Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Genre: Dark Romantasy

Available On: Amazon

There’s a reason The Wraith King by Juliette Cross is all over romantasy feeds — it’s drenched in gothic atmosphere, high-stakes fae politics, and the kind of obsessive, morally grey love interest that sets BookTok on fire. With dragons, dark rituals, and a ‘touch her and die’ king at its core, this book had all the right elements to be a knockout.

And the cover…I mean, come on!

But while it’s undeniably entertaining and full of spice, I have to say I found this to be another disappointing read in many respects. While the concept and world were intriguing, the story leaned too hard into its tropes without giving them the emotional depth they deserved. The pacing was uneven, the romance too rushed, and the intrigue a little too shallow. 

It’s a quick, steamy read with serious fantasy flair, but (for me at least) it didn’t quite live up to its potential.

The Wraith King Plot Summary

To end a bloody war between the light and dark fae, Princess Una of Issos agrees to surrender herself to King Gollaya Verbane, the Wraith King. In exchange for peace, she’ll give up her freedom, her future, and, eventually, her body.

Goll is convinced Una is the answer to an ancient prophecy that foretells the rise of the dark fae. He’s determined to claim her as his queen, breed an heir, and secure his kingdom’s future. The fact she has zero desire for any of this doesn’t seem to be an issue. 

But once she’s brought to the dark fae palace of Näkt Mir, it becomes clear that Goll’s enemies are closer than he realised. A traitor moves in secret, and Una’s dormant magic is waking up. As the lines between captor and lover blur, both must decide how far they’ll go to protect each other, presenting an intriguing overarching question: is fate a chain or a choice?

A Premise Full of Potential

The foundation of this novel is undeniably compelling: a sacrificial princess, a ruthless king bound by prophecy, and a court full of secrets. From the first few chapters, the stakes are clear and the set-up teases an emotionally charged enemies-to-lovers arc. There’s immediate tension between Una and Goll, bolstered by their shared history and power imbalance, and that’s exactly where the book shines early on.

Gollaya is written with the kind of dangerous magnetism readers of dark romance will recognise and enjoy. He’s brutal, commanding, and consumed by his belief in destiny. Una, in contrast, begins as principled and self-sacrificing, but there’s a thread of defiance in her that suggests deeper layers. Their dynamic has weight. It’s a shame the narrative doesn’t let it simmer longer.

Romance at the Expense of Tension

Despite the initial build-up, the romantic arc pivots very quickly from fear and resistance to desire and emotional attachment. That rapid switch somehow undermines the initial impression somewhat, leaving you with a lingering sense that, actually, the fear and resistance weren’t that real to begin with.

Because if they were, how did they disappear so very quickly?

This is honestly a huge shame. The progression feels compressed, especially for a pairing rooted in political coercion and centuries of fae conflict. There are hints at a power struggle and conflicting loyalties, but they’re sidelined in favour of immediate intimacy.

This could’ve been a slow, psychologically layered unraveling, and instead, the romance settles into predictability too soon, making it harder to stay emotionally invested. 

That doesn’t mean it’s without appeal. 

The heat is undeniable, and readers who love over-the-top, alpha-style declarations and possessiveness will get what they came for. But those looking for a slow-burn or nuanced emotional growth may be disappointed.

A Beautiful World That Stays on the Surface

Näkt Mir is a visually rich setting — all shadowed corridors, ancient temples, and dragon-haunted skies. There’s a clear effort to differentiate dark fae culture from the light fae’s, particularly through customs like the Mizrah ritual and the kingdom’s religious prophecies. But these elements are often introduced and moved past quickly, never quite developed into a fully immersive mythology.

Likewise, the subplot involving a palace traitor adds urgency, but the mystery lacks depth. It functions more as a backdrop than a true narrative engine, rarely interfering with the romance in meaningful ways. The hints of political intrigue are compelling but never fully delivered on.

How Spicy is The Wraith King?

Spice Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This one is spicy, no doubt. The sex scenes are explicit, frequent, and deeply entwined with the power dynamics between Una and Goll. Expect commanding language, possessive behaviour, and acts of ceremonial intimacy that blur the lines between political duty and personal desire. The breeding kink is central to both the plot and the heat, with multiple scenes revolving around the idea of legacy, heirs, and fate-sanctioned union.

Some moments do lean into dubcon territory, particularly in the earlier chapters, where Una’s agency is limited and Goll’s intensity can feel overwhelming. While the narrative frames their relationship as destined, the imbalance of power and consent may be uncomfortable for some readers. That said, the later scenes soften somewhat, shifting toward mutual emotional connection even as the dominant/submissive dynamic remains in play.

If you’re looking for steam with dark edges and don’t mind morally grey lines in your romance, you’ll likely find it satisfying. But it’s not a fade-to-black kind of book; it’s definitely not light on intensity.

What Romance Tropes Are in The Wraith King?

Trope Count: 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜

Ooof, that’s a high trope count. And it shows. The Wraith King is packed to the brim with classic romance tropes — from forced proximity and fated mates to public claiming rituals and possessive alpha energy. If you’re the kind of reader who picks up a romantasy for the trope checklist alone, you’ll find plenty to enjoy here. 

Enemies to Lovers (Sort of)

While billed as enemies to lovers, the story leans more toward captor-to-consort. There’s little true enmity between Una and Goll — their kingdoms are at war, but their personal conflict is limited. The dynamic quickly shifts from resistance to desire, making this more of a “reluctant surrender to fated obsession” arc than classic adversaries-to-allies.

Forced Proximity

From the moment Una is brought to Näkt Mir, she and Goll are physically and politically entangled. Cue the forced proximity trope (which is, I have to say, one of my favourites). She’s kept close, watched, and repeatedly drawn into rituals and negotiations that force them to share space. The palace becomes a pressure cooker — intimacy isn’t optional, and escape isn’t on the table.

Captive/Captor

Una is handed over as part of a political bargain and brought to Goll’s kingdom under terms that are very much not her own. This dynamic sets up the power imbalance that underpins their early interactions, with clear tension between duty, control, and consent.

Fated Mates / Prophecy Bond

Goll is driven by a prophecy that marks Una as his destined queen and the mother of his heir. The mating bond is not just romantic but also a matter of divine design, making the romance feel preordained rather than purely emotional.

Touch Her and Die

A classic staple of possessive fantasy romance. Goll makes it known, repeatedly and with lethal intent, that Una belongs to him — and woe betide anyone who threatens her.

Powerful Princess x Ruthless King

Una might be Goll’s captive, but she’s far from passive. Her identity as a light fae royal, her magical potential, and her refusal to fully submit without challenge create sparks — even as Goll tries to dominate the situation.

Public Rituals / Claiming

There are ceremonial rites woven into the romance — including public rituals that serve both cultural and sexual purposes. These moments reinforce the story’s emphasis on dominance, tradition, and political performance.

He Falls First

Despite the power imbalance, it’s Goll who becomes emotionally attached first. His obsession with Una, rooted in a past encounter and stoked by prophecy, predates her feelings and drives much of the plot’s momentum.

Breeding Kink

This is a central element of the story. The entire reason for Una’s sacrifice is to bear Goll’s heir, and the narrative leans into that premise with explicit scenes, loaded language, and a focus on legacy and bloodlines. It’s overt and woven deeply into their dynamic. If you’re not a fan of ‘Imma gonna take you until your belly’s fat with my baby’ vibes, do not read this.

You will hate it.

Final Verdict on The Wraith King

This is a spicy romantasy that’s all about vibes — dark fae, magical politics, obsessive love. It’s fast, steamy, and full of tropes readers love. I actually do love all that about it, but lacks the slow-burn development and deeper emotional tension that could’ve made it great. For that reason, it’s nowhere near making my list of top romantasies, though I suspect for some, the vibes would put it up there. I’ll probably check out the next book — mostly for the dragon — but I’m hoping for more complexity next time around.

If you’re here for dominant fae kings and dark fantasy steam, you’ll enjoy this. Just don’t expect it to leave a lasting mark.