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!

Arc review (audio book)

I really enjoyed this more then I thought.
It’s fantasy/scifi/urban

Tropes:
Slow burn
Found family
Lost family
Mystical animals
World jumping
Unique magic system (science)

The narrators done great they were picked so well.
I loved that this book was just it a stand alone and it had the perfect beginning middle and end. It was all compacted so well into 1 book.

This had everything a fantasy book needed and was such a refreshing listen.

Well done C Monk

Thank you netgalley, yaypub and CMonk for the arc

I honestly loved it!!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Unsure how to rate this one. I read very minimal sci-fi and this novel reminded me why- it’s just a little *too* out there for me!
That being said, I do appreciate the world building.
This book will be an excellent choice for people who enjoy life on other planets, non-synchronous times, and a large cast of characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ALC in return for my honest review. The start of this book is fantastic as you are tossed into the chaos of the main character, River, being kidnapped. This had me invested in the story very early on and I only wish that momentum would have continued. While the world building that followed was important, it felt like it dragged on a bit which left me a little bit bored.

I did enjoy all the ties to the knights of the round table but with modern flares thrown in. I felt like the world Monk created had a very Steampunk vibe and I was all here for that.

As far as the audio recording, I loved Sarah Kisko’s portrayal of River. Her voice matched exactly what I had in my head for that character. Unfortunately, Brennen Blotner’s voice just didn’t fit Hadrian for me. I did enjoy his portrayal of the other male characters though.

Overall, I did enjoy this story. I feel it read more YA than I was expecting but it was still a fun ride.

Tapped out at 58% review based on this portion of book

Story: 1.5 ⭐️
Steam: 1 🔥
Audio: 5 🎧

I really wanted to like this story. It had a lot of great potential I just wasn’t feeling it. The beginning felt very rushed and then the world building was really heavy.

The romance was very instalove. I have no idea why they’re into each other at all. I’m also just not that invested in the plot.

I think this one was just not for me.


The audio performances were well done! The narrators are both great. It’s definitely in need of some editing though this was an advanced copy so I’m sure that will get seen to! There were just some parts where you would hear the female narrator perform the male narrator’s lines either before or after the other narrator does it. That didn’t affect my rating just pointing it out for the editors!

I have read this book already and enjoyed it very much, but I love listening to the audiobooks afterwards to see how someone else would tell the story and pronounce the names. I enjoyed this book the first time around, but I'm enjoying the audiobook way more because of the narrators and the background noises that add to the story to make it more realistic.