Legacy of the Night

Ravinia Duology #1

by McKenzie Burns

One orphan. One shapeshifter. One chance to save their country.

Mikhail Chernakov wants nothing more than to forget the past and his life on the streets. After returning from university in a foreign land, he hopes to use his newfound education to obtain a respectable job and a life of luxury. Instead, he ends up joining a secret band of assassins called the Order of Tugarin.

Tatiana Malinovskaya wants nothing more than to trade her lavish lifestyle in the palace for one of adventure. It's not as though proper ladies should have claws randomly sprouting from their fingers anyhow. So, when approached with the promise of a new partner, Tatiana happily returns to her duties in the Order of Tugarin.

When Tatiana and Mikhail are paired together to take on the worst of Ravinia, they end up coming across a criminal plot organized by their country's greatest enemy. Determined to find the cause of the threat before it's too late, they need to figure out how to get past their differences and work together. For if they cannot, their country will fall to its doom.

Genres: Fantasy

408 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2022

About the author

McKenzie Burns is a multi-genre author from the suburbs of Chicago with a passion for writing stories that involve diverse cultures, witty banter, and women who don’t take no for an answer. Her spare time is spent drinking copious amounts of coffee and scouring Spotify for obscure music.

Reviews

[McKenzie Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, it’s time for the world to read this book, as always that’s scary. I have loved this story and the characters since the first words hit the page, and I hope that everyone else does too.

I always review my books, not because I believe they are masterpieces that will change the world or go down in history (even though that would be pretty cool). I do it because I’m proud of them. Of the work that went into them. The vulnerability. And hopefully the growth that is evident in my writing (this is my third book).

Hopefully you enjoy this journey and come back for book two (when that’s eventually available) to witness what’s in store for all these characters.

[Rozanne Visagie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Legacy of the Night is inspired by the Russian Imperial Age and is the first book in the Ravinia duology. The story centres around an orphan (Mikhail) and a shapeshifter (Tatiana). Mikhail wants to forget his life on the streets and Tatiana struggles to hide her strange ability. Both end up working together in a secret order fighting enemies in the city or threats posed to the country.

The dual POV allows the reader to get to know both Mikail and Tatiana and also see how they get comfortable with each other. There is banter and a slow-burn romance as well as missions and fights. With these two being assassins, you can expect danger lurking around every corner but not all moments are filled with tension. Tatiana has an adorable pet sable but beware, this pet can bite!

Different elements in the book include ladies in waiting, palaces and courting as well as hidden identity. Enemies to lovers fans will be happy to know that this trope is present and Six of Crows fans will find this book delightful to read since there are vibes that remind me of Leigh Bardugo's books. This YA fantasy is free on Kindle Unlimited, be sure to add this book to your TBR. Tatiana will surprise you with her fierce character, she's not the one being rescued, she's the one rescuing! Mikhail with his rough edges will soon become a favourite. I enjoyed this book and the cliffhanger has me so excited for the next book.

☆ 408 pages

Thank you MTMC Tours and the author for gifting me a digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Tenaya MKD · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book!
Kick-ass FMC - check
Secret organization that kills the bad guys without remorse - check
Charming MMC - check
Awesome action - check

So up my alley. :)

[Meghan Keyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I audibly said, “holy f*** that was amazing,” (please pardon my language but it is necessary due to my extreme love for this book). Mikhail and Tatiana are *chef’s kiss* characters who have the best banter between the two of them (I would
audibly laugh out loud at some of the things they would say. Just so GOOD!!!) They are just so amazing. I love them. Burns was able to transport me to a time long ago in Russia due to her incredible talent for world building. “The Legacy of the Night” has everything a gal needs: action, humor, enemies to lovers, & a cliff hanger (like seriously, McKenzie better have the next book ready to go). Burns just keeps getting better and better with every book that she writes and I have to say, this is my absolute favorite she has written so far and I cannot wait to see what comes next for Mikhail and Tatiana!!!

[Kayla Sedlacek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be the first to admit that the sort of fantasy genre usually isn't my scene, but this book was a very fun read! It's all about characters for me and the two protagonists are well thought out and round characters. I found myself invested in their stories and wanting to learn more.

It was an easy read and one I tackled in about 4-5 days. Burns does a great job immersing the reader into the story and I found myself visualizing this world she built as I read.

My only criticism is the predictability. I wouldn't say it's full of twists and turns that I didn't see coming. But given this is the first book in their story, I'll let it slide. :)

[Lily Heron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hardnosed womaniser Mikhail has shed his impoverished childhood only to return home to find his country in the midst of political turmoil. Against his better judgement, he teams up an order of assassins and the fiercely intelligent heiress Tatiana, who is hiding secrets of her own. The world of Legacy of the Night is so richly drawn, from the bomb-making warehouses to the opulent palaces and theatres. Mikhail and Tatiana work so well together as protagonists who are in constant conflict and growth, edging closer little by little even as their sharp edges and vulnerabilities are gradually, carefully revealed. Mikhail is one of those leading men who to me feels like he's an overgrown little boy, constantly trying to prove himself while looking for a long-lost home. He's someone you'll roll your eyes at one moment then want to give a hug in another, which is a difficult balance to strike and deserves a lot of praise. Especially in her early chapters, I thought the themes of Tatiana straining against her cultural and economic background, coupled with the "other things" she's dealing with (no spoilers), were demonstrated so well, and again this is one of the many examples of the rewarding opposites attract dynamic between Mikhail and Tatiana. If you enjoyed Anastasia, or the Six of Crows duology or Grisha trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, Legacy of the Night is the perfect next read for you.

[Ley Taylor Johnson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I've had the pleasure of working with McKenzie on some of her previous releases, and this is the first chance I've had to read her work for the first time as a final product. Her writing style and story concepts get stronger with every piece, and Legacy of the Night is an obvious labor of love full of drama, intrigue, and heartbreak, whether we're exploring the crime-riddled streets of Biroskovsk or entertaining flirtatious banter in the palace.

Honestly, I was so enthralled by the political tension between Ravinia and its neighboring countries that I nearly forgot this book is primarily classified as a dark fantasy/romance. I got caught up in the details of the Zublean uprising and the Ravinian empire, wondering how Tatiana would balance her charmed life as a countess's daughter with the brutality she encounters on the streets almost nightly.

Tatiana herself was a compelling protagonist, and I cannot wait to see where her character arc goes in the sequel. She's a kind, compassionate, and utterly merciless woman who stands at an interesting contrast with Mikhail, who is kind of a piece of shit. I say this mostly lovingly. He boasts a lot of admirable soft spots and his history with Ravinia drives him in a way that I think will come to fascinating fruition in Book 2, but his insistent womanizing and occasional lesbophobic side comments leave something to be desired. Their burgeoning relationship is messy and heartfelt, and regardless of my personal feelings about Mikhail, I'm pretty firmly Team "Give Tatiana Whatever She Wants, Even If It's This Guy."

The reason I ultimately landed on three stars has a lot to do with the ending. There are a few details dropped throughout the story that seem to hint toward a version of the ending that doesn't actually come to pass. While the actual ending is still well-written and an excellent setup for the sequel, it does feel the slightest bit rushed by comparison, and leaves those details feeling somewhat like loose plot threads.

Specifically, it felt like the story was building to a reveal that the Zublean uprising is completely justified, and that the Ravinian government is a lot more corrupt than we've been led to believe. It's mentioned multiple times that Ravinia is still recovering from a war that's left a lot of its people disenfranchised, and we regularly see Tatiana and her court enjoying luxuries while people starve and freeze to death only blocks away. Her friends parrot the idea that Ravinia is "the superior country" even while they're friends with a sapphic couple that would be executed if they were discovered. Mikhail himself is the victim of the Ravinian police, who tore apart his home and family after his brother-in-law's mafia ties were revealed.

I was beginning to assume that Boris married Vera as one last hopeful bid for peace between their two countries, and that Tatiana would discover that the Order of Tugarin had been secretly spurring the violence in order to strengthen Ravinia's hold over Zublea (and would grapple with some pretty nuanced guilt as a result). The palace bombing and Boris's abrupt heel turn are somewhat of a disappointment as a result, though not necessarily poorly written. It's possible that this will be explored more in the sequel, but if there were any intent to show that there are two sides to this war, I wish it would have been more present in the first book.

Aside from that, my callouts are fairly minor. Some of the tertiary characters felt a bit one-dimensional, resulting in Katiya being "Mikhail's FWB" and Elena and Inna being "the lesbians" without many other personality traits. This could be the result of them having a fairly minor role in the story, but with both examples being relatively close to their respective POV protagonists, it would have been nice to see more characterization outside of the role they filled.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and I'm deeply excited for the sequel. McKenzie has outdone herself, and I'm sure the sequel will be full of sensational magic and the exact brand of emotional damage that I love.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! From the first page, I instantly felt transported into the world of Ravinia, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next! The characters felt really raw and real to me. I love Tatiana. She’s a strong, fierce female character who knows how to navigate the drama within the Royal court, as well as defend herself amongst the dangers of the street. She also has a big heart and is incredibly loyal to those she loves. I enjoyed her banter and chemistry with Mikhail, and how they grew closer as the story progressed. Mikhail is definitely a swoon-worthy lead, and I really enjoyed his personal growth throughout the novel. So many things in this book were so creative and shrouded with mystery, that I couldn’t put it down. The cliffhanger ending has me dying for more! And I can’t leave a review without a shoutout to one of my favorite side characters—Tatiana’s pet sable Mily. Feisty and completely adorable, I wouldn’t be surprised if she became one of the leads in book 2. ;)

[Heidi Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Loved the setting of this book. At times it reminded me of Anastasia, in a good way. While there were some strong storyline developments, the book took a while to pick up. I was hoping for more excitement from their evening assignments with The Order. And also more from the shapeshifter storyline. The book picks up as you go, but I felt it could have gotten there a lot quicker, and had more intrigue and mystery along the way. Excited to see what the author does in the next!

[kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible read. The writing style was so engaging and I couoldn't put it down, the storyline was absolutely riveting and by far the best thing about this book for me was the characters who are so well developed and so utterly believable, relatable and likeable.
The book is full of action - like it never stops and it was a lot funnier than I expected it to be.
I loved it.

[Isabella Aguirre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first time writing a review but I feel like this book deserves it so much. It is one of my favorites books this year and I honestly didn’t expect it. I wish more people read this book as it is a very well crafted book, it has everything, it has assassins secret organizations, romance, complicated relations and so much more. I am so exited to read the next book and I hope this review can convince someone else to read it as it is well deserved. This is perfect for the fans of six of crows.
Rating 4.5/5 ⭐️

[Liz Vohasek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!!! I couldn't get enough of Tatiana and Mikhail as they worked together in the secret crime-stopping order. McKenzie does such a great job of describing the emotions of the characters, as well as the scenes set before us as the reader. I am DYING to get my hands on the second part of this duet! 😍

[Allison Dininger · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could rate this more than five stars, I honestly would. Fantasy has always had a special place in my heart, and McKenzie, as always, executed the perfect romantic story to disappear into. A blend of politics, twists, romance, and my favorite: romantic, slow-burn tension! The two main characters' love made me laugh and swoon, while the stubborn lovers refused to notice their own feelings. McKenzie knew the perfect way to grow the tension along with the plot. The end left me gasping and on the edge of my seat. When is the next book coming out?

[Lang Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book!! I don’t even know where to start. I love love love the banter and chemistry between Mikhail and Tatiana. I also love love love that there is no damsel in distress. Tatiana is fierce! Do not mess with her! The world building is beautiful, the characters are fleshed out, and the plot twists had my heart racing. It’s everything I want in a book.