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The Ballad of Phoenix and Monsters
In a kingdom ruled by dark magic, Deneb strikes a desperate bargain to save her kill the Crown Prince, Varkein, and the Dark Prince Aedan will grant her the countercurse.
But at the royal feast, everything unravels. Varkein isn’t the heartless tyrant she imagined—yet she stabs him anyway. Captured by his guardians, she begs him to let her go. “I swear I’ll return. And my life will be yours.”
She does return—but with vengeance burning in her veins.
Her mother is dead, murdered by Aedan. Now Deneb vows to destroy to slay his seven monsters, reduce his obsidian castle to rubble, and slit his throat.
The only path to Aedan’s stronghold is through Scathmore’s Tournament, where fifty contenders battle monsters and cursed magic to the death. To survive, Deneb forges uneasy alliances… while Varkein waits in the shadows.
Betrayed and possessive, the Crown Prince intends to claim what she owes him—her life, her loyalty, and maybe her heart.
Vengeance has a price.
And in Scathmore, love may be the deadliest trap of all.
But at the royal feast, everything unravels. Varkein isn’t the heartless tyrant she imagined—yet she stabs him anyway. Captured by his guardians, she begs him to let her go. “I swear I’ll return. And my life will be yours.”
She does return—but with vengeance burning in her veins.
Her mother is dead, murdered by Aedan. Now Deneb vows to destroy to slay his seven monsters, reduce his obsidian castle to rubble, and slit his throat.
The only path to Aedan’s stronghold is through Scathmore’s Tournament, where fifty contenders battle monsters and cursed magic to the death. To survive, Deneb forges uneasy alliances… while Varkein waits in the shadows.
Betrayed and possessive, the Crown Prince intends to claim what she owes him—her life, her loyalty, and maybe her heart.
Vengeance has a price.
And in Scathmore, love may be the deadliest trap of all.
371 pages, Paperback
Published September 23, 2025
169 people are currently reading
3271 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
October 26, 2025
*INTERNALLY SCREAMS*
WHY HASN'T THIS BOOK GONE VIRAL????????????????
This is one of the best Romantasy books I have EVER read. The Ballad of Phoenix And Monsters is fast paced, no filler, it has amazing spice & some heartbreaking moments.
If you loved The Crimson Moth, The Hunger Games & Harry Potter...READ THIS BOOK
WHY HASN'T THIS BOOK GONE VIRAL????????????????
This is one of the best Romantasy books I have EVER read. The Ballad of Phoenix And Monsters is fast paced, no filler, it has amazing spice & some heartbreaking moments.
If you loved The Crimson Moth, The Hunger Games & Harry Potter...READ THIS BOOK
Read
December 13, 2025Honestly, I was in such a slump prior to reading this one-- and I just wasn't in the right mindset while reading. Unfortunately, I think that really impacted my reading experience with it. Soft DNF for now, hope to come back to it!
October 31, 2025
4.5⭐️
To be in the mind of this author for the length of this book was such a privilege. When I read fantasy, it always amazes me how the author comes up with even a fraction of the story I’m reading. This was so entertaining. Fast paced and intricate (omg…the details?!) but still written in such a way that I was never confused. I feel like the plot took me so many places, but the pacing was perfection.
Daneb is such a fierce and determined FMC 👏🏼 I love that she was so loyal to those she connected with. The crown prince had me SWOONING with his banter 😍
The only thing I will say is that I wish there had been more of a deeper connection between Daneb and the Crown Prince. I feel like the slow burn and banter was SO good, but the “love” came so quickly. I would have loved to see them get to know each other more, instead of the lustful connection they shared.
I loved that the competition trials had a bit different of a twist with the insane monsters to defeat in the rounds. I love the addition of the magic, and the wands. Overall, I really had a good time reading this!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy, I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
To be in the mind of this author for the length of this book was such a privilege. When I read fantasy, it always amazes me how the author comes up with even a fraction of the story I’m reading. This was so entertaining. Fast paced and intricate (omg…the details?!) but still written in such a way that I was never confused. I feel like the plot took me so many places, but the pacing was perfection.
Daneb is such a fierce and determined FMC 👏🏼 I love that she was so loyal to those she connected with. The crown prince had me SWOONING with his banter 😍
The only thing I will say is that I wish there had been more of a deeper connection between Daneb and the Crown Prince. I feel like the slow burn and banter was SO good, but the “love” came so quickly. I would have loved to see them get to know each other more, instead of the lustful connection they shared.
I loved that the competition trials had a bit different of a twist with the insane monsters to defeat in the rounds. I love the addition of the magic, and the wands. Overall, I really had a good time reading this!
Thank you to the author for sending me a copy, I cannot wait to see where this series goes!
February 28, 2026
4.25🌟
Really enjoyed reading this one. Always fun reading about a female FMC with revenge on her mind. Also there is a ton of action so you don't have to be scared for being bored.
Loved the trials and monsters. Wished it had a bit more natural flow with the romance part. It was a bit insta love. I am really excited to read the second book, because I have all these crazy theories and I want to know if I am thinking in the right direction. Also hope for some beautifull moments with her friends.
Really enjoyed reading this one. Always fun reading about a female FMC with revenge on her mind. Also there is a ton of action so you don't have to be scared for being bored.
Loved the trials and monsters. Wished it had a bit more natural flow with the romance part. It was a bit insta love. I am really excited to read the second book, because I have all these crazy theories and I want to know if I am thinking in the right direction. Also hope for some beautifull moments with her friends.
December 11, 2025
That ending?! The twists?! 🤯🤯
-Dark romantasy
-Assassin FMC
-Morally grey MMC
-Political intrigue & courts
-Deadly tournaments
-Fae & Magical Monsters
-Spice
This story was fast paced, beautifully written for a DEBUT romantasy, had some tension and spice, magic, trials, and twists that had me SHOCKED!!
There are so many things I’m questioning before book 2- who’s good and who’s actually bad, whether I like the MMC (iykyk) and what the heck is going to happen in book 2!
I loved all of our supporting characters and our FMC’s determination to keep them all safe. Those trials were NOT for the weak (think Hunger Games). The author really packed a ton of characters, moments, and events all into this book.
While I loved the book, I do feel it almost could have been longer or our MC’s relationship fleshed out a bit. I honestly wanted more of them, more tension and banter - I loved their connection but just wish we had more!
Overall though, such an amazing start to a series - I can’t wait to see what happens after that cliff hanger - I need book 2 now!! 🫶🥹
-Dark romantasy
-Assassin FMC
-Morally grey MMC
-Political intrigue & courts
-Deadly tournaments
-Fae & Magical Monsters
-Spice
This story was fast paced, beautifully written for a DEBUT romantasy, had some tension and spice, magic, trials, and twists that had me SHOCKED!!
There are so many things I’m questioning before book 2- who’s good and who’s actually bad, whether I like the MMC (iykyk) and what the heck is going to happen in book 2!
I loved all of our supporting characters and our FMC’s determination to keep them all safe. Those trials were NOT for the weak (think Hunger Games). The author really packed a ton of characters, moments, and events all into this book.
While I loved the book, I do feel it almost could have been longer or our MC’s relationship fleshed out a bit. I honestly wanted more of them, more tension and banter - I loved their connection but just wish we had more!
Overall though, such an amazing start to a series - I can’t wait to see what happens after that cliff hanger - I need book 2 now!! 🫶🥹
February 17, 2026
DNF at 62%. This idea had so much potential - think Hunger Games but with magic, but I am disappointed. Main character Deneb trained hard for 5 years for the prince to easily disarm her, then she decides she wants to take out a bunch of un-killable monsters by herself, after she couldn’t even kill 1 human? And for some reason the whole ‘team’ just gets on board? I also felt nothing romantic at all between Deneb and Varkein. He was borderline rapey. Showing up and sleeping in her bed even after she told him to get out a bunch of times??? Not a turn on for me ❌ quite the opposite. I highlighted this quote from him- ‘any part of your body that encroaches on my designated side is mine to keep for the night’ 🤢. The team debating whether the manticore (one of the monsters) has a ballsack was the stopping point for me.
November 15, 2025
3.5
If you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy filled with deadly trials and a slow burn spark of love, this one checks all the boxes. It starts out with a bang and only gets wilder as secrets begin to unravel. I found myself flipping pages quickly just to get back to the banter with the love interest because it was exactly my kind of back and forth.
Overall, this was a fun, action driven read.
If you’re looking for a fast paced fantasy filled with deadly trials and a slow burn spark of love, this one checks all the boxes. It starts out with a bang and only gets wilder as secrets begin to unravel. I found myself flipping pages quickly just to get back to the banter with the love interest because it was exactly my kind of back and forth.
Overall, this was a fun, action driven read.
November 9, 2025
I was immediately pulled into this story. so much happened before chapter 5!?
the love story in this lacked a little depth for me and I thought I maybe missed a piece of the story with how quickly the mmc fell for the fmc. once the story got going I adored their relationship. cute banter and the spice was just right.
I got a little lost in the middle with the world building around the monsters but this concept and the magic system were so unique.
I'm interested to see where this story goes. I think this series could be INCREDIBLE
This book was gifted to me by the author and I am so grateful. 🫶
the love story in this lacked a little depth for me and I thought I maybe missed a piece of the story with how quickly the mmc fell for the fmc. once the story got going I adored their relationship. cute banter and the spice was just right.
I got a little lost in the middle with the world building around the monsters but this concept and the magic system were so unique.
I'm interested to see where this story goes. I think this series could be INCREDIBLE
This book was gifted to me by the author and I am so grateful. 🫶
January 31, 2026
This book had so much potential, but unfortunately it didn’t quite deliver. The concept itself was intriguing and felt like it could have been something truly special, however the execution fell short.
There was simply too much going on. New elements, characters, and plot points were introduced constantly, often without enough background or backstory to help them land. Major truths and big reveals were dropped with little to no build-up, making them confusing rather than impactful.
The romance also moved far too quickly. What should have been an emotional, meaningful love story felt rushed and lacked depth, making it difficult to truly connect with the characters or their relationship.
The pacing was another issue. The story felt crammed, as though multiple books’ worth of ideas were squeezed into one. Because of this, the narrative often felt rushed and at times disjointed. Some editing issues only added to that sense of confusion.
Overall, The Ballad of the Phoenix and Monsters had a strong foundation and plenty of promising ideas, but it needed more time, development, and refinement to truly shine.
There was simply too much going on. New elements, characters, and plot points were introduced constantly, often without enough background or backstory to help them land. Major truths and big reveals were dropped with little to no build-up, making them confusing rather than impactful.
The romance also moved far too quickly. What should have been an emotional, meaningful love story felt rushed and lacked depth, making it difficult to truly connect with the characters or their relationship.
The pacing was another issue. The story felt crammed, as though multiple books’ worth of ideas were squeezed into one. Because of this, the narrative often felt rushed and at times disjointed. Some editing issues only added to that sense of confusion.
Overall, The Ballad of the Phoenix and Monsters had a strong foundation and plenty of promising ideas, but it needed more time, development, and refinement to truly shine.
January 27, 2026
I tried to not DNF, but after multiple grammar errors, shallow writing that told rather than showed, and the cringy insta-lust, I put it down after chapter 4.
As for the plot:
This MFC is supposed to be an assassin but she gets caught, becomes unarmed by her target due to *their pretty eyes*, stabs their target without a fatal blow, and gets caught again within minutes? Girl what kind of assassin are you?
Also, the MMC killed me: “Shit. Now I’m the one wondering whether to Kiss you or kill you… You see, you drew my blood, almost an impossible task, seeing as in the last three-days’ battle, none of my enemies managed to do that.”
Please. Stop. You literally just met this woman. You know she was sent to kill you. Please.
As for the plot:
This MFC is supposed to be an assassin but she gets caught, becomes unarmed by her target due to *their pretty eyes*, stabs their target without a fatal blow, and gets caught again within minutes? Girl what kind of assassin are you?
Also, the MMC killed me: “Shit. Now I’m the one wondering whether to Kiss you or kill you… You see, you drew my blood, almost an impossible task, seeing as in the last three-days’ battle, none of my enemies managed to do that.”
Please. Stop. You literally just met this woman. You know she was sent to kill you. Please.
December 11, 2025
That ending?! The twists?! 🤯🤯
-Dark romantasy
-Assassin FMC
-Morally grey MMC
-Political intrigue & courts
-Deadly tournaments
-Fae & Magical Monsters
-Spice
This story was fast paced, beautifully written for a DEBUT romantasy, had some tension and spice, magic, trials, and twists that had me SHOCKED!!
There are so many things I’m questioning before book 2- who’s good and who’s actually bad, whether I like the MMC (iykyk) and what the heck is going to happen in book 2!
I loved all of our supporting characters and our FMC’s determination to keep them all safe. Those trials were NOT for the weak (think Hunger Games). The author really packed a ton of characters, moments, and events all into this book.
While I loved the book, I do feel it almost could have been longer or our MC’s relationship fleshed out a bit. I honestly wanted more of them, more tension and banter - I loved their connection but just wish we had more!
Overall though, such an amazing start to a series - I can’t wait to see what happens after that cliff hanger - I need book 2 now!! 🫶🥹
-Dark romantasy
-Assassin FMC
-Morally grey MMC
-Political intrigue & courts
-Deadly tournaments
-Fae & Magical Monsters
-Spice
This story was fast paced, beautifully written for a DEBUT romantasy, had some tension and spice, magic, trials, and twists that had me SHOCKED!!
There are so many things I’m questioning before book 2- who’s good and who’s actually bad, whether I like the MMC (iykyk) and what the heck is going to happen in book 2!
I loved all of our supporting characters and our FMC’s determination to keep them all safe. Those trials were NOT for the weak (think Hunger Games). The author really packed a ton of characters, moments, and events all into this book.
While I loved the book, I do feel it almost could have been longer or our MC’s relationship fleshed out a bit. I honestly wanted more of them, more tension and banter - I loved their connection but just wish we had more!
Overall though, such an amazing start to a series - I can’t wait to see what happens after that cliff hanger - I need book 2 now!! 🫶🥹
October 27, 2025
Honestly, I'm pretty disappointed. It was way too insta-lusty and insta-lovey for my taste. I love a slow burn with some angst, but this just wasn’t it. The story itself didn’t grab me either, and the “big reveal” around the FMC just made me roll my eyes a bit. I’m not a fan of when a strong female character only ends up being “special” because of some hidden twist. It all felt kind of messy and not very neeew. Overall, I sadly just couldn’t care less about the relationship or the plot 🤷♀️
December 6, 2025
“𝙨𝙤 𝙞𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙩. 𝙞’𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙖𝙠𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙧𝙪𝙞𝙣, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚—𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙩 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙧𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚. 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙤𝙙𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙢𝙚; 𝙞 𝙬𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩.”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 📖
in this book, we follow deneb, an assassin trained ruthlessly, who goes through deadly trials in an attempt to ruin the dark prince. she falls in love with varkein, the high prince, and she must decide what is really important as she discovers more parts of herself as well as her developing feelings for varkein. overall, this was a fast-paced, action-packed, romantasy read. there was spice, there was heart-wrenching and gruesome scenes, and there were epic monsters and characters.
𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 💕
i loved the unique creatures and characters (Sarpa and the Brain Eater was CRAZY) and the wand and rune magic. the book started off really strong as well and left no room for boring filler moments. the plot twist of betrayal was really interesting and was not something i had expected at all! during the deadly trials that the main character, deneb, goes through, there are really gory scenes that i have not experienced in a long time and it was so nauseating because they were written so well!
𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 ✨
• insta love
• touch her and 💀
• deadly trials
• unique magic system
• betrayal
• quest for revenge
• assassin fmc
𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴 🌙
while i enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the book, i feel as though if it were a little longer, the relationship between the fmc and the mmc could have been developed better as well as some moments that feel as though they should have lasted longer for time of grieving. also, the mmc sometimes felt a little toxic i couldn’t decide whether to like him or not? 😅
𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 💭
overall, i really enjoyed this book! thank you so much for lending me a beautiful copy of your book, M.N. Robbins! i cannot wait to read the second book!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸 📖
in this book, we follow deneb, an assassin trained ruthlessly, who goes through deadly trials in an attempt to ruin the dark prince. she falls in love with varkein, the high prince, and she must decide what is really important as she discovers more parts of herself as well as her developing feelings for varkein. overall, this was a fast-paced, action-packed, romantasy read. there was spice, there was heart-wrenching and gruesome scenes, and there were epic monsters and characters.
𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘥 💕
i loved the unique creatures and characters (Sarpa and the Brain Eater was CRAZY) and the wand and rune magic. the book started off really strong as well and left no room for boring filler moments. the plot twist of betrayal was really interesting and was not something i had expected at all! during the deadly trials that the main character, deneb, goes through, there are really gory scenes that i have not experienced in a long time and it was so nauseating because they were written so well!
𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴 ✨
• insta love
• touch her and 💀
• deadly trials
• unique magic system
• betrayal
• quest for revenge
• assassin fmc
𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴 🌙
while i enjoyed the fast-paced nature of the book, i feel as though if it were a little longer, the relationship between the fmc and the mmc could have been developed better as well as some moments that feel as though they should have lasted longer for time of grieving. also, the mmc sometimes felt a little toxic i couldn’t decide whether to like him or not? 😅
𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 💭
overall, i really enjoyed this book! thank you so much for lending me a beautiful copy of your book, M.N. Robbins! i cannot wait to read the second book!
November 23, 2025
4.5 stars
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!
The Ballad of Phoenix and Monsters is a debut novel that reads like it came from a seasoned pro. From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled in. And even though it took me a month to finish (life happens), I actually devoured it in just two sittings once I finally sat down to read. I could not put it down!
We follow Deneb, a fierce assassin hired by the Dark Prince to kill his cousin, Crown Prince Varkein. But when she finally meets Varkein, he’s nothing like she expected. Instead of killing her, he captures her, only to let her go so she can save her cursed mother, making her promise that she’ll one day return to him.
When Deneb fails to break the curse, her mission shifts to revenge. To reach the Dark Prince, she must enter a tournament filled with monsters, magic, and deadly trials. Think The Hunger Games meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night with a fresh twist of wands, runes, and royal danger.
Deneb is the kind of heroine I live for—strong, loyal, and utterly badass. The side characters were also fantastic (special shoutout to Varkein’s guard, Kai).
And the chemistry between Deneb and Varkein? HOT.
Somehow it’s both a slow burn and insta-love?? I don’t know how, but it works. It works so well.
I kind of had a feeling about the plot twist, but I was still shocked by the way it unraveled. Now I seriously cannot wait to see how the rest of this story plays out!
The world-building and magic system were incredibly well crafted for a debut, and I’m so excited to see what this author does next.
Thank you to the author for the gifted copy!
The Ballad of Phoenix and Monsters is a debut novel that reads like it came from a seasoned pro. From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled in. And even though it took me a month to finish (life happens), I actually devoured it in just two sittings once I finally sat down to read. I could not put it down!
We follow Deneb, a fierce assassin hired by the Dark Prince to kill his cousin, Crown Prince Varkein. But when she finally meets Varkein, he’s nothing like she expected. Instead of killing her, he captures her, only to let her go so she can save her cursed mother, making her promise that she’ll one day return to him.
When Deneb fails to break the curse, her mission shifts to revenge. To reach the Dark Prince, she must enter a tournament filled with monsters, magic, and deadly trials. Think The Hunger Games meets The Serpent and the Wings of Night with a fresh twist of wands, runes, and royal danger.
Deneb is the kind of heroine I live for—strong, loyal, and utterly badass. The side characters were also fantastic (special shoutout to Varkein’s guard, Kai).
And the chemistry between Deneb and Varkein? HOT.
Somehow it’s both a slow burn and insta-love?? I don’t know how, but it works. It works so well.
I kind of had a feeling about the plot twist, but I was still shocked by the way it unraveled. Now I seriously cannot wait to see how the rest of this story plays out!
The world-building and magic system were incredibly well crafted for a debut, and I’m so excited to see what this author does next.
December 4, 2025
WOWWWW. I am very picky with my fantasy and romantasy, but this one completely hooked me!!! And knowing it is an indie title made me even more excited to dive in. Thank you so much to the author for sending this to me!
I believe this is the first book in a series, and what an amazing start.
The visual details and world-building were incredibly clear and easy to follow. I loved that you get so much of the history, magic system, and background of the world right away, but still just enough mystery to want more. There is so much happening here in the best way: trials, found family moments, layered secrets, and a super fierce FMC uncovering the truth about herself and her past.
I will say, the romance does develop quickly. While I typically prefer a slower burn, it actually works here because the story moves at such a fast, action-heavy pace. The immediate chemistry feels intentional for the stakes and energy of the plot.
I also think this book is very much the setup for what is coming next. I did find myself wanting a bit more character depth, but it really feels like this book is laying the foundation, the world, the tensions, and who the characters are on the surface. And that cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more.
Like many fantasy novels, there is a slow build at the beginning, but once it picks up? WOW. IT PICKS UPPPPPP.
The monsters, the deadly trials, the magic, all of it was so vivid and fun to read. It even gave me a tiny hint of Harry Potter energy in terms of the hunting of the monsters, fighting them and the challenges, while still being completely its own story with its own unique journey.
I really enjoyed this, and I am genuinely excited to see where the series goes next!!!
I believe this is the first book in a series, and what an amazing start.
The visual details and world-building were incredibly clear and easy to follow. I loved that you get so much of the history, magic system, and background of the world right away, but still just enough mystery to want more. There is so much happening here in the best way: trials, found family moments, layered secrets, and a super fierce FMC uncovering the truth about herself and her past.
I will say, the romance does develop quickly. While I typically prefer a slower burn, it actually works here because the story moves at such a fast, action-heavy pace. The immediate chemistry feels intentional for the stakes and energy of the plot.
I also think this book is very much the setup for what is coming next. I did find myself wanting a bit more character depth, but it really feels like this book is laying the foundation, the world, the tensions, and who the characters are on the surface. And that cliffhanger definitely left me wanting more.
Like many fantasy novels, there is a slow build at the beginning, but once it picks up? WOW. IT PICKS UPPPPPP.
The monsters, the deadly trials, the magic, all of it was so vivid and fun to read. It even gave me a tiny hint of Harry Potter energy in terms of the hunting of the monsters, fighting them and the challenges, while still being completely its own story with its own unique journey.
I really enjoyed this, and I am genuinely excited to see where the series goes next!!!
January 31, 2026
4/5⭐️
2/5🌶️
It was an exciting opportunity to be reached out to by the author to read her debut novel! Right off the bat we are dropped into the action. No need for a slow build-up… our leading lady is being set on a path to assassinate the prince after countless months of training. This plan quickly gets turned on its head, and what follows was an action-packed, fast-paced fantasy which was rooted in a rag-tag team, deadly trials and, most importantly, REVENGE! There were SO many elements which Merry included in this story… just when you thought you got your arms around where the story was heading, there was a twist which added additional depth and complexity to our heroine’s journey. The romance element of the story was fun… I’m always going to love a goofy & sunshine MMC crossed with a grumpy FMC. Their relationship definitely sped up closer to the end, and we got a little spice between our love interests. The revelations were wild and the ending left us on a bit of a cliffy. Merry’s writing was very impressive, and I’ll be eager to see where this series goes!
I received a free copy of this book via the author but my review is all my own.
2/5🌶️
It was an exciting opportunity to be reached out to by the author to read her debut novel! Right off the bat we are dropped into the action. No need for a slow build-up… our leading lady is being set on a path to assassinate the prince after countless months of training. This plan quickly gets turned on its head, and what follows was an action-packed, fast-paced fantasy which was rooted in a rag-tag team, deadly trials and, most importantly, REVENGE! There were SO many elements which Merry included in this story… just when you thought you got your arms around where the story was heading, there was a twist which added additional depth and complexity to our heroine’s journey. The romance element of the story was fun… I’m always going to love a goofy & sunshine MMC crossed with a grumpy FMC. Their relationship definitely sped up closer to the end, and we got a little spice between our love interests. The revelations were wild and the ending left us on a bit of a cliffy. Merry’s writing was very impressive, and I’ll be eager to see where this series goes!
I received a free copy of this book via the author but my review is all my own.
November 11, 2025
I went into this book completely blind, and honestly? It blew me away. It was such a breath of fresh air — something unique, fast-paced, and addictively different from what I usually read.
We’ve got wand and rune magic (so cool), monster games and brutal trials that had me white-knuckling the pages, and enough tension to keep me feral from start to finish. The monster lore was fascinating and the magical system felt so layered and alive — I couldn’t get enough.
Now… yes, there’s a touch of insta-love, which I know can be divisive, but personally? I was here for it. It was done well, added emotional depth, and I can feel it’s setting up some major plot twists down the line.
Speaking of — I HAVE THEORIES. 👀 You cannot just casually drop a brutal, 700-year-old Fae commander from a distant kingdom and expect me not to believe he’s going to waltz in and ruin lives (and my heart) in book two.
All in all, this story was an unexpected gem — bold, sexy, and full of imagination. It hasn’t left my mind since I finished, and I’m counting down the days until the sequel drops.
We’ve got wand and rune magic (so cool), monster games and brutal trials that had me white-knuckling the pages, and enough tension to keep me feral from start to finish. The monster lore was fascinating and the magical system felt so layered and alive — I couldn’t get enough.
Now… yes, there’s a touch of insta-love, which I know can be divisive, but personally? I was here for it. It was done well, added emotional depth, and I can feel it’s setting up some major plot twists down the line.
Speaking of — I HAVE THEORIES. 👀 You cannot just casually drop a brutal, 700-year-old Fae commander from a distant kingdom and expect me not to believe he’s going to waltz in and ruin lives (and my heart) in book two.
All in all, this story was an unexpected gem — bold, sexy, and full of imagination. It hasn’t left my mind since I finished, and I’m counting down the days until the sequel drops.
January 29, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ started to read this bc i noticed she is a small author and wanted to see what it was about. i wish there was more yearning and build up but in some cases it felt rushed. Deneb the fmc always found herself getting in trouble which was irritating and her love interest was nowhere to be seen at some moments. wish i saw more of the mmc.
January 28, 2026
I enjoyed this book, there were times I found it hard to put down. There are plenty of monsters from Greek and Persian mythology.
There's is also a Hunger Games vibe. Majority of the story/action takes place between the games. There’s the monsters, death, vengeance, love and betrayal, the enemies to lovers, a mate bond, a lost brother, There is a lot going on. I can't wait for the sequel.
The Ballad of Phoenix and Monsters is a story about love and betrayal. Deneb is an Neophyte (they have no power and are poor). She wants vengeance for her mothers death. And to get her vengeance she is going to volunteer for the Scathmore Tournament, [where no Neophyte ever returns. The games takes their youth. The aged for the games are fifteen to twenty] Those that don't survive Sealing Ceremony are replaced by volunteers. There are 3 trails in the games. 50 contestants and 1 winner. To win you have to survive the Monsters and the other contestants who trying to kill you
There's is also a Hunger Games vibe. Majority of the story/action takes place between the games. There’s the monsters, death, vengeance, love and betrayal, the enemies to lovers, a mate bond, a lost brother, There is a lot going on. I can't wait for the sequel.
The Ballad of Phoenix and Monsters is a story about love and betrayal. Deneb is an Neophyte (they have no power and are poor). She wants vengeance for her mothers death. And to get her vengeance she is going to volunteer for the Scathmore Tournament, [where no Neophyte ever returns. The games takes their youth. The aged for the games are fifteen to twenty] Those that don't survive Sealing Ceremony are replaced by volunteers. There are 3 trails in the games. 50 contestants and 1 winner. To win you have to survive the Monsters and the other contestants who trying to kill you
February 6, 2026
3.5 🌟
I absolutely LOVED the deadly trials and magic system of this book. It was past paced, had really great characters and I overall really enjoyed it. I do wish we got more of a slow burn from the romance, it was a little too insta-lovey for me but nonetheless I had a good time with it!
I absolutely LOVED the deadly trials and magic system of this book. It was past paced, had really great characters and I overall really enjoyed it. I do wish we got more of a slow burn from the romance, it was a little too insta-lovey for me but nonetheless I had a good time with it!
November 10, 2025
Okay, fantasy lovers, this debut did not come to play.
We follow Deneb, an assassin hired by the dark prince to kill his cousin (yep, the crown prince) in exchange for a cure to her mother’s curse. But when the mission fails and the dark prince takes everything from her, she’s out for revenge, and trust me, it’s epic. ⚔️
This book is nonstop action, with twists lurking around every corner. The pacing is relentless in the best way, keeping you hooked from the first chapter to the last page. The writing is vivid and cinematic and the world-building is rich and immersive. ✨
If you’re a fan of:
🖤Dark fantasy 🐦🔥
🖤Harry Potter 🪄
🖤The Hunger Games 🏹
🖤 Female Rage 💋
add this one to your TBR right now!🧡
We follow Deneb, an assassin hired by the dark prince to kill his cousin (yep, the crown prince) in exchange for a cure to her mother’s curse. But when the mission fails and the dark prince takes everything from her, she’s out for revenge, and trust me, it’s epic. ⚔️
This book is nonstop action, with twists lurking around every corner. The pacing is relentless in the best way, keeping you hooked from the first chapter to the last page. The writing is vivid and cinematic and the world-building is rich and immersive. ✨
If you’re a fan of:
🖤Dark fantasy 🐦🔥
🖤Harry Potter 🪄
🖤The Hunger Games 🏹
🖤 Female Rage 💋
add this one to your TBR right now!🧡
December 6, 2025
3.75⭐️
Okay this was...a lot. The book had me by the throat in the first half of the book. However, once the competition starts it really starts to lose me.
A few thoughts:
It is very fast paced. Sometimes it felt like too much was happening and the action scenes were very action filled. It wasn't necessarily bad because I do enjoy cutting to the next scene in the way they do, it was just a lot happening in book 1 of a series. Plus the end felt very rushed and threw in so many other characters and plot variables.
I do think this unfortunately fell down into the 'insta-lusty' phase. I enjoyed the banter and flirting but eventually at the end I was getting whiplash from them going back and forth with deciding to be with each other to pushing the other person away.
The plot twist were plentiful and also interesting. Towards the end you see multiple things start to unravel with the characters and it does leave a lot of open questions. I will say the fated mate aspect of this???? Where that goes will determine if I read the next book. If it's going to turn into a Tamlin/Rhys situation then I'm down. Otherwise I just feel like....it's not something I want to explore.
A part of me was frustrated with the FMC in the trials because it felt like her strategy was horrible and that lead to a lot of problems when it came down to executing them. It got to a point where I just wanted her to sit down and think about her plan for like 2 seconds more. She was indeed capable and strong, but kept rushing into plans and causing harm to her and others.
There were also a few moments where I felt like there was a gap of clarification? Like something was omitted that would help transition us from one thing to the next. For example her tricking him into taking the medicine. Like when did she call for help????
Okay this was...a lot. The book had me by the throat in the first half of the book. However, once the competition starts it really starts to lose me.
A few thoughts:
It is very fast paced. Sometimes it felt like too much was happening and the action scenes were very action filled. It wasn't necessarily bad because I do enjoy cutting to the next scene in the way they do, it was just a lot happening in book 1 of a series. Plus the end felt very rushed and threw in so many other characters and plot variables.
I do think this unfortunately fell down into the 'insta-lusty' phase. I enjoyed the banter and flirting but eventually at the end I was getting whiplash from them going back and forth with deciding to be with each other to pushing the other person away.
The plot twist were plentiful and also interesting. Towards the end you see multiple things start to unravel with the characters and it does leave a lot of open questions. I will say the fated mate aspect of this???? Where that goes will determine if I read the next book. If it's going to turn into a Tamlin/Rhys situation then I'm down. Otherwise I just feel like....it's not something I want to explore.
A part of me was frustrated with the FMC in the trials because it felt like her strategy was horrible and that lead to a lot of problems when it came down to executing them. It got to a point where I just wanted her to sit down and think about her plan for like 2 seconds more. She was indeed capable and strong, but kept rushing into plans and causing harm to her and others.
There were also a few moments where I felt like there was a gap of clarification? Like something was omitted that would help transition us from one thing to the next. For example her tricking him into taking the medicine. Like when did she call for help????
October 31, 2025
I absolutely loved this book.This book is captivating from the very first page. this is definitely going to be for the fans who love a morally gray fmc who was an assassin.
Where the mmc is a cinnamon roll who falls first and accepts all of her faults.
Where he would literally kill anybody who touches her.
we have an assassin, trials a curse tournament and monsters.
Our fmc is the type who struggles to let people in, and we see her grow as the book.
Goes on and slowly letting people chip away at her armor.
We have revelations, the fmc never sees coming and a brutal cliffhanger.That's going to have you begging for book two.
This book has all the tropes.I absolutely love in my books and it did not feel like I was just rereading another story with all the same tropes. I love the world that this author wrote, and I can't wait to see where the story goes.
Where the mmc is a cinnamon roll who falls first and accepts all of her faults.
Where he would literally kill anybody who touches her.
we have an assassin, trials a curse tournament and monsters.
Our fmc is the type who struggles to let people in, and we see her grow as the book.
Goes on and slowly letting people chip away at her armor.
We have revelations, the fmc never sees coming and a brutal cliffhanger.That's going to have you begging for book two.
This book has all the tropes.I absolutely love in my books and it did not feel like I was just rereading another story with all the same tropes. I love the world that this author wrote, and I can't wait to see where the story goes.
January 28, 2026
Mmmm what can I even say? I really wanted to love this book. The beginning had me HOOKED, like fully invested, but after that… nothing made sense to me.
I feel like the story is full of plot holes, and somehow I ended up disliking the main characters? 😂😂 It’s very much a wanting to be great but never quite getting there kind of book. The story had potential, but it’s so poorly developed that… pfffff.
There are parts I enjoyed, especially the first half of the book, but everything after that was just a big no for me. The magic system was waaaay too much, and I was expecting more yearning, more tension, more EVERYTHING — and it just wasn’t there.
I know a lot of people loved it, I’m just personally not in that club 😂😂
The whole mate thing did spark a bit of interest, not gonna lie, but this book was mentally exhausting to get through, so I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series
I feel like the story is full of plot holes, and somehow I ended up disliking the main characters? 😂😂 It’s very much a wanting to be great but never quite getting there kind of book. The story had potential, but it’s so poorly developed that… pfffff.
There are parts I enjoyed, especially the first half of the book, but everything after that was just a big no for me. The magic system was waaaay too much, and I was expecting more yearning, more tension, more EVERYTHING — and it just wasn’t there.
I know a lot of people loved it, I’m just personally not in that club 😂😂
The whole mate thing did spark a bit of interest, not gonna lie, but this book was mentally exhausting to get through, so I don’t think I’ll be continuing the series
March 16, 2026
i did actually really enjoy the story, at times the pacing just felt a little bit off or i was a little bit confused what was going on but it also couldve been i was in a slight reading slump when i picked this up.
January 12, 2026
Deneb is an amazing name for a character! I ate this book up - it’s fast paced with trial/games and a heavy dose of found family.
February 2, 2026
Didn't work for me.
The pacing was a little disorienting (took many things happening at once, then basic things happening, and then rushed relationship building from enemies to lovers. THAT really bothered me because I felt it could have saved the book for me.
Trials, and for those who like trials that might be your saving grace.
Not bad but it just didn't work for me.
The pacing was a little disorienting (took many things happening at once, then basic things happening, and then rushed relationship building from enemies to lovers. THAT really bothered me because I felt it could have saved the book for me.
Trials, and for those who like trials that might be your saving grace.
Not bad but it just didn't work for me.
October 19, 2025
OML 🤯 This was so AMAZING!!! Right from the start you are drawn into this deep world and don't want to leave! The Deneb is amazing, never weak or whiny and stands on who she is as a person no matter what. The Varkein keeps you guessing, but man do you fall hard is the best way. It's twisty, creative, engaging, dark...plus the love story is EPIC! Slow burn, enemies to lovers plus so much more!!! Warning ⚠️ the cliffhanger.......I can not wait to read more! 🖤
November 15, 2025
Giving this book 2 stars. I enjoyed the concept and the type of magic as well as the trials/games that were in it. There were scenes that were captivating and drew you in or at least felt a bit nostalgic for those that grew up with Harry Potter.
I will say however that it lacked editing (lots of typos and grammatical errors) as well as structure. I felt that there were too many fantasy tropes and elements thrown in that didn't need to be there. It makes what would have been an interesting and unique magic system and story feel mottled and confused.
I struggled with the depth of the relationship between the FMC and MMC. It felt shallow and like it was lacking true depth and development.
It also lacked world building. I never got a solid feel for how this world functioned and was confused by some of the characters, areas, and if it was a completely separate world from ours or not. It mentions Egypt at one point but there is no other like to our realm.
Overall I think it has good bones and that with editing and direction this book can definitely develop into something.
I will say however that it lacked editing (lots of typos and grammatical errors) as well as structure. I felt that there were too many fantasy tropes and elements thrown in that didn't need to be there. It makes what would have been an interesting and unique magic system and story feel mottled and confused.
I struggled with the depth of the relationship between the FMC and MMC. It felt shallow and like it was lacking true depth and development.
It also lacked world building. I never got a solid feel for how this world functioned and was confused by some of the characters, areas, and if it was a completely separate world from ours or not. It mentions Egypt at one point but there is no other like to our realm.
Overall I think it has good bones and that with editing and direction this book can definitely develop into something.
December 8, 2025
This book has an intriguing world, an awesome FMC, and some great friendships. While I definitely was engaged with the plot and adventure, I found the romance to be a little forced or “too easy”. I think that if this book was given another round of edits, it would have so much potential! I just found myself pulled out of the story because of small inconsistencies, or conflicting world building details.
Great premise, fantastic story, but the execution needed some work.
Great premise, fantastic story, but the execution needed some work.
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