Reviewed by Dakota Watson

The Ryder Of The Night is the collaboration between two romance authors that go under the pen name Eden Eaves. While the book was a mixture of good and bad I believe it is a decent start to a romantasy series with good potential. The book has good bones and a lot of untapped potential.

While The Ryder of the Night offered an intriguing premise, the world itself remained frustratingly opaque. The lack of world building left me piecing together the setting through guesswork. The magic system suffered a similar fate. The rules and limitations of magic were never clearly defined, leaving me confused and wanting more explanation. Unfortunately, the pacing also faltered. The story included several scenes that could have been trimmed or even eliminated entirely, as they didn’t contribute to the plot or character development. Typos, along with the jarring use of modern phrases like “sweatpants” and “your way or the highway,” further disrupted the immersion in this fantastical world. I yearned to learn more about the central threats, Vestar and Vivi Mortui. A deeper understanding of these antagonists would have heightened the stakes and added weight to the conflict.

Pushing through the first half of  The Ryder of the Night was a slog. The story felt clunky and unfocused, on the verge of collapse at times. Thankfully, there were some redeeming qualities. Zaria’s background in a strict anti magic cult was a captivating hook, and the mind bond between Kol and Nyx, fueled by their undeniable love, was a promising element. But even with these bright spots, it felt like the authors really struggled to launch the narrative on a solid foundation.

Zaria’s initial distrust of Nyx was understandable, given her sheltered upbringing in the anti magic cult. However, her continued resistance even after learning the truth felt frustrating. Similarly, Nyx’s actions sometimes came across as unnecessarily combative. It felt like the authors leaned too heavily on the “enemies-to-lovers” trope, creating tension that could have been better served by a more gradual shift in their relationship.

Another point that detracted from the story was the portrayal of the characters’ maturity. Despite being described as adults, their behavior often resembled that of teenagers. Both Zaria and Nyx exhibited bouts of pouting and moodiness that felt out of place for characters supposedly seasoned enough to handle such a critical situation.

 Thankfully, the second half offered some redemption. The plot picked up steam, hinting at a grander scheme and introducing new characters and locations. While the world building remained a sticking point, there was a sense of progress that kept me engaged. Despite Zaria’s somewhat abrupt change in personality, the story finally felt like it was moving in the right direction.

Zaria, while not a terrible character, didn’t quite reach “strong female lead” status. Both she and Nyx lacked the depth and unique quirks that make characters truly memorable. Their romance, though featuring well written intimate scenes, felt awkward and forced. The spicy scenes sizzled, but the emotional connection needed more simmer.

The ending featured a brilliant yet heartbreaking twist. However, the major plot revelation lacked believability; it was abrupt and seemed out of place.

While this series shows great promise, its success hinges on improved execution and editing that would unlock the series’ full potential.