The Serpent and the Wings of Night

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The Serpent and the Wings of Night is everywhere you look these days, especially if you frequent romance book friendly places. Tiktok, in particular, is all but enamored with this book. That wasn't exactly a ringing endorsement, for me, as TikTok doesn't exactly have a great track record with recommending books. BUT then I saw a few friends pick this book up and enjoy it. Like, thoroughly enjoy it. That was what got my attention. I had tried Carissa Broadbent's first series and was not a fan. I was more than hesitant to give her another chance. But oh man, am I glad that I did. FORTUNATELY, Broadbent's writing has seriously improved. Like enough that I can say, without doubt, that The Serpent and the Wings of Night is absolutely worth the read, especially if you're into fantasy romance.

If you're looking for what this book feels like, I can hammer it down in THREE titles. Take The Hunger Games, plus ACOTAR, and add in a little Twlight action, throw it all in a blender, and you'll get The Serpent and the Wings of Night. Our main character, Oraya, is a human raised by a vampire king. He's raised her to be ruthless, violent, and efficient at killing. She's prey in a world of predators — there's no option here for her to be soft. Every...[mumbles I don't remember] years there's a great competition where the winner gets to ask a boon of the vampire's mother/goddess. Oraya's father wants her to enter so she can be made as powerful as he is. Only problem is — she's going to be the only human in the competition. Obviously you see the problem.

So she enters, and has to prove that she's just as competent at killing as all the vampires. Blah, blah, blah, she ends up meeting Raihn. (Sidenote — again, Carissa, why haven't you included a pronunciation guide? I was just calling him Rain and hoping that was right!!!!!) Raihn is a huge vampire, powerful, protective, and sarcastic. I loved him immediately, because I'm a sucker for all of those things separately, but when you combine them? WHOO BOY. Anyway, obviously they sort of circle each other romantically, and eventually fall in love. Ish. (You'll understand when you read.) There's one steamy sex scene, and a couple like...vaguely warm make out sessions. Not really the steam I was promised, TikTok! Like, ACOTAR is miles steamier. Oh well, still absolutely worth the read.

There's a lot of death, blood, and violence in here, but I mean...it's a book about vampires. You shouldn't really be surprised by those being included. I wouldn't really call this a dark romance, either, but I think some might call it that? (They're in a competition where death is all but certain, and they fall in love.) Either way, I really enjoyed this, and the ending knocked me on my butt it was so good. Headed right into the second book now, wish me luck!!!