steffandbooks's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
tense
slow-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? Yes
5.0
Oh this book was sooooooooo good! This is gonna be one of my new favorite series of all time.
I loved the take on vampires the author took with this world. While the book is very slow paced and not much plot wise actually happens in this first book, it was a beautiful take on the love that built between the two main characters. I love the historic take the author uses as language and the flirting was so sweet, funny and scandalous as the same time. The MMC is so sweet and so filthy at the same time, if you know what I mean 😏 I love how he had the patience to be Cassia’s friend first and earn her trust and then I loved how he challenged her and wanted her to feel save in her own skin and not be afraid.
The plot really unfolded towards the end and it had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t mind that it was THAT slow paced because we got to know a great deal about many characters and I think the plot that unfolded in this book is only the beginning of a far greater scheme.
I need to dive right back into the second book cause I desperately need to know what happens!
Oh and if you wondered, the spice was immaculate in my opinion as well.
🌶️ 2.5 It wasn’t downright filthy but well described and even through those scenes you could see the characters grow with each other and built even more trust.
Love, love, love it!
I loved the take on vampires the author took with this world. While the book is very slow paced and not much plot wise actually happens in this first book, it was a beautiful take on the love that built between the two main characters. I love the historic take the author uses as language and the flirting was so sweet, funny and scandalous as the same time. The MMC is so sweet and so filthy at the same time, if you know what I mean 😏 I love how he had the patience to be Cassia’s friend first and earn her trust and then I loved how he challenged her and wanted her to feel save in her own skin and not be afraid.
The plot really unfolded towards the end and it had me on the edge of my seat. I didn’t mind that it was THAT slow paced because we got to know a great deal about many characters and I think the plot that unfolded in this book is only the beginning of a far greater scheme.
I need to dive right back into the second book cause I desperately need to know what happens!
Oh and if you wondered, the spice was immaculate in my opinion as well.
🌶️ 2.5 It wasn’t downright filthy but well described and even through those scenes you could see the characters grow with each other and built even more trust.
Love, love, love it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Sexual content, Murder, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Torture, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic, Hate crime, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Kidnapping and War
booksarefriends_notfood's review
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I had a hard time with the slow build in this book, the plot didn't really pick up until about the fifty to sixty percent mark. I am glad that I persevered and pushed on despite the extremely slow burn, by the end of it I couldn't put it down. The magic system is interesting and unique while not being overwhelming and the romance developed very slowly but realistically. I also enjoyed a different take on vampires and their culture in this book. Definitely, an enjoyable read if you can push through the hefty percentage of slow world-building and plot setup.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Blood, Misogyny, Death, Sexual content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Grief, Violence, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Vomit
eatingbrains's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Oh boy..
So. I would say that I liked this book. The political intrigue aspect is interesting, the worldbuilding is a bit sparse and seems to rely on conventional setting stereotypes, the religious aspect is bizarre, and the magic systems are largely unexplained.
For the romance: I initially enjoyed the pining, the obvious adoration, the soft boy, the timid girl with hidden strength, etc... But then they hooked up and it became intolerable. I cannot deal with the words used for penis and vagina. Not the barbaric 'sword' and 'sheath' metaphor used in Tenebra nor the ones in the Hesperine language which I refuse to type out. It literally sounds like the penis is a Pokémon and the image remains firmly stuck. Beyond that, it also felt very juvenile in that they banged and then it was very insta-ride-or-die which was hugely out of character for the woman, if not also the man (in theory) especially considering that it largely takes place in the span of a month.
To be honest, my favorite character was the animal companion, Knight.
I am unsure if I will continue on to read the next book, but there's a good chance.
So. I would say that I liked this book. The political intrigue aspect is interesting, the worldbuilding is a bit sparse and seems to rely on conventional setting stereotypes, the religious aspect is bizarre, and the magic systems are largely unexplained.
For the romance: I initially enjoyed the pining, the obvious adoration, the soft boy, the timid girl with hidden strength, etc... But then they hooked up and it became intolerable. I cannot deal with the words used for penis and vagina. Not the barbaric 'sword' and 'sheath' metaphor used in Tenebra nor the ones in the Hesperine language which I refuse to type out. It literally sounds like the penis is a Pokémon and the image remains firmly stuck. Beyond that, it also felt very juvenile in that they banged and then it was very insta-ride-or-die which was hugely out of character for the woman, if not also the man (in theory) especially considering that it largely takes place in the span of a month.
To be honest, my favorite character was the animal companion, Knight.
I am unsure if I will continue on to read the next book, but there's a good chance.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent, Murder, Animal cruelty, Gore, Sexual assault, Blood, Child abuse, Self harm, Violence, Animal death, Infertility, Sexual content, Stalking, Torture, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, Panic attacks/disorders, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, Vomit, Xenophobia, Child death, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Medical content, War, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Classism, Confinement, Misogyny, Sexism, and Emotional abuse
midnacine's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-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? Yes
4.5
I'm always hesitant to give the first book in a series 5 stars because it takes my brain some time to get used to the world and characters, so I don't really connect until like a third of the way through. I only clarify that now because I think that's the only reason I didn't give this book the full 5 stars.
I was recommended this book on Tiktok by someone with a very small following, so I went into this hoping the algorithm had taken me to where I needed to be. And thanks be to the Tiktok algorithm gods, because I fell in love.
While high fantasy romance series are definitely up my alley, the tropes used in this were so different to what I typically enjoy, and I was surprised with how much I loved them. The prose walks that fine line between poetic and difficult to understand, but the more I read the more I got used to it. Lio and Cassia are some of the most well-developed characters I've seen out of a first book, and their romance is heartbreaking in all the best ways. And the world building was absolutely phenomenal.
If you're looking for a forbidden romance that will make you cry, political intrigue and assassination plots that will have you on the edge of your seat, and a truly unique view on mourning and honoring life, this is the book for you.
I was recommended this book on Tiktok by someone with a very small following, so I went into this hoping the algorithm had taken me to where I needed to be. And thanks be to the Tiktok algorithm gods, because I fell in love.
While high fantasy romance series are definitely up my alley, the tropes used in this were so different to what I typically enjoy, and I was surprised with how much I loved them. The prose walks that fine line between poetic and difficult to understand, but the more I read the more I got used to it. Lio and Cassia are some of the most well-developed characters I've seen out of a first book, and their romance is heartbreaking in all the best ways. And the world building was absolutely phenomenal.
If you're looking for a forbidden romance that will make you cry, political intrigue and assassination plots that will have you on the edge of your seat, and a truly unique view on mourning and honoring life, this is the book for you.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Death, Sexual content, Blood, Sexism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Grief, Sexual assault, Gore, Confinement, Vomit, Murder, and War
Minor: Pregnancy, Homophobia, Violence, Child death, and Death of parent
heabooknerd's review
3.0
When I first saw the premise for BLOOD MERCY I was intrigued, though I admit I was intimidated by the page length. With an incredibly detailed and complex world and slow building forbidden romance, BLOOD MERCY was a good read but the pacing didn't fully work for me. However, while this didn't fully connect for me I do feel like a lot of readers would love this one, especially if you like to really sink down and marinate into a book's world, politics, and history.
As the illegitimate daughter of the King of Tenebra, Cassia knows she shouldn't be seeking out one of the Hesperine diplomats in Tenebra for peace talks, but once she meets Lio she can't stay away. The more time Lio spends with Cassia under the cover of darkness the more he desires her, in both body and blood, but their meetings go against all the rules and if they're found out, it could mean death.
The first 50% of BLOOD MERCY is very slow and very long and while I appreciated the attention to detail and the immersive world building it moved too slow for me. The best way I can describe it is that stuff was happening but because there's no sense of urgency to any of the characters' actions or thoughts it feels like nothing is happening. It just ends up being a lot of conversations between Cassia and Lio, or Lio and the embassy, or Cassia and the mages of Kyria. These conversations build a lot of the history of Tenebra and especially the Hesperines but with no pressures or deadlines the tension was gone.
That being said, I did like both Lio and Cassia as characters and I thought the Hesperines and their culture was really cool. Hesperines are basically like vampires, they need blood to survive and they live forever, but Hesperines are infinitely peaceful and gentle. Their biggest concern is healing and helping humans and when needed, providing the Gift so that those who are dying can live forever. Of course many humans think they're monsters so their history with the human kingdoms is fraught with problems and distrust. Lio is young for a Hesperine (only 88) and this is his first mission as an initiate ambassador; I liked Lio's selflessness and his genuine care for all those around him. He's a good match for Cassia because he respects her in ways she's not used to as the King's illegitimate daughter and his kindness wins her over. As the book goes on we see Cassia grow into herself and find her voice and this was probably one of the highlights of BLOOD MERCY for me. I enjoyed her growing confidence and her realizations that there were people willing to help her if she just reached out. I can tell Cassia is going to become a force to be reckoned with.
Once the book hits 50% it starts to pick up in pace and the romance between Cassia and Lio really starts to build. Vela Roth does a fantastic job expressing all the emotions involved; between Lio's hunger for Cassia's blood and Cassia's newly discovered desires, the intimacy between these two is very sensually written. It's a lot of emotions and desires and cravings and it really sweeps the reader into the moment. It takes a while to get there, but I think BLOOD MERCY really starts to shine in the second half. The last 25% comes in like a wrecking ball and everything starts to happen. It almost felt like a different book because suddenly things were happening, plots were being uncovered, schemes were being made and everything was culminating in a possible fight between the humans and the Hesperines. I will make a quick note that this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger and Cassia and Lio's story is only just beginning.
This was a hard review to put together because even though it didn't fully land for me I do think BLOOD MERCY was an impressive fantasy romance with a lot to enjoy if you're willing to dedicate the time to it. I would definitely recommend this to readers who love forbidden romance, deep world building, and slower paced plots with lots of room to develop.
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: on page anxiety and near panic attacks; recounting of Cassia's sister and mother dying; threats of rape directed at Cassia; recounting and references to women being harassed and raped; cliffhanger ending
As the illegitimate daughter of the King of Tenebra, Cassia knows she shouldn't be seeking out one of the Hesperine diplomats in Tenebra for peace talks, but once she meets Lio she can't stay away. The more time Lio spends with Cassia under the cover of darkness the more he desires her, in both body and blood, but their meetings go against all the rules and if they're found out, it could mean death.
The first 50% of BLOOD MERCY is very slow and very long and while I appreciated the attention to detail and the immersive world building it moved too slow for me. The best way I can describe it is that stuff was happening but because there's no sense of urgency to any of the characters' actions or thoughts it feels like nothing is happening. It just ends up being a lot of conversations between Cassia and Lio, or Lio and the embassy, or Cassia and the mages of Kyria. These conversations build a lot of the history of Tenebra and especially the Hesperines but with no pressures or deadlines the tension was gone.
That being said, I did like both Lio and Cassia as characters and I thought the Hesperines and their culture was really cool. Hesperines are basically like vampires, they need blood to survive and they live forever, but Hesperines are infinitely peaceful and gentle. Their biggest concern is healing and helping humans and when needed, providing the Gift so that those who are dying can live forever. Of course many humans think they're monsters so their history with the human kingdoms is fraught with problems and distrust. Lio is young for a Hesperine (only 88) and this is his first mission as an initiate ambassador; I liked Lio's selflessness and his genuine care for all those around him. He's a good match for Cassia because he respects her in ways she's not used to as the King's illegitimate daughter and his kindness wins her over. As the book goes on we see Cassia grow into herself and find her voice and this was probably one of the highlights of BLOOD MERCY for me. I enjoyed her growing confidence and her realizations that there were people willing to help her if she just reached out. I can tell Cassia is going to become a force to be reckoned with.
Once the book hits 50% it starts to pick up in pace and the romance between Cassia and Lio really starts to build. Vela Roth does a fantastic job expressing all the emotions involved; between Lio's hunger for Cassia's blood and Cassia's newly discovered desires, the intimacy between these two is very sensually written. It's a lot of emotions and desires and cravings and it really sweeps the reader into the moment. It takes a while to get there, but I think BLOOD MERCY really starts to shine in the second half. The last 25% comes in like a wrecking ball and everything starts to happen. It almost felt like a different book because suddenly things were happening, plots were being uncovered, schemes were being made and everything was culminating in a possible fight between the humans and the Hesperines. I will make a quick note that this does end on a bit of a cliffhanger and Cassia and Lio's story is only just beginning.
This was a hard review to put together because even though it didn't fully land for me I do think BLOOD MERCY was an impressive fantasy romance with a lot to enjoy if you're willing to dedicate the time to it. I would definitely recommend this to readers who love forbidden romance, deep world building, and slower paced plots with lots of room to develop.
**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warning: on page anxiety and near panic attacks; recounting of Cassia's sister and mother dying; threats of rape directed at Cassia; recounting and references to women being harassed and raped; cliffhanger ending
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Rape
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