“One constant: the room is soaked in blood. Another constant: he is there. And he is going to die. This time, it brings with whispers”

This fantasy story was soo complicated and yet so intriguing that I couldn’t put the book down. Five people who’s destiny is intertwined in each other’s and who’s fate still has to be written. Somehow human and fae working together, trying to understand a prophecy that links their lives in a way they were not expecting. A princess, two soldiers, a servant and a human from another universe. What could go wrong? Well start right off with the fact that the princess and the human resembles each other a bit too much and the princess is promised to one of the soldiers. But dreams are magical things and I really enjoyed how the author played with them in this book. Both when it comes to them being an escape from reality and as a portal to another dimension. Aurelia, Lark, Nova, Cillian and Andar. Oh, they are in such a mess. And the journey they take makes you constantly questioning what will happen next, and how they will react to the truth of the role they have to play. And the relationships do get complicated so … it’s another mess entirely !!! And then new powers and new plot twist and more complex dynamics are revealed throughout the book and the narrative gets more mind blowing. And then those last pages … wow !!! Way to leave a cliffhanger !!! I’m excited for more !!!

“Lark needed to see the prophecy itself. She needed to see her scroll. She would go to the Hall of Prophecy to find it”

"There exists, right over the top of the plain world (or perhaps underneath it, perhaps alongside) another world entirely."
And my my my does this world suck you in.

This book completely took me by surprise. I’m often wary of fantasy books about fae, as they can feel redundant, but this one offered a fresh and captivating premise. The found family aspects were beautifully done, and I instantly connected with the characters, a rare feat with a third-person narrative. The clues scattered throughout kept me on my toes, piecing together the puzzle, and I found it incredibly hard to put the book down.

If you’re a fantasy/romantasy lover, I cannot recommend this book enough. With its unique world, compelling characters, and a story that keeps you hooked from start to finish, this is a must-read.

Thank you to Sera Foxe, NetGalley, and Victory Editing for an advanced reader copy of this book.

This was AMAZING. I will say the book itself is a slow burn - there is a fair amount of world building and build up but I like that because I truly got to know the characters and it just made me all the more excited to continue as tidbits kept getting added as the book progressed. Your girl loves a slow burn! I could not put this book down whenever I got the chance to read it and I was hooked! There are twists and turns, loveable characters, prophecies, fated mates, and just fantastic storytelling. I already need book two this was truly one of my favorite reads this year!

A fast moving plot, found family AND fated mates, all my faves. Please sign me up!! More of my thoughts to come…
Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the E-ARC.

Blood, Iron, and Bone by Sera Foxe is a captivating start to what promises to be an epic fantasy series. The book is packed with intriguing elements, such as multiple points of view, fated mates, mind connections, found family, and a fascinating parallel universe that sets it apart from other fantasy reads. The book is a bit slow at first but is setting the stage for what is coming.

The idea that they exist in a world parallel to ours, just on a different plane, was a new and fascinating take on blending the mundane world of humans with the magical and mysterious world of the Fae which I really enjoyed. Aurelia, starts off feeling like an outcast, dissatisfied with her life and disconnected from those around her. However, as the story progresses, the reasons behind her struggles in the human world start to make sense due to her deeper connection and to the Fea. Without giving to much away Aurelia is not meant for the human world and she can't shake why when she dreams of her " dream boy " why the feel so real.

There are multiple points of view which I usually really struggle with but the different POVs helped to gain a better understanding of the plot and world building.

Tropes
- fated mates
- parallel worlds
- winged men
- changelings
- curse
- slow burn
- it was always you

Overall, Blood, Iron, and Bone is a fantasy novel that takes its time to build a world, develop its characters, and set the stage for what promises to be a thrilling series. It was a slow start and the multiple POVs paid off in the end :) I had a lot of fun getting to know the characters and reading this book!

I would like to thank Sera Foxe and the publishers the opportunity to read this amazing book for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book and can't wait for book two!

Firstly thank you to Sera Foxe, Agency Press and Net Galley for giving me the chance to read the Blood Iron & Bone eARC.

I rated Blood Iron & Bone 4 stars. I enjoyed reading Blood Iron & Bone and I thought there were several elements that were quite original.

I loved the world building. There’s lots of it and I’m here for it. Blood Iron & Bones sports a very familiar concept of our world and others that sort of overlap, but I loved that the Fey world was crafted around more typical Fairie/Folk myths than more modern Fey/Fae worlds in lots of current fantasy books. Fairie fruit, hidden doors…think Holly Black’s Folk of the Air series rather than SJM.

The characters are very likeable and really worked together as a motley crew! I found myself invested in all of the main characters fates, though I definitely had my favourites. I liked Aurelia and Lark, but did think there wasn’t as much depth to Andar. My favourite character has to be Nova. I loved her! Refreshing, brave and fierce. Cillian was also a firm favourite and I am very hopeful that one of the other two books might be about these two!

Lots of tropes I love in fantasy!
*Fated Mates
*Prophecy
*Forbidden Love

I loved the prophecy element which had a little twist on it in that they were given to the mothers on their child’s birth. Very cool concept.

Some minor snags for me: I’m not a huge fan of 3rd person POV and I think it does make some elements of this book confusing as there are several POVs. 1st person would have made it a bit more cohesive I feel. I also found some of the language Aurelia used was trying to be modern and show she had come from the human world, which I totally understand, but it didn’t work for me.

Overall an enjoyable fantasy read which takes a few chapters to settle into, but then you’re hooked! I will definitely be reading book 2!

It took me awhile to sink into Blood Iron and Bone by Sera Foxe, but eventually I got the hang of the dual author style and the multi POV set up and was more intrigued by the end.

This has some of my favorite fantasy tropes so I think there's great potential for the series to grow, but this first book reads like a very long prologue. The first 25% or so is incredibly world and character set up heavy, so we're not getting much in the way of plot. In fact, it's mostly what I garnered from the book description so I don't know how much of this telling was necessary. It makes for a slow moving story because not much happens, but it does start to pick up once we get to the characters finally interacting with each other. I think I could have been dropped in at Alasdair's first chapter (22%) and been fine continuing on from there without missing much! The middle is a bit repetitive, and then it seems like the book finds its footing near the end, so I am a little interested to see where things go.

If you like the style of Zodiac Academy without the bully aspect, you will enjoy likewise enjoy the multi POV fae switched at birth complex story lines style of Blood Iron and Bone. I think I could continue on in this series since I enjoyed it more at the end, but I don't think I'd rush out for book 2. 2.5 to 3 stars.

ARC Review of Blood, Iron, and Bone

Unfortunately, I was unable to finish this book, which is rare for me when reading an ARC. However, this is purely a matter of personal taste, and I recognize that Blood, Iron, and Bone may resonate well with other readers.

The story shows a lot of potential but could benefit from more defined world-building, clearer introductions to key characters, and more cohesive sentence structure. At about 40% through, I found the narrative to be somewhat repetitive, with similar events unfolding in slightly different wording. Shifting from a third-person perspective to alternating first-person points of view for the main characters might create a more intimate and emotionally engaging reading experience.

While this book wasn’t the right fit for me at the moment, I appreciate the opportunity to read it. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have been on a fantasy romance kick this fall, so I was thrilled when I received the opportunity to read the ARC Blood Iron and Bone.

The overall story is good, but I had a difficult time getting into the multiple povs throughout the book. The main characters are many, and each has a chapter dedicated to their upbringing; with some personal histories being longer than necessary. The same can be said when the main characters are all together in a scene.. each main character has a chapter to describe their “side” of the same scene, which in turn doesn’t push the story forward.

I typically rate books based on the vibe, and how they stay with me.

I had a sick day and decided this book would be my book of choice to get me through it. And god am I glad I did I devoured it! I usually struggle to read a 3rd person book but i honestly didn’t really mind it for this story!
This book is so moreish I found myself pulled in and before long I’d finished it.
The characters so captivating and I love how they all brought their own thing to the story.

I received an ARC copy of Blood Iron and Bone. Thank you, Sera Foxe and NetGalley, for this opportunity.

A mortal girl, a fae princess, a fae warrior, and many more characters are engaged in a story to fulfill a prophecy to save their world from darkness.

The good first. I enjoyed the plot of this story, and the characters are pretty good. Aurelia and Lark were a tad annoying with their "woe is me" attitudes, but overall, the characters were interesting. I loved the different species of fae and how each had different strengths. I enjoyed the fated mate's aspect and the prophecy twists. The magic is cool as well. There is a lot underneath the not-so-good that I enjoyed, but some negatives were hard to overlook.

Now, the not-so-good part. This story is told from a third-person perspective, which I did not enjoy. The beginning felt very confusing as the story bounced between characters and worlds. The pacing of this book could have been faster, and the sentence length threw me off. The sentences were very short and choppy, especially at the beginning, so the reading tempo ended up feeling off for me. By the middle-end of the book, the sentence structure was longer and the story was more engaging. The spicy scenes near the end were disappointing. They were awkward, and the word choice made me cringe at some points.

This book was almost a 3-star, but ultimately, I had to rate it 2 stars because too many things disengaged me from the story. If you enjoy fated fae romance and fantasy, this may be the story for you. It didn't quite do it for me, but hopefully, the fully edited book in March will be better, as this book has some excellent bones.

Thank you Sera Foxe,The Agency Press Collective and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read the eARC of Blood, Iron & Bone.

I loved the premise of the book - there is so much potential for an incredible series. I really wanted to love it as it had a lot of the tropes I normally love and thoroughly enjoy in books. With some fine-tuning, this could really be an incredible book.

~Plot~
I struggled with grasping the plot for the majority of this book - I would say it really only picked up at around the 60% mark. The beginning of the book started off very slow; there was a lot of flashbacks, where I couldn’t easily differentiate between where it started and when it ended. I also felt like a lot of the flashbacks didn’t add much essence to the plot. Maybe if they were formatted to even be written in italics to make it easier to discern from the “now” would be helpful!
The pacing definitely felt disjointed and hard to follow, especially with so many POVs in 3rd person. I usually don’t mind the use of 3rd person, but there was a lot of internal monologues, which took away from that; at one stage it was hard to discern who’s it was when all the characters were in the same space. I understand the author was trying to convey each character’s thoughts and feelings to inform the reader but it got confusing. I think if the books focused on maybe 2-3 POVs would allow the story to shine and heighten the emotional depth.

Also, this whole book takes place in essentially the space of 2 days ?? That was wild to me; I feel like so much of what happened in the plot would’ve needed so much more planning to execute accordingly.

One thing I found very unique, that I don’t think I have read or come across in a book yet, is the idea of the women speaking a prophesy for each child that they give birth to - this is a really intriguing take on the “ fated “ aspect of many books and this really stood out to me.

~Writing~
Unfortunately, I found I struggled the most with the writing. I personally feel like it lacked depth and complexity; it seemed very surface level. I also couldn’t get on with the use of common internet slang or more modern language and phrases, such as references to Harry Potter, quotes from the Wizard of Oz, or the phrase “ Boomer “. I get that Aurelia grew up in quentisentially our world, but it’s a personal pet peeve to read common slang in a book dubbed as fantasy. Even in the Fae realm, soldiers were using “mate” as an informal way to refer to each other, which threw me off.

~World Building~
I found the world building to be the stronger point of this book; you’re provided with a lot of background information and knowledge about the ins and outs of the world in the book. I did like the Celtic/Irish links, but again, some Irish phrases were used that I personally feel like should’ve been explored more, or maybe the importance of the Celtic lore and background.
I do feel like the battle scenes and any action happened very quickly and ended abruptly; if it was explored in more depth it would definitely make a bigger impact. The climax of the story should have been dragged out a bit more in my opinion.

~Characters~
I actually really enjoy the Motley Crew that are all the characters - there’s a lot of variety which adds essence to the story, where each character seems just as important as the others. However, I couldn’t personally connect with any of them at a deep level - a lot of major events/reveals I feel like were completely brushed over and not explored enough to provide an emotional impact/shock factor. It just seemed like the characters had no chance to grieve or try to piece together the revelations that were happening; I would definitely focus on that more if possible.
I actually enjoyed Nova’s character the most - she showed the most resilience and courage and complexity in the circumstances she was put in, and I hope that continues into the series and doesn’t get overshadowed by the role of the other characters.
I couldn’t connect with Lark - she seemed quite selfish and very “woe is me”, even in the circumstances she found herself in, she really only thought about herself.
I do find myself intrigued with Aife, she seemed to know a lot more than she lets on, but again, I couldn’t make a connection with her because she really popped into the plot at random times when it was convenient.

There are formatting, grammar & editing issues throughout the book but considering that it's an ARC, hopefully they'll be caught & corrected.

In conclusion, I don't want to discourage anybody from reading this book, as everyone is different! There are plenty of 4/5 reviews for this book, so it just seems very subjective! You may find the complete opposite to what I found and felt, and it could become your new favourite series!

Overall I really do love the premise of this story and I encourage other readers to give it a shot. I look forward to seeing how Sera grows as an author, as this is a debut, therefore there is always time and room for exceptional growth!

Summary
In this sweeping fantasy romance, a mortal girl, Aurelia, is unexpectedly pulled into a prophecy that binds her fate to a fae prince, Andar, in a world on the brink of ruin. With fated mates, duty, and a quest for identity at its core, this story unfolds against a backdrop of prophecy and war as light and darkness collide.

Review
“Blood, Iron, and Bone” is a spellbinding romantasy that weaves a tale of prophecy, fated mates, and self-discovery, all while staying within the realm of clean romance. The poetic prophecy, which serves as the story’s foundation, sets the stage for an enchanting narrative filled with romantic tension, intricate worldbuilding, and compelling characters.

The story itself felt unique in many ways, although it does tread familiar ground with its human heroine entering the fae world and uncovering hidden truths about herself. The writing style, which seemed to oscillate between third-person and omniscient narration, initially required some adjustment. At first, the multiple points of view felt overwhelming, but once immersed in the story, this became a non-issue, and I found myself deeply invested.

The worldbuilding is beautifully crafted, though the pacing at the start is slow. However, this deliberate approach allows the reader to ease into the world and understand its complexities. Before long, I found myself completely hooked, unable to resist reading “just one more chapter.”

The romantic buildup is exquisite, offering a satisfying emotional depth without any explicit scenes, making it a perfect read for fans of young adult fantasy. The diverse and intriguing cast of characters adds richness to the narrative, though many threads remain unresolved, leaving me eagerly anticipating the next installment.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC.

I rated this book 4.5 stars because it's super good. I really loved this plot. The story is fantastic and the characters are so good. So so good. Totally recommend!!!

I loved this book! It’s full of mystery, deception, and intertwining fates across worlds. It is a story that is hard to put down as you try to fill in the missing clues. I am looking forward to reading the next book!

This story sets the tone perfectly right from the opening, drawing readers into its gripping atmosphere.

The world-building is exceptional—unique yet entirely cohesive, making even the most unfamiliar settings feel natural. The characters are deeply relatable, with motivations that ground them in reality. While I wish their relationships had been explored more, there’s plenty of room for growth in future installments.

The twists and turns are masterfully executed, giving every character a meaningful role in the unfolding destiny. Although the plot was occasionally hard to follow, when everything clicked into place, it was brilliant. The subtle foreshadowing had me wanting to scream at the characters (in the best way).

This book was an absolute joy to read, and I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

There is A LOT going on & once you understand the multiple POVs things start falling into place.

We get Fae as they were meant to be: assholes! All tricky, stealing babies and being self-centered.

All the women characters were interestingly complicated and truly moved the story forward. I want to go more in depth but SPOILERS.

The men ;/ dumb jock comes to mind as a general descriptor. But I see their potential.

The Cat: perfect. no notes.

I would say that the 1st 20% tells more than shows but I had no idea where in the world, or time, Aurelia was living. It wasn't until we get to the 80% mark that we find out where & I was WHAT?! Because she reads so American when she finally starts having conversations with other people. I did like her though, she's no shy violet.

There are formatting, grammar & editing issues throughout the book but considering that it's an ARC, hopefully they'll be caught & corrected.

I would totally read book 2

This book was absolutely incredible! It gripped me and pulled me in immediately! The perfect fantasy book for any fantasy lover!
A five star read easily!

Wow, this book was special! One of my faves all year even though I prefer romcoms and light stuff. I am just getting into the genre y of my favourite authors is moving to it so maybe I just need more time.

It took me a moment to settle in because I am used to first person and I was worried I wouldn’t be able to connect, but I don’t want to be a lazy reader, and I did my best. So glad bc the opposite happened and I connected to SO MANY characters equally! I loved the multi-perspective story, especially the found family and I need to know what’s next, especially for Lark!

Corny to say, but reading this book made me feel smarter. So many of the indie books are good but some I tried this year were not. Not to be mean, but they’re always full of clichés. I get the tropes, but I have been feeling like I am just getting the same stories over and over again and it’s annoying. This book was different.

I WAS lazy about starting because I had so many preconceived notions, but I am so glad I challenged myself with this one. It was anything but boring, but yeah, it’s not a mindless read for sure. Pay attention and you will love it! Thank you so much to the author for giving me a chance to read this early! But it was quite spicy and steamy. I think I need to go back to romcoms for a bit next.

It's like a fairy tale with a captivating story and lot's of mystery.
The dream-perspective is very catching and I really like how the different characters opend your eyes to an intriging world building.

Once again we meet a world with Fae, but in a new and brillante way.
It's a fastpaced action-packed fantasy with tension and romance!
- Forbidden love
- Fated mates
- Cursed country
- Twins
- Chosen one
- it's allways been you...

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