I tend to prefer my fantasy romances, or romantasy, to be dark and funny, and the Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie meets all of those requirements. It is a funny series that turns Christian lore on it’s head with demons, a retired God, and an overly egotistical archangel that needs a smack down.
Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie
The Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie is a dark romantasy trilogy. The first books was published on October 1st, 2022 and the books are between 300 and 400 pages each. The reading order for the books are as follows:
The books can be found on Amazon, Kindle Unlimited, and the author’s website here.
Premise
Alice isn’t a powerful witch, despite how powerful her mother was, and she was content to live as normal of a life as possible. Except all of that gets thrown out the window when she finds out the truth about why her parents were murdered and the deal they made with Lucifer to keep Alice safe from those who’d seek to kill her too.
With an arranged marriage to Kai, Lucifer’s son, one the horizon, an unbinding of her powers imminent, and a war against an Archangel being planned, Alice has to learn everything she can, as quickly as possible to survive and have any hope of returning home to her family.
Triggers
Triggers found in the Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie include:
- Swearing
- Magic & Witchcraft
- Gore / Fight Scenes
- Death / Murder
- Attempted Assault
- Animal Attacks
- “Relations” with biblical figures
- Dismemberment
- Magical branding
- Snakes
- Spiders
- Other disturbing images that might not be suitable for all audiences (graphic).
- Sexually explicit content that includes: primal kinks, praise kinks, magical age gap, choking, biting, and animalistic behavior.
My Thoughts
When I first picked up the Dark Halo’s Series by Amanda Aggie, I was hooked after the first chapter. Not only is Alice a strong-willed and slighty bull-headed FMC but she’s also got an empathy to her that is entirely relatable.
She doesn’t fit in anywhere, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to live as normal of a life as she can. She also knows that information about her parents has been kept a secret, and she’s desperate to understand what happened.
Not so luckily for her she’s about to find out.
She’s more powerful than she thought but as a baby her powers were bound to keep her hidden from a dangerous Archangel who would kill her. In exchange for binding her powers, Lucifer demanded that she marry his son Kai. And the time has come for that to happen.
But Alice isn’t going to go without a fight. And she sure as hell isn’t going to just fall in line either. She wants answers, she’s going to get them, and she’ll do what she deems is necessary.
“Jesus, woman. You might not think so, but you and Kai are going to be perfect for each other. You’re both assholes.” – The Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie
What I loved most about this series is the tension building between the characters. The first book is a slow burn only paying off toward the end of the story, but each book in the series gets spicier.
As the series goes on we get all sorts of wonderfully kinky scenes. And sure, maybe having “relations” while stuck in a terrifying land filled with horrifying monsters might not be something you or I would do, the heat and spice is hotter among the danger.
“If someone so much as dares to try, I’ll put their head on a fucking pike. If you’re going to be my wife, then you’ll be mine and mine alone.” – The Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie
I loved Alice, and sure her stubborn ways might get her into some not so great situations, but she’s powerful enough to face those situations head on. She is a woman who isn’t afraid to handle a situation. She’s not a damsel.
Additionally, I loved her – in my opinion – realistic approach to how she would handle certain situations. As women we’ve often discussed the possibility of an end of world situation and how some of us would take our own lives knowing damn well what the world would offer us. That kind of scenario is also addressed and I love the author for it.
We see a character, flawed and stubborn, learn to love, let love in, and gain the courage to fight and keep fighting. Alice is not a soft woman so if that’s what you are looking for, wait until the mood strikes for a badass cause that’s what you will get with Alice.
Additionally, we have Kai. He’s everything you want in an MMC. Protective and possessive, but he’s also got a bit of a savior complex. He’s taken the weight of his realm on his shoulders and we watch him learn to accept that sometimes you need to share that weight with those around you to win the war.
“Woman, I would’ve ripped my heart out of my chest and handed it to you with a pretty little bow if you’d have asked me to. From the moment you cursed at me at that frat party, you’ve had me wrapped around your finger. So, stop with that nonsense.” – The Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie
Finn hands down is one of my favorite characters, and a few more pop up throughout the series but I don’t want to give any spoilers. However, Finn is the hilarious goof ball friend who would protect Alice just as fiercely as Kai would, even if he teases Kai by flirting from time to time.
If you are looking for a dark romantasy comedy, this is it. There is plenty of tension breaking laughter, lots of good spice, and an action packed plot that will keep you turning pages long past your bedtime.
Who Would Like The Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie?
Tropes found in the Dark Halos Series by Amanda Aggie include:
- Strangers to Lovers
- Arranged Marriage
- Found Family
- Forced Proximity
If you liked the Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti, State of Grace series by Colette Rhodes, or Maze of Shadows by Kathryn Ann Kingsley, you will likely love this series as well.