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.

I recieved an audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed the audiobook, the narrators were great and kept you interested. I think I enjoyed this one more than the first book in the series. It still jumped around a lot, but more questions were answered, and it made more sense. I enjoy the originality of the story line, and the audio was really good.

3.5 stars. Narration is on point, especially with Night’s growls. Some of the plot seemed like filler while other seemed to come out of nowhere, but I was intrigued to see where it went. I did call who killed her pretty early on.

This book adds more world building as her memories return and we travel to new places.

So the first book was meh to be but I was intrigued so I wanted to keep going. Honestly I was surprised but how much more I enjoyed this book. Astraea’s development was chefs kiss good. And I just love Nyte. So glad I continued with the series.

This book was stunning!!! The voice actors Jacci Prior and Corvin King are perfect for this Audiobook!!! The story itself is heart wrenching and I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm excited for book 3 and cannot wait to be able to dive back into this world. Chloe Penaranda you are up there now with my top favorite authors!

3.5⭐️

While I did enjoy the first book, I fear I am losing interest in this series. It has all the trappings of a classic romantasy, but the pacing and the writing is starting to lose me.

Pros: I really enjoyed the action of the last 20% or so of the book. I also really enjoyed all of the dynamics between the characters. I have a love/hate relationship with the amnesia aspect but it does keep you on your toes. I enjoyed the friendships in this book. The plot twists at the end were a lot of fun too.

Cons: there is so much dialogue. Like SO MUCH. I love dialogue but the sheer volume of it got old really quick, especially when listening to it. Additionally, and I don't know if this is just an issue with the audiobook, but the jumps between chapters had me seriously confused - maybe it is better defined in the physical book. It also felt like not much happened for the first 80% of the book.

Overall, this was an average read. I had to take a break from it and return to finish it. There is a lot of spice, so if you are a fan, I can see this being appealing (I can take it or leave it, personally, and did not feel that the spice added anything to the story). If you're looking for a spicy enemies-to-lovers romantasy with an amnesia trope and vampires and fae, this may be a great fit for you! I am not sure if i will continue this series at this point.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio & Netgalley for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Astrea seeks answers to her past she doesnt remember she finds herself falling ever deeper into her attraction to Nyte but after meeting Auster she begins to question who she should believe in you go into depth with Nute past and his powers and his family. How everyone see bim as the Villain and how much he care and come to rwalize he cares for Astrea.

The Night Is Defying by Chloe C. Peñaranda is an utterly mesmerizing continuation of the Nytefall series, and I could not put it down. The dynamic between Nyte and Astraea is absolutely enthralling—their push and pull, their undeniable chemistry, the way they ignite and challenge each other—it’s everything I crave in a fantasy romance. The tension between them isn’t just about desire; it’s laced with purpose, conflict, and an intensity that keeps the pages turning.

The world Peñaranda has built is stunningly detailed, weaving magic, danger, and wonder so seamlessly that it feels like stepping into an entirely new realm. 🌙✨ Every description, every bit of lore, adds another layer to the immersive experience, making it impossible not to be swept away. The war between good and bad, between desire and responsibility, is written with such nuance—it’s not just a battle of power but of the soul, and I loved the complexity of it all. ⚔️🔥

And it’s not just Nyte and Astraea who shine. The supporting cast brings so much depth to the story. Their motives, their struggles, their roles in the greater scheme of things make this world feel alive. The intricacies of the plot, the twists, the heartbreak, the hope—it’s all woven together masterfully.

With a perfect blend of action, emotion, and scorching spice, The Night Is Defying delivers everything I wanted and more. Peñaranda knows how to balance tension and tenderness, passion and pain, and I am so ready for whatever comes next. 🔥❤️‍🔥

A great second book. While I didn’t love it as much as the first one it was still enjoyable and definitely worth reading.

The story of our star-crossed lovers continues! This sequel gave us a lot more character development and expanded on this unique world.

We get lots of flashbacks as Astraea learns more about her choices, relationships and powers from the past.

I loved the dual POVs because we get to see just how far gone Nyte is for Astraea. Their chemistry is there and the spicy scenes had me blushing.

I appreciated that the book was broken into parts and each chapter had the POV we were getting and designated the past.

Chloe dialed up the morally grey and shadow daddy vibes in this one!

I also enjoyed listening to audiobook production from MacMillian Audio. The two narrators Corvin King and Jacci Prior really capture the characters beautifully.

I’m really looking forward to the next book in December!

Spoiler Alert: We see dragons in this book!

Thank you to Bramble Romance, Macmillan Audio, Chloe C. Peñaranda, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for a honest review

Audience: Adult
Plot: 4 out of 5
Characters: 4 out of 5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️.5 out of 5
Keywords: Romantasy, Fantasy, Romance, Vampires, Magic, Amnesia, Memories, Friendship, Betrayal, Love Triangle, Dragons
Tea Pairing: Dragonfruit Desire Herbal by Plum Deluxe

Favorite Quotes:
“Trust yourself, always. Don’t fear the darkest path for it will always lead to the brightest light.” — Chapter 39
“We are stars colliding and night defying.” — Chapter 41

I received copies of this book through NetGalley from Bramble/Tor Publishing Group and Macmillan Audio. Thank you! All opinions are my own.

The Night is Defying is the continuation of the Nytefall trilogy, following the events of The Stars are Dying. Defying is a romantasy that focuses on the newly found Star-Maiden Astraea, who is determined to discover her memories, keep her freedom, and help those who have been awaiting her prophesied return. Meanwhile, Nyte is determined to stop his brother Drystan from raising a vampire army to conquer the world. Are these star-crossed lovers destined to destroy the world or save it?

Defying is told through dual-POV between Astraea and Nyte, which is denoted by the chapter headings. I thought the overall pacing of the novel was very well done – there was action, adventure, romance, and intrigue. Readers are piecing together Astraea’s lost memories along with her, with the hopes of discovering who had betrayed her and caused her death from before. Readers are left wondering who to trust, and who may have ulterior motives.

I also enjoyed listening to audiobook production from MacMillian Audio. The two narrators Corvin King and Jacci Prior were perfect for this series. Their performances allowed me to really become immersed into the story, and it was as if I was transported to the world, which added to my overall enjoyment of the story.

I have enjoyed this novel immensely! Readers who enjoy spicy romantasy should consider adding the Nytefall series to their TBR. I would recommend this series to fans of Carissa Broadbent (Crowns of Nyaxia series) and Jennifer L. Armentrout (Flesh and Fire series). I look forward to the conclusion of the series with The Dark is Descending at the end of 2025.

*The Night is Defying* is an absolutely incredible sequel! I adored every page of this book! I’m really trying to avoid giving away spoilers from the first book. One thing I can say—dragons make an appearance, and it’s awesome!

Astraea’s journey in this book was so satisfying. Watching her piece together her memories and fully embrace who she is made her even more of a badass in my eyes. I love how she refuses to let others dictate her choices or her identity. Her loyalty to Nyte is unwavering, and I admire how she doesn’t let other people’s opinions of him sway her feelings. Plus, the chemistry between them is *off the charts*! The spice factor is definitely turned up in this one.

We also get to experience Nyte’s perspective in this book, and I’m here for it! His love for Astraea is so deep, he’s willing to risk the fate of entire worlds just to be with her. Swoon-worthy, for sure. I also enjoyed seeing him open up a bit—though he won’t admit it, he’s got some friends now, and it’s nice to see him happy. Plus, he’s that perfect mix of morally gray and dangerously charming. Shadow daddy vibes all the way.

There are plenty of familiar faces, but also new characters who bring fresh dynamics to the story. Some I absolutely loved, and others… not so much. The new characters really expand on the world-building, making this dark and magical world feel even richer. My theory about one particular character turned out to be right, and let me just say, the reveal in the middle of the final battle was both devastating and thrilling. I’m still justified in my dislike for a certain character, though!

The ending left me gasping, “WHY?” I can’t believe I have to wait for the final book to see how this all wraps up! But at least it’s releasing in December, so not too long of a wait. The anticipation is killing me!

This novel was even more confusing than the first book. I was lost almost the whole time. She's his prisoner but is free to roam wherever? I dnf'ed after 50%. The narrators were amazing!!

This book was just fine.

I felt like there was a lot going on, but no clear reason for these things until the very end of the book. It also seemed like the smut was used to pad the page count at certain points. Some of it seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't make sense in the context of what was going on in that moment.

I also felt like Nyte didn't really have a personality outside of obsessing over Astraea. Don't get me wrong, I love a man who would crawl home to her, but this was just a bit over the top. I wish we got to know him more outside of his relationship with her.

Wonderful and exciting sequel to the first book, I love this world, magic and characters so full of depth so much!