Thank you NetGalley for an advance audiobook copy of The Serpent's Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley!
This was an excellent book that definitely kept me on my toes with the twists and turns! The narrator at x 1.75 speed did a great job with multiple perspectives and I quickly settled into the world of the novel. It was quite interesting knowing that both characters knew that she would have to die from the very start. Throw in the shapeshifter twist and the hate to love banter and I was hooked.This book really hit a lot of the marks when I am looking for a good quick fantasy romance book filled with a few unique twists and a cliffhanger that almost made me wish I hadn't gotten an advanced copy as now I have to wait even longer for the next book!

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️.5-🌶️🌶️

Feelings after turning the last page: WHAAAAAA?!?!? Ms. Kathryn that is diabolical!

10-second synopsis: Raziel aka The Serpent is a vampire who killed Nadi’s parents many years ago. She has vowed to get her revenge so she, a shape-shifting fae, poses as his human bride and plans to take him and his family down from the inside.

Thank you to Second Sky, Bookouture Audio, the author, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and listen prior to release!!

Review: WOW this was a fun ride. The premise felt unique and I really enjoyed it. Nadi is a vicious FMC and I love her so much. Girlfriend knows what she wants and goes for it….she just can’t help but be into the hot vampire? Nadi is all of us, honestly. Speaking of….my guy Raz. I love cruel vamps and he certainly fits the bill. Nothing could possibly be his downfall - except perhaps Nadi. The little back and forth between them was delicious. Raziel’s family was incredibly entertaining! And the ending? THE ENDING?! I think my jaw dropped more than once. Amazing cliffhanger, can’t wait for book 2.

The narrator did a wonderful job. I do wish it had had two narrators, whether in duet or dual narration, but she did a fantastic job distinguishing between the two POVs and 10/10 would listen to her again!

Wow! Such an awesome story. One of the best vampire romances I’ve read in a long time!

This story is the epitome of enemies to lovers. After her whole family is killed when she’s just a child, Nadi, a fae shapeshifter, vows revenge for their killer. She spends decades becoming a deadly assassin and finds the perfect way in to the vampire family she seeks revenge on. Raziel, youngest son of the Nostrom family, and the man responsible for Nadi’s family’s deaths, is getting married to a young human he’s never met before. Nadi takes on the appearance of Raziel’s bride-to-be in order to infiltrate the family and kill them all.

This story absolutely hooked me from the start. I love the strong FMC that isn’t afraid to do what it takes and get her hands dirty. I’m also a big fan of the deliciously dark MMC who embraces his ruthless nature. The slow-burn tension between these characters is great and there’s a bit of spice thrown in too. And the cliffhanger ending? Ugh! I need book two ASAP.

The audio of this book is great and Desiree Ketchum does a great job narrating all characters. The sass of the FMC really came through in the narration and I enjoyed the husky tone used when speaking the MMC’s lines.

If you’re a fan of the Crowns of Nyaxia series, you’ll definitely want to give this book a read!

This is an interesting one for me because I honestly don’t know how I feel about it.
I really enjoyed the storyline and was completely invested from the beginning. I was firmly on our FMC’s side right away (obviously), and the premise had me hooked. But I’m still not sure I liked the relationship between the two main characters.
The MMC had zero redeeming qualities in my eyes. Even as his opinion of the FMC seems to shift, I wouldn’t say his feelings do. He continues to treat her poorly throughout, and there isn’t even a hint of warmth or growth in how he interacts with her. It left me feeling unsure about the dynamic and whether I was meant to root for them at all.
Overall, I haven’t decided if I’ll continue with book two. I might, but honestly, it would be just to see his sister finally get what’s coming to her. She really needs to go.

3 1/2 ⭐️’s

Super easy to get into, I enjoyed it..
And tht cliffhanger 🤯

Nadi's internal monologue was very repetitive.

"You are my salvation and my damnation"

Vampires. Fae. Yessssss pleaaasee! Our ruthless fae Nadia disguises herself as the bride of the vampire who killed her family with plans of killing him and his family. Some things are not always what they seem! This book was amazing and that ending had me 😱

This book was an intriguing story line about revenge, trust, deception following a fae that was wronged long ago going after her enemies. She has to sneak into his life enough to learn the important info about them but making sure they don’t know about her.

Loved the characters and the fae world which was easy to follow along. I really enjoyed the strong line, vibe and plot twist of this story. Cannot wait for the next. I got to listen to this as an audio book and finished it in 2 days. Audiobooks are seriously the way to go, so quick to pop on for a walk or longer drive.

Net galley kindly traded this amazing book for my honest review! 📖📚

THIS THIS THIS!

I have been searching for a book like this. One of those fantasy books that sucks you in and gets you invested in the characters and this delivered and so much more!

We start this book with Nadi, a Fae who can shape shift. She is looking for a way to kill Raziel and his whole family.

Raziel is a vampire who is pretty ruthless and seems to be in a kind of mafia esq family group. Raziel killed Nadi’s whole family when she was a child.

So they get married.

It is so much more than that, but dang. The characters are great. I really enjoyed their dynamic and how this story flows. It was not very complex on the world building side, but it gave enough. I was hooked from the beginning.

And that cliffhanger though!!!! What?! I can’t wait to read the next one!

Thank you Katherine Ann Kingsley, Bookouture Audio, Second Sky Books, and NetGalley for this ARC. I was given this book for free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Okay but listen.. this book had me in a CHOKEHOLD 😮‍💨

Nadia is a fae shapeshifter on a revenge mission to end the infamous vampire baddie Razael… so obviously, the best plan is to impersonate a human named Monica and marry him. Casual. Normal. ✨

But then... plot twist!! she’s second guessing everything .
And Razael?? Mr. “I-don’t-want-to-get-married-but-vampire-tradition-says-I-must”? Yeah, he thought Monica was gonna be basic. Spoiler alert: she’s not. She’s a whole problem. And he’s obsessed.

💀🖤 Tropes:
👑 Fae x Vampire
💍 Fake engagement with real tension
🔥 Enemies with murder-y vibes (and then makeouts)
🧛 Mafia fantasy romance
😈 Forced proximity + emotional damage

THE TENSION. THE SPICE. THE BITE MARKS.
I was absolutely feral. Razael is giving “dangerous vampire heir with a soft spot for chaos” and Nadia is like “I’ll kill you… but also kiss you maybe?” Iconic behavior.

Also, can we talk about how both of them are like “yeah let’s stick to the plan” while simultaneously spiraling into lust and FEELINGS?? The slow unraveling of their goals because of emotional sabotage? I ate it up. Every page.

And that ending???
NO ONE TALK TO ME I AM NOT OKAY 😭
Was not prepared. Not emotionally. Not spiritually. Already pacing the floor waiting for book two.

Highly recommend if you're into dark, spicy, fantasy mafia chaos with just the right amount of emotional turmoil. 🖤🩸

I first want to thank Netgalley, Bookouture Audio, and Katheryn Ann Kinglsey for the opportunity to listen to the advanced copy of The Serpent’s Bride.

I absolutely loved this book! I was hooked right from the first few pages. This book isn’t even out but I’m SO ready for the next book! That ending?! I need more of this world! The narrator did gave an amazing performance!

Our FMC, Nadi, seeks revenge against the vampire that unalived her family some 80+ years ago. Said vampire is named Raziel and nicknamed the Serpent. Nadi finds the perfect opportunity to get closer to her enemy by taking the place of Raziel’s bride in his arranged marriage. As they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. What better way than take the brides place? Except he’s not who she expected him to be and finds herself in a conflict with her warring emotions and her goal. Then there’s the matter of what happens in the honeymoon..

This book is dark fantasy with fae, vampires, an arranged marriage, and the usurping of a bride.

vampire mafia boss x shapeshifting aqua fae assassin
Enemies to lovers
Hidden identity
Marriage of convenience And that ENDING???
I read (well... listened
•) to this via audio and devoured it,
such a fast, solid read to throw into your romantasy rotation!!!
The tension?? The banter?? The slow reveals??? I was hooked
My only gripe
when a book is dual POV and the female
narrator tries to do the male parts by deepening her voice like girl pls. So l'll more than likely read book 2 instead lol!!!
Still, loved the vibes and I'm totally locked in for what's next
*Thank you "Bookouture Audio" for the audio arc, all opinions are my own*

I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. It was definitely the spiciest book l've read so far, but I think it was very well done. The ending had me gasping and I cannot wait for the second book to come out. If you like good banter, sexy characters, and a fast paced rage fueled plot you should definitely pick this up.

I thought the pacing of the story was perfect, it kept me intrigued and I finished it in one sitting. The dialogue and character interactions were raw and made me laugh so many times.

This was a fantastic introduction into the society side of fantasy for me.

Thank you, Netgalley, for this ARC for my honest review.
You will not be able to quit reading Serpents Bride! It is a definite page turner! Nadi wants revenge on the dark mafia vampire King for killing her family, so Nadi changes her fae form to human form and pretends to be the arranged marriage bride. Oh, so intense as she plots to kill the entire family! Enemies with spark, angst, banter, and betrayal their attraction shouldn't be or is it going to be? I definitely recommend reading or listening ! The cliffhanger at the end, I definitely wasn't expecting!
I can't wait for the next book!

4.5 SOLID STARS! WOW! Just wow!

What’s inside?
- Urban fantasy (think CC)
- Vampires, fae, humans
- Marriage of Convenience
- Revenge
- Mafia
- Shapeshifting


This felt really unique! The pacing was incredible! I was won over by page 1! The character had depth and dynamic even down to secondary characters you wanted to loathe!

The end half surprised me and half didn’t. I loved the brilliance and plotting of the FMC! Everything was just top notch! I didn’t want to stop listening. And on that note, it is SUCH an easy audiobook to follow! Not crazy deep or intense world building but you’re still just as an entranced and invested!

I literally wouldn’t change a thing except it didn’t draw out any huge emotions from me and I wish the audiobook had been dual narration.

Overall, do I recommend? YES! And I can’t wait for the next book after an ending like that!

Thank you Kathryn Ann Kingsley and NetGalley for this ALC in exchange for an honest review!

Nadi is an aquatic fae with a thirst for vengeance. Her target? The Vampire Prince, Raziel—the one responsible for a devastating betrayal. Her plan is simple: kill his bride, assume her identity, and get close enough to strike.
But nothing about being Raziel’s betrothed is simple.
As Nadi plays the role of his fiancée, unexpected emotions begin to surface. Raziel is supposed to be her enemy, yet she finds herself drawn to him. Worse, he seems to feel the same—and that wasn’t part of the plan.
Torn between revenge and a heart she never expected to have, Nadi must decide: will she go through with her deadly plot, or risk everything for a chance at love?
A dark fantasy romance full of deception, danger, and slow-burning desire. Perfect for fans of enemies-to-lovers and morally gray heroines.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review!

I have mixed feelings about this book and I’ll tell you why. When I read, my brain processes things from both an emotional perspective and a logical perspective.

Emotionally: God I loved this book. It has everything - and I mean everything - we love - vampires, fae, shape shifters, enemies to lovers, morally gray MMC (and FMC), assassins, slow burn angst, hidden identities, arranged marriages, - ALL OF IT.

Logically: I had trouble believing the romance between the MMC and FMC. They have a traumatic, heinous history and I can’t logically believe they could ever get past that. There’s also a hint of instalove/attraction to the enemy that is hard to swallow.

However, having said all of that the plot twist and cliff hanger at the end had my jaw on the floor. Is there hope for our lovebirds yet to come in book two? Guess we’ll have to wait and see.

Spice - enjoyable. However, nowhere near as dark or comparable to Haunting Adeline as touted in the blurb. In fact, the only kink in this book is some light bondage and spanking *yawn*.

Overall, I think this is a nice intro into what could be a very interesting series. Throw in a few more plot twists and character arc redemptions and *chefs kiss.* Now we’re onto something.

This book was a fun time! I am invested in this series!

The FMC is an assassin for hire, but her one true goal is to exact revenge on the Vampire MMC that murdered her family in front of her 80 years ago. As a shapeshifting Fae, she sees her opportunity to pose as the MMC’s sacrificial bride in his upcoming wedding. She tells herself she will do whatever it takes to end the vampire (aka the Serpent) and his entire mobster family, but things become murky very quickly.

I enjoyed the back story of these characters, they could’ve been better developed. I loved that the FMC wasn’t a traditional “beauty” in her true form. It made her more relatable. I wanted to see more of the FMC’s journey to better understand how she became an assassin. It felt like a random afterthought. I would be more emotionally invested if I watched her struggle and believed her pain. I felt the plan of attack should’ve been more developed and emotional for the FMC after 80 years.

I love the MMC. He’s your typical broody, morally grey vampire. I got a taste of why the MMC is conditioned to be the way he is- I just wish I could’ve seen more vulnerability from him- which I suspect we will get more of later in the series! Make their connection feel more genuine and exciting vs forbidden lust. After that ending, I can’t wait to see his character develop more in the next book!

I’d say this was on the milder side of dark romance. And 🌶️🌶️ spice level. Open door, yet tasteful with language choices.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narration of this book, though I think it would benefit from dual or duet narration with a male actor. The female narrator still did an excellent job of letting me know which characters were speaking.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio/Second Sky Books for this ALC in exchange for my honest review.

**Thank you to NetGalley & Publisher for the ALC; all opinions are my own.**
GR Review live as of 07/31/2025.

4 ⭐️
3.5 🌶
🎧

I honestly don't know what I was expecting, but this was honestly pretty fun!!! This is a sexy, and spicy story about a fae shifter finally getting her revenge on the vampire family who killed her own. What she doesn't expect is all the complications that a fake marriage (on her end) entails. This is the start of a new series, so just be aware that this one ends on a cliffhanger! The narrator does such a good job with this story and I was captive from the very first word spoken.

If you like:
☆ vampires & fae
☆ mafia wars
☆ biting & arranged marriage
☆ revenge plans
☆ urban fantasy/darker romance
☆ mates
CHECK THIS ONE OUT!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book!!! I was hooked from the start and the story lines twists and turns definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. Definitely an easy to understand world and super easy to read. If you love vampires and fae you will love this book!
🩸 enemies to somewhat lovers?
🩸 female assassin
🩸 dark fantasy
🩸 marriage of convenience
🩸 shapeshifter fae FMC
🩸 vampire MMC

So many good tropes for romantasy lovers! Definitely a spicy book too 😊

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for an early copy of the audio for this book.

I had fun with this one. It's the first book in a series, so there was a lot of set up as to the new world we're inhabiting as well as introductions to our main characters and the dynamics between them.

Desireé Ketchum is a captivating narrator. She did a wonderful job switching between POVs which allowed the reader to follow along seamlessly even though the POV switch ups happen within the chapters. I appreciated her attention to nuance and inflection to distinguish between characters as well. I do feel as though this was a missed opportunity for duel or duet narration, but Desireé did a fantastic job overall.

Nadi is a shapeshifting fae who has turned her trauma and grief into her drive for revenge against the man who killed her family. This man just happens to be Raziel, a powerful vampire with a reputation of breaking his victims to the point of madness. Of course their worlds collide in the most unlikely way, and now Nadi has to do all she can to survive while exacting her revenge.

The tension between Nadi and Raziel is delicious. There's a promise of darkness that I feel Kathryn just scratches the surface of in The Serpent's Bride. Kathryn is the queen of giving readers just enough to pull them in before she pulls the rug from under us and leaves us gasping for more with her intentional cliffhangers. Because of that, I will definitely be adding the rest of the series to my TBR.