Summary

Overall rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5

Spicy rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

The last 20% off this book was a whirlwind!
The start was a little dry but once you get stuck in there’s a lot to unpick. Once everything starts kicking off the action felt absolutely non stop.

It definitely had me on my toes and honestly I couldn’t tell you which characters to trust, there was epic betrayals coming from everywhere. Everyone has their own secret intentions and hidden plots and whilst you get some hints it was definitely entertaining trying to figure them out.

I enjoyed the dual timeline of this one which helps clear up a lot of lingering questions I had from book one and it felt like a great way of exploring the fated mates who are dated to kill each other angle. The story starts to get more and more cohesive, the more Astrea’s memories come back to her.

Nyte is such an angsty pining puppy for Astrea and I love that about him. Seeing him go from brutal villain to just wanting to be loved by her broke my little heart. The villain for her but never to her. Such a swoony MMC and I’m not sure I’ll get over what happened to him at the end of this book 😩!

Astrea coming more in to her power was fun to read but I am READY for her to enter her villain era and fully explore this power. And the addition of Dragons 🐉 was excellent in this book I’m ready for more of them too!

Things that would’ve made this a 5⭐️ read for me would’ve been:
-more development and explanation of the magic system
-more development of the found family element (it was there but just needed a little more
-more balanced pacing the first half felt quite slow and not as gripping. All the action was packed in to that last 20%

I received the audiobook ARC for this and was so excited to listen early since I really enjoyed the first one. However, I just couldn’t get into it. I felt it was confusing and trying to have so much happen at parts. I felt a disconnect between the present and the past storylines. It also seemed spicier than the first and felt the scenes occurred at random times or when serious plot lines just happened for an abrupt drastic change. The last hour and a half of the audiobook was the most entertaining and congruent for me. My feelings about the sequel could be changed if reading it over listening and maybe it would be less confusing to me in a different format.

3.5 rounded up!

I went into this with low expectations. I didn’t love the writing in the first one, but I really wanted to know what happened with Nyte and Astraea. I thought that the dual narration was done well. And I felt that this one was written much better than the first one. I enjoyed the story more as well.
Also this was spiiiiiicy! 🌶️🌶️🌶️ I’m not mad about it, but I don’t remember the first one being this spicy.

“I didn’t fall for you twice because I never stopped loving you." - Gasping, Crying, Desperate for a happy ending!
Be prepared to ball your eyes out, I'm DESPERATE for book three. Astraea & Nyte deserve a happy ending...

Publisher Summary
Shaken from the aftermath of the Libertatem, the newly found star-maiden Astraea is determined to keep her freedom, even at the cost of betraying her heart. But time is running out to recover her memories with the hole it will unveil her killer.Embarking on a journey to discover her past, Astraea’s awakening power spins the hourglass on a history threatening to repeat itself. While Nyte tries to regain control of the vampires hungry for bloodshed, a sinister plan by his brother to overthrow him sparks a dangerous feud. But are they willing to wear the blood of their kin to see it through?For nothing in the past ever stays buried. Friends have turned into foes, brothers have turned into enemies, and what was written in the stars long ago ignites again in two hearts that were never meant to be. Letting Astraea go would save the world from darkness, but Nyte is no hero. It seems no monster is heartless, and no angel is without sin.

Thanks to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the ALC of this book!

The Night Is Defying
By: Chloe C. Peñaranda
Narrated by: Corvin King, Jacci Prior
Series: Nytefall, Book 2
Length: 19 hrs and 39 mins
Release date: 01-28-25
Publisher Macmillan Audio

LOVED THIS!! i am so thankful to have received this ALC!! I loved the first book and was super excited to listen to this new book. i loved it, as always. the narration was incredible!

4.5/5 stars
Chloe has once again given us a masterpiece. The first book had me begging for more, and this book was no different. The story, the voices, all stunning and perfect.
It was an incredible continuation of the story and I couldn't stop listening. I am obsessed with this book and I cannot wait for more people to fall in love with it too!

I’m giving this four stars but it’s only because this story just isn’t for me. It’s very well written and the story is beautifully woven however the story just leaned into some plot points that I don’t particularly enjoy. (Mainly the memory loss plot line) but I don’t want to rate it low just because I’m weird about certain plots because it’s still a great book.

This sequel was a lot. So much was thrown into this that it felt a bit overdone. I was still interesting and enjoyable to continue where book one (which I really really liked!). This book was not as good as the first one and it just was not keeping my interest with all that was happening and I was lost and ended up DNFing at 65%. Narrators were fantastic, I am sure I would have liked this more if I had just finished book 1 and wasn't jumping into this months after finishing the first one.

I really enjoyed the narration of this audiobook and the production was done very well. As for the story, this sequel was a lot. So much was thrown into this that it felt a bit overdone. It is still interesting and enjoyable to continue where book one ended.

Hands down this will be considered one of my top listens for the year.

The two narrators for this book were fantastic together. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to them narrate both the FMC, and MMC.

You won’t be disappointed listening to this book.

The first book was interesting and felt somewhat unique, but this book threw everything but the kitchen sink into the storyline and it was tough to get through. Could have been 150 pages shorter, and dragons? Just not a necessary addition but contributed to making it feel like every thing was thrown into this book.

The Night is Defying is the second book in the Nytefall series. I absolutely loved the competition vibes of the first book in the series, so I couldn’t wait to dive into this one. This installment continues to utilize the tropes I love including banter and enemies to lovers. This book focused strongly on the romance portion of the plot, though, there is a lot of action and intrigue to accompany it. I also enjoyed the FMCs development as she rediscovered who she is while uncovering her past memories. I did feel like something was missing, though, in terms of making this feel like a fully fleshed out story. Much like with the first, I especially had a great time with the audio. The duet narration was an absolute delight. The narrators did a fantastic job representing their respective characters and kept me fully invested in the story.

The Night Is Defying” by Chloe C. Peñaranda delivers an intense sequel packed with star-crossed love, dangerous power plays, and a race against time. Astræa’s journey to reclaim her memories and power is gripping, with the stakes higher than ever as history threatens to repeat itself. The blend of romance, betrayal, and action kept me hooked throughout.

Nyte’s internal struggle to maintain control amidst the chaos adds an intriguing layer, and the looming danger from his brother amps up the tension. The themes of love versus duty and the fine line between hero and monster were beautifully explored.

That said, there were moments where the pacing felt uneven, and some plot points felt a bit predictable. Still, the world-building was rich, and the emotional depth made it hard to put down. Perfect for fans of dark romantasy with vampires, secrets, and fate-driven drama!

The Night Is Defying by Chloe C. Peñaranda is an absolutely thrilling continuation of the Nytefall series, and it exceeds every expectation set by the first book. The stakes are higher, the tension is palpable, and the emotional rollercoaster is unforgettable. Peñaranda has done an incredible job crafting a story that is just as dark, seductive, and intense as its predecessor, but with even more layers of complexity.

Astraea’s journey of self-discovery is both heartbreaking and empowering. As she strives to reclaim her memories and uncover the truth about her past, the growing power within her makes her an even more formidable and captivating character. Watching her struggle with the balance between loyalty and love, and ultimately her own freedom, made her arc even more compelling.

Then there’s Nyte—equally alluring and dangerous. The tension between Astraea and Nyte has never been more electric, and their bond, complicated by secrets, betrayal, and political intrigue, feels impossible to ignore. Nyte’s efforts to regain control over his vampire kin while dealing with his brother’s treacherous plan only deepen the stakes. The emotional tug-of-war between them is agonizing yet beautiful, and you can’t help but root for them, despite the dark path they walk.

Peñaranda’s world-building continues to impress. The political drama, the looming threat of betrayal, and the exploration of Astraea’s awakening power add so many layers to an already gripping story. What I really loved about this installment was how the stakes are not just about survival, but about confronting the past and dealing with the consequences of old choices. It’s a perfect blend of romance, action, and mystery that leaves you craving more.

The Night Is Defying is a must-read for fans of dark, star-crossed romance, and complex, morally grey characters. Chloe C. Peñaranda has truly outdone herself with this book, and I cannot wait to see where the story goes next. If you’re looking for a book that keeps you on the edge of your seat, with characters you can’t help but fall for, this is the one!

This was awesome! What a second book. This has twist and turns. The growth that the main characters go through in this books is awesome! Some things I thought would happen did happen but then there were others that I thought I would dislike grown on me. Can not wight to read the next book! She did a fantastic job telling this story and building this world. I was given the opportunity to listen to the audiobook, and the narrator did a fantastic job. They brought the story to life it was fantastic. Oh and one last thing the spicy scenes were amazing! Chefs kiss!! Just the right amount of spic mix in with this complex storyline.

So I read this 1st and didn’t read the book before it. It wasn’t bad but I didn’t know this was book 2. I should have read them in order. But with this being said it was a great books you should definitely read it. Worth the read. I tried to get the first one as well

This is the second book of three from The Stars are Dying!
I really enjoyed the second book and more spice and action than the first book. Very enjoyable and I can’t wait until the third book comes out!

After starting back at the beginning and paying attention I was able to piece the story back together from the 1st novel. I enjoyed how the story progressed and am looking forward to the next adventure. Also .. phew it got extra spicy in this novel...but it was goood!

From the moment I saw the cover, I was in love—it’s stunning! I can already imagine how beautiful this trilogy will look together on a shelf, with The Stars Are Dying and The Night Is Defying paired beautifully. It makes me all the more eager to see the third book and how it visually completes the series. The cover’s celestial aesthetic perfectly mirrors the star-crossed, enemies-to-lovers vibes that define the story.

I found myself enchanted by the characters, especially Astria and Nyte. Astria’s name is as radiant as her presence, I felt like her name really gave a lotto context into her characters' identity, and Nyte is easily one of my favorite male protagonists—complex, compelling, and a villain I loved rooting for. He certainly did not disappoint! The swoon-worthy quotes were a highlight, and the chemistry between the leads kept me hooked.

While I thoroughly enjoyed the story’s ambitious scope and multiple narrators, the vast cast of characters occasionally left me needing to stop to recall who they were. It was challenging to keep track of everyone’s roles, relationships, and contributions to the unfolding plot. I appreciated the effort to create a wide, intricate storyline, but at times, it felt difficult to follow. I found myself so engrossed in the central love story that I struggled to piece together some of the broader narrative threads.

The pacing occasionally caused some confusion as well. Decisions sometimes felt abrupt, leaving me with the sense that I had missed crucial context. Similarly, while I enjoyed the mystery and secrets woven throughout, there were moments when the lack of clarity didn’t feel entirely intentional.

That said, the book absolutely delivered in its emotional depth and unforgettable moments. It's a book that I will remember and I'll especially be awaiting the third book in the trilogy!

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this ALC!

Fantastic continuation of the series it’s full of the action and suspense just like book one

And Jacci and Corvin have done a awesome job on the narration too!