Book: Melodies of the Damned by Nakita Kirwan
Reviewed by Nikkisnightreads
If you are looking for a dark fantasy romantasy that will swallow you whole, Melodies of the Damned is your next obsession. From the very first page, the atmosphere is incredibly intense and the world-building is so immersive you can practically feel the shadows closing in.
At the heart of it all is Lyra, a heroine who is the definition of resilient. After a lifetime of being told to hide her true self, she finally snaps and rebels against her father’s wishes right out of the gate—a move that sets a high-stakes tone for her entire journey. Watching her discover her unique magic and realize exactly what she is capable of was easily one of my favorite parts of the story.
Then, there is the romance. This is Enemies to Lovers to Fated Mates done to perfection. The Commander of Death is the ultimate brooding shadow daddy... and he’s shirtless for approximately 90% of the book, which I am definitely not complaining about. 🥵 The yearning and top-notch banter kept me on the edge of my seat, and the slow burn? It was a literal forest fire.
The side characters really made this world feel alive, and Solas is an absolute gem who added so much heart to the found family dynamic. But be warned: the plot twists are masterfully done, and the betrayal in this book hurt. The author knows exactly how to twist the knife, and that cliffhanger is the definition of "cliffhangery." I’m still screaming!