This is a captivating tale that transports readers to a richly imagined world filled with magic, adventure, and intrigue. The story follows the FMC, who embarks on a perilous journey. Along the way, they encounter a diverse cast of allies and enemies, each adding depth to the unfolding narrative. The author’s vivid world-building and immersive storytelling create a breathtaking setting where mythical creatures, ancient prophecies, and epic battles come to life.

This was a struggle for me. I couldn't get pulled into the world and magic system. I felt confused by the main female character. I didn't get enough of information about her feelings/thoughts and back story to root for her. I didn't have any interest in the main male character. I did not finish.

RC Review✨

✅Multiple POV
✅ Forbidden love
✅ Supernatural romance
✅ Prophecy
✅ Mysterious past
✅ Found family
✅ Unrequited love

Whew. To say that Reign of Blood was intense is an understatement. I was on the edge of my seat with all the plot twists!

I enjoyed reading this book. The characters were developed, and they all have a role to play in the story.

Raask and Aria: I feel for these two characters. I did not see the twist in their story, and I loved how that was revealed later on in the book.

Viggo: OMG. How can I even begin to describe this character? I was drawn to him from the moment he was introduced. When light was shed on his past, it was so unexpected.

Mayta: She’s evidence that even the nicest people can do harm when pushed past their limit.

Cons:
- The story seemed to have dragged the first couple of chapters.
- Some of the scenes were not described properly. It seemed that some parts dragged from one scene to the next without proper world building.

Overall, Samantha Gonda wrote an amazing book. That ending made my heart skip a beat from the tension. I just regret that I don’t have the sequel to read right away. The next one will be something I will look forward to.

Thank you to NetGalley and BeRead Ltd for the ability to read this arc.

What can I say about this book? There are some really good bones here for a wonderful fantasy/romance series with politic, revenge and love. The writing style is easy to read and it doesn’t involve too much complicated language or phrasing.

However, it doesn’t do what it says on the tin, so to speak. After finishing the book I had to reread the summary provided to find out what the plot actually was meant to be. The only “steam” was a bit of tension and one kiss. It read more as 2 sisters and 2 brothers in an overly adolescent and complicated love triangle/square thing than someone looking for any revenge. One minute characters were “good” and then they were killing anything that moved. Viggo who was meant to be leading a rebellion never actually did anything for it except think about it and subtle hints. Overall the characters were underdeveloped and I was still waiting for the plot at 91%.

However, like I said, with some editing and brainstorming this could become a series I would love to see- all the bones are there and it would make a very interesting plot if executed a little differently.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5/5
Thank you so much to Samantha Gonda and BeRead Ltd for choosing me as an ARC reader! This book was very entertaining and had me interested from the very first scene. I loved the characters and the way Samantha built intrigue and suspense throughout the book to slowly reveal the bigger picture. The last 10% of the book definitely had me thrown off track and was a nice little change of pace! I'm eager to see what happens next! I appreciated the little bits of romance we got and while there is no spice, it was tastefully done. Additionally, Reign of Blood is a nice introduction to the fantasy genre for readers who may be intimidated by world-building; it keeps a quick pace and is fairly easy to follow.

Rating-
4/5 stars

Genre-
Fantasy

Age Rating For It-
15+ because there is some violence and revenge plots and everything but also there is romance, in it nothing explicit or anything just some kissing, cuddling and things.

Tropes-
Enemies to lovers
Royalty
Badly treated mythological creatures

Quotes-

“It was a perfect story really, a story that she was counting on. Love and hope: the two easiest things to manipulate.”

“Breathless, Aria asked, ‘And what if I would like to be the one to take revenge? To gut someone> Would that scare you, Prince?’...With a dark, thunderous laugh, Raask finally answered. ‘If it’s revenge you want, it’s what I’ll give you.’”

Thoughts/Would I Recommend This?-
I honestly really enjoyed this book so much and thought it was really great! I only really had one real thing that really annoyed me about the book, and it may just be me that was annoyed by this, just because of the type of reader I am, though. I just did not love how fast the enemies ended up becoming lovers. As someone who one of my all-time favorite tropes is enemies to lovers, I felt this one was wayyy too quick of the enemies becoming lovers. It was like one moment she hates him so much and his family and everything they did, but then the next second later she's making out with him and in love. I felt it made the rest of the story not as fun because they had already become lovers and things. So now there wasn’t too much of a change really with the romance plot after that, and I love me a good romance plot. So, I wish the author had waited longer before finally having them become lovers because I think it would have improved the book a lot more so. All together, though, I really enjoyed this book and would totally recommend.

(Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review)

Just wow! I absolutely ate this up and couldn't put it down from the moment I started!

From the very first page, A Reign of Blood pulls you into a world that is both alluring and perilous. Samantha Gonda has woven a dark, atmospheric fantasy that doesn’t hold back, captivating you with sharp dialogue, high-stakes conflict, and a realm brimming with creatures, magic, and hidden truths. The vivid imagery stays with you, immersing you completely in every sensory detail.

The magic system is rich, the world building is phenomenal filled with a vast collection of creatures, places and characters. Speaking of characters, Gonda does an excellent job of bringing them to life from multiple points of view, each perspective adding depth to the overall story. Aria, the fierce and unyielding protagonist, immediately stood out as one of the book's strongest elements. She's a woman of few words, but when she speaks, it’s impactful, and her confidence makes her impossible not to root for. The romance is irresistibly forbidden and charged with tension. Though it occasionally feels rushed and could use a bit more development, the chemistry between the characters is undeniable.

The pacing started off a little bit slow at the start but then in the second half is where it picks up a lot more. The plot twists are expertly crafted, keeping you on your toes and leaving you stunned at times.

The ending is truly outstanding, it will leave you eagerly anticipating the next book, desperate to see where this intense, emotional journey goes. This novel ticks all the boxes for dark fantasy lovers, captivating characters, immersive world-building, and a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat.

Thank you NetGalley, BeRead Ltd and Samantha Gonda for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4/5

Overall, I really enjoyed “Reign of Blood” by Samantha Gonda. The world building wasn’t overly complicated and the unique magic system pulled me in from the start. However, I found the character connections to be lacking and pacing to be off. I was hooking for the first 100 pages but found a large portion of the middle of the book to be paced slowly and disorganized in terms of character progression and plot. I almost DNF’d, but I’m glad that I stuck it out…

I couldn’t put it down again from 75% on, and I’ll definitely read Book 2 after that amazing cliffhanger.

Thank you NetGalley, BeRead Ltd., and Samantha Goode for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderfully intriguing romantasy novel and unlike anything else I’ve read. This kingdom is run by the morloks (humans) and syrens abide within the waters of the sea which is dangerously risky for sailors, and there are heaps of other magical creatures too. Aria’s people are subjugated to slavery, her family lost and she is sworn to vengeance . We have adventure, morally grey main characters, forbidden love and magic within lithes so substance based which was an interesting perspective within the story.

The book opens with a vivid description of Aria pulling herself from the sea, and I had to read it twice to make sure I understood what I was reading! I wasn’t sure what it all meant at that point although it came clear later in the story (as I tend to go in blind to a book!)

The story has such potential but some phrases, choice of vocabulary and passages I felt could be written more smoothly as it felt a little clunky to my ear. Being a British reader it maybe that American English doesn’t sit as well for me but not having read any blurb or author details beforehand I did wonder whether it was lost in translation. Some parts of the story were slow, others were rushed and the romance seemed to suddenly happen without much preamble so was a bit insta-lusty.

I always enjoy a duel point of view so the fact this book had the most varied POV I thought helped immensely. It really gave greater depth to the characters.

Overall I’d give it three stars. Intriguing premise and storyline but not quite hitting the mark with the style of writing for me.

Thankyou so much to NetGalley for the E-Arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley & BeRead Ltd. for the arc!
**1 star** A new series that–surprise surprise–is sadly another copy-paste story. Same story, different font.

Posed as a damsel-in-distress, Aria stumbles upon her savior who happens to be Raask, the crown prince of the Skiernan court. Aria then infiltrates the court and seeks vengeance for the family she’s lost and the people becoming enslaved. But of course, when she believes the prince to be cruel, she finds that she’s intrigued by him, leading to an inevitable attraction. She is stuck between choosing her heart or loyalty to her people.
This was a disappointing read. The beginning started off well as I was immediately captivated but my interest quickly waned. The magic system had potential, but it was so poorly utilized that it failed to leave an impression. If I have to constantly refer to the glossary, then the author didn’t do a great job introducing the different magic functions in a way that naturally ingrains them into the story. Our characters were not that much better. We read in three povs, each of them unlikeable, unfortunately. Especially the prince–why does he act like an adolescent??

I was only 20% of the way in when I dnf’d. To be almost a quarter of the way in and not have much story progression will lose me. I recently read reviews on this book claiming that there’s not a period of info-dumping in which I agree. But in this case, we clearly needed SOMETHING. Some foundation of what world we’re reading in. From the 20% I did read, all I know is that the characters are in a castle. The clothing seemed outdated but the language was so modern? Which proves the writing, style, and tone did not fit the story. Had this been written as an urban fantasy, set in a modern city, it wouldn’t have been so jarring to read.

Alas, this is another start to a new romantasy series. This book needs a good few more sessions of scrubbing and editing because there were quite a few typos.

If you like forbidden romance, hidden identities and agenda, morally complex characters, then this book is for you!

The FMC, Aria, sets out on a plan to avenge her people that are enslaved by the king of Skierka by seducing and destroying the crown prince, Raask.

The beginning of this book has intricate world-building that sets the stage for the unique world and magical system without being overwhelming. The magical system was so unique based on minerals that have different uses and functions. This world was magical, yet dark and atmospheric with vivid descriptions that had a movie playing in my head.

This is an multi-POV book that starts off following Aria, Raask and expands to others. Aria is a strong, ruthless, and confident FMC that’s easy to fall in love. Raask was a character with so much complexity that I loved all his POV chapter. He comes off as the charismatic, easy going prince but underneath this facade is a darker side to him that few get see and he himself has yet to fully explore. Another POV we get is from Raask brother, Viggo, who is the general of the Skierkan army. At first I was unsure about his character, but as the book went on he became so interesting and multi-faceted with his own secrets and agenda. Each character has their own trauma they are working through that makes reading about them and caring about them so easy.

The relationship building and romance was done well. I was hooked on reading more about Aria and Raask developing relationship, it had me at the edge of my seat!! Their banter was great and the romance was written so well I could almost feel their chemistry.

The only real issues I had with this book was the plot pacing. At times I felt a lot was going on that didn’t seem to connect and I was left a bit confused. The plot was very twisty which I normally love, but this time it threw me for a loop as somethings felt like they just came out of the blue.

Overall, this was a good start for book 1 in a series and that cliffhanger was criminal (in a good way!).

ARC review | ⭐️ | Fantasy Romance

Release date: April 8, 2025

Publisher: BeRead Ltd

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I ended up DNFing this at 12%, and unfortunately that was gracious of me. This book is not ready for the public; it is rife with typos and the writing feels middle-grade at best. The synopsis details a princess running from her kingdom to trick the Crown Prince in order to save her people. Absolutely none of this was discussed or alluded to in the pages I read, despite the chapters being broken into multiple POVs. This writer might stand a chance at a career with a team of better editors and willingness to dedicate some time to the craft. At current, I won't be picking up any of her other work.

Cool world building, loved the politics and plotting. The mistrust, betrayals, and plot twists kept me on edge.

Overall this book was very enjoyable. It was fast paced, starting out right in the action. This is a story you can devour in just a few hours and not grow bored. However for me, there were some parts that fell a bit flat. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the dialogue, sometimes finding it a bit strange or juvenile. Some lines just pulled me right out of the story for a few moments. Even then, the cast was enjoyable and I found the world to be very interesting!

I’m going to be honest, I did really like this book, I wasn’t expecting the reveal of who Aria really was. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the ending or the second half of the book, it made me mad lol. It wasn’t bad I just wasn’t happy that there was conflict- I absolutely loved Aria and Raask romance and it didn’t really feel rushed, it felt like there was a connection that not even they knew how to navigate and that has to be one of my favourite tropes.

Thank you to net galley for the ARC

I loved the plot and the characters but a lot of the book seemed rushed, things were just moving too fast and sometimes it left me confused about certain scenes and characters. Overall, the book was good, I just wish the author slowed down the pace of the book and explain some things a bit more.

Thanks to NetGalley, BeRead Ltd and Samantha Gonda for the ARC of this book.

A good debut!
The story is told using several POVs, mostly Aria and Raask. The world is filled with syrens, faeries, gnomes, witches, and other interesting creatures.
I liked the magic system, it is quite unique. I appreciate the little guide to Lithen magic at the begging of the book, as it helped me understand the system much quicker.
The first chapter was strong and it drew me in right away. The pacing felt a little bit off, the start was slow, but around 40% things started to pick up. There were some twists and turns I did not expect at all, especially one of them - wow, it was such a bold move!
I wish there had been more descriptions of new characters and places. At times, I found myself struggling to envision them.

Overall, it kept me entertained.

Had to DNF at 5%. It looks like this is the author’s first book and while some things worked well, it wasn’t enough for me to stick around.

I love reading fantasy because I love escaping into a new world. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to with this book.

What works:
1. The magic system is unique (use of different colored “lithes” to cater treat anxiety, etc.)
2. Loved the first couple of pages of her dragging herself to shore. Very hook-worthy.
3. I’m sure there’s lots more, but I jumped ship. 🚢

Some complaints:
1. The story feels so flat and rushed. The setting is the biggest problem, IMO: underdeveloped and too vague. When we enter a new room or meet a new character or overlook the city for the first time, there’s maybe one descriptor we’re given. It’s too sparse to feel even remotely real.

Ultimately, I found it very difficult to envision any part of this world or the characters within it. There’s far too much telling and not nearly enough showing.

2. The dialogue is clumsy. The phrasing is very awkward and doesn’t sound like it would ever be said by a real person, never mind multiple people. Also, dialogue is used instead of narration to provide scene descriptions. But this only adds to the awkwardness. Instead, narration should be utilized help take the burden off the spoken words of the characters.

Oh my gosh, this book had so many twists and turns I'm still reeling! When I saw I'd nearly finished the book I was gutted, I'll be thinking about these characters for a while (and I'm dying to know what happens next).

Featuring lots of plots and scheming, falling in love with enemies, characters with noble aims but morally ambiguous methods, and the consequences of all of the above!

A dark ocean, Syrens, Gods, forbidden love and a girl out for revenge.

This book is perfect for anyone who is looking for a dark and twisty fantasy book with a good amount of romance. I really enjoyed this book as the plot was something different to other romantasy books out there. I also enjoyed the multiple POVs, as we learned so much about the world and each characters motives and believes. The only real flaw for me was the pacing. At some points it felt like just a lot of things were happening that did not really connect to each other and were more or less fillers. Still it came together in the end to make for a good ending for Book 1 in a series.

Aria is an interesting FMC, and she definitely fits the strong FMC archetype, even if I would have loved to know a bit more about her background. At least at the beginning of the book it was a bit difficult for me to conect with her character, but that changed throughout the book as her character traits were more and more developed and we learned more about her plans.

I also liked that we have the two brothers Raask and Viggo, who both basically want the same thing but go about it in different ways. I have to say that I probably related to Raask the most and would consider him my favorite character so far.

Finally, I want to say that I am excited to see how the story goes on, and in what way the Gods in this world will play a role in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Samantha Gonda for providing me with this eARC, so that I am able to give my honest review on this book. This review will be published on Storygraph, Fable as well as on my TikTok (@mellii_zz).