I was absolutely mesmerized by this dark and gothic story that centered around Aylin learning of her sister being kidnapped by Vampires and stopping at nothing to get her safely returned. It was a wonderfully written story with a spellbinding cast of characters that made the plot all that much more rich and riveting!

Not my book, unfortunately. I dnf'd it at 45%. I think other people could like it, but the flowy and flowery language was something that I couldn't get behind and kept pulling me out of the vampire story.

In a genre saturated with predictable tropes and recycled narratives, F. M. Aden's "The Court of the Undead" emerges as a compelling fusion of Ottoman historical fantasy and vampire fiction. Set against the rich backdrop of the rising Ottoman Empire, this dark fantasy novel breathes new life into familiar vampire romance conventions through its unique cultural perspective and morally complex characters.

What sets this novel apart is its seamless integration of Ottoman and African Turkish culture into the vampire genre. Unlike many contemporary fantasies that tackle diversity through superficial inclusion, Aden weaves cultural elements organically into the narrative's fabric. The story features Muslim main characters and explores their traditions and values without reducing them to mere cultural tokens, offering a refreshing departure from typical Western-centric vampire tales.

The novel follows two distinct yet interconnected storylines through sisters Yara and Aylin. Yara's narrative – the more compelling of the two – plunges readers into the treacherous politics of a vampire court where she navigates manipulation and danger as a human caught between twin vampire brothers. Her arc explores themes of corruption, survival, and moral compromise, reminiscent of the best elements from "And I Darken" and "The Vampire Diaries."

Aylin's parallel story, while more straightforward, offers a classic adventure narrative that grounds the novel in its Ottoman setting and provides a counterpoint to the dark court intrigue. Her journey with vampire hunters adds depth to the world-building while exploring themes of family loyalty and personal growth.

The author excels at crafting morally grey characters who evolve throughout the story. The transformation of both sisters – Yara from a proper Ottoman lady to a survivor navigating dangerous political waters, and Aylin from a rebellious tomboy to a determined hunter – feels earned and authentic. The vampire characters, particularly the contrasting twin brothers Volkan and Eldar, are deliciously complex antagonists whose true motives remain compellingly ambiguous.

Unlike many contemporary romantasy novels that rush into relationships, "The Court of the Undead" takes its time developing romantic tensions. The love triangles are skillfully crafted, avoiding the predictable patterns that plague the genre. Aden maintains genuine uncertainty about the romantic outcomes, making the relationships feel more authentic and the stakes higher.

The novel isn't without flaws. The final quarter of the book occasionally succumbs to young adult romantasy conventions, and Aylin's storyline, while enjoyable, doesn't quite reach the compelling heights of Yara's court intrigue. However, these minor issues don't significantly detract from the overall reading experience.

"The Court of the Undead" is a remarkable addition to the vampire fantasy genre, offering a fresh perspective through its Ottoman setting and diverse representation. It's particularly recommended for fans of:

Complex political intrigue in supernatural settings
Slow-burn romance with genuine stakes
Morally ambiguous characters and court politics
Diverse fantasy with authentic cultural representation
Strong sibling relationships

The novel successfully balances cultural authenticity, complex character development, and engaging romance while avoiding many of the pitfalls common to the genre. F. M. Aden has created a promising start to what could be a significant new voice in diverse fantasy fiction.

Intriguing story but was not one that I fell in love with. I enjoyed the characters and the story but hard a hard time jumping into it with the POV it was written in

Really loved this book! The ending caught me off guard! In a good way. Definitely would recommend to my Fantasy lovers!

The Court of the Undead is a thrilling YA dark fantasy romance that immerses readers in a world filled with vampires and paranormal intrigue. The tension throughout the story is palpable, and I loved watching the relationships evolve and shift as the plot progressed. Each character, even the loathsome ones, left a mark on me, and I’m eager to see what happens next in the sequel.

The writing is fluid and engaging, complemented by a fast-paced narrative. If you’re looking for a captivating read filled with twists and dynamic characters, I wholeheartedly recommend The Court of the Undead!

This book has so much going for it. While reading it, I found myself captivated in the world and it being a book that I typically read made it all that better. Some parts I did have to reread again, but I think it was a more personal thing over the author's doing. I would love to see where this series goes. I did love Yara and Aylin, I could read about them for a while!

When Yara is stolen from her home and purchased by the trueborn vampirs, her sister Aylin does not hesitate to give chase. She joins a band of hunters with the hope of finding her sister (Yara) However, Yara is drawn in to the vampir count and begins to weave a web of manipulation around the vampires, making promises to whoever will grant her freedom. Both sisters need to decide who they can trust and who they will need to betray if they ever want to find one another, or make it back home, again.

I thought there was an excellent mix of likeable and unlikeable characters in the book and honestly that's what kept me interested. The unique. non-Western setting gave the perfect flair to the story and the author handled it so well. I am looking forward to reading more in this world.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for allowing me access to the e-galley for The Court of the Undead.

Unfortunately, this ended up as a DNF for me. While the premise of the story is interesting and promising, the author's style of "telling not showing" caused my interest to seriously decline. The plot pacing felt choppy and the character POVs would keep randomly swapping, which would jar me out the story. Around 15%, I decided this book just isn't for me.

I do appreciate the world-building the author has done, focusing around the Ottoman Empire and the diversity of that region. It gave the story a unique take that I haven't seen before in a vampire tale. However, the writing just wasn't enough to keep my interested.

I've been loving the resurgence in vampire books we've been seeing in recent years, so I was really intrigued when I came across The Court of the Undead. And while I think this book had a lot of potential, it unfortunately didn't work for me. I think the biggest reason was because I didn't enjoy the writing style. I think this book could've used another round of line edits because there were so many phrases that were repetitive, with some paragraphs repeating a word two or three times. I can normally forgive this, but it happened so frequently that I couldn't stop noticing it. The writing was also very action-based, in that we're told what the characters do and say, but it lacked anything internal. The characters' internal thoughts and feelings were rarely mentioned, so I didn't feel like I got to know them at all. And even though the sisters were supposed to be very close, I still know nothing about their relationship upon finishing the book. I also thought it was strange that the catalyst of the story (Yara getting kidnapped) happened off-screen. It all made for a very slow story with very little action.

I'm giving this book an extra star because I thought the setting was unique (even though there wasn't enough world building or description in my opinion) and because the plot was interesting, even if it wasn't well-executed.

Missing sister, vampires, twin brothers manipulating our main girl? Yes please. This was exactly the mysterious book I needed. I’m a sucker for vampires and dark romance.

While I enjoyed the premise and the characters, the writing style made this a little hard for me to get through. While the romantic portion had a great slow burn and was steady, the plot and storyline itself felt choppy to me. I found it hard to keep my interest and while I really wanted to know what was going to happen to our characters, I struggled to enjoy the journey.

I really liked this book a lot. Vampires, slow burn romance, interesting world building. What’s not to love?

The tension, character development, writing style, and unique take on dark romantasy are what holds The Court of the Undead aside from its similar counterparts. I appreciated the different characters and their wildly opposing views, while having some steam mixed in.

All in all, a great read!

Vampires? Slow burn? Love triangles? Sign me up.

Without giving too much away, anyone who enjoys dark fantasy with multiple POVs, vampires, and a dash of spice, this book is for you. When it comes to theme and tropes, this book includes BIPOC rep, Muslim rep, corruption x redemption, enemies to lovers, political intrigue, and more.

This was a quick read so I'll definitely be re-reading it soon. I'll also be keeping an eye out for this author's future works. Thank you to the author, F.M. Aden, and Northern Light Press for an ARC of The Court of the Undead!

"The Court of the Undead" by F.M. Aden is a captivating and darkly atmospheric fantasy novel that takes readers on a thrilling journey through a world teeming with supernatural creatures and political intrigue. Set in a realm where the living and the dead coexist uneasily, the story follows protagonist Elara as she navigates the treacherous halls of the Court of the Undead in search of justice for her murdered sister. Aden's writing is both lush and haunting, immersing readers in a world of magic, mystery, and danger. As Elara delves deeper into the secrets of the court, she uncovers dark truths that threaten to unravel everything she holds dear. But amidst the shadows and deception, there are glimmers of hope and resilience as Elara discovers her own inner strength and allies who are willing to fight alongside her. With its complex characters, intricate plot, and richly imagined world, "The Court of the Undead" is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and supernatural intrigue.

Historical vampire romance, yes please! 'The Court of the Undead’ delivers everything you want from a YA - slow burn romance, enemies to lovers and difficult to pronounce names. The narrative weaves romance, and suspense, keeping readers waiting for the next book in this series (which I can’t seem to find any details about yet).

Thank you NetGalley and Northern Light Press for sending a copy of 'The Court of the Undead’ for review consideration.

Thank you NetGalley, Northern Light Press, and F.M. Aden for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

Vampires? Yes, sign me up!
And these vampires? Even better.
Great story, great characters. Solid world building. 10/10 no notes

I got 16% into this book and just lost interest in it. While I was loving the world that was being built and the play on history, it felt too choppy. We were switching back and forth between the characters too much for me to really follow what was happening. Might revisit later.

It was the blurb of The Court of the Undead that first caught my interest. The story sounded very much like my cup of tea, so I decided to request it and give it a try. Fortunately, it lived up to my expectations.