Nights of Iron and Ink: Second Edition (The Darkest Flame) Paperback – 11 Aug. 2022

Fast paced, gritty, sexual and tugs at your heart string what more could you want!!!I love this book didn't want to put it down, the need for the second book is so strong. Love love love it!!! Cannot wait to see what the incredible Shannen Durey does next

If you're into fabulous tales with real characters who aren't perfect, then this is the story for you. I'm talking anti-heros and villains, females who are'nt the epitome of typical beauty, hot fae males, and treacherous mortals. There's verbal sparring and full-on fights. There are witches and beasts and quite a bit of smooching. It's a grand read, and I can't wait for book 2.

10/10!!!Well written, sassy AF FMC, hot MC, funny, spicy and great story line, Cannot wait for the next one!!

It's been so long since I got so swept up in a story of this magnitude. It was everything I had hoped it would be and more. One of my best friends recommended this story to me and she never gets it wrong.This was absolutely magical! The characters, the dialogue, the storyline. Everything was just so beautifully written. Scintillating, thrilling and awe-inspiring. I powers through this beauty in less than a day.

Curious to see what this book was like in the first edition.World set up with Fae as the most powerful species ruling the land, with halflings as their slaves and humans as the bottom of the rung.Set in a fusion world of steampunk and medieval vibes, story about Vera, who's origins are a mystery as she's not quite a halfling. Vera is also itrying to find some sense of belonging with a group of Rogues (halfling freedom fighters of sorts).She's sent on a 'prove yourself' suicide mission that leads her straight into the hands of the sworn enemy, the Enforcer of Fae rule.What I liked-Story was engaging. Like many fantasy romance books, the plot gets predictable and is a bit repetitive. This author though, has mixed in some aspects to the world building and characters that keeps you engaged, even when you see the ending coming a mile away.Lots of unanswered questions with our main characters, and antagonists.I won't do spoilers, but I have an idea of what the 'revelations' will be in the following books. I'm curious to read the next book, if only to see if my suspicions will be confirmed.What I didn't like:Potential in this book's premise was huge---exploring the grey and nuances of a dystopian world. These characters encompassed all the classes of society, and it would have been interesting to explore the complexity of social class divide and the "villains" fighting for social justice.I didn't like the insta love he had towards her. This whole pull/'connection we can't explain' business has been done to death, and no amount of subsequent relationship conflict or slow burn makes up for the predictable outcome. It discredits the character building as well e.g. he's a whole millennial old but suddenly torn he'll never see someone like her again after a single distant glance.The whole "push you away, say hurtful things" to protect you concept...after breaking down someone's walls to get them to trust you, is a cheap move.A bit of editing the layout, to have page breaks to separate scenes would also be good. Some minor typos.I'm very picky about tone and language in books set in other worlds, it doesn't have to be archaic English at all...but to us international readers, modern American English tone can be quite jarring in a setting like this.Overall very curious to see how the story will play out, author has a lot of potential and can't wait to see what she'll offer.

What an absolutely fantastic book. Once Ipicked it up I could not put it down. Thecharacters are funny and charming they makeyou love them even when you are screaming atthem!Vera's journey is not over yet but what she'sbeen through and how far she's come so far isamazing to see. I cannot and I mean CANNOTwait for the next book to see more of Ronan and see where their story is going!

I LOVED this book! I read in the acknowledgement that this was originally published as a clean YA fantasy romance. Im so grateful she decided to rewrite it. This story is everything! One of the best reads of the year. I loved every single thing about it. I have no complaints. The characters are superb! The banter, the arguments, the betrayals. I love Vera and I love Ronan. I'm drawn to dark fantasy but I prefer RH. I've found I get bored when there's only 1 love interest a lot of the time. This story is not boring. I was totally sucked in. The world is complex without droning on with world building. It's a beautiful story. Vera is so sad and lonely and my heart was just aching for her. I could feel her pain. She may be lonely but she's not some whimpering weakling. She's funny and smart and brave. Nothing about this story is predictable either! The pacing is perfect. And while there is spice it's not an erotica novel. There's a real plot to be fully invested in. I get so tired of the books that draw you in then delve into just smut with the plot focusing around ways to add spice. The relationship between Vera and Ronan feels so special and real. I like that Ronan is kind of all over the place in a way. Like he's a badass alpha but also kind of a nutball. He's perfect. I'm already dying for the second one. I'm so glad I read this book, I've discovered an amazing author!!!

I enjoy a book that is just slightly different from run of the mill fae or fantasy novels and this book exceeded my expectations. I would have thought there would be a little more information around the beasts and how they came to be etc but perhaps that'll get more explained in book 2. Along with the mysterious tattoo that Vera has..?

i really enjoyed this story and i really can’t wait for the next book!! there are some things like the MC development that i feel could have been done more but at the same time i think this first book sets up the rest of the series up to develop the characters and storylines in an interesting way! i like that i am left with some questions as that gives me more reason to read the next book to find out. The MC and love interest have some moments that made me feel a little weird but this is one of my first fantasy novels I have read that include spice/ a romance aspect to it, but overall i like their dynamic.I read this in my free time between college classes and work over the course of 4 days. in total probably around an 8 hour read, so really easy to get through :)

My only complaint, having to wait for the next book. 😞 I started this book after giving up on another book that just wasn't good at all. So I started this one already in a not so great mindset and I thought I'll read for an hour and then go to bed. 8 hours later...the sun was coming up and I seriously considered skipping work so I could get the sleep I didn't get because this book was just so good I refused to put it down. Seriously. My phone died while reading it and I waited for it to charge so I could finish it (I still went to work because you can only call in sick for so long from reading late before you have to admit you have a problem - I'm working on it, I swear).Our two leads were written so spectacularly. Vera is A-mazing. Her struggle to find balance and a place where she belongs is truly heartfelt, but it isn't done in an overly needy way. She's hurting, but she doesn't let that stop her, ever. She isn't perfect but she doesn't pretend to be. The same could be said about Ronan. He wears his flaws openly and does not apologize for them. He knows who, and what, he is. He doesn't demand others accept him, but he doesn't coddle them either. I am definitely invested in the next part of their journey. I am very curious about Ness. There just seems to be more to that intuitive horse than just really good timing.I recommend this book if you enjoy a good fantasy, world building journey filled with questionably dubious characters who aren't all bad, but definitely aren't all good either.

Pros:I loved all of the characters in this book. The main character isn't a human for once (extra points from me) and I found it very refreshing to focus on two non-human characters from the start. The romance is both spicy and heart-wrenching in equal measure, exactly to my taste. The characters are mean, flawed people who I was able to both connect with and simp head over heels for. If you love a hot villain regardless of gender, this book is for you.The plot is pretty good. I have no complaints about it. It did at some parts, feel as if it was there to service the romance rather than happening 'organically' and standing for its own sake. However, considering as this is a romance novel I take no points off for this. You see, I wanted to read about the characters trapped alone with only each other in the woods for days. And that is exactly what the book delivered. That's also not to say the plot is uninteresting or bad on its own either. I won't spoil too much here but let's just say I WANT TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME ON THAT CLIFF HANGER?Points for the atmosphere, especially at the start. You never have to be told 'this is the fantasy version of the wild west. It just feels so much like an old western town you'd see in any movie, you know within the first few pages that this is a western with Fey.I still have so many questions that I want answered about this world and its characters. I say that in the best possible way. This book pulled me and made me care about the characters. It made me want to know more about the world. I will be waiting anxiously for the sequel.Cons:At some points (mostly at the beginning) the exposition does feel a little blunt and forced. Primarily in regard to the tier system for beasts.It felt unnecessary and unnatural for the protagonist/narrator to be laying it all out for us at the start of this battle. It stopped the action and you could really tell it was only there to explain to the audience and not something the character would naturally be going over in that manner at that moment.It's also not all that relevant to the rest of the story. It's fine to have the tier system, there is nothing wrong with it as a world-building element, but you could also take it out totally and lose basically nothing. This exposition could be reduced to just a few casual mentions and probably feel a lot smoother. Especially considering there is a bestiary at the front of the book to help readers out.Final Scores: One of my favorite things on my bookshelfRomance: 10/10Characters: 10/10Magic Systems: 6/10 (has potential to grow)World Building: 10/10Plot: 7/10