Member Reviews
This is a gothic contemporary fantasy novel with witches and vampires, which I thoroughly enjoyed! The world building is masterfully done and Avery is a relatable protagonist. I enjoyed watching her grow into her magical power. I loved the slow-burn romance. I definitely recommend this book!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Avery's life is suddenly turned upside down when a mysterious crow crashes into her apartment window, leading Avery to discover that her past has been shrouded in deception and that she holds a rare and ancient power. As a result, she finds herself entangled in a centuries-old feud between witches and vampires and comes face to face with the man she's been seeing in her dreams.
This book was really good! The story was interesting and the world-building was amazing. The beginning of the book spends a lot of time on the world-building, but it's still easy to follow.
The dual POV with Avery, Azriel, and Kane was an aspect that I truly enjoyed. However, I did encounter some difficulty with Avery's monologue, as she came across as rather immature and bratty. This led me to question her age and maturity level.
With all the groundwork the author has laid in the world-building and plot development I believe book 2 will be worth continuing with this series.
If you're into slow-burn romances with vampires, witches, and magic all wrapped up in a Gothic atmosphere, then this book might be right up your alley.
DNF at 55% 1.5⭐️
Don't get me wrong, the premise sounds intriguing, and I had high hopes for it. But it was just so boring for me. I couldn't take another page from it, and it feels like I will be in a slump if I forced it.
Thank you, Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-arc opportunity.
This was everything I hoped it would be!!! The magic, the backstory, the detailed character backstories that add to the plot and the newer characters who join the story while Avery is coming to terms with everything going on.
I’m really excited for book 2, we are promised more smut after the author teases us most of the book! Also excited to find out more about avery’s magic.
Olivia Booth's "A Dream of Blood and Magic" is an enchanting masterpiece that captivates from start to finish. The novel effortlessly weaves together elements of fantasy and suspense, leaving readers spellbound. Booth's vivid descriptions and intricate world-building transport readers to a realm where dreams and magic intertwine, creating an immersive reading experience. With its compelling characters and gripping plot, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking an escape into a world of wonder and enchantment.
Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for the opportunity to ARC read this Book.
This book is Good. There's excitement early on eventhough it's dampened a bit, I feel like for most of the book nothing happened, like it was just a foundation for the next one to resolve everything. I do have to say this take on familiars was nice.
I was a bit confused at first since I couldn't see the relation of the past and the FMC but that was also exciting.
It bothered me that no one explained anything fully, you just get bits and pieces of explanations that leave you in the dark.
You won’t want to put the book down.
"I didn't want to lie to her about the fact I was inexplicably drawn to her in ways that made me tremble, and worse, in ways that could only spell disaster for both our kinds."
Having always been very little interested in fantasy books I started very biased but oh my God I couldn’t put the book down.
If you are looking for a book with a well-written plot, well-developed and characterized characters and twists put in the right place that will leave you speechless then "A dream of blood and magic" is for you.(I want to specify that in this book you will NOT find spicy scenes between main charachters.)
The characters are all written so well that I couldn’t even identify my favorite. Avery ,despite the problems and his past, has never fallen into the banal nor has it never been a complaint but rather, his determination and bad ass attitude have pushed me more and more to empathize with her and feel her adrenaline.
Shadow is the person we would all like to have in our lives, and his apprehension and authority is balanced to perfection.
Azrael is the kind of man I’d chase around in books, but in real life, he’d make me shit myself with even a glance.
Luther actually I still have to frame him but I can understand his wanting to deviate from the complete stoicity of his father. The thing I’m sure of is that I would never set foot in his business.
And then there’s Kane.
Oh Kane.
He’s the perfect example of "the less you want me the more I want you". Despite his composure, the last chapter had me dropping my jaw and kicking my feet. He's just chef kiss.
I can't wait to read the next book of this serie.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Olivia Boothe’s A Dream of Blood and Magic is first and foremost a romp that thoroughly kept me on my toes.
Avery thinks she’s a normal, if a bit troubled, twenty-something. She doesn’t know what to make of the vivid dreams and waking visions she’s had ever since her parents died, but she knows she’s not crazy and that she’s just got to survive. This theory is rapidly crumbling, though, when contact with a crow awakens elemental magic in her, and shapeshifters are revealed. And if all that weren’t enough, the warring sects of vampires, witches, and the characters from her dreams firmly cement the fact that she might not be normal.
I think we all can agree that some of the charm of Romantasy books is the comfort of tropes. They reach tropes because they’re great stuff. So sometimes reading something new from an author you’re not familiar with can fall into a comfortable routine in the archetypes we all love. That can’t be said for A Dream of Blood and Magic. Yes, there are still tropes in the overarching elements. But maybe I was off my game because I really had no idea where a lot of this was going. That ‘just another chapter’ feeling made this story exciting and unexpected. But upon reflection, it also helped smooth out some of its weak points. This book is maximalism in both the best and worst ways.
We’ve got several POVs, though for the most part, the book alternates between Avery, Azrael, and Kane. I’m delighted to report that I found the action to be distributed properly and the narrations distinct enough to make the transitions clear. My only complaint with this would be portions of Azrael’s dialogue. Though he’s a vampire who's been entombed for the last five hundred years, he uses some interesting British slang. While I can say that I’m not the type to categorize my need for my vampires to be historically accurate as a must, I will say there were a few phrases repeated that did really pull me out of it.
This book has so many really interesting plot points. So many to the point where you start to wonder if it’s too many. There were portions that, though exciting, weren’t brought back up. I think this series is going to be dramatic in its execution. It’s possible that some plot points should’ve been cut or delved into deeper. But I’m really rooting for this to be some elaborate, long con groundwork being laid, because if it is I feel confident saying this series will be amazing. That being said, even if that’s not the case I believe that despite the need to trim some potential fat this is still a fun read and I’ve every intention of continuing the series!
This was a great first book in the series. I will say the start was a bit slow with lots of world building then it really picked up and a lot happened. I can’t wait for the next book!
Avery has always had weird dreams but one day when a crow crashes through her apartment window, her life changes drastically.
I found the first half to be a little slow but there was a lot of world building going on. Additionally, I didn't like that their were so many points-of-views and they kept backtracking and repeating what happened, it got a little annoying and made the book even longer. And then the ending was a little abrupt with Avery just explaining how these people told her this and that, it just felt rushed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!
This was a great first book in a romantasy series! It had all of the elements I needed, including great pacing and writing, interesting characters, a slow burn (very slow…i mean it was maybe in the last 10 percent that the actual romance began to blossom)….and an intriguing plot!
Whether you consider it a good or bad thing, It definitely didn’t wrap everything up and left you wondering what will happen next. I can’t wait to read the next one!
This book had me hooked after the first chapter.. I may or may not have finished this in one day because I couldn’t put it down. If you like vampires, witches and morally grey characters this is the book for you. I’m a huge fan of paranormal/paranormal romance and this book hit all my marks. I enjoyed the multiple POVs and writing style. There is a fair amount of world building but it was well thought out and entertaining. Looking forward to the next book!!
I am looking forward to the continuation of this series, because I feel like it is going to be very interesting. This first book though was all world building and set up, which made it a bit of a slog to get through at times. I am a bit confused about the relationship between Avery and both of the vampires (particularly Azrael), and I think I would have liked a little more background on Avery's dreams of the past and how much exactly she got to know both Azrael and Kane through those flashbacks, since she acts like it isn't her first meeting with each of them when she encounters them, but overall an interesting setup with complex interesting characters.
Rating:⭐⭐⭐
Tropes: Found Family, Vampires VS Witches, Slow Burn, The Chosen One, Prophesies, Love Triangle (kind of)
Spice: A tiny bit
Triggers: Yes: Abandonment, Child Abuse (not extreme), Childhood Trauma, Blood Trafficking, Different POVs, Found Family
Review:
I had such high hopes for this book, I loved the premise, and still do, but unfortunately there was just something off about the FMC's chapters. It left a sour taste in my mouth, and spoilt the book a little bit for me. However, by the end of the book, her self narrative definitely seemed to come away from the things I was struggling with, and matured to a preferable level. So I hope this character growth continues into the next book, because I really want to be able to sit down and enjoy it as it has so much potential.
The world building takes up a lot of this book, probably the first 50-60%, and it definitely just felt like a start-up for the books to come. I don't personally mind this as I love world building in fantasy books, but if you are someone who wants to instantly jump into action, this book might not be for you.
There were some plot points and relationships that I expected to see grow a little more in this book that just didn't take place, so I am excited to explore those more in book 2. I was left a little shocked at how suddenly the book ended though, and would have preferred it to be a little longer to address some upcoming events. I felt like it was a little bit of a disappointing cliff hanger and could have definitely been dealt to the reader in a more dramatic way.
Shadow summed up my thoughts pretty well about Avery early on in the book when he asked "Are you always this half-witted of a human?". I really did struggle with the first 80% of the book when reading in Avery's POV. Her thoughts were so irrational, immature and illogical. Her thought process made little sense to me and her inner monologue was irritating and cringey at times, using phrases like "spidey-senses" and "you can go suck it". It definitely felt like I had been transported into a YA novel, instead of reading a dark gothic fantasy as advertised. I just couldn't take her chapters seriously, and it felt like reading a book written by two different people.
Avery is supposed to be 21 (I believe), but for most of the book I viewed her as about 16-17 years old because of her actions and thoughts. This made it difficult for me to really "ship" her with any of the characters until later on when her monologue seemed to mature. At that point, I was definitely shipping her with Kane!
I felt very spoon-fed reading this book. We were constantly being reminded of certain topics in the plot or certain thoughts that characters were having, over and over. If all these repetitive phrases were removed, I feel like the flow of the book would have been so much better.
Kane's character saved this book for me. Azrael's POV was fine too, but we didn't get to see as much from him as I was expecting and hoping. Kane's character was written very well, and I loved him so much - his morals and inner monologue were enjoyable to read and I felt like his character made logical decisions based on his personality. This is why I focussed so negatively on Avery's POV, because it just seemed like a completely different book when I changed between their chapters.
I did really enjoy seeing the same scenario play out from different character's POV though, that was very enjoyable and didn't take away from the overall flow of time in the book like I was worried it might.
Although I had a few issues with this book, I am still invested in the story and I enjoyed the plot even though it seemed cut short. I'm very excited to read book 2, and have high hopes for Avery's character development to uplift the story to it's full potential!
I was given this eARC through NetGalley.
wow.. this book took me completely by surprise with how much i loved it. im a sucker for forbidden love and rivals to lovers so i jumped at the chance to read this book. the world that the author created felt so rich and fresh in it’s portrayal and that’s coming from someone who doesn’t usually love urban fantasy, but here it just worked perfectly.
Avery is a strong willed and relatable character and i grew fond of her so easily. the conflict with the witches and vampires felt sturdy in the stakes and the elemental magic was fascinating too. i loved how Avery’s magic was tied directly to her emotions and even though she lost control, it never felt like she was incompetent. if anything, it showed how realistically someone in her position would react. I’m interested in both Kane and Azrael — im wondering what role they’ll play in the next book and im desperate to know what’ll happen with Shadow.
my only issue was in the very end with how abrupt and rushed it seemed, compared to how much time was given to every aspect of the story leading up to it. but i can’t shake how immersed i was while reading this and i am eagerly awaiting the sequel and the further development of the romance!
Olivia Boothe's 'A Dream of Blood and Magic' is a captivating blend of fantasy, romance, and action, weaving a tale that feels both fresh and familiar. The story follows Avery Jaxon, a seemingly ordinary Brooklynite who discovers her life is anything but. From the moment a mysterious crow crashes through her window, awakening dormant magic within her, the story takes flight. Avery finds herself thrust into a hidden world of witches, vampires, and ancient prophecies. The author adeptly builds suspense, keeping the reader hooked as Avery peels back layers of deceit to uncover her true identity and the secrets of her past. Boothe masterfully constructs a compelling world with its own intricate rules and complex factions. The clash between the witches and vampires adds a layer of intrigue, while the threat of the Spirit Marked, a witch with the power to destroy the world, raises the stakes considerably. The romance between Avery and Kane, the vampire sworn to protect humanity, is a highlight. The author explores the complexities of their relationship, a forbidden love built on mutual respect and a shared destiny. Despite Kane's inherent danger, the spark between them is undeniable, their connection a powerful element that adds depth and emotional resonance to the narrative. Overall, the story is an engaging read for fans of fantasy and paranormal romance. Boothe's writing is crisp and engaging. The story's themes of self-discovery, destiny, and the power of choice resonate throughout, making for a truly enjoyable and thought-provoking read.
I can see how this is going to turn into an epic paranormal romance series. This first book laid all the groundwork for this next book to be so spicy and exciting. There were a few times where I was wondering when the action was going to pick up but I think the effort the author put into building the backstory will end up being worth it.
Kane is the perfect morally grey male lead …but we also have Azrael and what about Shadow? I could see this next book throwing some curve balls at us readers and I can’t wait!
I haven’t read a paranormal romance in a bit but I love this vampire vs witches set up. Avery is a strong female lead who really grew on me as the book progressed and I was officially rooting for her by the end.
The spice was pretty tame but I know the author has said the next book will bring more and I think the readers will appreciate that.
Very glad I got to read this one and will be checking frequently to see if the next one is added to NetGalley!
I absolutely LOVEDDDD this book. I was so interested in the world. The world building was fabulous and it was creative to show us Kane before we even met him in current times.
I am so interested to see where this story goes. What is Luther going to do next? Are they going to Scotland to find her? What is her mother going to say about her deal with Kane?
I can't wait to learn more about WHY her mom faked her death and to learn about what happened to her dad.
Routing for Kane 100% - please tell me they get together in the next book!
Can't wait for book 2 - a must read!
I give this book a 3.5 star. I felt like it kept pulling me in and then it would back off a bit and then pull me again. This happened a few times throughout the book. I also felt like it opened up so many questions but didn’t really answer any of them either. A lot of my questions revolve around Azreal why was he really even brought into it right now. I mean I understand there is a bigger plot and most likely a huge twist that will come from his character but he just kinda felt redundant at this point in the story. I also felt like the story really jumped around a whole lot and the major conflict wasn’t solved. Right now we are left with multiple conflicts and really no resolutions besides staying with Kane.
Those being the things I didn’t really like or understand in this book i do have things I liked a lot. I really loved Shadows character and Kanes. I can see how both of them are going to play huge roles in Averys lives. I also really loved how fire is made a fox. It has left me wanting to know who or what her next to spirit guardians are as well as what happened to Kane’s hand in the library. It obviously had to be something big as both of them seemed to change as soon as the agreement was made, I did really enjoy the world that was created in this story as well as some of the characters,
Unfortunately because of the pushing and pulling of my attention I can’t give this book more than a 3.5 star. I do however still plan to read book two when it comes out!
I really liked this book!
The plot itself is slow paced, but even though I felt nothing *significant* happened in the book, it gave us great insights on the main characters and their motivations. It was more like an introductory book for a new series to unravel.
I really felt all characters were well built, their stories glimpsed at while still bringing in a lot of questions as to what will happen in the next book.
While it didn’t specifically end in a cliffhanger, the book itself left us with a lot of interesting questions, such as:
- why did her mother abandon her?
- where is the twin?
- what happened between Kane and Azrael?
- why/how did Luther help restrain Azrael?
- what really happened in the past’s love triangle?
- what will happen in this new love triangle?
- why is Avery so attracted to Kane and Azrael?
- what is gonna happen in the upcoming meeting with the witches?
There are thousands more questions which makes me crave the second book!