The story ended up feeling very derivative for me and I just wasn’t enjoying it very much so it’s a DNF for me and I won’t be returning to the series. The narrators did the best with what they had but it wasn’t enough to keep me invested.

The plot was nonstop and I was truly never bored. Some of the plot twists had my jaw on the FLOOR. That cliffhanger was ass though but I can’t wait for the next book!!!

I was generously granted the opportunity to listen to this incredible ALC by NetGalley, Macmillan, and Chloe C. Peñaranda, and I’m so grateful to have experienced it in audio format. The narrators brought the story to life with such energy and emotion—making an already captivating fantasy romance even more immersive.

This is the second installment in a series I truly enjoy, and it absolutely delivered. One line from the blurb really stayed with me: “No monster is heartless, and no angel is without sin.” It perfectly captures the emotional complexity and morally gray beauty of this world.

I loved this book as a read—but as an audiobook? Phenomenal. Highly recommend to fans of fantasy romance and anyone who enjoys rich narration with heart.

Huge thanks to Chloe C. Peñaranda and Macmillan Audio for the ALC!

I'll admit I’ve been a fan of Chloe’s for a while. I love her Heir Comes to Rise series, so when The Stars are Dying was coming out I was pumped and it was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024. Then I read it. And sadly I wasn’t the biggest fan. If I remember correctly I believe I only have it 3 stars. But I had hope that the series would get better and to trust Chloe on this process. However, I’m sad to report that The Night is Defying did not in fact get better. And I actually found it to be worse that its predecessor.

Now I feel that I should disclose that I listened to this as an arc audiobook. I think if I had read a physical copy first my star rating may have been a bit higher. I say this because I’m the narration there is not separation between the two timelines. I wish the audiobook version would’ve done a better job of signifying which was the past/present at the start of each chapter. But it didn’t which made the reading journey overly confusing and way more complicated than it needed to be.

My next problem is one that I also had with book one. And that’s the romance. The romance journey between Astraea & Nyte felt pretty underwhelming. And at some points it felt like a straight rip off of ACOTAR. Plus The addition of the love triangle had me wanting to literally break things. Y’all know if you’ve been with me for awhile how much I hate love triangle’s. Now if they are executed well I’ll let it go. But for the Night is Defying that was not the case. The whole love triangle felt forced. The “spicy” scenes weren’t hitting and at some points real boring.

Overall, I’m sad to report that I will not be continuing on with the series. And I regretfully will not be recommending. If you take anything away from this review read Chloe’s An Heir Comes to Rise series instead. Lastly big Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the audio ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Night is Defying was an incredible read—one I actually enjoyed more than book one! This time around, we unlock so much more of Astrea’s tragic history with Nyte, and the puzzle pieces that felt confusing in book one finally start to fall into place. The dual POV and well-placed flashbacks slowly peeled back the layers, keeping me fully invested from start to finish.

I listened to this one on audio, and wow, it was so worth it. The narrators were phenomenal—especially Corvin King, whose voice I already love from The Artefacts of Ouranos and The Forbidden Heir Trilogy. His range is unreal, and I could listen to him all day. Jacci Prior also did an amazing job bringing Astrea to life. The narration was a solid 5/5 stars and added so much to the experience.

As someone who loves all things celestial, I was drawn to the expanded worldbuilding around Astrea’s home planet and the corruption in its past. I also loved seeing more of Nyte and Astrea’s beginnings before her memory loss—it added so much emotional depth to their bond. And the twists? Completely caught me off guard in the best way.

Astrea’s struggle to understand who she is—without being instantly overpowered—made her arc feel grounded and relatable. Watching her slowly grow into herself while navigating the weight of expectations made me appreciate her more in this book.

Nyte’s POV was another standout. His devotion to Astrea, his tragic past, and his internal conflict made him such a compelling character. Sure, some of his actions toe the morally grey line (but honestly, what romantasy MMC doesn’t?), and I still love him for it.

The book ends on a cliffhanger, and I’m desperate for the next one. If you love celestial worlds, layered characters, and slow-burning revelations, this series belongs on your TBR.

Thank you, NETGALLEY, for the ARC of this audiobook. Beautifully narrated and I found myself sitting in my car in the driveway because I didn’t want to turn it off. Excellent!

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.