Scan barcode
A review by kitvaria_sarene
Throne in the Dark by A.K. Caggiano
5.0
Read for SPFBO
I knew early on that I’m not the target audience for this. I struggled a bit to get into the world, and especially the characters who couldn’t be any more different. It’s a comedy in a way, so the over the top feel of opposites attract was intentional, but it felt a bit too tropey and jarring at first.
But then… Slowly, and without me noticing it, this story started to actually draw me in. Where I found myself lightly rolling my eyes at first, I suddenly found myself snorting. Instead of being annoyed, I was giggling? What happened?
I’ve no idea how, where, or when, but this cosy dark romantic comedy definitely won me over somewhere along the way. Instead of naive and too virtuous, I suddenly found the female MC endearing. Instead of the walking trope of a brooding, mysterious, but hot guy, I really enjoyed the snark and humour of the male MC.
The few sexy (not too graphic) scenes were funny, but actually sexy, which is something I never thought I’d say. It’s a comedy, but managed to pull that off better than most “spicy” books I’ve tried over the years, and usually bounce off hard. Pardon the unintentional pun. To manage that while still being entertaining and making me giggle is a first!
I knew early on that I’m not the target audience for this. I struggled a bit to get into the world, and especially the characters who couldn’t be any more different. It’s a comedy in a way, so the over the top feel of opposites attract was intentional, but it felt a bit too tropey and jarring at first.
But then… Slowly, and without me noticing it, this story started to actually draw me in. Where I found myself lightly rolling my eyes at first, I suddenly found myself snorting. Instead of being annoyed, I was giggling? What happened?
I’ve no idea how, where, or when, but this cosy dark romantic comedy definitely won me over somewhere along the way. Instead of naive and too virtuous, I suddenly found the female MC endearing. Instead of the walking trope of a brooding, mysterious, but hot guy, I really enjoyed the snark and humour of the male MC.
The few sexy (not too graphic) scenes were funny, but actually sexy, which is something I never thought I’d say. It’s a comedy, but managed to pull that off better than most “spicy” books I’ve tried over the years, and usually bounce off hard. Pardon the unintentional pun. To manage that while still being entertaining and making me giggle is a first!
“Shh,” he hissed, leaning closer, but her struggle persisted, and she scuffed a foot against the wall. Strange, scaring her was apparently not the way to get what he wanted despite that it usually worked on others. He couldn’t shout either,that would bring the werewolves right to them. Well, that was him, out of ideas. Except, of course, something even more disgraceful.
Damien wrapped his free arm around her back and yanked her away from the wall so she could no longer kick it. Pulling her up against him, he dipped his head beside her ear. “I will not allow anything to happen to you,” he said, leveling something like comfort into his voice, “but you must be quiet now. Please.”
The mix of cute, fun, humourous, with some dark humour, blood, and casual mention of murder made for a great mix, a bit similar to Kingfisher’s books, Liches get Stitches, Hills of Heather and Bone, so if you enjoy cosy-dark, and don’t mind a bit of a silly romance, this is great fun! In fact, I still have three more books left to read, but so far this one is, against all odds and expectations, my favourite out of our batch of 30.
Really? All of you believe this nonsense?” Damien mumbled, casting a glance at his cohorts then back to the ghost he had spattered with blood. “Out with it—what are you really?”
“You heard the girl!” The voice came raspy this time, so unlike it had been asecond before. “We are the spirits of the slain, felled here in the Gloomweald thousands upon thousands of years ago.”
“Well, then no wonder you came to greet us; this seems a bloody boring eternity to endure.” Damien’s grip on Amma relaxed. “That banishment spell hadno effect on you. You’re of this plane.”
“No, we’re ghosts,” another watery voice called from the crowd behind.
“Yes. Boo!” cried another.