Reviews

Blood Runs Black by Sylvia San Sebastian

readermelodie's review

adventurous dark funny mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Read in one go {✔️❌️ - yes-ish}
Plot ⭐⭐⭐
Spice
Banter 😂😂😂
Love-interests 🍆🦋🍆.5
No third act break-up
Ow / om drama - no 💕

⚠️ :

Mentions of: violence, blood, torture, death
On page: violence, blood, guns, death, murder, Gangs/ mafia 

✔️🆗️❌️:

✔️ enemies to lovers
✔️ their interactions
✔️ them caring about each other
✔️🆗️ plot
🆗️ open end  ? Don't like that ):

I'm pleasantly surprised with this book. I wasn't hooked right away, but the moment I got into this book, I read it in one go. I liked it a lot, and would love to read more about these two.

💬:

》All this time, we’ve known that Dante is only capable of choosing himself. But then he chose me. Again and again and again.《

Author not followed 

paradigma's review

The mistakes in descriptions of somewhat-Italian elements (like the arancini), other errors, the pacing, etc.

britreadsalot34's review

4.0

3.5...
Okay, so this book is a slowww burn.. and it's very very hard to get into.. I started and stopped and started and stopped over 5 times(i kept trying because the blurb hooked me)... but!!! Once you get to the drop(using a music term here) it hooks you. It was right around 25% for me that I really didn't want to put this down. This is a way different take on the mafia/mobster trope then I have ever seen. I truly did enjoy this book once it picked up it was pretty action packed enemies to lovers and delicious.. you just gotta get to that point without giving up on the whole book..

tornoutending's review

adventurous dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

☆☆☆☆½

Dante de Vici’s easy charm and suave suits hide a sadistic streak. Leone Cava has joined the police force to avenge his murdered parents. Dante and Leone encounter each other on opposite ends of the battlefield: criminal, meet cop. As they manufacture the Nightshade’s demise, their unlikely alliance blooms into something more—something powerful enough to shatter their beliefs.

What drew me to the book: I saw the author promoting it on Social Media (both X and Instagram) and thought I might enjoy it.

How long it’s been on my TBR: Since the author first posted about it.

My expectations: First and foremost I expected a good (romantic) relationship between Leone and Dante. I wasn't sure what to expect from the writing, although I enjoyed the snippets from the author's Instagram and the first chapter which I previewed really caught my eye.

My thoughts whilst reading: I didn't note down many thoughts whilst reading as I'd open the book and before I knew it I'd made considerable progress (without stopping to write down thoughts). A few things I do remember though was really enjoying reading about our main characters: Dante and Leone and their Bloodcurses, more particularly how they used their powers, Leone who had to bleed and hurt to have control and Dante who could control those around him without so much as breaking a sweat. I also loved seeing their relationship unfurl, how they went from using each other to them not being able to stop thinking about each other and then how that turned into something more and how that then eventually turned into their relationship. With that said I did think that their relationship could've been a little more drawn out as it felt a little fast. 

Overall: I really enjoyed Blood Runs Black, it had a fast pace and was an enjoyable Fantasy Crime book with great characters and a great relationship all of which made for a solid debut.

Miscellaneous: Dante & Leone reminded me of 2 of my favourite ships.

Did it meet my expectations: Yes!

Favourite character: Dante easily. (Although when he slandered Frankenstein I wanted to throw some tomatoes at him).

Favourite relationship: Obviously, Dante and Leone's. Watching them change and grow with each other was so interesting to watch and I loved their dynamic. Especially watching how they changed and changed each other.

Favourite scene: The scene where Leone is asking Dante to promise him something and then later when Leone has a realisation about the promise (I just love angst and Sylvia San Sebastian served it with this).

Favourite quote: Honestly there were so many great quotes to choose from but "This destruction is my sin as much as it is Dante's."

Why I rounded the review up / down*: Not applicable.

Will I be reading the sequel: This book was a standalone but with an open ending, so if the author ever decided to revisit the world and characters I absolutely would read. I am also excited to see what Sylvia San Sebastian does next.

Will I be investing in a physical copy: I bought the e-book version as it has a bonus chapter but I would love to get my hands on a physical copy at some point.

Do I recommend it: Yes!

*(For rating systems such as Goodreads)

rayyreads's review

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

everemembered's review

adventurous dark funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

kirsau's review

challenging dark medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

So this was a delightful story! Dante and Leone are very compelling characters and I loved getting to experience their world. The world building and approach to their powers in this is actually super creative and I really appreciated it! 

Perfect slow burn but explosive once they realize, and the plot is exciting enough to keep you going. 

Fun read!

thebookgaydar's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

paperback_heart's review

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

error_'s review

4.25

amazingly well written for a debut. the concept of having powers is not uncommon in books, but characters being able to control blood is very rare and so intriguing. dante & leone definitely use their power well, and have the personalities to go with it. i certainly did not expect leone to have as ruthless a streak as dante - both of them are so wonderfully morally grey.

 romance is not the main focus though; action is. the plot is genuinely, unexpectedly, fantastic. i really honestly expected to face a shallow storyline with a quick happy ending, but nope! instead, there are twists & turns at every corner, secrets unearthed(did barbara romantically like bruno?? i'm just so curious for some reason), and heaps of thrilling shootings and explosions. bonus points for some surprising character developments (i root for sofia).

although i (grudgingly) gave 4 stars because, well, while there was a lot of utilization of the characters' powers/bloodcurses, the worldbuilding was lacking. the background of bloodcursed is unknown, and stuff like origins and regulations of bloodcursed, the types(or even power levels) of bloodcursed, and the government stance on bloodcursed were not really explained in depth(or at all).

the ending was interesting,

it's definitely an HFN/open ending

, and even though the arc sign up mentioned this book is a standalone, i certainly would not mind a sequel, or heck, an entire series :))