MoodReads - Romance Book Discovery
The Stacks
DiscoverMy ShelvesReading Stats
Sign upLog in
MoodReads - Romantasy Book Discovery

because goodreads doesn't
have a spice filter

Discover

  • Discover Page
  • Reading Stacks
  • Tropes
  • Moods
  • Creatures
  • Spicy Books

Get MoodReads

  • so what is it.
  • iOS App
  • Browser Extension
  • MoodReads Premium
  • Gift a Subscription
  • For Creators
  • Share MoodReads

Go Deeper

  • FAQ
  • Roadmap
  • Request a Feature
  • vs Goodreads
  • vs StoryGraph
  • Who Built This?

The Serious Stuff

  • Values
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Support

get emails when something big happens. no spam, just news.

© 2026 MoodReads. Built by a romantasy reader for romantasy readers.

rattle the stars, bitches.

Cover of Destroy the Day

Destroy the Day

by Brigid Kemmerer

🌶️fade to black·Defy the Night #3
5.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.2 on Goodreads (24,060)

Rate this book

sign in to add to shelves, track reading status, and see your stats

find similar →
ReportSpoiler settings

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?

The trilogy conclusion delivers on every thread Kemmerer has been weaving. Yes, Tessa and Corrick spend most of the book apart, but that separation drives the tension to a breaking point. The addition of King Harristan's POV adds unexpected emotional depth, and the political intrigue reaches its sharpest. Bring tissues.

Synopsis

Left for dead, but desperate to survive . . . they have one last chance to save their kingdom. Prince Corrick is out of options. Held captive by the vicious Oren Crane, he’s desperate to reunite with Tessa, but will need to ally with the rebel leader Lochlan, who until now wished him dead. An unlikely but deadly pair, Corrick and Lochlan must plot their next moves carefully. An island away, Tessa Cade is heartbroken and angry. Grieving Corrick, and unsure how to find a way back to Kandala, she doesn’t know who to trust. Until Rian—the man she trusts least—makes an offer: aid in a plot to finally oust Oren Crane and see what the future holds . . . Meanwhile in Kandala, Harristan is dethroned and on the run. He’s struggling to unite the rebels in his fractured kingdom, but he finds support—and maybe more—in unexpected places. Can Harristan be the king his people need? Can Corrick and Tessa find their way back to each other? As outside threats loom and the fires of revolution burn from within, time is running out to save their kingdom. In the thrilling conclusion to the Defy the Night series, Brigid Kemmerer crafts heartrending twists and devastating turns that will keep readers breathless to the very end.

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

The emotionally devastating finale of the Defy the Night trilogy. Three POVs (Tessa, Corrick, Harristan) carry separate storylines that converge in a satisfying resolution. Corrick is captive, Tessa is stranded abroad, and King Harristan discovers an unexpected love with Quint. Clear your schedule—this 500+ page YA fantasy picks up speed and does not let go. Keep tissues nearby.

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.

4.19 ★ (24.1k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

550 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).

Multi-POV

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.

Full Cast

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Chase Brown, Christopher Ragland, Lexie McDougall

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
slow burnforbidden lovesacrifice/martyrdomsecret allianceforced alliancesecond chance
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

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

tenseemotionalbittersweetdramaticintensehopefulepicangsty

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

emotionaldramaticsuspensefulearnestimmersive

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

medium

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.

high

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

page turner

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

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

healerrebel leader / revolutionarysurvivor

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

brooding princesecretly softdark/tortured soulreluctant hero

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.

slow burnmutual piningforbidden lovestar-crossedonly one who understands themhe falls first

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
Spice Level 1

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

tension / anticipation focusromantic / sweetfade to black

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

longing glancestouch starvationpossessive/protectivejaw holding / face cuppingneck kisses / neck touching

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. (8)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
violencedeathgraphic violencemurdertraumawarcaptivityimprisonment
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.

high fantasy

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.

royal court / palacewar front / rebellionship / at sea

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

humans only

RepresentationIdentity representation in the book. LGBTQ+, race/ethnicity, disability, neurodivergence, body type, age and more.

gayqueer

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.

the angst deliveredtension finally satisfiedcathartic releaseromantic fulfillmentearned hopebook hangover

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.

cozy eveningrainy weekendvacationat night

Defy the Night

Defy the Night (Defy the Night, #1)

#1 Defy the Night (Defy the Night, #1)

Defend the Dawn

#2 Defend the Dawn

Destroy the Day

#3 Destroy the Day

this page is just the start

  • import your Goodreads or StoryGraph TBR. we tag every book with spice, tropes, CWs, mood, all of it
  • tell us a vibe (“enemies to lovers fae, high spice”) and BookMatch finds the book
  • 4,000+ romantasy books searchable by 45 fields
  • book clubs, reading challenges, and a community of readers who get it
free account

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.🌶️fade to black
PagesHow long the commitment is.550
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2024
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.19 ★ (24.1k)
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.

Defy the Night #3
Similar picks →

My Notes

Loading...

Short Takes

quick 280-character reactions for this book. drop a thought, rate the vibe, keep scrolling.

Sign in to share your take.

Loading...

Book Chat

live reactions, hot takes, screaming into the void about Destroy the Day

Similar Books

Cover of The Everlasting

The Everlasting

Alix E. Harrow

🌶️🌶️🌶️·second person
reincarnation romancetime-spanning loveforbidden love
Cover of Fearless

Fearless

The Powerless Trilogy, #3

Lauren Roberts

🌶️·dual POV
arranged marriageforced proximitylove triangle
Cover of Ruin and Rising

Ruin and Rising

Shadow and Bone, #3

Leigh Bardugo

🌶️·first person
love trianglecursed love interestmagic bond
Cover of Prince's Gambit (Captive Prince, #2)

Prince's Gambit (Captive Prince, #2)

Captive Prince, #2

C.S. Pacat

🌶️🌶️🌶️·third person·✓
captive romanceforced proximityhidden identity
Cover of Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)

Bitterblue (Graceling Realm, #3)

Graceling Realm, #3

Kristin Cashore

🌶️·third person
hidden identityslow burnsecret heir/royalty
Cover of A Curse So Dark and LonelyKU

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

Cursebreakers, #1

Brigid Kemmerer

🌶️🌶️·dual POV·✓
beauty and the beastcaptive romancefairytale retelling
Cover of The Jasad Crown

The Jasad Crown

The Scorched Throne, #2

Sara Hashem

🌶️🌶️·third person
enemies to loversgames/trials romanceslow burn
Cover of A Vow So Bold and Deadly

A Vow So Bold and Deadly

Cursebreakers, #3

Brigid Kemmerer

💕🚪·multi-POV·✓
enemies to loversforbidden loveroyalty romance