This one was hard to get through—because I really didn’t like the MMC! It was really tough to get past just how awful he started off being.

The Serpent’s Bride isn’t just a book, it’s a descent. A plunge into obsession, vengeance, and the slow, excruciating unraveling of a woman who thought she could take on the darkness.... but ended up consumed by it.

The FMC, Nadi, walks a tightrope between defiance and desperation, clinging to revenge like a lifeline while Raziel Nostrom, her enemy, her undoing, strips her down to the bones of who she is. His voice is velvet. His hands are stained in blood. And his presence? It’s a curse you beg for.

From the first chapter, I was caught in the vicious gravity between them. She’s morally gray and razor-sharp, but he's something else entirely: inhuman, unreadable, a god of ruin wrapped in skin. Their chemistry isn’t romantic. It’s fatal. Like a blade pressed against a throat: thrilling, breathless, dangerous.

Kathryn Ann Kingsley doesn’t write romance; she writes beautiful devastation. And this story? It dares you to endure it. It dares you to love a monster and live with what’s left of you after.

Every scene between them is a war, of words, of will, of hunger. You don’t just read this book; you bleed with it. And when the twists came near the end, they didn’t just shock me, they destroyed me. I wasn't prepared. You won’t be either.

But Raziel.... he lingers. Not because he’s misunderstood or secretly soft. No. He’s terrifying because there is no softness. No redemption. Only power, and pain, and the slow suffocation of anyone who dares love him. He doesn't need to break you with violence, he does it with silence, with a glance, with the cold beauty of a soul that feels nothing and knows it.

You don’t fall for Raziel. You drown in him. You scream his name while forgetting your own. And Nadi? She doesn’t rise stronger. She sinks deeper. She becomes the very thing she set out to destroy, just to survive him. I closed this book and just sat there, ruined.

Hollow.
Shaken.

Because this wasn’t a love story. It was a seduction into ruin. A whispered curse disguised as a vow, and the ending? It wasn’t closure. It was surrender.

This isn’t a romance.
It’s a dark, poetic collapse.

3.5 stars. It is rare that I like a world with far and vampires and modern-day things, but this one was done really well. I liked the characters and motives and the twist at the end. I personally could have done without the bondage but that’s neither here nor there. I’ll definitely pick up book 2 when it releases.

Quick Summary: An unforgettable, dark & twisted, vampire/fae romantasy

My Review: The Serpent's Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is book #1 in the Bloodlines series. It is a dark vampire novel. It has been categorized as a sci-fi/romance. It is scheduled for release on 8/28/25.

About the Book: "I will disguise myself as the vampire’s bride.

I will win over his family.

And then I will murder every last one of them."

In My Own Words: Revenge is the driving force behind a female assassin's plan to utterly destroy the vampire who took away her family. Passion and bloodlust are the ties that bind her to her enemy.

About the Characters: Oh my word! The leads earned all of the gold stars. I loved both of them. Raziel and Nadi were the morally gray characters that I needed.

Raziel Nostrom...yes. He checked all of the boxes. He was dark, tortured, brooding, dangerous, and sexy as all get out. There was more to him than was obvious. He knows more than he lets on. Something is afoot, that's for sure. The way he ended book 1 was insane.

Nadi...okay! This fireball was fierce, mighty, bold, and determined. She was so focused on her mission. Nothing was going to stand in her way, and I loved it. That killer instinct that drove her was something to behold. Even as she was in control, she was lost; but then again, maybe she wasn't. Her plight made me wonder if her course was destiny at play.

About the Cast: Every character played his or her role in such a way that invited more curiosity. The most intriguing characters that captured my attention were the missing grandmother, Ivan (Raziel's second), and Raziel's mother and brother. With that said, the special form that Nadi takes makes me wonder if her family, who had a brief story, is truly who they seem to be.

About the Conflict: There was non-stop conflict and action in this story. It came from every angle. Outside the family, inside the family, in the relationship between the leads, in the various factions that readers are introduced to - the secrets and machinations abound. The story kept unfolding and more became evident, while at the same time, it remained elusive.

About the Audiobook: This book was narrated by Desireé Ketchum. It was superbly voiced. Every nuance of the story was perfectly expressed. I was thoroughly entertained to the point that I listened in one sitting.

My Final Say: I LOVED THIS STORY! Period and point blank on that. It was incredible. I am completely invested in this series. Book one set the story up in such a memorable way. I am still gobsmacked due to the cliffhanger. It packed a punch. Wow!

Bring on book #2 ASAP!

*** Immersive reading experience ***

Other: Readers who like enemies to lovers, dark fantasy/romance stories, vampire x fae tropes, and morally gray characters will adore this novel.

This book reminded me of the Ruinous Love series, as well as the Wolf God series.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience:A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties Shelf: Yes
Summer Heat Hit: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Audiobook: Yes
Narration: +
Series: Yes
Formats; E-book, Audiobook

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publishers (Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to digital and audio ARC content in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this amazing story. I am hooked. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.

Ah yes, nothing says true love like falling for the guy who wiped out your entire family. Revenge? Never heard of her. The revenge angle dissolved in seconds. They went from enemies to tempted in seconds and the constant repetition of her vengeful promise just dulled its impact. Really wanted to love this one!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!