This eventful continuing story of Nyte and Astraea throws them Union survival mode after Astraea had learned who she is and who created her. As they struggle against being enemies, Astraea works to gain knowledge of the past life she’s forgotten. Friends become enemies and once enemies may turn out to be allies all along. As they maneuver through devastation of worlds and alliances, can they find a way to be together and not destroy everything around them? This was a great dive into deeper character and world building, though at many times very difficult to follow. Overall, I did enjoy it very much. Many thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an ALC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I REALLY wish I had reread book 1 before starting this!! So that's on me lol

I enjoyed this second installment, but I continue to have a hard time following some of the plot lines
(I'm sure part of that is because I forgot a lot of book 1). Definitely liked having Nyte's POV and was definitely entertained while listening to this - narrators were great. The world expansion was good and we finally start to learn more about Astrea's past, but it did drag at some points for me.

So far this is a series that I feel like I should be enjoying more?? IDK what's going on with me lol

Rating: 3.5 stars

I'll be the first to admit, I was not the biggest fan of The Stars are Dying. It didn't feel very original and I found the pacing pretty slow. That being said, I thought the world building was quite whimsical and that the series had potential for growth. I've read many series where I didn't love book one, but I adored the later books in the series. And I was really hoping that The Night is Defying was going to be one of those cases. Unfortunately, just like its predecessor, The Night is Defying failed to rouse my interest.

My first issue with this novel is that there isn't good separation between the two timelines. At least in the audiobook version, there is no "past/present" signifier at the start of each chapter. So when I first started reading, I didn't realize I was reading excerpts from the past and found myself very lost. My next problem is that the romance felt pretty underwhelming to me, especially in the past timeline. The enemies-to-lovers romance isn't that engaging, as it felt like it was just following the motions of what is expected from a romantasy like this. The love triangle felt forced, the smut got boring, and there were many lines of dialogue that felt painfully cliche.

On the subject of cliche, my biggest problem with this book is that it isn't just unoriginal, no, it is a straight rip off of ACOTAR. I'm not even a fan of ACOTAR, and yet I couldn't help but get defensive on Sarah J Maas's account. Here are just a few of the similarities between this book and A Court of Mist and Fury:
-the love interest is a powerful non-human who is representative of the night
-the love interest has black hair and only dresses in black
-the love interest has an "evil" persona that he lets the world believe of him for the greater good but the main character sees through it
-the love interest is only soft for the main character
-the setting is night time inspired
-the main character and love interest have a magical binding where if she calls he will come
-the main character and love interest have a group of powerful friends with a nickname (the "tribe of nightmares" vs the "inner circle")
-the main character is light incarnate and her whole body glows during sex
-after escaping captivity the love interest shows the main character how his world works
-the main character gets wings in the second book and the love interest teaches her to fly
-the love interest has both shadow powers and a monstrous form
-the main character and love interest have to go searching for magical objects
-the main character was sheltered in the first book but is now coming into her powers (she's a little overpowered now) and gains she sass/personality back
-the main character and love interest are bonded mates
...
There's more similarities, but the most egregious are the ones that show that Nyte is literally just copy-and-paste Rhysand.

Aside from the cases of potential copyright, I just could not get into this author's writing style. I found the writing quite blunt and a lot of the dialogue ripped from other popular books. At times it felt like I had gone on TikTok and searched "best romantasy micro tropes" or "enemies to lovers" quotes. It's that cliche. In fact, at times it felt like the plot was being dictated by the tropes. Often times the characters had no rational for their actions. The only reason they do things is because they have to in order to set up a trope. There is one scene in particular that drove me crazy. It goes like this: The main character sneaks into a den of vampires that can easily kill her. The love interest hides her with his shadows for her safety. But when she toys with him he says "No more of this game. I'll let you handle yourself" and reveals her to the den of killers. He does this intentionally, and yet immediately after doing it, he acts like he didn't mean to drop his shadows. He yells "Anyone who touches her will have their limbs torn off," or something to that effect. It just goes to show that he had no reason for any of his actions. They just had to be done so that we could get to that popular "touch her and die" line.

So overall, with no attachment to the romance, no love for the writing style, and constant reminders of better books that this felt like a variation of, I really had no reason to care for the events of this book. I kept reading, hoping that something would grab my attention. But ultimately, nothing did. I'm sure there are some people who will love this book, especially in those moments after reading a popular book when you need something similar to fill the void, but for me this was the nail in the coffin. I'm done with this series, and perhaps even the author for now.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 stars.
The Night is Defying picks up where book 1 left off, thrusting Astraea and her companions further into the brewing conflict that threatens their world. This installment delves deeper into Astraea's past, revealing secrets that reshape her understanding of herself and her powers. As political tensions rise and alliances are tested, Astraea must navigate treacherous courts and confront her own inner demons while preparing for a war that looms on the horizon. The plot weaves together intricate political maneuvering with personal struggles, all while exploring everlasting love and hinting at the majestic arrival of dragons (because who doesn’t love dragons!).

What truly captivated me were the characters. Astraea, our protagonist, evolves significantly in this book. We get to see her grapple with the weight of her responsibilities and the revelations about her past. Her internal conflicts are palpable, making her a relatable and compelling character. Nyte, our MMC, is everything I love in a book boyfriend. Willing to damn the world to protect his love while being the best support ever. Then there's the supporting cast – each member is meticulously crafted with their own motivations and backstories. The dynamics between them are rich and complex, adding layers of depth to the narrative. I especially appreciated how we get to see the vulnerabilities of characters who initially appeared strong and stoic.

While it took me a bit to fully immerse myself, likely due to listening to the audiobook (ALC that skipped a couple of chapters - so this was less than ideal) and feeling like I missed some details from book 1, the world-building is undeniably immersive. After I got into it I couldn't put the book down! The author's ability to create a vivid and intricate world is commendable.

If you're a fan of intricate fantasy with well-developed characters, political intrigue, and a touch of magic, "The Night is Defying" is a must-read. The ending leaves us on SUCH a cliffhanger and I will be biting my nails until I can get my hands on book 3!

Troupes: forbidden romance, lost memories, fated mates, political intrigue, gods/angels vs fae, dragons
Spice 3/5
Plot 5/5
Pace 4.5/5
Character Personality 5/5
Character Growth 5/5
Writing Style 5/5
World Building 5/5

Great second book for this series!
I love Chloes writing style and the magic elements she brings to the book community! Can’t wait for book 3

I really enjoyed listening to this as an audiobook book. The narrators were amazing! They kept me engaged the entire time and truly brought the characters to life. I am ready for the next one of the series! I really enjoyed the world building and magic system in this book. I love the dynamic between Astraea and Nyte. I am glad we got more details about Astraea’s past in this one. I recommend listening to the audiobooks for this series! Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with an ALC in exchange for an honest review.

I bounced between the physical book and the audiobook, and the narrators did a fantastic job—they had great pacing, kept my attention, and nailed the emotions at the right moments. Nyte was such a standout character, and I loved some of the themes woven throughout the story. There were a few parts that felt drawn out, but the journey was still worth it. I’m so glad I read (and listened to) this book, and I can’t wait for the next one!

This series is one of my favourites now! I sadly didn't get through both books before it was archieved however so I bought a copy to finish this one up on my own. It's a great book and the longer I think back on it since finishing the more I love it. The narrators were also impeccable.

This was very good and I can't wait to see what else this author puts out. I will gladly share this title with others as well

Chloe is the MASTER and the audio in this was on point.

I definitely felt a bit confused early on in this one but that's more than likely because I needed to do a reread. The love story is a little bit cheesy at times but man is it so sweet. Nyte would literally do anything for Astraea even when she's still convinced that he's ~the worst.~

Chloe, I'll read your grocery lists - sent them my way lol

Thank you NetGalley for an ALC of this novel!

The Libertatum is over, but Astrea’s quest for her memories has just begun.

I wanted to love this. I enjoyed book one, but had parts that I found confusing. Honestly, it just got even more confusing. Nyte has some STELLAR lines. I enjoy his character. I like some of the ideas the author uses, but it’s just SO much chaos. It really should have been edited and reigned in some. I will probably read book 3 just to find out how the whole thing ends, but if it goes more than 3 books I will likely DNF the series. The narrators for this audio were exceptional. 3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 2 🌶️🌶️

Big fan of Chloe Penaranda after her Heir Comes to Rise series, and this one is very enjoyable!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC Audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

I love Chloe's writing and this series is such a good time. I loved getting to know the characters more, all the twists and turns. It was just great. The narrator did an amazing job and I am so excited for the next book!

Astraea lost her memories and now has to rely on her enemy to help her remember.

Nyte is in love with Astraea who wants to kill him. But little does she know there are each others bonded.

Each day Astraea falls a little more for Nyte. Never really fully understanding that they are bonded. But not fully yet.

Not until Astraea finally remembers everything. Her friend and other bond mate is who killed her in her past life. She risked everything for Nyte and Nyte will always do the same for her.

I'm such a big fan of this book series! It can be a bit cheesy sometimes with how over the top some of the things the main characters say, but I still enjoy it. The back and forth between the timelines had me occasionally confused, but at the end I think it pulled off both storylines. The ending really took me by surprise as I didn't see it coming. The narrators are really expressive and give it there all. Can't wait for the next one!

“The stars have fallen, but the night refuses to yield…” 🌙🔥

Y’ALL. This audiobook owned me. The way Jacci Prior and Corvin King bring Astraea and Nyte to life?? Utter perfection. Their voices carry so much emotion, from Astraea’s quiet strength to Nyte’s tortured yearning—I was feeling every second of it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of The Night is Defying. Overall, I did enjoy this story for the most part but for whatever reason, I am just not a fan of Nyte. Honestly, this might be on me more than the author because I didn't do a reread of the first book and I always have a hard time remembering what happened, so I found it a little difficult to care about the characters.

Jacci Prior & Corvin King once again knocked the audiobook narration out of the park! They are two of my favorites and perfectly embody Astraea & Nyte. I enjoyed getting more answers about Astraea’s past in this book. Nyte is still one of my favorite book boyfriends!

I was a little disappointed by this sequel. The book switches between past and present, but the audiobook doesn’t tell you which chapter is past or present so I was very confused trying to differentiate between the storylines. Astraea couldn’t seem to decide if she wanted to love or hate Nyte, or be weak or confident. This does track for her storyline but overall as a character she annoyed me. I will definitely still read the last book in the series!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this audiobook. This review is voluntary, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Astraea’s power is finally awakened but she doesn’t know her full potential. As she fully integrates herself in court life, she begins to unlock memories and has to merge current relationships with those of the past.
The Stars are Dying ended on such a great cliffhanger I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next installment! We love a morally gray MMC who has no problem letting everyone know who he belongs to. This was action-packed from the beginning and with all the flashbacks, I kept telling myself, “just one more chapter!”.

Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I absolutely LOVE this series. The brightest star and the darkest night 🖤🖤🖤 it's Romeo and juliet for fantasy lovers. Nyte is the epitome of a shadow daddy and Astrea is the tough female lead we all love. Ended on a major cliffhanger and I cannot wait for the next book.