The Ashes & the Star-Cursed King

After the fallout of the Kejari and Raihn’s betrayal in the first book, we find Oraya a shell of her former self and wrestling with her grief and anger over her father’s death and all the unanswered questions he left behind. Meanwhile, Raihn struggles with his new role of King and the version of himself he needs to be to earn the respect of a kingdom that has only known cruelty and violence for centuries. While this book was a little slower to get going, once it got going it was great. Like the first book, I felt it was equally character and plot driven. There’s action-packed, horrific scenes of battle as the Kingdom goes to war and emotional, heart-wrenching scenes that made me cry. Oraya has always been strong and independent but we watch as she overcomes who her father wanted her to be and really comes into her own, wholly herself. We also get Raihn’s POV in this book and it’s a wonderful addition! We get more of his history as he confronts his past. I loved seeing them learn to trust again and face the vulnerability of their love in a world that views it as weakness. I’m also so glad we still got so much of Vincent! He’s such a compelling character and it wouldn’t have been the same without him. This was a great conclusion to Oraya and Raihn’s story but I know the world itself has more left to be told. I’m definitely Interested in checking out the other parts of the series.“I was the Heir of the House of Night, and I was the daughter of Vincent the Nightborn King, and I was every bit as powerful as both those things suggested.”

This book was everything I wanted it to be and a bit more! I absolutely adored the way Carissa brought this story to life. I fell in love with this world and the characters in book one and I am so sad that Oraya and Rianh's main story is complete now. The world building was in depth but also easy to follow. The romance was a focal point but it wasn't the whole plot, and I appreciated that there wasn't just smut filling the pages but actual scenes that made SENSE when they happened. This series will probably be my top fave series of all time! I can't wait to continue with the next book. 

4.5 ⭐Do I feel a little disappointed about some things? Maybe a bit—but overall, I loved every moment. It was an intense journey, filled with magic, betrayal, and love, and I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything.