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lizzye33's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Sexism, Torture, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
Minor: Slavery and War
midnacine's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
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
5.0
I really wanted to include a specific quote in my review for this book, but I'm having trouble finding it and I'm an impatient bitch, so we're just not including it.
Maybe I'm just really into trashy romance novels recently but I fucking loved this book. It feels like this is what a condensed version of JLA's From Blood and Ash would have been withoutCasteel's deception plot . I love that series so it makes sense I would love this too.
It was interesting coming to this after having read A Touch of Darkness because the writing style was so much different and engaging. To me it seems like Scarlett St. Clair really found her voice in this story, and I can't wait to read the second one in December!
Maybe I'm just really into trashy romance novels recently but I fucking loved this book. It feels like this is what a condensed version of JLA's From Blood and Ash would have been without
It was interesting coming to this after having read A Touch of Darkness because the writing style was so much different and engaging. To me it seems like Scarlett St. Clair really found her voice in this story, and I can't wait to read the second one in December!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Cursing, Genocide, Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Infidelity, Racism, Slavery, Vomit, and Alcohol
kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
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
4.0
I honestly think this one is spicier than the others I’ve read by this author. I loved the love story. It was enemies to lovers but in the best way. I loved the protagonist. I enjoy how she learns and grows as the novel progresses to become a more developed, understanding person - which is how I think we should all live. There was a bit of predictability in the plot and there were a few grammatical issues that led me to a four star rating as opposed to a five star rating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Genocide, Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
cassie12_21's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I was looking for a smutty fantasy, and I got it. I think the ending was supposed to be a twist, but I predicted it really easy, so that was a bit disappointing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Sexism, Violence, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury
annabelle's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.5
Did I decide to give this author another chance because someone said that the love interest was basically Alucard from Castlevania? Yes. I absolutely did. And I ate it up!!! The story captured my attention. The characters were very entertaining. I liked the world and all the creepy monsters. I really hope we get to learn more about the monsters, goddesses, and countries in this world. Maybe even visit some new places in the next book!!
Now was this groundbreaking literature? Not really. The writing was simple. The plot was predictable. Some important moments of plot/character development were definitely glossed over in favor of the horny moments. It got to the point near the end where I genuinely was like “I appreciate and understand that you are horny for each other, but can we PLEASE discuss what is going on for more than five seconds??!!!” I think I got too invested in the plot and world building for a horny vampire book lmao.
Overall, I had a good time reading this. Isolde is a violent girlboss and we love that for her. Adrian is a classic emo vampire with a tragic past. It’s just a good time. There is mystery, betrayal, magic, and LOTS of stabbing. What more could you ask for?!
Now was this groundbreaking literature? Not really. The writing was simple. The plot was predictable. Some important moments of plot/character development were definitely glossed over in favor of the horny moments. It got to the point near the end where I genuinely was like “I appreciate and understand that you are horny for each other, but can we PLEASE discuss what is going on for more than five seconds??!!!” I think I got too invested in the plot and world building for a horny vampire book lmao.
Overall, I had a good time reading this. Isolde is a violent girlboss and we love that for her. Adrian is a classic emo vampire with a tragic past. It’s just a good time. There is mystery, betrayal, magic, and LOTS of stabbing. What more could you ask for?!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Slavery
levesc17's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
This book was great fun! Very steamy vampire romance set in a fantasy world. Main character, Isolde, chafes at the misogynistic confines of her war torn land. She doesn’t expect that she the enemy will free her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence
Moderate: Death, Sexism, and War
Minor: Death of parent
dropshift5568's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
Does bang
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Blood, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Body shaming
allisonwonderlandreads's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
A King of Battle & Blood tells the story of a tumultuous affair with a cacophony of emotions. And also vampires. It features high smut content from the start, throwing human Isolde into a diplomatic marriage with vampire overlord Adrian come to conquer her father's kingdom. It relies on common vampire paranormal tropes (violence, possessiveness, jealousy & angst), so if you like that feel or if you enjoy fantasy romance that keeps things approachable with only light world-building, you'll get what you're after here.
For me, this one was a miss. In terms of romance, I thrive on stories with a growing emotional connection and a slow build of tension. Without that, the (to me, not as a generalizable fact) abrupt and early arrival of smut on the scene left me sort of disconnected and uninterested in the proceedings. The generic plot elements also kept me at a distance. We have a woman who's been so sheltered that she hates all vampires and doesn't understand their history or humanity. She's forced to marry a vampiric hottie who she's attracted to on a nearly alarming level but who she also views as the root of all evil and would like to murder. The reader knows through it all that Isolde's weak understanding of the world will be overturned, and the entire story is building up to an obvious revelation that took too long to arrive given its predictability.
Meanwhile, the author works very hard to convince us that vampire god-among-men Adrian is the epitome of respect and attentiveness. He's certainly the king of instalove, which is explained away through a fantasy plot device. There's also a lot of energy put into convincing us that this is a balanced, consenting relationship. Adrian listens to being told no, Isolde is enthusiastic, and her past lover provides the foil as the needy, controlling human man on offer. However, Adrian's ability to read minds made me a bit uncomfortable. While he assures us it's outside his control, I wasn't happy with the choice to include it. Also, the jealous, obsessed, antagonistic way the two leaned into each other stressed me out.
On either the romance or fantasy front, I was not overly involved in this story. However, I can see why it would be engaging to readers with different interests and priorities, so I've tried to be specific here to help others decide for themselves. I need to stop trying vampire series, basically (but we all know I can't stay away).
For me, this one was a miss. In terms of romance, I thrive on stories with a growing emotional connection and a slow build of tension. Without that, the (to me, not as a generalizable fact) abrupt and early arrival of smut on the scene left me sort of disconnected and uninterested in the proceedings. The generic plot elements also kept me at a distance. We have a woman who's been so sheltered that she hates all vampires and doesn't understand their history or humanity. She's forced to marry a vampiric hottie who she's attracted to on a nearly alarming level but who she also views as the root of all evil and would like to murder. The reader knows through it all that Isolde's weak understanding of the world will be overturned, and the entire story is building up to an obvious revelation that took too long to arrive given its predictability.
Meanwhile, the author works very hard to convince us that vampire god-among-men Adrian is the epitome of respect and attentiveness. He's certainly the king of instalove, which is explained away through a fantasy plot device. There's also a lot of energy put into convincing us that this is a balanced, consenting relationship. Adrian listens to being told no, Isolde is enthusiastic, and her past lover provides the foil as the needy, controlling human man on offer. However, Adrian's ability to read minds made me a bit uncomfortable. While he assures us it's outside his control, I wasn't happy with the choice to include it. Also, the jealous, obsessed, antagonistic way the two leaned into each other stressed me out.
On either the romance or fantasy front, I was not overly involved in this story. However, I can see why it would be engaging to readers with different interests and priorities, so I've tried to be specific here to help others decide for themselves. I need to stop trying vampire series, basically (but we all know I can't stay away).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Slavery, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and War