This review is for the second book in a duology. This review may contain spoilers for the first book (This Ravenous Fate).

📕 Title: Our Vicious Descent
✏️ Author: Hayley Dennings
📖 Genre: YA Fantasy
⭐ Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Conclusion to the Ravenous Fate duology

BOOK BLURB

Reaper hunter Elise Saint and reaper Layla Quinn are once again forced to join forces when a ravenous beast begins to tear through Harlem, killing both humans and reapers. While Elise searches desperately for her little sister who has disappeared, Layla must navigate the politics of the Underworld. Their investigation leads them to discover secrets that could threaten the future of the reapers.

REVIEW
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire for the digital copy!

I love the 1920s Harlem setting of this duology and the way it utilizes reaperhood to highlight the rampant oppression and racism running through this society. Reapers are largely based on traditional vampire mythology but are able to walk in sunlight and have an entirely different origin story. Like the first book, Our Vicious Descent features elements of paranormal mystery, horror, and forbidden romance. The story never shies away from horror and the gruesome descriptions of death and sickness punctuated the high stakes of Layla and Elise’s investigation.

The strength of this sequel lies in the romantic subplot between Elise and Layla as society continues to force them apart while they are irresistibly drawn to each other. While their relationship shifts between hot and cold, the hot periods show the depth of their connection. The romance remains within the bounds of YA.

The story has a ton of characters and moving parts. There’s the search for Josi, the investigation into the Beast, a mysterious poison targeting blood houses, Elise’s legacy and strained relationship with her father, Elise and Layla’s tumultuous relationship, Layla’s new responsibilities as lair leader while covering up Elise’s involvement in the prior clan leader’s death, the search all for a reaperhood cure, run ins with gangsters and rogue reapers, and more.

Unfortunately, this quickly began to feel convoluted while I was reading, which made the story feel too long and slow paced as the story moved between all these side plots. I did feel a bit confused at times because of how much was going on, and had to flip back a lot to reread passages. I also didn’t love the ending; I know this book falls into the fantasy/fiction genre, not romance, but it was a downer. Overall, this sequel was a bit of a struggle for me.