**Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐/5**
Give me a vampire story, and I’m going to give it a go. Luckily, T*he Court of the Undead* by F.M. Aden delivered. This dark and twisted fantasy set in the Ottoman Empire follows the story of two sisters—Yara, who has been kidnapped by the vampir and brought to the Undying Court, and Aylin, who leaves everything she knows in the Ottoman Court behind to save her sister. As Yara is enthralled and tormented by a dangerous set of vampir brothers, Aylin goes undercover with a band of vicious vampir hunters in her quest to find her. 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.

>>What I loved: Excellent characters—when people talk about morally grey characters, this is what we should be talking about. Power is a central focus here, and I love how unclear it is who we should be rooting for throughout the entirety of this story. A well-written story, in a unique, non-Western setting, and with diverse cast of characters makes this an exciting addition to the fantasy genre. I want to specifically call out the excellent ways in which Aden navigates race throughout this novel—as something that is actively negotiated and discussed throughout the story—is something we should all be admiring and looking to see more of.

>>What I didn’t love: I am normally a big fan of a multi-POV book, but in this case I found that I was initially not very interested in Aylin’s perspective, which made it difficult to get into the book. Eventually, Aylin’s story started to take more shape and by the end I was on board.

*The Court of the Undead* is an easy recommendation for my students who love fantasy and adults who appreciate complex characters. I’m looking forward to the next installment in this series!

**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, F.M. Aden, and Northern Light Press, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.

thank you to netgalley for the advanced reading copy. I really enjoyed this and will be getting copies for my shop.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book! I'm a big fan of vampire stories, and this one did not disappoint. I hadn't seen a lot of vampire books that bring the mythology out of the lens of the nonwestern world, and I really enjoyed that aspect. I also felt that the relationship between sisters Aylin and Yara carried strongly throughout the book, alongside the promised romantic relationships that created some extra drama on the page. I look forward to reading more of the series!

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this e-ARC. I am anticipating reading this soon and reviewing on my socials.

Yara and her sister Aylin heard stories of the Vampir, and when Yara is taken, Aylin has reason to believe that she has been taken by the monsters who haunted the stories told to them as children.

With alternating chapters following Yara, a blood slave in the Undying Kings court, and Aylin, trying desperately to save her, this book is a dark fantasy that has a lot of potential.

I loved the back and forth chapters, loved seeing the two sisters as they fight to stay alive and make their way back to one another.
While I love a morally grey love interest, these guys were not morally grey.
There are good guys, morally grey guys, bad guys, really bad guys, and then these guys.
They were awful, and I did not like how quickly the female characters flipped from hating them to caring for them.
One night she is trying to kill him and then the next night she is worried that he is mad at her ?
WHAT?
In order for me to enjoy a romance, I need to want the characters to be together, and I do not want these women with any of these lowlifes.
BUT the story is great and I am looking forward to the next book!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the different tropes included in them. I mean whats not to love about vampires, slow burn love triangles, and enemies to lovers?! This book is everything that my heart needed since my obsessive "vampire twilight" stint back in the late 2000s. Strongly recommend this book for dark fantasy readers that thoroughly enjoy real stakes and morally grey characters

The Court of the Undead is an extremely dark gothic fantasy set during the Ottoman Empire. I had really hoped to enjoy it more than I did. The story definitely had potential, and I liked that the characters were all morally gray to outright evil. However, the writing was a bit all over the place for me. Some scenes had unnecessary details and dragged, while other scenes jumped from one event to the next without the necessary connections. The writing definitely needs some editing. Before picking up this book, I would advise any reader that there are some extremely dark and gruesome scenes that could be triggering.

It had potential but I didn't really see it.
I felt like it dragged and sometimes I forgot what sister was what.

The Court of the Undead by F.M. Aden is a dark and bloody romance focused on two sisters. Aylin and Yara are young black women growing up in the court of the Ottoman empire when the book begins. Very quickly Yara is stolen away, and Aylin suspects she is now in the hands of the sinister Vampir from her childhood tales. So begins the separate struggles of the two main characters, one trapped in the darkness of the Court of the Undead, and the other hiding among Male vampire hunters in Italy.

I have been stuck in a depression induced reading slump the past few weeks. I’ve not enjoyed anything I’ve picked up and nothing has kept my attention. I grabbed Court of the Undead because I hoped it would be a dramatic, romantic, and thrilling good time. And it was! Both sisters have clear goals in this book, to be reunited with each other, and both are in vastly different scenarios. Chapters flip back and forth between the two, and personally I found both plots equally engaging, despite my mental struggles.

Both plots also have a romantic conflict, and there is a love triangle, which I am always a fan of. The side characters and conflicts stand out and are memorable. And I did grow fond of many characters. This book does not end on a cliffhanger, but it’s clear there will be a second book.

I plan on picking up the sequel, despite the fact that if I’m being honest this book was not super well written. There were pacing issues, and scenes opened and closed so suddenly there was no time to really process what was going on. Aden is not a purple prose kind of writer, there was very little that went into creating atmosphere or even blocking out the environment. But this is Aden’s debut novel, and I had the ARC version, so I trust that she will improve with time. Just check your expectations when picking up this book.

Do you like vampire stories?
Do you like unlikeable (downright evil but in a good way) love interests?
Do you want a book that you can turn your brain off and just enjoy the ride?
Do you want a book with Muslim rep not often seen in the genre?

If you said yes, then please PICK UP THIS BOOK!

Thank you Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have to be honest and say that I pretty much love all books that contain some form of vampire.

I just can’t help it. It’s such a good trope to read about.

So of course I enjoyed the book. It was entertaining, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the series.

I really wanted to love this book because it had so many good points such as a Muslim protagonist, vampires, politics, a chubby main character, a sisterly bond, and love triangles. However, I found the world-building to be quite lacking. There were so many instances where the author assumed I was already aware of what something was and did not explain it. It's sad because both the characters and the world have so much potential, but I just couldn't get into the story because I had to look up certain words. Additionally, the time period of the story is unclear to me. One moment, I was imagining ancient times, and then the characters started talking about more modern things, and I just couldn't get a grasp on the timeline. Despite these issues, I still see a lot of potential in the author, and I hope to see more from them in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and Northern Light Press for providing me with an early, free copy of this book.

This book is dark and romantic and honestly is a standout read from this year for me. The way the vampires are done in this are fantastic, and our two protagonists are so different but so similar at the same time. Despite how different their storylines were I found myself fully engaged with both plots, unlike that thing that happens sometimes where you really just want the other plot to have less chapters. I really really liked this. An excellent addition to the YA vampire genre.

Wonderful story, great character development, great writing! Highly recommend this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it

Thank you, NetGalley for sending and allowing me to read this title. I loved the fantasy elements of this e-arc. Even though the author's writing style isn't what I usually go for I liked it.

I have been wanting to dive back into fantasy/romantasy books and this was a solid read to get back into these genres.

This story follows two sisters, one after being kidnapped by the vampir, and the other on the journey to save her sister. There is a third POV occasionally which is one of the vampirs, Eldar. Yara, the sister who is taken to the Court of the Undead, was my favorite storyline. It was full of vampires, a love triangle, political intrigue and spies. Aylin's story was less eventful and her love triangle wasn't of much interest to me. The reader is introduced to a slew of characters and although the character development isn't too deep, this book sets the scene for these characters to grow in the next book and for the reader to learn more moving forward.

If you love enemies-to-lovers, politics and love triangles you will really enjoy this book. There isn't any true spice besides a few steamy kisses but the tension in this book is incredible.

I didn't find the book difficult to follow as other reviewers did. There isn't a need for deep knowledge of the Ottoman Empire or Islamic culture. Without the historical knowledge you will still be able to enjoy the book.

I am eagerly awaiting book 2 because I NEED to know what happens with all these characters, specifically who ends up with whom. I need an alert set up for when the next book comes out.

Thank you to NetGalley and Northern Light Press for this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

The Court of the Undead is the first in the Trueborn series. It shows us to what lengths two sisters will go to go be together. We follow Aylin the feisty older sister and Yara the beautiful younger sister as they make their way as Turks in the Ottoman Empire. Their father is one of the sultan's right hand men and the girls find they have a pretty good life now that he found them after their mother died in Africa and they were starving. One morning Yara is found to be missing and Aylin vows to find her. The sisters are not split and Yara has been taken by traders that give humans as blood slaves to vampir and now she must face the monsters that would prey on her. Aylin is pretending to be a boy and infiltrate a vampir hunting group. She is with her love interest that won't break his vows of celibacy but gives her confusing messages because he does have feelings for her. Each sister gets a love/hate triangle in this story. I liked the book and was rooting for the sisters. I'm looking forward to reading book 2 and seeing where Aden takes us.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I recently had the pleasure of delving into this book, and I am beyond impressed with the mesmerizing world that the author has crafted. From start to finish, the intricate plot weaves a tapestry of suspense, emotion, and unexpected twists that kept me eagerly turning the pages.

One of the standout features of this book is undoubtedly its characters. Each one is meticulously developed, breathing life into the narrative with their unique personalities, motivations, and flaws. The protagonists are not just names on paper; they are relatable, complex individuals with whom readers can form a genuine connection. The antagonist, too, is not a mere foil but a multi-dimensional force that adds depth to the story. The author's ability to create such well-rounded characters is a testament to their storytelling prowess.

The plot unfolds seamlessly, drawing the reader into a richly layered narrative that expertly balances tension, drama, and moments of poignant reflection. The pacing is impeccable, maintaining a perfect rhythm that keeps the reader engaged without sacrificing the depth of the story. The author skillfully navigates through various plot arcs, interweaving them with finesse to create a cohesive and satisfying whole.

What sets this book apart is its ability to tackle profound themes while maintaining an accessible and engaging narrative. The book seamlessly combines suspense and emotional depth, making it a truly immersive experience. The author's prose is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid imagery that lingers in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.

As I reached the conclusion, I found myself yearning for more from this talented author. Their ability to craft a gripping plot and bring characters to life is truly commendable. I eagerly anticipate future works and would wholeheartedly recommend this book to any reader who appreciates a masterfully told tale. If you're searching for a book that seamlessly blends captivating characters with a compelling plot, this is a shining example. I can't wait to explore more literary worlds crafted by this exceptional storyteller.

please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
HEA: cliffhanger
spice: several closed-door steamy scenes and suggestions
TWs: kidnapping, slavery, noncon blood drinking, SA (recounted, not MCs), murder, mentions of child death, attempted murder, torture, blackmail, cannibalism (kind of? I mean they’re vampires so does that still count?)
standalone: book 1 in the Trueborn Series
final thoughts: WOW this book was so good especially for being YA (with plenty of suggestive but ultimately fade to black scenes). This book follows the POVs of 2 sisters- 1 who has been kidnapped and is now “property” of 2 hot twin vampir brothers, and 1 who goes undercover with vampir hunters to find and rescue her sister. Both sisters are caught in a love triangle, and I can’t wait to see the story progress to see how these triangles play out 👀
I feel like I never knew what to expect from either POV and it kept me on my toes the whole time- an excellent and fast paced read with lots of intriguing characters and storylines.
Please note that while this is labelled as a YA novel, there are plenty of mature themes and triggers.

read this book if you love

🌀 plot twists
😬 angst
😳 forbidden lovers (human/vampire)
☠️ “touch her and die”
🖤 dark romance
🏝️ forced proximity
❓ mystery
🤜 enemies-to-lovers
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 great side characters
🌈 LGBT+ representation
🔮 supernatural creatures- vampires
💖 paranormal romance
🤜 rivals-to-lovers
🌍 world building
🤫 hidden secrets
💌 clean romance
🔼 love triangle

I cannot say enough about this book. I'm very tired of reading the same romantasy books. Which is no one's fault but my own because I read the synopsis' and then complain that everything is the same. Hello, you like it, therefore you're gonna keep wanting to read it. But it's ALL THE TIME. The Court of the Undead was completely different and so enjoyable. But hello, there's vampires, so can it realllly be bad at the end of the day? Yes, yes it can who am I kidding.

I really enjoy dual POV's, especially when I'm in the mood to focus on my story a little more than just reading simple, fluffy books to appeal to my ADHD.

Please, please read this book if you like romantasy and vampires, I can't wait for the next one.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for this ARC!
Unfortunately, I struggled a lot with the writing style and overall plot but the idea and concept are quite intriguing and others might like it more.