Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of the book. I havent read from Kathryn Ann Kingsley and I loved the easiness I could feel inside the world and how the book flowed. For the first 50% I couldn't visualize how things can progress for the better but the end was satisfactory. I listened for the audio version and then at night I roamed the pages for the lines I liked. I always do this way and it improves my memory afterwards. Thanks..

This is my second book by this author and once I got used to the way it changes between PoVs I really enjoyed it. Anything with Vampires an arranged marriage with a revenge plot and it's always going to an instant read for me!

I loved how every single character was morally grey in the way they were, Raziel is a real monster but he has great banter that I couldn't help but love and the same for Nadi also a monster and not a very nice person and sometimes I couldn't understand the reasoning behind her actions and decisions, I did really love though that she's a shapeshifter Fae with the gift of stealing and being able to wear the image of another person as I've not seen this done before and found it refreshing for a change.

After that ending I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next!

Highly recommend Serpent's Bride to anyone who enjoys a rather quick dark fantasy romance, with enemies to lovers, vampires and faes, plenty of banter and morally grey characters!

Thank you so much to Publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this book before publication, these are my honest thoughts and opinions.

Quick Summary: An unforgettable, dark & twisted, vampire/fae romantasy

My Review: The Serpent's Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley is book #1 in the Bloodlines series. It is a dark vampire novel. It has been categorized as a sci-fi/romance. It is scheduled for release on 8/28/25.

About the Book: "I will disguise myself as the vampire’s bride.

I will win over his family.

And then I will murder every last one of them."

In My Own Words: Revenge is the driving force behind a female assassin's plan to utterly destroy the vampire who took away her family. Passion and bloodlust are the ties that bind her to her enemy.

About the Characters: Oh my word! The leads earned all of the gold stars. I loved both of them. Raziel and Nadi were the morally gray characters that I needed.

Raziel Nostrom...yes. He checked all of the boxes. He was dark, tortured, brooding, dangerous, and sexy as all get out. There was more to him than was obvious. He knows more than he lets on. Something is afoot, that's for sure. The way he ended book 1 was insane.

Nadi...okay! This fireball was fierce, mighty, bold, and determined. She was so focused on her mission. Nothing was going to stand in her way, and I loved it. That killer instinct that drove her was something to behold. Even as she was in control, she was lost; but then again, maybe she wasn't. Her plight made me wonder if her course was destiny at play.

About the Cast: Every character played his or her role in such a way that invited more curiosity. The most intriguing characters that captured my attention were the missing grandmother, Ivan (Raziel's second), and Raziel's mother and brother. With that said, the special form that Nadi takes makes me wonder if her family, who had a brief story, is truly who they seem to be.

About the Conflict: There was non-stop conflict and action in this story. It came from every angle. Outside the family, inside the family, in the relationship between the leads, in the various factions that readers are introduced to - the secrets and machinations abound. The story kept unfolding and more became evident, while at the same time, it remained elusive.

My Final Say: I LOVED THIS STORY! Period and point blank on that. It was incredible. I am completely invested in this series. Book one set the story up in such a memorable way. I am still gobsmacked due to the cliffhanger. It packed a punch. Wow!

Bring on book #2 ASAP!

Other: Readers who like enemies to lovers, dark fantasy/romance stories, vampire x fae tropes, and morally gray characters will adore this novel.

This book reminded me of the Ruinous Love series, as well as the Wolf God series.

Rating: 5/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience:A
Re-read: Yes
Keeper: Yes
Favorites Shelf: Yes
Besties Shelf: Yes
Summer Heat Hit: Yes
Status/Level: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Series: Yes

Sincere appreciation is extended to the author, to the publisher (Second Sky Books), and to NetGalley. Thank you for granting access to a digital ARC in exchange for an honest critique. It was a pleasure to review this amazing story. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars, what a twisty ending 😮

I had a lot of fun reading this book, no one writes a Romantasy villain like Kathryn Ann Kingsley. I had read a few of her series before so I knew what kind of MMC to expect. Fans of hers will not be disappointed. For those who are new to this author, this is not the standard misunderstood shadow daddy who softens for the MFC … Raziel is a real monster but he’s got great banter.

What I loved in particular:
- I loved Nadi’s shapeshifter fae gift, she can steal and wear the image of other people. I hadn’t seen this done before and while she only has a few changes in this book, I predict that she is going to be causing mayhem with it in the next instalment.
- I liked Nadi as a MFC, she’s a real monster too, although sometimes I couldn’t understand her decision making, particularly in relation to Luciento.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series, I just really hope it’s not a long a wait.

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5 ⭐️

A Fae seeking vengeance disguises herself as a human bride and enters into an arranged marriage with the Vampire who killed her entire family. What could possibly get in her way? Oh, just the crazy, hot tension between the two of them.

The Serpent’s Bride was a fast-paced, fun read that was super easy to get into. Right from the start you’re connected to Nadi’s character and her revenge arc. When she meets Raziel, our killer Vampire, sparks fly, and retribution is no longer so straightforward.

What I really liked:
I found the world building to be very interesting, specifically the Wilds and the history between vampires, humans, and the fae. I also really enjoyed our characters Nadi and Raziel. Neither of them are good people and they’re both fairly toxic, which was a refreshing break from the good girl/bad guy trope.

What I liked a bit less:
While there’s a lot to like about this book, I found much of Nadi’s internal monologue to be fairly repetitive. Raziel’s indecision over what to do about his new wife also became tedious.

Even though this wasn’t the perfect read for me, I’m very interested in finding out what happens next in Nadi and Raziel’s story; especially after that ending!

Thank you to NetGalley and Second Sky for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars

✨✨✨You had me at spicy vampire romance!!!!!!!!!!!!🧛🏻‍♀️ 🌶️ 🥀 ✨✨✨

I really enjoyed this one! I’m a huge vampire lover (of course!!) and I liked Nadi’s character a lot. The plot gripped me right away and kept my interest throughout. I wanted to keep reading and see what happens!!

I do wish there was some more solid world building. I definitely wanted a bit more time spent on some details! I also wish there had been more time spent on building up the romance. It was very insta lust and while the banter between characters was great, the enemies to lovers part was so quick that it lacked a bit of substance for me.

That being said this is a fast-paced and super fun read!! Overall I really liked the story and that ending definitely left me on a cliffhanger NEEDING more!!!! 🧛🏻‍♂️

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released August 28, 2025.

Ah yes, nothing says true love like falling for the guy who wiped out your entire family. Revenge? Never heard of her. The revenge angle dissolved in seconds. They went from enemies to tempted in seconds and the constant repetition of her vengeful promise just dulled its impact. Really wanted to love this one!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

Okay so… The Serpent’s Bride absolutely delivered. I went in expecting dark, seductive vampire vibes—and wow, did it give that and more. From the very first chapter, I was hooked.
The writing has eerie, gothic vibes that just wraps around you.I genuinely couldn’t stop reading.

The romance is definitely dark, a little twisted (in the best way), and had me questioning who I should even trust. The vampire love interest? Yeah, he’s morally gray, dangerous, and ridiculously magnetic—and I loved every second of it. There’s this addictive push and pull between the characters that felt intense without being overdone.

Also, the worldbuilding was so immersive. It gave off this old-world gothic fantasy vibe with just enough creepiness to keep your heart racing. Honestly, it felt like reading something deliciously forbidden.

If you’re into dark romance with vampires, power plays, a heroine who refuses to be broken, and that kind of haunting beauty that lingers after you close the book—The Serpent’s Bride is 100% worth the read. Definitely one of my new favorite vampire romances.

*thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

Both the storyline and the twist at the end were not at all what I expected, and I absolutely LOVED it. When Ms. Kingsley says “Where Villains Stay Villains”, she really means that. I don’t know who I’m rooting for at this point, and the lines are so blurred between Raziel and Nadi. I can’t wait for the sequel of The Serpent’s Bride! Thank you for the ARC Kathryn Ann Kingsley, your stories have a big place in my heart as well as my bookshelves.

Exactly the vampire book needed. FMC is an assassin and vampire MMC really should be assassinated so there is the set up. And then they get married. Of course. But clever, fast-paced, and just giddy fae, vampire, human chaos. In short, a treat.

“Her wedding bouquet was the color of blood”

“This was wrong. This was dangerous. This was going to get her into a lot of trouble”

This book was … wild. That’s the main adjective I would use to describe it. Dark, spicy, addicting and wild. That’s vampire romance for you guys, done in the most deliciously vampire-driven, bloody and obsessive way. I loved it. Every second of it. I finished it in one sitting. I could not stop. Forbidden romance. Revenge plot. Hidden identity. A bit of BDSM in the midst. A primal and intensely exciting dark romance dynamic between a bloody vampire and the fae who is seeking revenge on him and she masks herself as a human. The moment the tension between them and all the “why am I having these feelings” situation from both of them came to fruition … oh how amazing it felt. It was absolutely amazing and with THAT kind of ending … I need more !!! I absolutely need more !!! I can’t wait for this to be out !!

“Curious creature. But perhaps, just perhaps, she might have a place in his family, after all”

“But here she stood. Fae blood on her hands. And he had never felt such need before in all his years”

“My little bloody bride, my killer, my little murderer”

Wow. I love all of Kathryn Ann Kingsleys books so far, but that ending. Whew.... This was so great and quite different I feel from what I'm used to with her. I loved this so much!

Thank you to Second Sky & Netgalley for the eARC!

4 stars!!

Now, this one was soooo fun to read!!!

I loved how fast paced and straight to the point it was! The dark gothic atmosphere was everything I was looking for in a dark romantasy!

I'm so into reading about vampires again so I loved that part of the story, I do wish we got a little more lore regarding the fae/sirens though!

I thought Nadi & Raziel's romance was the STEAMIEST, and when it finally got to the spice? omggg!!!! 🔥

The ending sentence literally had me screaming!! Looking forward to book 2!!

I think this book will be PERFECT for lovers of dark romantasy!!!

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more! I loved Nadi's character and adored Raziel. I really liked how they were both in denial of their feelings for each other and Kingsley built the tension exceptionally well. The book was intense in many moments and humorous as well. This was my first Kathryn An Kingsley book, but will most definitely not be my last.

This book was dark, seductive, and totally unhinged in the best way. The vibes were immaculate gothic fantasy with a villain you know you shouldn’t love but do anyway. The romance was intense and toxic and deliciously addictive, and honestly? I ate it up. The writing pulls you right into this eerie, magical world that feels like a fairytale gone wrong, and I was so here for it. My only small gripe is that I wish the main character had pushed back a bit more early on but at the same time, the dynamic was the whole point, so it still worked. If you’re into morally gray love interests, dark magic, and stories that lean all the way into their chaos, this one's definitely for you.

I. ate. this. book. up!!

I am an absolute sucker for an arranged marriage trope and it is done so well in The Serpent's Bride. Nadi's fae family was killed by vampire Raziel 80 years ago and she has made it her mission to kill him and the entire Nostrum family. She decides to disguise herself as Raziel's sacrificial human bride to infiltrate and kill them all... Except things and people aren't exactly as they seem.

The back and forth between Nadi and Raziel was great. Such good push-pull and tension - it felt like true enemies to lovers, especially in Nadi's case. The spice was great and their chemistry was undeniable. Raziel is such an interesting character and I loved that we got to see his POV. I appreciated the levels and nuance to his morally grey character.

The book ends in a cliffhanger and I can't wait for book 2 to see what happens next!! Thank you so much Second Sky and Netgalley for the advanced review copy.

Ayoooo! I went into this not know what to expect and I ATE. IT. UP. The spice was spicing. The FMC was a baddie and the MMC was a daddy (metaphorically) and I simply need more.

The way this book just ended has me begging for more. I NEED ITTTTT NOWWWWW

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for the eARC! This was my first time reading anything by Kathryn Ann Kingsley. I would rate this about 3.5/4 stars. This is a dark fantasy romance book centering around our FMC Nadi, a fae assassin, and our MMC Raziel, a vampire. Raziel is getting married per vampire customs, to a bride he has never met yet. Nadi whom is out for revenge against Raziel for ending her entire family, decides to step as his new bride. What I liked: Nadi's fae background/powers and that she was a badass willing to do whatever it takes. I also liked that the world building was easy to follow, there was a lot of action to the plot, and the ending took an unexpected turn!

What was hard for me: I didn't really like Raziel as an MMC. While I usually like morally grey MMC, I find that typically they have some redeeming qualities and so far I haven't seen any in Raziel. He is pretty blunt and dark. I also found it hard to believe how Nadi could potentially look past the fact that he ended her entire family personally? But maybe more will be revealed in the next books. I am definitely am looking to read the sequel and interested to see how the plot develops, but particularly the character development for Raziel. Interested to see if he can be redeemed because there is a lot of valid hatred and motive for revenge by Nadi!

Thank you NetGalley and Second Sky for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Raziel Nostrom, a vampire mafia prince, wiped out Nadi’s family when she was a child. She vowed to one day get revenge and the perfect opportunity arose. Raziel is getting married to a human he’s never met and only knows what she looks like from a blurry picture. Nadi is a shapeshifter so of course she’s going to take the human bride’s place. He wiped out her family so she’s going to wipe out his. She just has to get past her very strong attraction to him first.

That cliffhanger had me screaming yes! I can’t wait for the next book in this series!

This pacing was quick and easy to understand - Vampires are always a safe bet for a delicious romantasy and adding in arranged marriage. I*'m hoping that this book is setting the stage for the second book to just blow me away, as I intend to continue the series. It felt somewhat repetitive at certain points, but regardless I had a great time reading.