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The Rise of Northgall #1
The Wraith King
A brutal, bloody war against the ruthless Wraith King has cost the light fae more than innocent lives. Una Hartstone, Princess of Issos, learns the price the Wraith King demands to end the war once and for all. Her. In exchange for the safety of her people, she agrees to give her life—and her body—to her greatest enemy.
Gollaya Verbane is determined to fulfill his destiny and his god’s prophecy. When his seer points to the Princess of Issos as the key to the rise of the dark fae, he demands her submission. But when she finally yields, he realizes Una is much more to him than a priceless weapon.
A mystery that has haunted Una for years awakens when she is abducted and dragged back to Näkt Mir. The palace hides many dark secrets…and at least one traitor. A traitor determined to take King Goll’s throne—and all he possesses. What he doesn’t know is that Una’s magick is more powerful than he can imagine, and that Goll will burn the whole world to save her.
Gollaya Verbane is determined to fulfill his destiny and his god’s prophecy. When his seer points to the Princess of Issos as the key to the rise of the dark fae, he demands her submission. But when she finally yields, he realizes Una is much more to him than a priceless weapon.
A mystery that has haunted Una for years awakens when she is abducted and dragged back to Näkt Mir. The palace hides many dark secrets…and at least one traitor. A traitor determined to take King Goll’s throne—and all he possesses. What he doesn’t know is that Una’s magick is more powerful than he can imagine, and that Goll will burn the whole world to save her.
446 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
2331 people are currently reading
21857 people want to read
About the author
Juliette Cross
51 books4,675 followersFor upcoming news and releases, sign-up here: http://eepurl.com/XeKIn
JULIETTE is a multi-published author of paranormal and contemporary romance, including the best-selling STAY A SPELL series. As a native of Louisiana, she lives in the heart of Cajun country with her husband, four kids, and sundry animals. When she isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows with her husband and a glass (or two) of red wine or whiskey.
Follow JULIETTE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliettecro...
Follow JULIETTE on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecros...
Follow JULIETTE on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
JULIETTE is a multi-published author of paranormal and contemporary romance, including the best-selling STAY A SPELL series. As a native of Louisiana, she lives in the heart of Cajun country with her husband, four kids, and sundry animals. When she isn’t working on her next project, she enjoys binge-watching her favorite shows with her husband and a glass (or two) of red wine or whiskey.
Follow JULIETTE on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliettecro...
Follow JULIETTE on FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/juliettecros...
Follow JULIETTE on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Juliette__Cross
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,375 reviews
October 7, 2024
I love this demon man. THERE I SAID IT.
November 4, 2024
such promise... and yet lol
i didn't dislike this, honestly. but from the cover and description i felt this would be a little less Radiance by Grace Draven and a little more ACOTAR by SJM. it wasn't. the plot was almost nonexistent and it's just about hero and heroine falling in love. which don't get me wrong, wasn't unenjoyable. but it wasn't thrilling either and felt like a contemporary romance with some light fantasy thrown in.
also didn't love the use of the words "cunny" and "quim"... especially since it was quickly followed up by clit. like if we're going to use the word clit can we not also use pussy? hell even vagina would have been better.
anyway. it was fine, but don't go expecting a wild fantasy.
i didn't dislike this, honestly. but from the cover and description i felt this would be a little less Radiance by Grace Draven and a little more ACOTAR by SJM. it wasn't. the plot was almost nonexistent and it's just about hero and heroine falling in love. which don't get me wrong, wasn't unenjoyable. but it wasn't thrilling either and felt like a contemporary romance with some light fantasy thrown in.
also didn't love the use of the words "cunny" and "quim"... especially since it was quickly followed up by clit. like if we're going to use the word clit can we not also use pussy? hell even vagina would have been better.
anyway. it was fine, but don't go expecting a wild fantasy.
September 24, 2024
This is EXACTLY what I'm looking for in fantasy romance.
King Goll and Princess Una captivated my heart from page one. I love this fantasy world that is rich and deeply explored. I love the court politics, which felt perfectly balanced with the romance to me. I loved the side characters who grew to feel like real people. But most of all I LOVED watching this couple fall in love and seeing the change that powerful and pure love wrought upon them both. Absolutely beautiful. I can not wait for the next book.
I had the amazing opportunity to beta read this and as soon as I finished it I knew this was going to be something special.
King Goll and Princess Una captivated my heart from page one. I love this fantasy world that is rich and deeply explored. I love the court politics, which felt perfectly balanced with the romance to me. I loved the side characters who grew to feel like real people. But most of all I LOVED watching this couple fall in love and seeing the change that powerful and pure love wrought upon them both. Absolutely beautiful. I can not wait for the next book.
I had the amazing opportunity to beta read this and as soon as I finished it I knew this was going to be something special.
January 12, 2025
I‘ll eat up an enemies to lovers marriage of convenience with dark fae, soulmates and slow burn Standalone EVERY. SINGLE. TIME
yesssssss chefs kiss thanks
yesssssss chefs kiss thanks
September 25, 2024
DNF@53% when the word “cunny” was used twice.
I wish the magic system had been more developed and the characters not so bland.
I wish the magic system had been more developed and the characters not so bland.
September 27, 2024
3★
what i liked:
-the cover !!
-king gollaya is a dark fae but he's soooo sweet to una. he wants to love her, protect her and breed her, very badly lmao.
-goll's dragon
-the stories about the gods
what i didn't like:
×the romance went from nothing to something wayy too fast. they needed more romantic development.
×i didn't care about the plot at all
×i skimmed a lot
×multiple typos
⌞pre~read⌝
wow the cover is stunning ✨🖤
what i liked:
-the cover !!
-king gollaya is a dark fae but he's soooo sweet to una. he wants to love her, protect her and breed her, very badly lmao.
-goll's dragon
-the stories about the gods
what i didn't like:
×the romance went from nothing to something wayy too fast. they needed more romantic development.
×i didn't care about the plot at all
×i skimmed a lot
×multiple typos
⌞pre~read⌝
wow the cover is stunning ✨🖤
October 1, 2024
"You will be my bedmate until I fill your belly with my child. That is all"
🤢🤢🤮🤮 umm?? JAIL !!
DNF @58%
I really wanted to love this book 😭.
What I hated:
1. The MMC keeps justifying every barbaric action by claiming they’re “fated” and “destined by the gods.”
2. The FMC sacrifices a lot for their relationship (including undergoing a life-threatening trial), while the MMC refuses to marry her under her religion’s ceremony. A few chapters later, he expects her to perform a sexual public rite as part of his kingdom’s customs. What??
3. The MMC is a jerk—barbaric, possessive, and has a breeding kink (which I’m usually fine with, but it felt so wrong here).
4. Too many scenes were unnecessarily sexual.
5. The first sex scene was uncomfortable. The FMC clearly wasn’t at ease—consent was vitiated.
6. The FMC has no spine and lets everything slide, convincing herself that it’s all happening because of “destiny.”
What I liked:
The cover... and the dragon. That’s it.
Pre-read review:
Love the cover 😍
🤢🤢🤮🤮 umm?? JAIL !!
DNF @58%
I really wanted to love this book 😭.
What I hated:
1. The MMC keeps justifying every barbaric action by claiming they’re “fated” and “destined by the gods.”
2. The FMC sacrifices a lot for their relationship (including undergoing a life-threatening trial), while the MMC refuses to marry her under her religion’s ceremony. A few chapters later, he expects her to perform a sexual public rite as part of his kingdom’s customs. What??
3. The MMC is a jerk—barbaric, possessive, and has a breeding kink (which I’m usually fine with, but it felt so wrong here).
4. Too many scenes were unnecessarily sexual.
5. The first sex scene was uncomfortable. The FMC clearly wasn’t at ease—consent was vitiated.
6. The FMC has no spine and lets everything slide, convincing herself that it’s all happening because of “destiny.”
What I liked:
The cover... and the dragon. That’s it.
Pre-read review:
Love the cover 😍
November 4, 2025
Was this every cliche combined? Yes. Did I care? Not one iota.
Idc idcccc cliche is cliche for a reason and it’s bc it’s tried and tested to be exactly what it says it is and I will gobble every rival families, connected by fate, sunshine x grump in this universe and am never gna stop for nothingggg.
The prologue??? Clutching my pearls, it was so good. Like damn that was one hell of an opener. It kept my attention all the way to the halfway mark and I would’ve kept going but I fell into the worst fucking slump and I knew I had to pause it because I didn’t wanna continue knowing I enjoyed it but was just finishing to get rid of it from my CR. And I’m so glad I did!
This was what I would call a fluffy fantasy romance (it still has gory shit don’t be fooled) that can 100% be read as a standalone. It has the perfect amount of world building, magic and lore, the perfect amount of romance and has a plot.
The reason it’s not five stars is because I wish the stakes would’ve been a little higher to make getting to their HEA more challenging, to feel earned, but that’s me being picky.
Idc idcccc cliche is cliche for a reason and it’s bc it’s tried and tested to be exactly what it says it is and I will gobble every rival families, connected by fate, sunshine x grump in this universe and am never gna stop for nothingggg.
The prologue??? Clutching my pearls, it was so good. Like damn that was one hell of an opener. It kept my attention all the way to the halfway mark and I would’ve kept going but I fell into the worst fucking slump and I knew I had to pause it because I didn’t wanna continue knowing I enjoyed it but was just finishing to get rid of it from my CR. And I’m so glad I did!
This was what I would call a fluffy fantasy romance (it still has gory shit don’t be fooled) that can 100% be read as a standalone. It has the perfect amount of world building, magic and lore, the perfect amount of romance and has a plot.
The reason it’s not five stars is because I wish the stakes would’ve been a little higher to make getting to their HEA more challenging, to feel earned, but that’s me being picky.
September 23, 2024
This is one of my most anticipated reads of 2024 and it was a home run for me!
I have been salivating for Juliette Cross to go back to her Dark Fantasy Romance roots. Which she does in fantastical fashion with this first entry to the Rise of the Northgall series. Well, if you read The Lovely Dark Anthology, you got a tiny taste already but there is so much more we get to dive into here. As well as so many new creatures and peoples.
Una, Princess of Issos, is forced into a marriage with Goll, the Wraith King, in order to save her people from war. He demands she produce and heir with him and then she is free to go back to her people. Una knows she would never leave a child of hers behinds, which means she will leave her home and never return.
Goll receives a prophecy that leads him to believe Una is the one who will bring his heir into the world. Which will bring a new rise to the dark fae. But he quickly learns that once she submits to him, he is never going to let her go. Even he is surprised by the depth of his feelings towards her. If they can learn to trust each other, no enemy can stand against them. But is that possible when they are from such different worlds?
This has all the ingredients for a thrilling new Fantasy Romance series. Lovers of Shadow Daddies and Fated Mates will enjoy every moment. There was the heat and chemistry that I count on Juliette Cross to give me and the perfect amount of "she's mine" to keep me swooning. Add in a dash of "I'll burn the world for you" and a sentient dragon? What else do you even need?
I wanted to stretch this story out for days and simultaneously needed to finish it right this minute! I'm so glad she took the time to give this romance the time it needed and I am so satisfied with what I received in The Wraith King.
I adored this book and this couple. I can't wait to see what comes next for this world!
5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
CW: SA, death of a parent, violence, gore, biting, breeding kink, slight Dubcon, public first mating (kinda), threat to a pregnancy
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
I have been salivating for Juliette Cross to go back to her Dark Fantasy Romance roots. Which she does in fantastical fashion with this first entry to the Rise of the Northgall series. Well, if you read The Lovely Dark Anthology, you got a tiny taste already but there is so much more we get to dive into here. As well as so many new creatures and peoples.
Una, Princess of Issos, is forced into a marriage with Goll, the Wraith King, in order to save her people from war. He demands she produce and heir with him and then she is free to go back to her people. Una knows she would never leave a child of hers behinds, which means she will leave her home and never return.
Goll receives a prophecy that leads him to believe Una is the one who will bring his heir into the world. Which will bring a new rise to the dark fae. But he quickly learns that once she submits to him, he is never going to let her go. Even he is surprised by the depth of his feelings towards her. If they can learn to trust each other, no enemy can stand against them. But is that possible when they are from such different worlds?
This has all the ingredients for a thrilling new Fantasy Romance series. Lovers of Shadow Daddies and Fated Mates will enjoy every moment. There was the heat and chemistry that I count on Juliette Cross to give me and the perfect amount of "she's mine" to keep me swooning. Add in a dash of "I'll burn the world for you" and a sentient dragon? What else do you even need?
I wanted to stretch this story out for days and simultaneously needed to finish it right this minute! I'm so glad she took the time to give this romance the time it needed and I am so satisfied with what I received in The Wraith King.
I adored this book and this couple. I can't wait to see what comes next for this world!
5 stars
2.5 on the spice scale
CW: SA, death of a parent, violence, gore, biting, breeding kink, slight Dubcon, public first mating (kinda), threat to a pregnancy
*Thank you to the author for an ARC of this title.*
Read
October 18, 2024dnf-ing at 52% :( this book had a really strong start, the writing and world building was unique and intriguing. but after about the 20% mark I really lost interest. i’m not connecting to the characters at all and i feel like all the momentum in the plot is gone/ not gripping me. idk it might just be me but i feel a slump coming on and i need to put this book down for now.
October 2, 2024
Boring, bland, recycled, and let’s not call it enemies to lovers when it’s really just ‘our parents hated each other, but we’re gonna bang and fall in love by round two.’
September 24, 2024
I was so excited to read this.
But the disappointment set in almost immediately. Straight away, I noticed that the grammar was atrocious. So many times I had to read a sentence more than once, which really highlights the importance of commas.
So 5% in I decide to check out reviews, and although it doesn’t have many they seem to overwhelmingly positive to the extent of disbelief. With not a single one commenting on the writing.
Honestly, the writing needs some serious work. Or atleast a round of edits.
Examples taken from the first 5% (no spoilers) include oxymoronic phrases such as
‘my wounds a mere ache with no pain’ (aches are in-fact a form of pain)
And over explained phrases such as
‘food and weapon resources were sent to the front.’ (Say food and weapons or resources. Not both and certainly not in this manner)
And then some sentences that just don’t make sense at all such as
‘Putting me within sight where he’d feed victims to his death horde would eat away at my sanity’ (sentence structure is a thing)
That being said, I did like the idea. I just struggled to always comprehend it.
This book is a clear example of why a good editor is so important. A substantial round of edits would bring this up to a solid five stars.
But the disappointment set in almost immediately. Straight away, I noticed that the grammar was atrocious. So many times I had to read a sentence more than once, which really highlights the importance of commas.
So 5% in I decide to check out reviews, and although it doesn’t have many they seem to overwhelmingly positive to the extent of disbelief. With not a single one commenting on the writing.
Honestly, the writing needs some serious work. Or atleast a round of edits.
Examples taken from the first 5% (no spoilers) include oxymoronic phrases such as
‘my wounds a mere ache with no pain’ (aches are in-fact a form of pain)
And over explained phrases such as
‘food and weapon resources were sent to the front.’ (Say food and weapons or resources. Not both and certainly not in this manner)
And then some sentences that just don’t make sense at all such as
‘Putting me within sight where he’d feed victims to his death horde would eat away at my sanity’ (sentence structure is a thing)
That being said, I did like the idea. I just struggled to always comprehend it.
This book is a clear example of why a good editor is so important. A substantial round of edits would bring this up to a solid five stars.
September 25, 2024
Dnf, I can’t read another sex scene with quim or cunny describing her vagina, I’ve had enough
The slow burn didn’t burn for me, while the plot was somewhat enjoyable, everything moved way too quick. FMC needed a little more gumption, she quite literally went from hate to aroused in like two minutes, wasn’t quite dark enough to be sold as a dark gothic fantasy.
The slow burn didn’t burn for me, while the plot was somewhat enjoyable, everything moved way too quick. FMC needed a little more gumption, she quite literally went from hate to aroused in like two minutes, wasn’t quite dark enough to be sold as a dark gothic fantasy.
September 29, 2024
OKAY OKAYY
Dark romantasy may actually be my thing, but-1 star cause breeding kink
Dark romantasy may actually be my thing, but-1 star cause breeding kink
September 23, 2024
This is going to make the romantasy girlies… faint.
It almost made me faint.
A brutal, bloody war against the ruthless Wraith King has cost the light fae more than innocent lives. Princess Una learns the price the Wraith King demands to end the war once and for all. Her. In exchange for the safety of her people, she agrees to give her life—and her body—to her greatest enemy.
Let us all raise our hands and give thanks for the arranged marriage trope.
You know what I love the MOST about this book? It’s incredibly sharp and clear. It’s refined. it’s so incredibly detailed and yet so easy to follow. This book reminds me of House of The Dragon with the magic dialed up to eleven.
Wait, another thing I loved… everybody’s actions… MADE SENSE. You know the important message “if you see something say something” to stay safe? If something is out of the ordinary… bring that bad boy up to someone else in conversation. Everyone communicated beautifully here. I feel like it was a well organized synchronized dance and I was having an absolute ball.
The magic. Really cool. Really fun. The history of the gods in this world? Romantic AF. Layered. Beautiful. Detailed. Perfection.
The spice… is blistering. Scorching. It’s so yummy… it’s so devine…Keep a COLD shower on standby…
I’d say this is a darker fantasy. It leans into a more gothic fantasy setting and there’s dragons and mythical beings and undead spookiness… it’s giving literally everything you could ever want.
Our Wraith King is wreathed in power and possessive madness. Our Princess is bewitching and beguiling and enchanting.
Both have powers and potential and prophecy that is yet to come to pass and it’s delightful to watch this story play out. These two have definitely met their match.
“Though my heart has been blackened by all the blood I’ve spilled and all the dark thoughts I’ve kept and nourished over the many years, when you look at me like this, I believe there may be some good left in me yet.” SWOOOONNNN.
Just imagine you are on the receiving end of this fury…”my mind and body flooded with darkness. Wrath was no longer an emotion. It was a living, breathing spirit guide that had fully taken hold of me with an iron fist and scalding flames.”
…SLOW BLINKS…
This book gave me everything I wanted and more. I’m incredibly curious how this story is going to play out. My tastebuds have been tickled and I’m ready to devour more of this world and this fiery romance!
It almost made me faint.
A brutal, bloody war against the ruthless Wraith King has cost the light fae more than innocent lives. Princess Una learns the price the Wraith King demands to end the war once and for all. Her. In exchange for the safety of her people, she agrees to give her life—and her body—to her greatest enemy.
Let us all raise our hands and give thanks for the arranged marriage trope.
You know what I love the MOST about this book? It’s incredibly sharp and clear. It’s refined. it’s so incredibly detailed and yet so easy to follow. This book reminds me of House of The Dragon with the magic dialed up to eleven.
Wait, another thing I loved… everybody’s actions… MADE SENSE. You know the important message “if you see something say something” to stay safe? If something is out of the ordinary… bring that bad boy up to someone else in conversation. Everyone communicated beautifully here. I feel like it was a well organized synchronized dance and I was having an absolute ball.
The magic. Really cool. Really fun. The history of the gods in this world? Romantic AF. Layered. Beautiful. Detailed. Perfection.
The spice… is blistering. Scorching. It’s so yummy… it’s so devine…Keep a COLD shower on standby…
I’d say this is a darker fantasy. It leans into a more gothic fantasy setting and there’s dragons and mythical beings and undead spookiness… it’s giving literally everything you could ever want.
Our Wraith King is wreathed in power and possessive madness. Our Princess is bewitching and beguiling and enchanting.
Both have powers and potential and prophecy that is yet to come to pass and it’s delightful to watch this story play out. These two have definitely met their match.
“Though my heart has been blackened by all the blood I’ve spilled and all the dark thoughts I’ve kept and nourished over the many years, when you look at me like this, I believe there may be some good left in me yet.” SWOOOONNNN.
Just imagine you are on the receiving end of this fury…”my mind and body flooded with darkness. Wrath was no longer an emotion. It was a living, breathing spirit guide that had fully taken hold of me with an iron fist and scalding flames.”
…SLOW BLINKS…
This book gave me everything I wanted and more. I’m incredibly curious how this story is going to play out. My tastebuds have been tickled and I’m ready to devour more of this world and this fiery romance!
September 25, 2024
DNF at 63%, skipped to ending.
If you’re not a fan of pregnancies as a central plot in your romantsy - stay away from this one.
I love a dark fantasy romance. And I’ve read a fair few ones that were really, truly dark but the romance still somehow worked. Not here.
I went in knowing full well that the MC planned on keeping the FMC as a broodmare, basically. But the book description tricked me into thinking that the story could develop beyond that. Boy, was I wrong.
The book made me angry. The sex scenes, especially the first one, were painful to read (I encourage to check the TW beforehand!). The FMC’s experience with the MC overall can only be described as traumatic and somehow, they’re supposed to be deeply in love. It just doesn’t read like that, sadly.
It made my skin crawl every time the FMC just accepted her fate as ‘a sex slave’. Somewhere after the third forced intimacy she realises she’s in love with the MC, and on board with the whole situation because ‘gods chose so’.
While the world building is interesting, there were so many gaps that left me overall frustrated.
I think this book triggered me too much - FMC worth determined by her ability to carry ‘an heir’, MC only caring about having one. Uncomfortable sex scenes, lacklustre relationship development, chemistry that felt forced.
If you’re not a fan of pregnancies as a central plot in your romantsy - stay away from this one.
I love a dark fantasy romance. And I’ve read a fair few ones that were really, truly dark but the romance still somehow worked. Not here.
I went in knowing full well that the MC planned on keeping the FMC as a broodmare, basically. But the book description tricked me into thinking that the story could develop beyond that. Boy, was I wrong.
The book made me angry. The sex scenes, especially the first one, were painful to read (I encourage to check the TW beforehand!). The FMC’s experience with the MC overall can only be described as traumatic and somehow, they’re supposed to be deeply in love. It just doesn’t read like that, sadly.
It made my skin crawl every time the FMC just accepted her fate as ‘a sex slave’. Somewhere after the third forced intimacy she realises she’s in love with the MC, and on board with the whole situation because ‘gods chose so’.
While the world building is interesting, there were so many gaps that left me overall frustrated.
I think this book triggered me too much - FMC worth determined by her ability to carry ‘an heir’, MC only caring about having one. Uncomfortable sex scenes, lacklustre relationship development, chemistry that felt forced.
September 30, 2025
I actually loved this book. I loved the world building and the characters and honestly just the story was great. I love when an author actually goes into detail about the world they created and explains it so it makes sense to the reader. The cover is actually gorgeous too. Can’t wait for the next one!
October 18, 2025
If you love dark romance but still want Romantasy, READ THIS 🖤😈 This is a dark fantasy romance where Una, Princess of the light fae, is taken captive by the dark and ruthless Wraith Fae. The only way she can stop their war against her people: by providing the Wraith King with an heir. 😱
King Goll’s obssession with Una began ever since he saved her from his fathers dungeons. After freeing her, he was on a mission to take his fathers crown. Once he sees her captured once again by the evil King, he knows he must act. He will do anything to have her. Even if it means blackmailing her into an impossible choice…
GAHH this book called to my dark soul 🖤 its told in dual POV so we get to see how obsessed the King truly is 😈 it’s quite dark (her MIZRAH ritual 😱😱) and the breeding kink is actually one of my guilty pleasures 😈
What you can expect:
💜morally grey MMC
💜captive/captor
💜dragons (DRAK!!😍)
💜enemies to lovers
💜touch her and I’ll 💀 you
💜she’s mine
💜he falls first
💜a bit of breeding k!nk 😈
King Goll’s obssession with Una began ever since he saved her from his fathers dungeons. After freeing her, he was on a mission to take his fathers crown. Once he sees her captured once again by the evil King, he knows he must act. He will do anything to have her. Even if it means blackmailing her into an impossible choice…
GAHH this book called to my dark soul 🖤 its told in dual POV so we get to see how obsessed the King truly is 😈 it’s quite dark (her MIZRAH ritual 😱😱) and the breeding kink is actually one of my guilty pleasures 😈
What you can expect:
💜morally grey MMC
💜captive/captor
💜dragons (DRAK!!😍)
💜enemies to lovers
💜touch her and I’ll 💀 you
💜she’s mine
💜he falls first
💜a bit of breeding k!nk 😈
October 12, 2024
Okay maybe I'm being a bit harsh here but I just 😭 enemies to lovers? No, they were instantly attracted to each other but their kingdoms were enemies blah blah 0 tension it was so clear where this was headed. I have read this plot 1000 times over & the fated mates trope in this book falls into the trap of being a safety net and an excuse for poor buildup. Am I the only one that thinks it's not as exciting when you know that no matter how much two characters "fight" they're gonna end up together bc they're FaTeD mAtEs ?
also the amount of talk of impregnation?? the usage of the words "cunny" and "quim" ??? I'm sorry I just couldn't
also the amount of talk of impregnation?? the usage of the words "cunny" and "quim" ??? I'm sorry I just couldn't
dnf-too-early-to-mark-it-read
December 19, 2025Committed a book's ultimate sin
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🕮⋆˚࿔✎𓂃 𝐣𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐲 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰
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March 17, 2025It’s my fault that I pick this to read😣
No comment!
Even 1⭐️ seems too much for it.
No comment!
Even 1⭐️ seems too much for it.
Want to read
December 21, 2023this cover is cool wtf
November 13, 2024
This book follows Princess Una of Issos and the Wraith King, Gollaya Verbane. Princess Una finds out that the price of ending the war between the dark fae and her people is that she has to marry King Gollaya. Needless to say, she is not pleased with this and it's not just because of the difference in their religious beliefs.
The Wraith King believes the prophecy he receives from his seer involves the release of self-conflict Una feels about their differences. If he wants to see the rise of the dark fae, he has to have the trust and love of Una, which is going to be difficult. When she is kidnapped and the traitor is someone close to home, Gollaya is forced to figure out the solution to a mystery years in the making. How will he do?
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My biggest issue with this book is the terms for the genitalia when the spicy scenes are going on. I know I'm from the United States and the author is from the United Kingdom, I'm assuming, but the word "cunny" drives me absolutely nuts!
The inner turmoil Una puts herself through is also irksome to me. I've been reading a lot of books lately that have this theme running rampant through them, where the female main character puts herself in unnecessary conflicts with the male lead just because she thinks he's a monster.
I don't remember much of the banter between them but I don't remember finding it lacking or anything. I was glad to see some action when she as kidnapped after waiting for something more in depth to occur. I also enjoyed the prologue for this reason.
We get action right from the start, which I enjoy in books these days. I get bored easily but that wasn't the case with this book. I can usually tell within 5/10 pages sometimes if I'll continue with a book and I was hooked on this book from the very start.
I'm definitely ready for the sequel after the way this book ended. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, of course. Would I recommend this book to other readers? Sure, of course I would! I would definitely recommend it just based on the cover alone.
The Wraith King believes the prophecy he receives from his seer involves the release of self-conflict Una feels about their differences. If he wants to see the rise of the dark fae, he has to have the trust and love of Una, which is going to be difficult. When she is kidnapped and the traitor is someone close to home, Gollaya is forced to figure out the solution to a mystery years in the making. How will he do?
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
My biggest issue with this book is the terms for the genitalia when the spicy scenes are going on. I know I'm from the United States and the author is from the United Kingdom, I'm assuming, but the word "cunny" drives me absolutely nuts!
The inner turmoil Una puts herself through is also irksome to me. I've been reading a lot of books lately that have this theme running rampant through them, where the female main character puts herself in unnecessary conflicts with the male lead just because she thinks he's a monster.
I don't remember much of the banter between them but I don't remember finding it lacking or anything. I was glad to see some action when she as kidnapped after waiting for something more in depth to occur. I also enjoyed the prologue for this reason.
We get action right from the start, which I enjoy in books these days. I get bored easily but that wasn't the case with this book. I can usually tell within 5/10 pages sometimes if I'll continue with a book and I was hooked on this book from the very start.
I'm definitely ready for the sequel after the way this book ended. I don't want to reveal any spoilers, of course. Would I recommend this book to other readers? Sure, of course I would! I would definitely recommend it just based on the cover alone.
September 26, 2025
Rating: 5, excellent.
"She’s my queen. She’s everything.” 🤭
Another hit from my priority tbr 👏🏾😮💨. First of all this cover is stunning 😍.
If you want a standalone fantasy romance with marriage of convenience and a brooding, hot mmc who has a dragon and falls first and harder for the fmc then you should add this to your tbr right now!!!💁🏾♀️🙂.
This book has two kingdoms, Lumeria where the light Fae live and Nakt Mir where the dark Fae live.
Our fmc,Princess Una, is from Lumeria and is kidnapped while trying to find a cure for a plague that's affecting her people.
Our mmc, Prince Goll, has been imprisoned by his father due to a prophecy that claims he will usurp him. Prince Goll saves Una from being eaten by wrights (the dead people). They're separated when Una's brother finds Una and takes her back to Lumeria.
Years later she's kidnapped AGAIN 😭 because her father raged a war against the dark faes and she's supposed to be the collateral damage for that 😬.
Goll saves her once again but this time he doesn't let her go and instead writes up a treaty in which she'll be his Mizrah so as to end the war. 😏
The plot in this book is so easy to understand and the world building isn't that complex 👏🏾💁🏾♀️.
There's also spice in here 🤭✨.
I'll definitely be reading the rest of this series. 🙂🎀
Fav Quotes:
“It’s interesting. I never thought to see you, King Gollaya, kneeling at my feet.”
I finished lacing her boot and looked up at her. “Interesting. I feel like I’ve always been here.” 🙈
Whatever means I could employ so that I might ensnare her, I would. For the gods knew, she’d caught and caged my very soul.
If she begged me to leave, I wouldn’t let her. If she swore to me that she’d never laugh again if I didn’t release her back to her home in Issos, I’d still not let her go. If she cursed me and swore she’d take her own life, I’d bind her to her bed.
🤭Possessive men 🔛🔝
"She’s my queen. She’s everything.” 🤭
Another hit from my priority tbr 👏🏾😮💨. First of all this cover is stunning 😍.
If you want a standalone fantasy romance with marriage of convenience and a brooding, hot mmc who has a dragon and falls first and harder for the fmc then you should add this to your tbr right now!!!💁🏾♀️🙂.
This book has two kingdoms, Lumeria where the light Fae live and Nakt Mir where the dark Fae live.
Our fmc,Princess Una, is from Lumeria and is kidnapped while trying to find a cure for a plague that's affecting her people.
Our mmc, Prince Goll, has been imprisoned by his father due to a prophecy that claims he will usurp him. Prince Goll saves Una from being eaten by wrights (the dead people). They're separated when Una's brother finds Una and takes her back to Lumeria.
Years later she's kidnapped AGAIN 😭 because her father raged a war against the dark faes and she's supposed to be the collateral damage for that 😬.
Goll saves her once again but this time he doesn't let her go and instead writes up a treaty in which she'll be his Mizrah so as to end the war. 😏
The plot in this book is so easy to understand and the world building isn't that complex 👏🏾💁🏾♀️.
There's also spice in here 🤭✨.
I'll definitely be reading the rest of this series. 🙂🎀
Fav Quotes:
“It’s interesting. I never thought to see you, King Gollaya, kneeling at my feet.”
I finished lacing her boot and looked up at her. “Interesting. I feel like I’ve always been here.” 🙈
Whatever means I could employ so that I might ensnare her, I would. For the gods knew, she’d caught and caged my very soul.
If she begged me to leave, I wouldn’t let her. If she swore to me that she’d never laugh again if I didn’t release her back to her home in Issos, I’d still not let her go. If she cursed me and swore she’d take her own life, I’d bind her to her bed.
🤭Possessive men 🔛🔝
October 27, 2025
Я в захваті, оцінка 4,5 ⭐️
Не було очікувань щодо книги, повелася на те, що про цю пару одна книга.
Але книга мене захопила!
Світоустрій мені сподобався, я швидко зрозуміла що до чого, багато різних фейрі, але описано доступно.
Головні герої - фейрі-привид Голль та місячна фейрі Уна. Не буду спойлерити за яких обставин вони зустрілися і мусили «одружитися», але то незвично. Вони разом дуже милі, хоч Уна очікувала шо вони варвари (не крижаної планети), але Голль милота з рогами та кігтями 🤗
Буду чекати продовження 🥰
Не було очікувань щодо книги, повелася на те, що про цю пару одна книга.
Але книга мене захопила!
Світоустрій мені сподобався, я швидко зрозуміла що до чого, багато різних фейрі, але описано доступно.
Головні герої - фейрі-привид Голль та місячна фейрі Уна. Не буду спойлерити за яких обставин вони зустрілися і мусили «одружитися», але то незвично. Вони разом дуже милі, хоч Уна очікувала шо вони варвари (не крижаної планети), але Голль милота з рогами та кігтями 🤗
Буду чекати продовження 🥰
October 15, 2024
DNF @ 80% TW: non-con, 🍇, misogyny
This one kind of hurts, because I wanted to love it so much more than I do. It's why I kept on reading for the bigger part of the book semi-ignoring the things that were bothering me until I couldn't anymore. I kept hoping the story would pick up or the lore would be enough to keep me going, but it wasn't. In the end I wasn't rooting for any of the characters and the MMC was really making me mad (and not in the "oh he's bad but he's hot" kind of way).
Where are the trigger warnings?
Perhaps these got added in the final product, seeing as I read the ARC for this one, but in my version of the book there were no trigger warnings whatsoever even though there were multiple cases of 🍇 throughout it. One could even argue that in the part I've read there wasn't a single scene that was 100% consensual. I love myself a good villain, but I draw the line at violating consent. Multiple times.
The worst part is that at no time in this story Goll's behaviour gets called out for what it is. There's always a very poor excuse, whether it's "part of a ritual", "destiny" or "he just can't help himself".
Two scenes especially stood out to me and were the main reasons for ultimately putting the book down:
•
•
PS: I had never read the word cunny before and I hope I never have to again (I literally thought it was a typo when I first read it, until I realised it wasn't).
Truly this book is lacking some feminine rage because I am definitely feeling it after typing out this review. The whole plot of this book is that Una is the king's broodmare and only useful for breeding, but it's okay because she's also secretly his mate. The problem is that it never seems to move on from this extremely troubling view of women and instead justifies everything in the name of destiny. I expected so much more of these characters, because the concept of the story was really promising and the cover of the book absolutely slaps.
Again, I really hope that trigger warnings were added in the final product because you can not just include multiple 🍇 scenes and not warn readers beforehand.
Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted book, but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
This one kind of hurts, because I wanted to love it so much more than I do. It's why I kept on reading for the bigger part of the book semi-ignoring the things that were bothering me until I couldn't anymore. I kept hoping the story would pick up or the lore would be enough to keep me going, but it wasn't. In the end I wasn't rooting for any of the characters and the MMC was really making me mad (and not in the "oh he's bad but he's hot" kind of way).
Where are the trigger warnings?
Perhaps these got added in the final product, seeing as I read the ARC for this one, but in my version of the book there were no trigger warnings whatsoever even though there were multiple cases of 🍇 throughout it. One could even argue that in the part I've read there wasn't a single scene that was 100% consensual. I love myself a good villain, but I draw the line at violating consent. Multiple times.
The worst part is that at no time in this story Goll's behaviour gets called out for what it is. There's always a very poor excuse, whether it's "part of a ritual", "destiny" or "he just can't help himself".
Two scenes especially stood out to me and were the main reasons for ultimately putting the book down:
•
•
PS: I had never read the word cunny before and I hope I never have to again (I literally thought it was a typo when I first read it, until I realised it wasn't).
Truly this book is lacking some feminine rage because I am definitely feeling it after typing out this review. The whole plot of this book is that Una is the king's broodmare and only useful for breeding, but it's okay because she's also secretly his mate. The problem is that it never seems to move on from this extremely troubling view of women and instead justifies everything in the name of destiny. I expected so much more of these characters, because the concept of the story was really promising and the cover of the book absolutely slaps.
Again, I really hope that trigger warnings were added in the final product because you can not just include multiple 🍇 scenes and not warn readers beforehand.
Thank you The Nerd Fam for the gifted book, but unfortunately this one wasn't for me.
September 27, 2024
September 25, 2024
DNF @47%
I will absolutely rate this since I read close to 50% which is approx. 220 pages. I wasted my time but I’m counting it towards my reading goal 😤
Una, Una. How to describe her.
You know those sparklers? The ones that look dangerous and bright and scary? Yeah. And as soon as you put your hand near the sparks? Nothing. No burn, no sensation. Nada. That’s Una: no substance. Except, likening her to a sparkler is a crime.
She’s about as interesting as cardboard. And as soon as you wet it, it folds. Again, Una. No back bone. She gets kidnapped, hears all the horrible things the king is going to do and you what this chick decided to do? Kill herself.
Forget about trying to fight, or figure a way out or hell, even bide her time to come up with a plan. Nah. That’s too easy. She’s just going to slit her throat, which she fails at spectacularly, by the way. After reading this scene, I was already wary but I decided to continue and give it a try with an open mind. Not everyone is a warrior. I can accept that. But I can’t accept dumbassery.
So, I continued and I regret. I regret a lot.
Una is forced to be the new king’s brood mare (essentially) and wow she’s so ✨ self-sacrificing✨ she didn’t even put up a fight. If I wanted to read about a doormat, I’d read my actual doormat. Spoiler alert: it says welcome. A literary masterpiece.
And the coup de grace: she’s paraded around naked in front of the entire court and the plan was for her to be fucked in front of everyone. What in the Cersei Lannister is this shit?
That’s when I decided to DNF this book, but I just had to know: did Goll stop it?
Kind of. She was still paraded around naked and he fingered her while everyone was in the same fucking room. All this about respecting the Mizrah and yet people were still treating her like a whore. Btw, she’s a virgin 🤦♀️
Props to Goll I guess. He took her away and then consummated their marriage in private. But then he said he’d only bother her when she was, essentially, breedable. Or guess the modern term is fertile window. Real charmer, our Goll.
I hate the way women are treated. She’s a sow, a brood mare. A womb. Nothing else. And to add insult to injury, she’s forced to participate in a ritual with no regard for her culture or her reservations. Hell, her safety, even!
I’m sorry, but I’m having a hard time loving Goll for allowing this, culture be damned. All he’s talked about is her ability to bear him an heir. 🤮🤮
I have a big problem with the misogyny in this book. Don’t even get me started on the fact that Goll wanted her to be “pure” and physically assaulted her ex fiancé for touching her.
All this is non-consensual, btw. She doesn’t want to be in this position or sleep with Goll, or bear him an heir.
Ngl, I’m slightly ashamed the cover sucked me in 😅
DNF @47%
I will absolutely rate this since I read close to 50% which is approx. 220 pages. I wasted my time but I’m counting it towards my reading goal 😤
Una, Una. How to describe her.
You know those sparklers? The ones that look dangerous and bright and scary? Yeah. And as soon as you put your hand near the sparks? Nothing. No burn, no sensation. Nada. That’s Una: no substance. Except, likening her to a sparkler is a crime.
She’s about as interesting as cardboard. And as soon as you wet it, it folds. Again, Una. No back bone. She gets kidnapped, hears all the horrible things the king is going to do and you what this chick decided to do? Kill herself.
Forget about trying to fight, or figure a way out or hell, even bide her time to come up with a plan. Nah. That’s too easy. She’s just going to slit her throat, which she fails at spectacularly, by the way. After reading this scene, I was already wary but I decided to continue and give it a try with an open mind. Not everyone is a warrior. I can accept that. But I can’t accept dumbassery.
So, I continued and I regret. I regret a lot.
Una is forced to be the new king’s brood mare (essentially) and wow she’s so ✨ self-sacrificing✨ she didn’t even put up a fight. If I wanted to read about a doormat, I’d read my actual doormat. Spoiler alert: it says welcome. A literary masterpiece.
And the coup de grace: she’s paraded around naked in front of the entire court and the plan was for her to be fucked in front of everyone. What in the Cersei Lannister is this shit?
That’s when I decided to DNF this book, but I just had to know: did Goll stop it?
Kind of. She was still paraded around naked and he fingered her while everyone was in the same fucking room. All this about respecting the Mizrah and yet people were still treating her like a whore. Btw, she’s a virgin 🤦♀️
Props to Goll I guess. He took her away and then consummated their marriage in private. But then he said he’d only bother her when she was, essentially, breedable. Or guess the modern term is fertile window. Real charmer, our Goll.
I hate the way women are treated. She’s a sow, a brood mare. A womb. Nothing else. And to add insult to injury, she’s forced to participate in a ritual with no regard for her culture or her reservations. Hell, her safety, even!
I’m sorry, but I’m having a hard time loving Goll for allowing this, culture be damned. All he’s talked about is her ability to bear him an heir. 🤮🤮
I have a big problem with the misogyny in this book. Don’t even get me started on the fact that Goll wanted her to be “pure” and physically assaulted her ex fiancé for touching her.
All this is non-consensual, btw. She doesn’t want to be in this position or sleep with Goll, or bear him an heir.
Ngl, I’m slightly ashamed the cover sucked me in 😅
September 26, 2024
I wanted to like this book. I really did. The cover is beautiful and the premise sounded intriguing. The prologue was great. But the rest of the book was not it. The romance felt forced, and I swear the FMC is suffering from Stockholm syndrome. She’s suppose to sleep with the MMC for the first time in front of the entire court after she walks around naked, something she is horrified by. But then 25 pages later is totally fine with it, but then isn’t. So the MMC takes her virginity in private after fingering her in front of everyone. I’ve read my fair share of dark romances but this one was not what I was wanting or expecting. The FMC also bored me to tears.
Also I understand there will be typos and formatting errors with ebooks, but there were so many bad and blatant ones. Sentences missing words. A character who dies in the beginning of the novel suddenly popping up halfway through for a page or two.
Also I understand there will be typos and formatting errors with ebooks, but there were so many bad and blatant ones. Sentences missing words. A character who dies in the beginning of the novel suddenly popping up halfway through for a page or two.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 4, 2024
The Wraith King is a new fantasy romance from Juliette Cross! First off, this cover is such a stunner, I’ve been obsessed with it since it was revealed. Secondly, Juliette Cross is an auto-read author for me, whether it’s her paranormal, her small town, or fantasy…I’m picking up everything she writes.
We follow light and dark fae here and a prophecy quest. Una is a princess of light fae and is being held prisoner in a cell when the story starts. Goll is a wraith prince whose father, the demon king, has him held captive in a cage because of an oracle’s premonition. When Goll sees Una being offered up, he breaks free and saves them both. Years later they meet again. Their kingdoms are at war and she’s abducted to force her father to surrender. A bargain of sorts is struck between Goll and Una, they’ll marry and she’ll produce an heir to end the war and save her people.
I had really high expectations for this read, I think it is a good start to a new series. The first half did take me a while to get into it, but the middle to second half did grab my attention more once the quest begun. This world, along with the fantasy creatures who live in it, seems very big and I am excited to see more of that explored as the series progresses. The couple goes quickly from strangers/enemies to all-in and I wasn’t as sold as they were with one another. I wanted a little bit more there between them. I did really love Una’s character, but Goll I didn’t feel like I got enough from. I’m definitely picky with fantasy reads and while not a favorite for me of the books I’ve read from this author, I think this was solid and I am curious to see where this series will go. I could see the influences for this world and characters and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one!
3.5 stars! I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
We follow light and dark fae here and a prophecy quest. Una is a princess of light fae and is being held prisoner in a cell when the story starts. Goll is a wraith prince whose father, the demon king, has him held captive in a cage because of an oracle’s premonition. When Goll sees Una being offered up, he breaks free and saves them both. Years later they meet again. Their kingdoms are at war and she’s abducted to force her father to surrender. A bargain of sorts is struck between Goll and Una, they’ll marry and she’ll produce an heir to end the war and save her people.
I had really high expectations for this read, I think it is a good start to a new series. The first half did take me a while to get into it, but the middle to second half did grab my attention more once the quest begun. This world, along with the fantasy creatures who live in it, seems very big and I am excited to see more of that explored as the series progresses. The couple goes quickly from strangers/enemies to all-in and I wasn’t as sold as they were with one another. I wanted a little bit more there between them. I did really love Una’s character, but Goll I didn’t feel like I got enough from. I’m definitely picky with fantasy reads and while not a favorite for me of the books I’ve read from this author, I think this was solid and I am curious to see where this series will go. I could see the influences for this world and characters and I think a lot of readers will enjoy this one!
3.5 stars! I received an ARC, all thoughts in this review are my own.
October 8, 2024
Very promising premise, but did not deliver. Enemies to lovers where? It was giving insta-love, Stockholm syndrome. Spineless FMC and mega douche MMC. For once I did NOT enjoy the breeding kink in this one (and that’s saying something).
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