Thank you so much to the author and Net-gallery for the chance to review this ARC!

I should fear him, but I’m angry.
I want to see how far I can go- how much I can get him to give me. Sink my own talons so far into his flesh that he won’t be able to escape my grasp. To become the predator he doesn’t see coming.

I was not expecting this book to turn out how it did but damn was it good!

Can I just say I need the sequel like right now?

Ameris who is a witch in hiding after her parents death, Xander a banished fae stuck in the human realm and Oberion a dark delight what could go wrong…

This was a quick and easy read that really sucks you in!

Definitely one to add to your TBR list ASAP!

Ameris, a fiercely determined protagonist with a powerful, unbound magic that has made her the target of relentless witch hunters. Her desperation to unbind her powers leads her to strike a dangerous bargain with Xander, the dangerously alluring fae heir. The chemistry between Ameris and Xander ignites the narrative with a simmering tension that adds layers of complexity to their tumultuous partnership. Readers will find themselves rooting for their bond while simultaneously questioning the depths of their respective ambitions. The novel's pacing is meticulously crafted, propelling the narrative through thrilling twists and turns as Ameris and Xander navigate the treacherous landscape of the fae kingdom of Elysium. With the imposing shadow king Oberon as their adversary, the stakes of their journey become increasingly dire. Ameris’s discovery of her unbound magic as a potential key to the throne adds an intriguing element of political intrigue, making the reader wonder about her next move in a game fraught with peril.
The darker tones of the story are masterfully balanced with moments of levity and vulnerability, particularly as Ameris grapples with her duality—her desire for freedom and the seductive draw of the very darkness she is warned against. Oberon is a compelling antagonist, embodying the seductive nature of power and the lengths one will go to secure it. His presence in Ameris's life adds layers of tension that keep readers on the edge of their seats. Magic takes on a life of its own, serving both as a source of strength and vulnerability for Ameris. The author does an impressive job of exploring the consequences that come with such power. The intricate magic system is both fascinating and dangerous, creating a vivid world where every spell comes with its risks, and alliances shift like shadows. This fantasy novel is a must-read for fans of dark fantasy and those who enjoy a strong, complex female lead navigating a world filled with danger and intrigue.

Thank you to Victory Editing, NetGalley and author Jamye Smith for this eARC.

So I went into this book thinking it was a standard fae fantasy romance. Imagine my surprise when Born of Blood and Shadows took a completely different turn and went almost into villain origin territory.

I gotta admit, our FMC Ameris annoyed me at first. She doesn’t think any of her actions through and when things inevitably go very wrong she blames everyone but herself even when she was warned about the consequences. Through the later part of the book however she develops into a beautifully morally grey, almost villain character and I loved it!
Out two male love interests were… fine I guess. Neither really stood out to me.
I really hope this is the first book in a series because I am so excited to see where Ameris journey takes her!

4.5 stars
Born of Blood and Shadows is a fast-paced, action packed fae romantasy book with tropes that I love and new concepts that kept me intrigued from the start. Ameris is a morally grey main character with unlikeable qualities akin to Nesta from A Court of Thorns and Roses, which made me immediately relate to her. She has a sharp tongue and a guarded heart built up from so much grief and loss. I loved that she had something to guide her out of the darkness which was learning how to use her magic. The elemental magic that is used in Elysium really intrigued me and I’m excited for her to hopefully explore it even more in the sequel. This had amazing writing and is a very strong start for a debut series. The highlight of the book for me was the blood bond. I loved the heightened emotions and the consequences of the bond. The tension and banter were great and the dual point of view made the romance even stronger. After that ending, I will be highly anticipating the sequel. I won’t be surprised if this ends up being a wildly popular romantasy book after it releases!

First what a beautiful cover I love it. This book reminded me a lot about all the other romantasy style books out in the market right now but with a nonreliable FMC which i enjoyed but at times it was a bit too much if that makes sense. I think I will still purchase a copy when this is published I just feel like there could be way more story to tell with these characters.

Finally!!! It's the FMC that's morally gray :) I'm sure a lot of people have said that about this book but it is fantastic when tropes are switched around. This book was fast-paced with a great plot and characters, the world building was good as well. I absolutely enjoyed it and couldn't put it down. I feel like I say that a lot these days, but there are so many great books out there and this is one of them. Love it!! and I am definitely looking forward to seeing what Ameris does next! Jamye Smith did a great job with this fantasy novel.

Ameris, a witch desperate to evade relentless witch hunters, is plunged into an escape out of the human realm. Now that she has saved Xander, a fae king who had lost his kingdom to a shadow king, Oberon, he intends to get her to help him get Eylysuim, his fae kingdom. Ameris will go to any length to unbind her magic, even bargain with Xander. Ameris agrees to save him in exchange for learning fae magic. Their relationship is a blend of desire and strategic maneuvering. Ameris and Xander enact a blood bond, transporting them to the fae kingdom of Elysium. Oberon realizes that Ameris's magic holds the key to the throne and will do whatever it takes to keep the throne and make Ameris his. The blood bond between Ameris and Xander intensifies their connection, while Oberon's dark allure introduces a seductive yet dangerous element. Torn between the intoxicating allure of Oberon's shadow magic and her intense bond with Xander, Ameris has no choice but to take the throne or be bound by blood & shadow.

The book's dialogue was repetitive at the start, and character interactions did not flow and seemed clunky. The romance needs more of a build-up and doesn't have any emotional connection. Then, midway through the book, something changes, and character development and storylines improve. The last half of the book was firing on all cylinders. I was interested and enjoyed Ameris's internal struggle and ultimate decision that shaped the story's resolution. I can't wait to read the next book.

I received an ARC ebook for my honest review. Thank you, NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op

One thing that blew me away was the presence of elemental magic : it is simply one of my weaknesses in a fantasy book, so you can only imagine how much I loved its presence. Plus I really appreciated how well the author managed to define the difference between witch magic and fae magic.

As a good lover of morally gray characters, I couldn't help but love the main character and I loved her growth and determination to get what she wants no matter what.

Plus I found the world building original and well explained with a complex magic system and the fae - humans dynamics very complex.

In conclusion it was a quick read , dark and addictive. It certainly has its flaws but nevertheless I want more of it!

4/5 ⭐️
2/5 🌶

Born of Blood and Shadows is a well written, fantasy book that kept me on the edge of my seat. It follows our female main character, Ameris, who is a witch whose magic has been bound, living in hiding in the mortal world. Her life is changed when she stumbles across an injured fae, Zander, and agrees to help him return to his Fae land, which he was banished from. On this journey, Ameris struggles to overcome the trauma she's encountered in her life and is determined to get control of her magic and finally feel in control of her life.

Things that I loved :

✨️ Elemental Magic: I absolutely love a book that has elemental magic (water, air, earth,fire, shadows). I loved the difference the author made between human witch magic and fae elemental magic and thought it was a really unique twist to have. Ameris journey with her magic was interesting to read about and kept me wanting to keep reading.

✨️Morally Grey FMC: It was really refreshing having a Morally grey female main character for a change. I really enjoyed how, throughout the book, it was made very clear that Ameris' only priority was herself and getting control over her magic, by any means possible. Her resolve to take what she believes to be hers, no matter the cost, is something we rarely see with female main characters

✨️Dual POV. I always love being able to have insight into the characters from differing points of view. I do wish we could have had at least a view chapters from Oberons point of view so we could understand his character more.

Things that could have been better:

✨️ I wish that the relationships between Ameris and Zander as well as Ameris and Oberon were explored more. I found it hard to root for either relationship because they felt a bit surface level. While I appreciate that Ameris was focused on herself and wasn't willing to give anything up for either of the love interests, the romance felt lacking and underdeveloped.

✨️ I think a bit more of a backstory would have been helpful. Rhianon is mentioned a lot but we never get a full understanding of what it looked like when she ruled. Considering the connection Ameris has with her, it would have been nice to know a bit more about Rhianon to get a better understanding of her as a ruler and person.


Overall I enjoyed this book and the ending is definitely intriguing. I look forward to seeing where the story goes in the next book.

Thank you NetGalley, Jamye Smith and Publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Born of Blood and Shadows by Jamye Smith hooked me right from the start with its fast-paced plot and a protagonist who walks the line between right and wrong. Ameris, our fierce FMC, is complex and compelling, making her journey through anguish and determination a rollercoaster I couldn't get off.

The world-building is top-notch, blending a unique magic system with intricate fae-human dynamics that add depth to every twist and turn. The story is packed with spice, betrayal, and enough tension to keep you on your toes.

While I really enjoyed Born of Blood and Shadows, it's not without its quirks. Sometimes the writing veered into telling rather than showing, which took away a bit of the immersion. The romantic side felt a tad rushed too, lacking the deep build-up I usually crave in fantasy romance. But these are minor bumps in an otherwise thrilling ride.

Overall, this was a dark and addictive fantasy that left me hungry for more. It's not flawless, but its strong characters, intricate plot, and that tantalizing promise of what's to come make it a solid recommendation for anyone who loves morally complex heroes and endings that leave you desperate for the sequel.

I was provided a NetGalley arc. This was a 3.75 for me. I love the morally gray FMC and you can feel her anguish throughout. She is strong and driven and at times I found myself struggling to cheer for her which is the point of a morally gray character. I definitely had a favorite out of the love interest and am honestly terrified to get my heart broke after that cliff hanger ending! It’s a fast paced read from the beginning I didn’t feel any of the story feel slow. I was able to read over two days and only didn’t finish the first day because I had to adult and work for my money. It has spice, betrayal, loss, trauma, and banter. I am one who has a hard time when things don’t end HEA however I found with this particular book the cliff hanger keeps me engaged and excited/ nervous and throwing up for the next book!!! I definitely do recommend to anyone who likes a thrilling cliff hanger!

3.5 ⭐️
I liked the book! A good love triangle is one of my favorite tropes and the reason I wanted to read this book in the first place. It was ok, but I didn’t feel a huge connection between the FMC with both MMCs (only what was described trough the bond).
I see the potential for the second book, maybe things will be explained and a connection will snap into place. (I also somehow always seem to fall for the MMC who won’t make the cut lol. But that’s more of a ME problem…)

It‘s a fast paced plot and the world building happens as you go. I really like that in a book.

I will post a longer review on my Instagram near the publishing date.

I am such a sucker for a love triangle! This book was no exception. It follows Ameris, Xander and Oberon, our main characters.

You get heavy levels of spice and sexual tension. Jayme Smith develops a storyline that definitely keeps you wanting more. You get flirty banter, a beautiful world building experience and character development.

You will be rewarded with an interesting twist and it sets the stage for the second book in the series. I am hoping to get more information and insight about the main characters as the story develops.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. (via Netgalley)
3.5 stars. I think is another read that is good if you want to dip into fantasy without becoming overwhelmed. It was a quick and easy read and I enjoy morally grey characters.
Personally, I felt the world and character building weren't really there. I also wasn't really feeling the relationships between the main female character and either male.. felt a little too close to instalove for my preferences.

“This is my torture.
Magic taunts me. It wants me as much as I want it.”

"I don't want to be enemies or lovers. Just two beings taking advantage of an opportunity."

This book was surprisingly good. A dark fantasy book with a witch, reincarnation of a fae queen who wants revenge, and a fae prince who wants his kingdom back. It was dark, spicy, addicting and vengeful and I loved it. Our fmc, America felt a lot like Dianna from the gods and monsters series and she is the morally grey one in the group. In the meanwhile we have our own hero, Xander who wants to get back home to his people and free them of a tyrant. Action packed and with an amazing characters’ dynamic scenes, this is a story of pain, suffering, justice, tension, bonds, romance and a woman who wants power for herself without having to feel bound to a man. I mean who doesn’t want to read about that? And when blood bonds are introduced into the picture … goodness me, I’m a goner. There might also have been a love triangle … and a dark one at that … honestly … I’m really happy about it!! It felt like the right choice to spice things up even more than they already were!! And they were really complicated !!! And after that last chapter … I NEED THE SEQUEL !!!

“The maker has spoken; our fate has been dealt. Now we respond."

“As deep as the wounds it was born of.
The wounds we inflicted upon each other.
Losing everything she knew.
Ameris's lies about the bond.
We will need each other.
We both have to survive.
I make a vow, speak it out loud to the stars that wait. I will protect Ameris, no matter the cost, until my last breath.”

Overall: 3.75 ⭐️ (Rounded up to 4) / 🌶️

First and foremost, this is a book that gets the higher end of my 3-4 star rating purely for the vibes. A morally grey FMC? Fast paced plot? Unique magic system and world? Feints within feints within feints? Yes, please to all the above. Okay, so this book may not be literary genius personified... buuuut it also doesn't need to be in order to be a solidly entertaining read from cover to cover. Most importantly? I had fun reading this and there were very few moments that I felt it mirrored other popular romantasy books currently on the market. Originality will always win bonus points in my book, and I really loved how Jamye Smith's unique take on fae, their relationship with humans, and a complex "What-will-she-do-next" FMC.

My detailed thoughts below...

What I loved about this book:

💖 Action Packed Plot Right Off the Jump: This book is perfect for any readers who, like me, have the attention span of a peanut and need to be immersed in the world/plot IMMEDIATELY. I loved the first few opening chapters and by the end of the shipwreck scene, I was hooked. I really loved that this book wasn't one I felt like "I needed to get into". From the end of the first chapter, it was all vibes and I was fully into/entertained by it.

💖 Doppelganger Microtrope : Okay, maybe it's my undying love for The Vampire Diaries, but I am OBSESSED with any trope that has to do specifically with mysterious doppelgangers (not twins, but real, true doppelgangers), so as soon as I figured out our FMC resembled the original Faerie queen of the realm... I was instantly hooked and immediately wanted to know more. The other characters reactions to her did not disappoint, and I loved whenever Rhiannon was mentioned.

💖 Clear Character Motivations + A Morally Grey FMC : One thing I really enjoyed about Born of Blood and Shadows was that you didn't need to constantly guess who the FMC was, what she wanted, or why she was doing what she was doing. Every choice she makes throughout the book feels true to her character, and there's nothing that feels like a) character assassination for the sake of furthering along a romantic plot, or b) out of left field. She's unapologetically herself, in the most absurd, hilarious way, even if she makes poor choices and does terrible things. She's 100% dramatic, extremely petty, and angsty... yet all of those contribute as to why she's so compelling. She is the epitome of every woman who has ever said to themselves: "If I ever get captured, I'mma make this mf fall in love with me and then escape... and he won't know what hit him." Like yes, our girl makes bad decisions... and then continues to make some more even worse decisions... but the entire time, as a reader, I couldn't help but wonder what she was going to do next. I also appreciated how the author didn't make her a manic pixie dream girl, and purposely made her unlikeable in certain aspects. She was an "I choose me," girlie and I loved it.

💖 Diversity: The final thing I really enjoyed about this novel was the diversity of characters, particularly how prevalent of a role they played and how a NB character legitimately SERVED as a conduit for a large portion of the plot. I find that sometimes authors will throw them in to meet their diversity quota, and I was really happy to see that their role wasn't diminished or relegated to being nothing more than background decoration to the main characters.

What kept it from being a 5 star read for me:

💖 Too much telling, not enough showing: One thing I found really distracting was the writing style. Typically when I read ARCs, the grammar and punctuation are dreadful... but that was not the problem here. With this book, the writing felt uninspired at times and there were a lot of telling rather than showing moments scattered throughout. I felt there were chapters that could have been deeper or more introspective without the author just writing... "I did this. She did this. Then he kissed me. Then I blah blah." There was a lot of "I [did xyz]", yet little showing of what was actually happening.

💖 Shallow Romantic Development: For a romantasy book, the romance department really felt distracting and poorly fleshed out. There were no moments that had me kicking my feet and blushing, and I feel like there were a lot of "INSTA LOVE" moments where the FMC and the 2 MMC's immediately wanted to jump one another's bones without really building up the relationship beforehand. I also found Ameris' continued attraction to them somewhat confusing, especially since she talked about hating them for most of the book... and we never really saw those feelings grow to something genuine.

💖 Instant "Expert Level" Magic Wielding : The last thing that felt rushed was how quickly the FMC achieved expert control over her powers, despite the fact that they were locked away from her for her entire life. It just felt extremely sudden at how instinctually she was able to use her powers for max harm/healing, and I found it somewhat confusing, especially since there were several plot points in the book around her wanting to learn and needing a teacher for her magic.

Overall, I had a lot of fun and enjoyed BoBaS! The ending was great, even if this book wasn't the most advanced piece of literature known to man. I'm not sure if I would continue reading the next few books, but that's due to personal preference and what I personally look for in writing style in books I read. However, I would definitely recommend this book to someone looking for a fun, original, and entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley & Jamye Smith for the ARC copy to review!

After looking through NetGalley one evening, I finally stopped at 𝑩𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 by Jamye Smith. Upon reading the description and viewing the gorgeous cover, I was hooked. I am thankful not only to NetGalley but to Jamye and her publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

Qᴜɪᴄᴋ ʀᴜɴᴅᴏᴡɴ

𝕋𝕣𝕠𝕡𝕖𝕤 𝕀𝕟𝕔𝕝𝕦𝕕𝕖:
- Enemies to Lovers
- Love Triangle
- Forced Proximity

𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖𝕤:
- Fast-paced plot
- Morally grey FMC
- Fae world vs Human world

𝕃𝕖𝕒𝕤𝕥 𝔽𝕒𝕧𝕠𝕣𝕚𝕥𝕖:
- Character building
- World understanding

𝑩𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝑩𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒅𝒐𝒘𝒔 brings to life the story of Ameris, our morally grey FMC whose magic has been bound in the human world. After saving Xander, a fae heir, she strikes a bargain to learn about her powers. They must journey across worlds to Elysium and together they find a way to restore Xander’s claim to the throne. But once Ameris meets Oberon, the current king, everything changes.

The book draws you in fairly quickly with action packed into each chapter. Some points in the plot left me feeling like I missed some important information along the way. I feel like a bit more backstory on the worlds and characters would help bring the book together. Currently, I’m not sure whose side I’m on.

I definitely had a love/hate relationship with the cliffhanger ending but am truly looking forward to book two. As a debut novel, the foundation is there to be built upon; with some backstory to give us some understanding of characters’ actions, it will be a total hit.

This review is based on an ARC copy I received from NetGalley. These opinions are my own and were given freely.

3 stars ⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley, Jamye Smith, and the publishers for providing me with the e-ARC!

This is a strong debut novel and I think as an author she has so much potential.

✨morally grey
✨witchy vibes
✨fae & magical realms
✨love triangles

We LOVE a witchy FMC! Ameris, is a compelling and relatable character, and her journey of self-realization is engaging. The descriptions of the scenery and magic were really detailed, allowing for an immersive experience. The love triangle really added to the spice of the plot! The plot really picked up for me near the end and I absolutely loved the villainous twist - something we do not see a lot of, I was really taken by surprise!!

This was a solid beginning, but there were a few things that I didn’t love. The author was VERY descriptive, continually using metaphors and similes, but somehow I still only felt connected on a surface-level to the characters. I felt like Amaris and Xander were both never full developed individually and within their relationship. I would have loved a little bit more of a focus on their relationship because I still feel confused as to where it’s heading for the sequel…

Overall, this is a promising debut with a lot of potential. I am confident that as Jamye Smith continues to grow in her writing, her future works will only continue flourish. I look forward to seeing how she develops her storytelling skills in the sequel - because THAT ENDING!!??

** spoiler alert ** This is 2.5/3 stars for me

This follows the story of our FMC, Ameris, a witch living in the human world where magic is not allowed. She meets Xander and enters a bargain with him to teach her magic in exchange for saving him. They flee the human world and enter into a blood bond to enter the fae world.

The story could be so much, but unfortunately, I found it a little flat. The premise is so good and the story could really be so much but none of the characters get quite enough development and I found it to be both not enough world-building and not enough romance to satisfy either interest. The setup in this book has so much possibility and I love a morally gray FMC and the man who loves her but none of it was enough.

I'd love to see this story with more depth from each other characters giving us a real chance to either love or hate them, instead I found myself feeling "meh" about all of them. I wanted to root for our central love story but it wasn't really there and I couldn't root for our FMC as the hero or the villain because I just didn't know enough about her - in fact, I think she might be conflicted about what she is as well.

That said, this is an interesting story and it is a quick read if you like the world of morally gray fae.

This book started off very promising, but kind of hit a lull and never recovered.

I think there are a lot of really good ideas in this book, but not always executed with depth that makes lasting impacts. Part of the reason I felt this way is because the pace is pretty quick throughout the story and neither world is given a ton of opportunity to develop. Sometimes the reader is left guessing, especially in Elysium, and that takes away from the story.

The characters I think also suffer from this. Ameris is the most developed at the FMC, but she can be repetitive in her thoughts. I didn't think her reason for craving power is strong enough for what she has gone through. I don't think those feelings really truly reach desperation in her, so the ending falls flat for me. I don't believe she has really developed enough to have the plan and execute the plan that she has.

I also wasn't a huge fan of the potential? maybe? development of a love triangle. Like maybe it's there, in a twisted way. I just didn't really like it since the foundations of Ameris and Xander never really developed. It would have been so much better to have those two figure out their bond and have some semblance of a relationship before entering the twisted shadow king.

I think the author has so much potential. The bones are good in the story, and I think a lot of readers looking for something easy and not super developed will enjoy the book.