madbad13's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
coffeewithmykindle's review
5.0
Captivating
“They may see beauty and grace, but underneath is damaged and bitter.” - Ali Stuebbe
First line completely sucked me in, I loved how the first character we learn about is a mother who feels the pain of leaving their child behind. This character just shows the depths of a mothers love that they will do anything to keep their child safe even if it destroys us in the process. This book starts with a punch and doesn’t stop.
We get different magical powers. Some that would be terrifying to be held in. The pain that they could inflict on another would be immensely painful and scary. Not all are this scary…some can be used for many different things… protection and some for fun.
This book has it all, enemies to lovers, who did this to you, touch her and I will unalive you, it is dark and painful, and spicy. Mates and more….
This story is one that had me in all the feels of pain alongside our FMC to her learning her truth, her worth and so much more. Our evil MMC whom you will absolutely despise!!!! And our other MMC you will loooove to hate in the right ways!
Ali used words that hit me to the core, I even told her that her words were a teachers dream come true. She used so many descriptive words that helped captivate me. She brought me through so many emotions in her style of writing!
There are many tr!ggers in this book that I highly recommend you reading the TW before starting this book. This is absolutely intended for adult audiences only!
“They may see beauty and grace, but underneath is damaged and bitter.” - Ali Stuebbe
First line completely sucked me in, I loved how the first character we learn about is a mother who feels the pain of leaving their child behind. This character just shows the depths of a mothers love that they will do anything to keep their child safe even if it destroys us in the process. This book starts with a punch and doesn’t stop.
We get different magical powers. Some that would be terrifying to be held in. The pain that they could inflict on another would be immensely painful and scary. Not all are this scary…some can be used for many different things… protection and some for fun.
This book has it all, enemies to lovers, who did this to you, touch her and I will unalive you, it is dark and painful, and spicy. Mates and more….
This story is one that had me in all the feels of pain alongside our FMC to her learning her truth, her worth and so much more. Our evil MMC whom you will absolutely despise!!!! And our other MMC you will loooove to hate in the right ways!
Ali used words that hit me to the core, I even told her that her words were a teachers dream come true. She used so many descriptive words that helped captivate me. She brought me through so many emotions in her style of writing!
There are many tr!ggers in this book that I highly recommend you reading the TW before starting this book. This is absolutely intended for adult audiences only!
adrihean's review
5.0
Princess Emma, the sole Fae without access to her powers, yearns for freedom and excitement amidst the dangers of her oppressive home life. With an abusive father, the King, who restricts her magic using a collar, she discovers a dark secret when she defies the rules and explores the town. Unveiling an evil lurking in the realm, Emma's journey takes a perilous turn when she becomes betrothed and attends a party in another kingdom with her father. This event catapults her into an adventure so hazardous that survival is uncertain. Together with her friends and the Dark Prince, Emma finds herself on a quest to save the entire world.
“Blood of Desiderium” by Abi Stuebbe was so fantastic. I loved every minute of it and cannot wait until the next book comes out. It has a “Who did this to you” and “Shadow Daddy” trope which made my heart race. I love how the MC is both strong and insecure at the same time, making her relatable. The world building was done really well, and I loved all the characters. 5 out of 5 stars.
birbpal's review against another edition
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Stars
Okay, so I've got a lot of thoughts about this book. It was really fun to read, not going to lie; but there were also a lot of issues with the plot and the writing. For a debut novel though, I am happy.
First, the good:
• I loved the side characters. Cora, Fynn, Kye (my fav), Emil, etc. They made the story so enjoyable. I wish we got to learn more about them organically instead of through exposition dumps. But seriously, Kye. Oh my god, that man made me feel gooey. I want to see more of him in the next book, desperately!
• Lore and world-building left more to be desired, but when it was included, I felt so intrigued. It was different from how other Fae worlds work, and I really liked it!
• The descriptive writing was the perfect blend of detailed but not overbearing. I did not feel the need to skip any lines because the author fell into the trap (that many fantasy writers fall into) of over describing.
Now for the bad:
• I did not like how the author included what I felt was useless POVs. Seriously, I could have inferred a lot of the information on my own without the need to read it directly from a character's perspective.
• That leads into my next issue, I feel as if the author treated us readers like we are dumb. I am not smart, don't get me wrong. But I easily called 90% of the plot twists in this book. That proves my point that only an actual idiot could not see the breadcrumbs being left through the book. I can't fault her fully. This is her debut novel, after all. It's hard to write plot twists that simultaneously leave readers in shock but also make sense in the context of the story.
• But along those lines, I really, REALLY question the intelligence of her characters. It feels like the author dumbed everyone down for the sake of the plot twists, but it was so annoying. I personally highlighted so many lines of characters making statements that made me go, "Okay, now rub your two braincells together and CONNECT THE DOTS." FMC, Emma was the worst offender, I felt. That girl was so oblivious and ignorant. I understand that there is an initial reason for that, but she really could not use her head for a second. She was beyond immature, making me question the fact that she is technically 24 in the book. As of writing this review, I am 21. I can NOT understand most of her decisions/interactions between characters.
• My final problem with the book is the overall plot holes and discrepancies. If you do decide to read this book, be prepared to constantly question the logistics of things. An example is the fact that at one point, Emma gets hurt fighting with a character called Draven. Cora has healing powers and could easily heal the wound, but instead, Emma gets dragged by Draven to the Healing chambers?? Yeah, that made no sense and was never explained. That is just one small example, though. The book is full of things that will make you go, "Huh? wtf?"
My overall thoughts are that I did enjoy this book. It was fun at times, rolling my eyes at the characters' decisions but also following Emma on this journey of self-discovery. Yes, the book ends of a cliffhanger, and in case you are curious, this is not a Why Choose/RH book. There is one love interest for Emma. It's just a mystery who it will be. I will be reading the next book, as I am too curious to know how this story will pan out!
Okay, so I've got a lot of thoughts about this book. It was really fun to read, not going to lie; but there were also a lot of issues with the plot and the writing. For a debut novel though, I am happy.
First, the good:
• I loved the side characters. Cora, Fynn, Kye (my fav), Emil, etc. They made the story so enjoyable. I wish we got to learn more about them organically instead of through exposition dumps. But seriously, Kye. Oh my god, that man made me feel gooey. I want to see more of him in the next book, desperately!
• Lore and world-building left more to be desired, but when it was included, I felt so intrigued. It was different from how other Fae worlds work, and I really liked it!
• The descriptive writing was the perfect blend of detailed but not overbearing. I did not feel the need to skip any lines because the author fell into the trap (that many fantasy writers fall into) of over describing.
Now for the bad:
• I did not like how the author included what I felt was useless POVs. Seriously, I could have inferred a lot of the information on my own without the need to read it directly from a character's perspective.
• That leads into my next issue, I feel as if the author treated us readers like we are dumb. I am not smart, don't get me wrong. But I easily called 90% of the plot twists in this book. That proves my point that only an actual idiot could not see the breadcrumbs being left through the book. I can't fault her fully. This is her debut novel, after all. It's hard to write plot twists that simultaneously leave readers in shock but also make sense in the context of the story.
• But along those lines, I really, REALLY question the intelligence of her characters. It feels like the author dumbed everyone down for the sake of the plot twists, but it was so annoying. I personally highlighted so many lines of characters making statements that made me go, "Okay, now rub your two braincells together and CONNECT THE DOTS." FMC, Emma was the worst offender, I felt. That girl was so oblivious and ignorant. I understand that there is an initial reason for that, but she really could not use her head for a second. She was beyond immature, making me question the fact that she is technically 24 in the book. As of writing this review, I am 21. I can NOT understand most of her decisions/interactions between characters.
• My final problem with the book is the overall plot holes and discrepancies. If you do decide to read this book, be prepared to constantly question the logistics of things. An example is the fact that at one point, Emma gets hurt fighting with a character called Draven. Cora has healing powers and could easily heal the wound, but instead, Emma gets dragged by Draven to the Healing chambers?? Yeah, that made no sense and was never explained. That is just one small example, though. The book is full of things that will make you go, "Huh? wtf?"
My overall thoughts are that I did enjoy this book. It was fun at times, rolling my eyes at the characters' decisions but also following Emma on this journey of self-discovery. Yes, the book ends of a cliffhanger, and in case you are curious, this is not a Why Choose/RH book. There is one love interest for Emma. It's just a mystery who it will be. I will be reading the next book, as I am too curious to know how this story will pan out!
kayhush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This book has been on my TBR for quite some time, so when I saw it pop up on NetGalley I immediately requested it.
I found the pacing of the book to be a consistent pace, though a bit on the slower side. There is a considerable amount of internal dialogue. While there were times I did find it to slow down the pacing of conversations and battles, it did help to fully understand the character motivations.
One of my biggest complaints in many of the books in the fantasy romance subgenre is that the world-building is completely thrown out to make room for the romance. I found that the world-building in this is well done, I have a good understanding of the courts, the human vs fae world, and the politics. I would have liked a bit more development of the courts not specifically lived in/visited, to get a more well-rounded view of the world as a whole. Though the lack of world expansion beyond the immediate does lend itself to the POV of the FMC who has lived secluded and sheltered her whole life.
There were a few moments where specific word choices pulled me out of the story (guy, paperback, red carpet, thang) and broke my immersion. But beyond that, the tone of the writing was very consistent.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy the fantasy romance genre but are looking for something a bit more gritty and dark and less dramatic than the constant swooning found in many other books of this subgenre.
There were times that I did struggle to stay invested in the story, due to the slower pace and the large amount of internal dialogue. I started listening to it via text-to-speech while I did other tasks, and I found that to be greatly beneficial. The writing lends itself well to spoken word.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ali Steubbe. I have received a free digital copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
I found the pacing of the book to be a consistent pace, though a bit on the slower side. There is a considerable amount of internal dialogue. While there were times I did find it to slow down the pacing of conversations and battles, it did help to fully understand the character motivations.
One of my biggest complaints in many of the books in the fantasy romance subgenre is that the world-building is completely thrown out to make room for the romance. I found that the world-building in this is well done, I have a good understanding of the courts, the human vs fae world, and the politics. I would have liked a bit more development of the courts not specifically lived in/visited, to get a more well-rounded view of the world as a whole. Though the lack of world expansion beyond the immediate does lend itself to the POV of the FMC who has lived secluded and sheltered her whole life.
There were a few moments where specific word choices pulled me out of the story (guy, paperback, red carpet, thang) and broke my immersion. But beyond that, the tone of the writing was very consistent.
I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy the fantasy romance genre but are looking for something a bit more gritty and dark and less dramatic than the constant swooning found in many other books of this subgenre.
There were times that I did struggle to stay invested in the story, due to the slower pace and the large amount of internal dialogue. I started listening to it via text-to-speech while I did other tasks, and I found that to be greatly beneficial. The writing lends itself well to spoken word.
Thank you to NetGalley and Ali Steubbe. I have received a free digital copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.
russejenn's review
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This book reads like fanfiction in the worst way. The characters are written kind of like edgelords, which makes it cringe at times. The ‘reveal’ that Shade is Draven is kind of poorly done because of their POV chapters trying to conceal that fact from the reader, even tho it’s super obvious from the start. This book would have been better if it had only been written from Emma’s POV. Everything felt super easy, barely an inconvenience.
kindlekween_'s review against another edition
5.0
This book was AMAZING. I cannot believe this was a debut novel. The world building painted a clear picture but didn’t become overwhelming. It had all my favorite tropes, fated mates, faes & gods with a lot of touch her and die vibes. The plot sucks you in like quick sand and keeps you there for the remainder of the ride. 10/10/10/10
I cannot wait for book two!
I cannot wait for book two!
that_awkwardpart's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Body horror, Bullying, War, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Self harm, Physical abuse, Vomit, Kidnapping, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, Torture, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Gaslighting, Gore, Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, and Toxic friendship
the_gilded_serpent's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
3.75
A Fae princess confined to the palace and blocked from accessing her powers by her father… A betrothal that tests her. A mysterious vigilante who teases her. A Dark Prince who doesn't trust her. And a phantom that invades her dreams.
This debut has all of the ingredients to make it a great fantasy series. A fierce fmc, a hunky Dark Prince, mythical creatures, an interesting magic system, found family, gods, danger lurking around every corner, a cruel king, and an intriguing plot. The only obstacle is the underdeveloped writing coupled with modern language. It could be distracting at times. I am hopeful that the writing will improve as the series continues. Heat alert! 🚨 I was pleasantly surprised by the spice. My kindle was burning up. 🥵 The nickname! The one that makes your heart flutter every time you hear it. 🫠
❝
“I’ll be your villain if you need me to, little demon. But you don’t hate me. And even if you did, you wouldn’t be able to hang onto it for much longer.”
“I like when you beg, little demon.” Her eyes light up as I slam my mouth to hers.
Keeping in mind that this is a debut, there is a lot of potential. I ended up enjoying it, immensely. The characters stole my heart and Prince Draven has been added to the book boyfriend waitlist. I am eager to see how the story will play out after that cliffhanger ending! Overall, I do recommend this book, with lowered expectations.
❝
It’s better to spark the smallest ember than to curse the darkness.
I’ve fought worse monsters than him, but what he doesn’t know is that I might be the darkest monster of all.
I’m afraid I’m caught in his web, for I can now say I have a weakness for dimples.
“Need me to make you bleed again with my dagger?” she snipes back…
“I should probably mention violence turns me on,” I say, watching her face turn red with restrained irritation.
“You should never have to dance to death’s song alone, little demon.”
“No one deserves to live if they lay a fucking hand on you.”
“I will always find you too, for you have marked my heart with the only scar that I will ever cherish.”
⬧ TW ⬧
⬪ Violence/Gore/Death
⬪ Grief
⬪ Profanity
⬪ Mental health themes
⬪ Mention of suicidal intent
⬪ Torture
⬪ Overall dark themes
*This book is NA Dark Fantasy Romance that is 18+ with explicit language and sexual scenes. BoD is the first book in the series and ends on a cliffhanger.*
This debut has all of the ingredients to make it a great fantasy series. A fierce fmc, a hunky Dark Prince, mythical creatures, an interesting magic system, found family, gods, danger lurking around every corner, a cruel king, and an intriguing plot. The only obstacle is the underdeveloped writing coupled with modern language. It could be distracting at times. I am hopeful that the writing will improve as the series continues. Heat alert! 🚨 I was pleasantly surprised by the spice. My kindle was burning up. 🥵 The nickname! The one that makes your heart flutter every time you hear it. 🫠
❝
“I’ll be your villain if you need me to, little demon. But you don’t hate me. And even if you did, you wouldn’t be able to hang onto it for much longer.”
“I like when you beg, little demon.” Her eyes light up as I slam my mouth to hers.
Keeping in mind that this is a debut, there is a lot of potential. I ended up enjoying it, immensely. The characters stole my heart and Prince Draven has been added to the book boyfriend waitlist. I am eager to see how the story will play out after that cliffhanger ending! Overall, I do recommend this book, with lowered expectations.
❝
It’s better to spark the smallest ember than to curse the darkness.
I’ve fought worse monsters than him, but what he doesn’t know is that I might be the darkest monster of all.
I’m afraid I’m caught in his web, for I can now say I have a weakness for dimples.
“Need me to make you bleed again with my dagger?” she snipes back…
“I should probably mention violence turns me on,” I say, watching her face turn red with restrained irritation.
“You should never have to dance to death’s song alone, little demon.”
“No one deserves to live if they lay a fucking hand on you.”
“I will always find you too, for you have marked my heart with the only scar that I will ever cherish.”
⬧ TW ⬧
⬪ Violence/Gore/Death
⬪ Grief
⬪ Profanity
⬪ Mental health themes
⬪ Mention of suicidal intent
⬪ Torture
⬪ Overall dark themes
*This book is NA Dark Fantasy Romance that is 18+ with explicit language and sexual scenes. BoD is the first book in the series and ends on a cliffhanger.*