This book was SO. MUCH. FUN. First of all, can we appreciate the writing?! From the moment I downloaded it on my Kindle, I was HOOKED. I was constantly theorizing about what would happen next, what everything meant, and where the story was going to end up. All I can really say is I need to get my hands on an ARC for book 2 asap.

I had so much fun falling in love, exploring a new world, and following along as the book twists and turns. I laughed, swooned, gasped (in both fear and joy), and stayed up way later than I should just to spend a few more moments with Nova, Maw, and the whole cast of characters.

My HUGE thanks to NetGalley and Sera Foxe for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Wishing you the best of luck with publishing!!

(Link to my GoodReads review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7145600637)

I had dreams about this book, and I’m not sure how I feel about it, like my brain was trying to make sense of it even while I was away from the characters.

the good:
+ The world is beautiful and intriguing, the magic is interesting, and ‘species’ traits are unique (chameleon type skin? Haven’t seen that before).
+ The basis for the story is solid, a unique balance between modern and medieval, and it seems influenced by more traditional fae mythology (a la The Cruel Prince / Folk of the Air world) and Harry Potter.
+ The absolute best part of the book is the cat, and his story, hands down. I cried at pivotal scenes with the cat and I felt like this was the best emotional connection written in the book.
+ The writing is artistic in a rhythmic, repeating way that feels a little like a riddle, or a nursery rhyme; it is poetic in the way that a single sentence is art, but when strung together quickly you trip over it, so you have to go sloooooowly through it.

the bad:
— It either felt like nothing was happening or it was pure chaos on the page. A lot of page time was wasted with repeating conversations with different character combinations and arguing/bickering like petulant children. Although I do believe this is realistic, it is tedious to the reader and detracts from the story. Add to the fact that the entire story takes place over 48 hours, this book should not have been almost 600 pages long; I think it would have benefitted immensely from a good line/content edit to clean it up.
— There were so many preambles to each scene, either an info dump, a flashback, or a narrator monologue that took so long to tell you forgot what was happening in the scene.
— Too much telling, not enough showing
— I’m disappointed that I didn’t get to know the characters properly. They all come across as dumb, arrogant, immature, dismissive, shallow and selfish. Andar is not Book Boyfriend material because he is literally all of the traits just listed above. I also got the Ick from the inadvertent love triangle and it felt like everyone was just being used and not having a good time.

the best quote:
“ . . . If knowing my name gives you, who has so little, some small measure of power, what of it? This kingdom is small in the grand scheme, and the world is wide, and some of us — many of us, in fact — believe that there is far too much attention paid to power and the petty taking and losing of it at present anyway.”

Unfortunately I have not been able to connect with this book. I knew I was taking a risk as it is not my usual genre but one that I wanted to explore. My review is therefore not really indicative of the book itself as to a reader who enjoys this genre it will be a very different experience.

Ahoy, bookworms!
I’ve made it a personal goal to read more English books this year. Thanks to @netgalley, I got to read "Blood Iron and Bone" early and I’m absolutely thrilled.

Sera Foxe has created a wonderful world -or should I say worlds? - that captivated me with its fascinating story and authentic characters. I was particularly enchanted by the magical creatures like the dryads. However, it took me a while to fully immerse myself in the story as the beginning felt a bit slow-paced.
I'm a big fan of multiple perspectives, as they allow us to get to know the protagonists better. Even though I liked all the characters, I found the introduction a bit drawn out. Especially when I was engrossed in the current events, there were flashbacks to describe character traits. I really enjoyed the dynamics between the characters, especially since the entire book was free of excessive or forced drama. I felt particularly for Lark. She's expected to do so much and is left alone with her doubts and personal desires.
In many romantasy novels, you know what to expect, but this one offers a different kind of story. It's a refreshing change from the enemies-to-lovers trope, as our protagonists know who they belong with. The multiple POVs increased the suspense with each chapter, leading to some short nights for me. At times, I couldn't imagine how everything would come together, but my worries were unfounded. All the plotlines converge seamlessly and create a truly satisfying conclusion.

This debut definitely deserves attention and should find its way to the German book market. Readers can look forward to an original story, strong characters, and exciting plot twists. I'm already eagerly anticipating the second book.

Thank you so much for the arc of this book. I always appreciate it and love to read new books. I liked this a lot. I feel like the plot kept me interested the whole time and I fell in love with the characters.

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
1/5 🌶️

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What to Expect:
👑Fated Mates
🩸Found Family
👑Fae x Human
🩸Multiple POV
👑Steamy Romance
🩸Magic and Powers
👑Curses
🩸Prophecies

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Alright, time to buckle up… here’s what I thought of Blood, Iron, and Bone. This book is an experience. First off, SIX POVs. Yep, you read that right SIX. It was like playing mental gymnastics trying to keep track of who was narrating, but honestly, it added to the challenge in a fun way. The story unfolds over just a few days, but with all the flashbacks and shifting perspectives, time felt warped and like it went on for longer periods of time—a jigsaw puzzle of fae lore and prophecy slowly coming together, made for a beautiful read. It’s not a light read; that's for sure, but if you’re up for something intricate and layered, you’ll probably love it as much as I did.

The world-building? Stunning. The fae lore here is fresh and compelling, with a cursed kingdom shrouded in fog and a prophecy of fated mates holding the key to saving it. Romance does play a part (hello, slow-burn tension), but it’s more of a subplot—this book focuses on the bigger picture. That said, the longing between Aurelia and Andar had me flipping pages like crazy, desperate to see them finally connect on a deeper level. And can we talk about Aife? She didn’t even get her own POV, but she totally stole the show with her mind-blowing powers and mysterious vibes.

Now, let’s talk pacing. It’s deliberate, leaning heavily into exposition and detail, which might be a bit on the slower side for some. But once it picked up, the twists started flying, and I was HOOKED. My only gripe? The first half could’ve been a tighter flow, while the last few chapters definitely felt a bit rushed. Still, it left me preening for book two. If you’re into complex fantasy worlds, fated mates, and a story that makes you work (in the best way), give Blood Iron and Bone a shot. Just be ready to hyper focus on what’s going on… in the best way!

I liked this at first, I think the fae to human world was interesting. I did really like how the betrothed couple didn't hate each other but instead were best friends. I thought everyone's relationship with the prophecy and the caste system were really thought out too. I did think that maybe too many characters kept getting introduced before the plot really took off? It was just much too much...

I like the premise of this book. The characters, the plot, the writing, and the pacing were all excellent. The only issue I had with this book was the POV changes; I thought if there had been more consistency with the POVs, the two main love interests, and then adding the rest of the characters throughout the book, it would have flowed better. Otherwise, it's a good book, and I look forward to more from this author!

Blood Iron & Bone by Sera Foxe is an epic fantasy that immerses you in a richly crafted world of Fae and Humans on the brink of prophecy and chaos. The story unfolds through six POVs, each adding depth and complexity to a plot woven with fate, duty, and survival under a cursed sky.

Aurelia’s mysterious call and Andar’s internal conflict over his fated mate set the tone for a narrative that feels like peeling back layers of a tightly packed mystery. The characters are distinct, and their individual storylines provide a diverse look into this realm. However, with so many moving pieces, the fated mates’ connection, a pivotal part of the story, felt somewhat overshadowed. I found myself craving more focus on the emotional and romantic depth of their bond.

The pacing leans heavily into world-building and description, giving the book an almost oral storytelling quality. While this style adds richness, it also demands careful attention to keep track of the various characters and plotlines. It’s a book that challenges your focus but rewards you with a tapestry of intrigue, destiny, and dark enchantments.

If you enjoy sprawling epic fantasies with multiple POVs, intricate narratives, and a touch of mystery, Blood Iron & Bone is worth diving into. Just be ready to flex your mental muscles as you journey through this elaborate tale!

Foxe masterfully sets the stage for a high-stakes adventure. We're introduced to a kingdom teetering on the brink, its future hanging on the fulfillment of a long-awaited prophecy. The author creates a palpable sense of unease and foreboding, painting a vivid picture of a land threatened by a creeping darkness.
The narrative is driven by the contrasting perspectives of Aurelia and Andar. Aurelia, the mortal girl, is immediately relatable. Her bewilderment and courage in the face of the unknown make her a sympathetic protagonist. Andar, the Fae prince, adds a layer of internal conflict. He's bound by duty and societal expectations, yet he grapples with a feeling that something is amiss, a dissonance that will likely be at the heart of the story’s conflict. The contrast between their worlds and their initial confusion create a compelling dynamic.
"Blood, Iron, and Bone" is a captivating read, blending elements of fantasy, romance, and adventure into a promising narrative. With its intriguing characters, compelling premise, and high stakes, this book is a page-turner for fans of fantasy novels. Readers who enjoy stories about fate, duty, and unlikely alliances, set against a backdrop of a troubled kingdom, will likely find themselves engrossed in this world.

Blood, Iron and Bone is a fantasy romance book with a very interesting premise. I really enjoyed the mystery behind each of the character’s fates and how they intertwined and I thought the birth prophecies were a very interesting aspect of the story. The Fae world is very fleshed out and we get a lot of insight into the politics of the world between the different clans of Fae and humans. Our four main characters, Andar, Lark, Aureila and Cillian were all very different from each other. I really enjoyed their banter and how they interacted with each other.

While this book had a lot of promise, I struggled my way to the 60% mark, it was very slow up until that point. The book features six different POVs which alternate during each chapter through the third person narrative. I found this to be very hard to follow and it took a lot of brain power while reading to keep up with everything. There was also a lot of jumping between timelines at the beginning of the book which also made it hard to get into.

Aside from the pacing, the other big issue I had with this book was the use of the Irish Language, while I completely understand wanting to create your own fantasy language based off of another language, I found it very jarring to see Irish words and phrases used in strange context or mistranslated. This is purely my preference when reading and most people-especially those who do not speak Irish-won’t even notice this, it is something that just takes me out of a story. .


I’m very interested to see where things go in the next instalment of the book, there's a lot of groundwork done and I’m looking forward to seeing how it plays out.
If you enjoy fated mates, prophecies, multiple POVs and an Irish based fantasy world, you will love this debut!

Wow, what a trip! I genuinely didn't know WHAT could happen next and was on the edge of my seat practically through the whole book. Although it took me a minute to get in tune with the writing style and POV's in this book, by about 20% I got into the swing of things and I was absolutely invested in finding out how everyone and everything was going to come together. Blood Iron And Bone was beautifully and whimsically written and has me comparing it to Alice In Wonderland and The Cruel Prince. This is definitely going to be a book that sticks with me and have me guessing and re-guessing on what's to come for these lovely characters in future books!

Thank you NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for the ARC.

The premise of the book is interesting and sounded perfect for me. Unfortunately, the writing style is too halting and short sentences are employed a little too often for me to enjoy it. Employing short sentences / a halting style to convey adrenaline soaked action works well but overusing them undermines their intended effect. I did not finish it because of this. Perhaps it would work better as an audiobook?

I have given the book 2 stars as I can see it has potential.

The book presents a story told through multiple perspectives, and although these perspectives are not distinguished between the different characters, it wasn’t too difficult to figure out which character is narrating at any given moment.

The dialogue feels like brief snippets, often too abrupt to fully convey the characters’ emotions or advance the plot meaningfully. As a result, key plot twists unfold without the impact or buildup they might have deserved.

The author provides rich and descriptive backstories for the characters and their connections, but the fragmented structure makes it challenging to follow. While the plot twists lack impact, the excerpts from the ‘Book of Maw’ stand out as beautifully written, offering rare moments of depth in an otherwise erratic story.

Although this book did not resonate with me, I admire the authors effort and creativity that went into crafting this story.

Thank you NetGalley and agency Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Thank you Netgalley and Sera Foxe for this Advanced Readers Copy!

Romance, Danger, and Fae.... What more could you want in a book?

This book has so many unique and wonderful ideas that, up until now, I haven't come across in a romantasy. Although the format is the same as most, the plot points within make Blood Iron and Bone interesting. There is plenty of intrigue to keep you guessing all the way through. The writing itself is difficult to get used to at first and it was a bit of a slog, but towards the end of part 2, this righted itself and became far more accessible and began to flow. This is also where the story really begins to take flight.

The main characters (and there are a fair few, so be prepared to keep track of them all) are all likeable, and I fell completely in love with Aurelia, Nova, and Maw. Sometimes the switch between character perspectives is not always as obvious as it could be which can be confusing but this was minimal and did right itself towards the end of the book.

Overall a great novel with some very loveable characters. I look forward to reading the next!

I admit that I was looking forward to this series as the synopsis captivated me immediately. As I started to delve into Sera's imagination, I realize this book is not for me. I almost never not finish reading a book, even if I don't like it, because it's in my nature to follow through. However, I could only make it to chapter 11 begrudgingly before realizing it's not it. Sera does a great job sucking you in about Aurelia and Andar's story and how they seem to be two halves of a whole separated by something. Then, all of a sudden as I'm mid chapter, it seems like I'm now reading the viewpoint of another character?? There's a lot of jumping from perspectives without any warning or specific chapters identifying that (it's literally happening mid paragraph) and then on top of that, there's just waaaay too many non-vital details. I remember reading about Aurelia walking across the river and then it starts talking about another being looking at her from far away and then it starts reading from his point of view and then it seems like it goes on and on and on and on about nothing of importance... Too much. I sincerely hope I'm wrong and others find this one a gem, but I cannot get past all the jumping viewpoints and too many details.

What an excellent way to start off my reading year. This was a wholly unique take on Fae romantasy. The world-building was not like many of the other fae fantasy I have read. The stage is well set for multiple stories and histories to be told, and a world that has limitless possiblilities. Magic, lore, politics, mystery...it's all there with a splash of slow-burn spice. Some may not appreciate that the story is told in multiple POV's, but the characters introduced were woven together seamlessly so the transitions between characters and situations felt natural. I already cannot wait for The Lightbringers #2! This will be an amazing series!

Thank you Netgalley, Sera Foxe, and Agency Press for the ARC Copy to enjoy!

This was such an amazing and well written story. The world building portions of this story were well written and much needed to dive into this world. The plot keeps you on your toes and the characters are so much fun to adventure with!

If you're looking for your next epic fantasy romance obsession, Blood Iron and Bone is it. This book is a sweeping blend of high stakes, rich world-building, and heart-wrenching romance that will keep you hooked from the first page to the last.

🌌 What I Loved:
• Aurelia & Andar: Two complex, compelling protagonists navigating a tangled web of duty, fate, and undeniable chemistry. Their journeys—both individual and intertwined—kept me on the edge of my seat.
• Fated Mates Meets Dark Magic: The tension between what’s destined and what’s chosen is palpable, adding emotional depth and thrilling stakes.
• Epic World-Building: From cursed skies to vivid kingdoms, Sera Foxe creates a fantasy world that feels both magical and dangerous, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, and Rebecca Yarros.
• Found Families & Prophecy: The ensemble cast adds so much heart and intrigue, each character bringing their own secrets and motivations to the table.

⚔️ Why You Should Read It:
• If you love stories with fated mates, gritty battles, and a touch of forbidden romance, this one delivers.
• The emotional rollercoaster of love, sacrifice, and redemption is perfectly paced, leaving you desperate for the next book in the series.
• It’s a perfect blend of high fantasy and romance—two genres we all need more of in our lives!

🌙 Final Thoughts:
Sera Foxe has crafted a masterpiece that’s both breathtaking and emotionally raw. Whether you're here for the action, the romance, or the magic, you’ll find it all in Blood Iron and Bone.

💬 Have you read it yet? Let’s chat about it in the comments!

✨ #BloodIronAndBone #SeraFoxe #FantasyRomance #FatedMates #EpicFantasyReads #BookstagramFantasy #RomantasyLovers #MustReadFantasy #LightbringersSeries

Goodreads review posted on 12/01/2025

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read the ARC!

First of all to the author Sera Foxe: thank you for adding the Glossary as well as the Pronunciation Guide to your book, it was so helpful! ❤️

Sera, you have an amazing talent and this book gets you in your feels!

This book tells a story from so many perspectives and it's honestly not hard to follow them all, each character so unique. It truly lets you escape your normal everyday life, sucking you in with each chapter. My favourite characters would definitely be Aurelia, she's unique and feels like she doesn't fit, until she does, and doesn't care to air her opinions! Nova, she's such a good person with such a brave heart and then of course, Cillian! I see big things coming and I can't wait to read the next book, I couldn't put this one down!

Thank you for the opportunity to have read this one!

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/219347840-blood-iron-and-bone