Love Is A Sacrifice At The Altar Of Power

I recently finished reading The Ashes and The Star-Cursed King by Carissa Broadbent. This is book #2 in The Crowns of Nyaxia series.

POSSIBLE SPOILER ALERT

  Rating: 4.25/5 stars

This exclusive edition features an exclusive cover designed by @ruavegraphics, with a reversible dust jacket by @imjenndove, a foiled case design by @niallgrant, and foiled end pages by @alicemariapower. The book is also digitally signed by author Carissa Broadbent on an author page designed by @divineliterary with an author's letter bound into the book, and features sprayed edges.

"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."

I just really adore this series, and this world, and I hope that Carissa Broadbent chooses to forever write stories within it. I am a little sad that this duology technically is the end of Oraya and Raihn’s journey, but I am very excited for what is to come (especially knowing who the next tale will be about)! 

This is a story about three vampire houses, all fighting to rule, and all proving how cutthroat they will be to remain in power. Both of our main characters are viewed as lesser in this vampire ruled world, but for very different reasons, but what I will say is that they both have a soft spot for humans. Book one, The Serpent and the Wings of Night (link to my review here --> https://thebooklover45.wixsite.com/the-book-lover/post/the-rules-of-survival-are-the-same-never-trust-never-yield-and-always-always-guard-your-heart) was all about a tournament where the winner (and sole survivor) would be granted a wish from their goddess, and this book is about the ramifications of that wish being granted. 

This is a fantasy romance, but I actually think the romance in this is one of the best of the genre. Seeing these two people come together and heal from their pasts together is really beautiful. Their relationship is so complicated and layered and it was really a joy reading and rooting for them, against all odds (and all the situations the world really forced them in). 

Yet, my favorite relationship in this book was between Oraya and her father, Vincent. The amount of tears (internally) this book was able to evoke from me was wild. It was so reminiscent of Madoc and Jude, yet in just a much more healthy and heartfelt way. Relationships are hard, and humans are able to experience such a wide range of emotions simultaneously, and this book really showcases that both with Vincent and with Raihn (obviously very differently)! but truly, the tabs I have in this book just because of this father and daughter relationship is actually mind-blowing, but watching Oraya unpack her feelings, heal her heart, and come into her own peace was so deserving of every tab. It was really beautiful, and really an honor to read and think about, and I really appreciated the discussions happening in this very multi-layered story.

Check out The Ashes and the Start-Cursed King, and discover what happens when you battle for the vampire throne.

Happy Reading :)