Our Vicious Oaths: A Dark Romantasy of Unbreakable Bonds, Fae Politics, and a Dangerous Attraction Amidst a Battle for Ultimate Power
"An instant romantasy classic!" -- Katee Robert, New York Times bestselling author
Enter a new world of romantic fantasy from award-winning author N.E. Davenport—a journey of powerful magic, enemies-to-lovers, and political intrigue—as a warrior-princess and a vengeful king from rival fae courts form a fierce alliance to take down a merciless despot.
Princess of the Aether Dominion, Kadeesha wants nothing to do with fae politics. She is a warrior, first and foremost, and believes her greatest strength is leading her squadron of elite winged serpent flyers to protect her homeland. But bound since infancy to be betrothed to the Hyperion High King, ruler of all Dominions, she has no choice but to do what men have chosen for her.
Repulsed by the idea, she decides to spend one last night of freedom—in the arms of a dangerous stranger who takes her to sexual heights she’s never experienced before…but who is only using Kadeesha to set a trap for the High King.
For the High King and the kings of his six Dominions were responsible for the decimation of the Apollyon Court, and its new king, Malachi, wants his pounds of flesh.
On Kadeesha’s wedding day, Malachi and his special forces attack. Her father is killed, and Malachi wounds the High King, ultimately taking Kadeesha as hostage back to his land.
But she is no true hostage. The two form a pact: she will help lure the High King so Malachi can kill him once and for all, and he in turn will not harm Kadeesha or the Aether people. And as much as Kadeesha hates politics, she is now the Queen of her folk. Fae bonds are unbreakable…and so, perhaps, is the attraction Kadeesha and Malachi feel for each other. For even as they must publicly display their connection to provoke the High King’s jealousy, they struggle to resist the powerful allure between them in order to achieve their ultimate goals.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
I absolutely loved Our Vicious Oaths! The enemies-to-lovers romance was everything, and the found family completely stole my heart. I laughed, I cried, and felt every emotion along the way. This book pleasantly surprised me and turned out to be everything I wanted in a standalone fantasy romance. I highly recommend it! 💜📚✨
Our Vicious Oaths promised a romantasy with enemies to lovers, warring fae courts, dangerous magic, and enough political intrigue to make alliances feel like loaded weapons. N.E. Davenport certainly delivers all of those ingredients. Unfortunately, the execution left me wishing the story had been trimmed, tightened, and rewritten with a more mature narrative voice.
The novel opens with Princess Kadeesha of the Aether Dominion being betrothed to the High King Rishaud. This is an arranged political marriage that she never wanted, but she is obligated by her family to go through with the marriage to solidify their power. On the eve of the wedding, she spends one last night of freedom with a mysterious stranger in a brothel who turns out to be Malachizrien “Malachi” Diamundis. Malachi is the vengeful king of the fallen Apollyon Court. Rishaud attacks the wedding in a scene that feels like a repeat of the red wedding from Game of Thrones. Kadeesha’s family is slaughtered, Malachi rescues her, and she is taken back to Malachi's kingdom as a political captive and reluctant ally.
From there, the story is a mix of court politics, magical alliances, revenge plots, and a very intense sexual connection between Kadeesha and Malachi. Their relationship is built on hostility, attraction, and power sharing through blood and biting rituals that bind their magic together. The story is better if you understand that their relationship is the beating heart of the novel. The chemistry between Kadeesha and Malachi is undeniably strong. The intimate scenes are frequent and explicit. The biting bond between them adds an interesting magical element to their connection and hints at a deeper exploration of power, trust, and vulnerability between rulers of rival courts.
The novel struggles under the weight of its own ambition with the remaining plot points. Large portions of the story are devoted to explaining political alliances, war strategies, and court maneuvering in a way that often reads like a step-by-step briefing rather than organic storytelling. Instead of immersing the reader in the world, the narrative frequently pauses to list names, kingdoms, and strategic plans. The result is a pacing problem where the story feels padded with exposition while the more compelling elements, such as Kadeesha’s identity as a warrior and flame wielder, fade into the background for long stretches.
The writing style also undermines the tone of the setting. For a story rooted in fae courts and high fantasy politics, the dialogue often slips into very modern phrases like “be for real” and “be so serious.” Those moments pulled me out of the world repeatedly and made the prose feel immature alongside the complex political storyline seemed to require.
Characterization is similarly uneven. Malachi is written as a powerful and calculating king. Yet, he often behaves with the emotional maturity of a cocky teenager. His constant posturing about his strength and invincibility becomes exhausting rather than intimidating. Meanwhile, Kadeesha spends much of the novel reacting to events rather than driving them. Which is disappointing given that she is introduced as a capable warrior and leader.
By the final act, the book leans into several familiar romantasy tropes. Including a rare royal fae pregnancy and a climactic war with the tyrannical High King Rishaud. The ending resolves quickly once the battle finally arrives. Leaving the sense that hundreds of pages of political maneuvering ultimately led to a surprisingly tidy and rushed conclusion. Which is an odd feeling when the book sits at almost 18 hours of storytelling.
Where the audiobook truly shines is in the narration. Jeanette Illidge and Morris Kellswater both deliver strong performances! The choice to maintain consistent narrators for each character helps anchor the listening experience. Their delivery adds emotion and clarity to scenes that might otherwise feel bogged down in exposition.
Our Vicious Oaths has the bones of a compelling romantasy. The premise is dramatic, the world has potential, and the central relationship carries plenty of heat. I enjoyed the empowerment of women loving sex and being proud of it. I also enjoyed the Black representation, which is so important to have. Unfortunately, the novel is weighed down by excessive political exposition, uneven characterization, telling instead of showing, and writing choices that often break the immersion of its fantasy setting. Readers who enjoy heavy court intrigue and explicit romance may still find something to enjoy here. For me, this was a miss.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.