I really tried getting through this audiobook but I just could not stop cringing at the narrator her voice. One narrator for all the characters ? This could have been done so much better.
I read a lot of dark romance books but this book was too much for me. Five guys, One girl ?
It’s one thing if the girl would have given her consent but in this case she did not and it’s pure abuse.
The characters were far too dramatic, aggressive and abusive. I DNF’d the book, I just couldn’t finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC to me in return for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

I enjoyed this audio but it's definitely more plot driven then character driven. There's not much character development but I'm hoping that happens in the next book. Blood and Ruin is fast paced and the narrators, Scarlett Everdeen and Chase T. Walker, are easy and comfortable to listen to. They bring the characters to life and their voices flow well, seamlessly going from one scene to the next. The storyline is easy to follow but definitely feels more like a setup book. There are two other books in the series so it makes sense that this one would feel more like a prequel to the main events. I look forward to reading the next one and hope it's a little slower with more room for character growth. I liked the alphas and that they were different types of shifters -- it gave them a bit more dimension and made the story different from some of the other why choose fated mates romance stories out there. I'm always here for fated mates especially when it seems like they're enemies but they're really just fighting their feelings for whatever reasons. Our MC has a bit of a martyr complex but it's not that insufferable due to her powers and the fact that she has survived so long without losing herself so she knows she can keep surviving. I think there are a lot of good elements to the story and am interested to see what happens next. This is a good fit for people who like why choose romance, shifters, magic, fated mates, drama and plot driven stories.

CW: torture/violence on page, captives, harassment.

I voluntarily listened to and reviewed an ALC from Dreamscape Media via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Shifters, dated mates, deathbed declarations of love?? This book had it all 😍

This book was fast paced; from page 1 there was action and plotting and deceit. The transitions between action-heavy scenes was seamless and felt very natural.

I didn’t see the twist at the end coming! Love when that happens.

I really loved the FMC. She reminded me of myself in some aspects; she was so empathetic and willing to help others, even at her own expense. Her choices really resonated with me overall.

I’m super interested in learning more about the guys, their powers, and seeing their relationships evolve with that ending. I can already tell it’s gonna be a good time 😈

I would have liked just a bit more background info in regard to their relationships in the past. It’s referenced that they were close but that’s about it, which jumps straight to now where they’ve “always loved her.” I feel like it would have been just a little more convincing if the backstory was more detailed.

I can’t wait for the next audiobook to be released! I’ll absolutely be reading them all.

I am still waiting for the plot to make a presence. After I finished this, I was left furrowing my brow and scratching my head. The world building was minimal to nonexistent, 60% of the book was the FMC being tortured or trying to perfect the miscommunication trope. You're telling me that your 5 best friends make a reappearance and are hot, steamy, broody men that would BURN THE WORLD for you and you refuse to let them help an ounce? No.

This book has potential with promising elements (and for that I am being generous with my rating) but unfortunately it missed the mark for me. By the end, I was left with more questions than answers.

Thank you Dreamscape media and Netgallery for the audio arc of Blood and ruin.
I was interested in this book because the cover really caught my eye and the reverse haram fantasy vibe from the description appealed to me.
In terms of the actual story I was a bit disappointed. The beginning felt like it was throwing in every trope that could be named while also sounding like the guy from spongebob with glass bones. Once the story started to pick up I enjoyed the premise of it and my curiosity was peaked to see further along but I just felt like this whole book did not get anywhere.
The spice between the fmc and the 5 alphas had a good start but theres bery little spice in this book overall. Which for the story lacking usually would expect more from the smut side but did not deliver on either front for me.
This audiobook had great quality and was easy to listen to. Unfortunately, the story itself did not flesh out in a way that was appealing to me. I struggled to get through this, and once the story seemed like it could get better, it fell flat and seemed like the story ended where it started.

This had some interesting parts, especially Kiarra's ability to heal from pretty much anything. I admired how she kept sacrificing to help others and was strong even after all the torture she endured.

The world building isn't really there, so I don't totally understand what types of paranormal creatures exist or why Kiarra's stepfather is so powerful. Also, calling him King when he's not a king was super confusing.

The narrator did a good job and I liked the snippet of the male narrator we got to see.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for the copy.

Just long enough to get me interested! gimmeee the whole series nowwww! (:

Publisher's summary
Six years ago, my world was ripped from under me, and I was taken to Cardinal Three, a place where pain has been my endless companion. Witches, demons, shifters, and humans all live under one rule: King's. What he says goes. So trying to get the hell out of here hasn’t been easy. No one leaves without his permission. In fact, no one leaves at all—that is, not alive.
But I have a plan, one chance to get out of this nightmare once and for all. One month is all I need, one month to stay off King's radar and get the last few items needed for the spell I’ve been working on. Shouldn’t be that hard, right?
But turns out King has his own plan, one that involves trading me off to the five shifters of Manhattan. With King's ultimatum, I have no choice but to go through with it. But I’m still getting out of here, no matter what. Or so I thought. Turns out the five shifters are my mates…and also the boys I left behind six years ago.
Blood and Ruin is a paranormal romance and the first installment in the Blood and Ruin trilogy. The FMC will not have to choose between her five love interests, but the story is action packed and contains violence, adult themes, bad-language, and content some may find upsetting.

Thanks NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the arc of this book!

Blood and Ruin
By: Rumer Hale
Narrated by: Chase T. Walker, Scarlett Everdeen
Series: Blood and Ruin Series, Book 1
Release date: 02-27-24

⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5


Thank you Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for allowing me to listen to this audiobook.

This one was an enjoyable story. I can see how there will be multiple books since this first one was just a big introduction to the characters.
It can be true that this book results a little slow and with nothing major happening, but I´m not upset about it. When dealing with stories with so many characters it´s important to craft all the relationships to make them make sense. We are talking of a mated group of six people (one girl, five boys - yes it´s a reverse harem-) plus secondary characters and bad guys, add to all of this a complex world-building where our FMC lives confined inside the walls of the Hotel she is imprisoned in and it´s easy to have a book that is kind of slower, bucause the story needs to be set.
Furthermore the FMC is living yes in a complex world building but also in a small reality, being confined in a ´small´ building. To me this kind of setting is super interesting but can be a little tedious to see the main character do the same things repeatedly.
In this first volume the reader gets introduced to the mated group's powers and different personalities and I am sure the story will pick up majorly after the events at the end of this first book.
There was one thing that annoyed me and it was all the secrecy. After the 60% I was a little tired of the lack of communication between the six main characters. Just speak to each other!!!!

Dreamscape production was flawless like always and I loved the actors voices.
Mainly the female actress was on point with the timing and tones. I liked her very much. The male voice was just for one chapter at the end and I liked it, but cannot say more since there is not much material to review.

Blood and Ruin is book one in a paranormal romance series by Rumer Hale. Thank you to NetGalley, Rumer Hale, and Dreamscape Media for providing me with an audio ARC in exchange for my fair and unbiased review!

What I loved:
- the FMC, generally
- how fierce and loyal the MMCs are
- the lush atmosphere
- the complex supernatural community
- the first POV
- the multi POV (iykyk)
- the TENSION
- the fast pace
- the narrators

What I don’t love:
- the villains of this story seem very stereotypical to be honest. not a bad thing but I wish they were more nuanced!

Overall I really enjoyed Blood and Ruin and rate it four out of five stars. You’ll love this if you enjoyed The Bonds that Tie!

I was unsure in the beginning and I still feel a little like there could have been a significant amount of world building added. That aside though I still enjoyed the twists and turns and I can’t wait for the next one!

Good read overall, and the narrator did a pretty good job with the audiobook. I love a RH book - but I think the characters could have done with a bit more development

Unfortunately this just was not a book for me. The cover is stunning but for me that is where the fun ended. It was sort of sloppy writing style.

Thank you for this ARC.

Kaira Is strong and in yielding. She is trying desperately to escape from her step father’s hold on her. All of the testing of Kaira ability is cruel and is taking a toll on her. She finds out that her child hood friends are her mates and they try to help her escape from Kings grasp. But there was a glitch in her plan to escape. One of her mates nice was captured by Kings right hand and tagged just like she was so she could not simply escape. Kairas friend was suppose to escape with Kaira when the time was right. But Kaira let her mates niece take her place knowing her fate. Then Kaira world got turned upside down when her friend turned out to be Kings lover. Her mates fought for her and tried to kill everyone that has ever hurt her. But before Morgan’s could tell Kaira what her full potential ability was King killed her.

This book keep me wanting more and was disappointed on how it ended. There was so many question and zero answers. I really hope there is another book in the making to continue the story.

What works:
- The premise of a FMC who can heal from anything. So much potential!

- The final chapter

The rest?

Here’s the thing about dark romance. I get it, it’s supposed to touch on the dark side of humanity and not shy away from often extremely difficult things. But it also has to have a solid plot that makes sense with multi dimensional characters.

Kaira is given to five alpha shifters by her step father for an alliance… but isn’t actually ever handed over to them? She has to stay trapped with her step dad? No one ever explains what this alliance is.

This is not an exaggeration: at least 80%
of this book is detailed explanations of the FMC getting the shit kicked out of her by evil men on repeat–while she somehow manages to not be traumatized. And she won’t tell the people who want to help her anything because she’s stubborn? And values miscommunication?

Her helpers: “What’s going on?” Her: “It’s complicated.”

Her helpers: “What is this tag that will help us save everyone?” Her: “IDK.”

Her helpers: “Help us help you.” Her: “I won’t tell you it will only hurt you.”

The other 20% of the book is her mates acting like Tamlin under the mountain. We have a chance to get away? Great! Let’s make out.

I’m sorry but this book just really wasn’t for me.

The first half of Blood and Ruin, while charming, experimental, and filled with a lot of interesting world building, felt a tad hard to get into and feel connected with. Rumer Hale's characters are as equally unique as they are frustrating, but that is what makes them charming: as a reader, my preference is with frustrating, annoying, or even outright obnoxious characters.

But I think the early disconnect comes with Hale's characters and their interpersonal relationships not being easily explained in the beginning. As a reader (and viewer) who is able to easily immerse themself in worlds without prior explanation of said worlds, I really struggled through the first half of this book to be connected with Kiarra herself, and then her relationship to all these Alpha men.

But it was somewhere around the middle of the book, specifically at the 52% mark that I can remember, that I got so turned on to this novel and could not put it down. I became so invested in Kiarra and her friendships, her relationships, and her life. I became so invested in her fight against two of the antagonists, and then when a third, tertiary antagonist was revealed, I could feel Kiarra's betrayal and mourning so clearly.

I appreciated that at no point did this novel turn into an atmosphere fueled by jealousy. I loved the companionship Kiarra found in everybody, even when she felt jealousy creeping up on her. Kiarra is a truly unique character, and dedicated to her friends and family.

The copy I read was the audiobook, narrated by Scarlett Everdeen, and Scarlett's voice acting goes above and beyond to maintain a sensual, sweet, and shifty tone throughout the novel. Her particular tonal direction is so beautiful, and I became so fond of the way she delivered her lines, be they about Kiarra's personal betrayals or the sensual nature of the relationship Kiarra had with these men important to her.

The cover art is utterly gorgeous as well; it feels feminine without feeling overbearing. It stands on its own, like Kiarra does. And it has a sensuality to it, a touch of glamour, and feels regal.

All in all, Rumer Hale's Blood and Ruin became such an enjoyable read for me, and I look forward to reading more about Kiarra.

This review was for an ARC of the audiobook narration provided by Rumer Hale, Scarlett Everdeen, and Dreamscape Media. Thank you!

I am not normally a RH reader, but the caption made me curious.

I really enjoyed this book... however, now I need more after that cliffhanger!

I do give this four stars because I needed some back story to build this world a little bit more... there were some characters that seemed key, however, I had no clue why they were.

Other than that- I enjoyed this story and will be reading the next book!

TW: violence, abuse / mention of child abuse, kidnapping, murder, suicidal thoughts, sexual harassment.

Blood and Ruin is a reverse haram following our FMC and her 5 male bonds.

The book is narrated by Rumer Hale. I have read my share of RH series, but I have never listened to one narrated into an audio book.

I enjoyed the listening experience, I think the narrator did a good job of contrasting between the male and female characters which can be a difficult task as a one person narrator.

The plot itself was interesting. Our FMC is enslaved by her abusive step father, she has plans to escape which are thwarted when she is handed off to 5 males who unknowingly turn out to be her bonds.

This is book 1 of a series and I would be interested to continue on with the series.

Thank you to Rumer Hale, Dreamscape Media and NetGalley for this ALC.

I really just feel like something vital is missing to the story. I was having to check to make sure I started on the first book (yes I did) because I was so lost. I felt like the author threw us smack dab into the middle of a world we’d never been in before and just said good luck. Like starting a new job and being thrown to the wolves on the first day. The world building just wasn’t there. Information as far as why things are the way they are or the who’s who would’ve been so valuable to truly understand the concept. Every time I head Sup I just thought of The Boys, IYKYK. This story has soooo much potential. I think it just needed a little more to fully be able to enjoy it.

3.5
This gave more tell and not show for the romance side of things. Maybe bc it is mates and instalust. I will read book two, hoping the style might shift into more depth there.

This writing style gave me more tell and not show. There was an over use of the word lust in the same paragraphs for me. That being said something tells me that improves through your the series. So I will def read book two.

I thought this was a very interesting read. Tons of action and interesting plot line. I couldn't put it down at all. I had to know what happened next. Can't wait for the next book.