This is a slow burn romantasy. There are not a lot of spicy scenes so if that is what you are looking for this book isn’t it. This is classified as “dark” however I didn’t really think it was very dark.

Nadia is a fae shifter whose entire family was killed by Raziel Nostrom. He is a ruthless and definitely morally grey vampire. She has decided to seek revenge on him. He is set to marry a woman he has never met. When she overhears this, she realizes she has her in.

I enjoyed the plot of this book very much. The cliffhanger was a little unexpected. I can’t wait for Book 2 in the series.

I listened to the audiobook and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the narration. Even though it was only one person for the MMC and FMC I felt like she did a great job.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books for the advanced listening copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

The Serpent's Bride: A Dark Vampire Romance (Book 1) by Kathryn Ann Kingsley,
Audiobook narrated by Desireé Ketchum
 
When a shapeshifter spends decades plotting revenge against the vampires who murdered her entire family, she finally gets her chance. Being about to shift into anyone, human, fae, or vampire, she can infiltrate the family, posing as the human girl who was sold to them as the bride for the youngest vampire to wed in their ritual wedding.

The plan seemed simple: pick them off one by one and save her new husband for last. What she did not expect was to fall for him.

Book Tropes to expect:

Enemies to Lovers
Vampires
Fae
Shapeshifter
Paranormal War
Political imbalance
Cutthroat Family
Barbaric Traditions
Imposter
Revenge
Planned assassination
Spice

I think the story flowed well and had me interested throughout. The morally black villain showed a softer side, even though he is truly a villain. His family seems to be worse than he is, honestly, with how he controlled himself throughout the book. The cliffhanger was interesting, and I'm wondering how it will all work out in the next book. Do I recommend this somewhat dark romantacy? Yes, if you enjoy fantasy with some spice. I don't think the spice was as prevalent as it can be in other fantasy books I've read. If you don't like open-door spice, you will have a couple of scenes to skip, but the story doesn't dwell on that as much as the FMC trying to plot her next steps and the strange dynamic between her and the vampire that she was raised to know as a monster. 

I received the ALC via Netgalley and Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books in exchange for an honest review.

This book is set to publish on August 28th, 2025

First and foremost I’d like thank NetGalley & Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this book early. I am forever thankful and my review is an honest reflection of my feelings towards this book.
I absolutely devoured this book in one setting. This was probably a very close to perfection Book in the enemies to lovers trope. And I honestly can’t wait for Book too cause that ending had me ready for the second book..
What happens when a shape shifting Fae pretends to be a bride to a vampire that killed her family. To get close to him and his family so she can kill them all.?
I for sure love the female main character. She was so feisty and so witty, and someone that I instantly was like, get him!
But then you get to know Raziel who is this character that got shaped by a vicious family into the man that he is and as you see them begin to fall in love it’s for sure transition that was done perfectly.
I honestly would recommend this book from the rooftops to people who love enemies to lover and marriages of convenience. This book was a knockout.
The narrator Desiree Ketchum was absolute perfection and bringing the story to life.

the serpents bride- by Kathryn Ann Kingsley-

Narrated by Desiree Ketchum
Publishing: August 28, 2025

Desiree’s voice is always on point. I love how she changes her voice. It makes it so much easier to follow along to a book and honestly, I only finished the book because of her voice.

I wasn’t a fan of the instalust or how things happened with her Uncle, it seemed counter productive to her goals. The FMC also seemed to have a lot of opportunities to kill the entire family and never took it.

I was confused by her true form. Did she have legs and a tail or only a tail? This was cleared up at the end of the book.

I almost DNF’d it. But the ending kind of made up for the issues I was having with finishing it.

🎧 Audio Narration - I think this lacked a male narrator, I don’t think Iv ever listened to an audio book that had a male pov but only a female narrator. It didn’t make sense to me and at points had me forgetting I was in his chapters. It really threw me off the book at times
Ok onto the story
- This wasn’t too dark, mostly it’s dark in the way that vampires are proper villains in this.
- I expected to go in and get less story and more smut ( it was just the vibes I got from the first few chapter ) I was pleasantly surprised to say that I was wrong and there was actually a really interesting plot line.
-Don’t worry there was still a few spicy moments.
- The repetition had me rolling my eyes at times ( mostly the fmcs inner monologue debating with herself if she should 💀 the mmc yet or if she should let him 💀 her ) some parts were a bit cringy but this could have been because I didn’t enjoy the narrators male voice.
- The ending was great I really liked where it went
- If I had book 2 right now I’d jump in straight away I would like to see where this one will go.

Disappointed that I have to wait for book 2 as so intrigued to find out what happens next!

Nadi has spent the last 80 years training for and planning her revenge against Raziel, the vampire who killed her family, when an opportunity to get close to the ruthless prince of the mafia finally presents itself; what could go wrong…

The Serpent’s Bride is the first book I’ve read or listened to by Kathryn Ann Kingsley so I didn’t know what to expect but I enjoyed it right from the start, as the story progresses and we learn more about the world and characters I couldn’t put it down, the mafia, fantasy mashup is refreshing, as is the FMC, I can feel a little “meh” about how FMC’s are written at times but I really liked Nadi and found her snarky inner comments so amusing.

There are vampires, fae, shifters an arranged marriage (kind of), morally grey FMC & MMC, enemies to lovers, with a few steamy moments, for me the slow burn was so well paced with great tension, it’s dark without feeling too dark, and then there’s a delicious twisty cliffhanger at the end,

The narrator also did such a good job, conveying the story and characters so well. (especially the FMC)

I can’t wait to read (well, listen to) the next book to find out where this goes and hopefully a little more about the world and Raziel, I enjoyed this one but I think there’s so much more to come.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

3.5 stars rounded up.

This was one of those books that I kept wondering why I was reading it because I didn't like either of the main characters, but I also couldn't stop. Raziel is the MMC and he isn't morally gray he is definitely completely in the black. Nadi wasn't a great person either. I feel like generally in these books they have an exception for each other but even from his POV, Raziel never really seemed to have any actual feelings from her. I also was not impressed with the spice, that 4 letter bundle of nerves wasn't mentioned once, damn Raziel way to be a selfish lover.

That being said there was an addictive quality to this book where I couldn't stop and needed to see what happened next. I was definitely never bored. I did like the ending of this book and would definitely check out the next one.

Thank you to Bookouture Audio for the ALC. And thank you to Second Sky for the ARC.
This is my honest opinion.

The premise for this book was very promising, but sadly I didn’t like it. I listened to it as an audiobook and maybe this was the problem because it was single narration and imitating a man’s voice as a woman is just such an ick for me 😩 Moreover, I think it really lacks good worldbuilding and the characters need more depth. The enemies-to-lovers trope felt so forced and the tension wasn’t really existing (somehow there was suddenly spice, but there was basically no build up to this???)
I won’t be continuing this series…

Nadia is a fae shifter that is out for revenge on this vampire family that killed her family. She goes in disguise as the human woman that is being forced to be married into said vampire family. She has to stay in disguise long enough that she can complete her mission and avenge her family.

I think this book has a lot of potential! The world was simple and nothing new really, but it was right to the point. I really wish I could have felt the tension between our love interests, but that fell a bit flat for me. They felt very one dimensional. The narrator did a good job, but I do think this is one of those series that would do well with two narrators for each main character.

I loved the twist at the end!

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture audio for the ALC!

A Romantasy thriller that just keeps you captivated! The fmc is a shape shifting killer with a plan. But plans don’t always go as planned. And I loved to watch it all unfold. The back stories, and the character depth was perfectly incorporated into the story. The magic was neat and the different species were just different enough to fit all the side stories that brought the main story together. I loved this book. It would be a great read for a thriller lover who wants to dip their toes into romantasy. I felt fully immersed into this story and couldn’t get enough of it. The audio was done excellently too for being a single narrator. The narrator made it easy to follow the story.

Audiobook ARC review!
The Serpent's Bride

🖤 MMC - Vampire with mind control powers
🖤 FMC - Shapeshifting fae assassin
🖤 marriage of convenience
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 morally grey characters

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.

Nadi, FMC, is a Shapeshifting fae assassin. She became an assassin to get practice with taking out her parents' murderer - Raziel Nostrom, a ruthless, powerful, vampire mafia prince. With Raziel being part of the city's most powerful mafia clan he's untouchable so naturally when presented with the chance to get close to him as his sacrificial bride-to-be, whom he had never met, she took that opportunity.
Nadi shapeshifts into Raziel's sacrificial bride and tries to use that opportunity and proximity to kill him and his family.

Raziel, MMC, is a ruthless, killer who cleans up loose ends for his family/clan. He's a vampire with mind control powers that he uses to entertain himself and unalive his enemies.

Nadi and Raziel basically play with one another trying outwit/outdo one another during most of their interaction. Nadi wanted proximity to get close enough to kill Raziel and his family and didn't expect that proximity to bring any other desires other than revenge.

The spice is like 🌶🌶
The story itself is intriguing and stays interesting throughout its entirety. The world-building is not too heavy, it's perfect, and it's spread out throughout the story as needed.
The ending though was such a curveball... It's a MAJOR cliffhangery plot twist that leaves you wanting book 2 asap.

Desireé Ketchum does a great job narrating both pov's.

Okay truly this was shockingly entertaining! The twists and turns were far more than I expected. This story is written in 3rd person and typically that isn’t a fan favorite but this was great!! The relationship between the fmc and mmc was entertaining and unexpected. I appreciate that I never knew what was coming. Definitely a good time!!

🎧 Single Narration

I was given a copy of this audiobook as an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed the characters and I especially enjoyed the ending. This book has great plot twists and I listened to it all in one sitting.

This was a true enemies to lovers book.

Thanks to NetGalley for sending me a free audio copy!

Alright I"m hooked, give me another!

...............................................................

An Unexpectedly Addictive Read, A Dark, Lush Romantasy You Won’t Put Down
The Serpent’s Bride was an unexpected delight in the best possible way. I went into this book with no real expectations and ended up absolutely hooked. If you're a fan of enemies-to-lovers, forced marriage, or dark fantasy worlds dripping in tension and danger, this book is calling your name.
The story blends some of my favorite tropes: a bride offered as a sacrifice, a slow-burning romance, and the ultimate clash between two powerful, ancient races, Fae and Vampires. Their hatred for one another runs deep, creating a violent, high-stakes world that feels almost mafia-esque in its ruthlessness. But underneath all the blood and betrayal is a delicious romantic tension that reminded me of Romeo and Juliet, tragic, intense, and completely addictive.
I was especially thrilled by how well the slow burn was executed. It kept me turning the pages (or in this case, glued to my earbuds), desperate to see where the relationship would go next. And I have to give credit to the author for writing a female main character I genuinely liked—lately, that’s been a rare treat. She was strong, layered, and relatable without falling into the usual tropes that tend to drag down heroines in this genre.
I also had the pleasure of experiencing this book in audio format, and let me just say: the narrator nailed it. They brought every moment to life with such emotion and energy that it made the whole experience even more immersive.
And that twist at the end? Absolutely brilliant. It had me shouting in frustration, in the best way, because now I have to wait for the next book! I'm dying to know what happens next.
There was one small detail I didn’t love, but I can’t even talk about it without spoiling a major plot point. That said, it didn’t dampen my enthusiasm or affect my rating at all.
If you're searching for a romantasy that blends high-stakes tension, rich worldbuilding, slow-burn romance, and a story that will keep you emotionally invested until the very last page, The Serpent’s Bride is the perfect pick. Highly recommend!

Eighty years ago, Raziel slaughtered her entire family—but spared the her, unaware she wasn’t in her true form. He should have finished the job.

Now, she’s back.

Disguised, dangerous, and driven by vengeance, she’s taken the place of the woman meant to marry him. Her plan is simple: get close enough to kill him. But nothing about Raziel—or the twisted bond growing between them—is simple.

As truths unravel and secrets ignite, one thing becomes clear: she may not be the only one wearing a mask.

A story of revenge, deception, and slow-burning desire—this is a dark spicy fantasy with a morally grey FMC and MMC, a marriage of convenience, and an ending that will leave you reeling.
I didn’t see it coming... and now I need book two.

I cant wait for book 2 ! I need to know what happens next ! I loved all the characters, especially the mmc and the fmc ! Their banter and chemistry was funny , angsty, flity and hot !

Thank you NetGalley for the audiobook arc. The narrator did an amazing job. I love Kathryn Kingsley books so much.
She’s a fae planning to kill the vampire king and she ends up finding out that she is a sacrifice, and betrothed to the king. He slowly starts to fall for her and tries to figure out why her blood is so special.

I finished this book in a single day! It is spicy, dark, has delicious tension, morally grey FMC and a morally-black MMC! I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
Book: 4.5 Rounded up
Audio: 5

Eighty years ago, Raziel a member of the powerful vampire mafia killed her entire family, and she has spent her entire life dedicated to ensuring his death. When she uncovers that as a means of appeasing the family, a father has offered his daughter as a bride and that the family has never laid eyes on the woman, she knows now is the time. When she switches places with the young woman and infiltrates his household things become complicated when it is clear there is an undeniable tension between them.

Tropes:
- Marriage of Convenance
- Morally Black MMC
- Morally Grey FMC

I think this was a perfect first book, it was fast paced, has enough world-building that I could follow along, but enough questions left unanswered that things felt mysterious and like there is so much more to uncover about the tensions among the vampires, humans and fae. I also am really looking forward to the character development in the second book, we started to see glimpses of another side to Raziel, and we do not yet know his backstory. While he was morally black in many ways, our FMC is also morally grey, she has killed people in the name of revenge, and it really shows how vengeance can corrupt.

A Fae impersonates a human to get revenge on her family's killer. The world sounded very interesting with the Fae stuck underground and not being like the Fae we are used to from other books. I wish more time had been spent on the worldbuilding. I wanted to know more.

I liked our assassin FMC, even though I wish she had stayed on task more. The main couple seems well-matched and I will definitely read the next book to see more of their dynamic. His "my little murderer" nickname for her was cute. At some point into the book I thought maybe the author wrote herself into a corner with the parts of the relationship, but the ending definitely turned things around.

I enjoyed the audio narration by Desiree Ketchum. She captured the FMC's attitude quite well. Thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC.