Jennie's Reads

“Firstly, you may call me Kane. King Ravenwood is a little formal from someone I’ve made blush as many times as you.”

⭐️ 5
🌶 1.5
🏰 Touch Her and ☠️
🏰 Morally Grey MMC
🏰 Warring Kingdoms
🏰 Enemies to Lovers
🏰 Fae, Monsters, Witches, Magic, Dragons
🏰 Secrets and Betrayals

*Warning, possible spoilers below*

Wow, Kate! What an introduction to our Shaddy Kane & Stabby FMC Arwen! I’ma big fan of world building and a little more of a complex set and setting and Dawn of Onyx did not disappoint. I love the reference to the stones, and Arwens love of flowers. (Reminds me of afternoons in my grandmother’s garden). The twists and turns towards the end of the book had me blazing through the last 10 chapters SO FAST.

We love a good healer FMC who doesn’t know her true power and is trained to wield weapons and to reach her full potential. A classic and fun character arc, but twist in Arwen’s world- she can’t heal someone who is near and dear to her heart. This person is Arwen’s sole focus in this book and fuel that fuels numerous good and bad decisions. Her character development in this book is wonderful- the strength she gains (not necessarily by choice) and the way she discovers more of herself after growing up in the background.

Kane Ravenwood. Those two words. Oooomph. As the shaddy of this book, a lot of his truth omission kiiiiiinda made me mad. However, I think Kate really tried to portray the anguished-King-who-has-made-bad-decisions-and-is-on-a-path-to-redemption thing. I like him, but… I’m kinda on the fence about trusting him, ngl. Also, his twist!? Didn’t see that one coming- that was pretty cool.

I really LOVED the blatant expressions of want and need from Arwen. Its so very nice to see an FMC express feelings of wanton desire. We see/read/heart it all day everyday from our favorite shadow daddies, but hearing women express these things- sometimes seemingly unrequited, also pretty neat.

I caught his bottom lip between my teeth and sucked—I wanted another one of those low, rumbling, male noises. I wanted it more than air in my lungs.

I wanted to devour him—to feel him everywhere. I had wanted this for so, so long, every minute we were both still fully clothed was a tragedy.

I also really enjoyed getting to know Mari. On so many levels I could relate to her. The need to know more, be the best at what I do, unrelenting research and reading… *first daughter syndrome, anyone?* She’s the fiery red-headed friend I’d want in my life, and to see her be that friend for Arwen? So cute! Also, spoiler I stan mari + griffin ship.

There are so many experiences of betrayal (Halden can suck a duck), of fear and pain- both in the form of things we took comfort in because we once knew to be safe, and in the form of things we were told were fable but are actually true.

“There is only true courage in facing what frightens you. What you call fear is indeed power, and you can wield it for good.”

Ohkay, and just to add as my personal form of nightmare– I don’t like lizards. Like… I have a phobia of lizards and frogs. I will scream and run 2 miles in the blink of an eye to get away from one, and when Garnet unleashed their Giant Salamanders on Peridot and Onyx- I about reeled!! Straight nightmare inducing images. (Peep my kindle note below for my middle of the night freak out.)

We experience loss, we experience happiness, we experience a sense of safety, we experience *jealousy* and some spicy banter. There is not much spice, the 1.5 chili’s is more for the content that was within the *almost* spicy scene…. But, I’m here for it all.

In my opinion, the book starts to really pick up around the halfway mark, and we’re left on a cliff hanger… I’m really excited to see what happens in the next book (A Promise of Peridot) which releases on April 11, 2024. What’s going to happen to Arwen & Kane? Will Mari + Griffin ship? What’s going to happen to Ryder & Leigh? Will Amelia step up and be the ruler we need her to be? WILL LAZARUS DIE?! I can’t wait to find out.

*note, this book is available on Kindle Unlimited for your reading pleasure
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