ARC review

Oh. My. God. I have to begin by saying how much I absolutely LOVED this book. The characters are really well written. (And Raziel is definitely one of THE book boyfriends)

This has been a fantastic read and Iloved the fact that it was an actual enemies-to-lovers (if ya'll are looking for one, look no further), not just first 20% and the rest 80% lovers like most books are these days (TT).

Now moving on to the reason why I gave it 4 stars.

The first 27% ~ 30% felt kind of rushed, the characters seemed a little attracted to each other as soon as the MC arrived at the MMC's house (but, happily, that got better later).

Aside from that, I felt like there could have been something more added to the plot as the tension wasn't THAT big - at least for me. (don't get me wrong, the way Kathryn ended the book is EVIL.)
All in all, it was an amazing read and I look forward to the next book in the series, super excited to see what's next.

*Thank You NetGalley and Second Sky for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review!*

Well, I didn't see that ending coming, but color me intrigued. Fae, vampires and humans. One race hunted to near extinction and another indebted to the third. The social class structure is interesting to say the least.
I almost feel like Nadi is going to need her own redemption arc after her transgressions and I can't wait to see what mental gymnastics can turn this into a HEA.

The story is told from a dual point of view and is well done. Unfortunately the story is not told in dual narration but the female narrator did an amazing job with the male voices. They didn't sound like a woman passing for a man. When Raziel's character had a chapter or dialogue, it felt like a distinct character.

I cannot wait to see where this story goes!

I was shocked at how good this is, I have read a lot of vampire books and this one managed to completely surprise me with the ending/cliffhanger. Great pacing and the narrator did a great job of switched between the male and female characters. One thing that was lacking was the spice to me, it had a lot of build up. But fell a tad flat for me. Still can’t wait to read the next one!

Kathryn Ann Kingsley’s The Serpent’s Bride plunges listeners into a gothic, vampire-infused world of revenge, deception, and dangerously magnetic romance. Narrated by Desireé Ketchum, this audiobook delivers a darkly seductive experience that’s hard to pause.

The Serpent’s Bride is a must-listen. It’s not heavy on world-building, but it thrives on character dynamics and razor-sharp tension. Just be prepared for a cliffhanger that’ll leave you craving book two.

Publication date August 28, 2025

A Special Thank you to Bookouture Audio, Katheryn Ann Kingsley and Desiree’ Ketchum for this ALC.

As electrifying as a thunder strike on a stormy day. Kathryn Kingsley Whisked me away into a world of fantasy, where vampires rule with fangs as sharp as a butcher’s blade and Faes as beautiful as they are cunning.

This book was so good that I almost overlooked the fact that it was on Audio ( and I don’t listen to Audiobooks very much), but I requested the ARC anyway because it seemed too good to pass out on, and I’m glad to say I wasn’t disappointed.

The slow simmering chemistry between the MMC and FMC was undeniable. She went in to world of vampires with her mind dead set on avenging her family that was ruthlessly killed by them, However, as the story progresses, she finds herself torn between her thirst for revenge and her simmering attraction to the ruthless vampire- all the while trying to hide her natural fae form underneath her disguise as the MMC’s bride.

When the MMC comes to the realisation that she is not the kind of woman he expected, who keeps surprising him unexpectedly with her charm and banter, he can’t seem to resist her! I enjoyed reading about the other characters as well, who made the story more engaging in their own ways.

I can’t wait to see where the rest of the story goes in the next book- I need it as soon as yesterday!

4.5 stars! Wow what a fun read! Stunning and sexy! This story kept me locked in and alert. I loved this version of Fae x Vampire. It felt unique, modern and fresh. Assassin and a Mafia Prince... both toxic, both forbidden loves. And that ending?! YES PLEASEEEE!

This book had me in a chokehold (in the best way). One of the truest enemies to lovers books I have read, with a morally DARK grey MMC, forbidden love, vampires, fae, and rival gang families. Decent 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️, with some dark romance elements that make your toes curl. And the ending was chefs kiss. My only complaint is now having to wait to see how this story continues.

This book was seriously addictive! I’m OBSESSED!

The Serpent’s Bride follows Nadi, a shapeshifting fae, who disguises herself as the mortal bride of the infamous Nostrom family vampire, Raziel, who killed Nadi’s family decades prior. She plans to avenge her family’s deaths by killing Raziel and his entire family whilst undercover.

The storyline was so fast paced but really easy to follow and I really enjoyed the unexpected chemistry between Nadi and Raziel! The spicy scenes were well written and incredibly steamy!

I especially loved Nadi’s character! I am a huge fan of a morally grey FMC and Nadi did not disappoint! She reminded me of Dianna from Amber V Nicole’s Gods and Monsters series (a huge compliment).

I can honestly say I did not see that ending coming either and it’s made me even more excited for book 2!

This dark vampire romance will take you on a journey where the fmc is supposed to kill the mmc, and his entire family so she disguises herself as the vampires bride to get closer to them,

It took me a while to get really invested in this, but I did enjoy it, and that ending made me interested in continuing this series. I do really enjoy when immortal characters are a bit older, so that was a big plus here.

4,5 star

The way I gobbled this book up! Omg! While reading/listening to this book I couldn’t help but to have feelings about the characters and interactions. The narrator did so well I felt like I was in the room listening to their conversation and the way I started talking back was ridiculous! When I got to the last 51 minutes I was like oh I know how this ends … and I DID NOT know how it ended. The WHAT?! I screamed and the way I sat their staring at a wall over that ending was wild! I am so glad I got the opportunity to listen to this because wow! I can’t wait for more!

✨ARC Review - 4.5 Stars✨
Listened via NetGalley audiobook.
I did not see that ending coming 😳
This book hooked me from the beginning, but the last few chapters devoured me. The final twist left me absolutely desperate for book two.
I really enjoyed the slow-burn dynamic between Raziel and Nadi. Their relationship builds with tension and tenderness, and I loved watching the layers of their connection unfold alongside the political and magical stakes. The world is dark, rich, and full of secrets, and you can feel that there's so much more still to come.
A solid 4.5 stars from me! The only reason it's not a full 5 is because I wanted slightly more pacing in the middle, but honestly, the ending more than made up for it.
If you like morally grey characters, forbidden dynamics, and an ending that will haunt your brain, The Serpent's Bride needs to be on your radar.

What a fantastic read! I loved absolutely every minute of this story.

What can I say??? That ending!!!! I honestly didn’t know how it would go, there was so much suspense added. Oh my the author knows how to write her more explicit scenes very well, cultivated by the narrator I was blushing. I love how I was completed engrossed in the vampire/fae story. It almost kind of felt like Butcher and Blackbird esque!

I have to give a huge shout out to the narrator. She was absolutely perfection. Great pacing, great switch between the male and female characters. She brought the story to life.

I love the FMC and MMC still holds a sort of suspense that I can’t wait to unravel. I love how the FMC is out for vengeance in disguise, what a refreshing take. All in and all, a solid 4 star read. I shall be grabbing my little trophy shelf and cannot wait for the next one.

🎧 Audiobook Review 🎧🌹”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.”

I finished the audio for The Serpent’s Bride a few days ago, and while it’s advertised as a dark romance, I’d say it leans more toward satire than truly dark. Maybe I’ve just read too many dark books for this to feel intense… or maybe it’s because I simply expect vampires to behave this way, so it doesn’t shock me anymore.

I had a great time listening to this one! It’s fast-paced, features mafia vampires, revenge, and just the right amount of spice, not too much! I really enjoyed the ending and can’t wait to see where the story goes next.

The narration was fantastic and really brought the story to life. The Serpent’s Bride is available from the 28th August, thank you to NetGalley and @Bookouture for the ALC!

Was this dark, yes. Was it super spicy, no not really. Is it worth reading? Maybe... I feel like this would have been better in print form then in audio form. I just couldn't stay focused with this one.

This does end on a cliff hanger and what a twist of events it was.

Audiobook: One Narrator
Spice Level: 1/5

Enemies to Lovers
Instant Attraction
Vampires x Fae
Forced Marriage
Forced Proximity
Revenge Plot
Morally Grey Characters

Nadi wants revenge for a dead family. And as a shapeshifter Fae she has the perfect opportunity to become a human bride forced to marry the vampire that killed her family. However, she didn't account for her attraction to him, and now is fighting that along with her plan for revenge.

Raziel is a powerful vampire who can control peoples minds and have them physically harm themselves. And he hates Fae... But he is very intrigued by his "human" bride and doesn't want to kill her but he will do as he's told.

I received an advance review copy audio version. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books, for the opportunity to listen to this book. Desireé Ketchum did an amazing job narrating this audiobook

Thank you for this arc!

I was so excited to read this book and it had me completely hooked from the start. This is a true enemies-to-lovers story with a good heroine, amazing banter, and just addictive. It’s deliciously toxic in the best way. I devoured it in a day and can’t wait for the sequel.

I was drawn in by the vampires and enemies to lovers trope by means of revenge.
The world is interesting — a conflict between humans, vampires and monstrous Fae. But it felt flat.
I found the Nati and Raziel’s inner monologues to be repetitive at times. I was expecting their attraction and relationship to be more of a slow burn, but it was instant attraction.
The audiobook would have been better if a man narrated for Raziel’s chapters.
Thank you Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC.

Gahhhh that ending! Like Interview with a Vampire meets marrying the enemy trope with a dash of a siren song. I was intrigued by the cover and summary and received the audiobook arc to try out. I enjoyed the narrator and was entertained from start to finish. The FMC has a witty determination to avenge her family but keeps getting distracted by her attraction to the enemy MMC. I enjoyed how the characters backgrounds and history were included throughout the story - it wasn’t complicated, easy to follow and picture, and didn’t distract from the plot line.

I will definitely be listening to book 2! It ended and I gasped and almost threw my headphone at that cliffhanger.

A fae assassin seeking revenge on the vampire prince who ruined her life. That's the premise of this urban vampire fantasy, where Nadi is determined to infiltrate the heart of a powerful mafia by disguising herself as the human bride Raziel is set to marry. Nadi is a shape-shifting fae, and she is constantly stressed about not allowing Raziel to access her blood, as he would likely taste that she isn't truly human. The tension ramps up as it becomes clear Raziel has been given orders by his mother to murder his new bride. Despite their obvious attraction to each other, the question looms: who will kill who first, as they both keep putting off the inevitable?

I'm just so obsessed with vampire romances right now, so I was excited to get this ARC. I really enjoyed this one. The narration for the audiobook was a huge plus, as it was so expressive and great that it made keeping track of everything a breeze. This story had me hooked from the start, and it definitely feels like it’s part of a larger series, which is perfect because I’ll absolutely be reading the second book.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC in exchange for an honest review. Release date 8/28/25.

A huge thank you to Net Galley and Second Sky for this ARC.
I devoured this book in a single sitting. The Serpent’s Bride is a mafia romance and fantasy love child and I was here for it. Raziel is in the vampire mafia and also the one who murdered Nadi’s entire family. Nadi ,who just so happens to be a shape shifting fae, sets out for revenge decades later by taking the form of Raziel’s soon to be bride. Betrayals happen, people are murdered and there’s a twist at the end you won’t see coming! Already looking forward to the next book in this series!

The way I screamed by the end of this book! The plot twist was incredible! A vampire mafia romance & a fae rival with well awaited score to settle. Set in a modern world, with forced marriage, hidden identity and TENSION! The will they won’t they in more ways than one had me fully invested.The banter between the main and side characters made me giggle. Toxic, lust and a high-stakes seduction that’s borderline masochism. This enemies to lovers tale had me on the edge of my seat.
Best listened to at 1.5 or 1.75 speed depending on your preference. All in all I rate this a 4.25, I did enjoy the narration, she was concise, to the point and played all characters well in my opinion