Okay, I want to write this review while it's fresh on my mind. What the heck just happened?
First off, dragons. Okay? Which just automatically makes my heart so happy in whatever form they come in. Plus you get bonds with their riders, they're ancient and they belong to the stars. So that's such a cool introduction, but they basically save the FMC without actually saving her. (You'll understand after the first few chapters).
Second, a shadow daddy. Like a real shadow daddy and you think you know his real identity until you get to the chapter with the tavern and the other dragon riders. I almost threw the book because I did not expect that response from them. Like I thought I knew the plot and where it was going and I was still caught off guard.
Third, the shadow daddy does things with the shadows. Things. To the FMC. In a CNC kind of way, but I felt a tickle up my own legs so I know it was that good. Especially when the MMC tells the FMC to be careful with her drinking or the shadows come out to play. I'm squirming in my booties over here. The spice is oh so very nice and worth it. I think I devoured the whole book in less than a day.
Fourth, it's just a good stand alone story. No weird academy vibes but I will say, the FMC is a brat. Not all of the time and I appreciate her tenacity for trying to accomplish her mission and save herself. But her dragon, Mourn, is a god send. I'm glad Morgana wrote this in a way that the FMC didn't get her way all of the time. Then the banter between the two main characters is comical, but in a welcome way when you pick up the jokes.
Be forewarned, the style this book is written threw me off the first few chapters and the way the dialogue happens took me a bit to get into, but once you're in, you're not getting out until you find out how it ends. Curse Morgana Aliss for making me have to read the whole book to find out, but it's well worth it in the end for sure!

I cannot even describe how much I loved this Romantasy Standalone. It had my 3 all time favorites, enemies to lovers, a strong stubborn FMC, and dragons! I felt every emotion reading this book and all I can say is run to this emotional rollercoaster! With a HEA it ended perfectly and it deserves more than the 5⭐️ that I can give it!

A very interesting magical world with DRAGONS! The main character must kill her own father who ordered her death. She must bond with a dragon to kill him.

Love the romantic tension throughout the book. Love that it's a standalone. Very steamy scenes with great chemistry. Really enjoy it.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Bitter King, Vicious Wings by Morgona Aliss is dark romantasy at its most feral ! ruthless power plays, sharp edged desire, and characters who are as dangerous as they are compelling.
This will hit perfectly for fans of ACOTAR’s darker turns, the savage court politics of Throne of Glass, and the morally grey intensity readers loved in Fourth Wing. The tension crackles, the stakes stay high, and the romance is laced with just enough menace to keep you turning pages far too late.
A brutal, addictive read for anyone who likes their crowns bloody and their wings vicious.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Title: Bitter King, Vicious Wings by Morgona Aliss
ARC Provided By: Netgalley, Victory Editing
Expected Release Date: 01|27|2026
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Main Characters: Lorelana + Aelen
Book Type: Standalone

The way this book started off and didn’t give me time to put my seatbelt on is quite crazy to me. It started strong and held the pace the entire book. I absolutely loved the main characters and how their roles developed in this book.

In this book you’ll get: enemies to lovers, dragon riders and a shadow daddy that’s just yummy, even if he’s an ass. Lorelana is a princess turned fighter and Aelen is the butthole that hates her. They stay at each other’s throats for a hot minute.

They begrudgingly team up to fight evil together and he even shows her how to pick her own dragon 🤭 if you’re looking for a high stakes fantasy with the tropes below, I highly suggest this one.

✨ T r o p e s + T r i g g e r s ✨
Enemies to Lovers
Dragons | Dragon Riding
Banter
Forced Proximity
Spice
Touch Her & Die
Shadow Daddy
Trauma
He’s Obsessed

Bitter King Vicious Wings is a dark thrilling ride through a world of danger, desire and broken souls.
The characters are magnetic, their flaws and secrets pulling you deeper into a story full of tension, power struggles and forbidden passion.

Let me start by saying this: I have to stop starting fantasy books at night. Picked this up at 10pm, blinked, and suddenly it was way past my bedtime because I could not stop.

I officially label this book: “rocky start with a blast-by-the-end payoff.” And yes—stick with it, because it’s absolutely worth it.

Our main character, Lorelana, is a sassy, bratty, absolutely-does-not-follow-orders princess, and honestly? I loved that for her. She has fears, flaws, and zero interest in playing the obedient royal. Her brother takes her throne (don’t panic—she hands it over willingly), and that choice kicks off the absolute chaos that follows.

Enter the pact.
A mysterious spirit.
One impossible task: kill her father.
But… how exactly does one do that?

That’s when we meet Aelendir—grumpy, dangerous, possibly-fae (yes, pointed ears), painfully beautiful, and very much the type Lorelana is definitely not admitting she’s crushing on. Their dynamic? Tense, sharp, and deliciously slow-burn.

And just when you think you know where this story is going—boom.
The world expands.
The stakes skyrocket.
And yes… there are dragons

By the end, I was fully invested, emotionally attached, and already itching for more. What started as a slow build turned into an explosive, adventurous fantasy that absolutely delivered.

A wonderful read, well worth the time, and a strong payoff if you hang in there.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this one!