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Cover of Of Blades and Wings

Of Blades and Wings

by Eliza Raine

🌶️🌶️mild·Flame Cursed Fae #1
3.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.0 on Goodreads (22,682)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

You'll get a satisfying slow-burn enemies-to-lovers arc with intense emotional payoff and epic fantasy stakes.

Synopsis

If I am to survive Valkyrie training, I must earn my wings. If I am to survive Kain, I must make a choice that could burn our world to ash. I’m broken. My fae magic doesn’t work and nobody knows I exist. My sister, on the other hand, is bound for glory. She has been selected to train to be a Valkyrie at the mythical Featherblade Hall. I am destined to die alone, in my tower. Only, when the Valkyrie come to collect my sister, they take me instead. I’m not the only one who thinks they’ve made a terrible mistake. Every other fae here is waiting for me to die. Except one. Kain, the disgraced fire-fae combat trainer. The gods took his wings away, he can’t leave Featherblade, and he makes no secret of his blazing desire for revenge. And somehow, he knows I’m the only one who can help him. He doesn’t know my secret, thank the fates, but his burning gaze never leaves me. I know I should avoid him. I can’t think straight when he’s near me, and he’s as lethal as Featherblade is. But, the only thing harder than earning my wings and becoming a Valkyrie? Conquering my searing obsession with the unhinged fire-fae, before it gets everyone killed. Fae Vikings meet romantasy in this enemies to lovers series in an academy/war college setting. If you love villain gets the girl stories and obsessive burn-the-world-down-for-her MMCs then this is for you. The spice is deliciously slow-burn and builds with each book.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Norse mythology meets fae academy in this enemies-to-lovers opener where a broken ice-fae princess trains to become a Valkyrie while a villainous fire-fae prince wants her destroyed—or maybe devoured. Raine leans hard into the obsessive MMC archetype and the forbidden-touch tension carries the whole first half. Spice builds slowly across the series, so book 1 is more tension and anticipation than payoff. The Viking fae worldbuilding with elemental courts and Odin's war college gives it a distinct flavor compared to standard fae romantasy. Cliffhanger ending, so commit to the series.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

3.98 ★ (22.7k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

300 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2024

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

M/F

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (unspecified)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Lia Holl, Gabriel Thorne

Narrator Count

Multiple

Narration Style

Dual

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
forced proximityfated matesrevenge romancesecret relationshipvillain gets the girlforbidden lovegames/trials romancetraining partners to lovers
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

darkintenseadventurousromanticangstyepicatmospheric

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

immersiveatmosphericpunchy

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

fast

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

heavy

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

medium

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

fae courts and politicsforbidden desire

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

survivorwarrior/fighterreluctant chosen one

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

villain MMCdark/tortured soulpossessive alphafae prince

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

enemies to loversmutual piningforbidden lovefated matesslow burnwho did this to you

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
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Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

intense / passionateemotional / loving

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

possessive/protectivetensionanticipationsize difference focus

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (7)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencegraphic violencedeathkidnappingtraumacaptivitywar
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

fae realm / faerie courtshigh fantasymythological

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

academy / campuswar front / rebellionforest / wilderness

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

faevalkyriesdragonsshiftersgods/deities

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

tension finally satisfiedthe angst deliveredaddictive read

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

vacationat nightcan't sleepcozy evening

this page is just the start

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.300
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2024
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.3.98 ★ (22.7k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Flame Cursed Fae #1
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