A magical thriller that keeps you guessing right til the end. A Foster kid in France with no history receives a mysterious letter with his real name and an invitation to find out who he really is. This leads him to a quaint town said to be the centre of magic in the world. He goes for information and revenge but is it a trap? Can magic really be restored to the world by the quartrefoil Council? Will the price be worth paying? Personally I can't wait for the next instalment of the quartrefoil chronicles

Goodness gracious, where do I begin? First off, Ah-May-Zing!! For real, I absolutely adored this book! I went into reading it excited, but I did not expect to like it nearly as much as I did, let alone LOVE it! This is my first book by Olivia Wildenstein and after reading it I realized that I have her book Feather on my TBR list. And guess what just got bumped up to the top? I have just added some of Katie Hayoz's books to my TBR now as well.

The world building was great and the magical element was fun. But the characters! I loved the characters. I found myself smiling and laughing to myself so much while reading this book. And Slate? He has been added to the book boyfriend list. Cadence was great too and I usually do not like lead females in the books I read. The two of them and their snark and attitude, perfect. The side characters were just as great and I am so excited to see where they all end up.

Further, this book kept me guessing with the bit of mystery interwoven within its framework. Even still I have questions and suspicions that I am desperately needing answers to! Not only will I most definitely be reading the next book in the series, but I will be buying the physical copy of this when it becomes available, that is how much I enjoyed this book. It will definitely stay on my mind for a while to come. Would 100% recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the authors for allowing me to review this book.

Sometimes I think I'm getting too old for YA... but I love this author and will read just about anything they write! The one thing I really appreciated about this book is how the character Slate evolved. Desecrating tombs is disgusting, but so it abuse in the foster system.

I was sucked into this book right from the get go. I really love the character of Slate, a morally grey thief, who has managed to work his way up from poverty to provide for his brother and himself. Soon after arriving in a new town he unknowingly steals the bloodstone, a very special magical item, which sets off a chain reaction that means life or death for those who have to help him defeat the curses he has just set into motion.
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Slate is full of witty humor and even though he outwardly portrays a bad boy persona it is all to easy to fall in love with him. The story switches back and forth between Slate and Cadence's perspectives as we are taken on a journey to defeat the curses. I adore Cadence's character and loved watching her grow as we see her stuggle with learning her father has kept some huge secrets from her her whole life and deciding if she can trust Slate or not. I love how Slate and Cadence's relationship evolves over the course of the book and I can't wait to see where things go in the next one.
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The quatrefoil quest itself was engaging and I really enjoyed each of the challenges the characters faced. My only problem was the ending felt a bit rushed, I was a little confused and wished there had been a bit more time taken to explain what happened. Although this just makes me even more interested in seeing what happens next.
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This is an amazing book full of secrets, lies, mystery, action, and romance.
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Thank you to Netgalley and Twig Publishing for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

ARC from NetGalley

4.5 stars

A most excellent read. It took me a while to get into the first person delivery of Slate, but it happened. This book is rife with magic and mystery, romance, double crossing, and a healthy peppering of curse words. All of these things please me. There were a few patchy bits that brought down my rating a bit, places where things didn't quite make sense. Like why would Slate's spidey senses suddenly shut off? It was never explained, and that had me wondering. Like, one second you're cringing in pain and wanting to vomit, but then you aren't... why? I would have preferred the romance to be a bit more romantical, but I anticipate that will come with the next book. Whenever a book has liberal use of swears, I always hope for dirty bits, but what can you do. No dirty bits.

Even though this book includes many popular tropes, it spins them a bit and feels like something new, which is so refreshing these days. Do recommend.

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. I loved this book. It was like a puzzle was being put together before your eyes. The romance was great and I hope in the next book Cadence and Slate’s relationship gets more involved. I highly recommend this book!

this book was action packed with memorable characters and great pacing. Definitely recommend picking this one up!

A standing ovation!!! Applause – applause – applause.
My life will never be the same again…

Oh what a ride, what an adventure.

Honestly, when Netgalley gave me an ARC and a chance to read the book, I didn’t know what to expect. I was hooked by the cover (I know, I know, never judge a book by the cover, but I can’t help it.) and the title: Of Wicked Blood.

Also, the joint writers… !

Now what was it about?
Well, it all happens in Brume, a magical town where magic apparently isn’t real anymore.
We get to know a lot of characters at the beginning of the book – and the depth of them is more clear once you keep reading.
Slate – a good guy with a rough edge – is asked to join a man in Brume (France) where he can get more information about his youth and his family. Mind you, he was raised in foster homes and has a foster-brother Bastian which he loves more than anything in this world.
Once Slate gets to Brume, he kinda gets into trouble by putting on a ring on his finger, which he can’t get off anymore. The ring activates a magical quest, the quatrefoil quest, which will blow your mind!
Along the way we get to know Cadence (her father is responsible for getting Slate to Brume.) who is a lovely character and her best friend Alma, Adrien – the professor and Gaël – a good friend.
All of them go along in this adventure, which gives some clues that are solved in the end of the book and some that stay untold.
The end is very unexpected, and I loved it! I can’t wait for the next one, what a cliffhanger!

The book reads like an adventure story. It is a bliss in times like these, it has amazing scenes which I would love to see in a movie.
I caught myself thinking about the book when I was at work, wondering how the story would continue.
The romance between Slate and Cadence is great, the sarcasm even better ;)
I loved the fact that each chapter is told by Slate and the next one by Cadence, it gives a fresh feel.
I never got bored in this book and loved every single chapter!
It was an amazing book, and I hate the fact that I have to wait for the next one … but oh boy will I be happy when I can read it.

I must say: thank you Olivia Wildenstein and Katie Hayoz for writing this book!!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Twig Publishing for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars

Very fun read told in two POVs. Slate is a young man brought up in the foster care system with no knowledge of his family. He is brought to a small university town in France where he discovers his family history. Four main characters must solve some quests to bring magic back to the world. Good characters, solid story line, great town details makes this a fun first book in a trilogy. Can’t wait to read more in the series and by the two authors.

I really, really loved this book. Even from the moment I read the French dictionary (fucking dragons) I knew it would be enjoyable and it didn’t disappoint. Loved the descriptions of the town and the beautiful settings - not to mention the library.

Of course now I’m absolutely desperate to read the second instalment, as there was a lot left to be wrapped up.

My only slight criticism is that I found Cadence’s chapters a little stilted, but I thought Slate was brilliant.

All of the creatures / obstacles were fanastic, and I loved the idea of the quatrefoil. Really intrigued to find out what happens next and am hoping for a speedy sequel.

I almost gave up on this book, I felt like it started off slow and in a weird kind of spot where you’re trying to envision a specific world and it isn’t even the way you think. I’m so glad that I kept with it though! I don’t know if I just needed to get a little further to truly “see” what this world was or if it was because I had another book my mind? Either way, I loved this book! I’m usually a paranormal kind of girl and I enjoy witchy tales but this one is solely about magic, no other creatures.

So we have Slate who receives a message telling him to come to Brume. He is an orphan who does what he needs to, to survive. He hates the idea of going there and is severely angry at his caller. Drunk and angry, he breaks into the grave of said callers’ wife, but karma has another thing coming for him.

Cadence is a 17 year old girl who seems to just be focused on one thing. A boy. I know, I know, cliche but her story only just begins once Slate arrives.

Truths come out and Cadence’s world becomes even bigger than she initially knew. Now her, Slate and two others have to band together to “defeat” challenges specific to each of them and get magic back in the world.

Each challenge brings more truths out and shows you more qualities and characteristics of each character and I just felt super drawn in and immersed in a grand tale.

I so very much wanted to give this 5 stars but the ending felt slightly rushed to me. The last challenge went by fast and then all of a sudden it was ending. There is obviously going to be another book, says so at the end, so I can’t wait to see what it brings! There are answers I need! And that slow burn romance needs to be lit up!

I enjoyed this book, was a little slow to begin with, but all in all was a good book. The banter between Slate and Cadence was taunting and saucy. What a fascinating world the authors have created.

I absolutely loved this book!! Olivia Wildenstein is an amazing author and her collab with Katie Hayoz is just magical!!

So... I just read one of the best books of 2020. Holy freakin' heck. This book was wickedly good and absolutely addictive! I'm gonna need book two asap!

I've read quite a few books from Olivia Wildenstein but I have yet to read anything written by Katie Hayoz. (Rest assured the latter will be remedied immediately after finishing this review.) I did not know what to expect from this duo but what I got? What I got was a brilliant book with amazing writing, a unique and compelling plot, swoony romance, and lovable, complex characters. This book surprised me in a really good way and I just want to read it again.

You guys, I just found myself a new book boyfriend in Slate. Loved him from the start and I just fell in love with him harder the farther I got. Cadence was absolutely lovable! I love her love for books and history. I love her loyalty, her tenacity, and her strength. A girl after my own heart. And can I just say the banter and chemistry between Cadence and Slate? Swoon.

The book didn't exactly end on a cliffhanger but there were still so many unanswered questions. I have a terrible feeling something more terrible is going to happen. I don't know what to expect from the sequel but I'm so excited to find out! I need more of the Quatrefoil gang in my life!

When is book two coming?

I received an e-arc from Netgalley to read and review.

I really loved this book, I thought the characters were well thought out and they went together nicely. I loved their challenges and how they had to work together. I loved the unique storyline and the little magic town makes me wish it was real so I could visit them. I wish there was more romance but that is just my preference. There is some though. I will definately read the next in the series.

I did receive an arc in exchange for an honest review

Of Wicked Blood

Of Wicked Blood by Olivia Wildenstein & Katie Hayoz

WOW I couldn’t stop reading this book! I can not wait for the rest of the series, but in the meantime I’m going to start reading all of their other books!!! I absolutely loved how this book enticed me. The two author did so wonderful working together that I couldn’t tell who wrote what! The characters where written in a way it was like you was right there and knew them personally. The only thing I can say that could have been done better is the ending. It seems rushed and left out a lot of the details that the rest of the book had. It basically left me with a lot of questions. Specially what happen with Gaëlle!

5 Stars

Of Wicked Blood was a pretty interesting book set in a town where once upon a time magic was real but when things went wrong, magic was banished. But, Cadence's dad is determined to get magic back by finding the four "leaves". However, each leaf is dangerous to the four people that will try to find them but also to by-standers. All Remy want is to get out of this town. However, after stealing a cursed ring and putting it on his finger, it's literally impossible for him to leave this town. The only way he'll be free (and survive) is if he, Cadence and two other people manage to get the leaves.

Overall, this book was pretty good but it took me way too long to get through it. Me being so slow kind of took some of the enjoyment out of my reading after a while and it frustrated me. However, I liked the romance between Cadence and Remy and it kept my attention. I'm a bit apprehensive to read the second book and I hope that Cadence won't deny what is clearly going to happen (view spoiler). We'll see :)


(Thank you for letting me read and review an ARC via Netgalley)

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

**2.5 rounded up**
I felt like I was reading a different book from everyone else leaving raving reviews. While Of Wicked Blood was a fascinating story, I did not fall in love with the main characters at all.

First, what I loved:
Brume. Brume was a fascinating little town that had so many secrets. The authors did a wonderful job creating this dark and dismal yet close-knit town with weird traditions. I would have loved to go deeper into the lore of Brume. The quatrefoil has such an interesting history.

I also loved the side characters. Alma and Bastien were probably my favorite characters in the book. Both of them were sweet and kind with just the right amount of mischievousness.

The adventures: the majority of the adventures were fun and action-packed especially at the end. All of the challenges were so cool.

What I didn't like
Cadence and Slate. Slate seemed more sleazy than anything and I couldn't get to like him. On top of that was his obsession with Cadence. I feel like I was the only person who noticed that Slate is almost 20, Adrien just turned 24, and Cadence is only 17. The author talked about a relationship with Adrien at the beginning of the book and then moved to Slate. Slate constantly talked about getting with Cadence to the point where he's about to be killed and only thinks about the fact that he's lying on top of her(get your priorities straight please). These age gaps are incredibly unhealthy with the age and emotional maturity of Cadence. Moving to Cadence, she was better than Slate but not by much. I felt it unrealistic for her to have gotten over seeing her mother's literal remains a day later and then wanting to hook up with Slate. I get the magic that could kill him is important but it's a bit much. She felt more childish and reliant on her father than the average 17-year-old. They also gave her tons of alcohol? I'm not sure what the drinking age in France is but it's odd. She did begin to grow by the end but it didn't seem realistic to be in those relationships.

The plot was a bit slow but it picked up by the end. It felt like some scenes weren't needed to really further the plot but some were useful. The ending was a bit confusing with this big reveal given to Slate but we don't even know what the reveal is. Then comes the quatrefoil end where it magically became fixed and I was confused how? I may go back and reread it again.

I liked the storyline, but the characters really made me unsure about the book.

Im undecided about this book.

The entire book is set in France. Slate is 17, lives in America with his brother Bastian and he is a thief. He gets informed that he has inherited some money and an estate from his parents whom he didn't know existed as he was an orphan and raised in foster care.

Slate travels to France, to a small town called Broome, where he is informed that he must enrol at school to get his money.

Enter Cadence, the mayors daughter and slates love interest.

Slate robs a crypt for jewels and he spys a ruby ring, he puts the ring on and it bonds itself to his finger and won't come off, as it turns out this sets off a chain of events where he, cadence and 2 others have to fight monsters to get golden leaves to bring back magic.

Its not a bad story, i absolutely hated the setting, dark, dank, grey and miserable, it was in fact utterly depressing and i didn't gel with most of the characters and slate was arrogant and childish. There is also the issue i had with the fact that they killed a 6 year old girl and then dumped the child's body in a lake, despite knowing the child's parents and not saying anything, frankly this is revolting and should be taken out of the book entirely.

Its kinda Percy Jackson vs Harry potter and im not sure it works.

I've read all the authors other books, and this is my least favourite.

This is just my opinion though and others will see it differently. Sorry Olivia, this one is not for me at all.

*Review will be posted to my blog on 1/18/21 closer to publication date*

I Liked:
*World-Building: I like how different this is! It takes the Merlin lore but connects it to witchcraft and magic. The town of Brume, France is ripe with magical lore, but is it real? There are four founding families in Brume, and the lore of the Quartrefoil (resembles a four leaf clover) that is everywhere in the town. So magic, founding families, and a race against the clock to find the foils equals a very exciting story!

*Characters: Slate ~ Bad boy, troubling past, and a foul mouth (he curses a lot). Cadence ~ good girl, family secrets and beautiful. There are four family reps, but Slate and Cadence are the stronger characters. I love Cadence’s bestie Alma and Slate’s foster brother, Bastian – glad he got more book time in the end. As for deception, I’m looking at you, Cadence’s dad…we shall see what other things we learn about him and the past!

*Romance: slow burn deliciousness between Slate and Cadence. I mean he’s the bad boy, she’s the good girl and together they are dynamite.

*Writing: love the banter between Slate and Cadence. I thought the beginning was slow to build but from the half-way point on, I could not put this book down. There is a lot of action when the four family reps have to find their piece of the quatrefoil. I love the mystery, the puzzle piecing, and the secrets.

Random Notes:
*The second half is way more engaging than the first. It took me two days to read, when I picked it up on the second day I couldn’t put it down. Slate uses the F word a lot but I love it, it totally fits him.

*I had to research the authors after I read this because I enjoyed the story so much and was surprised to see I read Olivia Wildenstein’s The Lost Clan Trilogy few years ago. I remember how unique and enjoyable it was. Now I want to read everything she’s written. I’m not familiar with Katie Hayoz’s work but I’m going to check out her books as well!

Final Thoughts:
This story has all the things I love in a paranormal story: lore, slow burn romance, adventure, a mystery and family secrets to uncover! This was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in the series.

🖤 ~ Yolanda