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A Court of Thorns and Roses
Sarah J. Maas
4.6
Dark & Darker Still: A Vane and Roc Origin Story
by Nikki St. Crowe
Published Aug 14, 2025
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About this book
Cast out from the gilded halls of the Darkland Court following their father’s failed coup, Vane and Roc—known as the Madd Brothers—are stripped of their titles and inheritance. Forced into the shadows, these immortal, monstrous beings refuse to wither in obscurity. Instead, they carve a brutal path through the Umbrage, the Darkland’s lawless underbelly, rising to become the ruthless rulers of a criminal empire built on fear and ambition.
The brothers operate with a singular, savage efficiency, destroying anyone who threatens their newfound dominion. Yet, their cold calculations are upended when they suffer a devastating personal betrayal that leaves their hearts shattered. For monsters of their caliber, grief is not a quiet burden; it is a catalyst for vengeance.
As they plot to dismantle those who wronged them, the line between their dark desires and their lethal instincts blurs. When a mysterious force enters their orbit, the brothers must navigate a treacherous landscape of power, obsession, and forbidden chemistry. In the Umbrage, where loyalty is a liability and hunger is a weapon, Vane and Roc discover that the only thing more dangerous than losing their status is losing control of their own dark, tangled hearts.
Available Formats
Mass Market Paperback: $8.36 Paperback: $9.99
What readers are saying
Romance Reads & ReviewsRoc & Vane’s Backstory
"This was the backstory that we needed for Roc and Vane. I was not expecting Alice to be in it, but when I tell you, she shook them up, she did so vigorously. We get the play-by-play of how Roc killed the princess of dark land. This leaves on a cliffhanger, which I hope we’ll get another book to answer more questions. ["
January 22, 2026 Verified Purchase
Nikkilynn23Hot! Dark! & Spicy!
"I can rant and rave about this series. It is absolutely amazing from the dark themes to the characters and plot. I love the attraction between the characters and their back stories. Can’t wait to read more. ["
April 22, 2026 Verified Purchase
ReviewIt was good until…
"It was good until it was over… where the heck is the rest of the story 😫 such a weird place to end it with no further book promised. I would just save your time and wait until the next is hopefully announced ["
September 13, 2025 Verified Purchase
SuziJust Amazing 🤩
"Dark & Darker Still: A Vane and Roc Origin Story by Nikki St. Crowe “We were just children when we left Wonderland and came through this glass. Now we are broken men.” 🐊🗡️♠️🩸 5⭐️ 2🌶️ Omg 😍I loved Vane & Roc origin story! It’s short , not as spicy, but gets straight to the point! Just love this reimagining fairytale universe that Nikki St. Crowe created! Every book in this dark universe I’ve enjoyed tremendously!! To me the majority of why Vane & Roc “ the Madd brothers “ are the way they are is answered in this book. Their past is very difficult and losing their sister Lainey was so heartbreaking. And Alice ( yes that Alice) from Wonderland is a character I hope is expanded more in future books! She’s a Medium who sees ghosts and has a ton of skeletons in her closet! She is definitely bats*i 🤪and misunderstood but I’m here for it ! I really enjoyed her character and her obsession with the Madd Brothers have her doing some regrettable things but with that Epilogue it seemed like she redeemed herself. Oh … and her past relationship with the Madd Hatter who is Uncle to Vane & Roc. Love to see a story about Wonderful or even Underland with Alice and the Madd Hatter! Overall I LoVEd It !!! And I’m anxiously awaiting the continuation of this universe because it’s my absolute favorite!! 🤩 ["
August 17, 2025 Verified Purchase
