I’m happy I requested to read this and even more grateful to be approved.

Aurelia, Lark and Andar are our core characters, but which I think is interesting is that we get 2 side character POVs along the way. We get a full picture of each character path, where they intertwine and also, many questions answered.

Aurelia is actually my favourite, shes openhearted and funny with a brash directness. I was a little worried at first how she would slot into the story, but it was pretty seamless even though the circumstances are chaotic.

I really enjoyed Lark’s willingness to be openminded and put sense before her own insecurities. I am eager to see what happens with Lark going forward.

This book wonderfully incorporates fantasy and romance with politics, fated mates and prophecies. I’m going to be not so patiently waiting on the next book.

Great world building, very intriguing characters and interesting plot so far. I really liked this one and can’t wait for the rest!

3.25 ⭐️

I had to use almost every brain cell I have to decipher this mystery box of fae fun!

There's a curse shrouding the fae world in constant cloud cover, and a prophecy of fated mates to bring back the light. BUT, that clock is almost out, which is where this story begins.

A spiderweb of sticky bits and pieces.

Hats off to the author for weaving 6....yes 6....character arcs into 1 storyline...via third person, omniscient narrator, I might add. Good luck keeping up because I sure couldn't until about the 50%-60% mark. If you want instant gratification, you won't find it here. This is a challenging read, but (for the most part) well built.

Loved all the different characters and their storylines. One of my favorite characters is Aife, but we don't get to see inside her head, even though she's giving major main character energy. Her powers are mind-blowing.

The multiple POVs did give me a bit of whiplash. Shifting between six character arcs, each with their own storylines, felt abrupt at times, disorienting me from the plot and unhooking me from the characters I was TRYING to get to know...it felt like I was following a group chat where everyone’s talking at once, and you can’t tell who’s typing or whose drama we’re focusing on anymore.

The book’s pacing was deliberate, leaning heavily into exposition and description, which gave it a storytelling feel (I could picture someone reading this to me...maybe this would be a good audio book?) but slowed the narrative momentum. It was prose-heavy, and seemed to prioritize detail and introspection over action. It's immersive, but lacked the energy of more action-driven storytelling.

The romance was...there. This is a story of Fated Mates, but I was so focused on keeping up with all the different characters and story points, frankly it just bled into everything else.

The world building was intricate and interesting. I was really impressed with this element. I plan to read book 2, but more to keep solving bits of this mystery rather than seeing where the romance goes.

Worth a read, just prepare to really FOCUS!

✔️ Fae + Humans
✔️ Multi POV (6)
✔️ Curses & Prophecies
✔️ Magic & Powers
✔️ Fated Mates
✔️ Intricate & Unique World Building
✔️ Explicit Content but Sparse (so, I'd say this is...steamy?)

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC 💌

This book had grand sweeping world building - both in parallel worlds, family dynamics and a class hierarchy in the magical world. The start of the book did a great job of moving the story along but still kept the various threads separate, so the reader keeps trying to guess how things are going to come together. The middle got a bit slow - as things came together but seemed to drag with a bit of repetition until the big action packed finale at the end. I feel like the main story wrapped up, but there were so many of the other characters that fell away after they played a part in the main plot line - I wanted to know so much more about Nova and Cillian's fate and what happened to them, even if it was a partial epilogue.. hopefully we'll catch up with their adventure in the next book.

⭐⭐.25 | 2.25 stars rounded down

Thanks to NetGalley and Agency Press for the chance to read this book.

While this story has fantastic potential, it unfortunately wasn't for me. All the characters felt completely 2D, and I really struggled to feel anything but indifference toward any of them. The pacing was very inconsistent, and the book is written almost from all characters' POVs at once - both of which made it extremely difficult to follow.

The writing style is also not for me. I would have loved to see more "show" and less "tell."

Blood Iron & Bone is the first in the Lightbringer series, with book 1 releasing March 21st 2025.
This follows our fmc Aurelia who is living in the mortal realms and has never quite felt like she’s belonged. Our other fmc is Lark, a duty bound fae princess living in a world full of magic. Then there’s Andar, the mmc who is betrothed to Lark, but has always felt like there’s something odd about their connection. We follow these 3 along with plenty more characters, as they try to navigate a murder, an impending marriage and a prophecy that doesn’t seem quite right.
This was fun! The world building did take quite a while, but I’d say by the 30% mark the story started to take off. Initially I was thrown by the writing style, simply because I hadn’t read anything with this much pov jumping before, but once I was used to it I actually really enjoyed it. This felt like a really refreshing take on Fae - I really appreciated the different physical traits they were given.
Thanks to NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for allowing me this arc opportunity!

Book Review: Blood, Iron, and Bone by Sera Foxe

Blood, Iron, and Bone is the first book in Sera Foxe’s The Lightbringers series, set to release on March 21, 2025. This fantasy romance blends rich world-building, mythology, and a gripping storyline.

The story follows Aurelia, a mortal drawn into Áithrim, a dark and magical Fae kingdom. She meets Lark, a Fae princess who looks just like her, and together they are tied to a prophecy about fated mates destined to save their world from darkness.

The book shines with its imaginative world inspired by Celtic mythology and its complex, engaging characters. Themes of found family and destined love add emotional depth. While the beginning may feel slow due to detailed world-building, the fast-paced plot and romantic tension keep readers hooked.

Blood, Iron, and Bone is perfect for fans of Holly Black and Sarah J. Maas, offering an exciting mix of fantasy and romance.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Recommended For: Readers who love epic fantasy with prophecy, fated mates, and richly developed worlds.

I devoured this book. I got hooked from the start and the more I turned the pages the more fascinated I got with this incredible world!

It's the storytelling, the worldbuilding and the characters! Blood Iron and Bone is written in 3rd person and I feel like that made it even more enchanting.

There were many moments that tugged at my heart and left me emotional for the characters and what they were going through. Those last chapters were everything!

I read this book within a few days and loved every minute of it! It's an extensive story that takes you through the full range of emotions as it entwines its riveting tale.

I can not wait to read the next book!

I received an ARC through net galley for which I am SO grateful for! Firstly, I must say that one particular thing that stood out to me was the character building. Every character was introduced so well with so much back story. It felt like I knew every character in so much detail, even if they weren’t a main character.

Secondly, the plot is so unique and something i’ve never really read before. A story of fated mates and found family but in a different sort of way!

I throughly enjoyed reading this book, and can’t wait for others to be able to get the chance to read it also!

I want to be completely honest and preface by saying I did DNF this book about 20% through, however I am positive that there will be a loyal audience for this series! Unfortunately, it was not me.

I believe majority of the reason I DNF is one, that my reading genere has changed, I believe I have moved on from enjoying fae romantasy and two, I struggled with the multiple character POVS.

I really tried to keep up and enjoy this as I was so incredibly excited however, my brain could not focus on the multiple character POVS and I found it hard to connect with the story, as much as I would of liked to.

I have decided to give this book 2 stars, despite not finishing it, I can see this series blossoming into something wonderful and i am very appreciative of the opportunity to read this ARC and I want to thank NetGalley & Sera Foxe for that opportunity.

3.5 stars
Blood Iron and Bone is the first book in a fantasy trilogy and introduces The Prophecy of Light, where a fated match between two fae is predicted to prevent permanent darkness over Aithrim.

The betrothed, Andar and Lark, are approaching their 21st birthday on which their wedding is foretold as part of this Prophecy. Lark has doubts that their union is the solution to bringing back the light. Meanwhile, Aurelia is a living in the human world with a cat companion, some unloving parents, and no friends.

The beginning of the book has lots of world building, little action and a lot of flashbacks and dream sequences. There is a lot of back and forth in the inner monologues of Lark and Andar (there is a reason behind it), but I found it hard to like them and become invested in their story.

As the story catches up to the current events, my favorite characters are introduced. Nova, Lark’s maid who was stolen from the human world as a baby, and Cillian, a young fae soldier with the ability to read people with a touch, are involved in the arrival of Aurelia into their realm. I hope we see more of Nova and Cillian’s relationship later in the series.

So much action occurs in the last part of the story. There are reveals, betrayals, and not all the questions are answered. It hooked me enough to look forward to the next installment.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

The premise of the book was good and from the beginning you are captured by the fighting dream. The love between the main characters developed as the story developed and it was a romantic part of the story around a war in the world. The world building needed a bit of work, but all in all an enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

I honestly have mixed feelings about this one. In the beginning I was enjoying it, then I wasn’t, then I was… and on and on. I felt like this book could have been much shorter, and the conclusion could have been reached without the unnecessary fluff much faster. This book got pretty wordy at times, multiple versions of the same word used to describe something.

In all, I did enjoy the plot, and I am interested in seeing what this series has to offer next… I would love to see where Aurelia and Andar go next, if Lark finds her destiny like she wants to, and what comes of Nova and Cillian. I’m also super curious if the mysterious brother can be found, and the fate of Padraig.

Again, thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

blood iron and bone by sera foxe was a book i was excited to dive into- i’ve always loved stories set in the fae world 🧝🏼‍♀️ the premise seemed promising, with fate, prophecy, and a cursed sky drawing both fae and humans together in a kingdom on the brink of collapse - unfortunately, while the concept intrigued me, the execution left me wanting more

the biggest struggle for me was the writing itself. it felt surface-level and lacked the depth and complexity that would have really brought this story to life. everything moved too quickly, and considering the entire book takes place over just a few days, i found myself struggling to stay engaged with the pacing and timeline

on a more positive note, the world-building was one of the stronger aspects of the story. there’s a lot of background provided on the realm, and i appreciated the ties to celtic/irish lore - it added a unique touch. however, as someone who grew up in ireland, i found the use of irish phrases and lore somewhat confusing and underexplored. i felt like these elements could have been developed more to make them feel truly significant and impactful

overall, while the concept was solid, the writing and timeline didn’t work for me as much as i’d hoped. it’s a decent read with some good ideas, but ultimately, it didn’t fully deliver

I really liked the concept of this book and I liked the characters. The fae world was described really well and I liked the descriptions of the different types of beings. The story to me was a bit slow and I kept thinking, when is something going to happen?! I felt there was a lot of buildup and the fact that the entire book takes place in just days was maddening to me. I can tell that many readers will love this one and while I cannot say I loved it, I did enjoy it and thought it was an interesting and engaging story.

Thank you NetGalley and Agency Press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Love this new fantasy book! Action packed and a plot like none other. The characters and plot are well developed and have you hooked!

I am going to start this by saying I DNF'd at 17%.

Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe has this beautifully written poetic quality to it that can really make you feel the characters emotions and it is something I really appreciated as I was reading. The third person aspect of this story paired with the poetic feel of the story did not mesh for me. I feel as though if this were first person the story could really take off and fully submerge the reader into the world of light bringers and I can totally see where this story is going but I had a really hard time connecting to the characters and it felt like at certain points it took multiple pages to say the same thing over and over again from whichever characters p.o.v we were in. I am giving 3 stars because as I said I could feel the characters emotions and it painted a clear picture in my head I was missing really getting into the characters heads and hearing their thoughts.

Thank you to NetGalley, Agency Press, and Sera Foxe for providing a free copy of Blood Iron and Bone in exchange for an honest review.

Tropes:
Prophecy, chosen one, fated mates
A fresh take on fae lore
A touch of found family
Magic - Witchcraft

Blood Iron and Bone is a new romantasy with a unique approach to fae lore. The way the author portrays the fae is unlike anything I’ve encountered before. The core elements that make fae fae are still present, but with intriguing twists that I found fascinating. I enjoyed the book a lot, but I’ll admit, there’s a lot of information, and at times it was a bit confusing for me.
If I’m being honest, though, I only truly liked one character—Aurelia, who is more or less the main protagonist in this first installment. The pacing was fairly slow, which isn’t necessarily bad, but only in Aurelia’s chapters did we get any real action or interesting twists.

I found the world-building unique and dramatic. The author’s writing style is different from what I’m used to, and I can see how it might unsettle some readers. However, after getting used to it (around 20-30% into the book), it didn’t bother me anymore.

Overall, this is a solid introduction to the world, lore, and characters. The pace picks up at some point, and then it’s twist after twist. While the twists and plot points were somewhat predictable, the author’s writing is so engaging that it doesn’t matter.

Thank you for the opportunity to try this ARC. Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I did not connect with the main character at all and that made it very hard for me to read. The main character's attitude towards her family and the small island she grew up on felt very pretentious and it rubbed me the wrong way. I ended up DNFing the book around 15%. Other readers may really enjoy this story, it just wasn't for me.

Finally some Fantasy with a unique story line. You follow several characters and their different POVs. The anticipation for the characters to start crossing is intense. I love that the main FMC isn’t “woe is me I’m so powerless” but just kinda knows she different but not sure why… I really enjoyed the Maw’s parts and her record keeping interjections. Solid 4 star read with a refreshingly unique story line 🫶🏻

P.S. I have never been so interested in the backstory of a freaking cat. PAT WHO ARE YOU.