Our Vicious Oaths is my first dark romantasy and was worth every single page! N.E. Davenport’s descriptive writing combined with dynamic characters really brought this title to life.

The on-cover described the narrative perfectly: “The enemy of my enemy is my lover”. Kadeesha is a princess by birth but a warrior by choice. Malachi is a king who is set out to right a wrong and doesn’t care about the collateral damage that may occur in the wake of his vengeance. Rishaud is the arrogant noble who is relying heavily on a prophesy to secure his position as the High King and sovereign ruler of the seven kingdoms.

Needless to say, the drama and the stakes were HIGH! If you love dynamic characters, descriptive writing, high stakes, battle for power, fae and ALL the spice, you will definitely enjoy this one.

A solid 3.25-3.5 romantasy! Anything with forced proximity AND enemies to lovers? I will be there. The romance and character development were both there but this fell a bit flat on the pacing. Sometimes it felt a bit convoluted and slow, making it hard for me to stay engaged throughout the middle. HOWEVER, I am in a bit of a reading slump so this could very easily be a me problem. I think if you're someone who loves enemies to lovers fantasy with some badass warrior MCs, you'll love this!

Decided to DNF at roughly 70%. Unfortunately there is an element of this book that I do not enjoy reading and I have chosen to not finish the book. This is a personal matter and I was unaware the element would be part of the book based on the blurb and information known prior to starting the book.

this book was phenomenal and everything you want in a romance fantasy. the enemies to lovers of it all but will now force to marry you was CHEFS kiss! this will be the biggest release of the fall!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Political intrigue
Shadow daddy
Enemies to lovers
Stabby FMC
Standalone novel

Loved the world building in this!! I was definitely hooked from the beginning, and loved how the characters met. The FMC experienced so much inner turmoil over having any sort of feelings for the FMC and I wish she had figured out her thoughts earlier in the book. I also would have loved more chapters from the MMC’s POV!! Overall really enjoyed this book & would recommend it!

Final Rating: 3.75 stars ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ✨

Firstly, the cover of this book is gorgeous, and the plot very intriguing.

The story follows Kadeesha, a royal warrior raised to secure a political marriage for her kingdom. When tragedy strikes during her arranged wedding, she finds herself unexpectedly aligned with Malachi, a mysterious shadow king fueled by revenge. In a clever move to lure her runaway groom, she agrees to pose as Malachi’s captive—but their alliance soon blurs the line between strategy and desire. Bombastic side eye (grab your popcorn, we all know where this is leading).

The setting is richly imagined, with layered kingdoms, detailed magic systems, and intricate political drama. The culture and customs gave the world a strong sense of place, and I loved the tension between characters navigating power and betrayal.

Kadeesha is fierce and quick-witted, and Malachi has undeniable presence—but their emotional range felt a bit meh meh. While their chemistry is intense and the romance fast-paced, I wanted more softness, more depth beneath the heat. Their connection felt more physical than emotional, and I struggled to see what held them together outside of the bedroom. ( I'm a slow burn lover so that might be why). I didn’t feel deeply invested in their relationship. Still, the story has great atmosphere, sizzling tension, and a lot of potential. It didn’t fully land for me, but I think fans of steamy fantasy with bold characters and sharp edges will really enjoy it.

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC!

This is my first N.E. Davenport book and let me tell you..... this book was AMAZING!!! Our Vicious Oaths is a spicy romantasy. This book will have you hooked from the very first chapter. It has great representation, characters, world-building, and plot. If you love enemies to lovers romantasy with amazing spice then I definitely recommend this book

This book was sooo good!!! Kadeesha is a badass warrior and I loved her. .this book was spicy and dark and awesome.

the definition of romantasy, N.E. Davenport knows what the people want and delivered it.
Spicy, enemies to lovers, badass MFC, it's everything you want and more.

Kadeesha is a total badass warrior queen while Malachi is the morally grey, shadow king you can’t help but root for. Kadeesha and Malachi play a steamy cat-and-mouse game that keeps the reader at the edge of their seat. They ooze chemistry with lust at first sight that gradually (painstakingly) becomes more. Kadeesha and Malachi are both formidable, but when they unite they are unstoppable. The worldbuilding and plot are on point. The side characters are fleshed out and add to the dark, magical tapestry. The story has a bit of a slow start but it’s worth sticking with for the high drama and spice. If romantasy is your jam, then this is the book for you! P.S. The world needs more Black Faes. Thanks Net Galley and HarperCollins Publishers! 4.25/5 💁🏿‍♀️

2025 is the year of dark romantasy, and Our Vicious Oath is in the lead! This book was absolutely wild.

Kadeesha and Malachi are what we mean when we say we want TRUE enemies to lovers. There was so much sexual tension that I don’t think I could’ve handled it if it had been a slow burn. They still had soft and vulnerable moments that made their connection feel real.

N.E. Davenport has had a talent for building layered worlds and complex relationships, but this is by far my favorite work of hers.

5 stars!

This book was spicy as hell 100% a dark romance with the kind of tension, grit, and heat that keeps you turning pages late into the night. If you’re into morally gray characters, steamy scenes, and a plot that doesn’t hold back, this one delivers.

I loved the characters. The main couple had undeniable chemistry, and their individual arcs were just as compelling as their relationship. The MMC with his dreads, grillz, and raw edge felt so real and refreshing to see in fantasy. The FMC? A whole vibe. Her coily hair, full curves, and unapologetic strength made me feel so seen. She didn’t just write characters who look like us she wrote ones who feel like us, and that matters.

This story felt like a journey. Emotionally intense, plot-driven, and unafraid to get dark. I especially appreciated that this is a standalone. In a genre full of series commitments, it was so satisfying to get a complete, rich story without having to invest in multiple books over years.

If I had one critique, it’s that I wanted a bit more background on some of the side characters. There’s so much potential there, and a few of them felt slightly underdeveloped in comparison to the leads.

But overall, this is Black fantasy done right. From cultural details to character representation, Davenport stays rooted in authenticity. Our Vicious Oaths is bold, sexy, and unforgettable.

Sit down and buckle up because this dark romantasy will put you through the ringer. It’s got EVERYTHING we love in a romantasy: fae politics, a warrior princess, a vengeful king, chaos, and a sexy as hell MMC with enemies to lovers.



Sign me up for any future book that N.E. Davenport writes!

I’m a sucker for a warrior princess, especially a strategic and cunning one, and that was the first thing that drew me to Kadeesha. Then she spends the night before her (arranged) marriage in a pleasure house??? I knew I was going to be a goner.

The term “morally gray” has been thrown around a lot in recent years, but Malachi is absolutely the morally gray shadow-daddy that you should be lusting over. Having witnessed the 💀 of his parents, king and queen of Apollyon, as a child, he has much to exact revenge over and a deep-seated hatred for the other kingdoms responsible. Throw in a court determined to take him down or see him fail and his ruthlessness fits perfectly into place.

The political intrigue laced throughout ensures that you know that there’s more going on than either Kadeesha or Malachi know. The each have their own inner circle, Kadeesha has her Nkita (her squadron of all-female kongamato riders) and Malachi has his Cadre (those who also lost their parents when Malachi’s parents were 💀), and they must find a way to work together to uncover the plots to destroy them both.

This is not a slow burn in the slightest (you saw where I mentioned the pleasure house, right?) and delivers ultra-spicy encounters between Kadeesha and Malachi, including, but not limited to: exhibitionism, biting, and praise.

This is a must-read for so, so many reasons. I will be yelling about this book to anyone who will listen for the foreseeable future.

I was very excited to read this book, but I just didn’t like it as much as I thought I would.
It had such an ancient fae world setting and then used extremely modern terms and things. Even the characters’ speech shifted between an older feel and modern. It took me out of the story a bit.
The characters themselves were fine. The enemies to lovers didn’t work for me on this because they got together too quickly.
Some aspects of this book just weren’t my style as well.
Overall, some people will absolutely love this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Thank you for allowing me to get an advanced copy to review.

Okay, I need a moment because this book absolutely wrecked me, in the best, most unhinged, slightly feral way. I was not prepared for how hard I would fall for this deliciously dark, chaotic, gloriously spicy romantasy. It gave everything: unhinged fae energy, deadly politics, flying murder-serpents, and a morally questionable man who made me question every life decision I’ve ever made.

The world-building? Ridiculously immersive. I could practically smell the air and feel the magic on my skin. The plot had teeth, sharp ones. Every twist kept me hooked, and the court intrigue had me squinting at everyone like, “Who’s about to betray who?” But let’s be real: the real star of the show was the tension. The chemistry between the two leads could’ve powered a small city, and the spice? Listen. I’m not okay. Some of those scenes need to be studied. By scientists. For science.

I loved that this was a standalone (shoutout to commitment issues), but also, if the author dropped a surprise sequel tomorrow I’d sell my soul and preorder five copies. My only tiny complaint? I wanted just a bit more slow-burn emotional intimacy between all the panty-incinerating moments, but honestly, I was too busy sweating to care most of the time.

If you like morally grey chaos, feral shadow men, badass warrior heroines, and spice that’ll haunt your dreams (in a good way), this one’s for you.

Love. I was so excited for this book so getting to read the arc was amazing.

Fully lived up to expectations.

Black fae, grilles, battles, hot sex, sass, badass warriors, throne sex, all the yes.

I don't want to give spoilers of any kind since it's not published until October but if you like enemies to lovers, you need this.
Finished the arc today and pre-ordered as well.

I finished this book in one sitting because I couldn't tear my eyeballs away. It's exciting, funny, tense, and holy hell is it HOT. This is on the spicier side of romantasy reads, and it was impeccably done - the banter is off the charts. I would go to battle for Kadeesha and Malachi. Both are so fierce and vicious and passionate - SUCH a great match for each other. I really appreciated how Kadeesha was such a force of nature to stand up to Malachi, and that their scenes struck such a perfect balance where he was sexily possessive and domineering and yet Kadeesha was never subsumed even as she appreciated those sides of him. It was just ... *chef's kiss* I hope the two of them take the world by storm.

More Accurate Rating: 4.5 stars

This is PERFECT for romantasy readers who're itching to a beautifully written stand alone book to sink their teeth into!

I enjoyed this book a LOT!!! I absolutely love Black culture was so ingrained in the cultures of the fae, especially the Apollyon court. The grills, natural hair, the locs, the braids...The names of the characters: Kadeesha, Malachi, Jakobi, Samira, Voshon, etc. Blackness was so undeniable in Their Vicious Oaths and that's so great to see especially in a high fantasy book. There's a great amount of spice, but it doesn't take away from the plot at all. I feel like the plot was very full fledged, and I didn't really have many questions by the end of the book. However, my main questions are: What does a unified 7 Kingdom Empire look like? Will the cultures of the respective courts be preserved? Are the other Fae kingdoms still going to have Vassal royalty? know the fae in this world hold religion and divine prophecy to a high standard but the whole "unfication" prophecy does throw me off a bit. I wonder if we'll get to see more of this world in a spinoff book or something like that.

Malachi & Kadessha are to DIEEEE for. Their banter had me swooning! I like that Kadeesha is not a submissive character in any means. Despite the fact that she's the bargaining chip in this political game between Malachi & Rishaud, she continued to stand her ground as a royal in Malachi's court. And Malachi isn't a 2 dimensional MMC. As much as he likes to play the egotistical, ruthless king, He does care a lot about his people and his inner circle. There's a plot twist towards the end of the book that had me put the book down for a day or two. It's a trope that I'm not a huge fan of, but I feel like Kadeesha and Malachi had great communication surrounding that matter at that point in the story and onward so I was untimately okay with it.

I once again would love to see some spinoff books for Malachi's Cadre and Leisha and Samira. I think that'll be very great.

I'm happy that Rishaud got what was coming to him. He's a weirdo who reveled in the fact that Kadeesha was promised to him as a BABY. He threw a blood thirsty tantrum because Kadeesha wasn't a virgin. I'm very satisfied that Kadeesha was the person to get the job done.

Thank you to Harper Voyager and Netgalley for giving me this ARC!

I loved this book - it hit so many of my favorite romantasy tropes but still feels fresh. It’s got great female warrior sisterhood / found family, enemies to lovers with a touch of fake relationship / forced proximity, royal intrigue. Where it set itself apart from so many others I have read in this genre is how right out of the gate we know this is a strong, experienced female lead who is deeply confident and comfortable in her sensuality. So many others in this genre and with these tropes have naive / inexperienced fawn types and I knew early on that was not going to be this story and that kept me hooked and guessing! I also loved that these main characters feel very much on an equal playing field and the chemistry is off the charts. I will definitely be recommending this with a shelf talker in my store!