Star Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 - 4.5 stars (see my rating system)
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Genre: Romantasy
Read this book in a single sitting, would recommend to those who love a good enemies to lovers romantasy. Check out the detailed chapter by chapter recap if you’re interested in re-freshing your memory before reading
Items beyond the synopsis may contain spoilers.
"A Dawn of Onyx" follows Arwen Valondale, a healer living in the Kingdom of Amber. When war breaks out with the menacing Onyx Kingdom, Arwen's world is upended as her brother Ryder and friend Halden are conscripted into battle. Amidst the chaos, Arwen finds herself captured by Onyx soldiers and taken to the Kingdom of Onyx. Forced to use her healing abilities to survive, Arwen navigates her capture in the kingdom while looking for a path to escape. Along the way, she meets Kane, igniting a forbidden romance between captor and prisoner.
As the book progresses, Arwen discovers hidden truths about herself and the kingdoms around her, not all is as it seems. With each revelation, she grapples with difficult choices that will shape not only her destiny but also the fate of the kingdoms at war.
I'll be real – enemies to lovers is hands down my favorite trope (even if it's a bit overdone). And let me tell you, "A Dawn of Onyx" delivered on all fronts. The tension between the characters had me hooked from the start, and the slow burn had me flipping pages faster than I could keep up. The banter? On fire. I found myself chuckling at their witty exchanges more than once – it added that extra layer of fun to an already captivating story.
I found the setup of this book intriguing, with each kingdom aligned to a different precious stone and specializing in a different aspect (like Hunger Games). While there's definitely room for more world-building, I think this intentional approach adds to the journey of this book and mirror the FMC’s journey of discovery. Arwen's sheltered upbringing means she's learning about the world alongside the reader, which keeps things engaging. There is a lot of potential and I am eager to see how the world continues to unfold in the series.
Let's be real – this isn't the kind of book you're going to dissect for a deep literary analysis. But you know what? That's totally okay, because sometimes you just need a book that you can dive into and get lost in without overthinking it. And "A Dawn of Onyx" is exactly that kind of read. It's the perfect escape, filled with romance and intrigue, and I read it in a single sitting. So yeah, maybe it's not going to win any literary awards, but who cares when it's this much fun to read?
My favorite quotes from the book that made me fall in love with Arwen and Kane.
“I was furious with the man. So so furious. But I also wanted to lick his neck. It was complicated.”
“I love to listen to you explain medical practices,” he purred.
“And I’d love to listen to you fall off a cliff.”
“Perhaps I just like to watch you squirm in my presence.”
“She uses me for my fur and then kicks me to the curb. Women…”
Arwen lives in Amber land, a peaceful realm known for its harvest. Her brother, Ryder, goes off to war with the Onyx Kingdom, led by the villainous King Ravenwood. Arwen's mother is sick, and Arwen struggles with her inability to heal her. Ryder returns from war, having stolen a large coin purse. Arwen and Ryder must flee before the soldiers arrive.
Arwen return home for her mother's medicine but encounters Onyx soldiers, forcing her to use her healing abilities on a fallen solider in exchange for her own life. Arwen is taken by the Onyx soldiers to Shadow Hold, where she is imprisoned. She experiences a mental breakdown due to her fear of enclosed spaces. In the neighboring cell, she meets a fellow prisoner who is a shameless flirt who provides her with a fur robe.
Arwen begins her role as a healer in Shadow Hold, where she meets an old man and his daughter, Mari. She overhears conversations about the king's intentions and begins to realize the true nature of the Onyx Kingdom.Arwen meets Dagan in the apothecary. The mysterious prisoner from before comes in with a grievous injury. She heals him, and he later escapes through a window.
Arwen plots her escape and tricks a guard named Barney into leaving her cell semi unlocked. The mysterious prisoner returns to his cell, shameless banter ensues.Arwen escapes her cell and encounters Bert, who tries to take advantage of her. The mysterious prisoner, revealed to be King Ravenwood, intervenes and strikes a deal to keep Arwen and her family safe.
Arwen tells Dagan what happened the night before, he begins training her with a sword. There's tension between them, and Arwen starts developing feelings for Kane. Arwen meets Kane in the throne room and slaps him. Tension tension tension.Arwen writes a letter for Kane to deliver to her parents. Arwen and Mari discover a potential cure for her mother's illness. She embarks on a quest to find a rare herb in the forest
Arwen explores the forest with King Ravenwood, encountering signs of violence. One horse trope ensues. Arwen finds the herb she needs. She challenges Kane to a race and wins. Arwen's conflicted feelings for Kane intensify, leading to tension between them. More one horse trope ensues. Arwen learns more about the political tensions between the kingdoms.
Arwen and Mari plan to help Halden escape from prison. Arwen learns about Kane's past and realizes her growing feelings for him. Kane invites Arwen to listen into a strategy meeting. Arwen advises on a defense strategy to block a pass. Prisoners of war arrive, including Arwen's childhood crush, enter Halden. Dramatics ensue.
Halden admits his feelings for Arwen and calls her his future wife. Kane gets jealous and sentences him to die. Arwen visits Halden in prison where he basically admits he tied himself to her because he knew the king liked her. Arwen confronts Kane about his behavior, and they share intimate moments. Plans for Halden's escape are made.
Mari practices a cloaking spell to tell Halden when to plan his escape. Arwen trains with Dagan. Halden tells Arwen where to meet him at the night of the banquet.
Arwen becomes jealous of Kane's interactions with Princess Amelia. She confronts him, leading to steam. The explosion to free Halden is set off. Kane and Arwen get locked in a wine cellar. Arwen starts freaking out, Kane calms her down with some banter. Kane admits his feelings. All the heart flutters. nter forced proximity. Kane tells Arwen about the Fae and why Halden was really here. They almost kiss, Griffin interrupts.
Arwen wakes up and Kane is not there. She searches for the herb in the forest to cure her mother and encounters chimera. She almost accidentally kills them. She then saves them and heals them. After she gets attacked by a wolf and is momentarily saved by the chimera she just healed. The chimera dies and she is distraught. The wolf gravely injures her and Kane finally finds her.
Arwen recuperates, Kane freaks out and forgets to shave because he thinks she is going to die.
We find out Kane is Fae and Lazurus’ son. Previous times Kane has been injured and his friends have been due to his father’s mercenaries. They finally kiss.
Arwen and Griffin leave for Siren’s cove due to an impending attack. When they arrive, Arwen is jealous of the princess. Kane finds Arwen’s family. Arwen's family is reunited, she has a heart to heart with her mother.
Spice spice spice. They are interrupted by an attack on Siren's Cove.
The kingdom faces an attack, they can’t find Leigh so Arwen and Kane go to find her (because it always makes sense to put the King in grave danger while everyone else escapes). They find Leigh but are stopped when trying to escape.
We meet Lazurus. We find out about the prophecy. Apparently Kane was the black dragon all along. Epic battle ensures. Arwen finds out she is the last full-blooded fae. Her mom dies from a stray arrow. In her grief she unleashes a bunch of magic and kills the enemy army.
The story ends on a cliffhanger as Arwen prepares to face her destiny and to kill the king. She says she can’t trust Kane anymore (let’s see how long that lasts in book 2).
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