Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

If I were to rate purely based off of my preferences, I think this would be closer to a 2. I wanted to give this a try even though I'm not a romantasy reader. I prefer strong subplot romances but was intrigued and always want to support POC in the romantasy space. I think people who are more inclined to the genre might love this. I just found the chemistry and dialogue forced and many of the tropes and parts of the worldbuilding felt predictable. All in all, not for me, but I would still recommend to other readers.

I don't think this one was for me - but there were some things that I really liked about it.

The things I liked: I really enjoyed the magical system. I think that it was interesting, and the background of the political and magical landscape was very intriguing to me, I wanted to learn more and more about it. There was a lot of space to really flesh out the details of what was going on in this world, and I would have absolutely devoured any opportunity to learn more. I also think the supporting characters were very well-written (I loved the Queen Mother specifically) and did a lot for the story.

Here's what I didn't like: the intense amount of sexual aspects. Listen, I know that a lot of people are into that right now, and if that is you, you will probably really like this book, and I hope you do! But in fantasy books, especially one like this that had so much potential in the world-building, so many scenes of smut, or talking about the smut, or how much they want to go at it again, or how they shouldn't want it but they do, is just taking me out of the moment and world you're trying to build. I am by no means a prude, mind you, I just want any sexual scenes to mean something - to move the plot along in a way that doesn't seem secondhand in order to justify a sex scene.

Thank you to the NetGalley, the author, and Harper Voyager for this ARC.

I unfortunately did not enjoy this book. I could not get into it at all and DNF’d it promptly.

Please don’t let me deter you from trying it though because the premise is absolutely awesome and the world building seems like it could be fun.

There was just something about the writing I could not vibe with.

Thank you for NetGalley and the publisher for the digital galley in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review, all opinions are my own.

I have been craving a romantasy book about Black fae since I starting reading for fun again, and was so excited when I heard about Our Vicious Oaths. When I saw that it was about two enemies coming together to bring down an even bigger common enemy, I thought ooh forced proximity and enemies to lovers. While this was the case, I feel like Kadeesha and Malachi’s relationship is very surface level and based more off of lust than anything else. While their sexual chemistry is off the charts, their romantic chemistry is almost non-existent. Most of their dialogue is spent bickering or making sexual innuendos towards each other, and very rarely actually getting to know each other.

Kadeesha is first introduced as a strong female character that is cunning and intelligent. But as soon as she’s around Malachi her brain becomes mush. I also absolutely hated that a pregnancy trope is what finally got them to come together and admit they love each other. At that point to story felt rushed and like the author was just looking for a way out. But I feel like a fated mates story would have been better. Kadeesha had planned on living her life and ruling her queendom, now she’s tied down to Malachi with a baby on the way

Malachi seems like a good friends with benefits situation, but definitely not someone to spend all eternity with. He seems think more with his penis than he does with his brain. There were numerous times throughout the book that a serious situation would be taking place but he can’t stop thinking about the next time he gets to sleep with Kadeesha. He hates being compared to Rishaud because of how ruthless he is, but his solution to any type of dissent is murder. It’s like he wanted to be a stronger ruler than his father and swung the complete opposite way.

Overall I enjoyed the book. I liked the magic and world building. There wasn’t much character development but it was still a good read.

I was so excited to read a copy of this book, and trust me, it did not disappoint! It had everything I love in a good fantasy romance. Political intrigue. Romance. A kick-ass FMC and a hot af and morally grey MMC. Plus, there is some serious action. Enemies to Lovers. Complex characters you love to hate...
Malachi and Kadeesha were a force to be reckoned with on their own, but together, whew, they were a maelstrom. And let's not forget the spice was totally spicing. I was here for it. Honestly, I could read this book again. Oh, and the best part... Black fae. Black culture. I loved every minute of seeing fantasy characters that look like me instead of the same old, well, you know.
When you can, read this book. Then run it back and read it again!

wowwwieee 4 stars!! that was incredible! a dark fantasy i can easily get behind for sure!
will definitely be recommending to my friends who love fantasy!

Oh heck yes, this was incredible. There is murder AND kissing. It's such a fantastic blend of romance and viciousness, the two working together to create both a world and a relationship that made me want to scream.

This one was such a wild ride. Dark academia meets deadly magic meets complicated family trauma. The main character is fierce, angry, and messy in a way that felt really real, and I loved watching her fight to take back control of her life (and power). The world is intense and full of secrets, and the magic system was super cool once I got the hang of it. Some parts were a little info dumpy early on, which slowed things down a bit, but the drama, betrayal, and rage fueled energy totally made up for it. If you're into morally gray girls, magic schools with creepy vibes, and stories that don’t shy away from pain or power, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

I definitely didn’t know what to expect with this one. However, I being a fan of N. E. Davenport, I trusted that it would be good writing. AND IT WAS!! I generally don’t navigate toward Romantasy and it’s honestly not my favorite, but I decided that this was a good time to stretch myself beyond my comfort zone and found that I was thoroughly entertained.

I loved Kadeesha and her unrelenting resolve. Her character was well developed and I understood who she was, from where she came and her motivation. At times, she totally unnerved me, but she was definitely true to the cause and never wavered. I also appreciated the effort put into world-building which helped me stay on track. The magic and various character dynamics definitely stimulated my nervous system. I found myself holding my head at one point with heart palpitations.

Lastly, I wasn’t expecting the depth of the sex scenes and the frequency of them considering that this was a battle for the Seven Kingdoms. But there they were. Hot, steamy and fast-burning! To my surprise, they worked. The dragon-riding Warrior Princess and the gorgeous but vengeance-seeking king made short work of getting to the intimacy. Thank you NetGalley, Avon and Harper Voyager for the e-ARC! I would definitely recommend this book.

A standalone romantasy packed with Black fae, spice, high stakes, political upheaval, enemies to lovers, KONGAMATOS, a badass FMC, and a hot-as-hell MMC.
Apparently, I have a thing for Malachis (another one of my favorite books has one—spelled differently though)... and let me just say, Malachi in this book is absolutely swoonworthy—and he knows it. He’s a cocky, smug bastard you can’t help but be obsessed with.
Our FMC, Kadeesha, does NOT back down. She is a QUEEN in every sense of the word. She’s fierce, loyal, and compassionate, but also knows that sometimes a little viciousness is necessary to build a better future. One of my favorite moments was when she approached Malachi (without realizing it was him) at the club and told him he was lucky… then the next scene🔥 LOVED IT!
Also, Kongamatos might just be my new favorite mythological creature. I’d never heard of them before this book, but now I’m convinced they could give dragons a serious run for their money.
I loved that this was a standalone, it wrapped up beautifully, but part of me wishes it were a series. I would’ve loved more development between the Cadre and the Nkita, and to spend more time in this rich world.
I definitely need to get my hands on a book trophy for this one when it drops October 28, 2025!
Huge thanks to HarperCollins Publishing, NetGalley, and N. E. Davenport for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Our Vicious Oaths is a dark fantasy romance by author N.E. Davenport.
Publication date: 10/28/2025

Princess Kadeesha Mercier of the Aether Kingdom is the leader of the Nkita, her fierce all female squadron of warriors.

Kadeesha wants nothing more than to choose her own destiny and lead her Nkita to protect her people and kingdom.

But her father, King Sylas, has other plans. Kadeesha is to be wed to the ruthless King of Hyperion.

On her wedding day King Malachi (MMC) of the Apollyon court decides to attack and takes Kadeesha as a “hostage.”

But she isn’t a true hostage. Kadeesha and Malachi will work together to take down the King of Hyperion.

What to expect

-Black Fae
-Enemies to Lovers
-Shadow Daddy
-Prophecy
-Forbidden Romance
-Warrior FMC Princess
-Political Intrigue
-Forced Proximity

The chemistry between Kadeesha and Malachi is impossible to ignore. I loved seeing their character development and relationship evolve throughout the story.

This book is packed with action, political twists, fast pacing, and unique world building that has been woven throughout. The Nkita ride kongamatos (half-avian, half-draconic serpents) that they have bonded with.

I was immediately hooked and couldn’t get enough of these characters! I absolutely loved Kadeesha and Malachi’s story.

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley, N.E. Davenport, and Avon and Harper Voyager for the eARC.

This is undoubtedly my favorite fae story ever, because the characters were so easy to identify with. Malachi and Kadeesha are both strong, confident and unwilling to put up with and disrespect...Unless, it's each other's.😉 I love the journey they go on from wanting to take each out to learning that they are really not that different. Though the way they fall in love is unconventional , it's a story you will get lost in.

The world building is amazing, this story is actually one I would love to see in some kind of film format!

20/10 MUST READ!!!
SPICE LEVEL: 🥵🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 - This book is very sexy! Malachizrian is one of my new book boos!

Bottom line! YOU WILL BE CHEATING YOURSELF OUT OF AN AMAZING ADVENTURE IF YOU DON'T READ!

Oh…this was not it. I am so disappointed! I was looking forward to this so much!! The dialogue was so…weird? The romance felt forced and no chemistry. Ugh I wanted this one to be a hit so badly!

Wow! I was not expecting to LOVE this book as much as I did!!!!! This was my first N.E. Davenport book that I've read, and I'm adding all of her previous books to my TBR list. where to begin for this book .....

Things that I LOVED:
-Excellent enemies to lovers with some phenomenal hate sex (spicy sex beyond PG-13)
-Great political scheming plot in a fae world with the odds stacked against one group of fae
-Kongamatos which I continuously imagined as flying Loch Ness monsters that can breathe fire
-Strong female characters that are giving the middle finger to the patriarchy as the book goes on and a string male lead that isn't intimidated by women

Nit picking:
-The cadre and the sisterhood side characters had some back story and page time, but I feel like they were more background characters despite being heavily involved in the story at times. They had important parts to play but didn't get a lot of background stories on them as individuals, and by the end of the book I still felt like I didn't really know them. I'm hoping this means that there will be more books in this world involving them and we get more!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and ended up staying up WAY past when I should have reasonably gone to bed on several work nights. Overall this was a great read and worth your time if you love SJM's books, FBAA from Jennifer Armentrout, and Fourth Wing.

Thank you to Harper Collins Publishing and NetGalley for this eARC!

The world building in this book is great. The steam is off the charts like woahhhh. I recommend if you love a steamy romantasy with strong FMC and hot morally gray characters.

Our Vicious Oaths
Bravo.
From the moment I started reading, I was LOCKED IN.

Special thanks to Harper Voyager for allowing me to read an advance reader copy. Here is my genuine, unfiltered review:


Now, I don’t need spice in my books and I don’t naturally gravitate to books that are super spicy typically. I am not anti-spice but there still needs to be a plot outside of that and done right.

THIS RIGHT HERE? Perfectly executed.
A TRUE, GENUINE, ROMANTASY that will keep you LOCKED IN. Unputdownable.

I love how badass not only the MMC is, but the FMC, Kadeesha? She ain’t nothing to play with and I LIVE FOR IT. All of it. Not one but TWO badass MCs? Say👏🏾less👏🏾.

Throughout the story, the plot evolved and made sense every step of the way. I never felt lost during the story. No plot holes. I was simply in total awe about it all.

There is good character development, touch her & die vibes, there are sooo many quotable moments but I will save that for release day. I have been OBSESSED with this book since the beginning and I can’t believe I have to wait until October to get my hands on a physical copy. I want EVERY special edition (if there are any) of this book.

This is the perfect fall/spooky read too! I thought I was going to be in a reading slump but this book got me out of it. A perfect summerween read.

Anyways, if you made it this far — READ THE BOOK. Seriously. And if it’s already on your TBR, move it UP. It’s a priority read that I would absolutely love to re-read again and again.

Nia (& team). YOU DID THAT.

Perfection. 100000000000/10.

TLDR:
* Rating: 1,00000 out of 10 (aka 6 amazing STARS 🤩🤩🤩 on the 5 star scale)
* Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ (I don’t have a spice scale…. but this seems right lol)
Read this if you:
* Love a good ass plot
* Love badass main characters
* Morally grey + violence
* Top tier ouch her & die vibes
* Did I mention FMC is badass too?

DNF. This one wasn’t for me. I think there’s an audience of people who would absolutely love this. The spice is fantastic and the premise is great. I just like my fantasy less modern.

From the very first pages, Davenport invites us into a vividly imagined fae realm where Black protagonists claim the spotlight. Themes of ancestral magic, communal responsibility, and resilient power are woven through every chapter, grounding the story in cultural richness and emotional authenticity.

At the heart of the novel are Kadeesha and Malachi—two Black leaders whose identities shape their destinies. Kadeesha reigns as a warrior-princess whose courage is matched only by her compassion for her people, while Malachi, a king forged by personal loss, navigates vengeance with a fierce sense of justice. Their enemies-to-lovers arc crackles with tension and depth, and Davenport’s nuanced portrayal sidesteps clichés to reveal fully realized, multidimensional characters.

The plot surges forward with courtly intrigue and epic battles, each twist underscored by the characters’ unbreakable bonds and cultural legacies. Prophecies and betrayals keep the pace relentless, yet moments of quiet reflection honor the characters’ heritage and give their choices real weight.

Whether you’re a longtime romantasy aficionado or crave a blockbuster fantasy with heart like me, Our Vicious Oaths delivers. Davenport’s world-building, magnetic leads, and high-stakes storytelling combine to create a fantasy experience that feels both refreshingly original and profoundly rooted in Black excellence. Grab your copy, settle in, and prepare to lose yourself in a spellbinding tale of magic, ambition, and a love powerful enough to reshape kingdoms. Don’t miss this journey—your next favorite fantasy awaits.

What a complex, suspenseful story! Enemies to lovers done breathtakingly well. Stunningly original. I loved this, and I think many people will too.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC for this book! This review INCLUDES SPOILERS!

I personally had trouble following the writing style in this book. The sentence structure was hard to follow in most parts of the book. This really detracted from the story for me. I felt like things were frequently repeated in quick succession in a way that wasn’t necessary.

I was also disappointed in some of the world building aspects of the book. I would loved to have known more about the Nkita and their kongamatos, how they bonded, more details about their relationship with their bondeds, etc. Given the page count of the book, I was surprised that there wasn’t just generally more “lore”.

I appreciated that when the “pregnancy trope” was introduced that a conversation was also had about whether or not to continue the pregnancy. One thing I don’t enjoy about this trope is that so often, the characters just go along with it. I was intrigued with how Kadeesha ended up changing her mind and “using” this to her advantage.