The Wraith King Audiobook – The Rise of Northgall, Book 1

There’s something deliciously reckless about listening to dark fae fantasy while walking alone through Portland’s drizzly twilight—especially with The Wraith King pulsing through my headphones, the city lights blurred like distant stars. As someone who relishes slow-burn romance and brutal court intrigue, Juliette Cross’s latest swept me off my feet and hurled me headlong into a world that is equal parts danger, desire, and destiny.

From the moment Una Hartstone offered herself as a living sacrifice—a queenly gesture more steel than softness—I felt a kinship with her struggle between duty and self-preservation. She isn’t your typical “chosen one” heroine; instead, she bears her pain quietly but never lets it define her. I found myself rooting for Una not just because of her power or prophecy but because she demanded respect even when surrendering herself. That complexity—her willingness to negotiate peace without losing sight of who she is—felt deeply human (and honestly reminded me of navigating tricky professional politics in real life).

But let’s be honest: the heartbeat of this story is its magnetic slow-burn between light and darkness personified. Gollaya Verbane—the infamous Wraith King—is everything you want in an antihero: commanding yet vulnerable, terrifying yet oddly tender beneath all that menace. Troy Duran’s narration captures him perfectly; there were moments his deep voice sent shivers down my spine (no small feat when you’re walking past rain-damp roses at night). His restraint gives way at exactly the right moments—so when emotions do crack through that icy composure, you really feel it.

The court setting itself becomes almost another character: halls thick with tension, traitors lurking behind every shadowed pillar, ritualistic magic humming underneath each encounter. Cross crafts these political stakes so well—the uneasy truces, betrayals lurking close to home—that I caught myself holding my breath during certain scenes. And then there are those legendary “one bed” moments… yes, they deliver! The payoff feels earned after so much tension you’ll wish for an extra hour on your walk just to see how far things unravel.

As someone drawn to stories about transformation and survival under pressure, I loved watching Una learn—and teach—the rules of power within Näkt Mir palace walls. Her agency isn’t handed to her; it’s carved out bit by agonizing bit as she faces betrayal and uncovers both magic within herself and secrets tied to her true nature.

If there was anything I wished for more of—it might have been glimpses into side characters or a deeper look into the world outside court (but perhaps that’s what sequels are for!). Still, this first entry feels satisfyingly complete while promising darker delights still ahead.

The audiobook performance elevates every scene: Duran gives both protagonists emotional weight without ever tipping into melodrama—a rare balance in such intense material. He lets silence work its own kind of magic too; sometimes what goes unsaid between Una and Goll roars louder than any declaration.

Ultimately? The Wraith King doesn’t just deliver on dark fantasy promises—it claims them utterly. It left me dazed but hungry for more… already plotting which moody coffee shop corner will host my next Northgall adventure.