I read this book after reading the first one and while I enjoyed it came with a price. The price being my time lol. I love to read and reading brings me joy. This book however has a slow start. By slow start I mean that we know what happened in the last book and this one tries to resolve the loose ends left by that book. However, it felt like Kai was getting distracted by side quests a little bit too often. No spoilers here sorry but just know that she spends the first couple chapters doing other things than what she said she was going to do. It was only a couple of days but the chapters were covered so much it felt like it was a lot longer. It really starts to pick up more towards the middle as it tries to wrap things up and then it moves at breakneck speed. I genuinely enjoyed the characters and the world building, though being a 'god' seems like troublesome work. Highly recommend.

This is a powerful conclusion to the Vallendor duology, delivering epic stakes and emotional depth. I was instantly drawn into Kaivara Megidrail’s journey, once Vallendor’s Grand Defender, now exiled and burdened by betrayal and fractured memories. The world-building is breathtaking: numerous realms, gods, and creatures that kept me flipping pages to see what would happen next. What stood out most to me was Kai’s growth; her transformation from a broken exile to a determined leader felt raw and inspiring. The themes of redemption, found family, and sacrifice give the story real heart, and the romance with Jadon adds sharp tension. A satisfying finale.

genre: fantasy, action, romance
tropes: memory loss, unreliable narrator, magic, found family
notes:
- I love Rachel and her style of writing, the horror influences really make the story pop
- Kai’s development is so interesting and I love it so much
- Also love that we get to get more backstory on the characters and the found family we met at the end of the first book
- This duology is beautifully done — vivid imagery, complex magic system, dynamic characters

Rated 3.5 Stars

I enjoyed The Cruel Dawn more than I did that first book in the duology but I still had issues with it especially with regards to the romance. I didn't feel that connection between them and it didn't feel fully developed. However, I loved the world, creatures, magic, action, suspense, twists and turns that were packed into it. It made for an exciting and enjoyable reading experience. I also loved how high the stakes were in this one and watching how it unfolded and came together in the end. It was a pretty decent read. I will definitely be reading more by this author.

3.5⭐️
I received an ARC (thank you Entangled Publishing!) and I am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts are my own.

I read this book immediately after finishing The Last One and yet I was still confused going into it. I felt like there was a lot of off-page action/events referenced in this book that felt like they should have been in book 1 but weren’t.

The writing was good and the story was intriguing. Like with book 1, I loved the unique creatures and storyline. There were definitely plenty of twists and turns to keep my attention.

I loved the FMC’s determination and grit. She kept going no matter what, even if she was injured or exhausted.

I am so sorry. I really wanted to like this. But I just fell flat for me. Not sure if I wasn’t In the mood but not for me. I do think others will enjoy it.

🗡"gods bleed, realms fall, and one woman stands between salvation and ruin. A god’s wrath is unforgettable. Her love, even more dangerous"

The concussion to the duology (see my earlier review of "The last one". Slow burn romantasy/fantasy. I loved the character growth we see with Kai, especially after her memories return. The independent woman vibe was throughout the book; i was rooting for her the whole read (honestly she is my fave character)! Yet at times the storyline was confusing, I found myself going back to make sure where I was in the story. Out of both books, the first was my favorite, but im glad to have read book 2 to assist in answer questions/completing the plot and storyline.

The world building continued to grow; integrating mythology, magic systems, and detailed settings. It is action packed; while the first half of the book lays ground work, around the 50% mark it really jerks you in. We follow Kai as she not only finds herself, but is trying to repair the damage that was done. Finding new found family, amd repairing relationships. I felt this was a really good follow up to the first book. Will def be recommending to friends! Will Jadon be her salvation, or final ruin?? ya have to read it to find out 😉

🗡high stakes world building
🗡memory loss
🗡forbidden love
🗡fallen god
🗡exiled war heroine
🗡mythical creatures
🗡enemies to reluctant allies
🗡redemption
🗡betrayal
🗡slow burn

This book should be a movie. Plain and simple.

I have to start off by saying that this book handled the fact that it is a sequel perfectly. It didn't feel like the first 25% of the book was a retelling of the first.

This book didn't require too much world building, but was more "fantasy" than The Last One. I couldn't help but imagine this book being a movie; I would definitely watch it. While I found Kai to be impulsive and irrational, it's very hard to not want to see her be happy. She wasn't exactly dealt a fair hand in book one.

While it was nice to see more of the goddess part of the story and of Kai, I really missed the banter of the main characters that was in the first book. I also found the amount of characters confusing. I think that was in part because of the use of surnames. It felt unnecessary for how often they appeared.

I also missed Olivia. Where did she go? What happened to her and Phily? Sure, it's assumed she got her happy ever after, but her story just wrapped up so quickly and that was it. What made up for it? The entire rest of the end and where Kai ended up with everyone.

Thank you, Entangled Publishing, Red Tower Books, and Netgalley for the ARC opportunity. This honest review has been left voluntarily.

The storyline and character development in this book were excellent. I really enjoyed the complexity of the characters and the way the story unfolded. Rachel Howzell Hall knows how to craft layered plots and tension.

That said, I struggled a bit with the writing style. It took me longer than usual to get through, but I don’t think that’s a flaw of the book—it’s more about me needing to adjust to the author’s style. I fully plan to pick up more of her books so I can grow more familiar with her voice, because the story itself and the themes were so strong.

Overall, this is a great book with memorable characters, and I look forward to revisiting it again (especially once the audiobook is available) and exploring more of Rachel Howzell Hall’s work.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read The Cruel Dawn.

honestly this book was SO confusing. I had no idea who or what anything was and I consistently felt like I was missing something or didn't read something properly.

I liked the story, just felt it could've been much less confusing

The Cruel Dawn was a perfect conclusion to The Last One. I loved Kai’s growth in this book and really felt for her as she navigated life and her role in her realm. She’s had to deal with a lot of hurt and betrayal but that didn’t prevent her from being good and doing the right thing. There’s a lot of world building in this book and it’s action packed. The ending was very satisfying. Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the eARC.

I appreciate the opportunity from Red Tower/Entangled to preview this title before release!

I had hoped it would improve on some of the flaws from its predecessor, but unfortunately it still fell short for me.

For half the book, I still felt like I missed something or that content was cut and it just didn’t flow. Editing felt choppy, perhaps still in progress?

We do round out Kai’s journey, we continue to world build with fantastical creatures. I do wish some scenes didn’t feel so rushed, and some content I feel like we were left hanging (I don’t want to spoil anything!) - or I missed it. That’s the problem - I’m left wondering if I missed a LOT.

The Cruel Dawn is an action-packed and suspenseful read that picks up right where The Last One left off.  The story throws you right into Vallendor’s chaos and violence, where Kaivara, once the Grand Defender, is grappling with betrayals, exile, as well as the frustrations of having fractured memories. The realm she left behind is in even worse shape now, with monsters roaming freely and a traitorous god on the rise.

Kai’s character growth was one of my favorite parts of the story. She is still fierce, stubborn, and willing to fight for what she believes in, but she’s also defeated and frustrated and conflicted.   In this book, Kai knows way more about herself, and I like that we get to see her softer side as she rebuilds trust, strengthens her relationships, and tries to find the truth amidst all the lies and deception.  

The romance with Jadon was riddled with complications and complex feelings, made all the more intense because of the dangerous and deadly situations they’re constantly thrust into.  Lies, betrayal, captivity, and so much more seem like insurmountable obstacles that will always stand between them, and it’s interesting to see how they work through and face everything.  There’s also a bit of a love triangle, which definitely complicates things and makes Kai’s choices even more complex and confusing.  I have to say, I’m not a huge fan of love triangles, but this one had a really satisfying resolution.

The world-building is more expansive than the first book, with new creatures, politics, and hidden truths that are slowly revealed, and the plot is gripping. Kai is so determined to save her world and right some wrongs, and it is an action-packed and intense journey.

Thanks to NetGalley and Entangled for providing me with a copy of the book. All thoughts are my own.

The Cruel Dawn is the second book in the Vallendor series and it comes in swinging. Picking up right after The Last One, we follow Kaivara, once Vallendor’s Grand Defender, now exiled and carrying the weight of betrayal, fractured memories, and a realm on the brink of collapse. Monsters roam free, gods whisper in the shadows, and one man, Jadon Wake, might be her greatest hope or her final undoing.

Rachel Howzell Hall’s debut duology into the romantasy world has been nothing short of impressive, delivering a fresh, intense take on the genre that feels both epic and deeply personal. The world-building is vivid and the tension never lets up. You feel every ounce of Kaivara’s struggle, her fight to reclaim her power, her distrust of everyone around her, her grief, and her fierce determination. The stakes are high on both the political and personal fronts, and the slow-burn romance with Jadon adds just the right amount of heat in the middle of all the chaos.

Tropes
⚔ Fallen hero
🤝 Betrayal and redemption
🔥 Slow burn romance with an edge
🐉 Gods, monsters, and crumbling realms

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the early copy. All opinions are my own.

I had an ARC of the first book that I was going to read before this, but I ended up DNFing it so I won’t be getting to this book. The writing style did not work for me

This is the second book following book one “The Last One”. They have completely different feels and it felt like an entirely new story at the start but the way that they started to link and blend really brought everything together. So give time for the world building cause it’s so worth it. I think anything I say for this other than vibes will be a spoiler so I will try not to give anything away. We get to meet new fun characters and hang out with some old ones. My favourite is Shari!!! Book one is more romantasy but book two is more fantasy with a side of romance and I think that is a big aspect for how I feel about a book. So go in with the right headspace and I think you will enjoy this story.

This second book in the duology blew me away. I loved Kai in book one, but here she grows in such an epic way. She’s still that strong, stubborn, take-no-shit yet deeply caring heroine, but we also get to see her find more of herself, and it makes her even easier to root for. Her relationships develop in a real, authentic way, without quick fixes, and I loved watching them unfold.

The world of Vallendor is richer than ever with new creatures, hidden truths, divine intrigue, and a magic system that feels completely its own. The vibes are a mix of paranoia, mistrust, reflection, and jaw-dropping revelations, and it all builds to a finale that delivers both answers and closure. But at time did have me a bit confused about what was going on. In some cases it was a bit of information overload.

The found family moments hit hard, the worldbuilding is stunning, and the story feels fresh compared to so much of the romantasy out there right now.

If you liked the first book, you’ll love this one. And if you weren’t sure after book one, this finale might just change your mind.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of The Cruel Dawn by Rachel Howzell Hall. This sequel delivered exactly what I was hoping for and more.

I have to say I loved this sequel more than The Last One. The Cruel Dawn was super fast paced and emotionally wrecking (my poor nerves!) with a little redemption. The longing, the heartbreak and desperation: felt all of it. It was a perfect ending.

The epic journey to save the realm continues!

There are a ton of titles, places, names, characters, species, etc to remember. I couldn't relate to most of the characters, so it was tough to solidify them in my brain.
Kai has grown some, but still drove me crazy. I think her actions and behavior made sense for the character, but I just didn't like her.

I love the relationship between Kai and Elyn.
One line that really made me laugh was a comment from Elyn about the type of men Kai likes.

Unfortunately I found most of the story frustrating. Kai repeats the same mistakes over and over again. Like the previous book, I also think this just drags on a little too much. That said, I think it's a good example of gods acting of their own volition, not as all-knowing benevolent beings.

If you were a fan of the first book though, I think you'll find this was a big progression in the storyline.

Thank you Entangled Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Cruel Dawn is an amazing conclusion to The Last One. It picked up right where The Last One left off. I loved that we didn't get a time gap or confusion on where the book was starting. I absolutely loved Kai more in this book. Her character growth was so good. She really stood her ground on what she believed in. She was not to be messed with but was also so caring. She did right by those who deserved it. The world building was amazing. There were so many different parts that I was in awe of. If you are looking for a book with God's, monster's, Betrayals, and Redemption this book is for you! Thank you so much Entangled Publishing, Rachel Howell Hall, and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of the ARC Team!❤️❤️