EXCUSE ME????? KATHRYN, how DARE you hit me with that cliffhanger? We may share a name, but WE ARE NOT FRIENDS (please, be my friend...I am BEGGING you). And now I have to wait for book 2???????????????

Nadi is many things: assassin, shapeshifter, fae, part fish, and soon-to-be bride/menace of Raziel Nostrom.

Raziel is also many things: youngest member of an immortal crime syndicate family, manipulator, cleaner-upper, and perpetual problem solver.

Raziel killed Nadi’s entire family in front of her. Now, Nadi plans to return the favor. Using her unique ability to impersonate Raziel’s intended bride, chaos ensues. So much death. So much murdering.

Make no mistake, this book is dark and gory, but also snarky and surprisingly heartfelt. I listened to the audiobook as fast as humanly possible. I couldn’t stop. I was possessed.

This one is perfect for readers who love FMCs with backbone, questionable morals, and lofty goals (even if those goals involve murder), and MMCs with equally questionable morals and apparently a long line of people willing to die for, uh...sex? I mean, if that isn't a ringing endorsement, what is?

Loved this. Not sure I could have loved it more. I want to burrow into a corner and reflect.

Also, can we talk about the narrator? Desireé Ketchum handled the entire audiobook solo with so much SASS. I usually insist on dual narrators, but here? I didn’t even notice or care. She seamlessly transitions between characters without ever feeling awkward or forced.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio | Second Sky Books, and Kathryn Ann Kingsley for this self-inflicted trauma and advanced listening copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I went into The Serpent’s Bride a little hesitant, because I usually struggle with enemies-to-lovers when it’s this intense. I mean, the main character literally wants to kill the love interest and his entire family because he slaughtered hers. I was honestly worried the author would brush past this history or resolve it in a way that felt cheap. But without giving spoilers, I was really shocked (in a good way!) with how things wrapped up. The ending really honoured the weight of everything that came before, and it left me more invested in the characters than I expected.

For most of the book, I wasn’t sure if I’d continue the series. There were moments where I enjoyed it, but I wasn’t totally convinced it would keep me hooked long-term. That all changed with the last stretch. The author landed the ending in such a strong way that I actually felt excited to pick up the next installment, rather than just curious. That shift says a lot, because usually if I’m iffy throughout most of a book, I don’t bother continuing.

One of my favourite elements was the main character’s shapeshifting ability, it added a really fun and unique layer to the story and gave her an edge that I loved seeing play out. It also kept the world feeling fresh and gave me something extra to look forward to beyond the romance and conflict.

Overall, this was a really easy and enjoyable listen. The pacing made it something I kept wanting to come back to, and even when I was on the fence about certain parts, I never felt bored. I’m very pleased with how it all came together, and I’m glad I stuck it out. Definitely curious to see where the series goes from here.

Nadi, a fae assassin, infiltrates vampire mafia politics by posing as the fiancée of Raziel Nostrom—the very prince responsible for her past trauma. What follows is a sharp, cat-and-mouse dynamic full of tension, revenge, and morally grey choices.
The world-building is light and the “dark” romance elements don’t go as far as expected, but the chemistry and character dynamics kept me engaged. The audiobook narration was a standout, with the voice for Raziel POV bringing the story to life.

My first book from this author and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

I love a sassy and fierce FMC, and a powerful and dark MMC and here we have both. We're given a story of revenge and malice and deception and secrets and its just great!

Those last chapters were such a great set up for more from this pair - a great way to leave the story an leave me looking forward to seeing how the next book unfolds.

I listened to this in audiobook format and found it easy to follow and listen to. The narrator was new to me, too, and i enjoyed listening to her (but popped my listening speed up a bit for my own preference - just by a notch!)

Thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture Audio for the opportunity to listen to this as a review copy :)

I returned to my teenage, Twilight-loving roots with this book. Obsessed. I already feel like I want to reread – which always is a sign of a five-star read for me! The narrator and audio production was great too, and I was having a really hard time pausing the book so I could go to sleep (resulting in me having only five hours of sleep before work, oops). That cliffhanger?? Cannot wait for the second book.

The Serpent’s Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley: This is for my friends who love a morally gray man who is the darkest of dark grays!

This was so fun to listen to! I was intrigued right from the beginning…I love me some forced weddings and especially some with vampires!

Warning! These are not the Cullens! This is definitely a dark romance book 🖤🖤 The FMC does not cower away from the violence…so honestly they’re a pretty good match!

I loved the twist at the end…made me really excited to read the next book!!

A special thanks to Bookouture , Second Sky Books , & Netgalley for an early copy of this audiobook to review.

I was pleasantly surprised by this title, I like the dynamic between both love interests. I love the fmc, she is strong willed, ill tempered at the right moments and is utterly relatable in my opinion. The story line doesn’t disappear inside the romance and spice. We’ve all fallen for a bad guy she just does it better than we do!

Thank you to Bookouture and Kathryn Ann Kingsley for the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a quick listen, and overall it was… fine. I’m always a sucker for vampires, but most of the book revolved around everyone reminding the FMC that she’d be killed on her honeymoon. Not a whole lot actually happened.

The writing itself was solid, but the story lacked worldbuilding and character development. One of the only major events felt like a strange choice, and I never felt connected to the characters. In the end, I think I liked the idea of this book more than the actual execution.

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Summary: The Serpent, a murderous vampire prince, is scheduled to marry a sacrificial bride, site unseen. The bride that shows up ends up not being the human country girl he was expecting, but a shifter fae seeking against him revenge for the death of her family. But along the way, plans change and unexpected feelings develop.

Thoughts: This was the definition of enemies to lovers! I know for certain I would not be able to fall for this sort of enemy after what was done lol. She went through some seriously extreme measures to seek this revenge. I feel like this was a great opening book for the series. The last chapter had my jaw on the floor!! This was such a great read, I can’t wait to see how the next book takes off!
The audio was also an easy listen to follow!

Thank you to “The NerdFam” and “Second Sky Books” for the ARC copy!

📖&🎧
4/5⭐️
3/5🌶️

The Serpent’s Bride completely drew me in. The single narrator delivered a seamless performance. The story masterfully blends the “enemies to lovers” trope with a compelling marriage of convenience.

From the very first chapter, the story is fast-paced, immersive, and packed with action. This book features vampires, Fae, and humans in a unique world. Each character is thoughtfully developed, with distinct motivations that enhance the story’s emotional impact.

Perhaps most impressive were the unexpected plot twists and a cliffhanger finale that I didn’t predict.

I received a free ALC copy of this audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Serpent’s Bride is a darkly addictive blend of revenge, forbidden passion, and deadly intrigue. With a fierce heroine, a magnetic vampire prince, and a plot brimming with tension and betrayal, this book delivers everything fans of enemies-to-lovers and dark romantasy crave. Dangerous, steamy, and utterly captivating—once you start, you won’t want to put it down.

I'm sorry, but what was that ending!
That cliffhanger has me begging for book 2!

This is my first read of this author, and I can't deny the premise of this story had me intrigued. I've been on the lookout for a vampire Mafia theme for a while.

Nadi has been plotting her revenge against the Nostrom family for over 80 years. When an opportunity lands for her to infiltrate the family by becoming Raziel's wife.
Our MMC Raziel isn't exactly ecstatic of the prospect, but duty calls. He hasnt met his soon to be wife, but she won't be that interesting, just another toy to play with for a term before she's sacrificed at the families ancestral home.
Wow, is he in for a surprise!
Nadi is smart, calculated, and nothing at all like he expected. But make no mistake, her plan will not waiver - she will get close enough to take down Raziel and his entire family.

It was really easy to get into, and I really enjoyed Desiree Ketchums narration. Should be no surprise to hear that from me, lol.
Desiree delivered another gripping performance, enacting all povs within the book - and I loved every second of it.

3rd person POV isn't usually my jam, but I did thoroughly enjoy this.
Well, except for the ending - that's just plain mean, to leave us on edge like that.

It's worth noting that this doesn't have a lot of spice. It's not closed door, but it is written with sophistication, so if you're looking for a foul-mouthed vampire, this won't scratch that itch.

Definately watching out for book 2!

vampire mafia boss x shapeshifting fae assassin / enemies to lovers / arranged marriage / hidden identity / Morally Grey FMC and MMC / Secrets / Dark Romantasy / and a cliffhanger that will leave u reeling for book 2.

Wow. This was entirely not what I expected, but oh so enjoyable.
The plot is simple: Nadi is a far disguised as a human destined to marry a vampire, Raziel, so she can kill the entire vampire family. Nadi and Raziel play a long game of cat and mouse with a very unexpected ending. This is not a standalone and I am incredibly excited for the second book.

Is the book GOOD? Depends on what you mean by that. There are plot holes. Some things just don’t make sense. It’s advertised as “dark” but really it’s just morally grey with some kinky scenes sprinkled about. For all its faults, it was absolutely addicting. I listened to the entire audiobook in less than two days. The constant tension and “will she be found out??” really kept me hooked.

I highly suggest you pick up this book if you want a slow, slow burn, lots of tension, and a fun little escape from reality. I loved the audiobook. The narrator did an excellent job capturing both Nadi and Raziel. I’m usually not a fan of women voicing males, but I really enjoyed how the narrator brought Raziel to life.

Thank you Second Sky and Bookouture for the ALC!

Umm helloooo the ending????

This was a very interesting concept of dark romance with a mix of fantasy. I really enjoyed the plot and characters, however I did find it a bit repetitive at times when it came to the fmc’s inner monologue.

The tension between the two mc’s throughout was delicious and had me giggling at times !

The last line stopped me in my tracks and has me wanting more 🤤

This was a fun twist on the typical vampire book. The heroine of this story is impersonating the vampire's bride in hopes of killing him and his family at some point. But what she doesn't expect is to find herself fascinated by him. He is cruel and heartless, and the family uses him to murder and kill but there is still something about him that she finds vulnerable.

I will leave the rest of the storyline for the reader to explore because I don't want to give anything away and it's definitely worth the read. Even more exciting is that there will be another book and I suspect it will possibly be even more fun that the first one.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I really enjoyed listening to this book because it utilized accents very well and made the storyline feel more authentic to me. This was such a fun listen. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

Solid 3.75 Nadi is a shape-shifting fae assassin, set on killing vampire Raziel Nostrom and his entire family. He killed her family/clan 80 years ago and she’s set on revenge to take out him and his whole family. She shifts into his never-met bride to be and infiltrates his family, trying to tear them down from the inside. But the unexplained attraction to him makes her mission harder to complete as time goes on. This story was intriguing and sexy! Both the main characters are VERY morally dark grey. There were a few times where the plot felt like it dragged a little, and became a bit repetitive. But overall, it maintained my interest! The cliffhanger at the end though!! Criminal. I also gave the narration a 3.75. Desiree added depth and emotion to the story. My only setback was there wasn’t much variation to the male voices and when accents were mentioned, it wasn’t an obvious change of inflections. But still great!

My Roman empire is currently this cliffhanger at the end of this book!

Thank you to Net Galley and Second Sky books for the ALC.

Our MMC Raziel is a vampire mafia prince who murdered our FMC's (Nadi's) family Infront of her when she was a child. Nadi vowed revenge and to make Raziel pay....and so begins her journey to revenge. I don't want to give too much away is this book is such a vibe reader. If you love true enemies to lovers, vampire MMC/shapeshifting fae assassin FMC, marriage of convenience and feminine murderous rage - then this is for you.

The narration is by Desireé Ketchum who does a wonderful job doing third person narration. She also does a good husky voice for when our MMC talks !
Pacing: I would say medium which I loved ! However I need book 2 asap 🤣😭
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Enemies to lovers
Mafia vampire prince
Revenge (mwahahaha 😏)
Assassin Fae FMC who can shapeshift!
Marriage of convenience

I could never have guessed the ending. An assassin, a vampire and a fae. Filled with love, betrayal and deceit all perfectly written into a fast paced story full of twists, plans made and redesigned. I thought it was going to be an average revenge story but I could not have predicted the end. I can't wait until the next book in the series to see how the story continues.

I liked this audiobook. This was a good story. I was very excited to receive this and listened to it in one day. I can’t stop!

We follow along as the FMC is out for revenge against the MMC. As usual, she doesn’t see the attraction with the MMC coming... Will she fall or will she follow through with revenge? You must read or listen to find out.

The Dyslexic Who Reads (or in this case listens)

Spice 🌶️🌶️ (but will probably increase in the next book)
Stars ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!

What I love about the book:

❤️ I love that, like all of her books, the villain is a villain. There is no sad backstory, no regret over what they've done or what they'll continue to do.

❤️ While they are villains, they are not so villainous that they don't get consent before they do anything.

❤️ The world building amazing. It is rich and just beautiful. You get a glimpse of a world deep in lore and history. It's a dark world run by vampires and criminals. Definitely has that mafia vibe, yet still is set in a world of fantasy.

❤️ The characters, OMG the characters! They are so well written, so complex and beautifully broken. "Notty' (not sure of the spelling, since I listened to it) is bent on vengeance, while Raziel is perfectly fine being his family's executioner. But when they get together there is a connection neither of them expected or wanted. I don't want to give any more away, but these are some of the best written characters I've read in a long time.

❤️ The story is captivating, I listened to the whole audiobook in a day and a half it was just that good! It left me on edge the whole time. I love that about her books, you NEVER know what's going to happen!

🥰 I'm going to sit here anxiously waiting for the next book in this series!

What I didn't like about this book:

😍 Absolutely nothing!

If you like morally black characters, story driven plots, and a beautifully written world and characters you HAVE TO read this book!

I revived this audiobook for free from NetGalley for my honest review.