Court of Wanderers by Rin Chupeco is the second and final instalment in the Reaper duology. Remy, Xiaodan, and Zidan are dealing with the aftermath of the events of the first book and the discovery that the Night Empress may well be Remy’s mother who he believed to be dead. With Xiaodan gravely weakened by the battle, Remy and Zidan must get her to the Fata Morgana – the seat of the fourth court and Zidan’s home – if she is to have any chance at healing. More players join the game and the stakes are raised higher than ever in this story however, and the whole of Aluria is at risk if Remy can’t get to the bottom of the strange nightmares he is having while dealing with extravagantly cunning vampire court intrigue. 

This book delivers everything that Silver Under Nightfall delivered and more, transporting the reader to Gothic palaces, magically overgrown ruins, and underwater sanctuaries, each new location fleshing out the rich atmosphere of Aluria. Relationships continue to be a key theme in this novel with Remy, Xiaodan, and Zidan exploring their relationship, discovering what it means to each of them and navigating the consequences of their choices among their courts. There were so many opportunities for this storyline to fall foul of cheap twists and stereotypes, but Chupeco delivers a joyous and organic view of polyamory, always heralded by clear and enthusiastic consent from all parties.

Remy’s family ties are also one of the main features of this book. With his negligent and traumatic upbringing, there were obvious places that Chupeco could have chosen to take this narrative, but this storyline travelled to a refreshing and somewhat unexpected place that takes you pleasantly by surprise.

The other vampire courts that we hear about in Silver Under Nightfall are also heavily featured in this story and if you are expecting to read about fabulous debauchery, terrifying feats of power, and many a fang flashing dangerously then you would be absolutely correct. The reader is treated to all of the above and deliciously mysterious political intrigue to boot. 

This is a fantastic story about vampires, genetic experimentation, and the unexpected relationships that we can’t help but fight for in a world threatened by a dark power that may come from closer to home than we think. This story is perfect for fans of Castlevania, or anyone who decided to romance Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Court of Wanderers is available now from Hodderscape. You can order your copy on Bookshop.org