4 1/2 stars

I want to start this by saying, I am a novice in fantasy novels. I love them and feel enthralled, but they're not usually my first choice.
Now, with that said, this book is everything and more! I felt pulled in from the very first page and it kept going in till the very end. I cannot praise this author enough. The pacing and world-building were immaculate. The author didn't give you any info dumps that left you bored, which is usually a problem for me in fantasy novels. The pacing also kept you enthralled and did not drag or feel too rushed.

Now, the characters. The way the author writes these characters in a way that even made me want more of the villain Kaden. All of the characters just made you want to know more and more about them. They were all so well fleshed out, and again without any info-dumping, that it just made the book more enjoyable every step of the way.
The two main characters Dianna and Samkiel had the Perfect true enemies to lovers. They had all the tropes you needed: slow burn, forced proximity, only one bed, and fierce enemies to lovers. I could not get enough of them. I only want more.

This book exceeded all expectations I had and then some. It is hard to believe this is the author's debut novel, but this makes me even more excited to continue reading her work. I cannot wait for the sequel and if you can, pick up a copy of this book because you surely won't regret it.

Tropes to convince you to read this asap!
✨Enemies to lovers
✨Multiple POV
✨One bed trope
✨SLOOOOW burn
✨Strong independent fierce female lead
✨Forced proximity

Listen I am OBSESSED with this book!
My enemies to lovers needs were beautifully met with the premise of two mortal enemies having to work together against a powerful and ancient evil - The Book of Azrael.

This enemies to lovers actually BURNED, I’m talking pure hatred. Excited yet? This was not your normal small banter but secretly in love, this was real despisement that only in the WAY end turned into a glorious admittance of attraction. The tension- oh my goodness, it will have your toes curling and knees buckling.

Wonderfully, as much as I am all about the romance, there was a lot of world building and character background given so you wouldn’t feel lost while questing with these characters. So many unique fantasy creatures were mentioned and the entire scene set was just so unique and fresh. The urban fantasy element made me think a lot of Cresent City, and I loved it.

Dianna is the definition of a badass independent female, and being confident in her feelings and being vulnerable when needed. Liam is just a damn dream boat all the frieken stars for him. I want one.

Overall- drop everything and read this RN.
This will be a book that BLOWS up bookstagram and booktok soon!

Thank you NetGalley for providing an ARC in return for my honest review.

4 1/2 stars

First off, I absolutely adored the world building and characters in this story!
I appreciate that the story unfolded at a steady pace, it didn't drag or wasn't too rushed. This also applies to our two main characters and their relationship from enemies to lovers. With other books, it can seem forced or rushed but was built up really nicely in this story.

We get to meet our two main characters, Dianna and Samkiel, as well as our villain Kaden and side characters.
All of them were really fleshed out and you become attached to them all (no info dumping needed!)
You're always left thinking because there are so many different plot twists, the story was so refreshing and I appreciate it even more because this is a debut novel for this author.
Now I just need to read the next book already because the cliffhanger has me wanting more!

So bloody good!!!
Gods and monsters and mortals oh my! I adored this book and can’t wait for the next in the series.
The world building, the action, and the steamy parts were just so well done! I loved Liam & Dianna as a dynamic duo fighting bad guys, hunting down the rumoured Book of Azrael.
Definitely pick this one up to read!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Amber Nicole, & Rose and Star Publishing for a copy.

Honestly the only thing I can say about this book is that I can't wait for the next one. This book hit the spot with enemies to lovers, forced proximity, and the one bed trope. I absolutely loved this book! Highly recommend!

I actually cannot wait for the next instalment of this- hooked from the first few chapters! Found myself googling the release date and was so disappointed that I need to wait until next year! Would happily binge read a trilogy of this in one go!

I love a woman in her villain eta, particularly the ones who can kick ass and outwit most men. Dianna does not disappoint even in the midst of being isolated to keep her sister safe. The plots and world-building were done really well, I just wish the pacing had been a bit faster but thoroughly enjoyed the story. The romance had me cheesing at simple gestures (IYKYK)

Tropes to look forward to:

Fantasy Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Forced proximity
One bed


Ends on a major cliffhanger that keeps you panicking for the next book.

The only thing I don't love about this book is that the second book in the series isn't out already. It made me get 3 hours of sleep one night because I kept needing to read more.

I was really intrigued by the synopsis, but overall this book wasn't for me. It felt rushed in parts and I felt like major things were skipped or glossed over, and the ending was too much of a cliffhanger. The relationship between the characters was really good and I thought her trauma and responses were well written, but other parts fell short for me.

Enemies to lovers with a morally grey FMC. I wouldn’t call her a villain per say but the author tries to portray her that way. I loved the magic system and the world building, the role PTSD had throughout and that it was filled with interactive dialogue vs inner monologue. That said, I feel like this book is extremely bloated and wordy. I do appreciate that the time line isn’t over just a few days where the MCs fall for each other which was refreshing. There was a lot to like about this book but constant rehashing of the same monologue, sometimes within the same paragraph, took away from the vibrant characters the author created. I truly liked the FMC, the premise and the journey but be prepared to maybe gloss over some areas. However there are some wonderful quote worthy lines so don’t gloss over too much. I think this will be a be a hit or miss with book. That said it’s left with a major cliffhanger and I’ll be reading the second one since it’s piqued my interest just enough. Just remember, sometimes less is more.
I’ll give the author another go for a sequel to determine if I’ll be an avid follower of her work and I have certain people within my book groups that would enjoy this.

Thank you NetGalley and Rose and Star Publishing, LLC for giving this book to review! All review here is my honest review.

Actual rating 4.5⭐

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH! The only 0.5 ⭐ that lost from me is because it couldn't grasp me to the story. But, after things turn around I couldn't leave this book at all.

I love how this book give us a complete back story even tough most of all is from Liam side not the "dark" side. The plot is great, the world is kind of confusing for me, I know that in some point they're in our world but I think it is still different with the world we know. This book has so much blood in it along with war, battle, and fight.

Most of all what I like the most is our main characters! Diana is the villainess, she is brutal, bad, cruel and everything you can describe as a villainess. But, she was mortal once and that's the difference. The bonding she has with her sister is the best! I could see how her sister is all mater to her, she lost her and she will lost the world. Liam is annoying at first, but we know they're enemies to each other so it only make sense. But, I love how they constantly threaten each other but still help each other too. After they become partner and depend on each other, I love them so much! The jealousy, the way they "heal" each other, protect each other is so sweet. They learn a new form of love from each other. I just wish we could get a happy ending from this forbidden love.

Can't wait for the next book!

This is a weird book to review since I don't exactly like it, but I can't help but laugh when I think about it either. The Book of Azrael is a debut NA romantic fantasy that has glowering reviews so apparently this is a "me" thing.

As for the genre, Amber Nicole handled both aspect wonderfully. The worldbuilding is well fleshed out without being too dumpy or difficult to follow, of which I find admiring considering the scale of her world. The conflict and the factions are clearly defined in their context, no overbearing history lecture was given, a thing many experienced fantasy authors still struggle with. Moreover, I really like the tension between Dianna and Liam, especially the banter at the beginning. Dianna is so snarky towards Liam and I absolutely love every second of it. Safe to say that their steamy scene had me all giggling like an idiot. And while we only got glimpses of it, I really appreciate the soulmate dynamic that Logan and Neverra got going on.

Another aspect I like more than the rest is the caracterization of Dianna. I appreciate how the author didn't try to diminish her rage and her power even when she started opening up to Liam as oppose to many, many other romance fantasy. In addition, as a warrior, Dianna made mistakes. Despite being a godlike creature, she needs training like any other. Amber Nicole did not make her an overpowering Mary Sue, and I like that very much.

For now this seems like I only have praise for this book, but perhaps the greatest flaw and also the downfall is the writing. This is Amber Nicole's first book and it shows. The writing is very weird, not exactly repetitive or clunky but overall feels very mediocre. Furthermore, there are also some stylistic choice that are very... questionable. Maybe it's just me, but I honestly can't take the name "Liam" seriously around names like Neverra, Alistair, or even Tobias and Logan. And I am also convinced that Amber Nicole never has siblings because um... those sisterly conversations are some of the cringiest I have read about (again, maybe it's just my dysfunctional household, but I had to physically stop reading the book after the Gabriella's and Dianna's conversations). These elements make the book really laughable for me.

Overall this could have been a very solid romantic fantasy but it is still very flawed since it is a debut. Nevertheless, I am looking forwards to read the sequel since that ending promises me a corruption arc and some dangerous raging.

I really enjoyed this book! The plot was really interesting and kept me engaged throughout most of the book. I did find it a little hard to get into at first, but after a little bit I started to get really into the book.

It was mainly the enemies to lovers Trope, which is my all time favourite so of course I loved that part of this book! I loved Dianna and Liam's bantering and joking around with each other, but also the emotional parts they helped each other through. They're love story throughout the book is just perfect and I loved every second of it.

The ending... AHHHHH!!! What a cliffhanger! I'm so excited to see what happens next.

Overall, a great book and I definitely recommend giving it a shot!

I have heard so many good things about this book and I wasn't disappointed at all! Fantasy books are where my love of reading came from and this book brought me back to that feeling of delving into a new world that was so interesting to discover. One thing that I absolutely adored about this book was that it was told from multiple perspectives which is my favorite way to read a book since I am able to actually understand what each character is thinking. The dynamics between each of the characters is so well written, and the author did an amazing job writing the whole book!

This book 1000% exceeded my expectations. From the moment it started, I was thrown into a world with endless possibilities. I was introduced to many creatures and different worlds. This book is full of action, romance, and earth shattering moments.

I was completely immersed in the story and found myself feeling anxious, surprised, upset, and angry while reading. There were also a few aww moments sprinkled in. The author's writing easily allowed me to visualize everything that I was reading. I never wanted to put this book down.

"Kaden. My maker, my lover, and the only reason my sister lived. She was why I did every single thing he asked."

From the beginning we're introduced to a character that is rough around the edges. She is a badass Ig'Morruthen with only one care in the world; her sister Gabby. Dianna's undying love for her sister resonated with me. She sacrificed her life for her sister and didn't think twice about it. She accepted that her life would become a life of servitude and she was okay with it. She did what she had to to keep her sister safe.

"I understood that she cared for her sister, but who cared for her?"

This book is slow burn and enemies to lovers to the max. Holy hell. The banter between the two main characters is hysterical. Dianna is whitty, sarcastic, and a lot to handle at times. Liam started off as cold, and calculating but as the story begins to unfold we get to see why he is the way he is. The character development of just him alone is exceptional. I loved reading the different dynamics of their relationship and watching it morph into something different.

"I didnt remember how long we talked, but somewhere amidst her laughter and smiles, I decided I would rip the world apart for her."

The tension in this book is captivating and infuriating. The reader gets both points of view (which I love). We get to see the internal struggle both of the characters face regarding their feelings for one another. What started as a blood deal transpired into something totally different. Something beautiful.

I cannot write enough good things about this book. I know the page count is a commitment but it is so worth it. This book easily made its way into one of my top 5 books of all time. Liam and Dianna will stay with me for quite some time. I am anticipating the second book in the series and hate that I have to wait for it!

I was provided with this book through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley & publisher for this e arc of The Book of Azrael by Amber Nicole.
This is a fantasy novel. 3+*.
Synopsis: " World Ender meets Ender of Worlds...
A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Erioa to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Kaden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her.
A King thought long dead and long forgotten.
In the old world his name was Samkiel. In the new world it is Liam, but one title remains true throughout time. He is the World Ender, a myth to his enemies, a savior and King to those loyal to him. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, hiding from the world. He denied his crown and responsibilities, leaving the very ones who needed him most to deal with the fallout of the death of their homeworld. Now an attack on those he holds dear sends him back to the one realm he never wished to visit again and into the sights of an enemy he thought imprisoned eons ago.
Now enemies older than time must put aside their differences and work together in hopes of saving both their world and every realm in between."
3 things I liked:
1. Genre; I like fantasy
2. MC; I liked the female MC
3. Sister Aspect; always like a good sister element
3 things I disliked:
1. Slow at times; last half better
2. The book did not hook me, so took longer to read; skimmed over many parts ... could have been my mood
3. I did not connect with the main characters other than the fMC
I would recommend to those that like fantasy to give it a try.

ok.. this book was intense!! Dianna was… holly molly, I’m still processing how amazing she is, a true morally grey heroine and I love it! I finished this book a few days ago and wao, this is a TRUE enemies to lovers, have a amazing slow burn romance, a lot of action ufff.. all the characters are amazing and the world is very original, is a book that you can stop reading because the plot twist are mind blowing. I can’t believe is a more author novel… wao! thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

This fantasy was a breath of fresh air. Dianna is a creature of violence tethered to a man she hates in order to save her sister. When Dianna is tasked to search for the long lost book of Azrael, she isn't prepared for the last living god to be brought to her realm. The longing and tension is insane, and I think the hero and heroine are perfect for each other. It took me a little while to get into the book because the world building is complicated, but I'm glad I stuck with it. It ends on a huge cliffhanger and has a few spicy scenes.

" I didn’t remember how long we talked, but somewhere amidst her laughter and smiles, I decided I would rip the world apart for her. "

I stayed up wayyyy to late because I just couldn't put this book down! Dianna, my badass, take-no-shit love <3

Starting off with action on page 1 had me hooked right from the start. While I would say the actual plot doesn't really come into play until around 30%, the action at the beginning was definitely enough to keep me entertained and reading until we got there! Quite a lot of slow burns can drag and not hold my interest but this was a slow burn that actually kept me invested! I loved the character development and watching Dianna struggle with her humanity.

" Core, heart, brain. "

The one thing keeping this from being a 5 star read was there were a couple of random paragraphs that seemed to be duplicated oddly but I think with another edit it would bump up the rating for me! Plot was 5/5.

*Disclaimer: I was generously provided with a copy from Rose and Star Publishing and NetGalley. However, all viewpoints expressed above are my own!

The Book of Azrael is a newly released Fantasy from first time author Amber Nicole.

"A thousand years ago, Dianna gave up her life in the deserts of Erioa to save her dying sister. She called upon anyone who would listen, not expecting a monster far worse than any nightmare to answer. Now she does what Kaden asks, even if that means securing an ancient relic from the very creatures that hunt her.

A King thought long dead and long forgotten.
In the old world his name was Samkiel. In the new world it is Liam, but one title remains true throughout time. He is the World Ender, a myth to his enemies, a savior and King to those loyal to him. After the Gods War, he locked himself away, hiding from the world. He denied his crown and responsibilities, leaving the very ones who needed him most to deal with the fallout of the death of their homeworld. Now an attack on those he holds dear sends him back to the one realm he never wished to visit again and into the sights of an enemy he thought imprisoned eons ago.

I don't read a lot of fantasy romance but this appealed to me when I was looking for a intro into the world. The writing is a bit in the basic realm, a lot of repeating phrases that didn't serve a purpose to the story or the characters. "I'm sorry." "He shrugged as if it didn't pain him. "There is no reason for you to be sorry." "You are just not what I expected." Those lines were repeated upwards of 10 times.
While the emotional descriptions and dialogue were rough at times, the world building was simple and easy to place and catch onto.
The relationships were sweet and I really enjoyed the sister relationship between Dianna and Gabby. It felt genuine and lived in. I could believe their 1000+ year sisterhood with their bickering and picking. Dianna being so protective gave the story stakes I could get behind and be shattered by. Dianna's relationship with Liam really built in a strange way. Enemies to lovers is some of my favorite tropes and this felt so slow and then suddenly very fast and a bit obscene. I'm no prude but things get smutty and I wasn't enjoying it. It wasn't fun or appealing. More pornographic and lewd. I didn't want more of it.

Story is great! Love the backstory and character building but dialogue brings it all down a few notches. I'm slowly getting into Fantasy and hoping to get to some High Fantasy and this was a great introduction to a world that's easy to jump in and follow along.

Thank you to Netgalley and Rose and Star Publishing for the E-Pre Reader.