The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent. The hype is real.

Synopsis

Human or vampire, the rules of survival are the same: never trust, never yield, and always – always – guard your heart.

The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, Oraya carved her place in a world designed to kill her. Her only chance to become something more than prey is entering the Kejari: a legendary tournament held by the goddess of death herself.

But winning won’t be easy amongst the most vicious warriors from all three vampire houses. To survive, Oraya is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious rival.

Everything about Raihn is dangerous. He is a ruthless vampire, an efficient killer, an enemy to her father’s crown… and her greatest competition. Yet, what terrifies Oraya most of all is that she finds herself oddly drawn to him.

But there’s no room for compassion in the Kejari. War for the House of Night brews, shattering everything that Oraya thought she knew about her home. And Raihn may understand her more than anyone – but their blossoming attraction could be her downfall, in a kingdom where nothing is more deadly than love.

The Serpent and the Wings of Night is the first book in a new series of heart-wrenching romance, dark magic, and bloodthirsty intrigue, perfect for fans of From Blood and Ash and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Review

5 stars

I won’t lie, I gave this book a try as it’s been super hyped and loved by friends.

Aaand…

It has a deadly competition with vampires and magic! I love magic competitions! It’s a one click trope for me.

Even better, our main character is the underdog! The only human in that competition gathering the fiercest vampire warriors! And I ALWAYS root for the underdog!

So we were on a great start that story and I.

Cherry or rather cherries on top:

-the opening sucked me in (see below);

-there is a slow burn with a very hot, very deadly but inside marshmallow(y) vampire;

-there is a big twist at the end with a big secret reveal!

Among many other things.

Let’s backtrack and talk about the plot and that famous opening.

The story begins with winged vampires landing in a devastated landscape, before the charred remains of a little house previously inhabited by humans. They are all dead save a little girl who is hissing savagely at these monsters who destroyed her home.

Of course, they are ready to make her their meal when the big and powerful king of vampires, Vincent, takes the girl under his protection after she bit him.

Promising beginning right?

For years, Oraya, that’s our girl’s name, will grow up in the palace in constant fear of being the vampires next meal. The king is her adopted father and the only vampire she trusts.

He will raise her harshly but fairly.

His brand of love is helping her fight, giving her the tools to face the monsters. That’s how Oraya knows he cares.

But Oraya want to stop being prey and become predator instead. She is tired of being constantly guarded, ready to fight for her life.

“Do you want to change this world, little serpent? Then climb your cage until you are so high no one can catch you. Break its bars and make them your weapons. Nothing is sharper. I know because I did it.”

And that’s when the Kejari will help her.

That competition to the death is organized every two hundred years in the name of the vampire’s goddess. The winner is granted a wish by the goddess herself.

The plan is for Oraya to win and ask to share Vincent’s magic, becoming immortal and powerful in the process.

The  competition is brutal and Oraya is not at the top of the food chain! So she is forced to make an alliance with a mysterious and powerful vampire Raihn. As Raihn is also sexy as heck, you can guess where Oraya’s mind will wander too….

I adored the competition! It was brutal, full of surprises, horrific ordeals, gore and near death. That also helped Oraya grow more confident of course and discover things about her she had no idea of!

I feared for her life countless times and I really liked to witness how the relationship between Raihn and Oraya developed.

I also adored the surprises she gave us! Discovering that you have unexpected powers is also a favorite trope!

Oraya is also a character with a spine of steel! She is conflicted too as she loves Vincent, even if her father is also a predator to humans like her. She wanted to become more like him, more powerful but at the same time, at what cost for her humanity?

Raihn was her opposite. He was a vampire, incredibly strong yet he craved humanity and cultivated his with dedication. Mourning his lost mortality. He also went through so much and that reinforced the fact that these vampires were indeed real monsters, or at least, some of them.

“I am fucking furious for you.” No, I wouldn’t give him my pity. But I’d give him my rage.

If you like fantasy romance like Sarah J Maas, Amelia Hutchins or Jennifer Estep, then that book is for you! I can’t wait for its sequel now and I am glad I waited so long before reading the book as that means…only seven days to wait now!

Thanks for reading.

Sophie