Publishers Weekly
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In this fast-paced and complex series-launching romantasy, Stark (Kingdom of Lies) plunges readers into a world where human magic users battle vampires for resources, power, and control. Magic user Arvelle Dacien’s victory in the violent Sands tournament should have set her up for life, but her uncle stole her winnings and now she struggles to care for herself and her brothers, one of whom has a lung condition, in the impoverished district of Fog’s Edge. Then she’s approached by the vampire Bran with an offer to save her brother and ease their financial hardship; all she has to do in exchange is survive the Sundering, a gladiator-style competition, and kill the emperor. Desperate, Arvelle agrees. Entering training, she learns that the Primus, the leader of the emperor’s elite cohort, is her former lover, the vampire Tiernon. Feelings reignite but are complicated by the fierce competition, a botched assassination attempt, and the surprising connection Arvelle makes with the emperor’s vampire son, Rorrik. While the harsh, ancient Rome–flavored worldbuilding fascinates and the slow-simmering vampiric love triangle keeps the pages flying, it can be a bit of a struggle to sort through the whirlwind of characters and mythical elements. Still, readers who like their romantasies action-packed will find plenty to enjoy. (Jan.)

Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A romantasy mash-up ofCrave (2020) andFourth Wing (2023) from the bestselling author ofA Court This Cruel and Lovely (2023). When an undead stranger shows up on Arvelle’s doorstep, he offers her an impossible choice: Agree to kill the emperor, or watch her brother die. The bad news is that the emperor is an ancient and very powerful vampire protected by an elite company of soldiers. The good news is that Arvelle is a champion fighter herself—or at least she used to be. And, left with a choice that is no choice, she sets out for the capital to do the impossible. This is, on the whole, an engaging read. The Rome-inspired setting is interesting, its magic system is well-defined, and the politics of the emperor’s court is a nice complement to the action in the arena. Arvelle is a complex but sympathetic protagonist and Stark surrounds her with characters who also feel real—most importantly, the boy who broke her heart and the emperor’s sadistic son. The pacing is a bit slow at the beginning, but readers who get past the first third of the book will be amply rewarded. Fans who come to romantasy mainly for the love story may be slightly disappointed that the romance elements mostly stay in the background, while other readers may appreciate the emphasis on the action (and, of course, there are more installments to come). Stark has been building a dedicated following since she self-publishedSpeak of the Demon in 2021, and her Kingdom of Lies series has been huge on TikTok. This author clearly understands the demands of her chosen genre: She knows how to hit the tropes while introducing intriguingly novel details and maintaining suspense. Epic stakes, palace intrigue, and plenty of magic: Stark’s newest series is off to a solid start. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.