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Court of Pain #2
Fool Me Twice
The epic, heart-wrenching conclusion to the Court of Pain duology. Spanning four courts, devious and doomed royals, and the most unlikely of loves between a prince and his fool.
Spoilers for Book #1 below.
They say in the darkest of times, the brightest star has no choice but to shine.
I’m no star, nor am I a hero. But I could be the villain. To protect Arin from Razak’s scheming, I’ll have to be.
He’s my shaft of sunlight through the storm, my hope in the darkest of times, but Prince Arin is also my weakness. And Razak knows it.
The shatterlands are under threat, the crowns are missing, and as the pieces of Razak’s puzzle begin to fall into place, its picture becomes clear.
It was never about the crowns, or the courts.
It was never about vengeance, or spite.
It was always about love.
And Razak will not stop until he’s destroyed mine, and all the shatterlands with it.
Spoilers for Book #1 below.
They say in the darkest of times, the brightest star has no choice but to shine.
I’m no star, nor am I a hero. But I could be the villain. To protect Arin from Razak’s scheming, I’ll have to be.
He’s my shaft of sunlight through the storm, my hope in the darkest of times, but Prince Arin is also my weakness. And Razak knows it.
The shatterlands are under threat, the crowns are missing, and as the pieces of Razak’s puzzle begin to fall into place, its picture becomes clear.
It was never about the crowns, or the courts.
It was never about vengeance, or spite.
It was always about love.
And Razak will not stop until he’s destroyed mine, and all the shatterlands with it.
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About the author
Ariana Nash
51 books2,242 followersBorn to wolves, Ariana Nash only ventures from the Cornish moors when the moon is fat and the night alive with myths and legends. She captures those myths in glass jars and returning home, weaves them into stories filled with forbidden desires, fantasy realms, and wicked delights.
Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
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Her debut novel Silk & Steel hit Amazon's:
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Horror
#1 LGBT Bestsellers Fantasy
#1 LGBT Fantasy Hot New Releases
#1 LGBT Horror Hot New Releases - for 3 months!
Join her Goodreads group here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Sign up to her newsletter here: https://www.subscribepage.com/silk-steel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 161 reviews
August 23, 2024
I was provided an e-copy of the book by the author in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
✅ Dark vibe and some dark/taboo themes
✅ Betrayals and twists
✅ Sexual tension and smut (MM)
✅ Morally grey characters
✅ Politics and scheming
✅ 2 POVs
✅ Pace and plot
✅ Angst
❗️❗️❗️❗️Trigger warnings: physical and psychological torture, violence, rape and desecration of a dead body (very brief), and mentions of incest.
Make sure to read the trigger warnings before you start this series. This is a dark duology with many taboo themes.
After barely escaping the Court of War’s capital, Draven, Lark, and Arin need to find their way to the next city before they are killed by the desert’s creatures, the sun, or the thirst. Their problems are only starting, as they also need to find a way to find the missing crowns and stop Razak before he can destroy the remaining Courts and gain even more power than he already has. This sequel is full of politics, action, twists, lies, scheming, and betrayals, and if you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one too for sure.
I was pleasantly surprised by Draven’s character in this sequel because he is more complex and cunning than he first appeared in Fool Me Once. There is more to the warlord than brute force and a simple, straightforward mind. There were some twists in this book that happened because of Draven, and while I do not want to say more because I don’t want to spoil anything, I will simply say that I am happy he ended up being more interesting in this book, and I am happy that I was wrong when I thought I had him figured out.
Razak and Lark have a weird relationship, thanks to Razak’s narcissistic and psychopathic tendencies. I was afraid at one point that he would end up just being a clever-yet-dumb-at-times power-hungry villain, but thankfully everything fell into place and it made sense in the end. I would be curious to read a prequel about him and Lark before Lark was sent to the Court of Love. We know why Lark hates his brother so much. But I find Razak’s obsession with Lark intriguing, and even more interesting is how he wants Lark to love him despite everything… I would love to read a few chapters from Razak’s POV to get a better insight into his thoughts and feelings when it comes to Lark.
Arin is as passionate in this book as in the first one, but we get to see a more violent and ruthless side of him in this book. The Prince of Love, while being good and trying to do the right thing, would not hesitate to hurt and maim to save Lark, and that’s a side of him that I liked to see. It didn’t make him a villain at all, but it did make him more interesting than the stereotypical rightful prince trying to save the morally grey character from his self-destructive tendencies. Arin’s love for Lark is pure and so strong, he goes through a lot in this book to help Lark destroy his brother, and even though some things that happened between Lark and Arin were dark and horrific at times, it was inspiring to see how Arin’s love for Lark didn’t waver.
Lark is a complex and messy morally grey character, that will not hesitate to do bad things to achieve his goals, but he will also not hesitate to sacrifice himself to save others. He is ready to do anything to stop his brother, and he is convinced that only he can stop Razak, turning Lark into this martyr/hero that keeps on putting himself at risk to save what’s left of the courts. On the other hand, we also get to see a darker side of Lark that comes out mostly when he is with his brother, or in a situation of power and it was interesting to see this dark side cohabit with the heroe side, but it was also heartbreaking to see how broken he felt because of it.
The stakes are higher in this book, and as Razak’s clutches are slowly closing on Lark, Arin, and Draven, we can see how badly Lark deals with stress and pain. His first reaction is to lash out and hurt with his words, but I found it beautiful to see how Arin knew exactly what Lark was doing, and how he took it in stride and tried to help Lark navigate through his emotions instead of lashing back at him and hurting him too. It showed maturity and while I LOVE angsty relationships, it was refreshing to have a character being able to think things through instead of being hurt and creating more problems with miscommunication. That being said, there is still a lot of angst between Lark and Arin in this book, but it has more to do with their actions than Lark’s mean words.
Lark and Arin’s relationship is a complex one. They love each other fiercely, but things are not easy for them in this book, far from it actually. They go through a mix of love, betrayal, and pain, and they both have this tendency to want to burn the world to save the other and to be willing to sacrifice themselves for the other, which led to a lot of anger, angst, and even mistrust between them, and I was living for this angst! It is a dark and heavy book though, so you have to be in the right headspace to read it. Again, make sure to read the trigger warnings.
Overall, this is a dark duology, with some very troubling and taboo themes being aborded, but if you are okay with it, you are in for one wild ride full of secrets, betrayals, politics, scheming, spicy smut, and intense love. This is one of Ariana Nash’s darker works, but it was also very addictive, despite being troubling at times. Once again, Ariana Nash delivered, nothing more to say.
1. Fool Me Once ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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✅ Dark vibe and some dark/taboo themes
✅ Betrayals and twists
✅ Sexual tension and smut (MM)
✅ Morally grey characters
✅ Politics and scheming
✅ 2 POVs
✅ Pace and plot
✅ Angst
❗️❗️❗️❗️Trigger warnings: physical and psychological torture, violence, rape and desecration of a dead body (very brief), and mentions of incest.
Make sure to read the trigger warnings before you start this series. This is a dark duology with many taboo themes.
But he’d made an error. He’d made the same error everyone always made when it came to me. He’d assumed the Prince of Love would do the right thing. He was wrong.
After barely escaping the Court of War’s capital, Draven, Lark, and Arin need to find their way to the next city before they are killed by the desert’s creatures, the sun, or the thirst. Their problems are only starting, as they also need to find a way to find the missing crowns and stop Razak before he can destroy the remaining Courts and gain even more power than he already has. This sequel is full of politics, action, twists, lies, scheming, and betrayals, and if you enjoyed the first book, you will love this one too for sure.
“He lost a finger,” he grunted. “How does that in any way make up for it?”
“He’s lost more than that.”
I was pleasantly surprised by Draven’s character in this sequel because he is more complex and cunning than he first appeared in Fool Me Once. There is more to the warlord than brute force and a simple, straightforward mind. There were some twists in this book that happened because of Draven, and while I do not want to say more because I don’t want to spoil anything, I will simply say that I am happy he ended up being more interesting in this book, and I am happy that I was wrong when I thought I had him figured out.
Razak and Lark have a weird relationship, thanks to Razak’s narcissistic and psychopathic tendencies. I was afraid at one point that he would end up just being a clever-yet-dumb-at-times power-hungry villain, but thankfully everything fell into place and it made sense in the end. I would be curious to read a prequel about him and Lark before Lark was sent to the Court of Love. We know why Lark hates his brother so much. But I find Razak’s obsession with Lark intriguing, and even more interesting is how he wants Lark to love him despite everything… I would love to read a few chapters from Razak’s POV to get a better insight into his thoughts and feelings when it comes to Lark.
I was supposed to be the one who never gave up on hope, the Prince of Love! All I’d been lately was the Prince of Failure.
Arin is as passionate in this book as in the first one, but we get to see a more violent and ruthless side of him in this book. The Prince of Love, while being good and trying to do the right thing, would not hesitate to hurt and maim to save Lark, and that’s a side of him that I liked to see. It didn’t make him a villain at all, but it did make him more interesting than the stereotypical rightful prince trying to save the morally grey character from his self-destructive tendencies. Arin’s love for Lark is pure and so strong, he goes through a lot in this book to help Lark destroy his brother, and even though some things that happened between Lark and Arin were dark and horrific at times, it was inspiring to see how Arin’s love for Lark didn’t waver.
Lark sat across the bench, arms folded, his perpetual smile on his lips. That smile was the most shallow, empty mask he wore. He was hurting—we all were—but when Lark was in pain, he built walls, keeping everyone out. His smile was that wall’s locked door.
“Everyone assumes my brother is the worst of us.” I poked the knife against my finger, then pointed its tip at him. His skin had turned blue, and he shivered, despite the heat. It wouldn’t be long now. “Razak kept me leashed for a reason. What he fears, so should you.”
Lark is a complex and messy morally grey character, that will not hesitate to do bad things to achieve his goals, but he will also not hesitate to sacrifice himself to save others. He is ready to do anything to stop his brother, and he is convinced that only he can stop Razak, turning Lark into this martyr/hero that keeps on putting himself at risk to save what’s left of the courts. On the other hand, we also get to see a darker side of Lark that comes out mostly when he is with his brother, or in a situation of power and it was interesting to see this dark side cohabit with the heroe side, but it was also heartbreaking to see how broken he felt because of it.
I snorted without humor. “You’d know.”
“Hm, yes, because you assume I’ve ridden every cock in your Court of Flowers.”
“Haven’t you?”
He bowed his head and laughed at the tabletop. When he looked up, the smile was so like Razak’s that the heat from whatever this was turned to ice in my veins.
“Even the virgin cock belonging to the prince who cuts throats,” he said, delighting in every word.
I’d narrowed my view, not wanting to see the messy, morally challenging parts of us, and that was my fault, not his.
The stakes are higher in this book, and as Razak’s clutches are slowly closing on Lark, Arin, and Draven, we can see how badly Lark deals with stress and pain. His first reaction is to lash out and hurt with his words, but I found it beautiful to see how Arin knew exactly what Lark was doing, and how he took it in stride and tried to help Lark navigate through his emotions instead of lashing back at him and hurting him too. It showed maturity and while I LOVE angsty relationships, it was refreshing to have a character being able to think things through instead of being hurt and creating more problems with miscommunication. That being said, there is still a lot of angst between Lark and Arin in this book, but it has more to do with their actions than Lark’s mean words.
He hated me for using him as bait and revenge against Razak. And I loved him. I was a fucking idiot.
I loved him, my prince behind the door. I’d always known, but only now did I allow myself to experience how deep that love went.
Lark and Arin’s relationship is a complex one. They love each other fiercely, but things are not easy for them in this book, far from it actually. They go through a mix of love, betrayal, and pain, and they both have this tendency to want to burn the world to save the other and to be willing to sacrifice themselves for the other, which led to a lot of anger, angst, and even mistrust between them, and I was living for this angst! It is a dark and heavy book though, so you have to be in the right headspace to read it. Again, make sure to read the trigger warnings.
“Because I’m not a good person, and you’re not a bad one, and together? Together, we’re better for each other. I don’t know. I don’t understand it, I wish I did. But I know I trust you.”
Overall, this is a dark duology, with some very troubling and taboo themes being aborded, but if you are okay with it, you are in for one wild ride full of secrets, betrayals, politics, scheming, spicy smut, and intense love. This is one of Ariana Nash’s darker works, but it was also very addictive, despite being troubling at times. Once again, Ariana Nash delivered, nothing more to say.
He was my magic in a world sorely lacking wonderment, and I was his beautiful lie.
1. Fool Me Once ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
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October 19, 2023 OUT NOW!
No words. Just feels.
Lark is the most precious court jester full of brilliant smiles and magician's tricks, but inside, his heart is broken. Arin is the not-so-sweet prince of honey and sunshine who will shiv anyone who stands in his way, and Warlord Draven is... well, he's more complicated than he looks.
With our "trio" reeling from events in the first book, we find them cast into War's unforgiving desert. Razak is by no means beaten, and if anything, he appears to have gotten exactly what he wanted—a one way ticket to Justice. Arin, Lark and Draven could walk away. Lark believes Arin and Draven should walk away. What can Lark offer Arin besides pain and strife? (Heroes do not fall in love with villains). Arin believes the three of them together can stop Razak securing all four crowns before Razak's wish to "become a god" is made real. And Draven just wants to keep Lark and Arin safe, by any means.
But their wants soon become afterthoughts, as Razak's careful plans fall into place and an ancient lie at the heart of the shatterlands is unearthed.
As Razak said, it was never about the courts. It's not even about the crowns.
It began with a shattered heart. And it will likely end with the same, if Razak isn't stopped.
***
Make sure you're in my FB group for all the updates!
Please note potential triggers (in addition to content warnings on Book 1) including: erotophonophilia (lust murder) on page, and incestual rape.
No words. Just feels.
Lark is the most precious court jester full of brilliant smiles and magician's tricks, but inside, his heart is broken. Arin is the not-so-sweet prince of honey and sunshine who will shiv anyone who stands in his way, and Warlord Draven is... well, he's more complicated than he looks.
With our "trio" reeling from events in the first book, we find them cast into War's unforgiving desert. Razak is by no means beaten, and if anything, he appears to have gotten exactly what he wanted—a one way ticket to Justice. Arin, Lark and Draven could walk away. Lark believes Arin and Draven should walk away. What can Lark offer Arin besides pain and strife? (Heroes do not fall in love with villains). Arin believes the three of them together can stop Razak securing all four crowns before Razak's wish to "become a god" is made real. And Draven just wants to keep Lark and Arin safe, by any means.
But their wants soon become afterthoughts, as Razak's careful plans fall into place and an ancient lie at the heart of the shatterlands is unearthed.
As Razak said, it was never about the courts. It's not even about the crowns.
It began with a shattered heart. And it will likely end with the same, if Razak isn't stopped.
***
Make sure you're in my FB group for all the updates!
Please note potential triggers (in addition to content warnings on Book 1) including: erotophonophilia (lust murder) on page, and incestual rape.
February 24, 2025
3.5*** stars
Wow. This felt like my dilemma with Tamlin and ACOTAR all over again. With Arin as Feyre, Lark as Rys, Draven as Tamlin and Razak as Amarantha.
And even more players have entered this game by now.
It was a great, thrilling story, for sure and hard to put down.
But here is my problem: the character of Draven and the role he played between Lark and Arin ultimately ruined their romance for me early on in this second part. I was very invested in it in the beginning but after Draven ended up a discarded lover I couldn’t get my spark back in rooting for them. It probably remains a me-problem, but I think the author could’ve written his part differently.
And yes, I also desperately wanted to see at least a little redemption for Razak, the villain of this story. For reasons. Despite all that he’s done.
So yeah, with a romance that didn’t work for me any longer and a redemption I kept hoping for (the author kept teasing me with it, I swear) but was ultimately not given, this whole epic tale was a bust for me on the feelings-part.
And that it quite the shame because I still have to give kudos to the author for spinning this dark and captivating but brutal tale of betrayal, deception and lies with four crowns and a huge, unknown secret at its center—that sadly, in the end, left we disappointed and unsatisfied.
************
Court of Pain Duet
Book 1 - Fool Me Once - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Fool Me Twice - 3.5 stars
Wow. This felt like my dilemma with Tamlin and ACOTAR all over again. With Arin as Feyre, Lark as Rys, Draven as Tamlin and Razak as Amarantha.
And even more players have entered this game by now.
It was a great, thrilling story, for sure and hard to put down.
But here is my problem: the character of Draven and the role he played between Lark and Arin ultimately ruined their romance for me early on in this second part. I was very invested in it in the beginning but after Draven ended up a discarded lover I couldn’t get my spark back in rooting for them. It probably remains a me-problem, but I think the author could’ve written his part differently.
And yes, I also desperately wanted to see at least a little redemption for Razak, the villain of this story. For reasons. Despite all that he’s done.
So yeah, with a romance that didn’t work for me any longer and a redemption I kept hoping for (the author kept teasing me with it, I swear) but was ultimately not given, this whole epic tale was a bust for me on the feelings-part.
And that it quite the shame because I still have to give kudos to the author for spinning this dark and captivating but brutal tale of betrayal, deception and lies with four crowns and a huge, unknown secret at its center—that sadly, in the end, left we disappointed and unsatisfied.
************
Court of Pain Duet
Book 1 - Fool Me Once - 4.25 stars
Book 2 - Fool Me Twice - 3.5 stars
July 18, 2023
✰ 4 stars ✰
“Perhaps, in our story, the villain did get a happy ending after all? Or, perhaps, I’d never been the villain of this story.
Maybe the fool had always been the hero.”
As someone who grew up reading a lot of fantasy books (Tamora Pierce, Patricia C. Wrede and Susan Cooper were a few of my go-to girls), I feel that in my later years I've been slightly more hesitant to read them. But, Ariana Nash's covers for her duology Court of Pain were so gorgeously appealing, I was tempted to read them. And luckily, I wasn't fooled by their stunning covers, because while I adore the lovely shade of green for the cover of Fool Me Twice 😍, I'm even happier that it still delivered an enticing and entertaining conclusion to Lark and Erin's epic tale.
“You are my Prince of Flowers and I’m the Prince of Storms, and I’ve been a fool to ever doubt you, doubt us. The problem with us is me. I do not know how to be loved, but I’m willing to learn, if you’ll teach me.”
The stakes are much higher in this grand finale - the ante has been risen, the moral compass is awry, loyalties are in jeopardy at every twist, but one thing that will never be a lie is how much Lark and Arin care for each other and the severe lengths they will go to protect each other. And along their quest to vanquish Razak of his evil ploys, there is Draven - more than just a third wheel, with his own motives in play that make for so many schemes to be shed to light and so many reveals that kept you questioning everyone's loyalties. But, the story flowed and the characters moved and that's what I'm always looking for. 🤩🤩
“I trust you,” I whispered, “because I love you.”
Had he ever known love? The unconditional kind? He would now, with me. He didn’t even have to love me back. That was his choice. But I would fight for him, protect him, and love him with all my heart.
If anyone dared hurt him without his permission, they’d have my wrath come down upon them, because there was no greater force in the shatterlands than love.”
Arin is no longer the white prince that everyone reveres and loves - we finally get to see a darker side to him, a morally ambiguous one - who in his fierce devotion of protecting Lark at all costs, will stop at nothing for making sure that he is safe from everyone. And in doing so, we get to see him break out of his comfort zone in so many ways that just deepened, not only by admiration for his resilience, but strengthened the affection he had for Lark. 🥹🥹 Lark, so broken and bruised and jaded by his past, that still believes he is unworthy of his love, but Arin will never hesitate to remind him with his affectionate words and heated touches, that 'he was brilliant and perfect, dark and delicious. He was beautiful and deadly, my beautiful lie. But the lie was the one he told himself. He wasn’t nothing. He was everything.' 🤍🤍
“Oh my dearest prince—” I cleared my throat of the words that weren’t mine to say. Words like: I love you, you’re a brilliant bastard, but I still love you.”
My heart ached for Lark - all trigger warnings apply to him - the Prince of Storms who defied odds and the world, who was made for more and would achieve it all, because he was destined - not doomed for greatness. Even when he gave up on his own chance at happiness with Arin - he never gave up on his determination of fighting back against his brother's machinations. 🥺🥺 All he wanted to do was play his fiddle and live a happy content life, but the world had bigger plans for him - and for all his jests and jeers, he was finally able to achieve a semblance of happiness in the eyes of all the courts. 🥰🥰
“It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. We’d been here before, with Lark’s lies tangled around us. And it was lies. I knew him, his kiss, his body, his breathless gasps when he came undone in my hands. I knew his soul, his heart.
I knew every piece of him, and I knew this was a lie.
“I loved you.” The tears weren’t hard to summon. I only had to stop holding back the heartache.
“That’s your mistake.”
Once again, the writing was perfectly captivating 🤌🏻🤌🏻. There were slight fumbles towards the end, where I felt that, it became a little difficult and slightly tedious in making the world-building join together in a cohesive manner, but Ariana Nash's style is so compelling and addictive with the way the characters engage with each other - it is easy to overlook it. There was a great balance between nights of fiery passion and days of intense fighting action that played out beautifully throughout. She kept you going with her sharp cuts of dialogue and deception being the strongest forte for each of the characters - even when protecting their own interests, inadvertently they were still looking out for each other. And I thought she handled that aspect splendidly. 💜💜
“I wish I could slow time. I want nothing to happen, so that everything slows, but at the same time, I want to share the world with you.”
A very satisfying and rewarding read - if all Ariana Nash's stories can deliver exciting fast-paced stories such as this, then it's definitely an author I can keep an eye out for the future. 👍🏻👍🏻
“Perhaps, in our story, the villain did get a happy ending after all? Or, perhaps, I’d never been the villain of this story.
Maybe the fool had always been the hero.”
As someone who grew up reading a lot of fantasy books (Tamora Pierce, Patricia C. Wrede and Susan Cooper were a few of my go-to girls), I feel that in my later years I've been slightly more hesitant to read them. But, Ariana Nash's covers for her duology Court of Pain were so gorgeously appealing, I was tempted to read them. And luckily, I wasn't fooled by their stunning covers, because while I adore the lovely shade of green for the cover of Fool Me Twice 😍, I'm even happier that it still delivered an enticing and entertaining conclusion to Lark and Erin's epic tale.
“You are my Prince of Flowers and I’m the Prince of Storms, and I’ve been a fool to ever doubt you, doubt us. The problem with us is me. I do not know how to be loved, but I’m willing to learn, if you’ll teach me.”
The stakes are much higher in this grand finale - the ante has been risen, the moral compass is awry, loyalties are in jeopardy at every twist, but one thing that will never be a lie is how much Lark and Arin care for each other and the severe lengths they will go to protect each other. And along their quest to vanquish Razak of his evil ploys, there is Draven - more than just a third wheel, with his own motives in play that make for so many schemes to be shed to light and so many reveals that kept you questioning everyone's loyalties. But, the story flowed and the characters moved and that's what I'm always looking for. 🤩🤩
“I trust you,” I whispered, “because I love you.”
Had he ever known love? The unconditional kind? He would now, with me. He didn’t even have to love me back. That was his choice. But I would fight for him, protect him, and love him with all my heart.
If anyone dared hurt him without his permission, they’d have my wrath come down upon them, because there was no greater force in the shatterlands than love.”
Arin is no longer the white prince that everyone reveres and loves - we finally get to see a darker side to him, a morally ambiguous one - who in his fierce devotion of protecting Lark at all costs, will stop at nothing for making sure that he is safe from everyone. And in doing so, we get to see him break out of his comfort zone in so many ways that just deepened, not only by admiration for his resilience, but strengthened the affection he had for Lark. 🥹🥹 Lark, so broken and bruised and jaded by his past, that still believes he is unworthy of his love, but Arin will never hesitate to remind him with his affectionate words and heated touches, that 'he was brilliant and perfect, dark and delicious. He was beautiful and deadly, my beautiful lie. But the lie was the one he told himself. He wasn’t nothing. He was everything.' 🤍🤍
“Oh my dearest prince—” I cleared my throat of the words that weren’t mine to say. Words like: I love you, you’re a brilliant bastard, but I still love you.”
My heart ached for Lark - all trigger warnings apply to him - the Prince of Storms who defied odds and the world, who was made for more and would achieve it all, because he was destined - not doomed for greatness. Even when he gave up on his own chance at happiness with Arin - he never gave up on his determination of fighting back against his brother's machinations. 🥺🥺 All he wanted to do was play his fiddle and live a happy content life, but the world had bigger plans for him - and for all his jests and jeers, he was finally able to achieve a semblance of happiness in the eyes of all the courts. 🥰🥰
“It wasn’t true. It couldn’t be. We’d been here before, with Lark’s lies tangled around us. And it was lies. I knew him, his kiss, his body, his breathless gasps when he came undone in my hands. I knew his soul, his heart.
I knew every piece of him, and I knew this was a lie.
“I loved you.” The tears weren’t hard to summon. I only had to stop holding back the heartache.
“That’s your mistake.”
Once again, the writing was perfectly captivating 🤌🏻🤌🏻. There were slight fumbles towards the end, where I felt that, it became a little difficult and slightly tedious in making the world-building join together in a cohesive manner, but Ariana Nash's style is so compelling and addictive with the way the characters engage with each other - it is easy to overlook it. There was a great balance between nights of fiery passion and days of intense fighting action that played out beautifully throughout. She kept you going with her sharp cuts of dialogue and deception being the strongest forte for each of the characters - even when protecting their own interests, inadvertently they were still looking out for each other. And I thought she handled that aspect splendidly. 💜💜
“I wish I could slow time. I want nothing to happen, so that everything slows, but at the same time, I want to share the world with you.”
A very satisfying and rewarding read - if all Ariana Nash's stories can deliver exciting fast-paced stories such as this, then it's definitely an author I can keep an eye out for the future. 👍🏻👍🏻
January 31, 2024
OMG! 5MILLION STARS!!!
It's been soooooo long since I grew attached and felt for characters this had me a sobbing mess, throwing my kindle across the room and filled me with the happiest feelings all at the same time! I absolutely loved every minute of this!
Call me dramatic but I'm devastated their story is done I can't say it enough I'm OBSESSED!
I'm going to be thinking about these two forever!
❤️Lark&Arin❤️
It's been soooooo long since I grew attached and felt for characters this had me a sobbing mess, throwing my kindle across the room and filled me with the happiest feelings all at the same time! I absolutely loved every minute of this!
Call me dramatic but I'm devastated their story is done I can't say it enough I'm OBSESSED!
I'm going to be thinking about these two forever!
❤️Lark&Arin❤️
July 8, 2023
"I’d wanted him then, but it had been a shallow, physical need. Here, now, everything I felt for him ran far deeper, ran into my veins, wove through my blood, and beat through my heart."
Fool Me Twice is the second book in the Court of Pain duet by the fabulous Ariana Nash, and it picks up exactly where book 1, Fool Me Once, finished - with our boys Lark and Arin, yeah and Draven too, stuck in the sands outside the Court of War, needing to come up with a plan, and fast, to stop Razak from gaining all four Crowns and the key to insurmountable power.
Now seeing as this is an Ariana Nash book, you just know there is going to be intrigue and betrayal and double-crosses and red herrings and love and hate and lust and wheels within wheels before you reach the finale, but this duet is much darker than the author's other series in so many ways, so you really need to be ready for that too.
Check out the author's website for all the darkness before you read, because our boys really go through the full range of emotions and Lark in particular has some hideous times before he can finally find his peace.
Rest assured we do get the HEA we have all been yearning for, but it is HARD WON.
I totally loved it!
"The moon hung suspended over towering buildings, and an occasional star fought through the midnight gloom to shine against the odds. That star was my hope, my Arin."
All the stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fool Me Twice is the second book in the Court of Pain duet by the fabulous Ariana Nash, and it picks up exactly where book 1, Fool Me Once, finished - with our boys Lark and Arin, yeah and Draven too, stuck in the sands outside the Court of War, needing to come up with a plan, and fast, to stop Razak from gaining all four Crowns and the key to insurmountable power.
Now seeing as this is an Ariana Nash book, you just know there is going to be intrigue and betrayal and double-crosses and red herrings and love and hate and lust and wheels within wheels before you reach the finale, but this duet is much darker than the author's other series in so many ways, so you really need to be ready for that too.
Check out the author's website for all the darkness before you read, because our boys really go through the full range of emotions and Lark in particular has some hideous times before he can finally find his peace.
Rest assured we do get the HEA we have all been yearning for, but it is HARD WON.
I totally loved it!
"The moon hung suspended over towering buildings, and an occasional star fought through the midnight gloom to shine against the odds. That star was my hope, my Arin."
All the stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
July 26, 2023
i swear to god i need a 6 hour bath with all the lights off and quiet jazz to soothe me after this train wreck of feelings. i do not do well with emotional reads and while i've certainly read books with far more angst, this one had me in a chokehold because it wasn't a villainous mmc causing me grief, it was a fool who didn't know he was a hero. and just how am i supposed to recover from that? Lark and Arin raised my blood pressure so many times in this duet, i need all the low-angst fluffy reads for like a week straight.
Fool Me Twice picks up with Lark, Arin, and Draven escaping near capture in the court of war. Razak is on his bullshit again (he never stopped) and these three live to tap dance all over my mf nerves. i was ready to throw these books out when Arin married Draven because excuse me? political motivations or not, how DARE you? i need a drink. this ragtag group of misfits stumble through a desert storm and hastily try to concoct a plan against Lark's demonic ass half brother, but for all the plans looming against them, they still can't manage to get their heads out of their asses. while the marriage is short lived, it was not the greatest thrill of my life to see Lark's sad puppy narrative whenever he watched Arin and Draven together. the balm to my frayed nerves was Arin firmly putting Draven in his place but even that was only a brief reprieve because Ariana had to go and make Draven this redeemable ass teddy bear so i couldn't even deride joy in his pain.
BUT WAIT– Draven is a liar and a spy too! dun, dun, dun. everyone is a liar liar pants on fire and crippled under Razak's thumb. (honestly, there were quite a few points where i just wanted Raze to have his brother once and for all. he was such a gratuitous villain, the twisted part of me was foaming at the mouth thinking of what a redemption arc he could have.) the psycho remains ten steps ahead of all the courts by getting himself arrested and sent to the court of justice where he's imprisoned and waits for Lark to come to him out of necessity. Lark and Arin play dress up in the court of pain but Draven betrays the couple for the sake of his random son and Arin ends up imprisoned; melodrama, telenova, ay caramba. cue Razak successfully toppling another court without ever leaving his cell because a hundred people scheming against him is still not good enough. the bitch is Thor, collecting the crowns to make himself a god. and the witless trio walk right into his plans and hand him all the power he was waiting for. i'm in pain.
Lark refuses to stop lying and scheming because he seems to be the only one who realizes that Razak is a demented looney bird and can't be stopped by traditional means. i was so sick of him betraying Arin because Arin could not have been more of a golden retriever at this point. the man was locked in a prison cell for Lark and the dumb prince of pain still thinks he can keep the KING OF LOVE at arm's length. i mean really, do monikers and titles mean nothing to you Lark?
it's impossible not to love and forgive and hope for Lark though. Razak has lock jaw when it comes to his brother and he refuses to let him go, especially to another man. everything always comes back to Lark. when the threat becomes too much, this poor fool, who believes he will never be anything more than a slave to the whims of his rapey power hungry brother, abandons Arin for the bajillionth time and goes back home to aforementioned crazy bitch.
thankfully, Lark's scheming holds water at this point because i was disgusted at the way he debases himself for Razak. thank god the graphic nature was minimally described and depicted because as much as i love a taboo thrill, Razak is a rat prince at best and Lark is actually too precious for me to stomach his own defiling at length. and Arin, sweet baby Arin, who has every right to want to set everyone he knows on fire for constantly manipulating him, chases Lark anyway. the prince of love truly owns his title because he knows that despite all Lark's effort to paint himself the villain, he's actually the hero they all need. granted, his belief in that is likely suspended when said plans end with him hanging from a tree and gasping for air because Razak and Lark would make the most sadistic power couple alive if it wasn't all a farce.
i almost felt bad for Razak in the end because his only flaw, besides rape, murder, creating an army of child soldiers, sodomizing his kin, turning two kingdoms into rubble, binding his court in misery and despair, is just loving Lark too much. (please detect the sarcasm, i told you this bitch was crazy) after begging and pleading for the only person he wants in the world to love him back all he gets is his eyeball cut out, his crown destroyed, his brother in the arms of another man, and his life taken away. sick, bro.
and this concludes the push and pull of Lark and Arin's fucking dramatic ass relationship because now they can stop being unhinged and finally love each other like normal people. normal people with severe trust issues, anyway. i was vexed the entire time i read this duet, i'm gonna need to stare off into space for a while. was it even that serious or am i just sensitive? i'll never know.
the spice in this did not at all make up for the hell they put me through. Arin's utter devotion to Lark and Lark's martyr complex were what made this entire thing worthwhile. i was irritated and frustrated, but i was with them the whole way. their distrust and hatred for one another bloomed into a pretty profound kind of love that treaded the line of insanity because only a loco coco could tolerate that amount of deceit from a lover. and yet, it wouldn't have been true to form for either of them if they'd balked or bended every time they whispered sweet nothings to distract from the dagger they had poised to slip into the other's back.
after all, what's love without pain?
Fool Me Twice picks up with Lark, Arin, and Draven escaping near capture in the court of war. Razak is on his bullshit again (he never stopped) and these three live to tap dance all over my mf nerves. i was ready to throw these books out when Arin married Draven because excuse me? political motivations or not, how DARE you? i need a drink. this ragtag group of misfits stumble through a desert storm and hastily try to concoct a plan against Lark's demonic ass half brother, but for all the plans looming against them, they still can't manage to get their heads out of their asses. while the marriage is short lived, it was not the greatest thrill of my life to see Lark's sad puppy narrative whenever he watched Arin and Draven together. the balm to my frayed nerves was Arin firmly putting Draven in his place but even that was only a brief reprieve because Ariana had to go and make Draven this redeemable ass teddy bear so i couldn't even deride joy in his pain.
BUT WAIT– Draven is a liar and a spy too! dun, dun, dun. everyone is a liar liar pants on fire and crippled under Razak's thumb. (honestly, there were quite a few points where i just wanted Raze to have his brother once and for all. he was such a gratuitous villain, the twisted part of me was foaming at the mouth thinking of what a redemption arc he could have.) the psycho remains ten steps ahead of all the courts by getting himself arrested and sent to the court of justice where he's imprisoned and waits for Lark to come to him out of necessity. Lark and Arin play dress up in the court of pain but Draven betrays the couple for the sake of his random son and Arin ends up imprisoned; melodrama, telenova, ay caramba. cue Razak successfully toppling another court without ever leaving his cell because a hundred people scheming against him is still not good enough. the bitch is Thor, collecting the crowns to make himself a god. and the witless trio walk right into his plans and hand him all the power he was waiting for. i'm in pain.
Lark refuses to stop lying and scheming because he seems to be the only one who realizes that Razak is a demented looney bird and can't be stopped by traditional means. i was so sick of him betraying Arin because Arin could not have been more of a golden retriever at this point. the man was locked in a prison cell for Lark and the dumb prince of pain still thinks he can keep the KING OF LOVE at arm's length. i mean really, do monikers and titles mean nothing to you Lark?
it's impossible not to love and forgive and hope for Lark though. Razak has lock jaw when it comes to his brother and he refuses to let him go, especially to another man. everything always comes back to Lark. when the threat becomes too much, this poor fool, who believes he will never be anything more than a slave to the whims of his rapey power hungry brother, abandons Arin for the bajillionth time and goes back home to aforementioned crazy bitch.
thankfully, Lark's scheming holds water at this point because i was disgusted at the way he debases himself for Razak. thank god the graphic nature was minimally described and depicted because as much as i love a taboo thrill, Razak is a rat prince at best and Lark is actually too precious for me to stomach his own defiling at length. and Arin, sweet baby Arin, who has every right to want to set everyone he knows on fire for constantly manipulating him, chases Lark anyway. the prince of love truly owns his title because he knows that despite all Lark's effort to paint himself the villain, he's actually the hero they all need. granted, his belief in that is likely suspended when said plans end with him hanging from a tree and gasping for air because Razak and Lark would make the most sadistic power couple alive if it wasn't all a farce.
i almost felt bad for Razak in the end because his only flaw, besides rape, murder, creating an army of child soldiers, sodomizing his kin, turning two kingdoms into rubble, binding his court in misery and despair, is just loving Lark too much. (please detect the sarcasm, i told you this bitch was crazy) after begging and pleading for the only person he wants in the world to love him back all he gets is his eyeball cut out, his crown destroyed, his brother in the arms of another man, and his life taken away. sick, bro.
and this concludes the push and pull of Lark and Arin's fucking dramatic ass relationship because now they can stop being unhinged and finally love each other like normal people. normal people with severe trust issues, anyway. i was vexed the entire time i read this duet, i'm gonna need to stare off into space for a while. was it even that serious or am i just sensitive? i'll never know.
the spice in this did not at all make up for the hell they put me through. Arin's utter devotion to Lark and Lark's martyr complex were what made this entire thing worthwhile. i was irritated and frustrated, but i was with them the whole way. their distrust and hatred for one another bloomed into a pretty profound kind of love that treaded the line of insanity because only a loco coco could tolerate that amount of deceit from a lover. and yet, it wouldn't have been true to form for either of them if they'd balked or bended every time they whispered sweet nothings to distract from the dagger they had poised to slip into the other's back.
after all, what's love without pain?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 30, 2023
My heart is in tatters yet felling full. An epic tale of a court jester, a prince who hailed from the court of pain and a prince from the court of love. The sequel to the first book, this duology as the finale was written masterfully and wrapped up in a sweet little ribbon (yes there were very dark themes and heavy angst, but also love and the sweet goodness of it, with that beautifully tearjerking ending (yes, I cried, it had me in tears from being so beautiful), It was epic and heart wrenching and yet very fulfilling. The angst, the love, the characters, fantastic. This book is a treasure I will always remember and positively go back to reread for more.
My beautiful, violin playing, tortured jester Lark, with a heart of gold and the prince who loves him to the moon and back, Arin, are both amazing characters that I adore.
I also got to see more of Draven which was wonderful and see that there was more to his character than in the first book.
Highly recommended for sure, even better for a reread, with first and second book again and again until one gets tired of it, if that’s even possible. I love both books, the first one, Fool Me Once and the finale of it right here, Fool Me Twice.
Ariana Nash did it again, writing such a great story so brilliantly, such brilliant amazing characters that you can’t help but love. Thank you so much for writing this story and allowing it to come to life in my mind and get know and adore this characters. Truly it’s a gift.
Farewell, Lark and Arin, I am happy to have been able to read your tale. Until we meet again.
(Which I am sure will be soon, who can’t resist reading a masterpiece again? Certainly not me.❤️☺️)
My beautiful, violin playing, tortured jester Lark, with a heart of gold and the prince who loves him to the moon and back, Arin, are both amazing characters that I adore.
I also got to see more of Draven which was wonderful and see that there was more to his character than in the first book.
Highly recommended for sure, even better for a reread, with first and second book again and again until one gets tired of it, if that’s even possible. I love both books, the first one, Fool Me Once and the finale of it right here, Fool Me Twice.
Ariana Nash did it again, writing such a great story so brilliantly, such brilliant amazing characters that you can’t help but love. Thank you so much for writing this story and allowing it to come to life in my mind and get know and adore this characters. Truly it’s a gift.
Farewell, Lark and Arin, I am happy to have been able to read your tale. Until we meet again.
(Which I am sure will be soon, who can’t resist reading a masterpiece again? Certainly not me.❤️☺️)
June 30, 2023
So this has some rather dark themes, multiple morally grey characters and some gruesomeness. There is a lot of twists and turns to the plot so I fear I can’t say much without spoiling things. I think I can safely say this is similar to this authors other work so if you’re ok with that then you should be good to go. Do heed the trigger warning’s.
Definitely need to read book one to under stand everything. Things escalate a lot. It gets messy. Arin’s character changed quite a bit from our first introduction to him in book one and I never connected with him. I actually wish we had seen inside Razak’s head, I would have liked a prologue showing how he felt about Lark and how everything between them started, it actually would have been interesting to have him as the second MC with a giant redemption arc. To be honest I got a bit sick of the countless plot circles and lack of communication between them all but I guess that’s the whole point of a twisty plot and it all paid off eventually.
This took me a long time to read I had to keep going back to it. This was disappointing but I can’t put my finger on why it didn’t grab me, it’s got all the ingredients for a juicy, can’t-put-down story.
I received this e-arc for free and this is my honest review.
Definitely need to read book one to under stand everything. Things escalate a lot. It gets messy. Arin’s character changed quite a bit from our first introduction to him in book one and I never connected with him. I actually wish we had seen inside Razak’s head, I would have liked a prologue showing how he felt about Lark and how everything between them started, it actually would have been interesting to have him as the second MC with a giant redemption arc. To be honest I got a bit sick of the countless plot circles and lack of communication between them all but I guess that’s the whole point of a twisty plot and it all paid off eventually.
This took me a long time to read I had to keep going back to it. This was disappointing but I can’t put my finger on why it didn’t grab me, it’s got all the ingredients for a juicy, can’t-put-down story.
I received this e-arc for free and this is my honest review.
September 10, 2025
The second book in this duology was absolutely heartbreaking 💔. It tore me apart, shattered me into pieces, and then slowly glued me back together again. Painful, raw, and yet so addictive – I couldn’t look away even when it hurt.
It was hot 🔥, strangely fascinating, and at times utterly confusing, but in the best, most captivating way. The twists and turns kept me gasping, the layers of deception felt endless, and the story was drenched in lies upon lies upon lies. And yes, there were some really heavy, unpleasant triggers along the way that made the reading experience emotionally tough – but they fit the dark tone and gave the book even more intensity.
In the end, despite (or maybe because of) all the chaos, heartbreak, and madness, I had such a wild ride. This book destroyed me, healed me, and left me in awe.
It was hot 🔥, strangely fascinating, and at times utterly confusing, but in the best, most captivating way. The twists and turns kept me gasping, the layers of deception felt endless, and the story was drenched in lies upon lies upon lies. And yes, there were some really heavy, unpleasant triggers along the way that made the reading experience emotionally tough – but they fit the dark tone and gave the book even more intensity.
In the end, despite (or maybe because of) all the chaos, heartbreak, and madness, I had such a wild ride. This book destroyed me, healed me, and left me in awe.
June 29, 2023
Finally finished this beast of a book. I’m even more in love with Lark than I was in the first book. He is just absolutely everything as a broken character who has to put on the act of him having his shit together. He is such a complex and snarky character.
To see Arin finally allow that lust and love for Lark develop was super special as the tease of it was unbearable in the first book. Ill never be a Draven fan 😂
Fantastic follow up and Ariana doesnt fail to pull you into her world as a reader. Love these boys so much, but Lark is my baby 😍🖤
To see Arin finally allow that lust and love for Lark develop was super special as the tease of it was unbearable in the first book. Ill never be a Draven fan 😂
Fantastic follow up and Ariana doesnt fail to pull you into her world as a reader. Love these boys so much, but Lark is my baby 😍🖤
July 30, 2023
what an amazing ending!
Loved every part of this series but especially Lark and Arin and their monumental love! Ariana Nash had such a gift for writing these stories !!!
Loved every part of this series but especially Lark and Arin and their monumental love! Ariana Nash had such a gift for writing these stories !!!
July 3, 2023
She is a queen! This should be the only thing I write, and it would totally describe how I feel reading her books!
But to be fair, I need to say more.
After that cliffhanger and a lot of unsolved shenanigans, Arin, Lark, and Draven face the desert storm. These guys go through a lot... Again, there's pain, justice, war, and, obviously, LOVE!
It's a long book, and it took me a while to get into the action, totally my problem, not the book itself. But once I did, wow, magic! The intrigue, the sacrifice, the betrayal, the sex, the love, the plot twists What a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. The ending was epic, like a movie, you feel all that emotion and stress and the relief that it is finally okay to breathe again.
I have to confess that I have a "thing" for Lark; he is the perfect character for me. Good but bad, sassy but sweet, with enough self load to make a incredible arc and be the most important person in this book! This is totally about him and for him, from my perspective.
Arin sometimes gets on my nerves... idk why... He always gets himself into situations where he needs to be rescued, and he's a bit of a bratty... But ok, I love him too, and was happy that he got his HEA, taking care of precious Lark.
As I said, they go through a lot, always on the move, always getting hurt and trying to heal, but finally, fucking Razak is DEAD and people can breathe... (I felt bad for him in the end, but he was unsalvable.)
Ariana does it again, and I'm so very pleased i got this ARC from her. This is my truly honest opinion.
But to be fair, I need to say more.
After that cliffhanger and a lot of unsolved shenanigans, Arin, Lark, and Draven face the desert storm. These guys go through a lot... Again, there's pain, justice, war, and, obviously, LOVE!
It's a long book, and it took me a while to get into the action, totally my problem, not the book itself. But once I did, wow, magic! The intrigue, the sacrifice, the betrayal, the sex, the love, the plot twists What a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. The ending was epic, like a movie, you feel all that emotion and stress and the relief that it is finally okay to breathe again.
I have to confess that I have a "thing" for Lark; he is the perfect character for me. Good but bad, sassy but sweet, with enough self load to make a incredible arc and be the most important person in this book! This is totally about him and for him, from my perspective.
Arin sometimes gets on my nerves... idk why... He always gets himself into situations where he needs to be rescued, and he's a bit of a bratty... But ok, I love him too, and was happy that he got his HEA, taking care of precious Lark.
As I said, they go through a lot, always on the move, always getting hurt and trying to heal, but finally, fucking Razak is DEAD and people can breathe... (I felt bad for him in the end, but he was unsalvable.)
Ariana does it again, and I'm so very pleased i got this ARC from her. This is my truly honest opinion.
July 14, 2023
⭐️⭐️| sigh
I loved the first book and was so excited for this one but it was so annoying and boring.
First of all it was too long, they could have won against the brother so many times and the way they were described in the first book , it seemed like they were so smart but omg it became so annoying to see them fail time and time again.
The incest was brought up all the time and i get that it was larks trauma but that just made me so uncomfortable all the time lol, but this review is purely based on my own personal preference and I understand why it was mentioned as much as it was.
The only smart thing Arin did was at the beginning of the first book where he tricked lark and was very mysterious, but after that Arin lost all his brain cells and couldn’t even think for himself, like a damsel in distress all the time. I hated how his character went from this strong man who was smart to the child he was the entire second book.
Lark was also way dumber than i had first expected, i just refuse to believe that he was outsmarted by his brother the entire book and won only at the end, terribly so. Its so unrealistic that noone was able to stop that man😭.
I found myself wanting to drop the book a lot of times and was so disappointed coz i know it could have been so much better.
I don’t know if I’m gonna give Ariana nash’s books any more chances coz they all turn sour at the end or are sour to begin with
I loved the first book and was so excited for this one but it was so annoying and boring.
First of all it was too long, they could have won against the brother so many times and the way they were described in the first book , it seemed like they were so smart but omg it became so annoying to see them fail time and time again.
The incest was brought up all the time and i get that it was larks trauma but that just made me so uncomfortable all the time lol, but this review is purely based on my own personal preference and I understand why it was mentioned as much as it was.
The only smart thing Arin did was at the beginning of the first book where he tricked lark and was very mysterious, but after that Arin lost all his brain cells and couldn’t even think for himself, like a damsel in distress all the time. I hated how his character went from this strong man who was smart to the child he was the entire second book.
Lark was also way dumber than i had first expected, i just refuse to believe that he was outsmarted by his brother the entire book and won only at the end, terribly so. Its so unrealistic that noone was able to stop that man😭.
I found myself wanting to drop the book a lot of times and was so disappointed coz i know it could have been so much better.
I don’t know if I’m gonna give Ariana nash’s books any more chances coz they all turn sour at the end or are sour to begin with
July 15, 2023
4.5 ★
Lately I've only been in the mood for stories with simpler plots, almost falling into a reading slump. So I was a little afraid to start this book due to its length and being familiar with how twisted Ariana Nash’s books can be. Not gonna lie, it took me more time than normal to finish it but that has nothing to do with the story. Which was amazing and full of turns and betrayals as one would expect from this author. You should read all the triggers before starting it because it leans more towards her darkest series.
Two broken men, in different ways, trying to understand their feelings while dealing with an enemy who always seems to be two steps ahead. Though both Arin and Lark will also surprise us throughout this book with his plans to save not only their kingdoms but also their love. I wish we could get some extra stories with them settled, because with everything that was happening around them it felt like we didn’t have enough quiet lovey times. And I’ll also love to see the future of other characters which I won't name to avoid spoilers.
I loved Lark’s personal growth with each chapter, and how Arin was there to help him even when he was being the stubbornest person in the realm. The development of their love felt chaotic yet organic, representing the courts they came from.
Lies everywhere. This was the perfect ending for this duology. As usual Ariana Nash never disappoints when it comes to creating a twisted fantasy world.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
“I’ve been Pain’s prisoner my whole life. I don’t even know where to begin healing.”
“I do.” He smiled and nudged my mouth with his. “I know exactly where to begin. Will you trust me to help you?” I let his hand go and clasped his whiskered face instead.
“I trust you with my heart and soul. But more than even that, I trust you with my love. There’s no other in the shatterlands I trust more.”
Lately I've only been in the mood for stories with simpler plots, almost falling into a reading slump. So I was a little afraid to start this book due to its length and being familiar with how twisted Ariana Nash’s books can be. Not gonna lie, it took me more time than normal to finish it but that has nothing to do with the story. Which was amazing and full of turns and betrayals as one would expect from this author. You should read all the triggers before starting it because it leans more towards her darkest series.
Two broken men, in different ways, trying to understand their feelings while dealing with an enemy who always seems to be two steps ahead. Though both Arin and Lark will also surprise us throughout this book with his plans to save not only their kingdoms but also their love. I wish we could get some extra stories with them settled, because with everything that was happening around them it felt like we didn’t have enough quiet lovey times. And I’ll also love to see the future of other characters which I won't name to avoid spoilers.
I loved Lark’s personal growth with each chapter, and how Arin was there to help him even when he was being the stubbornest person in the realm. The development of their love felt chaotic yet organic, representing the courts they came from.
Lies everywhere. This was the perfect ending for this duology. As usual Ariana Nash never disappoints when it comes to creating a twisted fantasy world.
*Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a free and honest review*
July 24, 2023
“The fire has gone out, the night is cold, and my heart is heavy with sorrow, but I know that someday we’ll be together, and I’ll wait for that tomorrow.”
Despite it taking me a full month to read, this book was incredible!! Definitely one to heed the TWs on - I personally struggled with the copious amounts of SA (not between MCs), some of the violence, and basically every scene with Bendrick but esp the pool scene. I’m happy to go further into detail via DM or on Instagram.
It picks up directly where book 1 leaves off and we’re immediately thrown into action. So much happens in this book so I’m just going to touch on a few things to avoid any possible spoilers.
The romance takes a bit of a back seat for a fair bit of the book, but the love triangle is resolved early on and in a *very* satisfying way 😏
This book made me feel everything. So much heartache, fear, excitement, love, etc I can hardly believe how much was packed into ~350 pages it certainly felt longer!
Ultimately this book is about power, trust, and sacrifice. Lark and Arin (and everyone else really) have experienced such horrible things but they keep fighting for a better tomorrow for the ones they love. The ending was just perfect and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
If you’re a fan of epic dark fantasy and queer romance check it out!
“All my dreams were nightmares, until you showed me hope was a real thing.”
I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.
Despite it taking me a full month to read, this book was incredible!! Definitely one to heed the TWs on - I personally struggled with the copious amounts of SA (not between MCs), some of the violence, and basically every scene with Bendrick but esp the pool scene. I’m happy to go further into detail via DM or on Instagram.
It picks up directly where book 1 leaves off and we’re immediately thrown into action. So much happens in this book so I’m just going to touch on a few things to avoid any possible spoilers.
The romance takes a bit of a back seat for a fair bit of the book, but the love triangle is resolved early on and in a *very* satisfying way 😏
This book made me feel everything. So much heartache, fear, excitement, love, etc I can hardly believe how much was packed into ~350 pages it certainly felt longer!
Ultimately this book is about power, trust, and sacrifice. Lark and Arin (and everyone else really) have experienced such horrible things but they keep fighting for a better tomorrow for the ones they love. The ending was just perfect and I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time.
If you’re a fan of epic dark fantasy and queer romance check it out!
“All my dreams were nightmares, until you showed me hope was a real thing.”
I received an advanced copy for review - all opinions are my own.
June 27, 2023
Where to start with this book ... it's a behemoth. I adored the first book, and dropped everything as soon as I had this in my hands as I HAD to have more of Lark and Arin. I adore Lark, and would stop at nothing to see him get his HEA. While I say that, there was more than one occasion where I wanted to simultaneously hug him, and give him a good talking to for being so damn stupid and misguided.
This series is nothing short of epic, Lark and Arin's story is the stuff of the greatest fantasy stories, and features a villain who really does make Joffrey from Game of Thrones look like a normal, well adjusted and sane fellow. I've never wanted someone to get their comeuppance more than Razak, he really made my blood boil with his casual cruelty and the way he'd treat people (poor Theo, that's all I'll say - he really did not deserve that fate).
I could go on and on about how much I love this series, but that would be a never ending post with lots of spoilers, so I won't do that, but I will urge any fantasy lovers to pick up this duology because like me, you'll fall for Lark and Arin and want to see them snatch that tiny bit of happiness they so richly deserve, and also see Razak get what he truly deserves, too.
The easiest 5 stars I've ever given to a book, ever.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
This series is nothing short of epic, Lark and Arin's story is the stuff of the greatest fantasy stories, and features a villain who really does make Joffrey from Game of Thrones look like a normal, well adjusted and sane fellow. I've never wanted someone to get their comeuppance more than Razak, he really made my blood boil with his casual cruelty and the way he'd treat people (poor Theo, that's all I'll say - he really did not deserve that fate).
I could go on and on about how much I love this series, but that would be a never ending post with lots of spoilers, so I won't do that, but I will urge any fantasy lovers to pick up this duology because like me, you'll fall for Lark and Arin and want to see them snatch that tiny bit of happiness they so richly deserve, and also see Razak get what he truly deserves, too.
The easiest 5 stars I've ever given to a book, ever.
I received an ARC and this is my honest review.
June 25, 2023
4.5
Tricky one to rate since I have such complicated feelings about this one.
Fool Me Twice is an experience. I read it over days to keep myself emotionally distant because, wow, some things were challenging. Heed those trigger warnings!
Lark and Arin have a beautiful love for each other, that's not to say things are easy for them. There's anger, pain, betrayal, so many emotions for them to wade through.
As always there are twists and turns along with beautiful writing.
Tricky one to rate since I have such complicated feelings about this one.
Fool Me Twice is an experience. I read it over days to keep myself emotionally distant because, wow, some things were challenging. Heed those trigger warnings!
Lark and Arin have a beautiful love for each other, that's not to say things are easy for them. There's anger, pain, betrayal, so many emotions for them to wade through.
As always there are twists and turns along with beautiful writing.
September 20, 2023
I cannot even begin to tell you how much I loved Lark and Arin.
And what an awesome conclusion it was to their story.
These characters are intense and they have an equally intense story to tell – they pull you in so hard that you don’t even want to think of putting their books down.
An absolutely stunning read – I cannot gush about this enough.
If you haven’t read this yet, you are really missing out.
And what an awesome conclusion it was to their story.
These characters are intense and they have an equally intense story to tell – they pull you in so hard that you don’t even want to think of putting their books down.
An absolutely stunning read – I cannot gush about this enough.
If you haven’t read this yet, you are really missing out.
January 23, 2024
Six times. That's how often I played with the idea of discontinuing reading the novel. The continuation of the series contained nothing but unnecessary, contrived drama that wasn't even particularly interesting.
June 24, 2023
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
4.5 stars, rounded up
This book is the highlight of the duology. We're immediately thrown into the action, with our trio of heroes(?) fleeing for their lives in the deadly sands. As is typical for a Nash novel, there is much plotting, betraying, deceiving, and sacrificing, but the "whose side is he actually on?" twistiness was a little more toned down in this second book as opposed to the first, which I appreciated as it does get old after a while.
My favourite parts were:
-Lark and his lascivious, unapologetically playful self
-The beautiful imagery of the Shatterlands, especially Pain's rainy, grim streets
-Being completely surprised that a particular character (and I'm not talking about Draven) turned out to be "good"...I did not see that one coming!
-The spice scenes, tinged with both wildness and tenderness
-
4.5 stars, rounded up
This book is the highlight of the duology. We're immediately thrown into the action, with our trio of heroes(?) fleeing for their lives in the deadly sands. As is typical for a Nash novel, there is much plotting, betraying, deceiving, and sacrificing, but the "whose side is he actually on?" twistiness was a little more toned down in this second book as opposed to the first, which I appreciated as it does get old after a while.
My favourite parts were:
-Lark and his lascivious, unapologetically playful self
-The beautiful imagery of the Shatterlands, especially Pain's rainy, grim streets
-Being completely surprised that a particular character (and I'm not talking about Draven) turned out to be "good"...I did not see that one coming!
-The spice scenes, tinged with both wildness and tenderness
-
July 4, 2023
I find it difficult to put into words my feelings towards this book.
The story didn't grip me as much as I thought it would but overall it was still a good read. The characters are pretty complex and far from perfect. I did like Draven in this one and I am glad that he was more than what he was.
I really liked Razak as an antagonist - he was always 3 steps ahead of our main characters, witty, charismatic, crazy and just evil.
This definitely had some dark themes so please heed the warnings provided. Lark and Arin's story had a lot of ups and down and some wild twists and turns that made reading this conclusion enjoyable in itself.
I do recommend giving this duology a try.
4 stars out of 5 stars
I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
The story didn't grip me as much as I thought it would but overall it was still a good read. The characters are pretty complex and far from perfect. I did like Draven in this one and I am glad that he was more than what he was.
I really liked Razak as an antagonist - he was always 3 steps ahead of our main characters, witty, charismatic, crazy and just evil.
This definitely had some dark themes so please heed the warnings provided. Lark and Arin's story had a lot of ups and down and some wild twists and turns that made reading this conclusion enjoyable in itself.
I do recommend giving this duology a try.
4 stars out of 5 stars
I received an ARC of this book and I have chosen to publish my fair and honest review.
July 1, 2023
Fool Me Twice
Devastatingly beautiful!
The most anticipated book of the year is finally here!
I tried to go slow and savor more time with Lark because, well, he’s Lark of course, and I wanted the story to last, but sadly as soon as I opened the book and got swept up in the story it was difficult to put down. Lark demanded attention as he always does and he got it lol
This book was captivating from start to finish. Brimming with so much emotion and life; it was memorable to say the least.
Lark and Arin, their story was quite something. The ups and downs… all of it tugs at the heart strings and refuses to let go. I don’t think I’ll ever forget these two.
This conclusion was so jam-packed with everything never leaving a dull moment. Full of action, steam, angst, betrayal, lies, and so much more!
If you’ve read previous books by the author then you know what to expect (like having your heart ripped to pieces) so be prepared.
And if you’re new, well, welcome to this savage world where the lines between love and hate, enemy and lover blur! Full steam ahead and I do mean there will be plenty of steam and heartache and so much more!
Devastatingly beautiful!
The most anticipated book of the year is finally here!
I tried to go slow and savor more time with Lark because, well, he’s Lark of course, and I wanted the story to last, but sadly as soon as I opened the book and got swept up in the story it was difficult to put down. Lark demanded attention as he always does and he got it lol
This book was captivating from start to finish. Brimming with so much emotion and life; it was memorable to say the least.
Lark and Arin, their story was quite something. The ups and downs… all of it tugs at the heart strings and refuses to let go. I don’t think I’ll ever forget these two.
This conclusion was so jam-packed with everything never leaving a dull moment. Full of action, steam, angst, betrayal, lies, and so much more!
If you’ve read previous books by the author then you know what to expect (like having your heart ripped to pieces) so be prepared.
And if you’re new, well, welcome to this savage world where the lines between love and hate, enemy and lover blur! Full steam ahead and I do mean there will be plenty of steam and heartache and so much more!
July 12, 2023
This book concludes what I think is Ariana Nash’s best series since Prince’s Assassin. She’s had some great stand-alones and individual novels since then, but no series since has been able to keep me so invested in the characters, nor has any novel got me right in the heart strings like this one managed to do. The only one that came close disappointed me so badly that I couldn’t even bring myself to leave a review because all that would come out would be ‘this is stupid’ repeatedly.
Fool Me Twice kicks off where Fool Me Once left off, with our court of misfits trapped in the desert after fleeing War. They’re on a mission to stop Prince Razak in his tracks, but always seem to be on the back foot, one step behind him while he plays them like a fiddle.
This novel is dark, with some scenes that will absolutely turn the stomach of some readers (*sniff* Theo), but honestly, it was nice to read something that claimed to be dark that was actually dark for once. Instead of just, you know. Murky. A little dim. A few watts lower on the bulb.
But I digress.
Lark is everything to me. He is resilient, more powerful than he realises, and so bone crushingly broken that my poor heart was in need of repair by the time the novel reached its height. He still doesn’t believe that Arin can love him as he is, with all of his injured parts, but will walk through fire and brimstone in order to ensure Arin’s safety.
Razak is a compelling and equally broken villain, one whom I even felt a small smattering of sympathy for as the novel progressed. But he’s delightfully sick, and I found myself at a loss at figuring out what he might do next when it seemed like Lark and co had one over him.
The novel was at risk of dragging towards the end; something that tends to happen with Nash’s novels and burned my love for Shadows of London, and had me itching for Silk and Steel to come to a close. Indeed, I genuinely began to worry that things would start to become convoluted, and what would have been a satisfying conclusion would become just another…attempt at a plot twist I guess.
But to my delight, it toed the line. While I did get nervous (the last two books in Shadows of London really did give me PTSD it seems), Fool Me Twice did not amble on aimlessly when it should have ended. It found that point, and it stayed there. And the conclusion was so satisfying, bittersweet and hopeful that I can’t really say anything other than Ariana nailed it.
A brilliant duology. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time all over again.
Fool Me Twice kicks off where Fool Me Once left off, with our court of misfits trapped in the desert after fleeing War. They’re on a mission to stop Prince Razak in his tracks, but always seem to be on the back foot, one step behind him while he plays them like a fiddle.
This novel is dark, with some scenes that will absolutely turn the stomach of some readers (*sniff* Theo), but honestly, it was nice to read something that claimed to be dark that was actually dark for once. Instead of just, you know. Murky. A little dim. A few watts lower on the bulb.
But I digress.
Lark is everything to me. He is resilient, more powerful than he realises, and so bone crushingly broken that my poor heart was in need of repair by the time the novel reached its height. He still doesn’t believe that Arin can love him as he is, with all of his injured parts, but will walk through fire and brimstone in order to ensure Arin’s safety.
Razak is a compelling and equally broken villain, one whom I even felt a small smattering of sympathy for as the novel progressed. But he’s delightfully sick, and I found myself at a loss at figuring out what he might do next when it seemed like Lark and co had one over him.
The novel was at risk of dragging towards the end; something that tends to happen with Nash’s novels and burned my love for Shadows of London, and had me itching for Silk and Steel to come to a close. Indeed, I genuinely began to worry that things would start to become convoluted, and what would have been a satisfying conclusion would become just another…attempt at a plot twist I guess.
But to my delight, it toed the line. While I did get nervous (the last two books in Shadows of London really did give me PTSD it seems), Fool Me Twice did not amble on aimlessly when it should have ended. It found that point, and it stayed there. And the conclusion was so satisfying, bittersweet and hopeful that I can’t really say anything other than Ariana nailed it.
A brilliant duology. I wish I could go back and read it for the first time all over again.
July 17, 2023
3.5 stars
Struggling with this one. It would’ve hit a lot harder if I had truly felt and believed Arin and Lark’s love story from book one. If I had, this could’ve been a 5 star. Instead, it took me forever to finish (even though it was a good book), and I have minor gripes such as the use of current slang like “hot moment” and “sassy.” Or like how literally every time penetrative sex happened, it was with zero foreplay. Even for Arin’s first time receiving.
I did enjoy the overall plot, and the side characters were fantastic. I enjoyed the conclusion. I was glad to be done. I believe I saw the author say this was her darkest book yet and I’m not sure I agree with that. I think Silk & Steel or Prince’s Assassin were darker, personally. Most of the “dark” stuff here happened off page.
Struggling with this one. It would’ve hit a lot harder if I had truly felt and believed Arin and Lark’s love story from book one. If I had, this could’ve been a 5 star. Instead, it took me forever to finish (even though it was a good book), and I have minor gripes such as the use of current slang like “hot moment” and “sassy.” Or like how literally every time penetrative sex happened, it was with zero foreplay. Even for Arin’s first time receiving.
I did enjoy the overall plot, and the side characters were fantastic. I enjoyed the conclusion. I was glad to be done. I believe I saw the author say this was her darkest book yet and I’m not sure I agree with that. I think Silk & Steel or Prince’s Assassin were darker, personally. Most of the “dark” stuff here happened off page.
July 1, 2023
I got an ARC for an honest review:
4.5 stars
- 1 star because the ending was so damn dramatic and dragged out (long endings always kill me and this one made me scream at my Kindle a lot of times)
+ 0.5 star because it fits Lark's story
Where do I start?
This one is dark! Soul-crushing, void-deep and black-coffee-to-resurrect-you-after-a-bad-hangover dark!
The trigger list seems endless but if you do not have any triggers this one is for you.
The first book started out to be very dramatic and was foreshadowing that the second one would be even more so. And it is.
Lark, Arin and Draven are thrown together to work it all out. They need to stop Razak and they have a plan. But as it is with plans it doesn't work out well and the next plan comes along. And the next.... A lot is revealed during the story but never to everyone which leads to deep trust issues and betrayal.
The main characters suffer. They are dragged through the remnants of their past to relive it again. It leaves them weary while they have to fight and makes them stronger nevertheless.
I loved the mood of this book and the characters worked damn well together. It's a real page turner again and kept me up longer than was good for me.
All in all I can recommend it with a good conscience 😏
4.5 stars
- 1 star because the ending was so damn dramatic and dragged out (long endings always kill me and this one made me scream at my Kindle a lot of times)
+ 0.5 star because it fits Lark's story
Where do I start?
This one is dark! Soul-crushing, void-deep and black-coffee-to-resurrect-you-after-a-bad-hangover dark!
The trigger list seems endless but if you do not have any triggers this one is for you.
The first book started out to be very dramatic and was foreshadowing that the second one would be even more so. And it is.
Lark, Arin and Draven are thrown together to work it all out. They need to stop Razak and they have a plan. But as it is with plans it doesn't work out well and the next plan comes along. And the next.... A lot is revealed during the story but never to everyone which leads to deep trust issues and betrayal.
The main characters suffer. They are dragged through the remnants of their past to relive it again. It leaves them weary while they have to fight and makes them stronger nevertheless.
I loved the mood of this book and the characters worked damn well together. It's a real page turner again and kept me up longer than was good for me.
All in all I can recommend it with a good conscience 😏
August 7, 2023
.5 princely fools out of 5.
Oh my god, I can't even describe my feelings right now. I just finished this book and damn I am stunned.
It was a rollercoaster of feelings. My heart broke several times, I had tears of joy and sorrow, I was fuming with rage but I loved every second of it.
Sweet and honourable Arin. He is so passionate in this book while being good and trying to do the right thing he would burn the world to save Lark.
Lark is a complex and messy person, he is morally grey and eager to do cruel and bloody things. But at the same time, he is selfless and ready to sacrifice his life and soul for others.
Hi dynamic with Razak made me ill. Such a perverted view of family relationships. Razak tried to break Lark in torturous unspeakable ways.
Oh, and the most interesting part of this love story if you can call it that is interactively woven lies, rich with intrigue, betrayal and double-crossing.
I swear this next dialogue broke my heart
Very captivating book, Ariana Nash's writing is addictive. It's interesting how each character engages with each other in this intricate world.
Oh my god, I can't even describe my feelings right now. I just finished this book and damn I am stunned.
It was a rollercoaster of feelings. My heart broke several times, I had tears of joy and sorrow, I was fuming with rage but I loved every second of it.
I wish I could slow time. I want nothing to happen, so that everything slows, but at the same time, I want to share the world with you.
Sweet and honourable Arin. He is so passionate in this book while being good and trying to do the right thing he would burn the world to save Lark.
But he’d made an error. He’d made the same error everyone always made when it came to me. He’d assumed the Prince of Love would do the right thing. He was wrong..
I'd always save Lark before I saved the world, because this world wasn't worth saving without him in it.
Lark is a complex and messy person, he is morally grey and eager to do cruel and bloody things. But at the same time, he is selfless and ready to sacrifice his life and soul for others.
Arin might have been the only person in the four courts to truly know me. It was strangely freeing, having him to see me, the real me.
Hi dynamic with Razak made me ill. Such a perverted view of family relationships. Razak tried to break Lark in torturous unspeakable ways.
Oh, and the most interesting part of this love story if you can call it that is interactively woven lies, rich with intrigue, betrayal and double-crossing.
I swear this next dialogue broke my heart
"Does this fantasy tale of yours have a happy ending?"
"Of course it does. it wouldn't be much of a story otherwise."
I tipped his chin up and peered into his fathomless eyes. "Does ours?"
"I have no doubt," he said. And lied.
Very captivating book, Ariana Nash's writing is addictive. It's interesting how each character engages with each other in this intricate world.
June 26, 2023
Love
“Love was a force unlike any other.” How do I put into words the feelings, the emotions, the moods the fantastically stunning, and at times overwhelming but always addictive, conclusion to this duology put me through? Scratch that, I’m still going through. I will never be able to do Lark and Arin justice. The pain they put me through, the war my heart fought, the love I have for them, it’s all too much and not enough, and only scratches the surface of everything they mean to me.
“He was my magic in a world sorely lacking wonderment, and I was his beautiful lie.” How I wanted to yell at them, scream for them, reach through the pages and hide them away from their choices, their battles, their scheming; and yet the love Arin and Lark have shines so brightly it can never be dulled, can never be lost, nor will it ever be overcome. They are everything beautiful in the shatterlands, even when—especially when—my heart felt frayed, they are what held it together, what mended it, and what will always give me hope. I adore them, adore their brushes with light and dark—and there’s a lot of dark—for they truly are two sides of the same coin, and belong only to each other.
“Love was a force unlike any other.” How do I put into words the feelings, the emotions, the moods the fantastically stunning, and at times overwhelming but always addictive, conclusion to this duology put me through? Scratch that, I’m still going through. I will never be able to do Lark and Arin justice. The pain they put me through, the war my heart fought, the love I have for them, it’s all too much and not enough, and only scratches the surface of everything they mean to me.
“He was my magic in a world sorely lacking wonderment, and I was his beautiful lie.” How I wanted to yell at them, scream for them, reach through the pages and hide them away from their choices, their battles, their scheming; and yet the love Arin and Lark have shines so brightly it can never be dulled, can never be lost, nor will it ever be overcome. They are everything beautiful in the shatterlands, even when—especially when—my heart felt frayed, they are what held it together, what mended it, and what will always give me hope. I adore them, adore their brushes with light and dark—and there’s a lot of dark—for they truly are two sides of the same coin, and belong only to each other.
July 7, 2023
Ariana Nash kills me with these books.
I fell in love with Lark, hard. Give me a strong character who struggles with self-confidence and worth and wants to save his lover at any cost, and I will love them.
Nash is the queen of writing dark fantasy romances. This was such a satisfying conclusion to the series. If you're a fan of Nash's writing, then you will love this book.
The moral ambiguity and changing loyalties and sides in this novel are almost dizzying. You really feel you're in Lark and Arin's shoes as you feel bad for cheering a character on when they could turn against them at any moment. They could also turn against each other, even with the best of intentions at heart.
I really don't want to give anything away, but I just loved this book. I genuinely thought I was having a panic attack at one point and had to read one page and then take a small break. Maybe approach this book with a comforting drink at hand....
Also, the spicy scenes will not disappoint.
I fell in love with Lark, hard. Give me a strong character who struggles with self-confidence and worth and wants to save his lover at any cost, and I will love them.
Nash is the queen of writing dark fantasy romances. This was such a satisfying conclusion to the series. If you're a fan of Nash's writing, then you will love this book.
The moral ambiguity and changing loyalties and sides in this novel are almost dizzying. You really feel you're in Lark and Arin's shoes as you feel bad for cheering a character on when they could turn against them at any moment. They could also turn against each other, even with the best of intentions at heart.
I really don't want to give anything away, but I just loved this book. I genuinely thought I was having a panic attack at one point and had to read one page and then take a small break. Maybe approach this book with a comforting drink at hand....
Also, the spicy scenes will not disappoint.
July 1, 2023
Thank you to GRR for this amazing ARC!
Ariana Nash has done it again with this twisted, dark and exciting story!
We continue the story of Lark and Arin, the Prince of Pain and the Prince of Love. The threat of Lark’s brother, Razak, is getting worse as he closes in on controlling all of the shatter lands, and to conquer him, Arin and Lark will have to play the parts of their lives. They’ll need all four courts, Love, Pain, War and Justice to come together for the first time to save their world from Pain. They’ll also need to fight a more personal war, of how they can forgive each other for all the lies told to get here, and Arin must convince Lark he’s worthy of love.
I don’t want to give any plot points because A LOT goes on. These two don’t know who they can trust, at points that includes each other. Their lives and the lives of all the people of the shatterlands depends on them getting every point of their plan right, and they are going wrong at every turn. This story is nonstop action from the first page, and it was an enthralling ride!!
I absolutely love Lark and Arin, and they’re story ends beautifully.
-Forbidden love
-A power hungry king
-Deception and betrayal
-Secrets everywhere!
-Trust no one
-Spicy spicy spice!!!
Ariana Nash has done it again with this twisted, dark and exciting story!
We continue the story of Lark and Arin, the Prince of Pain and the Prince of Love. The threat of Lark’s brother, Razak, is getting worse as he closes in on controlling all of the shatter lands, and to conquer him, Arin and Lark will have to play the parts of their lives. They’ll need all four courts, Love, Pain, War and Justice to come together for the first time to save their world from Pain. They’ll also need to fight a more personal war, of how they can forgive each other for all the lies told to get here, and Arin must convince Lark he’s worthy of love.
I don’t want to give any plot points because A LOT goes on. These two don’t know who they can trust, at points that includes each other. Their lives and the lives of all the people of the shatterlands depends on them getting every point of their plan right, and they are going wrong at every turn. This story is nonstop action from the first page, and it was an enthralling ride!!
I absolutely love Lark and Arin, and they’re story ends beautifully.
-Forbidden love
-A power hungry king
-Deception and betrayal
-Secrets everywhere!
-Trust no one
-Spicy spicy spice!!!
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