Throne in the Dark: Villains and Virtues, Book 1

Janna

SO GOOD

"Really just so so good. I couldn't put it down. Got me out of my reading slump, lifted my mood, just filled me with good fantasy feels. Damien and Amma are both such well-rounded characters they felt real, even though the setting is at times incredibly comic and goofy. At other times it's dramatic, romantic, sad, all the feels. It has everything I like: an actual slow-burn enemies to lovers romance, unique characters, complex world-building, great character arcs, a lot of thoughtfulness about good and evil, and just SO MUCH sheer fun fantasy adventure. It's got it all, heroes, villains, dragons, goblins, elves, fae, multiple planes of existence, magic, witches, vampires, demons, gods and goddesses, EVERYTHING, yet it all works and never feels over-stuffed. Damien's character arc is just...MY HEART. He really is villainous but he's also a giant cinnamon roll, and all he goes through and that Amma goes through with him is worth it. Also have to give a shout out for his demon dad, Zagadoth, who is such a dad even while imprisoned in a crystal. Amma coming into her own power both magically and personally is a wonderful ride, and she becomes incredibly powerful without losing her extreme kindness. Kindness and love is the overriding "good" in the world of the book, which I agree with. I have to say as well that I really liked Xander, but you'll have to be patient with him, because he's also very punchable and annoying lol. His little frenemy/brother thing with Damien is too cute. Can't forget Kaz the imp either!! He starts off so unpleasant but Amma's kindness is never defeated. The only quibbles I have are that the beginning is slow, bogged down with info-dumping, but the info is interesting and all becomes important later on, so I see why it's there. The third book suffers a bit from the third LOTR movie syndrome where you keep thinking you've reached the ending and you haven't, and there are SO many disasters and death packed in there at the end of the third one I just wanted to get through it all and find out how it ends, but it's extremely satisfying once it does. I know when I reread this, which I will, that I'll read it more slowly to get all the details I rushed through the first time. It truly kept me from sleeping and I've read the whole trilogy in three days. Worth every second. Can't recommend this enough, I loved it! ["

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November 6, 2023 Verified Purchase

Anna

Jump right in!

"What a great start to an amazing trilogy! Although it takes a little bit for the story to really pick up, by the time the journey is really afoot, you really come to appreciate the world and characters, all their quirks and nuances. In the end, I appreciate that the author trusts the reader enough to throw them right into story and find their footing as the plot unfurls. ["

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July 20, 2024 Verified Purchase

Breanne

Hilariously unserious (but serious???) epic fantasy romcom

"Well, that was a pleasant surprise! How on earth can a book with an amazing plot and beautiful writing be so unserious and humorous? The fourth wall is occasionally broken, but it does not pull you from the story- instead it adds to the overall hilarity of this epic fantasy romcom. Our villain, aptly named Damien, is half-demon, half-human and evil incarnate. Well, supposedly. The story building around his realm is intricate but absolutely ridiculous with names like “Zagadoth the Tempestuous, Ninth Lord of the Infernal Darkness and Abyssal Tyrant of the Sanguine Throne” and a cultist named “Eternal Crud.” You can’t help but laugh while being sucked into the wild demon filled world. Damien is on a mission to save his demon father from his banishment. In an unfortunate turn of events, Damien runs into the incessant ray of sunshine that is Amma. He hates her. He can’t kill her for various reasons but is forced to bring her along on the journey. Damien calls upon an overly eager imp (Kaz) to join them. Throughout their journey we see Amma’s innate goodness start to affect Damien’s villainy. She even points out his “resting villain face.” This is the ultimate grumpy/sunshine book, with a very very slow burn. It’s romantasy with lots of comedy, all tied up in a very unique world with a distinct magic system. The author pokes fun at the gravity of serious situations with chapter titles like, “The Futility of Finding Humor in Every Chapter of a Romantic Comedy.” Even being so silly, the characters are very well developed within a captivating story. I was laughing, kicking my feet, giggling, and frantically trying to figure out what was next in the serious parts. I would highly recommend this book to, well, everyone! I can’t wait to dive into the second book. ["

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June 10, 2024 Verified Purchase

Brandon Perry

Why isn’t more people talking about this?

"4 3.4/5🌟 what a fun high fantasy romcom. I don’t typically reach for romcoms, but I have to admit, this is a good one! A handsome shadow Demon Prince, and a lovely young maiden, with a secret all her own, collide in the dark world of the Demons. Really interesting world full of light magic and blood magic. Quite an interesting system and I’m looking forward to read more about in the next book. Grumpy meets sunshine with enemies to lovers. Not true enemies to lovers, but very annoyed and grumpy all the time then fall for each other in this slow burn story. The slow burn burns in a good way, let me tell you! Not spicy, but the fantasy adventure is pretty good and a lot of fun. With a little ugly demon sidekick to add to the mix! I love the dual POV that you get to understand both sides. You get to understand both the main characters and get to know them. Love love love. Honestly, I don’t know why more people aren’t talking about the series?! Really well written and a fun read! Never a dull moment! A lot of inner monologue, but it goes by quickly with the adventure. Cute, funny, quick read, high fantasy romcom. Can’t wait to dive into the next book, and it’s a completed trilogy! 4 3.4/5🌟 1/5🌶️ Enjoy my Bookish friends and remember, if you like/love a book talk about it! ["

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September 13, 2024 Verified Purchase

M

Silly, sweet, and just a touch of spice

"This book made me laugh more often than I expected. The world-building felt natural and I loved the dynamics between the main characters. The setting felt real and lived-in. The romance is an incredibly slow burn, but Caggiano is masterful at keeping the tension believable. My main complaints about Throne In The Dark are first, that certain spelling and grammar mistakes never got caught in editing (there are several, but I was most thrown off by an instance of “rung” as in a bell, incorrectly being used instead of “ringing” as in encircling.) Second, the pacing of the plot at the end of the book felt rushed, and several characters introduced in the last third felt quite flat and one dimensional— the guard Tia being the primary example. I imagine she will be more fleshed out in the next book, but even held up against total throwaway characters from earlier parts of the adventure, Tia barely feels like a person by the time she’s entrusted with some pretty important things. All this being said, the book was overall a delight and I will absolutely be reading the next volume. ["

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February 23, 2026 Verified Purchase