The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent (2022 fiction)

As a current lover of all things Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros, and a former Twilight fanatic, I find this book to be a pure gem. Set within an empire-building age of familiarity, the protagonist is a woman like no other, Oraya. Her struggles and successes in finding her power had me cheering her on each page as she balanced a gauntlet-like challenge with the imposing struggle of the creatures within the world around her – vampires and humans – and an epic love story that gives Bella/Edward, Bryce/Hunt, and Xaden/Violet a run for their money. I could not put it down.

Reviewed by Andrea Struve