This book was everything I expected it to be and more. Our Vicious Oaths gives you a traditional fae story accompanied with magic, pointy ears, political intrigue and more. The world building was phenomenal and the story telling was excellent. I haven't read many fae stories but this was the first one where the characters were melanated. The main male character had grills. I enjoyed this story from page one and I can't wait to see what else NE Davenport creates next!

***3.5***
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

This book had most of my favorite things- dragon(ish) riders, arranged marriage, and political intrigue- but something felt off for me.
Usually, when I'm thrown into the action page one I get drawn into the story- in this case I was a bit confused and disconnected during the first scene.
I think the writing style just did not click with me, it was third person and so repetitive- especially the overuse of names.
I also could not tell if the language was suppose to be older or more modern- sometimes the dialogue was quite old fashioned and other times it was 'normal'/modern.

I am really intrigued and love the premise of the book- the characters were cool, the plot was a generally good pace, and the world was interesting- but the writing style/language just really took me out.

This was fast paced and exciting all the way through. Arranged marriages, assassinations, and plots for a crown are only the beginning.

I wish I could read this book for the first time OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN!!!!! Nia did her BIG ONE with this one! I absolutely loved this book and it filled my black fae heart over the brim. I love how it's a standalone because sometimes it can be tedious to read series especially ones that are unfinished but Nia did very well at world building and wrapping up the plot in this one installment. If she did want it to be a series I can definitely see the potential! As for the African American culture that was perfectly and effortlessly placed within this book....CHEF'S KISS!!!! I literally felt SAFE and SEEN within the Nimani realm! Our culture was portrayed so well within a fictional place, it's mind blowing. Don't let me forget about the spiciness that spanned over multiple chapters....YES PLEASE! The power and dominance that were at play was phenomenal, it was great seeing a FMC that wouldn't easily submit and made sure her intentions and needs were heard and met. To see a shadow daddy that abided by her every wish even if he didn't want to was really nice as well! Nia's way for describing the elemental magic, fae customs, and characters was great! Our Vicious Oaths is a 5 star read for me! It has pushed me to read Nia's other books. :D

I had a hard time getting into this book. the story was alright, standard fantasy fare. I didn't personally jive with the writing style, it felt a little stilted and juvenile at time - enough that it was hard to immerse into the story without being put off by the story telling. I will say overall it entertained, and different people have different preferences! give it a shot!

A fresh, fast-paced, fae romantasy, this book is packed with lots of heart and heat. The world is unique and compelling with political intrigue, a nice twist on fae/immortals, their magical systems and lore.

Malachi is a bloodthirsty but oh so lovable shadow daddy and Kadeesha is a fierce, feisty, and quick-witted FMC. I loved seeing the story from both POVs and being able to equally connect with and enjoy both main characters as individuals and as a couple. They had sizzling chemistry, flawless banter and the author touched on all the fun romantasy tropes in a bold yet thoughtful manner with an added feminist flair (enemies to lovers is only the half of their romance but I won’t go into detail so this review can be spoiler free as possible).

Outside of the romance and spice I enjoyed other relationships highlighted and represented. From dragon bonds to sisterhood, bromance snd even complicated family dynamics and drama, you can tell the author really put her heart and soul into this story. Game of Thrones meets Fae romantasy with fresh and reinvigorating flavor, this book was a phenomenal 5-star read.

Thank you Avon and Harper Voyager, Netgalley and the author for a complimentary copy of this ebook. I am leaving a voluntary review. All thoughts and ideas expressed are my own.

Talking Bonded Kongamatos (half bird & half dragon flying serpents), a lovely cast of black characters, shadows & magic, and a prophecy! This is my favorite standalone Romantasy of the year!!

This story is a refreshing enemies to lovers fantasy with the right balance of revenge, politics, magic, spice, and romance. I really appreciate how strong, smart, and capable the FMC Kadeesha is! The author was able to deliver a well written standalone that does not feel like it was rushed or unfinished. I love this story and I can’t wait for the rest of world to appreciate it as well, so I definitely recommend!!!🧝🏾‍♀️🐉⚔️

🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🖤Thank you NetGalley for this eARC!

. Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport

Review:
N.E. Davenport returns with a vengeance—literally—in Our Vicious Oaths, a sharp, high-octane fantasy that combines political intrigue, brutal action, and emotional depth. The novel picks up with a protagonist driven by vengeance, navigating a volatile world full of dangerous magic, secrets, and betrayal. It’s a strong follow-up that expands on Davenport’s talent for creating morally complex characters and immersive worldbuilding.

The action scenes are some of the best aspects of the book—tense, vivid, and cinematic. The political dynamics add richness to the narrative, and the protagonist’s internal conflict provides a compelling emotional core. Davenport doesn’t shy away from exploring themes of power, loyalty, and the cost of ambition.

That said, the novel can feel overstuffed at times. With so many moving pieces—conflicts, characters, plotlines—some arcs feel underdeveloped or rushed, especially near the climax. There were also moments when the dialogue felt more like exposition, disrupting the otherwise strong pacing. Readers unfamiliar with the previous book may find themselves overwhelmed by the density of information.

Still, Our Vicious Oaths is a bold, intense, and satisfying read that solidifies Davenport’s place in the fantasy genre. It balances action and emotion while leaving enough unanswered questions to keep readers eagerly awaiting what comes next.

Rating: 4.5/5

A thoroughly enjoyable romantasy standalone with morally grey characters, well-written spice, and entertaining personalities. With one of my favorite tropes, I flew through it and thoroughly enjoyed every page.

Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this arc for an honest review.

This book was on my radar from the moment i saw the beautiful cover and character art. The premise was intriguing, exciting, i simply could not resist a Dark romantasy novel with Black faes.

Upon the first chapter we meet Kadeesha, a fae princess and warrior facing looming threats over her father's kingdom, a father who had been grooming her since childhood to marry a king from another kingdom, with the belief that this marital contract will come with high economic benefits and ultimately a fruitful alliance.

Outside of the southern lands we have a shadow king named Malachi, young around the same age as Kadeesha, harboring power only elders have been able to. At a very young age he lost his parents, murdered by a rogue group that's been conspiring against them. Malachi has it out for every monarch, council member responsible for this heinous betrayal, he wants power, he is hungry for it but he also wants loyalty and most of all vengeance.

At Kadeesha's wedding to King Rishaud, a massacre occurs, killing numerous council members of her court , royal bloodlines and her father. Upon Rishaud's escape, Malachi and Kadeesha make a bargain. She is to come back to his kingdom with him behaving as his war prize to antagonize Rishaud and bait him. The unexpected happens while the two monarchs, Kadeesha and Malachi are busy crafting their ploy amidst their differences.

The world and magic system were interesting, very intricate. The customs, the cultures and relationships between kingdoms, the architecture, the cruelty and political machinations were the highlight of this book. Kadeesha is an awesome character, with a tongue of fire, she always had a retort ready everytime Malachi's arrogance came forth. Malachi 's wit, his magic, the way he carries himself definitely had me blushing. My issue with him is that his character and Kadeesha's felt a bit one dimensional. It was anger and aggression almost all of the time, with the occasional humour between those they consider kins. They felt very formulaic with not enough depth. Yes there were moments where vulnerabilities were exposed yet still i craved softness to balance it all out, everytime you feel like the story is leaning there, we are pulled back and anchored with the usual rigidness both of them are accustomed to.

The sex scenes were numerous, fair warning this is a fast burn, the dirty talking is excellent, if you enjoy that sort of thing you will have a great time here. But as far as romance goes, we don't really get intimacy from them, outside of their sexual endeavors in the bedroom. Aside from both of them enjoying each other's warmth and compatibility in bed i cannot come up with a single thing they learned about each other that made them want to be life partners. I kept waiting for those deep explorations and conversations, for them to drop their guards down, it barely happens and the little we got was not enough for me to be convinced that their erotic chemistry was sufficient to justify having a romantic relationship. I think there could've been a decent balance of spice and romance.

There's a plot twist around 70% into the book that almost pulled me out of the story. This is not the author's fault, this is a me thing. Maybe it could've worked for me if the love interests connected a bit more.

I will definitely read other works by this authors. This book was just not for me, but i know there is a demographic for it out there that will thoroughly enjoy it!

Happy reading!

✦ 𝓞𝓾𝓻 𝓥𝓲𝓬𝓲𝓸𝓾𝓼 𝓞𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓼 ✦

𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿: N.E. Davenport
𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: Standalone
𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀: 528
𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: adult dark romantasy

𝓥𝓘𝓑𝓔𝓢
✦ powerful magic
✦ enemies-to-lovers
✦ political intrigue
✦ fmc is a warrior-princess
✦ mmc is a vengeful king

𝓣𝓗𝓞𝓤𝓖𝓗𝓣𝓢
In the mood for a captivating fae story with a spicy romantic plot that is a standalone? This dark romantasy has everything: prophecy, shadow daddy, banter, political/court intrigue, magic, and an epic battle scene at the end. You will find 𝓚𝓪𝓭𝓮𝓮𝓼𝓱𝓪 is ruthless, cunning and kind. You will find 𝓜𝓪𝓵𝓪𝓬𝓱𝓲 is powerful, funny and loyal. I cringed for a second because the story had a surprise pregnancy which is not my favorite trope BUT it was done well and turned out well. Dark romantasy lovers, if you’re looking for a well-crafted absorbing read, then add this one to your tbr today!!
Rating: 4.5/5

✦ Thank you @netgalley , @harpervoyagerus , @Avonbooks , and @nia.davenport for the gifted eARC!

I liked the general ideas of the plot. I can't imagine the amount of work put on to bring all the plotlines together.

It just wasn't for me. I struggled with the dialogue between characters and some of the terms used. I pictured a more medieval setting, but the conversations and descriptions were very modern day. It kept a disconnect for me as a reader.

I just didn't connect with the story as much as I hoped.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this e-arc!

In summary: yall, buy this book 😂request it at your library, do some bartering, idk idk, JUST GET IN HERE.

When I tell you, I was kicking my feet this WHOLE book. This book is so, SO unapologetically Black. To the point that - to be honest - I was in the group chat saying "yall, this is tradpubbed??" because I usually tend to only find this level of authenticity in indie books.

That being said, Malachi and Kadeesha, I love you both. Their dynamic was amazing. The enemies to lovers, the matching each others' freaks, I have NO notes for this book. If you love powerful women, morally grey men who would burn down the world for her, fae, magic systems, and again POWERFUL WOMEN because I know the babes are gonna love Malachi BUT KADEESHA DOES NEED HER FLOWERS, PREORDER THIS BOOK. Get your library to order this book. Ask for it for your birthday idk but this is THE Black fantasy book of the year to me. I can't WAIT to read more.

Harper Voyager, if you see this - this book needs merch, it needs a fandom, midnight release parties, literally everything you have - should absolutely be put into this and N.E. writing fantasy.

I wanted to enjoy this book. The plot sounded great. A princess forced into a political marriage and goes out for one last night of debauchery that turns into her sleeping with her biggest enemy.
But this just wasn’t it. Maybe this just wasn’t a book for me. I’m not a fan of the good guy being okay with excessive torture. And complimenting her friend on being a great torturer. I’m also all for woman empowerment, but the first interaction between the FMC and MMC was odd, the FMC walks up to the MMC and basically said “Let’s f*ck.” And so they did. The spice was okay. Nothing extraordinary.
I also don’t stand beside sleeping with someone just to use them. The MMC knew exactly who he was sleeping with. He didn’t sleep with her for information, just to sleep with her. Cool let’s sleep with a mark so I can say I slept with her before I assassinate her. Idk. Doesn’t make sense to me.
The world building is a little confusing as well.
I just didn’t love this. I know others who will.
DNFed.
Thank you to NetGalley and Avon for the arc.

I truly enjoyed this book ! All black fae ? Sign me up !

This book had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next . Reading the action scenes made me feel like I was watching a movie !

Kadeesha was a strong FMC fighting for her independence. while staying true to herself and her beliefs , refusing to let the confines of her Aether society bind her to play small when she is both a great warrior and woman. Which is a powerful combination her enemies would soon learn. Malachi was book HUSBAND. He was unapologetically ruthless , cunning and confident. He didn’t shy away from his dark side. In fact he wore it like a second skin and that made him all the better . He sought revenge for tragedies of his past but never let that blindside him. The two of them were a match made in heaven and a force to be reckoned with.

Side characters like Yashira and the little doses we got of Nychelle also stole the show for me.

This story was gripping and a whole lot of fun to get lost in. I love the effort the author took into her world building and the intricate details she provided within it. The politics and fight for power were so well thought out as well. I will say that I wasn’t expecting all the spice that we got but it didn’t take anything away from the story so that was good.

Thank you to the author , Netgalley and Avon/Harper voyager for the E-Arc in exchange for an honest review.

I did really like the strong fmc in this book. However, that was about it. The world building was very confusing to me. It felt like modern times but also ancient, but then they are in a club? I just couldn’t understand it enough to get into the book. The naming of the creatures really threw me off too. I think other people may like this book, but it just wasn’t for me.

Princess Kadeesha is a force to be reckoned with—sexy, fierce, and unapologetically badass. As the Archprincess of the Aether Kingdom, she's set to marry Hyperion ruler, King Rishaud, whose arrogance and power-thirst make him anything but worthy of her. But fate has other plans. On the eve of her wedding, Kadeesha shares a steamy, soul-shattering night with a mysterious stranger—no promises, no expectations. A wild, passionate encounter that burns through her in ways she never expected.

The twist? On her wedding day, she learns that her passionate, forbidden lover was none other than King Malachizrien, the ruthless ruler of the Apollyon Court, and her sworn enemy. The plot thickens as she’s kidnapped and taken to the Apollyon Court, now a war prize—and hostage.

What follows is a delicious, enemies-to-lovers saga that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The chemistry between Kadeesha and Malachizrien is absolutely explosive. It’s a tantalizing game of power, betrayal, and undeniable attraction. Every interaction crackles with tension, and just when you think you know where it's headed, NE Davenport pulls you deeper into a story that’s far more complex than you could imagine.

And the spice? It is insatiable. The kind of heat that has you blushing and turning pages faster than you can keep up. It’s more than just chemistry—it’s a raw, unrelenting pull that will leave you breathless.

This book is EVERYTHING—epic in scope, rich in emotional depth, and unflinchingly bold in its romance. It’s hands-down one of the best reads of the year, and NE Davenport’s first book won’t be her last for me. If you’re craving a story that’s as thrilling as it is steamy, one that will have your heart racing and your mind spinning, you won’t want to miss this one.

Ms. Davenport, you’ve crafted an absolute masterpiece. Thank you for sharing your incredible story with the world—it's a gift that will stay with me for a long time.

A massive, heartfelt THANK YOU to Harper Voyager for blessing me with an advanced copy of this epic, unforgettable book! I’m beyond grateful and completely hooked.

Apollyon King Malachi has sworn revenge against all who had a hand in the destruction and killing of his kingdom and people.
Aether Princess Kadeesha never wanted her arranged marriage to High King Richaud but bound to duty she had no choice but to stay the course. During the wedding ceremony truths were exposed that sent Richaud on a war path.
Now Malachi and Kadeesha must work together to take down Richaud

The banter between Malachi and Kadeesha was perfection 🤌🏾✨. Their back and forth had me rolling my eyes and kicking my feet 🙄🤣

Those two are so well balanced they don’t even realize how perfect they are for one another. He’s her outlet for darkness and she reins in his rage ☯️. I actually think, had their upbringings and life experiences been different they would be the same person.

Did I just unlock a mini trope 🤔 I love to see women taking over negotiations 💗. Girl boss moment for Kadeesha and Auntie Nychelle 💪🏾 💅🏾

Speaking of Auntie Nychelle. She is EVERYTHING 👑 ❤️. From raising Malachi to being a force to be reckoned with. Her name is known no matter what kingdom you’re from. Feared and respected? She’s THAT girl…uh Fae. She’s That Fae.

The steam besties 🥵 the steam. I was squirming! I may have read a couple scenes more than once 👀. New book boyfriend 😻

*cries in to do list* This book was so good I literally accomplished nothing while I was reading. The author crafted an expansive world, with detailed imagery.

I will definitely be doing a reread to see things in a new light and pick up on things I didn’t catch the first time ⏪️

I have sooo much more I want to say but this was a great read. A definite recommendation

4 stars.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily and all thoughts are my own.

What a fun read! I really enjoyed this book and especially all the court politics and maneuvering. It was done really well and it was so interesting to read. I also (for the most part - I'll get back to that) liked our main characters and thought they complemented each other nicely and had a lot of good interactions throughout. Many of the spicy scenes for example were really fun even though they were mostly very carnal and lust-driven instead of romantic. I don't mind that, but I will say that one of my favorite scenes was actually when they were finally a bit more intimate and vulnerable with each other and you could at last feel a slight change in their dynamic.

I did have a small issue with something though... For all his talk of consent, I do think Malachi pushes it a little bit with Kadeesha on a few occasions. Yes, he knows that she wants him but she still expresses that she doesn't want to give him her orgasm, and yet he says it doesn't matter and continues. Now I understand that it's also about the power play and how she doesn't want to give into him and so on. I totally get that. But as someone who cares deeply about consent and is very attentive of it in spicy books, the vibe just felt a little... off. Especially since he just spoke about only taking willing and enthusiastic lovers. I'm just not the biggest fan of the "she says no but because he knows she wants him, and because apparently she wants to be dominated even though she specifically says she doesn't, he doesn't listen"-trope. Consent needs to be clear, and the reason for her wanting to stop is irrelevant - it doesn't matter that she is horny. If she for any reason (any reason at all) indicates she doesn't want to continue, that's it. It was only a few scenes where I got the ick a little bit, and luckily most of the time they were just hot and fun. But it's still something that didn't completely sit right with me.

The vast majority of the book felt nicely paced and very natural, but there were just a few scenes near the end where it felt like something was missing a little bit. I won't go into spoilery details (you can check out my review on Goodreads here if you want that https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7419115393), but a few scenes felt rushed, and I feel like we were missing either a scene or at least some reactions from the characters. It was all just a little sudden.

But then it evened out again, and the ending was just so good! The fight scenes were great and I loved finally getting to see her use her magic more. It was such a cool battle and both her and Malachi were amazing. So all in all an enjoyable read!

✨"Say please," the bastard drawled, his warm breath skirting over her sex. "And none of the gods are between your legs right now, love. They’re a realm away. Your gods have no stake in this matter. Don’t call out to them. Call out to me."✨

I needed this read. It was a true escape for me and don’t know if I have the words to do it justice.

Our Vicious Oaths is a steamy romantasy novel set in a realm of warring Fae. The chemistry between the FMC and MMC,Kadeesha and Malachi, is electric from the moment their paths cross. I think that is why it makes it the perfect enemies to lovers set up. Like you get the hate but you are really rooting for them to collide one way or another.

The world building was fantastic and I felt as though I was transported while reading the story. This is a standalone book, but as with all good books, they’re never long enough for me. I was left wanting more. Not because there were any loose ends, but because I had fallen in love with the realm and the characters.

The spice level was off the charts. The combat was intense. The pacing was never slowed or dull. Definite five star read.