i finally had a chance to read this book and i shouldn't have pushed it off so much. it was so good and i loved the two main characters so much. i definitely want to read more books from this author!

I was so excited to be able to read an ARC of this book through NetGalley!! I'd been seeing the authors promotions on social media and was looking forward to its release.

I really enjoyed this book. Arché and Lenora are both relatable, lovable, and flawed characters. They both struggled with anxiety and self-esteem, but in different ways. This slower-burn romance was a masterclass in communication and consent. I also LOVED all the flirting and banter between the main pairing and other characters.

The action and battle scenes were fun - fast-paced and not too gory. Final battles can be tough, but this one was so satisfying to read after everything Arché AND Lenora went through and learned from each other.

The writing wasn't always my favorite and the pacing was a little inconsistent. Some of the dialogue felt a little unrealistic, especially when it came to talking about feelings. At times the writing felt more like online works I've read than other books.

Overall I did enjoy this story, the world, and the town of Concord. Arché is an absolute dreamboat, and I could relate so much to Lenora. I'm looking forward to reading the other installments in this series and meeting more of the characters!

A wholesome and emotional sapphic romantasy that was very enjoyable to read.

If you want a cute sapphic werewolf/vampire romantasy then this book is for you. The story takes us through many emotions from loss and grief to hope of a better future.
Both Lenora and Arché are heirs to their respective houses and are tasked with an impossible mission. Their time on the road in pursuit of allies to save their town is also an opportunity for them to learn to know and trust each other.
I definitely feel like the highlight of this book is the character work. The growth and progress both women go through is handled very well. Both characters struggle with their mental health. Lenora has depression and Arché has trouble regulating her emotions as part of her adhd and i liked that it was handled in a way where it didn’t define them but still played a central role in their characterization.
The romance between Arché and Lenora was another highlight for me. It was incredibly sweet and refreshing. They go through a phase of trial and error trying to make sense of their feelings and learn to communicate openly that made the relationship feel authentic. The author makes us feel invested in their journey both as a couple and as heirs of Concord seeking help.
For me, the one aspect where the book struggles a bit is the pacing. The middle part feels slow and repetitive as our characters are on the road. The introduction of new side characters was a plus but wasn’t enough to keep me engaged as much.
Overall, a very enjoyable read and the ending definitely sets up the stage for the next installment.

This is a captivating read for fans of LGBTQIA+ romance, fantasy, and adventure, particularly those who enjoy stories featuring sapphic relationships, werewolves and vampires, and the thrill of a journey story that explores the complexities of love, identity, and self-discovery.

This was such a cute and fun sapphic romantasy! The world had such a cool dnd vibe to it and I thought the romance between Lenora and Arché was super sweet. I would definitely recommend this if you want a more lighthearted fantasy with loads of great queer and neurodivergent rep!

The character development in this book was amazing as Lenora and Arché learnt to trust each other and to be more open about their mental health struggles. The depression, ADHD, and anxiety rep, as well as the demi, gender non-conforming, and lesbian rep was handled really well in my opinion and I loved how queer-normative and inclusive the world was.

The actual plot for me was definitely secondary to the relationship between Lenora and Arché but that's not necessarily a bad thing. I quite enjoyed having a more low-stakes and lighthearted plot as a backdrop to them figuring out their feelings for each other. The dnd style adventure worked well, especially combined with some elements of the found family trope which I loved. The idea of religious fanatics attacking a group they know nothing about based on lies and hatred was a very poignant and compelling catalyst for the story, and while I do wish the different religious ideas had been explored a little more, I didn't mind that not being a focus.

I do think that exposition wasn't handled in the best way at some moments, and there were a few plot points that felt a little clunky or heavy-handed. I also wish we had a little more backstory for Concord and how lycans and vampires exist outside of it. However, I think these issues were easy to overlook because of how much heart was obviously put into writing this and just how enjoyable and uplifting it was.

If you want something that will just be a lot of fun to read and make you feel very understood and accepted then this is a great book and I would definitely recommend it!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me with this eARC in return for an honest review.

absolutely adored this book!

the characters are so relatable and well written, and their wills and whims drive the plot so well! i would 100% read the second book to this novel and really enjoyed meeting all the side characters!! the arcs throughout the novel felt very natural and omg when they had to keep sneaking off for lenora I WAS LAUGHING EVERY TIME

More sapphic romantasy please! I was so stoked to see a wlw werewolf/vampire book. And Arché having a biting kink made the whole tension between her and Lenora even better.
The middle third of the book was slow for me - there was a lot of focus on the building romance which i wanted but i wanted more plot development while this was happening. This is a me problem though - i think i'm finding that i have trouble with romantasy and am more of a fantasy with romance reader. I found the emotional depth and journeys of both women really compelling but the stakes felt a little underdeveloped in order to prioritize the romance. I also found the epilogue focusing on the next book's protagonist less satisfying than a traditional romance epilogue.
If you're looking for a more traditional romantasy with wlw characters this is absolutely for you, i think i'm learning that it might not be my genre.

This book singlehandedly restored my love for fantasy. From the moment I picked up this book I became immersed in the story and characters, loving every second of it. A butch werewolf and a femme vampire? This is literally everything I've ever wanted. Aimee Donnellan has somehow picked my little ADHD brain and found exactly the type of book I've been craving.

Arché and Lenora's relationship developed so beautifully, I'm absolutely obsessed with how sweet it all was despite the horrors they were living. The way their relationship progressed and they supported each other through it all, the way Arché let Leonora take care of her too, it was just so lovely and heartwarming. Them constantly checking in with each other and displaying the importance and comfort in consent was an amazing touch that really elevated it for me.

The mental health representation was so good too. Arché's struggles with ADHD were so incredibly real, I often found myself sympathizing and relating to her. Meeting Alta and seeing them display the same symptoms, seeing Kalé acknowledge Arché's struggles at the end, it made me so incredibly happy. Reading about someone that's like me and manages to still be the hero of their story filled me with so much joy. Same with Lenora's depression, her difficulties getting up from bed, her anxieties about how she's not good enough. Seeing them grow together, not only as a couple but as individuals, was an incredible and relatable experience.

The world building was fun and very interesting, I can't wait to continue to delve into this universe and learn more. I was very intrigued by the villains being religious extremists, making this story—although a magic filled, fantastical tale—socially relevant to literally any point in history. And the ending with the prophet....... oh I cannot wait to see what they learn about that.

In summary, I loved the romance and deeply enjoyed the world, story, and characters. Will definitely be reading the author's other books.

A quick, fun sapphic read that gives you a glimpse into vampire + werewolf lore. I loved the concept of vampires and werewolves (lycans) working together instead of tearing one another apart. It was a nice change of pace compared to the normal hatred between both species.

The character development was enjoyable with plenty of angst/growth between both leads. I enjoyed the slow burn between both Lenora and Arche which felt natural and not forced. Especially accompanied by the dual POVs which helped dive deeper into each other's feelings and connections.

The magical elements within realms was wonderful, and the world-building was perfectly described. It was enough to leave me satisfied at the descriptions but not too much to bore me with specifics.

The plot and adventure were both gripping, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book as a whole!!

Thank you again for this beautiful ARC <3

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for the ARC!

Here’s the fact: I love fantasy novels, but I’m not really big on romance. If I had a nickel for every time I tried reading something romance-focused and my eyes rolled all the way back into my head, I’d be a millionaire (or, at least, very well off). So what on earth am I doing reading a romantasy? Mainly: a) the romance is sapphic, and b) there’s a butch lesbian main character. So, I gave A Crimson Covenant a try, and despite some shortcomings (which I’ll detail in a bit), I’m really glad I did!

The story follows Lenora and Arché, a vampire and a werewolf who reluctantly team up and embark on a journey to save their people. What begins as a necessary alliance blossoms into something deeper, pushing both girls to drop their defenses and confront their fears.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the romance part this much. It was chef’s kiss under every metric—a perfect slow burn that felt natural and sweet, full of respect for each other’s space and boundaries. Even the spicy scenes were handled refreshingly well.

The slow pacing allowed the story to build a believable, deep bond between Lenora and Arché, while also giving readers time to truly get to know them and understand the inner struggles they each faced. The author clearly poured a lot of care into creating two main characters who felt incredibly real—flawed and imperfect, but willing to grow and challenge themselves. There were quite a few scenes that made me tear up, especially on Arché’s side. I also really appreciated how sensitive topics like anxiety and depression (and mental health in general) were addressed. These themes were seamlessly integrated into the narrative and became an integral part of the girls’ personal journeys.

Now, what didn’t work for me: the fantasy aspects of the story and, more broadly, the plot outside Lenora and Arché’s alliance. I’ll admit I have a bias here—the fantasy stories I love tend to be complex, layered, deeply political, and heavy on symbolism and metaphor. I respect the author’s effort to deliver a story highlighting the senseless hatred toward entire communities (here, vampires and werewolves), but the execution felt too simplistic and lacking in nuance for my taste.

Characters were either clearly good or clearly bad, and the plot followed a linear path with no surprises, twists, or elevated stakes. For example, scenes like the Stag soldiers quickly accepting Arché’s story and offering their unconditional help felt somewhat unrealistic and pulled me out of the narrative.

The rescue storyline, which forms the core of the book, didn’t hold my interest as much as Lenora and Arché’s relationship. This was likely because I had plenty of time to grow attached to the protagonists, but nearly none to invest in the characters they were trying to save. The worldbuilding also felt shallow, with locations that lacked distinctive features (naming every tavern isn’t enough!).

Ultimately, I think A Crimson Covenant suffers from an imbalance between its romantic and fantasy elements. That said, the romance was an absolute joy to read, and I’d love to see Aimee Donnellan continue writing, especially since she has a clear talent for crafting (queer!) character relationships and development. With a richer worldbuilding and deeper fantasy elements, I think she could create something truly next-level.

First, thank you, Aimee, for allowing me to read this ARC copy through NetGalley. I have never had the opportunity to read and review a nonpublished book, so I was very excited to receive this copy. It took me about four days to read this book, so I’m telling you I was hooked from the start.

Some pros of the book: I admire the portrayal of Arche’s (werewolf/lycan) and Lenora’s (Vampire) mental health and personal conflicts. The pressure of being the heirs to their respected house and losing their partners, along with being away from home after experiencing traumatic events is amazingly depicted. Some parts of the book had me kicking my feet in secondhand embarrassment, and other parts had me giggling at the relationship between the werewolf and vampire.

Some cons of the book: I am not sure if it is just me, but when reading, there were times I had issues figuring out who was talking or who was fighting despite the chapters being in either Lenora’s or Arche’s point of view. Another con (personally) was the ending. I understand the concept and why it ended how it did, but for some reason, it feels incomplete, like the ending was abrupt and slightly random.

Again, these are my personal opinions. Don’t let my comments dissuade you from reading this book. Instead, I suggest you read Crimson Covenant for yourself, and then express your disagreement or agreement with my opinions.


Thank you, Aimee, for allowing me to read your book. I can’t wait for the other two in this trilogy to come out so we can see what happens next!

This book has SUCH a good hook; werewolf and vampire sapphics teaming up to save their families from a violent cult attack? SIGN ME UP.

I had mixed opinions overall. I felt the pacing was fantastic and I read it very quickly, but the dialogue often felt stiff and unnatural. I didn't get a strong sense of character from most of the cast despite the book covering some very interesting topics and emotions, and dynamics. I absolutely loved the demi rep though and will be checking out the rest of the books in this world!

this book was the perfect balance of high-stakes fantasy and romance for me. and sapphic bonus! arche and lenora were such fun and heartfelt characters to follow, and i was rooting for them the whole way both with their romance and their journey to save their community.

A Crimson Covenant by Aimee Donnellan is a beautiful Sapphic fantasy and is unlike any other werewolf/vampire story I have ever read. I loved the idea of a secret city where the two races worked cooperatively to build a unique society over the course of centuries. Of course a peaceful cooperative society might not make for the most interesting of books, but the arrival of a band of violent cultists who threaten to destroy the town as part of a religious war soon shakes things up. Traditionally the heirs of the founding families work together in teams of two, one vampire and one werewolf as they train to inherit the responsibilities of their parents. Each pair is closely bonded so when two of the heirs are killed in the attack, their partners must put aside their grief and learn to work together if they are to have any chance of saving their home and way of life.
Arche is the werewolf heir to the warden clan, and is struggling with the guilt of having started to resent her partner before he was killed, while Lenora, the vampire heir to the mage clan has lost the partner she had fallen in love with and will now have to work with the woman he had a crush on, and as if that was not enough she is also dealing with her destiny as a mysterious chosen one figure without having the power to back it up.
As the pair find themselves on the road and on the run they draw closer together and before long their chemistry is undeniable.
I enjoy quest style fantasies that take the reader on an adventure and this was no exception but what really made the book stand out for me was the characters , they were so compelling in their flaws as well as their strengths and seeing them grow and develop both individually and as a couple was a real highlight. It is rare to see mental health issues so well handled and I have to comment the author on this especially. If I had to find something to criticise, I think the pacing at times felt a little off, the book definitely opens dramatically but it does get a little repetitive in the middle which slows things down before the pace picks up again ahead of a very satisfying conclusion. In terms of lore and world building there is enough there threaded through the story for the reader to understand what is happening and I expect that those basics will be expanded upon as the series continues. There are some really well written spicy scenes , just so readers know to expect that going in. I really enjoyed my first taste of this author and look forward to continuing the series.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley, all opinions are my own.

This book was such an unexpected delight. There is very little I don’t like about it. I think this might be the most diverse cast of characters and dynamics in a book without feeling tokenized. The queer and mental health representation is truly so well done, and the natural diversity of Concord feels like a warm hug. I devoured this book in two days, mostly because I could not get Lenora and Arché out of my head. I simply got so immersed in this world that it was hard to leave. This book is dual POV, which I love so you can see the inner workings of each main characters minds. When things got spicy between our characters, the constant check ins with each other and reassurance is beautiful to see. This book also explores complex family dynamics with high expectations.

There is one part of the plot that brought me out of the book, as it doesn’t quite seem necessary or make sense. It had to do with how Lenora obtains her full power. I thought this subplot left me with many unanswered questions. Once I read this scene, I was left wondering “that’s it?” I wanted to know why they were stuck, why was there a traitor? Was this done on purpose, or an accident? I do think a sub plot involving Lenora’s journey to her full potential was necessary, I’m just not sure I would use this way.

Overall I am so excited to continue this series! This was my first Aimee Donnellan book, and I’m sure it won’t be my last.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 Stars

Stand Out - The casual diversity of the series

Thank you to @NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review 💫

This is a book I took a little while to warm up to, but GOSH once it warmed up it was so good. The character complexity here - especially the reality of the way relationships developed - was so, so good. This is some of the best character work I've read all year, and a really good piece of dual-perspective writing.

I also loved the way queernormativity and mental health were presented in a fantasy world - I really liked the way the use/lack of use of specific terminology was handled alongside making it clear what individual characters were struggling with. I was not a huge fan of the way a nonbinary character was near-immediately killed off, but if you're okay with that then the rest of this novel is well worth your time.

It also worked wonderfully as the start of a series - the setup didn't detract from the narrative, but in the back third of the novel the world of the setting really expanded into something I'd be happy to read more of.

The only reason this isn't 5* for me is the comparatively weaker opening and occasionally clumsy writing/editing mistakes (the worst of which is the misgendering of a nonbinary character in the narration), the latter of which might not be reflected in the book when it's released. Otherwise, a really wonderful book and well worth picking up if you want to read a sapphic romantasy with a queernormative world and compelling character arcs.

The world that this author has created sucked me right in and didn't let me go. Aimee does a fantastic job at weaving this world, its vampire and werewolf systems, and the plot together so perfectly. I devoured this book so quickly.

Vampires, werewolves, spice? Sign me up! This is the first book of Aimee's I've ever read and I can confidently say it won't be my last! I enjoyed this book so much! The development between our two main characters was written so well that you can't help but love them both by the end of the book!

Thank you NetGalley for an eARC!

3.5 rounded up

This romantasy involves a werewolf shifter and a vampire who are brought together after a horrific attack on their community. As their relationship develops, we learn about their world, its magic, and politics.

I found it to be a slow storyline until the last 15% or so. It does contain some spice between the main characters. It is the first book in the series; it seems like each novel will focus on different character pairings within the world.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance copy; all opinions are my own.

This book was a bit out of my comfort zone given I don't read much about vampires or werewolves. but I did quite enjoy it. The lore and worldbuilding were two of the strongest aspects of the book. I can't wait for the following books, and learn more about this world and community. I did love the idea of two characters that, although not enemies, either didn't give much thought to the other or too much were now forced to really see each other and couldn't help but fall for each other.

However, my biggest critique is the pace. While the romance was nicely paced and I couldn't stop smiling when they finally got together, everything felt almost too fast to keep up. I'm a fast reader and able to keep up with most books, but even then I felt like I had to go back and reread certain parts because so much had happened in just a few paragraphs. It also made it hard for me to really feel the danger and made some fights feel dull since they were over almost too quickly.

It was still an enjoyable book and I recommend this to people who enjoy high fantasy, vampires, lycans, sapphic romance, and strong worldbuilding.

I enjoyed the characters and how emotionally, they were as messed up as we all are inside. Just battling to find themselves and to believe in themselves.
The storyline as a whole was good it is an ok book to read.

I felt it lacked something. I wasn’t engaged and invested in what happened. I found it a bit boring at times and the use of “they” in reference with talking about a singular person confused me to start with and I re read a few times to fully grasp it was a persons pronouns and it didn’t make the reading smooth I felt.

I feel like this book could have been amazing, but for me, it wasn’t.

Thank you NetGallery and Aimee Donnellan for sending my this ARC edition of this book.