I was granted a copy of this book by Netgalley, in exchange for my honest opinion.
I found this author on TikTok a year ago and bought the first book, it’s was a unusual story. But when we talk about vampires it was refreshing to see a different and and controversial plot.
I read this in one sitting, was so nice to see Valek and Charlotte again, in this second book we see our characters returning their hometown. Once again the world building was very interesting, with a dark atmosphere , the way the characters were written.

Thank you NetGalley for the eARC. I totally got Anne Rice vibes from this book. It was so good. I could not put it down and I cannot wait for the next one and let me go read the first one. I got pulled in so quickly!

I went into this book with low expectations and came out on the other side loving it.
The world was interesting, I liked the way the characters were written and I loved how atmospheric this was, which I wasn't really expecting.
It was so good, definitely a must read.

The main relationship in this book was very creepy. The story world and creatures were interesting, therefore one star more. The plot wasn't original and overall this book wasn't for me.

The second installment in the Of Ligh and Darkness series, Shayne Leighton continues the story of Charlotte and Valek in, Of Blood and Magic.

After overcoming the odds in book one, Valek and Charlotte return to their hometown, a magical place, unlike our world. But the dangers they faced in book one aren't over.

It's important to note that reading the first book is essential to the continuation of the story. The series reads like a mix between Twilight and The Mortal Instruments. The characters are pretty stereotypical, which is a shame since the world-building is scintillating and exciting. The dialogue doesn't flow well, and there are a lot of cliched reactions and themes throughout that, unfortunately, do nothing to elevate this above most YA fantasy.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-copy of, Of Blood and Magic. Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. I struggled with connecting with the characters. I love the concept of the book though.

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley #netgalley

Wow the adventure on this book was top notch. A great read

I first want to thank Netgalley for a copy of this beautiful book.

I found this author all over Tik Tok and KNEW I had to read her books, but I just simply never got a second to. When I saw this book was on NetGalley, I knew I needed it. I listened to the first one to get caught up since this is the second book, which if you still haven’t heard the first book on audio… DO IT NOW! Its so good. So so so so so good. I can not even put into words how good it is.

I loved the development of both of my favorite characters. Charlotte and Valek pick up where they left off in the past book, victorious on a one sense but still not where they want to be. They have returned to their home town of magical creatures in the Bohemian Occult City (which I am IN LOVE WITH) but are still struggling to stay safe. The author had wrapped up the first book so well to give you a sense that most of the danger and evil is gone, but oh BOY are you in for a surprise!

I love the world that Shayne has created and the way she develops even more in this book. All the magic, the creatures and the love between Charlotte and Valek. The love that these two are trying to keep alive during this series is everything I ever wanted. This series has EVERYTHING I ever wanted, plus more. I can not wait to keep reading more of the author.

This series is like a mix of twilight and Harry potter, but where the frist book felt more twilight this one feels a lot more like the 7th harry potter book.
The plot is very entertaining I like the power battles between light and dark, who doesn't love a good light vs dark battle right?  The order of vampires have a big feel to the volturi from twilight but with a more crusade vibe. I quite like them.
This book felt a lot like transition and world building, pointing the story in a diferent direction. I like most of the characters, they are well built interesting and with varied personalities. Though my less favourite is valek, in this book you get to really hate this entitled  prick  that belive the woman he himself have rise is a useless idiotic baby that can't help in anyway and whose best use is to sleep all day and stay out of the way, so I find annoying that Charlotte keep forgiving him... all the dynamic between them is secrets upon secrets by the shake of secrets without a real reason for those secrets but valek wanting to be the perfect Knight in shining armour. So I really don't like the "romantic" part of this book or the previous one valek and Charlotte don't have chemistry.
There are some things in the writing that are weird, for example, it suddenly says he stopped laughing, but never told us he started, and made reading somewhat confusing, this happends few times in the book.
Also I am unable to locate the time, what era does this happen in? In the frist book there is a comment of a lady talking by phone in the road. So I imagine is a mobile phone, what put me in at least mid-late 90's  but then in this book Charlotte gets a discman as present and they listen to a song  released in 1985, as modern music. So I'm quite lost of as when all this is happening 😕 not something very important but a clear time will help me picture things clearer in my mind. I am still unsure if I'll continue reading this series. I'll probably give the next book a chance and decide then.

I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Of Blood and Magic is the second installment of the Of Light and Darkness Series. In it, we are still following the romantic adventure between Charlotte and Valek. If you thought they were done fighting for their love and lives, you'd be wrong. Plus, we still get Aiden being weirdly obsessed with Charlotte too.

It was honestly interesting. I wasn't expecting so many things to be revealed throughout this but I'm happy that it happened. Not sure what the plan is for the third book but I'm hoping they are reunited once again. I just feel like it would be too easy for them to not run into each other. Especially if he is sent out to kill someone and she could be there. Or something.

Other than that, I liked the idea of the curses and seeing more of Aiden's chaotic family. I think it just has to deal with the overall magic that just intrigues me. I don't think I will ever get enough of it, and I can't wait for what will be revealed in the next one.

In the end, I'm still sticking with my gut and thinking they will be reunited. You can't just say someone is your fated love and walk away from them. Just saying.

Some books do not start well, but eventually get better. This one never got better for me.

I did not connect with any of the characters. I felt like many were stereotypical. The dialog seemed forced at times, too.

Maybe I have read too many YA books that I’m now too jaded to enjoy them anymore. Nevertheless, my rating is two stars. I do thank The Parliament House via Netgalley.

This was a very complicated love story with two main characters thrown together in the normal practise of vampires, but this vampire had a conscience and gave a home to the child of his victims. To make things even more complicated, they fell in love with each other. This couldn't be right thought Valek and Charlotte, his love interest wants it whatever the cost!. But.....They have other things and people to worry about and so begins the scary way forward, with their enemies chasing down them and their band of misfits. The Occult against the light........who will win!!. This is the latest in a series which is really good, although I'd have rathered more action than love!!!!!
Many thanks to Netgalley for the free ARC book for an honest review.
#parliamentbooks

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. All of the opinions given are my own and have been given nothing for my review.

This was such an amazing, action-packed thrillride of a read!! The characters were flushed out very well and the world building was both unique and clear. I'm always a bit hesitant when reading fantasy books due to the fear that there will be too much info on the world that it starts to get overwhelming. However, this story had a clear and concise structure to the world building that made it easy to immerse myself in it!

Thanks to NetGalley and The Parliament House for providing me with a copy of this book.

I had not heard of this series, but the premise seemed interesting. I tore through the first one and then tore through this one in recore time. I enjoyed both of them immensely. This dark fantasy NA genre is my jam, so I am glad thag I enjoyed both books so much.

I loved reading about the world and the characters. You can see the devlopment in both Charlotte and Valek, and I am eager to see where the author takes their story next. I also enjoyed the world building that painted a great picture of everything going on around it.

A great fantasy fic/series for those who are looking for something a bit more adult.

The world building is interesting and it's well written but the story didn't keep my attention and fell flat.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Who said being in love with a vampire was easy? Charlotte and Valek have returned to their home with their family of misfit monsters, but Charlotte is getting sick and Valek is hiding so many secrets from her claiming he knows best. The biggest issue in their relationship that is glaringly clear is the miscommunication between these two. Valek and Charlotte love each other yes but Valek has raised Charlotte and treats her like a child still. He hides all his secrets telling her he knows whats best for her, when all of this impacts her life, impacts her health, and he with-holds. Valek isn’t exactly a likable character in this book and honestly their relationship mishaps got a bit irritating by the end with Valek having to deal with the consequences of all his secrets finally being revealed and the cost it has. For an old vampire Valek sure acts like an angsty teen.Honestly a VAST majority of their issues would have easily been solved if they had one conversation as equals in the relationship which they clearly are not, Valek holds all the power in this relationship and Charlotte is his “little doll” as he likes to call her. On top of their relationship issues, Charlotte is dealing with a sickness that will consume her and receiving strange gifts and a mortal who shows up that looks very similar to Valek appears too (seriously it took her forever to piece that one together). Suffice to say the other backstory about the politics and war going on are there two but the main story concerns the relationship between Charlotte and Valek hitting the rocks. The story ends up where you’d expect it too and book three is a continuation of said events... and from the summary of book 3 I am not surprised at the decisions Charlotte will make.

*Thanks Netgalley and The Parliament House for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*