Blood, Iron, and Bone is a fierce, fast-paced fantasy with razor-sharp stakes and a heroine you’ll root for from page one. Sera Foxe delivers rich worldbuilding, thrilling action, and a romance that simmers beneath all the chaos. It’s the kind of book that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go—in the best way.

I was excited by the premise of this book and when the book focused on the overall plot and world building, I did enjoy the story. The characters were also unique and interesting and I wanted to know what was going to happen to each. There were a lot of tidbits that were slowly revealed making you pay attention and wonder how things were truly going to unfold.

However, I believe it could have used some additional editing in order to make the story better. The beginning of the book has a lot of repetition in explaining a prophecy for two fae betrothed at birth. Something feels wrong to both about their fated mate and this prophecy. A full 20% of the book talked about these two and how they are trying to accept everything and believe that everything will be fine even though it feels a bit wrong. There are a few moments thrown in from their past and a third main character for a very slow build of how they will all become entwined before we get any additional characters or forward motion.

It is not just these 3 main characters that have a POV chapter, no several other character arcs occur with flashbacks of their past and other scenes. All of this is happening within only a 2 to 3 day time frame. This is where I started to get a bit lost and the story felt very abrupt. I would start to become hooked about a character and what was happening with them when suddenly the next chapter you'd be thrown into another arc. There were so many random scenes thrown in that I understood were trying to give some backstory but they were very long and still felt repetitive.

Although I am definitely interested to have more of the mystery and magic revealed, I am not sure I will continue with this series. If I see other reviews that the second book flows better than this one, I may give it another try.

Fantasy books with multiple povs really tickle a spot in my brain and blood iron & bone did its thing!

Bringing the feel of romantasy and epic fantasy together this book will really hit the mark for those who enjoy stories such at game of thrones will really enjoy the pacing of this one. Having six different POVs does slow the pace in a sense but this was a wild ride nonetheless and having so many POVs broadened the world and the plot for me.

Enjoyable start to the series!

This is a captivating start to the series. The story follows Aurelia, a mortal drawn by a mysterious call, and Andar, who is betrothed to Lark, the future High Queen of Áithrim. As they navigate a kingdom on the brink of fulfilling a prophecy, their fated connection feels off, adding tension to the plot. The book’s multiple POVs and slow-building world-building intrigued me, though I had to adjust to the shifting perspectives. The romance is compelling but not the main focus; politics, magic, and fate take center stage. While the pace is slow initially, it picks up toward the end, leaving me excited for what’s coming in the next book.

I really really enjoyed this book. The pacing, world-building, and multi-points of view were easy to follow, but unique. I think the character development needed to have the different points of view for you to want to root for them, like them, and be invested in them, too. I love that there’s more to the fae than just being tall with pointy ears and magic! I like the different classes of fae and I’m excited to learn more about their abilities and fates in the next book. I also like that it was broken up into “parts” with quotes from Maw that prefaced what happens in the subsequent chapters. I can’t wait to see where Lark, Aurelia, Nova, Andar & all the other characters will go!
* Tropes:
Found Family
Prophecies
Cursed Land
Parallel Universe
Multiple-POV
MMC with a sense of Duty
Fated Mates / Its Always Been You

This book was alright.
It was very tough to get into with the six different POVs all kind of clashing and drawing you out of the story you were just starting to get used to. It’s really a brain workout. It just takes a lot of focus, which is hard for me sometimes.

Around the 50ish% mark I started to get the hang of what was going and who was who and just used to the writing style in general.

There is a lot more description and conversation than action which can also slow down the pace.
It’s a story about fated mates (fae + human) when a prophecy is about to come to pass. It’s got good enough world building and just a touch of spice and magic. Hoping for more in the sequel!

This was a wild ride and it did take me forever to get into honestly. The pacing was off for a bit until I got into the groove, but the million POVs didn’t bother me as much as I thought they would!

This book had a lot going on and I feel like I really had to work to follow along. There were SIX different character storylines to keep track of, that jump between the past and the present, and while everything came together nicely and made sense at the end, getting there was messy. Because there were so many characters, I feel like I also really struggled to connect with any of them. At some points it felt like the book dragged a bit, but maybe because I wish there were more action-driven scenes. Towards the end the pacing picked up and I flew through the last 40%. Even though the premise of the book is good I'm not sure if I care enough about the characters to continue the series. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

“Sometimes all we can be is what we are told we already are.”  @serafoxe

Aurelia Bartlett lives in the mortal world with unloving parents on a small island waiting for life to begin…
Andar is destined to marry Princess Skyelark and a part of the prophecy of the light-bringer to fight the darkness….
Fae Princess Lark, a Rapunzel in her tower, sheltered because of her future, is the other part of the prophecy…
Nova, a human baby taken from the mortal world works below the palace in the Otherworld, a prisoner of the Fae. In the care of Maw- another mortal prisoner of the Fae…
Cillian- the Seiléan soldier that is loyal to the crown…

Their paths all cross in the Fae world full of darkness. The prophecy they thought was their furture is not the original prophecy once told- this begins an adventure that none of them ever prepared for.

This book does quite a bit of world building but by 1/2 way in when our characters finally all come together- it’s a fast and furious rush through the end filled with battles, surprises, and one nice big cliffhanger.

Can’t wait for the next one @serafoxe
Thanks to @netgalley and Agency Press for this #advancedreaderscopy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#2025bookchallengebook22of100
#netgalley
#bloodironandbone

DNF @ 15%

The premise of this book sounds really interesting, but the writing just wasn't for me. There's multiple POVs, which I love, but they all felt the same. I also found some bits getting repetitive, which is not good this early on. Each character would talk about the same thing, but they all said the same thing so even though you hear about something 3 or 4 times, you aren't getting any further insight or information about it.

I lost interest and had no desire to push through the rest.

I loved this book. The first 50% dragged a bit. You need to get used to multiple POVs because sometimes I was quite lost. But the second half was great. I loved the world-building and all the different kinds of Faes. FIY there is a glossary at the end which would be great if I knew beforehand. This book was such a ride, but a great ride I had so many theories and ideas about the plot but it surprised me. I will be adding this book to my series tracker and will read the next book once it is out.

What a ride! I definitely enjoyed this book overall, but with SIX povs to keep track of, there were moments where I was using every ounce of my brain power to keep everything straight. That being said, I really enjoyed that we got POVs from all our main characters, and I think it really added to the experience and world building aspect.

The world-building and magic is unique from other Romantasy books, and I really appreciated that. While this book did not delve super deep into the magic system yet, it did a nice job of setting us up to explore it more in the future books (which ties in nicely with the story as I suspect we will get to see Aurelia discover her powers as we learn more about them).

This story has fated mates (my favorite trope!!!), but the romance is not the main plot line driving the story. There is much more to the plot - politics, caste/social dynamics, magic! That being said, I’m really excited to see what’s in store for Lark in the next book, and I’m excited to see who her mystery mans is gonna be.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series!

Rating: 4 ⭐️
Spice: 🌶️

Thank you to NetGalley and Agency Press for the digital ARC of this book. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading.

The pacing was slow, but for this particular story it works. The slow burn and angst was gripping, but if you like more "spice" then this may not work for you (I believe there was only 1 open door scene). In MY opinion, though, it worked without an insane amount of it.

You are able to really explore the multiple characters, their feelings and thoughts throughout. And I really love when authors are able to take multiple POVs and execute them beautifully. I wasn't confused or lost once. I loved the world-building and dramatic sequences, and oh my gosh the plot twists had the end had me gasping!

You can definitely tell that there is a lot of build up for the next book, which I think is an insanely smart strategy. You're able to immerse yourself within the pages, fall in love with the storyline and characters which will have you (im)patiently waiting for the next installment.

I normally don't enjoy 3rd person POV, but this one took me by surprise. I was also hesitant to start it, because I feel like SO many "fae"-driven books are redundant, but again I was excited once I started to read it.

Thank you, NetGalley, Sera Foxe, and Agency Press for giving me the opportunity to read this absolutely gorgeous book in exchange for my honest review.

Blood, Iron, and Bone is the first book in the Lightbringers series by Sera Foxe and Jayne Starwing. This is fantasy romance which is written in third person with a non-linear multi-pov format. The book tells the story of Aurelia, a mortal girl who heard a strange call in the night and felt compelled to answer. In another world, Andar was betrothed to his best friend, Lark, the future High Queen of Áithrim. He couldn’t understand why his supposed fated mate looked so right but felt so wrong. Áithrim was a kingdom on the precipice of the fulfillment or failure of its’ most famous prophecy. A motley group of Fae and Humans came together for the good of the realm, fighting against a darkness that had been taking over the land. This was an engaging romantasy tale with a prophecy, fated mates, a possible love triangle, and a changing. It took a little while for me to be sucked into the novel, but it was interesting and I enjoyed the story. The author used the non-linear timeline to bring further clarity and background detail as it was needed by the reader rather than bogging the story down with too much world-building at the beginning. I have always been a fan of this writing technique and feel that it was employed well here. I enjoyed reading about the diverse group of individuals who banded together to do what they could to save Áithrim. In some ways it felt that the author told a story within this book as well as a story which has not met it resolution. I am interested in reading the next book in the Lightbringers series to find out what will happen next to the various characters involved in this book. While it is a continuing series, I suspect that a new tale will be told within the construct of the ongoing story, with different characters being the primary focus. I look forward to discovering if my theory is correct. If you enjoy a good fated mates fantasy romance, then you might check this one out. It doesn’t pack the punch similar to Fourth Wing or Throne of Glass, but it was a good story worthy of a read-through. The ebook is available in the kindleunlimited program.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe was absolutely enchanting!
This is the best type of fantasy! I devoured every single word.
Foxe‘s writing is captivating. She knows how to pull the reader into a magnificent and intriguing place.
The story was absolutely engaging and the work that went into the settings was noticeable and superb.
The attention to details in her writing really set the scene and tone.

A thrilling fusion of magic, romance, and lore. This book is an exhilarating roller coaster of magic, lore, and heart-pounding drama. From the first page, it pulls you into a world brimming with deep prophecy, fated mates, chosen ones, and a curse that must be broken—there's so much going on, and it’s all woven together beautifully.
The world-building is unlike anything you’ve seen before. The Fae are reimagined with such depth and uniqueness that they feel fresh, complex, and full of mystery. This is a world where myth and magic collide, blending witchcraft, classical history, and fantasy into a rich tapestry that invites readers to immerse themselves completely.
But it’s not just the magic that stands out—this story also delivers in the romance and friendship departments. The found family trope is beautifully explored, with relationships that feel real and deeply emotional. And when it comes to the romance, expect some steam! The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, creating an electric tension that fans of romance won’t be able to resist.
On top of all this, the book moves at a breakneck pace, with constant twists and turns that keep the stakes high and the drama flowing. It’s a page-turner that doesn’t let up, blending everything from intense action to tender moments seamlessly.
In summary, this book has it all—action, adventure, romance, and a magical world like no other. If you’re looking for a story that blends high drama with deep lore and a touch of steamy romance, this is the book you’ve been waiting for. Highly recommended!

I requested this book as a Rebecca Yarros fan, but after a few chapters, I couldn't get into it that much. It is a solid story and the character development happens, I just felt that it could have been stronger in portraying whose perspective you are following.

This was an intentionally woven story about a prophecy coming to light. This was such a great ride, and I can't wait for book two! Aurelia is human, but shes seeing and hearing things she shouldn't. Andar is betrothed to future queen in his world, yet he doesn't feel the spark he should.

Through chance, magic, and fate, our friends stumble their way across worlds to find each other, and the answers they seek to fulfill the prophecy. Others are found that feel like the bond between the prophetic couple should, and everything they know is thrown into question.

Blood Iron and Bone was really good. I enjoyed reading through multiple character perspectives and they all had interesting backstories. The ending also tied up the story nicely but still left enough to be interested in the reading the second book.

I wasn't the biggest fan of the insta love, but the story is fated mates so that is to be expected. It also felt like there was a lot of repetition throughout, like I was being told thoughts that the characters have already expressed.

Overall, Blood Iron and Bone was a good read and I'm definitely going to continue on with the series.

I found this book to be very average. A good read and fun time but not anything outstanding. I enjoyed the epic fantasy romance and fated mates. I would have liked more clarity on which POV I was reading.