This book will suck you in and make you live in it and fully immerse yourself. It's absolutely incredible and a new experience worth everyone's reading pleasure. I need more of Juliette's writing immediately, because I felt the worst book hangover after finishing this one.

To say I am obsessed with this, is a complete understatement.
I had never read anything by Cross, but The wraith King has made me an instant fan! This story has it all!

Thank you to Netgalley for being my introduction to Juliette Cross. I am now obsessed, This book is a DREAM. I went in with low expectations of it being another fantasy story that would have frequently used themes and tropes, and while that was partly true, it blew me away with the way the story was told. Hands down one of my new favorite enemies to lovers (because it is PROPER enemies to lovers) and the way the political marriage is used had me messaging my friends that they needed to read this book the moment it is out.

Once I receive my preorder of the book (physical form), I will share my review on Instagram and Tiktok (expected delivery is publication day):
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAtBtcnPQQn/
https://www.tiktok.com/@thenightstandbook?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

This romantasy was unexpectedly amazing! It drew me in from the very beginning, but be warned, the story does develop relatively slowly. I love the arranged marriage trope, and this one DELIVERED. The wraith king is a grumpy shaddow daddy-esq character who underneath it all is just a big ol' teddy bear - at least to her. The spice is SPICING, and the FMC is even so fun and sassy, but in a good way (not a bratty way). The magic system and origin story were fun, as well. I HIGHLY recommend, but check your trigger warnings!

The Wraith King is everything a Romantasy should be. Did I say that already? Well, it’s true!

What to expect:
Enemies to lovers
Arranged Marriage
Magic
Spice
Touch her and die
Fierce FMC
Alphahole MC
HEA
Plot:
The Wraith King by Juliette Cross gripped me from the first chapters. I love meeting characters on their worst day; surely it couldn’t get worse. You quickly learn about the ongoing war between the light and dark fae and the centuries-old hate between them. When presented with an option to save her people from the war, at great expense to herself, Una doesn’t hesitate to accept the offer. The reader is then taken on a journey, that includes adventure, romance, world-building, mysteries, and dragons!

“I wondered if the gods blessed me or hate me by giving me this feisty harpie of a moon fae. For the way I wanted her was frightening, humiliating, and all-consuming.”

I loved Una, the feisty FMC. She was strong, brave, and witty, just how I like my FMCs. Even in awful circumstances, she didn’t lose her courage or desire to help her people. While the reader doesn’t learn more about the mystery she is trying to solve until later in the book, looking back you can see how it motivates everything she’s doing.

Goll, while a hot, feral, grumpy demon-like fae, lacked defining character. I normally love the “he falls first” trope, but in this, it felt forced. However, his banter with Una and unwavering need to protect her, ultimately made me love them as a couple.

The twist was slightly predictable, though, Cross had me second-guessing myself. I could have done without the twist, but it didn’t take away from my love of the story.

The perfect blend of Gothic and cheesy, feel good, romantic fantasy!
Fae. Magic. Secrets. A dragon.
What's not to like? Juliette Cross never disapoints.

The Wraith King is the first in a new Romantasy series by Juliette Cross. It follows Princess Una, a light Fae, discovering who she is meant to be when she meets Goll, the Wraith King. Full of fae, darkness and spice, I absolutely loved this book!
I'm a huge fan of Juliette Cross so I had high hopes anyway and I was not disappointed! This has all the elements I expect from her - addictive, great characters and side characters, a developed and spicy romance and a well thought of world. I really enjoyed getting to know the Fae lore in this world and liked seeing the differences between them all.
I flew through the beginning and didn't want it to end! I can't wait to get more from this series, especially after the ending! I really want to find out more about the other Fae and am excited to see where the story is going.

THE WRAITH KING is a dark, sexy and epic tale of love and loss, with much at stake for everyone involved. It’s violent and brutal and in your face, and it’s filled with palace intrigue and prophecy. All the hallmarks of Cross’ romances are present, including dynamic, complex main characters with a deep cast of secondaries, sexy relationships that ebb and flow with the choreography of a sensual tango, robust world building, and secret twists that wrap around and getcha. Whether you’re new to romantic fantasy or an old pro, this will surely be one of your favorite books this year.

*Read the full review at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/the-wraith-king-by-juliette-cross/

Arc review: 4.75⭐️
Prophecies (is it fate?), betrayals (pain), magic (✨) , dark fae vs light fae (enemies to lovers 👀), spoice (😏), quests from the gods (mysterious), marriage of convenience (big MY WIFE energy).
We love to see it.

(This will be posted on goodreads but the server is down right now)

this book was everything i had been looking for. it was the perfect romantasy with a well thought out and executed plot. genuinely i felt so much joy whilst reading this which i haven’t felt in such a long time. the plot and character development warmed my heart in such a similar way to throne of glass. it was that love that i had been searching for

the world building at the start hurt my head, but that was because i didn’t give myself time to sit and tackle it with a straight head, i tried to start it when i had five minutes. but despite the strong world building, i was gripped from the start

i fell in love with the characters almost immediately, i was fascinated with how they were unlike anything id read before, it was a breath of fresh air. una and goll now hold a firm place in my heart

the spice was a lovely addition, one that didn’t overpower the storyline but it felt like it was needed and fell into place really well, i loved those scenes more than i was expecting

i don’t want to say much without giving it away but i truly loved this book and i will be itching for anymore books that juliette writes

for lovers of:
•spicy romantasy
•god sent missions and prophecies
•dragons
•“that’s my wife“
•found family
•mates

𝐀𝐑𝐂: Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - The cover had me hooked but I stayed for the story
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 🌶 - We love a secret softy on the inside 🖤
𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: September 24, 2024

I was hooked from the first scene… This could be because it introduced us to the god myth that this world revolves around and I love gods and goddesses. Then, the first chapter dived right in; no holding back from the darkness this book claims to be.

I have read some of Juliette Cross’ other books and she normally writes more rom-coms; this is the first dark romantasy that I have read from her and she did NOT disappoint. I felt all the dark evil vibes from this book and still felt the ‘soft moments’ where they needed to be (because a possessive MMC isn’t soft and sweet) and in the end.

I cannot wait for release day so that I can hold this in my hands and add it to my bookshelves because the cover is just beautiful and I can't wait for book two to be announced to see where Juliette decides to take the story because you bet that I will be following the characters to see what happens next

This book has:
🌑 Prophecies
🌑 Touch her and 💀
🌑 Fae

I totally wrote an amazing review for this when I finished it, but I just realized that Goodreads is super lame and it never actually saved my review. So now here we are about a week later and I’m going to try my hardest to remember a single detail about this book for my review. Here goes nothing!!

Ahhh shhh, hold on. I actually remember nothing so let me try to reread some crap.

Ah yes. Now I remember.

Gollaya and Una have a brief encounter in a prison where Goll obvs rescues her and we flash forward about five years later to Goll doing the same thing but this time committing some murder and high treason and getting the throne. And obviously it makes the most sense for Goll to force this Una chick to marry him for #fantasyreasons. They’re both VERY much not into each other. She’s mad as hell. He’s basically like “You will breed my children” and she’s like, “I hate you but fine I’ll do it for my people.”

It’s angsty. It’s tension. I’m in it.

Okay, but then it’s not. I mean pretty much immediately there’s a shift and we aren’t angsty and there absolutely no sign of the Juliette Cross banter I love and we dive pretty much head first into mates and love here. And it’s…fine. Just fine.

I also was very confused in this fantasy book. Is this a trilogy with the same couple through all the books? Is this standalone? How epic are we going here? Even when the book ended, I’m still wondering these things.

Also. The most ridiculously stupid complaint of all time. I’m well aware. Just, let me say this. Juliette Cross wrote a short story in one of her newsletters about a warrior and his mate meeting in the woods as a prequel little companion story to this and I LOVED it. Loved the crap out of it. Couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve read that thing in my internet browser. But. But. BUT. When these characters appear in this book the heroine of this little short story is five months pregnant. But she just met the hero in the short story…where Goll is already king…and we are like maaaaybe one month after that when this character is suddenly five months pregnant. This has to be a continuity error or who the hell’s baby is that lollll.

Anyway.

This is a very complainy review but I expect more and want more from Juliette Cross. I will of course continue this series. Just wish it had been a better time for me.

Such a solid fantasy romance from Juliette Cross!
I really loved how easy it was to understand the world and the magic system. From the prologue you are dragged into the story and it’s hard to stop reading! I binged this book within 2 days!
I loved the romance and the fated mates aspect. I found it brought a more romantic aspect to the story. I can’t wait to see what else she does in this world!
4.5 Stars

Don’t you love it when a story is as gorgeous as its cover? And let me tell you, The Wraith King has one of the most beautiful covers I’ve ever, ever seen. It’s image is saved on my camera roll. I’m just so totally wowed by it.

This is the type of cover you see in a store and immediately go, I will buy this book for that cover art alone.

…and then you read the story and feel such a rush of joy when you realize the inside matches the outside so stunningly!

This is an exhilarating romantasy read. You’ve got plenty of fantasy and plenty of romance, a plot filled with intrigue, prophecy, mystery, and pulse-racing action; and it’s all led by two intriguing, engaging leads.

Una is such a lovely heroine— her kindness is her hallmark, she is so giving, so generous, and so loving to her people. This all places her in a precarious more than once, ultimately leading to a marriage with a newly crowned king in an effort to save her people, and to unite both their people. I appreciated how, even with so much changing around and within her, Una’s spirit never falters. She remains hopeful, steadfast, loyal, and determined. And she learns to open her heart to her new husband, to try for a marriage beyond a forced arrangement and into something more, something true.

Said husband, Goll, is a man obsessed, and I was here for it!
Initially, he does see Una as a more a thing, an object pertinent to prophecy; he doesn’t initially see the woman. But when he does, he wants to know all of her. I adored how the narrative took time to establish his evolving feelings towards Una. I would have loved more romancing throughout, but by journeys end I never doubted the honesty in his love.

In addition to the romance, there is adventure with very high stakes to be had! There are a number of quests that take place, which I admittedly felt at times unraveled too quickly, but at the same time I enjoyed how nothing was prolonged. Soon enough we arrive to a final climax that features all you can hope for in romantasy: angst, plot twists, heart-stopping action, betrayal, and triumph.
My heart was pumping like crazy reading through that final act! It’s just how you want to feel whilst reading a fantasy romance.

I really loved how the story feels complete, yet there is a very obvious door left open, inviting more to come. And if that’s the case— count me in! Let me get to the front of the line, y’all! My attention has been thoroughly captured, and if more is behind that door— I’ll race right to it!

If you are a lover of fantasy, romance, and mystery, this one is for you!

Thank you to NetGalley for this complimentary copy, I leave this honest review voluntarily.

*Review has been posted on GoodReads, and retailer reviews will go up on release day.

Cross has entered the romantasy chat!! If you look at her catalog of work, you'll see that this is the place she was always meant to be: high drama, an epic tale, and two lovers ready to set the world on fire.

If you're a fan of her Stay A Spell series, hold on tight cause this is the beginnings of an unbelievably creative ride into the fantasy world of fae and beasts alike. I can't wait for more.

This book is an absolute gem! The tension between Una and Gollaya is off the charts; think heart-pounding drama and swoon-worthy romance wrapped in a dark, magical world. The stakes are sky-high with epic battles and secrets that keep you on the edge of your seat. Una’s sacrifice and Goll’s conflicted feelings create a depth that’s both gripping and emotional. If you love fantasy with a side of intense romance and intrigue, this is your next must-read.

THIS WAS SO GOOD OMG. Like I don’t understand how this is my first novel from Juliette, this is fantastic and that cliffhanger! I can’t wait for the next one already.