Wings so Wicked by Emily Blackwood

Title: Wings so Wicked

Author: Emily Blackwood

Genre: N/A, Fantasy

Series: Golden City # 1

Paperback, 380 pages 

Publication: January 12, 2024 by
Source: Personal library 
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Huntyr has fought for survival her entire life. Raised under Lord, the master of assassins in Midgrave, she has spent over twenty years learning to kill the blood-hungry, depraved vampyres that lurk in the darkness. Huntyr is the most lethal fae in the kingdom, which is why Lord chooses her to complete the next mission.

Huntyr must survive Moira Seminary and make it into The Golden City—the mysterious elite society of the few remaining angels and the magic fae who live in luxury with no crime, no poverty, and certainly no vampyres.

Only when she arrives at the academy, she’s forced to room with Wolf—the terrifying fallen angel who happens to know her assassin identity.

Determined to keep her head down in Moira, Huntyr tries her best to ignore Wolf. Over time, though, he not only becomes the only person she can lean on, but the one who might keep her alive through the life-threatening tests to get into The Golden City.

MY THOUGHTS

I was so excited for Wings so Wicked – it seemed right up my alley. I mean, who doesn't love a good story of opposites attracting? In this novel, we follow a Vampire Assassin and a Vampire who must set aside their differences and collaborate to gain entry into the elusive Golden City. Only a chosen few get the chance to prove their skills at Moira Seminary, a school for the gifted, and the stakes are high – it's either the Golden City or death.

Wings so Wicked started off promising. I appreciated that the action kicked in early, thrusting our main protagonist, Huntyr, into Moira where she faced grueling training and obstacles. Unfortunately, the initial excitement didn't last, and the book went downhill. The scenes became incredibly choppy and jarring, lacking smooth transitions between scenes and dialogues. Another significant issue was with the characters – the interactions and dialogues fell flat. I didn’t connect with Huntyr or Wolf, and even their interactions felt forced. It was insta-love, but not the good kind. Despite being familiar with the alpha male and stubborn female trope, this was an absolute no for me. Wolf came off as more controlling than protective, and Huntyr's tough exterior seemed inconsistent with her projection of insecurities onto others. When everything inevitably crashed and burned, she turned more self-deprecating. It was annoying.

 As I reached the end of the novel, my interest dwindled, and I found myself not caring about the fate of the characters. I contemplated giving up, but I was already too deep into the book, and reaching the end felt like a relief. Personally, I cannot recommend this book and consider it a time-waster. If you're seeking a vampire-themed story with challenges, I suggest exploring The Serpent and the Wings of Night. I'm genuinely perplexed by the positive reviews and high ratings. Well, to each their own.