Carissa Broadbent can do no wrong!! She writes it, I will devour it. I just love the worlds she comes up with. They’re all so unique and captivating. This second book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series was everything I didn’t know I needed and more. I’ve loved every second of Oraya and Raihn’s story. I’m sad to see it end, but we’ve been promised glimpses of them as she writes the rest of the series!

The balance of action, political scheming, spice, and overall plot, is just A++ in this book. There was just enough politics to hold my intrigue but not too much to where I was skimming or didn’t understand. The action was so good, I was hungrily eating up the fight scenes. And the tension. Omg the tension. The push and pull between Oraya and Raihn was done so well! Their banter as always, was top notch. I just love these two!

There were so many plot twists and revelations that I did not see coming. My jaw definitely dropped a couple of times and my brain was like . And then sometimes it was like especially when we finally find out Oraya’s true identity. Oh my heart. The last 20% of this book is very intense and although Oraya and Raihn’s story is over, it leaves enough intrigue and questions to set us up for the next couple of books in the series. Although they will focus on a different couple, I am so ready for them! There’s still more to unwrap and I’m dying to know what happens next.

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Tropes

• Enemies to Lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Lies and Betrayal
• Hidden Identity

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Spice Level

/5

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Quotes

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Blurb

Love is a sacrifice at the altar of power.

In the wake of the Kejari, everything Oraya once thought to be true has been destroyed. A prisoner in her own kingdom, grieving the only family she ever had, and reeling from a gutting betrayal, she no longer even knows the truth of her own blood. She’s left only with one certainty: she cannot trust anyone, least of all Raihn.

The House of Night, too, is surrounded by enemies. Raihn’s own nobles are none too eager to accept a Turned king, especially one who was once a slave. And the House of Blood digs their claws into the kingdom, threatening to tear it apart from the inside.

When Raihn offers Oraya a secret alliance, taking the deal is her only chance at reclaiming her kingdom–and gaining her vengeance against the lover who betrayed her. But to do so, she’ll need to harness a devastating ancient power, intertwined with her father’s greatest secrets.

But with enemies closing in on all sides, nothing is as it seems. As she unravels her past and faces her future, Oraya finds herself forced to choose between the bloody reality of seizing power – and the devastating love that could be her downfall.

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent is the second book in the Crowns of Nyaxia series and cannot be read as a standalone. The Serpent and the Wings of Night must be read first and you can find my review for that book here!

I hope you enjoy Oraya and Raihn’s story as much as I have. Happy reading!

The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent Book Review

Related Posts

• The Serpent and the Wings of Night (Crowns of Nyaxia #1) Book Review

The post The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King Book Review appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

Let me just start off by saying it took me an embarrassingly amount of time to realize this author also wrote The War of Lost Hearts trilogy. It all came full circle as to why I was sucked into this book so quickly. Just like her previous books, Carissa Broadbent is so so talented at world building without it dragging on and on, the magic system is unique, and the spice is the perfect amount to accompany an epic fantasy plot.

I loved the main characters Oraya and Raihn and they’re doomed from the start romance. Oraya’s transformation from a lifetime of being prey in a vampire world to a bad ass that can take on the predators was such an amazing journey to read. 

The character development is so well done I even enjoyed the minor characters in this book. While these characters are sometimes forgettable, Carissa depicts them in such a way that I found myself looking forward to learning more about them as we continue to the series.

If you like a good enemies to lovers trope, magical competitions, vampires, politics and epic fantasies, this book is 100% for you! And when you fall in love like I know you will, go on to read The War of Lost Hearts trilogy. It’s one of my top reads of 2022!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night Tropes

• Enemies to Lovers
• Magical Competition
• Forced Proximity
• Slow Burn

The Serpent and the Wings of Night Spice Level

/5

Favorite Quotes

The Serpent and the Wings of Night Blurb

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.

I hope you enjoyed! Let me know in the comments if you’ve read this series yet!

The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent Book Review

Related Posts

• The Ashes and the Star-Cursed King (Crowns of Nyaxia #2) Book Review

The post The Serpent and the Wings of Night Book Review appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.

I devoured The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer in two sittings. No shame. It’s an easy, bingeable contemporary romance that hits all the marks. I love our hunky, rugged and extra grumpy next door neighbor Thayer and our sassy cupcake queen Salem. They were relatable and all of their interactions were so dang cute. Especially all of the sweet, sweet things Thayer did for Salem. The concert?? Couldn’t wipe the smile off my face.

Everything was going all hunky-dory until the last 20% when Micalea decided to go after my fragile heart with ruthless abandon. I accidentally read THAT scene before the gym the other morning and I can’t even tell you how I made it through that workout. 

With all that said, I’m not sure what it was exactly, but the book was missing something. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was invested in the characters, I’m not sure I would have continued with the second book. I found myself skimming some parts and looking at what percentage I had left.

I was also a little confused on how Salem’s mother’s cancer was addressed. I’m pretty sure you just don’t go home right after a double mastectomy and everything is easy sailing from there…

Anywho, if you’re looking for a bingeable, angsty contemporary romance, this is a good option. The grumpy x sunshine and age gap tropes were done very well. Despite my complaints, it was a good book but it just didn’t blow me out of the water.

The Confidence of Wildflowers Tropes

• Grumpy x Sunshine
• Age Gap
• Single Dad
• Forced Proximity

The Confidence of Wildflowers Spice Level

/5

Favorite Quotes

The Confidence of Wildflowers Blurb

I was eighteen, he was thirty-one. We were worlds apart. But right next door. The temptations were too strong.

My future is a big ‘what if’ at the moment and I’m fine with that.
For the most part.
When Thayer Holmes moves in next door, the grumpy landscaper both fascinates and amuses me.
When he asks me to nanny his kid, it’s a great way to make some extra money.
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Thayer and his adorable son.
There’s a big problem though.
I’m eighteen. He’s thirty-one.
Falling for someone almost fifteen years older than me wasn’t part of my plans, but sometimes things happen when you least expect them.

Have you read The Confidence of Wildflowers yet? Tell me your thoughts! If you’re interested, the link for my review of The Resurrection of Wildflowers (Wildflower Duet #2) is listed below. Happy reading!

The Confidence of Wildflowers by Micalea Smeltzer Book Review

Related Posts

• The Resurrection of Wildflowers Book Review (Wildflower Duet #2)

The post The Confidence of Wildflowers Book Review appeared first on A Blonde's Eye View.