Series: Dark Court Rising

Synopsis:

The Darkness is coming....

Can Iskvien save her husband's soul? Or will her mother's wrath destroy them all?

The third book in the Dark Court Rising series.

Review:

I don’t fear Death.
But as I summon my thorns, one of them circling my waist, I can’t help thinking: Maybe he should fear me.

Curse of Darkness was a stunning conclusion to the Dark Court Rising trilogy!   With war, love, sacrifice, friendship, and risks laced throughout the pages, this book was entirely addicting!  From start to finish this series has been action packed with romance that was sigh worthy.  I fell so deeply in love with these characters and the journeys they went on.  If you’re looking for a completed adult fantasy to binge, then look no further!

I didn’t get to burn his body.
I didn’t get to say goodbye.
I didn’t get to tell him I loved him one last time….

From that first page, this story sliced my heart open.  I was not ready for the heartache that would follow the ending of Crown of Darkness.  The tears wouldn’t stop coming.  But have faith, because there were so many twists and turns in this book that kept me of my edge of my seat!  And there were also revelations that blew my mind!  As the story kept unfolding, I loved that we got a clear picture of all the players and what was truly going on.  The insights we gained kept me holding my breath.  Because I was terrified how it would all pan out!

I can’t control the rage that ignites my magic. Where once there was heat and flame, now there’s only ice.

Through it all, we had Vi who was a true queen we could respect!  The dangerous games she played, while trying to hold an unfathomable amount of precarious cards, left me feeling nervous and so proud of her.  She had come so far from that first moment we met her!  And while she prepared for the upcoming war that was looming in the background like a ticking time bomb I got chills with who she fought tooth and nail to align herself with.  She was truly unstoppable.  Or so I hoped!  And if that wasn’t enough, she also had to save her husband’s soul.

“…We’re family, Vi. Now you need to understand that.”
My heart feels so fucking heavy in my chest. “I know.”
Finn falls back to clap a hand on my shoulder. “You’re not alone, Vi. I just want you to know that. And the weight on your shoulders isn’t your burden to carry alone.”
Hot tears threaten to spill down my cheeks.

Finn, Eris, Thalia, Amaya, Grimm, Baylor and so many more, I adored this found family so much!  Together they were a formidable team and at times they left me laughing manically because of how things unfolded.  And as they helped Vi on her journey, the bargains that were made, the risks that were taken, and the terrifying plans that played out were mesmerizing!  They had to put their trust and faith in those you hoped wouldn’t do them wrong. And at times there were unseen consequences and heartbreaking moments but there were also so many that made me laugh and cry happy tears.  I definitely cried all the happy tears while reading this story!

“Well, well,” she whispers as her laughter fades. “The little queen of Evernight is learning to play the game.”

Curse of Darkness brimmed with emotions and tensions ran high, making this book impossible to put down.  This series is a must read for fantasy lovers!  And we’re definitely given a HEA for Vi, you know I’m not going to offer more than that lol.  But at the same time, there was still so much going on in this world and so many stories that still need to be told.  I have a lot of guesses for future love matches *fingers crossed*.  So after you read that final page, we’re told whose story is up next and I was screaming with excitement!  I. Can’t. Wait!

Molten eyes lock on mine. “Remind me what it feels like to live.”
I gift him with a dangerous smile. “Done.”

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Reading Order:

Review #1: Jen’s Review	Review #1.5: Jen’s Review	Review #2: Jen’s Review
Review #3: Jen’s Review

Crown of Darkness (Dark Court Rising #2)
by Bec McMaster
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Thiago and Iskvien survived a dangerous curse, but will they survive the coming war?

Princess Iskvien made a dangerous bargain with an ancient goddess in order to break her mother’s curse. Now she must find the Crown of Shadows within a year, or the goddess will take her firstborn child.

Thiago—her heart and soul—stands at her side, but their love has never been tested like this.

Enemies surround them, but in the game of love and war, does her mother, Queen Adaia, hold the ultimate weapon up her sleeve? Or can their love defeat all?

True love will face the ultimate challenge when a dark goddess rises, secrets threaten to tear two lovers apart, and a queen will stop at nothing to gain revenge. Read this epic fantasy filled with magic and breathtaking romance today!

Warning: Cliffhanger ending.

Review:

This time, I’m not prey. This time, I’m the hunter.

Crown of Darkness was an exhilarating continuation of the Dark Court Rising Trilogy!  This story was filled with twists, love, friendship, sacrifice and so much heart. With heart pounding action and unfathomable peril, Crown of Darkness became an instant favorite!  If you love fantasy and adult romance then you definitely need this series in your life!

In this moment, he’s no longer merely my husband.
He’s the Prince of Evernight. The Lord of Whispers and Lies. The Master of Darkness. And the most dangerous male in the south.

Vi and Thiago’s love was forbidden, yet it was fated and written in the stars.  And while they were now together, there was still no peace or rest.  Vi was tasked with finding a crown or their first born child was to be given to Mother of the Night.  And while that was impossible enough, war was brewing.  With so much at play, I was terrified.  Especially since three chapters in, we got Andraste’s view.  My feelings were twisted and confused when it came to her, and after following along with her part of the journey my head was left spinning.  Just like so many other moments in this serious did to me. So hold on, because this book was a wild ride!

I cut him off with a kiss, painting it across his lips.
“You were my salvation,” I whisper against his mouth, because I know what my life was like before I met him.

I loved seeing Vi and Thiago finally together. We got to learn more about Thiago’s childhood and his secrets.  And that broke my heart.  But I loved that throughout the chaos and struggles, Vi and Thiago got to spend beautiful moments together. Creating new memories. And ones that burned brightly with passion. With Vi now in his life, Thiago could hold off not destroying the world with his darkness, and that always left me breathless. But at the same time I was nervous, because it felt like their fate was tainted. Or too much was against them and I didn’t know how it would play out.

“Nothing will take you away from me again. Not your mother. Not Angharad’s fetch. Not the Mother of Fucking Night. I will drown this world in Darkness before I ever let you go again.”

The twists in this story were phenomenal! As more pieces of the puzzle came together, I was left gasping and surrounded by so much emotion.  Looking back, for some of the twists I could see those tiny crumbs of clues, but my mind was still blown.  For others I was absolutely shocked.  It made complete sense, I just never thought that the story would play out that way. This book will definitely keep you on your toes! So much was revealed, but also so much is unknown. And I had so much fun reading this story!

They will all die for him and give their lives gladly, and my mother doesn’t understand that.

Friendships within these pages added the much needed lightness to this story. I loved how they could make us laugh, even during times of peril. I loved their antics with one another and how much it made me smile. They were a true found family and one that I adore with my whole heart. Vi, Thiago, Eris, Finn, Baylor and more were the heart of this story and their friendships warmed my heart!

We are all capable of becoming monsters for the ones we love, little queen. Even you.”
“I am no monster.”
“If you want to destroy your mother, then you must become the thing she fears,” she says in a merciless voice.

With dire consequences, impossible choices and help from unlikely sources this book ended with a bang! Crown of Darkness was a dark, mesmerizing, epic fantasy! And while I rarely agree with others that a book ends on a cliffhanger, this book…..oh my heart! It ended on the most epic of cliffhangers. I’m so glad the final book is out or else I’d be a puddle of emotions.  So make sure you have Curse of Darkness available, because you’ll desperately need it! This story elicited so much emotion from me, I cried three different times and at one point I thought my heart would literally shatter into a billion pieces. But with friendships and love within these pages, it rounded out the hardships so fabulously!

Tears stream down my face, but it’s the rage in my heart that can’t be hidden. I always thought my mother had taken everything she could from me.
But I was wrong.
“I will kill her.”

PS I loved the Princess Bride references!

PPS I loved the addition of a new character!

Reading Order:

Review #1: Jen’s Review	Review #1.5: Jen’s Review	Review #2: Jen’s Review
Review #3: Jen’s Review

Seduced by Darkness (Dark Court Rising #1.5)
by Bec McMaster
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

*Spoilers for Promise of Darkness*

He fell in love with the woman of his dreams, but he never realized what that love would cost him.

When a dark prince attends the Lammastide rites, he lays eyes on his fated mate.

The problem?

She’s his enemy’s daughter.

A novella in the Dark Court Rising series from Thiago's POV featuring the first time he met Princess Iskvien.

Review:

*Spoilers for Promise of Darkness*

This is so, so dangerous.
And I don’t care. I want it all.

Seduced by Darkness was a mesmerizing look into the past.  The story took place thirteen years before Promise of Darkness, so you don’t want to read this book first.  In this story, we learned so much that was unknown.  I loved watching how Vi and Thiago’s story unfolded.  Watching them meet, learning to trust one another and fall in love was magical and all consuming.  And there were so many unique aspects within the pages.  I loved that we got to alternate between Vi and Thiago.  Getting to hear his voice was exhilarating and everything I could have wanted!  We also got to see little pieces from the future take place within the past, I was screaming with excitement for how certain things played out!  And while this book and the first were both seductive and sexy, their moments together went further and we got to read all of the fabulous details when Thiago and Vi were together.  It was extremely scorching hot *fans face*.

“Do I have a choice?” I can’t help being on the offensive; he’s just a little too overwhelming.
“You always have a choice.” Taking my hand he lifts it to his lips. “Me? Not so. Fate took me by the heart five centuries ago and tattooed you there on my soul.” 

From when they first met, there was an instant pull.  Yes it was one of attraction.  But it also ran so much deeper.  So seeing Vi realize that Thiago was so much more than what the stories and lies said about him was smile inducing.  Her discovering the honesty and honor within Thiago warmed my heart.  But there was also friendship in the pages that made my heart skip a happy beat.  Finn, oh my goodness he was beyond fabulous.  Finn and Vi together made me laugh and I can’t wait to see how their friendship unfolds as this series goes along!  But this book also showed us a darker side.  We got a clear picture of how horrific Vi’s mother was, and not only the lengths she would go to but the atrocities she committed.  It was terrifying and left me uneasy and nervous for what will happen next.  And Etan?!  I was just left staring at the pages when it came to him, you’ll have to see what I’m talking about.  So yes, I definitely recommend reading this book! Seduced by Darkness is a definite must read if you loved Promise of Darkness!  The insights you gain were invaluable and watching Vi and Thiago’s love bloom was heartwarming

It doesn’t matter if she’s the daughter of my enemy. It doesn’t matter if we barely know each other. We have this and it burns between us. A promise of more. A promise of forever if only I am brave enough to reach out and take it.

Reading Order:

Review #1: Jen’s Review	Review #1.5: Jen’s Review	Review #2: Jen’s Review
Review #3: Jen’s Review