Genres: Fantasy Romance, NA Fantasy, Fantasy | Release Date: 14 March 2025 | Series: Immortal Reveries | Series Book: #2 | Pages: 642 | Indie Author | Review
“Death ruins everything.”
Vanessa Rasanen
Overview:
A huge thank you goes to Vanessa Rasanen, for letting me read an e-ARC of Once the Skies Fade! This is book two in a series of interconnected standalones, which means you don’t have to read book one (Until the Stars Fall) to dive into this fantasy romance. So should you still read the first book? I’m saying yes, purely because it was a delightfully cosy read. Having said that, this tale does take a walk on the darker side, but I love how the mood can change between the instalments… So let’s give you an overview, shall we?!
Facing unimaginable loss, Calla didn’t think she could feel any worse than she did upon discovering her dead husband. But when an obscure law comes to light, which requires Calla to marry or lose her throne? Her trauma only deepens. So many of her counsellors don’t want her to keep her crown, but to make it even worse? A rumour is spreading that Calla murdered her own husband, despite the grief clearly wrapped around her heart. To keep her throne, Calla must hold a tournament to decide the next king. Love can’t be a factor. But what happens when a friend of Calla’s husband enters the tournament? Can she trust that he wants to win, or is he merely getting close so he can investigate the swirling rumours? Is there such a thing as a happily ever after for a grieving widow?
Happiness Boost:
It’s a little macabre, but one of the things I loved most about Once the Skies Fade? Is how Calla gets overwhelmed by her grief and desire for vengeance. Calla is such a morally grey FMC, and I found it refreshing to see her make choices that could later impact her in unexpected ways. Along with the secrets she inadvertently spills after Brennan’s death, is it any wonder that she decides to unleash her emotions? Anyone who can contain their heartache after so much loss is a robot, and Call is definitely not one of those! Powerful but broken, I was begging for Calla to find happiness again.
Do we love a deadly tournament? Of course we do! The stakes have never been higher, and Matthias won’t go down without a fight. I love the unique aspects Vanessa brought to this trope, perfectly capturing how incredibly dark such an event can become. But you know what else I loved about this? Matthias doesn’t change who he is, even with his life on the line—he continues to be a male who can wield a sarcastic comment as easily as a blade. And trust me, that’s a major happiness boost in a fantasy romance which soaks up the darkness like a sponge!
Within Once the Skies Fade, we get that wonderful question of “Who did this to you”… But this time, it was uttered by Calla. Glitterbugs, I’m here to tell you that I cheered—I couldn’t help myself! I love when it’s the heroine who sees red, demanding names in order to take an enemy down. And let me tell you, you do *not* want to get on Calla’s bad side. This NA fantasy is so very rich with emotions and danger, I raced through the pages.
Downside:
I adore this gorgeous fantasy romance, there’s no downside for me!
Final Thoughts:
Once the Skies Fade by Vanessa Rasanen is a fantasy romance full of darkness, grief and a determination to rise from the ashes. I truly enjoyed Until the Stars Fall, but this one? This one just blew my tiny mind. I am begging you, add this to your TBR even if you don’t want to dive into the previous book. You are going to love it. Like what you’ve heard from my review? Just click on any of the links below to pre-order this beautiful story! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can pre-order Once the Skies Fade via these links:
