I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco is the sequel to fantasy novel Silver Under Nightfall. Remy Pendergast is the only son of a duke and the Night Empress. His two partners, Xiaodan and Malekh, are lords of the vampire courts and work with Remy in defeating the Night Empress.

There’s a lot of political intrigue in this novel between the various courts and we get glimpses into how humans are treated in a lot of vampire societies as well as some lore relating to the first vampire, the Mother. The humans are often used to smooth things over between courts and have a place in politics just as much as the vampire lords.

Xiaodan and Malekh’s affections for Remy, and his for them, shine on the page and are all given equal weight. The three love and respect each other as romantic, sexual, and domestic partners.

What I really liked was how the details were threaded in when we needed them and never felt like a lore dump. It all felt quite natural and grounded in my understanding of the world as a reader. I also liked how different Remy felt from his two partners while still being compatible.

I would recommend this to fans of stories featuring romances with vampires, readers looking for political intrigue in vampire courts, and those who really like Castlevania.

The sequel to Chupeco’s Silver Under Nightfall, a Castlevania-esque queer triumph, was at the top of my TBR for this year, and after finishing it, I feel very neutral about it. It delivered a little less than its predecessor did in terms of plot clarity, romance development, and resolution, but the world-building and new characters filled in those gaps somewhat to help create a solid, if not slightly disappointing, conclusion to the Reaper duology.

Remy, Xioadan, and Zidan are incredibly creative characters and I’m obsessed with the way that each of them grows as individuals throughout this story. Xioadan’s development particularly stood out to me; she really comes into her own as a leader and is very driven and committed to the people she cares about. We got to see a lot of Zidan’s softer side in this as well; I loved his moments of nerdiness in his lab and his protectiveness of Xioadan and Remy. I love Remy and his dialogue, but he didn’t change much; there was a bit of story between him and his father, and that part felt somewhat rushed and insincere to me, especially with the way the ending played out.

What didn’t have great development, much to my disappointment, was the romance between the three protagonists. I was hoping for sweet, intimate moments with them, with vulnerabilities and discussions of their future. A big stressor for Remy throughout the book is his uncertainty of whether or not he wants to be turned to a vampire, and the fear of just being another lover in Zidan and Xiaodan’s long lives. While this is occasionally brought up to the couple, I don’t feel like Remy ever got resolution on the issue. It felt like his concerns were dismissed a lot, and overall there wasn’t a lot of genuine communication between the three.

I don’t know if it was just me not paying as much attention as I should have, but I had absolutely no idea what was going on with 50% of the plot. The stuff with the Night Empress? Cool, intriguing, was able to follow along easily. The court/Aluria/Elouve politics and the last 30 pages of the book? No clue. There were too many names and relationships to keep track of, and it kept switching around on me. There were reveals that were clearly meant to be shocking, but because I had no idea who the characters involved were and what their significance was, it went totally over my head. It almost felt intentional because Remy gives me massive Harry Potter vibes: love him to death, but he’s about as observant as a brick wall.

Overall, while Court of Wanderers did bring the best gloomy Dracula vibes and some badass monster fights, it didn’t deliver as much as I was hoping for, and I wish it had brought the duology to a more satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to S&S/Saga Press for providing an ARC!

Court of Wanderers follows up our main character, Remy, on his journey in Aluria.

So… I wanted to like this more than the first book, but I felt like a lot of this book was just a bunch of filler. It was interesting enough to keep me intrigued, but I feel like it could have been a much more flushed out story.

I do feel like the story was fun, though. Also, not to sound like a freak, but I liked the smut 😭

The action sequences were good, and I did feel like the end was pretty solid but also very rush, unfortunately. 🥲

Overall, I did enjoy myself!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Rin Chupeco, and Saga Press for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and S&S/Saga Press for this ARC copy!

I have seen a lot of negative reviews about this book and was really worried going into it that it was going to be such a drastic drop in quality from the first book. I was not nearly as disappointed as I expected to be but I feel like I am in the minority in this opinion. Yes, there was a shift from a primarily character focused book to a more courtly political drama, but I also saw that coming from the beginning of the first book in the Duology.

Though there was less fighting and the fight scenes were shorter and less descriptive at times for me it did not take away from the quality of the experience. A good fight scene is great, but I would rather the book not be an extra 200 pages just filled with super detailed battle sequences, if that is what you are looking for then this may not be the book for you.

The pacing could have definitely been better, and I do feel that the ending was a bit rushed and left me a bit bewildered at times, like how did we even get here. I still feel that as a whole I enjoyed the book, the series, and the ending was wrapped up in a good way, I just wish there had been a few more chapters between the final battle and the conclusion.

This book is perfect for fans of Anne Rice’s Vampire chronicles that wish there was just a little bit more Witcher action and intrigue thrown in. This book is a continuation of the story started in Silver Under Nightfall. Remy Pendergast has hit the road with royal vampires Lord Zidan Malekh of the third court and Lady Xiaodan Song of the fourth court. The group is heading to the third court to recover from their last fight when they cross paths with the Night Empress. While there they discover a blood tree and a deadly secret about the Night Empress. Armed with new information and the need to recoup, the group finally resumes their journey to the third court. While there, a new kind of mutation with lizard like features and deadly venom blood attacks the keep. This new threat to the realm combined with the continued threat of the night empress leads to a gathering of all court vampires. Remy poses as Malekh and Xiaodan’s human familiar and joins them to help plan the attack and to represent the interests of Aluria’s humans. He struggles to find his place in the world of vampires when his last name carries such negative connotations to most of the other courts. Remy is also struggling with nightmares about the Night Empress, which might be more reality than dream. If you’re going into this book expecting the same steamy romantic tension filled book as Silver Under Nightfall you might be disappointed. This book has way more court intrigue and action than the first book, so the romance is pulled a little to the side. Our trio of kindhearted bad asses are still in love but it’s not the focus. I enjoyed the expansion of the world seen in this book. More of the realm and how it functions is revealed in this book and if things continue at this rate there is a stunning reckoning headed our way.

Well. The people I follow on my book instagram weren't lying, and that was disappointing. Court of Wanderers fell incredibly flat for me. What I loved about Silver Under Nightfall was the action, and how badass Remy was, and how Xiaodan was loving and Zidan was a bit aloof and broody...but in the ending adoring. It had the perfect mix of fantasy and romance, in my opinion. Even a touch of gore.

Court of Wanderers though.... it feels like a massive misstep needing a complete overhaul. The pacing stumbles, the plot meanders in a way that is confusing and complex without progression of the actual story. The character consistency wavers (Remy's dad is not what he was in the first installment), action sequences lack depth, and it really feels like the plot relied too heavily on shallow depictions of intimacy to compensate for all of this (whyyyyyy??? Their relationship is so good even wtihout the sex!). It's a plot that frequently loses its grip, leaving me often in a state of indifference, wanting to flip the page for something more exciting.

What made the SUN compelling is notably absent in Court of Wanderers. Monsters lurk in the shadows, action scenes lack intensity, and the suspense is nonexistent. The political intrigue, which I don't usually mind, feels hollow and disjointed, and again...confusing. Instead of building upon established foundations, the plot thrusts us in with new world-building, overwhelming and inconsistent, pulling focus from the plot to suddenly feel like I'm reading a political heavy first book instead of an already established second book. It was just a hot mess.

All that to be said...I did enjoy the scenes where our trio get to be together in amongst the madness for moments of relationship development. Although the development was brief in nature, I devoured it no less. I love Zidan with all my heart, his tough exterior truly does simply protect his soft innards. But finding the little wins within the exorbitant amount of losses could not make up for the disappointment that this book gave me.

I know Rin is a wonderful writer, it was on full display in SUN, and I know they have more in them than what COW offered, so I'll be keeping me eye out for future work so I can support them and their hard work!

Rating represents three and a half rounded up.

This is a mixed review, to my dismay; I found the first three-quarters very difficult to get through, but the final quarter finally had some satisfying emotional resolutions, as well as the usual final battle badassery.

Saddened to find I do agree with many of the middling reviews, at least for the first few legs of the book; there was a lot of new worldbuilding material introduced in this, for a second and concluding volume of a duology, and most everything otherwise was an overabundance of sex scenes. But lovable and funny characters remained just that, and the world was still refreshingly diverse (with even disability accommodations in vampire castles!) with some unique lore. Rin Chupeco is an auto-buy for me, and though this conclusion to the Reaper duology disappointed a bit, they will remain one.

Now, the part romance played in this rating: this is so hard to explain, because there <i>are</i> endearing scenes of affection and building the relationship between the throuple, which I love, but more often there are sex scenes for the first majority of the book. Some of these are fun and peppered with humor and sarcasm, they just...became too much. At a certain point I think these spicy interludes slowed down the overall story, particularly when the next passage would be another chunk of worldbuilding exposition. Porn without plot vampire stories can exist, but this duology bit off too much story to tell (and too much that was introduced in this volume), and sacrificed it for spice in this conclusion. The best parts are the casual cuddling or embraces, and Xiaodan and Malekh liking Remy simply for who he is, a foul-mouthed, kind of dumb guy with a noble heart.

One of the concepts broached in this second part is the reconciling of Remy, a mortal, being in a relationship with immortals, and to become one or not. I know it makes no sense but I personally hate this issue when it comes up, and would prefer books talk around it; I like the idea of a 'weaker' person who finds ways to keep up inhuman strength, etc. I very much enjoyed how Chupeco treated the concept in the end.

If I'm honest, making Silver Under Nightfall a standalone, and about two hundred pages longer, would have been the best idea here. While I enjoyed the last quarter of this book, it was way harder to get there than it should have been, given that Nightfall was a five-star read for me.

Vampire hunter Remy Pendergast is back on the road with his vampire companions Lord Zidan Malekh and Lady Xiaodan Song. While they won the first battle against the Night Empress, Xiaodan is injured and without her powers. If they can make it to the Court of Wanderers and the Fata Morgana, she might have a chance of regaining them. Along the way, Remy sees his father and has dreams of the Night Empress, whom he thinks is his mother Ligaya Pendergast. Remy must deal with the differing legacies of his heritage as well as the vampire courts as he poses as Malekh and Xiaodan’s familiar. The three also must navigate their relationship as they figure out what is happening within Alluria.

This is the sequel to Silver Under Nightfall and is the second book in the Reaper series. Absolutely read that one first, because it not only lays out the kingdoms and relationships, but the terms used to refer to various creatures and the courts of vampires. We get more about the courts here as Remy accompanies Malekh and Xiaodan first to Malekh's home at the Third Court and then to the meeting of all courts together. Remy dreams of his nanny, fields messages from his father who had risen in esteem within Alluria, and is trying to figure out what he means to his vampire lovers. It's especially difficult for him in the first half of the book, as he's struggling with his mortality compared to their relative immortality. New complications arise with the Night Empress, as they discover more about her and see the damage done after their prior battle with her.

There is the inevitable jockeying for power and position within the vampire courts, as each one vies to keep importance and prestige. The former First Court had incredible strength and had dictated how the vampires behaved. This is the court that the Night Empress wants to reclaim, and Remy discovers more about Ligaya's history and of her background. He fears not only his own mortality but what his heritage is. He's still a strong fighter who prefers to stay in the background rather than rule, and prefers to avoid politicking. I love how he is with his lovers, with his friends, and even with his father; the two have a better understanding now, though I can't say his father's tactics have improved. The concerns about the Night Empress have deepened, and it no longer feels like she's ultimately the one in charge. We learn why it all happened, and the last third of the novel feels like one revelation and shock after another. It is absolutely amazing and I loved the finale. It's fitting for all of the characters involved. This is the conclusion of the duology, but I would happily read books in this world going forward.

A good finale to the duology, in this volume Remy faces his mother while growing closer to his two lovers.

I refuse to believe that this is the sequel to one of my favorite books of all time. Rin Chupeco is and has been an auto buy author for me but this just fell flat. I need time to process this. I just have no words.

I am very grateful to have been given the advanced copy of this much anticipated sequel to the hit Silver Under Nightfall a story with a highlight on polyamory relationships. The first book was very well written and left you wanting more, however I struggled chugging through this sequel and did not find myself as excited reading this finale.

The continuation and most satisfying conclusion to the story that began in Silver Under Nightfall is action-packed, full of intrigue, and a pleasure to read even though the fun parts have gotten a lot less descriptive.
Remy Pendergast going from a reluctant but highly effective vampire hunter to madly in love with two of the most powerful vampires in the land happens so organically that you don't doubt anyone's feelings. Seeing him find peace, support, and a place to call home with those he was raised to believe were horrible, unthinking beasts hit all my happy romance spots while still having the dark edge of danger that an all-out battle against evil needs.
Special props to Chupeco for creating a very accurate representation of a polyamorous relationship where they all interact differently depending on who they're with. It's cute to see Remy, Malekh, and Xiaodan show different sides of themselves.
I do think you need to read the first book to understand this one not just because it starts right where the last one left off, but many of the main character dynamics are straight from what happens in that one.

Delighted thanks to NetGalley and Saga Press for the most excellent read!

Court of Wanders is the highly anticipated to sequel to Silver Under Nightfall. I loved Silver Under Nightfall. The characters, the action, the plot was top-tier. But the sequel was vastly different from it's predecessor. The storyline is confusing and characters are inconsistent. I was very excited for this ARC, but it fell flat for me.

DNF at 21%. One of my IG/Tiktok mutuals and another IG/Tiktok book reviewer that I respect deeply both had given this low ratings before publication. I was shocked, because one of them was the whole reason I picked up Silver Under Nightfall in 2023 and it was a five star read for me -- I literally got the Goldsboro SE, sold it because I was meh about the premise, and then was pissed because I read it and loved it. But all that aside, I have *no idea* what happened from SUN to this book, it's not even really the same story anymore? The banter and shining fantasy moments I *still* think about 16 months after reading SUN are completely missing from this book. I desperately wanted my mutuals to be wrong, but they're not. And I'm sad. :( Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free advance copy.

Court of Wanderers is a sequel that dares to ask: What if we put everything good about the first book on the back burner and instead added in a bunch of unnecessary, poorly done worldbuilding and politics? (The answer is nothing good). I would describe this as a SJM-esque romantasy with queer and poly main characters, so if that’s your jam, maybe you’ll enjoy the whole duology. It is not my jam, and I would recommend stopping after book one.

My least favorite part of Silver Under Nightfall was by far the end fight, so it is unsurprising that I found the fight scenes to be poorly done, but on top of that a bunch of politics and worldbuilding was added that didn’t really make sense and felt silly to add in a last book. There was so much going on at all times but I couldn’t connect at all emotionally. A lot of stuff that was brought up was also brought up for the first time in the same chapter it was resolved which lessened the stakes significantly for me. I felt no tension in any of this book and was just waiting to start caring.

The biggest issue I have with this book was the complete 180 one character made between books one and two (which was weird especially considering this one picks up right where book one ends). Every time this character was shown in a positive light and Remy interacted with them in, I wanted to be sick. The development was incredibly poor and nothing they had done previously done that could’ve redeemed them this much. I cannot go into spoilers, but if you know you know and it’ll probably make you angry too.

I really enjoyed the relationship between Remy and the Night Empress and found it to be incredibly compelling. While I have some issues with how the Night Empress was depicted, their interactions were raw and had the most emotional impact. I also enjoyed Malekh a lot in this book, but found myself wanting to see the development of his and Remy’s relationship beyond just sex. Where Silver Under Nigthfall had great relationship dynamics, Xiodan, Remy, and Malekh’s relationship relied too heavily on sex in general during this one. There was no forward motion with their relationship, just sex. It was disappointing to see especially since their relationship was my favorite part of book one.

It’s always disappointing when a really enjoyable book has a disappointing sequel, but I would still recommend reading Silver Under Nightfall as a standalone. Where this book fell flat, that one really did excel.

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the arc

It pains me to have to say this book did nothing for me. If not for receiving the ARC, I may well have DNF’d. Personally, it feels like a wholly unnecessary sequel. There doesn’t seem to be anything in it that couldn’t have been wrapped up in the first book, apart from the redemption arc.

I did enjoy the relationship dynamic at the start. It was nice to see Remy and Malekh find their stride separate from Xiaodan. It made the relationship feel more cohesive instead of both men existing in separate bubbles with Xiaodan pulling them together. I also liked getting to see the other courts and learn more about the wider world and politics.

The biggest let down for me was the pacing. I spent most of the book waiting for the plot to ‘start’ even as things were happening. There were also several points that felt like they could be an end but it kept going, which made it feel like it was dragging even more.

The very end felt incredibly tidy and I don’t think it gave the emotional weight that was potentially intended. It read as ‘this is all a big misunderstanding’ that was pretty easily forgiven. In that way I think it undermines some of the tougher feelings grappled with in the first book.

As a whole it’s not a terrible book. I guess I just fail to see what it was meant to accomplish beyond that one arc.

I really enjoyed this! It was definitely more politics heavy than the first book but i enjoyed seeing the other courts and seeing the vampire rulers of other groups. Remy is the best and I love him so much, he is a major himbo and it makes me so happy. I really enjoyed how this story wrapped up and I think that Xiaodan, Malek and Remy are the absolute best.

I’ll start by saying that I adore Remy, Xiaodan and Malekh and would reread this series for them. However, I did come away from this book feeling like something was missing, and felt I needed more character POVs to understand their relationships and character growth. Would’ve loved to hear their inner monologues or private conversations to understand their decisions better.

This book focuses heavily on the politics and has a LOT of world building, but then sped through some of the relationship building I so loved in book 1! I think I would’ve preferred a character-driven rather than plot-driven story if there aren’t more books intended for this series. I almost hope there’s at least a novella (or several?) to give us more about the characters.

Similarly, I would’ve liked getting to know the other courts we’re introduced to, and POV from Remy’s father given some sudden character changes that could’ve used with some further explaining. In all I think things were tied together too quickly to move the story along and in doing so lost some of that connection with the characters themselves.

I’m so sad I’m not giving this book 5 stars, but I’ll still recommend Silver Under Nightfall.

Thank you Net Galley and Saga Press Books for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

After much anticipation, I was delighted to read the follow up to 2022’s Silver Under Nightfall Court of Wanderers was a thrilling continuation.

I am so sad I didn’t love this, because Silver Under Nightfall is a favorite of mine.

The first half of the book was decent, with good banter between Remy and Malhekh. The relationship is the only saving grace, but without the same tension from the first book. Remy was too self-deprecating the entire book, I think as a way to add some drama into the relationship. That being said, the relationship was the only thing that kept me interested enough to keep reading. Most of the plot is court politics, but badly done. A ton of new characters are introduced from different courts, but are not well developed, so it was extremely hard to tell them apart. All of the battle scenes are short and too easily resolved. The science aspect is kind of left by the wayside. Overall was extremely disappointed after loving the first book.