Reviews

Blood Sanctuary Part One by Vela Roth

axi_on's review against another edition

4.0

this is the cutest purest series ever i'm so obsessed with everyone in this book like you don't understand how much i love lio's trial circle and cassia and knight and komnena and apollon and baby zoe and kadi like i will start crying right now

Spoiler

after the scene where nodora's brother is talking shit and lio's trial circle all come in to comfort her and cassia's there crying but they're all "looking at her like she was the dearest person in the world" i was screaming. i was annoyed in book 2 by how insta found family it was but this book rly helped them all to grow into their own fleshed out characters and have a chance to connect with cassia with xandra reaching out first and kia and nodora doing damage control and komnena being like we're girls we all need older women to talk to i just ughgh i love everyone

i kinda wish vela roth just stuck with it being pure tbh bc the sex scenes are so boring (and if i have to read krana and rhabdos one more time i will combust you can say dick and pussy i promise no one is going to die). this is like the vampire book antithesis to fbaa which was so bad plot and character and relationship wise (i'm still not over cas and poppy constantly just murdering and threatening anyone who was perceived as a slight threat can we be mature like with my moth princess xandra pls) but jla knew wtf she was doing writing those scenes with casteel bc i was screaming into my pillow every damn time

it's kinda annoying only one hesperine ever was bad bc they have conscience magic ig?? i felt a little better when nodora's brother was mean bc at least there are some shades but i'm just not a fan for how black and white it is

also, this is the ugliest cover i have ever seen thank god i read this on my kindle so i didn't have to look at it. book 1 is so mf beautiful but the proportions on this (compare their head sizes for a minute and tell me i'm wrong) and their faces as a whole are ?? cassia and lio don't remotely look like the same characters from the first cover. cover artist i am sorry for being mean you should be so proud of yourself for the first cover you did a phenomenal job but pls

ellensbookishcollection's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful mysterious tense slow-paced

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

5.0

julieshuff's review against another edition

emotional mysterious reflective relaxing slow-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

3.75

Liked it but took a break partway through bc not much happens. Very much a romantic fantasy vibe but not much action. I still do love the world building though. 

share_the_book_dragon's review

adventurous emotional inspiring mysterious tense medium-paced

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

3.5

xgracyx's review

hopeful lighthearted mysterious relaxing slow-paced

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

3.75

kassyslibrary's review against another edition

5.0

Title: Blood Sanctuary: Part One

Author: Vela Roth

Synopsis: Cassia has reunited with her beloved Lio in the land of eternal night. She longs to become an immortal Hesperine like him so they can stay together forever. But she’s torn between their happiness and her duty to the kingdom her human father rules. To free herself from the king, she must convince his ambassadors to ally with the Hesperines, despite centuries of conflict.

Lio will die if Cassia leaves him, but he won’t force her to stay by revealing their blood bond. While they negotiate for peace in public, he tempts her in private with the promise of everlasting passion. But their future may end before it begins when enemies within the embassy threaten her with a lethal spell.

Review: another fantastic installment of this series! I love the political intrigue so much! It is such a joy reading about Cassia and Lio grow as individuals and see their bond grow even more as the books continue! I loved seeing more of Lio’s family and I hope to see more of them in the next book! This series does not disappoint! I could read a hundred books on Cassia and Lio and I would never get tired of it! This series brings me so much serotonin!

crownlullaby's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

vgaffett's review

emotional reflective 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? No

4.75

bookishrona's review against another edition

4.0

I found this one a bit slower than the previous books and a bit harder for me to get into all the different words got a bit confusing but still loved lio and cassia!

retrogirlreads's review against another edition

5.0

Although Cassia is now reunited with Lio, things have never been more dangerous for them. She’s finally in Orthros, so her dream of becoming a Hesperine seems real for the first time since she’d dared to dream it. But Cassia is struggling with the thought of finally being happy and what she feels is her duty towards the kingdom she was born in, the one her human father rules. Torn between love and duty, Cassia must make a decision - and soon.

Holy crap! Vela Roth’s Blood Grace series is home to what is quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy romance worlds, and “Blood Sanctuary Part One” exceeded all my expectations!!! The politics between Orthros and Tenebra are so incredibly complex, and I was 100% here for it. I also really loved learning more about Orthros and the Hesperines in general!!! Cassia and Lio go through so much in this one, and while I wanted to scream at times, I couldn’t make myself put it down either!!! 5 freaking stars!!!