A Viper Among Kings by Sydney Olivia follows Esme, an immortal being who controls shadow magic and is bound to serve a tyrant king. Alongside her family of immortals known as the Wraiths, she sees a chance at freedom when the king dies, and a new ruler must be chosen.

I was hooked from the first chapter. The pacing moves quickly, and there’s enough world-building without feeling overwhelming. Instead of info-dumping, we’re given glimpses of other worlds and characters when it feels natural to the story, which kept me curious. It also becomes clear that everyone is capable of monstrous things, even the ones you think are “good.” In my opinion, the best stories always explore that.

I loved the Wraiths. Despite being immortal, they feel deeply human and complex. Esme has built her armour and become the ruthless Viper to survive. At times, I felt frustrated with some of her choices. We get a few chapters from Urias POV, and I really enjoyed their relationship. At the end of the day, no matter their choices or who they support for the crown, they are there for one another. And Mina, the beautiful and brave woman that you are... I hope we get to see more of her in book 2.

If you enjoy court intrigue, chaos, found family, and polyamorous relationships, I think you will enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

A Viper Among Kings by Sydney Olivia is an absolute masterpiece for fans of high-stakes political intrigue and intense romance. From the very first chapter, the world-building pulls you in, creating a kingdom that feels both lush and incredibly dangerous. It is the kind of book that makes you forget about the real world until you’ve turned the very last page.

The strongest part of this story is the character development. The main character is sharp, clever, and morally grey, making her journey through the royal court feel unpredictable and exciting. The "enemies-to-lovers" dynamic is handled perfectly; the tension is so thick it practically jumps off the page, and the slow-burn payoff is worth every second of waiting. The dialogue is snappy and intelligent, making the power plays between the characters just as thrilling as the action scenes.

What truly earns this book five stars is the plotting. There are several twists that I genuinely did not see coming, and every "clue" planted early on pays off in a satisfying way. Unlike many fantasy books that get bogged down in too much detail, this one moves at a perfect pace, balancing quiet emotional moments with heart-pounding suspense.

If you are looking for a story filled with betrayal, hidden identities, and a romance that feels earned, this is a must-read. It is a perfect example of what a top-tier romantasy should be, and I cannot wait to see what Sydney Olivia writes next.

Thanks for the arc!!

This book hasn't even come out yet and I am desperate for the rest of the books in the series. The world building is immersive, the plot is suspenseful, and the characters are well developed and interesting. Over a hundred years ago, Esme was stolen from her homeland and bound to a power-hungry king, forced to obey his every command. Along with seven others in her position, unable to return home, and forced to respond to names that are not their own, she has been forced to serve the crown in whatever way is demanded of her. When the current king is murdered, a Esme is forced to carry out his will and chose who will be the next man to hold her leash.

I found A Viper Among Kings to be a delight to read. The characters were well rounded and delightfully flawed, and the plot.... THE PLOT!!! The reader is given just enough that you feel like you are beginning to understand what is going on, but not enough to give you any sense of satisfaction, forcing further reading. Some of the plot points were not touched on as much as I would like, but I have faith that they will be thoroughly explored in the next books in this series.

This book would be great for fans of queer fantasy, and gave me kind-of Throne of Glass (the first book, not the series) vibes, which I really enjoyed. Overall 5/5 stars. Thank you to Daphne Press for providing A Viper Among Kings for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This story is wild and fantastical with vivid characters and a compelling set of twists. Our characters are faced with the change of kings, trials for a new heir, wild magic, and a scheming queen-regent. Our protagonist is an immortal warrior from another realm looking for a life of meaning and peace but has none. The book has representation for lgbtq and polyamory as well as elements of found family. I really could feel the vividness of the world even with somewhat lengthy explication. I was engaged throughout the read and pissed when I got 97% completed only to find the climactic ending was just a footnote in a cliffhanger! Get it!

A Viper Among Kings takes place in a universe with multiple dimensions and worlds where magic thrives on chaos and can only be weilded by magical beings. Esme and her fellow wraiths were stolen from their worlds by a tyrannical king and bonded to serve his dynasty. When the current king dies with no heir apparent, Esme finds herself championing, and falling for, one of the kings possible succesors.

There are several different plots going on in this story in addition to the main storyline, which makes the scope of this book massive. I really enjoyed the multiple layers of lore and intrigue along with the different motivations for each character. I found the world to be highly immersive and the characters endearing in their own special ways. I'm not usually a huge fan of books with polyamory, but i really enjoyed the relationship building between Esme and her different interests. I also found Esme to be extremely likable and funny.

As a black woman, I could relate to Esme's struggles with colonization, colorism, and outright racism. I think some of the reviewers of this book need to check their privilege in not being able to relate to these concepts. Must be nice!

Overall, A Viper Among Kings is a fun, fast paced and action packed time filled with political intrigue, interestingly developed characters and massive world building on par with game of thrones.

5/5, can't wait for the next installment

This book was just such GREAT FUN! Every single character felt well rounded and were people you wanted to root for., The magic system was incredibly unique and the world building was superb.

A Viper Among Kings by Sydney Olivia is one of those rich, complex fantasy stories that start off making very little sense, but if you trust the process and stick with it, the world slowly comes into focus. It takes time to learn the names, customs, history, and braided stories that dance across decades and centuries and beyond.

The main character, Esme, is a dark, powerful, intriguing, polyamorous Wraith. Esme is one of seven Wraiths enslaved to the royal line of their world. All of the Wraiths were interesting and compelling, and I especially loved the complexity of their relationships spanning eons.

The most compelling character and subplot belonged to the nameless man in search of his wife. As his story developed, he became my favorite, by far. I fell in love with his warmth (literal and figurative) and loyalty to someone lost.

Magic, in this realm, is a sly, cunning thing that the unwise covet and the discerning avoid, but sometimes the thing you know will hurt is the very thing you need to draw from - this tension is woven throughout A Viper Among Kings. Many questions remain unanswered as it's the first in a trilogy, and I want so badly for the main story of power and love to involve the man without a name.

Beyond the realm of the story, Olivia explores themes of imperialism, capitalism, greed, classism, xenophobia, and the violence inherent in worlds built on domination, subjugation, exploited labor, and patriarchy. Cannot wait for future installments.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Daphne Press for the advanced reader copy.