First, a big thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of Alexandra Kennington’s novel “Blood Beneath the Snow" – “A heart-pounding romantasy following a rebellious princess who must compete to the death against her siblings for the crown to ensure justice, while fighting her feelings for her country's most powerful enemy by debut author Alexandra Kennington.”

I think that for a debut novel, this is a solid book, but I found it had too many issues for me to be able to rate it any higher than 3 stars.

Overall, I feel as though this book was missing the romance element of a “romantasy.” As our two main characters, Revna and the Hellbringer, don't have a conversation until about 35% through the book. While I thought that this was due to it being a slow burn romance - I found that I wanted more of these two characters. It was a little awkward when the romance took over the story halfway through the book. I had a hard time believing the connection between our two main characters. Revna was just horny for the majority of this book. I did not think that the pacing of the romance made any sense at all, and the love confession made me laugh because it was so out of place. I also found the smut scene to be unneeded. I feel this is a push from publishing as a whole as social media influencers are really pushing for more and more smut even when it doesn’t make sense or add to the book at all.

I was surprised when the Bloodshed Trails were not more central to the plot, I was thinking this book would be closer to the Red Queen or Hunger Games even but it was more of a training montage than anything. It felt like all the important plot points were happening off page including interactions with the Queen. I also wanted more world building, I wanted to see more of the magic system and the politics.

Overall I felt like the Hellbringer was boring and had zero personality. Side characters would have made a big difference in this story. It's just Revna and the Hellbringer for most of the book. Reina's friends and brothers just don't get enough consistent page time across the book. They appear in the first and last quarter so the relationships just felt like we were being told what they were like instead of seeing them interact over the course of the story which would have fleshed out the world and the characters.

In conclusion, this is a solid effort and definitely leans into some of the publishing trends that we are seeing right now.

I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

This book was filled with plot twists, action, and adventure that kept me on my toes at every turn. It was fast-paced and the story flowed well. There were some plot holes and I feel that the character development could have been better. Overall, I enjoyed the story.

✨Read If You Love ✨
Forced Proximity
One Bed
Sassy & Stabby FMC
Trials and Training
Political Intrigue
Morally Grey MC
Betrayal
Feminine Rage
Secret Identity
Masked Villain

Thanks to Berkeley and NetGalley for providing a DRC of this title!

A compelling read, but I actually think this story might’ve worked better for me if it had been written as a YA + the pacing had been a little tighter. Would definitely still recommend for readers who are looking for a romantasy that isn’t afraid to get its hands bloody.

3.5 stars/5.

2.5 star rating rounded up. This had a lot of potential, but I felt that some things fell short for me. I think this would have greatly benefitted from the love interest's POV. Without it, it just felt like the romance was one-sided. Also, I wish that we spent more time on the Bloodshed Trials, especially considering how much it changed the plot. The pacing felt off to me- it felt like we spent a lot of time in the exposition and not enough time with situations that actually moved the plot forward.

3.5 🌟 thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the gifted arc! the beginning of this book started out so interesting and action-packed, but then it dragged a lot in the middle. It picked up again at the end, but the middle was honestly just really repetitive.
Revna was a cool FMC—she was a badass despite the odds not being in her favor. She was resilient and probably the highlight of the book for me. I feel like the Hellbringer left something to be desired. I truly don’t feel like he did enough to really warrant an opinion about him.
I wanted more from the romance. It was very insta-lust and it didn’t feel like their relationship really progressed naturally. It kind of just went from “I hate you” to “I’m obsessed with you” in about two seconds. I do have hope for the romance in future books though based off of the ending.
I did find the politics of this world to be really interesting, and I’m looking forward to seeing that explored in future books. The plot was interesting, but I feel like it got put on the back burner with Revna and the Hellbringer’s forced proximity. Overall, it was a good debut, and I’m looking forward to see how the story continues in future books!

When I saw Blood Beneath the Snow by Alexandra Kennington, I'll admit it, I first fell in love with the cover. After reading the summary, I knew I was going to need to read this one so I immediately requested it.

Our fmc is Revna and our introduction to her is pretty intense. As the only member of the royal family without magic, she is treated as an outcast but that's ok with her, she has found family and built friendships with outcasts in the kingdom and they all work together to do what they can to protect others within the kingdom from being punished for who they are or are not. Revna isn't afraid to stand up to her family and that's what gets her into trouble most of the time. When her two closest friends are put in danger because of her actions, she is determined to save them no matter what. For Revna, the cost becomes The Bloodshed Trials, a competition where the last sibling in the royal family standing takes the throne.

The other main character in this book is Hellbringer, the general of Revna's country’s greatest enemy. He has the ability to do things with his magic that could end the war today but there are other parties who want Revna on the throne for their own reasons so instead, he kidnaps her and is committed to training her to take on her brothers in the Trials so that she can win. What wasn't expected was that perhaps underneath everything, there may be some humanity left in him and as he and Revna spend more time together locked away from everyone, they become closer.

I thought the story was developed well and the secondary characters were crucial to this story although I didn't love them all. I thought Revna's relationship with her brothers was interesting and was glad that they weren't both horrible human beings. I do wish that when things are revealed for Revna, that because of her prior relationship, there wasn't such fear and anger toward her from those who used to love and trust her... but what can you do. There is plenty of action in this book but I will say I thought the training portion of the book could have been condensed...although maybe it just felt long to me. I don't know - it felt like it dragged at times.

All in all this was a solid Fantasy and Kennington writes well. If you're looking for something new, consider picking it up. I'll most likely grab the next book in the series based on how this one ended as I'm going to need to know what happens next for this cast of characters.

Blood Beneath the Snow was unfortunately a letdown for me. Sigh. I really loved the idea of a wintery tournament where siblings fight to death to win a crown. What I got instead was 200 pages of training sequences and a main character who constantly needed to remind everyone of how wretched but also how special she was at the same time.

Not to mention a love interest 'dark and dangerous mystery man' is called The HellBringer? 🤡 No. I cannot take that seriously. I kept thinking about a mid-aged biker. The Hellbringer lol.

The story opens with a bunch of side characters the main character interacts with. And then the side characters basically cease to be in the narrative, even though the main character claims that everything she does, she does for them. The side characters felt underdeveloped and indistinguishable.

The pacing was horrid in this. I was actually enjoying the first little bit of the story. I'd say until about 25% lol sounds sad because it's so early on, but the beginning was very action packed, with our FMC running through the city to escape capture. But we're quickly drawn to a halt and slammed with lengthy dialogue chapters with nothing actually really happening.

For me, this put a huge damper in things... There's not much worse than dreading picking up a book and/or skimming over chapters and constantly looking at the minute count left. That's where most books go to die for me.

It's like, we started with all of these characters and to me, what felt like a vast world and the author whittled all of that away and left us with the annoying FMC stuck in a cave - and we're just left to our on imagination as to what is going on in the world on the outside of this cave. The friends, the people, the whole ass war.

I typically prefer third person to first person because I don't like being trapped in the main character's head. This is first person and not only are we trapped in the FMC's mind, but the author completely shuts the reader out of what is going on aside from this boring mundane 'training' between this supposed pair. It was like hitting a brick wall. Day after day I'd struggle to get through these chapters.... They're long and there's many of them. Around 200 pages of this boring plotline.

Speaking of the romance - or lack thereof. These two felt really forced to me. I didn't feel the chemistry; they barely communicate with each other. It's all kind of all tell no show type of scenario. Because the author said so and so it is ✨. Ugh. No.

I also thought the Hellbringer's character was poorly constructed. To avoid potential spoilers, I won't go into specifics, but it just didn't feel authentic or likely. He's like the Temu version of Rhys.

To me, this felt like a poor attempt at a mash up of many popular romantasies. If these tropes are your jam though, give it a try - hope that it works better for you. If you're looking for something well written, original and thoroughly entertaining - might give it a pass.


❤️One Bed
👑Feminine Rage
⚔️Captor x Captive
❤️Forced Proximity
👑Morally Grey MMC
⚔️Grumpy/Mysterious MMC
❤️Strong/Feisty/Stabby FMC
👑Trials
⚔️Religious x Political Intrigue
❤️Secret Identity
👑Training Sequences

Expected Publication Date - 03/11/25

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing via NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own. 💐

⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ Connect with me on Instagram ˗ˏˋ★‿︵‧ ˚ ₊⊹

Romantasy fiction seems to be the up and coming genre to read and I am all for it! Alexandra Kennington’s debut novel is stunning. An original premise, main characters you want to root for and plenty of backstabbing to keep the guesses coming. I couldn’t put it down and now I am impatiently waiting for it’s sequel. I hope you working on it Ms. Kennington!

You need to run to your local library or book store for this one. Outstanding debut romantasy novel!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a digital ARC of "Blood Beneath the Snow" by Alexandra Kennington, in exchange for a sincere review.

Blood Beneath the Snow

Revna is the last child born to the King and Queen, and she has no magic. Referred to as “godforsaken”, she is treated as scum by others with magic, the “godtouched”. Over the years, she has formed friendships with other godforsaken people. After a rebellious act against the temple and the gods goes wrong, she rejects her arranged marriage and enters herself to compete against her brothers to the death in the Bloodshed Trials. If she wins and becomes Queen, she can save everyone, her friends and all the other godforsaken people. She is sent to the front lines to fight by her father, and is then kidnapped by the enemy general, Hellbring, whose reputation for death and destruction is well known. He reveals there are others who want her on the throne besides the godforsaken. Can she win this completion and beat her brothers and her father to become the savior queen?

Revna is a typical badass FMC. She can fight, has a witty disposition, and has a take no crap attitude. Her chemistry with the MMC is strong, but some of the spice scenes seemed rushed. I wish we had a little more slow burn build up. There are twists and turns all through the book, and betrayal seems to happen at every corner. The book ended in a cliff hanger and I’m excited to see where book 2 takes us. Great debut novel for Alexandra Kennington!

~Magic
~Kings/Queens
~Secret identity
~One bed
~Forced proximity
~Trials
~Political intrigue

4⭐️

On Sale Date - March 11th, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for a copy of the digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

#BloodBeneaththeSnow #NetGalley

What an absolutely incredible, unputdownable debut! I absolutely adored Revna and how badass she was despite her circumstance as a “godforsaken.” I was on the edge of my seat for much of the book, my mind constantly whirling with theories, and I absolutely cannot wait for book 2!

This was not for me.

I'm sorry but this just dragged on and on and on. Where was the promised "heart-pounding romantasy" and the "competition to the death"?!? It felt like I read a totally different book.

I! AM! OBSESSED!

Can we get book two already? Like I know book one isn’t even published yet but THAT CLIFFHANGER ENDING WHAT IN THE GODS!!!!!

Immaculate tropes, all the queer goodness (your bi booksta bestie aka me felt so SEEN!), on point banter, deliciously slow burn, fighting systems of oppression, secrets, great world building, gorgeous prose - I could go on and on about this one so just trust me, my fellow romantasy girlies, RUN and read this work of art as soon as it’s published. You’ll thank me.

Alexandra Kennington’s debut novel, The Bloodshed Trials, is a spellbinding journey into a world of intrigue, danger, and heartache that had me turning pages late into the night. This romantasy offers rich, immersive world-building and a cast of characters that leap off the page, making it an easy recommendation for fans of high-stakes fantasy with a romantic twist.

Revna, the rebellious and underestimated princess, is a captivating protagonist. Her fierce determination and loyalty to her found family make her a heroine worth rooting for. Her journey through the brutal and aptly named Bloodshed Trials is fraught with danger, and her struggles as the “magically flawed” royal create a compelling underdog narrative. The dynamics between her and her siblings, as well as her interactions with other outcasts, add layers of emotional depth to the story.

The world of The Bloodshed Trials is vivid and well-crafted, full of political machinations, magical intrigue, and the haunting presence of the Hellbringer. Kennington’s descriptions bring the kingdom and its fractured loyalties to life, making every betrayal and alliance feel weighty.

That said, the romance element was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While the tension between Revna and the Hellbringer was palpable, the way their relationship began felt rushed and lacked the emotional groundwork I craved. Additionally, the ending left their relationship in a place that felt unfinished. However, this unresolved tension has me eagerly hoping for a sequel.

The Bloodshed Trials expertly balances its action-packed plot with introspective moments, exploring themes of sacrifice, justice, and identity. If you’re a fan of morally complex characters, intricate worlds, and stories that leave you desperate for more, this book is for you.

Here’s hoping Alexandra Kennington graces us with a follow-up soon!

I really enjoyed this book. The main character is an absolute badass, the story is gripping and the world is fairly well developed. I wasn’t a fan of the romantic subplot because it happened way too quickly, so I was actually glad it turned out to be a very small part of the story. Additionally, there were certain plot points that felt really convenient and predictable, and kept me from loving this book as much as I could have, but I still liked it a lot.

This book was immersive and I really really enjoyed it. I actually lost track of time reading this book. The characters were well developed, The plot kept me guessing. This was a really fun read. I can’t wait for more in the series. Thanks to NetGalley for early copy!

I finished this book less than five minutes ago and wanted to cause DESTRUCTION upon finishing it. I loved this book SO MUCH that the rage Rev builds up in the book is what I had as I "turned the last page" (is it really turning when it's on an ereader?)
Quite honestly, the book was enjoyable and held my interest but around 35% is when I was SO invested that I not only slid into the author's DM's, I also took it upon myself to post reactions to things happening in the book on my IG stories and over the course of four hours continued to do so until I finished. I was INVESTED in the humor, the story, the glacially slow burn, the many MANY things I want to say but cannot because they are spoilers-- but I full on cried reading this and I am not a crier.
THIS IS WHAT I WANT WHEN I SAY I WANT ROMANTASY!!! Where there is still so much plot and storyline and the love interest does not become the main characters entire personality. I need everyone to pick this up. You who are reading this... have you read it yet? If not, you need to immediately stop and go do so right now. And if you have, I need you to message me or whatever so we can scream about it together, okay???
Anyways, thank you to whoever approved me of this arc. I'll name my next pet after you.

A solid debut fantasy novel. Some of the plots elements felt a little forced to me and the romance seemed a little too one-sided for most of the book. The world building coupled with the cliffhanger ending, is enough that I will be looking out for a sequel.

This story packs a roller coaster of a story that will have you flipping page after page. It has a gorgeous cover along with a mix of twists that I really enjoyed. Being a debut, this was a home run for this author and I can't wait to see her writing continue to develop and read more of her romantasy worlds!

Blood Beneath the Snow was a really enjoyable read. The plot was kind of predictable but still really enjoyable. The characters were interesting and dynamic the ending left me definitely wanting to read a book two to see how things continue

ARC rating: 4.5
This book was such a rollercoaster to read and I really enjoyed it. I went into this book not really knowing what to expect so at the beginning I was confused about what was happening and where the book was going but I am so glad that I did that because it ended up making it a lot more enjoyable looking back. The book started off a little slow for me but once the plot started to pick up I didn’t want to put it down. At times I struggled to imagine this world and the characters and I wish we had a little bit more description of them but that is really my only complaint about this book. I feel like the whole story is something that I haven’t read before. While it has trials and kidnapping the way that everything plays out is new and fresh. The betrayal in this book was shocking and hurt and I loved it and can’t wait to see how the aftermath of it plays out. I can’t stop thinking about how the trials played out and the ending of the book and I can’t wait to read book 2.

The book follows Revna who is a princess with no magic in a family where everyone has powers and in a society where people who have powers have the ability to live comfortably. Every generation the children of the royal family fight to death in a trial until one is standing and they become the next leader of the country. Revna decides that she is going to compete in the trials and try to win for all of the people who don’t have any powers even though that means competing against her military-trained brothers who have magic. While starting to prepare for the trials and fulfill the duties that her father has forced on her she is kidnapped by the Hellbringer who is the general of her country's biggest enemy's army. We follow her journey of being kidnapped and what the general wants from as well as what her experience in the trials looks like.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sending me an ARC of this book.