White Horse Black Nights

The Godkissed Bride, Book 1

By: Evie Marceau

Narrated by: Phillipa Miller, Walker Williams

We still worship the sleeping fae, though their magic only remains within a few of us.

Locked away for twelve years, Sabine Darrow's only friends are animals she communicates with using magic. Now, sold as a bride to a villainous high lord, her greatest fear is trading one prison for another. But a potential escape lies in the form of her gruff yet achingly handsome guard, whose loyalty she is determined to break.

A huntsman with heightened senses, Basten "Wolf" Bowborn has more important things to do than transport his master's new bride. With ancient creatures reawakening along the kingdom's border wall, he is torn between his duty and his desire to investigate—until a forbidden attraction becomes an unyielding obsession.

Welcome to Astagnon—a kingdom of cruel games and corrupted courts, where the only thing more dangerous than the secrets slumbering underground is falling for the one person you can't have.

Drawing inspiration from Snow White and the Lady Godiva legend, White Horse Black Nights is a dark enemies-to-lovers fantasy romance that will take you on a journey you'll never forget. This captivating story of a girl with a special gift is perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Jennifer Armentrout!

©2023 Evie Marceau (P)2024 Podium Audio

Very Entertaining!

I wouldn’t consider myself ta harsh critic. I have enjoyed the ACOTAR series thoroughly, as well as fourth wing, and I really like this series, though I can’t tell if there’s a third and final book out yet or not. I certainly hope so. As a reader, I like closure. I liked the detail in the spicy scenes, it didn’t seem perverse or crass to me. I find it very s3x positive which challenges purity culture and love that. I thought I would describe their lovemaking as light BDSM or vanilla - adjacent if you will. I would have liked more build up of the romance because the enemies to lovers trope is better when it’s a painful slow burn. Getting the pace and character development right on enemies to lovers is tricky though. I almost thought we’d get a love triangle and I’m almost sad we didn’t. Still this was very captivating. I finished the first and second audiobooks in the span of a week or so, I’d say. I liked the imagery quite a bit and I really liked the exchange of first person narration between the two main characters. Also give props because I don’t find the FMC annoying and I appreciate the characters seem to be in the mid 20s which is refreshing. Trigger warning: in this series there is an attempted r@pe but it is not graphic, lots of violence, some gore or disturbing imagery, lots of use of the f-word (though no more than how I might use that word haha - so it didn’t bug me). This book gave me a DnD vibe and oddly enough reminds me of mine and my husband’s DnD characters. Picture a barbarian and a Druid. I really don’t think you’ll be disappointed unless you fancy yourself a tough critic. I’m just happy to escape into any well written and captivating fantasy.

Enjoyed it!!

Really enjoyed the story line. Can’t wait to see what else happens. Not sure I like the idea of the current male interest. But we’ll see.

Realistic developments

Loved the story and the characters. Was a little frustrated with the narrators. Even after adjusting sound and different headphones even had a hard time with the low voices.

Now I have to wait for the next book!!!

Loved the book. The voice narrators are excellent. The intimate scenes are good. I wish there was more conversational dialogue between characters.

Intriguing

I liked the story quite a bit. Good characters and fast plot made for an easy listen.

Criminally Underrated! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Admittedly, I went into White Horse Black Nights with low expectations. The reviews I read were fine, but not gushing, and it didn’t really seem to catch fire on BookTok (at least, not in my corner of it).

Plus, as an avid reader & a voracious audiobook consumer, I’ve begun to feel like I’m reading (or listening to) the same story with the same characters cut & pasted into new settings/worlds. Same, same, same, and more same, and while there’s comfort in knowing what you’re going to get, I can’t help but feel less and less invested in the characters/stories the more I read of this genre.

To say I was pleasantly surprised by this book would be the understatement of the century, it downright seduced me.

Somehow the author manages to gift us with all the classic romantacy tropes we know & love, while simultaneously providing something fresh & unexpected. It’s classic but new, it’s familiar but not. I don’t know what witchcraft this is but I am here for it!

A Spellbinding Tale of Love, Magic, and Redemption

“White Horse Black Nights” by Evie Marceau, narrated by Phillipa Miller and Walker Williams, is a captivating dark fantasy romance that masterfully intertwines elements of classic tales like Snow White and Lady Godiva. 

The story introduces us to Sabine Darrow, a young woman endowed with the unique ability to communicate with animals—a gift marking her as “godkissed.” After being confined for twelve years, Sabine is sold as a bride to the formidable high lord, Rian Valvere. Her journey to his domain requires her to travel unclothed on horseback for 21 days, accompanied by the enigmatic huntsman, Basten “Wolf” Bowborn, whose heightened senses and complex persona add depth to the narrative. 

The novel excels in its rich world-building, painting the kingdom of Astagnon as a realm filled with ancient magic, political intrigue, and reawakening creatures. The chemistry between Sabine and Wolf is palpable, evolving from initial animosity to a profound, forbidden attraction that keeps readers engaged. Their dynamic is further enriched by well-crafted dialogue and a slow-burning romance that feels both authentic and enthralling. 

Narrators Phillipa Miller and Walker Williams deliver stellar performances, bringing the characters to life with emotive and nuanced portrayals that enhance the listening experience. Their narration adds an extra layer of immersion, making the audiobook a compelling choice for fans of the genre. 

Overall, “White Horse Black Nights” is a beautifully written tale that seamlessly blends fantasy and romance. It’s a must-read for enthusiasts of dark, enemies-to-lovers stories, offering a journey that’s both unforgettable and deeply satisfying.

The plot twist though……

A new twist on fae. I absolutely ate this one up. The pace of the book was really nice and I really enjoyed the writing style. I really enjoyed the FMC , she is an absolute baddie and so spunky. The banter is mouth watering and spice is well placed. Forbidden love, enemies to lovers, fae, magic.Fans of SJM and JLA will enjoy this.

Godiva-Inspired

Just like JLA, Evie Marceau has captured my Fantasy-loving soul with this beautifully written story. She also had me on the edge of my seat and guessing so much about what would happen next that I finished this work in less than two days! Now that's a great writer!

Loosely based on the tale of Lady Godiva and sprinkled with hints of Roman mythology (as well as others), this story follows a young girl tasked by her future husband to ride from her home village to his kingdom with nothing but her hair protecting her naked body. Traveling with his most trusted guard, Sabine must make this journey in 21 days, but of course, challenges arise—both expected and unexpected.

Great recommendation for JLA and Maas fans. It has spice in it, but it is well-written and intriguing.

Love these books

I am crazy about these books! I’m obsessed with Sabine and Basten, the chemistry and character development are 10/10. I could not recommend these books enough.