Jennie's Reads

“This was fire in a different form, and I felt the reach and the heat of it as it rushed into the sand beneath the waves, as I demanded it to rise from its settlement on the seafloor and mold within the forge of my flames.”

⭐️ 4
🌶 3
🚂 Found Family
🚂 FMC Saves the Day
🚂 Unexpected Twists & Turns
🚂 Magic vs Science
🚂 Carriage Scene
🚂 Dual POV

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What a beautiful end to this duology. What an arc of self discovery for Milla, even though it was forged out of torture and pain– whereas the softer + harder side of Nicolai is brought to life. I throughly enjoyed the found family elements as well as the revenge plot lines. I can’t wait to see where Alexis L. Menard takes us next!

Blurb/Synopsis

Some debts are not so easily repaid—or forgiven.

Nicolai Attano finally has everything he’s ever wanted: control over the Iron Saint Railway, safety for his family, and not a single rival syndicate to stand in his way. Never could he have imagined he’d want anything more than power—not until Camilla Marchese.

Six weeks have passed since the disaster on the train and his wife was kidnapped, but to get her back, he’ll need help. Nico struggles to work with a city poisoned against him and is instead forced to seek the aid of a disreputable black-market dealer. A simple bargain to ensure her rescue, Nico doesn’t think twice. A bargain is struck, and the cost is higher than ever. The collateral? His life.

Meanwhile, Camilla fights to gain control over her newfound powers as the alchemist in charge of her confinement puts her to the test. Forced to free what she’s held so close, the only light in this hellish prison is the hope to see her family again, and the husband who stole her heart. Three trials and three chances to find the source of her Chaos and use it to save herself, if it doesn’t destroy her first.

Cracks in the city draw lines between loyalties, and time is running out until everything comes crashing down. Return to Lynchaven in this action-packed and swoony conclusion of Nico and Milla’s story.

What I Enjoyed

The Softer Side of Nicolai: We see him almost destroy himself to get Milla back, we see him bend over when she’s home. We see Nicolai literally destroy the world and put it at Milla’s feet when and where necessary while empowering and bolstering her back from the brink of insanity. What. A. Man.

Carriage Scene: OOOOOMPH. 🥵🥵🥵🥵

Mafia Vibes: This whole book was built so well, and the intricacies of all the webs and relationships that we often times let left out of in plots and stories. We forget that politics plays a big role, that influential families and pull invisible strings, that people can get away with basically anything just by their Last Name. The interconnectedness of everything in City of Mirth and Malice was beautiful.

The Canary Boys: Ohkay, I think these boys aren’t given enough credit. Like, seriously. A hoodlum gang of orphan boys just living in the city’s shadows, straight keeping secrets and pulling invisible strings? Like a dark and twisty Oliver Twist/Newsies? I mean… I DIG.

The fact that I think this is the beginning to a much grander series: I’m not going to lie- I feel like Menard set this whole world up for us in this duology, but it’s really the introduction to something that is much bigger. Something that we can’t even fathom just yet. I for one, cannot wait to find out!

What I Didn’t Like

Milla’s Torture: This is stretching it though, there’s really not a lot that I didn’t like. I’m just being picky at this point, because Milla’s torture felt like Nicolai’s torture at the same time, and what I would have done to stop Nicolai feelin’ all dark n’ broody.

Aramis Marchese: I understand the dichotomy of being the oldest, and feeling like you need to be the one to “save” the other sibling(s) to achieve “acceptance” — even if it is from a dead father figure. But, yo. Keep your -ish to yourself, Aramis! I trusted him again for a split second, and then he made me mad at him all over again. Both for being the ass hat he is, but also, because I felt his actions deep in my heart.

Notable Quotes

“The cold was a searing reminder that everything had its season and its turn, its life before death. And nothing—and no one—lasted forever.”

“Milla was the last woman I had lost myself inside, and I wouldn’t know pleasure until she could. Until she was back in my bed.”

“He was danger and darkness and deliverance, and he was every desire of my soul embodied.”

“The approval of who I was, the parts I loved and resented, was not up to anyone else. It was my choice, and that choice to accept what I’d received unbidden and unasked gave me all the power I ever needed.”

“She pointed to the steaming locomotive. “My train.” She cocked her head toward my cousins. “My family.” Her hand drifted to my chest. “My husband.” She gripped my tie and yanked me closer. “And my choice…”

“He’d promised I could trust him—and I had to believe it. Any alternative to these truths would break my heart beyond repair, and I had been conditioned to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

““There’s no certainty we’d ever come back, Nico.” He shook his head, unbothered. “Is there a single certainty in tomorrow, Milla? I’ll take the risk if you take it with me.”

Theme Song

Over All Thoughts

I devoured this duology. The Vows of Vengence gripped me in it’s talons and straight drove a knife into my heart numerous times. If you haven’t read my review of House of Bane and Blood yet, you can do so here.

City of Mirth and Malice was a wonderful second book. It was definitely not short of revenge, death, family, witty banter, steam, or romance. 10/10 recommend the series. And as I’ve mentioned previously– this is most likely setting up the scene for more to come.

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