N.E. Davenport’s latest standalone fantasy romance ventures into uncharted territory for the author, trading her science fiction roots for a world drenched in fae politics, shadow magic, and forbidden desire. Our Vicious Oaths delivers precisely what its title promises—vicious characters bound by equally vicious circumstances, navigating a labyrinth of power, prophecy, and passion that refuses to follow anyone’s rules.
The novel opens with Archprincess Kadeesha Mercier returning from battle, kongamato blood still fresh on her hands, only to face a fate she considers worse than death: marriage to Rishaud, the tyrannical Hyperion High King. Davenport wastes no time establishing Kadeesha as a warrior first and princess second, a woman who commands winged serpent riders called the Nkita and would rather wield aether flames than wear a wedding gown. Her desperate bid for freedom leads her to Oleander House for one final night of autonomy, where she encounters a dangerously alluring stranger who awakens hungers she never knew existed.
The Intricate Web of Deception
What begins as a steamy encounter transforms into something far more sinister when that mysterious stranger reveals himself as Malachizrien Diamundis, the newly ascended king of the Apollyon Court, during Kadeesha’s wedding ceremony. His attack decimates both courts, kills her father, and leaves her betrothed maimed but alive. The revelation that Malachi used their night together as part of an elaborate trap to strike at his enemies is both brutal and brilliant—a testament to Davenport’s willingness to craft morally complex protagonists who prioritize vengeance over virtue.
The bargain Kadeesha strikes to save her injured sister becomes the foundation for an enemies-to-lovers dance that crackles with tension. Davenport excels at creating friction between two powerful individuals who recognize each other as threats yet cannot deny their magnetic attraction. Their relationship unfolds through a series of strategic maneuvers where neither fully trusts the other, yet both must rely on their partnership to achieve their individual goals. The author’s handling of the power dynamics deserves particular praise—Kadeesha never becomes a damsel despite being technically a hostage, and Malachi’s overwhelming power never diminishes her agency as a warrior and monarch in her own right.
A World Built on Blood and Starlight
Davenport constructs a richly detailed fae world divided between the southern Six Kingdoms and the northern Apollyon Court, separated by the imposing Yunna Mountains. Each court wields distinct magical abilities that reflect their cultural identities. The Aether fae command the fifth element that binds all matter together, manifesting as devastating purple flames. The Apollyon fae draw upon void magic—darkness so cold and absolute it devours light and life alike. Meanwhile, the Hyperion king wields solar magic, and the elemental courts control fire, water, wind, and stone.
The magic system feels both primal and sophisticated, with Davenport exploring how these powers interact during combat and intimate moments. The concept of Markings—magical bonds created through blood exchange during passion—adds delicious complexity to the romance, tying Kadeesha and Malachi together in ways neither anticipated. These Markings amplify their magical compatibility while creating dangerous vulnerabilities, forcing both warriors to reconsider what strength truly means.
The kongamatos, massive winged serpents bonded to their riders, provide one of the novel’s most striking elements. Kadeesha’s relationship with her kongamato Zahzah reads as genuine partnership rather than simple beast mastery, adding emotional depth to the aerial combat sequences that punctuate the narrative.
Characters Who Refuse to Be Tamed
The Warrior Queen
Kadeesha emerges as a protagonist who embodies contradictions without apology. She commands respect through martial prowess while navigating the constraints placed on women in her patriarchal society. Her journey from reluctant bride to self-determined queen feels earned rather than convenient. Davenport writes Kadeesha’s internal struggles with nuance—her bloodthirsty urges, her tactical brilliance, her capacity for both mercy and ruthlessness. The character’s evolution from viewing the pregnancy as an obstacle to recognizing it as a strategic asset showcases sophisticated character development that transcends simple romance tropes.
However, some readers may find Kadeesha’s rapid emotional shifts toward Malachi inconsistent. One moment she’s plotting his death, the next she’s melting into his arms. While the Markings provide magical justification for their accelerated bond, the emotional whiplash occasionally undermines the authenticity of her transformation from enemy to lover. The character deserves more space to process her conflicting loyalties before surrendering to passion.
The Shadow King
Malachi proves equally complex—a monarch shaped by trauma who wields cruelty as both weapon and shield. His willingness to massacre entire populations in pursuit of vengeance makes him genuinely difficult to romanticize, which serves as both strength and weakness in the narrative. Davenport doesn’t shy from depicting Malachi’s brutality, yet she also reveals the wounded boy beneath the ruthless king’s exterior. His protectiveness toward Kadeesha and their unborn child showcases vulnerability that humanizes his darker impulses.
The supporting cast enriches the world considerably. Kadeesha’s Nkita sisters Leisha and Samira provide fierce loyalty and distinct personalities. Malachi’s inner circle—his aunt Nychelle, cousin Trystin, and his Cadre of warriors—create a found family dynamic that grounds his characterization beyond mere villain or love interest. Even antagonists like the treacherous Rishaud feel motivated by comprehensible desires for power and control rather than cartoonish evil.
Pacing That Breathes Fire
Davenport maintains breakneck pacing throughout the first half, propelling readers from wedding massacre to political intrigue to magical combat with relentless energy. The action sequences demonstrate her skill at choreographing complex battles involving multiple magic systems while keeping the emotional stakes clear. The challenge fight where Kassius attempts to claim the Apollyon throne showcases how personal and political conflicts interweave seamlessly in this world.
Yet the novel stumbles in its midsection when the plot pauses for extended romantic interludes. While the explicit content delivers scorching chemistry between the protagonists, the sheer frequency of intimate scenes occasionally stalls narrative momentum. Readers seeking more political maneuvering and less bedroom gymnastics may find themselves skimming passages. The balance tilts heavily toward romance over fantasy in these chapters, which may disappoint those drawn primarily to the world-building and court intrigue.
The final act recovers admirably, building toward the confrontation with Rishaud through strategic alliance-building with the vassal kings. Davenport’s decision to resolve conflicts through cunning political moves rather than purely martial strength demonstrates maturity in her plotting. The pregnancy subplot, initially concerning, transforms into the linchpin of their strategy—using prophecy against those who wielded it as justification for tyranny proves satisfyingly ironic.
Spice and Shadows: The Romance Element
Our Vicious Oaths earns its adult rating through numerous explicit scenes that range from passionate to primal. Davenport writes intimacy with unabashed enthusiasm, crafting encounters that emphasize the power dynamics and emotional complexity between her protagonists. The scenes serve dual purposes—advancing the relationship while exploring how their magic intertwines during moments of vulnerability. The void and aether magic tangling during passion creates visually striking imagery that elevates the encounters beyond mere physicality.
However, the abundance of explicit content may overwhelm readers seeking more balanced storytelling. The novel includes at least a dozen detailed intimate scenes, which some may find excessive. Additionally, the speed with which Kadeesha and Malachi fall into bed together—despite their mutual distrust and conflicting agendas—sometimes strains credulity. Their initial encounter at Oleander House makes sense as impulsive passion, but subsequent trysts feel less justified by circumstance and more driven by plot convenience.
The emotional arc of their romance works better than its pacing. Watching two wounded, powerful individuals gradually lower their defenses and acknowledge genuine feeling beneath strategic maneuvering provides the story’s emotional core. Their journey from enemies using each other to partners choosing each other feels genuine by the novel’s conclusion, even if the path there occasionally rushes through important emotional beats.
Themes of Power and Agency
Beneath the passion and politics, Davenport explores substantive themes about power’s corrupting influence and the cost of vengeance. Both Kadeesha and Malachi begin the story viewing power through narrow lenses—she sees it as freedom from patriarchal constraints, he sees it as the means to avenge his murdered parents. Their relationship forces both to examine whether power wielded through tyranny differs from the oppression they’ve suffered.
Our Vicious Oaths interrogates prophecy’s role in perpetuating systems of control. Rishaud uses divine proclamation to justify his conquest, positioning himself as fate’s chosen instrument. Kadeesha and Malachi’s subversion of this prophecy—using Kadeesha’s pregnancy to claim the same divine mandate—demonstrates how power structures manipulate belief to serve their agendas. That the couple then struggles with whether to perpetuate similar tyranny under their own rule adds welcome moral complexity.
Davenport also examines agency within arranged marriages and political alliances. Kadeesha’s resistance to being sold like “cattle” for political advantage resonates throughout, even as she eventually chooses marriage on her own terms. The distinction between coerced partnership and conscious choice becomes crucial to her character development and the romance’s ultimate success.
Technical Execution: The Prose and Structure
Davenport’s prose alternates between lyrical and blunt, matching her characters’ dueling natures. Action sequences crackle with kinetic energy, employing short, punchy sentences that mirror combat’s intensity. Romantic scenes luxuriate in sensory detail, occasionally verging on purple prose but generally maintaining readability. The author demonstrates particular skill in writing magical confrontations, making abstract powers like void and aether feel tangible and dangerous.
Dialogue captures distinct character voices effectively. Kadeesha’s directness contrasts nicely with Malachi’s theatrical declarations, while secondary characters maintain individual speech patterns that prevent them from blending together. The banter between protagonists sparkles with wit and sexual tension, though occasional modern colloquialisms jar against the epic fantasy setting.
Structurally, the novel follows a relatively straightforward three-act progression punctuated by major confrontations. While functional, this approach feels somewhat predictable for readers familiar with fantasy romance conventions. The climactic battle, while satisfying, resolves more quickly than the extensive buildup suggests it should. Additional complications or reversals might have heightened the dramatic payoff.
Representation and World-Building Details
In Our Vicious Oaths, Davenport explicitly identifies her fae as melanated, centering Black characters in a high fantasy romance that typically defaults to European-inspired settings and white protagonists. This representation feels organic rather than performative, woven naturally into character descriptions and world details. The dedication acknowledges this intentional choice, celebrating Black fantasy readers who have long loved stories featuring characters who look like them.
The political landscape’s complexity deserves acknowledgment. Six vassal kingdoms owing fealty to an overlord, with the seventh kingdom existing as perpetual outsider, creates rich potential for intrigue. The historical animosity between northern and southern fae, rooted in ancient schisms over religious worship and resources, provides believable foundation for current conflicts. Davenport hints at deeper lore—the Apollyon Court as humanity’s cradle, the Celestials’ role in creating division—without drowning readers in exposition.
Minor world-building inconsistencies occasionally surface. The kongamatos’ capabilities seem to shift based on plot requirements, and the rules governing magical teleportation lack consistency. These quibbles don’t derail the overall experience but might frustrate readers who prioritize rigid magic systems.
Comparing to the Author’s Previous Work
For readers familiar with Davenport’s Blood Gift Duology (The Blood Trials and The Blood Gift), Our Vicious Oaths represents a significant tonal shift. The science fiction elements, political intrigue of a militaristic society, and blood magic trials give way to traditional fantasy romance. Both series feature fierce warrior heroines navigating corrupt systems, but this standalone leans harder into romantic and sexual tension while maintaining the author’s signature brutal action sequences.
The transformation proves largely successful, though Davenport’s background in science fiction occasionally shows through in her approach to magic as systematic rather than mystical. Readers who loved the Blood Gift books for their intricate plotting and slower-burn romance may find this faster-paced, more explicitly sexual narrative requires adjustment.
Who Will Love This Book
Our Vicious Oaths will captivate readers who:
- Crave morally gray protagonists who embrace darkness alongside light
- Enjoy high-heat romance with enemies-to-lovers dynamics
- Appreciate complex political intrigue woven with fantasy action
- Seek representation of melanated characters in epic fantasy
- Love powerful heroines who refuse to be diminished by male counterparts
- Don’t mind explicit sexual content integrated throughout the narrative
- Enjoy fae mythology reimagined through original magic systems
Our Vicious Oaths may disappoint those seeking:
- Slow-burn romance with extended emotional development
- Fantasy-first narratives where romance remains secondary
- Protagonists with clear moral boundaries
- Stories that avoid graphic violence or sexual content
- Intricate magic systems with rigid, consistent rules
Similar Reads for Continued Exploration
Readers who enjoy Our Vicious Oaths might also appreciate:
- A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas – For fae politics, passionate romance, and morally complex love interests
- From Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Features powerful heroines, steamy romance, and political intrigue
- The Bridge Kingdom series by Danielle L. Jensen – Enemies-to-lovers between warriors with political machinations
- Serpent & Dove by Shelby Mahurin – Forced proximity romance with magical conflicts
- The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller – Dark romance with ambitious protagonists seeking power
Final Verdict: A Passionate, Flawed Triumph
Our Vicious Oaths succeeds more than it stumbles, delivering a fantasy romance that refuses to soften its edges for mass appeal. Davenport crafts protagonists who feel genuinely dangerous to each other and themselves, creating tension that sparks beyond mere sexual attraction into questions of trust, power, and transformation. The world-building provides sturdy foundation for the romance, even if occasionally sacrificed for extended intimate scenes.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in Davenport’s commitment to her characters’ complexity. Neither Kadeesha nor Malachi becomes “fixed” by love—they remain flawed, occasionally brutal individuals who choose to build something better together without erasing who they fundamentally are. This nuanced approach to character development elevates the romance beyond simple passion into genuine partnership.
Its weakness manifests in pacing inconsistencies and the sheer volume of explicit content overwhelming other narrative elements. The midsection sag could benefit from tighter editing, and some readers may wish for more fantasy adventure and less bedroom activity.
For those seeking a fantasy romance that delivers both heat and heart, political intrigue and passionate encounters, warrior queens and shadow kings who refuse to be tamed, Our Vicious Oaths provides satisfying escapism with enough substance to linger in memory long after the final page. It marks N.E. Davenport’s successful pivot into traditional fantasy while maintaining the fierce, uncompromising voice that distinguished her previous work.
- Recommended for: Adult readers comfortable with explicit content seeking enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance with complex political intrigue and morally gray protagonists.
- Content warnings: Explicit sexual content, graphic violence, blood and gore, trauma references, pregnancy, war/battle scenes.
