Bethany wishes to be a diviner and must enroll in order to become.one but this path is dangerous and only a few succeed. Prince Julian is fighting for his crown, the nobles doubt his ability and when faced with an enemy at his border; he must prove his worth. Queen Zhuana escapes a deadly army and disease but just barely, how will she protect her people and overcome those who chase them?

I liked this book, however it took a while for the story to take shape and I feel like this is just the start. It was difficult through most of the book to see where the connectiona were going to be made. How did the story of queen Zhuana meet with a girl from Everlast who is going to school. It was interesting and a new take and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Blood and Empire marks the beginning of best-selling author James Maxwell’s highly anticipated new epic fantasy series, The Gateway Saga—a thrilling story of ambition, sacrifice, and defying fate.

Bethany, a young seamstress, dreams of becoming a diviner—one of the rare individuals able to navigate the enigmatic gateways that bind the empire together. But with no wealth, no formal education, and only her mother to support her, she faces an uncertain future.

That is, until she meets Charlton, a cleric who offers her knowledge and guidance, revealing a world she once thought impossible to reach. But as Bethany’s ambitions attract attention, her past resurfaces when her estranged father returns, forcing her to confront painful truths she’s long avoided.

As the empire faces the threat of invasion and betrayal tears through its highest ranks, Bethany must learn to control both external forces and her own inner turmoil in order to uncover the dark secrets of her bloodline—and ultimately save the empire from its own destruction.

The series is already setting itself up to be a epic story with multiple POV, a darkness that is sweeping the land, killing those in its wake, and multiple MFC who don’t let obstacles stand in their way.

These are my thoughts on Blood and Empire by James Maxwell

The series is already setting itself up to be an epic fantasy story with multiple POV, a darkness that is sweeping the land, killing those in its wake, and multiple MFCs who don’t let obstacles stand in their way.

There is just the right amount of world building without going too overboard that the reader loses interest. Without giving away any spoilers, I also appreciate that one of the main characters doesn’t just get her dream fulfilled right away.

There are multiple POV going on within this book that often switch from chapter to chapter. With multiple POVs, while it does help build each piece of the story, it led to a lack of character development. Hopefully, there will be more character development in the next books because some of the characters, like Bethany and Julian, I kept wanting to know more about them.

There are some strong female characters here which I ALWAYS appreciate. That, in addition to the multiple POV's throughout, usually piques my interest in a novel and Blood and Empire is no different. There is some serious character building here, which does take precedence throughout the chapters. Maxwell's ability to draw you in with his characters is the main seller here. I can't say that I was enraptured by the plot just yet but I can see how this book is really setting the scene for what's to come. Fantasy, magic, political motivations, secrets, double crossing, and fragile Empires... I will absolutely be looking for the next installment.

Review: Oh wow, this was really good and bodes well for the series.

The character development sets this novel above others in the genre. There is a constant POV shifting that pulls the various story lines together. The story line is not complicated as it follows most in the genre (Evil vs. Hero vs. Prince Douche vs. Hottie Queen vs. speshully girl etc.)

The world building is just ok, as the charaterization takes precedence. This could have used a bit more descriptive enhancements to pull the reader in visually, hence the almost 5-star rating.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

4.5/5

Fabulous adventure book. Very strong female characters. This first volume sets the stage for the upcoming books and the adventures to follow. The next volume comes out in April and will continue the saga. As was to be expected James Maxwell is a very talented writer and a pleasure to read.

I picked up this book because of its intriguing premise and catchy cover, and as my first James Maxwell read, it did offer a lot of promise, even if it wasn’t entirely what I hoped for. The writing is solid, and the world-building definitely stood out, bringing the setting to life in a way that felt rich and detailed.

The pacing, however, felt slow at the beginning. The book spends quite a bit of time introducing a large cast of characters and establishing the world, which did set the stage for later events, but it also made it harder to get hooked right away. Once the story got going, though, it was clear why all the groundwork was needed. Still, I couldn’t help but feel that Bethany’s character was somewhat underdeveloped. Her relationships with her friends also felt rushed, and I would have liked to see more depth there. Hopefully, this is something that gets expanded on in the next book.

I also liked that the story isn’t just told from Bethany’s perspective—seeing things from multiple angles gave the narrative more depth. However, I still feel like I didn’t get a full grasp of who Bethany really was, and it made it hard to fully connect with her journey.

Overall, if you’re into books with political intrigue and strong world-building, this one might work for you. While it didn’t fully meet all my expectations, I’m definitely interested enough to check out the next book in the series. I'm giving it decent 3 ⭐.

James Maxwell’s Blood and Empire introduces readers to an intriguing world of magic, ambition, and empire-building. The protagonist, Bethany, is relatable in her struggles as a seamstress with grand aspirations of becoming a diviner, and her journey offers a satisfying arc of growth and self-discovery. Maxwell weaves in family secrets, betrayal, and the looming threat of invasion, creating a story rich in themes of personal sacrifice and resilience. However, while the premise is strong, the execution occasionally feels predictable, and the supporting characters don’t quite leave a lasting impression. The world-building is solid but not groundbreaking, and some of the twists lack the punch you’d hope for in a gripping epic fantasy. Still, Blood and Empire is an enjoyable read that promises bigger stakes in future installments—ideal for readers who want a steady, if familiar, fantasy experience.

This is a story told from multiple POVs. One of the first POVs we get is from Bethany, a young seamstress with ambitions to become a diviner. She lives in the Eternal City, which is part of the vast Eternal Empire of Dymantus, where diviners are the well respected few who help people travel the gateways (I.e. travel from one place to another). I really liked Bethany and being in her POV, she is an interesting character with an intriguing back story and, if anything, I would’ve liked even more time with her as she was going through her studies, training to be a diviner.

The other POVs we get are from Zhuana (Queen of Veldria, a people who are now on the run from an unknown threat), Julian (Crown Prince of the Dymantine Empire, whose trying to establish his place as the future ruler in a land where many don’t want him to ascend the throne) and Kendrick (a military hero who once served alongside Julian’s father).

Bearing in mind this is a relatively short book and we have 4 POVs, it’s fairly fast paced, while also feeling like it’s doing a lot of set up for all the events to come. And while I wouldn’t say it’s like Game of Thrones, where I would draw the parallel is in the way that we’re predominantly following court politics and the jostling of different factions for power, but, looming above it all, is the threat of an unknown, supernatural danger.

Overall, I really enjoyed this start to a new series and would definitely recommend for the fantasy lovers out there. It also looks like we shouldn’t have to wait too long for book 2 🤞.

“Could she keep her two worlds separate? Her father’s world, of empires, nobles and power…and the world of divination, of Xander, stars and gateways? Her intuition told her no. Her two worlds were going to collide.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-arc of this book.

I was initially drawn to this book by the cool cover and description, and as my first James Maxwell book, I wasn’t disappointed. The writing is strong, with unique and immersive world-building.

The book starts off a bit slow as you’re introduced to a large cast of characters and spaces, but by the end, you realize how essential that groundwork was to the story. However, I felt that Bethany’s character and her connections with her friends could have been explored more deeply. Their relationships felt a bit rushed, and I would have loved more time to see those connections develop. (Maybe in book 2?) It’s also worth noting that this book isn’t solely told from Bethany’s POV.

If you enjoy books with political intrigue, fantastic world-building, and dynamic characters, I think you’ll love this one. Am I going to read the next book in the series? Absolutely.

Thank you to NetGalley, James Maxwell, and Everlast Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.