The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King Book 2 of the Nightborn Duet

"Yes. That would have been worth it. Even I Had to draw a line somewhere. And you're the line, Oraya." - S.202 Band zwei war für mich wesentlich besser wie Band eins und hat mich damit überrascht. Oraya und Rahin haben Ziele offenen und geheime. Ich brauche wohl nicht erzählen, dass alle davon gegenläufig sind und sich doch im Kern gleichen. Was haben die beiden für einen Sprung gemacht. Ihre Entwicklungen und ihre Beweggründe waren grandios und nachvollziehbar. Wut, Trauer , Wahrheit und verzeihen, lieben leben und Mal egoistisch sein. Alles war hier dabei. Ihre Beziehung war Emotionsgeladen und die Intrigen am Hof haben geniale Nebenschauplätze geschaffen die das ganze aufgepeppt haben. Die kämpfe warme grandios und das Kennenlernen neuer Charaktere und das entdecken der Wahrheiten und die Auflösung waren mehr als einfach nur gut. Die Protas konnte ich besser kennenzulernen und noch mehr lieben lernen und verstehen. Alles war greifbar und es war Brand gefährlich. Das Ende war wunderbar und nun muss ich mich verabschieden aber darf mich in Mishes Geschichte verlieren.

Eine wirklich mitreißende Buchreihe für alle, die Vampirgeschichten mögen. Wer Band 1 „The Serpent and the Wings of night“ gelesen hat, will unbedingt wissen wie es weitergeht und wird nicht enttäuscht. Spannend bis zur letzten Seite.

(Spoiler free) The story was both heart breaking and heart warming and I really love the authors writing style and the unpredictability of the story. It was so beautifully and thoughtfully written, I'm in awe. I felt like I was unknowingly collecting puzzle pieces since the very beginning of the first book and in the end all the puzzles were finally layed out in front of my eyes and were completed. The first half was a little rough for me (or rather my heart) to read because the mood was pretty dark, but it really payed of as the story progressed (Your patience will be rewarded!). I think the author gave the reader a very satisfying ending that felt very earned. Definitely recommend ♡

After the end of the Kejari and all the revelations that came with it, Oraya now finds herself struggling more than ever before. She is devastated - not only is Vincent dead, but he’s also learned that he kept many things from her. On top of that, Raihn has betrayed her trust and now keeps her prisoner in what was supposed to be her kingdom. Raihn refuses to kill Oraya and instead offers her a secret alliance. Taking that deal is the only chance she has to reclaim her throne, but she can barely stand being near him. He broke her trust. How is she ever supposed to move past that? At the same time, Raihn’s position with his nobles is incredibly fragile. They don’t want to accept a ruler who wasn’t born a vampire and who was once a slave. The things that were done to him are still vivid in the minds of those he now has to rule. Enemies are everywhere — for both of them. I love stories told from multiple POVs, so I was thrilled to have Raihn’s perspective added to this book. I enjoyed learning more about his past and the experiences that shaped him into the man he is today. Still, his POV didn’t hit me quite as hard as I expected. I did love seeing the contrast between him as the strict ruler and the way he still treats Oraya — loving, caring, and considerate, just like before. Oraya’s journey in this book was very well written. Her struggles felt authentic and deeply relatable. She’s forced to face so many difficult truths in order to rediscover herself and figure out where she stands — in both the chaos of the present and the pain of the past. There are two men who have defined her world: the father she idolized (as so many daughters do) and the man she thought she loved. Realizing that neither of them was ever fully honest with her — and that one of them is now gone — would break anyone. Both of those men manipulated her for their own ends, and watching her process was incredibly compelling. I already complained at the end of book one that I wanted more of Vincent actively contributing to the storyline. Book two only made that feeling stronger. I loved uncovering new layers of his character, but it still wasn’t enough — if anything, it just intensified my craving for more. The character of Septimus had me on edge every time he appeared. Such an intriguing presence! Every instinct screamed danger whenever he entered a scene. He gave off amazing villain vibes, but I also felt there was even more potential there. Simon, on the other hand, fell completely flat for me — one-dimensional, boring, and more of a pawn than a true villain. Overall, I don’t think this book was as strong as the first one. The tone and vibe were very different. There were moments that I really enjoyed, and it’s still a solid read, but it just didn’t hit quite right for me. Maybe my expectations were too high — The Serpent and the Wings of Night was phenomenal, and Six Scorched Roses was god-tier in my opinion. ...and can we talk about how many times Raihn said “There she is”? That was absurdly annoying. In the end, this one is a good 3.75 stars for me. Story: 3.75 ⭐️ Spice: 2 ️

This is the second book of the Nightborn Duet. Therefore, this might contain spoilers. This book stars right where "The Serpent and th Wings of Night" ended. And is it a roller coaster of emotions? Yes, it is. Let's start with the writing as it continues to be well written, but this time, there are (finally) both POVs (Raihn & Oraya) in the first person. I so much needed it. I needed to know if Oraya gad only assumed everything in the first book or if there's a chance that she might be right. Oh, my heart broke so many times as I needed to scream at them for not speaking up. Yes, actions speak for themselves, I know, but don't anyone want to hear the words out loud? Ok, I think Oraya and Raihn evolved much more in this book and learned how important trust is in any kind of relationship. I love the little morals there, but they're not belittling. Clearly, there was a lot of bloodspliting and blood drinking as after the Kejari, the war began. So please take this into account if you're not dealing well with this. And about the spice, here again, we have a slow burn (for everyone who read the first book, knows why), but there's spice nonetheless. conclusion: For fans of Forth Wing, ACOTAR, Hungergames with winged vampires. book description 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. Info: This book is one within the Nyaxia series, which are told through duets with one couple each time. This book must be read in order as it is the second book and the conclusion of Orayas and Raihns love story. Oraya & Raihn: book 1: The Serpent and the Wings of Night book 2: The Ashes and the Starcursed King Mishe & ? book 3: The Songbird and the Heart of Stone