The Ascended (The Aesymarean Duet)
Parker Lennox
by Liv Zander
Isolde is a woman defined by her perceived purity, but in the brutal, shadow-drenched realm of the Court of Ravens, innocence is a dangerous liability. When she is abducted by two enigmatic raven shifters, she finds herself thrust into a treacherous game of power, vengeance, and ancient blood feuds. Her captors are not heroes; they are vicious, morally gray predators who view her as both a pawn in their political schemes and a target for their conflicting impulses.
The dynamic between them is a volatile tug-of-war. One captor offers a seductive, albeit dark, sanctuary beneath his wings, seeking a path toward redemption through her. The other is driven by a cold, unrelenting need to see her shattered, viewing her existence as a debt to be paid in pain.
Trapped between their clashing desires, Isolde must navigate a landscape of lethal secrets and shifting allegiances. As she is pulled deeper into their twisted world, she faces an impossible choice: surrender to the encroaching darkness of her captors or fight to reclaim a destiny that threatens to slip through her fingers. In this dark fantasy, survival requires more than strength—it requires embracing the very monsters who hold her captive.
Jean S.Dangerously Dark Fantasy Romance is unputdownable!
"Holy Hallelujah! Yes! This book had me praying for these poor, broken souls! Liv Zander has blown me away with Book 1 "Feathers So Vicious" of her newest dark fantasy romance series, "Court of Ravens." I absolutely couldn't put this book down! Ms. Zander's book blurb sets the book up for her readers, so rather than recap the book, let me tell you why I loved this book and would rate it so highly. * First and foremost, the author has created three main characters in this book, who are my all-time favorite characters, ever! They are so intensely complicated and broken. Maylr, the villain, is dark, sadistic, complicated, and the most broken of them all, and a villain you'll love to hate. Sebian is the tortured soul who still grieves and blames himself for past mistakes. And, Galantia, the beautiful enemy for these two men, has never known what it truly feels like to be loved. * Second, the author builds us a wonderfully descriptive fantasy world, with raven shifters in a period where we have kings, dukes, castles, dungeons, intrigue, torture, dark shadows, magic, and so much more. You can almost feel the pain inflicted on these tortured characters. You are literally left breathless in anticipation, as events unfold. * Last, but most importantly, is the writing. This author's style is incomparable. She weaves a story full of twists, and with such intensity, I was on the edge of my seat while reading this book. This book has so many elements: clues, twists, betrayal, enlightenment, dark, emotional, and steamy romance. It is all brought together so flawlessly. Warning: There are trigger warnings from the author. Read them. This book ends with a cliffhanger, which left me desperate for Book 2. But, this wait will be the sweetest torture! (Which is another reason I adore this writer's work!) ["
August 23, 2023 Verified Purchase
Eileen CharetteBuy the hard copy. You’ll be reading this again
"I can’t spoil it, and if I start writing, I’ll definitely put in spoilers. Suffice it to say that I have bought three different editions of this dueology. It’s that good. ["
April 28, 2026 Verified Purchase
AdamsImpressive story crafting but buyer beware
"Extremely well written, well edited self-published novel. The character development and plot line had me hooked until the end (which did not disappoint.) This is a dark fantasy to the highest degree of “dark” so if you are triggered by rape and torture, this is not the book for you. If you can get on board with this story being complete fiction, it is impressively well-crafted. The spicy scenes are a bit raw/vulgar and language is repetitive which made me suspect this was written by a man. Emotional depth does emerge closer to the end. This is not a book for the faint of heart. I will be buying book two! ["
November 30, 2025 Verified Purchase
JuanitaEmotional Wreck
"I'm very well-read - from science manuals to poetry and I've never read a more nuanced, sensual, engaging, emotional and gut-wrenching series. Liv, I love you and thank you for your magic. Just finished book two, no spoilers here but be prepared for shock and awe. Literally. I turned right around and started reading book 1 again so I could relive. Very few of my reviews get a 5 star rating, but here its not even near enough. I became so emotionally tied to the characters that I actually miss them - many days later, they will stay with me for a LONG time. I'm keep these books to treasure again and again. Sebian..... Spice is a 5, drama and plot twists a 5. ["
March 25, 2024 Verified Purchase