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The Darkest Flame #1

Nights of Iron and Ink

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There are only two fae 1. Do not harm a fae; 2. Do not rob a fae. Or the Enforcer will come for you.

Vera wants nothing more than to earn a place with the Rogues, but with her penchant for turning everything to ash and her monstrous appearance, she fits in better with the flesh-eating beasts plaguing her world than she does the warriors fighting them. When the opportunity to join their ranks finally presents itself, nothing goes as planned. Too late, she realizes she's broken the second fae law and she didn't attempt to steal from just any fae. She attempted to steal from him, the Enforcer.

Vera is lucky enough to find herself more useful to the Enforcer alive than dead. A bargain is struck—her life in exchange for what was stolen. Only Vera never planned for the Enforcer to join her search. Enigmatic as he is dangerous, he stands for everything she hates, and rouses her desire as much as her anger. Forced to work together to track down the missing weapon, Vera starts to unravel the mystery of the fae behind the deadly façade. And discovers he is not at all what she thought. Meanwhile, an unforeseen enemy will stop at nothing to keep Vera and the Enforcer from uncovering their plot. With more than Vera's life at stake, she will have to make a difficult choice, one that damns her world to darkness if she chooses her heart.

Unknown Binding

First published August 12, 2022

1765 people are currently reading
14848 people want to read

About the author

Shannen Durey

12 books122 followers
Shannen Durey is the author of the fantasy romance novel Nights of Iron and Ink, the first book in the epic fantasy series. Shannen lives in Texas with her adorable dogs. When she is not writing, she is reading or spending time in nature waiting for that next great book idea.

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5 stars
1,130 (34%)
4 stars
1,214 (37%)
3 stars
659 (20%)
2 stars
163 (5%)
1 star
63 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 262 reviews
Profile Image for Tiffany Bumgardner.
Author 2 books3 followers
November 16, 2022
Sometimes I wonder why I bother to finish some books. This was one I stumbled upon on Amazon and figured why not. I can’t fathom how little character development there is, neither main character makes any true non superficial progress. 90% of the story was filler for the big reveal and greater plot which just started to be introduced before the book ended. I was so deeply unimpressed I was skimming sections just to get it over with, and that alone tells me I have zero care about what comes next.
Profile Image for bookgirlie.
187 reviews7 followers
November 28, 2023
My heart says 4 stars but my mind says 3 😭
So I liked this book . It was good
The romance was great . Sure I would've wanted a few more interactions between the Mc and the love interest but it was still good I feel like if this book was Dual pov it would've been SO much better
There are a few things that the Mc did that I didn't agree on but that bit wasn't actually annoying become I loved her. in most fantasy books I find the mc annoying for many reasons however, this one wasn't
she was actually funny and strong and her journey to self acceptance was very well written

It was a very fast read I finished it in 2 days it has romance, action, with a sprinkle of banter and tons of 'touch her and die vibes' . I'll be continuing the series
Profile Image for Lorrie (Clockworkbookworm).
1,780 reviews22 followers
August 4, 2023

Edited 8/3/22 - Review is for the 1st version/edition of 'Nights of Iron and Ink'

3.75 - 'Nights of Iron and Ink' is the debut of author Shannen Durey, and I will be looking out for more from her.

'Nights of Iron and Ink' follows eighteen-year-old Vera, a half human, half fae ("Halfling") and her journey for acceptance in their world, community, and within herself. Vera has spent the last five years trying, and failing, to earn a permanent place with the Rogues, 'the self-proclaimed free halflings' who help protrct their community. With her 'burgeoning powers and monstrous appearance, she fits in better with the flesh-eating beasts plaguing her world than she does the fierce halfling warriors fighting them.'

The premise of 'Nights of Iron and Ink' was intriguing. We are presented with a very limited view into the world and background of the characters. This is due, in part, to Vera's horrific past and her very narrow exposure to life and the world, influencing what we are told of the larger picture outside of Vera's perspective. Her desperation to have a place with the Rogues and past trauma cause her to make very questionable decisions. She often has tunnel vision. To her own, and potentially others, detriment.

I I look forward to delving back into Vera's story and hope that we get additional POV's, greater worldbuilding, and character growth, with the next book that is expected late Summer 2022. Overall, 'Nights of Iron and Ink' was a quick and entertaining book. I did find the multiple uses of the term 'Dark' in lieu of cussing, a type of prayer and afterlife, among many others, a bit annoying. Sensitive readers may have issues with a few scenes due to violence and cruelty. Additionally, there are instances of racial discrimination, inequality, hatred, and mentions of slavery between the Fae, the Mortals, and the Halfings.

ok that is expected late Summer 2022.* Overall, 'Nights of Iron and Ink' was a quick and entertaining book. I did find the multiple uses of the term 'Dark' in lieu of cussing, a type of prayer and afterlife, among many others, a bit annoying. Sensitive readers may have issues with a few scenes due to violence and cruelty. Additionally, there are instances of racial discrimination, inequality, hatred, and mentions of slavery between the Fae, the Mortals, and the Halfings.

*🤞Hopefully, by late 2023 or early 2024, as the current information says 'soon'.
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I would like to thank Shannen Durey for providing me with a copy of 'Nights of Iron and Ink' in exchange for my honest review.

Profile Image for Julie Light.
298 reviews
February 26, 2021
I received a digital copy of this book for free by the author for an honest review.

I was not a fan of this book at all really. There was so much potential with the plot summary, but I feel as though everything falls pretty short. The main character seems very juvenile, as does every other character we encounter, which makes the story seem very dull and not interesting.

!!!Review with spoilers below!!!

The main character was so annoying to me. Very childlike with all her responses and thinking. Of course she was different from anyone else, with her teeth and talons, which didn't really get much explaining. The Fae Lord that she meets is supposed to be a figure head and leader of his house, yet he acts as though he is a horny 15 year old with the main character. He is shown to be super intimidating at the beginning, but instantly falls for the main character for no reason at all. He doesn't ask any questions about her or what she is doing, and just instantly trusts her with his life.

By page 10, I couldn't stand the made up curse work "dark" that was used in this book. Either cuss or just leave it out, especially if it is going to be used in every other sentence, like this book. I couldn't get past it and almost didn't finish the book due to the word.

Too much emphasis on "the thing" inside the main character, and then when you find out what is finally is, it isn't really treated like anything special. No backstory about dragons, if they were ever a part of the world before, if they were gods, anything...but boom of course the main character is one.

I am very upset that I didn't enjoy this book, but there were just too many problems with it. It could be due to my age, as I am in my 20s and would deem this book to be for 10-13 year olds.

Overall, just not the book for me unfortunately.
Profile Image for Joy.
88 reviews
December 7, 2024
Needed an audiobook while I was busy doing other things. But Low-key was so bad it was kinda good. It was cringey, and the main character was immature, but I had to finish it, so it must have had some redeeming qualities. I did enjoy the western settings it felt unique for a fae romantasy and due to the ending being a cliffhanger I will probably try and find the second book
Profile Image for Colourfulmind.
138 reviews6 followers
February 25, 2024
5⭐
2🌶️


That was really good!
The world building was beautiful and I loved the pace. The fantasy story and romance part were equally captivating.
It's a really adventurous Story, and the romance...uff.We have a really morally grey MMC and the back and forth with Vera was just exquisite. Their tension, attraction and flaws. They were just two monsters

I could not put this book down without being forced, because it was that good!

What's really interesting is our FMC. She is not our typical pretty damsel in distress, who everyone falls for.
Quite the oposite.
She is a monstrous, badass bitch.
And I loved her. Because after all these similar whiny Heroines,  she's really something different and new.
Profile Image for Louisa Borsutzky.
114 reviews2 followers
May 11, 2025
This one was definitely a surprise, the best one ever!! I honestly had zero to no expectations when I started reading this book. No idea when I put it on my TBR shelf but it’s been some time. And hell yeah, it was awesome 💋!!!

"Did you hurt yourself trying to escape?"
"No," I growled, shoving his hand away. The Enforcer became unnaturally still. His nostrils flared. The tendons in his neck were stretched taut, on the verge of snapping. He seemed to grow in the darkness.
"Who. Hurt. You."
"If you do not give me a name right now, I will lay waste to every single soul in the Mortal Lands to ensure whoever dared to lay a finger on you comes to justice."

Ahh, just love a good touch/hurt her and I will kill you, especially if it’s enemies to lovers!! Even though, I have to admit that Ronan and Vera were only real enemies for about a quarter of the book. And even then, Ronan honestly just loved her straight away. He was so smitten with her 😽!

"Fight me," he demanded.
"Yell at me. Make me bleed if you want. Anything, but this endless silence." - Ronan

Can’t wait to read book two next! Hopefully she finds Ronan rather fast!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me!!!
Profile Image for Sian.
15 reviews251 followers
February 24, 2021
I received an ARC in exchange for a honest review.

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4 because of the potential.

**Mild Spoilers**

Very brief overview of the story line:
Vera is half fae and half human attempting to earn herself a jacket and membership into a beast fight club called the Rogues. We start off with the Rouges finishing a night of fighting where it become clear that Vera isn’t fully accepted due to some of her unique traits (fangs & talons).

She is placed on a mission to steal an object from the fae who are transporting it towards the Faylands, this is where things go wrong for Vera. Another group interrupts her attempt and makes off with the object leaving her to take the blame when the Fae arrive to see what happened.

“A crime against the Fae is a death sentence-“
“Only if you’re caught”

When meeting the Lord in charge and he makes a bargain for them to find the object in which he and his adviser(Finn) must tag along. They make a few stops along the way, including a visit to a location associated to Vera’s painful past.

Review:
I wanted to start by saying this has so much potential to be a complex and exhilarating series and this first book is a great start towards that.

It was a fast paced novel (the whole book takes place just over a 1-2 weeks) but especially in the beginning this feels too quick and we don’t get enough depth to truly understand the world and what motivates the characters.
I like the way magic works with the Fae having an equal and opposite reaction, as to me this is not common in YA fantasy books and it makes the system feel more balanced.
I would have like a little more information placed towards the beginning of the book about the beasts (you do learn more as you go through), the social dynamic between mortals, half fae and the fae (I feel this is very much just stated and there is not many interactions to learn through the MCs eyes).

Vera is a tough 18 year old who has overcome a horrible childhood and has the typical society views of the Fae. This causes an instant dislike towards Ronan and Finn who are both Fae. Some of her actions can be explained by this in the beginning but her REactions to them can sometime come off as childish considering her age. I feel the more we learn about her throughout the book the more it all begins to align a bit better and I think this is in part due to the increased inner dialog and showing more of what motivates her giving her better depth.

“He was being nice. Too nice. Experience has taught me kindness was never freely given. It always came with strings, and sometimes those strings ended up around your neck”

Ronan is the Lord of Steel and is the one Vera makes a bargain with. I really thought I would instantly like this character but it did take me a little while. He is the big scary lord who could kill her but in contrast is kind and fair to his people. I felt like the relationship between Vera and Ronan in the beginning was too quick to develop and there isn’t really much motivation from either of them as to why this happens. I did like the start of a bit of teasing and tension shown from some of their conversations but I wanted more!

“You are under my protection. I would never take advantage of you. And besides, you have nothing that interests me, Little Thief.”

Give me more of that, I love some banter between enemies! As we move on throughout the book the relationship between them becomes more realistic and I really enjoyed the hints at the protectiveness of Ronan towards Vera as the motivation behind it becomes clearer.

Finn was my favourite, he isn’t a character you would straight up like but the more you learn about him the more you understand him and although I would have loved more to really get a sense of why is he the way he is, I think this will come later in the series. I really enjoyed the slow redemption arc Vera had with him and the dialog they shared towards the end.

“I’m growing on you, aren’t I?”
“Perhaps you are – like mould.”
(sorry I had to switch to the British spelling!)

I felt the ending was natural and set up the rest of the series well, we also were left with a few mysteries which will I’m sure lead to more plot points in future books (such as why only Vera can see his ink – I really want to know!).

Honestly I really liked where this was going and I think with a bit more detail and understanding on how the past of each character moulds the way they react to their situations, emotions and relationships this would easily move to 4.5-5 stars for me. Excited to see what adventures await them all!

This is Shannen Durey’s first novel and working for 4 years to make this happen so I’m so happy for her! I also watch her TikTok which you should do also as there are some funny videos on there to make you laugh!
Profile Image for Sana.
10 reviews
August 20, 2025
I wasn’t expecting to enjoy a book about mortals, monsters, and fae, but this book really drew me in at the start. The opening is was intense, and the main characters’ flirty dynamic made it super exciting. BUT, as the story progressed, it started to drag and the author yapped so much about the same points. read it for yourself!
Profile Image for Sydney Linn.
194 reviews10 followers
November 24, 2022
Nights of Iron and Ink by Shannon Durey

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Enemies to lovers ✔️
Forced proximity ✔️
“Who did this to you?” ✔️
Touch her and you die ✔️
Big scary mmc who freaks out when the fmc cries for the first time ✔️
Fmc has nightmares and mmc comforts her ✔️

I read this book in less than a day. That’s how much I loved it 😍 I wish it was longer, mostly because it ends on a cliffhanger and I have to wait till March to read the second book 😭

We follow Vera, who is just trying her best to fit in even though she’s much different than the other halflings. She has talons, purple eyes, and razor sharp teeth. The people around her, halflings and mortals, don’t let her forget how disgusted they are with her. All Vera wants it to fit in and be accepted/loved. It broke my heart to see how she was treated ☹️ she gets tasked with a mission to finally earn her spot in the Rogues: intercept a wagon that is heading towards a city and bring the item inside back to them.

In her world, there are two rules:

1. Do not harm a fae
2. Do not rob a fae

If someone does, the Enforcer is summoned and you will be killed. Vera doesn’t realize the item she is tasked with taking (that ends up being taken from her in the process) belongs to the Enforcer. When he comes, he gives her two options: enter a bargain to help him find it or be killed.

They go on the journey together and continue to feel an undeniable pull towards each other. I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at that, but this book was amazing 😭🖤
Profile Image for sadallthetime.
189 reviews5 followers
February 7, 2024
3.5

This took me back to 2014 when the fanfiction was all angst and miscommunication and heartbreak and I really enjoyed it ! (Even though I despise miscommunication)

That being said, Ronan can go jump off a cliff. I’m not a big fan of MMC that only talk about having sex with the FMC and slept around a lot with other women BUT he also seemed to have a lot of love for Vera and did actually care for her BUT he also like gaslighted her so…

I think I’ll read the next one cause this scratched the itch for angstttttttttttt which I really needed
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- the dragon thing? Not developed enough but also grabbed my attention so we’ll see how this goes

- idk why but the drama about the vision of his mate and baby and Ronan???? Fr I have no idea why I was eating this up so much, probably cause it reminds me of the fanfiction I read when I was younger. If the mate isn’t Vera, I might actually riot

- Vera herself can be annoying at times but her storyline with the Crone and how it made her long for true connection was actually interesting and compelling

- Ronan my dude… just admit yall are mates fr but also cool it with the sex talk

- BECAUSE THEY SEE TATTOOS ON EACH OTHER AND THEYRE DRAWN TO EACH OTHER AND LIKE HOW CAN A HIGH FAE BE MATED TO A DRAGON I GOTTA KNOW
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for BookishWeeb Olivia.
350 reviews31 followers
February 28, 2021
There was a lot of reason why I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and yet at the same time, there were a few things I didn't like. First off, I loved the unique storyline. It kind of had a Sarah J. Maas feel, but with a lot less action. It was mildly predictable, and yet I found myself still enjoying the writing and finishing the book within a seating. Vera, the main female (half human half fae), is loveable and I understand her longing to want to fit in with a certain group. Reading about her struggles and determination made me feel like I connected with her in a way, but there were moments when I was internally yelling at her.

Also, that book cover art is 10/10 beautiful. It was the very first thing that drew me to this book!
Profile Image for Jennifer Grengs.
160 reviews5 followers
January 19, 2023
DNF @ 51%

I have a few glaring issues with this book.

1. Lack of character development. I don’t care about any of the characters I’m reading about. At all.

2. The relationship between the enforcer and Vera is so… forced. I understand how everyone loves the “Who. Did. This. To. You.” trope and this had it, but it had it SO early on in their “relationship” (there wasn’t even one at the time) that it just felt forced. Like it was trying to be there just to be there.

3. The smut made me uncomfortable. Again, maybe it stems from lack of character development that lead to lack of RELATIONSHIP development but like… I had to stop reading.

Ugh. I wanted to try to push through to finish but I couldn’t. At all. I don’t get it. Maybe I’ll try again one day but I doubt it.
Profile Image for Tanya Mcintosh.
132 reviews2 followers
March 28, 2021
I received an Advanced Reader Copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a fantastic debut novel! Overall, I greatly enjoyed the world building and characters. The world building was fresh and felt very different from other fantasy books. The story was fast paced and engaging with an interesting twist.

The main downside is of the book was not having enough character development.

Really well done debut novel! I am looking forward to continuing Vera's story in the future!
Profile Image for Monica Osorio.
262 reviews
July 16, 2023
Awesome story

This is a great enemies to lovers to enemies book. The fae control the mortals by fear and helping them with magic to save them from the beast that attack every full moon. They’re planning to revolt but Vera is there to save the day. After being back stabbed and used multiple times. Great story!
Profile Image for Amanda Miller.
26 reviews1 follower
January 25, 2023
I’m so happy with this tiktok recommendation. I love enemies to lovers even if it was more enemies on Vera’s side than Ronans. I would have liked even more world building but I enjoyed Ronan and Vera enough to look past that. My heart hurt with Vera and her pain. I’m excited for the next book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Jules.
44 reviews1 follower
August 3, 2025
it's good, tbh I skimmed through this book, but I'm reading the second one now
Profile Image for Tami Krager.
29 reviews
September 13, 2025
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up. Well written. Unique story. Surprisingly under-hyped.
Profile Image for Mary Thib.
86 reviews
February 3, 2023
When I tell you I’m obsessssseeedddddd!!! This book was such a fun adventure with enemies to lovers, one bed trope, guy falls first, revenge plot; it has it all!! The spice was just the right amount and the storyline was written very well! I can’t wait for the next book to come out
Profile Image for Mikayla.
68 reviews
September 9, 2022
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed his book, I read it in one sitting and didn't want to put it down, I loved the style of writing, and I loved the world and the world building. It definitely has a lot of potential, which is why I'm giving it 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars.
It had a very Sarah J Maas feel to it, just without the action and flipped through too quickly. Nothing was settled on long enough, the scenes that I wish I had more were too short and the scenes that were too long I wish were shorter.
I truly liked this story, and it has so much potential, this author does as well. I'm excited to see more of Shannen's future work!

Plot:
Vera is half fae, half human and wants to be a part of the Rogues. A powerful object is uncovered and she finally has her chance to become an official member of the group, only to fall into a vow bound quest that has her rethinking her opinions on the fae and her entire life and how she views everything.

Characters:
Vera: I really enjoyed Vera as a character, she was fairly juvenile in her actions and how she thinks, but it's excusable for the sake of future character development. She's only 17/18 years old and comes from a background of abandonment and torture. The only thing she ever wanted was a family, and the rogues were supposed to be that for her until she realized she was mislead and betrayed by them.

Ness: very interesting that she was a pooka, I wish she was around more to be in more of the plot and not just tossed in.

Ronan: the main love interest, slightly predictable. The romance between them seemed to happen for no reason and completely out of the blue. His mistaken kindness could seem like flirting sometimes. His tattoos to cover his scars and people thinking he's ugly because of them is an interesting viewpoint.

Finn: my favourite character. Super dynamic and likeable despite being dramatic. He has the most personality out of everyone and has a background that I want to know more about.

Ryder: all I'll say is *I knew it*

Crone: I wish I knew more, I want to know more. I wish the scenes with her were longer and more in depth.

The beginning of the story is very fast paced, you're tossed right into the action and right in the middle of everything. The beginning was also very short and quick, it was over right when you really got into understanding how everything around Vera worked.
I wish the book was longer, more detailed. I wish the romance was more fleshed out and not as cliche as it ended up being. But I truly enjoyed this book and the endless possibilities that come from it regarding more to it.
I really liked the magic system in this book, it has a give what you take rule which I really enjoyed as fantasy books with no magic rules tend to be very frustrating in regards to unlimited power for no cost or repercussions.
The dragon was something I truly wish was more fleshed out, I wish it was more than just the thing, that there was a little more backstory to it and it wasn't just a last minute reveal in the thick of the climax. It's a super cool and interesting concept that I've never seen before, but I wish there was just that little bit more to it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Devika.
700 reviews20 followers
April 6, 2021
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for a voluntarily and honest review.
Original review on my blog Boekensteeg

Nights of Iron and Ink is the first part in a series and also the debut of Shannen Durey. My attention was immediately drawn by the cover, and I was very curious about this book.

Vera is a halfling, half fae and half human, and she's been trying to earn a spot in the Rogues for five years now. This year it finally looks like she will receive her uniform, but she has to carry out an assignment for this. She has to break the one rule no one should break namely stealing from the Fae. She must obtain a mighty object before it reaches the Faylands. However, during this mission Vera soon finds out that she is not the only one trying to steal the object. Before she can take it, someone is ahead of her, and the fae see her as the culprit. This puts her in a cramped situation that ends in a deal for her life. What will she have to do for this deal? Can she still save her own life? What will Vera encounter?

Nights of Iron and Ink reminded me several times of Throne of Glass while reading. The story is complex, but not too complex. Where the story started very slowly in the beginning, it is gaining pace during the read. However, I had the idea that because the story takes place over 2 weeks, there is a lot of depth in the characters missing. Vera, Ronan and Finn are often mentioned in the book, but you don't learn much about their background. This however should not spoil the fun, as their relationships continue to develop throughout the book.

Vera would love to join the Rogues, but it is during her journey with the fae that she really gets to know herself. As a result, Vera undergoes great growth throughout the story. Her unknown past is slowly worked out during the story, and you also get to know her downsides. Ronan and Finn, on the other hand, are fae who have had a nice life, but there is also a price to their gifts. At first, Finn seems like a less fun character, but the better you get to know him, the more fun he becomes. Ronan is the Lord of Steel, which makes him very powerful, but in this story you also get to know his personal side. I was pleasantly surprised by the developments that each of these characters are going through.

Shannen Durey has worked out the world very nicely in this book, and she has a fine writing style which keeps the book exciting. She knows how to incorporate several surprising twists in the story, which always attracted me. In addition, the book has themes such as supression and abuse that are very subtly woven into the story. However, partly due to the lack of depth I could not get into the story well, so I only give 3 stars.
Profile Image for Erin Maxwell.
8 reviews1 follower
March 6, 2021
I received this book early, before it's 04/2021 release. I had high hopes for the story - the description was intriguing and very in-line with the types of books that I typically read.. and to be fair, the concept and overall storyline WAS intriguing and original. That really concludes all of the good things I have to say.

My biggest issue with the book was the lack of tension and plot development. If complex plot points were introduced at all (which was rare), they were almost immediately resolved over the course of 1-2 chapters. The world-building, overall, was sloppy and juvenile. While the author clearly had some great ideas, the main character (who is also the narrator) explains the intricacies of the fantasy world unenthusiastically, with no details or development. Mysteries or new concepts in the world are explained immediately, without allowing readers to digest the information and incorporate it into their understanding of the plot.

Character development was severely lacking - over the course of the book, the love interest and other main players went through incredibly unbelievable changes in character, acting in ways that were unexplained by circumstances, plot points, or personality (not that many of the characters had this). I rolled my eyes at multiple points in the text, simply because actions or dialogue were so outlandish that it didn't even fit into a fantasy world.

Some of these issues may have been ameliorated if the author had opted for a third- rather than first-person narrative. As mentioned, the main character, Vera, is incredibly boring at her core. She vascillates between over-explaining plot points and being infuriatingly vague about actions or surroundings. Despite the fact that she was given a traumatic childhood and is clearly struggling with trust issues, none of that REALLY comes into play in the plot or in her interactions with others. I do feel that if Durey had opted for a third-person viewpoint, or chose to include multiple POVs in her work, the entire plot/storyline/writing would have come off as far less naive.

All in all - this book had potential, but fell far short of the mark. Not for me for so many different reasons. I will not be picking up the sequel, set to be released later this year.
Profile Image for Christen.
149 reviews
May 7, 2022
ARC was received in exchange for review.

Bad:
The *dark*. I get it, you don't want to swear swear. Fine, but your swear word doesn't need to be used all the time and it definitely doesn't need to be in italics every time.

The world-building. It was difficult for me to get into this world. The Rogues seemed like a motorcycle club with guns. And then you have Fae with powers and swords? They didn't work together in my mind and I couldn't even picture the world until about 25% into the book.

Meh:
The romance. I was rooting for them by the end, but it did come out of nowhere. And Ronan really got over Vera's betrayal far too quickly. I wouldn't even classify this as enemies to lovers, because Ronan never considered her an enemy. Also, I would like more spice, more tension, more attraction etc...

Good:
The heroine. Reading that Vera had fangs and talons magically forced on her, I was totally prepared for some magical undoing that would make her beautiful. I LOVE that that didn't happen. Making her a dragon and looking physically different all the time because of that, is awesome.

The magic system. I love that there is a cost/consequence for using your magic, at least for the Fae. I hope this will extend to all the magic in this series.

The Ness twist. That damn horse HID the fact that it was a pooka and I love it. I was genuinely surprised and happy because of this little plot twist. (Do I wish pookas were introduced into the story more organically before the twist? Yes. But it is what it is.)


Overall, I enjoyed the concept and will likely read the next one. It is suitable for a younger audience (although I wish for a grittier, sexier version that wasn't).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Autumn.
91 reviews3 followers
June 1, 2021
**I was given an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review. **

This book follows Vera, a half-ling outcast looking to be accepted by a band of fighters called the Rogues. They are employed to defend the locals from the beasts of the Darklands. In order to become one of them she is sent on a mission to steal an object from the immortal Fae and of course finds herself face to face with the Fae themselves. She is then required to balance loyalties between two peoples while also discovering her own abilities.

I really wanted to like this book. Sadly, I knew right away it wasn't for me. I did finish it in hopes of it getting better. I do believe it has potential but it felt more like a first draft than a finished tale. I often found the Vera to be annoying and very juvenile, which made the first person narrative distracting. The concepts of being ostracized and trying to find a place in the world could have been awesome, had it been supplemented by fully fleshed out characters. The insta-love/lust between Vera and Ronan felt forced especially in such a short time frame. I also felt that Ronan was a little too simmilar to some very popular fae currently circulating.

**Spoiler**

The whole dragon secret felt very unexpected but not in a good way. There was no mention of dragons throughout the entire story so when that was revealed it was felt underwhelming and out of place.

I don't plan to reach for the sequel, but I bet with time and experience this author will do well.
Profile Image for Breanna Stanley.
184 reviews4 followers
August 18, 2022
I really liked this book. I’m a sucker for fae books, but sometimes they can get repetitive. This one felt very original. I liked the lore they incorporated with the tiers of beasts. They touched on their gods/goddesses, and what we learned was interesting, but I can imagine in the next book will be explained more (especially that forgotten goddess the fae don’t know about…). I liked the authors twist on Baba Yaga with their character the Crone. Maiden-Mother-Crone folklore/triple goddess mythology has always been super interesting to me, so I liked seeing this interpretation.

I loved the character or the Enforcer/MMC. He was complicated and clearly had a lot of inner conflict about his role in the fae. I wanted to know more about him as a Fae lord and with his House, but again, I think that’ll be more fleshed out in the next book. He broke my heart with his vulnerability at points and the ending just killed me.

The FMC has been through a lot of shit. Her time with the Crone really messed her up, and following it up to be treated so poorly by the mortals and other Halflings was just awful. She couldn’t catch a break. That being said, I couldn’t help but get really frustrated with her at points. Her hostility towards the MMC in particular was just brutal, but I can’t really blame her for it considering the walls the had to put up to survive and the information about him that she knew. She is flawed and she made a lot of bad and rash decisions consistently throughout the book. I’m interested to see how she makes up for her last blunder in the next book.

Profile Image for B.L. Callaghan.
Author 9 books108 followers
March 3, 2021
I really liked Durey's debut Nights of Iron and Ink. The characters were fascinating, and I often found myself wanting to know more about them. I enjoyed the adventure/quest aspect of the plot, and appreciated that the world-building was slow and kept you intrigued throughout the book.
There were a lot of predictable and well known tropes and plotlines to be found here, but Durey has delivered them well, throwing in a few twists to keep you guessing. I liked the familiarity of the themes within the story too, and that they were delivered thoughtfully and in ways that only added to the plot.
I liked that our MC wasn't the typical helpless female, needing to be saved by the big, strong Fae males. She was feisty, and scarred by her past. She knew how to protect herself in a dangerous world. I mean, at times she did need saving, but she always gave as good as she got.
I thought that the betrayals, the lies, and deceiving - the using people through emotions and wants - aspects of the story were realistic, and came about in very relatable and realistic ways. I thought the politics and society aspect of the world-building was fascinating, but underused here, and I'm hoping book two brings more of these things to the forefront.
Overall, I thought Nights of Iron and Ink was a great first installment for what could be a fantastic fantasy adventure. I can't wait to see where Durey takes it next.
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