The Serpent and the Wings of Night: Discover the stunning Sunday Times bestselling first book in the romantasy series Crowns of Nyaxia

This is such a good story. So well written with such wonderful characters. Heros to love and hate. Lovers to love and hate and a Hunger Games style backdrop that amuses, enthralls, delights and strikes horror into the heart.

Now, I'll be the first to admit that fantasy wasn't always my go-to genre. But after being spellbound by 'Fourth Wing,' I decided to take another leap into the mystical world, and The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent was my next destination. I must say, it didn't quite have me as obsessed as 'Fourth Wing,' which i'm still dreaming about, but it was still a wild ride. If I had to compare it to something, I'd say it's got a bit of that 'Hunger Games' edge – a fierce fight for survival between a mortal and a bunch of hungry vampires, with plenty of twists and turns. Oraya the FMC didn't exactly win me over right from the start. I get it, she's in a life-or-death situation, but boy, she's got a knack for being rude and nasty to just about everyone. A smile every once in a while wouldn't hurt, right? Now, as we ventured into the story's climax, things got a little dicey. There was so much happening, and I'll admit, it got a tad confusing, and I struggled to keep up with all the threads of the tale. However, even with the initial hiccups and the whirlwind ending, I can't deny that book held a special charm. It's a fantastic fantasy adventure, with a hot romance and an unapologetically feisty protagonist, who, for all her rudeness, is undeniably captivating. And despite my moments of confusion, I found myself enjoying the journey. So, if you're a fantasy enthusiast or just dipping your toes into this magical realm, give this book a whirl. It's a rollercoaster ride of survival and mystery that'll keep you on the edge of your seat, even if Oraya's sunny disposition isn't exactly the highlight. Overall, I'd recommend this tale of bravery and survival in a world brimming with enigmatic magic and danger.

I wasn’t prepared for how thoroughly The Serpent and the Wings of Night would consume me. A brutal tournament, cutthroat vampire politics, and a carefully paced slow-burn romance come together in a dark romantasy that sustains its tension throughout. It’s an immersive, tightly plotted read that held my attention from start to finish. The story follows Oraya, a human raised as the adopted daughter of a ruthless vampire king in a world where humans exist solely as prey. Her only chance at freedom lies in entering a deadly tournament held by the goddess of death, where vampires battle for divine power and survival is anything but guaranteed. The arena structure gives the novel real momentum, with escalating trials and a constant sense that no one is safe. Oraya’s characterisation is refreshingly uncompromising. She is capable without being invincible, vulnerable without being fragile and shaped by deep loneliness, yet stubbornly hopeful. I loved that her humanity is both her greatest liability and her sharpest weapon, and that the narrative never shields her from the consequences of her choices. Raihn’s presence adds tension and emotional complexity, and their chemistry unfolds naturally rather than feeling forced. The world unfolds with impressive restraint, revealing its depth through conflict rather than exposition. Fight scenes are brutal and visceral, dialogue is sharp, and the pacing remains steady without sacrificing emotional weight. Broadbent’s prose is clean and cinematic, giving the story momentum while leaving room for quieter, more reflective moments. This book gave me everything I look for in romantasy: high stakes, complex characters, and a romance that feels genuine. I finished the book satisfied, slightly bruised, and more than ready to return to this world.

Ah, The Serpent & the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent! What a ride that book was. From the moment I cracked it open, I was completely swept away into the brutal and beautiful world of Oraya and the terrifying yet alluring Raihn. Broadbent has crafted a truly immersive experience. The world-building is rich and detailed, painting a vivid picture of the vampire houses, the human prey, and the ancient, dangerous Karados Games. You can practically feel the grit of the arena and the chill of the night air. Oraya herself is a compelling protagonist. Her resilience and determination, despite being a human in a world that sees her as weak, make her incredibly easy to root for. She's not your typical damsel in distress; she's sharp-witted, resourceful, and possesses a fierce inner strength that blossoms throughout the story. And then there's Raihn. Oh, Raihn. The brooding, powerful vampire king with secrets simmering beneath the surface. Broadbent masterfully builds the tension and chemistry between Oraya and Raihn. Their interactions are charged with a delicious blend of animosity and undeniable attraction. It's the kind of slow-burn romance that keeps you absolutely hooked, desperate for every stolen glance and whispered word. The plot is a thrilling blend of high-stakes competition, political intrigue, and ancient lore. The Karados Games are brutal and unforgiving, keeping you on the edge of your seat with each challenge. Just when you think you know where the story is going, Broadbent throws in a twist that leaves you gasping. While the pacing is generally excellent, there were moments where the exposition felt a little heavy, slightly slowing down the momentum. However, this is a minor quibble in an otherwise captivating story. Overall, The Serpent & the Wings of Night is a fantastic start to what promises to be an enthralling series. It's a perfect blend of dark fantasy, compelling characters, and a romance that will leave you breathless. If you're looking for a book that will transport you to a dangerous and alluring world and keep you turning pages late into the night, then definitely pick this one up. You won't be disappointed.

This was a 4 star book for me. I think it had great worldbuilding and was full of action and adventure. The trials were fantastic and I would have honestly liked to have seen more of that side of things as I do love trials in a book. I very much loved the MMC, he was very compelling and I wanted to know more about him, I wish we had been able to have some chapters from his POV. There are plenty of surprises in this book, some I saw coming and others I didn’t. The plot was interesting and it was an enjoyable read, but there were some flaws in the story that I struggled to accept which stopped it being a 5 star for me.

Soo good! Gripping, heart-pounding, beautiful enemies to lovers and action-packed read! This book is a riveting blend of revenge, betrayal and political intrigue with themes of violence, abuse, slavery and torture. A must-read for fans of fast-paced, high-stakes fantasy centered on survival and power struggles. The book has a strong foundation of a brutal "Battle Royale" premise, where the competitors must fight for their lives. In this arena, not only are your competitors out to eliminate you but the arena itself is designed to ruin you, mind, body and soul. The story also delves deeper into themes of deception, vengeance and personal trauma. We follow Oraya, the adopted daughter of the vampire king. She grew up in a vicious world where every day is a battle for survival. The vampires around her look at humans as lesser individuals either for consumption or slavery. The novel excels in its portrayal of complex power dynamics, Oraya's relationship with her father is tinged with manipulation and cold-affection. She convinces herself that his coldness and harsh actions are forms of protection, rationalising that as a king, he must maintain an air of detachment, as showing too much affection would be perceived as weakness by others. In this vicious world, showing one's weakness means death. This emotional justification creates a complex dynamic between them, blurring the line between genuine care and strategic control. Oraya is thrust into the Kejari, a brutal competition designed for vampires to prove their worth, with the promise of a single wish granted to the victor by the goddess Nyaxia herself. Oraya must learn who to trust in an environment steeped in lies and hidden motives. Will falling for her enemy be the right choice? If she wins, what will be her ultimate wish? The battle sequences are fast-paced and violent but never gratuitous. Each brutality comes with a revelation, exposing vulnerabilities and defining alliances in the most unexpected ways. The story's unpredictability keeps the readers on edge, adding to the suspense when deception and betrayal are skillfully deployed. While violence and abuse are integral to the narrative, they are handled with care and never glorified. They are used as a backdrop to the characters' motivations and internal battles. A great start to a new series. Full of danger at every turn, with a sprinkling of romance, political dynamic and character traumas. A wonderful foundation for what promises to be a thrilling saga. I cannot wait for book 2!

I'm not sure if I read this too fast but half of it I can't remember. Do Raihn's wings have feathers or are they smooth? I spent the entire first half under the impression they were smooth and then near the end they sounded like they have feathers? Anyway, it was interesting but some parts were overall confusing, some more backstory between the Rishan and the Hiaj would have been helpful, the development of enemies to lovers was meh, okay, I liked the interesting dynamic between Oraya and Vincent. I'm not sure if I'm having an empty brain week but some of the details that were meant to reveal things or backstory my brain could not join the dots. I think it just didn't grip me 100% and because of that I didn't pay attention to details. Some of the writing was great, some of it needed a little work. I liked the characters but some were a little flat, didn't get the appeal of Mische, classic sunshine but nothing else to offer, I can't even remember why she wanted to enter the Kejari. 2.5-3 stars, maybe one day I'll reread when my brain is more switched on, overall enjoyable but not life changing.

I grew up loving vampires, so this was perfect for me. I’m never too sure about the ‘everyone’s a powerful supernatural being but she’s a human’ trope, however, this was done well. I loved how stoney the FMC was, her personality fit the life she had – she was believable. The descriptions were vivid and painted a very dark but polished setting, very vampire, I think. The action, the flashbacks, the twist – all of it was gripping.

This book...wow. I experienced so many things reading this. Joy and laughter, sadness, grief and tears, anger, frustration, shock and betrayal, desire, hatred. You name it and this book probably made me feel it in all the best ways. This story is a dark, grim and emotional tale that follows a human girl who was adopted by a vampire king as a child and has had to learn to live in a world where she is prey surrounded by predators. She enters a competition ruled by a Goddess so that she doesn't need to keep living a powerless life filled with fear and ends up meeting a turned vampire who helps her to realize she is so much more than prey. Throughout the story we explore the impacts of nature vs nurture, what it means to be strong and brave. We see how the toxic, harmful and abusive things that are said and taught to us by parental figures stick with us even when we know they don't make any sense. We as readers can see the flaws in the way Oraya has been taught to live and her refusal to question these things shows us the blind devotion she has to her "father". We see how hard it is to seperate the parent you love from the parent who hurts us and experience the duality that comes with familial abuse - on one side of things you're angry, on the other you still feel so much love for them. This is all written in so beautifully. The love that forms between Raihn and Oraya is also such a beautiful thing. The way they just SEE eachother, the safety she feels with him, the devotion he shows to her up until the end. Even when her mind screams for her to stop trusting him, to run from him, to hate him...her heart can't help feeling love and trust and safety when she's around him. The heartbreak at the end of this book was absolutely devastating and I hope that in the next book there's some redemption because I know they could make eachother so incredibly happy and be such a powerful force together. The side characters were equally interesting. We were given a bubbly happy sunshine best friend, an underdog with so much trauma that he should have given up on life who still pushed to come out on top until the end, a strong female warrior who loved her people and died for a cause she believed in, another devoted female warrior who never gave up her feminity to fit the role of a soldier but still made it to the top ranks of the army and was devoted to her country above all else, a human who came across as a bit of an eccentric auntie who taught our MC to allow herself joy and light and color into her life and not to lose her humanity. The world building was done so well. By the end of the story we get a clear and detailed understanding of the politics in the world as they truly are, something we evolve to understanding with the main character as she throws away her childhood beliefs of how things work and experiences the world for herself. Each scene was crafted so well and fully immersed me in the dark, gothic, magical world that the author built. The plot was constantly evolving, rarely predictable and the end of this book...sheesh. I will be thinking about these plot twists and what they mean until I can finally read the next book. The end of this book left me a MESS. Overall this is one of my all time favorite reads. Perhaps it's my absolute favorite, above all else honestly. I absolutely wholeheartedly recommend checking it out.

Ça faisait vraiment longtemps que je n'avais pas trouvé un livre aussi bien écrit, aussi prenant, avec une super intrigue et de vrais questionnements sur les décisions à prendre. On s'attache réellement aux personnages, on veut pleurer pour eux quand ils meurent, on veut les aider quand ils souffrent, on veut les connaître davantage et tout savoir sur eux, ... Ce livre est très prenant, l'histoire vous prend aux tripes, vous fait douter de tout et de tout le monde, de toutes les vérités qu'on pensait immuable. C'est vraiment très sympa. Je ne voyais pas venir la plupart des retournements de situation, c'est hyper agréable car ça nous laisse suspendu à chaque phrase. Le suspens était bien présent, l'adrénaline aussi grâce à des scènes superbement décrites qui nous plongent dans l'histoire comme si on y était! La romance est là, mais vraiment en fond de l'histoire. Elle est frémissante à travers tout le livre, juste suffisamment pour faire battre le cœur plus vite, sans jamais nous sortir de l'histoire. Et c'est ce qui la rend encore plus forte au final ! Superbe livre !!!

5/5 ⭐️ 2/5 🌶️ This was hands down one of the best Fantasy Romance books I have ever read! The world building, the pacing of the story, the political intrigue, the slow burn of the romance, the tension, the characters. Everything was soo good! I really liked the world we were thrown in. I normally do not read vampire books, because they give me bad twilight flashbacks. But I really loved this. The vampires in this book seemed more like mystical creatures and I loved that. We have gods, magic, different vampire “houses” and a lot more that made the world really interesting to dive in. I loved the development of the plot and little bits of information we were fed one at time to solve the mysteries of the story. I really could not predict anything happening in this story and even if something felt suspicious, it was always surprising to find out the real backstory. This was a perfect balance between a Fantasy storyline and a Romance. Our main character Oraya was one of the most likeable female protagonists I have read about in a while. She was strong, but not coldhearted and I felt with her from the first page. I really understood her motivations behind her actions and her struggles were oddly relatable. I also loved how she found a balance between her goals, her loyalties and the feelings she was developing for our main male protagonist. Our love interest Raihn was amazing. I liked him from the start and the more I got to know about him (I won’t go into detail, because I do not want to spoil anything) the more I felt for him. He is such a good guy who is also trapped between his loyalties and his feelings. They way he treated Oraya, the way he spoke to her, tried to protect her? Definitely one of my new favorite book boyfriends. The romance between them was a perfect slowburn. I love how the book displayed the enemies to lovers development. It wasn’t just blind hate or a “You are my enemy, so I am supposed to hate you and I will deny my feelings” type of love. They got to know each other slowly and of course there was distrust in the beginning, but I loved that they saw the person (or I guess the vampire lol) in each other and not just the enemy. And once they started to develop positive feeling for each other there was no long exhausting denying of those feelings. They were both as honest with each other as they could and let the other person know how they felt, even if it was not always expressed with words. I loved their non verbal communication and how they just knew the other person like the back of their hand. The romance was extremely mature and emotional and just so heart wrenching. And so so healthy! (As healthy as a romance can be in a world full of mysteries and betrayal’s lol) The relationship also played out in a really good spicy scene(s), which I loved! It was so well written. The balance between action and finding out more about the plot and the development of the romance was perfect me. Exactly what I am looking for in a Fantasy Romance. If you are looking for a great Fantasy Romance, with amazing plot, political intrigue and a good amount of romance, this is for you!

This book was phenomenal. Easily one of the best reads I’ve found on Kindle Unlimited. From the very first page, it gripped me—an electrifying mix of action, intrigue, and raw emotion. The first half was an absolute rush, the action sequences so intense I could barely keep up. The magic system? Mysterious and almost intangible, more about feeling than clearly defined mechanics. And yet, it worked. I devoured this book so quickly I haven’t even had the chance to overanalyze it—but honestly, that just proves how immersive it was. The FMC, Oraya, is quite interesting. A human surviving in a world of ruthless vampires, she’s strong in a way that feels real—not just physically, but emotionally. She’s hardened, but not entirely cold. Her dynamic with Vincent is fascinating, her vampire father; the one time she needed comfort but learned to accept something useful instead of something kind? Heartbreaking. Raihn, the MMC, is refreshingly different—real, grounded, not a brooding, possessive "shadow daddy" (thank god), what an absolute gentleman. Their romance isn’t the main focus, but what’s there is genuine and earned. And the ending? I have so many questions, I need book two now. Overall, The Serpent & the Wings of Night is a must-read for fantasy lovers who enjoy brutal competition, rich worldbuilding, and a romance that feels earned. Now, excuse me while I go devour the next one! ------- Spoilers Ahead!!! I never fully trusted Vincent, and while he didn’t outright betray Oraya, his motives remain murky. Is he protecting her because she’s his biological daughter? I still doubt it. There’s so much left unanswered. The way Oraya processes her assault—never outright naming it, only calling it "after"—was devastatingly well done. And then the subtle hints about Raihn possibly experiencing the same? What a brutal way to have something in common. The writing and worldbuilding were so immersive, with little details like the unique expletives ("Mother," "Sun-damned," "Ix’s tits") making the world feel alive. Ilana’s death was an interesting choice, but it didn’t hit as hard since we barely saw her. More flashbacks might have helped. And then there’s the turning process. Is Oraya already turning because of the wedding ceremony? The blood exchange? And Raihn came inside her—so does that mean baby?? Nothing was explained, and I need answers. And Alarus being "considered" dead?? That wording is suspicious—he’s the god of death, after all.

This book was good from the start to the end. I did see a lot of things coming but that ending? Not on a million times. I love the characters, the main and the side ones, I really love them and I can't wait to read more about them. It's a good story, good development of the pace and of the characters and always surprises you. If you love fantasy, vampires, the hunger games and a big development, just read it