I was able to read this because NetGalley provided with an arc. I loved this romantasy. Great Read. I would read more by this author.

There is nothing better than a strong female character. I like the type of protagonist that gives a punch back or the underdog! I was rooting for her the whole time. Zipped through this one super fast.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

2.5 Stars

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. I want to state upfront that I did DNF this book at 53% after that I will not be able to complete it. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Favourite blurb: "I curse him and his mother and his whole godsdammned bloodline.

The story is a retelling of Hades and Persephone where the girl, Princess Levana Rhazien and the Hades, King Orion. The cover is very beautiful and appealing to me however the writing is not as appealing. I find that for the first 53%, there is not much action and plot other than the quarrel between our two main characters. I'm hoping for an intriguing book that has conflict, action and personality of characters that are fun to me. I wanted to finish this book but I have been procrastinating. reading because of my view on the book's plot and action. I decided today that I will just admit that I DNF it and continue with other books.

I note that this book is not for me but will be interesting to people who enjoy the idea of the retelling of Hades and Persephone or the idea of being whisked away to a new land and a brooding new love interest.

Thanks to NetGalley for this copy of ARC.

I loved the story and the idea of it. It hooked me pretty quick but didn't quite hold me. I also struggled with the writing style but I enjoyed the story and look forward to reading the next.

Thank you NetGalley and the author for this ARC.

The original summary and tropes had me really excited for this story but it was honestly quite a let down. I actually received this quite some time ago but kept putting it down between reads. The editing was rough, after about 1/3 through the story I started highlighting some of the big ones because I thought I was overreacting until I went back and saw all the typos and spelling/ grammar errors. It just made the story really hard to push through. There were also some key components that were quite predictable and made the story less entertaining.

The characters were very surface level and I didn’t feel any attachment to them. The most exciting part was when Levana was stolen by Lord Eldon and even that was short lived. The ending was predictable but fine. Overall I just had to keep forcing myself to read, I love a good vampire story but this just wasn’t it for me.

This book was predictable and simple. Overall enjoyed it because I wasn’t in a head space for complicated. Nothing groundbreaking, but not a massive disappointment.

I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I am a Hades and Persephone retelling STAN, but t was hard to get over the FMC in this book. While the author does a good job of introducing the story premise and tropes, but lacked the follow through.

Its really hard for me to give negative feedback on books I know the author most likely poured their soul into, but this was just not for me. The overall concept and storyline was interesting, I love a good hades/persephone retelling, but that was the extent of my interest in this book. I had a very hard time connecting with the characters or getting invested in the plot. I think that if more time had been spent on editing and refining it would have been a really great book. I wish there was a little more world building and more connection to the main characters

This book wasn't bad by any means, it just wasn't something I could personally get into. If you love a Vampire romantasy and are inclined to the hades/persephone retellings then this would probably be a great read for you.

I love that there wasn’t a lot of world building and not too much run around before getting us sucked in. I love Hadessssss retellings 🥹 plenty of steam to keep you going.

Thank you NetGalley & Publisher for this ARC copy. This review is solely my own opinion and words.

Gosh I really wanted to love this book but I just couldn’t. The FMC is super intolerable and the amount of editing/typo errors in this book was atrocious. Either the author paid a terrible editor or they didn’t get an editor at all. But that would be about it regarding what I didn’t like.
The MMC, Orion, and the FMCs bff Anika make this book. Plus Orions two friends. They were such great characters. Orion is so dreamy! Anika is smart, strong, sexy, and just doesn’t give a fuck but in a fantastic way.
Overall the plot was fairly good but there were a few small plot holes. Just seemed pointless to add it and then never provide a resolution/answer? The book also ended a bit weird for it to not be a continuation series. Overall it was alright. I’m unsure if I will read the 2nd book once it’s out.
3.5/5

This book was just not for me. I felt that the female main character was unlikable. However, I do not blame the author, I blame the editor. I would read other books by this author.!!!

I really like Karolina Wilde as an author and especially enjoyed House of Pain in the past. Unfortunately Masters of Blood was not the same for me.

It was still an enjoyable read, especially the first half of the book, it just didn’t have the same excitement and pull for me. The dynamic between the two main characters was alluring and sexy, especially the build up of their relationship, although later on it became overly sexual for me.
I enjoyed the setting and thought the world building was detailed and interesting, with likeable characters and a clever history and background.

The idea of the book was certainly cool, I just feel the whole story lost steam along the way and started to feel dragged out, even with a satisfying ending. However that being said, I would read the next book.

🌟🌟🌟⭐️ 🌶️Karolina Wilde’s Masters of Blood is a captivating journey into a world where power, betrayal, and dark magic intertwine. The story follows our protagonist, Alina, a young sorceress with a hidden past, as she navigates the treacherous political landscape of the blood mages' society.
From the very first page, Wilde draws readers into a richly detailed world, where magic is both a blessing and a curse. The intricate lore and the rules governing blood magic are meticulously crafted, offering a fresh and engaging twist on the fantasy genre. The author's attention to detail in world-building is commendable, making the setting both vivid and believable.
Alina is a complex and relatable character. Her journey from a naive sorceress to a formidable player in the blood mages' game is compelling and well-paced. Her internal struggles and moral dilemmas add depth to her character, making her more than just a typical fantasy heroine. The supporting characters, including the enigmatic and brooding Malachi, and the cunning and ruthless Seraphina, are equally well-developed, each bringing their own unique dynamics to the story.
One of the highlights of Masters of Blood is its plot. Wilde masterfully weaves together multiple storylines, keeping readers on the edge of their seats with unexpected twists and turns. The political intrigue and power struggles are reminiscent of Game of Thrones, but with a unique magical twist that sets it apart. The action scenes are thrilling and well-executed, balancing the more intense moments with quieter, character-driven scenes.
Wilde’s prose is both lyrical and engaging, painting vivid pictures without being overly descriptive. The dialogue is sharp and natural, revealing much about the characters and their relationships without resorting to exposition.
However, the novel is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the pacing a bit slow in the middle sections, where the focus shifts heavily to political maneuvering. Additionally, the romance subplot, while intriguing, occasionally feels underdeveloped compared to the main plot.
Overall, Masters of Blood is a fantastic addition to the fantasy genre. Karolina Wilde has crafted a dark, immersive world filled with magic, intrigue, and memorable characters. It's a must-read for fans of epic fantasy and dark magic tales. I rate this book 3.5 stars and 1 chili pepper emoji for its captivating storyline, well-developed characters, and the perfect blend of romance and action.
Whether you’re a longtime fantasy fan or new to the genre, Masters of Blood is a spellbinding read that promises to leave you eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

3.5⭐ Mysterious Vampire King kidnaps human princess from an arranged marriage, forces her to marry him instead, and causes an impending war. I was sold immediately lol. I feel as though this was a pretty standard plot, and there should be some major editing that needs to be done, but I still thoroughly enjoyed reading it! Although it was standard, I didn't feel like I was super bored, and I enjoyed Levana's character development and am interested to see where book two takes her and Orion! There's found family, shadow daddy hands, and the threat of a multi-species war, what more is there to ask for lol.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy for review!

You had me at shadow daddy 🥵
It was a quick easy read, if you like Persephone and hades in a retelling then you’ll love this book!

I would probably rate this book 2. stars although it could have been 3.5 stars. It honestly was a fast read, with likable characters and a good plot for a vampire romance however this was overshadowed by the two main characters being "Twin Flames" (ughh eye roll) which was not necessary at all. As soon as I came across this half was through I wanted to stop reading I told myself to ignore that part which was easy to do for majority of the book except towards the end,

I haven’t read all that many vampire books before, but I’ve been wanting to try more of them, so I was very happy when I got the opportunity to review this ARC. So let’s get into it;

What did I like;
- the characters; dark, broody vampires and supporting best friends are all you need
- It was super easy to read, which was an amazing contrast with another heavier book I was reading at the same time!
- I found it resembled acotar quite well
- The character growth we get so see in our mc!
- The fact that the mc stripped down naked in a room full of people to make a point (if you want the context you’ll have to read the book 😉)

What did I not like
- It was a bit too tropy for my taste at times

Overall I really enjoyed this read and it was some great entertainment. I’m also happy to have got the chance to read a vampire romance as I’m really starting to like those :)

Masters of Blood is a standalone vampire fantasy, and I loved its inspiration from Hades and Persephone and clever plot. Levana had a wonderful character arc, and I appreciated her interactions with Orion. I do wish the prose had more depth. Overall it was a cute fantasy read!

It was ok - I did find that I had to force myself to finish it as I feel that the writing style just didn't suit me.