Honest Book Review of Nectar of the Wicked
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I went into Nectar of the Wicked expecting dark fantasy romance — you know, plot, danger, tension, morally gray chaos, the usual good stuff. What I got instead was a book that said, “Plot? We’ll circle back to that after… several more sex scenes.”
By about 23%, I had to tap out. Not because the book was shocking or too dark — but because it felt like the story was permanently stuck in a loop of sex → pause → sex again → vague hints of a plot that refuses to fully arrive. At some point, I realized I was skimming just to see if anything else was going to happen. It… did not.
And listen, I am not anti-spice. I enjoy spice. I celebrate spice. But spice without structure is just chaos. Here, the smut completely overshadowed the worldbuilding, stakes, and character development — to the point where I couldn’t get invested in why anything was happening. It felt less like a dark fantasy romance and more like a very long detour with occasional reminders that a plot might exist later.
I don’t mind spice, but I do need it anchored to an actual storyline — which is why books like the ones on my 15 Spicy Fantasy Romance Books That Actually Have a Plot list tend to work better for me as a reader.
Out of curiosity (and self-preservation), I did some review digging and discovered that the actual plot doesn’t really show up until the final 25% of the book. Unfortunately, once I looked into what that plot involved, it became an immediate no for me. The story leans hard into torture-related themes, which is not something I enjoy reading about. Please, please check trigger warnings before diving in — this one is not casual dark.
To be clear: this book will absolutely work for some readers. If you’re here primarily for explicit content and don’t mind waiting a long time for story payoff — or if darker themes don’t bother you — you may have a very different experience. But if you’re looking for a strong fantasy foundation with spice as a bonus rather than the main event? This one might test your patience.
For me, Nectar of the Wicked lands at 2 stars. Not because it’s badly written, but because it’s aggressively not my taste. I needed more plot earlier, more tension that wasn’t purely physical, and a clearer sense of where the story was going before asking me to commit.
This book knew exactly what it wanted to be. I just wasn’t the audience it was written for — and that’s okay.
If you’re still figuring out what level of spice works for you in fantasy romance, my Ultimate Guide to Spicy Fantasy Romance breaks down different styles, expectations, and what to look for before diving in.
But yeah… I’m gonna need my plot before the fifth sex scene next time.
Add to TBR: Nectar of the Wicked
Trapped between the human world and Faerie, she makes a desperate bargain with a dangerous fae king who promises her everything she’s ever wanted. A blood vow, a forced marriage, and a kingdom built on secrets pull her into a world of power, manipulation, and dark desire. Now bound to an enemy who both terrifies and tempts her, she must protect her heart while uncovering the truth behind his chilling intentions.
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