SYNOPSIS

Oraya, a human in a world run by vampires, was adopted by the Nightborn vampire king, Vincent, who found her in a pile of rubble. They have trained together to prepare her for the Kejari, a tournament hosted by the goddess Nyaxia, where the last one standing is granted a wish.

Oraya is tired of being a human in a world run by vampires and enters the tournament, finding herself allying with two rival vampires.

What could possibly happen?

RECAP AND REVIEW

This story is told in the first person perspective by Oraya and only from her. It’s a dark fantasy, paranormal, romance book with a gruesome tournament and a complicated family dynamic. It’s the first in a series.

I finished this book on March 27th and hadn’t been able to keep focus with any of the books I’ve picked up since then. This book destroyed me.

With this series, I felt like Oraya’s sarcasm and ruthlessness was authentic. Her characteristics made sense with her experiences and it wasn’t just blind faith or luck leading her. She was never argumentative for the sake of it and I liked her, though her internalized self hatred was troublesome for me at times.

In this world, vampires run the world, committing crimes against humans, which are treated subpar, thought of as weak and prey. Oraya witnesses the dynamics between vampires and humans in the human slums near the castle she lives in. She internalizes the weakness of humans, partly because of her adopted father, Vincent.

He wants her to be safe and remain alive, thinking the easiest way is to become a vampire by winning the tournament. Being turned is too dangerous and there’s no guarantee she would survive. This is why he trains her in fighting and with magic. It’s why he’s always told her to never keep her guard down or let anyone close. However, there’s two sides to Vincent: Her father and protector and the ruthless king who wants to stay in power.

The romance between Raihn and Oraya was a slow burn that had the right amount of build up for the story. They were enemies to allies to maybe even friends, helping each other stay alive in the trials of the tournament and bantering in between trials. They gradually learn each other, strengths and weaknesses, and their walls come down to lay a foundation of trust.

This book doesn’t have the smut that other romantasies do, but the two instances aren’t disappointing.

I also enjoyed Mische, Raihn’s close friend and their third partner in the tournament, and her relationship with Raihn. They were a sunshine grumpy duo that was completely platonic and wholesome. She was so pure.

Some of the reveals in the last few chapters I saw coming, but as a whole, I was completely shook. I can’t believe what happens and what is revealed and to this day I can’t stop thinking about what will happen next. Hopefully, I’ll have my hands on the next book soon.

OVERALL

Overall, I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars. I loved everything about it from the world building to the relationship dynamics to the tournament to how it ended. This book is a mix of the best of ACOTAR, which I have mixed feelings about as a series, and The Blood Trials, my favorite book of last year. I’m impatiently waiting on hold at the library. I highly recommend it, even if you don’t typically read romantasies.