Ohhh LORD! I need a trophy copy of this book immediately. This was such a wild ride—in all the best ways. It delivered an incredible magic system, betrayal, and plenty of spice. The chemistry between the characters was absolutely electric—I swear I could feel the heat on my face while reading! Malachi has officially skyrocketed up the book boyfriend ranks. I am now fully feral for this king. This book had everything you could want in a dark romantasy: magic, tension, steam, and jaw-dropping twists. I need more!

Get this on your preorder list NOW! Standalone. Romantasy. Let me say that again: Standalone Romantasy! BIPOC cast of characters. Spice in the first 60 pages (it matters to some people--like ME). Fantastic worldbuilding, plot, and magic. I wanted to know more, so I wish the worldbuilding and magic could’ve been expanded on, but I understand why they weren’t. This book was full enough already!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Finally a black romantasy!!!!! I had so much fun reading this who doesn’t love a badass FMC and a fae king shadow daddy? This one has grills and will fold you like a pretzel.

Thank you Harper Voyager for this e-arc

From the moment I open the book, I knew this story would be monumental. Take Manon and The Thirteen from Throne Of Glass and amplify their badassery time 100. I could not get enough of these characters, this world, this author’s writing. My heart pounded heavily from page 1 all the way to the end. This book is going to be huge!

Specials thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for the eARC.

Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport follows princess Kadeesha of the Aether Kingdom as she navigates an unwanted arranged marriage, political maneuvering, and an ancient war with the Apollyon Kingdom.

While the story wasn’t exactly unique it did have decent potential to be an exhilarating addition to the romantasy genre. However, I did struggle a bit with this one.

The writing felt a bit clunky and had many run on sentences.
Ie.
In the beginning Zahzah, Kadeesha’s kongamato, speaks into her mind with direct, clipped sentences one moment and full sentences with conjunctions and predicates the next. It would have made sense to choose one or the other.

I also found that some things were over explained while others that I wanted for information on were simply glossed over. There were many times when characters would contradict their own statements or stances. I also found it difficult to connect to the characters, which made it so I didn’t really care about them.

I could see how this would appeal to many people, but I tend to nitpick on grammatical errors and consistency so it just wasn’t for me. I’d give it 2.5 stars.

I was excited to read Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport because I absolutely loved The Blood Trials duology. OVO follows Kadeesha, the princess of the Aether Dominion. Kadeesha is begrudgingly set to marry the Hyperion High King. She goes out for one last night of freedom at the sex club she owns, and inadvertently spends the night with her enemy, Malachi. The High King finds out about Kadeesha’s betrayal and takes revenge on her people. Kadeesha ends up with Malachi while Malachi plots to take down the Hyperion King and take over the kingdom.

I dnf’d this book at 31% (chapter 11). Up to that point the story was focused much more on the spice than the substance. I love this for high spice readers, but I didn't realize that's what this was when I requested it, and it's unfortunately just not for me.

What I loved about The Blood Trials was Ikenna’s heart, her love for her grandfather and her friends, the intense betrayals that she discovered. The spice was great, but a much smaller part of the story. OVO takes the spice up several notches. I DO love the representation in the genre and I'm interested in Kadeesha's sisterhood/friendships. However, as someone who is just not a huge fan of high spice books, I just can't see myself finishing this one.

Overall: 3.2 ⭐️

Overall, this was a fun romantic fantasy filled with kongmatos (half-bird half-dragon?), lots of political intrigue, a stabby FMC (throws Aether bombs), a morally grey MMC, and a full black cast.

Writing - the first chapter took me a couple months to read and honestly I was very close to DNFing there. But then I decided to keep reading and the story does eventually pick up. The writing quality in the beginning is a bit awkward and has many run on sentences. As the story progresses though, the writing gets exceptionally better.

Spice - This was probably the best parts of the book. Even though there was too much of it for my taste, I was surprised at how well done the spice was. Davenport definitely knows how to write spicy scenes that - even though there’s plenty - it’s never the same old boring thing! There’s ton of variation and I love how we also get Malachi’s POV.

Romance - Malachi and Kadeesha’s romance is fast-burn, insta-lust, but then evolves into straight up enemies (due to politics). Queue in all the tropes:

✅ Touch her and Die
✅ Shadow Daddy
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Tortured hero
✅ Fae Bargains

Overall this is great read if you like fast-burn romantasy with lots of spice and politics !

Thank you Avon Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

I would like to say that although I am the one who picked this book, it was just not for me. I could not make it there the first two chapters. I can not say it was the author, but more of the fact that I am a mood reader and I have tried several times. I would like to try this book a little later and hope that I am able to give a better rating.

For what this is (heterosexual fae romantasy with a lot of sex scenes), it was pretty good, I'm really not the audience. I do think this will be perfect for romantasy lovers though, especially for people wanting a diverse one.

Fantasy Girlies are going to LOVE it!

Releasing this October, Our Vicious Oaths is a spellbinding, high-octane adventure that will hook you from the very first page and refuse to let go. N. E. Davenport has crafted a bold, immersive world where winged serpent flyers soar, fae queens refuse to bow, and oaths carry the weight of kingdoms. This book? It's everything—fierce, fun, and undeniably spicy.

Princess Kadeesha is a force. Warrior. Leader. Reluctant bride. From the moment we're introduced to her steel spine and fierce heart, it's clear she won’t be caged by tradition. Thrust into a political chessboard of dangerous alliances, ancient grudges, and blistering tension, her story flips expectations on their heads. And Malachi? Let’s just say he’s the kind of dangerous you’ll want more of. I think I love shadows now!

The chemistry between these two crackles off the page, simmering beneath witty banter, searing attraction, and conflicting loyalties. And just when you think you know what’s coming—BAM—the plot twists and the stakes skyrocket. Fae politics has never looked so seductive.

Fantasy lovers, this one’s got it all:

A badass fae warrior princess

A revenge-driven enemy turned reluctant ally

Winged creatures, wild battles, courtly scheming, and scandalous secrets

Spice that scorches the page (THE THRONE. You’ll know when you know!)

Thank you to NetGalley, N. E. Davenport and the publisher for the early opportunity to read this deliciously dangerous fantasy. This was my first introduction to Davenport’s work, and I can confidently say—I’m all in.

Add this to your fall TBR. Cancel your plans. This one demands your full attention.

There was too much spice way too quickly for me personally. I also think this could have been turned into a duology so we could get more details about the actual war.

Really good ! "Our Vicious Oaths" by N.E. Davenport is a sci-fi fantasy novel. It is about a young woman named Vesper who makes a deal with a mysterious organization to save her sister. It has fast-paced plot, strong female lead, and thought-provoking themes. . Overall, a thrilling and imaginative read.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harper Voyager, for eARC.

I absolutely loved this book up until the end. The banter and spice between Kadeesha and Malachi had me sat for the entire thing. I loved them together and loved how badass Kadeesha was without being annoyingly dramatic about it.

My only complaint is that I feel like this should have been a duology. The final battle was a major plot point for the entire book, and I felt like it was glossed over. I would have loved an entire book just on the battle. Kadeesha, at one point, even said it was going on forever, but we only saw small bits of it.

Last thing I would have loved an epilogue that was years later that showed them as parents and established rulers (maybe a future novella 🤞)

A fun and fascinating read featuring battles, bloodshed, fae, magic, political intrigue, prophecies, and smut.

Our two MCs
Kadeesha—the princess of the Aether Dominion who is a warrior by choice. Malachi—the Apollyon Court King who is chasing vengeance no matter the cost.

A unique and detailed magic system. Excellent and layered world building that a lot of romantasy usually lacks. The culture, customs, and political tensions that were in place really added depth to the world. Good plot!!!! I usually DNF most romantasy that I read because there is no plot or there is whispers of plot—this has plot!!!

A delightful cat-and-mouse game between the two MCs. Both fierce and stubborn. Their chemistry is undeniable, it’s also fast paced and their emotional range felt a bit stunted at times. It’s very smutty without it being tiring. Lots of use of the word male, I don’t mind if it’s used a couple of times, but it’s used so often. It’s not really what I would consider an enemies to lovers because they just don’t like each other on principle not actuality-but I’m really picky about that kind of thing. It also had a few tropes that i’m not a fan of, but they were done well or in a way that it was central to the story. I was too into the story to DNF even though I usually DNF the books that have it.

If you like romantasy, you’ll probably like this.

Our Vicious Oaths by N.E. Davenport is a mesmerizing blend of gritty survival and lush fantasy. The story follows Princess Kadeesha, a formidable warrior-princess of the Aether Dominion, who is thrust into a realm of fae politics and vengeance. The world-building is rich and immersive, with a unique magic system that adds depth to the narrative.

The dynamic between Kadeesha and Malachi, the enigmatic king of the Apollyon Court, is electric. Their relationship evolves from tension-filled encounters to a compelling enemies-to-lovers romance. The banter is sharp, and the emotional stakes are high, making their journey together both thrilling and heartfelt.

While the pacing starts off a bit slow, it gradually builds momentum, leading to a satisfying and impactful conclusion. The side characters are well-developed, adding layers to the story and enhancing the overall experience.

If you enjoy romantasy novels with strong female leads, intricate world-building, and a touch of spice, Our Vicious Oaths is a must-read. It delivers on all fronts and leaves you eager for the next installment in the series.

Our Vicious Oaths is an unforgettable entry in the dark romantasy genre. N.E. Davenport delivers stunning, immersive worldbuilding and characters that leap off the page with grit, passion, and purpose.

The tagline "The enemy of my enemy is my love* captures the core of this story perfectly. Kadeesha is a princess by blood and a warrior by choice. Malachi is a ruthless king chasing vengeance, unbothered by the destruction he leaves behind. Rishaud, the arrogant noble, clings to a prophecy in his bid to become High King and claim control of the seven kingdoms.

The tension, the drama, the power struggles, everything about this story is dialed up to the max. If you love bold characters, high-stakes conflict, fae magic, and all the spice, this one absolutely delivers.

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!