I liked the general storyline. Good main character relationship. Glad it wasn't instalove. Definitely not used to so much mental health matters and working through communication barriers representation. Side characters were just teasers, but would likely/hopefully get more in additional books. I understand that books are getting more progressive with they/them pronouns, but I was confused by Alta initially. I had some questions but it sets up nicely for a future book, so that's ok. I didn't know this would be using more of the British standard spelling... it makes me think there are spelling errors, even though I understand that's how it's supposed to be. All in all - ok, but not wowed. Thanks to NetGalley & the publisher for the ARC opportunity.

cool book that I knew was gonna be very fun and definitely delivered. i love awesome LGBTQ romantasies and this one delivered. Cheers. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

I think this was a subpar romantasy. I think it has a good basic plot / interesting characters, but I think the author needed more time to develop and edit this book before publishing it. I did not particularly like it, and felt it had a very amateur style writing to it. I would have loved this book to have a richer narrative and to have been more interesting, because we need more queer romances! But unfortunately this romance novel fell flat for me. I hope the author has a better change on their second book!

Oh this was a lot of fun! I haven't had the best luck with fantasy romances or with sapphic fiction despite wanting to find something that I loved. But this was pleasantly surprising. Donnellan created a world that felt full and characters that were well-rounded, each with their own personal struggles that realistically affected their circumstances. I am curious to read more from this author!

🌙 A Crimson Covenant by Aimee Donnellan has officially made me a romantasy addict! This debut captivated me with the unforgettable journey of Arche and Lenora, who, as heirs to their respective werewolf and vampire houses in Concord, face a brutal, dark, and magical upheaval. The peace of their town, a sanctuary for nightwalkers, shatters when Crusaders invade, forcing them to escape together and embark on an epic journey to save their people. Despite the tragedy, they find moments of pure joy and undeniable connection that make the story feel intensely alive and emotional.
Arche, a fierce yet gentle protector grappling with anxiety and imposter syndrome, melted my heart. Her dynamic with Lenora—who initially has a grudge against her but grows to trust her—is as tender as it is exhilarating. Their mutual respect and unwavering support turn them into a powerful force, navigating their trials with courage and healthy communication (and yes, the spice is off the charts! 🌶️). The representation in this novel is refreshing; queer identities are seamlessly woven into the world, with no need for explanations or "coming out." Aimee’s world-building was masterful, filled with rich, diverse characters, each existing unapologetically as themselves. This book stole my heart and soul—I’m beyond grateful to have read it, and I can’t wait for everyone else to experience its magic! 💫 #ACrimsonCovenant #SapphicRomantasy #QueerRomance #WerewolvesAndVampires

A Crimson Covenant by Aimee Donnellan
Book 1 in the Nightwalkers of Concord series
Rating: 5/5 🌟

Summary:
The vampires and werewolves of the town of Concord have for centuries worked to keep their home secret and safe. With the heirs of the founding houses paired from a young age to train together and complement each other, life is almost ideal. However:

Arche, lycan heir to the Warden Clan, is beginning to resent her best friend and partner, and can’t tell anyone.

Lenora, the vampiric heir to the House of the Arcane, is struggling with the expectations of an additional destiny she never wanted. Not to mention being in love with her partner, who is in love with someone else.

All of which matters much less when Concord is attacked by violent, vindictive cultists. In shock, on the run, and without the partners they’ve had for years, Arche and Lenora must venture far from home for the first time in search of something that will save their people. And, perhaps, consider that some partnerships are better forged in fire.

First Impressions:
I was pretty sure I’d enjoy this book before I even started, but I wasn’t prepared for just how much I’d fall in love with it! A Crimson Covenant exceeded my expectations in every way, from its layered worldbuilding to its compelling characters. The mix of fantasy, romance, and adventure had me hooked, and I was swept up in every twist and turn.

Characters:
The characters are the beating heart of this story, and both main characters, Lenora and Arche, absolutely stole my heart. They’re both fierce, capable, and complex, each facing their own inner struggles that make them feel relatable and real. I loved that, even with their strengths, they each have vulnerabilities and moments of self-doubt. Their journeys of growth—especially Lenora’s—are written with such authenticity that it’s hard not to root for them.

Lenora, in particular, won me over. There’s a purity to her character, a depth to her struggles, and a relatability in her moments of jealousy and frustration. Watching her discover herself, come into her own, and start seeing herself the way others do was one of my favorite parts of the book. And let me just say, after reading the dedication in the book, that feeling only grew!

Special shoutout to one of the new friends they make on their journey—a no-nonsense character who tells them exactly what they need to hear. We all need that friend who knows when to tell us to get over ourselves and push forward!

Romance:
The romance between Lenora and Arche is beautifully developed, with a slow burn that feels both natural and deeply rewarding. Through the dual POVs, we get to see their growing connection from both sides—the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) glances, the quiet moments, the heart-pounding and sometimes hilarious interactions that deepen their bond. Their relationship is layered with genuine warmth and tension, and their journey from partners to something more is both heartwarming and gut-punching in the best ways. The more romantic and spicy moments were perfectly woven in, complementing the characters' arcs without taking over the story.

World-Building:
The world of Concord felt truly lived-in, with its customs, rules, and a fascinating bond between vampires and werewolves. The magical elements were woven into the fabric of the world seamlessly, and I loved discovering its nuances alongside the characters. The town itself has a charm that contrasts well with the darker forces at play. My only small wish is to see more depth in the magic system’s rules and limitations in the next book, as I’m left wanting just a bit more of an understanding of how it all works.

Writing Style:
The writing style is engaging and accessible, making it easy to stay absorbed in the story. As a reader with dyslexia, I appreciated how smooth most of it was to follow, though there were a few spots where sentence phrasing made me reread for clarity. Those moments were rare, though, and overall, it was a well-paced, enjoyable read.

Final Thoughts:
This book was simply a joy from start to finish. The plot was gripping, the world was immersive, and the characters felt real and full of life. I found myself sneaking in chapters when I should have been working on my own writing because I just couldn’t put it down. There are still questions left unanswered and new mysteries waiting to be explored, and I can’t wait for the next installment. Spending more time with Lenora and Arche will be a delight, and I’m excited to see where their journey takes them next!

I will also get a physical copy of the book when it comes out!

I had the wonderful opportunity to read this book as an ARC reader through NetGalley, for which I want to express my gratitude! This review is my honest and voluntary opinion, and I am thrilled to share my thoughts.

This review is online on my Goodreads account (meltriestowriteastory) and will be put online on my TikTok with the same name on October 31 2024

Thank you Netgalley and Aimee Donnellan for providing me this eARC!

I was first drawn to the stunning cover of this book after seeing it on Tiktok, then I read the blurb and it sounded so great so I immediately went on Netgalley to request it!

I DEVOURED this book and loved it so much that I had to postpone finishing it because I just did not want it to end.


"She burns bright at the centre of Arché's entire world. Like the sun Lenora so despises, she has become the light and warmth Arché looks for in every waking moment."

I love the relationship between Lenora and Arché, it was so so beautiful and very cute. All of their conversations and arguments felt very real which I thought was really interesting. The way they respect each other and really gave each other space when needed was so important and I'm so glad Donnellan wrote it just as she did! It was also interesting to follow them through same situations but through their own perspectives. I especially loved that they both had some of the same struggles, yet they dealt with them so differently.


The only criticism I have on this book is that the action sequences could have been more complex and I wish the end battle felt more realistic, to me it seemed a little too easy especially when the whole story is about how much of a threat the enemies are.


The ADHD and depression representation was also great!!


Overall this is an amazing book and I can't wait to read more books by Aimee Donnellan! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves sapphic vampires and werewolves.

Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The grip this book had on me! Truly in a CHOKEHOLD. I'm mostly a queer (sapphic, usually) romance/erotica reader, but have recently been getting more into fantasy/adventure alongside my home genres. This book really fit what I was looking for. Our two FMCs need to go on an adventure to save their town and in the process start to develop feelings for one another. 👀

Arché is a strong, masc-leaning lycan (werewolf) with ADHD and she can take me anywhere, at anytime, lol. When she got bit?? 😅🌶 Lenora is a thoughtful, femme demisexual vampire who is going through it. I loved watching Lenora gain her confidence, and Arché learning to let others help. I LOVED the ADHD rep (as an ADHDer myself) and how that was represented in Arché. I adored the gentleness that both characters brought to Lenora's depression and demisexuality. These characters are handled with such deep care by the author; it was amazing to read.

I love a slow burn and I felt like there was considerable lead up to them actually getting together, which I'm a sucker for. I was promised a biting kink and for the first half of the book we really get to see that. My only qualm is, it feels like a tragic missed-opportunity to not bring back the biting when the characters finally get together physically. Similarly to when rope play is brought up at an importune time. I get that the characters need to save their town etc, HOWEVER, don't tease me like that and then not deliver! Perhaps it's because I read much more spicier books than this, but when we say BDSM or biting kink, I'm expecting a bit more. Though, I'm sure folks who like their romance with a lot of pining and pent up emotion, with 2 or 3 spicy scenes will not have the same peeves as me, lol.

I will be reading the rest of the series and can't wait! This was my first read from this author and I am a fan. Will be downloading their earlier series after I'm done writing this. Read this book if you want epic fantasy with unlikely heros trying to save their world, with forced proximity, slow burn, sapphic romance.

3.75 rounded up

A massive thank you to Victory Editing for letting me read this arc, I will be eagerly awaiting the second book.

The world building was so good, I loved the magic system and the fact that the two main characters shared very similar issues with their identity, yet dealt with them in completely different ways. I found that the two povs actually added a lot to the reading experience and I found it very interesting to see the very different thought processes that Lenora and Archié had to the same situations.

The only criticism I do have is that I wish there was a little more realism in the end battle. It felt a little too easy, this very commanding threat present throughout the entire book was brought down in the span of two chapters with no real casualties. I understand that part of this was to show the growth the two fmcs went through, but it still felt a little anticlimactic to end the book that way.

dnf'd at 11%... i'm sorry but this book just was not for me. i love fantasy, i love lesbians, i love a big handsome butch werewolf, so i was very excited to receive this ARC. unfortunately, it fell flat almost immediately. the prose is clinical and infodump-y, i really don't get a sense of character voice from either arché or lenora. i found myself zoning out trying to get invested into the plot and characters.

the concept is there, i can tell there was a lot of love put into the worldbuilding. i'm a very character-driven reader, so if you're more of a lore enjoyer then you will probably like this book more than i did.

Perfect for the season of vampires and werewolves, this romantasy is a must-read for those who enjoy sapphic novels!

Always sign me up for LGBTQ+ werewolves and vampires. Enjoyable read. Can't wait for the sequel.

Thank you to Aimee Donnellan and NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

This was a great start to the Nightwalkers of Concord series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed the plot of this. The characters worked in this world and thought the use of vampires and werewolves worked together well. The plot was everything that I was looking for and enjoyed the world going on. I can't wait to read more in this world and from Aimee Donnellan.

This was an exciting supernatural adventure. Vampires, wolves, and a love triangle. What's not to love! But things get dangerous fast and watching everything unfold was such a great experience.

Thanks to Netgalley and Aimee Donnellan for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

<i>A Crimson Covenant</i> is a cute, fun romantasy centered around Arché and Lenora, the werewolf and vampire (respectively) heirs of the hidden town of Concord as they race to save their people from frenzied cultists and find themselves along the way, all without the aid of their preordained life partners. It's your standard romantasy, with a stronger core in romance and some fantasy flavoring.

It was quick and light read, and I can absolutely see an audience who will absolutely eat this up. Sadly, it looks like I don't fall into that demographic. Teenage me probably would've absolutely eaten this up, but now I feel myself wanting more in development.

The absolutely stunning cover was what originally drew me to <i>A Crimson Covenant</i>, but the title and blurb were what pushed me to request this ARC.

For centuries, vampires and werewolves (nightwalkers) have lived in harmony with each other and daywalkers (self-explanatory) in Concord, a hidden town nestled in the Howling Peaks Valley. Founded by six families of lycans and vampires, the heirs of each house are paired together by the heads of the town. These partnerships are designed to create balance and help the heirs grow into best and most well-rounded versions of themselves.

Except. It doesn't always work out like that.

We follow Arché, a werewolf heir who's growing frustrated with her partner, Rohan, and Lenora, a vampire heir who's in love with her partner, Nikos... Who is in love with Arché who sees him as nothing more than a friend because she's literally a lesbian.

Very romantasy.

Everything is mostly fine and awesome in Concord until the town is attacked by cultists in the name of the Everflame, and Arché and Lenora are forced to flee the safety of their home to seek outside aid from Arché's other parent.

All in all, <i>A Crimson Covenant</i> is a classic hero story, with our not-quite-up-to-bluff protagonists leaving on an adventure to save their town and coming back stronger and wiser.

The world building in <i>A Crimson Covenant</i> is pretty good. There's clearly a lot of lore and care put into the history and design of the world, but we don't get too much of it within this story. Donnellan does have another novella series set in this same world, and this is only the first book of a trilogy, so I expect that a lot of that lore has been / will be fleshed out elsewhere.

The premise was really interesting, but the story melded into a pretty repetitive pattern for me.

The plot of this book takes place over the course of around 1-2 months, and a good chunk of it was Arché and Lenora traveling and literally repeating the same actions over and over until they hit a town. The action sequences weren't super compelling, and often felt short or anti-climatic.

Both Arché and Lenora felt kind of juvenile to me, and neither was particularly gripping or surprising. Arché is incredibly horny and anxious (not necessarily in that order), with a crippling fear of not living up to expectations. Lenora is angsty and anxious, with deep rooted fears of rejection partially stemming from her status as the chosen Shadow, which is as emo as it sounds.

Before the events of the start of the story, Arché and Lenora are vague acquaintances at best, never having had a real conversation with each other, but quickly bond and fall in love during this period of forced proximity and shared trauma. Which is fine, but it was a little hard for me to get over the fact that Lenora is clearly demisexual / demiromantic and has been in love with her partner Nikos for years and then in the span of less than a month, falls for Arché. But I mean. Trauma and stuff will do that to you.

Arché and Lenora are cute together, albiet somewhat boring. They're supportive and understanding, and generally communicate pretty decently. There's some one-sided pining and a lot of horniness from Arché, but their relationship was pretty predictable and there wasn't ever really a doubt that things wouldn't work out for them.

Overall, <i>A Crimson Covenant</i> was a fun and light read, but it came off as unpolished and heavy handed. Everything just conveniently worked out for our heroes, and it was generally pretty flat and straightforward to me. It felt more like someone's D&D backstory more than a full-fledged novel. I do think the story would shine in a D&D campaign where there's an active human touch to the portrayal of each individual event, but as is, it feels almost cliff note-y in a way.

This is probably about a 2.5/5 stars for me, but I'll round up to 3 for the nod to Critical Role and the Kiki fish.

5 stars! 5 stars! 5 stars! Yessss! I loved every single second of this book. I loved it so much I'm planning on re-reading it in November!!! So so good!

Thank you to NetGalley and Aimee Donnellan for approving my request to read an arc of this book.

“I fell in love with you because you tried so hard at everything even when the world made it difficult for you, because you created beauty to survive the monsters in your head. And then, when those voices came for *my* head, you saw the value in me.”

I was first drawn to this book by the stunning cover, then once I read the description I requested it immediately. I definitely didn’t regret it! This book was absolutely fantastic. I loved the world building and the queer normative setting so much. The slow burn romance was written just right. It didn’t drag and it wasn’t too rushed. I adored the representation. Both in adhd rep and also demi sexual, nonbinary and lesbian representation, plus so many more colours on the rainbow.
I couldn’t put this book down, the danger and the plans kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t stop thinking about the characters. Arché and Lenora were such wonderful main characters and I really enjoyed getting to read their different povs throughout the story. I’m so happy that it’s going to be a series, as I’m not ready to say goodbye to them all yet.
There was such a lovely found family aspect to this story and the bonds that were built were so strong and beautiful.
As long as you’re comfortable with fantasy typical fighting and slight gore, then I’d recommend this book so highly. It was an absolute joy to read.

(3.25)
I really wish I liked this one more. The premise is great, the world setting is interesting and dare I say a little unique? The execution is just not the best.

In this world, Arché and Lenora’s village has a mixture of lycans and vampires living together, peacefully. The council for this town is made up of different houses that each has their heir. Arché is a lycan, Lenora a vampire and they're both the heirs of their respective houses. They've both been training for years on end to be able to live up to their family's expectations. Each heir is put on a team of two, consisting of one lycan and one vampire. When both their teammates die in a sudden attack on their town, they have to escape and find a way to save everyone whilst traversing their now new partnership.

The goal is clear, and even though it’s a classic hero story I was curious to see where it went.
When I started I immediately noticed the writing wasn’t for me, it’s very quick and straightforward.. and some interactions felt disconnected. Their feelings and actions seemed strange at times and because it all went so fast - you immediately get thrown into the attack (which sometimes works great, this just wasn’t) - I had no time to really care for what happened. The reason I kept going was because I liked the relationship between the two characters.

One thing the writer does well is creating a gradual romance story. The plot writing wasn’t the best so some scenes fell flat, but I liked Lenora and Arché a lot together. Arché even seemed to have social anxiety, or struggles with grasping other people’s emotions - it gets stressed in the book that lycans feel emotions heavier than humans and vampires. I liked that a lot. Lenora has depressive episodes and is demisexual (as far as I know, it wasn’t explicitly said). It made them likable, it made them real to me.

Unfortunately around 60% they already had a huge love confession, which then felt too fast paced again. I think it’s just difficult to write romance with a booming love confession, knowing that all their family members are at threat of dying somewhere at the other side of the continent. It can be done amazingly but it just - again - didn’t work for me. Sad but true.

Thank you so much for the ARC, NetGalley and Victory Editing, in return for my honest opinion.