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Reign of Soulless #1
This Deceit of Ours
Deceive the Daemon King.
Trust no one.
Don’t fall in love.
Sersa Scáth has been trying to bite her sharp tongue ever since she stole her clan’s magic. It was an accident—her tempestuous moods to blame—but it doesn’t stop them from calling her the Mad Heir. Her only escape from their whispers is the City of Soulless, with its rundown pubs, swanky betting halls, and places of pleasure aplenty.
But no mortal is safe in the city that straddles the lands of the living and the dead. Especially at Reaping Hour when the spirits of the restless dead hunt for souls…
A Gilder noble by birth and son of the Daemon King, Nessin Drumghoul controls a sea of secrets that could destroy any one of the noble houses. He even has the perfect secret to persuade Sersa into posing as his betrothed: the truth about her missing father. But why Nessin wants her help remains a mystery no matter how much Sersa pries.
Though Sersa senses a malicious motive driving Nessin, their attraction to one another is undeniable. Irrepressible. Dangerous. Neither can afford to lose sight of what’s on the line if their fake betrothal is discovered. And as the line between deception and reality blurs, their ruse begins to fall apart, threatening to destroy them both.
Trust no one.
Don’t fall in love.
Sersa Scáth has been trying to bite her sharp tongue ever since she stole her clan’s magic. It was an accident—her tempestuous moods to blame—but it doesn’t stop them from calling her the Mad Heir. Her only escape from their whispers is the City of Soulless, with its rundown pubs, swanky betting halls, and places of pleasure aplenty.
But no mortal is safe in the city that straddles the lands of the living and the dead. Especially at Reaping Hour when the spirits of the restless dead hunt for souls…
A Gilder noble by birth and son of the Daemon King, Nessin Drumghoul controls a sea of secrets that could destroy any one of the noble houses. He even has the perfect secret to persuade Sersa into posing as his betrothed: the truth about her missing father. But why Nessin wants her help remains a mystery no matter how much Sersa pries.
Though Sersa senses a malicious motive driving Nessin, their attraction to one another is undeniable. Irrepressible. Dangerous. Neither can afford to lose sight of what’s on the line if their fake betrothal is discovered. And as the line between deception and reality blurs, their ruse begins to fall apart, threatening to destroy them both.
470 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2022
240 people are currently reading
3811 people want to read
About the author
Shannon R. Lir
2 books78 followersShannon R. Lir is a YA and NA fantasy romance author. Her favorite stories are about young women with sharp daggers, perpetually smirking love interests, and all shades of morally gray characters.
THIS DECEIT OF OURS is Shannon’s debut novel and the first book in the Reign of Soulless series. Sign up for her newsletter on shannonrlir.com for exclusive sneak peeks, including title and cover reveals, excerpts, ARCs, giveaways, and more!
THIS DECEIT OF OURS is Shannon’s debut novel and the first book in the Reign of Soulless series. Sign up for her newsletter on shannonrlir.com for exclusive sneak peeks, including title and cover reveals, excerpts, ARCs, giveaways, and more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
February 19, 2023
3.5 Souldagger Stars ⭐️
This is just a delicious hearty warm bowl of Trope Soup. And every singlebite page almost added a new delightful trope to the mix.
AND....I. Ate. This. Shit. Up!
I mean just look at these tropes:
- Slow burn
- Fake relationship
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Hurt her and you die
- Marriage of convenience
- One bed
- One horse
- Knife to the throat (Unfortunately it's him holding it to hers)
- He falls first
**I am pretty sure there are more, but seriously, there's already something in there for EVERYONE!
Did I have fun? Yes, I did! Was this book perfect? No, absolutely not!
It very much is a story that gives the feel of something you have read before. I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it, but it is reminiscent of everything else with the same tropes. But I still enjoyed it. I devoured it really quickly and it gave me exactly what I needed, which was a little breath of fresh air. So cosy up with your soup if you are a sucker for these tropes as much as I am!
This book follows Sersa, who is a badass with a knife. She is the heiress in her clan but is hated by everybody because she stole their magic. Her clan happens to live on the other side of the river to the Soullands, where the dead live like regular people; but people who happen to have captured her father and enslaved him. Sersa willingly makes a deal with one of the Daemon Princes and agrees to pose as his betrothed in the guise of finding her father. However, our dear Prince-ling has his own agenda for needing a wifey-to-be.
Let me jump right into what didn’t work for me. The beginning was a little bit messy. I had to read a couple of paragraphs again because it wasn’t clear. It’s all very jumbled and I battled to picture what was going on in the action. (This does get better as the book progresses though).
Whilst the story started off pretty slow, I didn't mind too much because it kind of lay the foundation of the world and the world-building, especially with the daemons and the magic system. But then we got into the plot, which wasn’t really that deep, and is one of the main reasons why this story just felt lacking in terms of originality.
There were a few plot holes that I found within the story that weren’t actually patched up by the end. Though they might be "saved" for the sequel, there were also a lot of things that I felt we should’ve been told in this book regarding the motives of certain characters or reasons behind why certain things were done. These weren't all shared and I believe saving these for the sequel makes this overall story feel weaker than it could have been. I know a lot might have been done to set up suspense for the end because that ENDING was WHOA! I wanted a little bit more uncovered than what I was given.
I really did like the character of Sersa, she’s complicated and quite emotional but not in a "drama queen" way. She’s dealing with quite a lot on her shoulders. Part of her power is seeing emotion in colours around her, which can be quite overwhelming. I also enjoyed how her transition from enemies to lovers worked for her. She fought her feelings quite a lot and battled with her inner struggle between what she felt for Sin and what she should feel for Sin. The transition to lovers didn’t feel very "quick" so when that switch finally flipped, I understood how it had developed and accepted the transition.
Sin, he’s a difficult man to put my finger on.. but if you like your men morally grey, it means you’re gonna like him! Nessin definitely does at times live up to his namesake. I just battled to wrap my head around how a character who is centuries old and can READ MINDS behaves like a teenager and cannot have a conversation about his emotions! That on top of him constantly pushing Sersa away, even though she is literally throwing herself at him naked, begging for it, he’s like... "no, stop! I don't want you to think I only want sex"............ -____-
Another issue I have is getting this from a first-person POV, so the other characters and their motivations and reasons fall INCREDIBLY short. They would change their motives or change their "beliefs" without the reader not understanding a clear reason why.
Overall, I would recommend this if you want some fluff with some tropes thrown into the mix!
I will definitely be picking up the sequel!
This is just a delicious hearty warm bowl of Trope Soup. And every single
AND....I. Ate. This. Shit. Up!
I mean just look at these tropes:
- Slow burn
- Fake relationship
- Enemies to lovers
- Forced proximity
- Hurt her and you die
- Marriage of convenience
- One bed
- One horse
- Knife to the throat (Unfortunately it's him holding it to hers)
- He falls first
**I am pretty sure there are more, but seriously, there's already something in there for EVERYONE!
Did I have fun? Yes, I did! Was this book perfect? No, absolutely not!
It very much is a story that gives the feel of something you have read before. I couldn’t exactly put my finger on it, but it is reminiscent of everything else with the same tropes. But I still enjoyed it. I devoured it really quickly and it gave me exactly what I needed, which was a little breath of fresh air. So cosy up with your soup if you are a sucker for these tropes as much as I am!
This book follows Sersa, who is a badass with a knife. She is the heiress in her clan but is hated by everybody because she stole their magic. Her clan happens to live on the other side of the river to the Soullands, where the dead live like regular people; but people who happen to have captured her father and enslaved him. Sersa willingly makes a deal with one of the Daemon Princes and agrees to pose as his betrothed in the guise of finding her father. However, our dear Prince-ling has his own agenda for needing a wifey-to-be.
Let me jump right into what didn’t work for me. The beginning was a little bit messy. I had to read a couple of paragraphs again because it wasn’t clear. It’s all very jumbled and I battled to picture what was going on in the action. (This does get better as the book progresses though).
Whilst the story started off pretty slow, I didn't mind too much because it kind of lay the foundation of the world and the world-building, especially with the daemons and the magic system. But then we got into the plot, which wasn’t really that deep, and is one of the main reasons why this story just felt lacking in terms of originality.
There were a few plot holes that I found within the story that weren’t actually patched up by the end. Though they might be "saved" for the sequel, there were also a lot of things that I felt we should’ve been told in this book regarding the motives of certain characters or reasons behind why certain things were done. These weren't all shared and I believe saving these for the sequel makes this overall story feel weaker than it could have been. I know a lot might have been done to set up suspense for the end because that ENDING was WHOA! I wanted a little bit more uncovered than what I was given.
I really did like the character of Sersa, she’s complicated and quite emotional but not in a "drama queen" way. She’s dealing with quite a lot on her shoulders. Part of her power is seeing emotion in colours around her, which can be quite overwhelming. I also enjoyed how her transition from enemies to lovers worked for her. She fought her feelings quite a lot and battled with her inner struggle between what she felt for Sin and what she should feel for Sin. The transition to lovers didn’t feel very "quick" so when that switch finally flipped, I understood how it had developed and accepted the transition.
Sin, he’s a difficult man to put my finger on.. but if you like your men morally grey, it means you’re gonna like him! Nessin definitely does at times live up to his namesake. I just battled to wrap my head around how a character who is centuries old and can READ MINDS behaves like a teenager and cannot have a conversation about his emotions! That on top of him constantly pushing Sersa away, even though she is literally throwing herself at him naked, begging for it, he’s like... "no, stop! I don't want you to think I only want sex"............ -____-
Another issue I have is getting this from a first-person POV, so the other characters and their motivations and reasons fall INCREDIBLY short. They would change their motives or change their "beliefs" without the reader not understanding a clear reason why.
Overall, I would recommend this if you want some fluff with some tropes thrown into the mix!
I will definitely be picking up the sequel!
August 19, 2022
This book just wrecked me in all the best ways.
⚡️ Enemies to lovers
⚡️ Fake Relationship
⚡️ Forced Proximity
⚡️ Angsty slow burn
⚡️ Touch her and die
Sersa accidentally stole her clan's magic. Nessin is son to the Daemon King. When they make a deal, nothing is as it seems and Sersa must navigate a dangerous new world, devilish politics and turbulent relationships while grappling with her undeniable connection with Nessin.
First let me just say that this book is so well written, the imagery brought to life had me in a chokehold at times.
Sersa is strong, stubborn and an absolute spitfire. As someone who can personally relate, I really, really love that the author did not sacrifice her deep emotions for strength; she feels on a full spectrum and she is powerful for it.
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱.
𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺， 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦． 𝘛𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺．
Nessin is an enigma. He's dark and delicious and rides the line between mysterious and untrustworthy in a real way that still has me on my toes.
Banter between the two is *chef's kiss*
"𝘐 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦," 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘬.
"𝘚𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳."
THE ANGST IS REAL. This is a true slow burn, their relationship develops realistically for their situation and it led to some powerful moments between the two.
"𝘉𝘦𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢． 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.“ 𝘐𝘧 𝘚𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥， 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮．
—
𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. 𝘚𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘔𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱, 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘚𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦. "𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩."
So much more than just the relationship between Nessin and Sersa kept me enthralled with this novel - I'm attached to side characters and their development; plot lines and what's laid out before us by the end of this book is E N G R O S S I N G. When I tell you I got to the "End of Book 1" page on my kindle and a piece of me died 🥹 I actually had to wait a full 24 hours before writing this review because my emotions were all over the place.
There were a couple times I felt like a phrase was a bit repetitive, but it was a blip on the radar and not nearly enough to pull me from the story. I also read almost the entire book in one sitting which could've contributed to that.
Overall this is super well written and the story is unique and captivating. I will definitely be reading book two as soon as it's available.
⚡️ Enemies to lovers
⚡️ Fake Relationship
⚡️ Forced Proximity
⚡️ Angsty slow burn
⚡️ Touch her and die
Sersa accidentally stole her clan's magic. Nessin is son to the Daemon King. When they make a deal, nothing is as it seems and Sersa must navigate a dangerous new world, devilish politics and turbulent relationships while grappling with her undeniable connection with Nessin.
First let me just say that this book is so well written, the imagery brought to life had me in a chokehold at times.
Sersa is strong, stubborn and an absolute spitfire. As someone who can personally relate, I really, really love that the author did not sacrifice her deep emotions for strength; she feels on a full spectrum and she is powerful for it.
𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘮𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘶𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘶𝘱.
𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘭 𝘴𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘦𝘱𝘭𝘺， 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘬 𝘮𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘶𝘱 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘭𝘶𝘦 𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦． 𝘛𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘦 𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘥𝘢𝘺．
Nessin is an enigma. He's dark and delicious and rides the line between mysterious and untrustworthy in a real way that still has me on my toes.
Banter between the two is *chef's kiss*
"𝘐 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘨𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦," 𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘺 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘳𝘬.
"𝘚𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘯, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐 𝘸𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘐 𝘥𝘪𝘥 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘢𝘳."
THE ANGST IS REAL. This is a true slow burn, their relationship develops realistically for their situation and it led to some powerful moments between the two.
"𝘉𝘦𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢． 𝘚𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘶𝘮𝘣 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥.“ 𝘐𝘧 𝘚𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘨𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘥， 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘩𝘪𝘮．
—
𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘭𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘤𝘬. 𝘚𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥 𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘭 𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘵. 𝘔𝘺 𝘦𝘺𝘦𝘴 𝘤𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘴 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘨𝘢𝘴𝘱, 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨.
𝘚𝘪𝘯'𝘴 𝘷𝘰𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦. "𝘋𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘢 𝘚𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘩."
So much more than just the relationship between Nessin and Sersa kept me enthralled with this novel - I'm attached to side characters and their development; plot lines and what's laid out before us by the end of this book is E N G R O S S I N G. When I tell you I got to the "End of Book 1" page on my kindle and a piece of me died 🥹 I actually had to wait a full 24 hours before writing this review because my emotions were all over the place.
There were a couple times I felt like a phrase was a bit repetitive, but it was a blip on the radar and not nearly enough to pull me from the story. I also read almost the entire book in one sitting which could've contributed to that.
Overall this is super well written and the story is unique and captivating. I will definitely be reading book two as soon as it's available.
February 24, 2023
I wrote this book so naturally I love it to pieces and hope you'll enjoy Sersa's story too! 🖤 This is the first book in a fantasy romance series, and it ends on a cliffhanger.
Content warnings: depictions and themes of mental illness, scenes of a consensual sexual nature, pregnancy, violence, and death.
UPDATE: December 2022
You can read the prologue of book 2, THESE HEARTS WE SHATTER, on my website by subscribing to my email newsletter.
UPDATE: February 2023
Sersa has bipolar disorder in a fantasy setting that doesn’t really have a word for the illness. She takes risks and acts impulsively at times, she is irritable or agitated when maybe it doesn’t “make sense” to be in others’ eyes, and she feels deeply and sometimes feels trapped in her racing thoughts. She shoulders a lot of guilt when her actions cause others harm too. Most of all, she feels a deep need to hide herself from everyone because she feels really different. The book cover is actually blue because of a bout of depression she goes through. This condensed episode is not totally reflective of what it’s like (from personal experiences at least), but I wanted to provide more info. The books will continue to include this type of content. Please take care when reading. 🖤
January 23, 2023
Meh. I didn't hate it, didn't love it by any means. It was hard to get into but that was mostly a personal taste type of thing. My only complaint is that these authors boast about how the ship is slow burn and shit but PLEASE lmao. Y'all be lusting for one another since the first meeting and expect me to believe there's a slow burn? I endured 6.5 seasons of teen wolf for stydia to be canon. THAT is slow burn. This is NOTHING and I hate false advertising!!!
October 31, 2022
*This review may contain SPOLIERS so don't read it unless you finished the book*
Secrets. Lies. Betrayals.
This Deceit of Ours is the First installment in the Reign of Soulless series and its Adult paranormal romance.
4-⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5-🌶️
- Slow burn
- Fake betrothed/fake marriage
- Marriage of Convenience
- Close proximity
- Powerful FMC/Mysterious MMC
- Heir/Prince
- Gods/Goddess
- Mortals/Immortals
- Unique magic abilities
- First POV
Sersa Scath is a strong women, loyal, fierce, i don't give a shit vibe and stubborn as hell. She accidentally stole all of her clan magic when she was a child. Her powers change depends on her moods. Mostly rage and fear. She encounter with the Daemon's King son, Nessin Drumghoul in a tavern when he bumped onto her behind.
Nessin is a hauntingly beautiful daemon Prince, very secretive, mysterious and powerful daemon who has his very own agenda. He lets Sersa to know what he thinks to have her know and completely avoids she asked him. He is the master of secrets. He has one of the secrets that would be the end of Sersa and her clan.
That night, she fell into the water from bridge and almost died if not for her powers. She went to the shore only to find a pair of polished shoes standing in front of her. Nessin again! Sersa found admitting to herself in mind, he was cruelly beautiful and gorgeous. What she didn't know was Nessin could read her filthy thoughts and it was one of the many powers he had.
They went to his apartment and he struck a deal with her that he wants a mortal bride and he would help finding her father who disappeared when she was a child. Sersa wanted nothing more than to find back her father again so she accepted it. She would pretend to be his betrothed until he finds her father. They would part their ways after that. But did she ready to lose her heart to him in the way? But what was the cost of that love? Only her heart to broke apart in the end.
Sersa entered his demonic world full of politics and family drama with no knowledge but to do what Nessin ask her. She meets new daemons and learns their ways. Sersa tried to ignore what her heart wants but with Nessin too close in the close proximity, it was hard to pretend for their sakes.
Nessin contacted his sources to locate his father and found out he was purchased as a slave and living in with one of the powerful houses.
Sersa bit by bit knows what Nessin has been planning for centuries. He wanted to kill his father who murdered his mother before she cursed their bloodlines. Only to marry mortal. Sersa couldn't trust him when he all lied to her but she understood it.
The tension between them is impeccable and so strong that could slice the air. Both tried not to give in, knowing they would be apart in the end but still Nessin avoided it. The embers finally ignited and gave in and told each other their love. They found her father and parted their ways with him promising her he'll kill his father and become Daemon King and would return for her.
Daemon King tricked her to come again to the lands and told her what really happened and who has her father all these days to her before driving a daemon dagger to Nessin chest. Sersa used all of her powers to kill the King and saved Nessin by giving a sliver of her pure soul to being him back.
Sersa feel betrayed and lied to yet again when all the pieces finally puzzled and but thought Nessin has an explanation for that and waited. He wanted to keep her safe since she killed his father and don't want to keep anywhere near him and he needs to concentrate not to put his realm to chaos.
He finally broke her heart by saying he needs to marry a powerful house bride to keep everything undercontrol for a time being and would get Sersa back.
The world building is intriguing and vast and the magic is unique, politics plays, being a pawn in a big game. We get to know how Sersa and Nessin power works. The relationship is soo complicated. There are some scenes even i raged when Nessin did lied to her and i was like, what the hell?! But anyways, i really wanted to know his game and his thoughts.
Their love was painfully slow angst and we get more than once fade to black scene. Ohh, also sassy comebacks.
It was shocking cliffhanger i never saw coming!!
I really wished i could get a Nessin POV but hoping for in book 2. Please release it soon!!
Secrets. Lies. Betrayals.
This Deceit of Ours is the First installment in the Reign of Soulless series and its Adult paranormal romance.
4-⭐⭐⭐⭐
1.5-🌶️
- Slow burn
- Fake betrothed/fake marriage
- Marriage of Convenience
- Close proximity
- Powerful FMC/Mysterious MMC
- Heir/Prince
- Gods/Goddess
- Mortals/Immortals
- Unique magic abilities
- First POV
Sersa Scath is a strong women, loyal, fierce, i don't give a shit vibe and stubborn as hell. She accidentally stole all of her clan magic when she was a child. Her powers change depends on her moods. Mostly rage and fear. She encounter with the Daemon's King son, Nessin Drumghoul in a tavern when he bumped onto her behind.
Nessin is a hauntingly beautiful daemon Prince, very secretive, mysterious and powerful daemon who has his very own agenda. He lets Sersa to know what he thinks to have her know and completely avoids she asked him. He is the master of secrets. He has one of the secrets that would be the end of Sersa and her clan.
That night, she fell into the water from bridge and almost died if not for her powers. She went to the shore only to find a pair of polished shoes standing in front of her. Nessin again! Sersa found admitting to herself in mind, he was cruelly beautiful and gorgeous. What she didn't know was Nessin could read her filthy thoughts and it was one of the many powers he had.
They went to his apartment and he struck a deal with her that he wants a mortal bride and he would help finding her father who disappeared when she was a child. Sersa wanted nothing more than to find back her father again so she accepted it. She would pretend to be his betrothed until he finds her father. They would part their ways after that. But did she ready to lose her heart to him in the way? But what was the cost of that love? Only her heart to broke apart in the end.
Sersa entered his demonic world full of politics and family drama with no knowledge but to do what Nessin ask her. She meets new daemons and learns their ways. Sersa tried to ignore what her heart wants but with Nessin too close in the close proximity, it was hard to pretend for their sakes.
Nessin contacted his sources to locate his father and found out he was purchased as a slave and living in with one of the powerful houses.
Sersa bit by bit knows what Nessin has been planning for centuries. He wanted to kill his father who murdered his mother before she cursed their bloodlines. Only to marry mortal. Sersa couldn't trust him when he all lied to her but she understood it.
The tension between them is impeccable and so strong that could slice the air. Both tried not to give in, knowing they would be apart in the end but still Nessin avoided it. The embers finally ignited and gave in and told each other their love. They found her father and parted their ways with him promising her he'll kill his father and become Daemon King and would return for her.
Daemon King tricked her to come again to the lands and told her what really happened and who has her father all these days to her before driving a daemon dagger to Nessin chest. Sersa used all of her powers to kill the King and saved Nessin by giving a sliver of her pure soul to being him back.
Sersa feel betrayed and lied to yet again when all the pieces finally puzzled and but thought Nessin has an explanation for that and waited. He wanted to keep her safe since she killed his father and don't want to keep anywhere near him and he needs to concentrate not to put his realm to chaos.
He finally broke her heart by saying he needs to marry a powerful house bride to keep everything undercontrol for a time being and would get Sersa back.
The world building is intriguing and vast and the magic is unique, politics plays, being a pawn in a big game. We get to know how Sersa and Nessin power works. The relationship is soo complicated. There are some scenes even i raged when Nessin did lied to her and i was like, what the hell?! But anyways, i really wanted to know his game and his thoughts.
Their love was painfully slow angst and we get more than once fade to black scene. Ohh, also sassy comebacks.
It was shocking cliffhanger i never saw coming!!
I really wished i could get a Nessin POV but hoping for in book 2. Please release it soon!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2024
⇢ Actual rating: 4.5🌟
⇢What to expect:
∘ Adult Dark High Fantasy Romance
∘ Demons, curses & magic
∘ Court Politics
∘ Morally Grey Characters
∘ Intriguing Worldbuilding
∘ Great Character Development
∘ Tension & Angst
∘ Strong Warrior FMC x Daemon Prince
∘ Delicious Banter
⇢ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ "Touch her and die"
∘ Fake marriage
∘ Forced Proximity
⇢Trigger Warnings: violence & gore, misogyny, human trafficking, death, blood
— RTC!
⇢What to expect:
∘ Adult Dark High Fantasy Romance
∘ Demons, curses & magic
∘ Court Politics
∘ Morally Grey Characters
∘ Intriguing Worldbuilding
∘ Great Character Development
∘ Tension & Angst
∘ Strong Warrior FMC x Daemon Prince
∘ Delicious Banter
⇢ Tropes:
∘ Enemies to Lovers
∘ Slowburn
∘ "Touch her and die"
∘ Fake marriage
∘ Forced Proximity
⇢Trigger Warnings: violence & gore, misogyny, human trafficking, death, blood
— RTC!
August 2, 2023
He better BEG HER for fucking forgiveness
November 1, 2022
Review coming soon!
Edit:
Read my review here:
https://coffeebooksandjournals.wordpr...
Edit:
Read my review here:
https://coffeebooksandjournals.wordpr...
October 7, 2022
3.5✨
When I began this book I was hooked at the very first line. The story and characters drew me instantly, I was very quickly invested and engaged. Lir dealt a strong hand with her entire cast of characters and most especially her world-building. It all felt unique, original, and inviting. I didn’t want to leave this new world at all. Overall, I was satisfied and enjoyed the story immensely.
That said I had a harder time convincing myself that I thoroughly enjoyed the romance at its heart. I came out with very mixed feelings. For starters I felt frustrated at how quickly Sersa would fold for Sin. During one of his rejections she vows to herself to make him as she has, basically to make him beg for her. It’s not long before she’s seeking his affection. I would have liked to see that drawn out.
I simply was not entirely convinced of the romance whilst reading. I really love the premise of their relationship— and I absolutely loved their first meeting— but the more it developed the less attached I became. I typically don’t advocate for this, but if there’s a love interest switcheroo in the next book, count me in favor. That said, I do believe in the potential of this romance and regardless of its outcome, I feel enough invested in them to continue on. But more so, I’m invested in the excellent world Lir has created. The plot had me attention from start to finish and it’s left me at the edge of my seat, impatiently awaiting the next book.
I may have had my own personal qualms with this book, but they don’t deter me from yearning for more. I’ll be back for Book 2!
When I began this book I was hooked at the very first line. The story and characters drew me instantly, I was very quickly invested and engaged. Lir dealt a strong hand with her entire cast of characters and most especially her world-building. It all felt unique, original, and inviting. I didn’t want to leave this new world at all. Overall, I was satisfied and enjoyed the story immensely.
That said I had a harder time convincing myself that I thoroughly enjoyed the romance at its heart. I came out with very mixed feelings. For starters I felt frustrated at how quickly Sersa would fold for Sin. During one of his rejections she vows to herself to make him as she has, basically to make him beg for her. It’s not long before she’s seeking his affection. I would have liked to see that drawn out.
I simply was not entirely convinced of the romance whilst reading. I really love the premise of their relationship— and I absolutely loved their first meeting— but the more it developed the less attached I became. I typically don’t advocate for this, but if there’s a love interest switcheroo in the next book, count me in favor. That said, I do believe in the potential of this romance and regardless of its outcome, I feel enough invested in them to continue on. But more so, I’m invested in the excellent world Lir has created. The plot had me attention from start to finish and it’s left me at the edge of my seat, impatiently awaiting the next book.
I may have had my own personal qualms with this book, but they don’t deter me from yearning for more. I’ll be back for Book 2!
August 29, 2022
I received an e-arc of this book for my honest opinion.
rating: 3 stars
This Deceit of Ours starts off really strong, and sucks you right in. It stars a brother and sister (mainly the sister) who goes off to marry a demon prince (yissss). It features all my favourite tropes; forced proximity, fake dating, some hint of enemies to lovers (though not exactly). Instant win. In vibes it gave me some Caraval, Serpent&Dove and From Blood and Ash (which is good vibes!) and I devoured it!
Somewhere around the halfway point though it lost momentum, and I had such trouble continuing. The start was so strong and so fast-paced I didn't want to catch the breath that the book forces you to take. The ending also left me hanging, and I can't really judge that as it's part one of a series, I'll really have to read book 2 to see if I like the direction it's taking. But for now I wasn't satisfied. But all in all I did enjoy it; I really loved the setting and the magic system. So 3 stars it is!
rating: 3 stars
This Deceit of Ours starts off really strong, and sucks you right in. It stars a brother and sister (mainly the sister) who goes off to marry a demon prince (yissss). It features all my favourite tropes; forced proximity, fake dating, some hint of enemies to lovers (though not exactly). Instant win. In vibes it gave me some Caraval, Serpent&Dove and From Blood and Ash (which is good vibes!) and I devoured it!
Somewhere around the halfway point though it lost momentum, and I had such trouble continuing. The start was so strong and so fast-paced I didn't want to catch the breath that the book forces you to take. The ending also left me hanging, and I can't really judge that as it's part one of a series, I'll really have to read book 2 to see if I like the direction it's taking. But for now I wasn't satisfied. But all in all I did enjoy it; I really loved the setting and the magic system. So 3 stars it is!
July 30, 2022
- Fantasy
- Fake engagement/mairage
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Hurt her and you die
So this book had a slow start and I almost put it down a couple of times but in the end I'm glad I didn't! The world was unique and I was able to picture it clearly. I loved the main character and her magic felt unique. I'm still unsure how I feel about the MMC at times but overall I liked him... The ending had me raging though 😂 I can't believe that cliffhanger! Overall I enjoyed this book.
I received this as an ARC for my honest review.
- Fake engagement/mairage
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Hurt her and you die
So this book had a slow start and I almost put it down a couple of times but in the end I'm glad I didn't! The world was unique and I was able to picture it clearly. I loved the main character and her magic felt unique. I'm still unsure how I feel about the MMC at times but overall I liked him... The ending had me raging though 😂 I can't believe that cliffhanger! Overall I enjoyed this book.
I received this as an ARC for my honest review.
December 1, 2022
This book started off with a bang and I really liked Shannon’s writing style. I felt fully immersed in the world. The plot seemed to be going in a good direction too. However, by the end of it, I was very underwhelmed. Everything kind of seemed pointless. Also, what is with the addition of the brother? That was lame and embarrassing and just didn’t make any sense.
August 14, 2022
Wow!!!!
I was really excited for this one and I was not disappointed. From the very first chapter I was hooked. It’s a world of trickery, magic and Deceit, which is to be expected in a place full of demons. The world building in this is spectacular and every character has their own part to play in the overall plot of the story. Which lets be honest, isn’t always the case. The slow burn, enemies to lovers trope had me swooning and Sin and Sersa are my new favourite fictional couple. Sersa is strong female character who can hold her own and who values loyalty and honesty above everything. The bond she had with her family, especially her brother was beautiful to read. That ending though!!!! What a cliffhanger. I need book two like now!!! Now!!!!
This genuinely ticked all the boxes for me and I cannot wait to see what happens next for these two. Thank you so much Shannon for the arc.
I was really excited for this one and I was not disappointed. From the very first chapter I was hooked. It’s a world of trickery, magic and Deceit, which is to be expected in a place full of demons. The world building in this is spectacular and every character has their own part to play in the overall plot of the story. Which lets be honest, isn’t always the case. The slow burn, enemies to lovers trope had me swooning and Sin and Sersa are my new favourite fictional couple. Sersa is strong female character who can hold her own and who values loyalty and honesty above everything. The bond she had with her family, especially her brother was beautiful to read. That ending though!!!! What a cliffhanger. I need book two like now!!! Now!!!!
This genuinely ticked all the boxes for me and I cannot wait to see what happens next for these two. Thank you so much Shannon for the arc.
February 29, 2024
This was so good and at the same time, I just wanna scream and smash something.
Anyway, the forced proximity and chemistry of Sersa and Nessin is probably one of the things I enjoyed here, aside from the angst and the whole magic going here, I'm really interested on how it would go in the 2nd book 🙈 I'm also quite glad that there's not much of a jealousy scene here but I bet in the 2nd book there will be BECAUSE OF THAT ENDING.
Won't also forgot the banter, which was so good as well 🤚🏽
Anyway, the forced proximity and chemistry of Sersa and Nessin is probably one of the things I enjoyed here, aside from the angst and the whole magic going here, I'm really interested on how it would go in the 2nd book 🙈 I'm also quite glad that there's not much of a jealousy scene here but I bet in the 2nd book there will be BECAUSE OF THAT ENDING.
Won't also forgot the banter, which was so good as well 🤚🏽
August 4, 2022
Tropes:
✔️fantasy
✔️magic
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️fake betrothed/fake marriage
✔️badass FMC
✔️forced proximity
✔️female mortal heir and the daemon prince
✔️insult/hurt her and you die
I really liked how unique this story was. The plot, the character, everything was really good. The only reason why I’m giving it a 4 is the beginning felt a little slow for me but it picked up midway and that’s when I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!
The struggle between doing what your heart wants and listening to your mind was real. I kept on wanting to crawl into the book and tell Sersa I would take her place if she didn’t want Sin. And Ciel!! Everyone needs a brother like him. And the ending. Let me just say I was not expecting it at all and it left me wanting answers! I can’t wait to be able to read book 2 because the suspense, I just can’t wait!!
✔️fantasy
✔️magic
✔️enemies to lovers
✔️fake betrothed/fake marriage
✔️badass FMC
✔️forced proximity
✔️female mortal heir and the daemon prince
✔️insult/hurt her and you die
I really liked how unique this story was. The plot, the character, everything was really good. The only reason why I’m giving it a 4 is the beginning felt a little slow for me but it picked up midway and that’s when I was hooked and couldn’t put it down!
The struggle between doing what your heart wants and listening to your mind was real. I kept on wanting to crawl into the book and tell Sersa I would take her place if she didn’t want Sin. And Ciel!! Everyone needs a brother like him. And the ending. Let me just say I was not expecting it at all and it left me wanting answers! I can’t wait to be able to read book 2 because the suspense, I just can’t wait!!
September 4, 2024
A slow burn but still good.
August 6, 2022
“Beg me, Sersa. Succumb to the Underworld.”
Let me just say, this book had its claws in me for days. If I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it.
This Deceit of Ours is a fantastic and fun read.
The tension between Sersa and Sin could be cut with a dagger. (Even while I was screaming at them to let their walls down and just be)
There’s great world building. The characters are all enjoyable (I wanted more Ailerby and Stellera)
The wait for future books is going to be a long and painful wait. I’ll definitely re-read this book while I wait for the release in October.
(I received an ARC e-book of this title on Booksprout. Thank you to the site and Shannon for this wonderful read)
Let me just say, this book had its claws in me for days. If I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it.
This Deceit of Ours is a fantastic and fun read.
The tension between Sersa and Sin could be cut with a dagger. (Even while I was screaming at them to let their walls down and just be)
There’s great world building. The characters are all enjoyable (I wanted more Ailerby and Stellera)
The wait for future books is going to be a long and painful wait. I’ll definitely re-read this book while I wait for the release in October.
(I received an ARC e-book of this title on Booksprout. Thank you to the site and Shannon for this wonderful read)
May 23, 2023
Update: I re-read this to refresh my memory for the ARC of 'These Hearts We Shatter' (which is a very fitting title by the way since I am absolutely shattered once again). There is just no preparing for the cliffhanger. I knew it was going to happen and I am still in tears. NESSIN. I am extremely excited to get my hands on book 2 early because I don't want another day to pass without getting answers. I will say, this book was just as good the second time around. Most of it I could easily remember but there are little scenes that I had forgotten, and it was a joy to read them again.
I also forgot how much of a slow burn it was. This book is a major tease but in a good way. The TENSION. Sersa is also a strong FMC and I can't wait to see what she does next.
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I am shattered. Be prepared for that cliffhanger because I certainly wasn’t. This book consumed me, I simply could not put it down.
•fake marriage •enemies to lovers •touch her and you die (even think about her the wrong way you die) •forced proximity •smirking mmc •sharp tongued fmc
Let’s just say, Sersa Scáth has a lot going on. She struggles to control her moods, she’s the heir to a clan whose magic she stole, everyone looks at her like she’s gone mad, AND a visit to the City of Soulless is about to change everything. Nessin Drumghoul, son of the Daemon King, deals in secrets and it just so happens that Sersa has a few - one being the disappearance of her father. Dangling the bait of finding her missing father, Nessin persuades Sersa to pose as his betrothed. In order to be considered for the throne Nessin needs to have a wife and for some reason he chooses Sersa. Although she senses other motives behind the sparse information he reveals, Sersa wants desperately to find her father.
This is a series, so book one ends on a cliffhanger and let me tell you I am screaming. I need book two like yesterday so I could avoid the roller coaster of emotions I had finishing this first book. It starts off slow but around 15% it begins to pick up, but hey that’s every fantasy that requires world building. It’s necessary and worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Sersa and Nessin. It's a slow burn with loads of tension and I would say about a 2.5 on my steam scale. I also loved Sersa’s magic - seeing colors to her moods was unique.
SPOILER BELOW
I REPEAT SPOILER BELOW
okay is it safe now??
WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK. Am I the only one thinking her dad is an ungrateful ass. Like she saves him and he yells at her several times? I’m already feeling for my girl Sersa but this was just the cherry on top. Well if you get to the cliffhanger (which I will definitely not spoil because I myself have still not wrapped my mind around it - find out for yourself - and cry with me) then you’d really get the emotional hot mess sundae that is Sersa’s life.
I have so many questions that hopefully are answered in the second book because the fake betrothal is not the only deceit happening in this book.
I also forgot how much of a slow burn it was. This book is a major tease but in a good way. The TENSION. Sersa is also a strong FMC and I can't wait to see what she does next.
------------------------
I am shattered. Be prepared for that cliffhanger because I certainly wasn’t. This book consumed me, I simply could not put it down.
•fake marriage •enemies to lovers •touch her and you die (even think about her the wrong way you die) •forced proximity •smirking mmc •sharp tongued fmc
Let’s just say, Sersa Scáth has a lot going on. She struggles to control her moods, she’s the heir to a clan whose magic she stole, everyone looks at her like she’s gone mad, AND a visit to the City of Soulless is about to change everything. Nessin Drumghoul, son of the Daemon King, deals in secrets and it just so happens that Sersa has a few - one being the disappearance of her father. Dangling the bait of finding her missing father, Nessin persuades Sersa to pose as his betrothed. In order to be considered for the throne Nessin needs to have a wife and for some reason he chooses Sersa. Although she senses other motives behind the sparse information he reveals, Sersa wants desperately to find her father.
This is a series, so book one ends on a cliffhanger and let me tell you I am screaming. I need book two like yesterday so I could avoid the roller coaster of emotions I had finishing this first book. It starts off slow but around 15% it begins to pick up, but hey that’s every fantasy that requires world building. It’s necessary and worth it. I thoroughly enjoyed the banter between Sersa and Nessin. It's a slow burn with loads of tension and I would say about a 2.5 on my steam scale. I also loved Sersa’s magic - seeing colors to her moods was unique.
SPOILER BELOW
I REPEAT SPOILER BELOW
okay is it safe now??
WHAT THE ACTUAL HECK. Am I the only one thinking her dad is an ungrateful ass. Like she saves him and he yells at her several times? I’m already feeling for my girl Sersa but this was just the cherry on top. Well if you get to the cliffhanger (which I will definitely not spoil because I myself have still not wrapped my mind around it - find out for yourself - and cry with me) then you’d really get the emotional hot mess sundae that is Sersa’s life.
I have so many questions that hopefully are answered in the second book because the fake betrothal is not the only deceit happening in this book.
December 1, 2022
Very confused about how this book has such high ratings. I kept waiting for it to get better, it didn’t. Ultimately I couldn’t finish it. I’ve listed the pros and cons of the novel below.
Pros: very unique high fantasy world building, different from other stories in this genre. The writing is good and I actually enjoyed the beginning of the novel.
Cons: I felt like a lot of the world that the book is set in could have been better explained. There’s many things I found difficult to understand. Also, the relationship between the main characters was rushed and didn’t feel natural or plausible. I was waiting for the story to hit a climax, but it fell flat the whole way through (or at least till page 320 to be specific).
Pros: very unique high fantasy world building, different from other stories in this genre. The writing is good and I actually enjoyed the beginning of the novel.
Cons: I felt like a lot of the world that the book is set in could have been better explained. There’s many things I found difficult to understand. Also, the relationship between the main characters was rushed and didn’t feel natural or plausible. I was waiting for the story to hit a climax, but it fell flat the whole way through (or at least till page 320 to be specific).
October 24, 2022
One of my favorite books of 2022. Definitely one of my top fantasy romance reads this year. I can’t believe this is a debut book. 4.5⭐️ rounded up. The middle stalled a little and some could be cut to keep the pace, but otherwise, I ADORE this story!
I randomly came across this in the middle of the night while I couldn’t sleep. This is what book dreams are made of because it had 7 ratings on Amazon and I just assumed those were all biased because they were all rave reviews. No. Not at all.
Both MCs are dangerous, scheming, and kill for one another. This world is unique, the magic is layered and stratified, and the romance is a slow burn. Nessin “Sin” is the arrogant 3rd son of the Daemon King who needs a wife as his father’s health declines so he is a contender for the throne.
Sersa is her clan’s heir, “The Mad Heir” who feels emotion intensely and has, unintentionally, drained and contains all the magic from her clan. She and her brother and friend travel to the soulless land where they encounter Nessin. Sersa has quick mood swings and feels all emotions deeply - and I have to say that this really helped when she made impulsive decisions or became emotionally driven. Unlike many fantasy books with FMCs who are rash and impulsive, this lined up with her backstory and character rather than relying on it being a random personality trait or youthfulness.
This world was so rich and magical. I was enamored with the unique details of the story. It has some popular tropes, but it’s executed with originality that sets the story apart from many KU fantasy romance.
The banter and dialogue were top tier. Nessin had a distinct voice and Sersa’s cutting remarks were on point.
This ends of a cliffhanger for the romance plot - not the action plot. It was foreshadowed heavily and it was no surprise to me, especially given this is a first book. This is pretty much par for the course in the genre. That said, the first book’s main plot is resolved and everyone safe. Not everyone is happy. Or really, no one is.
I randomly came across this in the middle of the night while I couldn’t sleep. This is what book dreams are made of because it had 7 ratings on Amazon and I just assumed those were all biased because they were all rave reviews. No. Not at all.
Both MCs are dangerous, scheming, and kill for one another. This world is unique, the magic is layered and stratified, and the romance is a slow burn. Nessin “Sin” is the arrogant 3rd son of the Daemon King who needs a wife as his father’s health declines so he is a contender for the throne.
Sersa is her clan’s heir, “The Mad Heir” who feels emotion intensely and has, unintentionally, drained and contains all the magic from her clan. She and her brother and friend travel to the soulless land where they encounter Nessin. Sersa has quick mood swings and feels all emotions deeply - and I have to say that this really helped when she made impulsive decisions or became emotionally driven. Unlike many fantasy books with FMCs who are rash and impulsive, this lined up with her backstory and character rather than relying on it being a random personality trait or youthfulness.
This world was so rich and magical. I was enamored with the unique details of the story. It has some popular tropes, but it’s executed with originality that sets the story apart from many KU fantasy romance.
The banter and dialogue were top tier. Nessin had a distinct voice and Sersa’s cutting remarks were on point.
This ends of a cliffhanger for the romance plot - not the action plot. It was foreshadowed heavily and it was no surprise to me, especially given this is a first book. This is pretty much par for the course in the genre. That said, the first book’s main plot is resolved and everyone safe. Not everyone is happy. Or really, no one is.
July 27, 2025
Maaaaaaaan am I completely obsessed with the world building and magic system. The vast amount of races, clans, houses and monsters- it was like a damn feast for my fantasy coded brain and didn’t leave me wanting desert.
Sersa’s magic is so wildly unique, and how it’s presented to the reader really puts you in the perspective of our FMC while she’s using it.
I really like the mental health representation that we see with Sersa, it felt like a lot of what was going on in her head was completely relatable, and there’s a part in the book that I feel like I’ve experienced time and time over, and for me seeing this reflected in a character (especially one with SO MUCH on her shoulders) is really important for me as a reader, to connect with a MC.
So this gets my shouty clappy hands- 👏🏻 FUCK 👏🏻 YES 👏🏻 RELATABLE 👏🏻 CHARACTERS 👏🏻
Nessin. Can. Get. It.
Literally, I’ve never felt so violently flustered over a man taking off his gloves? Like what in the Victorian thirst trap? What the hell happened in my brain in that scene I don’t even know but god I’m attracted to a gloved man now, sign me up for more please. I’m mentally unwell.
The overwhelming need to have this man at my feet, is, well. Overwhelming.
He’s a gentle giant 😏
Now. Let’s talk the goods- Could quite have punched Sin in the face at the end of the book.
But the last 15% had me sweating, I was about two pages away from vomiting from anxiety. I immediately started the next book, and let me tell you- if you read this, make sure you’ve got the next book locked and loaded 😂
This was my April pick from Bri (queen of derailing my TBR) and it’s been on my radar for a good while!
Sersa’s magic is so wildly unique, and how it’s presented to the reader really puts you in the perspective of our FMC while she’s using it.
I really like the mental health representation that we see with Sersa, it felt like a lot of what was going on in her head was completely relatable, and there’s a part in the book that I feel like I’ve experienced time and time over, and for me seeing this reflected in a character (especially one with SO MUCH on her shoulders) is really important for me as a reader, to connect with a MC.
So this gets my shouty clappy hands- 👏🏻 FUCK 👏🏻 YES 👏🏻 RELATABLE 👏🏻 CHARACTERS 👏🏻
Nessin. Can. Get. It.
Literally, I’ve never felt so violently flustered over a man taking off his gloves? Like what in the Victorian thirst trap? What the hell happened in my brain in that scene I don’t even know but god I’m attracted to a gloved man now, sign me up for more please. I’m mentally unwell.
The overwhelming need to have this man at my feet, is, well. Overwhelming.
He’s a gentle giant 😏
Now. Let’s talk the goods- Could quite have punched Sin in the face at the end of the book.
But the last 15% had me sweating, I was about two pages away from vomiting from anxiety. I immediately started the next book, and let me tell you- if you read this, make sure you’ve got the next book locked and loaded 😂
This was my April pick from Bri (queen of derailing my TBR) and it’s been on my radar for a good while!
December 6, 2022
so i really liked this one but it lost me towards the end. it was messy and sad and just a total turn around to what was the rest of the Hero/main male characters personality. total shift. I was bummed yet... curious.
January 4, 2023
5⭐️
This might just be one of my favorite fantasy books I’ve read in a hot minute. It has exactly what I need in a high fantasy. Badass girl with knifes, morally grey hottie, some magic in there. It’s got slow burn, lots of tension, fake marriage, forced proximity, “if you touch her I’ll kill you,” and so much more. It really is the full package.
This book was full of adventure, suspense, and good moments. I was rooting for the main characters, hating them, loving them. It was insane and I loved it. This book had me all in my feels multiple times, it had the room getting steaming, it had me sitting up in bed thinking “what’s next?”
The world building, writing, and overall book itself was just so well done and enjoyable. I really loved it and I need the next one asap because THE CLIFFHANGER AND ENDING LEFT ME PHYSICALLY UNWELL.
This might just be one of my favorite fantasy books I’ve read in a hot minute. It has exactly what I need in a high fantasy. Badass girl with knifes, morally grey hottie, some magic in there. It’s got slow burn, lots of tension, fake marriage, forced proximity, “if you touch her I’ll kill you,” and so much more. It really is the full package.
This book was full of adventure, suspense, and good moments. I was rooting for the main characters, hating them, loving them. It was insane and I loved it. This book had me all in my feels multiple times, it had the room getting steaming, it had me sitting up in bed thinking “what’s next?”
The world building, writing, and overall book itself was just so well done and enjoyable. I really loved it and I need the next one asap because THE CLIFFHANGER AND ENDING LEFT ME PHYSICALLY UNWELL.
July 25, 2022
I liked this more than i thought i was going to.
It started slow. Really slow and i honestly thought about putting it down and walking away.
I’m so glad i didn’t. It started to pick up steam and build more of a plot.
I do wish there was more of an explanation on how Sersa and Ciel looked.
The sudden wedding night was strange.
And then being shipped off to a honeymoon. Seeing the druids. And then a month skipped by in just a few pages with minimal detail.
But the story was good. I like the interrogations and the spice that was there was GOOD!
Sin and Sersa together!
I can’t believe Dersea was in on it but THORNE was a traitor!
The cliffhanger it leaves you on is beyond frustrating.
It’s a good read.
It started slow. Really slow and i honestly thought about putting it down and walking away.
I’m so glad i didn’t. It started to pick up steam and build more of a plot.
I do wish there was more of an explanation on how Sersa and Ciel looked.
The sudden wedding night was strange.
And then being shipped off to a honeymoon. Seeing the druids. And then a month skipped by in just a few pages with minimal detail.
But the story was good. I like the interrogations and the spice that was there was GOOD!
Sin and Sersa together!
I can’t believe Dersea was in on it but THORNE was a traitor!
The cliffhanger it leaves you on is beyond frustrating.
It’s a good read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2022
The perfect blend of trickery, magic, and deceit. This book had me hooked from start to finish, and I was not disappointed. The world-building is so unique and every character has their own part to play in the story. Plus, I absolutely loved Sin and Sersa — who had the perfect enemies to lovers’ story.
Can’t wait to see what awaits in book two.
Can’t wait to see what awaits in book two.
May 4, 2023
DNF @ 83%/page 356
I tried. I tried really hard. I don’t know how I managed to read 350 pages of this though because it was real bad. I’ll give the author props for attempting to build a unique world, but honestly, that attempt failed. So many holes, inconsistencies, and unnecessary details that only served to confused rather than create depth. The main characters had zero chemistry and their actions made absolutely no sense. The dialogue was some of the cringiest I’ve ever read. I’ve never felt so much embarrassment for a fictional person. Despite all this, I wanted to like it. I just couldn’t.
I tried. I tried really hard. I don’t know how I managed to read 350 pages of this though because it was real bad. I’ll give the author props for attempting to build a unique world, but honestly, that attempt failed. So many holes, inconsistencies, and unnecessary details that only served to confused rather than create depth. The main characters had zero chemistry and their actions made absolutely no sense. The dialogue was some of the cringiest I’ve ever read. I’ve never felt so much embarrassment for a fictional person. Despite all this, I wanted to like it. I just couldn’t.
July 26, 2022
The first 15% of the book was a little slow but things picked up so fast. The FMC is such a badass and she doesn’t take any crap from the MMC. The MMC is full of secrets and I’m not sure how I feel about him. I REALLY enjoyed this book. I would recommend it to the appropriate audiences. The ending RUINED me. It was so good! Definitely looking forward to book 2!!!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 21, 2025
Slow burn, fake marriage trope with action and spice. An absolute delight. A really easy read with a world that feels different. The only thing that fell a little flat was the MMC. Are we supposed to be into him? Nothing about him (personality or physical description) gave me the tingles.
September 9, 2023
that ending pissed me off badly. if i don't see Nessin on his knees begging in the next book i will k*** him myself.
July 24, 2022
This book has become a new favorite of mine, the drama, the romance, that damn Nessin smirk. The ending has left me gobsmacked, I cannot wait to see what’s in store for Sersa’s story. If you are a fan of morally grey characters, magic, and strong female characters this book is definitely for you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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