I enjoyed reading this book. It fulfilled my Romantacy craving and delivered on the broody vampire trope. I am a sucker for enemies to lovers and the fact that this had all of my favorite things in one book was exactly what I wanted. I will say that I did not like the fact that the male lead forced our female lead into a marriage. I like when both people agree to marry or are forced to marry out of absolute necessity. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, just a few things here and there weren't my favorite.

This book has a great foundation and good world building, but unfortunately I really struggled to get past the grammatical errors and some of the character inconsistencies. It felt like another round of edits and maybe some banter between the characters would have really changed my rating. I did love the setting, but couldn’t quite fall in love with the characters.
I so appreciate getting the opportunity to provide feedback and hope for the best for this book in the future!

I want to begin by thanking the author and NetGalley for this advanced copy to review. I appreciated the opportunity, and I read it all straight through. I think the world building was the most interesting part for me, and I loved the relationship between Anika and Levana. They felt authentically like best friends, and both being princesses made them the perfect peer pair. The political intrigue is another strength with different kingdoms on the brink of war, pulling one another in through alliances where nothing is what it seems.
Unfortunately, this book felt much longer than 380 pages. It took me nearly a week to read due to the continuous errors in spelling (plump for plum, armory for armoire, etc., came up more than once) grammar, particularly verb tense, and tone were also inconsistent. Normally that is easy to overlook in an advanced copy, but in this case it was extremely distracting and hard to read. The characterization was flat, and often the dialogue did not match the character or scene, especially in conversations between Levana and Orion, who wavered between extremely formal and informal language with one another. Motivations were frequently either not explained at all or not believable. There is a lot of spice included, but I found myself skimming over it quickly. I didn't buy the explanation of the connection between the two main characters, and the spice felt more awkward than anything.
Again, thanks to Karolina Wilde and NetGalley for this ARC.

Masters of Blood 🖤🩸🕯️

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC! If vampire courts, stolen fiancés, and plenty of spice are your thing then be sure to check this one out by @karolinawilde. Out May 7th, 2024!



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I really enjoyed the first half of this book, going into reading an ARC you know this may not be the final version. I feel like about halfway through, the grammatical errors just became to significant to proceed. The story line was decent, and with some final touches I am sure it would be great.

This book was.... ok. I'm usually ok with some level of insta-love, but this was in the first few pages. I would love to see a bit more of the characters, and a bit more tension, before one of them falls for the other. I read an ARC of this book (thanks to the author and publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!), so I know it is not the final copy, but I hope that the author has this carefully edited before publishing. There were a significant amount of grammatical errors that took away from the story a bit. I think this has a lot of potential, but needs something more for me to really have enjoyed it.

I got about 20% into this book and unfortunately, I had to stop reading. I still wanted to leave a review because I really do think that the plot has the potential to be really interesting, and there is definitely some intriguing tension between the two romantic leads, but the writing needed another round of proofing. I'm not someone who usually analyses writing (I much prefer character and plot), but there were issues around switching tense, repetitiveness and refraining from using contractions that meant I was being taken out of the story. It felt clunky because I would have to re-read sentences in order to understand what was being said. I would definitely be interested in giving this story another go if those issues were resolved, but for now I had to put it down.

This starts out with Levana, our human FMC, getting kidnapped by the mysterious, brooding King Orion, our vampire MMC, from her engagement party to a different human king.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF at 63%. If the story was really intriguing, I could tough out the errors, but I am not invested in Levana or Orion and don't see a lot of redeeming qualities in either. That, along with the need for a tight edit, and I can't continue reading this.

I will say that there was potential, and once edited, might be a good fit for some who like politics and war plotlines, but it just was not for me.

No star rating
🌶️🌶️

This book had an interesting premise (a fantasy retelling of Hades / Persephone with vampires) but unfortunately I had to DNF at around 20% I found myself distracted by the frequent shifts in tense (present/past). Some of the naming choices were also distracting (for example having a vampire named Lestat; or a pair of twins called Heaven/Nevaeh). Ultimately I wasn’t able to invest in the characters or the story so this book wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a copy of this book.

I adore the Hades/Persephone, shadow daddies, forced proximity, and vampires so I was excited to dive into this one.

I was unfortunately met with poor editing and an insufferable fmc. The writing was confusing with switching between past and present tense as well as old and new.

The plot fell flat for me and was predictable.

I hate to not leave a positive review, but I had a hard time finding any.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC.

2.5 / 5.0 Master of Blood by Karolina Wilde is a Hades and Persephone retelling set with vampires in the far north of GOT, but with zippers, and reclaimed hardwood furniture… (which would have happened probably but you’d never say it). This was just hard to read. The premise of the story and the tropes were well chosen, and even the plot is not poorly done, but the editing… woof. And the FMC is insufferable but not in an intentional way, she just sucks.

Overall, it wasn’t for me. I wanted to read something seductive and spooky but instead got pedantic and poorly written.

Until Next Time,
MC

Thank you to NetGalley for access to this ARC for review.

This book was… okay for me. I’m a sucker for forced proximity and shadow daddies, so that immediately caught my attention. And vampires? Say less. All of the male characters were top notch. However, the FMC and her bff were kind of insufferable. They were completely immature and could have easily been portrayed in a YA book. In absolutely did not like either of them.

The editing is not great. I thought there were A LOT of issues with the use of past and present tense, the author definitely couldn’t decide which they wanted to use. There was a lot of jumping between old things and new things- oh there’s only candle light and oil lamps but somehow we know what zippers and reclaimed wood tables are…? Kind of weird. There’s absolutely zero use of contractions which made the whole thing seem kind of clunky and distracting. I’m bummed because I didn’t really get the whole Hades/Persephone vibe.

Thank you to NetGalley and Karolina Wilde for a copy of Masters of Blood.

The premise of this story is good, if you like forced proximity romantasy. However, the author needs a better editor. The book is supposed to be written in past tense, but occasionally present tense sneaks in. There are some weird phrases and comma splices. These collectively happened often enough to draw me out of the story. There are also some interesting choices in regards to modern amenities (zippers exist?) and vocabulary. The characters use the word "like" the way a millennial would. Despite this, the author doesn't often use contractions, making the dialogue choppy.

The FMC and her best friend act as though they would belong in a high school setting. The MMC sees the FMC and instantly decides he wants her, alliances and wars be d*mned. I don't necessarily mind that, but some people may not like the insta-love trope.

I ended up DNF-ing at 20% when the FMC and her best friend have an extremely childish fight/conversation.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book 1 in Lethal love series. I did enjoy this take on Beauty and the Beast. It was a pretty good read. I wasn't sure I was going to like it but it did get better as the story went on. I am looking forward to the next one.

OMG, this book had me feeling all the feels! I swear, I have this thing where every ARC I request turns out to be like a 2-star read (but I keep doing it, LOL). So, when I got accepted for this, I didn't expect much, but holy moly, was I blown away! This book had it all— the setting, the plot, and OMG, the way their love bloomed, it just melted my heart! And don't even get me started on the characters, especially my girl Anika! I'm legit attached to this world now, it's insane! This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster—I went from being mad to feeling all the sympathy, then I was laughing my head off, then crying, then swooning, and now I'm just a puddle of emotions. The romance was everything, and the spice, oh boy, it was perfect! I can't even put into words how much I loved it, but seriously, mark your calendars for May 7th, 2024, 'cause you gotta read this one! You're seriously missing out if you don't!

TROPES:
⤷ Hades x Persephone Retelling
⤷ Arranged Marriage
⤷ Vampire King x Stolen Princess
⤷ Forced Proximity
⤷ Political Court Intrigue
⤷ Dark High-Fantasy Setting
— Genre’s: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

NON-SPOILER PLOT SUMMARY: Princess Levana Rhazien, heir to Eziron's throne, never questioned her future. Locked in her father's palace, she tended her gardens, awaiting her fate as queen. But when her father arranges a marriage to another king, she must comply. Yet, her plans unravel when a powerful vampire king kidnaps her during her engagement party. Now, alone in the wintry north, she must navigate a world of bloodthirsty vampires and a determined vampire king, Orion Lothaire, who wants her as his bride, no matter the cost. Survival becomes her only goal.

WRITING: So, this is my first dive into this author's world, and let me tell you, I'm already hooked. There's just something about Karolina Wilde's writing that clicked with me. It's like a breeze, you know? The dialogue is top-notch, filled with banter that's just *chef's kiss*, and don't even get me started on the swoon-worthy lines Orion drops on Levana. Seriously, I was highlighting like crazy because every line was gold. And speaking of pacing, it was spot on. Not too slow, not too fast, just right. And let's talk spice. Normally, I steer clear of it because it can get so cringy, but here, it felt natural and genuine. Sure, there were some grammar and spelling hiccups, but hey, it's an ARC. Overall, loved the writing, can't wait to dive into more of Wilde's stuff.

LEVANA (FMC): Orion’s got this nickname for her, “sunshine,” and let me tell you, it fits perfectly. Levana's like a ray of sunshine, stuck in a castle with her less-than-stellar parent, surrounded by her plants and furry pals, and most importantly, her ride-or-die bestie, Anika. Then along comes Orion, shaking things up in her world. Levana's character growth? Insane. She goes from this delicate princess everyone walks all over to this fierce queen who's like, “I’m done with pleasing everyone.” It’s a vibe. Sure, she can be stubborn, and okay, maybe a tad idiotic (who shows up to a royal meeting NAKED just to get a rise out of Orion?), but man, I love her. She's sweet, deserving of all the happiness, and just lights up any room she walks into. Protect her at all costs, 'cause she's a gem.

ORION (MMC): Alright, brace yourselves 'cause I gotta let it out: HE'S SO FREAKIN' HOT! Whew, feels good to say that. Seriously though, what's up with authors making the "bad guy" so irresistibly attractive? Orion's the whole package—sexy, sweet, a little rough around the edges but gentle when it counts. He's got sass, he's hilarious, powerful, protective, and let me tell you, he'd go to extreme lengths to protect HIS Levana, HIS sunshine, HIS queen. Can we just take a moment to appreciate him? This man could ask me to do anything, and I'd be like, "Sure thing, no questions asked." Okay, okay, I need to chill, but can you really blame me? I'm head over heels for this guy. He treats Levana like a queen, showers her with the most swoon-worthy gestures. I mean, he literally built her a greenhouse because he knows how much she loves plants and has always dreamed of having one! Like, come on, that's perfection right there. I need more Orion in my life, like, now. He's officially on my never-ending list of book boyfriends.

THEIR ROMANCE: DESTINED, CONNECTED, MADE FOR EACH OTHER! These two are everything, I swear. Their love is like a lifeline when everything feels like it’s falling apart. It’s just… breathtaking. Their playful banter, the way their love blossomed from the very start to where they are now—it’s been a journey, a rollercoaster, but they made it. From enemies to this unbreakable bond they share, it’s nothing short of beautiful. They’re like the perfect match, the beauty and the beast, all rolled into one. The way Orion loves Levana, the way Levana understands Orion—it’s pure magic. Honestly, to be loved like that, to be understood like that, it’s the most precious thing in the world.

IN CONCLUSION, CAN YOU TELL I'M OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK? It's like everything I've been craving after crawling out of my reading slump. It even reignited my love for writing reviews—I was starting to lose interest, but this book got me back in the game. I'm seriously attached to these characters. August can't come soon enough for the second book—I'm already counting down the days. This book deserves all the hype and more once it officially drops on May 7th, 2024. Seriously, everyone needs to read it ASAP. Major love for the author and everything about this book. I just can't get enough of it.

The premise of this book was incredibly intriguing. A retelling of Hades and Persephone involving a vampire and a princess? Yes please! Unfortunately, the execution fell short. The authors writing style was a struggle for me. She kept using phrases that would've fit better in a contemporary novel, they pulled me out of the fantasy. The names of the characters felt over the top in terms of their personalities, especially her parents. Levana felt very childish and I struggled to engage with her. Obviously, this was an ARC, but I hope that before publication it had some grammar editing done. There are a lot of good reviews on Goodreads, I think this book was just not meant for me.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

I very much enjoyed reading this book. When I wasn’t reading, I caught myself thinking about the characters and WISHING I was reading. To me, that’s always the sign of a good story. I loved the pacing of the story and the banter between the characters. I also appreciated that the storyline kept me on my toes.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. This review is my honest opinion.

This book has great “bones” but there are a few things that broke the magic of the story.

First, the good:
I enjoy forced proximity romance, I don’t know why- but it is my guilty pleasure. Kidnap a girl at her engagement dinner? Yes, please. There is plenty of romantic tension a political intrigue to keep a girl up at night reading until the wee hours. The interaction between our main character and Orion, excellent. I really enjoyed these aspects of the story.

Things I did not enjoy- Orion ALWAYS smirking…..I wish he had a different expression. He smirked so much, it became a distraction to an otherwise fantastic story. The other issue was the fact our heroine was kind of a brat. Yes, I know she was abducted from her engagement and taken against her will- but for 200 or so pages she was a jerk, just to be a jerk. At every turn Orion is trying to demonstrate that he has her best interest at heart, and she allows intimacies then for no reason I can see, turns on him and just acts like a brat. He continually has patience and makes allowance for this behavior. Then, out of nowhere, she decides she loves him and stops with the theatrics. It was a little jarring, and didn’t feel “real”. It was more aggravating than endearing.

All in all, I enjoyed the book and it was an original idea. I really liked Orion, not so much Levana. She could have been a wonderful heroine, but just left me a little aggravated at her immaturity. This book is worth the read, and could be GREAT, but only warranted three stars because of the aforementioned things I didn’t enjoy much.

Princess Levana knew that one day she'd be married off to someone to benefit her kingdom, so she's not surprised when she becomes betrothed to the only other human king in the realm. What Levana doesn't know is that the vampire king Orion is about to steal her away from her engagement party and force her to journey with him to his kingdom to be his bride.

There have been a lot of Hades/Persephone retellings, but I hadn't seen one with vampires, so I was excited. I was also thrilled to see that Masters of Blood was standalone - don't get me wrong, I love my sprawling series, but it can be very frustrating to wait for new books to come out. This book seemingly had a lot going for it...sadly, I DNF. The grammar and (or?) syntax was wacky, and I just could not get into the book. Karolina Wilde may want to seek a new editor.

“Masters of Blood,” by Karolina Wilde

Princess Levana Rhazien is daughter to one of the most powerful rulers in the kingdom. Her father arranges a marriage for her to the last human king available, Eziron. She knows she must do what her father wants and hopes for the best. Until she is kidnapped by the vampire king Orion Lothaire. He is determined to wed her regardless of it starting a war.

I loved loved loved this book. True enemies to lovers relationship and gave me everything I wanted from a dark fantasy type book. There is nothing I wish was different, it was solid the entire way through. Its spicy with tension and some light BDSM themes. I loved the main characters and all the supporting characters, all of them were written well and I was so invested in their lives. I cannot wait for book two. One of the best books I’ve read this year, 5 out of 5 stars.

-Shadow Daddy
-Vampires
-Kidnapped
-Royalty
-Enemies To Lovers

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.