Reviews

Blood Sanctuary Part One by Vela Roth

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!!!

jaedee09's review

adventurous emotional tense medium-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

I continue to settle more and more into this magical world. Vela Roth spins such intricate detail into the story and characters. I don't usually enjoy series that go on for more than three or four books, but there is so much to the world of Orthros/Tenebra/Cordium that it doesn't feel like the story is dragging on.

Though I do wish Lio would tell Cassia she's his Grace already...

oorr's review against another edition

adventurous emotional medium-paced

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

4.0

traysharps's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced

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

4.25

I think this series is picking up more for me finally. The Hesperine characters are far more interesting and loveable and fun to exist with, but I gather that was the point. I’m glad that we get each person’s backstory, that we get to see Cassia learning and meshing into life in Orthros. I’m curious if the affinity for language will make a return - it was a big point made but then brushed over fairly quickly so I do hope we learn more about that. One bright spot, funnily enough, is the conflict with the mages. I love how obvious and yet how equally mysterious the three of them are, how close they come to laying their cards on the table every time they’re goaded with their own inaccuracies and fears. It’s so satisfying to watch the Hesperines thwart them at each turn they try to make. However, the one annoyance I have other than once again the continuing and growing anatomy word nonsense, is the unnecessary secret keeping. I would say that trope is probably second of my biggest hates in books, right under intentional miscommunication. I will never understand keeping things hidden that don’t need to be, especially in this case where you have a relationship built and focused on open honestly. The only piece I can give a minor concession to is Lio keeping the Grace thing hidden so as not to remove Cassia’s choices - that I get, but I hope he tells her soon. In any case, I think in the coming books we’ll have much to be laid bare from all sides. 

wintersbookmark's review against another edition

5.0

I need part two like I need air!!!