It's not the book, it's me.

I really expected to enjoy this book more than I did. It has Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) themes and characteristics, vampires, sisterhood, and more. However, I could not get into this book and DNF. I did not care for the characters and felt like they lacked development, and the writing was so-so. I really think I either wasn't in the headspace for this book, or perhaps need to retry it but as a physical copy. I am rating it 3-stars simply because I think it has potential and feel like this was more of a "it's not you, it's me" scenario. I will be revisiting this book when it is released.

*For reference, I am a huge JLA fan, as well as all things urban fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley, Northern Light Press, and F. M. Aden, for the ARC.

Okay I don't know why this is only rated a 3.5 on Goodreads right now because this book was SO FUN to read. Evil characters, multiple POVs, a group of vampires that are absolutely terrifying and two sisters trying to find their way back to each other. There is Muslim and African reputation, slow burn, enemy to lover to enemy(?), corruption, redemption this book has everything! Even the side characters were stellar. No confusing world building, most of the story does take place in a castle. The only negative comment I have is that it started out a bit disjointed and slow but holy moly does it get CRAZY! Loved it. I 100% recommend this one for the fantasy lovers out there. Looking forward to the next one👏👏

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book for an honest review!

I thought the premise of the book was interesting and liked that there were many POVs. I did struggle with its pacing and dialogue at times. Parts felt rushed or too drawn out, and some dialogue fell flat. Conversations did not always feel realistic. I'm still interested in seeing where this story could head!

**Many thanks to NetGalley for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.**

“A stunningly dark fantasy novel - Perfect for fans of Netflix’s Castlevania and From Blood and Ash.”

I immediately requested this arc because the blurb was everything I usually LOVE to read.

The tale revolves around two sisters: Aylin and Yara. Amid tales of vampires they've heard since childhood, the sisters don't take them seriously until Yara is abducted by them. Fearing that nobody can help, Aylin embarks on a mission to rescue her sister. The narrative alternates between Yara's life among vampires and Aylin's quest to join a group of vampire hunters to save her.

The beginning part of the story contained tons of info dumping, presented in a convoluted manner. The transition from childhood to young adulthood occurred abruptly, lacking sufficient context. I was really confused how we got to point A to point B. I kept rereading areas to see if I skipped pages by accident, as I read it on my kindle (and that happens often) but no.. I didn't skip any parts. 😅

The romantic "triangle" between brothers was barely there.. this book did not have nearly as much romance as the description implied.. and that was the main reason I was drawn to this book. A dark fantasy romance..

I can't give this more than 2 stars.. I've given books I enjoyed far more 3 stars. I will sadly, not continue this series.

This is a story about two sisters who have to fight monsters and men (and often both) to find each other again after one of them has been abducted by vampires. Told mainly from the POVs of the two women, this story shows the impact of violence and abuse on the two characters.
The story begins with a very short exposition that still seems kind of pointless because it doesn’t really introduce the characters well. Things happen in a rush and it feels as if parts of scenes have been deleted (e.g. in one sentence the MC is in her bedroom and in the next sentence another character grabs her neck while in a hallway with no explanation how and why she got there, how this other character got there, why he’s acting that way, etc.). Descriptions of surroundings are well done and occupy a lot of the plot. This off-pacing can be found throughout the novel but is especially heavy in the first chapters. That is why it is very hard to get into the story and to form a connection with the characters.
The characters in general seem very interesting and I would have loved to read more about them and their motivations. But again, it seems as if scenes are missing. Even though the story is mainly narrated by the two sisters, the reader doesn’t really get to know much about their thoughts and especially why they sometimes change their opinion about other characters. It goes from “He seems like kind of an ok guy” to “I hate him so much” without really any type of explanation. The only “explanations” there are, seem like afterthoughts. Important scenes that would explain motivations and opinions take up such a small amount of space that they seem insignificant. This insignificance is strengthened by the total lack of descriptions of the characters’ feelings and thoughts while these things are happening. I often had to go back to the beginning of chapters because I thought that I had missed something. But I hadn’t. it just wasn’t there. Fortunately, this becomes less of a problem in the later parts of the story and by the end I had a good feeling about how the series could progress. Nevertheless, getting through the first part was a bit of the struggle. If it hadn’t been for the cool idea and new to me setting, I don’t think I would have read past the 20% mark.
All in all, the author the had a very interesting idea and towards the end of the story the execution gets a lot better. But especially the beginning (until around the 40% mark) seems too hurried. I don’t often say this, but this is a book that should have been 100-200 pages longer just to add in the necessary scenes. Since this is a debut and there is definite improvement towards the second half of the book and because the story still intrigues I would, despite all the rather negative aspects, still continue on with this series. I believe that a different editor who catches the inconsistencies and missing scenes would greatly improve this book. But since I overall enjoyed the idea and the second half of the novel, I rate this a 3/5 stars.

I received an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of the book.

Games of cat and mouse happen in royal courts all the time. But, what happens when the games are real, with the humans a the mice and the vampires as the cats. How far would you go to rescue your sister from these predators? How far would you go to save yourself?

Aylin's sister, Yara, has been taken by the monsters they grew up hearing stories about. Aylin along with her friend, Ilyas must go on a journey to save Yara, he soft spoken relatively weaker of the two siblings. But, Yara has some surprises up her sleeves and manages to catch the attention of two powerful vampir brothers. Caught between the brothers and curt games will Yara survive until she can regain her freedom?

I went into this book expecting it to be a standalone novel, but was pleasantly surprised at the end to see that it is just the beginning of a longer story. I do love a good series. This book is similar to other books of the same genre that it kept my attention and was an easy read. The story line is also different enough that the story was compelling and not very predictable. It perfectly blends the evil vampire trope with the "not all vampires are monsters" trope.

With regard to the characters let me begin with my least favorite of the two siblings. Aylin is annoying and too brash. The chapters told from her point of view were frustrating and dragged. There were a few times I put the book down when I got to Aylin's point of view because I was just not interested in her story line. She is an admirable and courageous character when it comes to how much she cares for her sister. Did I mention that she was doing everything she had to do because she missed Yara? If not, then don't worry because Aylin reminds you in every chapter that she's in that she is trying to save her sister. Yara, on the other hand, was a very enjoyable character. She is strong in other ways than her sister, namely in her ability to play court games as well as the vampires that she is playing with. The Demeicies, Eldar and Volkan, are also well thought out characters. Eldar was more fleshed out than Volkan but, by the end of the book, I liked Volkan better than I liked Eldar.

The story told from Yara's point of view was more entertaining than Aylin's part of the story. To be fair, they could have left Aylin out of it altogether and the book would've been better; though it is possible she will become more important in the continuation of the series. Yara's story has me on the edge of my sea. I enjoyed the court hierarchy and while no necessary for the story currently, I hope that we will learn more about the other first families in the next book.

With respect to the pace of the book, I found that Aylin's chapters were very low and I found myself wanting to skip ahead to the action of Yara's chapters and the vampir court. Due to starting with Aylin's point of view the book seems like it'll be slow but it steadily picked up pace and I could not put it down by the last 7 chapters.

This book really gave me conflicting feelings. At first I was only going to give it a 3/5 stars rating but the ending caught me so off guard that I had to bump it up to a 4/5 star rating. I am really looking forward to the second book in the series. I would recommend this book to anyone that enjoys vampires, court games, and slow burn romances.

I enjoyed the growth of both female main characters throughout this book and enjoyed the world setting. In some ways the plot seems very forced though, and I had a hard time losing myself in a suspension of disbelief in several parts of the book. Overall, I enjoyed it however.

To begin, thank you to Netgalley and Northern Light Press for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Court of the Undead follows two sisters, Yara and Aylin, who fight through hell to get back to each other. This novel features love triangles, forbidden romances, and incredible depictions of the powerful bond between siblings.
The beginning of this book was very slow, almost unbearably slow. Once I reached around the 50% mark I was finally at the point where I was itching to pick the book back up anytime I had to step away from it. The author does an amazing job of painting the personalities of all of the characters that you learn to love (and hate) throughout the book.
I really enjoyed the dual POVs. The author also does an incredible job of incorporating issues surrounding skin color and religion. Aylin is obviously treated differently on her journey because of the color of her skin. We also get to see Ilyas struggle with his faith in small ways. I found it interesting that each sister has their own love triangle. I am beyond frustrated for Aylin and her predicament, but think that the next book with soothe my pain. I noticed that in a lot of other reviews, readers were more interested in Yara’s part of the story, but I found Aylin’s journey to be more interesting and a little less predictable. I found Domenico to be a very interesting character and I hope to see more of him.
F. M. Aden is a wonderful story-teller. I fully enjoyed the world that they created and the tension that she developed between her characters. My only real complaint is that sometimes the dialogue feels awkward and the pacing at the beginning of the book was too slow. I hope to continue Aylin and Yara’s story in the future.

Thank you netgalley for letting me read this upcoming book!

Although there was a compelling story there it fell flat through some very dense story telling that made it relatively hard to read through. This ended up taking me a while to read, and while enjoyable just really didn’t peak my interest that much.

This was a good book, I went in expecting a little more but it never came but I did enjoy the book overall.

The Court of the Undead follows two sisters whose lives are torn apart when Yara, the younger, is kidnapped and sold to vampirs. Set in the Ottoman Empire and Wallachia, Aylin goes on a mission to rescue her sister. Romance, enemies to lovers and vampire lovers will enjoy this! An exciting debut, can't wait for the rest of the series.

With "Glass Sword", Victoria Aveyard fortifies her narrative of power, division, and self-discovery in a sequel that is as entrancing as it is complex. The novel displays dazzling world-expansion, a sophisticated plotline, and multi-faceted character progression, forming an absorbing reading experience that earns a respectable 4-star rating.
"Glass Sword" leads readers along the path of Mare Barrow, a Red with unique abilities, venturing into an oppressive world dominated by the Silver elite. As she seeks others like her, the newbloods, and aligns with a rebellion, we witness a character metamorphosis that is both stimulating and touchingly genuine.
Aveyard's artistry in world-building glimmers in this continuation. The land of Norta, with its diverse locales and societal structures, stands as a canvas for a larger conflict. Every battle, every hidden alliance, is intricate and arresting, crafting an environment rife with intrigue and complexity where the supernatural intertwines with political strife.
The narrative unfurls with a rhythm that maintains interest, merging introspective contemplation with intense conflict. Plot twists, though occasionally foreseeable, propel the story towards a conclusion that sets the stage for further exploration. Themes of rebellion, oppression, and identity further enrich the narrative.
However, "Glass Sword" stumbles in its portrayal of Mare's connections. While Mare's transformation is detailed, the relationships with key characters often feel unconvincing. Though interactions are purposeful, they sometimes ring hollow, diminishing the emotional richness of the story.
Aveyard's writing consistently impresses. Her imagery is lucid, vividly bringing to life Norta and its populace. The battle scenes are exhilarating and skillfully depicted, while the quieter, reflective moments are filled with subtlety and insight.
In conclusion, "Glass Sword" is a praiseworthy follow-up that offers a distinctive fusion of dystopian fantasy and poignant themes. Despite minor missteps, its strengths in world-building, character exploration, and a gripping storyline make it a must-read. The 4-star rating it receives is a fitting tribute to the enthralling tale it tells and Aveyard's mastery as an author.

F.M. Aden's "The Court of the Undead" attempts to merge the intrigue of the Ottoman Empire with the eerie allure of vampires. Following sisters Yara and Aylin, the story ventures into a world where Yara's abduction by the Undying King thrusts Aylin into a desperate rescue mission.
I was initially very excited to read this because of the Turkish names and the premise of the Ottoman empire, which is something that I rarely find about my culture. While Yara's interactions with vampire brothers add a layer of complexity, the romantic entanglements and character arcs suffer. Rushed relationships and underdeveloped dynamics made this book simply not enjoyable at times. "The Court of the Undead" struggles to harmonize its elements, resulting in a tale that, while intriguing, ultimately fails to fully captivate.

This perhaps doesn't start with a bang but I appreciated the author showing us the world the sisters grew up in and more importantly just how devoted to each other they are.
Without a doubt the sisters are opposites with Yara, petite, curvy, beautiful and clever whilst Aylin, is coltish, plainer, outgoing and overlooked. Yara enjoys the politics of Court whereas Aylin wants to be treated as an equal and not just an ornamental female. Their lives change dramatically when Yara is kidnapped and finds herself a prisoner in the castle of Vlad Dracul surrounded by danger. Aylin is determined to get her sister back and persuades her favourite nemesis (oops meant to say Janissary !) to go with her but their quest means facing up to what could lie between them !
I thoroughly got caught up in this story which flicked back and forth between the two sisters and their very different experiences . I found what Yara was going through to be compelling reading but that doesn't negate what Aylin had to go through in order to get her sister back. Is there romance here ? Certainly Ilyas is without a doubt in love with Aylin and indeed she clearly has feelings for him but nothing is straightforward. Yara is torn between brothers Eldar and Volkan and believe me there are twists and turns here that I defy anyone to predict because Yara becomes so much more than the sweet girl we first meet. I have no wish to spoil this for others but will say I am very excited to read more and this world of Vampires is definitely one I'm happy to read about and I most definitely would NOT want to experience first hand !
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

Thanks to Net Galley I was able to read this book before it’s release and I’m so happy I did. This story gives a twist to vampires that I haven’t read before. Love that it focuses more on the sisters and a little less on the love interests. I can’t wait for a sequel!

I read this book in 1 day..... 1 day. Could not put it down. Do you like edging? Cause this author will string you along until you are literally begging. Sexy mean vampires... I'm in. Enemies to lovers.... yes. Forced proximity...... sold.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Court of the Undead follows sisters Yara and Aylin of the Ottoman Court, who grew up hearing whispers and legends of vampirs by their superstitious nurse maid. When Yara is captured by vampirs of the Court of the Dead, Aylin sets out to join a group of hunters to get her sister back. Meanwhile, Yara finds herself in the middle of high tensions in the vampir court, caught in the crossfire of vicious brothers Volkan and Eldar.

While the story is unique and feels fresh, the writing is heavy and drawn out. I was excited to read this book, but I was left feeling bored and weighed down by the writing style. The story is told in third person, jumping between Aylin, Yara, and occasionally Eldar. I found Yara and Eldar's storylines to be far more interesting than Aylin's and I found myself just brushing over her storyline.

Overall, a good story being bogged down by a dense writing style.

Yara and Aylin are daughters of a high ranking member of the Turkish Ottoman court, and when Yara is captured by vampires, Aylin sets out to get her sister back.

I appreciated the dual POV so we got to see what was happening with both sisters at the same time. What I don’t appreciate is that both sisters found themselves in twisted love triangles where the men had the same issues even though one love triangle was humans and the men in the other were vampires. I think Eldar needed more development going on for it to all make sense, and Radu needed to have dialogue in more than just the last chapter. I think Sevda should have also been a slightly larger part of the prologue and told them stories rather than statements like “hey there are vampires and they exist goodnight”. Also for the love of god can we have some women who respect themselves enough to not fall for abusive men? Volkan was abusive from the start. Domenico’s only excuse is that he thought Aylin was a man, which doesn’t make it any better??? Ilyas needs to grow up and learn to say what he feels.

As a vampire fan there’s something that hits hard with the old fashion lore and gore that this book had no problem dishing out with a bloody grin.

“The Court of the Undead” dives deep into the seedy underbelly where vampires buy and sell humans for consumption putting Yara in the menu between two brothers who each have their own motivations at court. Her sister Aylin will stop at nothing to rescue her making both sisters use what talents and cleverness they have to survive their new world amongst the monsters of the night and the men who walk in the sun.

I loved every second of this book!

I grew up on Buffy so vampires have always been fun for me and this takes us right into the thick of it with vampires that are ruthless and twisted in their own fun ways and this political dance trying to be the one on top. The time we spent with Yara and the twins were some of my favorites and I truly have no idea which pairing or even hint of such I enjoy most.

Aylin was a lot of fun who I think was always that girl who was going to make herself and her opinions known unlike her sister who grew into the role, however her having to tone it down to survive the less than friendly company was just as fun. I think her back and forth between each member of the group and the things met along the way proved to be a good match for what her sister was trying to accomplish within that space.

The plot was fast paced and creepy but also had moments of passion that had me wanting to devour more just to see how it would all unfold and I am truly excited to see what comes next on this bloodthirsty ride into madness.

*special thanks to netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

I'm a big fan of dark, gloomy fantasy books, so I couldn't wait to start F.M. Aden's "The Court of the Undead." The book promised a bloody trip set against the rise of the Ottoman Empire, with court politics and vampire legends thrown in for good measure. Even though it was good in some ways, there were other parts that left me wanting more.

The story is about two sisters named Yara and Aylin. When they were young, their nursemaid told them stories about monsters. When Yara is taken by the Undying King and taken to his castle, Aylin goes on a mission to get her back. The book is written from the different sisters' points of view as they deal with their own problems.

The book's strengths are its dark setting and the way it builds a world. The story has a unique feel because it takes place in an Ottoman court, and the author does a good job of capturing the creepy atmosphere of the vampire court. The stress grows slowly, and the politics of the court keep people interested.

But there are some things wrong with the book. The story moves at different speeds. The beginning is slow and feels more like historical fiction than magic. It takes a while for the plot to get going, and the first few chapters can be hard to follow if you don't know much about Ottoman history. Also, the different points of view and stories can be confusing and make it hard to connect with the characters.

Even though the way Yara and the vampire brothers interact is interesting, the romance and character growth aren't as good. The fast finish and small details that don't always match up also take away from the overall experience.

Even though it has these problems, "The Court of the Undead" finds its way around the middle of the book. The slow first half is made up for by the exciting second half. The story gets more interesting as the stakes get higher for both sisters.

In conclusion, "The Court of the Undead" by F.M. Aden is a dark fantasy book that successfully mixes gothic elements with Ottoman history. Even though it's not a perfect book, the second half is interesting, the setting is different, and the idea is interesting. If you like dark fantasy and can stick with a slower start, this book might be worth checking out.