Book Review of “Serpent and The Wings of Night” by Carissa Broadbent – Spoiler Free!
Book one of a 6 book planned series called the Crowns of Nyaxia.
Ratings:
World Building: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Pacing: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall Book Rating: 5 /5
Overall Series Rating: 5/5 – Absolutely recommend!
Summary:
Serpent and The Wings of Night from the Crowns of Nyaxia Series by Carissa Broadbent follows the story of Oraya of the Nightborn, a human girl raised by the ruthless vampire king Vincent. Set in the city of Sivrinaj, the capitol of the Nightborn kingdom and the location of the once a century tournament to win a wish from the mother of vampires, Nyaxia. As the only human competing in this serval month long series of to-the-death trails called the Kejari Oraya has to face some pretty serious odds if she wants to win. In these trials is where she meets some of the most vibrant characters.
Things I loved about this book:
I absolutely love the world the Carissa Broadbent has built. It has a complex, but still easily understandable, political system. The magic system is pretty straightforward (even if some of the specifics of how the magic functions are a little hazy). The characters we meet are incredibly well written with complex personalities, backstories, motives, and relationships with other characters. To the point where you aren’t ever quite sure who the real villain is supposed to be.
The trials are definitely well thought out and not predictable, and the plot twist at the end??? BABES.
Things I didn’t love:
TBH there really isn’t one thing in this book that stands out to me as something I didn’t love. I do think that the plot and character development are a wee bit too driven by violence/fight scenes, but it does go along with the brutality of the world our characters are in. I would have just loved to see more character/plot development that happened outside of the violence as well. Even with that said, it’s a very minor “I didn’t love this aspect” lol.
Favorite Quotes: There are literally so many!
“Death isn’t frightening when weighed against an insignificant existence.”
“A dead lover can never break your heart.”
“Do you want to change this world, little serpent? Then climb your cage until you are so high no one can catch you. Break its bars and make them your weapons. Nothing is sharper. I know because I did it”
“And love, understand, is sharper than any stake.”
“And then I realized. I realized that fear, when embraced, hardens and sharpens. That it becomes rage. That it becomes power. I would not die here.”
“There she is.”
“Love was a sacrifice at the altar of power.”
“Being ruthless was not the same thing as being fearless.”
“So many mistakes in the end,” he choked out. “Never you.
Favorite Characters:
Oraya
Raihn Ashraj
Mische
Vincent