Of Blood & Light is a science fiction take on the legend of King Arthur and what happens after his time. In this book a young woman’s life is turned upside down when she is kidnapped from her world and taken to another based on mistaken identity. She has to help uncover secret plots in this world in order to return to her own and save her family.

I listened to this audiobook and really enjoyed it. The narrators, Sarah Kisko and Brennen Blotner, did a great job executing the different voices and accents. There were sound effects periodically and I had mixed feelings on these. Some added to the atmosphere while listening but some others were off putting. I am glad I listened to this one because otherwise there was no way I could have pronounced the names and Thuleish language. The story is a unique blend of an Authorian storyline and science fiction. The pace was slower than I prefer, but I can see other readers enjoying the attention to detail.

I unfortunately had to give up the ghost on reading this book 52.6% of the way through!

I originally thought that this story had promise, but unfortunately it's not fast paced enough for me. They do quite a lot of travelling and the use of names of people/names of places that you haven't actually been introduced to along the way is quite confusing.

The chemistry between the two main characters just wasn't there for me, and when they did eventually kiss I didn't actually see it coming as I couldn't feel that they actually wanted each other despite everything.

Half way through the book & we're still no closer to knowing anything about the female main characters sister or her mother. We're no closer to getting her home since her little sister was basically dying in hospital and had moments to live. But she's just spend loads of time in this other realm already, I've got a feeling she'll get back in time to save her sister, but I really don't know how that would be possible with how long she's been away from them.

I think her sister will end up needing to live in Thule as well at some point because of her icore deficiency. But I really did try to carry on and like it, makes me sad that I don't feel like I can continue when others have rated it so highly. But this one is a no from me unfortunately.

Original review posted on my blog: https://lnholmeswriter.wordpress.com/?p=117177&preview=true&_thumbnail_id=117181

Rating: 4.5 stars

You ever pick up a book that starts off with an interesting, if familiar, premise, and then something completely unexpected pops up out of nowhere, leaving you squinting at the page like you’re trying to examine the quality of a jewel through the glass of a dirty fish bowl? Now imagine that happening multiple times in one book, your reader mind bombarded with aliens, magic, nobility, dinosaurs, gods, romance, Arthurian legend, Victorian fashion—heck even capybaras. You’re going to think to yourself, multiple times as you return to the book over and over, What did I just read?

Well, those feelings of bemusement and curiosity surfaced within me as I read Camilla Monk’s OF BLOOD & LIGHT, and I have to say that it *checks notes*…

…completely worked for me.

How, you ask?

Well first, let me tell you that OF BLOOD & LIGHT is about a young woman named River, who also happens to be a caregiver for her sister Sage. When the book opens, River is riding in the back of an ambulance, and Sage, who is the patient being transported, is suffering from failing lungs. When they get to the hospital, Sage is taken to a room for treatment while River checks in. A doctor approaches River, telling her he will now take her to see Sage. When River follows him, the “doctor” kidnaps her and forces her into a portal that leads to an entirely new planet (Thule).

Wait, what did you just read?

But wait, there’s more. On Thule, things get wild fast. Not only is this a planet with a people stuck in the Victorian era, but they are also Arthur’s people, as in KING ARTHUR’S people. Oh and there’s magic. But, it’s not really magic. It’s more like energy and life force contained within the blood of the people and the living things of Thule. But there’s also lightning and fire and shape-shifters and— and—it’s magic. Let’s be real. I don’t care what the Duke of Caid says.

Oh yeah, the Duke. He’s the love interest. And that gets very complicated, very fast for River. No spoilers, but suffice it to say that River’s family and the Duke of Caid are intertwined in complicated ways, and it’s not just River’s growing fondness for the Duke that makes her want to explore the secrets kept on Thule. I wasn’t super interested in the romantic scenes, honestly, but that wasn’t because the scenes weren’t well-crafted. Romance just isn’t normally my cup of tea, and those scenes would most likely satisfy readers who are interested in the romance aspects of a book.

Anyway, exploring Thule was probably my favorite part. Monk has a gift for description, and I found myself listening to lines in the audiobook with a sense of lingering awe. It almost made me feel like a kid again, getting so wrapped up in the story. There is a scene where water acts in an unexpected way and dinosaurs are involved… I know, I know: What did you just read? It sounds weird, but it was actually really cool. I’m going to think about that part of the book for a long time.

Despite all the wacky, there is definitely violence, misogyny, and other darkness within this story, but I think Monk did a great job of balancing that negative material with humor. River is basically an alien on Thule and her ignorance of Thule’s language, style, and customs makes for some hilarious situations and friction between characters. And let’s not forget the capybaras. Their cute mayhem had me grinning like an idiot.

Goofy capybaras aside, River is ultimately what sold me on this book. Her love for her sisters motivates her. Even as she falls in love, she keeps her head as she fights to return to earth and to Sage. Love coupled with responsibility is a consistent motif throughout this book, and I think Monk does a great job of explaining how complicated all of that can truly be.

So, how could a book about so many science fiction, fantasy, and romance topics/tropes, all blended together, possibly work? I don’t have a good answer for that, but Monk still managed to pull it off. This book is zany, but it’s also hilarious, smart, lush, and—at times—even deep. I cared about River and her sisters, and I was very interested in the world of Thule. If you want a book that will make you think, make you laugh, and make you enjoy storytelling again, consider giving OF BLOOD & LIGHT a try.

Disclaimer: I received a free, audiobook copy of OF BLOOD & LIGHT in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to Camilla Monk and NetGalley for the opportunity.

I gave Book of Blood and Light five stars! The world-building was chef’s kiss—the depth and detail completely pulled me in. I was really impressed by how well the backstory was woven into the narrative. And the capybara pet? Such a fun, random touch that added great comic relief.

I listened to the audiobook, and the sound effects were a fantastic addition that really made the world come alive for me. Hadrian and River’s romance felt authentic, especially with their shared loyalty and willingness to do anything for their people. While the romance was well-developed, I wouldn't have minded a little more spice between them. Overall, it was an excellent, well-rounded story with humor and heart!

This was a lot! A lot of good things! Fascinating and action-packed fantasy. Intriging world building and well written story performed by great narrators. It fits well for the Autumn books season.
The maincharcters was interesting and the plot was solid - and it takes you to a planet far far away...

Post on IG (one_fairy_tale_at_the_time) the 26.nov 2024

3.75 ⭐

This was a truly refreshing novel. Not as Victorian or Arthurian as I hoped but great nonetheless.

I never was a stickler for the appropriate and 'white' hero but the MMC Hadrian got into my heart with his Victorian propriety. Of course he had to have a sad past or a backstory and I'm finding it harder and harder to find one MMC without one and it's getting increasingly annoying.

River was one of the least annoying FMC I've read about in at least a few months. I loved her dedication to family: her father ( I wanna Mary that man), Sage who we get to know a little bit at the end and Isolde. She was fun to read about and I really liked her character

I was not happy with how things went with the big bad - it was definitely too quick and too easy for my liking but I believe that the main focus was on the characters and the romance and not about defeating evil so I'll let it slide.


Thanks to NetGalley for the audio arc.
The narrators truly bought me on this book. The pronunciation and the Thule language would be a sour spot while reading the story but they got me covered. And Hadrian's narrator and the Thulish was a divine experience -5/5.

Overall this was a light read and I'll definitely stick around and read more books from C. Monk.

2.5 but rounded up.
Thanks to NetGalley and Yaypub for the ALC of this.

Unfortunately it just wasn’t really for me and I love an Arthurian retelling. It started out strong but about 30% of the way through just fell kind of flat for me.

I liked the narrators and the duet narration, but some of the added background noises seemed unnecessary. And the new chapter noise just reminded me of something from the 90s or early 00s when you sent an email.

I don't know how else to describe this book but meh. It started out interesting enough, but then everything got unnecessarily complicated, and I just wanted to finish the book. I listened to the audio and the added noise between chapters was really odd and did not add anything to the audiobook. I also cannot get over how the narrator pronounced "Nirvana".

If you're really into King Arthur, you might like this but for me it is very forgettable and I would not recommend it.

Thank you to netgalley for the ARC.

I listened to the audiobook. The voices were great! This story is very well written. The characters were well written. It captures you and makes you want to finish.

(I listened to this on Audio so apologies if I butcher the names.)

I’ve never read a story quite like this. It is Arthurian in nature, but with a Sci-Fi element sort of. The story does not feature Arthur or Merlin, though they did previously live in the world of Thule.

Our FMC is a young woman named River who is kidnapped and taken to Thule. She learns she was mistaken for Isolde, the runaway wife of a man named Lord Hadrian. All River wants is to return to Earth to her sister Sage, who is deathly ill. She soon finds out that Thule is facing some problems of their own. When Sage meets Hadrian, pieces start to fall into place for both of them. The people of Thule contain a light in their blood called ichor, and there is a blight on the land causing it to vanish.

I give kudos to the author for featuring some of a made-up Thule language, and for making the MMC Hadrian a gentleman, and not a growling, controlling Alpha. A breath of fresh air, to be sure.

I gave “Of Blood and Light” ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 stars.

Overall I enjoyed the story. It was a really fun and interesting take on Arthurian Legend. Set hundreds of years past the times of the original Arthur and his round table, I enjoyed seeing this take on Camelot and its descendants. I was a bit rusty on my lore but enjoyed tying in all of the original key characters in to this modern world. I think any true fans would enjoy the Easter eggs and links to the original story.

The romance between the two main characters was really beautiful. I was completely drawn into their story and passion. The love scenes were really tasteful and painted the perfect picture without too much graphic descriptions.

The book itself reads in a tone that felt very romantic. The pace was slower than what I’d been reading lately, but by no means boring.

At the start of the book I did find myself wondering how the link between space travel and this story would tie together, but it was a clever tool to join the two worlds. Once I got past the worry it would be cringy i could agree it was done well.

There were a few scenes or change of storytelling, I’m not sure needed to be included. It made sections feel a little disjointed.

I did really appreciate that the end of the book took time to round the story off, in full. I always want a full description of ‘how they end up’ but find so many books rush this part and I’m left wanting more. This one did not.

I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed the narrators. They set a beautiful tone that I thought suited the story. I wasn’t a huge fan of the sound effects and sudden additional voices, I found them distracting and that it took away from the voice actors performance.

Sadly, I DNF at 56%. I loved the concept of this book but also thought it was weird. We are in modern times at the beginning, and then we shift to Arthur's Knight At The Round Table in a distant planet that keeps up with Earth's times but doesn't? I loved the first 40%, but when I hit 50% and saw I still had 9 hours left, I was over it. The audio is great in duet form, but this book was definitely a slow burn and, in my opinion, could have been shaved down a bit. I might pick it back up in the future, but at this point, I'm not super invested in any of the characters.

Thank you Netgalley and yaypub for allowing me to listen to this book ahead of its release in exchange for an honest review

This is a captivating love story that intertwines hardship with the magic of a richly imagined world. The protagonist, River, is a beautifully flawed character whose heart is as big as her curiosity. Thrust into the enchanting yet oppressive world of Thule, she embarks on a quest to uncover the mysteries surrounding her mother and sister’s disappearance, all while navigating a society that often stifles her voice.

The world of Thule is a character in itself, brimming with magic and wonder, yet undeniably flawed. River’s struggles against the misogyny she encounters. I appreciated her efforts to challenge the status quo, even if at times she felt constrained by the very roles she sought to dismantle.

One of the standout aspects of the audiobook is the duet narration, which brings the characters to life and enhances the emotional depth of the story. The seamless flow of the narrative made it difficult for me to press pause; I found myself completely immersed in River's journey and the trials she faced.

In the end, while I may not have agreed with every decision River made, her flaws made her more relatable and human. The transformation of both River and the world around her is uplifting, culminating in a story that leaves a lasting impact. C. Monk has crafted a tale that is not only enjoyable but also thought-provoking. If you’re looking for a love story filled with magic, complexity, and growth, "Of Blood & Light" is a must-listen!

3.5 stars rounded up. I enjoyed the world building in Of Blood & Light, and I loved how it started. The narrators (Sarah Kisko and Brennen Blotner) were amazing! I was hooked from the start, but my excitement dissipated as I got further into the story. I will say the characters were well developed. I did find myself wanting River to be a stronger character that stood up for herself a bit more, and the book started to feel a little too long towards the end. However, how could you not enjoy a book with capybaras!? Overall, I enjoyed the book even though River wasn’t my favorite FMC. I may have felt a bit different if I didn’t listen to the audio version. The narrators truly were fantastic! Thank you NetGalley and Yaypub for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this, unique concepts, well written and magic system. No heavy info dumping. Audiobook has dual voices. If you loved Jupiter ascending you'll enjoy this.

Of Blood and Light is absolutely Brilliant. A fast paced action packed tale of magical adventure.

Absolutely steller world building in this book with a fantastic backstory that is well laid out for the reader. Super characters you will absolutely fall in love with.

I loved this book… it was totally immersive you will be consumed into this wonderful world through this fantastical journey throughout this book.

A flawed main character, but one full of love. This is a love story full of hardships and unlikely pairs that I could not put down. I did like the book and the trials they had to go through in this magical world of Thule. The main character does not know how to fight, but she does have a brain on her and she does not need to. With an inquisitive mind that has her constantly asking questions of this world she's been thrust in to, she can unravel the mystery behind her mother and sister's disappearance and the blight that is ravaging the world of Thule.

The world of Thule takes one back to a different time. A time where, even the main character thinks, is outdated, misogynistic, and full of magic and wonder. While I wish we would have used River's brain more in the story, she is more outspoken than her Thulian counterparts, and she assists in changing the world of Thule for the better in the end, if not marginally.

River starts out being a reserved sister who is going to school for cellular biology. She is by no means dumb. When thrust into the world of Thule, she quickly shucks off the expectations of women, kind of. Again, here is another point in which I wish that she wasn't so keen to keep quiet, play the part of her docile sister, and perpetuate the stereotypes of oppression that the world of Thule promotes. While she is outspoken, it is only to a select few and at other times, she puts herself into a box that is rather uncomfortable for her to make others happy. I would have even been okay with the idea of her flaunting pants throughout the book instead of just at the end when it was time for her to go back to Earth.

However, you have to pick your battles and that was something that River was familiar with. In the end, she picked the correct battles because not only was she able to save her sister, but she was able to change the Knights of the Round table and move them into, while not a modern era, a more progressive time than they had previously been in.

In the end, when I had time to listen to the book, I found it difficult to put down. While I might not agree with all of River's decisions, I love a flawed character as they are more human in the end and easier to relate to. I like the way it was written and the flow of the book. I especially love the way the story was narrated, mostly the duet narration. I will definitely be looking up more of C. Monk's books in the future to see what else she has in store.

This is one of the best audiobooks I have ever listened to! The cinematic nature of the audio was incredible, and the background sounds, inflection, and tone of the narrator's voice were great! I love it when you have a male and female narrator to read the different parts.
Story-wise, I loved that too. Imagine being kidnapped and landing on another planet with unicorns, capybaras, and magic because that is what happens to River. River soon discovers that her lost mother was from this mysterious planet and that her long-lost twin may be here too. With hints of Arthurian legend, romance, and adventure, I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next. I 10/10 recommend this book! The duck scene in the epilogue had me rolling on the floor laughing, and that is all I will say.

This book was interesting and the plot felt kind of new.. However, it was way too long. I felt like it never ended.
It read a lot like YA but was more of a NA and I think that’s also one reason it lost me.
I also felt like the romance part of the story was more of an insta love. The pining was not painful and I never connected with the characters or their love story.
I’m sorry to say this was not for me.
I read this as an audiobook and the audiobook was well made and I liked the narrators!

*I received a copy of the audiobook from Netgalley*

I am so glad I asked for the ARC of this audiobook because it was so good! It was honestly a production with sound effects and music infused. Great narrator voices as well. There was a time or two where the additional sounds didn't seem to quite fit but overall it felt like an immersive audio.

I found this story so refreshing! I loved every second of it and I could not finish it fast enough. Give me three more! All the characters were likable, especially our 2 mains. Was there misogyny? Yes, but it aligned with the setting. There's a little bit of spice and it was done really tastefully (in my opinion).

I also felt like there was plenty of book left after the climax. I hate when a story hits its peak and 2 chapters later it's over and super rushed.

I honestly think this may be my favorite book of the year and this is book 150 for me. Seriously listen to the audio!