny tracking abilities. Haal is the Lord of Darkness but also a strong protective sort. Yet the divine Evander comes out with some unexpected compassion and surprises us all. There’s so much great character development that happens in this story.
This is a great read with slow burn romance. A highly recommended fantasy romance story!
Special thanks to the author for the ARC. All thoughts in this review are honest and my own.
November 28, 2022
When I picked up this book, I though that the story will be focused on Arya & Azriel again and we will just see how the story progressed. (I rarely read the blurbs).
However, I was surprised to see that the main characters are different and the story gravitates around them. It was a pleasant surprise though, as Alexis really knows how to write a captivating story!
Besides the plot itself that was very exciting, what I enjoyed as well was the fact that I could learn more about this fantastical world through different perspectives. We do see Azriel in it but it’s only in a supportive role for the story.
I found the world building amazing. The magic system was well thought and flawless, and the characters beautifully developed.
We’ll done Alexis and thank you for another fantastic read!
However, I was surprised to see that the main characters are different and the story gravitates around them. It was a pleasant surprise though, as Alexis really knows how to write a captivating story!
Besides the plot itself that was very exciting, what I enjoyed as well was the fact that I could learn more about this fantastical world through different perspectives. We do see Azriel in it but it’s only in a supportive role for the story.
I found the world building amazing. The magic system was well thought and flawless, and the characters beautifully developed.
We’ll done Alexis and thank you for another fantastic read!
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