Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this novel. A good read.

This is the second book in the marked by blood series, I read the first via netgalley and I liked it and wanted to read the next one but to be honest I forgot about it until I saw it also on netgalley and I had to read it.
I barely remembered anything from the first book when I picked this up, and I was wondering wether to do a quick reread or not. But I don't like rereads so I just dived in hopping that the beginning of the book would give me enough clues to remember. And it did in a subtle way it brings the main events from book one to the conversation, and those hints brought everything back even the details.
I liked this one much better than the first, with the danger, the court intrigue ans dramatics and the romance, It again reminded me of ACOTAR but with vampires!!! Plus this one had quite a bit of very well written spice that I very much enjoyed, specially when the spice wasn't only between the main characters.
I quite enjoyed Niall's POV there weren't many but they were very insigful and entretainng, worth seeing the point of view of one of the many villians.
I love the growth of the characters is so well done they go through a lot and there are some very good lesson in this.

But that ending killed me!! Ending the book like that is simply evil !!!! 😭 and I need the next one soon. I doubt this time I will forget about the next one coming out.

4.5⭐️

Midnight crown is the second instalment of Rebecca L.Garcia's vampire series about our MC Olivia, a sorceress who is imprisoned by her vampire farther and is awaiting the shadow kiss ceremony in which she is to become a vampire too.. or does she????

I really enjoyed the first book shadow kissed but did find it a little repetitive, book 2 was not repetitive at all but was lacking as much action/plot compared to the first book.

Midnight crown has some serious spice 🌶🌶🌶 which I loved, damn I was aching for that first love scene between Sebastian and Olivia to happen and boy did it! 🥵.

We were also introduced to Niall and got to read some chapters from his POV including a very spicy bathroom scene.

Very much looking forward to the next book.

Loved it as much as the first book.
Olivia and Sebastian slowy realizing they're
not only attracted to each other, but that they're
soulmates was something I was glad that happened
when it did. After the ceremony, when they realized
that EVERYTHING had changed was satisfying.
There's a lot more origin info, which helps with
the expanding world building. Loved the multiple
POV's, it let you see different perspective and see
things that you weren't aware of in book 1.
As the story progressed the character growth slowly
started unfolding a bit more, while revealing a lot
of new things. That cliffy was so unexpected, can't
wait for the next book.

Book Review: Midnight Crown by Rebecca L. Garcia
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
This review may contain minor spoilers:

Book 2 in the Shadow Kissed series continues right where book 1 left off. Olivia and Sebastian are preparing for their *forced* wedding and her Shadow Kissed ceremony (aka becoming a vampire). With an unexpected outcome, they must learn how to navigate their new roles as Princess & Prince of a people they never intended to rule. This book contains a little more of the fake romance, fated mates, and much more political plotting & scheming.

This book was better in terms of setting for me. We get a map so I know where everything is (yay!). And there wasn't as much moving around. The majority of the plot takes place within the castle and surrounding areas.

The characters I loved from book 1, still loved in book 2. Wished we would have seen more from the original gang in this one. There was a potential plot line for Erianna that got squashed and I spent the remainder of her scenes hoping it would resurface. Maybe in book 3 🤞. And I'm still not sure if Niall is going to end up good or bad? He saves Olivia but is plotting to kill others. He also seems like an asset to the group but may (it key but) be on the "wrong side". TBD!

The romance was better and I found Olivia less annoying in this book. Draven & Astor both tried to make a love triangle happen (stop it boys!). The main relationship item I was not happy about was how quickly some conflicts were glossed over for multiple pairings. Don't set it up to be an issue, for it only to be resolved in a few lines.

Just like book 1 we end with a major twist that had me do a double-take. Looking forward to book 3 to see where this story is going next.

I received an eARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

This book blew me away compared to book one! The depth of the characters was so much more and fleshed out that it added so much to the story. I read a majority of this in one day because I just could not put it down.

There was vampire lore, found families, soulmates, political intrigue, so many great tropes. I also loved the new POV we got in this book. It felt so unhinged.

Also, I want to add that the ick of the gore was great and the smut was intense.

4 stars!

In order to save Sebastian from a death sentence at the end of Shadow Kissed, she announced her intention to marry him and then take her place as princess by becoming one of the very monsters she hates. Now, in this sequel, it's three days before the wedding, the people dislike and mistrust her, her uncle is still plotting to kill her, and Sebastian refuses to speak to her. She's worried that he hates her for taking his last hope of regaining his mortal life. But a shocking twist happens after she's reborn that changes everything.
After the cliffhanger at the end of the first book, I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I devoured this book in one day. I love that the book is told from three points of view as it gives more depth to the story. Influenced by the evil scheming of their enemies, Olivia and Sebastian's characters have each taken a darker more violent turn. It will be interesting to see how the third character impacts things in the next book. I think he's supposed to be a devious evil character, but I kind of like him! I can't believe this author dropped a huge cliffhanger again!! It's killing me lol!
I received an advance reader copy of this book. The views and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and given voluntarily.

An excellent sequel to the first book, Shadow Kissed. The ending was quite a surprise and makes you want to dive right into the next book. Definitely recommend if you like fantasy/romance with a little spice.

The pacing of the book's first half was phenomenal while the second part dragged on a bit. I'm happy that certain important plot scenes weren't delayed until the end of the book and the scenes from Niall's POV were some of my favorites. I hope the next one has more Olivia and Niall interactions and I'm interested in seeing how the relationship between Olivia and Sebastian will grow. Overall, I think their relationship needs a bit of a refresh on excitement and how they're challenging one another. The first book was great in showing how Olivia and Sebsetian were pushing one another while this one left them a bit stale near the end of the book. Overall I am looking forward to reading the following novel.

Im impressed by how good the sequel to Shadow Kissed is, I really loved the first and I always dread that I’m not going to enjoy the next as much, but that just wasn’t the case here. The story carries straight on and the political intrigue, character development, everything just kicked up a notch more, I love Oli and Seb, I really loved reading them getting through everything together, I love Seb too much and I can’t wait for book 3

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

Midnight Crown
Sci-Fi & Fantasy, NA
Rebecca L Garcia
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After reading the first book a little while ago, I was looking forward to reading this too. The characters are still great and well developed although Sebastian and Olivia did annoy me at times because of their sheer refusal to communicate properly and admit their feelings to each other. I didn't like Niall's POV or his character and I would've liked to have seen Erianna more.

I really like the world building in this series, the map at the beginning is beautiful and I liked learning more about the gods and celebrations. It did take me a bit longer to read because I found the pacing was a little off in places but I still found the plot interesting.

I'm starting to really like this authors writing style and the ending was a cliff hanger that I didn't see coming. It made me want to read the next book straight away!

This is marketed as a dark romance so please check the TWs/CWs before you read it.

*Thank you to @netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review*

When we left off with the story at the end of book 1, 'Shadow Kissed', Olivia had found out her father was the King of a country inhabited by vampires, her mother had been kidnapped by her father and turned in to a vampire, Sebastian had turned Olivia over to her father in an effort to save her from other factions looking to do her harm. To see my review of book 1 please reference my entry dated March 13, 2022.

Garcia's story continues to be a unique spin on the old, traditional vampire story. The country ruled by Olivia's father is opposed to technological advancements, just as you would imagine vampires to be. This lack of technology has its down side when neighboring countries declare war and have weapons that are modern and deadly.

In this second installment, we see a lot of court life. The storyline is filled with behind the scenes plotting by Olivia's family members who wish themselves to be seated on the throne. When forced to conform to marriage and life as a vampire, Olivia chooses Sebastian to be her husband, condemning him to a long life as an immortal and eternal after life in hell. Becoming shadow kissed involves a ceremony in which Olivia must drink vampire venom, die, and be reborn as a vampire. While dead, Olivia meets with the Gods, something that only happens to members of the royal family. Olivia tells the Gods of the evil her father allows to occur in the vampire nation and they challenge her with setting all right. Instead of waking up a vampire, she wakes up an immortal, with all her sorcerer powers intact. Her task was easier imagined than executed and Olivia learns she must play the game in order to advance her directive.

This is an incredible follow up to the first book. It is lush with detail and absolutely stunning. I loved following out MC through this book as things got more hot and heavy!

✨ARC Review✨

“The animal in me recognized the animal in him, and something changed. It was if we were one, his venom, my blood, were an obsession. An addiction—to each other.”

This was book two in the series, and I was left at the end of the first book wondering where the cliffhanger would take the reader. Olivia, the sorceress is now facing a forced future, as she is to be Shadow Kissed, die, and return as Princess and vampire. Her changing is inevitable and if she denies, her friends will die. There are so many people in the kingdom she cares about, and their lives are on the line based on her choices.

“We are not ethereal beings. We’re complicated, messy things, and often, the lines of morality get blurred.”

However, being in this newfound kingdom, is bringing new light to her heritage, along with lies, secrets, politics, and a fight for the throne and power. A forced marriage of convenience is in order, but could marrying Sebastian be her true fate or split everything apart? Beware, as the cliffhanger is far worse in this book…luckily book three is only a few months away!

What’s On The Pages:
-multi POV
-forced marriage
-soulmates / fate
-vampires
-found family
-torture / murder
-vengeance
-anger/grief
-serious spice

⚠️CW/TW: check author’s website for a full list as it is much lengthier for this book than the previous

✨Rating✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨/5 (4.5/5)
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥/5

A special thank you to NetGalley and Rebecca Garcia for this eARC! Midnight Crown is out August 26th!

"𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑛 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑡𝑒𝑐𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑟, 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡𝑎𝑘𝑒 ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒."


Lets start with: THE DEDICATION!! 👀
If I didn't know the book already I would have added it immediately to my tbr.

This book was so good that I'm still processing how much I liked it.
Rebecca did such an amazing job with it! The plot and characters development, the political games, wold development... Everything was so well done that I read it in a day! Yeah ... I'm officially team Seb and I need the third book asap.

Midnight Crown picks up right where Shadow Kissed ended.

We see Oli and Sebastian having to deal with their soon to happen wedding, Oli's change, their obligations as part of the royal family and the plots against both.
And I really loved to see how both of them get through everything. 🥺

It was so good to Oli stepping up for herself. ❤️ To see her recognizing what was toxic and not accepting it anymore. I was so proud of her in all those moments ❤️ We need more badass queens in this world and she's becoming a really powerful one ❤️

Sebastian was also so good in this book!!!
He's a master of court intrigues and political games. He's a leader. And we can see that in several moments. And the way he cares, respects and protects Oli?? It's official, he has my heart. ❤️ 🥺🥺

Everything I said I felt missing in book one is now in this book. I'm speechless with the way Rebecca made me bite my tongue. I'm so f* grateful I didn't put this series aside.

And we've some new characters adding a lot of tension and intrigue to the story.
As for Niall, what was that bathroom scene?????? 👀🔥

If you like new adult/adult (dark) fantasy vampire stories, read these books. You can thank me later 😏🔥


This' a new adult fantasy book.
🌶️🌶️🌶️

Tropes:
Our favorite - Touch her and I'll kill you
Marriage of convenience
Fated mates
Found family
Royalty
Multiple pov
Vampires

⚠️ Triggers: Murder, death (graphic violence and blood), mention and attempt of rape. Mention to child' abuse.

•I received this ARC for free in exchange for an honest review •

This sequel certainly amps up the bloodshed, gore, sex and drama as Olivia comes ever closer to her role as Princess of the Vampires and also her death ! Yes to rise as a Vampire she first has to die and meet the Gods that are responsible for the race that Olivia is now an unhappy part of. It's just too bad that in this Court of depravity and violence there's also political machinations that seek to topple the old King and also destroy Olivia !
The author has clearly thought a lot about how everything Olivia has gone through and is still facing would change her because she does read very differently which sadly for me wasn't a plus. I actually preferred her in the last book but I do understand that characters progress and grow. If blunt I didn't exactly like any of these characters although including the viewpoint of Niall was certainly eye opening as he is probably the only one I had any sympathy for and that's saying a lot because he honestly isn't a hero but more an anti hero so maybe he might get redeemed ? These Vampires are not sweet or sparkly but nasty and cruel which meant that even Olivia became violent and yes felt very much less human. This ends on a cliff hanger that I could have kicked myself for because the signs were there and I missed them which actually makes me happier because I love being surprised and now I'm wondering just what these characters will get up to next.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair

First off thank you to Victory Editing & NetGalley for the eArc of this title!

This was an incredibly quick read, and that fact has both pros and cons. This is significantly steamier than the first book, which is a positive for me. I enjoy Rebecca L. Garcia's writing style in terms of language and prose. It is all very easy to digest and not terribly repetitive. The plot moves incredibly fast, and theres a ton of action.

The cons, however, do rival the pros. What with how quickly this plot is moving, it feels like entire conflicts or threats get picked up and dropped left and right, making it hard to really *feel* a sense of danger while reading (which is one of my favorite aspects of the fantasy genre.) Theres really not anyone in this story who truly scares me, or feels like a threat to Sebastian & Olivia.

I also find that the characters and relationships are not very well developed, with one exception being Olivia. She is drastically different from book one (in a good way), and her journey to get there makes sense to me. Just about everyone else, however, seems to make decisions that don't line up with things we are supposed to believe about their character and their goals, and we don't get much, if any, context for these changes.

I feel that this is a fun, easy read for people who love the current fantasy trends of vampires, morally grey & dark haired men with wings, violence, a long lost heir, etc. I feel that this was the intention with the story, so I can't be mad at it, but I do wish at times that there was something a little more unique added to this formula. Overall rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up.

"We are not ethereal beings. We're complicated, messy things, and often, the lines of morality get blurred"
YES
Wow, this book and that ending with another cliffhanger that is definitely going to make me come back for more.

This book was a bit different than first, as this book is written from three points of views (POV). We still follow Oliva the main female lead, but we were also given Sebastian and Niall (the adopted son of Kalon) to follow as well. I love the introduction of more POVs is it really helps gain a better sense of multiple things happening in the story but also lets you feel and gain insight into the characters that you want to love and hate. Which then begs the question from the book, if you were immortal, what would you do? Extreme calculated moves in politics because as a vampire the entire race has given themselves over to their base nature. Of course!

This book has love, lust, fated mates, heartbreak, and deceit all wrapped into one. I love that Olivia is growing into herself and is showing how strong she really can be, but doing it in a slow believable way. I love nothing more than when a female lead takes control of their own destiny.

If you have a love for fantasy/paranormal books with some spice and lots of politic scheming this is a great fit.

Thanks to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What an emotional roller coaster ride of a book! Oh my, you put all the angst and dark emotions into this book, you had me ugly crying and man I was hooked. I could not put it down and can’t wait to see what happens next.

Midnight Crown is the second installment of the Marked by Blood series and picks up where it left off in Shadow Kissed. This book continues to follow Olivia and Sebastian who are now engaged and to be married in a couple of days. Following their marriage Olivia will become a vampire so that she can take her place as princess. Olivia and Sebastian have barely spoken since she decided that he was who she chose to marry. Now on the cusp of being married and turning into a vampire Olivia must work to keep her and her friends safe from the vampires that do not think she should be their princess.

This books is spicier than the first which I really enjoys and we see a progression in the relationship between Olivia and Sebastian. In this book Olivia starts to explore her darker side as she starts to face off with the people that do not want her as their princess. I loved the multiple viewpoints that this book is written in and we are introduced to a new character morally grey antihero. There are more tropes that are introduced in this book and I loved every minute of it.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I would say that anyone interested in a good fantasy book about vampires, with some spice, and lots of tropes should read this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read and review this book before publishing.